New Member here.....

I unofficially completed the 2008-50 book challenge, and decided to go on the record by joining here to start the 75 book challenge for 2009. Happy Holidays and best wishes to all in this coming New Year..... a great page turning days to all my fellow readers.

Welcome

Happy holidays and here's to another great year of reading

I would like to join the 75 books challenge for 2009. Sure am looking forward to all the new books I'll be reading and discover what others are reading.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!!!!!!

WOW!
It is great to see new members added to the challenge group. Welcome to all!

Welcome, Bumpersmom. Glad you are going to join the fun!

ETA Who's Bumper? :-)

I'd like to join this challenge as well. I love having goals and doing challenges. It is not only fun, but I find new books and authors to look into when I read over people's lists.

Welcome! Just start a thread for your list and you're in!

Ok, I'm jumpin' in. Wow. Before I can get to reading, I need to check out these threads. Great start.

Welcome, Maggs!

Sorry it took so long to reply, didn't realize there were messages that needed my attention here.

Bumper was my son Jason, who died in 1995, at the age of 10, from complications of asthma. I was 11 weeks pregnant, and a pedestrian, who was run down by a drunk driver, but my unborn child survived. He was nicknamed "Bumper" by the nurses in the hospital who tended to me during the 75 days I was an in-patient after the accident.

Okay, I'm ready to start my 2009 list.

I have completed the following books starting 01/01/09.....

01 - 02 Jan: Stranger in Paradise
by Robert Parker
02 - 04 Jan: Rough Weather
by Robert Parker
03 - 05 Jan: Fresh Disasters
by Stuart Woods
04 - 07 Jan: Shoot Him If He Runs
by Stuart Woods
05 - 08 Jan: Hot Mahogany
by Stuart Woods

I started Black OPS by W.E.B. Griffin
yesterday. Suddenly just can't seem to put down the books....

What do you think about Woods? I have read almost all of his books and he seems to be fizzling out. I have Fresh Disasters here but I'm just not motivated to read it.

What is a thread? I'd like to know so I can start my list. Thanks

Everyting you're looking at right this instant is a thread. It's a collection of posts under a single topic. Go to the Group page and click "Post a New Topic". Give it a title with your name in it, something like "cherylscountry's Books for 2009" and that's your thread.

I, too, have read everything Woods has out there, and I agree, sometimes, a character has reached his or her limit, there are just so many different scenerios that can be created and still keep the reader interested, Fresh Disasters is worth the time, it is well written, but, if you're looking for any surprises, you won't find them here, just pretty much more of the same.

Bumper was my son Jason, who died in 1995, at the age of 10, from complications of asthma. I was 11 weeks pregnant, and a pedestrian, who was run down by a drunk driver, but my unborn child survived. He was nicknamed "Bumper" by the nurses in the hospital who tended to me during the 75 days I was an in-patient after the accident.

((((HUGS))))

06 - 15 Jan: Black OPS
by W.E.B. Griffin

Bumpersmom, can I make a suggestion? Put brackets around your titles and two brackets around your authors . That makes them highlight and we can click and look at the book pages or the author's page. Thanks.

Thank you very much for the suggestion, I had no idea that was how you did that.......guess this "old dog" is never to old to learn a new trick!!

So, what you're saying is for my last book, I should have posted

06 - 15 Jan: Black OPS
by W.E.B. Griffin

Is that the right way??.

Again, I really appreciate the help ....

Hello to you Bumpersmom.
I'm sorry for the delay in welcoming you to the group. I'm spending today going through the threads. I hope you like it here with the 75 book challenge group. I'm a carry over from the 2008 challenge and have enjoyed learning about new books and making new friends.

My heart goes out to you and I can only imagine the sadness you experienced at the loss of your beloved son Jason. BIG hugs to you.

07 - 19 Jan: Mercedes Coffin
by Faye Kellerman

Thank you for the welcome, Whisper1,
I look forward to this as being an exciting year.

I thank you for the warm wishes about my Jason, he was quite the little kid, and greatly appreciate the hugs.

What did you think of Mercedes Coffin? I didn't like how Kellerman lead the reader instead of allowing the reader's imagination to show the story.

I enjoyed the book as one in a long series that I have read over the years, sad to say, the earlier books had more meat and we've moved toward the next generation for these characters. The ones I came to know and love are now mostly background fillers and their children are what the stories are about.
A gesture or guest appearance as the sage advisor is all that seems to be left of the originals. I read both Kellermans and their styles get the feel like they have been merging over the years. There used to be a wide difference and I could tell right away who I was reading, but now they even allow references to each other's characters in their individual books. It's J. Kellerman's style to describe everything to the "nth" degree from what a character is wearing to a room, you couldn't possibly have room to imagine anything but the details he has given you to digest.

08 - 21 Jan: Runner
by Thomas Perry

09 - 23 Jan: Book of the Dead
by Patricia Cornwell

What did you think of Book of the Dead?

I actually enjoyed reading it, and have plunged into Scarpetta immediately to pick up where Book of the Dead left off. I have read the comments left by others as to how "dark" the characters have become, but I think it takes courage to poke holes in the personality of long standing regulars in a series, it gives them a chance to change or evolve, we don't have to like what they've become but at least it's not a constant that becomes boring.
I was not happy about the attempted rape, but again, it opens many ways to address the issues from each affected character's view.

10 - 01 Feb: Scarpetta
by Patricia Cornwell

11 - 02 Feb: At Risk
by Patricia Cornwell

12 - 03 Feb: The Front
by Patricia Cornwell

Hi bumpersmom

You are on a roll with the Cornwell books. I did the same years ago when reading her novels.
I've just finished two Tim O'Brien books and I find that if I like an author, I usually exhaust all his/her editions.

I gave up on the Scarpetta books a while ago -- after book seven or eight I think -- after the books got repetitive. Maybe I'll pick up Book of the Dead and see if I like it any better. Sometimes 'dark' can be a good thing. :)

alynnk..
dark is a good thing...if it is followed by light...

I did not care for Book of the Dead at all when I read it - it made my 'clunkers' list in 2007. I really loved the Scarpetta series when it started, but over the past several books, I have lost interest in them.

I believe each of you has made a valid point about Cornwell's recent books, they aren't up to par with the earlier books in the Scarpetta series, that's why I welcomed the way she tore the regular characters apart somewhat and gave them some fresh material to explore in the personality department.
As for the At Risk, and Front books, I am not impressed, I like one character, the grandmother, but these books just don't hold my interest.

13 - 03 Feb: Plum Spooky
by Janet Evanovich

Now here's a series that I drop everything else for when a new book comes out.....just can't get enough of Stephanie Plum and the rest of the characters in her series.

#39..
As with Cornwell, I feel that Evanovich is yet another author whose earlier works were better.

Sometimes I think that authors who write multiple books (such as Mitchner seem to have a subscribed set pattern and they then plop in the words to fit the cut out form.

I'm going to give Evanovich another try and have added Plum Spooky to my tbr pile. I see this book mentioned on other posts and it is getting very good reviews.

I think you'll like it, the book is a "fun" read and the adventures the character gets herself into make me laugh out loud while reading them.

14 - 05 Feb: Night Stalker
by James Swain

15 - 09 Feb: The Associate
by John Grisham

Did you like The Associate? I usually enjoy John Grisham's books. The last one I read was The Innocent Man, which took place in my state and was a true story.
--BJ

Yes, billiejean, this is the first book of Grisham's in a long time that held my attention. His earlier books were so good, and then he hit a slump, the books were good, but they didn't make you catch your breath or turn pages mindlessly just to see what would happen next. I do hope he's gone back to that style, The Associate was a real thriller.

16 - 23 Feb: Carved in Bone
by Jefferson Bass

Ooooh, How was Carved in Bone? That sounds good!

I agree with you about John Grisham. A Time to Kill and The Pelican Brief are both excellent, but some of his newer stuff was much less enjoyable. I think my favourite is The Rainmaker...or maybe Runaway Jury. Grisham's non-legal fiction can be good too - Playing for Pizza was really fun!

Hi Bumpersmom. Long time no talk. Hope things are going well. I noticed you posted that you read Carved in Bone by Jefferson Bass I just added that series to my wish list on a recommendation from our local paper and wondering how you like it? Hope to talk to you soon. Monica

Hey Monica!!

I have fallen behind in my emails, but I will send you an update, had a lot of not so good stuff going on, I know you'll understand.

Jefferson Bass is the pen name for the writing team of Dr. Bill Bass (forensic anthropologist best known as the creator of the Body Farm at the University of Tennessee) and Jon Jeffereson.

If you like the Cornwell books, and find the study of crime, forensics, and anthropology fascinating, then you'll easily get hooked on these guys. They have fictionalized a real subject, bringing personality to what could easily be a very dry topic. They currently have four books in print together, and I am halfway into book #2. They bring the tough subject down to an easy to understand simple murder mystery that makes for enjoyable reading. I think you'll like them.

Hey cal8769, if you read my reply to mskeens, you'll see I think it's a good read, worth the time.

Bumpersmom
I'm sorry you have had a lot of not so good things going on...Hugs coming your way for better days!

((((Bumpersmom))))))

Hey Cal and Whisper1, thank you so much for the hugs.....I really needed some, the timing is perfect......

(((((((((Hugs back at ya guys))))))))

Bumpersmom

17 - 03 Mar: Flesh and Bone
by Jefferson Bass

Bumpersmom

Hang in there. I hope things are better for you!

18 - 11 Mar: Devil's Bones
by Jefferson Bass

Hi Bumpersmom

Just wanted to say after seeing you reading these plus seeing a review on one of these in our local paper. I purchased the first two in the series from Amazon. Just waiting on them to come in the mail. However they will be on my TBR list for a bit as I got an ER book from LT and it is the 5th book in a series so I have to read the first 4 before I read and review the 5th to give it a fair chance. I hope you are enjoying Jefferson Bass books. I also hope things have gotten better for you lately. Take care and keep in touch.

I'm excited. My library has 4 Jefferson Bass books. I just put them on my library want list. YEA!

Hey y'all.....glad to see you're interested
in the Jefferson Bass books, I am really
enjoying them, and hope you will too....
I started book #4 last night, and the old
adage that practice makes perfect, seems to be at work here, these guys are getting the hang of it, and by this latest book, they jump right in on the first page to grab your attention, and don't seem to want to let go too easily.

Happy reading......
Bumpersmom

19 - 20 Mar: Bones of Betrayal
by Jefferson Bass

Hi!
I was wondering what it is like reading a book written by two people. I have never read a collaboration like that before. Does it all flow together nicely or can you tell who wrote which part? Have a great weekend!
--BJ

Billiejean,

I have read a number of books that were written by more than one person and haven't noticed a difference.

20 - 06 Apr: Lethal Legacy
by Linda Fairstein

I recently started Good Omens which is written by both Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, and I cannot tell who wrote what. I just like all of it. It is amazing to me that authors can do that. They must click right off the bat. Have a great day! :)
--BJ

21 - 07 Apr: MAX
by James Patterson

I'm not sure how they do it either, although I have gone to the author websites of several writing "teams" and they talk about how they came together.
None of them seem to do it the same way, but each has a way that works for them and for us the readers.

22 - 12 Apr: Promises in Death
by J. D. Robb

Hello, Im new here my name is Joyce and If you have not read Promises in Death I would not mind talking with you everyweek as I read it. It should not take that long it is not that long of a book. Nora Roberts is my all time favorite author. I have about 80 of her books which is not a lot considering as many as she has written. well thanks.

23 - 14 Apr: The First Patient
by Michael Palmer

Hi Joycedlee,

Yes, I just finished reading Promises in Death, and I loved it. Nora Roberts/J.D.Robb books are the ones I reach for as soon as I get a new one, no matter what I have next in my TBR pile, Eve Dallas is one of my favorite characters.

I checked out The First Patient and it looks really good! :) I am adding it to my wishlist, which seems to be getting long. Have a great day!
--BJ

I think it looks pretty good too.. in fact it is on my amazon wish list..
What did you thing Bumpersmom?

I have always enjoyed Michael Palmer's books, and this was no exception, it is well written and keeps you on the edge,
just keep turning the pages, and can't stop. In fact, I also just finished his latest book, Second Opinion, and it, too,
is a real thriller, another one to add to your wish lists.......

24 - 16 Apr: Second Opinion
by Michael Palmer

#74: I like thrillers, but have not read any of Palmer's work. Is there a good place to begin or does it matter?

I've never read Palmer. Give us the scoop.

Palmer is a real doctor who writes medical thrillers/mysteries, and they are all stand alone books. It matters not where or which book you begin to read him, just that you get started asap, this guy will keep you up nights turning pages ....... he is not a newcomer, I've been reading his books since the mid-90's. If you would like, I can get you guys a list of all his books, but Amazon should have all of them, they don't seem to go out of print, and
even his earliest novels are easily obtained.

#77: Thanks for the info!

25 - 17 Apr: Sworn to Silence
by Linda Castillo

For those of you interested, here is the Michael Palmer website link:

http://www.michaelpalmerbooks.com/

And, although, Library Thing is my favorite website for everything about books and reading, a close second, but mostly for those of you interested in mystery/thrillers, is a website that lists every author and his works of that genre for easy reference...

Stop, You're Killing Me
http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/

26 - 18 Apr: Night and Day
by Robert B. Parker

Thanks for the link, bumpersmom. Did you like Sworn to Silence? I really enjoyed it. Very creepy!

I loved it!!!!!!!

27 - 20 Apr: Gone
by Lisa Gardner

28 - 23 Apr: Say Goodbye
by Lisa Gardner

29 - 26 Apr: Hide
by Lisa Gardner

30 - 26 Apr: Killer Weekend
by Ridley Pearson

31 - 27 Apr: Killer View
by Ridley Pearson

32 - 28 Apr: Homefront
by Chuck Logan

33 - 29 Apr:Run For Your Life
by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

34 - 03 May: Bone by Bone
by Carol O'Connell

35 - 04 May: Infected
by Scott Sigler

Hi Bumpersmom, was Infected good?

Yes, Infected was very good, enough so, that I immediately ordered his latest book, Contagious.

It's sci-fi/horror/fiction and thriller.

36 - 06 May: The 8th Confession
by James Patterson

#95: How was The 8th Confession? I really like Patterson's Women's Murder Club books.

The 8th Confession, was right up there with the rest of the series, a very good read.

37 - 09May: Afraid
by Jack Kilborn

I just got 7Th Heaven from the library. I'm glad the series is holding up. It is one of my favorites.

Hey cal8769,

I'm sure you'll be pleased with the book, it's a good read.

38 - 10 May: Denial
by Stuart M. Kaminsky

39 - 12 May: Always Say Goodbye
by Stuart M. Kaminsky

40 - 05 Jun: Bright Futures
by Stuart M. Kaminsky

41 - 08 Jun: Wicked Prey
by John Sandford

42 - 17 Jun: Capture
by Robert K. Tannenbaum

43 - 18 Jun: The Scarecrow
by Michael Connelly

The Scarecrow's on my TBR - what did you think of it?

If you've ever read anything written by Michael Connelly, then you will love this book too. His Bosch series is a real winner, but this is a stand alone, and still carries the same great writing that Connelly has been giving his readers.

44 - 22 Jun: Trust No One
by Gregg Hurwitz

45 - 26 Jun: Troubleshooter
by Gregg Hurwitz

46 - 01Jul: Last Shot
by Gregg Hurwitz

47 - 02 Jul: Finger Lickin' Fifteen
by Janet Evanovich

48 - 04 Jul: The Crime Writer
by Gregg Hurwitz

49 - 05 Jul: The Brass Verdict
by Michael Connelly

50 - 07 Jul: KnockOut
by Catherine Coulter

51 - 09 Jul: The Neighbor
by Lisa Gardner

52 - 12 Jul: Rocket Man
by William Elliott Hazelgrove

53 - 16 Jul: Deadly Charm
by Claudia Mair Burney

54 - 16 Jul: Cherry Bomb
by J.A.Konrath

You are moving right along! Congratulations on passing the 50 book point.

Thank you for the pat on the back, but I am at a bit of an advantage, since I am disabled and reading is one of my main abilities. Not everyone can devote as much time to reading books as I can. But, it makes my life interesting and takes me everywhere my body can't.

55 - 18 Jul: Killer Summer
by Ridley Pearson

#120: it makes my life interesting and takes me everywhere my body can't.

I can certainly empathize with that!

56 - 22 Jul: Dark of the Moon
by John Sandford

57 - 24 Jul: Heat Lightning
by John Sandford

58 - 27 Jul: The Fire
by Katherine Neville

What's Neville's writing like, Bumpersmom? I haven't heard of her.

She's very good, except that the style is that of switching back and forth between current and past every couple chapters, for me, it makes it difficult to track the story. But, the background information provided in the past chapters is essential to the storyline. Also, if you don't read her first book, THE EIGHT, then THE FIRE is pretty hard to understand.

59 - 31 Jul: Eclipse
by Richard North Patterson

60 - 04 Aug: Last Known Address
by Theresa Schwegel

61 - 02 Aug: Probable Cause
by Theresa Schwegel

62 - 08 Aug: Rain Gods
by James Lee Burke

63 - 09 Aug: Dead On
By Robert W. Walker

64 - 11 Aug: The Traffickers
By W.E.B. Griffin

65 - 14 Aug: The Hunt Club
by John Lescroart

66 - 16 Aug: The Suspect
by John Lescroart

67 - 22 Aug: Betrayal
by John Lescroart

68 - 09 Sep: A Plague of Secrets
by John Lescroart

69 - 10 Sep: 206 Bones
by Kathy Reichs

70 - 11 Sep: Intervention
by Robin Cook

71 - 15 Sep: The Siege
by Stephen White

Some good authors but these are books that I haven't read....yet!

Almost there. The 75 is within your grasp!

72 - 19 Sep: Blindman's Bluff
by Faye Kellerman

73 - 23 Sep: The Spire
by Richard North Patterson

74 - 07 Oct: Shadow of Power
by Steve Martini

Almost there!

Way to go girl, you still have plenty of time left you probably could have done the 100 book challenge.. !!! I sigh have not been able to keep caught up and did not and probably will not reach my goal but it is not gonna stop me from trying to read as many as I can. :)

Congratulations on near completion of the 75 challenge goal!

I look forward to learning what your 75th book will be.

#144: I just finished that one a few days ago. What did you think of it?

I loved it.......

75 - 15 Oct: Guardian of Lies
by Steve Martini

76 - 19 Oct: Evidence
by Jonathan Kellerman

77 - 20 Oct: The Professional
by Robert B. Parker

Congrats!

WOW!!! Thank you all for the good cheers.....really
appreciate this, and I am still reading.......

Bumpersmom

78 - 04 Nov: Hardball
by Sara Paretsky

79 - 08 Nov: Night Monster
by James Swain

80 - 15 Nov: The Scarpetta Factor
by Patricia Cornwell

Was #80 any good? I kind of fell off of the Scarpetta band wagon.

Scarpetta Factor is pretty good, but doesn't measure up to the first 10 or so books in the series. There is still a dark quality to the storyline and characters are more flawed. Some of our "heroes" have become jaded. I still look forward to this series, and keep hoping the author will somehow recapture her earlier style.

81 - 18 Nov: Kindred in Death
by J.D.Robb

82 - 21 Nov: 9 Dragons
by Michael Connelly

83 - 23 Nov: I, Alex Cross
by James Patterson

84 - 29 Nov: The Killing Circle
by Andrew Pyper

I read your review of The Killing Circle. I certainly hope your next read is better for you than that one was, although I do not see how it could possibly be worse!

I certainly hope so too........

85 - 30 Nov: Hothouse Orchid
by Stuart Woods

86 - 05 Dec: Rough Country
by John Sandford

xx - 05 Dec: Missing in Death
by J. D. Robb

From the anthology book "The Lost'"

I only read the one story by J.D.Robb, so
I am not counting it as a full book read.

So far, the J.D. Robb story is all I have read of The Lost too, but I imagine I will get to the rest of it one of these years.

87 - 10 Dec: U is for Undertow
by Sue Grafton

88 - 12 Dec: Hollywood Crows
by Joseph Wambaugh

89 - 13 Dec: Hollywood Moon
by Joseph Wambaugh

How are you finding the Hollywood series? I have not read anything by Wambaugh for years now, but those look pretty good.

Wambaugh is as good today as when he first started writing years ago, and the Hollywood Station series is really good.

90 - 16 Dec: Loitering With Intent
by Stuart Woods

91 - 18 Dec: Prince of Beverly Hills
by Stuart Woods

#176: OK, I will check into it then. Thanks!

BTW - are you joining us for the 2010 challenge? The group is up and running!

Hi Alcottacre!!

I just joined the 2010 challenge, thanks for the heads up on the new group being up and running.

Bumpersmom

92 - 20 Dec: Beverly Hills Dead
by Stuart Woods

93 - 24 Dec: Mounting Fears
by Stuart Woods

94 - 26 Dec: Short Straw
by Stuart Woods

95 - 29 Dec: Santa Fe Dead
by Stuart Woods

Wow You are whipping through the Woods' books. I enjoy his series.

Yes, I do love Woods, now that I caught up on all the ones I had, I have just ordered the next one he has coming out from the Stone Barringtion series........
guess that will have to be read in the new year........