1/50 Dan Brown - Digital Fortress 3/29 - 3/30
Picked this up at the book exchange shelf at the hotel (Mustafa Pension) in Pamukkale, Turkey. With 3 days to kill in the sleepy, little village, I started it the night I got there and finished it by the 2nd. A quick read, it was entertaining, if a little predictable and with a fairly static cast. The ending wasn't the best and was your standard thriller of the week kinda plot. I immensely disliked the side story in Spain and skipped over those chapters whenever I got to them (which didn't detract from the main story at all). The main character Lisa was tolerable, but I got through the book despite these negatives. In all, I would skip it over his much better "Angels & Demons" but I wouldn't totally say people shouldn't read it. It's just a book that people shouldn't compare in quality to his others. Not a keeper.

2/50 James Rollins - The Judas Strain 1/7 - 4/5
Rollins is one of my favorite authors, but this was a let down compared to his other works. The story started off interesting with the Marco Polo twist and the biology introduced, but became a story which was loosely supported later on. I don't mind buying into the mystical or god-like processes that may be occurring, but it could have been explained better. The great revealing at the end was loose and without really saying anything. In all, not his best and could have been held up stronger at the end. As you can see, it took me 3 months to read. Enough said. Not a keeper.

3/50 James Rollins - Sandstorm 4/11 - 5/06
The archeology and mystery behind the story was good. Inventive and entertaining. It was good reading about Painter Crowe's rise to the head of SIGMA. However, because I disliked the main character (Safia) I ended up skipping over many, many parts of the book as I was tired of her whiney and weak personality. Also, while I understand romance inevitably becomes part of these types of stories, the love triangle formed was dull, annoying, and highly unnecessary. So, in the end, this is a pass.

4/50 Patricia Cornwell - The Body Farm 6/11 - 6/13
Despite being about a "body farm" the whole novel has very little to do with the actual place. Also, it's eventual tie-in to the conclusion of the story, is blasé at best. In all, it was a typical quick read, forensic story that would be an interesting CSI episode. The main character Kay Scarpetta was largely unlikable, largely due to her affair with the married Bentley. I abhor affairs and those who carry them out, so her character was none-to-fondly looked up by me. Also, her niece, Lucy, was also equally unlikable. From this first novel, I can safely say I probably would not like her other books due to the sheer fact that they all star Kay. It's one plus is that it took me a very small amount of time to read and this now allows me the time to read other (more intersting) books. So far my like to dislike ratio of the books I've read is 0-4. Let's hope the next book can even the score a little.

5/50 Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith - Pride & Prejudice & Zombies 6/13 - 6/17
Great book! Mostly due though because the original Pride & Prejudice is awesome. The zombies and fighting just made it more exciting without taking much away from the characters (I could definitely see Elizabeth as a zombie slayer - not so much her other sisters, but thankfully the story is Elizabeth's mostly and not about the others). Darcy was handsome and brooding as he always is (and also a great warrior = big plus!). Recommended! I wish they would make a movie of this!!

6/50 David Sedaris - Naked 6/17 - 6/18
Hillary sent this to me a while back and only now have I been able to read it. Not my standard fare, but I decided to give it a shot. Rather than a linear store with an unfolding plot lines, it reads more like a series of short essays that chronicle the important and often random parts of the dysfunctional hero's life (along with his equally dysfunctional family). The stores are intertwined but not in any particular order, often going back and forth through his years as easily as one might flip back and forth through a book reading the ending before the beginning and reading the middle bits out of order. I suppose that was his intention, and it was done well. While the author does bring up complicated topics such as drug use and homosexuality, the lightness and openness that he deals with each topic keeps the book from feeling like a sermon or an exposition on his personal views to which we (the reader) must take it wether we like it or not. In all, I recommend this book. It's interesting and funny look at a crazy family who is still endeared to you despite their often ludicrous way of looking at the world. I call this a like.

7/50 Cornelia Funke - Inkheart 6/19 - 6/28
A book about a guy who has the power to bring to life he books that he reads. Different that what I had expected and not as good either. Definitely catered to younger minds.

8/50 Steve Berry - The Alexandria Link 8/01 - 8/14
Generic thriller with no real big revelation at the end. The journey was much more important than finding the actual library which led to a somewhat disappointing end. Overall, it was an entertaining read but not spectacular.

9/50 James Rollins - Black Order 8/14 - 8/21
I really enjoyed this book! Reminds me of one of his better hits like "Amazonia." Definite read.

10/50 Michael Connelly - Echo Park 8/21 - 8/23
Really great! My first book from this author. There were a lot (a lot a lot a lot) of twists and turns, but none of them felt ridiculous or crazy. This was more than just the average serial killer type story which was really good. I think I understand why my mom likes mystery novels so much! I'm glad to have read it and am thinking of reading his other books.

11/50 Dan Brown - Deception Point 8/25 - 8/29
A blah blah book. The "deception" was nothing really interesting, and I found myself skipping a bunch of it.