50 Book Challenge

4. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

I'd not ever seen the movie for this book - although I will now - and although I'd heard much good about it, I'd never read it. I finally picked it up when Neil Gaiman tweeted that it was on sale as an e-book for .99. I'm so glad I did!

The fantastical world Jones created is incredible! Although I knew early on who would end up with whom, it never once detracted from the magical story. Jones' universes - for there are four in this story, five if you count the castle - are imaginative and complex. She artfully weaves several storylines into one all-encompassing plot, and in doing so, makes you eager to turn the next page to see what happens. I read this in one setting, because it was that good!

I love the lessons it teaches, too. Even as adult, they're ones worth remembering.

If you like fantasty and haven't read this book, go pick it up right now! There are two more in the series, and I plan on getting them soon.

Books completed: 4/50

1. A Study in Scarlett by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
2. The Sign of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
3. Hellboy: the Companion by Stephen Weiner
4. Hellboy: Odd Jobs by Christopher Golden
5. BPRD vol 1: Hollow Earth & Other Stories (graphic novel)
6. BPRD vol 2: the Soul of Venice & Other Stories (graphic novel)
7. Abe Sapien vol 1: the Drowning (graphic novel)
8. Hellboy vol 3: the Chained Coffin & Others (graphic novel)
9. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
10. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
11. The Island of Sheep by John Buchan
12. Trouble Is My Business by Raymond Chandler
13. The High Window by Raymond Chandler
14. The Lady in the Lake by Raymond Chandler
15. The Little Sister by Raymond Chandler
16. The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler
17. Playback by Raymond Chandler
18. The Simple Art of Murder by Raymond Chandler
19. Double Indemnity by James M. Cain
20. Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart by Tim Butcher
21. Native Stranger: A Black American's Journey into the Heart of Africa by Eddy Harris
22. The Paradoxes of Mr. Pond by G.K. Chesterton
23. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins
24. Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook by Anthony Bourdain
25. Four Faultless Felons by G.K. Chesterton
26. Hollow Earth: The Long and Curious History by David Standish
27. Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows Across the Earth by Ewan McGregor & Charley Boorman
28. The Big Knockover by Dashiell Hammett
29. Nightmare Town by Dashiell Hammett
30. In the Footsteps of Marco Polo by Denis Belliveau & Francis O'Donnell
31. The Power House by John Buchan
32. Prester John by John Buchan
33. The American (A Very Private Gentleman) by Martin Booth
34. The Affinity Bridge by George Mann
35. The Osiris Ritual by George Mann
36. The Immorality Engine by George Mann
37. Hellboy: Bones of Giants by Christopher Golden
38. The Bookman by Lavie Tidhar
39. The Extraordinary and Unusual Adventures of Horatio Lyle by Catherine Webb
40. The Obsidian Dagger by Catherine Webb
41. The Doomsday Machine by Catherine Webb
42. The Secret of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton
43. The Scandal of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton
44. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
45. The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
46. The Valley of Fear by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
47. His Last Bow by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
48. The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
49. Bone in the Throat by Anthony Bourdain
50. Gone Bamboo by Anthony Bourdain

Second consectutive year at 50 books. Time to step it up a little bit.

Just heard about this group and joined immediately! Anybody else out there enjoying audio books? I've found that if I keep one going in my car at all times and another physical (or electronic) book in my bag I can read twice as much! Right now I just started the "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield in audio (very well read) and I uploaded "The Enchanted April" by Elizabeth von Arnim. I also have about 4 more chapters left in "The Happiness Project" by Gretchin Rubin... so I guess technically I'm reading three right now.

Looking forward to seeing what everyone else is reading!