Debbie's reading in 2011

Perhaps I'll think of something witty to post here soon. Until then, happy reading and thanks for stopping by!

Read in 2011:
1. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
2. You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon
3. Drinking at the Movies by Julia Wertz
4. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
5. Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman
6. Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
7. Tree of Codes by Jonathan Safran Foer
8. Twitterature by Alexander Aciman and Emmett Rensin
9. The Word Made Flesh: Literary Tattoos from Bookworms Worldwide by Eva Talmadge and Justin Taylor
10. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
11. Unwritten Vol. 1 by Mike Carey
12. Room by Emma Donoghue
13. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
14. Sister Bernadette’s Barking Dog: The Quirky History and Lost Art of Diagramming Sentences by Kitty Burns Florey
15. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
16. Methods in Behavioral Research by Paul C. Cozby
17. Critical Thinking About Research by Julian Meltzoff
18. Just Kids by Patti Smith
19. The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs
20. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
21. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
22. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
23. Annabel by Kathleen Winter
24. Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich
25. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
26. Divergent by Veronica Roth
27. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
28. Neuro Web Design: What Makes Them Click? by Susan Weinschenk
29. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
30. We the Animals by Justin Torres
31. The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
32. The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
33. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
34. Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
35. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
36. The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger
37. The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai
38. The Complete Essex County by Jeff Lemire
39. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
40. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
41. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
42. Stitches: A Memoir by David Small
43. When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

Welcome back!

Happy reading in 2011! (How's that for witty? *snore*)

Just lovely Richard! I think we're off to a wit-astic start!

Glad to see you here, Debbie!

Thanks Jim and Stasia!

By the pricking of my thumbs... (dare I finish? I'm sure there'll be groans) something witty this way comes!

Groans. . .

*snork!*

I humbly apologize to Debbie and all others involved. Humbly.

No apologies necessary. Everything from witless banter to groans is welcome here!

Well, Amber, *I* thought it was funny...what does this say about me, he pondered....

Richard: Nay rather, what does it say about me that I said something that you thought funny...

Found you! Looking forward to keeping up with you in 2011! :)

Thanks Jan! I think I'm going to go ahead and get the Powell's subscription, so we'll have to chat about those books for sure!

Yay! I started and finished my first book of the year -- a shortie of course! I'm also stealing the decimal point rating system this year because I just like it better than the arbitrary half marks.

1. 84, Charing Cross Road - 3.3 stars

This was a delightful, quick read. I would have rated it higher, except that I just don't understand the significance or point of it. It really had no plot or significance that my brain could decipher, other than the obvious transactions and communications between a woman and the people in a book store. Perhaps if I had identified with any of her book choices I would have found it more enticing, but I'm not one to care for editions or collecting or even classics as such. Recommended for those who like such things or just want to have a quick, lighthearted read.

#15: I am sorry you did not enjoy that one more. It is one of my all-time favorites. I hope your next read is more to your taste, Debbie!

Thanks Stasia. I'm used to occasionally not liking a book that everyone else seemed to love. I do like seeing what others are enjoying and reading, even if it's not quite up my alley. I thought 84, Charing Cross Road was good, and probably deserves a re-read at some point. Perhaps then I can reflect on it more and see it in a different light.

2. You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon - 4.8 stars

This is only the second Early Reviewers book I have received, and I am extremely impressed by the quality of this short story collection. I will need to gather my thoughts more before writing the ER review, but I wanted to go ahead and capture my initial thoughts after finishing it.

Siobhan Fallon, herself a military wife, has managed to peek into the lives of soldiers and their wives in a way that is both endearing and heartbreaking. By highlighting one particular character in each story, she captures what must be somewhat commonly shared experiences among military families and the soldiers who leave for war during extended periods of time.

Even though I have absolutely no experience with the military or those in it, I found myself entranced by the complex emotions woven into each family's struggle. I highly recommend this book and wouldn't be surprised if this ends up on at least one best of 2011 list.

3. Drinking at the Movies by Julia Wertz - 3.6 stars

This graphic novel illustrates Julia's move from San Francisco to New York City during 2007-2008. She is a 20-something, somewhat confused, somewhat constantly drunk, kid bouncing from apartment to apartment and job to job. She's crass, funny, irreverent, and a little sad.

I like this style of graphic novel, even if this story itself wasn't my favorite. The illustrations are simple yet emotive and the pace moves quickly through the different seasons of the years captured. She also does a great job of capturing the angst of unsettled youth as she tries to find herself.

Wow! You have gotten off to a fast start to your reading year, Debbie!

I have to get them in while I can! I will slow down to almost nothing once school kicks back in. The overwhelming majority of my pleasure reading the past few years seems to come in those precious few weeks between classes. I am going to try to maintain at least one non-school book during the semester, but we'll see how it goes.

I hope you get several more read before school starts up again!

Me too!

Wow, Debbie! I'm impressed with your progress! I should have picked a few easier reads to get off to a better start. I've been a little under the weather and every time I pick up The Historian I fall asleep after about 10 pages.

I'm looking forward to seeing how you like Indiespensable. I try not to look ahead to see what's coming, so it's like a mini-Christmas when the box arrives every 6 weeks or so. :)

Thanks Jan. Getting off to a good start is the easy part for me. It's the maintaining that is so hard!!

I am excited about the Indiespensable subscription. I think that's a fabulous idea to not peek -- although I am not exactly known for my ability to enjoy surprises!

Feel better soon!

I am a little past the halfway mark in Major Pettigrew. It's slow reading for me, but still very good.

I also started listening to the audiobook of Room today. Wow, the child-like voice of the main character makes this book a little easier to handle but also more haunting in some ways. I tried reading the book several weeks ago and could not get very far. Perhaps the audio is the ticket with this one!

#26: Perhaps the audio is the ticket with this one!

Perhaps it is for you!

I, too, did not get all the enthusiasm for 84, Charing Cross Road. It was short, but I did not see what was so riveting or wonderful about it. Frankly, it seemed as though Hanff was just trying to make a quick buck, by writing some gimmicky nothing that a person can read in an hour.

4. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson - 3.9 stars

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it was extremely slow reading. It took me approximately three times longer than a book of this size normally takes.

The Major and Ms. Ali were very charming, although his son and her nephew drove me nuts. I enjoyed how everything wrapped up at the end, but it did drag a bit in the middle.

On to Maus, which I brought home from the library today!

#29: Sorry you did not enjoy that one more, Debbie. I loved it.

I also loved both Maus books, so I hope you enjoy the one you picked up at the library.

>30 alcottacre: Oh, I enjoyed it a lot. I think I just need to do a better job with my reviews! Everyone has talked so much about the positives, I just focused on the negatives. :o/

5. Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman - 4.6 stars

Black and white drawings of mice, cats, and pigs illustrate the story of Art's father and his family in Poland during World War II, just prior to and through the German occupation. This story is also the story of Art and his father in the present day as Art slowly gets his father to talk about his mother and life during that time.

The drawings were simple yet dense and made the story pass by quickly. I also appreciated the slight "accent" of sorts that crept into much of Art's father's dialogue, adding yet another layer of authenticity for this true story. I am anxious to get Maus II from the library, and I highly recommend this book to everyone!

#32: Both Maus and Maus II made my memorable reads list a couple of years ago. I hope you enjoy the second book as much as you did the first!

6. Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls - 4.5 stars

I read The Glass Castle a couple of years ago and loved it, but I really didn't remember a whole lot of the details. When I started this book, the tone felt so familiar in a blurry sort of way that it took me several pages to realize the first-person narrator was not Jeannette but her grandmother. (I tend to plunge head first into books without reading the dust jackets, so I forget the plot by the time I start a book much of the time.)

I loved life on the ranch and the plucky, head-strong, outspoken Lily. The locales of the Southwest were an added bonus for me because I live in New Mexico and actually recognized many of the cities and mountain ranges she refers to in the book. It was also interesting to see such a different perspective of Jeannette Walls' family, specifically her mother as a little girl. I feel like I have a much better understanding of where she comes from and how she developed her own sense of independence and self-determination.

I would have loved to have seen a longer, more involved book, but I know that's not Walls' style. I could have read about Lily and life on the ranch for at least another 200 pages! Highly recommended.

ETA: fixing typos!

#34: I enjoyed The Glass Castle too, Debbie. I really need to get to Walls' new one. Thanks for the reminder!

7. Tree of Codes by Jonathan Safran Foer - unratable

The latest experiment from Jonathan Safran Foer, this book-like object is in a class all by itself. He's not the first author to take a book, cut it to shreds, and re-purpose it as a new "story" of sorts, but he is getting all the attention for it.

For this specific work, he took Street of Crocodiles and "erased" words. The author himself admits that this is "not exactly a work of fiction, or even a book." This is also the first book I've not quite known how to read. And, evidently, I'm not the only one. (We had quite the animated discussion at work over the "right" way to read this book.)

As one of my co-workers said when she handed it back to me, "My dear, you've got yourself a hunk of goo here."

I actually spent quite a bit of time with it and sort of read it through if that's what you call experiencing this book-like object. I think there's something to it, but it's not quite there yet. There were pieces of it that did strike me as beautiful, when the words cut 10 pages deep remained and wove themselves through the story. It reminded me a little of spoken word -- not quite poetry, not quite story, but with an ethereal rhythm all its own.

I can't really recommend this to anyone, but I think everyone interested in unique literary techniques should at least get their eyes on a copy if at all possible. I doubt the library will have this one (it's very delicate!), but you can always browse at the bookstore for free!

#36: you can always browse at the bookstore for free!

I may just have to do that!

I'm having a hard time visualizing Tree of Codes--I'm going to have to check it out too.

I decided to go ahead and jump on the bandwagon along with everyone else and post the bestselling books from the week I was born. Sadly, I have not read any of them. (I'm also probably one of the few people who has never seen the movie Jaws either!)

Fiction 1 BURR Gore Vidal
Fiction 2 JAWS Peter Benchley
Fiction 3 THE SNARE OF THE HUNTER Helen MacInnes
Fiction 4 COME NINEVEH COME TYRE Allen Drury
Fiction 5 POSTERN OF FATE Agatha Christie
Fiction 6 THE PARTNERS Louis Auchincloss
Fiction 7 THE FIRST DEADLY SIN Lawrence Sanders
Fiction 8 I HEARD THE OWL CALL MY NAME Margaret Craven
Fiction 9 THE HONORARY CONSUL Graham Greene
Fiction 10 THE EYE OF THE STORM Patrick White

Non-Fiction 1 PLAIN SPEAKING Merle Miller
Non-Fiction 2 YOU CAN PROFIT FROM A MONETARY CRISIS Harry Browne
Non-Fiction 3 HOW TO BE YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND Mildred Newman
Non-Fiction 4 THE JOY OF SEX Alex Comfort
Non-Fiction 5 ALISTAIR COOKE'S AMERICA Alistair Cooke
Non-Fiction 6 MANAGEMENT Peter F. Drucker
Non-Fiction 7 UPSTAIRS AT THE WHITE HOUSE J.B. West with Mary Lynn Kotz
Non-Fiction 8 THE SECRET LIFE OF PLANTS Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird
Non-Fiction 9 IN ONE ERA AND OUT THE OTHER Sam Levenson
Non-Fiction 10 CREATIVE DIVORCE Mel Krantzler

*Some of the touchstones aren't quite working. I will try to fix them later.

I have never seen the movie Jaws either, Debbie, so it is not only you!

8. Twitterature: The World's Greatest Books in 20 Tweets or Less by Alexander Aciman and Emmett Rensin - 3.1 stars

Re-imagined classics as told through tweets from the main protagonist of each novel. Really, it’s as told from an 18-year-old boy’s perspective. Some are quite funny, some confusing, and some just plain crass. I haven’t read many of the books mentioned, so it was interesting to see a brief synopsis (if that’s what you would call it) of each plot. Some of the ones from books I had read were quite funny, but some of those I didn’t even get. Overall, it was a short, easy read that has some amusement factor to it. Recommended if you like Twitter, parody, and/or classics.

9. The Word Made Flesh: Literary Tattoos from Bookworms Worldwide by Eva Talmadge and Justin Taylor - 3.9 stars

My partner, who is somewhat of a tattoo fan, actually bought this book. I have no tattoos and only occasionally wonder what could be meaningful enough to me to ever get one; however, the tattoos shown in the book and the stories about them made me re-think both what I think of tattoos and my relationship to literature.

For one, tattoos don’t have to mean much of anything – so says some of the people whose tattoos are highlighted here. They can be appreciated for their artistic beauty alone. I like the idea of that – that a tattoo is a work of art that just makes you feel something pleasant and wonderful.

The stories behind each of the tattoos were sometimes odd and sometimes moving, but the collective of them made me want to be moved by literature the way some of these people have. Most of the people shown in this book felt a deep connection to an author or a story. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so connected to a piece of literature that I wanted it with me every second of every day for the rest of my life – but this book made me want to want that. Strange. Maybe I should get the cover of this book tattooed on me!

Nice review of Half Broke Horses! I'd like to read that one to better understand Walls' family and where she came from as well.

Also, I've never seen Jaws either! Though I have gone on the ride at Universal Studios.

Hi There

I'm compiling a list of birthdays of our group members. If you haven't done so already, would you mind stopping by this thread and posting yours.

Thanks.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/105833

10. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See - 4.2 stars

Lisa See is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. To me, her writing is rich with information and beautifully weaved through the characters' lives and stories. In this book, two sisters grow up privileged in Shanghai at the turn of the century, only to find themselves sold as wives and shipped off to America. They eventually land in Chinatown in Los Angeles, where the majority of the book takes place.

I am not a big fan of historical books (fiction or non-fiction), but See is able to convey a lot of cultural information that puts the historical facts into context for me and gives them a deeper meaning. I am definitely going to seek out more of her writing.

The only negative to this book was the ending, which made sense but felt more like leaving room for a sequel. There's also one major event toward the end of the book that completely seemed out of character to me and felt like the author took an easy way out. Oh well, it was still a great read!

11. Unwritten Vol. 1 by Mike Carey - 4.3

I read this book a few weeks ago, but realized I forgot to note it here. Reviewing graphic novels is still new to me; there are so many things to call attention to that I don't know where to start. First and foremost, the illustrations are very interesting. Each page has its own rhythm and style, with not that many following the typical comic-style frames. Some pages are newspaper reprints or website pages, which I loved.

This is also a story within a story. Tommy is the main character, but it's also the story of his father who wrote comics starring Tommy. His father has now disappeared, and the real focus of the book is whether Tommy is really his father's child. I've peeked ahead at the next book in the series and the authors imply that this series will go where it will go with many side stories along the way. I'm okay with that.

For classics aficionados and literature lovers everywhere, one of the more interesting aspects to this book is the literary facts and trivia-type knowledge that sneaks into the stories. Tommy's father quizzed him endlessly on geographical literary knowledge and this weaves its way through the novel. So far, so good!

ETA to fix typo!

#45: I have several of See's books in the BlackHole. I really must get to them one of these days!

Stasia, I absolutely loved Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. I am going to try Peony in Love next, I think, but she also has a new book coming out at the end of May (Dreams of Joy). There's no description on Amazon or her website, but based on the title and the cover it looks like it might be the sequel to Shanghai Girls. That book really did leave off with a sort of cliffhanger.

#48: I will have to bump Snow Flower to the top of the stack then! I know my local library has a copy of that one.

12. Room by Emma Donoghue - 4.4 stars

A fabulous book, but I am glad to be done with it! Overall, Donoghue has done something truly unique here in turning a horrific topic into a not-too-dark novel through choice of perspective. I really did not think I could read this book, and I actually ended up listening to it on audio. While I would have thought that would have made it more difficult to get through, the young, vibrant, wondrous voice of 5-year-old Jack somehow turned a dark and depressing subject into a story of hope and amazement.

I listened in tiny bits, 15 minutes or so each way to work five days a week. That's why it seemed to drag on forever, but also probably what helped keep it from getting overwhelming. I should also add that there were parts that were so captivating I could not get out of the car. I did not love the last part of the book, and that also may be why it seemed to drag on for me. It's certainly the main reason why I didn't give this a higher rating.

As many other reviewers have already stated, the perspective of Jack changes what you think this book would be like. Because he doesn't understand anything beyond his immediate experience (which has been highly protected), we do not see the evils that we might expect.

SPOILERS BELOW!!
Ironically enough the thing that did disturb me the most was Jack "having some." Call me prudish and naive since I don't have kids, but I counted off for this on the final star rating. It seemed like such a repetitive theme throughout the book but I could not understand why the author felt it was important. The closeness it illustrates surely could have been conveyed some other way.

One of the things I liked best about the book was how my adult mind filled in the gaps of understanding for what Jack was experiencing. For example, the various "games" of banging on things and screaming at the skylight as ways to keep trying to get someone to help. Overall, I loved seeing the world from the truly innocent's point of view.

Room was one of my memorable reads from last year. I am glad you liked the book too, Debbie.

Hi Debbie

I'm sending early birthday greetings. I hope the 20th is a special day for you.

Thank you!!

Yay! School is over for the summer and I'm free to read what I choose until September! I should have more to post soon as I finish up the loose ends of ones I've been slowly reading the past few months in between assignments.

13. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - 4.5 stars

I'm not a huge fan of most non-fiction, and I certainly don't really like reading what "everyone" is reading (too many past disappointments), but both of the book clubs I'm in chose this one, so I decided to go for it. I'm glad I did.

How this book can be filled with facts, history, and science and I still loved it is beyond me. Many kudos to the author for taking a potentially boring subject and bringing it to life (no pun intended). While it didn't give me the pure joy and thrills I get from reading fiction, I do feel slightly more enlightened on a topic I didn't know much about before.

I also found the information about radiation and historical treatments very fascinating. Because of my job, I have heard quite a few stories along these lines before, but never quite like these. If this book sounds at all interesting to you, I would highly recommend it.

Happy Belated Birthday from me, Debbie!

Thanks Stasia!

I haven’t been reading as much as I’d hoped (and I’ve had lots of abandoned books lately), but thankfully summer is really only just beginning. Lots of time to read still ahead! Here are a few I’ve finished up lately and just haven’t had the time to post.

14. Sister Bernadette’s Barking Dog: The Quirky History and Lost Art of Diagramming Sentences by Kitty Burns Florey – 3.8 stars
I really enjoyed this truly “quirky” look at diagramming. I admit that I loved it as a kid, and still find sick pleasure in it today. Florey’s review of it was humorous at times and a little too picky at others. I also had trouble believing her when she rants about how the art of diagramming has been lost. The visuals are great, and the historical notes are interesting – even for a non-history lover like myself. I recommend it for anyone who finds the topic interesting.

15. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami – 4.3 stars
I really liked this novel a lot, even though most of the people in my book club did not. It’s not a heavily plot-laden book, and the tone is reflective and introspective in a weird sort of way. To me, the book was more about how we remember our lives and the important people and events that shape it. Probably not for everyone, but I recommend it.

16. Methods in Behavioral Research by Paul C. Cozby – 4.4 stars
I go back and forth with myself whether I should mention books I read for school, but I figure someone might find my thoughts helpful, so I’m going for it. This was for a research methodology course in my media psych major, so it’s focused more on looking at social sciences/psychology research. Cozby does a very good job of discussing the important topics that you should look for and think about when evaluating research studies – everything from an overview of statistics to ethical study designs to sharing research with others. Highly recommended for anyone who has a need to critique or understand research on a deeper level.

17. Critical Thinking About Research by Julian Meltzoff – 3.9 stars
Very similar to the previous book, but Meltzoff focuses more on the reading of research as opposed to the elements that make research effective. In other words, Cozby will describe the ethical laws and how to set up an ethical study, and Meltzoff will look at how the reader might determine whether the study has followed ethical principles. I didn’t like this one as much as Cozby’s, but it’s still worth a read if this topic is your cup of tea.

I realized I forgot a couple:

18. Just Kids by Patti Smith - 3.2 stars
I read this for one of my book clubs and thought it was okay. It seems very one-sided and favorable to Patti, but it is her memoir! To me, a great memoir touches all of us regardless of our familiarity with the times, people, or places mentioned therein. This is not one of those memoirs. On the other hand, if you'd like to learn more about Patti Smith or the music scene in New York during that time, this will probably interest you.

19. The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs - 2.9 stars
This one I read (listened to) for my other book club. I had high hopes for it, since I particularly love ironic humor. This just didn't capture my interest, although it wasn't horrible. Perhaps it was the audio, read by the author in a somewhat dry and flat tone. Had I been able to read it at my own pace and impart my own inflections and intonations, I might have liked it more.

20. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - re-read

I'm not a big fan of re-reading books. It seems that I never really like them as much the second time around, and I've never read any book more than twice. This was probably the best re-reading experience I've had, though. I still loved Liesel and fiery little Rudy, and I think I understand now what re-reading books is all about. I have a deeper appreciation for the characters and the story and some of the great skill that went into crafting this novel. Who knows, one day this may even become the first book I read three times!

#59: I need to re-read that one too. My initial read of the book was 3+ years ago, so it is about time.

A fun little quiz I've seen on lots of threads lately ...

Favorite childhood book? Any of the Hardy Boys. I could not get enough of them!

What are you reading right now? Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Bad book habit? Buying books on impulse and then never feeling in the mood to read them

Do you have an e-reader? Yes. Two, actually.

Do you prefer to read one book at a time or several at once? I’m always reading several. I tend to put a book down when it starts to bore me. Sometimes I go back, sometimes not. I have books in lots of different rooms and tend to pick up whichever one is in the room I’m in.

Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog? I haven’t posted to my book blog in a very, very long time. I was reading more when I was posting regularly.

Least favorite book you read this year (so far)? I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. Technically, I didn’t read it though since I gave up on it after less than 50 pages. I love her, so no idea why I couldn't stand this book.

Favorite book you’ve read this year? You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon, plus a re-read of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

How often do you read out of your comfort zone? I don’t really know the answer to this question. I read a few books a year that I have no desire to read because one of the two book clubs I’m in chose them. A lot of times I skip them though. I like to read books that challenge my view of people and the world, but perhaps that is my comfort zone?

What is your reading comfort zone? It changes. I like books with strong characters first and foremost. I have read tons of mysteries and thrillers in the past, but not as much anymore. Genre matters less to me than a great story. I have enjoyed all types of books, from non-fiction to sci-fi to romance to literary classics.

Can you read on the bus? Yes, I can read anywhere.

Favorite place to read? On the balcony of a cruise ship! (Otherwise, you can find me in my chaise lounge.)

What is your policy on book lending? Unless it’s the rare book I think I might re-read, I tend to loan them out haphazardly, giving a book to whomever I think might enjoy it. Sometimes I get them back, and sometimes I don’t. I used to try to keep up with who had which book. Now I tend to forget and am even surprised when someone returns a book because I forgot they had it!

Do you ever dog-ear books? Not often, but it has happened.

Do you ever write in the margins of your books? Depends on the kind of book, usually. I don’t really have a need to write in pleasure-reading books, but school/work/non-fiction I may write in. I tend to underline passages more than make notes.

What is your favorite language to read in? English, my only option sadly enough

What makes you love a book? When an author can completely transport me to another time or place and I can feel the characters as though I know them.

What will inspire you to recommend a book? I’m pretty good at knowing what kinds of books other people like, and so I will usually recommend books I’ve read (or even heard about) that I think that person will get something out of.

Favorite genre? Thrillers/mysteries/suspense used to be my thing. I would still say it’s my favorite genre, but I haven’t read many of those books in quite a while. Chalk it up to little time to read these days.

Genre you rarely read (but wish you did)? Historical fiction

Favorite biography? I prefer memoirs. My favorite that I can remember is Little Heathens by Mildred Kalish.

Have you ever read a self-help book? Long, long ago.

Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)? The Word Made Flesh by Eva Talmadge … I am almost inspired enough to get a literary tattoo!

Favorite reading snack? I’m not much of a snacker …

How often do you agree with critics about a book? I don’t really read critics’ reviews. I prefer reviews of other everyday readers like me. I disagree with reviews a lot since we all have different reading preferences, but I’m getting better at figuring out whether I might like a book or not based on the review, whether the review itself is positive or negative.

How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? I think it’s important to see why some people don’t like a book. That’s what helps me make a decision whether I will or won’t like it. Sometimes the thing that drives someone else nuts is the very thing I enjoy, and vice versa.

If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose? Hungarian, I have no idea why, it’s just the first thing that popped in my head. Russian would also probably be useful!

Most intimidating book you’ve ever read? I have no idea. I’m not intimidated easily, and I usually avoid them when I am!

Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin? War and Peace. Not only the size, but the subject matter just does not appeal to me. It’s one of those rare books I would love to say I had read though, which is just totally not something I usually care one bean about!

Favorite Poet? Not sure I have a favorite. I really like Lucille Clifton, Joy Harjo, Chitra Divakaruni, Audre Lorde

Favorite fictional character? No idea. I tend to forget these types of things quickly.

Favorite fictional villain? Same as above.

Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation? Anything I’m in the middle of. Books I’ve been really wanting to read. When it gets close to vacation, I tend to start hoarding the books up and delaying gratification to give myself an absorbing read.

The longest I’ve gone without reading. I’m not sure, exactly. I’ve been an avid reader since I could first read. I go through phases where I don’t read as much, but probably not more than a couple of months without reading anything. I read a lot in the line of work I do, and I’m often in school, so I’m usually reading something, even if I’m not enjoying it much.

Name a book that you could/would not finish. Billy Budd

What distracts you easily when you’re reading? My partner and the TV. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t even have a TV. I have my favorite reading spot in the living room though, so I end up distracted often. My partner has started using headphones, but even that doesn’t always help.

Favorite film adaptation of a novel? Memoirs of a Geisha

Most disappointing film adaptation? Not sure

The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time? Oh goodness. School books easily ran me a few hundred. Pleasure reading, maybe $200.

How often do you skim a book before reading it? Rarely. I tend to buy books based on the cover, title, author, and dust jacket description. That’s probably why I have tons of books sitting around that looked good, but I couldn’t get into them.

Do you like to keep your books organized? I prefer to, but limited shelving space prohibits me from doing so for the most part. My Kindle books are highly organized!

Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them? I tend to give them away. *See limited shelving space above.

Are there any books you’ve been avoiding? I avoid books all the time for whatever reason. Sometimes I give in and read it, but I usually wish I hadn’t. Some of the ones I’m avoiding right now are Unbroken, Cleopatra, Jane Eyre …

Name a book that made you angry. Little Bee. One of the only books in my life I’ve thrown down and said “You are not supposed to end a book like that!”

A book you didn’t expect to like but did? The Word Made Flesh: Literary Tattoos from Bookworms Worldwide

A book that you expected to like but didn’t? Too many! A few I can remember recently … The Year of Pleasures, My Reading Life, The Alchemist, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Kite Runner, The Life of Pi.

Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading? Dean Koontz!

I also was surprised to not like My Reading Life. It started off good then his prose got far too purple.

I love seeing everyone's answers to the quiz. Glad you filled it out too, Debbie.

#62 I agree with you Morphy. If there's one thing Pat Conroy seems to love it is himself. I should have known better really, but the subject matter called to me. I thought the book was really was more about who he knew and what he had done than about the books themselves. Lots of people disagree with me though, I know!

#63 Thanks Stasia!

21. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford - 4.7 stars

I actually have two copies of this book and have been avoiding it for years. I think it might have been the cover, which just seemed so light and carefree and not at all related to such a serious topic. I finally gave in, and I'm glad I did! I don't know a lot about what happened in America with the Japanese during World War II, and I'm not sure this even explains it that much, but I imagine is was much worse than described here. I can see now why, even though it is a sad story in some ways, it is also one of hope and resolve. What could have been quite depressing was told in such a way that I forgot it was even historical in nature. I was totally caught up in Henry's love for Keiko, passion for jazz, and refusal to go against what he felt was right.

Sometimes we just have to be in the right mood for a certain book, and I think the re-read of The Book Thief did the trick in this case. This wasn't a fast-paced, heavily plotted novel, but I did care deeply for the characters and the plot was strong enough to keep my curiosity going. Highly recommended!

#65: I am glad you enjoyed that book so much once you finally got to it!

I recently got a review copy of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet through Amazon Vine, and thought it was a really good and interesting read. I've read a few books which include the topic of Japanese internment during WWII.

22. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese - 4.8 stars

Like many others, I have trouble eloquently sharing my thoughts on books that move me immediately after I've finished them. I would wait until the feeling dulls a bit, but then I would probably forget it all. There's so much to this book that I definitely think it will go in my rare re-read pile for further digestion at some point in the future. I had been avoiding this one for quite some time because I was afraid it just wouldn't live up to the hype, but it did for me. This type of novel often catches impatient little me when I don't have enough time to really sit with it and enjoy the slow unfolding of multiple characters and deeply entwined stories. Fortunately, this one caught me at the right place when I was feeling more patient and less intensity to burn through the novel quickly and move on. Other reviewers have noted that parts really dragged for them, and I was afraid that would happen to me as well (common occurrence), but it didn't at all. I enjoyed all of the characters, all of the plots, and it kept getting better as I got deeper into the story. I also cared enough about the characters to really want to know how things unfolded and what happened, which made it not feel slow moving at all.

By now everyone knows the basic premise of the book. To me, it's all about how our lives twist and turn -- sometimes it feels as though it's out of our control and sometimes it feels as though we are leading the charge, but in the end it all turns out as it should. I also loved the small and big metaphors for excising our own personal demons and coming to terms with who we are. Parts toward the end of the novel were absolutely beautiful to me, but in that quiet, deeply introspective sort of way that many authors have a difficult time balancing. Verghese performed it like a delicate surgery.

I don't know how to say much more than that without feeling like I'm in a literature class. Obviously, I loved it! I can't wait for book club to discuss this one.

#68: I loved that one too, Debbie. I am glad the book has found another fan!

And me - Cutting for Stone was one of my favourite books of 2010.

23. Annabel by Kathleen Winter - 4.3 stars

Another fantastic read that I probably wouldn't have stumbled across had it not been for the great reviews here on LT. (Yes, I'm a major lurker!)

As others have said, it has much to do with identity issues and is as much about living in the island town of Labrador as it is about hermaphrodites. I do wish there had been a little more insight and introspection given into Wayne/Annabel's life and thoughts and feelings, but any gripes I have with the author's choices are erased by the fact that this is a fantastic read. How can you complain when the author leaves you satisfied but wanting more? Surely that's a sign of a profitable author! Highly recommended.

24. Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich - 3.3 stars

I felt like a quick, humorous read after a couple of chunksters so I decided to pick this one up. It's been a while since I've read any of her books, and I realized how much I missed Stephanie, Lula and Grandma Mazur. This book wasn't as funny as the numbers ones, but it had several laugh-out-loud moments. I wouldn't recommend it except for current Evanovich fans, but it hit the spot for me tonight!

25. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon - 3.8 stars

I'm not really sure what to say about this one. I liked it. I can see maybe why it won the Pulitzer Prize. I really never have liked Pulitzer Prize winners much. Chabon's writing is engaging and stimulating and way over my head. The characters were enchanting and charming and slipped right through my fingers like a good magician. The historical side of the comic book industry was fascinating and alluring. And surely there must have been a point to including it that I somehow missed. The writing style was complex, swift, confusing at times, and quite witty. And I'm still not sure what was based on fact and what was pure drivel. I loved it, hated it, wanted to stop reading it, fell back in love with it, and am glad I read it -- and am relieved to be done!

ETA to fix touchstone

Congratulations on hitting 25 books for the year, Debbie!

Thanks Stasia! I'm jealous of how many books everyone else seems to manage, but I've been on such a roll with good books lately that I can't complain. Three more classes, then I will be done with graduate school and finally be able to read solely for fun again!

Woot! Very good news.

26. Divergent by Veronica Roth - 4.4 stars

I found this book from the list of Popular This Month books on the home page. Needless to say, I’m guessing a lot of people are reading it now so I won’t bother repeating the plot here. I would rank Divergent as definite brain candy. Wonderful, wonderful brain candy. And I realized that I have been avoiding brain candy lately as much as possible like I was on a diet or something! While I certainly don’t want to increase my literary fatness with fictional junk food, a little might not hurt. In fact, one day researchers will probably discover books like this one cure toe fungus or something.

It reminded me, perhaps a little too much, of Hunger Games, but it had the same quick pace and strong female character that made HG so wonderful. I actually stopped 3/4ths of the way through The Language of Flowers (which is fabulous, btw) to read this one. I devoured it quickly and will now quietly slink away to finish LoF.

Highly recommended for anyone who liked Hunger Games and is looking for something with a similar feel. (Go read it now so we can all wait for the 2nd book together!)

27. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh - 4.3 stars

I loved this book. Really, I did. But I loved it in the way I loved The Art of Racing in the Rain or even Divergent. Less so with Divergent, but especially with the other two, I felt the characters were a little too formulaic and predictable. Shallow isn't quite the right word since they have depth, but it's a predictable, non-surprising sort of depth. In other words, they don't really feel like people I know well, but maybe people I barely know, if that makes any sense. I would say though that the plot did surprise me toward the end of the book in the way that it showed a more honest side of how things can really turn out instead of how we might want them to turn out. Of course, then it reversed itself and made reality into a fairytale, but whatever.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and flew through it. I think it's a little over-hyped in some of the reviews I've been reading, but it's not a complete waste of time by any means. Certainly, it would make for a great book club discussion.

28. Neuro Web Design: What Makes Them Click? by Susan Weinschenk - 4.8 stars

I work for a non-profit organization and because my job involves a lot of communications and website responsibilities, I thought this book would help me figure out what we could be doing better with our website to reach our members. Interestingly enough, this book felt like it was straight out of my master's degree program -- media psychology and social change.

Short diversion here: I have trouble sometimes explaining to people exactly what media psychology is and why it's important in today's society. I think this book sums it up well -- the psychological principles (with scientific research studies to support them) behind why people make the decisions they do based on what they see, hear, and read. For example, the theory of reciprocity explains a lot of why we're more likely to buy shoes from Zappos when they offer us free shipping both ways on every purchase with no strings attached. They've given us something and we feel the need to give something back to them. The book cites a study to support this claim: An experimenter enters a room with a participant and then leaves to get a soda, bringing an extra one for the participant. He later asks the participant to buy 3 raffle tickets for $5. The control group did not receive a soda but were also asked to buy raffle tickets. The group that got the soda was twice as likely to buy raffle tickets than the group that didn't get the soda.

This book includes a lot of information for non-profit organizations, but it also applies to for-profit ones or anyone who's just curious why certain websites are more successful at getting consumers' loyalty than others. Highly recommended!

29. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - 4.6 stars

This marvelous tale of magicians is already receiving a lot of hype -- and for good reason. I won't say much because I think even the smallest of details takes something away from it, but I definitely think this is a worthy read. It's been a long time since a book has so thoroughly caught me up in its environment that I felt I could smell and taste and see and hear all that was being described. I saw a few reviews where people mentioned possibly too much description of scenery, but I didn't think it was too much at all. It felt natural for the story and the characters were developed well enough to hold up to it. This is a book to be enjoyed. I raced through it in two nights, but if you can slow yourself down and enjoy the journey, it will probably be even better!

Abandoned Books

I don't normally list books that I've started and stopped, but I thought I would start keeping track of the ones I read a significant amount of before putting down. Don't hold it against the book in all cases. I'm easily distracted and it takes an amazing story to keep me engaged when I'm in an easily distracted sort of mood.

Wrecker by Summer Wood -- This was an Early Reviewer book and I tried so hard to finish it. Really, I did. I made it more than half way but just could not keep myself going. The plot was promising, the characters had some appeal, but it just wasn't coming together for me. Very slow and I didn't feel like I got enough out of the characters I wanted to hear from.

Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart -- This was a selection for my work book club and, once again, I read more than half of it and just couldn't keep myself going. I even tried skimming to finish it and couldn't force myself to do it for more than a minute or two at a time. Others in my book club thought it was depressing and sad. I didn't think it was all that depressing, but certainly not uplifting. It was just a little too overt for me. I prefer more subtle messages I can gently ease out of a story instead of the ones that bang you over the head. I also didn't care for the setting or way the subject matter was handled. I love technology and thought some of the things the book was implying were interesting, but in a short article sort of way, not in a full-length novel sort of way.

30. We the Animals by Justin Torres - 4.6 stars

Wow. This is not an easy read emotionally, but it is compelling and gripping and tragic on such a deep level that you cannot help but be moved by it. It's a very short book and a fast read. The story of three brothers, told through the eyes of the youngest. It reminded me of The Road in many ways. Not the writing style or subject matter or pace exactly, but the emotional feel of it as I wanted to look away but couldn't stop myself from pressing on. One of those stories of life -- the ugliness mixed with beauty and all of us just trying to survive the best we possibly can.

31. The Postmistress by Sarah Blake - 3.8 stars

I enjoyed this book, despite giving it less than 4 stars. My biggest complaint was the difficulty I had in keeping track of the characters. Blake uses a particular style in which one character flows into the next without much warning. While I find this to be an interesting writing technique, I don't think it was as successful in this novel as I would have liked it to be. Overall, it is a different take on the WW II novel, which seems to be finding me left and right these days without my even realizing it. Are there just a flood of books on this topic these days or am I drawn to these in some inexplicable way? Who knows, but this one is worth the read if you find yourself wanting more on the topic!

32. The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan - 4.1 stars

I love books with a sort of gimmicky premise, as long as they're done well. This one certainly meets that criteria! Random words in alphabetical order tell a non-chronological story of two young adults in love. It's a short quick read, yet I found myself taking it in smaller bites, lingering over some of the definitions and wondering how I would write my own lover's dictionary. One of the most moving things to me is when the words and memories of first meeting or first moving in together end up right next to those that relate to having been together for a while. I think that's really how our minds works, with all the memories thrown into a box and pulled out randomly one after the other. Highly recommended for those who appreciate quirky novels.

83: "are there just a flood of books on this topic (WWII) these days or am I drawn to these in some inexplicable way?"

I think it might be a bit of both, I seem to be reading an awful lot of books set during the war, and also before and after.

33. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs - 3.9 stars

Despite all of the positive talk around LT about this novel, I managed to stay fairly uninformed about its contents (yay!). The only downside to that is I had absolutely no idea where this book was going as I was reading it. I think I kept expecting it to be more, but it was a solidly good read nonetheless. The pictures added a whole new dimension to the story, and it was clear the book was written around them to some degree. How fun is that! There are sure to be more of these, and I don't know if I will read them, but I'm glad I read this one.

34. Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn - reread

One of my book clubs chose this book for an upcoming meeting and I decided to go ahead and re-read it. It was still as funny and clever as I remember it, although I think the underlying messages seemed more overt this time through. Highly recommended if you're one of the ones who have not read this one yet!

35. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith - 4.7 stars

Surely I'm one of the last people on LT to read this book, and I'm so glad I finally got around to reading it. There are so many things that are beautiful about it that I could never put into words. I only wish that I had stumbled across it as a young girl or even a teenager. Francie Nolan is one of my favorite characters now!

>88 _debbie_: I only read it earlier this year myself. It was great, wasn't it?

Lori, it was indeed! If only I could write the eloquent reviews I see on so many other LTers' posts to describe how I really felt about it!

36. The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger - 1.4 stars

Wow, this was a bad book. So bad, in fact, I believe I am going to return a book for the first time in my life. I had only seen good reviews on threads about this one, so needless to say I was completely caught off guard. For one, as a graphic novel the quality of the drawings are average. I'm not a stickler for that, so I won't criticize. However, the writing format is not in a typical graphic novel style, nor is it a successful exception to the rule. The text is not even balanced well around the images. It's almost like she broke apart a short story and threw lines on top of graphics randomly. My other big gripe is that the flow of the individual panels is quite confusing to follow. That happens occasionally, but I found myself criticizing every other page with boxes not drawn or placed in a good flow pattern.

Spoiler alert!!
Since I'm on a roll slamming this book, the biggest complaint I have about the story itself aside from having a weak plot and poor character development is the abrupt suicide as a means to become a bookmobile librarian. Umm, where did that come from?? Totally unnecessary and scary that a child might stumble across this book and find that. Not cool.

The only reason this book got as high of a rating as it did from me is because it's short and it was about books. The premise was interesting, but this is one of the absolute worst books I have read in a very long time.

37. The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai - 4.3 stars

I had seen mixed reviews of this book on LT, but when I stumbled across it a while back at the Borders liquidation sale, I couldn't resist giving it a go. It struck my fancy the other night when I was looking for something different, and it turned out to be a quick, enjoyable read. I would liken it to other books like Room that deal with a subject that makes me a little uncomfortable, but Makkai does a good job balancing the bad vibes of a "kidnapping" with the actual story, which feels different when you're reading it (at least to me).

The commentary of deep thoughts is a little heavy handed at times, but on target nonetheless. Many of the characters were also a little flat and stereotypical, but there was enough depth to keep my interest. One of my favorite quotes that I have said many times before myself, "I do still believe that books can save you." Overall, I think the book touches on an important topic even though the author chose to deal with it in a weird, sort of lighthearted, manner. Having grown up secretly gay in an uber church in the heart of the Bible belt, I related to little Ian and his salvation through reading. I even (sort of) cheered the librarian on. Recommended as long as you're willing to overlook the book's faults in search of the little gems along the way.

I saw something so hilarious this morning that I just have to share it ...

So I'm looking at the Amazon reviews for Julian Barnes' The Sense of an Ending and I see this little blurb under Editorial Reviews:

“A page turner, and when you finish you will return immediately to the beginning . . . Who are you? How can you be sure? What if you’re not who you think you are? What if you never were? . . . At 163 pages, The Sense of an Ending is the longest book I have ever read, so prepare yourself for rereading. You won’t regret it.” —The San Francisco Chronicle

Granted, I am not familiar with the SF Chronicle, so I have no idea what kind of publication it is. But am I the only one who thinks it's odd that a published book reviewer has never read a book longer than 163 pages before? Seriously? Wow. Surely there was a typo in there or something, right?

I think he may have been trying to be sarcastic, don't you? I find some short (in number of pages) books take longer to read that longer books. Some books I just slow down to read in order to savor it longer, some I can't turn the pages fast enough. Maybe this is what he meant. I went to SFC's website and read the whole review - there were no typos.

Well, that certainly makes more sense! I totally missed it if that's the case. LOL!

38. The Complete Essex County by Jeff Lemire - 4.3 stars

This book has been on my wishlist since I first heard about it last year during Canada Reads. For such a hefty doorstop, it was a relatively quick and easy read, although the emotional impact of it made me take breaks in between. While the drawings are straightforward and simple, they are very well done and carry a lot of meaning. Of the three main stories, I preferred the first, but they all came together, albeit somewhat loosely. If you're a fan of Canadian literature or graphic novels, I would highly recommend this. It's definitely one of the better ones I've read!

39. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel - 4.4 stars

There are good books that everyone can appreciate for the quality of writing and unique perspective, and then there are books that become meaningful because they touch special pieces of you that aren't so easy to wrap words around. It's even more amazing when those two types of books are one in the same. Even though the author is a good decade older than me, her story was so much like my own that it freaked me out just a little bit. Thankfully, it was different enough that I was able to appreciate the balance with which she both bares her soul and analyzes it an objectively subjective manner. I'm sure my babbling probably doesn't make sense to anyone else, but I liked the book! Highly recommended.

40. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - 4.9 stars

Wow. I loved this book! Even though I consider myself an 80's kid and a gamer, the cover and title just did not appeal to me. It was only after several sources I trust (including LT'ers) gave it a big thumbs up that I decided to look into it a little more. I needed to use up some Audible credits, so I decided to listen on audio seeing that Wil Wheaton read it and got great reviews. It was fantastic! My only complaint is that I couldn't speed read my way through the audio when the action picked up and I was dying to know what was going to happen next.

The characters were believable and funny, the plot was fast-paced, and the 80s trivia was a lovely flashback through my childhood. Highly recommended and one of my favorite books of the year!

Hi, Debbie. It's my first time on your thread. I'm glad you enjoyed Ready Player One so much; so did I. One of those rare books that's just plain a lot of fun.

I also liked The Complete Essex County a lot. It's one of the top graphic novels I've read. I wasn't as taken by Fun Home as so many others have been, but it was well done.

Thanks for stopping by, Joe! It seems as though we have quite a few books in common, with similarly diverse tastes. Ready Player One was a ton of fun, and it's too bad the deliciously fun books are so hard to find.

Fun Home is definitely not for everyone. I probably would not have liked it as much if I hadn't identified with it so much.

I looked for your thread on the wiki for this group, but I didn't find one. I hope you'll stop by again soon!

Thanks, Debbi, I will. I'm "threadless" this year, but I may try it next year.

Ready Player One is a delight for any child of the 80s or 80s trivia buff. I giggled through it.

41. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes - 2.9 stars

When I read books like this one, I remember why I usually avoid hyped novels, especially ones that win a big prize. I just didn't get it. The memory thing could have been done oh so better, with a more likeable character and fewer red herrings. The buildup of "oh you can't trust me" and the philosophizing was a little over the top to me. The ending made no sense really, and was truly a "sense" of an ending instead of a real one. Clearly, I'm in the minority here, as so many people seem to be loving it. I just wish I could understand what it is about these types of books that resonates with so many people. I'll chalk it up to confirmation that I'm odd and move on. Better books ahead!

42. Stitches: A Memoir by David Small - 3.2 stars

I didn't really like the story or the author's angry sort of retelling of his childhood, although I can appreciate his need to express his feelings and point of view. The drawings were fantastic and he is certainly very talented. I would consider reading graphic fiction from him, but probably will stay away from any more memoirs.

43. When She Woke by Hillary Jordan - 4.4 stars

Having hated The Scarlet Letter when I had to read it in high school, I didn't really think I would like this book. I was surprised how quickly the story of Hannah pulled me in. Ultimately a story of awakening on many levels, the novel has a lot to say about politics, religion, where we're heading as a society, and how we treat each other. Jordan was a little heavy handed with the moral messages at times, but the strong plot kept me reading.