Nan's 75 book Challenge

I am going to try to read 75 books between July 1 and Dec. 31

1. The Art of Detection - Laurie R. King (BOCD)
2. Flawless - Joshua Spanogle

Welcome and good reading. Expect a few inquiries as you post, we are 'nosy Nellie's'

3. Chez Moi - Agnes Desarthe

Welcome! I think you will like it here.

4. Testimony - Anita Shreve (ARC)

5. Triptych - Karin Slaughter

#5: How did you like Triptych? I have read Slaughter's other books, but not this one yet.

I liked her Grant County Series better than this one. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't great either

6. The Tunnels - Michelle Gagnon

7. Hot Blooded - Lisa Jackson (BOCD)

8. Before the Storm - Diane Chamberlain

9. Cold Blooded - Lisa Jackson (BOCD)
10. Split Second - David Baldacci (BOCD)

11. December - Elizabeth Hartley Winthrop

#9: That being the case, I will probably give it a pass. I enjoy the Grant County series quite a bit, but there are too many other books on my TBR list to read something subpar.

12. Island of Lost Girls - Jennifer McMahon

13. The Sleeping Doll - Jeffery Deaver

I am a huge Anita Shreve fan and have never heard of this book!! Is it old? New?

Ok.. so I'm new to the blog thing and thought the message I was refering to would show above mine! The book is Testimony by Anita Shreve.

Testimony is a new book coming out this fall. I was able to get an ARC on bookmooch. I really enjoyed the book.

14. Black Out - Lisa Unger

15. Tribute - Nora Roberts

16. Into the Fire - Suzanne Brockmann

17. Deep Freeze - Lisa Jackson (BOCD)

18.Say Goodbye - Lisa Gardner
19. Sunshine and Shadow - Earlene Fowler (BOCD)

20. Damage Control - J.A. Jance

21. Broken Dishes - Earlene Fowler (BOCD)
22. Sense of Evil - Kay Hooper (BOCD)

23. The Last Oracle - James Rollins

24. Late Bloomer - Fern Michaels(BOCD)

25. The Front - Patricia Cornwell (BOCD)

26. Silent Thunder- Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen
27. The Senator's Wife - Sue Miller (BOCD)

28. Guilty - Karen Robards

29. TailSpin - Catherine Coulter (BOCD)
30. Hiding in the Shadows - Kay Hooper (BOCD)

Hi

How did you like the book The Senator's Wife?
And, is The Front a newer book by Patricia Cornwell?

I really liked the Senator's Wife and The Front is Patricia Cornwell's newest book and I have to say it isn't one of her best

Thanks for recommending the Senator's Wife I'm heading to the library after work to see if they have a copy. Cornwell's early books were good, but somewhere along the way I lost interest and haven't read any of hers in a long time.

I have several authors I feel that way about Cornwell and James Patterson are two that come to my right away.

Ever since about book 6 or so in the Scarpetta series, Cornwell's books just seem to have gone downhill for me, too. I thought it was just me, but I have seen the same comment on several threads, so it seems to be the general opinion here on LT.

As far as Patterson goes, I still read quite a few of his, although I prefer the ones without co-authors, who seem to hinder more than help IMHO. I read Patterson less seriously than I did Cornwell, so maybe that is the difference for me.

BTW nsg, what does BOCD stand for? I am sure that it is one of those things I should know, but just do not.

BOCD is a book on cd

Thanks for letting me know. That was just one of those small things that drive me crazy (-er)!

31. Foreign Body - Robin Cook

32. Out of the Shadows - kay Hooper

33. The Lace Reader - Brunonia Barry

I was in Barnes and Noble this weekend and noted the large display re. The Lace Reader. And, I also see this posted on other LT lists. Did you enjoy the book? What were your impressions?

I was not in love with this book. I really expected more from this book.

34. Moscow Rules - Daniel Silva

35. Wednesday Sisters - Meg Waite Clayton (BOCD)

36. No One You Know - Michelle Richmond
37. Cold Moon - Jeffery Deaver (BOCD)

38. Safe Harbor - Christine Feehan

#51: Have you read the other books in Feehan's Seven Sisters series? I am a big fan of hers and have all the books in all her series.

I have read the others and as a matter of fact I just finished Turbulent Sea last night.

39. Turbulent Sea - Christine Feehan

#52. I am now going to start another series by Christine Feehan. I have The Series with the word Game in it that I am going to start reading. I have no desire to read her Dark Series though.

#55: I love the Game series by Feehan. It is probably my favorite series of hers in point of fact. I would recommend that you start at the beginning rather than in the middle if you can. Hope you enjoy them!

40. Fractured - Karin Slaughter

41. Touching Evil - Kay Hooper (BOCD)

42. Sweet Love - Sarah Strohmeyer

#59: Have you read Strohmeyer's Bubbles series? They are good fun!

What did you think of Sweet Love by her? It looks very different from her Bubbles series.

I tried to read the Bubble series but I just couldn't get into them. This one is more of a contemporary fiction book and I really liked it.

I'm not sure, but I think Sarah Strohmeyer is the daughter of John Strohmeyer who wrote a book called Crisis in Bethlehem regarding the politics of the Bethlehem Steel industry.
I'll try to find time to read some of her books. I've heard of her before but haven't read anything of hers.

43. Payback - Fern Michaels
44. Whisper of Evil - Kay Hooper

I got Sweet Love from the library the other day. We'll see how it goes . . .

45. Being Elizabeth - barbara Taylor Bradford

46. Blue Bistro - Elin Hilderbrand
47. Zapped - Carol Higgins Clark (BOCD)

posts #60 and #61. At my book club meeting last night, someone mentioned the bubble series and how much she liked it. The book she is currently reading is set in Allentown, PA, which is five miles from where I live in Bethlehem...
I think I'll try these books (somewhere down the line when I have time....)

Whisper1 - I didn't know you lived in bethlehem. I live about an hour away in Wilkes- Barre. Also I know alot of people who like the Bubble series. I just didn't find it to be my thind.

What a very small world nsg223! Do you like living in Wilkes Barre?

I want to be in the PA club, too! I was born in Clearfield - does that count? lol . . .

Whisper1 I was born here and lived here all my life other thatn the 4 years I was in Boston for college. I always swore that I would move away but then after college I met my husband , who is also from here, and I am back here for good. It was a great place to raise my kids but my DD#1 is now in college in Philadelphia and DD#2 is looking at colleges. As a matter of fact she will probably be looking at Lehigh because she is boinb to be a science major.

Alcottacre of course you can be in the PA club.

48. Final Justice -Fern Michaels
49. Death Angel- Linda Howard (BOCD)

alcottacre....

Is Clearfield located in Western PA?
My summers were spent with my father and step mother in Warren/Sheffield, PA. Clearfield sounds familiar to me.

What are really small, and wonderful, world!

nsg0223. Lehigh is a good school, but very pricey...My daughter was able to get her undergraduate and graduate degree here for free because I've worked here for many years. That's a good thing because I could not have afforded the $48,000 tuition per year.

And, I am curious about your Boston years. After graduating my daughter moved to Waltham when my son in law went to Tufts for his masters. I loved that area!

I'm in Pittsburgh. Definitely in the PA Club.

#73 -Linda I didn't realize you worked at Lehigh. What do you do there? DD is going to look but she might want a bigger school.

I went to school at Simmons College which is about a block and a half from Fenway Park. I loved living in Boston.

http://www.jwwaterhouse.com/view.cfm?recordid=52

nsg0223

I sent the previous link of a J.W. Waterhouse painting called Danaides. Most days my job at Lehigh is like that painting, ie pouring water into a vessel with a hole in the bottom of the container. But, I do like my position as Publications Adviser for the student newspaper and yearbook. It is challenging and I've met some very nice students along the way. However, because the job is deadline driven, it is not unusual for work 50 hour weeks.
Thanks for asking.

I'm sure living in Boston was a great experience for you. Boston is a very exciting city with so much wonderful history.

#73 Whisper: Clearfield is just to the left of center in PA. One of my ancestors is the man for whom Harrisburg was named, or so I am told. My ancestors were pretty well entrenched up in PA until the last 50 years or so. My father, however, has Gypsy feet - we moved from PA when I was 2 to Iran, back to PA, then the MD, 3 places in Florida, and 3 places in Texas all before I was 12. My heart will always be in New England, though.

50. Book of Lies - Brad Meltzer
51. Black Notice - Patricia Cornwell (BOCD)

#80 nsg: How did you enjoy Book of Lies? I have had Book of Fate by Meltzer on my TBR list forever and have just not gotten round to it yet. Have you read it, and if so, what did you think?

# 81 - I didn't love Book of Lies but I did read Zero GAme and really enjoyed that, I have book of Fate on my TBR too.

52. Truth or Dare - Jayne Ann Krentz

53. Good Night Irene - Jan Burke (BOCD)
54. Postmortem- Patricia Cornwell (BOCD)
55. The Keepsake - Tess Gerritsen

#79> Mom's side were from Greensburg, PA outside Pittsburgh and Dad's side from the Lock Haven/Mill Hall area a bit east of Clearfield. However, I was an Army brat, so we were all over the globe until high school years.

56. Book of the People - Geraldine Brooks(BOCD)
57. Song of the Bones - M.K. Preston

58. If Only She Knew - Lisa Jackson

#85 TadAD: In my case, my mother's family is from a small town called Big Run, and my father's side from Charleroi.

59. Left to Die - Lisa Jackson

60. Tomato Girl - Jayne Pupek

This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. I was drawn into it immediately
even though the subject was very heavy. I hope the author is planning on writing more books in the future.

nsg0223> Just read the reviews on Tomato Girl and immediately added it to my booklist.

The Tomato Girl is the fourth book added to the tbr pile today. Like you glassreader, I read the reviews.

I think 2009 will be spent simply reading all the books I've added to the tbr pile since joining this group in January 2008......

For those interested, Jayne Pupek is one of the Library Thing authors who lists her personal library on the LT site. I know that she has done some type of interview here as well.

Thanks for letting us know about the Jayne Pupek site here on LT.

61. Lady Thief - Kay Hooper
62. Running From the Law - Lisa Scottoline (BOCD)
63. Worst Fears Realized - Stuart Woods (BOCD)

#95 Whisper: No problem. The only reason I know is because of the 40-something age group here on LT - she is a member of the group.

64. Into the Storm- Suzanne Brockmann
65. Hot Mahogany- Stuart Woods

#66 the life of oscar wao

Im 12!

66. Collateral Damage - Fern Michaels

67. The Quilter's Kitchen - Jennifer Chiaverini

#101 nsg: How did you like The Quilter's Kitchen? I have only read the first book in the series (and none of the just quilting books), but I think I would like this one because I always love finding new recipes.

alcottacre - If you like finding different recipes you will like to. The book ties in different recipes to events that took place in the past at Elm Creek Manor. The book was very little story and mostly recipes.

68. About Face - Fern Michaels

#103: Cool beans! I will have to look into getting it from the library.

69. Fool Me Once- Fern Michaels

70. The Ten Year Nap - Meg Wolitzer (BOCD)

71. Sail - James Patterson (BOCD)
72.Exposed - Alex Kava

congratulations..you are very close to reaching the 75 book challenge!

73. Trading Places - Fern Michaels

74. Fatal Burn - Lisa Jackson (BOCD)
75. The Heir - Barbara Taylor Bradford (BOCD)

Yay! You made it! Congrats!

Congratulations. Yet another one of us who accomplished the 75 book challenge. Way to go!!!!

Congratulations!
Happy you made it to #75 too :-)

Congrats!!!

76. Extreme Measures- Vince Flynn

Congratulations on the 75! And glad to see you are not stopping there . . .

I love to read so it would be silly to stop here. The 75 books were read or listened to since July 1 and my actual total for the year so far is 206. It will be interesting to see what my final number is on Dec.31. Right now I am shooting for 225 but not sure if I will make it.

77. Dark Summer - Iris Johansen

78. The Night Before - Lisa Jackson (BOCD)
79. American Wife - Curtis Sittenfeld

Hi nsg0223

I note your book #77 Dark Summer by Iris Johansen -- this is the second mention of this author I've found in the last few days. I guess I need to check out her writings. What are your impressions of Dark Summer?

Thanks.
Linda

Linda - I thought Dark Summer was a really good enjoyable romantic suspense. I have read quite a few
of her other books and liked them too.

Is there a book of Johansen's that you recommend I read first?

Linda - I like The Eve Duncan Series that Iris Johansen has written and from that series many other books have evolved using other characters from that series. The first book in that series is The Face of Deception. If you want more help go to www.irisjohansen.com. Hope this helps. Also Iris Johansen use to write books for Harlequin Romance but those aren't the books of hers that I read. I read the books she has written from 1995 to the present.

80. The Morning After - Lisa Jackson (BOCD)
81. Laced - Carol Higgins Clark (BOCD)

Hi Nan - I've never posted on your thread before so hello! first - and well done on making the magic 75.

I wanted to ask you about the Meg Wolitzer (msg 102, book 70) - any good? I read The Position this year and quite enjoyed it; having read some positive things about The Ten-Year Nap I thought I might check that one out too. Would you recommend it?

Flossie - I would definately recommend The Ten Year Nap. That was the first Meg Wolitzer book I read and I am definately planning on reading other books by her.

82. Divine Justice - David Baldacci

83. Salvation in Death - J. D. Robb
84. Trust Me - Jayne Ann Krentz (BOCD)

85. Mind Game - Christine Feehan (BOCD)

Congrats! Looks like you might hit 100 this year :)

86. Dying Breath - Wendi Corsi Staub
87. Once a Thief - Kay Hooper

88. Always a Thief - Kay Hooper

89. Hunting Fear - Kay Hooper

90. Chill of Fear - Kay Hooper

91. Sleeping with Fear - Kay Hooper

92. The Hiding Place - Karen Harper

93. Boneyard - Michelle Gagnon

#141: What did you think of Boneyard? It sounds like something I would enjoy.

#142 - I enjoyed Boneyard but I think her first book Tunnels was even better. I think you would enjoy both of the books.

Thanks, Nan. I will check them out!

94. Don't Scream - Wendy Corsi Staub

I'm impressed. 50 is usually my limit; and I'm a pretty fast reader. Are you going to do anymore books this year? How about the entire Jane Austen collection all in a row? And then switch to something of a completely different pace like the Tolkein saga... mixing and matching books always helps me read faster and it always keeps it enjoyable. Eternal Love is great for a new non-series book; it's romance- and then the Twilight saga- on the complete opposite end of the spectrum will give you goth/horror... many books covering as many genres as possible. That'd be cool.

>146 ladybookworm1: lady, I can usually read a couple of books by the same author and then I have to have a change - I read by the "Monty Python Method".

- TT

lol. Maybe I could use a bit of a slow down. I'm thinking of putting A Tale of Two Cities back on my list and doing a marathon of some of the longer and/or epic lengthed books.

95. Always Time to Die - Elizabeth Lowell
96. Swimming to Catalina - Stuart Wood (BOCD)

97. Conspiracy Game - Christine Feehan(BOCD)
98. Tell Me No Lies - Elizabeth Lowell

99. Kissed Twice - Lisa Jackson
100. The Music Teacher - Barbara Hall

#151: Nan, what did you think of The Music Teacher? The reviews appear to be somewhat mixed.

Stasia - I thought the Music Teacher was good but is wasn't as great as i thought it would be. I like a book where you can get emotionally involved with the main character and i just didn't get this with the Music Teacher.

101. Speak No Evil - Allison Brennan

#153: I think I will give it a pass then. Thanks for the additional info!

102. See No Evil - Allison Brennan

103. Fear No Evil - Allison Brennan

Really enjoyed this trilogy. It was the first time I read Allison Brennan and I now have to read more of her books.

Sounds like I may have to give her books a try. Thanks for recommending them.

104. Firestorm - Nevada Barr (BOCD)

105. Cruel Intent - J.A. Jance

106. The Final Victim - Wendy Corsi Staub

#161: Nan, I have never read anything by Staub. How do you find her stuff?

Stasia - I was checking your library and I think you would like her books since you and I seem to have the same taste in books under suspense and romantic suspense.

107. Isaac's Torah - Angel Wagenstein

#163: OK, Nan. Thanks for taking the time to look at my library and getting back to me about Staub's books.

108. The Secret Sister - Elizabeth Lowell

109. White Cargo - Syuart Wood (BOCD)
110. A Killer's Kiss - William Lashner (BOCD)
111. Body Language - Suzanne Brockman

112.Cold Hearted - Beverly Barton
113.Dying for You - Beverly Barton
114. Gingerbread Man - Maggie Shayne
115. Bloodlines - Jan Burke

116. High Stakes - Lisa Jackson

Happy New Year and congratulations on reading 116 books in 2008!