Thought I would start a new thread here along with my attempt for a second 75 this year. So back to No. 1 . . .

1. The Garden Party and Other Stories by Katherine Mansfield

This is a wonderful collection of short stories. It is the first I have ever read from Mansfield and I was surprised at how good they were, how easy they were to read and how they did not feel dated at all. There were a few standout stories, a few meh stories, and the rest were just very pleasant. I will read more of her stories in the future.

Hey, JudyLou!
Congrats on starting another 75 for 2009! Yea! Loved hearing about Katherine Mansfield. I have been thinking about reading something by her for a while. Now I am sure. Have a great day!
--BJ

Thanks BJ!

Good luck, Judy! I've starred your thread so I can watch your progress. =)

Judy, I also enjoyed the Mansfield collection. I'd not read her work before, either.

Unfortunately, though, I have been trying to read Gothic Tales by Elizabeth Gaskell and have now officially given up. I tried a few stories, but just couldn't get into them. Oh well . . . onto better things (I hope).

2. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

Renee is a concierge in a Parisian apartment building. She has a curious mind and a stunning intelligence, but she has gone to great lengths to hide this from her acquaintances. Meanwhile, 12 year old Paloma, resident of the building, has decided to suicide on her next birthday. She also has an acute intelligence and journals her profound thoughts and musings on life.

After all the strong recommendations from some immpressive LTers, I thought I would love (with a capital L) this book. But, I found the first half dragging somewhat. It wasn't until the introduction of a new resident in the building that my attention was held. Overall, an impressive story, but not one of my favourites.

3. Wetlands by Charlotte Roche

I've just got one word to say about this book . . . . YUK!

Now there's a review with punch! hehe

Short, sweet, & to the point!

>8 Superb review Judy, keep them coming!

~ TT

Why thank you all.

4. Ice by Louis Nowra

Malcolm McEacharn was born in Scotland. His sailor father died at sea when he was only two years old. He lived an extremely eventful life, migrating to Australia, developing an import/export business, pioneering the refrigerated shipping of meat and butter, becoming mayor of Melbourne and becoming a Member of the first Australian parliament in 1901.

Ice is based on the exploits of McEacharn and his partner McIlwraith. The story reads like a Biography, in fact, much of the story is based on fact. The two men begin to make their fortunes by towing an iceberg into Sydney Harbour. They build their empire through smart business deals, but McEacharn is never happy. He strives, in some very strange ways, to constantly return to the time when he was married to his first wife and blisfully happy.

Meanwhile, there is another layer to the story. A modern day author is writing this story for his wife who had begun the research before an accident. This part of it didn't really work well for me. In the beginning, I was totally confused about who, what, where we were. (But that got better:)

Overall, this was a good story. Interesting characters saved me from being bored.

5. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This was a beautifully written book. Set in Nigeria during the formation of Biafra, we are swept up into the lives of twin sisters, very different people, who live through and survive war, hardship and famine in their new country. Then there is Ugwu, a village boy who comes to live as houseboy to the "Master" when he is a young teen. As the master's life changes, so does Ugwu change. He becomes a member of the family as his employers try to keep him safe and attempt to prevent him from being taken by soldiers.

Highly recommended.

6. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

I thought this book was somewhat overdone. It was a bit of a melodrama. Set in the early 19th Century in Wisconsin, Ralph Truitt, wealthy businessman, advertises for a wife. He chooses Catherine Land who arrives in a blizzard with many dark and treacherous secrets. Then comes the betrayals, the lover, the lost son, attempted murder, etc, etc, etc.

Not my cup of tea!

7. Property by Valerie Martin

Manon Gaudet is the unhappy wife of a property owner in America's south. She is childless, yet her husband has fahered two children with Sarah, a slave. The book is set during a time when the slaves are in revolt. There are uprisings and murders and cruelty abounds.

There are so many contradictions in this story; Manon decries the fact that, on marriage, she has become the property of her husband yet she does not acknowledge that she treats Sarah as her property.

A very powerful book with a lot to say.

8. The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald

Florence decides to open a bookshop in her small English village. The aristocracy of the village are not happy about it and try to prevent it; there are ghosts in the building and the damp is encroaching. The eccentric cast of characters really make the story.

I enjoyed The Bookshop when I read it last year. It's a quick and pleasant read. I'm glad you liked it.

I read The Bookshop earlier this year and found it to be a nice diversion. A bit frustrating to leave it off that way at the end, but all in all it suited the story. The characters really were the thing, I agree.

I have to agree that the ending was a tad frustrating. But as you say, it suited the story. I'm not sure how else it could have ended.

9. The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

A very touching story, based on fact, told through the voice of Antonina, the Polish wife of the Keeper of Warsaw's zoo, during WW2. Antonina and Jan managed to save hundreds of Jews and some of their zoo animals during the reign of the nazis, by hiding them (sometimes in plain view) within the zoo grounds and animal habitats.

The Zookeepers Wife looks very interesting. I'm adding it to the TBR pile.

It's well worth reading.

I have The Zookeeper's Wife on the TBR mountain. Might have to bump it up a bit.

Hi, Judy -- I just found your new thread. I love Katherine Mansfield too--discovered her a few years ago when I started exploring Virginia Woolf's contemporaries, rivals and such. I understand people who went through the New Zealand school system hate her because she was forced on them, but I take it that that requirement didn't transfer over to Australia. What were Aussie kids forced to read? We didn't do any Canadian lit when I went to school--all US and UK.

Nickelini, I cannot even begin to remember what we were forced to read in school - apart from Camus and Shakespeare! I can remember reading My Brother Jack in high school and I Can Jump Puddles I think. But apart from these two I am at a loss (the old memory isn't as good as it once was!!).

If there are any Aussies reading this . . . let us know what you remember from your schooldays.

Hi, Judy,
Just catching up on your thread since I got back. You've read lots of interesting books! I want to read Ice, Have a Yellow Sun, The Bookshop, and The Zookeeper's Wife now! :D Have a great day!
--BJ

10. Missing Mom by Joyce Carol Oates

Ms Oates has done it again. She must be one of the most perceptive authors I have ever read. By that I mean that she has the ability to get inside her characters; to make the reader feel like they are real people; and to be able to make the story seem real.

This is a wonderful story of loss and grief and despair and hope.

Just catching up on you. You read far more interesting books than I seem too!

No, don't say that lunacat . . . every book is interesting in its own way . . . .

I've added The Bookshop to my tbr pile.

11. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

I was very excited about this one, having been a great fan of Shadow of the Wind but I found it a little disappointing. Perhaps I expected too much, but it just didn't have the same presence as SOTW. There were some sentences that I had to read over and over as they didn't quite ring true and I started to wonder if the translation had let the author down somewhat. I guess I'll never know.

However, it was still an exciting mystery with a little bit of magic and a bit of the supernatural thrown in as well. Still worth the read too!

12. Afterwards by Rachel Seiffert

This is a beautiful story about Alice and Joseph, and the relationship they are trying to build. Alice has an absent father, a distant step father and a grandfather, David, who is very controlled and aloof. Joseph is suffering the aftereffects of a stint in the army and a posting to Northern Ireland where he was involved in a shooting. David also suffered wartime trauma in his posting to Kenya, and when he opens up to Joseph, this is the turning-point to Alice and Joseph's relationship.

Recommended.

13. Red Leaves by Thomas H Cook

A small girl disappears on the night when teenager Keith has been babysitting. He becomes a suspect to the police, the lost child's parents, the townspeople and his own father.

While not my usual type of book, I enjoyed this story. It was an easy read with a satisfyingly unpredictable storyline.

14. The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff

This is a very interesting story. On the surface it appears to be a family saga set in a small town, but there is a lot more going on than that. Willy returns home, pregnant and alone, to be told by her mother that the father she has never known is not one of her mother's commune partners, but one of the men in the town that she has known all her life. Her quest to discover which one is her father starts another story within a story about the early settlers. As well as all this, a monster has been found in the lake which is causing ripples throughout the town.

Well worth reading!

Judy, both look good. Thanks for adding to the TBR mountain.

haha I'm sure you will repay the favour very shortly!!!

15. The Rip by Robert Drewe

An interesting group of short stories, mostly set in Drewe's stamping ground of the NSW northcoast. A few I really liked, a few were ok, a couple were forgettable. But I like Drewe's writing and enjoyed listening to these stories.

16. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell

Iris receives a call from the psych hospital which is about to close down. It seems she is the sole relative of Esme, an inmate for more than 60 years, and now Iris' responsibility. Esme comes home to stay with Iris for a weekend before more permanent care can be arranged.

What happens next is fascinating. This is a superb book. A real treat to read.

Oooo I have Esme at the moment borrowed from the library. I'll have to get on and read it!

I'll be interested to see if you like it as much as I did kiwiflowa.

17. The Ersatz Elevator by Lemony Snicket

I really enjoy these stories. In this one, the Baudelaire orphans are again sent to live with yet another relative. The dreadful Count Olaf is once more in disguise and threatening to steal the inheritance.

Just a lot of fun!

18. The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

At first I wasn’t sure of this one, but halfway in, I was hooked. The Hundreds is an old manor house, which due to the diminishing of the Ayres Family wealth, is falling into disrepair. When a local doctor is called in to see to the young maid living at The Hundreds, he begins a relationship with the family which defies the social mores of the times. One by one the family members are affected by the strange happenings in The Hundreds and the doctor is left to pick up the pieces.

This is quite a haunting tale. It is very suspenseful and engrossing.

19. Underground by Andrew McGahan

A very clever tale of Australian politics in a post War-on-Terror world. In this world, Islam is not tolerated, and Muslims are forced to live in ghettos. There are Underground groups of all shapes and sizes with agendas large and small. The story begins with the kidnapping of the Prime Minister’s brother by an Underground Muslim group and the destruction by nuclear bomb of Canberra. He is passed from pillar to post and with each group he meets, gains more and more of an insight into what is *really* happening.

At times funny, at times terrifying, but at all times irreverent; I really enjoyed this book.

Sounds like some good reads, Judy. I'm particularly interested in the Little Stranger, now that I've read your review.

ummm.... do you know any book that call fifteen by Beverly clearly

Nickelini, The Little Stranger seems to polarise responses. I wonder if real fans of Waters don't like it because it is different to her other books? I have only read one other by Waters, so I guess my expectations may not have been the same.

purplestar17 . . . ????????

20. The Girl on the Landing by Paul Torday

This book was very close in subject to The Little Stranger. Elizabeth and Michael visit friends in Ireland; while there Michael comments on a painting of a girl on a landing, but is told there is no girl in the painting. From then on, Michael's behaviour becomes stranger and stranger. Somehow, I liked this book, but I didn't. It just annoyed me for some reason. Perhaps it was because the characters were not likeable. (The term upper class twits come to mind). Or perhaps it was because I expected a ghost story, but that wasn't exactly what I got.

21. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K Dick

I thought I would like this one more than I did. I am a fan of SF, although I don't read as much of it as I would like. The story brings up some interesting ideas - the idea of humanity; the essence of empathy; environmental issues - but it didn't really enthrall me. Perhaps my expectations got in the way again?

22. The Woman who Walked into Doors by Roddy Doyle

I think Roddy Doyle is one of my newest favourite authors. This is only the second of his books that I have read, but it has really impressed me. Paula Spencer is a wife and mother living in Dublin. After she recieves some bad news from the police, she starts to remember her life and how she got to be where she is now. Doyle has great skill in writing characters; he was able to make the character of Paula real and believable.

23. If I Stay by Gayle Forman

A YA novel that packs quite a punch. I defy anyone to read it without shedding at least one tear.

Message edited by its author, Aug 12, 2009, 12:40am.

#22 The Woman who Walked into Doors looks like an interesting read. Added to the TBR mountain.

I read If I Stay earlier this year and enjoyed it. A hard read but definitely worthwhile.

#42: I have never read anything by Roddy Doyle. I will have to see if my library has any of his.

I've only read Doyle's nonsensical children's books... highly entertaining, but ridiculous. Maybe I should try some of his serious works as well, it would be interesting to see the shift in his writing style.

I read If I Stay earlier this year too and not only did I think it was a great read but it convinced me to read other YA books here and there. I'm glad you liked it! (I got teary too at the end and I was in a cafe at the time!)

alcottacre & dk_phoenix - I don't think you will be disappointed.

kiwiflowa - I have found a lot of good YA stuff lately. I just wish it was available when I was a YA!

24. Vertigo by Amanda Lohrey

A nice story. A young couple make a seachange, beginning a new life in a small country town. There is something they are escaping from, which is slowly revealed throughout the story.

25. Hater by David Moody

This was a wild ride - a book that I couldn't put down. Danny has a deadend job, he is feeling suffocated by his three young children and a lack of money to make his life better. On the way to work one day he witnesses an extreme act of what appears to be random violence, but these random acts become more and more frequent over the next few days. What happens next is very interesting!

I recommend this book as pure escapism - but if you are put off by reading about violent acts, it won't be for you.

Judy, one of my top books of last year was Roddy Doyle's short story collection, The Deportees. The stories were funny, sad, horrific--you name the emotion, it was in there. The focus of the collection is the "new immigrants" that have been flocking to Ireland (well, or were flocking until the economy tanked). There's even one with the main character from The Commitments. I love his work.

Afterwards was also one of my top five books last year. I just finished her earlier book, The Dark Room, which was also very moving and thought provoking.

#47: Adding both of those to Planet TBR. Thanks for the reviews and recommendations!

The first Roddy Doyle I read was Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha which I loved. I also like the three novellas in The Barrytown Trilogy very much. I highly recommend these.

arubabookwoman - Paddy Clarke ha ha ha is on my list of books to read this year. I am also pretty sure I have the trilogy on the tower as well.

cariola - I read The Deportees last year as well. I loved it and have recommended it innumerable times to library customers. I will look out for The Dark Room, I really liked Afterwards.

26. The Earth Hums in B Flat by Mari Strachan

Loved, loved, loved this book set in a small Welsh village in the '50s. Gwenni is a young girl who believes she can fly. She witnesses an event that will change the village forever, and is the catalyst for a revelation within her family that will have major repurcussions.

Highly recommended!

27. The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter

I was quite enjoying this story of three orphans from a privileged background who are forced to live with their only relative - Uncle Philip, a toymaker, his wife and her two brothers. But then it got a little bit silly and just ended in te middle of everything. Disappointing.

28. Pobby and Dingan by Ben Rice

A short book set in opal mining country - Pobby and Dingan are the imaginary friends of young Kellyanne. Didn't really impress me much.

#52: The Earth Hums in B Flat sounds very good. Thanks for the recommendation!

I don't think you'll be disappointed.

29. Dreamland by Tom Gilling

An interesting story about Nick Carmody, a journalist on a seedy Sydney newspaper, who lies in court to help out an old schoolfriend. When the simple lie escalates, Nick takes the first easy option out of his trouble. Not my usual kind of book, however I did enjoy it.

30. The City and the City by China Mieville

This was a very interesting book. I have never read Mieville before, but I think I will have to have a look at some of his other titles. It is a difficult story to sum up in a few sentences, but I will try my best. Somewhere in Eastern Europe there is a city called Beszel; there is also a city called Ul Quoma; both cities are in the same physical space. The citizens of each city are trained from birth to not see (unsee) the citizens or the topography of the other city. If anyone "sees" or crosses over into the other city, Breach is invoked and the breacher is dealt with (usually never to return). A young woman is found murdered in Beszel; the investigation calls for co-operation between the two cities and as more information comes to light, conspiracies are unearthed and myths are subjected to scrutiny.

I can recommend this to anyone who likes a mystery and is open to a little bit of fantasy :)

31. Black Girl White Girl by Joyce Carol Oates

Oates is a master at characterization. She tells this story of two girls, one black, one white, who are roommates at an exclusive College in the '70s. I thought it was a very interesting view of black / white relations / relationships.

32. The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble

Not one of my favourites. I just couldn't get into this book. It was written in two parts. The first was set in the 1700s in Korea and told the story of the Crown Princess. There was love and madness, ceremony and history. The second part tells the story of a modern day academic who stumbles upon the memoirs of the Crown Princess on her way to a conference in Korea. Parallels become apparent between her life and that of the princess.

I'm not sure why I didn't like this much. I usually enjoy this kind of story.

I hope your next read is more enjoyable for you, Judy!

ditto what Stasia said.

Yes it was! I just finished The Women in Black which was just wonderful! I'll be back after work to fill in the gaps here.

33. The Women in Black by Madeleine St John

Set in 1950s Sydney, this book is about a group of women who work on the Cocktail frock floor of a Department Store. It is a delightful book which I read in (almost) one sitting. It captures beautifully the changes in Australian life with the increase in migration from Europe.

#61: Looks like a good one! Thanks for the recommendation.

A guaranteed good one! Enjoy it!

34. The Accidental by Ali Smith

It took me a while to get into the rhythm of this story. I found it a bit frustrating and hard to follow at first. But then it got better. Each chapter is told from the perspective of one member of the Smart family, who are staying in a holiday house in Norfolk.

Michael and Eve (the parents) Astrid and Magnus each have a story to tell, but when Amber comes to stay, their lives are changed forever. Amber is a stranger, who insinuates her way into the family home and into the lives of each member of the family. She remains a mystery until the very end.

Recommended.

35. The Lucy Family Alphabet by Judith Lucy

Judith Lucy is an Australian comedian. She has been on TV, in movies, on stage, etc. She has a very dry and cynical, even sarcastic, take on the world. I find her very funny usually. But this book didn't do that much for me. I laughed out loud in places, I felt sympathy and empathy in places, but overall I just didn't care too much about the whole thing. She has a very easy writing style, and because of this, I managed to finish the book quite quickly. But if I had to sum it up in one word . . . meh!

Isn't that so often the way with comics who write books! I read Wil Anderson's book once (another Australian funny man) and it was terrible. He is relatively funny on TV, but the book was just woeful.

Perhaps, they should stick to their day jobs ;)

36. Cold Earth by Sarah Moss

A group of archaeologists meet in Greenland to excavate a gravesite. As they are leaving civilization, a new virus is causing some concern (think Swine Flu). While in Greenland, they are in complete isolation with minimal contact with the outside world. Their fears for loved ones in view of the virus are combined with new fears for themselves as one of the members begins to see and hear things that are not able to be explained.

Normally, a plot that includes the supernatural and an end of the world scenario would be just my cup of tea, but this one wasn't that exciting. And, I did not like the ending at all.

Oh, what a shame, as the idea of it sounds very good. I like that kind of thing!

Hope your next book is better.

I agree with lunacat - the idea of it sounds so good. Too bad the execution failed for you.

Yes, I was disappointed :(

37. Tom est Mort by Marie Darrieussecq

Tom is 4 1/2 when he dies. 10 years later his mother writes a journal detailing her thoughts and reactions after his death. This book is superb in its execution. Although the subject is so harrowing, it is still worth reading for the wonderful way that Darrieussecq has captured the grief and devastation that the remaining family members suffer.

BTW, there are no touchstones for the English version.

38. The Birthing House by Christopher Ransom

I needed somethinig easy to read after the last one, so grabbed a likely candidate off the library shelf. The blurb says "if you like Stephen King, you'll love The Birthing House". Well I do like SK, but I certainly didn't love this book!

The story revolves around a house in Wisconsin which was once a house where young women in trouble went to give birth. But the history of the house isn't quite that simple. When Conrad and his wife move in, things start to happen - everyone gets pregnant, ghosts are rampant, things go bump in the night, strange feelings are felt, etc,etc, etc.

So, if you get the feeling that I thought it wasn't that great, you would be right :)

I'm simply stopping by to say hello.

It sounds like books 36 & 38 were disappointing for you. Good luck with your next reads.

And hello back to you whisper!

39. Dancing Backwards by Salley Vickers

I liked this book about recently widowed Vi who embarks on a cruise from England to New York in order to renew an old acquaintance. The writing is spare and dry and quite funny in places. Vickers does a great job of developing Vi's character through her memories of times past and through current events during the cruise, where Vi meets some interesting people, solves a mystery and learns to dance.

Recommended.

It sounds like you found a good book and perhaps your next ones will be as positive for you!

Hope so, whisper. I have just started the new Margaret Atwood - I don't expect to be disappointed there!

Hey Judy, just stopping by for a quick hello. I see that you read Black Girl/White Girl. I read it last year and really enjoyed it. I gotta say that Ms. Oates does not appear to believe in happy novels.

Trish, how right you are! I have read a few Oates lately and they have all been brilliant, but harrowing!

40. The Fat Man in History by Peter Carey

A fantastic collection of stories from Carey. Every story left me feeling a little unsettled, a little bit disturbed in some way. Many of these stories were visions of other worlds, almost parallel universes. My favourite story is called 'American Dreams'. Set in small town, Australia, one man builds a miniature replica town which promises to bring in the tourists. When the tourists start to come in droves, the town's citizens realize that their dreams of the big time are not all they were cracked up to be.

Ooooh, that sounds great, Judy. So many books, so little time!

hahaha I sort of know what you mean Nickelini!!!

41. The Year of the FLood by Margaret Atwood

A great story about a world gone bad, its people gone mad. The earth is failing - climate change and pollution have finally caught up with the population. Many cults have evolved and amongst them are God's Gardeners - heavily religious and fanatically "green". They foresee a "waterless flood" that will wipe out all those who are not prepared to face a changed world.

The story itself was very entertaining, very well written in Atwood's usual style, but at times I felt it was a bit simplistic. There was a stage where I wondered if it was a YA book because of the mass of coincidences that occurred. Nevertheless, it was well worth reading and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys apocalyptic stories.

#80

I'm looking forward to reading this, as I went to a 'performance' of it and now have a signed, dedicated copy. The performance part was people reading out parts of the book, and a choir singing some of the songs. The singing wasn't up to much, but the writing seemed very good!

Thanks for the review :)

hahaha Those songs started to annoy me while I was reading the book. For some reason I was singing them in my head in a real country and western drawl. Have no idea why. But once it started I couldn't stop!

42. Carpentaria by Alexis Wright

This is a long rambling tale set in and around a small town called Desperance on the Gulf of Carpentaria. Norm Phantom is the head of his family which is scattered around the town. The story touches on many issues - land rights, the threat of the big mining companies to the land and its people, the social and economic problems of the indigenous people, love, family and faith. But clearly we find that nature is far more powerful than anything man can come up with.

This is a huge story, not always easy to follow, but told brilliantly, and always engaging.

#83: Thanks for the recommendation of that one, Judy. I will see if I can find a copy.

43. The Keep by Jennifer Egan

This story within a story within a story may not be the best ever written, but it is an engaging adventure with lots of twists and turns and a few surprises thrown in as well. There were a few strange moments - just what really happened between Danny and the Baroness that night? But, overall, this was a lot of fun and a good read.

44. The Twins by Tessa de Loo

Twin sisters are separated, just before WW2, after both parents die. One goes to the farm of a distant relative, where she is abused and neglected. The other goes to a family in The Netherlands, where she spends an, if not idyllic childhood, at least a reasonably happy one. The elderly sisters meet accidentally at a Belgian Health Spa, where they tell each other of the lives they have lived. Their different experiences, especially of the war, threaten to break the fragile bond they have, as they elaborate on loves lost, hardships they have each suffered and families and friends scattered. The story explores guilt and blame, but shows ultimately that the bond of family is not easy to break.

45. After the Fire, a Still Small Voice by Evie Wyld

This was a brilliant book. It holds two stories - that of Frank, present day, and his father Leon, from his childhood in the 50s up to the present. Both these men have had very difficult relationships with their fathers. War (Korea for Leon's father, then Vietnam for Leon) is a major part of this story, and it's lingering hold on those who serve and the affect this has on those who wait for their return, is a recurring theme throughout the book.

Highly recommended.

46. Homecoming by Bernard Schlink

Fairly disappointing story after the brilliance of The Reader. I found this one to be just altogether too much; with its references to and reliance on Homer's Odyssey, its obvious attempts to create parallels within the story with the post war guilt of his country, and it really brings us to the same questions as did The Reader. I didn't like this one much.

#85: Adding books 43, 44, and 45 to Planet TBR. I think I shall skip #46, though. Thanks for the recommendations, Judy.

Make sure you find #45 alcottacre - it's a beauty!

47. What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn

Another winner! Young Kate Meaney is determined to be a detective, setting up an agency in her bedroom and carrying out surveillance at the nearby shopping centre - Green Oaks. O'Flynn is able to make us believe in Kate. She is a lonely child, precocious and likeable. The second half of the story jumps forward 20 years and we get to know Lisa and Kurt, workers at Green Oaks. They are both unhappy, going to work each day almost because they don't have the energy to make a change. Green Oaks is a soulless place where people appear and disappear, live and die, as it sucks the life out of the suburbs in which it was built.

Highly recommended!

#87: Whew! Already have that one on Planet TBR. Dodged a bullet - something I rarely do on your thread :)

#44 I already have that one. Admittedly it is packed up in a box ready to move but will get to it one day.

#45 and #47 another two for the TBR mountain. Thanks, they both look good.

I'm adding #45 and #47 to the pile. I really like your descriptions!

Both of those will be added to my (ridiculously long) list of favourites of 2009. Hope you all enjoy them as much as I did.

48. The Day we had Hitler Home by Rodney Hall

I'm not sure how I felt about this one. Hall is a favourite author and I have always liked his writing. But this story was just a touch . . odd. An injured Hitler arrives in a small country town along with a boatload of returned WW1 soldiers, his eyes heavily bandaged. He is taken home by Audrey and her family. An escape by aeroplane is devised and Hitler is deposited in German held territory in New Guinea.

Audrey sees the world through the lens of her movie camera, filming all aspects of life. When she travels to Germany, becoming just a little obsessed with Hitler, she settles into life there as a film maker. As nazism takes hold of the population, Audrey is forced to flee the country and eventually returns to the family home.

So, this story has left me wondering what it was all about, an enjoyable read, but still a confusing one.

49. Liver by Will Self

This was a surprising book. It consists of four stories which are connected through the Plantation Bar - a place for very serious drinkers to meet and drink to excess. Halfway through the first story, I was very underwhelmed, but the ending was so surprising, so clever, and so totally unexpected, that I read through the other stories in a flash. They were all good! This book won't appeal to everyone, but to those who like a bit of quirk in their literature, try it, you might be surprised!

50. Dear Diary by Lesley Arfin

Moderately interesting diary/biography of Arfin, middle class girl turned punk, dabbler in illegal substances turned drug addict. She has taken snippets of her diary, kept throughout high school, college and beyond, then attempted to contact the people involved in her life at the time. With some interesting results.

51. House of Orphans by Helen Dunmore

I was fairly disappointed by this one. I kept feeling that it would get better. But it didn't really. It was no more than mediocre.

52. Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle

Loved, loved, loved this one!!! Paddy is a young Irish boy who lives with his parents, his little brother Sinbad and two little sisters, he goes to school, hangs out with his mates, and gets into a bit of strife every now and then. Doyle has made Paddy totally believable as a young boy. He thinks, behaves and reacts to events exactly as you would expect him to. But you can't read Doyle and expect "happy ever after" and this one is no different.

Highly recommended.

53. The Oxford Project by Peter Feldstein & Stephen Bloom

This was a fascinating look at small town USA. The photographer took snaps of every resident of Oxford in Iowa in 1984 and then repeated the process again in 2005. All I can say is that this book has in many ways confirmed the stereotype of a particular kind of US resident :)

Message edited by its author, Oct 23, 2009, 4:40am.

Just catching up on your thread - I have Carpentaria on my tbr pile already so now i'm looking forward even more to reading it.
The Twins - I saw the movie of this and am not sure if I need to read the book as well.
I read What was Lost a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it too. Look forward to visiting your thread more often.

Looking forward to seeing you here avatiakh.

54. When will there be Good News? by Kate Atkinson

I really liked this audio book. A great story told from a number of perspectives, each character beautifully drawn and an extraordinary plotline full of twists and turns and loaded with surprises.

Recommended!

55. Little Bird of Heaven by Joyce Carol Oates

Not my favourite JCO. I found myself getting a bit frustrated and wanting some more action. However, Oates has done her usual exceptional job of making the characters come to life and weaving a fascinating story.

I already have One Good Turn wish listed; I guess I'll go ahead and add this one too. I really loved Behind the Scenes of the Museum but then Case Histories not as much. How would you rate this Atkinson compared to her others?

Bonnie, in order to do that I would have had to have read another one of her books :0) LOL, I fully intend to read them soon(ish), but if they are as good as I thought When will there be good news is, I have no doubt that I have something to look forward to!

56. Variant X by Sue Robinson

A YA novel set in Australia and Brazil. The botfly has mutated and now people in Australia not only have to worry about having a grub growing under their skin, now when the grub hatches, it leaves behind a nasty toxin wich kills the host. Not a bad story.

57. The Wilderness by Samantha Harvey

I started listening to this on audio, but gave up halfway through. I just simply found it dull and uninteresting. I must be one of the few who didn't like it.

58. Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry

Loved this one! An action packed thriller with heroes, romance, double-crossing double-crossers, and of course, zombies!!! Terrorists have developed a plague which kills, then re-animates. It is up to an elite team to infiltrate and eliminate.

Recommended!

#98: I have heard good things about Patient Zero and am anxious to give that one a try. I have never heard of Variant X, so there is a new one for me to look for. Thanks for the recommendations!

Patient Zero looks like a good read. Thanks.

Hope you both like Patient Zero.

59. Oink Oink Oink by Eric Yoshiaki Dando

A completely outrageous story, but somehow, strangely satisfying!

SF (Squirly Fern) is raised in Japan by his mother. When he is a teenager he is sent for by his Australian father and discovers that he is a rich and famous scientist renowned for his genetic research. SF becomes a part of his father's experiments in cloning and research into genetics.

#101: That one sounds interesting. I will look for it!

60. Bloodchild by Tim Bowler

A not terribly exciting YA story about a young boy with special powers. Not much to say about this one.

61. The Essence of the Thing by Madeleine St John

Another excellent story by this wonderful author. This one is set in England where Jonathan anounces to Nicola that he doesn't love her any more and she should move out of their home as soon as possible. Although a very light hearted novel, we still feel real sympathy for Nicola and feel her pain throughout the break up.

Highly Recommended.

62. The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa

And another excellent story! This was a beautiful story about a mathematics professor who, after an accident, retains only 80 minutes of recent memory and the housekeeper assigned to him by an agency. The professor lives his life through his beloved numbers, using them to make some sense of his ever confusing life. This is a lovely story about friendship, care and respect.

Another highly recommended one!

I like your description of The Housekeeper and the Professor. It already is on my tbr pile and now I'm prompted to move it up closer to the top.

Whisper, it was such a lovely book, and a quick read as well.

#61 and #62 both look good and have been added to the TBR mountain. Thanks.

Adding book 61 to the BlackHole. Book 62 is already there.

I hope you both like them as much as I did!

The housekeeper and the professor sounds like a good read so I'm adding it to my tbr as well.

63. Size 12 is not Fat by Meg Cabot

Apparently this is "chick lit" and according to the 'will you like it' gizmo, I will definitely not like it, but I did enjoy it even so! It is the story of Heather Wells - an ex-teen popstar, now in her 20s, and an assistant at a New York College dorm, um residence hall. Two girls die and Heather uses her budding detective skills to find their killer.

I think I enjoyed this because I was in need of a lighter book to listen to in the car. But it was a good, fun story.

That's been on my TBR list forever just because I think the title is great. Evey once in a while a nice light read is just what the doctor ordered! And that recommender is often off, I find.

I have it as well (although I can only aspire to a size 12, lol). Next year when I need a light read, I will get to it!

111 & 112 I know that the next in the series - Size 14 is not fat either - (I think that's the title) is on the shelf at the library, so I might just have to grab it!

64. Ark by Stephen Baxter

This is the sequel to Flood which I read last year and thoroughly enjoyed. I liked this one just as much. We follow the launch of Ark 2 into space - a last ditch attempt to keep humanity alive now that the continents are all under water. When Ark 2 reaches Earth 2, they split into three factions, one lands on Earth 2, one returns to earth and the other continues on to Earth 3.

I am sure there will be another book in this series and I can't wait to find out what happens to the crew of the Ark.

65. Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King

Fantastic story. Stephen King is really underrated in my opinion.

Message edited by its author, Nov 22, 2009, 2:14am.

66. Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

This was a quick read - thank goodness! Not because it was bad, it was very good. But the subject of the book was very hard to read about. A little girl is abducted and succumbs to years of abuse, but she is getting older and at 15, she doesn't have the same appeal as she used to, so together with her abductor, she attempts to trap another little girl into the awful world in which she barely survives.

A very difficult book.

I think I'll skip that book! I imagine it is very difficult to read.

I've added many of your great books to my tbr pile, so alas it is good that I don't have to add another.

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

I'll put #115 on the TBR... it's interesting that all the reviews say it's a hard book to read but mostly gave it good reviews.

67. In the Forest by Edna O'Brien

Fascinating story of a man who has spent most of his life in reform homes and gaols. He returns to his home village in Ireland when he is released from an English gaol where he creates mayhem and induces fear in all those who know him. The story reaches its terrible climax and we are left to wonder why he became what he did, and whether he may have led a different life if only . . .

Beautifully written and told. (listened to this one)

#67 Another good read Judy. Onto the TBR mountain it goes. Cheers

#115: I do not think I can handle that one, so as good as it may be, I will give it a pass.

#118: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation!

Judy
I read In The Forest last month. It was a superb character study.

Whisper - I agree. The character of Micha (not sure how to spell it cause I listened to the audio version) was at once frightening and compelling. I don't think I can remember a character who evoked so many contradictions.

Cauterize - I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on the book after reading it.

Dianestm - you will be sure to appreciate this one.

alcottacre - #115 don't blame you! and #118 I think you will really like it.

68. Un Lun Dun by China Mieville

This had so many similarities to The City and the City which I read a little while ago, that it felt like I was reading the children's version of the same book. In fact, it is a children's book (although an extremely long one!) and is great fun. It doesn't really have any surprises - the goodies fight the baddies, there are some good accomplices and some double crossing ones, and everything comes out right in the end. But it is a good read and well worth the time it took me!

69. The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker

What a great story! Truly is born and she is huge and she just keeps getting bigger. Meanwhile, her mother is dead, her father is a drunk and her sister is perfect. I read this book for the story alone. The writing was only so-so, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the book.

#123: I know when Linda (Whisper) read that one earlier this year she felt that the ending was very contrived. How did you feel about it?

I know what she means. It was a very "tie up the loose ends and leave the reader feeling warm and fuzzy" type of ending. But I'm afraid that this is the kind of book I want/need at the moment!

Nothing wrong with needing a book of that kind! I think we all do at times. Thanks for the input.

70. Sum: Forty tales from the afterlives by David Eagleman

An excellent set of very short stories about the afterlife. Eagleman gives us 40 different ideas of the afterlife. Each one is different, each one is plausible, each one is entertaining. You get to meet God, but each time it is a different concept of "God", you get to relive your life, you become part of the dreams of the living, your life runs backwards from death to birth, etc, etc.

This is a must read!

71. Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford

Not overly fond of this one. In fact, you could sy it left me cold!

Ha! Ha! I always like reading your reviews, Judy. You tell me just enough to know whether or not I want to add a title to my wish list.

Judy
Hang in there, you are very close to completing the 75 challenge goal!

I really like your description of book #70 and I've added it to the ever growing mound of books I must read.

Happy Holidays!

>128: Judy, did you also read Pursuit of Love? My copy came as a single volume with both books. I far preferred Pursuit of Love to Love in a Cold Climate although I also felt I was missing something by not being particularly informed and/or interested in the whole Mitford sisters thing.

I haven't read Pursuit of Love yet, but it is on the list!

72. One Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

This was certainly a very powerful story. It is hard to believe that women have been and are being treated this way in the same world in which I can enjoy equality in all aspects of my life.

73. The Vile Village by Lemony Snicket

Another adventure with the Beaudelaires. As usual, this episode had me laughing out loud.

74. The Australian Fiance by Simone Lazaroo

In Singapore at the end of the war, an Australian man meets and falls in love with a Eurasian girl. He brings her to his family of pearl merchants in Broome where she is mistrusted and disliked. But she has a secret. This is a good story about love and trust and discrimination.

75. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

I had high hopes for this one, but it disappointed me. I really couldn't get into it at all. So I basically skimmed through the last three quarters of it!

72. One Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

This was certainly a very powerful story. It is hard to believe that women have been and are being treated this way in the same world in which I can enjoy equality in all aspects of my life.

73. The Vile Village by Lemony Snicket

Another adventure with the Beaudelaires. As usual, this episode had me laughing out loud.

74. The Australian Fiance by Simone Lazaroo

In Singapore at the end of the war, an Australian man meets and falls in love with a Eurasian girl. He brings her to his family of pearl merchants in Broome where she is mistrusted and disliked. But she has a secret. This is a good story about love and trust and discrimination.

75. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

I had high hopes for this one, but it disappointed me. I really couldn't get into it at all. So I basically skimmed through the last three quarters of it!

So, you didn't like listening to Flavia? I thought she was a kick! The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie was good light reading--not a great mystery, but fun! You read more children's and YA fiction than I do now, so I would have bet that you would have liked it better than I did. (Case in point, #73.) Good thing I put money down, huh? :-)

One Thousand Splendid Suns is one of my tbr's that I've committed to read next year. I'm going to get my tbr collection down to ten books or less, maybe even five or less.

Darn! I accidentally hit the submit button twice; I haven't done that for a long while. I just got so distracted because So You Think You Can Dance just started. See ya! :-)

Message edited by its author, Yesterday, 11:06pm.

Must have been a glitch in the system Bonnie - I submitted twice too!!

Hope you're enjoying Dance!

Judylou - Congratulations on reaching 75! I had a similar reaction to A Thousand Splendid Suns. It was a hard book for me to read, but very powerfully written. And I've just started the Series of Unfortunate Events books. Glad to hear that you are enjoying it!