The 2012 Book Challenge

[schizo_me]

^ i usually search for the book title + fileformat

[michymichymoo]

15. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger



Rating: out of 5

Review:

Elspeth dies and leaves her London apartment to her twin nieces, Julia and Valentina, daughters of her estranged twin sister Edie. The twins settle down at her apartment not knowing that Elspeth spirit is stuck in the apartment. They begin to discover things when they found out that their aunt's ghost is still here. They will meet their neighbors, Martin, who's wife Marijke left him due to his OCD and Robert, Elspeth's lover. Valentina tries to break away from Julia and is willing to do unthinkable measures to attain it.

This is not your typical ghost story as it tackles sibling conflicts, family secrets, acceptance and self-identity--most especially to twins.

Niffenegger's second novel is quite different from the first novel (Time Traveler's Wife), but if you liked the first novel, you'll like this too.

[corn queen]

^ The big revelation was a bit confusing to me. I had to read it several times and even drew some sort of diagram back then.

I really felt for the other twin (I am bad with names. Whether people's names or even characters, I tend to forget them ). She was struggling to be on her own.

[michymichymoo]

^ Yeah, I had to concentrate to understand that part.

The other (weaker) twin is Valentina. It's too bad that she had to do "something" to feel free.

[GL2814.5]

Took a long time to get this into writing, but here goes...

Book # 3


First Blue - The Story of World War II Ace Butch Voris and the Creation of the Blue Angels by Robert Wilcox

This book closely follows the life and career of the founder of the famous Blue Angels squadron - Capt. Roy Marlin "Butch" Voris.

Capt. Voris' military career as a naval aviator placed him right in the heart of the Pacific air war - from the early struggles over Guadalcanal flying F4F Wildcats, up to the time when the US had total air superiority with the F6F Hellcats.

He was part of the first "Bat Team" pilots (chosen to fly night-fighter mission) as selected by the famous Lt. Cmdr. Edward "Butch" O'Hare. He saw action in the so-called "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot" where US pilots had a 12-to-1 kill ration vs. their Japanese counterparts. He also took part in the "Mission into Darkness" where US planes flew out at dusk to seek the Japanese fleet, knowing that their fuel supply could be exhausted even before they returned to their carriers.

After the war, the US navy wanted to form a flight exhibition team to serve as a public-relations tool (to maintain public interest in the Navy and naval aviation amidst the peacetime downsizing and budget cuts. Capt. Voris was personally selected to assemble, train and lead the Navy's Flight Exhibition Team, which eventually became the Blue Angels

While the book covers the creation of the Blue Angels, it is not a complete history of the Blues as it only covers the time when Capt. Voris was involved with the team. After leaving the Blues, Capt. Voris continued his naval career until his retirement in 1963.

After his retirement, Voris worked for the Grumman Corporation where he was involved in the development of the Lunar Landing Module and the F-14 Tomcat strike fighter. And after his career in Grumman, Voris also had a position at NASA.

[michymichymoo]

16. The Morning Rush Top Ten by Chico and Delamar



Rating: out of 5

Review:
A compilation of best Top Ten of everything from their morning radio show, "The Morning Rush". The lists range from something a little spooky to really really funny. Personal favorites are "Top Ten Signs You're a Poser" and "Top Ten TMI Moments". I don't listen much to radio, I can't even remember catching their radio show, but this makes me want to listen to them. A very light and funny read, you might find yourself laughing loud while reading this.

[nancyy]

thats a lot din!..san ka bumubili ng books mo?

[nancyy]

try mo sa rex Ebookstore .. marami daw atang E-books dun

[marimari678]

I have no time to update my book list at all but i have finished a couple of new books already. congrats to whoever completed the challenge na. I can't br din

been really busy with work!

ciao

[pinoy2781]

19. the reader - bernhard schlink


time: apr. 14 - 20
pages: 218
rating: 4.5 / 5


thought-provoking. the books invites the reader(s) to think. the author posts a lot of questions about morality, guilt, betrayal, why's and wherefore's of one's actions without really giving any answers or make the reader choose left or right. the answers are subjective, depending on the readers own sense of right and wrong.

part one - a may-december affair between a young man and an older woman. an affair based on sex/lust alone. then one day, he "lost" her, and he has to deal with that from the day she left until the "end."

the story telling is "detached", maybe because it tackles one of the most sensitive issues in human (world) history. enter part two - transition from a lost love to a more complex tale of humanity, morality and guilt. through the court room scenes, the reader is asked about morals and principles, guilt and remorse, crime and punishment.

part three - heartbreaking. how michael never got over his "love" for hanna and the guilt he felt because of that love. doubly heartbreaking because of what happened in the end.

[pinoy2781]

20. tuck everlasting - natalie babbitt


time: apr. 22 - 23
pages: 139
rating: 4 / 5


easy read, and captivating.

i became aware of the book because of the movie (trailer). based on the trailer, i thought it was all about young love. partly, it was. but not really. tuck everlasting was much more than that. i couldn't understand why they marketed the movie as such. (okay, to be honest, though, the trailer was only two minutes long, more or less, which isn't enough to provide a "summary" without giving too much information.)

back to the book...poetic, with very vivid imagery of the events and the setting. very detailed, and was put together in a way that you could "see" what was going on. profound, the author presented the gift of life by discussing mortality/immortality and death, which isn't usually discussed in a "children's book."

[pinoy2781]

^^ three more reviews to follow!

[pinoy2781]

UPDATE

1. the hour i first believed - wally lamb
2. she's come undone - wally lamb
3. twisted 9 - jessica zafra
4. coraline - neil gaiman
5. dreaming water - gail tsukiyama
6. night of many dreams - gail tsukiyama
7. ang mga kaibigan ni mama susan - bob ong
8. for one more day - mitch albom
9. ligo na u, lapit na me - (sir) eros s. atalia
10. percy jackson and the lightning thief - rick riordan
11. percy jackson and the sea of monsters- rick riordan
12. percy jackson and the titan's course - rick riordan
13. percy jackson and the battle of the labyrinth - rick riordan
14. percy jackson and the last olympian - rick riordan
15. the help - kathryn stockett
16. to kill a mockingbird - harper lee
17. inheritance - christopher paolini
18. para kay b - ricky lee
19. the reader - bernhard schlink
20. tuck everlasting - natalie babbitt

[woshileidee]

#1 ONE DAY

Author: David Nicholls
No. of Pages: 448
Date Started: 8-Jan-12
Date Finished: 16-Jan-12
Rating: 3/5



Review:

One Day is a typical love story between friends. The beginning parts are lengthy but still it was a lovable read and sad at the same time.

[woshileidee]

#2 WARRIOR OF THE LIGHT

Author: Paulo Coelho
No. of Pages: 160
Date Started: 16-Jan-12
Date Finished: 17-Jan-12
Rating: 4/5



Review:

Simple and compelling, as always, Paulo Coelho never fails to inspire his readers.

[woshileidee]

# 3 THE LAST BATTLE (Chronicles of Narnia, Book 7)

Author: C.S. Lewis
No. of Pages: 224
Date Started: 3-Jan-12
Date Finished: 20-Jan-12



Review:

This is one of the best books in the Chronicles of Narnia. Filled with more Christian allegories and details of the would to be "end of the world". It was indeed a beautiful conclusion to end the series, I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend that everyone should explore the world of Narnia at least once.

[GL2814.5]

I've already started to bring a book with me to work so I can catch up on my reading while stuck on the road in traffic. Hopefully, I'll be done with #4 by this week or the next.

[woshileidee]

#4 NEVER TO SLEEP

Author: Rachel Vincent
No. of Pages: 61
Date Started: 20-Jan-12
Date Finished: 21-Jan-12
Rating: 3/5



Review:

Never to Sleep was a sweet and short read. Sophie Cavanaugh was never my favorite character in the Soul Screamer series yet I found her POV quite refreshing and I got to enjoy another side of hers.

[woshileidee]

#5 THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

Author: John Green
No. of Pages: 336
Date Started: 22-Jan-12
Date Finished: 24-Jan-12
Rating: 3.5/5



Review:

I cried and teared up several times, it was sweet and bittersweet. The book was filled with heartfelt moments and harsh truths which makes it a delightful read.

[woshileidee]

#6 THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY

Author: Jenny Han
No. of Pages: 304
Date Started: 24-Jan-12
Date Finished: 25-Jan-12
Rating: 2.5/5




It was cute and a feel good read but nothing much about this book.