Dianestm's 2011 Alphabet Challenge

Hi everyone, as its a new year I thought I would start over.

Rules for myself:

- No time limit
- No reading order
- My goal will be 26 titles - 1 from each letter of the alphabet
- 2nd goal - 26 authors - 1 one from each letter of the alphabet

Please feel free to make suggestions or comments.

Titles:

A: Adam of the Road Elizabeth Janet Gray
B: The Book of Lost Things John Connolly
C: Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy Ally Carter
D: Dear Mr Henshaw Beverly Cleary
E
F
G: The Greedy Bastard Diary Eric Idle
H: The Hundred Dresses Eleanor Estes
I
J
K
L: Lock and Key Sarah Dessen
M
N: No and Me Delphine de Vigan
O: One-Eyed Cat Paula Fox
P: The Painter Will Davenport
Q
R: Revolver Marcus Sedgwick
S: Sunnyside Joanna Murray-Smith
T: Three Girls and their Brother Theresa Rebeck
U: The Underneath Kathi Appelt
V
W: The Weed that Strings the Hangmans Bag Alan Bradley
X
Y: You Against Me Jenny Downham
Z

Authors:

A: Andrews, Donna - Murder with Puffins
B: Bradley, Alan - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
C: Christopher, Lucy - Stolen
D: Donoghue, Emma - Room
E: Estes, Eleanor - Ginger Pye
F: Ferraris, Zoe - The Night of the Mi'raj
G
H: Haig, Matt - The Radleys
I
J
K: Kwok, Jean - Girl in Translation
L: Latham, Jean Lee - Carry on Mr Bowditch
M: Nurray, Liz - Breaking Night
N: Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds - Shiloh
O: Ozick, Cynthia - The Shawl
P: Patchett, Ann - Truth and Beauty
Q
R: Rowling, JK - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
S
T: Topoloski, Carol - Do No Harm
U
V: Verghese, Abraham - Cutting for Stone
W
X
Y
Z

The Weed that Strings the Hangmans Bag Alan Bradley

4 1/2 stars

Flavia de Luce is back, the dangerously smart, rather wicked 11-year old with a passion for chemistry (especially poisons) and funnier than ever. Following Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, this second book in the series involves Rupert, a puppeteer who has a television show on the BBC. When his van breaks down in Fravia’s town of Bishop’s Lacey, he and his assistant/girlfriend are recruited to put on a puppet show. When Rupert ends up electrocuted the question becomes whether it is an accident or murder. Is there a connection to the hanging death of young boy Robin 5 years previously? What does Mad Meg, the mad woman of Gibbet Wood, know? And how does the field of (medicinal) marijuana that Flavia discovers on her daily jaunts on her trusty bike fit in?

Bradley beautifully captures the slower-paced, small-town life in 1950s England. Add quirky characters, two wicked sisters and a page-turning mystery, and you have a winner. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series.

The Hundred Dresses Eleanor Estes

4 1/2 stars

I picked this one up on the recommendation of Linda (Whisper1) and it was absolutely brilliant.

An immigrant girl is teased because she talks about having 100 dresses, despite the fact that she is obviously poor and wears the same dress to school day after day. Through this book, readers can consider the consequence of teasing and perhaps more importantly, consider the consequences of sitting quietly when others do the teasing. The protagonist maintains her dignity, despite her classmates unfortunate behavior.

Cutting for Stone Abraham Verghese

3 1/2 stars

A sweeping, emotionally riveting first novel — an enthralling family saga of Africa and America, doctors and patients, exile and home. Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful Indian nun and a brash British surgeon at a mission hospital in Addis Ababa. Orphaned by their mother’s death in childbirth and their father’s disappearance, the twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution. Yet it will be love, not politics that will tear them apart and force Marion, fresh out of medical school, to flee his homeland. He makes his way to America, finding refuge in his work as an intern at an underfunded, overcrowded New York City hospital. When the past catches up to him Marion must entrust his life to the two men he thought he trusted least in the world: the surgeon father who abandoned him and the brother who betrayed him. An unforgettable journey into one man’s remarkable life, and an epic story about the power, intimacy, and curious beauty of the work of healing others.

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy Ally Carter

4 stars

Most times lies aren't such a good thing, but in the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, lies are everything. Because this school is no ordinary school, it is a training program for young spies. Cammie Morgan, who goes to this school, finds herself wondering how to be herself when, as a young spy, she must have many other identities that are a part of who she is. because lying, blending in, and spying is what she does best. but on top of it all, there is something new approaching the Gallagher Academy, something none of them expected. BOYS, from another spy school that they heard of. But these boys are carrying a secret and it is up to Cammie and her friends to discover. What are they hiding? And what are they about to find out?

The second book in the Gallagher Girls series and a quick, easy and fun read.

No and Me Delphine de Vigan

4 stars

Lou, a 13-year-old, does research for school on homelessness and follows a 18-year-old homeless girl in order to interview her.

Homelessness is not the only somber topic covered in the book. Lou's family has a history they never talk about. Her school friend Lucas has his own set of problems. And of course, we meet No, the 18-year-old homeless girl, and get a hint of her issues.

Somber, but well worth the read.

Murder with Puffins Donna Andrews

3 1/2 stars

Vey funny book. The characters were so strange I found myself laughing out loud as they stumbled around Monhegan Island looking for a murderer. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets JK Rowling

4 stars

Another good book in this series. Character development of the three primary characters is well done. The plot also develops the surrounding cast, introduces new characters, and extends out knowledge of the Hogwarts Castle. The end of the book races to its conclusion, really moving you on a quick journey. Despite this speed, the ending is very well done and extremely well thought out.

The Night of the Mi'raj Zoe Ferraris

4 1/2 stars

Nouf, a young Muslim girl in Saudi Arabia goes missing, then turns up dead, just a few days before her wedding. A very pious man must team up with a female medical examiner to figure out what happened. Did she run away? Was she kidnapped? What is the family hiding?

Loved it! Beautiful. The author did a great job of placing the reader right in the situations, feeling the discomfort as the fight between the traditional rules and laws in Saudi Arabia clash with more modern ideas.

Lock and Key Sarah Dessen

3 1/2 stars

When Ruby finds herself deserted by her mum during her senior year of high school she trys to get by living on her own, only to be discovered by the authorities. Ruby is sent to live with her older sister that she has not seen in over ten years and thrust into a life of wealth and privilege that she is completely unaccustomed to. It is a Sarah Dressen book so of course there is romance mixed into the whole plot. A good quick teen genre read.

Revolver Marcus Sedgwick

3 1/2 stars

This was an interesting tale of a single event in a boy's life and the events that precipitated it. Sig and his family have lived in the arctic for as long as he can remember. His story takes place on the day he finds his father frozen on the lake and then finds his home invaded by a violent stranger who claims to have had a deal with Sig's father. Sig has to figure out the best path to take to save himself and his family. Should he shoot the stranger, or is the peaceful path his mother always urged a better choice?

The Radleys Matt Haig

4 stars

I really enjoyed this book! It was like a comic without the pictures, with characters that were really odd, and fitted perfectly with the situation they were in. I loved the plot. The take on vampires was a bit odd, and didn't fit in with many of the more romantic ideas about them, but it made for a good plot line, which was really orrigonal especially compared with many of the other vampire stories around. Funny and interesting, definitely something to read with spare time on your hands!

Stolen Lucy Christopher

3 1/2 stars

It was good, just not my favorite type of book to read. It is about a girl who is kidnapped and what she goes through. It is not graphic or hard to read, it is almost sweet but I am not sure how I am supposed to feel throughout the book. Was I supposed to empathise with the Kidnapper - because I did, and was Gemma supposed to annoy me - because she did, a lot!

Girl in Translation Jean Kwok

4 stars

Kimberly Chang and her Mother emigrate from Hong Kong to America. They start their lives in NYC in the comfort of Aunt Paula's home only to find themselves quickly deposited into poverty and long hours in a sweatshop. Kimberly Chang's dedication and determination to make a better life for her mother and herself is the fuel that motivates her to not only learn the English language but also to excel academically, set goals, and achieve. Kimberly successfully overcomes the language, economic, and social differences in order to fit into her new world. After achieving every goal and meeting every challenge, she learns exactly what she has had to give up to get there. Ultimately, Kimberly's success is both happy and sad. This is another story that reminds us that everything in life has a price.

Breaking Night Liz Murray

3 stars

I have read a few biographies along the same lines - parents are drug addicts and or alcoholics, kids are abused either physically or mentally and the eventual coming right of the person narrating the story. Don't get me wrong, I think what Liz Murray was able to achieve was fantastic and I applaud her efforts and aspirations to be something better than what she was but the book was kind of predicatable and I was hoping for something unique in her story.

Room Emma Donoghue

5 stars

The novel tells the story of 5-year-old Jack, who lives in one room with his mother, Ma. The reason they live there is that Ma was kidnapped when she was nineteen, and has been held prisoner in a specially designed room by her captor, Old Nick. The first part of the book is about Jack and Ma’s captivity, and the tension and sense of dread builds really well as Ma realises that there is no way mother and child will continue to survive in this situation as it is, and they have to attempt a daring escape.

Donoghue is spot on with the voices, obviously of Jack and the immensely sympathetic Ma, but also with Ma’s doctor, nurse, mother, brother, sister-in-law, father, and new stepfather. Each of these minor characters adds layers to the complexity of Jack’s adaptation to the big world outside, and to Ma’s difficulty dealing with her feelings of guilt and sadness.

Three Girls and their Brother Theresa Rebeck

3 stars

This book is a tale of what happens to a family when fame hits the three sisters in a family after a picture of them appears in The New Yorker. It talks about their instant rise to fame and how they each deals with the consequences of their fame. The book is in four parts with each part being told from the point of view from a different sibling. The mother was a horrible character who only had her own interests in mind and completely neglected her young children.

I found this hard to get into but for some reason kept going. This was a very average read.

Carry on Mr Bowditch Jean Lee Latham

4 1/2 stars

I was delightfully surprised at how much I loved this Newberry Award winner. Inspiring, exactly the kind of book I enjoy reading. Historical fiction based on the life of Nathaniel Bowditch, the book teaches you moral lessons being a self-starter & learning self-control, as well as interesting facts about navigation, mathematics, and science, while still being an engrossing and endearing story.

Shiloh Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

4 stars

Set in the hills of West Virginia, a young boy faces the dilemma of doing the right thing by the law or by his heart. Marty befriends the beagle Shiloh when it tags along on one of his fishing expeditions. He finds the pooch to be very shy but hungry for companionship. It doesn't take long before Shilo's affable puppyish enthusiasm shows through. The become fast inseperable friends. After some particulary savage treatment by the beagle's owner, Marty builds a sanctuary for the little creature. The young boy shows many shining qualities such as selflessness, and bravery confronting and overcoming evil with good. Will he be able to keep the dog? Dependent on this is how his parents, sister, neighboring friend, local authorities, and Shiloh's owner respond. Marty must find a way to please all involved while finding justice for his canine friend.

One-Eyed Cat Paula Fox

3 1/2 stars

Ned gets a gun from his uncle for his birthday, but his father takes it away, stating that he doesn't want him to have it yet. That night, Ned sneaks the gun out of the attic and shoots it at a shadow. He is sure that the one-eyed cat that turns up soon afterward is the result of his handywork, and he feels horribly guilty about it.

I recognize that there was good writing here, and I thought it had flashes of insight about human nature, but the plot was just a little to internal for me. The entire story was about Ned's guilt and how he dealt with it, so the character did a lot of introspection, and describing.

Dear Mr Henshaw Beverly Cleary

3 1/2 stars

This book Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Clearly is a awesome book that shows a young boy having a hard time in his life. His parents are divorced and he lives in a trailor park. Man his life is rough but everyday he writes to his favorte author, Mr. Henshaw.

You Against Me Jenny Downham

4 1/2 stars

You Against Me is an emotional, realistic tear jerker. Ellie's brother Tom has been accused of assaulting Karyn McKenzie. He says he didn't do it, Karyn insists he did. Ellie meets Karyn's brother Mikey when he gatecrashers a party for Tom's release on bail. His goal: Beat Tom to a pulp. But then he starts to fall for Ellie, and she for him. As the court date looms, Ellie is cracking up. Her brother needs her, but so does Mikey.

This is a great read. I liked the characters of Ellie and Mikey, but Tom was really the star of the show.

Adam of the Road Elizabeth Janet Gray

3 stars

Winner of the 1943 Newbery. In late 13th-century England, eleven-year-old Adam and his trusty spaniel Nick await at St. Alban's abbey the return of Adam’s father, the minstrel Roger, who has been wandering and plying his trade. The family is reunited, but after Adam's dog is stolen, he gives chase, and loses Roger again. There begins a long wandering, from London to Winchester and Oxford, over months, as Adam gets by on his minstrel skills and from the kindness of strangers.

The Painter Will Davenport

4 ½ stars

Two artists, two parallel stories, two love affairs. Amy Dale lives in modern England. A restoration job lands in her lap when she arrives in Hull, at the 17th century mansion that may have belonged to her ancestors. Here she makes some intriguing discoveries, while falling hard for a moody co-worker with disfiguring scars. Four hundred years earlier, Rembrandt van Rijn unexpectedly spent some time in the same mansion, where he was pressed into painting a portrait of the lady of the house, with whom he falls deeply in love.

Told from the vantage points of the two protagonists, The Painter spins out a tale full of intrigue and history. It's a fascinating story, filled with secrets and mysteries, and based upon the question surrounding Rembrandt's "missing" year.

The Underneath Kathi Appelt

2 ½ stars

This one was tedious and too abstract for my tastes. The blend of folklore and the tale of the animals didn't mesh. Each short chapter was so abrupt and disjointed--it never gained momentum for me because it felt like she had to set the scene over and over with repetitive themes and images.

Do No Harm Carol Topolski

4 1/2 stars

Darkly funny, incredibly detailed portrayal of insanity. The character Virginia is a literary triumph. One of the frustrations with this book is the way the story kept jumping back and forth in time and between various characters who are drawn into Virginia's orbit. Early on this was quite confusing. I also didn't buy into the implied reason for Virginia's madness, her emotionally vacant mother. Despite these qualms, the story and stories within stories, are so gripping I read and enjoyed every word.

Wow you are making excellent progress with the challenge!

Thanks Lori, but I can see I will have problems with the really odd letters soon.