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1Absurda
Okay, I'm going for 50 books again this year. First up:
Classics
1. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
I never read this book as a child, but I've seen the Disney cartoon about Mr. Toad. It was nice to be able to meet all the characters in their original work. The prose and imagery were vivid and enchanting. The characters were fun and very lovable. It's easy to see why this has stood the test of time.
Classics
1. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
I never read this book as a child, but I've seen the Disney cartoon about Mr. Toad. It was nice to be able to meet all the characters in their original work. The prose and imagery were vivid and enchanting. The characters were fun and very lovable. It's easy to see why this has stood the test of time.
3Absurda
Mystery
3. Payment in Blood by Elizabeth George
I discovered Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley and Sargent Havers mysteries at the end of last year and now I'm hooked. Extremely good mysteries and I'm very interested in how things turn out for the characters.
3. Payment in Blood by Elizabeth George
I discovered Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley and Sargent Havers mysteries at the end of last year and now I'm hooked. Extremely good mysteries and I'm very interested in how things turn out for the characters.
6sandragon
#3 - I feel the same way about Elizabeth George's mysteries. A lot happens to the characters throughout the series and you really get attached to them. I especially like to know what's happening with Havers. I finished reading the last of her novels last year and can't wait for another to come out.
7Absurda
6. A Suitable Vengeance by Elizabeth George
I like Havers, I think she has a lot of potential to grow as a character so she's really fascinating to me. I was a bit disappointed with Suitable Vengeance because it's all back story and she only really had a bit part. It was nice to get all that back story since it's been alluded to so much, but I'm not sure it was really necessary and since we already knew the outcome of the Lynley-Deborah-St.James love triangle, it kinda lacked some of the drama.
I like Havers, I think she has a lot of potential to grow as a character so she's really fascinating to me. I was a bit disappointed with Suitable Vengeance because it's all back story and she only really had a bit part. It was nice to get all that back story since it's been alluded to so much, but I'm not sure it was really necessary and since we already knew the outcome of the Lynley-Deborah-St.James love triangle, it kinda lacked some of the drama.
8Absurda
7. Stupid history: Tales of stupidity, strangeness and mythconceptions throughout the ages by Leland Gregory.
12Absurda
Whew! Spring Semester is over and it's time to catch up with the challenge.
Memoirs
12. Holy Cow by Sarah MacDonald
In her youth, Sarah MacDonald traveled to India as part of a grand tour, and she couldn't leave fast enough. Years later, she went back to be with the man she loves. This is the story of Sarah's journey as she adapts to her adopted homeland and explores the spiritual smorgasboard that India offers. It's not just an adventure to discover India, but herself as well. I enjoyed this book a great deal. I traveled in India once and much of what she said reminded me of that trip. Her spiritual journey also has a ring of truth and, I think, would resonate with anyone who's questioned matters of faith and god.
Fantasy
13. Creature Fantastic edited by Denise Little
A fun book with short stories involving mythical beasts such as unicorns, minotaur, dragons, etc.
ETA: I realized I hadn't been too consistent with adding comments about my readings. Since these are fresh in my mind I figured I'd pop back in and add a few.
Memoirs
12. Holy Cow by Sarah MacDonald
In her youth, Sarah MacDonald traveled to India as part of a grand tour, and she couldn't leave fast enough. Years later, she went back to be with the man she loves. This is the story of Sarah's journey as she adapts to her adopted homeland and explores the spiritual smorgasboard that India offers. It's not just an adventure to discover India, but herself as well. I enjoyed this book a great deal. I traveled in India once and much of what she said reminded me of that trip. Her spiritual journey also has a ring of truth and, I think, would resonate with anyone who's questioned matters of faith and god.
Fantasy
13. Creature Fantastic edited by Denise Little
A fun book with short stories involving mythical beasts such as unicorns, minotaur, dragons, etc.
ETA: I realized I hadn't been too consistent with adding comments about my readings. Since these are fresh in my mind I figured I'd pop back in and add a few.
13Absurda
Romance
14. Devil in a Kilt by Sue-Ellen Welfonder
A fairly typical romance set in medieval Scotland: Theirs is a marriage of convenience, his heart is hardened by past betrayal, she must teach him to love again, meddling secondary characters help them along the way and provide comic relief. This novel was entertaining enough for a long weekend in the summer, maybe good as lighter fair between heavy reads, but nothing to really write home about. The thing that stands out the most for me is that one of the (thankfully minor) characters had the grave misfortune to be named Ranald MacDonnell. Far too close the the name of the fast food mascot; every time he appeared I pictured him in clown makeup and a bouffant orange-red wig.
History
15. Roses of the West: Yesterday's Women, 1826-1977 by Anne Seagraves
This is a book I picked up on vacation last year while in the gold country here in California. This book provides 8 separate biographies of special women who helped settle the west:
Elizabeth Smith Collins - She helped pioneer the west and became known as the Cattle Queen of Montana. She was the first woman to take her cattle on the train from the west to the markets in the east.
Emma "Nevada" Wixom - a girl born in the west who grew up singing for miners and cowboys and became a renowned Prima Donna in the European Grand Opera circuit.
Ethel Robertson Macia - Orphaned at a young age in Tombstone, she became responsible for her younger siblings, she eventually became a hotel owner and guardian of children.
Ellen Craft - A woman who escaped slavery with her husband, Ellen Craft settled for about 20 years in England then returned to America after the civil war to help found a farming coop with other former slaves.
NellieTayloe Ross - After the death of her husband she was elected governor of Wyoming to finish out his term in office. She was not only the first female governor of Wyoming but ever in the US. She later became the first woman director of the US mint.
May Arkwight Hutton - Loud, brassy, large and outspoken, May Arkwright Hutton and her husband were self made people. She was a cook and washer woman in mining camps who, with her husband, invested a large amount of money (for them) in a little known mine. After failing for several years, the mine turned out to be one of the richest in the west. She was a philanthropist and suffragette who was heavily involved in politics.
Nellie MacKnight Doyle - She became a successful doctor in an era when there were few female doctors and women were outcasts in medical school.
Kathleen Rockwell - Known as Yukan Kate she was a singer and dancer who's heart was broken, but not her spirit. She eventually homesteaded a ranch near Bend, OR on her own.
14. Devil in a Kilt by Sue-Ellen Welfonder
A fairly typical romance set in medieval Scotland: Theirs is a marriage of convenience, his heart is hardened by past betrayal, she must teach him to love again, meddling secondary characters help them along the way and provide comic relief. This novel was entertaining enough for a long weekend in the summer, maybe good as lighter fair between heavy reads, but nothing to really write home about. The thing that stands out the most for me is that one of the (thankfully minor) characters had the grave misfortune to be named Ranald MacDonnell. Far too close the the name of the fast food mascot; every time he appeared I pictured him in clown makeup and a bouffant orange-red wig.
History
15. Roses of the West: Yesterday's Women, 1826-1977 by Anne Seagraves
This is a book I picked up on vacation last year while in the gold country here in California. This book provides 8 separate biographies of special women who helped settle the west:
Elizabeth Smith Collins - She helped pioneer the west and became known as the Cattle Queen of Montana. She was the first woman to take her cattle on the train from the west to the markets in the east.
Emma "Nevada" Wixom - a girl born in the west who grew up singing for miners and cowboys and became a renowned Prima Donna in the European Grand Opera circuit.
Ethel Robertson Macia - Orphaned at a young age in Tombstone, she became responsible for her younger siblings, she eventually became a hotel owner and guardian of children.
Ellen Craft - A woman who escaped slavery with her husband, Ellen Craft settled for about 20 years in England then returned to America after the civil war to help found a farming coop with other former slaves.
NellieTayloe Ross - After the death of her husband she was elected governor of Wyoming to finish out his term in office. She was not only the first female governor of Wyoming but ever in the US. She later became the first woman director of the US mint.
May Arkwight Hutton - Loud, brassy, large and outspoken, May Arkwright Hutton and her husband were self made people. She was a cook and washer woman in mining camps who, with her husband, invested a large amount of money (for them) in a little known mine. After failing for several years, the mine turned out to be one of the richest in the west. She was a philanthropist and suffragette who was heavily involved in politics.
Nellie MacKnight Doyle - She became a successful doctor in an era when there were few female doctors and women were outcasts in medical school.
Kathleen Rockwell - Known as Yukan Kate she was a singer and dancer who's heart was broken, but not her spirit. She eventually homesteaded a ranch near Bend, OR on her own.
14Absurda
Okay, it's been a while since I updated my challenge list, so here's the latest. Due to work and school commitments I've fallen way behind (just not enough hours in the day!). I'll have to step up the reading a bit if I want to reach my 50 books goal.
Mystery
16. Missing Joseph by Elizabeth George
Yet another in the DI Lynley/DS Havers series. I'm really enjoying it.
17. Playing for the Ashes by Elizabeth George
An another in the DI Lynley/DS Havers series.
Romance
18. The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn
I enjoy Julia Quinn's books. There's not much drama to them, but there is a lot of humor. They make great summer reads and are a good choice if you're looking for the literary equivalent of desert: Not much nutritional value, but very enjoyable.
19. The Texan's Wager by Jodi Thomas
This was the first of Thomas' books I've ever read. It was heavily focused on plot and character development and, for once, neither main character was god/goddess like in their beauty. It makes a nice change from the standard romance novel where odes are written to the physical attributes of the characters rather than their actual personalities.
20. Sweetwater Seduction by Joan Johnston
Another romance novel with average looking characters (well, the heroine anyway), but the developing romance between the two did have more to do with their personalities more than anything else. And the characters were a bit older here. Around 30 for the heroine and probably in his 40's for the hero. As I get older and most romance characters are now younger than me, it's nice to read a story about older characters who already have their own lives going and are no longer just sitting around waiting for marriage.
NonFiction
21. The Best Book of Useless Information Ever by Noel Botham & The Useless Information Society
A great book for fans of trivia, this offers random and perhaps Useless facts on a variety of topics. Great for times when you really don't have the time (or desire) to get involved in long complicated plots and just need to kill a few minutes while learning something you may not have known before. And you never know when one of these facts end up on Jeopardy!
22. Every Cat's Survival Guide to Living with a Neurotic Owner by Beth Adelman
Adelman is a feline behavior consultant who wrote this book for cat owners to help decode the mysterious (and sometimes down right bazaar) behavior demonstrated by their feline companions. What sets this book apart from other books about cat behavior is that Adelman wrote it from the point of view of the cats in the format of letters written to a feline advice columnist and that columnist's responses. That format made this book a bit more entertaining and easier to read than most books about cat behavior.
23. Debunked! Conspiracy Theories, Urban Legends and Evil Plots of the 21st Century by Richard Roeper
If you're a fan of Roeper's from the TV Show At the Movies, don't expect any movie reviews here. This book is closer to his column in the Chicago Sun Times where he writes on various topics. Here he examines the claims of various conspiracy theories and adds his own two cents to show that there really is no conspiracy or, if there is, it's not what the theorists think it is. An entertaining and fairly quick read.
Mystery
16. Missing Joseph by Elizabeth George
Yet another in the DI Lynley/DS Havers series. I'm really enjoying it.
17. Playing for the Ashes by Elizabeth George
An another in the DI Lynley/DS Havers series.
Romance
18. The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn
I enjoy Julia Quinn's books. There's not much drama to them, but there is a lot of humor. They make great summer reads and are a good choice if you're looking for the literary equivalent of desert: Not much nutritional value, but very enjoyable.
19. The Texan's Wager by Jodi Thomas
This was the first of Thomas' books I've ever read. It was heavily focused on plot and character development and, for once, neither main character was god/goddess like in their beauty. It makes a nice change from the standard romance novel where odes are written to the physical attributes of the characters rather than their actual personalities.
20. Sweetwater Seduction by Joan Johnston
Another romance novel with average looking characters (well, the heroine anyway), but the developing romance between the two did have more to do with their personalities more than anything else. And the characters were a bit older here. Around 30 for the heroine and probably in his 40's for the hero. As I get older and most romance characters are now younger than me, it's nice to read a story about older characters who already have their own lives going and are no longer just sitting around waiting for marriage.
NonFiction
21. The Best Book of Useless Information Ever by Noel Botham & The Useless Information Society
A great book for fans of trivia, this offers random and perhaps Useless facts on a variety of topics. Great for times when you really don't have the time (or desire) to get involved in long complicated plots and just need to kill a few minutes while learning something you may not have known before. And you never know when one of these facts end up on Jeopardy!
22. Every Cat's Survival Guide to Living with a Neurotic Owner by Beth Adelman
Adelman is a feline behavior consultant who wrote this book for cat owners to help decode the mysterious (and sometimes down right bazaar) behavior demonstrated by their feline companions. What sets this book apart from other books about cat behavior is that Adelman wrote it from the point of view of the cats in the format of letters written to a feline advice columnist and that columnist's responses. That format made this book a bit more entertaining and easier to read than most books about cat behavior.
23. Debunked! Conspiracy Theories, Urban Legends and Evil Plots of the 21st Century by Richard Roeper
If you're a fan of Roeper's from the TV Show At the Movies, don't expect any movie reviews here. This book is closer to his column in the Chicago Sun Times where he writes on various topics. Here he examines the claims of various conspiracy theories and adds his own two cents to show that there really is no conspiracy or, if there is, it's not what the theorists think it is. An entertaining and fairly quick read.
15Absurda
NonFiction
24. Ghost Cats: Human encounters with feline spirits by Dusty Rainbolt
Okay, I settled in with this book expecting some nice spooky ghost stories, but ended up going through half a box of Kleenex while reading stories of beloved lost pets who have come back for one last visit.
24. Ghost Cats: Human encounters with feline spirits by Dusty Rainbolt
Okay, I settled in with this book expecting some nice spooky ghost stories, but ended up going through half a box of Kleenex while reading stories of beloved lost pets who have come back for one last visit.
16Absurda
Okay, it's been a while since I've updated this so here's the newest additions:
Mystery
25. In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner by Elizabeth George
26. In the Presence of the Enemy by Elizabeth George
27. A Traitor to Memory by Elizabeth George
Supernatural
28. Victorian Ghost Stories edited by Jo-Anne Christensen
29. Great Ghost Stories selected and arranged by John Grafton
Mystery
25. In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner by Elizabeth George
26. In the Presence of the Enemy by Elizabeth George
27. A Traitor to Memory by Elizabeth George
Supernatural
28. Victorian Ghost Stories edited by Jo-Anne Christensen
29. Great Ghost Stories selected and arranged by John Grafton
17Absurda
Romance
30. Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn
31. The Wicked Games of a Gentleman by Jillian Hunter
30. Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn
31. The Wicked Games of a Gentleman by Jillian Hunter
