Book Challenges

  • Review: Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami (Haruki Murakami Reading Challenge)

    I just finished reading Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami as part of the Haruki Murakami Reading Challenge hosted by Murakamichallenge.blogspot.com. I will admit, I knew absolutely nothing about this author and I am NOT a huge fan of Asian literature except for the more popular/mainstream Asian fiction books like Memoirs of a Geisha and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. When I saw this reading challenge I decided to join because the author sounded intriguing and from what I read, his books sounded like something that would be right up my alley. I am a huge film/literary noir, hardboiled, and avant-garde fan and from what I read about Haruki Murakami…

  • Review: Emma by Jane Austen

    I finally find myself at the end of another book and at my computer long enough to compose a post. I just finished Emma by Jane Austen last night as part of the Victorian Literature Reading Challenge hosted by Subtle Melodrama. As the challenge outlines, the books must have been written during the Victorian era (1837-1901) or contain Victorian era thoughts/values which Austen does….though Austen wrote more in the Georgian era/ Regency era (1811-1817) her concepts and ideals were generally Victorian so I was happy I could include some of her novels as part of the challenge. Of course I have read Emma before, once in high school and once as part of…

  • Review: Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

    I chose to read Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay for the Jewish Literature Reading Challenge. I initially picked the book out at a bookstore because I really liked the cover (The Luxembourg Gardens was one of my favorite places in Paris so of COURSE the cover grabbed my attention!). The summary sounded intriguing and moving so I added it to my TBR list. Lots of Jewish Literature focuses on Holocaust remembrance and Sarah’s Key is no different. The book initially takes place in occupied France during 1942 where we meet 10 year old Sarah Starzynski, a little Jewish girl who’s family is seized during the Vel’d’Hiv’ Round up–which took place in Paris and involved the…

  • Review: An Echo in the Bone (Outlander #7) by Diana Gabaldon

    I am JUST NOW getting around to blogging about the last book in the Outlander series, An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon. I completed the book on the way back from Aruba….surprisingly, I didn’t read much while I was on vacation. I was SURE that I would finish at least two books while there….I was lucky to finish the one we were so busy! Then when we came back from vacation I was busy blogging about our trip so it’s taken me a few days to muster the energy to blog about AEITB :). But at any rate here you have it….I have finished the last book in…

  • Review: A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander #6) by Diana Gabaldon

    Lots of things have happened over the last few weeks since I finished The Fiery Cross but I have now I finally finished Book VI in the Outlander Series, A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon! I have to say, I am completely agog at how much happens in one single book! I swear I have been reading the Outlander Series for about six or seven weeks now and everything seems to be running together. I feel like all of the characters have come so far and changed so much since the first book, which I suppose is the concept of this really really really long story. I read somewhere…

  • Review: The Fiery Cross (Outlander #5) by Diana Gabaldon

    I feel like it’s been forever since I posted last and I suppose it has, two weeks almost! The last couple of weeks have been so crazy though, it’s a wonder I haven’t gone completely off the deep end yet! So I admit, I have been dragging my feet a little finishing up the latest Outlander installment, The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon for the Outlander Series Reading Challenge. I have been entirely consumed by Outlander drama. One of the things I loved about FC was that Claire finally reflected on her time with Jamie and likened their relationship to sponge which just sucked her in–Claire I know EXACTLY how you…

  • Review: Drums of Autumn (Outlander #4) by Diana Gabaldon

    I am cruising along through this series! I just finished the fourth book in the Outlander Series: Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon. When I started the Outlander Series Reading Challenge I had no idea I would be flying through these books like no other…..well I suspected but was not entirely convinced. I guess thats what being a book-a-holic is all about though and I should just go with it. As I have mentioned before in my other posts, if you have not read the books up until this point, read ahead at your own risk….this review might contain spoilers. Let’s get right in to the good stuff and talk…

  • Review: Voyager (Outlander #3) by Diana Gabaldon

    This morning I finished the third installment of the Outlander Series, Voyager by Diana Gabaldon. There is so much that happens in this book it is hard to know where to begin!  Reader be warned, if you haven’t read the  books up until now this post might contain spoilers. So if you don’t want to know what’s going on then stop reading now. So let’s start with the basics….Voyager picks up where Dragonfly in Amber (Book II) leaves off, with the realization that Jamie is not dead and Claire left with a big question mark….what to do next? Voyager is a little slow going at first as with any epic tale,…

  • Review: Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander #2) by Diana Gabaldon

    On Saturday I finished the second book in the Outlander Series, Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon which is of course part of the Outlander Series Reading Challenge hosted by moi. As I mention earlier, with Book I, I could hardly put it down from the moment I picked it up and not much has changed between Book I and Book II. Book II picks up where Book I ended naturally, and follows the life of husband and wife, Claire and Jamie. For those of you who haven’t read the series, I will try to not ruin it for you but I make no promises so be warned this post…

  • Review: Outlander (Outlander #1) by Diana Gabaldon

    As soon as I started this book I should have known that I would never put it down again.  My life has literally come to a stand still because of this book, it is that magical and spell binding! All I can think of is getting home from work so I could escape into the Highlands of Scotland every night. This book is the first in the Outlander series and part of the Outlander Series Reading Challenge hosted by yours truly. The book follows heroine Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser who is a WII nurse living in the 1940’s with her husband Frank Randall. After returning from war, Claire and Frank…