Sunday, January 2, 2011

Sleuthing Sundays - Nancy Drew 52, 53, 54, 55, 56

And with this Sleuthing Sunday, I am officially done with the Nancy Drew Challenge.  I didn't finished exactly by the end of the year, just missing it by one day but I am done!  Whoo who!  I consider this quite an accomplishment.

The Secret of the Forgotten City (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #52)
     Bess sighed.  "Do you think we can ever find that city and the sheets of gold?"
     "I'll wager," said Burt, "that if anybody can find them Nancy Drew can." p.62
Nancy and her gang go on an archeological dig in Nevada hoping to undercover the mystery of a hidden treasure.  Along the way she gets involved with a dangerous criminal who is also after the treasure.  The race is on in this thrilling and dangerous mystery.  But don't worry, Nancy Drew can always solve the case and save the day.

The Sky Phantom (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #53)
Bess was alarmed.  "Oh, Nancy, why can't you ever solve a mystery without all sorts of threats and harrowing dangers to you, George, and me?" p.32
Nancy, Bess and George are staying at a ranch while Nancy takes flying lessons and Bess and George work on their horse back riding.  Nancy stumbles upon a mystery involving a mysterious hovering cloud with magnetic properties.  Along the way comes the thief of a prized pony and a love triangle involving Bess, Dave and a ranch hand.


The Strange Message in the Parchment (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #54)
"Junie, you've never seen Nancy when she's trying to solve a mystery.  She's like a hound on a scent and never gives up until she has caught the villain!"  p.3
Nancy is invited by an old school friend we have never heard of to solve the mystery in a parchment bought by her father.  In a series of painting lies a mystery that will right an old wrong and it's up to the girl detective to solve the case.  Along the way also comes the mystery some thugs that are roughing up some of the farm workers and local merchants.


Mystery of Crocodile Island (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #55)
"We're getting to be notorious."  [Nancy] chuckled. 
Nancy and her friends go to Florida to investigate the mysterious goings-on at a crocodile farm located around some keys.  While there, there is danger afoot involving a submarine, mosquitoes and, of course, crocodiles though not as many as I thought there would be.  Luckily, Ned shows up at the end just in time to be kidnapped with Nancy.




The Thirteenth Pearl (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #56)
"My, my," said Hannah.  "You certainly do get around solving mysteries."  p.36
Nancy and her friends investigate a missing necklace.  After a pearl necklace is stolen from a local merchant, the case takes her to Japan as Nancy investigates the missing necklace. 

Well, it was an exciting case for Nancy's last one and she got to travel to Japan which was cool.  I wish there would have been more George and Bess and especially more Ned.  I like the mysteries that he is in more.  But he shows up in the end and they pretty much drive off into the proverbial sunset.
She paused a moment, then said, "Do you think we'll ever get another mystery to solve?"
Ned chuckled.  "It's just like you to say that, Nancy.  It seems to me that you have had quite a few mysteries to solve since The Secret of the Old Clock."  p.178

Saturday, January 1, 2011

2010 Wrap-Up


I've had a good year over here.  I've read 153 books, listened to 39 audio books and reviewed 16 movies.  I joined 24 challenges and finished 22 of them with 1 abandoned and 1 incomplete.

I read some really great books this year but my favorite was The Kid Table by Andrea Seigel.  I really can't say enough good things about it.  The best audio book was Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, read by Jeanna Lamia and David Ledoux.  It goes to show that sometimes a great reading can save an ordinary book.

Challenges joined:


The Shelf Discovery Challenge (status: 6/6) COMPLETED 2/24/2010
Stephanie Plum Reading Challenge (status 7/7) COMPLETED 3/5/2010
Alice in Wonderland Challenge (status: 8/8 tasks) COMPLETED 3/5/2010
Read Your Name Challenge  (status: 6/6) COMPLETED 3/14/2010
Rainbow Connection Challenge  (status: 7/7) COMPLETED 3/25/2010
World Religion Challenge   (status: 4/4) COMPLETED 3/27/2010
Autism Awareness Challenge (April: status: 1/1) COMPLETED 4/21/2010
Audio Book Challenge 2010 (status: 20/20) COMPLETED 4/22/2010
A Buck a Book Challenge (status: 51) ABANDONED 4/29/2010
E-Book Challenge 2010  (status: 6/6) COMPLETED 5/5/2010

Read the Book, See the Movie Challenge  (status: 8/8) COMPLETED 6/3/2010
What's in a Name Challenge 3  (status: 6/6) COMPLETED 6/23/2010
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge  (status: 50/50) COMPLETED 8/12/2010 
Dystopian Challenge (status: 10/10) COMPLETED 8/13/2010
GLBT Challenge 2010  (status: 8/8) COMPLETED 9/23/2010 
2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge  (status: 55/50) COMPLETED 10/4/2010
Pretty Little Liars Challenge (status: 0/8) ABANDONED 10/9/2010 
R.I.P. V Challenge (status: 2/2) COMPLETED 10/14/2010
Take a Another Challenge  (status: 12/12 tasks) COMPLETED 11/14/2010
November Novella Challenge (status: 3/4) COMPLETED sort-of 11/29/2010
2010 Holiday Reading Challenge (status: 5/5) COMPLETED 12/24/20101
Twentyten Challenge  (status: 18/20) INCOMPLETE 12/16/2010
The Colorful Reading Challenge (status: 9/9) COMPLETED 12/1/2010
A Hogwarts Reading Challenge (status: +276) COMPLETED 12/24/2010 
The Nancy Drew Challenge  (status:  56/56) COMPLETED 1/1/2011

Challenges starting in 2011:

Take a Chance Challenge 3
2011 Whisper Stories in My Ear Challenge (12)
2011 E-Book Challenge  (12)
350 Page Books Challenge
What's in a Name 4 Challenge (6)
Wodehouse Reading Challenge (20)
GLBT Reading Challenge (10)
Off the Shelf Challenge  (15)

2011 Audio Books

1.   The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood, read by Katherine Kellgren
2.   The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan, read by Joshua Swanson
3.   A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban, read by Taj Alexandra Ricci
4.   Hero at Large by Janet Evanovich, read by C.J. Critt 
5.   Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, read by Eric Idle
6.   The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud, read by Simon Jones
7.   Linger by Maggie Stiefvater, read by Dan Bittner, Pierce Cravens, Emma Galvin, Jenna Lamia
8.   Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich, read by Lorilei King
9.   The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews, read by Isabel Keating
10. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson, read by Jenna Lamia
11. The Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer, read by Nathaniel Parker
12. Lucy Rose: Here's the Thing about Me by Katy Kelly, read by Tara Sands
13. First Light by Rebecca Stead, read by David Ackroyd, Coleen Marlo
14. Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary Jacky Faber, Ship's Boy by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren
15. The Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren
16. Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren.
17.  In the Belly of the Bloodhound : Being an Account of a Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren
18.  Mississippi Jack : Being an Account of the Further Waterborne Adventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman, Fine Lady, and the Lily of the West by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren. 
19. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart, read by  Tanya Eby.
20. Glee: The Beginning by Sophie Lowell, read by Emma Galvin
21. My Bonny Light Horseman : Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, in Love and War by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren.
22. Rapture of the Deep: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Soldier, Sailor, Mermaid, Spy by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren
23. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White, read by Emiy Eiden
24. The Wake of the Lorelei Lee: Being an Account of the Adventures of Jacky Faber, on her Way to Botany Bay by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren.
25. Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter, read by Angela Dawe
26. To Say Nothing of the Dog: Or How We Found the Bishop's Bird Stump at Last by Connie Willis, read by Steven Crossley
27. Forever by Maggie Steifvater, read by Jenna Lamia, Pierce Cravens, Dan Bittner, Emma Galvin.
28. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall, read by Susan Denaker
29. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson, read by Elaine Stritch
30. A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd, read by Dick Cavett

Total: 290 hours

2011 Reviews by Title

#

13 Little Blue Envelopes Maureen Johnson

A

Absolutely, Positively Heather Webber
The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group Catherine Jinks
The Adoration of Jenna Fox Mary E. Pearson
All These Things I've Done Gabrielle Zevin
Ascendant Diana Peterfreund
Ashfall Mike Mullin
The Atlantis Complex Eoin Colfer


B


Behemoth Scott Westerfeld
Betsy's Wedding Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy-Tacy and Tib Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy and Joe Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy and the Great World Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy in Spite of Herself Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy Was a Junior Maud Hart Lovelace
Bleeding Violet Dia Reeves
Blandings Castle...And Elsewhere P.G. Wodehouse
Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary Jacky Faber, Ship's Boy  L.A. Meyer
Bright Young Things Anna Godbersen
Brilliant Marne Davis Kellogg
Bumped Megan McCafferty

C


Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl
Cinderella, Ninja Warrior Maureen McGowan
Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters Natalie Standiford
A Crooked Kind of Perfect Linda Urban
The Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady L.A. Meyer 

D

Darkness Becomes Her Kelly Keaton
Deeply, Desperately Heather Webber
Department 19 by Will Hill
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks E. Lockhart
Drink, Slay, Love Sarah Beth Durst

E

The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival: Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone Dene Low
Errant Diana Peterfreund
Every Other Day Jennifer Lynn Barnes

F

First Light Rebecca Stead
The Fixer Upper Mary Kay Andrews
Forever Maggie Stiefvator
Friends in High Places Marne Davis Kellogg
Fury Elizabeth Miles

G

Gigi Colette
Glee: The Beginning Sophie Lowell 
The Goddess Test Aimee Carter
The Grimm Legacy Polly Shulman

H

Heaven to Betsy Maud Hart Lovelace
Heavy Weather P.G. Wodehouse
Hero at Large Janet Evanovich
The Hijab Boutique Michelle Khan
Huntress Malinda Lo

I

Illyria Elizabeth Hand
Imaginary Girls Nova Ren Suma
In the Belly of the Bloodhound : Being an Account of a Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber L.A. Meyer

J

Jacob T. Marley R. William Bennett

K

L

The Last Little Blue Envelope Maureen Johnson
Leave It to Psmith P.G. Wodehouse
Linger Maggie Stiefvater
The Lost Hero Rick Riordan
The Lover's Dictionary David Levithan
Lucy Rose: Here's the Thing About Me Katy Kelly
Lucy Unstrung Carole Lazar

M

Matched Ally Condie
Mississippi Jack : Being an Account of the Further Waterborne Adventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman, Fine Lady, and the Lily of the West L.A. Meyer
Mother Carey's Chickens Kate Douglas Wiggin
My Bonny Light Horseman : Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, in Love and War  L.A. Meyer
The Mysterious Howling (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place) Maryrose Wood

N

The Name of the Star Maureen Johnson
Never Sit Down in a Hoopskirt and Other Things I Learned in Southern Belle Hell Crickett Rumley
O

Once in a Full Moon Ellen Schreiber
Overbite Meg Cabot

P

Paranormalcy Kiersten White
The Penderwicks Jeanne Birdsall
Perfect Marne Davis Kellogg
Perfect You Elizabeth Scott
Priceless Marne Davis Kellogg
Prized Caragh M. O'Brien

Q

Queens of All the Earth Hannah Sternberg

R

Rapture of the Deep: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Soldier, Sailor, Mermaid, Spy L.A. Meyer
Real Live Boyfriends E. Lockhart
Red Glove Holly Black
The Ring of Solomon Jonathan Stroud
Ruby Red Kerstin Gier

S

Savannah Grey Cliff McNish
Shine Lauren Myracle
Sister Mischief Laura Goode
Sizzling Sixteen Janet Evanovich
Sleeping Beauty, Vampire Slayer Maureen McGowan
Slice of Cherry Dia Reeves
Smokin' Seventeen Janet Evanovich
Something New P.G. Wodehouse
So Much Closer Susane Colasanti
Spoiled Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan 
Spying in High Heels Gemma Halliday
Starcrossed Josephine Angelini
Summer Lightning P.G. Wodehouse

T

A Tale of Two Castles Gail Carson Levine
Tankborn Karen Sandler
To Say Nothing of the Dog Connie Willis
Touch Jus Accardo

U

Ultraviolet R.J. Anderson
Uncommon Criminals Ally Carter
Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber L.A. Meyer
The Unwanteds Lisa McMann

V

W

The Wake of the Lorelei Lee: Being an Account of the Adventures of Jacky Faber, on her Way to Botany Bay L.A. Meyer
Wicked Appetite Janet Evanovich
Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Withering Tights Louise Rennison
The Wizard of Dark Street Shawn Thomas Odyssey
Wrapped Jennifer Bradbuy

X Y Z