13/13 Update One

So you may have noticed a little button in my sidebar (or if you're ignorant of all things sidebar like I tend to be then you probably haven't!) about The Little White Dove 13/13 Reading Challenge. It's a reading challenge issued by The Little White Dove (duh!) to read 13 books in 2013. If you know even the smallest thing about me you'll know that I get massive lady wood for all things books and reading, so joining in a reading challenge for 2013 was a no-brainer!

I am pleased to report that not only have I read one book so far, I have actually read three and a half books! Yep, you read that right. 3 and a half!

The first two weeks of the year Dave was on arvo shift which meant I had the evenings to myself and I put them to good use by reading. Lots.

Since then Dave has been on day shift so I haven't had much evening time to myself and hence my reading has slowed right down. I've been working my way through my 4th book at a very slow pace, only getting in a chapter or two every few days so it's been slow going. But I figure I'm already so far ahead of the pace it doesn't matter right!

So what have I been reading, I'm sure you're dying to know!

The first book I read was the latest in Kathy Reichs Temperance Brennan series (the series that TV show Bones is loosely based on), Bones are Forever. For a synopsis of the book click here.

I first started reading this series about 8 years ago when I was looking for something new to read and discovered the first few she'd written on my MIL's bookshelf. What I like about the series is the fact that the author doesn't dumb down the language or the science stuff for the reader. I always learn something new when I read them. Temeperance Brennan is a forensic anthropologist, as is author Kathy Reichs, and I find it fascinating. Reichs writes well, I never find the stories drag on and there is always one or two 'mysteries' that end up intertwined, something I think Reichs does a job of.

If you're a fan of crime fiction and haven't read this series before then I can highly recommend it. Despite the forensic/science language they are a pretty easy read and highly entertaining. They're also not as gruesome as some crime fiction can be, like Slaughter or Cornwell. The Tempe in the books is also very different from the Tempe in the Bones TV series, you could almost argue that they are completely different characters and I like both for their differences.

The next book I read was a James Patterson. Now James Patterson is certainly not the writer he used to be. The very first Paterson novel I read was Kiss the Girls, featuring the great Alex Cross. It was made in to a 'not bad' movie and as is always the case, the book is a million times better than the movie. The early Alex Cross novels, the ones Patterson wrote before he became the 'global publishing phenomenon' he is now were excellent. Some of the best crime fiction I've read, and if I'm honest, the reason why I started reading crime fiction in the first place.

These days James Patterson just seems to 'phone it in' and all bar the Alex Cross books are 'co-written' with other authors. Which basically means he comes up with the outline for the story and then another write actually does the writing, making it possible for 'James Patterson' to churn out so many novels every year. For his original fans its very disappointing and I know from Good Reads there are many of us that miss the old James Patterson, the one who actually wrote his books and wrote them well.

Anyway, now that I've gotten that off my chest, the Patterson I read was the latest in the Women's Murder Club series, 11th Hour (you can read the synopsis here). I basically continue to read these as they are quick, easy reads and I'm invested in the characters. I don't read any of the his other books apart from the Alex Cross series, and after reading the reviews for Merry Christmas Alex Cross I'm not even sure if I am going to bother with that one. If you're after something that doesn't take much brain-power, and that you can read in short chunks then this might be of interest to you.

The third book I read was the last Sookie Stackhouse book released last year in the Southern Vampire Series, Deadlocked, the books that TV show True Blood are based on. If you're a fan of True Blood then you should really get your hands on these books. I like both equally, as the stories have diverged and both stand alone really well. I wasn't a huge fan of these books when I first started reading them as I couldn't stand Vampire Bill, but once I got to the 4th book, (SPOILER ALERT!!!).......and Sookie finally started to have some fun with Eric, I started to really get in to them.

The world and mythology that author Charlaine Harris has created is flawless, multi-layered, dark, mysterious and very sexy! These vampires are no sparkly emo kids like in Twilight, these Vampires are hardcore and they like their blood and sex. A lot! Deadlocked (you can read the synopsis here) is the second last book in the Sookie series and I'll be very interested to read the last one later this year and see how she wraps it all up. I highly recommend them!

So that's the first three books ticked off. I won't write about the one I'm reading now, I'll save that for my next update in early March.

Have you been doing the 13/13 challenge? Or another reading challenge? Read any good books lately? Let me know in the comments as I am starting to look for my next read and would love a few suggestions!

Little White Dove

Comments

Kylie Purtell said…
I used to be a reader and somewhere between having 4 babies I just stopped. I would be interested in the Vampire Series, I might have a look for the first one, maybe it will tempt me back to reading. I spend my free time blogging or editing photos these days!
Kylie Purtell said…
Great challenge! I love reading. I'm doing The Australian Women Writer Challenge but I haven't started yet... Oups... I'm reading a French book at the moment and I just want to finish it first.
Kylie Purtell said…
Gosh you're off to a really great start! Well done. The school holiday/Christmas period has really slowed down my reading but I have a little pile next to the bed just waiting for me. I need to get myself back into 'reading mode' :)
Kylie Purtell said…
Thank you for the recommendations. I am a big reader but struggle sometimes to find good new books to read :) I might start on some Kathy Reichs ones soon!
Kylie Purtell said…
I went through a huge reading phase last year. But that's fallen to the way side. I am sure I could get through 13 books if I tried, but I'm still so far behind on blogs there's no end in sight! ha ha!
Kylie Purtell said…
I wish I had time to read!!! I love books, and over the years bought so many I intended to read but with the two kids I don't get any peace to sit and read! :(
Kylie Purtell said…
you've gotten off to a great start on this challenge! I think I have more than 10 books I want to read but haven't.. got to stop buying new books and actually find time to read them! ;p

Ai @ Sakura Haruka
Kylie Purtell said…
I'm always looking for good books to read. I'm not having any luck finding them.
Kylie Purtell said…
I love Kathy Reichs books! I've read most of them, but not the latest two, so I'll have to check them out. I like too how she doesn't dumb things down.
Kylie Purtell said…
These books sound great! I have bought two new books (should arrive in the mail any day now) so hope to kick off my love for reading again this year xx
Kylie Purtell said…
Would love to read a book that's not the Hungry Caterpillar or The Cranky Bear- maybe next year....
Kylie Purtell said…
Oh yes, I felt like that too! Was so nice to finally get a chance to read something other than Where is the Green Sheep? Or Messy Mia!
Kylie Purtell said…
It's so good to get new books, the wait for them to arrive always kills me though!
Kylie Purtell said…
They're good aren't they. I'm so glad I decided to pick that first one up off my MIL's bookshelf.
Kylie Purtell said…
Sometimes it's so hard isn't it. I find it hard when I've not been on a bookstore lately either, there's nothing like browsing.
Kylie Purtell said…
Hopefully as they get a bit older you'll get a chance to read through some of them!
Kylie Purtell said…
Hahaha, yep, some nights I've had to make the choice between blogs or books, it's a very hard decision!
Kylie Purtell said…
You should definitely check out Kathy Reichs, and if you like them there are quite a few you can work your way through.
Kylie Purtell said…
I did pretty good those first few weeks, it helps that I'm a fast reader and they were pretty easy books to read too. Now I just have to finish this 4th one, I've really slowed on the pace the last couple of weeks.
Kylie Purtell said…
I might have to do that challenge next year if it happens again, it sounds good.
Kylie Purtell said…
Well done on a productive January! I used to read Kathy Reichs' books quite a lot, and now I'm thinking it's time for a revisit!!

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