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.



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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.



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Review: Explosive Eighteen

Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



After a few hum-drum books, it was great to have the old spark back. This (like the rest) is a fast read - I read it in approximately 5 hours. I laughed most of the way through it, and had a hard time putting it down.

If you love Stephanie Plum, get your hands on this book as soon as you can!



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Review: The Tenth Circle

The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I didn't know what to expect going into this book, other than the fact that I expected it to be similar to other books by Jodi Picoult. I enjoy Picoult's books in large part because of their unpredictability. While it is true that large chunks of the plot are often quite predictable, there is nearly always a small twist at the end that is unexpected. In that respect, it did not disappoint.

I enjoyed this book, and I really enjoyed the concepts of Dante's Inferno that were sprinkled throughout. The comic book sections between the chapters threw me for a loop at first, but then I realized that they truly did follow the storyline when viewed as a progression of Daniel's train of thought through the story.

There were a couple of things that I expected to have wrapped up at the end that were not, but since they take place within the last two chapters of the book I will not explain them here.

Review: The Quotable Rogue: The Ideals of Sarah Palin in Her Own Words

The Quotable Rogue: The Ideals of Sarah Palin in Her Own Words by Bill Adler Jr.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a book of quotes by Sarah Palin. Love her or hate her, she is going to be a part of the American Political scene for quite some time. According to the editor, Matt Lewis, the goal of the book is to set the record straight on what Sarah has and has not said. Often, quotes attributed to Sarah are actually paraphrased for comedic value rather than actual quotes.

I did enjoy the book, but did not find it a quick read or even truly an engaging one. Rather than a book to spend time just sitting and reading, this is a book that I would prefer to have on hand to read one or two things here and there, or as reference material.

The quotes in this book cover a range of approximately five years (2005 through 2010) and you can see Sarah's changing opinions in some of them. I find this refreshing - it shows that she can change and grow as her understanding of a situation changes.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge

I found this challenge through my friend Heather at Proud Book Nerd.  Thanks, Heather!  This will be my first reading challenge in the blogosphere, and I'm really looking forward to it!

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).  The challenge started on January 1st, so I'm starting out about 6 months behind.  No matter, I will still do the best I can.  That being said, I'm going to aim for Level III - 15 books.  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.