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Last year I read 61 books, but I thought that this year I set my goal for 75 and hope to achieve it. Let's see how it goes

Kuutar,

Welcome - I hope you really enjoy the "75" group, no matter what number you ultimately reach.

Good luck with your goal/challenge!!!

Thank you so much!

1. Patricia Cornwell: Book Of The Dead ***

Pretty basic Scarpetta book. I've enjoyed them all in some level (the first ones the most) and I didn't hate this either. Looking forward to read next part.

Thank you so much!

2. Doris Lessing: The Fifth Child ***

First book I've read from Lessing. I really liked her style and I'm going to read more from her. This book was a bit heavy though. It was easy to read, but the subject was somewhat depressing.

Kuutar, I;'ve had the Golden Notebook by Lessing on my TBR pile for yearrrssss! Have you read this one yet?

I haven't read that one yet, but it's on my TBR list too.

3. Amélie Nothomb: Fear and Trembling: A Novel ***

I hadn't read anything from this author before, but I'd read some praising reviews so I thought I'd finally read her book. This was a quick read, but quite good in my opinion. It tells the story about Belgian Amélie who works in Japanese company. After reading this I don't feel like working in Japan. I'd probably end up in the same situation where Amélie is.

4. Cecelia Ahern: The Gift ****

This is second book I've read. I really like her style very much. Like the other one I've read this contains fantasy elements, so it's not that typical chic-lit.

5. Stieg Larsson: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ****

The first part of Millennium trilogy was better than I expected. I had read some not so positive reviews about this book so I had my reservations. But all in all this was quite compelling book. I hardly could stop reading when I got started.

6. Tess Gerritsen: Body Double ***

Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles series is one of my favourite series what comes to crime fiction. I am attached to the protagonists and I really love how their lives develop in each book. And Gerritsen is pretty great what comes to twining the thrilling plot.

Kuutar, I am finding lots of interesting books from your log . . . thanks for the comments!

Kuutar, most people say that The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is slow to start. I've just packed it to bring on vacation next week!

Kay, you're welcome. :)

Andrea, that's true, at first I thought the book would be boring, but when the plot really started proceeding it was hard to put down.

7. Meg Gardiner: The Dirty Secrets Club ***½ (actually I gave it four, 'cause half is not possible...)

This author was new to me. I read some positive reviews of this book and thought I might like it. Well I wasn't wrong. This was quite interesting and well written book. It is the first book of Jo Beckett series and I definitely want to read the next one too. I really liked the main character.

8. John Ajvide Lindqvist: ²Ñä²Ô²Ô¾±²õ°ì´Ç³ó²¹³¾²Ô ****

I really liked author's other book Let the Right One In, so I was quite excited to read this book. I think this was even better than the other one. ²Ñä²Ô²Ô¾±²õ°ì´Ç³ó²¹³¾²Ô means something like "human harbour". It is a kind of ghost story and there is magical and fantasy elements. It's also a bit scary. But the main thing is that it's a very good book and the story is brilliant.

Kuutar, I finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and I loved it! I did find it slow to start but only because I was confused with trying to keep track with all the information and having trouble with some of the Swedish terms. I can't wait to read the next one!

I just started to read the second book in Larsson's series and I've really liked it from the very beginning. Maybe it's because the main characters are already familiar.

The Larsson series is on my ever growing TBR list!! I have heard such good things!! Can't wait to get to it.

9. Siri Hustvedt: The Enchantment of Lily Dahl: A Novel ****

Hustvedts What I Loved is one of my favorite books. I really liked this one too, though it wasn't quite that good.

10. Jennifer Lee Carrell: Interred with Their Bones ****

Interesting crime/mystery novel in which the main character Kate is investigating the mystery of Shakespeare and trying to find his lost play while someone is murdering people linked to the case. This made me want to read some Shakespeare. I must admit that Hamlet is the only play I have actually read.

11. Karin Slaughter: Skin Privilege ****

The last book of the Grand County series. The ending was the most surprising and left me with mixed feelings. Gladly Sara Linton hasn't yet disappeared for good, since Slaughter has already written couple of books of this new series she's in.

12. Patricia Cornwell: Scarpetta ****

I really can't quit reading this series even if I wanted to. Or so it seems. I really decided at some point that I didn't want to read the books anymore, but then I just thought to give it another chance and here we are again. This book was actually better than the couple of previous.

13. Sirpa Kähkönen: Mustat morsiamet ****

This is a historical fiction book that is taking place on certain period of Finnish history. It's describing the life of a young woman whose husband is in prison. Looking forward to read the next book of this series.

14. Stieg Larsson: The Girl Who Played with Fire****

This was even better than the first one in my opinion. I can hardly wait to read the next book.

15. Tess Gerritsen: Vanish****

This was somewhat different than the other books on this series. No cruel serial killers, but other cruel people. I thought the book dealt with the important issue that is major problem in all over the world, human trafficking and more precisely sex trafficking. Kind of similar theme than in Larsson's book. Heavy issues.

16. Tess Gerritsen: The Mephisto Club ****

I have to admit that I was more interested in knowing what happens in main characters personal life than the actual murder case. But very good book anyway.

I think most people say that The Girl Who Played with Fire is better then The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Then I've heard a good mix of people who either think the The Girl who Kicked the Hornets Nest is the best. I'm spreading them out in an effort to savor them :)

Let's see what I think when I've read the last one. :)

17. Kaari Utrio: Ilkeät sisarpuolet****

It was refreshing to read some Finnish historical-fiction for a change. Especially the romantic one.

18. Philippe Claudel: Grey Souls ****

This book was so beautifully written, but so very sad and dreadful.

19. Tuija Lehtinen: Franseska ***

This was lighter than light chick-lit book from Finnish author. Quite okay, but not the best I've read from her.

20. Mari Jungstedt: Unseen ***

This was the first book I've read from this Scandinavian author. It was quite okay, not that special, but not bad either.

21. Eppu Nuotio: Paine ****

This was the fifth book in Pii Marin series. It was good and it ended with a cliffhanger so I am now anxiously waiting for the next book.

22. Terhi Rannela: Amsterdam, Anne F. ja minä ***

This young-adult book was quite nice and cute. The main character 15-year-old Kerttu travels to Amsterdam with her mother. She has just broken up with her girlfriend and started to chat online with interesting boy. Among other things book deals with Kerttu's confusion about her sexual identity.

23. Denise Mina: Field of Blood ****

Denise Mina has created a new interesting and quite lovable character, Paddy Meehan. This was the first book of the series and pretty good start for it too.

24. Chelsea Cain: Evil at Heart ****

Third book of Gretchen Lowell series. Gretchen is beautiful merciless serial killer who is on the loose and killing again in this third book. Or is she really the one who is dropping of the bodies around the town?

25. Geraldine Brooks: People of the Book ****

This book was amazing! It told the story of haggada, rare illustrated prayer book, that had survived through centuries. This book was so intriguing and well written and its story was captivating. Actually beside the story of the book itself it told several other stories about people that had protected it through destruction and war. This was interesting piece of history.

Kuutar, I think I have two Geraldine Brooks books, but not the one you mentioned. Have you read any of her others?

This was the first Geraldine Brooks' book I read and the only novel they have translated into Finnish. They have translated Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women into Finnish, but it is non-fiction. They have also March in my local library and I am going to read it some time in future.

26. Elina Hirvonen: Kauimpana kuolemasta

Book about two people who encounter in Africa, Finnish Paul who has come there to die and African Esther who has lost her lover. There was so many themes in this book that it felt like there was too much stuff, but still I really liked this book. One of the best Finnish books released this year.

27. Jo Nesbø: Kackerlackorna ***(½)

This was 2nd book in Harry Hole series and quite okay. This time Harry was in Thailand solving a murder of Norwegian ambassador.

28. Elina Hirvonen: When I Forgot ****

This was a quick read, but not light. There were some heavy issues in this book.

29. Liza Marklund: Studio Sex ***(½)

Second in Annika Bengtzon series, but actually Annika is younger in this than in the first one and she's just intern in Kvällspressen. Quite okay, though a bit irritating at times. Still going to read the other books.

I am so not going to finish this challenge. I have read even less that last year this time I think. I blame my studies!

Kuutar, your studies need to take priority. I'm glad you're hanging in there with us, and I hope you'll continue to stop by during the year.

The number's just a number! We always enjoy hearing from you and seeing what you've read.

Take care,

Kay

I agree with Kay....your studies COME FIRST!! =) I just enjoy seeing what you are reading, and get more ideas to grow my own TBR list!! Don't worry about not finishing! And please drop in and let us know how your reading is going, we still wanna hear from yah! Good luck with your schooling, it is very important. Don't ever feel bad for putting aside a hobby to further your education!!!

Thank you both for your kind words and support! I think I just tend to be a perfectionist. :) But you are, right studies are the number one priority. :)

30. Sophie Kinsella: Twenties Girl ****

Sophie Kinsella in one og my favorite chick-lit authors. This is her latest book and it's kind of a paranormal chick-lit. The main character Lara has just lost her boyfriend and her business isn't doing that well when suddenly the ghost of her recently passed great aunt Sadie appears to her and demands that she must find her missing necklace or she cannot lay to rest.

This was funny and romantic and a bit weird (but in a good way). I loved this.

Kuutar, the last couple of years I only read about a book a week because of all the reading I had to do for school so I can easily understand what your saying. Don't worry about finishing, we are all just here to have a little fun. If it help you could make a new goal of 35 and just work for that instead. We are just happy to have you as part of the group :)

Thank you! Luckily my studies don't include that much of reading but more practical assignments. I think 40 will be reachable maybe even 50, depending on how tight schedule we have this semester. :)

31. Lars Kepler: ±á²â±è²Ô´Ç³Ù¾±²õö°ù±ð²Ô ***

This was about hypnotist that had promised, after certain events in his past, never to hypnotise anyone again. Ten years later he is persuaded to hypnotise severely injured boy who is the only member of the family who survived from being murdered. This leads to series of tragic events.

There were somewhat disturbing events and themes in this book, but it sure was hard to put down. It was full of different twists and suspense. Though I must say that it wasn't that credible at some points.

32. Alan Moore: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Century: 1910 ***

I like to read comics sometimes and Alan Moore is one of my favourites. I enjoy Neil Gaiman's comics too. This was part of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen series. This one wasn't as good as the previous and the ending left me thinking that there's got to be a sequel coming to this story. So not the best Alan Moore I've read so far.