#28: Read 100 Books

I love to read, but I have a hard time picking books for myself. I usually read based on recommendations. These recommendations can come from anywhere. I believe this one came from Amazon based on past purchases and searches.

This time I read The Lion, the lamb, the hunted.

A journalist investigates the 30-year-old kidnapping and murder of a kid. And of course there are twists and turns along the way. I liked this book, but I thought the end was predictable. Usually when I think I have figured out how a book will end there is a curve ball in there that I was not expecting. But that did not happen here, which was a little disappointing. It was still a good read, but I think it could have been better.

#27 and #28: Books

I recently read a non-crime book and a crime book. Balance. I will read books based on recommendations from strangers, internet friends, co-workers (except I will not be reading 50 shades of porn), anyone. The Night Circus was one of those recommendations. When I first read the insert, I thought it was going to be the Hunger Games set in a circus. Not at all. This is a fantastical, magical book about two young magicians dueling with the circus at as their setting. But they don't know who each other is and they don't know how a winner is determined. The description and settings and details make this a very enjoyable read.

While reading The Night Circus, I was also reading The Consultant, book two of the Barry/McCall series by Claude Bouchard. You definitely must read The Vigilante first. And I have said repeatedly how I love a series, especially when it is good.

#27: Read 50 Non-Crime Books

I have been away from this blog for a while. I have had a lot going on. Mostly bad, but I am trying to turn a new leaf. I have been reading though. I read 4 non-crime related books in a row. That is big for me.

First I read Shantaram. This book was recommended several times by several different people. And sorry, now I can remember none of those people specifically. But I am definitely one to try a book that has several recommendations. Even if it is not in the genre I normally read. And again, I am glad I did. Shantaram is the story of an escaped convict from Australia that flees to India in an attempt to recreate his life. I read this book on my Kindle and just recently found out this book is over 900 pages. I was wondering what was taking me so long to finish it. If you read the reviews on this book they are all over the place. Some people, like the ones that recommended it to me, say its the best book they have ever read or at least the best book they read last year. Others hated it. I loved the descriptions of India and Mumbai and other travelled places. It definitely makes me want to travel there. But I could have done without about 300 pages of this book...and it would still have been a long book. This is a memoir written like a novel. I definitely was wrapped up in all the characters and their lives as I read this one.

After finishing this book I decided to read something a little different. Something I could hopefully breeze through. I was skeptical about whether or not I would like this next book. I thought maybe I would put it down after the first page. I read my first young adult book as an adult. And I liked it. Loved it. I read The Hunger Games.

I don't really think I need to give this book any explanation. If you have not heard of this book I think you have been living under a rock. But much to my surprise this book was a surprise. I actually read it in a day. Yes, one day. I was home on a weekend doing nothing and decided to start reading it. And I could not put it down. It was so good that as soon as I finished I instantly downloaded Book 2, Catching Fire, on my Kindle and started reading that. And then after reading that, I went straight to Book 3, The Mockingjay. I read the entire series in 5 days. I don't think I have ever done that before. If you have not read these books, I strongly recommend. I even got the Hubs to go see the movie and even without reading the books he really enjoyed it and wanted to know what happened in the rest of the series.