December Reads

I actually managed to read 11 books in December which is absolutely astounding to me and makes me very happy. Granted, I barely watched any TV (maybe a few hours total the whole month) and went to sleep later than I should have a few nights here and there, but it was all worth it.

The theme for December was christian/inspirational fiction and with the exception of Lonesome Dove & Solitary, I stuck to it.

1. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers - christian fiction, historical fiction, 19th cent. America


2. The Walk by Richard Paul Evans - inspirational fiction


3. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry - western, classic, historical fiction


4. A Very Private Grave by Donna Fletcher Crow - christian fiction, murder mystery


5. Song of the Silent Harp by BJ Hoff - historical fiction, christian fiction, Ireland


6. Heart of a Lonely Exile by BJ Hoff - historical, christian fiction, Ireland


7. Healer by Linda Windsor - historical christian fiction, romance


8. Darlington Woods by Mike Dellosso - thriller, christian fiction


9. City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell - historical fiction, christian fiction, China


10. The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow by Joyce Magnin - christian fiction


11. Solitary (Escape From Furnace 2) by Alexander Gordon Smith - YA thriller

The best read was, hands down, Song of the Silent Harp, closely followed by Redeeming Love, City of Tranquil Light and Solitary. BJ Hoff and Bo Caldwell are new authors for me but they are definitely making my top writers list. The remaining two are already on there:-).

The biggest disappointment in December was Healer. I expected it to be a really good historical fiction judging by others' reviews on Amazon and GoodReads but history is probably the weakest point in this book (some expressions used by the main character are glaringly wrong, as they didn't even exist then). It's a pleasant, easy romantic read but definitely not a 4 or 5 star novel.

December was a very fruitful and pleasant month in reading and I hope that my good fortune in reading good books will continue into the new year (so far, it looks promising).

November Reads

Throughout November I stuck to my plan and only read horror novels. I have to say that I like this themed reading plan and am definitely continuing it in the upcoming months. I like the fact that I don't have to wonder what to read next every time I finish a book. I'm a very indecisive person and you have no idea how many books I pick up and put back on the shelves before I settle on one. With themes already planned for the whole month, it's easier to pick the books and then I just grab one after another from the pile.

Here's what I read in November:

1. Blood Games by Richard Laymon


2. A Winter Haunting by Dan Simmons


3. 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King


4. Cabal by Clive Barker


5. What the Night Knows by Dean Koontz


6. The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan

My most favorite was What the Night Knows. It's a pretty scary ghost story but I also can be a little biased here because Dean Koontz is one of my favorite writer. I was also pleasantly surprised by A Winter Haunting. It was a very lyrical type of a horror story, a modern Gothic. It definitely encouraged me to read more of Dan Simmons. Another good one was The Strain. I don't if it was due to horror books' overload (The Strain was my 9th horror book in a row) but it honestly gave me nightmares for a couple of nights. I enjoy this modernized version of the vampire lore and will be reading the rest of The Strain Trilogy.

I think I was most disappointed by Cabal. It seems that Barker's bizarre writing just doesn't suit me. This opinion was cemented by reading three short stories included in the edition of Cabal I read. It looks like this will be my last experience with Mr. Barker.

 And now, off to my christian and inspirational fiction reading...

October Reads

I would say that I had a measly reading month in October, if it weren't for the fact that what I did manage to read were all great experiences worth the attention and time and also quite, quite long.

1. Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman (704 pages)

2. Strangers by Dean Koontz (681 pages)

3. The Right Hand of Evil by John Saul (427 pages)

I also am participating in the Lonesome Dove Readalong and have managed to read 300 pages of that novel. I'm really enjoying it with every week more and more.

Here Be Dragons was hands down the best book of the month and is definitely going to be in the top five books of the year. I have part two (it's a trilogy) and am looking forward to reading it as well as other books by Ms. Penman.






I have decided to make the next few months (maybe it will even continue until the end of next year) a themed reading experience. This means that each month I will read books that have a common theme, genre, same writer, etc.

For November, it's horror novels. I already started in October but since i only had a week and a half left, I decided to extend this theme for one whole month.

For December, it will be Christian fiction or at least inspirational. I already have a few titles lined up and am looking forward to the theme.

For January, since it's a new year, I will be reading books by new to me authors.

For February, I will be obvious and read romances/books with love stories in them.

For March, it will be books by one writer, I just haven't decided whom. I have a few on my mind (Michener, King, Paretsky).

The rest of the months will be shaky because my baby is due in April. For at least the months of April and May I won't be reading much, if at all.

September Reads

I have to say that I exceeded my own reading expectations  in September. Nowadays, I don't have so much time to read as I used to even a year ago, so eight books in one month is a pleasant rarity. The fact that most of the books were fun, quick and engaging stories didn't hurt.

The best read this month belongs to The Language of Trees by Illie Ruby (the review is coming up soon).It's a surprinigly beautiful debut novel with elements of magic realism and I can't wait to read more from Ms. Ruby.

Unfortunately, there was also a disappointing read this month, King's Mistress. In the end I liked the book, it wasn't horrible at all but the main character, Alice was just way too sugary sweet for me, as opposed to the real life Alice who was supposedly an evil, conniving character disliked by everyone. I think the book would have been so much more interesting and intriguing, had Ms. Campion retained some of the darker qualities of Alice.


1. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

2. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

3. Proust's Overcoat by Lorenza Foschini

4. King's Mistress by Emma Campion

5. The Palace (St. Germain novel) by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro


6. The Alibi Man by Tami Hoag

7. The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

8. The Language of Trees by Illie Ruby

As a side note, I started hosting another blog, Insanity Tested Daily, dedicated to all the turmoils and joys of my personal life. I'm doing that mainly because I want this blog to return to its original purpose, reading and books only.

June & July Reads

Since I haven't posted my reading summary for June, I decided to cover two months in one post. Considering I read very little in both months (as far as what my personal expectations are), I figured separate posts for each month weren't warranted.

Books I enjoyed the most in the last two months were quite varied in genres. There's a memoir, a thriller, a contemporary fiction and a historical fiction. So they might have been two of the slowest reading months but they were definitely rich in material. Broken by Lisa Jones is the memoir and even though I read it two months ago, it's still on my mind. This Must Be the Place by Kate Racculia, is a contemporary fiction novel that has already found a permanent place on my 'Best' list. The historical one I mentioned above is Heart of Lies by M.L. Malcolm for which I have yet to finish writing a review but which made me want to read more historical fiction again. And finally Lisa Gardner's Hide, such a good thriller that it made me go online and purchase the two others in the D.D. Warren series immediately after finishing this one.

I think that The Thousand Autumns of Jacob the Zoet by David Mitchell was the biggest disappointment in the past several months. I was expecting a wonderful, exhilarating read and as it is, I'm surprised I even finished it at all. It was boring and self-indulgent.






June Reads:

1. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell - historical fiction, literary fiction
2. Broken: A Love Story by Lisa Jones - memoir
3. Still Missing by Chevy Stevens - thriller
4. Lovers by Vendela Vida - contemporary American fiction/women's literature
5. The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley - dystopian lit
6. A Walk In the Woods by Bill Bryson - travelogue, non-fiction, memoir


July Reads:

1. Roseflower Creek by Jackie Lee Miles
2. Halfway to Each Other by Susan Pohlman - travel memoir, non-fiction
3. This Must Be the Place by Kate Racculia - contemporary American fiction
4. Damaged by Alex Kava - thriller
5. Heart of Lies by M. L. Malcolm - historical fiction
6. Hide by Lisa Gardner - thriller