Electra's Journey Begins: the 999 Challenge - January 2009

Over the Christmas break I started on the 999 journey of 81 books for 2009.
The books I have read so far have been The Appeal, by John Grisham(Crime). The story is set in Bowmore Mississippi where the Kramer Chemical Company has been dumping chemical waste causing a huge cancer cluster. A husband and wife team take the company to court. The story is all about the justice system and how it is manipulated by gutter politics.I did not enjoy this book, it all could have been written in about two chapters.
Shopaholic and Sister, by Shophie Kinsella (Chic Lit). I love all Shopie Kinsella's books and this one did not disappoint. Becky Brandon returns from her honeymoon to find she has an older sister from a relationship her father had in his youth. Becky sees hours of shopping, coffees and doing girly things with her new found sister. Things do not go according to plan. A very funny read.
Dewey, by Vicki Myron (Biography).Vicki Myron finds a kitten in the after hours book return bin one winter morning in Spencer Iowa. She decides to keep him at the library and share him with the community.It is a very entertaining and moving story.
Everything I Knew, by Peter Goldsworthy (Australian author). Robbie Burns is a fourteen year old who lives in a small town in South Australia. It is all abou t growing up, forbidden disires, friendships and what happens when boundries are crossed. From funny to tragic.
Nights in Rodanthe, by Nicholas Sparks (Books made into movies). Adrienne a divorced mother explaining to her daughter who has just lost her husband with cancer, how she met the man who was the love of her life. Paul was staying at an Inn in Rodanthe for the weekend and Adrienne was looking after the Inn for a friend. Paul who never had time for his family and Adrienne recently divorced find love and compassion in each other. Nicholas Sparks really understands romance and feelings from a woman's point of view. The message in this short novel is, it is better to have loved and lost than to never love at all. Lovely read.