The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart

Subtitled 15 Guys, 11 Shrink Appointments, 4 Ceramic Frogs and Me, Ruby Oliver.
Originally published in 2005.
Audio book read by Mandy Siegfried.


I enjoyed this young adult audio book very much, and I recommended it to both of my teenage daughters. Sugar Plum listened to it, but Jelly Bean got the book version. We also discovered that there is a sequel, The Boy Book, which I picked up from the library tonight and am taking with me to Florida tomorrow. (The girls will just have to wait to read it until I get back!) A third book will be published later this year.

E. Lockhart's blog is here.

2009.38

Spring Reading Thing - Wrapping It Up

March 20 - June 20
Hosted by Katrina at Callapiddar Days
Of the twenty-six books on my original too-long, subject-to-revision list for Spring Reading Thing 2009, I read fourteen. I also added I, Coriander to my list, as it was the April pick for my book club, Savvy, a 2009 Newbery Honor book, and John Grisham's latest The Associate. So that's seventeen books completed for this challenge:

• Adrift by Steven Callahan


• The Associate by John Grisham


• Bones by Jonathan Kellerman


• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson


• Cross Country by James Patterson


• Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult


• Hot Lunch by Alex Bradley


• I, Coriander by Sally Gardner


• The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith


• Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer


• Lucky by Alice Sebold


• Pigboy by Vicki Grant


• Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, and Nathan Hale


• Savvy by Ingrid Law


• The Ten-Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer


• Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress by Tina Ferraro


• Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

I haven't yet reviewed some of these books, but I've linked the ones that I have. I ended up with a good variety of genres, and there isn't a book here that I didn't enjoy. It's very difficult to pick one favorite, but among the top picks were Wintergirls, Rapunzel's Revenge, and I, Coriander. Bridge to Terabithia was a re-read from my childhood - and I loved revisiting it. I'm looking forward to Fall into Reading 2009. (I'm sure that it'll be here quicker than I think!)

In the Company of Cheerful Ladiesby Alexander McCall Smith

Originally published in 2004.
Audio book read by Lisette Lecat.


This sixth installment in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series is my least favorite so far. While some significant overall plot developments occur, I found the novel itself to be quite uneven. At times I was riveted but at other times I was bored. Perhaps I need a break from this series for a little while. But I know I'll get back to it eventually.

2009.35

Bones by Jonathan Kellerman

Published in 2008. 353 pages.


I think it says a lot that I found this twenty-third installment in the Alex Delaware series to be just as enjoyable as I did the first!

2009.33

I Finished It!

Book Awards Reading Challenge II


Ten months. Ten books.
Seven different awards (the requirement was at least five).

Much thanks to Host 3M!

• An Abundance of Katherines (Printz)


• The Book Thief (Printz)


• Bridge to Terabithia (Newbery)


• The Eyre Affair (Alex)


• The Full Cupboard of Life (Saga)


• The House of the Scorpion
  (National Book Award, Newbery, and Printz)


• Rapunzel's Revenge (Cybil)


• Savvy (Newbery)


• Water for Elephants (Alex)


• The Zookeeper's Wife (Orion)