Blue Dahlia

Blue Dahlia
By Nora Roberts
051513855X 353p

First in a trilogy. Actually, was a bit put off by this one. The storyline is interesting, the nursery, the kids, the other characters. But the main character knows a guy for just a few weeks and decides to accept when he proposes. Okay, she's in love, he's in love, fine. But she's got two kids to worry about, seems she rushed into the whole thing. I don't think it's possible to be in love that much and know that much about a person in such a short amount of time. Especially if you have kids you love, whose well-being you wouldn't want to jeopardize.
7/10

The Virgin Suicides

The Virgin Suicides
By Jeffrey Eugenides
0446670251 249p

Wow. Beautifully written, just as the last one of his I read was. Every page brings up a new question, most of which are left unanswered in the end. Interesting way of writing to, collective first person, so you never know who the author is. You know who he isn't, by the boys he names who took the girls to the dance. But the other boys, the author could be any of them or none of them. Very disconcerting, in an awesome way.
9/10

The Gift

The Gift
By Nora Roberts
0373285612 442p

Three stories: Home for Christmas, All I Want for Christmas and Gabriel's Angel. All good, but I liked the 2nd the best. The twins were great, rest of the family were good characters. A little hard to tell the twins apart in such a short story, I think this could have made a good full length novel.
8/10

Christians in the Wake of the Sexual Revolution

Christians in the Wake of the Sexual Revolution
by Randy C. Alcorn
0880700955 306p

Better than I thought it would be! Came recommended, but that doesn't mean much. But it was clearcut and relevant (though not as relevant as it was when it was written, I'm sure). He used real life examples without making me feel like he was betraying anyone's secrets (always hard to do, I've found). A great call to action, refreshing and honest.
9/10

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister
By Gregory Maguire
0060987529 368p

Compelling. Definitely a new and interesting take on the old story. I liked it, though at times it seemed to open more questions than it answered!
9/10

River's End

River's End
By Nora Roberts
0515127833 443p

Pretty much saw that ending coming, had it narrowed down to 2 people. Good characters, as always. There might have been too many, I never really connected with any of them like I do in many of her other books. Still, compelling and gripping, good twists.
8/10

Three Fates

Three Fates
By Nora Roberts
0515135062 467p

Would have been 9/10 if she hadn't done the stereotypical showdown at the end. I wanted the cops to come in and take her down, humiliated. Instead, Anita got one more big scene, such a shame. Otherwise, good.
8/10

Baudolino

Baudolino
By Umberto Eco
01510006903 521p

Wished it hadn't ended like that, definitely wanted to know what happened next, even if it was only in Baudolino's mind and a total lie!
9/10

If You Take a Mouse to the Movies

If You Take a Mouse to the Movies
By Laura Numeroff

My boyfriend thought my 101st book of the year should be a childrens book, since 101 is the section we stand in for soccer games and we're all pretty childish. So here we go. Cute book, clever as all in this series are.
8/10

Snowbound

Snowbound
By Janice Kay Johnson
9781426830679

I liked the premise and almost everything about this book. The kids were great, story line has been used before but still had a good twist. Definitely liked that she didn't jump into bed with the guy while the kids were there, though she didn't wait too much longer after that. All around, good book, enjoyable.
8/10

100 Great Fantasy Short Short Stories

100 Great Fantasy Short Short Stories
0385181655 311p

There are some really great stories in here! Definitely impressed. Days after I read a story, it would come back to me. Not all of them, just the best ones. I can imagine that will still be happening a few weeks from now too.
9/10

A Midsummer Night's Faery Tale

A Midsummer Night's Faery Tale
By Wendy Froud & Terri Windling
0684855593 50p

I'm a sucker for anything with "Midsummer Night's" in the title, so I had to pick this one up. Beautiful puppets and dolls in the pictures, I can see why the designer's dolls are in such high demand! Cute story, nowhere near as good as the dolls though!
8/10

Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome

Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome
By E.M. Berens
via gutenberg.org

Nice overview of the subject. Two things I was struck with. The repeated phrase "Zeus... obtained her affections" for every mortal he bedded was so quaint and almost adorable. Another thing. Did any child ever actually die of being exposed on a mountain? It seemed like every time they tried it, the shepherds would find the child and raise them!
8/10

Midnight Sun

Midnight Sun
By Stephenie Meyer
264p

Too bad she's not going to finish this idea, the series from Edward's point of view. At the very least, I wanted to see his thoughts during their first kiss. Am glad we got to hear his thoughts when he touched her cheek the first time. Overall, pretty cool. Also, have to mention how much I adore Alice!
8/10

Ask Marilyn

Ask Marilyn
By Marilyn vos Savant
0312081367 311p

Two of my favorite answers:
When asked if the earth is slowing down, she says it is and that she hopes when it finally stops, it's on a Saturday.
'How many stars in the sky?' 'All of them.'
Pretty amusing, liked the last chapter as well, unanswerable questions. Where do people come up with these crazy questions?! Lol!
8/10

Ireland: A Photographic Portrait

Ireland: A Photographic Portrait
Intro by JP Donleavy
0312142099 155p

Beautiful pictures! And very informative, will be keeping this as a reference for whenever I finally get to go to Ireland.
8/10