Another ebook- Ninth Doctor

I'm back to my routine of reading one real book, then one ebook. After finishing The Chaperone, I read the ebook for the Ninth Doctor. The story was okay, I really liked how they revealed the companion gradually so that the reader didn't base their opinion about her on her appearance. I would have loved to see a Ninth Doctor story featuring Rose Tyler though, because I'm afraid the author of the Tenth Doctor's story will pick a different companion. But it was a pretty good story, no complaints!

Another book finished!

I read a book called The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty. The book was partially about an actual person, silent film star Louise Brooks, but mostly about her chaperone Cora, who was a fictional character. The story was about Louise and Cora's trip to New York, and their journeys toward finding out who they are. It was a good story, but it really seemed to drag out. I would like the story better if it was just the trip to New York, with some references to before and after. But the book told Cora's entire life story, and focused on many different issues. I feel like the book would be better and more successful if it was more concise and focused, instead of trying to be so broad.

Just two more books left in the Tudor Court series!

I finished The Queen's Fool by Phillipa Gregory, the fourth book in the Tudor Court series. This book was a little different than the others, because the main character wasn't a historical figure. The main character and her family were all fictional, but based on people and situations that actually happened. As usual the book centered a lot around the English court, this one taking place after the death of King Henry VIII. I wasn't sure I'd like a book featuring a psychic as the main character, but the book was similar enough to her others for me to enjoy.

Another book down!

Today I finished the Wizard of Oz book. Yes, it's a children's story, but it's such a classic that I wanted to read it! I was really curious to see how it's different from the movie, and it is very different. I really liked the story, even though it was slow at parts. I can see why it's considered such a classic- it's so timeless and universally appealing. Normally I'd start an ebook next, but the next one doesn't come out until later in the month! So next up is another Phillipa Gregory, in the same series I've been reading.

Another ebook done!

I finished another Doctor Who ebook, this one was for the 8th Doctor. The story was decent, but this was the first time that I really noticed the writing style, and not in a good way. I don't really know much about the Eight Doctor, and between that and the writing, I didn't like this book so far. Next up is something very different, so maybe that'll be a nice change.

Almost halfway done with books!

I finished reading book #12! It was The Boleyn Inheritance by Phillipa Gregory. I had actually started reading another book, The Other Queen, before realizing that they were different parts of the same series. I think each book can be read on it's own, but I'd read the first two books in the series and wanted to continue in order. So I read the third book in the series, which I enjoyed quite a lot. It was narrated by three different women, alternating chapters. That made the book very interesting, and allowed for the reader to be almost all-seeing without an omnipresent narrator. Of course the books are historical fiction, and knowing what happens to Henry VIII's wives means that the ending of the book is no surprise. Even so, the book was very well written, and I really enjoyed it.

And yet another book done!

After reading a regular book, it was time to read an ebook. This was the story for July, so now I'm all caught up! This ebook was about the Seventh Doctor, and it was excellent. The Doctor was well written, as was Ace the companion. Also there were Daleks, which is always exciting! Looking forward to the next ebook about Paul McGann's Doctor.

Another book down!

I've finished another book! Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. This book has really withstood the test of time, and it's easy to see why. It's still very relevant, and still an excellent book. It's very interesting to see which of Huxley's predictions for the future have come true, and which ones seem totally absurd. This is definitely my kind of book, and I adored it.

Another e-book finished!

As I've mentioned before, I'm alternating between ebooks and regular books. After finally finishing Anna and the French Kiss, I read the next Doctor Who ebook on my list. It was the 6th Doctor's story, and I liked it pretty well. The story jumped right into the action, which is great for a short story- no need to waste time with a lengthy backstory! The companion narrated this story, which was interesting, and the 6th Doctor was definitely written as the 6th Doctor. It was a nice little story, probably one of my favorites of these ebooks so far.

Finally done with another book...

The amount of time it takes me to finish a book has more to do with how much I like it than the actual difficulty.

It took almost a week for me to finish Anna and the French Kiss. It's an easy read, but I had a really difficult time getting into it. About halfway through I started to care about the characters, and just wanted to know how things would end up. The story is super cheesy- I guessed most of the major plot points very early on. There was really only one "plot twist" in my opinion, and it fizzled out by the end and became a nonissue.

I just felt like everything came together too neatly, and everyone lived happily ever after. In real life, people I know who have gone through similar situations of having a boy leave his girlfriend for them, have ended up with the boy leaving them for the next girl. I don't know. Maybe I'm just too old and cynical to read young adult fiction, and there were a few parts I enjoyed. But I was right in assuming that this was not my kind of book.

Another ebook finished!

I'm trying to alternate between real books and the short ebooks, so when I finished The Other Boleyn Girl I started on my next Doctor Who ebook. This one was for the fifth Doctor, so I'm almost caught up! The ebook was called Tip of the Tongue, and I'll have to say was not my favorite of these 50th anniversary ebooks. It was set in World War II era America, and focused on two teenagers. The Doctor and his companion were barely in it, and it could have been any Doctor, if only the wardrobe description had been changed. It's fun to see how different authors go back and interpret these older Doctors in their stories, and when the Doctor is barely in the story, it seems a little pointless. Of course I'll continue to read the series, but not until I finish another real life book first!

A long overdue book update

I finally finished The Other Boleyn Girl. I have a very long history with this book, and I'm glad it's done!

I borrowed the book from my college roommate, in 2007 or so. I read part of it, but I was so busy with school that I set it aside. I would pick it up periodically, but always have to start over since it had been so long since I'd read any of it! A year or two later I finally got my own copy, but never did get around to finishing the book. It has been sitting half finished in my bookcase, on the shelf with all the other books I've been meaning to read. Now, as I attempt to read 25 books before my next birthday, I'm finally making my way through the stack. Six years after I first picked it up, I have finally finished The Other Boleyn Girl.

(And I think I still have my former roommate's copy. Sorry Hilary!)

I finished another book!

I just finished the book The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. It's definitely one of my new favorite books- very well written, but easy to read and such a great story. It's different and it's excellent, and you should all read it!

An actual, full-length book!

I read an actual book! I read From The Dust Returned by Ray Bradbury. It's been sitting on my to-read shelf for ages, and I finally decided to pick it up. Ray Bradbury is one of my favorite authors, and he tells an excellent story. The book is a little disjointed, because different parts were written at different times and then joined together later. Bradbury started the story in 1946 and finished it in 2000, which is kind of funny considering her wrote Fahrenheit 451 in a week. This book is about a very peculiar family, which is loosely based on Bradbury's family. It's a great Halloween story, and would probably be even better read again and again.

I'm glad I finally read this book! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy stories, and definitely suggest reading it around Halloween.

Another (short) Book

Yes, I know, another short book! But that's the key to reading as many books as possible in a short amount of time. This book was Never Stop Shutting Up by Mike Falzone. It's a collection of essays about everyday life, with some really unique advice. It's a funny book, and a very light read, not something that needs to be read all at once. It's a great summer read if you need something light and fun for vacation, I would definitely recommend it!

Another book down!

I'm trying to get more into reading and writing, which is excellent news for one goal of mine! I read another Doctor Who e-book, this one was for the Fourth Doctor (I'm a little behind). This book was Doctor Who: The Roots of Evil by Philip Reeve. It was an okay story, I don't know a whole lot about the Fourth Doctor but it seemed fairly true to character. Not a great book, but these are meant to be quick stories about each Doctor and not great literature.

Maybe my next book will be an actual, full-length novel! No promises though.

First book!

Finished a book today! Well, an ebook... but I'm counting that too, because 25 is a lot. The book was Doctor Who: The Spear of Destiny. It was pretty good, it's part of a book series for the 50th Anniversary and this is the third book in the series. So I'll have more of these to list later on!