Top Ten Tuesday Summer Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme are books that top our to be read pile (TBR). I'm sure most of these books I won't get to, but I figure I'd give it a try. This will be different than the summer reading list that I posted a few weeks ago as I have finished a few of the book on that list and right now my interests in books have changed.

1. Survival Mom by Lisa Bedford- if you don't know me then here's another tidbit about me. I am a newbie prepper. I have been trying to get into being prepared for anything for the last year, but other than buying a few needed items and books I haven't gotten very far. I've had this book for a while and put it down and forgot about it until I was reminded of my need to prep so I pulled it out and just started to read it.

2. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris- I am so behind in what's going on with the TV show Trublood. I've only seen about half of last season. I enjoy these books and have this one sitting on my shelf for a while and I want to read it. Mostly because the books are an easy read and I don't have to force myself to read them.

3. Under the Dome by Steven King- I will admit my desire to read this book has to do with the series based on the book that comes out next Monday. I actually want to read more Steven King books. I use to say I was a fan of his, but to be honest I've only read The Shinning and all his other books I've seen the movie adaptation of them.



4. Lost Symbol by Dan Brown- I am trying to finish this series since I had no idea he has written more. I hope to get to this one this summer, but I doubt it since it's a very long book.

5. The World Without Us by Alan Wesiman- I gave this book to my fiance for a gift, but he didn't seem interesting it in, which is odd. I would live to read it. It sounds similar to History Channel's Life Without People. At first this idea scared me, but this was big when I was pregnant, but now I find it interesting.

6. 2nd Chance by James Patterson- by now I would have thought I would have read more books in this series, but I haven't. I hope to read this one since the other was decent and a quick read.

7. Into the Woods by Tana French- another book that has been sitting on my shelf that I would love to get through

8. Pretties by Scott Westerfeld- I don't own this book, but I really want to read the rest of the series. I probably will either look to see if the use bookstore has it or go to the library.

9. Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith- I got this this past Christmas and I want to read it since the movie wasn't too bad.

10. I"m going to leave this open since I have books I want to buy or check out and not sure what the will be.


Whats on your top ten?

Camp Nanowrimo

I am thinking of taking part in Camp Nanowrimo in July. It's just like the event in November, but has a more... campy friendly atmosphere. Not sure what I am going to write, but figure it be a nice try. Maybe I'll actually finish a novel. Feel free to add my to your cabin or friends list my username is FallenMurphy.

Forest of Hands and Teeth Review

Finally got to this book and finished it pretty fast. As I've mention before I have been trying to find the time to read it and decided that now was the time to do so.

Synopsis: In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death? (Taken form GoodReads). 


Review: I forgot why I wanted to read this book so bad, but as soon as I started to read it I realized why. It's the perfect book for me. Dystopian, "zombies", a little romance and a strong female character. For me I know that a female can be strong, but also have many weaknesses. It's not about being a robot in these kinds of situations, but knowing when it is time to be strong and when to left fear and weakness in. Mary was one of those characters. I could relate to her yet wonder if I could be as strong as she was. 

This book is a fast read which is good for anyone who just wants to sit and read a book pretty quick. The story develops well and since it's part of a series you don't feel bad for not knowing everything about the world you are reading about. It also is easy to just accept everything they are doing rather than try to analyze it and argue with the story. 

I really enjoyed the book and not sure why I waited so long to read it. My only issue with it is the ending. I know there are two other books, but not knowing if Mary's brother is alive or if she even tries to save the others bothers me a little. 

My Rating:

Steampunk Detective Review

Yep got another book finished. I was hoping to get some books read this summer and I was able to get a few. I am about 5 books ahead of my 25 books in 2013 goal. I may bring it up to the 50 goal that I had the last two years, but never completed.

Synopsis: An orphan. The world’s greatest detective. A planet dominated by airships, steam powered spacecraft and towers that stretch into orbit.

Welcome to the world of The Steampunk Detective.

Jack Mason is an orphan wanting a new life. Ignatius Doyle is an aging detective who needs an assistant. When Jack goes to work for Mr Doyle, he has no idea what lies ahead. 

They are called in to locate a missing scientist by his daughter, the beautiful Scarlet Bell. As Jack and Mr Doyle investigate, they discover links to Leonardo da Vinci and the Phoenix Society, a clandestine organisation that has been secretly developing technology for centuries. 

As they close in on the missing scientist, they discover other forces at play. The Nazis want the technology of the Phoenix Society as does the mysterious Napoleon of Crime, Professor M. 

With the world teetering on the verge of war, a weapon of mass destruction is stolen from the Phoenix Society and London held to ransom. 
Will Jack and Mr Doyle find the missing scientist? Will they track down the weapon before London is destroyed? And what is the true identity of Professor M?

Filled with references to Sherlock Holmes and the world of Victorian literature, The Steampunk Detective is an action packed adventure for readers of all ages as it brings together a boy in need of a family and a man in need of a son. (Taken from GoodReads)

Review:

I wasn't expecting much for a $0.99 book on my Kindle, but I figured it would be a fast read and would be interesting to see what kind of books are in the Steampunk genre of books. To best sum up this book, it's Sherlock Holmes meets Da Vinci Code meets Steampunk. Not necessarily a bad thing, but for me when I saw how similar the detective in this book was to Holmes I felt a little ripped off. I am not a writer so I'm not sure how you write a Victorian Detective that doesn't come off as a rip off. 

Despite some familiar characters it's a decent book. If you like a basic detective story with twists and a happy ending then you will enjoy this book. It's a quick easy read and filled with adventure

My Rating:

I Am Legend Review

This book is one I got for a secrete santa this past holiday season. My fiancé said it was a good book and that I would enjoy it. I started the book in March while on a road trip to Las Vegas. This books is actually one longer story and several short stories.

Here's the list of stories:
I Am Legend
Buried Talents
The Near Departed
Prey
Witch War
Dance of the Dead
Dress of the White Silk
Mad House
The Funeral
From Shadowed Places
Person to Person

I will not go through each and every story, but I will go over the the main story I am Legend and then whether I think the short stories should be read.

Synopsis:
Robert Neville may well be the last living man on Earth . . . but he is not alone.

An incurable plague has mutated every other man, woman, and child into bloodthirsty, nocturnal creatures who are determined to destroy him.

By day, he is a hunter, stalking the infected monstrosities through the abandoned ruins of civilization. By night, he barricades himself in his home and prays for dawn.... (Taken for GoodReads).

Review: 

The story of I Am legend seems a bit slow. For me it would go through some of his daily activities and just reading one man's view on his making breakfast and hanging up garlic and mirrors is not my idea of a good read. About half way through the story it did pick up and get much better. It's an interesting story and I think the Vincent Price movie The Last Man on Earth did a good job with telling the story as opposed to the Will Smith movie.

The story had its good points and it has some interesting views on what life would be like if you were the only human left. I think while parts dragged on it was a decent book. 

As for the short stories included... I wasn't into them. I had to force myself to read the because I wanted the satisfaction of finishing the whole book. While some are a bit different most of them left no impact on my and I will forget I even read them.

So if you're into an interesting book on vampires just read I Am legend and ignore the rest of the stories.

My Rating:

Summer 2013 Reading List

Vicky over at Books, Biscuts and Tea mentioned her summer reading list and I figured since I am wrapping up TWO novels right now I would do my own summer reading list. I remember as a kid I would get these lists from my teacher or the local library when I did the summer reading challenge every year.

I cannot seem to find the cover of the copy of the book I have, but I am done with the main story and working on the shorter stories in the book. Not sure why it doesn't say I Am Legend and other stories, but whatever. It's interesting and will finish is soon so I can do a review.

This book was only $0.99 for the Kindle and it sounded interesting. I am almost half way through it and will also be doing a review for it shortly. Would be nice if I could get in a video review, but probably won't happen.

I somehow missed that there was more books in this series. I enjoyed the other two and this one has been sitting on my shelf for over a year. I hope to get to it, but it's a very large book.

I've had this book on my shelf as well for a long time. I hope to get to it since it take place in Dublin and well I love Ireland so it's a good match. Hopefully it's as good as I hope it is.

Another one that's been on my bookshelf for way too long. It looks like a short read I just put everything else before it for some reason. I hope to get to it this summer.










We'll leave this as my list. I'll add more as I get into my list a bit and need to add if I run out of things to read. Not likely, but you never know. I do have a lot of history books that will be pushed aside for a while.

Top Ten Tuesday: June 4th

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is book that deal with travel somehow. It's going to be tuff, but I think I can make it to 10.

1. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova- An interesting take on the vampire myth that deals with traveling to several countries like England.

2. Enclave by Ann Aguirre- While it's not exactly travel the main characters are moving a huge distance to become safe from the creatures that want to destroy them.

3. Little Women by Lousia May Alcott- one of my all time favorite books and Jo does travel away from the home to become a "better" woman.

4. The Lizard King by Bryan Kristy- This book is all about the illegal reptile trade that one man was in charge of and fooled a bunch of zoos. He had traveled all over the zoo getting exotic reptiles for zoos who thought he was legit.

5. The Shining by Steven King- The Torrence family goes to a hotel to take care of it during the winter. Obviously this trip was a fun family vacation.

6. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chauser- an interesting tale of people on a pilgrimage having to tell stories along the way.

7. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak- I love this story about a little girl traveling with her mother and then growing up with a foster family.

8. The Temperance Brennan Series by Kathy Riechs- They all deal with traveling between states or the US and Canada.

9. The Hunger Games Trilogy by Susan Collins - Since they travel between districts it counts. Such a great books

10. Da Vinc Code by Dan Brown- Nothing like a murder series gone global.

Oh good I made it. I wasn't sure I could do it.