Nancy's Second Half

Here are the categories on which I'm focusing this year:

1. Are You There God, It's Me Nancy (Religion/Faith/Spirituality)
Marriage and Other Acts of Charity by Kate Braestrup
Quiverfull by Kathryn Joyce
I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming
Inside Scientology by Janet Reitman
The Lost Gospel Q
Predator Priest by David Margolick
Love Wins by Rob Bell

2. Read Locally (US History/Current Events)
Methland by Nick Reding
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Modern Ruins: Portraits of Place in the Mid-Atlantic Region by Shaun O'Boyle
We Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson
You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon
Gracefully Insane by Alex Beam

3. Read Globally (Books Set Outside the US)
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson (UK)
The Memory Chalet by Tony Judt (Cambridge, Paris, London, Israel, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia)
Three Cups of Deceit by Jon Krakauer (The Stans)
When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson (Edinburgh)
All the Colours of Darkness by Peter Robinson (London, Yorkshire)
The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna (Sierra Leone)
Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson (UK, Yorkshire)
Pig Island by Mo Hayder (Scotland)
True Things About Me by Deborah Kay Davies (UK, England)

4. Begin at the Beginning (1st in Series)
Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman
Soulless by Gail Carriger
Open Season by C.J. Box
Starvation Lake by Bryan Gruley
Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow
Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran
Still Midnight by Denise Mina
American Vampire by Scott Snyder

5. Can't Go Wrong (LT-Inspired)
The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks (wookiebender)
Salvation City by Sigrid Nunez (rebeccanyc)
Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo (bumpersmom, alcottacre, tymfos)
Feed by Mira Grant (wookiebender, dulcibelle, drneutron, tanglewood)
Visitation by Jenny Erpenbeck (kidzdoc)
The Way of Boys by Anthony Rao (dchaikin)
Allison Wonderland by Helen Smith (citizenjoyce)
The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan (msf59)
Full Dark No Stars by Stephen King (blackdogbooks)
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly (bahzah, msf59)
The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaajate (kidzdoc)
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (luxx, lkernagh)

6. All About ME (Memoir/Autobiography)
A Life Like Other People's by Alan Bennett
My Reading Life by Pat Conroy
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua
Roseannearchy by Roseanne Barr
Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison
Psychiatric Tales by Darryl Cunningham

7. Worth Waiting For (Books I've Owned since 2009 or Earlier)
The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo (3/19/09)
Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb (3/11/08)
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (6/20/08)
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith (11/24/09)
Ceremony in Death by J.D. Robb (4/22/08)

8. And the Statue Goes To (Award Winners & Nominees)
Just Kids by Patti Smith - (National Book Award)
Radioactive by Lauren Redniss - (LA Times Science & Tech Finalist, Nat'l Book Award Finalist)
The Boy in the Moon by Ian Brown (British Columbia's National Award for Canadian Nonfiction, Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Nonfiction)
Great House by Nicole Krauss (Nat'l Book Award Finalist, Orange Prize Shortlist)
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, Booktrust Teenage Prize, ALA Best Reading for Young Adults, James Tiptree Jr Award)
The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson (2010 Booker Prize)
The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht (Orange Prize, Nat'l Book Award Finalist)
The Sense of An Ending by Julian Barnes (2011 Booker Prize)

9. We're Here We're Queer We Have Books (GLBTQ)
Blue by Abigail Padgett
Big Sex Little Death by Susie Bright
The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You by S. Bear Bergman
Two Lives: Gertrude and Alice by Janet Malcolm
The Secret Historian by Justin Spring

10. Welcome to the World (Released in 2011)
So Many Ways to Begin by Jon MacGregor (ARC)
The Raising by Laura Kasischke (ARC)
Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante (ARC)
Shaken Not Stirred by Tim Gunn (Kindle Single)
Dominance by Will Lavender
Bossypants by Tina Fey
A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny
Walker Evans: Cuba
Mile 81 by Stephen King
Zombie, Ohio by Scott Kenemore
Zone One by Colson Whitehead
Sister by Rosamund Lupton

11. Expanding Horizons (Genres I Avoid)
The Magicians by Lev Grossman - Fantasy
The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger - Graphic Novel
The Good, the Bad and the Undead by Kim Harrison - Urban Fantasy
Locke and Key by Joe Hill - Graphic Novel
Locke and Key: Head Games by Joe Hill - Graphic Novel

First Quarter 2011

January
1. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson-(Library/Nook) - 4.5 stars
2. Marriage and Other Acts of Charity by Kate Braestrup -(Library/DTB) 4 stars
3. Crooked Letter Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin- (Library/Nook) - 4 stars
4. Methland by Nick Reding -(Library/DTB) - 4 stars
5. The Magicians by Lev Grossman -(Library/Nook) - 3.5 stars
6. A Life Like Other People's by Alan Bennett - (Library/DTB) - 4 stars
7. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - 5 stars (Library/Nook)
8. Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane - (Library/Nook) - 4.5 stars
9. The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks - (Library/DTB) - 3 stars

February
1. Modern Ruins by Shaun O'Boyle - (Library/DTB) - 3.5 stars
2. My Reading Life by Pat Conroy - (Library/Nook) - 5 stars
3. The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger - (Library/DTB) - 3.5 stars
4. Quiverfull by Kathryn Joyce - (Mine/Kindle) - 4 stars

March
1. Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman - (Mine/Kindle) - 4 stars
2. Soulless by Gail Carriger - (Mine/Kindle) - 3.5 stars
3. So Many Ways to Begin by John McGregor (ARC Gone/DTB) - 4 stars
4. The Raising by Laura Kasischke (ARC/Nook) - 3.5 stars

Second Quarter 2011

April
1. Just Kids by Patti Smith (Mine/Nook) - 5 stars
2. We are the Ship by Kadir Nelson (Mine/DTB) - 5 stars
3. The Good, the Bad and the Undead by Kim Harrison (Mine/Kindle) - 3 stars
4. Turn of Mind by Linda LaPlante (ARC/Nook) - 4.5 stars
5. You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon (Library/Nook) - 3.5 stars
6. Salvation City by Sigrid Nunez (Library/Nook) - 4 stars
7. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua (Library/Nook) - 4 stars

May
1. The Memory Chalet by Tony Judt (Mine/Kindle) - 4.5 stars
2. The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo (Shelf/DTB - Donating) - 4 stars
3. Three Cups of Deceit by Jon Krakauer (Online/PC) - 5 stars
4. Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb (Shelf/DTB - Donating) - 3.5 stars
5. The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson (Shelf/DTB - Donating) - 5 stars
6. Brave New Knits by Julie Turjoman (Library/DTB) - 4.5 stars
7. When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson (Shelf/DTB) - 5 stars
8. Radioactive by Lauren Redniss (Library/DTB) - 5 stars
9. I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Shelf/DTB) - 4 stars
10. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (Shelf/DTB) - 4 stars
11. Blue by Abigail Padgett
12. Open Season by C.J. Box
13. All the Colours of Darkness by Peter Robinson (Mine/Kindle) - 4 stars
14. Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo (Mine/Kindle) - 4.5 stars
15. Roseannearchy by Roseanne Barr (Library/DTB) - 2.5 stars

June
1. The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna (Library/DTB) - 5 stars
2. Big Sex Little Death by Susie Bright (Mine/Kindle) - 3 stars
3. The Boy in the Moon by Ian Brown (Mine/Kindle) - 5 stars
4. Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson (Library/DTB) - 4 stars
5. Great House by Nicole Krauss (Library/DTB) - 4 stars
6. Look Me In the Eye by John Elder Robison (Library/DTB) - 3.5 stars
7. Shaken Not Stirred by Tim Gunn (Mine/Kindle) - 3 stars
8. The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You by S. Bear Bergman (Mine/Kindle) - 5 stars

Third Quarter 2011

July
1. Feed by Mira Grant (Mine/Kindle) - 3.5 stars
2. Starvation Lake by Bryan Gruley (Library/DTB) - 4 stars
3. Two Lives by Janet Malcolm (Mine/Kindle) - 4 stars
4. Visitation by Jenny Erpenbeck (Library/DTB) - 4.5 stars
5. Your Six Year Old by Louise Bates Ames (Library/DTB) - 4 stars
6. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Library/DTB) - 4 stars
7. Gracefully Insane by Alex Beam (Library/DTB) - 4 stars

August
1. The Hanging Tree by Bryan Gruley (Library/DTB) - 4 stars
2. Inside Scientology by Janet Reitman (Library/DTB) - 4 stars
3. Dominance by Will Lavender (Library/DTB) - 3 stars
4. The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson (Mine/Kindle) - 3.5 stars
5. Bossypants by Tina Fey (Borrowed/DTB) - 4.5 stars
6. Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow (Mine/Kindle) - 3.5 stars
7. The Lost Gospel Q - 5 stars
8. Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris (Mine/Kindle) - 3.5 stars

September
1. A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny (Mine/Kindle) - 4.5 stars
2. Cowl Girls - (Library/DTB) - 3 stars
3. Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran (Library/DTB) - 4 stars
4. The Way of Boys by Anthony Rao (Mine/Kindle)- 5 stars
5. Alison Wonderland by Helen Smith (Mine/Kindle)- 4 stars
6. Locke & Key by Joe Hill (Library/DTB) - 4.5 stars
7. Still Midnight by Denise Mina (Library/Kindle) - 4 stars
8. Walker Evans: Cuba - 4 stars
9. Secret Historian by Justin Spring - (Mine/Kindle) - 5 stars

Fourth Quarter 2011

October
1. The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan (Library/DTB) - 4 stars
2. Pig Island by Mo Hayder (Mine/Kindle) - 3 stars
3. Predator Priest by David Margolick (Mine/Kindle) - 3 stars
4. Shut Your Eyes Tight by John Verdon (Library/Kindle) - 3 stars
5. Locke and Key: Head Games by Joe Hill (Library/DTB) - 4.5 stars
6. Full Dark No Stars by Stephen King (Mine/DTB) - 5 stars
7. American Vampire by Scott Snyder (Library/DTB) - 3.5 stars
8. True Things About Me by Deborah Kay Davies (Library/DTB) - 4 stars
9. Psychiatric Tales by Darryl Cunningham (Library/DTB) - 4 stars
10. The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht (Library/Kindle) - 4.5 stars
11. Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith (Library/Kindle) (Mine/DTB) - 4.5 stars
12. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly (Library/Kindle) - 4 stars
13. Mile 81 by Stephen King (Mine/Kindle) - 3 stars

November
1. Zombie, Ohio by Scott Kenemore (Mine/Kindle) - 4 stars
2. Ceremony in Death by J.D. Robb (Library/Kindle) - 3.5 stars
3. Love Wins by Rob Bell (Library/DTB) - 3.5 stars
4. Zone One by Colson Whitehead (Library/Kindle) - 4.5 stars
5. The Sense of An Ending by Julian Barnes (Library/Kindle) - 4.5 stars

December
1. The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaajate (Library/Kindle) - 3.5 stars
2. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (Library/Kindle) - 4 stars
3. The Basement by Stephen Leather (Mine/Kindle) - 3 stars
4. Sister by Rosamund Lupton (Mine/Kindle) - 3.5 stars

Favorite childhood book: These Happy Golden Years, The Velvet Room, Flat Stanley, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

What are you reading right now? Feed, Our Bodies Ourselves Menopause, Jazz 101

Bad book habit: Taking too many everywhere I go especially on any overnight trip

Do you have an e-reader? I have a Kindle and a Nook Color

Do you prefer one book at a time or several at once? One that engrosses me at a time, but I sometimes have another one going that is less absorbing

Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog? Umm I don't have a blog, but LT has greatly improved the quality of my reading

Least favorite book you read this year: Roseanne Barr's new bio

Favorite book this year: I've read 10 5 star book so far this year. I'll go with Just Kids for non-fiction and The Memory of Love for Fiction

How often do you read out of your comfort zone? I have a 'challenge' to read expand my horizons by reading genres I avoid this year. So far, I've read three books in that category.

What is your reading comfort zone? Mysteries, thrillers, memoir

Can you read on the bus? Yes. Even better is on the trolley because riding backward takes away any motion sickness at all

Favorite place to read: My 'spot' on the couch

What is your policy on book lending?I like it

Do you ever dogear pages in your books? Occasionally a mass market paperback

Do you write notes in the margins of your books? Never

What is your favorite language to read in? English

What makes you love a book? Characters. Insight. A unique or startling observation. A fantastic sentence.

What will inspire you to recommend a book? Umm. Depends on what the other reader likes. Might be exciting plot, fantastic characters or interesting setting.

Favorite genre: Mysteries

Genre you rarely read (but wish you did): Science Fiction

Favorite biography: Too many

Have you ever read a self-help book? Yes

Most inspirational book you've read this year: The Boy in the Moon

Favorite reading snack: Pretzels

How often do you agree with critics about a book? Well, I often like what they like, but I also often like what they dislike.

How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? I try to find something positive to say in case a different reader might like the book, but I don't have guilt or anything

If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose? French

Most intimidating book you've ever read: I don't know. Something from high school I suppose. Maybe A Light in August

Most initimidating books you're too nervous to begin: Proust

Favorite poet: Mary Oliver, Anne Sexton, Judy Grahn

Favorite fictional character: Too, too many. Recently I loved Olive Kitteridge and Ruth in the Three Pines series.

Favorite fictional villain: Snape

Books I'm most likely to bring on vacation: Mysteries and memoir

The longest I've gone without reading: One Horrible Month. I was on pain medication

Name a book that could not/would not finish: I haven't finished Cloud Atlas. I have hope that I might someday though

What distracts you easily when you're reading: As I get older, I'm far more distractable. I'll go with my partner or our son. TV is a close third though

Favorite film adaptation of a novel: I'll go with Wonder Boys

Most disappointing film adaptation of a novel: Almost all of them

The most money you've ever spent on books: On one book? Maybe $50 (excluding textbooks). On a bunch of books at once? Perhaps $250

How often do you skim a book before reading: I skim non-plot non-fiction sometimes to see if I find the writing style appealing

Do you like to keep your books organized? I like to, but I'm rarely successful

Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you've read them? I've worked hard to turn myself into a person that gives books away

A book that made you angry: What to be terrified of When You're Expecting. For the other good kind of angry - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks or Chasing Goldman Sachs or Quiverfull

A book you didn't expect to like but did: The Elegance of the Hedgehog

A book you expected to like but didn't: Bel Canto

Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading: The Bones series, knitting books, cozies, Three Pines series

47. Feed by Mira Grant
After the zombies come and we've learned to live with them, blogs are the reporters, adventurers and dreamers. The three main characters are being legitimized by being the first bloggers to be invited to follow a major political campaign. This dystopia/zombie horror/political thriller was a fun concept, but I didn't love the characters and it got bogged down in the middle. That was more than made up for by the exciting and unexpected ending.

Why did I read it: It was well-received by a lot of folks on LT and came up for sale on Kindle.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes.
Do they talk to each other? Yes.
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes.
I would absolutely call this book feminist.

Good review. I've got the sequel - Deadline - at home, but haven't started it yet.

>>I've just put Deadline on hold at the library.

48. Starvation Lake by Bryan Gruley
A mystery set in a Michigan small-town. The characters are good and the sense of place feels very, very authentic. The mystery ties back to the town's ascension as both a hockey championship contender and a summer getaway place and to its slow descent from those lofty heights. I recommend this for anyone who loves a gritty but not graphically violent mystery. It is particularly appropriate for anyone that likes hockey and/or thinks Three Pines isn't 'realistic' enough in its decpiction of a small town.

Why I read it: Mark. Again.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes.
Do they talk to each other? Yes.
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes.
There are no specifically feminist themes.

Spiffy new thread, Nancy! I love that book quiz!

>>7 alcottacre: I think I stole the quiz from you. It was fun to think about books the way it posed the questions

49. Two Lives: Gertrude and Alice by Janet Malcolm
A literary biography of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Tolklas. This is not a chronology of their lives but rather explorations of particular questions like "How did two Jewish lesbians survive WWII in France?" It is very, very well written and interesting if you have a basic knowledge of their lives.

I love the Bechdel Feminist Test too - so easy and so telling! I also have Feed and hope to get to it ONE of these days! You encourage me.

#9: I have not got Feed and am jealous of everyone who does! lol

#9. It was definitely worth the read. Fun and unexpected. I love the simplicity of the Bechdel test. No strict criteria just a straightforward look at the role of the female characters. I think she largely created it for film, but I still think it is fairly telling for fiction.

#10. I got it on sale for the Kindle. Perhaps there's a discounted version for the Nook as well.

50. Visitation by Jenny Erpenbeck
A fever dream of a novel where characters and time are fluid but place stays the same. Largely dark with moments of beauty, it swoops in and out of German history including a harrowing look at the Holocaust. The chapters examine periods in the lives of people who are connected to a particular piece of property with each visitation bordered by a shorter chapter about 'The Gardener'. Although we become intimate with their darkest hours, the characters are barely described (think The Arichitect, The Family Friend, The Cloth Manufacturer etc.) Very, very recommended if you like nontraditional narrative that helps get to the heart of things.

Why I read it: Mark is free and clear on this one, it's Darryl's fault.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes.
Do they talk to each other? Yes.
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes.

#11: Even if there is a discounted version for the Nook, I cannot buy it. Book buying ban still in place.

#13. Ohhh. I forgot. Sorry to bring temptation into your path.

I'm on a trial 2 month book buying ban myself. It is truly going well, but when I actually think about it, my chest gets tight.... Addiction, anyone?

#13: Yeah, it has been tough breaking this particular addiction. I can relate :)

>11 nancyewhite: Wait...what? What am I getting blamed for???

#15. For my reading Visitation (as well as a billion other things!)

51. Your Six Year Old by Louise Bates
Although dated, this hit Jack (6 in October) on the nose. I'm so much happier having read this.

Why I read it: Jack is misbehaving and defiant at school, he is smart but bratty, he wants noticed at all times and tries hard to get attention, he is a sore loser and a sore winner. This book helped me realize that he is a completely normal (almost) 6 year old.

starred

52. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
A great YA dystopia. Hearing one another's thoughts has driven men to madness and nearly-adult Todd has to escape a terrible fate awaiting him when he reaches manhood. He runs accompanied by a fantastic dog and a scared girl. As they run, we learn more about the place they live and how it came to be what it is.

Why I read it: It was recommended by many folks here: Lunacat, Mark, Flossie, and Lady Violet are the ones I have noted, and I'm sure I read about it on more threads than that. It came to the top of the pile by being on a shelf of "Books THEY Don't Want You to Read" in the YA Section of our local library. Even today, I'm a reading rebel.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes.
Do they talk to each other? Not really.
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man?

This is definitely a boy's book, but I'd argue it isn't anti-feminist at all in its themes and plot.

I'm stopping by to say I miss you! Happy Sunday! I love the titles of your categories.

>>20 Whisper1:. I miss you too! I hope my life (and everyone else's) normalizes when summer turns to fall. I had so much fun making up those categories. I'm glad you like them.

53. Gracefully Insane by Alex Beam
A breezy history of McLean Hospital a psychiatric hospital for Boston's well-heeled. While it indulges in some gossip about McLean's famous patients (Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton, James Taylor, Susanna Kaysen) it also provides details about how mental health treatment has changed since the hospital was founded in the 19th Century. I recommend this especially in combination with Asylum by Christopher Payne and especially The Lives the Left Behind by Darby Penney both of which I read late in 2010.

Why I read it: Mental Illness and its history is a topic I'm interested in. I grabbed this off the shelf at the library.

#21: Adding Gracefully Insane to the BlackHole. I am still hoping to get my hands on The Lives They Left Behind one of these days.

54. The Hanging Tree by Bryan Gruley
For this one, the second in the Starvation Lake series, Gruley really tightens the plot and maximizes the strengths he showed in his debut novel. Once again, the characters are interesting and the sense of place (small town Michigan) is stellar. There is still hockey although it is less detailed and contributes more to the plot. This is a series I'll be following.

Why I Read It: I really enjoyed the first one and was interested in keeping up so I didn't get so far behind I felt like I'd never get caught up.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes.
Do they talk to each other? Yes.
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes.

55. Inside Scientology by Janet Reitman
An examination of Scientology by a journalist for Rolling Stone magazine. This is unique in the available writing about the religion/movement which is otherwise composed of stories by defectors or adherents. It is hard to know what to say. It seems to be a cult. I still don't completely understand what draws people to it. Most interesting to me is how changing and manipulating language results in disorientation that removes you from the world around you. I mostly feel bad for the seekers find themselves caught up in a quest for more and more loyalty and money. I can't imagine 'disconnecting' from my loved ones for not believing what I do.

Why I Read It: I'm interested in cults and alternative religions. I'm interested in pop culture.

Welcome back, Nancy! You've been reading some interesting stuff for sure!

*waving* at Nancy

56. Dominance by Will Lavender
Ummm. Hmmm. Wellllll. This mystery is an intruiguing and well-crafted puzzle (think And Then There Were None. It focuses on literature and books. So those are good things. BUT it is completely and totally unbelievable. No one would do the things these people do to play a game (especially a game that revolves around the writings of what sounds to be an Edith Wharton knockoff). It just doesn't ring true at all. So I recommend it only for those who love tight plots, puzzles and unexpected twists but don't care about believeable characters in authentic situations.

Why I read it: I read an article on Salon.com where Will Lavender discusses coming to accept himself as a genre writer that I enjoyed and agreed with.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes.
Do they talk to each other? Not really. No one really talks to one another in any meaningful or believable way in this one.
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? See above.

Hi there!

I'm adding Gracefully Insane to the tbr pile. It sounds fascinating.

Hugs to you,

57. The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson
2010 Booker Winner. I thought this inquiry into Jewish life in current London was funny but in many ways it left me cold.I liked it and think it is worth reading because it is beautifully written, but contrary to some of the professional reviews I read, I didn't find it warm and insightful into either the Jewish or by extension the human condition.

Why I read it: Won the Booker and generated a fair number of mixed reviews on LT so I wanted to see for myself.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes.
Do they talk to each other? Not really.
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? No.
This book felt very, very male to me. Not necessarily in a bad way but I can't imagine a woman writing this book.

Again, I'm always glad to see that you've posted something new, Nancy. I have *FQ* but it's way, way down near the bottom of Mt. Bookpile, and your comments don't make me want to move it up. On the other hand, it is still on Mt. Bookpile, so I will get to it eventually!

>29 nancyewhite:: ugh, I read it for the same reasons you did, and I didn't like it much at all.

#29: I loved The Finkler Question but know of several people in the group who did not care for it. Ah, well. If we all liked the same books, the world would be a boring place :)

In going through posts this morning I was interested to see that Stasia and I enjoyed The Finkler Question, but disagreed in our assessments of The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet.

58. Bossypants by Tina Fey
A fun memoir. I suppose it is more autobiographical essays than it is traditional chronological memoir. I really, really enjoyed her take on life. I found it to be hysterically funny without being mean which is rare indeed. I do think it helps that she and I are fairly close in age.

Why I read it: A friend of mine enjoyed it and loaned me her copy.

Note: Although I'm not doing the Bechdel test on non-fiction, this is very, very much a feminist book in the best possible way.

#33: I just enjoy being difficult :)

59. Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow
The first in the Kate Shugak series. I enjoyed the Alaskan bush setting. The characters are introductory and pretty one-dimensional, but Kate herself shows a lot of potential to develop. I expect this to be an improving series.

Why I read it: It was .99 on Kindle and Joyce was reading and enjoying the series. I like female lead investigators, I like series and I like Alaska so no brainer.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes.
Do they talk to each other? Yes.
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes.

60. The Lost Gospel Q
A collection of early Christian writings from about the 50s. These are considered by biblical scholars to be the written record closest to when Jesus actually lived. The Birth and Passion narratives are noticeably absent. But the beatitudes, mustard seed and many, many statements about humbleness are here. Besides the introductions by Thomas Moore and Marcus Borg the statements largely stand on their own with an occasional note about translation or context.

Why I read it: Just grabbbed it from the shelf today.

#36: I also enjoy the Kate Shugak series. I hope you decide to continue on with it, Nancy.

#37: I will see if I can locate a copy of that book. Thanks for the mention!

>>38 alcottacre:. I already downloaded the next Shugak to the Kindle. I'll probably read it soon, but I splurged and got the new Louise Penny that was released today. So that is first!

61. Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris
I enjoyed what I'm assuming is the final installment in the Harper Connelly series. I like how Harris fleshes out Harper and her partner Tolliver's terrible childhood and makes no apologies for their lack of forgiveness toward the abusers. This is definitely brain candy that I read because I was in a slump, but it is enjoyable brain candy.

Why I read it: Reading slump.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes.
Do they talk to each other? Yes.
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes.

I have Finkler Question in my pile as well, but so many comments about it (apart from Stasia's) are less than positive, I may not be rushing to read it any time soon...

#40: Darryl liked it too :)

#41 Ok, I won't give up on it altogether!

#42: I am so glad that Darryl's input swayed you :) LOL

>>40 gennyt:-43. I think The Finkler Question is worth reading. It is gorgeously written, interesting and funny. It just doesn't speak to the heart of things in the way I prefer.

I did like The Finkler Question, as Stasia mentioned, but less than some of the other Booker Prize winners I've read recently.

Hi There Friend!

62. A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny
A new and fine installment in my favorite current mystery series. I really enjoyed how Penny riffed on how many murders take place in Three Pines. As always, Gamache is the most interesting, smart and empathetic detective in fiction.

Why I read it: I couldn't resist.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes.
Do they talk to each other? Yes.
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes.
These are certainly woman-loving books.

#47: : I couldn't resist.

I could not resist either and ordered the book from Barnes & Noble :) Glad to see you enjoyed it, Nancy!

#47 Another positive review for the next installment... I'm going to have to be very patient as it does not come out until 2012 in the UK!

63. Cowl Girls by Cathy Carron
An okay pattern book of cowls, dickies, snoods and the like. I really was only enamored with one pattern so I'm glad this is a library book. Perhaps unfortunately, I think the advent of Ravelry makes books like these less appealing.

Why I read it: It was on the New Nonfiction shelf at the local library so I grabbed it.

Jack and the rest of the Kindergarten class went to the checked out books from his school's library today. Here is the picture he drew of the experience and then brought home. I'm delighted...



Edited for picture sizing.

63. Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran
I really enjoyed this offbeat mystery set in New Orleans. The detective uses an alternate methodology based on the writings of a famous French detective. It includes drugs and the occult. It is clear that Gran is very familiar with the city which is one of my favorite places in the entire world. This mystery is very hard to describe. It is like an alternate reality or perhaps more like a heightened reality. The crime itself takes a backseat to the city, Katrina, street kids, missing friends and mystery itself. It seems this is the beginning of a series, and I'll definitely be looking for the next one. Recommended if you like that kind of thing.

Why I read it: Mark read it and his review made it sound appealing to me. Then it was right on the shelf at the library so...

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes.
Do they talk to each other? Yes.
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes.
Claire is a tough and interesting female character who certainly stands on her own two feet.

I take it as a very good sign that the librarian has such a big smile! Thanks for posting the picture, Nancy!

I'm impressed that Jack spelled 'library' correctly!

Totally written on the chalkboard. The impressive thing is the writing lower case letters which he is just learning.

64. The Way of Boys by Anthony Rao
A fantastic discussion of boys from preschool through the end of elementary school. This one was absolutely fantastic for me as a mother to a kindergarten aged boy. My only brother is 16 years older than I am. His children are both girls. My partner is a woman. This little guy feels like a foreign land. Until this book which explains boys in a loving, compassionate, sensible and understandable way. Highly, highly recommended.

Why I read it: I found a hot review by dchaikin and it seemed like something that would be good just as Jack began kindergarten.

65. Alison Wonderland by Helen Smith
I really liked this book that was half mystery and half magical realism. It was charming and quirky without being so weird as to be off-putting.

Why I read it: It was recommended by CitizenJoyce and seemed like it might suit my mood.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes.
Do they talk to each other? Yes.
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes.
This book is quite feminist in nature I think.

That one looks interesting. I'll have to keep an eye open for it.

66. Locke and Key by Joe Hill
A graphic novel. With supernatural and horror elements. And kids in jeopardy. I tore through this like I was starving for something I didn't even know existed and now I want the next one immediately. Fantastic.

Why I read it: I follow Joe Hill on Twitter and he talks about it a lot. Some folks on LT have been enthusing about it recently as well.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes - well, women and girls and female ghosty things.
Do they talk to each other? Yes.
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes.

Hi Nancy, I'm just catching up on your thread. It seems like a lot of people in the 75-ers group have been into mysteries lately, and I keep finding ones to add to my list! I'm glad to see a good review of Gracefully Insane. I have had it on my shelf for a while and should really get around to reading it!

>>60 carlym:. Speaking of mysteries, my next read was a great one.

67. Still Midnight by Denise Mina
A very, very good mystery set in Scotland. Mina writes from the viewpoint of a variety of the characters and manages to give each a distinct voice in this story of a kidnapping gone wrong. She explores themes of immigration, family ties, violence and loss. Highly recommended.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes
Do they talk to each other? No.
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man?
Still a pretty feminist book.

68. Walker Evans: Cuba
Photographs of 1930s Cuba. This is early for Evans before he became the photographic chronicler of the Depression. Very good look at the people living under a dictatorship meant to serve the rich. An introductory essay by Andrei Codrescu is delightful and his knowledge of both Cuba, Cuban History, photography and Walker Evans is evident.

Why I read it: I have a longstanding fascination with Cuba. My mother visited right before the revolution. I hope to get in as soon as it becomes possible for Americans to legally travel there.

69. The Secret Historian by Justin Spring
This biography of Samuel Steward (aka Phil Andros) spans gay male life from the 1930s through the 1980s. An amazing look at a gay sex radical, tattoo artist, writer and pornographer who refused to live ashamed and, furthermore documented his entire life including his sexual encounters. Spring's access to the source material makes this miraculous.

In addition to being a diarist, collector and literary writer, Steward also was lovers and/or friends with Thornton Wilder, Gertrude Stein, Alice B. Tolklas, Alfred Kinsey, Chuck Renslow, John Preston and on and on. If you can tolerate explicit sexual description and have even the remotest interest in gay history, I highly, highly recommend this book.

Why I read it: I believe I originally found it via the NYT.

Edited because I forgot Kinsey!

70. The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan

A well-written, literary horror novel that was plotted like an over the top spy thriller. Violent and sexy, this was a blast to read.

Why I read it: Recommended by Mark and on the shelf at the library.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? No
Do they talk to each other?
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man?
Definitely not a feminist book.

Hi Dear One!

Jack's library drawing is so darn cute! Hang in there --- only five more books to go and you have reached the goal.

All the best to you!

I've been reading good things about The Last Werewolf. On to the TBR list it goes.

And I love Jack's picture too. My kids love library day, almost as much as Scholastic Book Order day.

I hope you enjoy The Last Werewolf when you get to it.

I remember the excitement of Scholastic Book day from my own childhood.

71. Pig Island by Mo Hayder
An okay mystery/thriller/horror mashup. Graphic violence. A cult lives on an island and the leader goes mad. A journalist comes to investigate. I saw the ending coming for too long.

Why I read it: October is here. I'm trying to focus on scary books

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes
Do they talk to each other? Yes
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? NO

72. Predator Priest by David Margolick
A Kindle Single focused on a single child-molestor priest and the Catholic Church's role in his ability to continue harming young boys for many, many years. Margolick also looks closely at a single victim who eventually committed suicide but whose family kept on fighting the Church.

Why I read it: I wanted something short to read on a weekend trip.

73. Shut Your Eyes Tight by John Verdon
The second in a passable series. More plot than character. Lots of twists and turns. A fun, easy read.

Why I read it: Mysteries often appeal when I'm in a bit of a book funk.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes
Do they talk to each other? No
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? NO

74. Locke and Key: Head Games by Joe Hill
Second in the series of horror/fantasy graphic novels. Fantastic.

Why I read it: I loved the first one and couldn't wait to get my hands on the next.

75. Full Dark No Stars by Stephen King
Incredibly dark, fantastically written short stories by the master. These really explore the dark human heart with very little of the supernatural focus he is famous for. I had to take a break of a few weeks after the first two they were so powerful.

Why I read it: October!

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes
Do they talk to each other? Yes
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes

Good notes on the latest two. I'm a big fan of Locke & Key too!

Congratulations on reaching the goal of reading 75 books!

Congratulations, Nancy!

Wow, I completely missed that the latest was number 75. Congrats!

Thanks, folks! I am very pleased with my progress this year. Not just for hitting 75, but also for how well I'm hitting my categories. I'd like to do a little better at reading books I already own though.

76. American Vampire by Scott Snyder
A graphic novel of the history of the American Vampire. It focuses on the creation myth set in the late 19th century wild west and written by Stephen King and vampires in early Hollywood in the 1920s. These are the violent vampires of your nightmares not the sparkly vampires of your daydreams. An enjoyable Halloween read.

Why I read it: It seemed like a fun October read on the library's graphic novel shelf.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes
Do they talk to each other? Yes
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes
Still, probably not a feminist book.

77. True Things About Me: A Novel by Deborah Kay Davies
A fragile young woman descends into madness after entering into a relationship with an abusive man. Told in short choppy chapters with violence and dark humor, this was an effective but disturbing novel.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes
Do they talk to each other? Yes
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes

77 & still reading !! GOOD for you, Nancy! Congratulations - especially since you're pleased with your categories!

78. Psychiatric Tales by Darryl Cunningham
A graphic memoir of a man's time as a health aide on a psychiatric ward and his own struggle with mental illness. I loved the art but found the writing a bit simplistic. However, the tone may serve someone who is less familiar with mental health issues very well.

Just put American Vampire 1 and 2 on reserve at the library. Sounds like what I need to get me out of the work-related funk I've been in. :)

>>80 drneutron:. I need to get 2 as well. I think they are a lot of fun although not as good as The Locke and Key series.

79. The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
Given my prior dislike of magical realism and the mixed reception this got on LT, I had to promise myself I could stop at any time before I began reading it. Of course there's only one way that could turn out. I loved this book. Myths and stories and tales wrapped inside one another like nesting dolls. Village life and war. Healing and hurting. People and their country torn asunder. Obreht is a voice to be reckoned with. I'd urge you to give it a try and see which way it turns out for you.

Why I read it: I try to read Orange Prize winners when I get a chance.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes
Do they talk to each other? Yes
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes

#81 - I've also heard/read a lot of mixed reviews about The Tiger's Wife. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Also, I appreciate that you run the Bechdel Feminist Test on your reads!

>81 nancyewhite:: I didn't like it but I can understand why others did, and I'd still read another book by Obreht. Strange but true.

>>83 lauralkeet:. There are writers I feel that way about as well, so it doesn't seem that strange.

80. Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
A mystery/thriller set in Stalinist Russia. I was quite engaged by the setting and political machinations of the powers that be. The thriller was okay with an unbelievable twist. Still I liked this a lot and would highly recommend for its fascinating sense of time and place.

Why I read it: I was in the mood for a well written mystery/thriller.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes
Do they talk to each other? Not really
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man?
Not an anti-feminist book. But not feminist either.

I'm glad that you enjoyed The Tiger's Wife, Nancy; I'm planning to read it this week.

>>86 kidzdoc:. I look forward to hearing what you think of it, Darryl.

81. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
A YA novel that shifts narratives between current day NYC and Paris and the French Revolution. I enjoyed this, but surprisingly found the story of the depressed, floundering current day girl more interesting than that of the girl in the Revoultion which felt a little far-fetched to me.

Why I read it: Good reviews on LT. Available for the Kindle from my library.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes
Do they talk to each other? Yes
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes
Very believable young female protaganist who is quite damaged but also resilient, smart and capable.

82. Mile 81 by Stephen King
An average horror short story from the master which makes it still better than most. The setting of an abandoned rest stop is creepy and King is fantastic at writing tween boys. A fun read for Halloween.

Why I read it: Halloween

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? No
Do they talk to each other?
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man?

83. Zombie, Ohio by Scott Kenemore
I really enjoyed this clever zombie apocalypse novel told from the point of view of a newly risen zombie. It is both funny and gory with a little mystery thrown in. In addition to the narrator, I liked the choice to set it in a rural Ohio county. A tasty bit of zombie brain candy (pardon the pun)

Why I read it: It was the Amazon Kindle Deal on Halloween

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Sorta
Do they talk to each other?
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man?

84. Ceremony in Death by J.D. Robb
Easy reading for a challenging time. This series and its characters are good enough to engage with but don't require much thinking.

Why I read it: Available in library's Kindle books and I needed something easy. It was the next in the series for me.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes
Do they talk to each other? Yes
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes

85. Love Wins by Rob Bell
A controversial look at grace and how it applies to our lives and our afterlives. I like him, but the short little sentences and big spaces were irritating. I found that if I tried to sort of hear it as a sermon while I read I liked it much better. I bet it would be good audio.

Why I read it: I like books from the 'new' emerging Christians.

Hello My Dear Invisible Friend.

Thinking of you and sending all good wishes

Hello right back at you!

86. Zone One by Colson Whitehead
This started slowly and then built into a crescendo that blew me away. It is funny and lyrical and bitter and violent and haunting and sad. I liked it a lot.

Why I read it: I'm a fan of Zombies and Whitehead so it seemed like a win.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Kind of
Do they talk to each other? No
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man?
In this instance, I would say that the answers to these questions in no way reflect the feminist/humanist underpinnings of the book.

#93- I'm thinking about reading this next month. I'm somewhat new to zombies (I've been watching The Walking Dead and think I might like it), but I love Colson Whitehead.

#94. It was quite rich, I think. I hope you enjoy it.

87. The Sense of An Ending by Julian Barnes
I often find that well-told stories of ordinary lives such as Olive Kitteredge and this short novel linger in my mind the longest after I finish them. This examination of a man's coming of age, friendships and first love is focused and strong. I really was captivated by the concept that in some ways we survive our lives by being unreliable narrators of our own stories.

Why I read it: It won the Booker this year, and I was intrigued by the reviews.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes
Do they talk to each other? No
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man?

>95 nancyewhite:: I just read this one too, and posted my review today. Haunting, isn't it? I agree with your comment, "I often find that well-told stories of ordinary lives such as Olive Kitteredge and this short novel linger in my mind the longest after I finish them. "

Nancy

Harmonic convergence is in the air. I went to the library today before reading your thread and I brought home a copy of The Sense of An Ending. I plan to read it over the Thanksgiving break.

How is Jack doing in school thus far this year? My, but time is flying right by.

Hi. I'm interested in seeing what you think of the Barnes book. It really is sticking with me.

Jack is doing okay as far as I know. We don't get to meet with the teacher until February which is killing us because we are used to daily feedback from daycare.

Here is my take on the NYT Notables of 2011

I've read:
Cat's Table (currently reading)
The Last Werewolf
The Sense of an Ending
Swamplandia (stalled)
The Tiger's Wife
The Boy in the Moon
Inside Scientology
The Memory Chalet

I have but haven't read:
The Leftovers
Scenes from Village Life

Wishlisted:
11/22/63
The Grief of Others
House of Holes
The Marriage Plot
1Q84
Stone Arabia
The Stranger's Child
The Submission
Ten Thousand Saints
This Beautiful Life
Arguably
In the Garden of Beasts

I'm glad that you enjoyed Zone One, Nancy. I may read it in December, so that I can pass it on to my father.

88. The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje
The story of a journey by ship from Sri Lanka to England in the 1950s. Told from the perspective of a writer remembering the trip he took as a boy and revisiting events he didn't understand very well but that shaped him nonetheless. I liked the characters and the writing, but did not find it gripping. It may be largely wrong book at the wrong time.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes
Do they talk to each other? Yes
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes

89. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
I liked this YA novel which incorporates vintage photos into its storyline. A coming of age adventure, time travel, history story. Creative and fun.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes
Do they talk to each other? Yes
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes

90. The Basement by Stephen Leather
A serial killer novella. The parts told in his voice were good. The parts told in the screenwriters voice weren't as captivating.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes
Do they talk to each other? No
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man?
There is nothing feminist about this book.

<img src="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTD5HV2K5rFq8GVDDQImeRCQ2VlP9HxGjGPGy218fltVgoZ6h0vZA"

Merry Christmas, Nancy!

Merry Christmas, Nancy! (For some reason it won't let me say so in the same post as the books.)

Thank you, Lizzie. The 75er book exchange is one of my favorite parts of the holiday.

Wishing you all the very best Nancy!

Merry Christmas, Nancy! I hope that we can get together when I finally get off of my duff and make it back to Pittsburgh.

Thanks, folks. Happy New Year to you!

Darryl - I would absolutely love to meet you IRL.

91. Sister: A Novel by Rosamund Lupton
A mystery set in London. When Beatrice's sister Tess dies by her own hand, she is the only one who believes it was murder and sets out to prove it. I liked this largely for Beatrice's love for Tess and commitment to her belief that she knew her sister better than anyone else. I solved the whodunit before the 'shocking twist', and I'm not one who tries to put the pieces together so I suspect the solution could have been better.

Why I read it: Something light. It had good reviews.

Bechdel Feminist Test:
Are there two or more women in it and do they have names? Yes
Do they talk to each other? Yes
And do they talk to each other about something other then a man? Yes