91. Read and Review 100 Books (29/100) So Cold The River - Michael Koryta

'It started with a documentary. The beautiful Alyssa Bradford approaches Eric Shaw to unearth the life story of her father-in-law, Campbell Bradford, a 95-year-old billionaire whose childhood is wrapped in mystery. Eric grabs the job, even though the only clues to Bradford's past are his hometown and an antique water bottle he's kept his entire life.

In Bradford's hometown, Eric discovers an extraordinary past--a glorious domed hotel where movie stars, presidents, athletes, and mobsters once intermingled. Long derelict, the hotel has just been restored to its former grandeur.

But something else has been restored too--a long-forgotten evil that will stop at nothing to settle a decades-old score. And with every move, Eric inches closer to the center of the building storm.'


This is definitely not the type of book I would usually reach for however I was browsing Amazon's 'Recommendations for you' section and the synopsis caught me... Sitting in Denver airport with a 3 hour flight back to Houston looming in front of me, and nothing to read, I decided to give it a go.. and I'm really glad I did! 


This book is not your normal suspense novel - It incorporates great deals of symbolism - I loved how Koryta wove in the imagery and symbolism of that one big life changing 100 year storm... it helped to illustrate the impending doom facing both the protagonist and the two towns... The book builds just like a violent summer storm. 


If you're a fan of suspense/thriller novels or books that have a supernatural undertone , then you really should give 'So Cold The River' a read!! 

91. Read and Review 100 Books (28/100) Midnight Bayou - Nora Roberts

'Declan Fitzgerald had always been the family maverick, but even he couldn't understand his impulse to buy a dilapidated mansion on the outskirts of New Orleans. All he knew was that ever since he first saw Manet Hall, he'd been enchanted and obsessed with it. So when the opportunity to buy the house comes up, Declan jumps at the chance to live out a dream.

Determined to restore Manet Hall to its former splendor, Declan begins the daunting renovation room by room, relying on his own labor and skills. But the days spent in total isolation in the empty house take a toll. He is seeing visions of days from a century past, and experiencing sensations of terror and nearly unbearable grief sensations not his own, but those of a stranger. Local legend has it that the house is haunted, and with every passing day Declan's belief in the ghostly presence grows.

Only the companionship of alluring Angelina Simone can distract him from the mysterious happenings in the house, but Angelina too has her own surprising connection to Manet Hall a connection that will help Declan uncover a secret that's been buried for a hundred years.'


Occasionally its nice to read something a little bit lighter, something that you don't really need to think about and that is just entertaining and allows you to switch off at the end of a hard day... but you dont want something that is simply smutty trash (I'm really not the Mills and Boon type) Nora Roberts fits this niche to a tee... well at least for me!! Midnight Bayou was a very entertaining read however it seemed to end very abruptly - there felt like there was quite a bit of undeveloped potential.. however as said for a book that I just wanted to read and not think about at all it worked perfectly... And since we've actually been to the Antebellum Plantation that this one is based upon (Oak Alley) I had no problem at all in visualising Manet Hall and the surrounding swampy bayou!! Just what the doctor ordered at the end of a laborious day on site keeping people safe!! 

45. Read 20 books that challenge my ideals (1/20) & 91. Read and Review 100 books (27/100) - Decision Points - George W Bush

'President George W. Bush describes the critical decisions of his presidency and personal life.

Decision Points is the extraordinary memoir of America’s 43rd president. Shattering the conventions of political autobiography, George W. Bush offers a strikingly candid journey through the defining decisions of his life.

In gripping, never-before-heard detail, President Bush brings readers inside the Texas Governor’s Mansion on the night of the hotly contested 2000 election; aboard Air Force One on 9/11, in the hours after America’s most devastating attack since Pearl Harbor; at the head of the table in the Situation Room in the moments before launching the war in Iraq; and behind the Oval Office desk for his historic and controversial decisions on the financial crisis, Hurricane Katrina, Afghanistan, Iran, and other issues that have shaped the first decade of the 21st century.

President Bush writes honestly and directly about his flaws and mistakes, as well as his accomplishments reforming education, treating HIV/AIDS in Africa, and safeguarding the country amid chilling warnings of additional terrorist attacks. He also offers intimate new details on his decision to quit drinking, discovery of faith, and relationship with his family.

A groundbreaking new brand of memoir, Decision Points will captivate supporters, surprise critics, and change perspectives on one of the most consequential eras in American history – and the man at the center of events.'

So I started this book with a little bit of trepidation... on a cold and wet Houston morning I sat down with George W and a cup of tea and gave him a chance to change my mind on his presidency.. and surprisingly W was very good company! This book is far from a chronological autobiography and instead is written around key events, or decision points in the former presidents life and time in office which makes the book easy to digest... Chapter titles include 'Quitting' detailing his personal struggle to give up alcohol, 'Running' detailing his decision to run for office, first as Governor of Texas and then as President, to the more controversial events in his presidency, 'Stem Cells' 'Afghanistan' 'Day of Fire' Iraq' and 'Katrina' 

The book is not an apology for the decisions made, nor is it an excuse but is instead a recount of events from the Presidents point of view, W gives you the situation as he saw it and lets you make your own decision. Did it change my opinion of Bush? Maybe... I admit throughout a great deal of the book I was left thinking... why wasn't this man this eloquent whist holding the highest office in the country? But the real message is best said by the former president himself.. 'That is the nature of the presidency. Perceptions are shaped by the clarity of hindsight. In the moment of decision, you don't have that advantage'. George W Bush. 

91. Read and Review 100 Books (26/100) The Lost Hero - Rick Riordan

'After saving Olympus from the evil Titan lord, Kronos, Percy and friends have rebuilt their beloved Camp Half-Blood, where the next generation of demigods must now prepare for a chilling prophecy of their own: Seven half-bloods shall answer the call, To storm or fire the world must fall. An oath to keep with a final breath, And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death. Now, in a brand-new series from blockbuster best-selling author Rick Riordan, fans return to the world of Camp Half-Blood. Here, a new group of heroes will inherit a quest. But to survive the journey, they'll need the help of some familiar demigods.'

Ok, so I am SERIOUSLY behind with my blogging! I'm pretty sure I read this book at least 6-8 weeks ago.. oops! Anyways... I was super happy to see that Rick Riordan has continued with this series and the best thing about it is that its taken on a new life - different characters, same story lines... Its continuity is surprising and delighting! Looking forward to the next installment... 

91. Read and Review 100 Books (25/100) The Fall: Book Two of The Strain - Guillermo Del Toro

'The vampiric virus unleashed in The Strain has taken over New York City. It is spreading across the country and soon, the world. Amid the chaos, Eph Goodweather—head of the Center for Disease Control’s team—leads a small band out to stop these bloodthirsty monsters. But it may be too late.


Ignited by the Master’s horrific plan, a war erupts between Old and New World vampires, each vying for total control. Caught between these warring forces, humans—powerless and vulnerable—are no longer the consumers, but the consumed.


Though Eph understands the vampiric plague better than anyone, even he cannot protect those he loves from the invading evil. His ex-wife, Kelly, has been turned by the Master, and now she stalks the city, in the darkness, looking for her chance to reclaim Zack, Eph’s young son.


With the future of the world in the balance, Eph and his courageous team, guided by the brilliant former professor and Holocaust survivor Abraham Setrakian and exterminator Vasiliy Fet, must combat a terror whose ultimate plan is more terrible than anyone first imagined—a fate worse than annihilation.'


Ok, so I agree, I've been on a bit of a serial vampire, apocalyptic / post-apocalyptic, end of the world, evil disease, everyone and everything ends up dead, cant sleep at night cos my reading material is giving me nightmares kick, recently. And tho I must admit that this book, is not up to par with 'The Passage', the second novel in the Strain Trilogy still kept me entertained enough to realise that I will be purchasing the third and final instalment (although I will once again be doing it via Amazon, via my Kindle, and I will be waiting a couple of months until the price reduces down to something reasonable) 

91. Read and Review 100 Books (24/100) The Passage - Justin Cronin

' “It happened fast. Thirty-two minutes for one world to die, another to be born.” 

First, the unthinkable: a security breach at a secret U.S. government facility unleashes the monstrous product of a chilling military experiment. Then, the unspeakable: a night of chaos and carnage gives way to sunrise on a nation, and ultimately a world, forever altered. All that remains for the stunned survivors is the long fight ahead and a future ruled by fear—of darkness, of death, of a fate far worse.

As civilization swiftly crumbles into a primal landscape of predators and prey, two people flee in search of sanctuary. FBI agent Brad Wolgast is a good man haunted by what he’s done in the line of duty. Six-year-old orphan Amy Harper Bellafonte is a refugee from the doomed scientific project that has triggered apocalypse. He is determined to protect her from the horror set loose by her captors. But for Amy, escaping the bloody fallout is only the beginning of a much longer odyssey—spanning miles and decades—towards the time and place where she must finish what should never have begun. '

There are these special kind of books, you know the ones... they're the ones that you absolutely devour.. that you cannot wait to find out what happens next, and so you turn the pages with reckless abandon.. you become so engaged in the world of the story and the characters and then suddenly you realise.. at some point this book has to end.. the plot pulling you forward yet your yearning for more holding you back... its a delicious feeling!! This book is without a doubt one of those books!!

The first book in what is planned to be a trilogy... another novel all about vampires (although these vampires are the result of a military experiment gone wrong and not because of some bat bite or seductive and pleasurable sharing of blood) however you'll hardly be 'Team such and such' at the end of this thrilling ride.. far from soft and cuddly.. these vampires are scary, evil, and set on consuming everything in the world that has a pulse... This is a story spanning over 800 pages and 100 years... and in the end.. it left me desperately wanting more... and just a tiny bit scared of the dark...

Get your hands on this book... devour it.... make sure your imagination has the chance to conjure up its own version of this terrifying future... before Hollywood undoubtedly gets their hands on it...

91. Read and Review 100 Books (23/100) Red Hook Road - Ayelet Waldman

'Set on the coast of Maine over the course of four summers, Red Hook Road tells the story of two families, the Tetherlys and the Copakens, and of the ways in which their lives are unraveled and stitched together by misfortune, by good intentions and failure, and by love and calamity. 

A marriage collapses under the strain of a daughter’s death; two bereaved siblings find comfort in one another; and an adopted young girl breathes new life into her family with her prodigious talent for the violin. As she writes with obvious affection for these unforgettable characters, Ayelet Waldman skillfully interweaves life’s finer pleasures—music and literature—with the more mundane joys of living. Within these resonant pages, a vase filled with wildflowers or a cold beer on a hot summer day serve as constant reminders that it’s often the little things that make life so precious.'

This novel was a little hit and miss for me... it seemed to reel me in, then lose me, then reel me back in, then lose me... until I finally just decided, you know what? I'm already half way through lets just finish what I've started. The scariest thing about this novel is the fact it made me think about my own life and the decisions my, and my husbands family would have to make if, god forbid, something were to happen to us as the Tetherlys and the Copakens arranged separate funerals for the newly weds because of religious requirements and traditions (The bride, Becca, was Jewish, the groom, John, Catholic) Yes, reading this novel prompted a number of macabre conversations in my household (but ultimately very important conversations to have.... to ensure that it really isn't until death do us part...). 

This book illustrates that there really is no quick fix for grief, that no set number of days, prayers, or distractions can take away the pain, and that family tragedies can forever scar those who are left behind. 

30. Visit 5 countries other than the US and Australia (4/5) - Honduras

Earlier this month the hubby and I jumped on a plane and made our way, as fast as we could, out of hot and stinky Houston, to the gorgeously white shore and turquoise bays of Central America - or more specifically Roatan, Honduras - for seven glorious days of diving, lazing on the beach, exploring and just good old recharge, relaxation time!!

We've arrived... and already found the Cerveza Fria (that's cold beer to you know Spanish speakers)

So what was Honduras like? Well, what can I say since all we really ended up doing was a whole heap of scuba diving and drinking (what an oxy-moron!!). Well I guess I could talk about the diving since Roatan lies on the edge of the second largest barrier reef in the world (second only to the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland), the same barrier reef that you dive when in Cozumel and Belize!! However, since a previous post pretty much covered that.... I guess all I have to talk about is lots of drinking, eating and general all around relaxing...

Ahh... Cold Beer, Sunset, Beach, Caribbean... what else do you need?? 

The trip was a wonderful success... and as I think I may of mentioned before, we've finally managed to visit somewhere and feel, by the end of the trip, that we covered more or less everything there is to see (of course, having said that I'd still like to visit mainland Honduras at some point so I guess we're not quite finished).. Our accommodation was excellent, the food was delicious, the diving, nothing more than first class, and the drinks were plentiful.. what more can you ask for on a vacation?? (oooo when did I turn into an American?!?!? with my vacation this, vacation that...)

Just two little fishes... swimming in Roatan

Roatan was a fantastic holiday, but would I recommend it to anyone other than divers... Probably not.. there seriously isn't anything else to do.. unless you like doing nothing more than sticking your toes in the sand with a cocktail in one hand and a book in the other for an entire week... hmmm actually now that I mention it that way I think could be convinced into that.... Occasionally!! 

91. Read and Review 100 Books (19/100) The Girl Who Played With Fire - Stieg Larsson

'Part blistering espionage thriller, part riveting police procedural, and part piercing expose on social injustice, The Girl Who Played with Fire is a masterful, endlessly satisfying novel.


Mikael Blomkvist, crusading publisher of the magazine Millennium, has decided to run a story that will expose an extensive sex trafficking operation. On the eve of its publication, two people are brutally murdered, and the fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to his friend, the troubled genius hacker Lisbeth Salander. Blomkvist, convinced of Salander's innocence, plunges into an investigation. Meanwhile, Salander herself is drawn into a murderous game of cat and mouse, which forces her to face her dark past.'


What a great sequel! The novel picks up pretty much straight after the events of the first novel, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and immediately throws you on a roller-coaster ride. It provides a good deal of insight into why Lisbeth Salander is the way she is, and helps to explain her past while she's dealing with the accusations of being a murderer... I couldn't put this book down!!

91. Read and Review 100 Books (18/100) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson

'Harriet Vanger, a scion of one of Sweden's wealthiest families disappeared over forty years ago. All these years later, her aged uncle continues to seek the truth. he hires Mikael Blomkvisk, a crusading journalist recently trapped by a libel conviction, to investigate. He is aided by the pierced and tattooed punk prodigy Lisbeth Salander. Together they tap into a vein of iniquity and corruption.'

Slightly disturbing, extremely enthralling, I really did not want to put this book down.. its a bloodthirsty page turner that makes you think and keeps you on the edge until the very last chapter.. twisting this way and that. This book had me so hooked that I seriously found myself on Amazon purchasing the next in the trilogy, The Girl Who Played With Fire, before I'd even gotten half hay through this instalment. I'm not sure what took me so long to finally pick this book up off my bookshelf and give it a go but I'm very glad I did.. looking forward to the next twisted tale. 

91. Read and Review 100 Books (17/100) The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - David Wroblewski

'Born mute, speaking only in sign, Edgar Sawtelle leads an idyllic life with his parents on their farm in remote northern Wisconsin. For generations, the Sawtelles have raised and trained a fictional breed of dog whose remarkable gift for companionship in epitomized by Almondine, Edgar's life long friend and ally. Edgar seems poised to carry on his families traditions, but when catastrophe strikes, he finds his once-peaceful home engulfed in turmoil. 


Forced to flee into the vast wilderness lying beyond the Sawtelle farm. Edgar comes of age in the wild, fighting for his survival and that of the three yealing dogs who accompany him, until the day he is forced to choose between leaving forever or returning home to confront the mysteries he has left unsolved. 


Filled with breathtaking scenes - the elemental north woods, the sweep of seasons, an iconic American barn, a fateful vision rendered in the falling rain - The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a meditation on the limits of language and what lies beyond, a brilliantly inventive retelling of an ancient story, and courage in the American heartland.' 


Loved this book.. the characters are loveable and tragic.. there were times where I almost threw the book down and swore I wouldn't read a word more as I was so invested in the characters and I though something bad was on the horizon... A truly iconic American novel - you'll laugh, you'll cry.. you'll be totally enthralled with Edgar and his bad of intuitive pups.

91. Read and Review 100 Books (16/100) Dead in the Family - Charlaine Harris

'Even with the blood of two vampires in her system, Sookie is having trouble healing from the terrible torture she endured at the hands of her great-grandfather's enemies during the brief but deadly Fae War. Worse are the emotional wounds - especially over the loss of her own personal fairy godmother and the near death of her first love.

Sookie is hurt and she's mad. Just about the only bright spot in her life - besides the fact that she is, after all, still alive - is the love she thinks she feels for vampire Eric Northman, who is under scrutiny by the new vampire king because of their relationship.

As the political implications of the shifters' coming out are beginning to be felt, Sookie's connection to one particular Were draws her into the dangerous debate. And, unknown to her, though the doors to Faery have been closed, there are still some fae on the human side - and one of them is angry at Sookie. Very, very angry.'

Do you know what I hate?? I mean really really hate... I hate waiting months and months on pins and needles for the next installment in a series that I absolutely adore only to find that when its released, its nothing more than, well, blah... Seriously Ms Harris... in my own humble opinion, there is better fanfiction out there!! Stories written but amateur authors, who better capture the passion, angst and lust between your creations, Sookie and Eric and that relationship... is the whole reason I got hooked in the first place!! 

To sum it all up without giving anything away for those of you that will read this book.. my main issues: 100 pages of 'recap' or back story in a 350 page book (yes I understand it must be accessible to new readers, but really?!?!?), too many new characters who just simply aren't developed beyond anything more than 'filler', a complete 180 in personality for our protagonist and her Viking vampire/man candy AND a thin plot that jumps from here to there and in the end leaves you thinking that this book was nothing more than set up for the next. GRR - This book just left me feeling cold and used... Yes, I'm still invested and yes, I will still purchase the next book in the series BUT I'm not as in love with Sookie and Eric as I was before this book, like I was which for me, is kinda shocking... hope you get it right next time Ms Harris, otherwise it might be time to let this series come to an end... :( 

91. Read and Review 100 Books (15/100) Dark Lover - J.R. Ward

'In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.'

A friend suggested the Black Dagger Brotherhood Saga to help alleviate the vampire withdrawls I'm having waiting for my next Sookie/Eric fix... and I must admit from a trashy yet entertaining view point it worked a treat! The action comes thick and fast, and impressively for this type of genre, the sex scenes are not used to prop up a thin plot but rather tend to add to the development of the characters... although I didn't fall endlessly in love with the Wrath and Beth I still greatly enjoyed the story and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. 

91. Read and Review 100 Books (14/100) House Rules - Jodi Picoult

'Rules, we all live by them. Some people live to break them and there are others who live their lives by these rules. Jacob Hunt is one of those people who lives his life by those rules, primarily because he’s “hard-wired” to think just that way. Jacob has Asperger’s syndrome, a form of Autism that keeps him on the fringes of “normal” society along with those that care most about him. It keeps him from having the meaningful relationships that most of us take for granted and eventually ends him in a situation where he looks guilty enough to kill for one of those relationships'


Kept me entertained during a trip from Houston to Grand Junction, Colorado for work. Although I must admit I kinda figured where the plot was going before Picoult got there herself it was still confronting enough to make me think, what if it was me, what would I do?? Typical Picoult novel, dealing with current medical controversies in a confronting and soul searching way...  however I didn't quite feel she hit the mark this time... 

91. Read and Review 100 Books (13/100) Disaster: Hurricane Katrina and the Failure of Homeland Security, Christopher Cooper

'The fatal inundation of New Orleans was no natural disaster, argues this hard-hitting investigative report. Wall Street Journal reporters Cooper and Block finger two very man-made causes of the tragedy. The first was the decades-long failure of local officials and the Army Corps of Engineers to fix New Orleans' poorly designed and constructed levees and floodwalls, which collapsed under moderate hurricane conditions. The second and more spectacular was the breakdown of the Federal Emergency Management Agency after its incorporation into the Department of Homeland Security, which cut FEMA's funding and authority and reoriented it toward the national obsession with terrorism. The result, when the flood came, was a bumbling federal response hobbled by complacent planning, miscommunication, red tape (even recovery of the dead was delayed by paperwork) and an inability to deliver promised supplies and transportation. The authors' exhaustively researched account slogs through the intricacies of this bureaucratic nightmare and goes beyond the usual pillorying of FEMA head Michael Brown to criticize higher officials in the White House and, especially, DHS. Cooper and Block manage to thread a readable, coherent story through the morass of detail and acronyms, with disquieting implications about the government's ability to cope with catastrophe'


Frustrating to read, this account of what occurred during the catastrophe that was Hurricane Katrina seemed to be a reasonably bipartisan account of the US Governments response toward the Gulf Coast. The book includes background on the levy systems in New Orleans, history of FEMA, and information on the relationships between each governmental organisation involved in the disaster relief effort. I very much found myself reading the book like I was watching a movie, disseminating the players into good v evil... I find Katrina fascinating, most likely due to my current location 300 miles away from ground zero and found that this book gave me a good overall picture of what not only went wrong but also what did go right.. the book showed that to a certain degree people are just that... people... and we can only ever do our best, and even the most capable people can make mistakes in tough situations. This book doesn't lay blame but it doesn't make excuses for people either and in the end it perfectly captures the fact that the US Government dropped the ball and forgot the people of Louisiana in a spectacular fashion... 

91. Read and Review 100 books (12/100) The Host - Stephanie Meyer

'In this tantalizing SF Thriller, planet-hopping parasites are inserting their silvery centipede selves into human brains, curing cancer, eliminating war and turning Earth into paradise. But some people want Earth back, warts and all, especially Melanie Stryder, who refuses to surrender, even after being captured in Chicago and becoming the host for a soul called Wanderer. Melanie uses her surviving brain cells to persuade Wanderer to help search for her loved ones in the Arizona desert. When the pair find Melanie's brother and her boyfriend in a hidden rebel cell lead by her uncle, Wanderer must reconsider her species reason for invading and settling on Earth.'

I've been meaning to read The Host forever!! I think it was one of the first books I ever downloaded on my Kindle... and I've had that now for well over a year!! Anyways I was sitting at home one afternoon earlier this month, having just finished Catching Fire and trying to decide what I was going to turn my attention to next when I remembered that I'd yet to try The Host (I think watching New Moon finally may have also had something to do with the decision) Anyway, I loved the Twilight series so much (who doesn't?!?!) and had such positive memories of it, the books literally got me through 30 hours of flying and transitting when we first expatriated from Australia, that I began to wonder why it was that I'd let this other book of Stephanie Meyers for so long? Time to solve that mystery... I begain to read... I must admit, its no Twilight Saga... it'll still have you genuinely conerened for what happens to the main characters, but I didn't feel as invested in them as I did in Twilight, they're just not quite as loveable... Meyer sets up yet another love triangle, but its not the sort of triangle that polarizes camps as beautifully as Edward - Bella - Jacob. Its a good story, interesting premise, and it did keep me wanting to head straight home from work and delve into the Kindle (a good sign)... It sets the story up for a sequel so perhaps this will be the next Meyer Saga?? If so, I'll be reading the next!

On a side note, completely unrelated.. how annoying is it that books are released in Kindle format and then are removed from sale with no notice or explaination?!?!?! I jumped on Amazon this morning to download the kindle cover of the book for my blog and low and behold the book is no longer available for Kindle... Publishers?!?!?! It really means if you want to read a book on the Kindle you need to grab it when you see it or potentially, you could miss out.. frustrating!!

91. Read and review 100 books (11/100) Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

'Katniss Everdeen continues to struggle to protect herself and her family from the Capitol in this second novel from the bestselling Hunger Games trilogy.'


I wouldn’t say that Catching Fire is as good as the first novel but let’s face it, a lot of the time when there is a trilogy saga being set up it’s the middle book that fails to deliver what’s expected because usually its busy setting the scene for the nail biting conclusion. Anyway, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that this book failed to deliver, or fizzled, and although it wasn’t up to the standard of the first book, it was still pretty darn good! I can’t really say too much without risking giving away too many plot twists… let’s just say that once again peace and quiet doesn’t last long for Katniss and Petar upon returning to District 12 and it indeed isn’t too long until the President is once again causing trouble, placing their lives in danger and forcing them together to defend themselves… looking forward to the third book in the trilogy – The Mockingjay 

91. Read and review 100 books (10/100) The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

'Sixteen-year-old Katniss is smart, athletic, and fast. She can take down a rabbit with a bow and arrow, hitting it straight through the eye. Will these skills be enough to survive the Hunger Games?

Suzanne Collins, the author of the middle-grade fantasy series The Underland Chronicles begins anew, exploring a future landscape that will be familiar to devotees of science fiction's dystopic strain. In a nation called Panem, which occupies the landmass that is the present United States, a parasitical fascist Capitol dominates 12 conquered districts. There was a thirteenth district but it was obliterated during a rebellion. The totalitarian government keeps the subjected populations in line by threatened devastation, starvation, and brutality.'


Terrible name (the young protagonists name is Katniss Everdeen), Brilliant novel! Reminded me a little a Margaret Atwood Dystopian future - one where civilisation as we know it has crumbled into ruins and the rich and powerful minority use the poor as 'entertainment' while controlling them by denying even the most basic of human needs - food, water, shelter, love... a land where those in power remain in power by sending a very clear message  - Mess with us and we'll do something worse than kill you... we'll kill your children.


Brilliant plot, perfectly paced and well written and just fantastical enough, I didn't want to put this book down and found myself stealing whatever spare time I could find in my day to keep reading... cant wait to read the next in the series.


On a side note yes I agree, I seem to have a bit of a children's book thing going on here at the moment but I'm guessing it might have something to do with being wiped out in the evenings when I get home from work and just wanting to escape into an easy reading fantasy...

91. Read and review 100 books (9/100) The Last Olympian - Rick Riordan

'All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of victory are grim. Kronos's army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan's power only grows. While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it's up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.


In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy's sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate'


Good last book, left me wanting more.. I didn't feel as if the story was completely over as there where a couple of threads left open.. but *sigh* I guess it is over.... then again never say never!! 

91. Read and review 100 books (8/100) The Battle of the Labyrinth - Rick Riordan

'Percy Jackson isn’t expecting freshman orientation to be any fun.  But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to diabolical. 

In this latest installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos’s army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop them, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth—a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. Full of humor and heart-pounding action, this fourth book promises to be their most thrilling adventure yet.'

Same old same old - Great book, kept me turning the pages, or rather clicking the 'next page' button through work transits and lunch breaks until I'd finished it... within 24 hours or so :)