Hi, all, for 2009 I will be reading books in 4 categories, 8 books per category (a la the 999 challenge), totaling 32 books. My categories are as follow:

1. 1001 Books to Read Before You Die--I'll be starting off with The Count of Monte Cristo
2. Books for Book Club--Beautiful Boy is our January pick
3. Books recommended by family or friends--I'll be starting off with 3 "must-reads" recommended by my husband
4. Books from my TBR pile

An additional goal will be to have fewer than 100 books in my TBR pile by December 31, 2009! Currently I have 102 books, but it's been as high as 120 this past year. Happy reading to everyone!

Message edited by its author, Dec 14, 2008, 8:34pm.

I'm 400 pages into The Count of Monte Cristo, and apparently I'm in the "slow" middle section. I'm happy to be starting the year off with a book from the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die List, since that is a primary goal of mine this year!

1. The Count of Monte Cristo (1001 List)
Overall, I found the 1082 pages of the unabridged version somewhat of a slog, unfortunately. I could certainly appreciate why it's a classic, with intricate plotting, memorable characterizations, intimate knowledge of high society in Paris, and a deft handling of a variety of European cultures. The Count's character was particularly memorable, in a Byron-ish way. But it was way too long, even with an entertaining ending.

Message edited by its author, Jan 6, 2009, 7:59pm.

2. The Uncommon Reader (TBR List--LT rec)
A cute and clever novella that explores what happens when the Queen is bitten by the reading bug. This might be more enjoyable for British readers.

I was wondering whether I should give into the 1001BBYD madness, I even downloaded the famous spreadsheet that tracks your progress... but when it told me I need to read 16 books per year from that list for the rest of my life I decided against it. I'm thinking of getting Nancy Pearl's Book Lust instead - only heard good things about it and since there's way too many books mentioned (according to mood/subject) you don't have to bother about reading all the books listed.

1082 pages is too long, no matter how good the book is. My review of Don Quixote would have been very similar to yours on The Count of Monte Cristo.

Hi, girlunderglass! I am not trying to read all of the 1001, I'm just using it as a reading guide. In fact, there are quite a few books on there I can't stand. I'm picking and choosing carefully! I chose Count of Monte Cristo because a friend had strongly recommended it, actually. I did try several highly recommended books from Book Lust, but I think my tastes differ from Nancy Pearl's quite a bit. That was several years ago, though! Let me know if I should give it another try...

Message edited by its author, Jan 7, 2009, 6:53pm.

Have you read anything by Iris Murdoch? She's one of Pearl's favorite writers and I decided to give it a try so I bought The Sea, The Sea . It was simply Amazing! Definitely recommended! Of course it might have been just lucky, I might end up hating everything else Pearl suggests - I don't know I haven't read Book Lust yet. So I don't know if you should give her another try but you should certainly give Murdoch one!

Alright, The Sea, The Sea has been added to my TBR list!

Hiya ! Maybe reading the abridged version of Count of Monte-cristo would be easier to tackle . Also I have a book list called 1001 Books For Every Mood which has a mixture of fics , classics & contemporary , and nonfics too . I found this booklist to be a more relatable to the average modern reader .

AquariusNat, I just Amazoned 1001 Books for Every Mood, and it looks quite intriguing. Thanks for the suggestion!

Your welcome , I know all these List books make choosing your next book a bit daunting .

3. World War Z (strong rec. from my sister)
My sister LOVED this book. I found it entertaining, and I found all the thought the author had put into it quite impressive. He was so thorough and creative with all the potential national and international, political and personal, individual and societal repercussions of a massive world war (yes, from a zombie virus). That being said, the myriad of narrators all seemed to have the same voice. There was hardly any characterization, besides heroes, people who did what they had to do, and people who just survived. And the narrators' stories got a bit cheesy at times. But the author certainly created a cohesive and sweeping tale. And it made an impression on me--I keep waiting for zombies to come at me at any moment!

Message edited by its author, Jan 13, 2009, 9:55pm.

>5, I really like Nancy Pearl, herself, and I enjoy listening to her on the radio. She's fun and funny, tells good stories, describes her feelings and thoughts well--I admire her greatly. She's from Seattle as well, and once came to my little bookgroup of five to recommend/talk about books. Plus, she's been credited with starting whole cities reading one book: "If all of ______ read the same book..." In spite of all my positive bias towards her, I find that I just don't like the same books that she does--or if we like the same author, she chooses the *wrong* book to love! :-)

4. Fingersmith (1001 List)
I very much appreciated how well this was written and its excellent plotting and characterization. And the multiple plot twists and the Oliver Twist mood elements made for a gripping read. All that being said, I only medium-enjoyed this book. My appreciation of it surpassed my enjoyment of reading it, if that makes any sense.

5. Dreams from My Father (Rec from my husband)
Well-written and interesting story about Obama "finding" himself. The tale ends with him getting in touch with his African roots and making peace with his (deceased) father that he had hardly known. He comes across as intelligent, insightful, articulate, aware of contradictions and complexities in life and people, and, above all, someone who is always seeking meaning and understanding.

6. Power of One (Book Club selection, and a re-read)
I originally read this several years ago and considered it one of my top five favorite novels, ever. This time when I read it I found it entertaining but lacking in depth and substance and, well, just lacking. I don't know how much of this change in opinion is the result of a re-read phenomenon, and how much is because my literary tastes have gradually evolved. Oh well! Courtenay's depictions of South Africa are excellent, however!

I have been enjoying your reviews, karspeak.
--BJ

Thanks, BJ!

7. The Audacity of Hope (Rec from my husband)
This, for me, was an odd mix of interesting personal anecdotes, some interesting political theory, and a lot of basic (TOO basic) political theory. The last part of the book, especially, was rather stultifyingly boring. For example, you could summarize Obama's entire chapter on faith in one sentence: religious conservatives should be more flexible, and religious liberals should be more understanding of conservatives' views. Gee, you think? But there were some good parts, too.

Yeah, I know what you mean about Audacity of Hope. I guess that's why I skimmed--well, really skipped--through the last half of the book. I think it does very much represent this personality along with his thinking. I like that he's so gray, that he consistently recognizes the complexity of problems. Given that he wrote this book along with Dreams of My Father before he ran for President, I never could understand why people kept saying they didn't know enough about him.

"Given that he wrote this book along with Dreams of My Father before he ran for President, I never could understand why people kept saying they didn't know enough about him"
well because those that were saying it probably don't read.

I think Obama was remarkably transparent about his personal/inner life and feelings in Dreams of My Father and Audacity of Hope. I think he is always seeking to understand things, from the intricacies of a political issue to his feelings about missing time with his daughters because of politics. The surprising thing to me is that he shares the part about missing time with his daughters! I would have kept that part to myself!

There was a short article in the NY Times today about how (according to Axelrod) he has never appeared happier which is attributed to the fact that he can spend time every day with his daughters before they head off to school and he heads off to work.

8. A Prayer for Owen Meany (1001 List)
Two women in my book club say this is their "favorite book EVER," and I've heard several other people say the same thing. I did not feel that way. It was a very, very, very well woven and textured story, if that makes any sense. But I had three beefs with the book. First, I didn't like the older narrator. I know he was supposed to represent the damage from the Vietnam era to the American psyche, or whatever, but he should have turned out better than he did! After all, he was Owen Meany's best friend, but it looks to me like his new-found faith just made him miserable. But maybe that was the point, that having faith after the Vietnam era is no longer a simple, easy thing. Second, I thought the book could have used a tad more editing--there were too many minor descriptive portions that seemed completely superfluous. Third, as another LTer complained, the constant foreshadowing of death REALLY got old. The long(LONG)-awaited death scene really delivered a strong punch, however, and Owen Meany's character and voice were very memorable. I will be pondering the author's broader Vietnam analogy for quite some time...

Message edited by its author, Feb 16, 2009, 11:53pm.

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy Owen Meany, karspeak! I'm one of those people who call it one my favourite books ever (and John Iriving is one of my fav authors), so it's always disappointing to hear that others didn't like it as much. But I can understand why. I always thought the portions of the book that took place in the "present" were mostly unnecessary and detracted from the rest of the book. It probably would have been better if the story had just been told straight through rather than in those flashbacks. And yes, Owen Meany will stay in your head for a long, long time after reading it :)

Spacepotatoes, I really did like Owen's VOICE. It was the first time I had ever read a book and could hear a character's voice in my head as I read his lines. I don't usually form a mental picture of characters, but I definitely had a mental audio recording going of Owen's voice!

9. Cesar's Way (No category; I got a puppy, so...)
Very interesting and informative, although Millan's "be the pack leader" mantra got to be a bit repetitive. Excellent content.

Aww , Congrats on the new puppy !

Thanks, AquariusNat, he's very cute!

10. Uglies (TBR List)
This YA novel is about a technologically advanced future where everyone is automatically made beautiful at the age of 16. But the teenagers in the book are trying to figure out if they live in a utopia or dystopia. This was very entertaining, and it fit the bill perfectly for a nice, light read to give me a break from heavier reading!

That book looks pretty interesting. I saw a similar episode on Twilight Zone long years ago. I vote for dystopia. I am going to ask my daughter if she has this book. Thanks for the review.
--BJ

11. The Tin Roof Blowdown (TBR List)
This gritty detective novel set in New Orleans during and post Katrina was definitely driven by the locale and the characters, not by the plot. My favorite aspect of the book was the Katrina and its aftermath bits, which were very well-written. I also liked the characters, although they gradually revealed more and more of the author's biases, it seemed. The book dragged on a bit for me, and I wasn't crazy about the ending. A mixed review, I'm afraid, even though Burke did a great job weaving time and place into his tale.

12. Miracle in the Andes (TBR List)
First person account from one of the men who successfully hiked out of the Andes to get rescue for those still at the site of a plane crash high in the Andes. This is the same story told in the book/movie Alive. This was a very gripping and inspiring read (good on audio, BTW). My only complaint was that it was too wordy, at times. But, overall, very good.

I read the book Alive last year and found it difficult in places. Too much info. But overall, it is an amazing story, I did not realize that there was a first person account of it. That hike out of the mountains was, for me, the most amazing part of the book. Have a great weekend!
--BJ
Edited to fix touchstone!

Message edited by its author, Mar 13, 2009, 2:41pm.

>34 Have you read Into Thin Air? It's about the 1996 expedition to Everest that ended in tragedy for many of the climbers involved. There was also an IMAX film crew on the expedition so if you've ever seen the IMAX movie called Everest, this book tells the same story. If you liked Miracle in the Andes, you may also really like Into Thin Air. It's really well written and moving.

Oh my gosh! You're so right, spacepotatoes! Into Thin Air was a fantastic book! And this is coming from someone who doesn't like to exercise or even get cold! ;-)

I have read Into Thin Air, and I thought it was excellent. I didn't care for Krakauer's Into the Wild as much, though.

Message edited by its author, Mar 19, 2009, 7:58pm.

13. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (TBR List)
Concise, detailed, and eloquent first-person account of being a slave in the American South. Douglass did not recount the details of his escape, since he did not want to endanger any of the people who had helped him to escape, or decrease other slaves' chances of escaping. This seems like it might be a good book for a high school history class. Douglass also made a point of telling the full names of some of his worst masters, as well as the full names of some of the preachers and very "religious" men who were known to be particularly cruel slave masters in his region.

My totals for my 4X8 challenge so far this year:

3/8 1001 Books to Read Before You Die
1/8 Book Club Selections
3/8 Recommendations from friends and family
5/8 TBR List
1 No category

Total Books Read: 13/50
TBR Pile: 106 books

I think I will make it to 50 this year!

You are doing great!
--BJ

Thanks, BJ!

14. The Blind Assassin (1001 List)
"It's loss and regret and misery and yearning that drive the story forward, along its twisted road." Despite the remarkable skill and cleverness Atwood displayed in this novel, I had to force myself to finish reading it. It was so sad. On to other books!

Message edited by its author, Mar 29, 2009, 10:48pm.

I am only halfway through The Blind Assassin myself. But I also find it sad, so far. This is my first book by Margaret Atwood. Would you say that it is typical of her books? Or, have you read other books by her?
--BJ

I've only read 2 other Atwood books. I loved Handmaid's Tale, it was my favorite fiction read of last year. I think that is the book which most commonly draws people to read more Atwood. Oryx and Crake was dystopian genetic engineering stuff, and I felt like it was a warning elaborately disguised as a novel. I wasn't crazy about it. So, 2 negatives and 1 big positive for me so far. The jury's still out.

I really liked Cat's Eye and Handmaid's Tale, but The Blind Assassin not so much.

Good to know, I'll try that one next.

15. Oral History (TBR List)
I really enjoyed this novel set in North Carolina Appalachia. It ranged from the 1800's to present, and I thought the author did an excellent job showing the unique culture of the region, and showing how the region has changed over time. The last third wasn't quite up to snuff, but it was still an overall very good and very enjoyable read. Her use of various narrators to develop the plot and reveal different cultural aspects was quite ingenious at times. And she really brought Appalachian culture to life!

16. Love in the Time of Cholera (Book Club selection)
I found the seamlessness of this tale quite remarkable. There were many, many themes to this book, such as aging, need versus love, societal restrictions, the culture of Carribean Colombia in the late 1800s and early 1900s, amorality, etc. However, I felt that Marquez's biases really seeped out through the whole novel, particularly what seemed to me like a serious case of chauvinism--the women in the book lived either for the pleasure of sex or for pleasing their living or dead husbands. The men all seemed very emotionally needy, as well. As for the great love story in the book, it felt more like an obsession to me until the last portion of the book. I ended the book thinking that Marquez was a remarkable writer, but I might not have cared for him personally.

thinking that Marquez was a remarkable writer, but I might not have cared for him personally. Agree totally with your whole review, but especially this.

Glad I wasn't the only one who felt that way about this classic, bonniebooks!

17. Silk, by Alessandro Baricco (1001 List)
A lovely novella, lyrical.

Edited because touchstone incorrect.

Message edited by its author, Apr 15, 2009, 2:16pm.

re: #49 I totally agree. Loved the writing---the story--- not so much.
And I loved, loved, loved Silk. Everything by Tsukiyama is so beautifully drawn, so detailed, so extraordinary. Her descriptive lines enable me to hear, smell, see what it is she is writing about. She truly has a gift and we are so fortunate that she is here to share that with us.
Alive I thought was good. Into Thin Air was perhaps a once in a lifetime true story for me. I can't imagine that I will ever read another that takes me to "that place". I was in awe by the time I put it down and I read it straight through, unable to put it down until I had finished.
You are reading some very interesting works with your challenge. Keep up the good work.

Actually, nannybebette, I had the wrong touchstone, but now I've added Women of the Silk to my TBR list! And, I agree, Alive was good but Into Thin Air was great, one of my top 50 reads of my life, to date.

Into Thin Air has got to get the award for "Getting the most people to read a book about something they would NEVER want to do themselves." Fabulous writing!

And it makes a great Christmas gift for male relatives;)

18. The Sex Lives of Cannibals (TBR List)
Most Amazon reviews of this book rave about how hilarious it is, and many say Troost compares with or exceeds Bill Bryson for laugh-out-loud humor (I'm mixed on Bryson, myself). Actually, I felt that Troost excels as a travel writer, and I found his humor quite secondary. He draws a very detailed picture of what it's like to live on a third-world, incredibly remote, overpopulated island. And while his account is light-hearted, he doesn't skimp on any dimension--all manner of personal travails, stupid first-world aid, corrupt local politicians, children's health issues, etc. And his observations are intelligent. So if you like learning about those issues while being entertained at the same time, this book is for you. My husband, on the other hand, didn't care for Troost's humor at all and found his island experiences far too predictable (The firetruck on the runway doesn't work? Of course not, it's a third-world country!). It's a random selection, but I'm glad I read it.

Message edited by its author, Jul 7, 2009, 9:03am.

19. The Yellow Wallpaper (1001 List)
Creepy short story, the kind you'd dissect in an advanced high school English class.

re: The Sex Lives of Cannibals, does not the black widow spider come oh so quickly to mind?

Now it does, and probably always will!!

Message edited by its author, Apr 22, 2009, 8:08pm.

20. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society (TBR List--LT Rec)
I feel blasphemous not loving this book, since it was such an LT fav. I did enjoy it, and I enjoyed learning about the Channel Islands during World War II. But overall I found the book very cutesy, in both a good and a bad way. But I can also instantly think of a friend or two who WILL love this book, and I will probably buy them a copy (since mine was a loaner).

Yeah, it was that--especially if you've already read books on the subject that you thought were better. I'm always interested in how different people's barometers are for "cutesy" or "light and fluffy" or "sentimental"... I'm really impacted by what I'm in the mood for and/or what I've read before. For example, I just finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn that I think is still a highly regarded coming-of-age story about city life in the early 1900's, and which I remember really loving as a teen, but now it has a sentimental style that feels really dated to me, with uncomfortable (to me) stereotyping, and unrealistic events happening to one set of characters. I sort of regret going back and rereading it.

Message edited by its author, Apr 27, 2009, 5:05pm.

I remember loving that one, too, bonniebooks, when I was younger. The re-read phenomena (like it the first time, dislike it the second) really throws me. I'm beginning to wonder if only the biggie classics like Jane Eyre can consistently stand up to re-reads. And maybe some sci-fi and fantasy... I don't know, but I'm staying away from re-reading for now!

21. Wild Card Quilt (TBR List)
I loved Ray's first book, Ecology of a Cracker Childhood, which was a mix of Ray's well-told childhood in the Deep South and lovely descriptions of the pine forest ecosystem. Wild Card Quilt is Ray's account of moving back to rural Georgia as a single mother after graduate school, because of her commitment to rebuilding rural community and to the environment. I was mixed on this book. She was a bit too earth mother-y for me (and I'm pretty "green"), and I didn't care for her personal musings. But, I did enjoy her scattered nature bits and her account of living in modern-day rural Georgia.

22. The Ladies of Missalonghi (Rec from my sister)
This was a very enjoyable little novel! I stayed up late to finish it, against my better judgment. It was very cute, but not cloyingly so until the end. It did remind me of Anne of Green Gables a bit, and I just read 2 Amazon reviews stating they think McCullough stole Montgomery's plot from The Blue Castle, but I have no idea if this is true or not. This novel is about a 33 year old "spinster" in the Blue Mountains in the horse and buggy days who decides to start taking life by the horns. It provided an interesting look at women's position in society at that time, as well.

Message edited by its author, Apr 29, 2009, 8:35am.

>62 Both these books sound good, albeit for different reasons. (I had to use that word "albeit" because I just talked about it on GUG's thread! **she says grinning**) I think I'd like to read Ecology of a Cracker Childhood even more though. Thanks!

Ecology of a Cracker Childhood was excellent, bonniebooks, I'd definitely recommend it!

It's already on my list! :-)

23. The Thirteenth Tale (TBR List--LT Rec)
I listened to this on audio, and I think that my impression of the book was so colored by the two narrators' styles that I have no idea how I really liked this book! It was an interesting tale, but beyond that I truly can't say...

24. Bone Crossed (Rec from my sister)
This was the fourth and most recent in the series, and I enjoyed it very much. Werewolf/vampire/etc book, with strong female main character. Very entertaining. The first three were a hair better than this one, but, still, very entertaining and solid series.

25. The Day of the Triffids (1001 List)
This reminded me a lot of the movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers, although it wasn't aliens in this book, and people contracted a different problem... It kept me entertained for an evening.

I loved that book. There was a movie of that from a long time ago. I saw it as a kid on tv. I have been looking for it on tv, but no luck so far. Have a great day!
--BJ

26. The Elegance of the Hedgehog (Bookclub selection)
I enjoyed this very much. LTers seem to have been mixed on this, but I loved it, mainly for the philosophy-meets-everyday-life kind of thinking throughout the book. The 2 main characters are both highly intelligent and are constantly having very cerebral, satiric, yet practical ruminations. At book club I will give further critiques, such as "I thought some of the characterization was unrealistic and redundant" and "The ending did not add to the story at all." But really, none of that mattered to me because of the content, and it was fairly well written. If "cerebral and satiric" sounds intriguing, this is the book for you!

27. Good Omens (TBR List)
At first I found this quite funny and clever, but by the middle it had turned quite predictable for me. So I scanned the last half. Apparently this is quite the cult classic, but it petered out for me.

karspeak, your review of The Elegance of the Hedgehog nicely summarizes how I felt about the book, especially that "some of the characterization was unrealistic...and "the ending did not add to the story at all."

I just re-read your review of Elegance/Hedgehog, bonniebooks, and you're right, it was quite Cinderella-ish, wasn't it! I think I would have been very medium on it if I hadn't liked the philosophy bits a great deal. I'll be curious to see my book club's reaction to this book...

I'll be curious to see my book club's reaction to this book...

Me too! You'll have to tell us how it goes.

28. Agent of Change (TBR List)
A crappy space opera. Enough said.

Message edited by its author, May 28, 2009, 7:26am.

29. *Out of Africa (1001 List)
My first starred review of the year (finally!)! This book was amazing--so well written and interesting. And Karen Blixen was such a remarkable woman, for her independence, intelligence, insight, warmth, and strength. This book was beautiful in every way.

30. Kushiel's Dart (Sister Rec)
This was a well-conceived fantasy book with some erotic components, as well. Not quite my cup of tea, but it did keep me entertained on a beach vacation for two days. My sister, who reads a lot more fantasy than me and the occasional romance, really enjoyed this book and says it's one of the few fantasy series she finds worth a re-read. Even though it's the first of a trilogy, it can stand on its own. So if it sounds interesting to you, you should probably give it a whirl.

BTW, my book club all liked or loved Elegance of the Hedgehog, except for one person. It's actually been our most well-liked book club book since we started meeting a year and a half ago.

I recently bought Elegance of the Hedgehog ! Now I'm definitely going to read it next ! Thanks !

Great, hope you enjoy it! You seem to have had a good run of books thus far this year!

>#76:
karspeak;
I am so glad that you loved Out of Africa. And I totally agree with you regarding Blixen / Dinesen. She was an amazing woman.

"I had a farm in Africa at the foot of the Ngong Hills."

To me that is the most beautiful opening sentence in any book I have ever read. When I read Out of Africa for the first time, I fell in love with Africa and ever since I have read anything and everything I have come across on Africa. To me she, (Dinesen, is a master storyteller and also "like" the best teacher in the world; in that she makes one so hungry to learn more.
I am so happy that I read your thread today. Thank you for giving me such a wonderful beginning to my day.
belva

Message edited by its author, Jun 28, 2009, 1:39pm.

I am thrilled someone else was as completely taken with Out of Africa as I was, nannybebette! Have you read anything else she that she wrote?

Current tally for my 4X8 challenge:

8/8 1001 Books to Read Before You Die
3/8 Book Club Selections
6/8 Recommendations from friends and family
12/8 TBR List
1 No category
Total Books Read: 30/50
TBR Pile: 95 books

My new goal for the rest of the year is to whittle my TBR Pile down to 80 books by Dec. 31st!

Good morning.
Regarding your question of Blixen/Dinesen's writings; I have read only a few. Her Winter's Tales, her essays On Modern Marriage: and Other Observations, Seven Gothic Tales, Anecdotes of Destiny and Ehrengard, of which Babette's Feast is a part, her Letters From Africa and I just got her Last Tales. So I have read some of her works, but really not a lot.
I want to find a biography of her life. She was a fascinating woman; very independent, hard working, smart, funny, just for a start.
Well, I've gotta get off here. I will talk to you soon.
belva

Message edited by its author, Jun 29, 2009, 1:25pm.

I'll bet Out of Africa is a favorite for a lot of LT-ers! I loved it at the time and was so happy they made a movie of it.

31. People of the Book (Book Club Selection)
I really enjoyed this historical fiction novel. It alternates between a present day main character and various historical vignettes, ranging from 1480 in Seville to WWII Bosnia. The historical vignettes tie into the main character's research of a beautifully illustrated Jewish manuscript, but they also speak to the interplay of individuals and peoples of different faiths throughout the ages. I was afraid for awhile that the ending, both the plot and the developing relationships, would be very predictable, but I was very pleasantly surprised on both counts. And I equally enjoyed the present and the historical parts of the book. I will probably seek out more of Brooks' books...

32. Warrior's Apprentice (TBR List)
A very fun romp of a space opera! Good pacing, plot, and characters, and lots of derring-do!

33. His Majesty's Dragon (TBR List)
Highly entertaining book, first in a series, about dragons as part of the Napoleonic Wars. A fun and well-written mix of Patrick O'Brian (but much faster paced!) and dragons.

34. The Looming Tower (very strong husband rec)
Winner of a Pulitzer in 2007, Wright is a brilliant investigative journalist. The Looming Tower is an exhaustively researched and very well-written story of the development of terrorism up through 9/11. My husband found it to be a riveting page-turner. I found it very difficult to wade through all of the minutia, albeit well-written minutia. Plus, I knew the ending... So I stopped 2 chapters short of the end. I usually enjoy nonfiction, but this was too detailed for me.

35. *The Help (I think this rec came from bonniebook's thread...)
My second starred review of the year, hurrah! 1960's, Jackson, Mississippi, with 3 main characters: 2 Black maids and 1 Junior Leaguer. It was so well-written, the smallest plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat. And the racial issues were so well highlighted. I will be giving this as a Christmas gift to several people this year!

Glad you liked it! It's in the running to be my favorite book of the year! :-)

Loving your choices and your approach to the challenge - now I'm off to *ahem* add a few more books to my wish list... ;-)

Re: Out of Africa, I'm pleased that some of the books that I read long ago still hold up for new readers. And thanks for reminding me about The Help. I had actually read it in dribs and drabs when visiting various bookstores and was waiting for it to come out in paperback (Feb. 2010) to buy it, but your comments reminded me to check for a used copy at the bookstore today and voila! I'm finally "legal!" ;-)

Thanks again, bonniebooks, for the rec for The Help!

36. My Stroke of Insight (TBR List)
This book is an interesting first person account of a Harvard neuroscientist's recovery from a left-hemisphere stroke. It is written in a very approachable manner, and it has a lot of fascinating information about the brain. The latter portion of the book is Taylor's scientific and first-hand explanation for why meditation/nirvana/relaxation techniques, etc., work, since they are tapping into the right hemisphere of the brain. And she gives advice on how to tap into the right sides of our brains more often, since it's the left sides that are constantly reminding us what we need to be doing, what else we should be worrying about, and a million other things. A very unique perspective on altering thought patterns and one's stress level, and I particularly appreciated the scientific approach to this topic. It's also a quick read.

I first saw a video of her online on some fabulous website full of presentations by creative scientists and entrepreneurs. Made me go out and read the book. That story was really interesting, but scary as I live alone. Going to have to put some important numbers on speed-dial!

That last book: My Stroke of Insight sounds really interesting. I think I will have to get a copy of it. This would be a good one to pass around to friends and family as it is something most families deal with at one time or another.
And I can't wait to read The Help. Bonnie gives good recx, doesn't she?
Well, keep reading good books and we will keep coming back to talk about them.
catch ya later,
belva

37. Olive Kitteridge (Book Club Selection)
Hmmm. This was well-written, but I found it quite depressing. Other LTers have loved it, but I thought everyone in the book was so unhappy, or struggling with very difficult things like death, adultery, etc. Not that those things aren't a part of life, but why focus so much on the negative?

Just wanted to update my tallies. I'm twenty-something weeks pregnant, so my reading pace has slowed quite a bit, not surprisingly! I should still make 50, though.

8/8 1001 Books to Read Before You Die
5/8 Book Club Selections
7/8 Recommendations from friends and family
16/8 TBR List
1 No category
Total Books Read: 37/50
TBR Pile: 72 books

Congrats on your baby news !!!!! Hope you deliver a happy & healthy baby !

Congratulations. I wish you a very comfortable pregnancy and delivery.
belva


glitter-graphics.com

Message edited by its author, Aug 31, 2009, 3:13pm.

Thanks!!!

38. One for the Money (Sister Rec)
I was looking for a light, quick, fun read, and my sister thought this was very funny. It was light and quick, but I didn't care for this at all. I'd rather read an Agatha Christie.

>99: Well, at least you're saved getting involved in a long series. And exciting news! Wishing you a "light, quick, fun" pregnancy! :-)

39. Interpreter of Maladies (Book Club selection)
Pulitzer-prize winning collection of short stories about the Indian/human experience, including quite a few stories about being an expatriate. Lahiri's stories are filled with very detailed accounts of people responding to (usually) very subtle situations and nuanced interactions with others. Overall, it was too character-detailed for me, with not enough plot.

I loved those stories. They were amazingly different, considering the common thread. One of my favorite collection of short stories.

Your comment, bonniebooks, helped me appreciate them more!

40. Veronika Decides to Die (Book Club selection)
Very interesting little novel with lots of philosophy woven in. Why does everyone follow societal rules? Why do we care what others think? How much does fear hold us back? The story actually seemed secondary to the philosophy/ideas aspect of the book. Somewhat reminded me of Elegance of the Hedgehog in that respect.

I've been thinking about reading that Coelho book ! Did you really like it ?

It's very different, more philosophy than novel, but I definitely did enjoy it. It's also a very quick read, so it's not a big commitment to pick it up!

Thanks for the tip !

41. Elantris (TBR List)
This is a fantasy novel that has a few unique and very creative aspects to it, but overall I just found it to be so-so. I did scan some parts of it because it seemed a bit too wordy.

42. Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression (TBR List)
I enjoyed the author's account of the daily routines of farm life in the early 1900s, from how all the food preparation and cooking was done to home remedies. It wasn't quite as heartwarming as I expected, nor did the family seem very affected by the Great Depression, besides being thriftier than usual. But I still gained some good knowledge of farm life in that era.

I like those kinds of books that give me a better understanding of another time or place. I think it's good that it wasn't the typical story. When I read both fiction and non-fiction accounts of the late sixties and 70's I think about how much my life didn't reflect the stereotypes, so a slightly atypical story probably reflects a segment of the population then too.

I definitely agree! I also particularly like farming lore, since that is a way of life disappearing before our very eyes, it would seem, at least in this country.

43. Siddhartha (1001 List)
A short synopsis of Buddhism in story form. The reader follows Siddhartha through his life, as he seeks meaning and peace. The lessons or gradual enlightenment of Siddhartha are very intelligently and skillfully arranged by the author so that they seem to flow naturally and effortlessly through Siddhartha's life. This was not new information for me, but I appreciated the author's skill in presenting the material.

44. The Woman in White (TBR List)
A very good and very enjoyable classic suspense novel set in England and first published in the 1860s. I was drawn in to the plight of the two sisters, and it was a complex and intelligent plot, skillfully told.

Message edited by its author, Oct 28, 2009, 8:29am.

45. Throne of Jade (sister rec)
The sequel to His Majesty's Dragon (see Message 85 above) and the second in the series, it was fairly entertaining, but I had hoped for better plotting. My sister thought these first 2 books were the best, so I will probably not continue on with the series.

I probably won't be reading any more longish books (such as The Woman in White) until 2010, since I am bound and determined to make it to 50 this year!! Last year I only made it to 43...

Message edited by its author, Oct 30, 2009, 12:18pm.

46. Monique and the Mango Rains (TBR List)
Enjoyable book about a remarkable (native) woman in Mali who is a midwife and makes a real difference in her village. It provides a good look into women's issues in third world countries.

Ah, see, only four more to go in nearly two months, you'll be just fine! Think I have about six to go but Marley and Me won't take much longer, and People of the Book for the group read has been nicely organised to fit into three weeks alongside other books...

Bring on Christmas-present books and a few lazy days of doing nothing but reading, eating Xmas leftovers and watching movies!

Ahhh, lazy days of doing nothing but reading...

47. Red Sky at Morning (TBR List)
A coming-of-age novel set in the mountains of New Mexico during WWII. Excellent. Bradford's writing is pitch-perfect throughout, and he does a wonderful job bringing the local culture to life. I agree with one reviewer who described this book as a cross between Catcher in the Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird. It is poignant and vulnerable and sarcastic and smart-ass all at the same time, and it addresses hypocrisy and racism. It has the feel of a true classic, although I had never heard of it before but somehow stumbled across it on Amazon.

48. Pickled, Potted, and Canned (sister rec)
Another excellent read. I thought this might just be about canning and such, but it is actually a very broad-scope history of food, starting from the earliest times and going into detail about salting, drying, etc., and what foods various cultures subsisted on. I have a new appreciation (or shocked revulsion) of what people actually ate in the Middle Ages, not to mention sailors up through the 1800s. Very readable, and it definitely added a piece to the big historical picture for me. I had no idea I was so ignorant of how people were able to have food year round several hundred years ago.

Sounds random enough to be right up my street! Think I'll take a look for this one - but maybe I'll avoid that Middle Ages bit as mealtime reading...

I think you'd enjoy it!

> The title of Red Sky at Morning sounds familiar but I'm pretty sure I've never actually heard of it. I'm adding it to the TBR list though, "poignant and vulnerable and sarcastic and smart-ass all at the same time" sounds right up my alley :) Thanks!

49. *Half the Sky (TBR List)
My third starred review of the year. The premise of this book by 2 Pulitzer prize winning journalists is that the oppression of women in the developing world is THE human rights issue of this century, similar to the issue of slavery in the 18th and 19th centuries. The book is full of journalistic vignettes with women who have undergone horrendous treatment, be it kidnapping for sexual trafficking, genital mutilation, etc, etc. The book is organized by type of abuse/oppression, with research following the stories of the women. The authors also give stories of effective grassroots organizations combating each type of atrocity, and their emphasis is firmly on what to DO to change the dreadful state of affairs. The resiliency of these women is amazing. That being said, it is still very difficult to read the various women's stories, because of the graphic content. It might be too much for some readers. The book also drags a tad at the end as the authors summarize what our plan of attack should be to improve women's rights around the globe. However, the overall content of the book is so compelling, convincing, and mind-boggling in its scope that I still place this in the must-read category for any who might be interested in this topic.

Hope you enjoy Red Sky at Morning, spacepotatoes!

Great review, karspeak! I've already got this book on my wish list, but thanks for reminding me I want to read this book sooner than later.