tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post696958326455852380..comments2024-01-02T00:48:13.255+00:00Comments on Rosario's Reading Journal: Best books of 2014Rosariohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015659149421085931noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-28340315120406555572015-01-08T09:31:19.087+00:002015-01-08T09:31:19.087+00:00Darlynne: We do seem to enjoy the same things :) I...<i>Darlynne</i>: We do seem to enjoy the same things :) I'm still on holiday (this post was kind of mostly written already, but I waited to post while I read like crazy till the end of the year), so the reviews will start coming in a couple of weeks!<br /><br /><i>Marianne</i>: You're very welcome; I'm glad you enjoyed it. I hope you managed to avoid the spoilers and got the full effect! :)<br /><br /><i>Meljean</i>: I'm so very glad to see your and the other commenters' remarks. I've sometimes wondered, as I've started reading more and more outside the romance genre, whether my my reviews of those books were of interest to my visitors, who are mostly from the romance blogosphere. I know I'm more likely to trust reviews of non-romance books by romance readers, so I kept writing them. It's good to see they've been useful!Rosariohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13015659149421085931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-33570748646742625572015-01-08T03:26:31.239+00:002015-01-08T03:26:31.239+00:00Ugh, HULL. And it was David Mark :-DUgh, HULL. And it was David Mark :-Dmeljean brookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16135527993507471830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-41949554285692497122015-01-08T03:22:13.601+00:002015-01-08T03:22:13.601+00:00After my "Hooray!"
I think a ton of my ...After my "Hooray!"<br /><br />I think a ton of my reading comes from your blog, as well. I haven't been going for a lot of romance (I'm just in a slump + not a lot of reading time) and some of my favorites this year have come from this blog. Station Eleven, Mr. Mercedes (I like Stephen King, but I think I was going to pass this one over until I read your review.) I also really enjoyed The Martian. <br /><br />I have Americanah, We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, and The Wake on my Kindle thanks to you, as well. Also another one -- I'm blanking on the title, but it was a mystery set in Hole (I think? You'd mentioned in the review that the setting practically breathed.) I'll probably also pick up The Bone Clocks and The Goblin Emperor, but hold off on reading them for now, just because my head isn't in the right place for them. <br /><br />Others I enjoyed: The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith and The Girl With All The Gifts (the secondary female characters both irritated me in their own ways but overall I really liked it).<br /><br />meljean brookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16135527993507471830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-71020260256567035422015-01-06T00:00:58.543+00:002015-01-06T00:00:58.543+00:00
Just to add, I read the Fowler yesterday and real...<br />Just to add, I read the Fowler yesterday and really enjoyed it as well. Thanks for the recommendation. Marianne McAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-43488364036278200292015-01-04T16:59:03.417+00:002015-01-04T16:59:03.417+00:00I'm late, sorry. So many great books and, fina...I'm late, sorry. So many great books and, finally, a bunch I've read and loved. And re-read. <br /><br />Welcome back! I look forward to your reviews.Darlynnenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-38287968036449571272015-01-03T10:24:03.572+00:002015-01-03T10:24:03.572+00:00Sun: Oh, thanks! I loved Ready Player One, and my ...Sun: Oh, thanks! I loved Ready Player One, and my book club are doing The Girl With All the Gifts in January, so I'll be starting it soon. I read the first in Thea Harrison's series and liked it, but didn't really continue. I really should go back to her!<br /><br />CD: I guess people who've reread the series again and again and think everyone has? Some of the people writing reviews on amazon seem to be like that. I remember reading mentions of Mark (as in "of course, in this book Miles doesn't yet know he has an X") in reviews of books much earlier than Brothers in Arms!<br /><br />I'm getting really, really excited about the next books! Memory is now on my mp3 player, and I'll probably be tempted to start it on my flight back. I know you think I should start it NOW, but I enjoy series a lot more if I space them out at least a tiny bit *g*.Rosariohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13015659149421085931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-41980738677716503542015-01-03T02:48:03.528+00:002015-01-03T02:48:03.528+00:00"Oh, you mean when it looked like the main ch..."Oh, you mean when it looked like the main character of the series might change? Unfortunately, I knew what the plot was before I started (whoever wrote this summary should be shot: http://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Dance-Vorkosigan-Saga-Book-ebook/dp/B005AJQ9U6/ Seriously!). But by the end part of me did feel like it wouldn't have been such a bad thing!<br /><br />I want to get to A Civil Campaign NOW!!"<br /><br /><br />That is a horrible blurb: it basically summarized the whole bloody story - who writes blurbs like that?! <br /><br />And hold your horses: you have two FANTASTIC books ahead of you with MEMORY and KOMARR. You've only read the first of the best four books in the series (with the possible exception of BARRAYAR) so enjoy them while you can. They'll be over before you know it and then you'll be reduced to countless rereads and cyber-stalking VORKOSIGAN newbies...<br />CDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-67293493442259809202015-01-02T15:14:03.253+00:002015-01-02T15:14:03.253+00:00Some of my 2015's favs are ORACLE'S MOON -...Some of my 2015's favs are ORACLE'S MOON - Thea Harrison and THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS - M.J. Carey. I also loved READY PLAYER ONE by Ernest Cline but it's probably too geeky for some XD; <br /><br />Can't wait to hear what you think of MEMORY and A CIVIL CAMPAIGN. (another envious reader here)<br />Sunnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-31068345705717446232015-01-02T09:17:14.791+00:002015-01-02T09:17:14.791+00:00CD: Oh, you mean when it looked like the main char...CD: Oh, you mean when it looked like the main character of the series might change? Unfortunately, I knew what the plot was before I started (whoever wrote this summary should be shot: http://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Dance-Vorkosigan-Saga-Book-ebook/dp/B005AJQ9U6/ Seriously!). But by the end part of me did feel like it wouldn't have been such a bad thing!<br /><br />I want to get to A Civil Campaign NOW!!<br /><br />Li: Memory does seem to be most people's favourite. I can't wait! All these books feel like they would be great to reread, so I see myself doing it for the rest of my life!<br /><br />Hope you like Mark of Cain. Sherwood is a real hidden treasure!Rosariohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13015659149421085931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-25150981765164627282015-01-01T20:23:36.387+00:002015-01-01T20:23:36.387+00:00Happy New Year, Rosario!
I echo CD's envy abo...Happy New Year, Rosario!<br /><br />I echo CD's envy about you having the remaining Vorkosigan books to discover for the first time. I love MEMORY.<br /><br />Also I just finished Kate Sherwood's THE FALL, which I bought based on your review - I really liked it and now have bought MARK OF CAIN. Your reviews are so bad for my wallet!Lihttp://bookdaze.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-8846091118068356632015-01-01T17:28:03.485+00:002015-01-01T17:28:03.485+00:00LOL!! I remember when I first read MIRROR DANCE a...LOL!! I remember when I first read MIRROR DANCE as a teenager, I literally threw my book against the wall when a certain thing happened marking what I thought was yet another change in the status quo of the saga, and a change that I hated with the fire of a thousand burning suns. Suffice to say, at the end of MIRROR DANCE, I was almost disappointed that that hadn't been the case! That is great writing, my friends...<br /><br />And yes, Mark does show up in later books - particularly in A CIVIL CAMPAIGN where he's actually one of the POV characters. He and Miles are bloody hilarious together - they really need to go on the road as a double act.<br /><br />Now you have MEMORY [big squeal] to look forward to! God, I'm so envious...<br />CDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-1041064743369400252015-01-01T16:37:43.865+00:002015-01-01T16:37:43.865+00:00Angieville: It really was great. I love her histor...<i>Angieville</i>: It really was great. I love her historicals, but I also tried her YA adventure book last year and enjoyed it quite a bit.<br /><br /><i>Wendy</i>: I actually listened to several of the books on my non-romance list on audio, and they were all really good in that format. The Stephen King was actually one of them. I was a bit doubtful about the narrator at first, but I really warmed to him. He was perfect for that main POV character.<br /><br /><i>Sun</i>: Yep, that ending of Borders of Infinity really made the book. It made me look back at all that had happened in a different light, and it all made so much sense. I'm so glad my reviews have been useful to you, thanks so much for telling me! :) And I'd love to hear what else you loved this year, since we seem to have pretty similar tastes!<br /><br /><i>Marianne and Barb</i>: Ah, you're all giving me a warm glow! :) I'm really glad I helped you both find good books. Thanks for all the really interesting, thought-provoking comments throughout the year!<br /><br /><i>Samantha</i>: I'm not usually a big adventure reading, but both of those really worked for me!<br /><br /><i>CD</i>: I went on a bit of a binge listen and finished it today. Oh, wow! Mark, my poor, lovely Mark! I was a wreck for a while after listening to those sections. But I was satisfied at the end that he was going to be ok and was getting and would get some of the help he needed. Please tell me he's a big part of the next few books?Rosariohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13015659149421085931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-761410275767282142015-01-01T15:54:09.661+00:002015-01-01T15:54:09.661+00:00Of all your books listed here, I've only read ...Of all your books listed here, I've only read the Thomas and, obviously, the Bujold. It looks like I've got some work for 2015.<br /><br />And can't wait until you finally finish MIRROR DANCE: you're only 50% through? It gets even better...CDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-32495198067804129532015-01-01T00:42:37.598+00:002015-01-01T00:42:37.598+00:00Great list! I really loved The Martian and The Kra...Great list! I really loved The Martian and The Kraken King as well this year.Samanthahttps://bookminxreads.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-29564908593194683042014-12-31T21:27:33.855+00:002014-12-31T21:27:33.855+00:00I've enjoyed many of the books you listed, but...I've enjoyed many of the books you listed, but the one I would not have picked up without your comments was The Bone Clocks. I loved it! Thank you for steering me to it.<br />Thanks for all the reviews.<br />Happy New Year.Barb in Marylandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11374278685536530837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-72223712939476612572014-12-31T19:15:39.640+00:002014-12-31T19:15:39.640+00:00I read and properly enjoyed both The Goblin Empero...I read and properly enjoyed both The Goblin Emperor and Americanah thanks to your reviews, and I've several of the others waiting on my Amazon wishlist. <br /><br />Happy New Year. Thanks for all the 2014 reviews. <br /><br />MarianneMarianne McAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-29708710787617195622014-12-31T15:56:15.557+00:002014-12-31T15:56:15.557+00:00Great list. The Rosie Project and Unbound are my b...Great list. The Rosie Project and Unbound are my best reads this year too. The others in the Romance list are all in my to-read list next year, except for maybe Mark of Cain (not a fan of angsty books)<br /><br />The Border of Infinity is perfect and one of the best novellas I've ever read. I still remember feeling stunned at the end of the story. <br /><br />From your review I decided to pick up Mr Mercedes and I really enjoyed it. Actually I based a lot of my book-buying decisions this year on your reviews. So thank you! Hope to read more next year. Enjoy your holidays!<br />Sunnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-30966248368152446032014-12-31T15:27:22.752+00:002014-12-31T15:27:22.752+00:00The Kate Sherwood sounds great - but then I'm ...The Kate Sherwood sounds great - but then I'm a bit of an angst junkie.<br /><br />I'm going to go through your non-romance list and start requesting some stuff on audio. That Stephen King especially looks right in my ballpark.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12485867264936716806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730322.post-91560368337054760662014-12-31T05:38:05.436+00:002014-12-31T05:38:05.436+00:00I really loved The Luckiest Lady in London as well...I really loved The Luckiest Lady in London as well. Angiegirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00353676756221692186noreply@blogger.com