RedBowlingBallRuth's 2011 reading adventure! :)

A new year, a new thread. I'm excited for another new and great reading year! :)

Looking forward to your reading year Ruth! :)

Welcome back!

Glad to see you back, Ine :)

#2, 3, 4: Thank you! Glad to be back. :)

1) Cold Comfort Farm by Stell Gibbons

This is one of the books I've heard so much about, and have been wanting to read for such a long time. Finally, I too understand the meaning behind the quote "I saw something nasty in the woodshed."! :) A highly amusing read to start off this year of reading with.

2) Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury

This is one strange and very beautiful book. Seeing and experiencing the summer of 1928, and the world, through the eyes of twelve-year-old Douglas Spaulding, Dandelion Wine is full of wonder and wisdom. Bradbury writes just beautifully, and each of the book's chapters are almost like individual short stories. I especially enjoyed the way Douglas' experiences and discovers the wonders and realities of life, like the fact that he is alive, and that he too will die. Thought provoking and beautiful. Reccomended!

Your reading year is off to a great start, Ine! Those are a couple of my favorites from the past few years.

3) The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barberry

Although it took me quite a few pages to really get into the story, when I did I found The Elegance of the Hedgehog to be both enjoyable and quite beautiful. I wasn't blown away by this novel, but I liked it.

#9: I loved that one. I am glad to see that you at least enjoyed it, Ine.

I did enjoy it, and it reminded me that I really need to get around to reading Anna Karenina! I keep indending to, but I never end up doing it.

I read AK last year. I very much enjoyed the secondary characters although I did not care all that much for the title one. Do give it a go some time - and if you can, get hold of the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation.

I will - one day. It seems like AK isn't a very popular "heroine", at least not from what I've gathered. Hopefully I'll like her more than you did. Good; that's the translation I own! :)

Dandelion Wine sounds interesting. I'm glad I checked out your list. I will be back to see more of your reading. :) Good luck reaching the goal and enjoy the books!

#13: I am glad you have the P/V translation. I have now read four of their translated books and am totally impressed.

# 14: Hi damejennylynn! Thanks for stopping by. :) Dandelion Wine was a really great read, and I hope you give it a go! :)

4) Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

As I never read this classic as a child, I felt the time had come to do something about it - and I'm glad I did! I love Anne as a character, and I know I would have loved her even more when I was a child. I love how she always sees the beauty and magic in everything, and just lets herself be marvelled by the beauty of nature.

#17: I really need to read that entire series. I think I only ever read the first book. I am glad you enjoyed it, Ine!

I need to read the entire series as well; I really want to know what happens to Anne. I'll have to look for them the next time I'm at the library. :)

Oh yay for Anne of Green Gables! I loved it when I read it years ago and I'm glad you've enjoyed it too!

>11 RedBowlingBallRuth:, 12 I have that version of Anna Karenina on the TBR pile as well--good to hear that that translation is the best!

>18 alcottacre:, 19 Glad to hear you liked Anne Of Green Gables! I'm in the same boat--I've always wanted to read the rest of that series...

Glad to see I'm not the only one who enjoyed Anne of Green Gables! :)

5) The Diamond as Big as the Ritz and other stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Being a fan of The Great Gatsby, I thought I should Fitzgerald's other work a shot too. Despite not being a big fan of short stories in general, I quite enjoyed this compilation. My favourite was the title story, The Diamond as Big as the Ritz, and The Lees of Happiness. I like Fitzgerald's prose and way with words, and will be reading more of him in the future.

6) Bob Dylan by Håvard Rem

I read this book because I'm taking the course Dylan-studies. Rem's book is an easy and informative introduction to the life and work of Bob Dylan. If your looking for somehing deep and very indept, this is not it. But it serves as a good and consise introduction to the man, the myth and the legend that is Bob Dylan.

#23: Not a Dylan fan, so I think I will be skipping that one.

7) Sense and Sensibility

This wasn't my favourite Austen novel, in fact I think it may be my least favourite of her's I've read so far. Not a big fan of the novel's main characters, something that's always a bad sign. While Austen's writing is enjoyable, as it always is, it isn't enough to weigh up for the weaker story and unlikeable characters. I did like it OK, but it isn't nearly as good as Pride and Prejudice and Emma.

Wow, January is over already! Here's the January wrap-up:

1) Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
2) Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
3) The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
4) Ann of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
5) The Diamond as Big as the Ritz by F. Scott Fitzgerald
6) Bob Dylan by Håvard Rem
7) Sense and Sensebility by Jane Austen

Books read: 7
Pages read: 1790
---
Total books read: 7
Total pages read: 1790




A quite good start to the reading year! Favourites of the month are Dandelion Wine (so beautiful! Must read more Bradbury!) and Anne of Green Gables (how I wish I had the chance to read this as a child). Also really liked The Elegance of the Hedgehog.

Really enjoyed this book as well, I think books that are translated sometimes lose something in the translation.

#26: A very nice January for you, Ine! Congratulations!

Great reading month for you!

Hi There

I'm compiling a list of birthdays of our group members. If you haven't done so already, would you mind stopping by this thread and posting yours.

Thanks.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/105833

#27: Hi, swimmergirl1! Do you mean The Elegance of the Hedgehog? That was one I enjoyed more and more in retrospect. It's such a quiet novel, yet so rich and deep at the same time. I totally agree with you regarding things getting lost in translation; that's why I always try to read a book in its original language as far as I'm capable. Luckily, most of my reads are by American and British authors.

#28-29: Hi, Stasia and Whisper1! Thank you.

#30: That's a great idea! I'll stop by and post my birthday. :)

8) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

The first of many re-reads to come throughout the year, and a very good one to start off with. This was one of my favourite books when I first read it a few years ago, and it holds up well. A must-read classic that I highly reccomend.

#32: I love Jane Eyre. I am glad to see that you do too!

It's possibly my favorite book of all time...glad you enjoyed the re-read!

Hi Stasia and BookAngel! Jane Eyre is a great book, and it's good to see others enjoying it as well. :)

9) Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

This is a book I've been wanting to read for such a long time, and I just finally now was able to get my hands on a copy of it. The concept of the book sounded so interesting to me; telling the story of Jane Eyre's Mr Rochester and how he ended up with a mad wife locked up in his attic. The story is very dark and quite unpleasant at times, and the writing is terrific. Somehow, however, the novel just didn't live up to how I thought it would be. I really didn't like Mr Rochester, he seemed so cruel and hard - just plain cold. Overall I liked Wide Sargasso Sea, but it just couldn't live up to my expectations of it, unfortunately.

Hi Ruth, Angela and Stasia!
Maybe you can help me with Jane Eyre: What is it exactly that makes it such a great book? We had to read it in school and back then I thought it was horrible - the final scene with blind Mr Rochester in particular! I was thinking about giving it another chance, because maybe the fact that it was obligatory to read it influenced my judgment. Still it is on the very bottom of my reread-list. So, what's so special about it?

>36 RedBowlingBallRuth: Re: Wide Sargasso Sea - I read that one last year, and I found my sympathies moving back and forth between Antoinette/"Bertha" and Mr. Rochester as I read it. It wasn't what I expected either.

# 37: Hi, Preseohone! Well, I guess one could argue that there such a thing as a so called "great" book doesn't exist, due to personal taste and preferance and all that. I think Jane Eyre is great simply because I find it so enjoyable to read; I enjoy the characters (most specifically Mr Rochester - I think he's a really interesting and dimentional character), the writing itself and I love its happy ending. It's just a great comfort-book for me, something that is nice to snuggle up with when feeling down or having a book-funk. :)

Obligatory reading tend to have a rather negative effect many reader, myself included. As soon as I HAVE to read something, it becomes such a chore and takes greatly away from my enjoyment of a book. It might have been something similar that happened to you, or perhaps it was just the wrong book and the wrong time? Or it might simply not be a book that you enjoy, and there's nothing wrong with that. There's several so called great books I haven't enjoyed.. *cough-Great Expectations-cough* Life's too short to read books you don't enjoy, that's my philosphy. :)

# 38: Hello, thornton! Yeah, I found that too. But in the end I was left with my sympathy with "Bertha", and a good amount of distain for Mr Rochester.

10) Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

I've been wanting to read more Bradbury since I finished Dandelion Wine, and he didn't dissapoint. While I enjoyed Dandelion Wine more than Fahrenheit 451, the latter isn't really one I feel like I can enjoyd - but I did really like it. This dystopian novel describes a world in which books are banned, forbidden and despised, where a fireman's job is to burn books and start fires, rather than putting them out. A disturbing world where people have stopped thinking, and everything is fast and easy. Still the novel gives hope to the reader. A good read!

# 39: Hi RedBowlingBallRuth - Nice pile of books you have read this year. Some of my favorites. Specially Jane Eyre .

Some classics have also been ruined for me due to forced reading in High School when I was just not in the mood or ready for them.

I like Jane Eyre for several reasons: 1. I like Bildungsroman - I don't know the english word. To follow her growth and the way she reflects about the different situations she's put in - and the way Helen Burns really has a great influence on her. 2. The prose - just wonderful. 3. The plot, there were many surprises and you were left guessing a great deal. 4. The gothic hauning feeling at the castle. Wow, writing about it now makes me want to read it again :)

Hei, ctpress! Så på profilen din at du er fra Danmark, morsomt at noen fra denne kroken av verden stikker innom. :)

Bildungsroman, perhaps a form of coming-of-age novel? I love Gothic novels as well, so that's another aspect of Jane Eyre that I really enjoy.

> 39 & 41:

Thank you both, Carsten and Ruth! Sometimes it really helps to look at a book from another point of view! I guess, it won't harm to give it another chance, and especially explore the aspect of Jane's personal development. Thanks again!

# 42: Fra Norge. Hyggeligt, som vi siger i Danmark. Ja, Vi må holde lidt sammen, os fra Skandinavien :)

Jeg så i din TBR-liste, at der var en del Steinbeck. Læser (eller rettere hører) lige i øjeblikket Vredens Druer (Grapes of Wrath) - og den er helt fantastisk indtil videre.

Jeg har ikke læst noget af ham før, mærkeligt nok.

Yes..Coming-of-age, that's the word :) On danish: Dannelsesroman.

# 43: No problem! I hope you enjoy Jane Eyre, if you decide to give it another go. :)

# 44: Ja, har masse Steinbeck på vent på hyllene som jeg ikke har kommet til enda. "Vredens Druer" er den jeg gleder meg mest til, så det er godt å høre at du syns så godt om den så langt! Om "Mus og Menn" er en av mine favoritter, så jeg burde vel egentlig bare få ut fingeren og prøve å lese annet av han. :)

Enjoying your reviews so far! I'm determined to actually make it through Jane Eyre this year - I love Wuthering Heights, but for some reason Charlotte has never been able to captivate me.

Oh, and bildungsroman is used in English too - I guess we never came up with a satisfactory term of our own, because we talk about it in school all the time. :)

Hi Cait! Thanks for stopping by. Good luck on Jane Eyre, I hope you end up enjoying it! :)

My thoughts on Jane Eyre:
1. I love the gothic creepiness of it.
2. I love how people are not always what they seem. Rochester tried to be mean and scary but Jane saw right through him. I find that people really are that way in real life. They often wear masks and we have to learn to look beneath.
3. I love Jane's strength. She may be tiny in form and presence, but she was rock solid for what she believed in and wouldn't be forced to compromise. Oh, and she faced adversity as a child and was strong enough to make it through without giving up.
4. I love the ending. It didn't seem sad to me at all - in fact, it glows with warmth, happiness, and redemption. Jane is happy. Rochester is happy. He realizes he was wrong to try to change Jane. He even gets some of his health/sight back.

I was at the movies the other night and saw a preview for a new film version of Jane Eyre, starring the girl from Alice in Wonderland. It looks great - creepy.

#48: Well summarized! That's all things I love about Jane Eyre as well.

#49: Ooh, I didn't know a new movie version was coming out! Let's hope it's as good as it looks, and that it does the book proper justice. Thanks for letting me know, I need to see this in the theatre. :)

# 49 & 50: Yeah, the trailer looks great. In the meantime do see the wonderful 2006 BBC-production with Ruth Wilson as Jane.

Okay, okay... you convinced me to reread it: I just ordered it...

I love Jane Eyre, too. I think I love Jane herself most; her self-reliance, her strangeness, and her grit most of all.

She's tested, as a child and as a woman. She's tested by poverty, boredom, and love, and she never compromises her self-respect - and she never sits around in a whining pile, either. She picks herself up, stares down her accusers, packs her bags, or sits down to another day of work. The lady has sand.

52- Hopefully you'll love it! If not, I hope you at least enjoy it more than your first attempt. :)

#53: I really liked Jane as a character too. She's really got quite the backbone!

I second that! Happy (hopefully) reading, Persephone! :)

11) The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

This is a book I've wanted to read for such a long time - ever since I first discovered LT - and only just now has gotten around to actually reading. It was absolutely nothing like I expected, and really quite good. A good ending to the reading month of February. :)

February wrap-up:

8) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
9) Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
10) Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
11) The Gargoyle

Books read: 4
Pages read: 1211
---
Total books read: 11
Total pages read: 3001




Not the best reading month for me, as I've been suffering from a combination of a slight bookfunk and a severe school assignment overdose. Next month will hopefully be slightly better! :)

12) The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

I found the premise of The Eyre Affair, of another 1985 in which the world is under constant threat of literary terror and where the LitTech are always trying to keep up with the latest literary crimes, to be such a clever and unique consept. Such a fun and refreshing read!

It also made me reread one of my favourite of Wordsworth's poems, "I Walked as Lonely as a Cloud", which was nice.

I will definetively read more of Fforde's books; I need to know how things work out for Thursday Next ... next!

Ah, what fun you will have! I just received the most recent one, One of Our Thursdays is Missing. I have only managed to read a couple of pages so far but I am already loving it. (They go to a pub called Inn Uendo - say it aloud.)

I've been waiting to read The Gargoyle as well! I have read some great reviews about it so will be excited once I finally get around to it! :)

#59: Hi mamzel! That's good to hear! I really am looking forward to reading more of the Thursday Next-series. :)

#60: Hello jolerie:) I really liked The Gargoyle, and I hope you do too whenever you get around to it!

13) I, Robot by Isaac Asimov

Asimov's I, Robot was my first real venture into the genre of Science Fiction. In many ways I found this novel to be a bit scary at times, but mostly just interesting and thought provoking. A nice read.

>58 RedBowlingBallRuth: Glad to hear you liked The Eyre Affair. You're right, it is a clever concept. I'd like to get to the others too someday!

I have plans to read "I, Robot" this year - so I'm glad you liked it. I'm also trying to add more sci-fi to my reading list - the last year I've enjoyed H. G. Wells a lot.

14) The Outcast by Sadie Jones

I loved this novel as much as one can be said to "love" a book that is so awful and dark in so many ways. The Outcast tells the story of nineteen-year-old Lewis who's just been released from jail after serving a two-year sentence. Going back to his childhood, the reader learns of the events leading up to and beyond the crime that sent him to prison at the age of seventeen. How a single tragic event, a judgmental small town and a neglectful parent could turn a sweet and kind boy into a highly troubled and unrecognizable young man.

Reading the story of Lewis is like watching a traincar heading for certain disaster, and no matter how much I wanted to look away, I found myself unable to. A utterly absorbing read that I highly reccomend. I can't believe this was Sadie Jones' debut novel! Must read more of her for sure.

(I found Nick Cave and the Bad Seed's cover of Bob Dylan's "Wanted Man" to be the perfect soundtrack to this dark and sinister novel.)

15) Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

After reading the somewhat emotionally draining The Outcast, I found myself in the need for some fun and fast paced fluff. Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampires-series fits the bill to a tee. Dead to the World is a perfect mindless, fun read. :)

16) Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis

I don't really know what to say aout this novel. I really like Ellis' writing style, but the story in Less Than Zero is just so depressing, disturbing and really quite sad.

#58 I've just started reading The Eyre Affair also - I've had it on my pile for ages. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it: I am, so far, also.

Hi, gennyt! Happy to see you also are enjoying The Eyre Affair. :)

17) The Girls by Lori Lansens

Quite interesting, but not as engrossing and grabbing as I'd liked and hoped for. I liked best reading the twins' different takes on the same situations and events, and seeing what one chooses to leave out while the other includes. An interesting look into the extraordinary relationship between craniopagus twins, and how they live with their condition.

18) Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris

Another highly enjoyable, fluffy Sookie Stackhouse novel. I can't for the life of me decide who I want Sookie to end up with! So many excellent choices, this is getting ridiculous(ly good). :)

19) Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin

I picked up this book with neither the inclination nor want to become a "skinny bitch" (no offence to all you skinny bitches out there!), but rather because I had heard that this book lay down the facts of the food industry with no BS, so to speak. Well, I suppose it did, but I thought the use of foul language to be unnecessary; just a cheap trick trying to be "cool" and "provocative". Still, the book contained a lot of solid information that I think it's important for people to know. I've always believed that it's important knowing the facts about what goes into the food we eat, from both a nutritional and ethical standpoint, even (rather, especially!) when it's easier just looking the other way.

While reading this book I was once again, as all too often happens, struck by what incredible cruel, evil, illogical and at times plain stupid things people and co-opretations will do just to earn an extra buck. I saw plenty of examples of just this while reading Skinny Bitch. The book's chapter about the meat industry had some gruesome quotes from people working on the killing floors of slaughterhouses that just blew my mind. I don't believe in evil, but some of these quotes made me question that.

I would rather recomend Michael Polland's The Omnivore's Dilemma to anyone interested in the origins of your food, and the truth about the industry that puts it on our plates. I think it presents pure facts, and has a more rational, and as I see it, healthier view of the ideal lifestyle that is both beneficial for our health as well as the health of our planet.

>72 RedBowlingBallRuth: Nice review. I have The Omnivore's Dilemma around here somewhere, good to know it's the preferred choice.

>71 RedBowlingBallRuth: I vote Eric! ;)

I really enjoyed The Omnivore's Dilemma and found it jampacked with interesting and relevant information. You should give it a go sometime! :)

I'm defintively a fan of Eric as well, but what about Alcide? I love him too. (Especially in True Blood, what an absolute hunk!) And I like Quinn, and I hope he'll be featured in the books to come. And what about Bill! Ah, hmm.. No, I still can't quite decide!

March wrap-up:

12) The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
13) I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
14) The Outcast by Sadie Jones
15) Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris
16) Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis
17) The Girls by Lori Lansens
18) Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
19) Skinny Bitch by Freedman and Barnoin

Books read: 8
Pages read: 2356
---
Total books read: 19
Total pages read: 5357




This has been a very good reading month for me! I read some great fiction, a little bit of fluff, and even read the forst non-fiction of the year. My favourite book of the month has to be The Outcast, which I simply loved!

Love the March wrap up! Glad I was back in time to catch it.

Thank you, Stasia! :)

20) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I had hear so many great things about this book, l and I had so high expectations that I was afraid they weren't going to be met. Luckily, all the rave I've been hearing turned out to be true, and I loved it! Now I know what all the fuss was about! Such an exciting page turning read. Can't wait for the next two bookd to arrive in my mailbox.

#78: I loved The Hunger Games too. Glad to see the book has another fan, Ine!

>78 RedBowlingBallRuth: Glad you liked it! :)

21) Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

I think I would have really liked this read, had it not been for the fact that I accidentally bought the young reader's edition. The language was too childish (obviousily), which made it almost dull to read. Still, the story told was very inspirational and had the important message of eduacation being the road to peace.

The follow up book, Stones into Schools, is the better book IMHO, Ine. I would recommend you give it a try.

Thanks for the reccomendation, Stasia! I will check it out. :)

I do not think that one has been made into a young reader's edition, but be careful just in case :)

Haha, know that I know of the dangers of the dreaded young reader's editions I will always make sure that I don't accidentally pick one up again. :)

22) A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf

A short, but very interesting look into women and fiction. According to Woolf "a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write". As always with Woolf I found her writing to be both beautiful and challenging; it always takes me a few pages to get into the flow of her writing, but when finally do I'm always blown away by the beauty of her prose.

"..the beauty of the world which is soon to perish, has two edges, one of laughter, one of anguish, cutting the heart asunder."

I love A Room of One's Own. I am glad to see that you liked it!

23) Definitely Dead by Charlaine

Some more Sookie Stackhouse fluffy goodnees. This one I found to be a little lacking in Eric, but otherwise quite enjoyable.

24) Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions by Daniel Wallace

Written in the form of short mythical tales, Big Fish tells the story of a man's life and death through his enstranged son. As his father is dying, William realises that he hardly knows anything about him. His father's life is veiled in mystery and tales of mythic porpotions, and William is struggling to find out who is father really am, while he at the same time copes with his inpending death.

A quick and interesting read. One of the few instances where I prefer the movie over the book.

>88 RedBowlingBallRuth: a little lacking in Eric
LOL - Can't have a Sookie book lacking in Eric!!!

I know right! My thoughts exactly. ;)

#89: I watched the film version of Big Fish, but I have never read the book. One of these days I will get around to it.

25) Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

I was one of those that absolutely loved Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife, so I had high expectations for Her Fearful Symmetry. This novel was nothing like I expected, and pretty much nothing like The Time Traveler's Wife.

We follow the mirrored twins Julia and Valentina as they inherit an apartment in London from their aunt Elspeth, of whom they've never met or even knew existed. The will comes with certain strings attached - they must live in the apartment for at least one year before selling it, and, more strangely, never let their parents set a foot in the apartment. What happened between their mother and her twin sister all those years ago to lead to this total and utterly enstrangement?

There is so much going on in this novel, and so many interesting characters. I only wish some of the characters, such as Martin, were more fleshed out and that we got to know more about their background. A very interesting read.

#93: I keep flip-flopping back and forth on whether to read that one. I guess I ought to at least give it a try.

Hi Stasia! Give it a go - you might just enjoy it. I did. :)

26) Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Not as good as The Hunger Games, byt still and excellent and utterly engrossing read. I'm glad I didn't have anything needing to be done this weekend, 'cause it would have been thoroughly and totally neglected. I love being lost in a good book! :)

27) Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Having read and not really enjoying the highly praised The Remains of the Day, I quite wearliy picked up Never Let Me Go - and was positively surprised! I love dystopian novels, and I found this one to be both sad anf though provoking. Reccomended.

28) Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Just a quick reread before I watch the film with my family. Enjoyed it a lot this time around as well! :)

29) Solar by Ian McEwan

As always with McEwan, I really enjoy his wonderful writing and this time I also really enjoyed the story told. Everytime I pick up one of McEwan's works I hope it will measure up to Atonement, and this one almost did. This is my second favourite McEwan so far. Reccomended. :)

30) All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

More no-brainer fluff. Perfect for the nice weather we've been having.

April wrap up:

20) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
21) Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
22) A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
23) Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris
24) Big Fish by Daniel Wallace
25) Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
26) Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
27) Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
28) Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen
29) Solar by Ian McEwan
30) All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

Books read: 11
Pages read: 3404
---
Totals books read: 30
Total pages read: 8761




This has been a great month for me. Loads of great books! My favourite must be The Hunger Games; it's been a long long time since I've read a book as engrossing. I also really enjoyed Never Let Me Go, Her Fearful Symmetry and Solar. May will be mostly spent preparing for upcoming exams, so I most likely won't get as much fiction reading done, unfortunately.

31) From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

Yet more fluff. I think I might've liked this one best so far in the Sookie Stackhouse-series. Loads and loads of action, quite a bit of Eric and finally some more Alcide! :)

32) The Piano Teacher by Janice Y. K. Lee

I really enjoyed this novel. Following the parallel stories of war time Hong Kong in 1941, and post-war Hong Kong of the early 1950s, we see the relationship between the young and naive Claire and the mystical and synical Will unfold. Arriving in Hong Kong from Britain, Claire living in an unhappy and loveless marriage, quickly meets and falls under the spell of the dark, mysterious and much older Will. Will was in Hong Kong during the war, and the subsequent terrors that ensued after the Japanese victory. Haunted by his past and the woman he loved, we gradually learn his dark, sad and tragic story. Reccomended.

There are quite a few books in this thread of yours which feature in my TBR list. And given that I see that your views on the books I have read concur with mine, be it S&S, Wuthering Heights or I, Robot, I will look forward to your future reads.

Hi Pyiush! Thanks for stopping by. :) I've actually noticed the same, lurking on your thread! ;)

33) Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

As with the two previous books in the series, Mockingjay is highly engrossing and action-packed. The pages flew by, and I found myself unable to put the book down. I felt somewhat dissapointed though, due to how little part Peeta played in the novel's plot. The last three chapters however, completely won me over, and I'm happy and satisfied with how Collins ended this triology. A very enjoyable read! :)

#105 You are a lurker too, are you?

#106 I think I will add Hunger Games trilogy to my TBR.

I loved The Hunger Games but was disappointed in the last 2 books of the trilogy, especially book number 3 although I still liked the book. It looks as though you enjoyed Mockingjay more than I did, Ine.

#107: Oh am I ever! Lurking, that's how I roll. ;P

Sweet! Hope you'll enjoy them whenever you get to them.

#108: Hi Stasia! :) Sorry to hear they dissapointed you, that always suck. The first one was definitely my favourite, but I really loved the other two despite not being quiiite up there with The Gunger Games. Actually, as I was reading Mockingjay I was cursing and sighing because things didn't seem to go where I wanted them to go, and things happened that I didn't like, but in the end Collins somehow mananged to turn the ship around and finish the whole thing up quite nicely, in my opinion.

34) In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan

I always value what I read of Pollan, as he never fails to make me think, and re-think, what we as a society, and I as an individual, choose to put on to our plates and into our bodies. It really is atounding to think that the food industry has managed to turn something as straight forward as bread or milk into this foreign thing with 20+ toxic-sounding ingredients. It really isn't as easy as it should be to eat healthily or even safely.

In In Defense of Food Pollan launches his pretty straighforward rule to healthy eating: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." Common sense in other words, and something most people should be able to work into their lifestyle. Reading this book has really made me want my own garden where I can grown my own herbs and vegetables. Unfortunately that's not an option where I live at the moment but, as they say, one day. Reccomended if your interested in learning how to eat healthily and safely in today's overly processed food-landscape.

110- I really liked that one. Glad you did as well. You're right - it does make you want to start growing your own food ASAP. :)

Hi, BookAngel! :) I know, at least that way you know exatcly what you're eating. I've started checking the ingredients in some of the foods I normally eat, and luckily it seems like the majority of the foods here in Norways isn't AS bad as its American counterparts. But I don't know if that's just me being either naivé, hopeful or just plain ignorant.

I liked In Defense of Food too. I still need to read Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma though.

Hi Stasia! :) I liked The Omnivore's Dilemma better than In Defense of Food because it focuses more on the environmental consequences of our diet, something I find very interesting and important. I'd be interested in hearing whar you think of it, whenever you get to it! :)

35) Johnny Got his Gun by Dalton Trumbo

Surely this must be one of the most effective anti-war novels ever written, or at least of those I have read. Johnny was only twent-years-old when he went to war, leaving his family and his sweetheart behind. Waking up in a hospital he comes to the realisation that the doctors have amputated his leg. And his other leg. And both his arms. Furthermore, he is both deaf and blind, and can't speak. He is trapped inside a mutilated piece of meat, unable to do the slightest thing, even die. Reading as Johnny discovers the absolute horrors of his body's condition, trying to deal with it and thinking back at the life he once had, is pretty awful and quite moving at times. I can't remember the last time I rooted as hard for a character as I did for Johnny, I wanted things to go his way so badly.

A tough, horrific, strangely beautiful and important read. Reccomended.

#114: I will let you know, if and when, Ine.

#115: I have had that one in the BlackHole for a while now. One of these days I will get to that one too.

37) True Grit by Charles Portis

Picked this up at the library at a whim, having seen that it's been made into a movie by the Cohen-brothers. This wasn't really my cup of tea, and while the premise of the story was interesting I didn't really like the way it was written. It was a lot of "This is what happened..." - not really my thing. An okay read, and problably a good movie.

#117: Sorry you did not enjoy that book more, Ine. I have seen a lot of good reviews of it in the group, so I will probably give it a try some time. I hope your next read is a better one for you!

38) Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

Some fluff to keep my mind off of upcoming exams. A nice break.

Fluff is good! I know we all need fluff at times.

39) A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Prior to discovering LT in 2007 I almost exclusively read fantasy, but as I explored all that LT had to offer it opened me up to all kinds of other genres I had never really given a go before. Since then I've read a lot of classics and contemporary fiction - bits of everything really - except, for some odd reason, fantasy.

So with Martin's A Game of Thrones I went back to my reading roots and I really enjoyed myself. A captivating and engrossing mammoth of a book, with a myriad of interesting and fully fleshed characters. Reccomended.

May wrap up:
31) From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
32) The Piano Teacher by Janicke Y. K. Lee
33) Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
34) In Defense of Food by Michael Pollin
35) Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo
36) True Grit by Charles Portis
37) Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris
38) A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Books read: 8
Pages read: 3057
---
Total books read: 38
Total pages read: 11818




A pretty good reading month. Favourites of the month were Mockingjay and A Game of Thrones, while Johnny Got His Gun is problably the most memorable.

Nice summary, Ine! Looks like May was a good reading month for you.

I really need to get to the Hunger Games trilogy one of these days. Glad you enjoyed A Game of Thrones.

39) Battle Royale by Koushun takami

I picked up this book because I was told it shared the same premise as that of the Hunger Games. I'd say Battle Royale is a mixture of The Hunger Games and Lord of the Flies, only taken up a notch and quite a bit more violent. Every year the government randomly picks a highschool class to take part in the Program, a fight to the death with the one left standing deemed the games "winner". The program is kept running each year as 'military research', much to the dismay of the public, but under the totalitarian government they are helpless to revolt. Highly engrossing, Battle Royale kept me engaged for all of its 600+ pages. While I didn't enjoy it as much as The Hunger Games, I would definitely reccomend it for fans of that series and even if you're not, this is a very interesting and engrossing read.

#125: Must be a different Battle Royale than the one I read, which was manga and not nearly 600 pages long, although the storyline sounds the same. I did not care for it at all.

Congratulations on passing the halfway point of the challenge, Ine!

I think a manga equivelenr of Battle Royale exists, if I'm not mistaken. Must have been what you read then. Too bad you didn't care for it. To each their own! ;) Thank you! :)

40) The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book tells the story of Npbody Owen, who due to tragic circumstances ends up growing up among the dead at a graveyard. I really enjoyed this book, thought it was both original and interesting.

#128: I really liked that one too. I am glad to see you enjoyed it, Ine.

41) The Greatest Show On Earth: The Evidence For Evolution by Richard Dawkins

Evolution is one of my favourite subject to read about, as I just find it incredibly interesting and neverendingly fascinating. I'm also a fan of Dawkins himself, so his The Greatest Show On Earth was a perfect fit for me. Chocked full of interesting and convincing evidence of the fact (not theory, as he makes it clear) of evolution, this really was an engrossing read for me. Some of the science went a bit beyond my grasp, as I have no background nor experience in chemistry and physics, but he made up for the heavier moments by sprinkling the book with funny and interesting anecdotes, stories, facts and even jokes througout. Reccomended!

42) The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham

Watching, and loving, the filmatisation of Maugham's The Painted Veil a few weeks ago spurred me to pick up the novel it's based on. Unfortunately, my enjoyment of it was tainted by how much I loved the movie, and that I throughout the book expected events to unfold as in the movie - they did not.

Kitty marries Walter, a man she doesn't love but knows is head-over-heels in love with her in order to make her demanding mother happy and beating her younger sister to the altar. Walter works as a bacterologist in China, and so she leaves her home of Britain to start her life with her new husband. Soon the consequences of their illmatched marriage unfolds, culminating in the ultimate and tragic consequence. The main character Kitty, is highly unlikable and foolish throughout most of the novel, but Walter is a quite interesting characer with depth and dimension, though we don't get to read too much abou him sadly.

The Painted Veil is an utterly tragic and sad story - beautiful and ugly at the same time. A great movie (Edward Norton does a terrific job as Walter!), but only a good book. Mind you, had I read the book before watching the movie my opinion might've been different.

43) Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan

A trip down memory lane! I used to love this series as a kid, so when I stumbled across the entire series for dirt cheap at a flee marked a few weeks ago I had to strike. A quick, action-filled and nostalgic read.

>131 RedBowlingBallRuth: I also saw the movie adaptation before reading that one and you're right, it affected my opinion too. I still liked it, but sometimes the movie just is better! I kinda felt that way about North And South by Elizabeth Gaskell too...

44) The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

This was a wonderful book. Telling the incredible love story of Ernest Hemmingway and his first wife Hadley, of their time together in Paris and Hemmingway's struggle as an up-and-coming writer. I really must get around to reading A Moveable Feast - and any work of Hemmingway really. Really interestning, both beautiful and awful at times. Reccomended!

45) Annabel by Kathleen Winter

When Wayne is born in a small Canadian town, something is very different about him; he is an hermaphrodite - a child born with both female and male genetalia. In Annabel we follow Wayne as he grows up, always feeling different but never knowing why. A very moving and beautiful book. Very sad at times, but beauty is never far away. Reccomended.

June wrap up:

39) Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
40) The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
41) The Greatest Show On Earth by Richard Dawkins
42) The Painted Veil by Maugham W. Somerset
43) Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan
44) The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
45) Annabel by Kathleen Winter

Books read: 7
Pages read 2717
---
Total books read: 45
Total pages read: 14535




Read som good reads this month, with the favourites being The Paris Wife closely followed by Annabel.

46) Vampire's Assistant by Darren Shan

Nostalgic fluff. Unfortunately I'm not enjoying this series as much as I remember doing as a kid, but will continue the rereads for pure nostalgic reasons. :)

47) An Odd Boy: Volume 1 by Doc Trogden

Quite a bit overdue.. but I finally read my March ER-book!

When Victor discovers Blues music at the tender age of eight-years-old his life is forever changed. He falls deep and hard in love with music and art, and from that day on all he wants to be is a bluesman. Victor has been deemed an odd boy all his life, and his newfound passion for music and art only makes people think him even more weird. An Odd Boy follows Victor on his journey to fulfill his dream and passion of becoming an Artist and a Bluesman.

I thought the novel had an interesting premise, and I loved Victor's passion. However, the story dragged at times - especially during several long philosphical rants about the definition of Art and what it means to be an Artist. I also felt Victor was quite preachy, something I didn't care for.

Over all, an interesting read.

#138: I still have an ER book from last October I need to review, so you are doing better than I am, Ine!

Hi, Stasia! Glad to see I'm not the only one! Better late than never, right :)

48) Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

I've been wanting and meaning to read this book for the longest time, ever since I first saw the movie Fight Club. This was my first Palahniuk, and I didn't really know what to expect. Dark, gritty and violent - an interesting author and book. Will explore Palahniuk more in the future.

#140: I keep telling myself that. Eventually I will get them all read. I still have 3 more to go.

#141 I read and liked Fight Club last year and like you, watching the movie is what inspired me too, to read the book. Having said that, I don't know if and when will I read more from him.

#143: Fight Club is such a great movie, better than the book in my opinion (this doesn't happen often!). I'm going to read one more Palahniuk before deciding my verdict. I'm thinkng Choke.

49) "Min mangel på stolthet og fordom i jakten på Mr. Darcy" (not tanslated as far as I can tell, title roughly translated means: My Lack of Pride and Prejudice in the Pursuit of Mr Darcy) by Ingrid Schibsted Jacobsen

This book was dissapointing. I was expecting a clever and cute Pride and Prejudice inspired romantic novel, instead "Min mangel.." was about a stupid and quite unlikable teenage girl convinced that the random guy she met once at the local pub is her perfect Mr Darcy, and goes through enormous lenghts and does countless stupid and pathetic things to get his attention. I found the ending to be very sad, especially seeing as it seemingly is not supposed to be sad. Not reccomending this one, unfortunately.

#145: Well, since book 49 was so disappointing. I hope book 50 turns out to be a dandy for you!

#144 If I read any more Palahnuk, Choke might be the one I will read too. And yes, the movie was indeed better than the book.

#146: I can happily report that number 50 indeed was much better! :)

50) The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

An interesting and thought provoking read that I really enjoyed.

#148: I can happily report that number 50 indeed was much better!

I am glad to see it!

51) Small Wars Sadie Jones

After reading and absolutely loving Jones' The Outcast earlier this year, I knew I needed to read more of her work. Thus enter Small Wars. While it didn't quite reach my expectations (which perhaps were unfairly high), I still quite enjoyed this novel. Interesting characters and setting, written in Jones' wonderful prose. A good read.

#150: My local library does not have that one of Jones' yet. I wish it did because I also loved The Outcast.

52) Life of Pi by Yann Martel

It took me a while, about the first 100 pages, to really get into this novel, but when I did I quite enjoyed it. Such an interesting and unique premise, an unusual, heartwarming/breaking adventure. I really liked all the tidbits about animal behaviour and zoology weaved in throughout the story. Reccomended.

#152: I liked that book a lot too, but it seems to be one of those 'love it or hate it' books.

Ditto!

Good to see you guys enjoyed it too! :)

53) A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemmingway

This was my first Hemmingway ever, inspired by the wonderful Paris Wife by Paula McLain. A Moveable Feast is Hemmingsway's retelling of his years spent in Paris as a young struggling writer in the 20s. I really enjoyed this book, and I found the stories and anecdotes of other famous writers such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ezra Pound to be especially interesting. Must get around to reading some of his fiction as well!

>156 RedBowlingBallRuth: Oooh, I've been wanting to read that one too! I read The Paris Wife last year and just recently saw the movie "Midnight in Paris" which is also about Hemingway and that time period. Glad to hear you liked it and thanks for the reminder!

*makes a note to self to add some Hemmingway to next year's reading list*

#156: I have not read any of Hemingway's fiction yet either, but I enjoyed A Moveable Feast. I guess I had better add some Hemingway to next year's reading list along with Piyush!

# 156: No problem. And thank you for reminding me that I must watch Midnight in Paris! :) Did you like it?

# 158 & 159: Glad to see I'm not the only one new to Hemmingway! I'm going to try to work some of his books into this year's reading list, but who knows when I'll actually get around to it. :)

> 156: Hi Ruth! If you are interested in such stories/anecdotes/memoirs, maybe you would like Down and out in Paris and London by George Orwell.

To my shame I must admit that I've avoided Hemmingway so far, but I definitely plan to read some of his books this or maybe next year. Is The Old Man and the Sea a good start, or do you recommend another book?

Hi Persephone! :) Thanks for reccomending Down and out in Paris and London, it looks like an interestingg read. On the list it goes!

A Moveable Feast was my first Hemmingway, so I'm not one to comment on that. I'm thinking of choosing A Farewell to Arms as my next Hemmingway, simply because that's the only book of him that I personally own. The Old Man and the Sea seems like a good choice - it is his most famous one after all. :)

>160 RedBowlingBallRuth: I did, very much. If you've seen and liked any of Woody Allen's other movies I would say you'd probably like this one as well--it has a lot of literary references throughout. Plus, it really makes you want to hop on a plane and fly to Paris as soon as possible! :)

#163: Ooh, now I really really want to see it! Hmm.. Must begin some serious armtwisting, begging and bribing immediately to get my non-reading friends to go with me.

#161 & 162 Old Man and the Sea is the only Hemingway book I have read and therefore can't comment on whether or not it is a good place to start, I did like the book if that helps...

That does help! :) If I end up enjoying A Farewell to Arms, I suspect Old Man and the Sea will be the next Hemmingway I give a go.

54) The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

It didn't know what to expect when I picked up this novel. Not what I found; a sweeping lovestory, tales of unusual friendships, family struggles, war and racism. A very interesting and enjoyable read.

July wrap up:

46) The Vampire's Assistant by Darren Shan
47) An Odd Boy by Doc Trogden
48) Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
49) Min mangel på stolthet of fordom i jakten på Mr. Darcy by Ingrid Schibsted Jacobsen
50) The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
51) Little Wars by Sadie Jones
52) Life of Pi by Yann Martel
53) A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemmingway
54) The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Books read: 9
Pages read: 2550
---
Total books read: 54
Total pages read: 17085




I've read som pretty good books this month, along with one solid dissapointement. Favourites of the month was Life of Pi and The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.

> 162: Ruth, I hope you'll enjoy the book. I liked it very much!

> 165: Hi Piyush! So, The Old Man and the Sea wouldn't keep you from reading the other books by Hemmingway? Yes, that helps. :)

#166 & #169 Glad to find I was helpful :)

55) Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh

The first thing that struck me, and initially bothered me, was the strong, phonteically written Scottish dialect the novel was written in. A dialect so strong, and to a certain degree foreign to me, that for the first few pages I hardly understood a thing. I quickly got the hang of it, and when I did it really wasn't an issue. Trainspotting is in a way a lighter version of Borroughs' Naked Lunch, now having said that, there's hardly anything light about this novel; it's portraits the lives of junkies in Edinburgh in the early 90s in a stark, gritty, violent and very real way - not for the faint of hearted and delicate. I was both disgusted and drawn in by this novel simultaniousily - a reccomended read.

#168: Looks like July was a good month for you, Ine! I hope August is just as good.

56) A Very Long Engagement by Sebastien Japrisot

This book took me a very long time to read, not because it's a very thick or even complex book, but rather because I found it to be oh-so tedious at times and downright a chore to read. Now, when I first bought and attempted to read A Very Long Engagement a few years ago, I thought it was going to be just my thing - history, love and even a little bit of mystery! - but I was dissapointed and ended up doing something I rarely do.. I abandoned it! Why did I try to read this again?, you may ask. Well, because once more I was lured by its promising looks, only to be dissapointed.. once more. Not a good read, imho. Had the potential, but failed to deliver.

Sorry you did not enjoy that one more, Ine. I hope your next read is more to your taste.

57) 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke

I'm not usually one to read science fiction novels, but for some reason this one caught my interested and spurred me to read it. Very interesting, and impressive as it was written in a time when the notion and possibility of a true space odyssey was only in its infancy.

#175: I have never read the book although I have seen the movie. I guess I should get around to reading the book one of these days. I am glad to see that you enjoyed it, Ine.

#175 If you want to keep feeling good about the book and the author, don't pick up the sequels.

#176 I am reasonably sure you will like it Stasia.

#176: And I need to watch the movie! :) Hope you like it whenever you get to it.

#177: Thanks for the tip! Will stay away from the sequels then.

58) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

I read this for my class in Reception Study, and I'm really excited to discuss it in class and hear what the professor will say about it. I'd never read this book before, nor have I ever seen any of the many movie adaptions made of it. Still, I basically new the plot and many of the crazy characters - hell! I'm sipping tea from my Cheshire Cat-mug as I'm typing this. What I never knew was just how crazy, silly and fun this book really was! I very much enjoyed it and will read Through the Looking Glass when time and school allows it.

#179 Ah, the delight!

#179: So nice to read something completely nonsense, once in a while. I have a danish audiobook of Alice and he does such a good job "interpreting" Alice that I have never read the english original. Tried to watch the new movie version with Johnny Depp but no - it didn't work for me. I want to go back again to my audiobook :)

Nonsesense is such fun - I would have loved Alice in Wonderland as a kid! I've only heard bad things about the Johnny Depp version, which is a shame since he's such a good actor (and handsome too! :P).

59) A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemmingway

This was my first proper Hemmingway, and honestly I'm not quite sure what I think. There were moments of A Farewell to Arms that I loved, but there were also several moments when I thought the story dragged and I was feeling bored. It might be that Hemmingway's bare writing style just isn't for me, or that this was a bad first book to begin with. Will read one more of his to make up my mind, problably Old Man and the Sea.

>183 RedBowlingBallRuth: That's too bad! I can't say that I've read much of his stuff really, but I would definitely recommend The Old Man and the Sea. It's short but worthwhile, maybe his "bare writing style" works best in that format...

I very much enjoyed my recent read of The Old Man and the Sea, so I hope you like it too, Ine :)

I will give The Old Man and the Sea, it seems like so many people either hated it or loved it so I'm curious to see where I'll stand. A good friend and Hemmingway-enthusiast reccomended me The Sun Also Rises, so must read that one too. When I will actually get around to reading these however.. I have no idea.

60) Tunnels of Blood by Darren Shan

Continuing down the path of rereading this childhood favourite-series.

#186: I look forward to seeing what you think of The Old Man and the Sea when you get to it.

61) Glamour: Women, History, Feminism by Carol Dyhouse

This book explores the development of glamour from its origins in the '20s up to this day. Everything from early Hollywood's highly dramatic fashion and make-up, dripping in diamonds and draped in fur; to the '60s youthful, minimalistic style with waifer thin girls as the ideal; to the '80s over-the-top masculine, bedazzled and sequined gowns and two-piece suits; to the carefully constructed rebellion of the 90s grunge, with ripped lace, dirty hair and flannel shirts- an interesting look into the lives of women over time through fashion and make-up.

August wrap up:

55) Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
56) A Very Long Engagement by Sebastien Japrisot
57) 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
58) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
59) Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemmingway
60) Tunnels of Blood by Darren Shan
61) Glamour: Women, History, Feminism by Carol Dyhouse

Books read: 7
Pages read: 1805
---
Total books read: 61
Total pages read: 18890




This has been an incredibly busy month, with being a dogsitter for a sick dog to starting uni again. Still I managed to knock back a few book though. While not a favourite, the most memorable and impactful book of this month must be Welsh's Trainspotting.

62) Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger

This is my first Salinger other than The Catcher in the Rye, which I must admit I enjoyed more than Franny and Zooey. Still, it was an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to exploring more of Salinger's work in the furture.

#189: That looks like a book my daughter Catey would enjoy. I will have to see if I can locate a copy for her. Thanks for the recommendation, Ine!

#183: I had the exact same feeling as you reading A Farewell to Arms. I guess it's his detached style of writing.

#191 Ruth, you have motivated me to explore more of J. D. Sallinger's works, with Catcher in the Rye being one of my favourites.

#192: I hope she enjoys it if she decides to read it! :)

#193: Glad to see I'm not alone. I think so too. In fact, I fear Hemmingway just might not be my thing because of that exact reason. Will give him a few more chances to prove me wrong, though!

#194: Good! I hope you'll enjoy whatever you decide to read.

63) Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

This was my first time reading this classic love story, and eventhough I knew exactly what would happen and how it would end I still wanted to keep reading. The language, while a bit challenging and annoying at times, is beautiful. I found it easiest to follow the flow of the story and language when reading it aloud. I read this for a class I'm taking called Reception Studies, and I'm looking forward to discussing this in class.

#195: I have put Hemingway on hold for the moment. But still, I'm intrigued by him, as I read a biography about him several years ago. So who knows...one day....

#196: You keep reminding me of one of my goals, Ruth: Reading all the plays of Shakespeare. It started out in high spirits a few years ago, there was never really a real lift of. And now? Alas, it's just a pipe dream. Haven't read Romeo and Juliet yet. Maybe I should just settle for a more realistic goal: Read one play a year...

64) Moab is my Washpot by Stephen Fry

I really enjoyed this memoir, where the genius Stephen Fry, with painful honesty, recall the first twenty or so years of his life. This book was both funny, interesting and enderaing - just like the man that wrote it. I'm looking forward to reading part two of his memoir, The Fry Chronicles, in the near future.

65) The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowls

This book was not what I expected - that is, the clichèd story of woman waiting for her man to return from war, which I came to expect based its title alone - rather, The French Lieutant's Woman is an interesting look on the lives of men and women in the Victorian age, where duty is the ruler of life. What one should do, and what one want to do, however, does not always match up as Charles, the novel's manin character, discovers. The Victorian sense of sexuality is mostly what's in focus, as well as individualism.

I really enjoyed the book's interesting narration, where the narrator speaks directly to the reader and comments on the characters and events as they happen. Also, Darwin's Origin's of the Species is reffered to throughout the novel, something I found very enjoyable and interesting. Overall, a good read.

66) A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

I had wanted to read this book for quite some time, and I'm so glad I finally got around to it. A Wrinkle in Time is a wonderful little book about love, family and overcoming evil. I know I would have loved this book if I read it as a child.

67) A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Young Alex is a terrible brute and criminal, comitting horrible crimes such as torture, rape and murder on a daily basis. Living in a society plagued by people just like Alex, the government developed an extreme new technology to deal with the problem of violence, the so called "Ludovico's technique". Alex is chosen to be treated using this new treatment, rendering him uncapable of any act - or even thoughts - of violence. Seemingly "cured" of his wicked ways, he is released back into society - only society haven't changed, nor has it forgotten his heinous crimes.

Burgess raises interesting dilemmas such as that of choice and individuality, and how goodness and choice must go hand in hand. Really interesting.

I really enjoyed this novel. I had a bit of a hard time at first, getting the grips of the challenging language used in A Clockwork Orange (there really should have been a dictionary in the back, imo!), but at the same time the language is part of what fascinated me about it as well. Interesting and thought-provoking, the idea of how interwinded humanity and choice is linked. Must watch the movie now. Reccomended!

68) Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

A re-read for my my Reception Study-class. Victor Frankenstein, obsessed with the idea of creating life, finally succeeds only to discover he's created a "monster" - who doesn't know this story. Although I'm not the biggest fan of the prose and the character Victor Frankenstein, I do appreciate the story.

>201 RedBowlingBallRuth: I saw the movie version of that one years ago and I think it traumatized me, lol. Reading the book first is probably a better idea--you can process the subject matter a bit slower!

Oh, now I'm more excited to see it. Hopefully I wont't be too traumatized, already knowing what will happen before starting watching. Seeing it with my own eyes, is something entirely different though.

69) A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood

I've been wanting to see the movie adaption of A Single Man with Colin Firth, but wanted to read the book first. I quite liked this book, and I will definitely check out more books by Isherwood in the future.

September wrap up:
62) Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger
63) Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
64) Moab is my Washpot by Stephen Fry
65) The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowls
66) A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle
67) A Clockwork Orange by Antony Burgess
68) Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
69) A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood

Books read: 8
Pages read: 1955
---
Total books read: 69
Total pages read: 20845




I'm quite happy with this month's worth of reading. I've read many books I found both interesting and fascinating, as well ad books I've been wanting to read for a long time. Actually, I really enjoyed almost every single book I read. :)

A Clockwork Orange is a special book, not something you come across often, one of my favourites.

I quite enjoyed Frankenstein when I read it, I guess you have mixed views on the book.

I agree, A Clockwork Orange was soemthing different. A memorable read for sure.

Yes, I think my problem with Frankenstein lies mosttly in the fact that I really dislike the main character. I was on the "monster's" side all along, and the part of the story where he told his story was the one I enjoyed the most. I like the prose much better there too. :) But, I do like the story. I find it so tragic.

I'm hoping to re-read Frankenstein this month - I do remember last time my sympathies being with the monster too.

Hi, gennyt! I'd be interested in hearing what you think. :) I reckon most people feel for the monster, no? I have a hard time believing people liking Victor - none of the people I've spoken to about the book have at least.

70) The Secret Lives of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

I started out reading this book with no real notion at all of what it's about, only that so many people seem to love it - and I can see why. A very good read, a beautiful and moving story. Reccomended.

71) Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine

In Last Chance to See we follow sci-fi author Douglas Adams and zoologist Mark Carwardine around the world as they go looking for some of the most endangered animals on the planet, such as the mountain gorilla, the Yangtzee dolphin, Komodo dragons and the kakapo. I found this book very interesting, but more than anything, extremely moving. The part about the Yangtzee River Dolphin of China was the most disturbing and tear-jerking, especially in the light of the fact that since the book was written this precious species went from endangered to extinct. The inclusion of the mountain gorilla came as a happy surprise for me, as it's one of my favourite animals, and it made me want to re-read Dian Fossey's Gorillas in the Mist.

Why should you read this book, and why should you care at all? Douglas sums up perfectly in the book's final passage:
"There is one last for caring, and I believe no other is necessary. It is certainly the reason why so many people have devoted their lives to protecting the likes of rhinos, parakeets, kakapos and dolphins. And it is simply this: the world would be a poorer, darker, lonelier place without them.

72) Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Turning the last page of this novel I couldn't help but feel incredibly grateful that I was born where I was, when I was. I knew that woman in the past were held in low regard in Chinese culture, but that they were regarded as totally useless, mere vessels for breeding boys I didn't know. And the process of footbinding! Grotesque and cruel. It was an interesting read, but nothing I could enjoy as it was so many bad things happening all around.

I wanted to like this book, but more than anything I simply found it to be very depressing.

Glad you enjoyed Moab! It's a favourite of mine, too. If you ever come across Fry's audiobook version, that's excellent too. The Fry Chronicles is a bit different in tone and subject matter, but still worth a read. I can't wait for the next volume!

Hi, Cynara! Oh, I can imagine it being a blast! Especially if Fry himself reads it. I have The Fry Chronicles waiting for me, and I'm looking forward to picking it up.

73) Touching from a Distance: Ian Curtis and Joy Division by Deborah Curtis

Touching from a Distance tells the story of the life and demise of Joy Division's legendary lead singer Ian Curtis, told by the person that knew him the best, his wife Deborah Curtis. Both moving and disturbing, Touching was an interesting read. A tragic story of a troubled and very talented young man. I liked how Deborah Curtis didn't sugar coat anything, giving the reader a complete picture of Ian, flaws (and there were many) and all.

That sounds really interesting.

#208, #209 and #210 I felt more for the monster than for Victor too, maybe the times have changed, but I can't think of anyone liking Victor either.

74) Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

This was my first Vonnegut, and nothing like I expected. I thought I was in for a dark, gritty and violent read, but I found a humerous, strange and, at times, sad anti-war novel. I liked it, and will read more Vonnegut in the future.

Glad you liked the Vonnegut! He's a favourite of mine.

Thannk you :) What do you reccomend me read next of Vonnegut? Do you have a favourite of his?

75) Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll

Just like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking-Glass was a delightful read. So much fun, and a perfect mess. A fine read for my 75th. :)

Oooh. Some people will say Cat's Cradle, which is excellent; I've always had a soft spot for Mother Night and Breakfast of Champions. It's pretty much all funny, strange, and wistful. My favourite Vonnegut moment might be an anecdote from his own life. Funny, yet I can't laugh at it.

Vonnegut is just back from WWII; twenty-three years old, and his mother had killed herself with sleeping pills on mother's day, two years earlier. He's witnessed the firebombing of Dresden. His account in Slaughterhouse-Five is, I understand, more or less how it happened - he was among the cleanup crew, disposing of the burned bodies.

His beloved uncle Alex, seeing him for the first time, claps him on the shoulder and says something like "so you're a man now."

Vonnegut writes: "I damn near killed my first German."

Thank you for your input! I'll look into those, and see if I can't fit in one or or two of them for November.

That's proper Gallow's humor right there! Too dark and tragic though, to actually be funny. I think perhaps this is why I liked Vonnegut (at least, so far), because he is able to talk about sad and tragic events with humor, but still regain its seriousness. And of course, it's not serious all the time - the main character was, or believes he was, abducted by aliens after all! :)

#219 Glad that you enjoyed Vonnegut, he is one of my favourite authors too.

#222 I mighty fine read indeed for your 75th! For some reason Through the Looking Glass has got far less exposure than Alice in Wonderland.

#223 I am one of those who preferred Cat's Cradle, I didn't really care that much for Breakfast of Champions myself, but I guess different Vonnegut books speak to different people.

#225: I know, but I don't understand why. In my opinion, Through the Looking-Glass is just as good as Alice's Adventure in Wonderland. Perhaps just because it came first? That it was something entirely new and different? I'm actually attending a class lecture tomorrow about them (yay!), so perhaps I will learn why. :)

I'm leaning towards Cat's Cradle as my next Vonnegut, but we'll see.

I have only a vague memory of Slaughterhouse Five but I think I was much baffled by it. Thinking of a reread. Read Cat's Cradle this year. A funny read until half way through when he lost me. Had a hard time finishing it.

I like Alice the most and yes, I think because it came first. But it doesn't have Tweedledum and Tweedledee :)

76) Ape House by Sara Gruen

I was expecting to like this more than I did. Animal behaviour and rights as well as Great Apes are topics that I find very interesting and that I like reading about, however Ape House didn't quite deliver. I think this has more to do with Sara Gruen's writing more than anything, I just find it a bit simple and flat.

However, I really liked the premise of the novel; six Bonobo Chimpanzees, taking part in a Language project that teached them to communicate with humans through sign language, are viloently broken out of their captivity by an extremist animal rights group. Their main handler, and scientist, Isabel is critically injured in the breakout. Viewing the bonobos as her family, her frentic hunt for their whereabouts begin.

I liked it, but it I felt could have been so much better.

In my opinion, Through the Looking-Glass is just as good as Alice's Adventure in Wonderland. I agree - in fact I have a job distinguishing them because my childhood copy had both bound together and I regarded it as one book. Glad you enjoyed it.

Yeah, my book was like that as well and it has confused me too. In addition, most, if not all, of the movie adaptions feature elements, stories and characters from both books, despite the fact that they name the movie Alice in Wonderland. :S

November wrap up:
70) The Secret Lives of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
71) Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine
72) Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
73) Touching from a Distance by Deborah Curtis
74) Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut
75) Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll
76) Ape House by Sara Gruen

Books read: 7
Pages read: 1770
---
Total books read: 76
Total pages read: 22615




A good and varied reading month. I especially really enjoyed The Secret Lives of Bees.

Congrats on reaching 75! There's a pretty good film version of The Secret Life Of Bees you might be interested in.

Looks like you had a good reading month! I've been meaning to read Secret Life of Bees and I just bought Ape House!

Congrats on your 75! You reached the milestone with a really good one.

# 232, 233, 234: Thank you! :)

LL: Yeah, I really want to see that. I'm not convinced it can hold up to the book though. :)

Gogs: Hi! I hop you end up enjoying both The Secret Lives of Bees and Ape House!

Piyush: Thank you, I thought so myself. So much fun!

77) Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

In a world where everybody is seen as Ugly before they at sixteen go through a dramatic and dangerous full-body comsetic procedure to make them Pretty, fifteen-year-old Tally can't wait to become Pretty. Then she becomes friends with Shay, and her radical and different view on the entire Pretty-society opens Tally's eyes for the possibility of a different future than the one layed before her by society and the government.

I liked this book, but was expecting something a bit deeper that gave more food for thought. I would have loved it if Westerfeld went into more detail about the biological and evolutional reasonings for the change into Pretty, that sounded very interesting and like something I would really have enjouyed reading about. Will read Pretties, the next in the series, as well sometime in the near future.

78) The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde

I've been wanting to read some Wilde for ages, ever since I saw the wonderful film Wilde with Stephen Fry. The Importance of Being Ernest is a hoot, a hoot I would very much like to experience live on a stage. Oscar Wilde must be the most quoteable writer, and man, ever. A fun read!

#237 I am yet to read that one. Have you read The Picture of Dorian Gray? I agree that he has got to be the most quoted author.

Not yet, but I really want to! Its premise sounds so interesting. Have you read it, Piyush? If so, what did you think? :)

Well, it remains, till date, one of my all time favourites, need I say more? :)
And to add icing to the the anyways delicious cake, it has the best preface I have ever come across!

If you aren't in a hurry to read it, lets swap our reads, say in Jan, you read The Picture of Dorian Gray and I will gorge on The Importance of Being Earnest?

Way to sell a book! You've sure convinced me that The Picture of Dorian Gray is a must read.

Good idea! I'm in. January works fine for me. How fun! Now I know what to ask Santa for Christmas! :P

79) Nineteen-Eightyfour by George Orwell

This was a long-needed re-read for me. I remember really enjoing Nineteen-Eightyfour when I read it two-three years ago. I didn't however, remember how stark, serious and hopeless it is. Not to mention scary! An important and very thought-provoking read that I think everyone should give a go.

I recently went to see Scott Westerfeld speak. He said that he got the inspiration for The Uglies when a friend of his moved to Los Angeles. The friend went to the dentist, had regular stuff done, then sat down with the dentist who asked "So where do you see your teeth in five years?" He then was very aware of Angelinos with perfectly straight, perfectly white teeth and came up with the idea of everyone being made pretty.

1984 sure is a very special book, I read Huxley's Brave New World last year and while it was a good read, it can feature nowhere close to 1984.

#243: That's very interesting, thank you for that little tidbit. :)

#244: I totally agree. When I read Brave New World I though it was good, but not nearly as good as Nineteen-Eightyfour. Now, if I hadn't yet read Orwell's masterpiece before reading Brave New World, I problably would have thought it so much better than I ended up doing. Funny how these things work out. :)

#245 For me the same thing happened when I read Camus's The Outsider aka The Stranger after Kafka's The Trial. It sure is funny how very good books are ruined for you by very very good books.

80) Midnight Over Sanctaphrax by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddle

After finishing Nineteen-Eightyfour I was in the mood for something light and exciting, so I went back to my childhood to finish a book series I absolutely loved, The Edge Chronicles. As with the two other books Midnight Over Sanctaphrax was a blast to read. I enjoyed reading about Twig and the Deepwoods angain, and the illustations were just as good as I remember. Just what I needed! :)

81) On Chesil Beach byIan McEwan

Ian McEwan is one of my favourite authors, and in On Chesil Beach he truly shines. Florence and Edward are a young couple in love, celebrating their wedding night - an event that should be full of joy, excitement and memories to last a lifetime - but as Florence's dread and Edward's eagerness come head to head the result is tragic. McEwan writes characters so real it's almost painful at times. A beautiful, sad and real novel.

82) The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells

This was my first Wells, and he's got me intrigued. The Island of Doctor Moreau is a fast-pased adventure, but more than that, it's a chilling and highly disturbing tale of scientific experiments gone terribly wrong. A very interesting and thought-provoking read, rather gruesome at times, but well worth the read.

New thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/127554 :)