The Enchanted Castle - Edith Nesbit

I finished The Enchanted Castle by Edith Nesbit yesterday on my way home from work. Very sweet and charming novel :)

Seduced by a Spy - Andrea Pickens

It's been some time since I posted last. Not because I haven't been reading, but because I've been reading non-challenge stuff. Yes, there's time for that as well :-D However, now I'm back on track with Seduced by a Spy - a wonderful regency novel I read for the 888 challenge.

Sweet Valley High 2: Secrets

The first SVH of the year read and snarked at 1Bruce1. Probably only interesting to read if you already know the Sweet Valley universe.

The Emerald City of Oz - L. Frank Baum

The Emerald City of Oz is the last 'real' book of Oz... or at least the one L. Frank Baum himself intended to be the last, so I'll end my foray into Oz here as well. They were charming books, but not entertaining enough that I feel any need to continue my visits there.

Anybody Out There? - Marian Keyes

I always enjoy reading about the Walsh-sisters, and fortunately Anybody Out There? was no exception. Highly recommendable.

Anatomy of a Boyfriend - Daria Snadowsky

I finished Anatomy of a Boyfriend over the weekend - would have liked it a LOT more if it hadn't been aimed at teenagers. I'm not usually a prude, but this book handled sex much too casually to be appropriate for somebody that age.

The Dark is Rising - Susan Cooper

I think my expectations had probably been raised too much about The Dark is Rising, because unfortunately I ended up quite disappointed. It's okay, but not as amazing as I'd been lead to believe.

Stolen Lives - Malika Oufkir

Stolen Lives absolutely blew me away. I highly recommend it, even if it is disturbing reading. See my review for details.

The Eponymous Challenge - DONE

I finish one challenge and immediately sign up for the next.

The Eponymous challenge runs from 1 March to 31 May, 2008.

During that time the mission is to read 4 books whose titles are the name of one or more of the characters (e.g. Evelina, Oscar and Lucinda); or a description of one or more of the characters (e.g. The Merchant of Venice, Sylvia's Lovers).

Non-fiction books and overlaps with other challenges are welcome, as are books named after four-legged characters.

I've chosen:

• The Diary of Anne Frank (so called in the translation I'm reading, so I'd say it counts)
  
• The Princess and the Goblin - George MacDonald
  
• Mathilda - Roald Dahl
  
• Pope Joan - Donna W. Cross

Possible books for extra credit/alternatives: Robin Hood, Meeting the Malones, The Swiss Family Robinson, Hollywood Husbands, Victorias År, The Woman in White,

Nothing Lasts Forever - Sidney Sheldon

It happened sooner than I thought it would... by finishing Nothing Lasts Forever this afternoon, I've finished my first challenge of 2008: Medical Madness :-D

Those Who Trespass Against Us - Karolina Lanckoronska

After reading it on and off for a month, I finally finished Those Who Trespass Against Us this morning. An interesting subject, but unfortunately a dull book (writing, not plot).

Between the Sheets - Robin Wells

It's chick-lit with a capital C and absolutely delightful. I highly recommend Between the Sheets as a very pleasant escape from reality.

Cross-Stitch (Outlander) - Diana Gabaldon

I finished my first chunkster way ahead of time. I was supposed to just read 3 chapters a week, but once I got into it, I couldn't put it down and read 600 pages over the weekend ;) This is the first time I've read Cross-Stitch (UK version) rather than Outlander (US version) and though the changes were small and insignificant, they were still large enough for me to notice. I might just pick up Outlander soon and read the scenes I know were changed.

The Realm of the Gods - Tamora Pierce

By reading The Realm of the Gods I've finished the Immortals Quartet by Tamora Pierce. Probably my least favourite of the quartets, but still worth reading.

Emperor Mage - Tamora Pierce

It's a testimony to Tamora Pierce's writing that I enjoy even her weak books. Emperor Mage is one of those as my review (see link) shows.

Such a Time as This - Rebecca Velez

Such a Time as This is a gorgeous retelling of the Book of Esther. Very recommendable :)

Wolf Speaker - Tamora Pierce

My favourite in the Immortal quartet would have to be Wolf Speaker. The last two aren't nearly as good as the two first, but still worth reading.

Two more books read.

Thanks to a lazy Friday evening I managed to get another 2 books crossed off my list :)
Sue Barton, Staff Nurse by Helen Dore Boylston and Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce :)

Heidi - Johanna Spyri

There's nothing better than a good, old-fashioned, feel-good novel, and in that category, Heidi is one of the best. I was almost sad to have finished it.

Sue Barton, Neighborhood Nurse - Helen Boylston

After having read the second to last Sue Barton book I'm almost through both the series and the first challenge of the year. Not too shabby :-)