Monday, August 31, 2009

summary for June through August

If I keep going at that rate I'll really need an apartment with two rooms for me - one bedroom and one library! At least, I got some nice reading done during the past 3 weeks! :-)

Added
89) Lawrence Kaplan: House Of Ghosts (review book)
90) Tachibana Higuchi: Alice Academy Vol. 6
91) Tachibana Higuchi: Alice Academy Vol. 7
92) Natsuo Kirino: Real World
93) Jean Hager: Blooming Murder (Bookcrossing)
94) Nadine Dajani: Cutting Loose (review book)
95) Sally Koslow: The Late, Lamented Molly Marx (review book)
96) Susan Crosby: The Rancher's Surprise Marriage
97) Sarah Dunn: Secrets Of Happiness (won - thanks Beth)
98) Robert Fate: Baby Shark's Jugglers At The Border
99) Allison Leigh: A Weaver Wedding
100) Jeanine Frost: Halfway To The Grave
101) Dirk Bernemann: Ich hab die Unschuld kotzen sehen Teil 2 (German)
102) Patricia Davids: A Military Match
103) Kristan Higgins: Fools Rush In
104) Jill Shalvis: Double Play
105) DD Barant: Dying Bites
106) Rachel Caine: Glass Houses
107) MaryJanice Davidson: Undead and Unpopular
108) MaryJanice Davidson: Undead and Uneasy
109) Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games
110) Nick Sagan: Idlewild
111) Haruki Murakami: A Wild Sheep Chase
112) MaryJanice Davidson: Undead and Unreturnable
113) Kristan Higgins: Too Good To Be True

Read
42) Maju Sakai: Rockin' Heaven Vol. 2
43) Gosho Aoyama: Case Closed Vol. 16
44) Gosho Aoyama: Case Closed Vol. 17
45) Gosho Aoyama: Case Closed Vol. 18
46) Tomoko Hayakawa: Perfect Girl Vol. 6
47) Maki Minami: Special A Vol. 1
48) Maki Minami: Special A Vol. 2
49) Maki Minami: Special A Vol. 3
50) Yuna Kagesaki: Cheeky Vampire Vol. 7
51) Lawrence Kaplan: House Of Ghosts
52) Yuna Kagesaki: Cheeky Vampire Vol. 8
53) Jong Eun Lee: Shi Hwa Mong Vol.1
54) Susan Crosby: The Rancher's Surprise Marriage
55) Jacqueline Baird: Marriage At His Convenience
56) Tomoko Hayakawa: Perfect Girl Vol. 7
57) Tomoko Hayakawa: Perfect Girl Vol. 8
58) Maju Shinjo: Kaikan Phrase Vol. 5
59) Tomoko Hayakawa: Perfect Girl Vol. 9
60) Kristan Higgins: Just One Of The Guys
61) Tachibana Higuchi: Alice Academy Vol. 6
62) Tachibana Higuchi: Alice Academy Vol. 7
63) Karen Tei Yamashita: Tropic Of Orange
64) Allison Leigh: A Weaver Wedding
65) Janice Kay Johnson: Snowbound
66) Cormac McCarthy: The Road
67) Jill Shalvis: Flashback
68) Merline Lovelace: A Question Of Intent
69) M. Reufsteck/J. Stoeckle: Die kleine House-Apotheke
70) Charlotte Douglas: Mystique
71) Elizabeth Young: Asking For Trouble
72) Jill Shalvis: Instant Attraction
73) Carly Phillips: Hot Property
74) Dani Sinclair: Secret Cinderella
75) Julie James: Just The Sexiest Man Alive
76) Donna Kauffman: The Cinderella Rules
77) Susan Elizabeth Phillips: Heaven, Texas
78) Susan Elizabeth Phillips: Lady Be Good
79) Nalini Singh: Visions Of Heat
80) Rachel Caine: Glass Houses
81) Patricia Davids: A Military Match

DNF
4) Dirk Bernemann: Ich hab die Unschuld kotzen sehen 2

I have the feeling I left out at least one DNF, but I just can't remember which one it was *sigh* (Not counting the many books I have not yet finished, but plan on finishing!)

Beth Andrews: A NOT-SO-PERFECT PAST



Beth Andrews
A NOT-SO-PERFECT PAST
Harlequin
305 pages
ISBN: 978-0-373-78301-4


When Dillon Ward returns to the town he grew up in, he knew it wasn't going to be easy. After all, he spent some time in prison and is generally known as the bad boy. He is close to being evicted when someone crashes into the bakery that is in the same building as his apartment. He offers Nina, the owner of both the building and the bakery, to help rebuild her bakery. While Nina and her kids are happy about his offer, everyone else keeps telling her to stay away from him.

Rating: 3.5/5

Sunday, August 30, 2009

playing catch up

As I have 29 not yet reviewed books on my stack of read books, I will post a few short reviews over the next few days. After all, I have read those books weeks if not months ago, for a good part!

So, I apologize for the shorter reviews during the next days, but I promise I will give you longer reviews again in a few days only! After all, I read quite a bit during the last 4 weeks.

giving up on a couple challenges

I have come to the conclusion that I can't complete all challenges I have signed up to do.

The challenges I'm no longer trying to finish are:

* 999 challenge - because I can't possibly read 10 books or more until Sept 09
* Montgomery Mini-Challenge - haven't even read one of the books yet and it ends Sept 30
* Non-Fiction 5 - I once again won't be able to finish that one in time, but I'm always hoping for next year
*

I might add one or two challenges within the next few days, but this is it for now.

Yuna Kagesaki: CHEEKY VAMPIRE Vol. 7 & 8



Somehow, I'm not lucky with my search for pics of the mangas I've been reading. I couldn't find a cover pic of volume 8.

Yuna Kagesaki
CHEEKY VAMPIRE Vol. 7 & 8
Carlsen Manga
338 pages


Well, I can't possibly sum up what has been happening in those two volumes without spoiling everything, so let me give you a short rundown on the premise of the series.

Karin Maaka is a vampire. She's the middle child in a vampire family that left Europe for Japan long ago in order to lead a safer life. Only Karin is not what you'd expect from a vampire. She does not drink blood, she produces more than her body can take and unless she gives it to someone else, she has massive nose bleeding. This leads to hilarious situations in school, because, yes, Karin has to attend school as she still is not allergic to light.

Karin is a loveable character who at first sight doesn't have much support from her family, but once you take a closer look you can see that her family feels slightly overwhelmed with her "abnormalities" and try to help her as much as possible. She also makes friends at school, which complicates her life further.

This is one hilarious manga series about vampires with some serious twists...

Rating: 4.5/5

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Tomoko Hayakawa: PERFECT GIRL Vol. 6-9



I couldn't find volumes 7 through 9, sorry! But the link for volume 6 leads you right to the Amazon.com page.

Tomoko Hayakawa
PERFECT GIRL Vol. 6-9
Tokyopop
675 pages


What happens when the four best-looking guys in school move in with the least popular girl in school who can't stand beauty or being touched? Especially when those four boys can live in the girl's aunt's mansion for free if they succeed in getting her to dress in pretty clothes and stop watching and reenacting horror movies practically 24/7?

That's the basic premise of the series and Tomoko Hayakawa's results, twists and turns are hilarious! Unfortunately, it's hard to get all the volumes out so far, but if you have a chance, take it!

Rating: 4/5

Friday, August 28, 2009

Tachibana Higuchi: ALICE ACADEMY Vol. 4-7



Alice Academy 05 (couldn't find the cover or a link on Amazon.com)



Alice Academy 07 (couldn't find the cover or a link on Amazon.com)

Even though I couldn't find two of the covers on Amazon.com, the links for the other two volumes lead to the respective Amazon websites.

Tachibana Higuchi
ALICE ACADEMY VOL. 4-7
Daisuki
727 pages


The Alice Academy is a bording school for students with "special abilities". These abilities range from being able to control pheromones to attract animals to creating any possible tool just by thinking it up.

The cast in this series is extensive, mostly because it's an entire grade plus their teachers and mentors , but somehow, Tachibana Higuchi managed to keep it easy enough for me to know whom I'm looking at even if I take a small break between the volumes.

After the appearance of a mysterious group that tried to kidnap Natsume, the students are under heavy surveillance, but something is still out there and the students are not safe, so a group around Mikan takes off to find out more.

I really recommend this series, as it is fun and with a bit of fantasy/sci-fi mixed in. Of course, if you have read mangas before, you know why I'm only giving so little information. There is so much happening that you just can't sum it up - and if you would it would spoil the series for those that haven't read the previous volumes.

Rating: 4/5

Japanese Literature Challenge III

I'm finally getting around to posting about this challenge. Of course I'm taking part in Dolce Bellezza's Japanese Literature Challenge III! I haven't been able to join this one for the first two challenges, but I have some books on Mt. TBR that would fit right in with this challenge.



The challenge starts July 30, 2009 and ends January 30, 2010.

My possible reads are:

1) Haruki Murakami: A Wild Sheep Chase
2) Yasushi Inoue: Der Tod des Teemeisters (couldn't find the English title)
3) Natsuo Kirino: Real World
4) Hitori Nakano: Train Man

Since I have already read tons of mangas this year I won't add any of those to my official list, but if I do read one I'll add it in an additional list.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

new books :-D

I'm finally at my parents' for the rest of the week, with feet that hurt like hell, but I'm happy LOL

But it was all worth it, because I spent this afternoon book shopping, having a late lunch and a cup of coffee with a friend. We both love books and have been planning this book shopping spree for a few months now.

So, here's what I got at the indie:
DD Barant: Dying Bites
Rachel Caine: Glass Houses
MaryJanice Davidson: Undead and Unpopular
MaryJanice Davidson: Undead and Uneasy
Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games
Nick Sagan: Idlewild

Anyway, I also got three more books this week from Amazon:
Patricia Davids: A Military Match (finally!!!)
Kristan Higgins: Fools Rush In
Jill Shalvis: Double Play

On top of that, I just ordered:
MaryJanice Davidson: Undead and Unreturnable (cause they didn't have it at the book shop)
Haruki Murakami: A Wild Sheep Chase (going to read it with two friends from university)

Now, I'm going back to my sofa where my book is waiting for me (the Rachel Caine one). So far, it's great, but I'm still on the first couple pages..

Monday, August 24, 2009

back to blogging

I'm back! I can't believe it, but it is really true :-)

I had to extend my vacation a bit because I was really exhausted and and managed to plan my vacation for the time that turned out to be the hottest time of the year so far. A few times I was very close to melting LOL (For those living in tropic areas: I don't do well with heat all day - and night - long! For you, the temps would have been ridiculous.)

I'm still not done with my papers and essays (they're due at the end of September), so I can't guarantee you that I'll get and stay up to date with my reviews until then, but I'll do my best and will keep posting.

For now, I will try to update all my challenge posts (and add one or two challenges) and write reviews of all the books I read.

So you see what is coming up for you, I have a list of books I read during my vacation for you. The numbers are taken from my regular reading summary.

60) Kristan Higgins: Just One Of The Guys
61) Tachibana Higuchi: Alice Academy Vol. 6
62) Tachibana Higuchi: Alice Academy Vol. 7
63) Karen Tei Yamashita: Tropic Of Orange
64) Allison Leigh: A Weaver Wedding
65) Janice Kay Johnson: Snowbound
66) Cormac McCarthy: The Road
67) Jill Shalvis: Flashback
68) Merline Lovelace: A Question Of Intent
69) M. Reufsteck/J. Stoeckle: Die kleine House-Apotheke
70) Charlotte Douglas: Mystique
71) Elizabeth Young: Asking For Trouble
72) Jill Shalvis: Instant Attraction
73) Carly Phillips: Hot Property
74) Dani Sinclair: Secret Cinderella
75) Julie James: Just The Sexiest Man Alive
76) Donna Kauffman: The Cinderella Rules
77) Susan Elizabeth Phillips: Heaven, Texas
78) Susan Elizabeth Phillips: Lady Be Good
79) Nalini Singh: Visions Of Heat

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Back soon! Sorry!

I can't believe I haven't been around for so long, but I hadn't realized I was just so exhausted! I haven't had a vacation for 2 years and even this vacation I spent at home.

In fact, I haven't had a real vacation anyway, as I spent the past weeks working more hours than usually. My computer doesn't work well anymore and since I need one for university, I am right now trying to earn the money for a new one, which didn't and still doesn't help me relax enough *sigh*

At least, I managed to read whenever I was at home from work and I sure did read some books!

I will get back online tomorrow to write a bit on my reviews.