Piyush's logbbok for 2011

I am here too!

Piyush! Good to see you back!

Ah, you made it! Glad to have you back, Piyush!

hi Piyush!
welcome in 2011 ;-)

Hi Piyush! Lost track of you last (this) year. Hope to do better this time around.

Thank you Richard, Stasia and Anita for the warm welcome :)

#5 This year, I have been horrible at keeping track of anyone, I too hope to do better this coming year!

Glad you're back, my classics partner. And we are both going to be joining in for Sense and Sensibility.

Hey Mac, out of the 6 books the group is planning to read, I haven't read 3, I am definitely in for Sense and Sensibility, maybe more.

Looking forward to your classics thread like last year!

Welcome back!

Thanks Jim! And thanks for creating this group for us year after year :)

1. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

3.5/5

#11: That is the one Nabokov book I just cannot bring myself to read. I have read and enjoyed several of his others, but will not read that one.

#12 I know what you mean, I had no clue what the book was about when I picked it up sometime late last year and was totally put off when I realised what it was about, kind of forced myself to give it another try this last week, and found that somehow he managed to write a not-so-gross book on an otherwise disgusting subject!

Nabokov is an excellent wordsmith and I am sure he did well on an unpleasant topic - I know that some consider Lolita to be his masterpiece - but I am just not that interested in reading it, especially when he wrote so many other books in which I can view his word artistry on display.

I totally understand, this was my first Nabokov read, other recommendations?

I have read and enjoyed Ada, or Ardor, Pale Fire, Pnin and I absolutely loved his autobiography Speak, Memory. I just recently read Glory, the first book he published, and did not care for it overmuch.

Lolita is far less about pedophilia than it is about American obsession, and obsession about America, materialism, and language. That said, the superficial plot can be very distracting.

I recently found that many people feel the same way about Death in Venice, even though no actions take place and it is possible to see the obsession as more about beauty and death than any titillating thoughts of sex.

Some people have been avoiding Room as well - I may be among them - because of the situation of imprisonment, although those who have read the book are almost universal in their praise.

No judgements meant - just an observation that some authorial devices present higher barriers for some people than for others, no matter what the intention of the author.

#17: No judgements meant - just an observation that some authorial devices present higher barriers for some people than for others, no matter what the intention of the author.

Yeah, Lolita has a pretty large authorial device to overcome for me, and at this point, I am just not ready to do so.

I have to disagree somewhat with ffortsa. While Lolita may well be written as social commentary on American materialism, it is most definitely about pedophilia. I work in law enforcement and quite often recommend this book to co-workers as a primer on the miindset of such people, as Nabakov uncannily manages to protray the rationalizing mind of these kinds of offenders. The accuracy with which he steps into the mindset is frightening.

#16 I might give a try to everything, save his autobiography, they are a strict no no to me.

#17 & #19 While reading the book, pedophilia seemed to be the dominant plot and since it was my first read on the subject, it was disturbing to say the least. Even though I did manage to get over the theme eventually, it was largely owing to the fact that the book changes course in its second half.

#20: Too bad about you passing on the autobiography, Piyush. It is excellent.

My point was not that Lolita isn't a scarily accurate portrayal of pedophilia as obsession, just that the obsession mirrors other obsessions of the America that Nabokov was describing, and so colors them with the unease we feel. It's certainly creepy.

ffortsa, I think i got your point, didn't mean to seem like I was disregarding it. Just didn't want to see the realism of the book shrugged off. Your point is a good one, though I wonder how well Nabakov could've used a different obssession in place of the pedophilia.

Hope you decide to read The Secret Agent, Piyush, It looks good.

I will, Mac, maybe sometime in March, will pick up a few more books from your classics list this year.

2. N or M? - Agatha Christie

2.5/5

3. Red Dragon - Thomas Harris

3/5

That's one I read some time ago. I liked the earlier ones in the series. By the time I read Hannibal I was done with Harris and his shock the system stories. I still have to read Black Sunday which is another earlier one that I might like.

Red Dragon is the first one he wrote in the series I think, and it wasn't that great. I am hoping the other ones with Lecter as the central character would be better!

Black Sunday was his first book I believe, before Red Dragon, if I like the rest of the Hannibal series, I will give that one a try too.

Dude! Hope you're doing great and had a super New Year.

Susan! Where have you been? Wish a very happy 2011 to you too!

I thought Black Sunday was a terrific book when I read it, but that was years and years ago. Probably when it first came out. I wonder if I would still like it?
--BJ

I actually liked the earlier books better than the latter ones with Hannibal as the central character. And you are right on the series order above.

I don't plan to read the entire series in one go, so it will be some time before I read the remaining ones in the series, maybe Black Sunday too later...

4. Five Little Pigs - Agatha Christie

3/5

I don't recall that title. LOL

was in the States over Xmas/NYs; back in Romania now. A move forecast for June: Moscow? somewhere else in Romania? France?

Busy travelling I see! Won't Moscow be like, too cold?

5. Beowulf - Seamus Heaney

4/5

#37: I am glad to see that you enjoyed that one too, Piyush!

I sure did Stasia, and am now more motivated than ever to tackle the Greek classics, will have to consult someone here though about the better translations...

#39: I would talk to Faith (dkphoenix) or perhaps Amber (scafea), although I know her specialty is Latin.

Piyush: Just let me know which Greek or Roman texts you're interested in reading and I can give you some suggestions for good translations.

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

Wonder idea Linda, I updated my name in the thread.

Yes Moscow would be cold, but that's better for me than sweltering. My body doesn't handle hot well... we considered a job in the Congo. I told the husband I would go, but I wouldn't thrive. I'm preferring Romania :)

6. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen

3.5/5

#44 I probably wouldn't mind the heat that much, but the bugs would kill me!

How do you compare S&S with the other Austen you've read?

I am guessing the order for me till now is Emma > P&P > S&S > Northanger Abbey. S&S got an extra half star from me for a more realistic ending than any of the other Austens I have read, the book otherwise wasn't much to talk about.

interesting. Emma is not at the top for me. But you haven't read Persuasion yet :)

Nope, I haven't read it yet, but I intend to read both Persuation and Mansfield Park this year as part of the Austenathon 2011.

My Austen list matches yours, with Emma on top. But I haven't read Northanger Abbey yet. I likely won't read any more Austen this year.

Hi There Piyush

I'm stopping by to say I hope all is well with you!

#51 Next year then, Mac? Or giving up on Austen completely?

#52 Hey Linda! Everything is fine at my end, hope you are well too!

Not giving up at all, just moving through her slowly; one a year or so. Too many books to read.

I very well understand, Mac, the same problem plagues many of us here.

7. The Secret of Chimneys - Agatha Christie

3.5/5

*waves back to Stasia in a non-cute way*

I've just recently watched a few of the Marple movies; I'm always impressed by how well Dame Christie's books are adapted to the screen. The last Christie I read was The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb, part of a collection of mummy-related stories and accounts (Into the Mummy's Tomb). Great fun.

Cute bear, Stasia. :)

#58: I do not think you could be 'non-cute' if you tried, Piyush! :)

#59 Hi Ren! I haven't yet seen any of the movie adaptations, but I can imagine how well suited they would be for the purpose. I haven't read the Egyptian Tomb book, but then I have read like only 15 of hers, The Secret of Chimneys is one I liked more than others, it reads like an Christie book in a Wodehouseish setting!

#60 I would be 'non-cute' no matter how hard I tried :)

8. Thus Spake Zarathustra - Friedrich Nietzshe

4.5/5

#62: I have never read that and never had any desire to. I am glad you liked it so much though, Piyush.

#61 "Christie book with a Wodehousian setting..." okay, I'm pulling The Secret of Chimneys out for a long-overdue re-read. Happy days, happy days...

#63 You seem to have strong opinions about this book :)

#64 Hope your re-read goes well, I am on to my last (I think) Christie book for the summer, the Parker Pyne one, an ordinary read so far, maybe too many Agatha Christie books in too short a period of time...

Maybe, it you’re still in a mystery mood, you could switch to Ngaio Marsh (Artists in Crime) or Marjory Allingham’s Campions (Dancers in Mourning is my favorite).

#66 I haven't read anything from either of the authors, will look them up, thanks for the recommendations :)

9. Parker Pyne Investigates - Agatha Christie

2.5/5

10. Paladin of Souls - Lois McMaster Bujold

3/5

11. Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand

2/5

12. The Secret Agent - Joseph Conrad

4.5/5

Looks like the Conrad was a good one. I think I have a copy of it around here somewhere.
--BJ

I knew your were going to like that one, Piyush. That's one of the highest rankings I've seen you give. Conrad is great fun and I am looking forward to my next one, though I don't know how soon I'll get to it.

LOL. I don't know of anyone who would describe Conrad as 'great fun' - although I love his books too.

#72 This was my fourth Conrad, and each one read better than the last!

#73 Yes, I read it much sooner than I planned after your review, between the Classics and Halloween threads, 10-15 books every year I can simply pick up from your threads. Which would be your next Conrad? I believe we have read the same ones till now: The Secret Sharer, Nostromo, Heart of Darkness and this one?

#74 Not exactly 'fun' reads, but great reads nevertheless :)

Well, not exactly.....We've both read Nostromo and The Secret Agent. But my third, though read first and many years ago, was Victory. I don't have a review up because I read it so long ago, butI enjoyed it.

Next.......Heart of Darkness or Lord Jim. Not sure which, but late in the year, likely.

#76 I might be game for maybe one more Conrad this year, if you are reading Lord Jim later this year, drop me a message.

13. The Atlantis Complex - Eoin Colfer

Liked this one the least, don't think I will bother with any more Colfer stuff.

2/5

#76,77 Will do!

14. The Long Quiche Goodbye - Avery Aames

Not the kind of book I would generally read. Despite the cheesy cheese and cooking references and the fact that I do not belong to the target audience this book was directed to, I found this book quite good for a light 'mystery' reading on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

3/5

15. Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson

3.5/5

I am not going to try and catch up, Piyush. I will try to keep up for the rest of the year though!

Treasure Island was one of my first reads as a boy starting into novels.

#81 I understand Stasia, anyways, good to see you back :)

#82 You must have liked it a lot more as a boy, I would believe?

#83 Hey Knosha! How are you liking LT?

It is very good to be back, even if just limited capacity.

Make sure you don't stress yourself, even the replies you post on literally everyone's thread must be so exhausting, I follow just a handful of threads and yet most times they get the better of me!

No, I am not stressing myself out, just trying to make sure I do not burn myself out.

16. The Atrocity Archives - Charles Stross

3.5/5

#88: I do not think that one is my cuppa, so I will pass on it.

#89 I think you are right on passing on this one, The Atrocity Archives isn't the kind of book which I would generally read either (despite being a Sci-Fi), but I guess it appealed to the dormant geek in me.

17. Foucalt's Pendulum - Umberto Uco

3.5/5

Oh now, that's brave. I slogged my way through that a couple of years ago. Tough. And exasperating. What did you think of it (besides your numerical rating)?

Well, for the first fourth of the book, I hadn't a clue what the book was about (but it was fun), the middle part I liked well enough before coming to the last quarter where it became a bit repetitive and I kind of looked forward to the ending to see if there was any final twist to the tale, in which again I was sadly disappointed. I liked it thus, in parts, and the book ended in a low for me.

It took me a fair bit of time too to finish the book, even my colleagues had gotten fed up of watching that book on my desk day after day. (And no, I don't read paperbacks in office, but while travelling to and from work)

#94 Dear Sonya, good of you to drop by. Well, a couple of observations are in order I guess, first being, I am a guy and secondly, I don't know who this person is whom you are talking about.

#96 If I am unable to follow you, I must blame it on my age, with me getting older and probably dumber. I am still at a loss to understand as to what rolandperkins did to you (something bad I guess), neither am I able to comprehend, where is this game of Book Titles you are playing. I believe a good night's sleep would probably bring me somewhat closer to your enthusiasm levels. For now, take care, and don't let that rolandperkins fellow wind you up!

On a different note, the Pages, Dimensions and Weight tool is just so awesome!

18. Airframe - Michael Crichton

3/5

19. Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians - Brandon Sanderson

3.5/5

Sorry to be so darn far behind on threads. I hope your Easter has been a lovely day.

Hi Linda, so good of you to drop by, I hope you are doing well.

Hi Piyush, this is my first time on your thread. I love the fact that you give your books a 2 or 2.5 grade. Lots of people here won't. Will follow.

Hi Gautam, thanks for dropping by, I am a bit of a stickler when it comes to rating books. I see you come from my home town :)

20. Journey to the Centre of the Earth - Jules Verne

3.5/5

21. Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones - Brandon Sanderson

3/5

>58 PiyushC: What a crack up! (waving in a non-cute way)

So I forget the rating Chalion got ... Did you end up liking Paladin less?

#109 Refer to post #172 in your first thread this year (I work in Compliance, thats the way we usually talk!)

And yes, I can wave in some really sickening ways!

:)

22. The Virgin Suicides - Jeffrey Eugenides

3/5

23. Alcatraz Versus The Knights of Crystallia - Brandon Sanderson

3/5

I have not made it past the first book in Sanderson's Alcatraz series. I need to get back to it one of these days!

Did you like book one in the series? I found it light and humorous, almost relaxing, if you know what I mean.

I'm simply stopping by to wave hello to you!

#114: Yes, I did. I need to re-visit it since it has been a while since I read it. I have to see if my local library has any of the other books in the series yet. I had to buy the first one to be able to read it.

#115 *waves back at Linda* So good to see you here!

#116 I hope you manage to lay your hands on the rest of the series, I am unable to get hold of Book 4 too and will have to abandon the series until I manage to find a copy.

Sounds like we are in the same boat, Piyush! Unfortunately my book buying ban is going to prevent me from doing anything about it any time soon.

Hi Piyush, I was curious about what you were reading. I'm inspired to give Conrad a try. I reade Journey to the Center of the Earth earlier this year and enjoyed it but I must admit the only character I really liked was Hans, the other two wore thin the deeper they got.

Heavens...you liked The Virgin Suicides far more than I did, Piyush, since I gave it 1/2*.

#118 Luckily, I haven't imposed a ban on myself for buying books, but for some strange, inexplicable reason, the two books shops I most frequent don't yet have the fourth book, but then, its not as if I am running out of books to read!

#119 It was a good book as far as adventures go, and very readable, but I empathise with your point about the characters wearing thin.

#120 As a matter of principle, the lowest rating I give is a single * (even Sidney Sheldon books get their own star!), the only thing which saved this book from a 2* or a 2 1/2* was its mercifully short length. I must admit though that I was expecting it to be a much better read and it did entertain me for the first half.

24. Very Good, Jeeves! - P. G. Wodehouse

3.5/5

25. The Thief-Taker’s Apprentice - Stephen Deas

2.5/5

I know people who think Wodehouse is the cat's meow but whenever I read descriptions it really doesn't sound like much. would you recommend it?

Hi Piyush, just thought I'd stop by and wish you a good day.

I read the first book, The Inimitable Jeeves this year and can't say I was blown away. I'll still read the second one, Carry On, Jeeves because I have it already, but I doubt I'll be reading the whole series.

#123 I would definitely recommend Wodehouse. While I have read just a couple of books, I have till now very much liked his style of writing.

#124 Very Good, Jeeves! is the only Jeeves I have read yet. I have bought both the ones you have mentioned in the last week, but don't know when I will be able to read them.

I have to give Wodehouse another try. I have only read the first book in the series and like Ilana, can't say that I was blown away.

Stasia, I have read only 2 Wodehouse books till date, the one listed above and A Damsel in Distress and liked them both which has led me to buy a few more of his works, lets see how well I like them now.

Last weekend, one of my favourite bookshop chains had a 15% off for members where I got the following books:-

The Elephant Vanishes - Haruki Murakami
Coma
Abduction
Much obliged, Jeeves
Right ho, Jeeves
The Inimitable Jeeves
The Code of the Woosters
Love in the Time of Cholera
Carry on, Jeeves
The collected short stories of Roald Dahl
Veronica Decides to Die
Eleven Minutes
A Wild Sheep Chase

Well, day before yesterday, visited another shop of the same bookshop chain and bought a few more books:-

The Lovely Bones
Thank you, Jeeves
Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit
Birthday Stories: Selected and Introduced by Haruki Murakami
One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest
River God (As a gift for a colleague who is a die-hard Wilbur Smith fan)

Wow, that's quite the haul! Lucky you. I've been wanting to read both Love in the Time of Cholera and Veronica Decides to Die for quite some time now; I should really get around to those. I remember loving One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest when I read it a few years ago - the movie adaption is excellent as well! :)

#129 I have been frowning at Eleven Minutes ever since I updated this list, The Devil and Miss Prym was supposed to be the second Paulo Coelho book I wanted to buy, not this one.

Other than that mishap, I liked my haul and by the time I am done reading them, I should have a very definite opinion on Wodehouse for sure!

I also got my copy of One Hundred Years of Solitude back from my friend and either that or Love in the Time of Cholera will definitely be read this year.

I haven't read or watched One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, I will let you know how I like it once I am done.

Hi There!

I know you got the River God for your friend, but you might consider obtaining a copy for yourself as well. It is a fascinating book!

Congratulations on the haul, Piyush!

Linda, I am hoping the friend would lend me his copy once he is done with it.

Thanks Stasia!

>128 PiyushC: I think I might have fallen a little in love with you, Piyush...that list speaks of a man with great curiosity, not a little stamina, and a wide-open why-not attitude. Plus a sense of humor. But do space the Wodehouses out! Taken in too close temporal proximity, they can get numbing. I speak from experience.

>131 Whisper1: Seconded!

>133 PiyushC: Why wait? Read it first!

#134 Yes, yes, I am all of that *copies all the adjectives to put on the resume* and more!

Spacing out the Wodehouse books sounds like a good idea, maybe I will limit myself to one a quarter.

To guard the book against myself, I got it gift wrapped at the shop itself and I don't trust myself to be able to unpack and repack it again with any competence, so I guess waiting is the only option open to me.

26. Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman - Haruki Murakami

My first Murakami short story collection.

3.5/5

27. Around the World in Eighty Days - Jules Verne

3/5

#136: I have not read that collection by Murakami yet. I will have to get to it!

#137 You like Murakami too, Stasia?

Yes, I do!

28. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea - Jules Verne

3/5

29. The Gunslinger - Stephen King

2.5/5

Jules Verne! I loved reading those at one time...Journey to the Centre of the Earth was my special favorite, closely followed by Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Glad you're reading through and enjoying his stuff, Piyush!

Middling rating for The Gunslinger there, Piyush. I would have guessed you'd enjoy that one more. Thoughts?

#141 Jules Verne books make for some good reading, among the three I have read, Journey to the Centre of the Earth is my favourite too, I probably would have liked Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea more if I ever had sea travelled.

#142 Mac, I know The Dark Tower is one of your favourite series, but the opening book of the series gave me too little to understand what the series is about, neither could I get any real insight on the characters including Roland. Hopefully, The Drawing of the Three would read better.

The Gunslinger is meant only as a teaser. The things you seek are played out over the course of the next few books. I found the mystery too much to deal with and went directly on to the next in the series, which I suggest you do before guiving up. The Drawing of the Three was the book that really sucked me into the series; and it stands as perhaps my favorite in the entire series. If you don't like Roland, or want to read more about him after that, then the series is just not for you. I bet you will finish if you try that one.

I will read The Drawing of the Three in June before forming any further opinions about the series, hopefully I will like it enough even if not as much as you do.

I wasn't too impressed with The Gunslinger when I read it (especially seeing as it combines two of my favourite things; fantasy and King), but I enjoyed The Drawing of the Three much much more. I will definitely read the next ones in the series, problably over the summer.

I think our feelings for The Gunslinger, before and after reading the book are similar, I hope I would enjoy The Drawing of the Three too, when I read it maybe next week. The Gunslinger, incidentally became the 100th Fantasy book I have read.

30. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens

4/5

31. The Man in the Brown Suit - Agatha Christie

3/5

I need to revisit Oliver Twist one of these centuries. I believe that was the first Dickens book I ever read 30+ years ago. It is long overdue for a re-read!

Oliver Twist is the second Dickens I have read, first being A Christmas Carol which I very much liked too. I expect to read atleast a couple more this year, A Tale of Two Cities is probably the next Dickens I am going to tackle.

I keep meaning to buckle down and read Martin Chuzzlewit but cannot seem to get to it. Maybe when my current round of chunksters is over. . .

It will be some time before I get to Martin Chuzzlewit. David Copperfield, Bleak House, Great Expectations will probably have a better claim on my time after A Tale of Two Cities.

A little bit of book buying, only one book for me though, Dangerous Liaisons, a book I have been meaning to get my hands on, ever since I watched the movie a couple of years back.

Also bought a box set of LOTR as a gift for another friend, so that she appreciates when next time I offer her 3 of my hair as her birthday gift.

The friend I gifted River God was ecstatic, apparently no one had ever gifted him a book before or gifted a book he liked, either of the two.

That is so cool about your friend loving River God, Piyush, just because you gave it to him.

Well, the book featured quite high in his TBR list and he was very much delighted when he went home and tore through the gift wrapping, the subsequent phone call from him was most gratifying.

Piyush, I really liked The River God. I know so little about Egyptian history and found Wilbur Smith's depiction incredible.

#155: Piyush, I will send you a list of the titles in the BlackHole :)

#156 Well, the friend has himself offered me to lend the book once he is done with it, but he is a slow reader and will take some time I guess.

#157 I would need to take 2, maybe 3 jobs to make even the slightest dent in your Blackhole, it is called Blackhole for a reason!

32. The Underground City aka The Child on the Cavern aka Black Indies, etc - Jules Verne

The least impressive Verne I have read so far, I think I will take a break from Verne for now.

2.5/5

33. Candide - Voltaire

4/5

Oh, the joys of reading Candide for the first time! "All is for the best in this best of all possible worlds." Dr. Pangloss is one of my favorite characters in fiction!

#158: I would need to take 2, maybe 3 jobs to make even the slightest dent in your Blackhole

True, but you are young yet :)

#160 I couldn't help but compare Dr. Pangloss with Lord Henry and their influences on Candide and Dorian respectively, though Candide was a satirical work supposedly written in a lighter vein.

#161 Ah, but I am fast approaching 27, not so young anymore :( But yes, I am going to commence my search for a new job soon, maybe as early as next week.

#162: Since you are 20+ years younger than I am, you are still very young to me!

34. The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson

4/5

35. Lady Susan - Jane Austen

A most amusing novella, the only one she wrote from what I understand.

4.5/5

Is that one of her adolescent works?

#165 Yes yolana, it was published some 15 years before Sense and Sensibility, her first major work.

36. The Drawing of Three - Stephen King

3.5/5

37. The Man in the High Castle - Philip K. Dick

2.5/5

Hi There

I'm simply stopping by to wave hello.

Looks like you liked Drawing of the Three more than the last one. I'm glad you tried it. Not all of the series lives up to that one, but there is a lot of good story and writing still left to read in the series if you decide to keep going. The next couple are quite good.

#168 Hey Linda, so kind of you to drop by :)

#169 Yeah Mac, surprisingly, I found myself liking The Drawing of the Three much better than I imagined, specially after reading The Gunslinger. I will read read a few more of the series, possibly another couple of months down the line.

38. Mansfield Park - Jane Austen

3/5

39. The Pearl - John Steinback

3/5

You're reading in my favorites again, Piyush. Steinbeck this time.

Hey, Piyush. Just waving as I once again attempt to catch up on threads :)

*waves* Ditto what Stasia said!

#172 I will probably read one more Steinback this year Mac, Cannery Row.
#173 Good to see you back :)

You're reading some of the short works....Cannery Row is one of the best, I think. If you continue to like him, you realy have to try East of Eden The scale is much larger but so intense and enoyable to immerse yourself in.

I do have a East of Eden somewhere in my apartment, I should be able to get to it sometime next year. Of Mice and Men is the only other Steinback I have read before The Pearl, and hence when I read East of Eden will depend on how well I like Cannery Row

40. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Mark Twain

4/5

41. Dead Man's Folly - Agatha Christie

3/5

East of Eden is a terrific read. I've read Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath and loved them as well, but never the pearl. I always forget how much I enjoy Steinbeck til I sit down a read him.

Of Steinbeck's books I only ever read The Pearl more than 20 years ago and don't remember a single thing (only that I liked it). Like Hemingway he is another author on my must-read-more-and-soon list, but there are so many.

Dead Man's Folly was one of the first Christies I read. I liked it and found the murder mystery idea quite original, but the setup took awfully long.

#179 He is one of his kind, the build up to his stories is quite extraordinary.

#180 Like Hemingway he is another author on my must-read-more-and-soon list, but there are so many.

Don't we all!

And you are absolutely right about Dead Man's Folly, the mystery was quite innovative, but the setup was quite a drag over nothing.

42. Sirens of Titan - Kurt Vonnegut

3.5/5

43. I am Legend - Richard Matheson

3/5

I had hoped you would like the interesting twist on the vampire story in I am Legend......3/5 is a solid rating for you but doesn't indicate that you loved the book. Anything to share about your thoughts on that one?

You see, for one, the creatures seemed to be something between a vampire and a zombie (not fond of zombies). The rating is indicative of the fact that I quite liked the ending, I don't understand why the movie version sacrificed all the good parts of the book.

I think the most recent movie was focused on the thrill part of the story. And I think the ending would only work in an independent type film....too thought provoking. I didn't see the zombie connection, though thinking back I do recall that some of the vampires were less.....sentient.

You've been concentrating on classics lately!

#185 Possibly so, but that made the movie quite ordinary.

#186 Yeah, classics and sci-fi seem to be the order of the day for me these days :)

44. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain

3.5/5

45. The Mystery of the Blue Train - Agatha Christie

2.5/5

On the I am Legend movie, I liked the look of it and the concept of the main character foraging for resources. And I like Will Smith. But the movie was inferior to the book. I just liked them independently.

The hunting sequence in the movie was a welcome addition over the book, I like Will Smith too, Independence Day was the first Will Smith movie I watched as a kid, before MIB the year after. Even so, the movie failed to make any lasting impression on me.

46. A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

4.5/5

I could never understand why whatsherhoosit saw in that lame french dude when there was someone like Sydney Carton around. I love this book.

My guess, Carton was too manly for her, the lame french dude probably came closer in character and gentleness to her broken restored father, who as we understand later was an angry young man in his times!

47. Bel Ami - Guy de Mauppasant

4/5

48. Bang Crunch - Neil Smith

2.5/5

49. The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton

5/5

#195: I have yet to have read that one by Wharton. I really need to read more of her books. I am glad to see you enjoyed it, Piysuh.

I hope you have a good one picked out for #50!

Stasia, this was the second Wharton book I have read and this one was as good as a read as The Age of Innocence, with quite a complicated plot.

I have read The Age of Innocence, but it has been years. I just finished a book of Wharton's short stories - novellas really - called Old New York, but it was not her best writing, I don't think.

I have really been getting drawn into Wharton. I loved The Age of Innocence and the collection of ghost stories from her. I intend to read more and am glad to see that she isn't disappointing in other novels.

#198 I won't be in any hurry to read this one then!

#199 Oh yes, I read Tales Of Men And Ghosts last year too for the Halloween Reading.

In my copy of The Age of Innocence there is a forward that raves about Wharton's Old New York stories. I have been rummaging for a copy ever since. Different strokes, right Miss Alcott.

50. Ivanhoe - Sir Walter Scott

4/5

I read Ivanhoe several times as a teen and loved it. What did you think? I suspect it would appeal more to teen sensibilities than adult.

Have you been to Donna's thread, Piyush? She's taking a course on Edith Wharton, which is reading 6 of her books, and a bunch of us are going to read The Age of Innocence with her.

#203 I liked it anyways despite the over simplistic nature of the book, but I can guess why it would resonate at levels more than one with an imaginative romantic teenage mind.

I will check Donna's thread, I read The Age of Innocence last year only and hence won't go for a re-read, however if she intends to hold group reads for the other Wharton works too, then I will surely join in.

#201: Different strokes, right Miss Alcott.

Yep, without those different strokes the world would be frightfully boring!

#202: I have never read Ivanhoe! I need to get to it.

Congratulations on reaching 50 books for the year, Piyush!

My mother read Ivanhoe aloud to me when I had some childhood ailment (maybe German Measles, now properly called rubella). Not the whole book, but I still recall her excellent reading voice, and the story of Jews in the time of knights and crusades, etc.

Thanks Stasia, you must read Ivanhoe, am sure you will like it.

Judy, do you plan to read the book, it portrays the existing social system of those times in a very simplistic, and yet interesting manner.

>207 PiyushC: I have no plans to reread Ivanhoe just now. I did find the times well-portrayed in Mistress of the Art of Death last year, although I haven't followed the series. In fact, I had a hard time reading the book, as sometimes happens when persecution of the Jews (or any group) is described.

Waverly is on one of my 100 best list and I never seem to find that one used, though I did see a complete set of the novels the other day and I couldn't bring myself to buy them all without knowing if I am going to really like them. Ivanhoe is one of the set. I've never been one drawn to that time period and setting in stories. But, hey, you liked it, so maybe I will too.

#208 Mistress of the Art of Death looks like serious stuff unlike Ivanhoe, I may try it one of these days.

#209 I don't know if even I would risk buying the entire set and I haven't read Waverly, but Ivanhoe, you just may like it.

51. Prelude to Foundation - Isaac Asimov

3/5

52. Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card

3.5/5

Don't like Orson Scott Card. Glad you enjoyed it though. One of my reading friends at work shakes his head at me when I say I dislike Card and Ender.

Ender's Game is one of the books I've wanted to read for such a long time and just haven't gotten around to yet. I'd be curious to hear what you thought of it? :)

I need to get around to Asimov's Foundation books one of these days. . .

I don't think you do, Stasia. We reread the first one last year in one of our f2f reading groups, and it was horribly dated and not particularly well-written, imo. But if you must, at least they're short.

#212 Mac, I have been told to leave the series alone after Ender's Game, a suggestion I intend to follow, this one is my only Orson Scott Card read and therefore I can't positively say if I like him, I don't even know if and when will I read another one of his works.

#213 Ruth, the concept of the book is quite good and unique, the first half of the book being exceptional. The book tapers off a bit in the third quarter before tying everything up at the ending, which while good, was a bit of an anti-climax.

#214 Stasia, before this one, I had only read I, Robot by Asimov, which I enjoyed a lot. I am reading the Foundation series in chronological order rather than the order in which they were written. I intend to read the seven books in the series, 1 or possibly 2 this year and the remaining 4 or 5 next year.

#215 Judy, I can see where you are coming from, but I am a guy who even likes H. G. Wells books no matter how dated they are, and I can already feel myself liking the rest of the Foundation series.

53. Storm Front - Jim Butcher

Book 1 of the Dresden Files

This is one of the series which comes highly recommended from a friend and though he forewarned me of the inferior quality of the first few book of the series, he asked me to not abandon the series until I have sampled half a dozen books of the series.

While this book wasn't a drag, not to mention a short read, there was nothing special to hold my attention and the guilty conscience of Dresden was annoying to say the very least.

2.5/5

54. Fool Moon - Jim Butcher

Book 2 of the Dresden Files

A slightly better book than the first, but more irritating when it comes to the aforementioned guilty conscience of the person in question. *Spoiler* His inner voice atleast has some sense when it comes to dealing with what should be termed as other people's stupidities.

3/5

55. Forward the Foundation - Isaac Asimov

3.5/5

Hi Piyush! drive-by hug

Hey Richard, thanks for driving by.

I'm exactly where you are, Piyush, with the Dresden Files books. When are you going to start Grave Peril?

Ronin, I am planning or rather thinking starting it tonight and finish it by over the weekend, after which I may take a break from the series for a week or two. What are your plans about the rest of the series?

56. River God - Wilbur Smith

3.5/5

57. Creepers - David Morrell

2.5/5

58. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas

4/5

59. Grave Peril - Jim Butcher

2.5/5

60. Persuasion - Jane Austen

3/5

61. The Sword in the Stone - T. H. White

2.5/5

Piyush, I got distracted and haven't gotten to Grave Peril yet. How was it? That is the last book I own--if I continue, I will probably get the books from the library.

#226 Ronin, Grave Peril was my least favourite in the series so far, I found it quite cliched to be honest. I am going to take a break from the dresden files and will read the rest of the series in the new year.

62. Fear - L. Ron Hubbard

4/5

63. The Sea Hunters - Clive Cussler

3.5/5

Fear was good! Glad you liked it so much. One of those books I never would have picked up if it hadn't been for my lists.

#229 It sure was good! I wouldn't have read it either if it weren't for your list.

64. Full Dark, No Stars

3.5/5

You should post your review here also, it was very nicely done, and the folks who aren't doing the Halloween read with us might enjoy seeing your comments.

#232 Point well taken.

Full Dark, No Stars is a collection of 4 short stories listed below:-

1. 1922

As the name suggests, 1922 is a story based in the year 1922 in a small village near Nebraska. The dominant emotion in this story is the guilt, kind of a modern day adaptation of "The wicked flee when no man pursueth". Essentially, a good story with more details of graphical nature than was perhaps necessary.

2. Big Driver

This story deals with a family of seriously damaged people (oddly, the family still remains functional in a creepy sort of way) and the havoc they can wreak if left unchecked and undetected. The story is very violent and deeply disturbing.

3. Fair Extension

The only story in the book with a supernatural background, the theme remains however, the darkness of human heart. Discounting the supernatural elements of the story, this story to me probably remains the most likely to happen given the circumstances, maybe it is more of a reflection on how I see our species in general.

4. A Good Marriage

The only story in the book, where King spares us the full brunt of his vivid imagination and focuses more instead on the “Good Wife”. Despite the dreary background, this story, the last one in the book, was probably the most hopeful of them all and therefore my favourite.

At the end of the book, King's explains the source of his stories in the book and surprisingly all but one of them are innocent situations.

65. Odd Thomas - Dean Koontz

An unusual book with an unique storyline played by an unlikely protagonist. Despite this being my first Koontz book, I can appreciate the fan following he enjoys. The protagonist is a young boy, barely out of his teens who has this "cliched" power of seeing dead people, but that is where the story distinguishes itself against all the other books/movies/manga on the subject. For one thing, the protagonist considers the power as a gift and we don't see him whining, "Why me? I never asked for these powers, I hope I can live a normal life", neither is there a need for his uncle to give him a punchline like, "With Great Power comes Great Responsibility". He accepts his power as it is and decides to do the best he can with it. The story spans out to be a rather cozy thriller, until the end strikes and the sheer ruthlessness of the ending gave me a pause, literally, before I could go on and finish the last few pages. All in all, a very good read and I am looking forward to the movie adaptation of the book.

3.5/5

Nice review, again! You should do this more often, Piyush.

Thanks again for your encouragement, Mac. You do such a great job with the reviews, that I prefer to leave it to the professionals.

Thank you for the review of Full Dark, No Stars! I've had it on my shelves for a while now, and I think it would make a fine read for Halloween. :)

Good review of Odd Thomas, glad you enjoyed it. Koontz continued the series with Forever Odd, Brother Odd and Odd Hours and I think he wrote some graphic novels based on the series too if you are into them.

#237 You are most welcome Ruth, and you are right, it was a mighty fine read for Halloween :)

#238 Thank you Chelle, I will read the rest of the series probably and now that you have mentioned it, will check out the graphic novels too.

66. Starship Troopers - Robert A. Heinlein

3.5/5

67. Scavenger - David Morrell

2.5/5

Looks like another positive experience with the Heninlein book, Piyush.

68. Moonheart - Charles de Lint

Mixed opinions on this one. I will start with an observation: The book started as a light read which would possibly graze the supernatural, but mid-way metamorphosed into a dark, twisted tale. There was a lot of Indian stuff which didn't make much sense to me, nor could I find much value addition with the extended chapters on the same. While on the whole I liked the book, there were quite a few loose ends, including the conclusion itself.

3/5

#241 Sure was Mac, the storyline was vaguely similar to another book I have read and liked, Ender's Game, but the treatments were quite different for me to be able to enjoy them both.

69. The Terror - Dan Simmons

4/5

70. Cabal - Clive Barker

3.5/5

71. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - John Berendt

3.5/5

72. Leave it to Psmith - P. G. Wodehouse

3.5/5

73. When The Sleeper Awakes - H. G. Wells

3/5

74. The Sword of Shannara - Terry Brooks

2/5

75. A Scanner Darkly - Philip K. Dick

3.5/5

76. What Dreams May Come - Richard Matheson

With this book, I finish the 13 books earmarked for Halloween Reading. The story was too wimpy for my taste and I was too irritated with the protagonist the entire time to enjoy the book. Richard Matheson, to me remains an author with amazing imagination and poor execution.

2/5

77. Season of the Monsoon - Paul Mann

A little known book written about Mumbai I wouldn't have come across, if not for the recommendation and subsequent lending by a friend. The book is no piece of literature, but it is fast paced with enough drama to keep the reader hooked. While the book is based on the city I live in, the time frame of the story being 20 years back which makes it a bit difficult to relate the Mumbai of those times, the thus achieved historic element of the book makes up it.

3/5

Happy Holidays, Piyush!

Congratulations on reaching 75! And merry Christmas :)

Happy holidays and a bibliophilic new year.

Thank you Roni, Ruth and Yolana. Wish you all a Merry Christmas too!

Congrats on reaching past 75!






Wishing you all the very best Piyush!

Thank you Ilana :)

78. The TCS Story . . . and Beyond (Tata Consultancy Services) - S. Ramadorai

3.5/5

79. The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales - Grimm Brothers

4/5

80. Crome Yellow - Aldous Huxley

3/5

Hi Piyush, did you read the complete Grimm's Tales? Did it take you long?

81. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy

Epilogue II lost half a star for the book.

4/5

Very impressive ending to your reading year, piyush.

I'll have some classics in a list soon, but I have to finish up a few leftovers from 2011 quickly first.

#257 Thanks Mac, I will await your Classics list.