151 books down, 60 days to go!

Starting to run out of time here...Justi again.  Four new books.  Ta da!

'A Wizard of Earthsea' and 'The Tombs of Atuan' are both part of the Earthsea series.  I'm working on reading them all.  Basically, a different world where magic is common, we meet Ged.  Or Sparrowhawk, as is his known name.  These books remind me of the Christopher Chant series I used to love...the writing is hard, but satisfying.
'The Silver Bowl' is about a girl who moves to work in a palace...and uncovers a secret about herself and a plot against the royal family.  Set in the past, filled with magic and a strong heroine, I thought this book was good, but the transitions between times were confusing.
Last, but not least, I just finished 'I Now Pronounce You Someone Else'.  Bronwyn is trying to figure out who she is...but when she gets engaged, how does her identity fit in?  A sweet story, it made me fall in love with the characters and the plot, and the ending is perfect.

147 books down, 72 days to go!

Three more books for Justi!
First, Dragon Slippers--basically, a little fairy-tale like story, featuring a strong female lead, a playful prince, a jealous princess, and, well...dragons, of course. Not the best; well, it kept me reading, but Creel's character didn't leave a lot for connecting with, and the prince could have done more, but the imagery of sewing--which I love reading about, just to let you know--made it all worth it.
Kira-Kira--it means 'glittering' in Japanese.  I first read this book in fourth grade, and immediately fell in love.  Katie looks up to her big sister Lynn; so much, in fact, that Lynn can do no wrong.  But in a time when Japanese-Americans struggle to survive, Katie must continue learning to see the world as glittering, when so much can go wrong.
Lastly, I read Dairy Queen.  I got this book years ago from an aunt, and never thought to read it--even now, I struggled some.  DJ is a farmgirl, used to doing what she's told.  But, one summer, she realizes how she's becoming just like the cows she's milking each day.  This book is fun, but the focus on football sort of lost me--I do go to games with the marching band, but I don't see the allure that tackling people has.

As always, more is coming!  Thanks!

144 books down, 77 days to go!

Four more books.  Not that I haven't been reading.  But a week long vacation, several longer-than normal books, and a series that Elizabeth has already remarked on...it leaves me with little to record.
Well, I read the last three books of the Harry Potter series.  As a result, I'm properly excited for the movie that comes out in a month.  What can I say?  Harry Potter is just an overall good read, no matter the age...sure, it can be hard to get into if you wait too long, but it's obviously the most popular book series in the modern world.  If you haven't read them, shame on you!
The Way of Kings was my other accomplishment.  Literally, a thousand and one pages of, well, an epic story.  Written about a different world, following--at most times--four different characters as they do what they must...despite the unseemly length that drew me to the book in the first place, it's hard not to fall in love with the characters.  With a few helpful...and professional drawings to demonstrate the world, I'm sad I have to wait a few more years until the next book comes out.  And I discovered a great name: Sylphrena!

Elizabeth, Zoe, please tell me if you're still doing this.  If not, I'll get my sister involved to finish this workload...

'If he loves you, set him free.  If he returns, it was meant to be.' -famous quote

Love from Justi!

138 books down, 98 days to go!

Justi again.  Elizabeth, honestly, do you still exist?  Please?
Okay, only two more books.  I know, a bummer.  A book I was reading came due before I could finish it.  I've taken to rereading the Harry Potter series...just finished the fourth one.  As Elizabeth has commented on the first three, I think I'll continue from where she left off.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire--what else can I say but that this is the book where it really grows up?  Love lives start forming, action beyond anything prior...plus three-hundred more pages than book three.  I've missed this series.
Other than HP, I finished Snakehead, another book in the queue of Alex Rider.  I can't say I honestly enjoyed this one.  However, the author still gives the details with no sugar-coating, and the plotline, if possible, becomes more improbable with every turning page.
I'm currently reading two more books to tag along...should be up soon.  Cousin/someone, please tell me that I'm not alone in this!

136 books down, 110 days to go!

Four more books for Justi!  I've been reading the 'Alex Rider' series...the books including 'Skeleton Key', 'Eagle Strike', 'Scorpia', and 'Ark Angel.'  14-year old Alex Rider has become a spy for the British military.  And he's become the most effective unit out there.  These books are nothing if not a thrill ride, taking seemingly impossible situations and placing a teenager into them.  I especially enjoyed the last two books...the situation becomes more serious with each passing sentence.  Quick reads, fun and easy...if you're in the mood, these would be perfect for a boring afternoon.
Just saying, random fact deals with the plotline of Ark Angel...love from Justina!
Skylab, the first American space station, fell to the earth in thousands of pieces in 1979. Thankfully most over the ocean.

132 books down, 117 days to go.

Justi here!  I realized I got confused somehow on the official count of days left.  Not sure when, or where, but I was way off.  I've still got more time than I thought...Anyway, four more books.
Jealousy, book three of Strange Angels.  This was the most colorful of the books, full of drama and moments that made me smile.  While the writing remains drab, it's growing on me.
The Throne of Fire, the second book in the Kain Chronicles by Rick Riordan.  He's a marvelous author, taking old dry myths and turning them into almost hilarious modern instances.  This sequel lives up to the Red Pyramid, and now I'm waiting for more.
After a failed attempt at reading a different book--which sucked, by the way--my current focus is on an author by the name of Anthony Horowitz.  I'm currently reading the Alex Rider series...a fourteen year old boy turned spy, sent on mission after mission.  The writing reminds me of a dryer version of Eion Colfer's Artemis Fowl series, but it's not a bad read, so it shall continue.  Two books down from it...Stormbreaker and Point Blank.
So, love to my cousins, whom I haven't heard from in quite some time now...I was going to find a random fact, but I think I just gave my computer a virus instead...oh, how I love the Internet.

128 books down, 94 days to go.

Justi again!  Cousin, where are you?!  Anyway, we're now in the double digits.  Aah!
So I finished up the Everworld series...I can't say I liked the end.  The last book was small, however, so it's not going on the official account.
Betrayals, book two of Strange Angels...if you recall, I read the first book about a month ago...was okay.  Lili St. Crow, the author, maintains her writing style that makes me want to groan.  She's a good author, but the climatic bits are dulled by interludes of details; the characters keep a surreal feel, very hard to relate to.  I'm continuing the series, not for her writing, but for the conceptual ideas she created.  They've got me hooked.
The Space Between Trees is a sad little novel, with a disappointing but realistic denouement.  A body is found in the woods, and when Evie makes a new friend, she becomes entangled in a different life.  It's thrilling, realistic, and, at this age, it's easy to connect with the characters involved.
Into the Wild.  This isn't a novel...well, in the loosest sense of the word, it is.  In 1992, Chris McCandless walked into the Alasken frontier--his body was found a few months later.  The author, a reporter, is piecing the young man's life together.  I read this for my English class--I've no idea why.  It isn't my type of read, but, nevertheless, it was interesting.



So, three more books down!  Now, the random fact of the day...try it!

Take the last two digits of the year you were born, and add the age that you will be in 2011...whatever you'll turn to.  The sum will always be 111.
Example: 94+17=111.

125 books down, 101 days to go

Four more books from Justi.
Two more books from Everworld, Understand the Unknown and Mystify the Magician.  Only one more book to go in that series, so I'm excited.  I've got no clue how it's going to end, so I'll try not to spoil anything when I get to that post!
'I'll Get There; It Better be Worth the Trip' is a book about a young boy.  It's easy to relate with him; however, pitying him makes it hard to see any faults he may have.  Warning to all: do not read this book lightly.  Please don't.  I made that mistake, and I almost ruined a touching story.  Don't put it down when you realize what's happening--just keep on reading.  I'm sure you'll understand the title when you get to the end.
The Beast of Noor was a 500 page book about a fantasy world in which a wolf-like beast haunts a family.  Pure adventure, no mystery or other edges to give this book a proper sendoff.  Hanna and her brother, Miles, must fend for each other as they try to survive in a magical world.  If you love fantasy, this would be good; as it were, a lot is left hanging.  However, I have a feeling there's a series to this, so I'll be looking that up.

More than 80 spelling variations are recorded for Shakespeare's name, from “Shappere” to “Shaxberd.

Love from Justi!  Elizabeth, are you still reading?