Naming Conventions Challenge

Naming Conventions Challenge
When: September 1, 2008 - January 31, 2009
What: Pick books that have a relationship to the letters of your name - initials of author's first name and/or initials of author's last name and/or first initial of the title. See the website linked above for more information

Using my first name Karen, here's my list of books that start with each letter of my name:

• Raymond E. Feist. The King's Buccaneer -- finished 1/20/2009
• Jonathan Stroud. The Amulet of Samarkand -- finished 1/30/2009
• Patricia McKillip. The Riddle-Master of Hed - finished 9/21/2008
• K.J. Bishop. The Etched City -- finished 11/20/2008
• Michael Palmer. Natural Causes -- finished 9/4/2008

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

First sentence:

"The temperature of the room dropped fast."

Description:

"Nathaniel is eleven years old and a magician's apprentice. All is well until he has a life-changing encounter with Simon Lovelace, a magician of unrivaled ruthlessness and ambition. When Lovelace brutally humiliates Nathaniel in public, Nathaniel decides to speed up his education, teaching himself spells way beyond his years. With revenge on his mind, he masters one of the toughest spells of all and summons Bartimaeus, a five-thousand-year-old djinni to assist him. But summoning Bartimaeus and controlling him are two different things entirely, and when Nathaniel sends the djinni out to steal Lovelace's greatest treasure, the Amulet of Samarkand, he finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of magical espionage, murder, and rebellion.

Set in a modern-day London spiced with magicians and mystery, The Amulet of Samarkand is an extraordinary, edge-of-your-seat thriller with many unexpected twists. Following Bartimaeus and Nathaniel in turn, the story introduces us to two wonderfully memorable characters -- destined to go through many adventures together and bound by a spell that is nearly impossible to break." -- from the inside flap

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this fantasy featuring the djinii Bartimaeus. I liked his footnote asides and his trying to fulfill his missions without getting caught. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, The Golem's Eye.

Date read: 1/30/2009
Book #: 10
Series: The Bartimaeus Trilogy #1
Challenges: Unread Authors Challenge 2008, Naming Conventions Challenge, 999 Challenge
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: Fantasy

ISBN-10: 078681859X
ISBN-13: 9780786818594
Publisher: Mirimax
Year: 2003
# of Pages: 462
Binding: Hardcover
LibraryThing page

The King's Buccaneer by Raymond E. Feist

First sentence:

"Ghuda stretched."

Description:

"Long recovered from the ravages of the Riftwar, the land and people of the Kingdom of the Isles thrive. Nicholas, youngest son of Prince Arutha, is intelligent and gifted but vastly inexperienced. In hopes of hardening him, his father sends him and his irreverent squire, Harry, to live at rustic Castle Crydee to learn of life beyound the halls of privilege. But within weeks of Nicholas and Harry's arrival, Crydee is viciously attacked by unknown assailents, resulting in murder, massive destruction, and the abduction of two young noblewomen. The raiders have come from a pirate haven and are no ordinary foe. . .but an enemy connected to dark magical forces that threaten the lands Nicholas will someday rule -- if he survives." -- from the back cover

My thoughts:

This was a good fantasy in the Riftwar series. I liked how the characters Nicholas, Harry, Brisa and Anthony became more confident and sure of themselves. I also liked how they and their friends faced the many challenges in their path.

Date read: 1/20/2009
Book #: 7
Series: Krondor's Sons, #2 / Riftwar Saga, #6
Challenges: Naming Conventions Challenge, Chunkster Challenge 2009, 999 Challenge
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: Fantasy

ISBN-10: 0553563734
ISBN-13: 9780553563733
Publisher: Bantam Books
Year: 1994
# of Pages: 523
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
LibraryThing Page

The Etched City by K.J. Bishop

First sentence:

"There were no milestones in the Copper Country."

Description:

"'Have you seen a split cranium, growing flowers like a window box? I saw that, a mere hour ago...'

Fleeing the ghosts of their past, a healer and a killer escape from the ruined Copper Country to the city of Ashamoil. But as they salvage new lives from the debris of the old, they will discover that the ghosts of the past are also the ghosts of the future.

In the Etched City, art will infect life, dream and waking fuse, and splendid and frightening miracles will bloom." -- from the back cover

My thoughts:

This was a good depiction of a world in which the fantastical becomes real. I liked the interactions between the characters, especially Gwynn and the Rev.

Date read: 11/20/2008
Book #: 80
Challenges: Fall into Reading Challenge 2008, Initials Reading Challenge, Naming Convention Challenge
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: Dark Fantasy

ISBN-10: 1405041609
ISBN-13: 978194951607
Publisher: Tor
Year: 2003
# of pages: 332
Binding: Trade Paperback
LibraryThing page

The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia A. McKillip

First sentence:

"Morgon of Hed met the High One's harpist one autumn day when the trade-ships docked at Tol for the season's exchange of goods."

Description:

"Long ago, the wizards had vanished from the world, and all knowledge was left hidden in riddles. Morgon, prince of the simple farmers of Hed, proved himself a master of such riddles when he staked his life to win a crown from the dead Lord of Aumn.

But now ancient, evilforces were threatening him. Shape changers began replacing friends until no man could be trusted. So Morgon was forced to flee hostile kingdoms, seeking the High One who ruled from mysterious Erlenstar Mountain.

Beside him went Deth, the High One's Harper. Ahead lay strange encounters and terrifying adventures. And with him always was the greatest of unsolved riddles -- the nature of three stars on his forehead that seemed to drive him toward his ultimate destiny." -- from the back cover

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this fantasy featuring Morgon, prince of Hed, who seeks the truth about the stars on his forehead and the destiny that awaits him. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Heir of Sea and Fire.

Date read: 9/21/2008
Book #: 69
Series: Riddle-Master #1
Challenge: Naming Conventions Challenge
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: Fantasy

ISBN-10: 0345288815
ISBN-13: 9780345288813
Publisher: Del Rey
Year: 1976
# of Pages: 222
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
LibraryThing Page

Natural Causes by Michael Palmer

First sentence:

"Connie Hidalgo's contractions had been little more than twinges for the first two hours of the drive; but as she and her financé passed the New London exits on I-95, the tightening with her began to intensify."

Description:

"Dr. Sarah Baldwin races to a Boston hospital with a young woman whose normal labor has suddenly become a matter of life and death. As she struggles to save both mother and baby, she doesn't know that two other women have already died under horrifying identical circumstances. And so begins Sarah's own nightmare, as she learns that the prenatal herbal vitamins she prescribed are the only thing these three women have in common.

Soon Sarah is fighting to save her career, her reputation -- her life. For she's certain there must be some unknown factor linking these women, and as she gets closer to the truth, it becomes clear that someone will do anything -- even murder -- to keep a devastating secret." -- from the back cover

My thoughts:

This was an intense medical thriller with lots of twists and turns. Just when I thought I knew what caused the problems, Palmer deftly took the story in a new direction.

Date read: 9/4/2008
Book #: 63
Challenges: TBR Challenge 2008; Naming Conventions Challenge
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: Thriller

ISBN-10: 0553568760
ISBN-13: 978055356876?
Publisher: Bantam Books
Year: 1994
# of Pages: 465
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
LibraryThing Page