Most happy to be catching up on this - and not have to think about it for another month! It is fun to look back on what I've read though - I know I'm past the 75 books mark but as so many of my titles are YA I'm not sure that they count as a full read or not. (Can you compare Gallipoli and Kiki Strike? Not sure.....) Here we go, #94 - 108:

The Glow Stone by Ellen Dreyer - For the August column at Bookslut. This is a very well done family drama about a young girl who has lost her favorite uncle (the one who truly understood her) quite suddenly and is struggling not only with her own grief but how everyone else is handling it. The hook is that she is a rock collector - a Rock Collector!!! - and that prompts a caving expedition and well, all sorts of things follow. Very understated story, very well done.

Kiki Strike by Kristen Miller. Okay, I've already gone on and on about how much fun this book is. It's also in the August column - if you don't value my opinon, go see how much Leila raved about it.

First Impressions by Marilyn Sachs - And another one for August! This is a sweet little romance/coming of age story that is wrapped around a quirky homage to Pride and Prejudice. Smart, funny and different - perfect for quirky teen girls everywhere and anyone who loves Jane Austen (regardless of their age).

Secrets of the Savanna by Mark & Delia Owens - Full review in August (hopefully). The Owenses are well know for Cry of the Kalahari and other books about their conservation efforts in Africa. This is an outstanding look at how they weaned the villages that surrounded the national park they worked at in Zambia from poaching elephants - nothing heavy handed just very smart conservation methods that involved giving folks options. They know what they're doing and their work is fascinating reading.

Permaent Rose by Hilary McKay - Just like Leila I adore all things Hilary McKay. The Casson family books will be discussed in December's column which is all about quirky families. (I just knew I'd be able to do a column like this sooner or later.)

Danse Macabre by LK Hamilton - I have confessed my guilty love for Anita Blake's world before. I am not ashamed that I have a sick love for vampires in tight leather pants. (I just know admiting that is going to come back to haunt me at some point.)

MIss Alcott's Email by Kit Bakke - For Booklist, very interesting - I have no idea how she came up with this. More comments after my review comes out.

From Baghad, With Love. Okay, I wrote about this book already and will review it this fall at Bookslut and everywhere else I can. It's about a soldier trying to get a stray dog out of Iraq. It seems like a book that only dog lovers would want to read - BUT LISTEN TO ME PEOPLE! This is an outstanding war book, and I know war books. If you want to have an upfront look at what it is like for American soldiers in Iraq then you need to read this. It's not political - it's not should we be here, or should we leave. And it's not (AT ALL) a big gung ho "I love all things USMC and that's all I'm going to write about" type of book either. It is how it is and I think Jay did a great job with this. And he also goes a long way toward showing why it is so damn important to save one dog in the first place. This is the book I'm getting my family this year for Christmas. Just read it, okay? When it comes out, buy a copy and read it.

Birds, Beasts & Relatives by Gerald Durrell. Durrell is one of my all time fav writers and I just loved this book. It's so perfect for anyone with any interest in natural history or quirky families. Fun stuff.

The Doryman's Reflection by Paul Molyneaux. Just reviewed for Bookslut - what a fascinating look at the commercial fishing industry. What's cool is that not only is it a memoir of the author's experiences fishing all over but he also looks at the family history of a close friend who have been fishing for generations. In a lot of ways the plight of family fishermen reminded me of family farms. This book was a surprise - I really enjoyed it.

One Kingdom: Our Lives With Animals - It is supposed to be a YA book on animals and human interaction with them, but I combined my review of it with Secrets of the Savana. Anyone interested in wild animals and human/animal history of any age will enjoy this - lots of history as well as current takes on zoos, research, etc. (And gorgeous photos)

Ghosts of Albion: Initiation - by Amber Benson & Christopher Golden. This is a great fantasy series set in Victorian England with ghosts and vamps and all things trying to take over the world. And Tara writes it!!! Love Tara!

Tanglewreck by Jeanette Winterson - Very cool YA sci fi/fantasy. I'll be reviewing it in my Sept column, but you already know I loved it.

The Circle</em> by Peter Lovesey - Just gushed about this one the other day. Smart British mystery that kept me guessing until the end (and lots of funny bits about writer's groups.)