Abbott, Jeff - Panic

Title: Panic

Author: Jeff Abbott

Year: 2005

Genre: fiction- suspense

Pages: 353

Rating: 8/10

First and foremost, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although the middle was slow, I couldn't wait to get to the end. I just wanted to have everything figured out. 

This book is suspenseful, thrilling, and full of plot twists. 

The only character you can trust is Evan Casher, the main character and our very own "action hero", as he calls himself.

Evan learns some secrets about his family and the people close to him due to tragedy that happens early on in the book. He has no one he can trust and has to rely on his instincts to navigate the world of government spies. 

The entirety of this book takes place in just nine days, so there's plenty of action to draw out nine days into 353 pages. 

I highly recommend this book for those who like action. 

The next book two books I am supposed to read are later books published by the same author in the same genre. However, I will only be reading one because they are actually both from a small series; the first book being the first in the series, and the second book being the last in the series. I don't want to skip the middle of the story, so I will only be reading the first. I'll just have to make sure I'm ready for a cliffhanger :) 

Abbott, David - The Upright Piano Player

Title: The Upright Piano Player

Author: David Abbott

Year: 2010

Genre: Fiction- Psychological (ish) 

Pages: 264

Rating: 4/10

I found this book quite slow and confusing. It wasn't even until half way through the book that I could understand most of the characters. The author likes to jump storylines and semi introduce the characters. That makes it somewhat literarily interesting, but hard to follow. Also the book lacks a full circle satisfaction that a lot of books have. 

The main setting is in several cities in England, although the main character is American. Henry Cage is a business man who sort of feels like karma is getting the best of him through out the book. I mostly feel sorry for the man. 

Oh and don't expect for there to be much about a piano. I believe it makes a reference to him playing piano maybe three or four times.

Aarsen, Carlyne - "The Price of Fame"

Title: The Price of Fame

Author: Carolyne Aarsen

Year: 2008

Genre: fiction- Christian influence

Pages: 310

Personal rating: 5/10

First off, the opening page has a little note about the Grace Chapel Inn, which I'm assuming is a part  of the setting of the book. 

It reads, " a place where one can be refreshed and encouraged, a place of hope and healing, a place where God is at home" 

As soon as I read that, I knew that what I am doing is what I should be. I want this project to help me feel more connected. 

However, the overall impression from this book is very passive. There isn't too much conflict, no thrills, no romance. 

The storyline focuses on three sisters aged 50-65. Alice,Jane, and Louise run an Inn named for the church at which their father preached, Grace Chapel. Alice is a nurse who is on the church board. Jane is an avid baker and runs the kitchen in the Inn. Louise is a local piano teacher. 

There are a few strange people wandering around their small town taking pictures of everything and causing a stir. Soon, they find out that it's a location scout team for a movie wanting production in none other than their very own town of Acorn Hill. 

That is the conflict. Does the town agree to the movie or not? Well you'll have to read to find out. ;) 

Overall my opinion on this book is so-so. It's a nice winter read for someone who just wants a lower key, middle aged novel theme. 

In which I set drastically difficult goals in order to make myself do things...

Well hello blog world.
I am another one of those bloggers who have started several blogs and never accomplished my purpose.

This one I am determined will succeed. I have a lot of time on my hands for reading. My work consists of some actual activity and then quite a bit of nothing.

I will make that nothing into something.

I was perusing the library today and I realized something.
I am horrible about judging books by their covers. I pass over books and books and books and books (you get the picture) without giving them a second glance, already decided that I won't like them.
No more!

I am going to start with one of my local branches and work my way through the adult fiction.
Starting with the As and going along until I hit nonfiction is my first goal. I understand that this will be tedious. As a perfectionist, I will most likely be backtracking to allow for other people who have checked out the books, causing missed volumes. If I come to an author with multiple books, I will start with the oldest instead of the alphabetical order. I like time continuity :)

So here I go. Three books already checked out.
I hope to finish at least one a week. (I really hope for more. Otherwise, this task will never end. Or maybe it shouldn't end. Hmm)

I will make a running list of titles I have finished if you'd like to read along.