A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon 2012 Wrap up Post

It is Sunday evening and I am soon on my way to bed. I have really enjoyed this week of A Winter's Respite Respite Read-a-Thon 2012.

My goal of this week was to read at least 6 books and I passed that goal as I ended up finishing 7 books.

This is the list:

1. Hidden by Kelley Armstrong. 200 pages - paranormal novella
2. Trader by Charles de Lint. 356 pages - fantasy 
3. LightMasters: Number 13 by MG Wells. 196 pages- sci-fi, fantasy
4. Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks. 388 pages - sad romance 
5. Sojourn by Jana Oliver. 369 pages - fantasy
6. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings. 274 pages - fantasy
7. The Penal Colony by Richard Heyley. 311 pages - sci-fi I think

All in all approximately 2000 pages this week. Not at all bad going.

Of all the books I had really looked forward to, Hidden by Kelley Armstrong, one of my favourite  authors, did not disappoint. I know some of Charles de Lints other books and will buy more of his books. Jana Oliver was not completely new either as I have read the first 2 books in her Demon Trapper series and I have already bought the next 2 books that follow Sojourn.
The last 4 authors I had not read before. I will most likely try to find more books by both David Eddings, Richard Herley and Nicholas Sparks. I am not sure about M.G. Wells unless they are free.

I also won a prize during this Read-a-Thon:

The Wandering Valkyr by Dan Wright











I am looking forward to reading this book.

Thank you Michelle from thetruebookaddict for hosting this Read-aThon. I am already looking forward to your next one

HERE are all the posts for this Challenge.

The Penal Colony by Richard Herley

The British government now runs island prisons for the worst offenders from its mainland jails. New arrivals are dumped by helicopter and must learn to survive as best they can. To Sert, one afternoon in July, is brought Anthony John Routledge, sentenced for a sex-murder he did not commit. Routledge knows he is he is here for ever. And he knows he must quickly forget the rules of civilized life. From Goodreads

I was very surprised by this book. I have to admit, as it was a free book, I didn't expect much. I enjoyed this book, though enjoyed is the wrong term for it. It was a brutal, disturbing story and very violent. It is not a book for the faint-hearted. It is made clear that the main character is innocent but also that most of the 500 men on the island are not. Even though it is clear that the people are murderers, rapists and worse some of the characters are still likeable but most of them are of course intensely detestable.
   
I read this book as part of the Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon.hosted by Michelle at The True Book Addict.

It also qualifies for: 
100 books in a year Reading Challenge 2012, 
Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge, 
Where Are You Reading Challenge 2012,
2012 Ebook Challenge, 
Why Buy the Cow? Reading challenge 2012 ( this book is free on Amazon)

Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings

Long ago, so the storyteller claimed, the evil God Torak sought dominion over all and drove the world to war. Now the one talisman keeping this sinister force from seizing power has been disturbed—and no one will be safe. . . .Raised on a quiet farm by his Aunt Pol, Garion spends his days lounging in his aunt’s warm kitchen and playing in the surrounding fields with his friends. He has never believed in magic, despite the presence of a cloaked, shadowless stranger who has haunted him from a distance for years. But one afternoon, the wise storyteller Wolf appears and urges Garion and his aunt to leave the farm that very night. Without understanding why, Garion is whisked away from the only home he has ever known—and thrown into dark and unfamiliar lands.

Thus begins an extraordinary quest to stop a reawakened evil from devouring all that is good. It is a journey that will lead Garion to discover his heritage and his future. For the magic that once seemed impossible to Garion is now his destiny. From Goodreads

I enjoyed this book. I like the world Eddings has created and I like that a lot of the characters are not what they seem. I will definitely continue this series at a later date to see what happens to Garion and his companions.

I read this book as part of the Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon.hosted by Michelle at The True Book Addict.

With this book I have actually reached my goal of 6 books that I set myself for this Read-a-Thon. But as it is only Saturday evening I might read another book before the end of tomorrow

It also qualifies for: 
100 books in a year Reading Challenge 2012, 
Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge,
2012 Ebook Challenge

Sojourn by Jana Oliver

London, September 1888. An aged Queen Victoria rules. The threat of anarchy hovers in the air. A new kind of evil lurks in the back alleys of Whitechapel. Enter Jacynda Lassiter, a Time Rover on a mission—find an overdue ‘tourist’ and return him to 2057 before he changes history.

Victorian London is a dangerous place for the unwary. Mysterious shape-shifters haunt the streets, making friend and foe indistinguishable. When a fellow Time Rover is murdered, Jacynda’s mission becomes personal. Can she trust the two gentlemen who come to her aid, or do they harbor their own dark secrets?
In a few days, Jack the Ripper will add to his bloody legacy. But old Jack isn’t the only threat in Whitechapel. Unless Jacynda can outwit a madman, her Victorian sojourn will rewrite history—and end at the point of a blade. from Goodreads




I bought this book after reading  Forsaken and Forbidden from The Demon Trapper Series for the  Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2011. This book is nothing like them. This is a Sci-fi historical mystery book and I still enjoyed it very much. So much that I think I will buy the next book in the series very soon.

I read this book as part of the Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon.hosted by Michelle at The True Book Addict.

Update 28/1-2012: Less than 24 hours after writing above post I have now bought both the second and third book in the Time Rovers series.

It also qualifies for: 
100 books in a year Reading Challenge 2012, 
Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge, 
2012 Ebook Challenge,

Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks

When Theresa Osborne takes a much-needed summer holiday at Cape Cod, she finds a lot more than a break from the hustle and bustle. On an early-morning jog along Cape Cod Bay, she comes across a corked bottle with a scrolled-up message inside that reads: "My Dearest Catherine, I miss you, my darling, as I always do, but today is especially hard because the ocean has been singing to me, and the song is that of our life together..." It bobbles around in the same vein for several more paragraphs and ends with "...am alone on the pier and I do not care what others think as I bow my head and cry and cry and cry. Garret."
Garret may eat quiche, but no bother--before you can say "Look! I found two more letters!" Theresa is hot on his trail and determined to find this mysterious yet sensitive message-in-a-bottle man. She finds him at a sleepy North Carolina port, working on his beloved sailboat, The Happenstance. From there, a romance buds and blossoms into a colourful bouquet of emotional baggage. Theresa has problems with her past--or, more accurately, her past is a problem. She is so scarred from her "I'm a super churchgoing guy now that I've run out on my wife" ex-husband that she hasn't tried to date since her divorce some three or four years before. And who is Catherine? And what's Garret's bag, anyway? When Theresa finds out, she plunges to the depths of her soul and uncorks a whopper of a secret about herself, bringing Garret to terms with who he really is. From Goodreads.

I decided to read the book after having seen the film. The book of course is so much more detailed than the film and there are also things in the film that are not from the book. I enjoyed the book a lot, I knew the ending as that is the same as in the film and still wanted to read it. This is a lovely romance but if you need a happy ending don't read this one. If you decide to read it then make sure you have loads of hankies ready (goes for the film too).

I read this book as part of the Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon.hosted by Michelle at The True Book Addict.

It also qualifies for: 
100 books in a year Reading Challenge 2012, 
Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge, 
Where Are You Reading Challenge 2012,
2012 Ebook Challenge,
Where are you Reading Challenge 2012 (North Carolina)

LightMasters: Number 13 by M.G. Wells

Orphaned after her parents' tragic death, Jessica Wyrd feels uneasy living with her gassy grandparents. With few friends and constant teasing by her hardcore schoolmates, this Georgia girl feels like an outcast living in a small town in upstate New York.
Anxious about being forgotten on her 13th birthday, Jessica is lured into the forest by a strange spiral light. She encounters three Lighmasters, who convince her that she has unique gifts. Intrigued, she's transported to another dimension where she is tested for her courage and strength.  Things change drastically when Jessica returns to earth. During school, her reality shifts and people start turning into reptilian monsters.

The leader of the Lightmasters tells her she's needed by the alliance to defeat an invisible alien beast, who feeds off fear. How can Jessica conquer her own fears and help rid the world of a wicked enemy who hates humans? From Goodreads

This book wasn't quite as gripping as I had hoped. It was interesting enough and it was rather fast paced but I just didn't get caught up in the book. I liked the grandparents of the main character Jessica more than her.

I read this book as part of the Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon.hosted by Michelle at The True Book Addict.
It also qualifies for: 
100 books in a year Reading Challenge 2012, 
Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge, 
2012 Ebook Challenge, 
Why Buy the Cow? Reading challenge 2012 ( the book was free on Amazon.com on the 12th of January 2012)

Trader by Charles de Lint

When a mischievous spirit grants loser Johnny Devlin's wish for someone else's life, luthier Max Trader wakes up in Johnny's body, surrounded by the emotionally vacant shambles Johnny has left behind, bankrupt and farther down in the world than he has ever imagined being. Jarred from his complacent, self-contained path, Max has only his inner resources for both emotional and financial support. He wants his life back, but, as he struggles for it, he realizes that he will no longer be satisfied with things as they were. Fans of de Lint's previous work will enjoy this gently didactic story set in the fictional town of Newford's thirtysomethingish community of arty waifs and folk musicians. From Goodreads


An author that is becoming one of my favourites. I think this is the 5th book I have read from Charles de Lint and it did not disappoint me. I find it intriguing to follow several characters in different chapters that all come together in the end and have quite important roles to play. I will be looking for more of his Newfords series to read.


I read this book as part of the Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon.hosted by Michelle at The True Book Addict.
It also qualifies for:  
100 books in a year Reading Challenge 2012, 
Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge, 
2012 Ebook Challenge.

Hidden By Kelley Armstrong

Hiking through the snow, holiday baking and playing board games by the fire – what’s not to love about an old-fashioned family Christmas?
Werewolves Elena Michaels and Clayton Danvers want to give their four-year-old twins, Kate and Logan, something their parents never had: a nice, normal holiday. No Pack responsibilities, no homicidal half-demons or power-hungry sorcerers to deal with – just the four of them, alone, at a chalet outside Ontario’s Algonquin Park. 

Then a strange werewolf shows up at their door…while the town is buzzing about a young man, back from college, found half-eaten in the woods. And there’s the missing little girl …

With all the signs pointing to a rogue mutt with a taste for human flesh, Elena and Clay have no choice but to investigate. But are they the hunters – or the hunted? From Goodreads

Not much to say. As a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong's Other World Series I of course loved this book. Elena and Clayton, my favourite werewolves are back and this time with their children. It is only 200 pages and I would have liked a longer book but I find the story just fits perfectly, there was nothing missing. I would recommend this book to anybody who likes Paranormal but you will get a lot more out of it if you at least have read the some of the previous books where we get to know the story behind Elena and Clayton.

I read this book as part of the Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon.hosted by Michelle at The True Book Addict.

It also qualifies for:  
100 books in a year Reading Challenge 2012, 
Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge, 
Where are You Reading Challenge 2012,
2012 Ebook Challenge

A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon 2012 book list

I am now ready with the book list for A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon that starts in about 12 hours.

The book list contains 8 books of varying length. My goal is 6 books in the week.

This is the list, the books are not in reading order:

1. The Motion Demon by Stefan Grabinsky. 113 pages - short stories
2. Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks. 388 pages - sad romance
3. The Penal Colony by Richard Heyley. 311 pages - sci-fi I think
4. Hidden by Kelley Armstrong. 200 pages - paranormal novella
5. Trader by Charles de Lint. 356 pages - fantasy
6. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings. 274 pages - fantasy
7. LightMasters: Number 13 by MG Wells. 196 pages- sci-fi, fantasy
8. Sojourn by Jana Oliver. 369 pages - fantasy

As always with lists though, this is just my guideline. I might suddenly decide to read something completely different :-)
But whatever I do my goal of 6 books stands and I hope to meet it.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

An epic, richly inventive, historically sweeping, magical romance. When historian Diana Bishop opens an alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, it's an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordered life. Though Diana is a witch of impeccable lineage, the violent death of her parents while she was still a child convinced her that human fear is more potent than any witchcraft. Now Diana has unwittingly exposed herself to a world she's kept at bay for years; one of powerful witches, creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires. Sensing the significance of Diana's discovery, the creatures gather in Oxford, among them the enigmatic Matthew Clairmont, a vampire genticist.
 
Diana is inexplicably drawn to Matthew and, in a shadowy world of half-truths and old enmities, ties herself to him without fully understanding the ancient line they are crossing. As they begin to unlock the secrets of the manuscript and their feelings for each other deepen, so the fragile balance of peace unravels.. From Goodreads.


Another book I really enjoyed. Yes it is a vampire / witch romance full of secrets and forbidden love but it is also about the murder of Diana's parents, the problems between species and a book all 3 species wants to get hold of. I am now looking forward to the next book of this All Souls Trilogy which is being released in July.

This book qualifies for:  
100 books in a year Reading Challenge 2012, 
Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge, 
2012 Ebook Challenge, 
2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge, 
2012 Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge,
Where are you Reading Challenge 2012 

Sabriel by Garth Nix

 After receiving a cryptic message from her father, Abhorsen, a necromancer trapped in Death, 18-year-old Sabriel sets off into the Old Kingdom. Fraught with peril and deadly trickery, her journey takes her to a world filled with parasitical spirits, Mordicants, and Shadow Hands. Unlike other necromancers, who raise the dead, Abhorsen lays the disturbed dead back to rest. This obliges him--and now Sabriel, who has taken on her father's title and duties--to slip over the border into the icy river of Death, sometimes battling the evil forces that lurk there, waiting for an opportunity to escape into the realm of the living. Desperate to find her father, and grimly determined to help save the Old Kingdom from destruction by the horrible forces of the evil undead, Sabriel endures almost impossible exhaustion, violent confrontations, and
terrifying challenges to her supernatural abilities--and her destiny. From Goodreads
 




I was looking for a book for the Scavenger Hunt 2012 Reading Challenge. January – Book must have a character's name in title.

So I went searching and found this. I really enjoyed this book and the world. There are two parts to this world. Ancelstierre that is without or at least not wanting much to do with magic and then the Old Kingdom that is full of magic. Sabriel is a Necromancer's daughter but has been sent to Ancelstierre to go to school. As she is finishing school her father is trapped in Death and she has to save him.
Usually the Necromancers one reads about are about raising the dead but the duty of the line of Abhorsen is to release the dead to death so they stay dead! And that is not always easy.

Sabriel travels some of the time with 2 companions, Mogget a cat that really is an extremely old spirit and Touchstone a young man, that turns out to be quite important, who 200 years ago was turned into a wooden galleon-figure that she has brought back to life. 

I found the book fast paced and it did not take me long to finish it as I got sucked into it.
I was actually quite pleased that even though it is part one of a trilogy it finishes and does not have a cliffhanger that forces you to read the next book right away. Don't misunderstand me, I will definitely come back but I like that I don't have to do it right away to get answers.

This book qualifies for:  
100 books in a year Reading Challenge 2012, 
Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge, 
2012 Ebook Challenge
Scavenger Hunt 2012 Reading Challenge 

A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon 2012

A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon 2012

Update: I think I have found out when American central standard time is. As far as I can figure out there is a 2 hour difference between that timezone and Greenland. So my Read-a-Thon will start on the 23rd of January at 2 am. I am looking forward to it. I will try and make a list some time this week of the books I would like to read.

Scavenger Hunt 2012 Reading Challenge

picture from Angels are Kids and Furkids

Scavenger Hunt 2012 Reading Challenge

Yes, yet another challenge. This sounds like fun so I will take part in this too. In January I have to read a book that has a character's name in the title  and in February it is a flower name in the title.

Here is the page of this challenge where you can follow my progress.
This is where all the posts for this challenge can be found.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Ender Wiggin is a very bright young boy with a powerful skill. One of a group of children bred to be military geniuses and save Earth from an inevitable attack by aliens, known here as "buggers," Ender becomes unbeatable in war games and seems poised to lead Earth to triumph over the buggers. Meanwhile, his brother and sister plot to wrest power from Ender. from Goodreads





 





This is a book about kids, small kids that are made into military commanders. It is brutal and scary. I kept forgetting that I was reading about kids around the age of 6 to 13. Ender is 6 years old at the start of the book and when the first part is over he is only 11. Ender is shown as someone who doesn't like to hurt people but at the same time he does everything he can to survive which means he has to hurt and injure somebody else quite badly. He hates it and is afraid to become like his brother.
He has been born just so he can go to the military school in space and by playing computer mind and war games learn how to fight the enemy. In order to make him what they want he is set against his classmates and never left anywhere long enough to become real friends with anyone.


I read this book for the 2012 Sci-Fi Challenge I am taking part in. The Pern trilogy that I have just read is also Sci-Fi but I didn't feel they fit the challenges of Want to challenge yourself to read outside your comfort zone in 2012? as they were re-reads and not outside my comfort zone of reading. Ender's Game was outside my comfort zone and I am pleased I have read it.


This book qualifies for:  
100 books in a year Reading Challenge 2012, 
Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge, 
2012 Ebook Challenge
2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge
2012 Sci-Fi Challenge 

Author interview and book giveaway winnings

 


Robbie is the 12-year-old son of a wealthy businessman who does whatever he wants regardless of the consequences. When he falls over the rail of a Mediterranean cruise ship, he finds himself in the amazing underground world of Sutala. Robbie meets Lea and many of the Wonderkind who are all that remain of an ancient and powerful race. Lea introduces Robbie to the hups, the luminescent bees and a magical waterfall that changes him forever.








This is a long overdue post!

In November I put my name in for a book giveaway hosted by I am A Reader, Not A Writer and I won the book The Wonderkind by Fun London.
I have received the ebook, but I haven't had the time to read it yet. It is in my TBR pile.

A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon 2012

A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon 2012

I have decided to take part in this A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon 2012 hosted by Michelle over at The True Book Addict

The Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon is on January 23 through January 29! It will start at 12:00am Monday and end at 11:59pm on Sunday.  Times are central standard time so adjust your times accordingly.  I plan to host a mini-challenge (or two or more) and there will be a giveaway for every one who signs in at the starting line and completes a wrap up post at the end.  Of course, like most read-a-thons, the books read must be novels or novellas, adult or young adult are fine, but no children's books.  You DO NOT have to participate the entire week.  Join in when you can, start in the middle, end early...whatever works best for your schedule.  As long as you sign in at the sign-in post and do some kind of wrap up post, you're in for the giveaway.  As with my previous read-a-thons, it will be a week of relaxed reading during which we can personally challenge ourselves and whittle away those ever looming TBR piles/shelves/libraries.  I hope you will join me!

It is not as if I need a reason to read. I love reading. It is a whole fortnight away so I have not quite decided what to read for this week but have no fear I will find lots to read. All I have to do now is figure out when 12:00AM on the 23rd of January central standard time is here in Greenland.

The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey

 Never had there been as close a bonding as the one that existed between the daring and adventurous young Lord Jaxom and his extraordinary white dragon, Ruth. Pure white and incredibly agile, Ruth was a dragon of many talents, though almost everyone on Pern thought he was a runt that would never amount to anything. But Jaxom knew better, knew he could teach his dragon to fly and to destroy the deadly silver Threads that fell from the sky. Disobeying all rules, Jaxom and Ruth trained in secret. Their illicit flights seemed but a minor disobedience-- until they found themselves in the path of danger and in a position to prevent the biggest disaster of all! From Goodreads

This is my favourite book of the three first book in the Pern series. I like the way Jaxom is maturing and trying to find out who and what he is. But as the title suggest the main character is The White Dragon Ruth. I enjoy reading about Ruth and seeing how different he is to the other dragons and he knows so much more than them. It seems like he is a lot more intelligent than the other dragons in the sense that he is not so controlled by feelings but then he is also described as asexual so he does not react when the queens and greens get ready to fly.

This book qualifies for:  
100 books in a year Reading Challenge 2012, 
Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge, 
2012 Ebook Challenge
All the Books of Pern Challenge 2012

Reading Challenge Addict 2012

Reading Challenge Addict.

I found this challenge and thought what a great idea to have a challenge about how many challenges one takes part in.

How addicted are you?

• Easy as Pie: 1-5 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
• On the Roof: 6-10 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
• In Flight: 11-15 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
• Out of This World: 16+ Challenges (Entered & Completed)

I have chosen to take part in 9, year-long challenges and I might try to take part in some shorter challenges over the year. I have chosen that I am On the Roof and will complete 6-10 of my Challenges.

My 9 Challenges are:

1. 2012 Sci-Fi Challenge.
    to read a Sci-Fi book a month over the year
    My Page

2. 2012 Where are you reading Challenge
    to try and read a book that takes place in each of the 50 States.
    My Page

3. 2012 Ebook Challenge
    to read a set number of E-books within the year. I chose the level of Server - Read 100 
    Ebooks.
    My Page

4. 2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge
    to read books from the Book Blogger Recommendation List. I chose Level III - read 15 books.
    My Page

5. 2012 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge.
    to read a set number of Witchy books, fiction and non-fiction. I chose the Level of Mother - 
    read 11-15 Witchy books
    My Page

6. All the Books of Pern Challenge 2012.
    to read a set number of Pern books within the year. I chose the level Blue - read the 
    original trilogy plus the Harper Hall trilogy or any 6.
    My Page

7. 100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge.
    to read 100+ books in 2012 any genre
    My Page

8. Why Buy The Cow? Reading Challenge 2012.
     to read a set number of free and legal downloaded books within the year. I chose the Level of
     Coupon Clipper - read 12 books
     My Page

9. Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge.
    set a personal goal for the number of books to read in 2012. I chose 110 books
    My Page

Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge

Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge.

A individual challenge where you have to set your own goal.

I have set my goal to read 110 books in 2012

My progress will be HERE and the posts HERE

Dragonquest by Anne McCaffrey

Another Turn, and the deadly silver Threads began falling again. So the bold dragonriders took to the air once more and their magnificent flying dragons swirled and swooped, belching flames that destroyed the shimmering strands before they reached the ground. But F'lar knew he had to find a better way to protect his beloved Pern, and he had to find it before the rebellious Oldtimers could breed any more dissent ... before his brother F'nor would be foolhardy enough to launch another suicide mission ... and before those dratted fire-lizards could stir up any more trouble! From Goodreads

Another book read and only about 24 hours after the last. Well what can I say, I tend to keep reading when I get started and forget everything around me. This book is the second in the first trilogy of the Pern books.  It is a continuation of the first, set 7 years later and a lot of animosity has arisen between the different Weyrs, the Holds and among themselves. What I actually like about this one is that it is still a extremely patriarchal society but the Weyrwomen have so much power or rather what they do effects everything around them. This book shows how much can be destroyed from just one woman's actions. My problem is that it is "only" about 4 years since I read the series for the first time. I keep anticipating things at the same time as I have forgotten a lot of the details in the books.

This book qualifies for:  
100 books in a year Reading Challenge 2012, 
Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge, 
2012 Ebook Challenge
All the Books of Pern Challenge 2012

Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey

HOW CAN ONE GIRL SAVE AN ENTIRE WORLD?
Lessa seems nothing but a ragged kitchen girl. For most of her life she has survived by serving those who betrayed her family and took over their lands. Now the time has come for Lessa to shed her disguise—and take back her stolen birthright.
But everything changes when she meets a queen dragon. The bond they share will be deep and last forever. It will protect them when, for the first time in centuries, Lessa’s world is threatened by Thread, an evil substance that falls like rain and destroys everything it touches. Dragons and their Riders once protected the planet from Thread, but there are very few of them left these days. Now brave Lessa must risk her life, and the life of her beloved dragon, to save her beautiful world... From Goodreads.

I was introduced to the Pern series about 4 years ago and I think I bought most of them (only the ones written by Anne McCaffrey alone) as fast as I could get them delivered. I am now reading some of them again for  All the Books of Pern Challenge 2012
I enjoyed reading it again and find it a very interesting story. I like Lessa who is quite a strong woman but by no means a saint as she with her power has hurt a lot of people in order to get her revenge. It is a patriarchal society and women are treated badly to say the least but there are some women who are very strong in their own way.

This book qualifies for:  
100 books in a year Reading Challenge 2012, 
Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge, 
2012 Ebook Challenge
All the Books of Pern Challenge 2012

Why Buy the Cow? Reading Challenge 2012

Why Buy the Cow? Reading Challenge 2012.

It is all about reading books that are "bought" for free. Not won or ARCs but only books that has been downloaded free and legally.

The levels are:
Coupon Clipper: 12 Books
Penny Pincher: 24 Books
Super Saver: 30+ Books


I have chosen the level of Coupon Clipper of 12 books and you can follow my progress HERE

All the Books of Pern Challenge 2012

All the Books of Pern Challenge 2012.

It is only a few years ago I was introduced to Anne McCaffrey and her Pern Books. I loved them from the start and I think I have got most of them.

The levels of this challenge are:

• Green– The original trilogy (or any 3)
• Blue- The original trilogy plus the Harper Hall trilogy (or any 6)
• Brown– Everything with Ms. McCaffrey as sole author (17)
• Bronze– Everything except the ones written by Todd alone (22)
• Gold – The whole lot of them (24-25)

As I by now have chosen to take part in quite a few challenges I will go with:  Blue- The original trilogy plus the Harper Hall trilogy (or any 6) and maybe go up a level later.

My progress can be followed HERE

And all the posts are HERE

100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2012

100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2012

I like this challenge and together with my ebook challenge I hope I will succeed.

THIS is the page where I will record my progress.

And all the posts for this challenge can be found HERE

2012 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge

2012 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge.

THIS is my page where you can follow my progress and This is the posts for this challenge   

I love books about witches and witchcraft so I am going to enjoy this challenge.
The levels for this Challenge are:

Initiate: Read 1-5 Witchy Books
Maiden:Read 6-10 Witchy Books

Mother: Read 11-15 Witchy Books
Crone:Read 16-20 Witchy Books

I have chosen the level of Mother to read 11-15 Witchy books

2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge

2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge.

I have over the last few months ever since Dewey's Read-a-Thon in October started following some book blogs so I would like to try this challenge in order to see what has been recommended over the last year.

The levels of the challenge are:
The Levels:
Level I - Read 5 books from the 2011 Book Blogger Recommendation List
Level II - Read 10 books
Level III - Read 15 books
Level IV - Read 20 books
Level V - Read 20+ books

I will do level III - read 15 books. As I am wanting to take part in a few challenges I do not dare go higher than that.

Follow my progress HERE

2012 Ebook Challenge

This is the perfect challenge for me as at least 90% of the books I read are ebooks. The levels in this challenge are:

1. Floppy disk - 5 ebooks
2. CD - 10 ebooks
3. DVD - 25 ebooks
4. Memory stick - 50 ebooks
5. Hard drive - 75 ebooks
6. Server - 100 ebooks
7. Human brain - 150 ebooks

I have decided to go for level 6. Server and try and read 100 ebooks within the next year.

Follow my progress HERE.

All posts for this challenge are HERE

The Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge - Finished

The Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge

I chose the level of Christmas Tree to read 5 or 6 books and I  also chose the additional level of Fa La La La Films to watch a bunch or a few of Christmas films.

I ended up reading 14 books / tales

1.  Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
2. A Christmas Greeting, A Series of Stories by H.C. Andersen
3. Christmas Eve by Robert Browning
4. The Father Christmas Letters by J.R.R. Tolkien
5. Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs
6. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
7. Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibson
8. Twelve Days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley
9. The Spirit of Christmas by Henry Van Dyke
10. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
11. The Magic of Christmas by Trisha Ashley
12. Holiday Tales: Christmas in the Adirondacks by W.H.H. Murre
13. Mr. Kris Kringle by Silas Weir Mitchell
14. Old Christmas by Washington Irving

I know it looks like quite a lot but at least half of them are rather short. I am still sure I passed my level.

I also ended up watching a lot of films.

1. Jack Frost
2. The Littlest light on the Christmas tree
3. White Christmas
4. The Christmas shoes
5. The Bear
6. A Christmas Carol (Patrick Stewart)
7. Nativity
8.  The Light Before Christmas
9. A Christmas Carol (Jim Carrey)
10. Christmas Story
11. It is a Wonderful Life ( I need to watch this every year and I did)

The Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge

Old Christmas by Washington Irving

Of all the old festivals, however, that of Christmas awakens the strongest and most heartfelt associations. There is a tone of solemn and sacred feeling that blends with our conviviality, and lifts the spirit to a state of hallowed and elevated enjoyment. The services of the church about this season are extremely tender and inspiring. They dwell on the beautiful story of the origin of our faith, and the pastoral scenes that accompanied its announcement. They gradually increase in fervour and pathos during the season of Advent, until they break forth in full jubilee on the morning that brought peace and good-will to men. I do not know a grander effect of music on the moral
feelings than to hear the full choir and the pealing organ performing a Christmas anthem in a cathedral, and filling every part of the vast pile with triumphant harmony.An excerpt from Goodreads
  

Not my kind of book, the story was okay and could maybe have been interesting but it felt long winded and boring.
  
 The last two Christmas films I saw were:


Christmas Story
Discover the secret of the greatest story ever told! A long long time ago in the frozen North Pole the greatest legend of them all was born. Little Nicholas is an orphan who is looked after by a different family every Christmas. To repay their kindness Nicholas spends his days carving wooden toys which he secretly leaves on their doorstep every Christmas Eve. Over the years, after so much kindness, almost every home in the village gets a gift and so the legend of Father Christmas is born. But one day Nicholas is forced to live with an evil carpenter who bans him from making toys. Suddenly, the whole tradition of Christmas is threatened and it will take a miracle to save it. 

This film was absolutely wonderful and has made it to the list of films that has to be watched again next year. I would love to find it in Finnish with English subtitles as the version I saw was the dubbed one. As with any good Christmas film I cried more than once.

It's a Wonderful Life.
The best Christmas film ever. Everything goes bad on the day of Christmas Eve but of course everything turns out brilliantly. A must see Christmas film.

Mr. Kris Kringle by Silas Weir Mitchell

It was Christmas Eve. The snow had clad the rolling hills in white, as if in preparation for the sacred morrow. The winds, boisterous all day long, at fall of night ceased to roar amidst the naked forest, and now, the silent industry of the falling flakes made of pine and spruce tall white tents. At last, as the darkness grew, a deepening stillness came on hill and valley, and all nature seemed to wait expectant of the coming of the Christmas time.[6]
Above the broad river a long, gray stone house lay quiet; its vine and roof heavy with the softly-falling snow, and showing no sign of light or life except in a feeble, red glow through the Venetian blinds of the many windows of one large room. Within, a huge fire of mighty logs lit up with distinctness only the middle space, and fell with variable illumination on a silent group about

the hearth. On one side a mother sat with her cheek upon her hand, her elbow on the table, gazing steadily into the fire; on the other side were two children, a girl and a boy; he on a cushion, she in a low chair. Some half-felt sadness repressed for these little ones the usual gay Christmas humor of the hopeful hour, commonly so full for them[7] of that anticipative joy to which life brings shadowy sadness as the years run on. extract from Goodreads


It sounded as if it was going to be a very sad story but it was not. It starts sad but everything is solved as it should be in a Christmas tale. I enjoyed this short story very much.

Holiday Tales: Christmas in the Adirondacks

Holiday Tales: Christmas in the Adirondacks by W.H.H. Murrey

There are 2 tales in this book. They are both about the old trapper John Norton and Christmas. It was really funny, very Christmassy and also heart warming.
I thoroughly enjoyed this as part of my Christmas Spirit reading Challenge.