A to Z ~ Beggar's Opera, the

This year my A to Z theme harks back to 2012's theme, in which I listed an A-to-Z of books from my GoodReads "TBR" shelf. This year I want to revisit that list and report on which ones I've read, and what rating I gave them. Where the book hasn't been read, I'll mention other books starting with that letter I have read since 2012. ;)

"B" ... THE BEGGAR'S OPERA
Status: Read

Brief Review: At first while I was reading this I was a bit 'meh' about it, but then when Jones started to crack the mystery and there was a chance of her getting Ellis off his charges, I started to get more interested in the story. I am not really sure what it was that made it 'meh' at first, but it was almost too depressing or something. And it's not even that depressing a story, even if it has a couple of very sad aspects to it. The humour in the book is kind of old school detective, or maybe just old school in general. All in all, I enjoyed this read, though I didn't know if I would ever feel compelled to read it again. >> Full review

Some of my fave "B" books read:

Backworlds, the (Book 1) - M. Pax. 5 stars.
Become (Desolation, #1) - Ali Cross. 4 stars.
Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs, the - Irvine Welsh. 4 stars.
Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. - Medeia Sharif. 4 stars.
Bitter Like Orange Peel - Jessica Bell. 5 stars.
Bone Collector, the - Jeffery Deaver. 4 stars.
Bullitt - Robert L. Pike. 4 stars.

What I've been reading (mini reviews)

It's time to put up a book review, but I thought I'd put up a bunch of little reviews instead of one big one. So, these are some books I've read lately:


Species Imperative trilogy - Julie E. Czerneda

• Loved this sci-fi series, not only the fascinating world-building but the characters. Mac is a fabulous main character and the series had everything I personally require in a story - action, adventure, heartache, romance, laughs, and...near-apocalypse! (okay, I don't always need a near-apocalypse...)

The Host (The Host, #1) - Stephenie Meyer

• I knew that this wouldn't be another Twilight, but to be honest I wasn't sure what to expect. In the end, what I got was something I prefer to vampires - aliens! I was also compelled by the at-times-unhealthy romance element.

Imaginary Girls - Nova Ren Suma

• I thought this was beautifully written, even if I really disliked Ruby for most of the story. I found her decision at the end of the story to be quite moving, and redeeming. All in all, this isn't a happy, chirpy story.

The Beggar's Opera - Peggy Blair

• This was a fairly entertaining read that kept me interested, but quite often I was confused as to who I was meant to be siding with. I guess it's good to have your assumptions and loyalties challenged in that way, though. ;)

I've also read these:

• The Mermaid's Mirror - L.K. Madigan
• How To Rock Braces and Glasses - Meg Haston
• What a Boy Wants (What a Boy Wants, #1) - Nyrae Dawn
• The Witches of Santa Anna (The Witches of Santa Anna, #1-7) - Lauren Barnholdt

What have you read lately?

A-Z ... THE BEGGAR'S OPERA

The A-Z challenge for 2012 is here, and I've decided to do an A-Z list of books I haven't read, but that I want to read. We're up to B, and without further ado...

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BBeggar's Opera, the - Peggy Blair

In beautiful, crumbling Old Havana, Canadian detective Mike Ellis hopes the sun and sand will help save his troubled marriage. He doesn’t yet know that it’s dead in the water—much like the little Cuban boy last seen begging the Canadian couple for a few pesos on the world famous Malecon. For Inspector Ricardo Ramirez, head of the Major Crimes Unit of the Cuban National Revolutionary Police, finding his prime suspect isn’t a problem—Cuban law is. He has only seventy-two hours to secure an indictment and prevent a vicious killer from leaving the island. But Ramirez also has his own troubles to worry about. He’s dying of the same dementia that killed his grandmother, an incurable disease that makes him see the ghosts of victims of unsolved murders. As he races against time, the dead haunt his every step ...

Why do I want to read it? Sounds like the sort of gritty stuff I don't read that often but enjoy when I do!