The Outlaws, part 2

Like I promised, I'm trying to keep up with the writing, so another part in the Outlaws series (I'm way behind reviewing these). Can't say I'm happy with my notes on them but I don't think I'll be able to improve much on them as each time I wear one of them, I get something else and slightly different than before. Shape-shifters, all of them. :)

Anya's Garden: Amberess

Top notes: none, in the true Oriental style
Middle notes: Zambian Princesse de Nassau Rosa Moschata African musk rose otto and Musk rose absolute, Madagascan ylang ylang, South African rose geranium sur fleurs
Base notes: Indonesian patchouli, Himalayan amber oil, Turkish styrax, Greek labdanum, Peruvian tonka bean, Salvadorean balsam tolu, Balsam of Peru, Chinese benzoin, Madagascan vanilla

I kept wondering what exactly does a perfume with no top notes smell like and if they are really necessary in order to have a good perfume. The answers are good and no. :) As to what exactly does it smell like, that's a bit more difficult.

The opening is strange (I feel that's the word I use most with the outlaws). :) It starts familiar, and I can get traces of the rose that is going to appear but at the same time, it smells slightly acidic. Eventually, it subsides into a geranium sharpness you feel alongside rose and everything else that's in there. It makes me imagine the opulent, oriental, carpeted room with delicacies on the table (of the sweet variety) and flower scented bedcovers. It smells what I would imagine a woman reminding you of an earth goddess might - rich, soil-like at one point ( very lightly), slightly green and wet and smelling of rose.
The rose feels very real in this one, the way I imagine the smell of rose when I think about it and then it becomes the smell of a rose on an oriental bed smelling of spices and woods.
Hmm, I keep getting that bed imagery, so I guess my mind is trying to tell me it's seduction in a bottle. :)

Lord's Jester: Daphne

Top - cypress , ginger , bergamot , tangerine , mandarin , grapefruit', tagetes
Heart - immortelle , frangipani , magnolia , jasmine , jasmine sambac , rose , rose otto
Base - oakmoss , benzoin , labdanum , vanilla , tonka , pine needle , styrax , ambergris

Please don't get frustrated when I call this one strange again. :) Because it is. Even more so than the rest. It's dark, in the beginning, it also upsets my stomach a bit. It's at the same time sweet, dark and unsettling. I'm not sure what is unsettling my stomach, I thought it was cassia but it's not listed so now I don't know.
It smells deep, green and marshy while at the same time retaining the sweetness. I'm sure you can see now why I keep refering to it as strange.

In the beginning, you can smell spicy citrusness and ginger, combined with some kind of sirupy sweetness. But once the flowers start getting through, it all gets much more enjoyble. Morphs for a bit into something smelling more "masculine", sweet and cool at the same time.
It strikes me as a very serious perfume, it doesn't evoke any sunny or bright feelings.
The fact that I find it strange and unsettling doesn't really mean I don't like it, quite the contrary, I find it interesting enough to want to wear it. Not often though as it probably won't make me feel happy but there are times when it fits the mood.


Artemisia: Belle Starr

Notes: Red cedarwood, ginger, bois de rose, bergamot, karo-karounde absolute, carnation absolute, jasmine grandiflorum absolute, tonka, lotus concrete, rooibos absolute and cepes absolute.

Sometimes when I smell a perfume, all I think is, why in the world do I think I can do this? I see the notes listed and I know I have no idea what half of them smell like. And then I smell the perfume, and still, I can tease out some, but the rest are floating around in a cloud of wonderful smelling perfume laughing at me. This is such a well-blended perfume, the best I can do is get teased by a note, only to find it gone once I think I'm smelling it, then another comes and does the same. So not fair! :)

It's a slightly sweet and possibly rosy scent and I manage to tease out ginger, the rooibos tea and the bois de rose but I'm still getting a spicy, somewhat herbal vibe. The citrus here is used so perfectly to temper the possible sweetness of other notes that you don't actually smell it as such but realize it's there to keep the sweetness in check.
Mostly I think of this as spicy carnation, even though I got some jasmine and at one point (short-lived though). As it progresses, it gets more flowery until for me it gets to smell jasmine-y masculine. A clean jasmine (keep thinking there's rose in there as well) mixed with woods.
I wonder what it would smell like on a guy, it seems to me it might work very well. If I'll let him have it. ;)

P.S. I can't seem to find Belle Starr listed on Artemisia site and the price for it.

Daphne is 30$ for 5ml and Amberess is 75$ for 3,5 ml.

Pics by: http://www.lordsjester.com/ and http://anyasgarden.com/

I need to stop loitering and start writing - starting with Parfumerie Generale

I've tried so many good perfumes lately that it's high time I stopped loitering about writing reviews and just do them. I do get into phases when I think that no matter what I write, it will never be good enough to describe the perfume so why bother, but I really need to talk about these because even though not many people read my blog, it just feels I need to spread the word.

I don't know how many of you are aware of the fact that I love Parfumerie Generale offerings. Of course, I haven't tried them all and not all of them are for me, but generally speaking, I find them made for me. :)

I'll start with Drama Nuui because I thought I will like this one more than Bois Blonde.

Notes:petit grain, absinthe, jasmine, spices, guaiac wood, sandalwood, musk

That petit grain keeps bothering me. I can never figure it out for myself but after reading my notes and then the perfume notes, I can see how they merge.  I guess it takes a lot of time to train one's nose into getting all these notes.

Initially I thought it smelled like white flowers iris or lily of the valley with a slightly soapy twist, all together reminiscent of jasmine. Like I said, in retrospect, I see where petit grain fits in.

It smells like it's a white floral laced with some vanilla and with ylang-ylang hiding in there. But the petit grain not only gives it slight soapiness but also piquancy.

Honestly, the absinthe thing completely passed me by, and that is probably because I have no idea what it smells like in real life.

But the drydown of Drama Nuui is absolutely wonderful. You smell fine and delicately sweet and flowery sandalwood. I'm pretty sure the spices part is responsible for the whole structure of this smelling interesting throughout but I can't really say I spied any with my nose. :)


Bois Blond

Notes: cereals, grass, galbanum, cedar, hay, blond tobacco, amber, musk

I'm not sure what cereals are supposed to smell like, understated probably with everything else in this perfume. It starts grassily green, smelling of grass sap, like grass was recently cut and is emitting that sweet, green smell (which works for me always). I guess galbanum really does its best here. :)
At some point when the grassiness starts to subside, I was sure I could get hints of something cuminy through but as the note is not listed, my guess is that hay and amber combined with grass had something to do with it.  And even though you smell the grass, it's at all times tempered with some woodiness, making the perfume smell of wide, green, open spaces in the sun.
Once I read the notes, I could finally smell cedar and while the grass element is slowly subsiding, some smokiness gets a hold of you while you're enjoying the warm, sweet cedar wafts. I don't really smell tobacco, to me, it smells more of whiffs of that aromatic tobacco burning.
What I find absolutely stunning is the temperate nature of all the notes that can usually be quite overpowering. I'm still wondering where did the slight piquancy (a light pinching in my nose) in the start of the drydown come from? Smoky cedar perhaps?

In any case, a truly enjoyable perfume but as it's part of the Private Collection, I'm not sure how available it is. I see Luckyscent carries it, 110$ for 50ml.

Pics and notes by: http://www.luckyscent.com/

Drunk on perfume (again)

As far as I can guess, that is the only explanation how come I spent so much money in Institut Parfumeur Flores today and instead of my usual 2 bottle purchase, I actually came out with 3. Well, 2 are for me, one is for my boyfriend. Luckily for me, he doesn't read this blog so he can't find out I bought him a birthday gift (tomorrow is his birthday) even though I said I wouldn't (as I'm still hodling a grudge for not getting a birthday gift myself a year ago).

On top of the 3 perfumes, I also bought a room spray for a friend.  But I do have a good explanation for my bottles - both were 50% off!!! And those 2, I didn't even have to sniff, I learned about the discount while talking to the nice SA there who was very helpful and took the time to show me everything I wanted and talk to me about anything I wanted (well, all was related to perfume).

So, for me, I bought Worth Courtesan and Eau d'Italie Paestum Rose. I never talked about Courtesan and I should because it was the first "dirty" perfume that I actually started wearing. Paestum Rose I already talked about so today when the chance presented itself to upgrade from half a decant to a bottle I took it (especially a bottle at half the price).
The Eau d'Italie line is off because they are getting rid of the old bottles and replacing them with new (the design is different). Not all Eau d'Italie scents are 50% off, but enough. So, if anyone is interested in procuring a bottle for a good price, let me know (it comes up to 75$ or 55 Euros).

I have no idea why Courtesan was 50% off but my decant is low and now I have a bottle and no worries.
On the other hand, I can never guess what my boyfriend will like so I don't know if he's going to enjoy his Frapin Terre de Sarment but if he doesn't, I know I will.

The overall experience was great - I had lots to smell and will again soon when they get some new stuff. Although, I do hope that doesn't mean another pair of bottles (even though I just know I will have to have that new Frapin about to come out). The people were great, nice and efficient, knowledgeable and patient (as I spent there almost hour and a half). The way I was going, I could have spent there another hour and half without noticing it passing.

Afterwards, I started thinking if perhaps there is something wrong with me for wanting (and needing) to talk about perfume so much and smell it and just revel in it but then I remembered Olfactoria's post from this morning and felt relieved. After all, she is a psychotherapist, so if someone should know what is normal, it's her. Right? :)

Pic by: http://www.mimifroufrou.com/ of Cognac Pierre Frapin, cuvée 1888

Steven Brust: Jhereg

It's nice to be reminded every once in a while why I actually love reading fantasy. The adventures of Vlad Taltos came highly recommended by a colleague and rightly so.

One of the misgivings I have when deciding on a new fantasy series (and they almost always come as such) is that each book is longish (to say the least) and once you commit, you need to end the series otherwise you forget most of what you read by the time you decide to start again. Not to say that some authors take their time constructing the world and it takes some serious patience to get through that.

So, imagine my surprise on reading this book and getting instantly immersed in a new world that gets more painted through the discussions of characters than by long descriptions. Each page brings another thread in the tapestry of this new world and it doesn't feel at any point that you are missing information regarding this new world where you're off on a book adventure, but everything sort of falls into place. And even the questions that remain regarding the world Mr. Brust created are not important ones, just those that will add several more threads.

Another good thing is that you get a basic introduction into the world of Vlad Taltos and then we're off on an adventure with him. I already started reading the second book that chronologically happens before the story of Jhereg but in truth, you need to read Jhereg first because that is where the beginnings of Vlad's story start.  The second book fills a bit of the story from his beginning as an assasin and how he came to be what he was in the first book (but more on that once I finish book two).

What I really enjoyed in the story is the fact there is a lot intrigue, fun conversations, a relatively lax view of murder (but a really intriguing solution why that is so) and the introduction into this world of sorcery and witchcraft (not the same), humans and Dragaerans, assasins, familiars, etc.
This adventure ends with this book and you aren't forced into reading several other 400 and more paged books in order to get to the bottom of the story and a clear ending. Yet, upon finishing it, you will want to embark on the next Vlad adventure because they are both fun and uncoerced.

Pic by: www.fantasticfiction.co.uk

Friendship

I was at a friend's child birthday this evening and had  a great time and also came to a great realization (after a glass or two too much wine). :)

I've been talking to my boyfriend's friends and it turned out, they were my friends as well. I never saw them as such until this evening. And I really need  to work on my self-esteem if it surprises me so much that people consider me their friends.As this wasn't the first time this happened.

So, basically, all I wanted to say is, a big thank you to all my former, present and future friends. I love you all very much even though I might not show it all the time. Or most of the time. But I do appreciate the support, friendship and love you all offer.


P.S. Yes, I do get emotional  and quite honest when I have a glass of wine too much. :)

Lee Child: The Killing Floor

Calling me late to the Jack Reacher party would be the understatement of the year. This book was written in 1997 and considering the following Jack Reacher novels have, I still can't believe I heard only last year about it.  And then from several different sources. Oh well, some things come into your life when the time is right I guess.

The series has now reached 15 novels and I very much look forward to reading them. I enjoyed this one very much even though it contains some gory scenes of violence (I cringe just remembering one in particular) but unfortunately, all the violence seems very believable. I mean, the situations in which it happens call for some nasty beatings and killings. Which makes me give you a word of warning - if you don't like detailed scenes of violence, maybe you should skip this one. I don't really like them but I don't have a problem with them being part of the story. And the story is both interesting and informative, in more ways than one.

I don't want to disclose the gist of the problem Jack faces in this book but that is one of the ways where you learn about the possibilities regarding the crime being comitted. The other are little tidbits Jack explains at the same time in his head and to his reader regarding efficient ways to kill, hurt, maim somebody, not leave physical traces of your being somewhere both on a crime scene and in a country as a whole.

The best thing about jack is the fact that although he had military training (and is some seriously dangerous guy to cross due to all his knowledge and capabilities, size and strength), he still has a warm heart and is not afraid to show it to people he cares for (those are not many but it's present in the novel).

So, basic line is, I found a new series I will definitely read through and I already know I will enjoy it immensely - and learn some useful self-defence stuff. The only problem with that is, will I remember it...? :)

Pic by: http://www.leechild.com/

My skin is no longer thirsty

I rarely talk about cosmetic products as most usually don't make me feel enthusiastic about them.
But when I find something that instantly relieved my dry, itchy skin, I had to share it and I have to order some more soon.

That Etsy site is a wonderful mix of every little thing you can imagine and some absolutely wondrous things can be found there if you are lucky to stumble upon them.

I ordered some soaps and a body butter lotion from this shop - Sunbasilgarden. I haven't tried the soap yet but I did try the Oatmeal Milk and Honey Body Butter Lotion which smells great (and light) and feels absolutely wonderful on skin. It instantly gets into the skin and relieves any itching caused by dry skin. It's really incredible and I'm always looking forward to applying it as now I know what I can expect and it feels like my skin is happy in advance knowing what's to come .
I also find its texture great because it looks and feels whipped and makes such a sound when you scoop it out of the jar.

I have to check and see if all other lotions are made from the same ingredients so I can try them in other variants (but I'm guessing they are).

Pic by: sunbasilgarden shop on Etsy

Thinking about perfume

That's what's been on my mind lately. Perfume thoughts of all kind.

The fact that your traveling friends can bring wonders from around the world without you having any shipping costs. The fact that it still costs a pretty penny getting a bottle from Paris (because the same bottle costs a pretty penny).

Also, have you noticed how at all times if you take care to follow these things (and even if you don't), there are numerous possibilities of acquiring perfume for less money than what's in stores? For one, I always seem to stumble upon Carol's Niche boutique sales (like the blizzard one yesterday). So close after my Paris bottles is really not something I though I'd be doing, but I just couldn't skip it. And besides, I've been happy about it ever since.

One thing I learned about scents is, the more you let go, the more happiness they bring. Josephine from Notes from Josephine had  a recent post about awfulness of January which I seem to be feeling as well. The only thing sure to make me smile is perfume (and pilates and zumba but they do not happen as often).
And then I came to a sudden realization after smelling one Roja Dove perfume and all the outlaws. The more you let go of your conscious mind in trying to register what you're smelling, the more the universe of that perfume opens up to you.

First time I smelled the Roja Dove Unspoken, I now realize I was prejudiced by the swapper's opinion (she said it wasn't his best and didn't really like it). Today, I wanted to smell anything, just to let my mind wander around it and I let go. And I stepped into the universe of Unspoken. I do realize that this cannot happen with every perfume one tries, some of them don't even have a house to let you in, let alone a universe. But Unspoken does. And all of the Outlaws do. It might not be the universe the appeals to you but it's still a universe.

Now I've written this, it feels like I might be exaggerating. But when I say a universe, I mean a world of its own, and universe just sound better (and looks better in my opionion). :)

I do want to talk about perfumes I've been smelling (and the rest of Outlaws) but for some reason, I can't. I can talk about perfume generally but each time I sit down to write a review, it doesn't feel right.
I know it will soon but at the moment I seem to be enjoying perfumes privately.


Pics by: http://www.apod.nasa.gov/ and grand_universe_by_antifan_real

The Outlaws, part 1

I am so happy Carol organized sample packages for all of us who didn't participate in the Outlaw Perfume Project but still wanted to try the perfumes that got so many great reviews.

I spent a lot of time in the last 10 days or so since the package arrived smelling them over and over again and trying to gather notes that would do them justice.
I plan on writing about each of them and because I can't talk about them all in one post, I'll do several but in no way does appearing in the first means I think those are the best. Actually, I can't really say which one I find the best. I would like to own several of them, and some are extremely interesting but at the same time, not something I like to wear. I usually don't spend so much time sniffing perfumes before deciding to write about them, but these I feel I could smell over and over again and each time discover a new facet I didn't smell before.

Wing and a Prayer: Notoriety

Notes:Oakmoss,Amber,Rose,Wild Rose,Lavender, Violet Leaf,Carnation absolute,Geranium,Bergamot and Rosewood

This was the first sample I took out of the bag. It was instant love. It's piquant, green, earthy and well, slightly meaty for only a short while in the beginning (missable really). It has a nose-clearing sharpness of geranium, lavender and rosewood while at the same time it smells tame. Then it gets a rainy, metallic quality and gets very dark, my thoughts were that I'm finally getting what the oakmoss should be like. The original rose (the way I learned it smells here) is there as well, amid some light woodiness, like it's a bush, not an actual tree.
It really escapes me for words, it's a bitter rose smelling slightly patchoulish (there is no patchouli in the notes). It's really another shapeshifter, in the end, I think it smells refreshingly cute and sweeter than before.


Tabela: Rose of Cimarron

Notes: pink pepper, black pepper, pandanus, rose absolute, wild rose absolute, jasmine absolute, labdanum, patchouli, angelica root, ambrette seed, blond tobacco and amyris

I got to smell this directly after Notoriety so my initial thoughts were, wow, a sexy rose and completely different from Notoriety. It reminded me of jasmine I bought in an Indian shop, like there were sandalwood and cedar in there as well but I guess I could be mistaking those for a patchouli with something else. It has that dark, sultry feel to it. It does have that peppery sharpness which I love, but it's also fuller somehow than Notoriety while at the same time more dry. They both drydown to a nice ambery, rose, light woody feel.


Providence Perfume Co: Gypsy
Top Notes: Galangal, Lavender, Lemon Petitgrain, Cardamom
Heart: Pink Lotus, Bulgarian Lavender Absolute, Violet Leaf
Base Notes: Tonka, Oakmoss, Vetiver, Patchouli, Costus, Vanilla

I find it a bit difficult to talk about these perfumes as I often can't describe the half of what I smell. For me, this starts peppery, green and strange. I love how I classify perfumes as strange, like that means the same to everyone. :)  Anaway, on my second go, I was completely sure I smelled cinammon but as you can see from the notes, it's not there. My conclusion is that cardamom and petitgrain made me think that.
Then it gets sweet and resiny with something green like herb peeking through. It's at the same time cool and hinting of sunshine.
I like it very much and my word for describing this is charming - spicily sweet (cardamom is in there) and slightly floral. Charming really.

Pic of rose by: http://www.tambela.com/

Rachel Vincent: Stray

So, I finally read Stray (I've been hearing about that book for years it seems, long enough for the Shifters series to reach 6 books) and that was my first read this year. I like the way my year has started (reading-wise I might add).

Anyway, I had some problems with the main character Faythe who went to university in order to get away from her cat pride (we're talking werecats here) and not be under constant surveillance (although her father would never let her do that if she weren't actually being kept an eye on by his underlings, he's the Alpha).
So, without going too much into the story, Faythe needs to return home due to some problems regarding tabbies disappearing (females of the pride) and Faythe is in danger.
Of course, and this is what I'm having a bit of a problem with is, no one takes her word seriously or trusts her, which she basically brought upon herself during her late teenage years but this attitude she  still somehow manages to display in the beginning of the novel, even though she thinks of herself as more mature than when she left and completely right in her opinions. Somehow, Faythe growing up and maturing in a matter of 3 days is a bit of a stretch for me but I guess she just needed to have her eyes opened by her family and pride.
She is at the same time strong, smart, capable and aware of others' weaknesses and strenghts but still so very stubborn and wrong.

In the end, she is very likeable and I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series.
Especially since I can't wait to see what happens with Andrew. ;)

Pic by: http://rachelvincent.com/shifters.htm

Surprising myself

I love surprises. So I don't mind when I manage to surprise myself. :)

I know I love white flowers, especially tuberose and orange blossoms. What I wasn't aware of is that I obviously adore tuberose as it seems I have quite many perfumes featuring that note. I wouldn't even be aware of that if I weren't preparing a tuberose package for a fellow blogger and stuff seemed to pop out of everywhere. Which also means I'm walking around in a tuberose cloud (making me feel happy and smiling) and as some of the tuberoses I handled are only in sample sizes, I'm considering which one I need in a bigger size (probably bottle). :)

And I have it! I knew the instant I smelled it, it was the first tuberose I plan on buying once I recover from my recent splurge. *

Histoires de Parfums - Tubereuse Animale! When I received their sample package some months ago, the 3 tuberoses were in it but at that time I didn't talk about them because they were discussed on many blogs previous to that. I do plan on doing reviews on them, esepcially because I think all 3 are really good but Animale is in my opinion perfect for me.

So, basic line is, I'm a tuberose freak and I'm proud of it. Not to mention I'll be smelling it all day long as decanting can be a messy business and I have some all over my clothes. :D


* I have the best of friends. :) My friend Branka was in Paris for only a few days and I'm incredibly grateful that she found the time to look for the bottles I wanted and now am the proud owner of - SL Boxeuses and Shalimar Ode a la Vanille.

Pic by: www.easytogrowbulbs.com

Stephanie Laurens: The Reckless Bride (Black Cobra Quartet)

With this book ends the Black Cobra Quartet.

Before I go on, I should warn you there are going to be some major spoilers ahead because I just cannot talk about the finish of this series without it. I really thought about that and I need to get that off my chest.

Anyway, we follow the path from India of the last of the 4 couriers and this one (unfortunately for him) had the original of the letter that is supposed to reach Wolverstone. I say unfortunately because his nickname is Reckless (as is his bride obviously ;) ) and he now can't do anything that would be reckless and jeopardize his mission so when asked by a nice old lady (travelling with her great niece) to act as their escort, he accepts as that will of course aid him in camouflaging his mission.
So they set off by European rivers to reach Rotterdam and the English shores. Here is where you know how the love story develops. Which is in S. Laurens' vein very well done.

Here is where I get to spoilers. As the story progresses through the books, you get the idea that 3 brothers are behind the Black Cobra criminal organization. So, imagine my surprise  when along you find out that two of them are also having a love affair. I thought, oh well, I guess that's appropriate these days to incorporate in a romance novel as a side story.
Until this book where, what I thought by the half of the book when realization hit is, I'm so stupid for not seeing this before. :) The men employed by the cult never see who is running it, only the upper echelons know and there are like 5 of them. And the name of a cobra?! I really felt stupid for not realizing sooner that the third brother is actually a sister (and btw, they are all half-siblings, sharing only a father).
It seems that only the courageous gentlemen of S. Laurens' novels are aware of the dangers the intelligent women posess, everybody else underestimates them enormously (me included obviously). :)

Basic line is, it's a typical Laurens novel (romance, intrigue, crime story, thrills...) I enjoy immensely. :)

Pic by: www. stephanielaurens.com

Helping a fellow blogger

My fellow Croatian blogger, perfume enthusiast and creator, Bellatrix is deciding on a logo for her brand so if you could head on over to her blog and help with input as to which logo looks the best, we would both be grateful. :)

Here is a link to the post once more.

Unclaimed Christmas present

FragrantWitch9 can you please get in touch with me so I can send you Ambre Gris, some chocolate and Melem? :)

100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011.

Well, the title says it all. :)
I don't think I'll be able to reach it, but if I exceed 76 from last year, I'll be satisfied. This one is again hosted by Book Chick City and here is the sign-up page if anyone is interested in participating.

Challenge Details


•Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011

•Rules - Read 100 or more books in 2011

•All books can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

•Only print books and ebooks count (no audiobooks).

•You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

•You can also follow the progress others are making and chat about the VC books you read on twitter too - just use #100BooksInAYear

P.S. Turns out I read 77 books last year (I misnumbered 2 titles and ended up a book short). :)
Books in 2011:

1. Rachel Vincent: Stray
2. Linda Howard: Blood Bound
3. Lee Child: The Killing Floor
4. Steven Brust: Jhereg
5. Steven Brust: Yendi
6. Sean Slater: The Survivor
7. Steven Brust:: Teckla
8. Sabrina Jeffries: How to Woo a Reluctant Lady
9. Kristin Cashore: Graceling
10. Kresley Cole: Dreams of a Dark Warrior
11. Steven Brust: Taltos
12. Steven Brust: Athyra
13. Steven Brust: Phoenix
14. Steven Brust: Orca
15. Mary Balogh: A Secret Affair
16. Kelley Armstrong: The Gathering
17. Rachel Hawkins: Hex Hall
18. Lois McMaster Bujold: Shards of Honour
19. Lois McMaster Bujold: Barrayar
20. Lois McMaster Bujold: The Warrior's Apprentice
21. Lois McMaster Bujold: The Mountains of Mourning
22. Lois McMaster Bujold: The Vor Game
23. Lois McMaster Bujold: Cetaganda
24. Lois McMaster Bujold: Labyrinth
25. Lois McMaster Bujold: The Borders of Infinity
26. Lois McMaster Bujold: Brothers in Arms
27. Lois McMaster Bujold: Mirror Dance
28. Lois McMaster Bujold: Memory
29. Rachel Hawkins: Demonglass
30. J.D Robb: Treachery in Death
31. Shelly Laurenston: Hunting season (The Gathering)
32. Mary Balogh: A Secret Affair
33. Lois McMaster Bujold: Komarr
34. William Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night's Dream
35. Lois McMaster Bujold: A Civil Campaign
36. Lois McMaster Bujold: Winterfair Gifts
37. Lois McMaster Bujold: Diplomatic Immunity
38. Sabrina Jeffries: Forbidden Lord
39. James Rollins: The Devil colony
40. Charlaine Harris: Dead Reckoning
41. Sabrina Jeffries: The Dangerous Lord
42. Lee Child: Die Trying
43. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone
44. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets
45. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban
46. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire
47. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Order of Phoenix
48. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Half-blood Prince
49. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows
50. Stephanie Laurens: Four in Hand
51. Sabrina Jeffries: A Hellion in Her Bed
52. Stephanie Laurens: The Reasons for Marriage
53. James Rollins: The Skeleton Key (novella)
54. JD Robb: Indulgence in Death
55. Tess Gerritsen: The Silent Girl
56. Suzanne Enoch: Stolen Kisses
57.Stephanie Laurens: Rose in Bloom (a novella)
58. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone
59. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets
60. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban
61. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire
62. MJ Rose: In Session
63. J. Quinn: Just Like Heaven
64. Melissa Darnell: Crave
65. Nalini Singh: Lord of the Abyss
66. Kasey Michaels: A Midsummer Night's Sin
67. Tom Knox: The Lost Goddess
68. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Order of Phoenix
69. John W. Dean: Worse than Watergate : The Secret Presidency of George W. Bush
70. Ines de la Fressange: Parisian Chic
71. Mark A. Noll, ed.: Religion and American Politics
72. J. Butler, G. Wacker; R. Balmer: Religion in American Life
73. Timothy J. Lynch : After Bush: The Case for Continuity in American Foreign Policy
74. Scott McLellan: What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception
75.  J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
76. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
77.  J.R.R. Tolkien: The Hobbit
78. STEPHEN MANSFIELD: The Faith Of George Bush
79. Deborah Harkness: A Discovery of Witches
80. John W. Dean: Broken Government
81. PC and Kristen Cast: Awakened (House of Night)

Reading challenges of 2010.

Last year was the first one where I actually took stock of what and how much I read, all due to the fact that I participated in several reading challenges, as I will this year as well.

I honestly believed I'd read  a 100 books a year which proved to be wrong as I only got as far as 76. I probably could hit a bigger number next year if I could force myself not to abandon some books in the middle of reading them (as then, they never count, you need to start and finish the book in the same year if you want it to count in a challenge).
I don't think I'll hit 100 this year but I will give it my best. :)

As I have a pretty good idea of the books I read, I knew that participating in the Speculative fiction challenge wouldn't be a problem and it wasn't. I participated as obsessed and read more than the necessary 24 books. :) So, I'll repeat that this year as well.

The Thriller and Suspense challenge I almost finished, I only needed one more book but that's not so bad.

There were some other challenges throughout the year that lasted a season (Hogwarts, Summer reading challenge and Summer Romance challenge) of which I only finished the Hogwarts one (how surprising). ;)
Which I will probably finish this year as well what with the final movie hitting the cinemas and being addicted to those books as well. :)

Anyway, I hope you all have a good year in reading and I wonder how will I do by the end of this one.

The Vampire Chronicles Reading Challenge 2011.

I know many of  my readers actually read only posts reagrding perfume  and not so much about books, but reading is such a big part of my life and what makes me deal with stress that I just feel it will never go away.
So, this year I decided again to participate in several reading challenges and one of them is this one. :)

I already read The Vampire Chronicles (and the Mayfair witches as well) but as it's been a while and prompted by my re-reading of Anita Blake, I figured it was time to re-read this as well.

So, I'm happily participating in this one hosted by Book Chick City and here are the rules and the link to the sign-up page:

•Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011


•Rules - Read all TEN (10) books in the Vampire Chronicles series (books titles below).

•The reading challenge can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

•You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

•You can also follow the progress other people made and chat about the VC books you read on twitter too - just use #VampireChronicles2011 :)



Books in Series Order:

1.Interview with the Vampire

2.The Vampire Lestat

3.The Queen of the Damned

4.The Tale of the Body Thief

5.Memnoch the Devil

6.The Vampire Armand

7.Merrick

8.Blood and Gold

9.Blackwood Farm

10.Blood Canticle

 
Btw, I just have to say if anyone saw the movie Interview with the Vampire with Tom Cruise playing Lestat, you probably have the wrong idea of what Lestat is like and I urge you to read the book (or even better several of them). :)