Marie's 75 Book Challenge: Part Two

Part One!

Monthly Summaries:
January - March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December




Thanks for stopping by! I love comments and recommendations!

Hey, Marie! I get to be first :)

As usual! I'm second!

Good luck with your reading over the rest of the year!

Thanks for the mentions of the Guernica books in your previous thread! I've had a fascination with Picasso's Guernica mural, and it would be great to have more background in mind.

Karen O.

*waves hello to everyone*

Karen, the Guernica book does mention Picasso's mural and how it finally ended up in Madrid. I would love to see it in person one day.

I've also started Guernica by Dave Boling, which is a fictional book, but it includes a portrayal of Picasso so I'm excited to see how he keeps incorporating him.

71. Sex & the Married Girl by Mandi Norwood

Don't let the title fool you, this book isn't all about sex. It actually covers everything from financial issues to infidelity and having children. The thing that it really aims for though is how all these issues apply to women today or what she dubs the "married girl". Or, in truth, what she thinks modern women should be like.

There were quite a few things that rubbed me the wrong way about this book. Let me say that I'm in my twenties and that I've always been told that girls can do everything boys can. And no one agrees more than me, but this book almost punches you in the face with that feeling. She wrote that "married girls don't want to be their mothers". And then she gave example after example of women whose mothers were "only" wives and mothers, like it was a bad thing. I mean, who was this author to tell me that women who don't work aren't living a successful life? She made it seem like now that we are modern women, we have to make tons of money, have lots of sex (with our husbands or not) and basically be a bitch about it. Ugh.

If there's any hope for this book I have to say that the financial chapter and how different couples structure their finances was fairly interesting, but...I'm just being nice and really this was a frustrating read.

Edited to add a fancy picture!

#7: I do not think I will be reading that one any time soon!

I hope your next read is not nearly as frustrating for you, Marie!

72. Dracula by Bram Stoker

I am so glad I read this in the month of October. While Arizona never really cools off, the weather has been a little stormy, and of course Halloween is next week. Perfect timing to read Dracula.

Much has already been said and written of Dracula so I'll spare you the plot details, but suffice to say this novel is very thrilling. It's written from the various viewpoints of the characters as a series of diary entries or news clippings and I think this really added to the suspense and drama of this book.

There are also many interesting themes presented in this book as it was published in 1897. Part of the setting was in a mental institution and the interactions between the doctor and his "lunatic" patient was both eerie and historically interesting.

This book is a classic for a reason and I recommend it, especially around this time of the year.

#9: Reading that one now. Glad you enjoyed it, Marie!

73. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

I thought I would join the Halloween thread this year and ended up picking this spooky book.

The Haunting of Hill House is a dive into the mind of Eleanor Vance, an alienated women with a nervous disposition. She is invited to spend the summer in the secluded Hill House by Dr. Montague, who is researching the paranormal activities that have occurred there. The doctor rounds out the group with two others and records the events that happen there for his upcoming book.

The events that do happen are hard to explain as sometimes you wonder if they are really happening or whether it is all in Eleanor's mind. The reader is left to interpret the book for themselves, making the experience possibly even more jarring.

I'm not usually a scary book reader, but I have to say that I'm glad I read this one.

#11: Have you tried Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle? If not, give it a shot!

I second that! If you liked one you'll probably like that other. I read both last year and became a fan of Jackson.

12 & 13: Thanks for the recommendation guys. I wish listed it. This is my first time reading Jackson and honestly I never seem to steer towards horror/mystery, but there's a first time for everything!

#14: We Have Always Lived in the Castle is gothic in nature. I hope you enjoy it, Marie!

74. Guernica by Dave Boling

I wish I were a better reviewer to convince people that they need to read this book. Guernica is the beautiful story of a tragic time in the northern hills of Spain, home to the Basque people.

Maybe I should say I'm a little biased. I'm Basque. My grandmother (or Amuma as we called her) lived through this story. Her brother was in the marketplace of Guernica when it was bombed and I knew at times I was interjecting my own family into the story.

Regardless of this, I came to love the characters for themselves. Boling does an outstanding job of really conveying the Basque mentality of family and country. His storyline is wonderfully planned out and everything comes full circle.

Amazingly, this is Boling's first novel and even if his next book has nothing to do with the Basques, I would gladly pick it up.

Edited to fix picture.

#16: I already have that one in the BlackHole. Thanks for the reminder that I need to track down a copy, Marie.

75 is up next for you! I hope you have a dandy book chosen!

I know, I can't believe I'm almost there! I almost wanted to save Guernica for 75, but I just had to finish it last night. (A testament to its awesomeness!)

I did just pick up 84, Charing Cross Road from the library and after all the rave reviews I've seen I'm hoping it will be an appropriate book 75. :)

#18: Oh, it is definitely an appropriate book 75!

Aaaaand...75!



75. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

What a perfect book to complete the challenge with as I think it really relates to what we all do here on LT as correspondents and book lovers.

This book really speaks to the power of writing letters. At a time when quick e-mails are the norm, it was refreshing to take a peek into the relationship of an American writer and her book supplier in London from 1949 until 1969.

Though short, this book is powerful and once I started I couldn't put it down. Hanff's letters are witty, charming and a little demanding which makes it so funny to read Doel's replies. She eventually wins over the hearts of the entire bookshop and the reader's as well. I literally gasped at the turning point of their letters and was sad to turn the last page.

Absolutely recommended.

Edited for spelling.

Congratulations on reaching the 75 book mark for the year, and with such a great book as well!

I loved 84 Charing Cross Road when I read it earlier this year. What a fantastic book to be your 75th. Congratulations Marie!

Congratulations on reaching 75, Marie. And it certainly is a wonderful book!

Congrats!

Thanks everyone!

Stasia, I've been waiting for that little guy all year! :)

Marie, great reviews for this thread! I'm so glad you liked Hill House and 84, Charing Cross Road. I'll have to "third" the recs for We Have Always Lived in the Castle, it was one of my faves, and my first Jackson. And, I've owned Dracula for awhile now and have yet to read it - I think your review may have just finally bumped it up the pile!

Congratulations on reaching big #75!

Congrats on hitting 75! I have been hearing lots of good reviews of Shirley Jackson's books on here recently. I'll have to track down one of her books soon and join the fan club.

Woohoo - congrats on making it to 75!

And thanks for the review of the new Rob Sheffield. I happen to be exactly the right age for a book with Duran Duran in the title - can't wait to get to that one. :)

#26: He is happy to oblige :)

27: I hope you will enjoy it! It's chilling, but maybe also a tinsy bit funny with all the melodrama. Now I need to go watch the old movie and be thoroughly creeped out.

28: Yeah, I have high hopes to read more of her. I hope you'll enjoy her too.

29: Woo thanks! YES! Rob Sheffield is fantastic. I really enjoyed that book.

76. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Three words why I liked this book more than Shiver: Cole St. Clair. Yes! Finally a little bad boy action in this series. The first book was cute enough, but I was happy to see the inclusion of two more view points, Cole and Isabel. I found their relationship much more interesting than Sam and Grace whose connection was instant and fairly untroubled (minus that whole turning into a wolf thing).

This book really amps up the teenage angst while the magical aspects of shifting are toned down until the end. And because it's the bridge between two other books, this one begs a lot of questions to be hopefully answered in the third (and final?) book, Forever. Where is Olivia? Is Beck ever coming back? Will Stiefvater subject us to more songs by Sam?

Looks like we will all find out next year!

Edited for troublesome touchstones...

Happy Halloween!

October

64. Dear American Airlines: A Novel by Jonathan Miles
65. Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel
66. The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
67. The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory
68. I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley
69: Talking to Girls About Duran Duran: One Young Man's Quest for True Love and a Cooler Haircut by Rob Sheffield
70: Guernica and Total War by Ian Patterson
71. Sex & the Married Girl by Mandi Norwood
72. Dracula by Bram Stoker
73. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
74. Guernica by Dave Boling
75. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
76. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Favorite: Wow, I really got in a ton of reading this month. I think I'm going to say Guernica was both a good book and particularly meaningful for me, so it shall be this month's favorite.

Next up...I have three ER books I have been feeling guilty about. I better read and review them before LT decides to never give me a book again. Hope everyone has a happy Halloween!

Just stopping by to say hi so I can find you again!

#32: I already have that one in the BlackHole or I would add it again!

77. The Dissemblers by Liza Campbell

Ivy Wilkes has just moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico in hopes of starting her painting career, like her idol Georgia O'Keefe. She moves into a small apartment and begins a day job working at an art museum. Waiting for inspiration she beings to copy works by O'Keefe as artistic exercises. All is quiet until her life becomes tangled with her neighbors Jake, Maya and Jake's cousin Omar. When Maya offers Ivy a chance at selling her paintings as O'Keefe forgeries, Ivy quietly falls into a life she never thought she would have.

I loved the quiet beauty of this book. Ivy is a highly introspective character and the dialogue of this book only serves to enhance the beautiful prose of her thoughts. There were some passages I had to stop and re-read for the sheer monumental truth of its meaning. It really examines what loneliness and fear of mediocrity does to us and the relationships we create.

I look forward to more from this author.

Received from LT's Early Reviewers program.

Hi, Marie! Congrats on reaching 75 (now 77) books:) I'm definitely adding Guernica to my tbr pile. Thanks for the tip!

#36: Lynda sent that one to me recently. I need to get to it soon!

78. Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary by David Sedaris

Oh, David Sedaris, how I love thee...but what were you thinking? This is a really short book made up of several short stories involving animals and some wacky Sedaris-y antics.

I saw Sedaris this last Spring and he actually read a story from this book. It was really clever so I was excited for this book to come out, but alas, he probably read the best one. For many of the stories, I was left thinking, "Hmmm...okay."

Sedaris fans will read it because it's Sedaris, but this fan was a little disappointed.

That's what I've been hearing about SSC, and I'm glad I'm going to read it courtesy of the library, rather than courtesy of my pocketbook. Sorry for the disappointment - I'll be right there with you probably some time next week. Hope your next book is a little more enjoyable!

#39: I have not tried any of Sedaris' books yet, but that does not appear to be a good place to start. I think I will give it a pass.

I hope your next read is a better one, Marie!

Belated congratulations on hitting 75! And I wanted to ask--are you still interested in doing an Eyre Affair group read? I was thinking of maybe December if that works for you, but no biggie either way! :)

40: I read it courtesy of the library too and am glad for that. Maybe you'll enjoy it more than me. The writing is good, it's just what he wrote about that had me puzzled.

41: No, don't start there. Start with his older books like Naked or When You Are Engulfed in Flames. So good!

42: Thank you! I would love to do an Eyre Affair group read. The beginning of December is perfect. It gives me time to either go grab it from the library or bookstore. Yay!

I'm about ready for a re-read--this time I want to try to catch all the literary allusions using the annotations on line. Mind if I join you all?

44: Yes, the more the merrier! I haven't done a group read before, do we make a thread for it? I'm excited! I hope you'll point out these literary allusions to us first time readers.

Ooh, I just took a look at the book's page (I think my fingers are stook on "ook"), and Eyre Affair looks pretty good! Can I join with you all?

Karen O.

Haha, "ook".

Yes please, this should be fun!

You create the thread, titling it so it's easy to find, then ask jim (drneutron) to post it as a link on the 75 Book Challenge group page. Also, for a book group, be sure to put three asterisks in front of the name. For example,
***Group Read: The Eyre Affair

If you want to have a spoiler-free thread, for general discussion of where we are when, and a spoiler thread for those who have already read the book, or a certain portion of the book, just create two threads as above, adding (spoiler-free thread) or (spoiler thread) to the name. If everyone is reading at about the same rate, it may not be necessary. You can post a tentative schedule, such as so many chapters a week, or just let everyone go ahead at their own rate. You might want to go to the group page and look at the group read threads already there for your own ideas.

There are 36 chapters and 366 pages. Once you get an idea of who all wants to participate, find out how many pages a week they feel comfortable reading and use that to set up a schedule, if you decide to. For example, a three week read at 120 pages a week would be Chapters 1-10 in week one, Chapters 11-24 for week two, and Chapters 25-36 for the third week. Lots of short chapters actually makes this book pretty easy to split up regardless of rate! If you do this, you don't need a spoiler thread because we don't discuss parts of the book further along until we reach that point on the calendar.

Sheesh, sorry, didn't mean to make a whole tutorial of the thing. Guess I got carried away, sorry.

Ha ha, no, all very good to know! LibraryLover23, (Sorry, didn't see your name on your thread) since you were the one to invite me, I don't want to steal your thunder if you wanted to set things up, but I can take a stab at it if you'd rather not.

So far it looks like the four of us and I like the way you suggested splitting things up Roni. You're a pro at this! I think three weeks would be the perfect amount of time to really dive in and discuss it without the use of a spoiler thread, but I'm open to other suggestions too. This will be fun and I can stop thinking, "Man, I need to read Jasper Fforde".

Glad I found you through Mac's Halloween thread! You've read many of the same books I have over the last couple years- hunger games series, Millenium trilogy and one of my favorites, David Sedaris. I'm looking forward to what you read the rest of the year and to following your thread again in 2011!

Congrats on hitting 75!

50: Thanks Andrea - we do seem to read a lot in common. I'll be following you too! :)



79. Breaking Night by Liz Murray

"Breaking Night" is the memoir of Liz Murray, who was born to drug addicted parents and ended up homeless at the age of sixteen. It was easy to root for Liz while the world around her cracked and crumbled, but it was just as easy to be in dismay at her for the choices she made along the way. She was given awful circumstances, but she made mistakes on her own. So when she turned her life around and fell in with the right people, I was even more happy for her. I think that is ultimately what made this memoir so compelling - she was human.

In short, Murray's story is troubling, often revealing the darker side of humanity. It also showed how little we sometimes know about the people around us and reminds us to be kind to one another. You never know what someone else is going through.

On the technical side, the pacing of this book was the worst thing about it. A lot of time is spent on the beginning, but the upswing was over before I knew it. I wanted a better conclusion. I know she got into Harvard by the title of the book, but the reader is left completely hanging. Maybe this is intentional, and if so, I would be happy to check out her follow up book.

Received from LT's Early Reviewers program.

#51: I already have that one in the BlackHole. I am glad you ended up enjoying it, Marie.

>49 RosyLibrarian: Oh good, I'm glad there's some interest. :) I don't mind setting up a thread--I'll do a regular one for now and if we need a spoiler-free one we can do that later if that's okay! I'll post again once I get things set up...

Here's the thread!

# 20 Congrats on reaching book # 75. I’ve been repeatedly told that I’d enjoy 84, Charing Cross Road. Maybe I’ll get to it next year.

54: It's a really quick read. I think it took me maybe an hour or two? It's entirely made up of letters and so very good. I hope you'll enjoy it.

And thanks to you I've started A Tale of Two Cities! So far, so good. I've just met Mr. Carton.

# 55 Thanks! I do hope to enjoy it when I eventually do get to it.

I’m glad you like A Tale of Two Cities so far. It’s not an easy book but Dickens’ writing is wonderful. Sydney Carton is one of my favourite characters of all time.

Just stopping by to say HI!!

80. Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You: A Novel by Peter Cameron

James Sveck was an interesting character and since it's a completely character driven novel, I had mixed feelings for both he and this book. On one hand I knew that James was eighteen and trying to figure out the trajectory of his life. I knew his parent's divorce and his relationship with them ever since had been strained. All of these things gave me cause to be empathetic, but there was something I didn't like about him. I think he was something of an elitist. He was unforgiving of other people's mistakes, yet he was blind to his own. It made him a very dynamic character and for that I think this book is quite well done, but on the other hand I just don't know if I liked him.

I would recommend this if you like character driven books. It's labeled as YA, but it deals with a lot of very adult feelings so I was surprised to see that it was categorized that way. The writing is really quite good and the thoughts of the character are often very relatable. It is a very good examination of our human desires to be alone and the consequences of taking it too far by society's standards.

Beltaed congrats on 75 and a new thread :)

81. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

This is one of those fun reads that lets you use your imagination. The setting is War War I in an alternative history. The story follows the fictional son of the Archduke of Austria and a girl posing as a boy in a kind of English Air Force. Both are interesting characters on their own, but the real magic happens when they meet in the strangest of circumstances.

A satisfying steam punk read with a sequel I have to add to my wish list.



82. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

I am so biased about this book it's not even possible to write a decent review. The His Dark Materials books have been my favorites ever since I first read them when I was 13. I try and re-read them every year and I always seem to do so around the holidays. My ultimate comfort books.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am, of course, thankful for books and for being able to chat about it on LT with this very lovely and welcoming group. :)

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving too, Marie!

Have a great Thanksgiving, Marie!

I've been wanting to read Leviathan for a while, glad to hear you enjoyed it!

Hi Marie! I haven't read The Golden Compass yet, though it has been sitting on my book shelf for a while. Better get to it soon:) Have a lovely day!

83. The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

The second book to the His Dark Materials trilogy and as previously stated, my favorite set of books. In this one we are introduced to Will and he, along with Lyra, make up the main characters. A breathtakingly, beautiful novel. I really mean this too. I always cry and the end of this book. And on to The Amber Spyglass!

November

77. The Dissemblers by Liza Campbell
78. Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary by David Sedaris
79. Breaking Night by Liz Murray
80. Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You: A Novel by Peter Cameron
81. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
82. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
83. The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

Favorite: The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife are my all time favorite books, so this seems a little unfair. My new favorite book this past month though was probably the ER book I got by Liza Campbell. I really enjoyed the prose of her writing.

Holy wow, is it really December?

Hey Marie!! Way to go making it to 82!!! Did you like Sedaris? I read Holidays on Ice and was bit turned off by it. I figured it wasn't worth trying anymore of his books.

I looove Sedaris! I actually saw him speak this year and he was as amazing as I thought he would be.

If you didn't like the writing style of Holidays on Ice then Sedaris might not be your cup of tea, but if you just weren't in love with the stories themselves then start with Naked or Me Talk Pretty One Day. You might end up liking him. I know he's a favorite of mine.

84. The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman

The last of the His Dark Materials books and the most heart breaking. On my way to work this morning I was thinking about it and I teared up. That's how gripping it is! An absolutely stunning conclusion to my favorite books.

Not too much going on here. Just starting The Eyre Affair and trying to finish some ER books. I can't believe Christmas is just a few weeks away, but that means my boyfriend's deployment is over next month, yay!

#70: Glad to hear about your boyfriend's deployment being close to over, Marie. I am sure you will be happy to see him again!

Oh, I really want to read the His Dark Materials books now! They've been in my stack for a long time, but never seemed to be bumped up to the top. Definitely 2011!

It will be good to have your boyfriend back. Can I ask where he is at the moment? Sorry if that's an intrusion.

72: No, not an intrusion at all. He's in the United Arab Emirates. So, thankfully not in the middle of the conflict. But I'll be happy to have him home all the same. :)

YES! Bump it up. If I could recommend only one set of books in my life it would be the His Dark Materials books and I would never regret it. I can't convey how truly beautiful they are. 2011! I will cheer you on.

Dubai or Abu Dhabi? I lived in Abu Dhabi for ten years several years ago. Not that I'd recognise the city now...

I found the second book in the His Dark Materials trilogy to be a bit of a slog, but the series as a whole gave me a lot to think about... I keep meaning to re-read them, but just haven't got around to it yet. I recommend them as well!

74: Sorry, I don't think I can be quite so specific until he gets back, but I have to say I have seen his pictures of both cities (they are able to take scheduled day trips) and wow! What a beautiful place it must be to live. What brought you to Abu Dhabi?

75: I would agree that the second book is the slowest, but we do get to meet Will in it so I never mind. I love Will...especially in the third book. I hope you get to re-read them soon!

85. 365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life by John Kralik

Dear John Kralik,

I am grateful to have received your book through LibraryThing's ER program. Though you faced so many problems before starting your project, I was pleased at the book's favorable outcome. While we do not have a lot in common - I know nothing about being a lawyer - I found your writing to be very approachable and I am happy for your success.

Sincerely,

Marie

#77: Dear Marie,

Thanks for making me aware of Kralik's book. I will see if I can locate a copy.

Sincerely,
Stasia :)

Marie, I got 365 Thank Yous from the ER program, also. I've just started it, and I think both the premise and Kralik's writing show promise!

I love the way you reviewed the book!

Best wishes,

Karen O.

78 & 79: *giggle* I hope you both will enjoy the book. It will make you want to write thank you notes to everyone.



86. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson has to be one of my favorite authors this year and in this book he travels the Appalachian Trail with his old buddy Katz. The thing I like about his writing is that he always seems to balance interesting facts and stories with what he's trying to accomplish. I mean, on its own, hiking is not a fascinating subject for me, but Bryson has a knack for your keeping your attention.

It really is impossible to not like Bill Bryson. If there was anything about this book that I didn't like, it was the the slow middle where he and Katz part ways for the summer before returning to the trail towards the Fall. Katz and Bryson's relationship really make this book what it is. You'll be cheering them along if you pick up this book.

#80: I enjoyed A Walk in the Woods a good deal when I read it. The books is probably due for a re-read. I cannot remember how many years ago I initially read it!

#73: Thanks!:) I might need a reminder or two when January sets in. All these books keep popping up everywhere distracting me...it's quite over whelming;)

A Walk in the Woods sounds fun! I'm not particularly interested in hiking either, but I do love random facts and travel stories...

87. Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

I started casually watching the television show on CBS and then I found out it was both a twitter spin off and a book. So I looked into one of those things.

The real star of this book is the author's Dad. He's crude and says exactly what he's thinking, but man is he funny and actually very caring. The book loosely follows the author as he grows up and if there's one complaint I have, it is that the book is actually too short. It was enough to know you liked the characters, but not enough to feel super connected.

88. Stealing the Mystic Lamb: The True Story of the World's Most Coveted Masterpiece by Noah Charney

This book is an in depth look at The Ghent Altarpiece, painted by the Flemish painter Jan van Eyck in 1432.

It took me a long time to read this book and I'm really not sure why. The book was thorough, organized well and on a topic that interested me. So why on earth did it take me so long to get through it?

Someone mentioned it in their review too, that the author tended to digress. I agree with this. I feel like the overall book had a lot of good information, but it was presented in a round about, wordy kind of way. I think with a more exacting editor this book could be stream lined into a more interesting read.

Received from LT's Early Reviewers program.

>87 RosyLibrarian:. I've been following the Twitter account for over a year and didn't catch the show til a couple of weeks ago.
The father (the real one) is full of wisdom and short on tact. Love him.

89. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

I read this as part of a group read and wrapped it up a little early. The Eyre Affair was one of those books that I had heard praised a lot during 2010, so I just knew I had to read it. It has all the elements that appeal to me. A classic story wrapped up in a futuristic, alternative history sort of world. And at the center of it is Thursday Next, an agent specially meant to deal with things of a literature nature. Now that's a job I want.

That being said, I feel a tiny bit let down. While I enjoyed the book and thought it was a fun read, I just didn't feel wholly connected to it. Thursday was an interesting character, but she was hard to latch on to. And the ending felt a little wham, bam, the end. Maybe the whole thing had just been too hyped up by the time I got to it.

I think I will continue on with the series. If anyone else has, please let me know what you've thought of it.

I've read all of them and find them great escapist fiction. I don't go in with high expectations, more a meeting up with old friends. The plots are slightly absurd but I enjoy that.

I've read them all as well, and concur with Kerry. And I think you'll find the next book starts off with a bang!

I loved A Walk in the Woods. It was the first Bryson I read. I've only read the travel books thus far. I need to read some of his newer stuff.

I have read all of the Thursday Next series and concur with Roni and Kerry :)

88, 89, 91: Thanks guys. :) I will track down a copy of the next book and will look forward to the rest of the series.

90: His memoir, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, is pretty good too. AND he has new book out too that I'm anxious to read.

90. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Ah, love Harry Potter! I sent my boyfriend with a copy of the first book, since he's never read them, and every time he talked about it, I thought...I need to re-read it. I don't think I'll re-read the entire series with him, but he makes it so tempting!

#93: Lucky him! he has a wonderful world to discover! I wish I could read the books for the first time again:)

94: So very true! Though I swear I rediscover something every time I re-read them.



91. I'm A Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson

I started a lot of books at the beginning of the month and am just now getting round to finishing them. This is one of those books. And the nice thing about starting and stopping this one throughout the month was that it matched how this book was first published: in a newspaper.

Bill Bryson was asked to write about his return to the States after living in England with his family for twenty odd years. What followed was a series of columns written in the 1990's. I was surprised to see how dated the book had become because Bryson often made fun of advancing technology. I wonder how he feels now!

Dated, but still charming and Bill Bryson has become one of my favorite authors this year. As you can probably tell I've been gobbling his books up like candy!

#95: You and me both then:) The books are almost like a treasure chest.

#95: That was the first Bryson book I ever read. It made me read many others of his I liked it so much.

Merry Christmas Marie!!!

I have only read 1 by Bill Bryson and really enjoyed it. Looks like I'll have to try a few more.

Merry Christmas to all those who have stopped by my thread to chat with me this year. While I've been a member since 2007, this was the first year I felt really connected to LibraryThing and I owe a thank you to the warm and welcoming people of this group. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with loved ones.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Marie!

Hi! Saw your message on my thread and wanted to thank you for your wishes. Merry Christmas to you too! :-)

Edited to fix typo.

Merry Christmas, Marie!!

92. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

I'm not sure I'll have a chance to finish any more books this year and if not then I am glad to end on this one. I love, love, loved this book. I gave it a five star rating and I even bought it after checking it out from the library.

This is an epistolary novel written primarily from the main character, Juliet Ashton, an author living after World War II in England. This book is beautifully written about the rebuilding of lives and communities after the war. Ashton, who wrote of the war while it was going on, is looking for her next book. She unexpectedly finds it in the Channel Islands, in a place called Guernsey.

The characters in this book are marvelous. Shaffer did an amazing job of giving each one an individual voice. Even more astounding, she gives a sense of presence to the people who didn't make it through the war and are only talked about through the correspondence.

A wonderful story and highly recommended.

#103: I love that one too, Marie!

I have to get around to that book at some point--so many people have loved it!

Hi Marie!! You picked a great book to end the year with!! It was one of my favorites this year!!!
Sending you Best Wishes for the New Year!!

Guernsey is a great book. Glad you enjoyed it!

93. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

I said I wasn't going to re-read the series, but then my boyfriend started this one and well...I guess I'm re-reading the series. :)

LOL--the Harry Potter books are rather addictive, I've found. I haven't been able to convince my husband to read the books, though he loves the movies. Maybe this year!

Karen O.

You're not alone- I'm planning to re-read them in 2011. I'm looking forward to it.

94. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K Rowling

Okay, this really is the last book of 2011 for me. I don't think it's possible to start these books and not continue on. I probably should have thought of that before I started...:)

December

84. The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
85. 365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life by John Kralik
86. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
87. Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern
88. Stealing the Mystic Lamb: The True Story of the World's Most Coveted Masterpiece by Noah Charney
89. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
90. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
91. I'm A Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson
92. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
93. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
94. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K Rowling

Favorite: Wow, it was the month of re-reads for me, but December really is one of those comfort reads month, right?

My favorite new read was Mary Ann Shaffer's The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. My favorite re-read was The Amber Spyglass.

2010

94 books for me this year! That is definitely the most I have ever read in one year. I am looking forward to doing it again at my new 2011 thread. I hope you'll all stop by and say hello.

Memorable Reads for 2010

(In no particular order...)

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
My Life in France by Julia Child
Stuffed: Adventures of a Restaurant Family by Patricia Volk
Guernica by Dave Boling
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

Plus, every single David Sedaris book I read this year AND getting to meet him this past summer where he signed my copy of Naked. And discovering Bill Bryson. I really can't narrow down which of his was my favorite.

Have a Happy New Years! See you in 2011!

Happy new year, Marie!!:D

Glad you had those great reads, and meeting Sedaris would be a highlight of the year! I'll be following your thread in 2011.

Happy New Year, Marie! Congratulations on reaching 94 books in 2010! I hope your reading in 2011 is just as good!