Chrissybob tries to read 75 in 2012

Hi all

I am quite new to LT so this will be my first attempt at the challenge!

I have a huge TBR list - and even if I manage the 75 it will only make a small dent but it's a start. Never mind the fact that I am addicted to buying books so the pile grows faster than I could ever hope to get through it.

I am also working on the 1001 Books to Read Before you Die - so there should be few of them in the mix.

Chrissy

Welcome to LT and the group! Good luck in 2012.

Welcome! Glad you decided to join us.

FYI, we've added a couple of wikis to the mix this year. The first is where we keep important threads. The second is the Threadbook where we have a directory to all the members' threads. Both help keep a handle on the chaos! :)

Welcome to the group, Chrissy!

Thanks all - have just finished my first book of the year!

The elegance of the hedgehog by Muriel Barbery - I think is is fair to say that most of the philosohpical elements of this book went way over my head - however it was beautifully written and had me laughing and crying in equal measures. Well worth a read.

Next up.... One Day by David Nicholls for my book clud read.

I love The Elegance of the Hedgehog and am seriously thinking about giving it a re-read this year. I am glad you enjoyed it, Chrissy.

No. 2 - One Day by David Nicholls

I must admit I expected more from this so was left a little disappointed. The structure was very clever and there were some clever observations on maturity and relationships - plus some very funny moments. Towards the end though I admit to getting bored - it started to feel like an overly long rom-com and I ended up not being very bothered about what happened to Emma and Dexter. A nice enough holiday read but nothing more than that for me.

Next up - Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

I have wavered back and forth on reading One Day. I think I will continue to give it a pass at this point.

I hope you enjoy The Inheritance of Loss more, Chrissy!

No. 3 - Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

This book has some of the best individual sentences I have ever read and a lovely gently humorous tone - but was completely lacking in terms of a strong story line which was a huge let down. I really struggled to finish it and can't say I am pleased I bothered - not my cup of tea at all.

Next up The Spy who came in from the cold - John le Carre
This is my first go at a spy novel but so far so good!

Welcome, Chrissy! I look forward to reading more of your reviews. Happy reading! :-)

Welcome to the challenge and good luck with your goals, Chrissy!
The Elegance of the Hedgehog is one of the books I keep in mind but haven't bought/read yet. - I'm always waiting for "having nothing else to read". But maybe this year there will be the moment, where I actually have nothing else to read. :)

#11 Elegance of the Hedgehog is worth a read - give it a go ;o)

No. 4 - The Spy who came in from the Cold - John Le Carre
I loved this - and I never thought I would say that!! I had it in my head that spy novels were dry and full of political details but this was briiliant. It was concise and pacey and lost nothing for it's brevity. Amazing writing and the plot twists and turns - then a smacker of an ending. Will be keeping an eye out for more Le Carre in the charity shops from now on!

Next on the plan - Invisible by Paul Auster - another new author for me - I hope I enjoy this one as much.

You've interested me in Le Carre now! Thanks for the review.

No. 5 - Invisible by Paul Auster
This was a very quick read and looking back I wish I had sent more time it- but it is so well written I was almost obliged to fly through it. Interesting story - and one that I can't help thinking about again and again. Definately worth a read.

No. 6 - Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
I enjoyed the first half of this very much - I wanted to learn more about what became of Bernard Marx and Lenina so the second half of the book was a bit disappointing. I understand the social commentary dictated the way the story was to go but I think that as a narrative it suffered. Not up there with the great dystoian novels for me - but an enjoyable read.

I am about 3/4's of the way through Moll Flanders which in terms of language and style is a bit harder going - but I am enjoying it never the less.

7. Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe - am interesting read not least because it was written by a man but shows real insight into the issues facing womens during the period. Getting my head around some of the language was hard going and it has no chapters to break it up - but worth it in the end.

8. Grace Williams says it Loud by Emma Henderson - a love story between two disabled youngster growing up in a home which is incredibly moving. Linguistically this was very enjoyable - some of Grace's phrasing is a delight.

Next up Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy for my book club read.

Hello Chrissy

I like the mix of books you are reading - a similar balance to my own pattern. Ive got One Day in my tbr folder and based on your comments i think I will read it on holiday at the end of the month.

I've got you starred so look forward to seeing more of what you read!

#14: Hi Christina!

Auster's Invisible was my first book in 2011 and I liked it very much. I only had some difficulties with the ending. But I'll read it again, when I find the time. Happy to see, that you liked it, too!

I have to admit that I haven't yet read Brave New World. I don't really know why, because I like dystopian novels. But maybe it has too much the touch of "highschool lecture". But someday I'll just have to read it. Thanks for the insight!

Moll Flanders seems to be quite interesting! Only the language complexity scares me a little bit... maybe I'll look for a German translation.


I agree with Helen - that's a very interesting mix of books you're reading!

Sorry not doing a very good job of keeping this thread up to date - must try harder!

9. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carre - much more complex than my previous attempt at Le Carre but still thoroughly enjoyable. It took me a few sittings to get through it - and it might have been easier to follow in larger chunks.

10. Adrian Mole The Prostrate Years by Sue Townsend - keeping up with my 'mixed' reading this was entirely different to my other reading so far this year. I enjoyed the first third of this very much - with some real laugh out loud moments - it went downhill from there though. I think the humour and serious issues mix didn't work well in this - not a fan!

Next up Confederancy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.

11. Confederancy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
This is very funny and I really enjoyed it. The character of Ignatius and his mother are so vivid I smile just thinking of them!!

12. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moshin Hamid
Beautifully written and a quick read. I loved the way that this was written as one side of a conversation Changez is having with an unnamed american traveller. Well worth reading and not at all heavy going - while at the same time being thought provoking and deeply moving at points.

Started Lady Chatterley's Lover last night - my second ever novel by DH Lawrence - I loved the first and don't think I will be disappointed with this either!

I've added The Confederacy of Dunces to my wish list - I hadn't heard of it before but the reviews and your recommendation make it sound unmissable. Glad you enjoyed The Reluctant Fundamentalist too.

Good luck with your next book - I was put off DH Lawrence years ago (can't remember why) and never tried again - maybe its time I gave it another go.

Hi Chrissy - Belated welcome to the group! I also keep track of the 1001 Books (although I haven't read many this year.) I'll put Invisible by Paul Auster on my wishlist. I read his In the Country of Last Things last year and loved it!

#20 - A confederancy of dunces is a must read - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
#21 - I've had a star on your 1001 list for a while - love your reviews - thanks for stopping by :)

13. Lady Chatterleys Lover - D.H Lawrence
This was hard going - redeemed by the realtionship building between Mellors and Lady Chatterley - otherwise it would be totally depressing. Not one of my favourites.

14. Gilead - Marilynne Robinson
I started off bored to death by this but it very quietly, and unexpectedly, got me totally absorbed. Wonderfully crafted, thoughtful and gentle - I was surprised at the end to feel sad to finish.

I've got Gilead in a to be read pile near my bed, but I still haven't picked it up. I hope I get to it soon, but I doubt I can fit it in with all the mysteries I committed to read this month.

15. Talk of the Town by Ardal O'Hanlan - darker and grittier than I imagined from a comedian but elements of humour do come through which help lighten this. I enjoyed it - reminded me of the film trainspotting (not read the book yet) but an irish view.

16. When God was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman - I loved the first half of this book but not the second half so much. Still it was an amusing and very sweet book - with some darker turns. Very enjoyable.

17. Home by Marilynne Robinson - the 'other side of the story' to Gilead. I'm really glad I read the two close together as the interplay is very clever. This was written in the same gentle way as Gilead but I found it more gripping and easier going. This was genuinely very sad but beautiful.

Caving into pressure from my son now and reading The hunger games.

18. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - I reaally enjoyed the book even if the concept is a bit disturbing. Looking forward to reading the others in the trilogy. The film didn't do the book justice though - all hype without content.

19. Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho - I always feel a bit like Coelho forces a moral on a story and I end up feeling like I have been lectured rather than enjoyed a good read. While this is true of Veronika it isn't as forced as some of the others and there are some interesting insights into mental health.

20. All Quiet on the Western Front - deeply harrowing and disturbing. Something that everyone should read though!

21. Under the Skin - very strange novel, although enjoyable. Not the murder mystery I thought it would be - the story went off at a very odd tangent!!

22. Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky - this was a really good read - I loved the first part with the varying perspectives of the panic of the war - it was a lovely contrast to the more detailed views of the characters in Part 2. 5*'s all the way.

23. Nocturnes by Kazuo Ishiguro - a selection of short stories which in true Ishiguro style leave you thinking. Very gentle and just what I needed after some harrowing war books.

24. The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory - when I can't face reading anything too taxing I am always inclined to turn to PG for some light relief. She doesn't fail for me in her portrayals of historical events and this is 'good' - nothing more, nothng less.

I loved Suite Francaise too - and amazing to think at it was virtually written in real-time. I haven't read much by Ishiguro but found Never Let Me Go very thought-provoking indeed - with the result that I decided not to go to see the film, even though I had first intended to. There are many good books where I think the film completely fails to live up to them (The English Patient in particular) so if I like the book a lot I now avoid the film.

I've got The Unconsoled sitting on my TBR shelf but have been put off by its length! Maybe the short stories would be a good alternative.

#28 - I love Kazuo Ishiguro and a lot of his books are quite short - one of my favourites is A Pale View of Hills.

25. The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan - this is the first Ian McEwan book I have read but I enjoyed his style even though the story itself was quite grim. Have just started Saturday to see if I enjoy that one as much.

26. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - it took a little while to get into this but utlimatey I really enjoyed it. The ending had my holding onto the book so hard my knuckles where white.

27. Saturday by Ian McEwan - I really enjoyed this as a character study. It was heavy going in some places - describing in detail some mundane activities but this was a good balance with some of the more tense sections of the book.

28. Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger - not sure I got this at all. I enjoyed the first third - but not the rest so much. There were some brilliant elements - the scene of Zooey and his mother in the bathroom is classic.

29. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill - I wasn't at all scared by this (but then I did read it while chillin in the bath) I think it lacked a bit of detail for me to really get an impression of the atmosphere. Nevertheless I enjoyed reading it and I can see how it would make an excellent scary movie.

30. Through a Glass Darkly by Jostein Gaarder - the story of a young girl who is dying of cancer and is visited by an angel who helps her come to terms with her illness and impending death. There are some very comforting ideas about death within this but overall it fell short for me - given the subject I wanted to be moved but was left cold.

31. The Story of Blanche and Marieby P O Enquist - the story of the relationship between Marie Curie and her assistant and friend Blanche. It focusses on the meaning of love in line with Blanche's notebooks. It is very fragmented but comes together if you can stick with it - I'm not convinced it is worth the effort though. Hard work for very little reward.

32. C'est la Folie by Michael Wright - this is a very funny look at the life of a single man who up sticks and moves to rural France in search of an adventure. It is very funny and some brilliant phrases - very enjoyable.

You're making good progress on the challenge. I've read 32 books as well - I reckon that's more or less on track to make 75.

But it's not really about the numbers, is it. However, I think I'll give the Enquist book a miss - other reviews say similar things to you.

Whereabouts in France is C'est la Folie set? Is it the same guy that has written articles in The Telegraph newspaper? (But I think he had a partner and baby.) I have an interest, having our own house in deepest France...

33.The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle - a very enjoyable classic read. Nothing else to say - it is a classic!

34.Goodbye To Berlin by Christopher Isherwood - I didn't enjoy this one very much - I struggled with some of the characters and found it frustrating at points with a lot of skipping about. I liked finding out more about the pre-war Germany and the stories of some of those who would be most affected - other than that not much I would recommend.

35. If nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor - I loved this as it really got me thinking about remarkable lives and the things we never know about people. I loved the style - really really good.

36.Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro - Ishiguro is one of my favourite authors and this is another beautifully crafted book. His style is very gentle but deeply thought provoking.

37. The Sea by John Banville - this is a bit slow but worth sticking with. If you like Ishiguro (and I do) I am sure you will like this. There is a very similar style - gentle but then with the odd sentence which changes everything just when you think you have it all worked out.

Hi Chrissy! That's some great reading you have done! There are so many books which I own and I have been wanting to read for a long time, e.g. Remarque, Nemirovsky, Ishiguro, etc. And I like your short reviews - they still give a very good impression of the books.

#34 - thank you!

38. The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing - while I can empathise with someone tackling a deep depression and I enjoyed Lessing's style this doesn't have too much going for it. The novel itself is a hard read and the structure complicated - and ultimately it is not particularly rewarding.

39. Animal Farm by George Orwell - I have no idea why I haven't read this before as 1984 is one of my all time favourites. This one is well up there too and established Orwell as one of my favourite authors. Brilliant!

I agree - Orwell is brilliant!

40. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel - I love anything about the Tudors and this is superbly written. It is very detailed and you get a real sense of the atmosphere of the times and places. Mantel also presents a very different perspective on some of the main characters which makes for an interesting read.

41. Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - I can, to some extent, relate to Holden - as I think Salinger felt we should all be able to on some level - however I don't care much for Salinger's style. There wasn't much in this that made me glad I had read it - I think there are better character studies of mental turmoil out there than this.

42. Hideous Kinky by Esther Freud - beautifully descriptive, really bringing to life the sights, smells and colours of Marrakech. Quite touching but it lacked a bit of spark towards the end - I wanted a bit more of a climax and felt that this built nicely but fell at the last!

43. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom - An interesting, and different perspective on heaven. It is thought provoking - showing the impact of different encounters on the lives which touch our own. Nicely written and touching.

44. The Courage Consort by Michel Faber - not sure what I can say about this, it is a study on various characters in turmoil bound together by music and physically by a remote location. Very surreal in places and unrealistic. I wouldn't be rushing to recommend this!

Hi, Chrissybob! I believe that at the rate you are reading you will finish more than 75 books for this year. Great going!

Oh no - lost count....

But the one I remember....

45. The Other Half Lives by Sophie Hannah - very enjoyable if a bit long and overly complicated in places. A good read overall.

47. Before I Go to Sleep by S J Watson - I found myself really enjoying this - although it felt completely unreal. Didn't like the very end though - too neat for me!

48. The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor - loved the first half but this dwindled off into nothing for me . Sad and touching but lacked a spark.

49. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote - thought-provoking study on the nature of murder and the humanity of the individuals who commit horrendous crimes. Really interesting.

50. The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway - very moving and beautifully written. I would very highly recommend this.

I'm glad you enjoyed The Cellist of Sarajevo - I did too.

I absolutely have to order In Cold Blood - I want to read it for a long time. Great to read that you like The Cellist of Sarajevo, because I've got it on my shelves and might choose it as one of my next reads!

51. The Help by Kathryn Stockett - I really enjoyed this - it is well written and a relatively gentle look at the black american history after the abolition of slavery. Sometimes a bit saccharine sweet but overall a good read.

52. Beloved by Toni Morrison - another really heart wrenching look at the lives of slaves in the southern american states, with some supernatural overtones. I could have lived without the ghosty stuff - the 'real' stories of the characters were so much more interesting. Well worth a read.

53. The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith - very very enjoyable. This kept my attention well and I found myself rooting for Tom - even after all the terrible things he did. Clever and exciting rolled into one!

I'm still looking for the time to read The Help... And I like Highsmith's novels about Ripley very much: Although some time has passed since I read the series, I recommend Ripley Under Ground and Ripley Under Water. ...reminds me to re-read them...

I read the first Ripley when i was much younger and I don't think I really connected with him as an anti-hero. I really enjoyed the movie and I keep thinking I should try the books again - I think I'm much more likely to like him this time around.

I'd been wondering about M.Faber's book. I liked one of his others, but wasn't sure about this one. I'll put in on my list, but down a bit.

Did you ever see the adaptation starring John Malkovitch? That was so good.

I second #48 cynara's opinion - I liked the movie "Ripley's Game" very much, too!

I've not seen any of the Ripley movies - will keep an eye out for them in future though :)

54. The Godfather by Mario Puzo - I really enjoyed this as an introduction to the Godfather series (I've never seen any of the films or read any of the books). Enough action to keep me interested and an excellent introduction to the characters. Look forward to reading some more.

55. The Woman who went to Bed for a Year by Sue Townsend - not particularly funny and totally unbelievable. Characters are annoying and whine their way through the book. Fails as a more profound story of modern living. All in all not much going for this one.

56. My Sisters Keeper by Jodi Picoult - quite interesting but why do authors insist on adding a romance in - totally unnecessary and what should be poignant ends up being a bit schmaltzy!

57. The Lost Daughter by Diane Chamberlain - I normally really enjoy Diane Chamberlain's books and this started out promisingly.... all fell apart for me half way through. Too much focus on making a happy ending and not enough on the turmoil.

Ok - failed miserably to reach 75 but I am happy with my effort. I have really enjoyed some of the books this year. I'm looking forward to more Dicken's next year. Not sure if I will attempt 75 - perhaps 50 is more realistic for me.

Thanks everyone who stopped by to read. Hope you all have a very happy new year.

Hey, 57's pretty good too!

Hi Chrissy, I have to agree with Jim. I think that's a fantastic result! (Imagine, that you read more than one book per week.) Congratulations - and a happy new year!