Marjea's Book Challenge

I'm beginning my challenge with Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte because it's the first book I have started since I joined LibraryThing. I think I'm going to read 50 books during the year. Let's see how well do I succeed!

I finally finished my first book in the challenge.

1. Kotiopettajattaren romaani by Charlotte Bronte

It is just brilliant. It was even better than I remembered. Next time I will definitely read in the original language.

2. Klooni ja minä - The Klone and I by Danielle Steel

Didn't like so much. At first it was pretty entertaining but when the Klone came to picture... It was just stupid and boring.

Welcome to the LT community, Marjea!

:-))

3. Ruokaa amore - The Food of Love by Anthony Capella

Light but sweet. I liked this one a lot.

4. Murtunut nainen - The woman destroyed (original book: La femme rompue) by Simone de Beauvoir

I was afraid that this would be weird and difficult to understand, but I was wrong. I kind of like this one although I didn't really share these two women's feelings. Interesting book.

5. Silmänkääntäjä - Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

Quite a story. Took me speechless many times. Surprising. Very well-written.

Marjea, what a fascinating language Suomi must be! And difficult too (at least to me).
:-))

6. Suden vuosi by Virpi Hämeen-Anttila

A wonderful novel! I highly recommend, but I think you have to learn some Finnish first... :-) I'm not so sure if this book has been translated to English or any other language, probably not.

To aluvalibri: I guess you´re right. A bit hard for me to say 'cause I have spoken Finnish my whole life. :-)

7. Dolores ja lentävä jalka - She's come undone by Wally Lamb

I kept this book so many times in my hand considering whether I should read it or not before I finally decided to read it. It was definitely worth reading, funny and sad at the same time. Hard to describe my feelings about this...

8. Pirunsaaren veljekset by Tuija Lehtinen
9. Taimitarhan lapset by Tuija Lehtinen

A little bit Finnish fiction. Nothing serious but very funny and entertaining..

10. Maineikas kuollessaan - Glory in Death by J.D. Robb

I'm a big fan of Nora Roberts and this futuristic detective story series about Eve Dallas is as good as the rest of her production. Very good.

11. Oikukkaat sydämet - Random Hearts by Warren Adler
12. Täydellinen mies - Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
13. Kuka pelkää pimeää - In the Cut by Susanna Moore

Random Hearts was quite ok. Don't have much to say about it. Mr. Perfect: Easy to read. Funny but a bit silly. Didn't really frighten me but managed to surprise me at the end. In the Cut: Didn't get it and didn't really like it either.

14. Hopealantti - Silverkronan by Anna Jansson

I like quite a much Anna Jansson's crime novels. They are not very scary or thrilling but a worth reading. I got a feeling that this was a bit different from the previous ones, less obvious or something like that...

15. Valheiden kukkaniityt - Heart Song by V.C. Andrews

Can't remember when I read the first book in the series so I didn't remember much about what happened to Melody earlier. Quite ok. Didn't hate it nor love it.

16. Kristalli - Crystal by V.C. Andrews

Left me confused. What was the point of this book? Didn't get it.

17. Kiehtovia naiskohtaloita Suomen historiasta by Caius Kajanti

Fascinating woman destinies from Finland's history. Interesting.

18. Dzamilja by Tsingis Aitmatov

Two short stories about love. Beautiful and bitter sweet.

19. Forsytein taru 1-2 - The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy

I loved the miniseries, made in 2002, based on this book and I just had to read the work. To my relief, it didn't disappoint me. It was kind of hard to read at times because of the old-fashioned language, but also very beautiful, tragic and enjoyable... Full of great emotions. I might want to reread it, but not for a while.

20. Sininen daalia - Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts

I like very much Nora's books and this was also enjoyable read. Not my favorite but worth reading.

21. Casa Rossan perilliset - Casa Rossa by Francesca Marciano

Fascinating novel. I liked a lot but I would have wanted to know more about Renee. Oh well, good anyway.

22. P.S. Rakastan sinua - P.S. I love you by Cecelia Ahern

Such an adorable story. I loved it.

23. Mördare utan ansikte by Henning Mankell

Took me ages to read this through because my Swedish skills really isn't that great but I finally did it. Yippee. Story was interesting enough to not to leave unfinished, despite the language.

24. Piinattu - A Faint Cold Fear by Karin Slaughter

Very creepy atmosphere. Catchy.

25. R niin kuin raha - R is for ricochet by Sue Grafton

I didn't realize how much I have missed Kinsey Millhone's investigations until now. Kinsey is my favorite. Pretty good story. Besides I can easily identify with Kinsey. I am not quite sure what it tells about me though... :)

26. Harry Potter ja Feeniksin kilta - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
27. Harry Potter ja puoliverinen prinssi - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

I love both of them. J.K. Rowling is such a fantastic writer. I have to read the last book in the series, but I can't read it yet, I don't want to know what happens to Harry and all the others. I'm not just ready to say goodbye to them, not yet.

28. Musta ruusu - Black Rose by Nora Roberts

A pleasant read once and again by Nora Roberts.

29. 101 Reykjavik by Hallgrimur Helgason

By far the most annoying book I've ever read! I hated the main character, didn't get the language and more than once I wanted to puke up when reading this book. But most ridiculous thing is that I still kept reading. I had such a high expectations for this book. I just didn't get it.

30. Varjoja auringossa - Ghosts in Sunlight by Gretta Curran Browne

Quite good. Don't really have anything special to say.

31. An Introduction to Molecular Ecology by Trevor Beebee & Graham Rowe

Very interesting subject but I find this book somewhat hard to follow.

32. Tohtori Tatjanan seksineuvoja koko luomakunnalle - Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation by Olivia Judson

Absolutely hilarious book about sex from not so usual point of view. :) Highly enjoyed.

33. Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I know this sort of a classic but I don't really know if I liked this. There were charming moments and then there were moments I found this book a bit silly. Maybe I missed something because of the language... Left me confused.

34. Anilin varjo - Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje

It was a little hard for me to get a grip on this book. I did like this more than The English patient which I read some years ago. If I had to grade this I probably would give three stars out of five.

35. Henkien talo - The house of the spirits by Isabel Allende

I am not progressing very well with my readings at the moment but I hope I can catch up a little during the Christmas holidays. Anyway, this was a very delightful reading experience. Isabel Allende has such an original style of writing. I think I want to add this to my own library. This was also my first book in reading around the world -challenge.

36. Viiniä keittiössä - Someone I loved by Anna Gavalda

Quick read. I like Anna Gavalda's style a lot.

37. Kuutamolla by Katja Kallio

Chick lit. Much better than I expected. This has also been filmed a couple of years ago.

38. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and
39. Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

I was surprised how much I enjoyed these two stories. I didn't read them when I was a child and I probably wouldn't have read them if they weren't on the 1001 Books to read before you die -list. However, I'm glad I read them because they were very deligtful although very unrealistic... :)

40. Aurinkomyrsky - Sun storm and
41. Sudentaival - The blood spilt by Åsa Larsson

Wow, these two were really amazing. Language was beautiful, the characters were real and and the story was truly catchy... These hold true for both of the books. I can hardly wait to read the third book in the series.

42. Kaivojen vainajat - Grave secrets by Kathy Reichs

I liked this one a lot. I'm very fond of Tempe Brennan as a heroine.

43. Apposen avoinna - Wide open by Nicola Barker

What a strange book! The characters were really odd but somewhat likable. Well, Lily not so much... I don't know how to rate this.

44. In My Sister's Shoes by Sinead Moriarty

Quite a basic chick lit book. Predictable but enjoyable.

A little notice, I'm a bit worried if my challenge is going to end before the April 6th which is my closing date. I just moved to Ireland for a couple of months and it's so hectic that I don't have too much time to read. Besides, I'm reading in English while I'm here and I won't progress as fast as I could progress in Finnish. I guess I just have to try to read very short books...

45. The year the gypsies came by Linzi Glass

Such a wonderful reading experience! Beautifully written, wise and touching.

By the way, at the moment I know for sure that I won't reach my target of 50 books. :( A bit disappointed in myself.

46. Celtic Gods and Heroes by Marie-Louise Sjoestedt

Since I find different myths and mythologies very fascinating this was very nice little book about Celtic mythology. Didn't go very deep but it was just fine for me because my background information about the matter wasn't so extensive.

So this is where I got stuck with my challenge. :( I am lacking four books. It was so close... Anyway, I will keep track of my readings until I finish the 50th book in the challenge and maybe I challenge myself again then, or maybe not. We will see.

My first post-challenge book:

47. Anatomy at a Glance by Omar Faiz

I read this for my anatomy class. I would recommend this to someone who wants to recall human anatomy. I read this knowing hardly anything about anatomy and the way things were expressed in this book didn't suit me so well.

48. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

What a fine novel! Took me ages to read this through but it was all worth it. Great characters, interesting storyline and a delicate love story. What more can you expect?

49. Early Irish Myths and Sagas by Jeffrey Gantz

Some of the stories I enjoyed, some of the stories were dull.

50. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Quick read. Little, great novel.

Finally I reached 50. Took me nearly 16 months. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Whatever the case, I think I won't challenge myself again, at the moment anyway.