New York Times Bestseller's Lists: Paperback Mass Market Fiction, Paperback Non-Fiction, Hardcover Fiction

Christmas is less than a month away. Have you bought all of your Christmas presents? Well if you haven't, taking a look to see what's new in the book world is a great place to browse. Below are three Lists' from the New York Times. I only post the Top 10 from each list, so if you wish to see more, I will have a link to the New York Times website at the bottom.

Hardback Fiction

KILL ALEX CROSS, by James Patterson.

11/22/63, by Stephen King

V IS FOR VENGEANCE, by Sue Grafton

THE LITIGATORS, by John Grisham

DEVIL'S GATE, by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown

THE BEST OF ME, by Nicholas Sparks

ZERO DAY, by David Baldacci

STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC : REVAN, by Drew Karpyshyn

THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING, by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

1Q84, by Haruki Murakami

Paperback Non-Fiction

HEAVEN IS FOR REAL, by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent

THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS, by Rebecca Skloot (note: if you attend Boise State University, this is your Campus Read for this year!)

UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS, by Jennifer S. Holland

OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell

_____ FINISH FIRST, by Tucker Max

THE ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE, by Max Brooks

THE GLASS CASTLE, by Jeannette Walls

MONEYBALL, by Michael Lewis

EMPIRE OF THE SUMMER MOON, by S.C. Gwynne

I, STEVE, edited by George Beahm

Paperback Mass Market Fiction

SMOKIN' SEVENTEEN, by Janet Evanovich

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS, by Debbie Macomber

CRESCENT DAWN, by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler

SECRETS TO THE GRAVE, by Tami Hoag

CROSS FIRE, by James Patterson

WHAT THE NIGHT KNOWS, by Dean Koontz

MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT, by Fern Michaels, Elizabeth Bass, Rosalind Noonan and Nan Rossiter

TOUCHED BY ANGELS, by Debbie Macomber

HOLIDAY IN STONE CREEK, by Linda Lael Miller

THE VALCOURT HEIRESS, by Catherine Coulter

I hope that these books give you some suggestions for your holiday shopping. If you want to save a little money, you can always go down to the Rubaiyat in Caldwell. They have a great used selection to choose from. 

Keep tuning in!! Later this week I will have Life of Pi posted on. It is one of my BBC books. I also have A Christmas Carol on the way, and a few other posts relating to books. If you have a Twitter account, you can follow the blog, just click on the Follow Me button on the right hand side. I usually tweet every day, giving you updates on where I am in the books and what I have planned for the blog. Comments are welcome, and requests are always taken. If you have a book for me to read, just shoot me a tweet or an e-mail and I will get to it as soon as possible. Thanks for reading!

Stephen King's 11/22/63

In 1973, Stephen King published his first novel Carrie. After almost forty years, Mr. King publishes his first novel involving time travel. 11/22/63 revolves around the story of a man going back to prevent the JFK assassination. 

Jake Epping, a divorced english teacher, is drafted by a dying restaurant owner who discovered a "rabbit hole" that takes you back in time. The only hitch in the plan, is that the hole takes you back to a specific time. This particular hole takes Mr. Epping back to 1958, five years before the assassination.

I have always been a devout King fan. I have read almost all of his works, and I own 55 books by him. 

This novel however, is one of the few books that I don't particularly enjoy. 

11/22/63 started out fantastic. It was textbook Stephen King. But as it got into the middle of the book, I found it harder to connect to the story. I finally gave up halfway through the novel.

If you really enjoy Stephen King, I wouldn't hesitate to read this book. Some of his best-selling novels are one's that I can never get into ( like the Stand for instance). From me personally, I give 11/22/63 2 stars out of 5. Maybe sometime in the future I can complete it and give it a different rating.

If you are a "tweeter", I now have a page up for the blog on Twitter. If you click the follow me on twitter button on the right hand side, it will take you to my page where you can follow me. I tweet almost everyday, giving updates on what I am reading, what my future posts will be about, and when I post a new blog.

As always I have a Poll on the right hand side. Everyone is welcome to answer, you do not have to be a follower to give an opinion. You can also give suggestions and constructive criticisms by commenting on my posts. I read every comment and usually reply to them immediately. If you wish to give me suggestions on what to read next. you can e-mail me at CodyWolf2011@gmail.com.

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Murder on Cell Block 9 by L.D Webb

Since I am in college, I do not get the opportunity to read as much as I would like. But one book I am glad to have read, is this one.

L.D Webb, an Idaho author, shares the story of an infamous drug dealer Richard Holmes. With several charges against him, he was sent to the Idaho State Penitentiary. While he was there, he was brutally stabbed and tormented. The worst part...... the guards and SWAT team were ordered to stand down.

I don't want to give the whole story away (and that is hard to do, let me tell you), but this book is the perfect fit for anyone who enjoys a story with drugs and police brutality. I give Murder on Cell Block 9  3 stars out of 5.


If you wish to purchase your own copy, you can find them at The Rubaiyat in Caldwell.

I would also like to mention that L.D Webb has been noted as one of the best authors in Idaho. I applaud her for her success, and look forward to another novel (if there is one).



I am sorry to say that because of the holidays, I will not be posting for the rest of the week. I hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving, and don't forget to read a couple pages after your family get togethers. If you happen to have a twitter account, I have set one up for my blog. On the right hand side of my post, is a Twitter Update box, you can see my latest "tweets" there, and you can follow me by clicking the 'Follow Me on Twitter" button. I usually tweet everyday, discussing how far I am with my books, what I have in store for the blog, and when I post a new review. Twitter is also a great way to contact me if you wish.

Thanks for reading!!

Kathryn Stockett

If you happen to recognize the name of this woman, you have most likely heard of her bestselling  novel The Help. I personally have mentioned it a few times, and if you have not read her book I seriously suggest you do. 

The Help is Mrs. Stockett's debut novel. And let me tell you, it's probably one of the best debut novels out there. I think that Kathryn has some real talent, and if she ever gets the opportunity to write another book, I will be one of the first to purchase it.

Born in 1969, Jackson Mississippi, Kathryn Stockett was raised by an african- american domestic worker. After graduating from the University of Alabama, she moved to the big apple to work in publishing for nine years. 

It took Mrs. Stockett five years and 60 agents to reject her book before The Help was finally published. As of August 2011, The Help has sold 5 million copies and has been on the New York Times Bestseller List for 100 plus weeks.

Mrs. Kathryn Stockett, I applaud you for your success and I sincerely hope I see another book with your name on it. 

For my readers, I have quite a few surprises in store for you. As of this morning, I am halfway through Stephen King's new book 11/22/63. Hopefully, I will have it posted early next week. I also have another BBC title for you (I cannot say which), I will have it up by Monday. And for those of you who support Idaho authors, I have L.D Webb's book right around the corner. 

Keep Reading!!

Sources:

1.Kathryn Stockett's 'The Help' Turned Down 60 Times Before Becoming a Best Seller". More Magazine.

The Chronicles of Narnia: BBC Top 200 List #33 (2010)

I remember in second grade, when my aunt gave me the original version of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe movie. I really enjoyed the story, and watched the movie to death, but it took me several years to read the series. In fact, I didn't read any of the books until I was given a box set for Christmas by my grandmother.

About The Chronicles of Narnia:

The series consists of seven books, all revolving around a magical world called Narnia. Some of the books share characters, while others are independent. The series has been released in two different "versions". After a few years, the series was re-published in a different order (but the books are still the same). Below I have the publication order, and the chronological order.

  Publication Order

1. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

2. Prince Caspian 

3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 

4. The Silver Chair

5. The Horse and His Boy

6. The Magician's Nephew

7. The Last Battle

Chronological Order

1. The Magician's Nephew 

2. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

3. The Horse and His Boy

4. Prince Caspian 

5 The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

6. The Silver Chair

7. The Last Battle

If you haven't read them, I recommend the Chronological Version. It helps put the pieces of the puzzle together.

Do they deserve to be on the BBC List?

Yes. The books are very entertaining. Almost everyone has at least heard of them (or one of them) and the story will continue on for generations to come. C.S. Lewis is a master at his craft. I recommend the books to anyone who enjoys a classic fantasy read.

Do they deserve its place on the BBC List?

Absolutely. I am not huge on fantasy novels, but these were phenomenal. They are almost as good as The Lord of the Ring series (but not quite). I feel they earned their spot at 33. If you are one of the few people left who hasn't read them, I seriously suggest you get to it. It's worth your time.

As always, thanks for reading! If you have questions, concerns, suggestions, etc... you can always leave a comment, or if you wish you can e-mail me directly at CodyWolf2011@gmail.com. There is a Poll on the right hand side of the blog, everyone is welcome to answer. Please do so, it's anonymous and I always value the opinion of my readers. 

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The Clan of the Cave Bear: #92 (2003)

A few months ago, Jean M. Auel released the sixth and final book in the Earth's Children series The Land of the Painted Caves. When it was released,  my uncle got his hands on a copy and he was so ecstatic he gave the book 6 stars out of 5 on his reading list. Since I had never read any of the books (and saw the first one was on my list) I decided to read the first book.


About the Book:

After a vicious earthquake, little 5 year old Ayla is left as an orphan, forced by nature (or spirits) to survive on her own. On the brink of death, she is discovered by a travelling clan, homeless due to the same earthquake that murdered Ayla's mother. With a little persuasion and maybe luck, Ayla is permitted to stay with the Clan.


Does it deserve to be on the BBC List?

No... Do not get me wrong, I really, really, REALLY enjoyed the book. In fact, it is a book ( and a series) I plan to keep in my adult library for a long time. But as far as being on the Top 200 list, I do not think so. In my honest opinion, the book doesn't deserve a spot. It is a hard to pick 200 books out of how many books that have been published, but I just cannot say The Clan of the Cave Bear was good enough for that kind of praise. I will however recommend it to anyone who likes adventure stories, dealing with social acceptance, and the finding of one's self. In a couple years, I will definitely read it again. I give The Clan of the Cave Bear 3.5 stars out of 5

There is one available copy at The Rubaiyat located in Caldwell, ID 720 Arthur St. I recommend going down to purchase that book, and others you may see on my blog (they do have quite a few BBC books).
Comments are welcome, everyone can leave one if they so wish, and there is always a survey on the right hand side of my blog everyone should answer before leaving.


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Book Updates : Upcoming Releases, New Releases, and the Top 10 on the New York Times Bestseller List.

Hey everyone,

This November, there are quite a few hot releases. I see a few that are are ones I can't wait to read.


11/22/63 by Stephen King (released 11/811)




Inheritance (Eragon series  #4) by Christopher Paolini (released 11/8/11 




Destined (House of Night Series #9) by P.C. Cast (released 10/25/11)






Kill Alex Cross( Alex Cross series #18) by James Patterson (release date: 11/14/11)






Explosive Eighteen (Stephanie Plum series #18) by Janet Evanovich (release date 11/22/11)




I hope some of these book tickle your fancy. I know quite a few people that read all of these series (and the Stephen King books) so I hope you can enjoy them as well



I also have a Top 10 list from the New York Times Bestseller List. This time we will do Non-Fiction.

1. Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson. 

2. KILLING LINCOLN, by Bill O'Reilly 

3. THINKING, FAST AND SLOW, by Daniel Kahneman

4. BOOMERANG, by Michael Lewis

5. UNBROKEN, by Laura Hillenbrand

6. THREE AND OUT, by John U. Bacon

7. THE END OF NORMAL, by Stephanie Madoff Mack

8. SERIOUSLY ... I'M KIDDING, by Ellen DeGeneres

9. THIS IS HERMAN CAIN!, by Herman Cain

10. JACQUELINE KENNEDY: HISTORIC CONVERSATIONS ON LIFE WITH JOHN F. KENNEDY

For detailed descriptions, and more categories, please follow the link. http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/overview.html


I hope you all received at least one new book title to add to your list. Keep tuning in, I'm in the middle of  The Clan of the Cave Bear as your reading this, and hopefully (pray for my teachers to not assign a lot of homework) I will have a review in a couple days. And I might even have a scary (or is it?) book in store for you.


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A Chair Fit for Bookworms

I don't know if anyone else has this problem, but I hate having to get up to retrieve a book all the way across the room when I am already comfortable in my chair!


Thanks to the Italians, we no longer have to endure through such a dilemma

Let me introduce to you the bibliochaise. Built by Milan-based Nobody & co.this incredible invention holds five meters of books in pockets along the back, sides and bottom of the chair (and the foot rest, if you wish.)

After I saw this, I immediately decided that I needed one. If you want to order one as much as I do, you can check out the Nobody&co. website. Here is the link. http://www.nobodyandco.it/

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A Town Like Alice: BBC Top 200 List #37 (2003) #96 (2010).

If you tend to read what I read -exciting, fast paced, maybe a little terrifying adventurous stories- the book I am about to review may not seem like something you would want to read, but on a rainy (or snowy), stressful day, you may just want a nice story. A Town Like Alice would be the perfect fit.

About the Book: 

The book starts off with the narrator describing how he met a certain (and may I say special) client of his. Jean Paget, a mere secretary for a shoe factory, learns that a distant relative of hers has passed away and she has come into a large sum of money. Bewildered by the idea of having enough money to not have to work the rest of her life, Jean Paget explains to her trustee what she plans on doing with her riches. 

The book, as I have mentioned before, is not fast paced by any stretch of the imagination. The story just flows along like a stream with a small rapid every once and awhile. It is not , however, the flow of the story that is important, it is the message hiding in the story. I give A Town Like Alice as strong 4 out of 5

Does it belong on the BBC List?

Yes. The novel may not have mystery or suspense, but the messages that come with the story I feel should be told for everyone.

Does it deserve its place on the BBC List?

In 2003, the book was 37th out of 200, in 2010, it was 96th out of 100. In my opinion, I think the book should be placed 37th out of 100. The novel is a great read, and a book with a message is always preferable. It's a book everyone should have in their adult library. 

Thanks for reading everyone! Don't forget to follow my blog if you do not already. Comments are always welcome and suggestions are needed! Also do not leave this website without answering the question to my poll on the right hand side, everyone can answer! 

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown: BBC List # 42 (2010)

About the Da Vinci Code:

Growing up as a kid, I was never really told the story of the Holy Grail (and as far as I know it is not in the Bible). As a matter of fact, I never got the full story until I read this novel. The book revolves around the story of the Holy Grail, and of course, a theory as to where (and what) it is. The main character, Robert Langdon, is investigating a murder that took place in the Louvre Museum. The victim is posed like Leonardo Da Vinci's famous painting, the Vitruvian Man, with a cryptic message written beside his body, and a pentacle drawn on his chest.  In order to solve the murder, Robert Langdon has to go back centuries to discover who is at fault. 

The Vitrivian Man by
 Leonardo Da Vinci

If you enjoy a great mystery, leaking with suspense, and full of history, I seriously suggest it to you. 

Does it deserve to be on the BBC List?

Absolutely. This book is probably one of the most controversial books to be released in the last one hundred years. Dan Brown rekindled the debate of the Holy Grail, the relationship status of Jesus Christs and Mary Magdalene, and not to mention the ever going discussion of what the Roman Catholic Church hid from the public. 

 Does the Da Vinci Code deserve its spot on the list?

No. To tell you the truth, I think this book should be placed higher on the list.  This book as far as I know, is still the best selling English language novel of the 21st century (and the second biggest in any language). The book caused controversy all over the globe, and it is full of  science and history (although some of it is a little inaccurate). I would place this book in the top 25 of the BBC List. It's a fantastic read.

If you haven't already read it, I would advise you right now to go retrieve yourself a copy of The Da Vinci Code (I happen to know, if you live in the Caldwell area, that the Rubaiyat located on 720 Arthur St. has a few copies available). After reading this book, you may also enjoy Angels& Demons and The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. Both books are from the Robert Langdon series.

Thank you for reading the blog!! I hope that you will leave me comments on what you think, and suggestions are always welcome. I also have a Poll located on the right hand side of my blog. The question this week is "Have you read the Harry Potter series?" Everyone is welcome to answer.