2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge

I originally found this challenge through my friend Heather at Proud Book Nerd.  Thanks, Heather! 

This is a challenge to read books recommended by other book bloggers and is hosted by Reading With Tequila.  There is a list (and complete rules HERE) of recommended books.  Rereads do not count, which will challenge me to pick something different than what I usually read (this list is over 400 books long, I think I'm going to find plenty of books I haven't read on it).

I attempted this last year but, due to several factors (one of them being hand surgery), stopped recording what I was reading shortly after starting.  So I am going to give it another shot since I now have the entire year to work with.

Reviews are not required, but I am trying to get into the habit of reviewing what I read so I am going to attempt to review the books I read for this challenge.

I'm keeping track of the books I read for this challenge with this list.  I intend to get to Level IV of the challenge, which is to read 20 of the recommended books.

Review: Rebekah in Danger: Peril at Plymouth Colony (1621)

Rebekah in Danger: Peril at Plymouth Colony (1621) by Colleen L. Reece

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I was disappointed in what felt like a recycling of characters. This takes place only one year after the first book, and both books are by the same author. So why did she choose to use the same family/friends dynamic for both books without keeping it the same family? Also, if she IS going to change the family, she should keep in mind that in such a small group, the two families would run into each other frequently. Mentioning that the families know each other would go a long way towards smooth continuity in these two books.

I know that the intended age range is 8-12, but even at that age, I would have thought this was a poor character setup.

It was a good overview of that first winter in Plymouth Colony, and that is what earned it the third star.



View all my reviews

Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Detroit Tigers: Heart-Pounding, Jaw-Dropping, and Gut-Wrenching Moments from Detroit Tigers History (The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly)

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Detroit Tigers: Heart-Pounding, Jaw-Dropping, and Gut-Wrenching Moments from Detroit Tigers History (The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly) by George Cantor

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



As a Tigers fan, I enjoyed the Tigers trivia, but overall was a little disappointed with this book. The cover features two photos, one on the front and one on the back. Both photos are from games that took place between 2004 and 2008.

Only FOUR of the anecdotes take place after 2000. Eight more (for a total of 12) take place within my lifetime. The overwhelming majority (22) take place in during the 1960s and 70s, with the rest taking place between 1900 and 1959.

For a book with only two cover photos and both of them within a very recent four year time frame, I was expecting more anecdotes that I had a chance of honestly remembering, rather than those that I simply remember hearing about from other people.

This would be a good book for those who remember the 1968 Tigers - most of the anecdotes are from that era and the fans from then will love re-living these memories.



View all my reviews