marcyjill

First book: Mansfield Park

That's a good book to start off the year with. I hope you enjoyed it!

What a coincidence, marcyjill--that's my first book as well! How is it going?

An incredible coincidence! The book is going well -- I am enjoying it. Certainly an improvement over my last selection! How's it going for you?

I had forgotten that Fanny Price was my least favorite Austen heroine. It's all lovely and well written, but . . . well, I won't spoil it.

True, Fanny is annoying. Even so, it is better than PopCo. At least I think so :-). Have you finished Mansfield Park? I still have a third to go.

I have finished it, and am very much looking forward to discussing it. I just sent PopCo off to a bookmoocher who will hopefully be happier with it than we were.

I wasn't sure I was going to like Mansfield Park again at first. I read it some years ago and I remember liking it, but that was about all I remembered besides the name Fanny Price. Now that I've completed it I have to say I did enjoy it in the overall. I think it has most to do with Jane Austen's writing than anything, but after the first section, the story was quite absorbing.

On to book #2 for 2008: Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern.

Book #2 finished!

My review of Love, Rosie is here: http://www.librarything.com/work/3406296/reviews/24921642

On to book #3, but I haven't decided what that will be yet.

I let my book club pick my next book so that means it will be: Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst.

I'm pleased with this choice because I have been wanting to read this one and I already own it.

I am definitely off to a good start because I just finished book #3. I really liked this one too.

Of course I realize in order to make 50, I will need to average over 4 books a month, but mainly I'm just going to try and see how close I can get.

Book #4 done! This time it was an Early Reviewer's book: Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah.

My review is here: http://zoesmom.blogspot.com/2008/01/firefly-lane-by-kristin-hannah.html

You need a change of pace, marcyjill--two reviews of books that reminded you of TV!

I've been reading mixed response to Firefly Lane, and some people who flat-out hated it. I'm interested as to what you think it was in your library that snagged you a copy, and if you thought it was a good choice for you.

Book #5 is complete -- Cotillion by Georgette Heyer. I definitely enjoyed this one and I will do my best to write a decent review on my blog. For now there are a few comments here:
http://www.librarything.com/work/18596/reviews/24749813

My pace has slowed down, but that is because I tried reading this book, listening to an audio book and reading that silly book about parenting only children which I am determined to finish for no apparent reason.

My next book is quite long, but I am going to try and stay focused on it.

Oh my God, I am still reading Tom Jones!

FINALLY! Done with Tom Jones. I enjoyed the book, but it went on and on. I don't think I'll try writing a review of this one -- so much has already been written.
Now I must get going if I am ever going to get close to 50 books this year!

I'm jealous! I'm despairing of ever finishing Tom Jones.

Hang in there Chris! I'm not sure it was completely worth all the time invested, but it does finish up nicely.

In more book news, I've finished book #7. This time it was my Earl Reviewer's copy of "Bringing Home the Birkin." I posted a complete review

Oops -- got cut off. I posted a review on my blog. Here: http://zoesmom.blogspot.com/2008/03/bringing-home-birkin.html

I'm picking up speed again -- maybe there is hope.

#8 Venetia by Georgette Heyer which I really, really enjoyed.

#9 On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan. My review is here:
http://www.librarything.com/work/2547220/reviews/28837491

Oops, it has been awhile since I've updated my count. Here's an update:

#10 The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
#13 Gossip Girl
#14 Imagine Me and You
#15 Bringing Down the House
#16 Don't Make Me Think
#17 The Wonder Spot
#18 Interpreter of Maladies

I am starting book #19 tonight. I still need to pick up some more steam if I am going to make 50 books read this year.

I loved Interpreter of Maladies, Marcy--what did you think of it? I've read Melissa Bank's The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing, but I haven't read The Wonder Spot yet (although I have it on my iPod).

You should visit the 50 Book Challenge chat thread: http://www.librarything.com/talktopic.php?topic=36362#595441 and introduce yourself!

Chris -- I also loved Interpreter of Maladies. I really want to read her new book now, Unaccustomed Earth. I read the Namesake sometime last year and although I thought that was pretty good, her short stories are so much better. Each one paints such an intimate and vivid picture.

The Wonder Spot was pretty good and probably would be good listening, but I think The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing was better.

I didn't know the chat thread existed so I will have to check it out. Thanks!

P.S. Just finished book #19 The Big Sleep. I imagine that will be making your list in the next couple of week too!

I'm with you. I'm not usually a short-story fan, but Lahiri's are all like perfect gems. I think the only other author who makes me feel that way is Alice Munro.

I started The Big Sleep this morning. It's not my usual type of book, but I'm finding it quite fun. I think a viewing of the movie is in order--maybe we should do that as a group activity?

The Big Sleep was fun. I couldn't decide if I was hearing Humphrey Bogart's voice or Steve Martin's voice (ala Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid) narrating. I definitely agree that a group viewing of the movie is in order. That would be fun!

Time for another update -- I have been slacking in the updates, but not in the reading.

I see that I went from #10 to #13 in a previous post. Not sure what I had against #11 and #12 at the time, but here is the complete list for the year so far:

1. Mansfield Park
2. Love, Rosie
3. Lost and Found
4. Firefly Lane
5. Cotillion
6. Tom Jones
7. Bringing Home the Birkin
8. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
9. Venetia
10. On Chesil Beach
11. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
12. Gossip Girl
13. Imagine Me and You
14. Bringing Down the House
15. Don't Make Me Think
16. The Wonder Spot
17. Interpreter of Maladies
18. The Big Sleep
19. The Unknown Ajax
20. Not Another Bad Date
21. The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen
22. The City of Falling Angels
23. Love the One You're With
24. An Assembly Such as This
25. The River King

And I am currently reading my autographed copy of "Second Chance" by Jane Green who I caught doing a reading in Border's a couple of weeks ago.

26. Second Chance
27. Dirty Girls on Top
28. Things Fall Apart
29. The Beach House
30. Digging to America