ccookie is more likely to read 50 than 75!

My favourite books

Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel (read in 1980's and again in 2012)

**** Books read so far - 2012 ****



1. Aesop Revisited by Ethan Russell Erway (LT Giveaway)
2. One for the Money - Janet Evanovich



3. The Alienist - Caleb Carr (Kobo)
4. February - Lisa Moore (library)
5. The Gilded Age - Mark Twain (Kobo)



6. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (Kobo)
7. Changing My Mind - Margaret Trudeau
8. Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel
9. Come, Thou Tortoise by Jessica Grant (library)
10. Lethal Secrets: The Shocking Consequences of Donor Insemination- Annette Baran
11. Nurses Three: First Assignment - Jean Kirby
12. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey (Kobo)
13. Promise of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst (Library)
14.Three from Galilee by Marjorie Holmes
15. The Three Little Pigs (Disney's Wonderful World of Reading) by Disney Book Club
16.Three Singles to Adventure by Gerald Durrell
17. What Nurses Know ... Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Lorraine Steefel (LT)



18. 1984 by George Orwell (Audiobook)
19. Black Horses for the King by Anne McCaffrey
20. Daisy Miller by Henry James (Kobo)
21. The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz
22. The Fourth Deadly Sin by Lawrence Sanders
23. Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield (Kobo)
24. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green
25. Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly (Audiobook)
26. Straight by Dick Francis (Kobo)
27. The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck
28. Secrets of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst (library)
29. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (Kobo)
30. War Horse by Michael Morpurgo (Kobo)



31. The David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (Audiobook)
32. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark (library)
33. The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence (Kobo)
34. Booked for Murder by Tim Myers (Kobo)
35. To the Nines by Janet Evanovich (Kobo)
36. 11/22/63 by Steven King (Kobo)



37. Arthur, High King of Britain by Michael Morpurgo (Library)
38. The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum (Audiobook)
39. The Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracey Chevalier
40. The Grapes of Wrath - by John Steinbeck
41. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (Kobo)
42. The Old Gringo by Carlos Fuentes
43. The Pearl by John Steinbeck.
44. Pontius Pilate by Paul L. Maier
45. Robin of Sherwood by Michael Morpurgo (Library)
46. Trudeau Albums
47.Why Dogs Are Better Than Cats by Bradley Greive



48. Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong
49. Household Tales by the Brothers Grimm
50. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
51. The Queen's Confession by Victoria Holt
52. Secret of the Seventh Son - Glen Cooper

The 12 Step Prayer Book by Bill P
Alcoholics Anonymous: Large Print
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
The Devil in Pew Number Seven by Rebecca Nichols Alonzo
Dime Store Magic - Kelly Armstrong
The Dovekeepers - Alice Hoffman
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Life - Keith Richards
Lonesome Dove - Larry McMurtry
Mists of Avalon – Marion Zimmer Bradley
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
The Queen's Confession by Victoria Holt
The Redbreast - Jo Nesbo
Secret of the Seventh Son - Glen Cooper
Twenty-four Hours a Day by Anonymous
Valley of the Horses by Jean M. Auel
The Winter King - Bernard Cornwell
The Witches – Roald Dahl
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Yseult: a Tale of Love in the Age of King Arthur - Ruth Nestvold

Just finished Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Trying to read some of the classics of English Literature, you know.

First line:
Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, 'and what is the use of a book,' thought Alice 'without pictures or conversation?'

I found this book intriguing and boring at the same time. I think that I have been contaminated by the movies and television shows so the book seemed too 'plain'. Not enough colour. It is one of the few times that I can say that I enjoyed the movie more than the book; usually it is the other way around.

I did find that the change of topics from chapter to chapter frustrating but when you see that the whole thing is a dream, well, that is how dreams work isn't it? Not much connection between one thing and another, jumping from scene to scene.

If I was going to read this to my children I would choose some kind of a Disney version because I think that the graphics, in this case, add a valuable dimension to the reading experience.

I am glad that I read it but it will never be a re-read, unless I have a grand-child!

..

Three Singles to Adventure - done

First line:
In a tiny bar in the back streets of Georgetown four of us sat round a table, sipping rum and ginger beer and pondering a problem.

Thus begins Three Singles to Adventure, an account of Gerald Durrell's animal collecting expedition to British Guiana (now Guyana) in the 1950s.

This was Durrell's second book and the first of his works that I have read. I have many others on my shelves, inherited from my mother who was a great lover of animals.

It is fun to read all of the misadventures as they collect fauna for zoos in Great Britain. A good read!

Finished Three from Galilee by Marjorie Holmes.

First line:
Hannah had been restless all night.

In this book, Holmes creates an imaginary childhood and youth for Jesus, the Christ with his mother and father Mary and Joseph. Because this is fiction it allows for some imaginative directions that may or may not make sense to all based on your religions interpretation of Jesus life.
Since these are 'what might have been' I found it easy to suspend any disbelief about what I was reading and relax and just enjoy this for what it was.
I did find it interesting the way that Holmes wound 'bible stories' into this part of Jesus' life, for instance one of his brothers left home stealing his inheritance and returned many years later like the prodigal son.
An enjoyable read. I am ready to pass this book on to someone else now.

My planned reads:

1. 1984 by George Orwell (completed April 11)
2. Black Horses for the King by Anne McCaffrey (completed April 20)
3. Daisy Miller by Henry James (completed April 8)
4. The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz (completed April 16)
5. The Fourth Deadly Sin by Lawrence Sanders (completed April 27)
6. Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield (completed April 30)
7. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green (completed April 27)
8. Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich (completed April 4)
9. Straight by Dick Francis (completed April 26)

March reads: Just finished re-reading Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel which I read when it was first published over 30 years ago. I remembered it as being one of my favourites and I was not at all disappointed in the re-read. I am going to start Valley of the Horses immediately with the plan being to read them all in sequence. One and two will be re-reads but the rest will be brand new.

Just finished Come Thou Tortoise by Jessica Grant.

The Winnipeg Free Press describes this as a "funny and sad and splendid first novel.”. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found Audrey to be a totally believable character. She is devastated by the death of her father, missing her tortise who is home waiting for her return and then 'loses' her uncle too. It is funny, and touching and wonderful. I normally don't care for talking animals but in this case hearing Winnifred's take on her life is really funny. I would recommend it.

Last book for March, I think. I just finished Promise of the Wolves which I absolutely loved. It reminded me so much of Clan of the Cave Bear by Auel and I happened to be re-reading this at the same time. Similar scenarios in both books, not belonging, always feeling not good enough, brutal beatings etc etc and then triumph in the end and yet sadness and sorrow permeate both worlds. As mentioned before I usually don't care for talking animals but in this case it worked for me. I raced through this book in the last 10 days or so which is a fast read for me. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the Earth's Children series. You won't be disappointed. Now I have to get the sequel from the library.

...

I bought myself an MP3 player the other day and just finished listening to Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly. I don't want to say it was bad but, to me, it was baaadd. No character development, not much of anything really. I just didn't care. And I have absolutely loved, I mean, loved, Evanovich's Stephanie Plum Series. Oh, well, can't win them all! Full review found on here: http://www.librarything.com/work/11598024/reviews/84395524

Hi ccookie, just read your thread from the beginning and see that your favourite book is Clan of the cave bear, i must admit i like her books and read that and valley of the horses in the early nineties before i started to read and list my books as voraciously as i do now and so i have forgotten the story thread. I have all six books now and need to start reading them again, but with all the books i have and still buying books at the rate of 3 to every one read this year i need more hours in a day than there is,lol.

> 13 I just realized that although I am reading Valley of the Horses it is not on my currently reading list. I must add that to it. As mentioned before I am re-reading 1 and 2 and then will work my way through the rest. It is a never ending battle to get to the end of the TBR piles.

>14 ccookie: tell me about it, i don't know how to class my books some of which have been on the shelves i built in the loft, are they to be in the BOMBS or TBR groups, all i know is that i have a hell of a lot and the buying continues as i love the smell of books especially in antiquarian and secondhand bookshops and i class myself as a dinosaur because i cannot see myself with an e-reader. As Joanna Trollope said in an interview in the British press, you cannot display an e-library in your house. Happy reading.

Today I added another one to my 'currently reading' pile. Secrets of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst.

After reading Promise of the Wolves last month (for the Reading Through Time Chronological Challenge Category - Pre-history), I just had to start the sequel right away. Loved that first one. I know others didn't care for it but I thought it was wonderful.

> 15 I like both actual books and my e-books. It is great to be able to carry multiple titles with me when I am out or travelling without having to lug tons of books. I love my Kobo!

This weekend I participated in the Easter/Passover/April Readathon from Friday noon to Sunday midnight.

I read from 12 different books as I am wont to do, and managed to complete one book, Daisy Miller. by Henry James. Granted, it is a novella only 48 pages but I didn't think I would make it.

This is an odd little book. Written in 1878 it chronicles a young American girl’s willful yet innocent flirtation with a young Italian. She is outgoing and flirtatious and refuses to change her ways in order to fit into a culture and society to which she does not belong.

I understand that, for its time, it reflected absolutely scandalous behaviour on the part of this young woman and yet for today's time Daisy's behaviour is quite 'normal'.

As a social commentary, it doesn't fit with contemporary situations and yet is a very sad reflection on the concept of arrogance on behalf of those who believe that they are the arbiters of 'good behavoiur'. There are many today who would criticize those that don't fit in instead of applauding them for being such free spirits.

I can't say that this is going to go down in history as a great read but I am glad that I read it.

I just finished listening to 1984 by George Orwell on my brand-new MP3 player that I bought for the sole purpose of 'listening to books'

My son studied this book in high school but somehow I had not ever read it and I can't imagine why!

I found it to be riveting. I was struck by a number of concepts. The horrifying concept of "Big Brother is watching" carried out in the extreme for these Party members who can do nothing that is not observed by the ever-present tele-screens. This is evident today in that we are tracked by governments, credit cards, reward cards, social networks, market researchers, GPS's, cell phones etc. So much of us is known out there in the world.

Also, I was struck by the emphasis on changing history by changing the records of it. There are some who would deny the Holocoust and have written that it did not happen as recorded. North American Aboriginals and Afro-Canadians and Americans would dispute the versions of their cultural history written by white, privileged men.

I was thoroughly involved in Winston's life and cared a great deal about what happened to him. I was shocked and devastated at some of the events that happened in his life.

I can see why this is a book that is read by many of our young people as part of their high school curriculum. It was a great read. I enjoyed this book very much but because of its sad (and terrifying) nature, I don't expect that I would re-read it so 4.5 stars. I would highly recommend it.

Starting to listen to David Copperfield on my MP3... so far so good!

Finished the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz which I read for the '2012 has 12 Months' challenge - the number 'four' in the title.

I found this little book to be a simple and powerful read.

The four agreements: Be impeccable with your word, Don't take anything personally, Don't make assumptions, and Always do your best. These are not new concepts to me but are presented in a new way.

I purchased this book quite a few years ago and never read it. I am wondering, now, what my life might have been like had I read it when I got it. Simple concepts but often hard to put into practice. but, already, these concepts are being applied and making a difference. I am going to re-read it immediately because I think that the more I remember these things the better off I will be

Got a bunch of books at the church rummage sale last week. Don't know why I am buying more books !!

Blue Diary - Alice Hoffman
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood- Rebecca Wells
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly- Julian Schnabe
The Falls- Joyce Carol Oates
The Girl With a Pearl Earring - Tracy Chevalier
The Hidden Pierre Elliot Trudeau - Richard Lackenbauer John
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
My Antonia - Willa Cather
Private Pleasures - Lawrence Sanders
The Shipping News - E. Annie Proulx
The Song of the Lark - Willa Cather
The Stone Diaries - Carol Shields
Vagabond - Bernard Cornwell
AND
LooneySpoons for my friend who, just two days before, happened to mention wanting it.

A good haul! 13 books for $11.00 - can't beat that.

GREAT books!! :) Congratulations and happy reading!

Hi ccookie, you did well with your recent book purchases, on tuesday i decided to pop into my local Hospice shop just for a browse, 15 minutes later i left with six books, two in excellent condition for a total of £1.20 which is about 2 dollars and then later in the evening picked up Fifty shades of grey (brand new) for £3 which is about 5 dollars, i've put the hospice lot in the loft so my darling wife can't jokingly berate me for buying MORE books, ha ha.

Discovered the Steinbeckathon and will start The Moon is Down for the April group read.

I am literally slogging through Roger Lancelyn Green's book King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table which I am determined to finish and absolutely hating.

At the same time I was reading Black Horses for the King which I really loved. I just finished it.

Anne McCaffrey does a wonderful job describing the life of 5th century Britain at the time of King Arthur (in this case, Lord Artos, The Comes Britannorum).

This is the story of a young man, Galwyn, who comes into Lord Artos' service as a translator and helps him purchase horses to take back to Britain to train as strong mounts for the armored warriors to fight the Saxons.

Written for young adults, but equally enjoyable for this 59 year old, it depicts Galwyn's training as a farrier and the realistic issues of the early development of horse sandals (horse shoes) to protect the delicate hooves of these Libyan beauties.

I love Anne McCaffrey's Pern novels and found her writing here to be equally captivating. I really wanted to see what happened to this young man and the horses he is responsible for. There is one nasty character in the book, an 'enemy' of Galwyn and I really enjoyed the way that Galwyn deals with him close to the end of the book.

Do not read this looking for knights of the round table or Guinivere and Lancelot. This is about a young man's love of horses his care for them and for the master that he serves. (4 stars)

Finished Secrets of the Wolves.

Didn't find it as gripping as the first installment Promise of the Wolves but will look for the third one.
Full review at:
http://www.librarything.com/work/11175512/reviews

Started The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark for the 75 Books Challenge Take It or Leave It Challenge #24 to read a book by Muriel Spark. LOVING IT! I read this one a hundred years ago after seeing the movie and loved then and am loving it now. Again, great writing.

Also reading Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe for the 12 12 Challenge Group read for April. Didn't care for it at first but now that the Christians have arrived and commenced their missionary work I am finding it much more compelling.

Continuing to listen to David Copperfield by Charles Dickens on my MP3 for the 75 Books Challenge for 2012 : David Copperfield Group Read. Sometimes this work is quite tedious and then all of a sudden something wonderful happens. Wordy but enjoyable. Great character development and I love the way things are all interwoven.

Finished Things Fall Apart. Liked it. Full review here:
http://www.librarything.com/work/5061284/reviews/84439169

Finished The Fourth Deadly Sin by Lawrence Sanders.

This book has a beautiful opening line:
~ The November sky over Manhattan was chain mail, raveling into steely rain ~

However, the book did not live up to it's promise. It wasn't a terrible book, just not very exciting and / or suspenseful. I see from other reviews that most people consider this to be the weakest of the five Edward X. Delaney books so I will probably give another one a try.

See full review here:
http://www.librarything.com/work/445440/reviews/77468894

At the end of April I finished The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck and I really loved it.

Short, but powerful!

I read that this was written as propaganda to encourage the occupied countries in Europe to engage in resistance activities against the Germans.

Reading it from my perspective, I found this book to be so much more than that. Steinbeck did a good job of actually humanizing the invaders and allowing the reader to see that the 'bad' guys are pretty much the same as the 'good' guys.

‘Their talk was of friends and relatives who loved them and their longings were for warmth and love, because a man can be a soldier for only so many hours a day and for only so many months in a year, and then he wants to be a man again, wants girls and drinks and music and laughter and ease, and when these are cut off, they become irresistibly desirable. And the men thought always of home.’

His language is beautiful.

I can't wait for more Steinbeck! Onward to the Grapes of Wrath

Full review is at:
http://www.librarything.com/work/2977710/reviews/84897971

I managed to finish King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table but I did not enjoy it at all. I literally slogged through most of it.

I think it was partly the old style English. The brevity of the stories bothered me. Each chapter is devoted to one mythological episode such as 'Sir Tristam and the Fair Iseult' or 'Sir Gawain and the Lady Ragnell' and these stories, to my mind, all run together with not enough character development to make me actually care about what happens to any of them. Each one basically involves one Knight killing another Knight, usually by beheading, to save the lady.

I know this is written for children but I can't imagine being able to get through this until much later in life.

There is one thing that I enjoyed about this book and that was the wood-cut illustrations which were, I thought, quite unusual

My planned reads:

11/22/63 by Steven King (Kobo)completed May 30
Booked for Murder by Tim Myers (Kobo) completed May 22
A God Against the Gods by Allen Drury abandoned
Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (Kobo) completed June 27
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins (Kobo) ongoing
Mysteries of Udolpho by Anne Radcliffe (Kobo and Audio) abandoned May 27
Pontius Pilate by Paul Maier completed June 30
To the Nines by Janet Evanovich (Kobo) completed May 29
Trudeau Albums completed June 23

edited to remove content posted twice

April read:

Finished Straight by Dick Francis at the end of April.

Didn't love it, but it was enjoyable. Will read another of Dick Francis' novels soon. Have lots on my shelf inherited from my mother.

Full review at:
http://www.librarything.com/work/42955/reviews/84085064

First line:
~ Although extraordinary valor was displayed by the entire corps of Spartans and Thespaians, yet bravest of all was declared the Spartan Dienekes ~

I finished Gates of Fire by Stephen Pressfield at the end of April.

Pressfield did some pretty heavy research about the Spartans and their warfare tactics. I understand it is pretty accurate.

However, reading this just confirms for me the tragedy of war. I can't imagine the life that these men and their squires lead. I am taken by their discipline and commitment. However, I am saddened as I am any time that I read about war and, what I believe to be, the senseless loss of lives. And so many lives were lost at this battle.

I don't think I would read this again but I did enjoy it. (3.5 stars)

full review can be found here:
http://www.librarything.com/work/3251965/reviews/84034294

Finished War Horse by Michael Morpurgo at the end of April.

I loved this book. I don't usually care for books that take an animals point of view but this worked for me.
Full review at:
http://www.librarything.com/work/696577/reviews

Finished David Copperfield May 22nd. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audiobook read by Irishman Tad hg Hynes. He has a great voice with a lovely Irish accent and it was easy to listen to him. The narration captured me right from the beginning.

Charles Dickens certainly has a way with words. To read such detailed descriptions of the lifestyle of the times fascinating. Stories gave me much food for thought.

Full review is to be found at:
http://www.librarything.com/work/7489/reviews/84458157

Finished The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. It was a good one.

I started reading this book back in April for the TIOLI challenge #22: ‘One Spark Lights the Month: Read a book by Muriel Spark’ but did not finish it until May 2012 when it, coincidentally fit the TIOLI Challenge #4: Username challenge: Read a book derived from a 75er's username (souloftherose)

This is a portrait of six young women coming of age and falling under the influence of a idolized teacher. And a portrait of the teacher Miss Jean Brodie who unduly and perhaps dangerously influences 'her girls'.

Full review is at:

http://www.librarything.com/work/26164/reviews/85097420

I finished The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence and I loved it!

I read this book after my 25 year old son shared with me his reactions to it. I figured anything that touched him in that way was worth reading. He did not lead me astray.

I was engaged with Hagar right from the beginning and found the writing to be realistic and beautiful. I am impressed with Margaret Laurence's capacity to write realistic dialogue and to get inside the head of a much older woman.

A wonderful read. I look forward to reading more of Margaret Laurence's works.

Full review:
http://www.librarything.com/work/32445/reviews

I just finished Booked for Murder by Tim Myers which I read for the 2012 has 12 Months sub-challenge of the 12 12 group - read a book about an emerald (the birthstone for the month of May) AND for the 75 Books Challenge for TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book with a word in the title suggesting violent death AND for the 75 books Challenge - May: Murder & Mayhem

I would not have picked up this book on my own but someone on LT recommended this series.

It is a short kinda fun read but not really much depth to it although I did like the two protagonists. The answer to the mystery was not revealed until the very end and I didn't find it terribly satisfying. I liked the writing style. I consider this to be a beach read. Light, airy, easy to read, not requiring a lot of focus. I liked it but it wasn't great. (3.5 stars)

I finished To the Nines by Janet Evanovich. Read for TIOLI 75 Book Challenge #4: Username challenge: Read a book derived from a 75er's username - To the Nines (souloftherose)

Stephanie is at it again with her wonderful cast of supporting characters. I like Evanovich's light writing style and her ability to get ideas across with few words. And she is FUNNY! Like one of the other reviewers I found something lacking in this one; it seemed I didn't care quite as much. Nevertheless, I laughed and chuckled all the way through especially around the 'vaseline guy' and Grandma Mazur. I love the relationships between Stephanie and Morelli and Stephanie and Ranger and will be sad should the sexual tension between them change. I love that both men recognize that they each care for her and take turns protecting her from the stalker. And, although I felt that the mystery was a little to 'pat' I did find the resolution very intense and suspenseful. All in all, a good read. On to 10 Big Ones. (3.5 stars)

I really enjoy the Stephanie Plum series for a good, hearty laugh fest!!

And I loved your review of The Stone Angel. Have added it to my wishlist :)

> 44
Thanks, Tina. The Stone Angel is not always easy to read (because it deals with painful subjects) but is a powerful and memorable read.

I work in nursing homes and your review alerted me that this is a book I NEED to read. And...probably pass on to others, as well.

Hi ccookie, glad to see you are enjoying Stephanie Plum's adventures, just started reading Smokin' Seventeen and am not disappointed. You're doing really well with your challenge, i got stuck in May but hope to pick up in June and July.

>47 johnsimpson: yes, John, even though 'Nine' wasn't the best of the Stephanie Plum books it was still quite enjoyable.

>46 TinaV95: Tina, let me know what you think of Stone Angel

On May 30th I finished Stephen King's 11/22/63.

Loved this book! I have always liked Stephen King's writing style and his storytelling and I think this is one of his best. And I get a kick out of the concept of time travel and how changes in the past might or might not influence the present.

I found this gripping; many times I could not put it down. I was desperate to know what would happen next.

I would highly recommend this book. A great read. My full review is here:
http://www.librarything.com/work/11022382/reviews (4.5 stars)

Planned reads for June:

FOR THE TIOLI CHALLENGES:

Challenge #1- Read a book whose third title word has exactly 3 letters

1. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (and)
~ A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hill-side bank and runs deep and green ~ Completed June 12

2. Why Dogs Are Better Than Cats by Bradley Trevor Greive (are)
~ I suggest you sit down and if you've not already done so, cover your dog's ears ~ Completed June 17

Challenge # 4 - Read a book visiting a state or country you've never been to before in a book's setting

3. The Girl With A Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (Holland)
~ My mother did not tell me they were coming ~ Completed June 24

4. The Pearl by John Steinbeck - This takes place in La Paz, Baja, California on the Gulf of Mexico.
I am reading this for the 12 12 Group Challenge to read a book with the birthstone of the month in the title
~ Kino awakened in the near dark ~ Completed June 25

5. Arthur, High King of Britain by Michael Morpurgo - takes place in the Scilly Islands off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain
~ The boy left home at first light, enough food and drink in his rukshack to last him the whole day ~ Completed June 4

6. A God Against the Gods by Allen Drury - takes place in Egypt. I am reading this one for the Reading Through Time Challenge- Quarterly theme read: Ancient and Biblical times
~So do I sign myself, remembering the small, wizened modest man who gave me life, thinking thereby to give him in return a fame of which he never dreamed in all his seixty humble years a s a farmer: Amon-ho-tep, son of Hapu risen very high and destined , as we all declare so stoutly on our tombs and monuments, to live forever and ever . . . ~ abandoned

Challenge #5 - Read a book with a title which contains a brand of automobile (make or model)

7. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
~ Extracted from a Family Paper - I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England ~ ongoing

Challenge #6 - Read a book with a title that has equal or more letters from the second half of the alphabet than from the first half, initial articles and subtitles excluded

8. The Queen's Confession by Victoria Holt (8/11)
~ The only real happiness in this world comes through a happy marriage ~ ongoing

9. Pontius Pilate by Paul Maier (5/8)
~A salvo of trumpet blasts echoed across Rome, saluting the sunrise on the first of April, A.D. 26 ~ completed June 30

10. Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (7/13)
~ To the red country and part of the gray country of Oklahoma, the last rains came gently, and they did not cut the scarred earth ~ completed June 27

11. The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum (9/16) AUDIO
~ THE NEW YORK TIMES, FRIDAY, 11 JULY 1975
Front page: Diplomats said to be linked with fugitive terrorist known as Carlos ~ Completed June 16

Challenge #9 - Read a book from a Legacy Library

12. Walden by Henry David Thoreau
~ When I wrote the following pages, or rather the bulk of them, I lived alone, in the woods, a mile from any neighbor, in a house which I had built myself, on the shore of Walden Pond, in Concord, Massachusetts, and earned my living by the labor of my hands only ~ abandoned

Challenge #15 - Read a Book With One of the Words from the Bridal Rhyme in the Title: Old, New, Borrowed, Blue, Sixpence, Shoe

13. Old Gringo by Carlos Fuentes
~ Now she sits alone and remembers ~completed June 30

Challenge #17- Read a book with a prominent tag that appears in bold on another 75-er's tag mirror and doesn't appear at all on your (250-tag) tag mirror

14. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
~ So now get up ~ ongoing

Challenge #21 - Read a book featuring a legal professional
15. Trudeau Albums . I started this last month for the TIOLI Challenge #9: Read a nonfiction work set during the first 23 years of your life and didn't finish it but Trudeau was a lawyer before he was a Prime Minister so it fits here for this month.
~ The story has almost assumed the quality of a hallowed myth ~ completed June 23

Challenge #23 - Read a book whose title contains the word "of."
16. Robin of Sherwood by Michael Morpurgo Completed June 4

Robin of Sherwood by Michael Morpurgo

First line:
~ There had never been a storm like it ~

This book is apparently written for 9 to 14 year olds but I certainly enjoyed it. This would be a little intense for very young children.

I did not find this quite as fun to read as the other Michael Morpurgo book I just finished, Arthur, High King of Britain, but, nevertheless I give it a 3.5 rating. Michael Foreman's beautiful water colour illustrations enrich the reading experience.

Arthur, High King of Britain by Michael Morpurgo

First line:
~ The boy left home at first light, enough food and drink in his rukshack to last him the whole day ~

I liked this one. Like Robin of Sherwood, also by Michael Morpurgo, this book is written for children age 9 to 14. I am trying to read a variety of works about King Arthur and these stories of the Knights of the Round Table and Queen Guinevere were simply and clearly told. It was easy to read and understand unlike another Arthur Book I read by Roger Lancelyn Green that I found tedious and boring. This one I raced through. And Michael Foreman's water colour illustrations are incredibly beautiful. Again this would be a bit intense for very young children.
(4.0 stars)

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

First Line
~ A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hill-side bank and runs deep and green ~

Tragic. Beautiful.

This book is about unfulfilled dreams. Dreams of independence, Dreams of a better life. Of security. Of self-respect. Acceptance. Fame. Love.

Each character is striving to find something they do not have or to be something that they are not. And each one is powerless over their circumstances.

There is anger, bitterness, jealousy, hate, ignorance, loneliness, prejudice, and inhumanity.

And, yet, there is love, compassion, companionship, kindness.

I am in awe of John Steinbeck.

Profound storytelling in very few words.

5.0 stars

A few days ago I finished The Bourne Identity Did not exactly love it.
full review here;
http://www.librarything.com/work/4805/reviews

Why Dogs Are Better Than Cats by Bradley Trevor Greive

Lovely photos. Humorous descriptions of the different qualities of cats and dogs. I had fun with this one; See review at:
http://www.librarything.com/work/9065336/reviews
(4 stars)

Planned Reads / Possible reads for July

Challenge #3: Read a book set in one of the countries or regions that comprise the traditional Middle East

The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman (never started but want to look at this later)

Challenge #7: Read a book of *more than 300 pages* with *a multiple word title*

East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I am also reading this for the Steinbeckathon group read for July (hope to finish by mid-August)

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. I started this one in May for the Reading Through Time challenge - Historical Crime; carried it thorough June for the TIOLI Challenge #5 - Read a book with a title which contains a brand of automobile (make or model)and am now moving onto July with it. I actually love it but it is slow going! This is also a 1001 read.

The Queen's Confession by Victoria Holt - started this one in May for the TIOLI challenge to read a book with a title that has equal or more letters from the second half of the alphabet than from the first half and for the Reading Through Time challenge for June- A book about the French Revolution.

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. Started this in June for the tutored read but am nowhere near finished. (gave up on this one. I am not sure I will pick it up again but I might try. So many people love it)

Challenge #8: Read a book where the author's initials form a commonly used abbreviation or initials or acronym.

The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell. (BC- Before Christ). I am also reading this for the RTT Quarterly Theme Read - Arthurian Britain and the RTT challenge to read a book about witchcraft. (I will try again in August)

The Devil in Pew Number Seven by Rebecca Nichols Alonzo. (RNA - Ribonucleic Acid) I am also reading this for the 12/12 challenge to read a book with the number of the month in the title (seven for July) (never started)

The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing (DL- Disabled List). Reading this for the 1001 group read (abandoned, tedious, tedious, tedious)

Secret of the Seventh Son by Glenn Cooper (GC- Government of Canada) I am also reading this for the 12/12 challenge to read a book with the number of the month in the title (seven for July)

Yseult: A Tale of Love in the Age of King Arthur by Ruth Nestvold (RN- Registered Nurse) - I am also reading this for the RTT Quarterly Theme Read - Arthurian Britain and the RTT challenge to read a book about witchcraft. (I will try again in August)

The Witches by Roald Dahl (RD- Research and Development) which I am also reading for the RTT challenge to read a book about witchcraft. (I will try again later)

Challenge #10: Read a book by an author whose surname could also be a first name

The Mists of Avalon by Marian Zimmer Bradley - also for the RTT Quarterly Theme Read - Arthurian Britain and RTT challenge to read a book about witchcraft (ongoing)

Challenge #11: Read a book with a title that includes one or more colors of the olympic rings

The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo (ongoing)

Challenge #12: Read a Western

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (never started but will try again later)

Challenge #15: Read a book with a picture of something that can be carried by the wind on its cover

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury (never started but will try again later)

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini(never started but will try again later)

Challenge #18: Read a book where the author's Surname is also a Place name

Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong (Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada) also reading for RTT challenge to read a book about witchcraft

Life by Keith Richards (Richards, TX) (ongoing)

Trudeau Albums - completed June 23rd.

I started this book in May for the TIOLI Challenge #9: Read a nonfiction work set during the first 23 years of your life and didn't finish it. However, Trudeau was a lawyer before he was a Prime Minister so it fit June's Challenge #21 - Read a book featuring a legal professional

First line:
~ The story has almost assumed the quality of a hallowed myth ~

This is a coffee table picture book that I gave to my mother many years ago and inherited it back from her when she passed away. I finally got it read and really enjoyed looking through it and remembering when. More than pictures, it has essays written by prominent Canadian journalists and authors.

Full review is at: http://www.librarything.com/work/9161904/reviews

The Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracey Chelvalier - completed June 24th, read for June's Challenge # 4 - Read a book visiting a state or country you've never been to before in a book's setting (Holland) and for the 12/12 Challenge to read a book with the birthstone of the month (Pearl)in the title

First line:
~ My mother did not tell me they were coming ~

Loved this book:
full review at: http://www.librarything.com/work/5128/reviews

The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Completed June 25

The Pearl by John Steinbeck was read for June's TIOLI Challenge # 4 - Read a book visiting a state or country you've never been to before in a book's setting (Takes place in La Paz, Baja, California on the Gulf of Mexico). and I was also reading it for the 12 12 Group Challenge to read a book with the birthstone of the month in the title (Pearl)

I thought this was a beautifully written tragic story. Steinbeck is brilliant!

Full review here:
http://www.librarything.com/work/2977712/reviews

The Grapes of Wrath - completed June 27

I read this for the TIOLI June Challenge #8 - Read a book with a title that has equal or more letters from the second half of the alphabet than from the first half (7/13) AND for the Steinbeckathon group read.

Steinbeck writes of sad things. Poverty, hunger, the downtrodden. Yet, his works are filled with universal truths.

I am, so enjoying Steinbeck! Thanks LT for the Steinbeckathon!

Review here:
http://www.librarything.com/work/8488/reviews

On June 30th I completed The Old Gringo by Carlos Fuentes for the for the Fun with Fuentes: Group Read of The Old Gringo AND for the TIOLI Challenge #15 - Read a Book With One of the Words from the Bridal Rhyme in the Title: Old, New, Borrowed, Blue, Sixpence, Shoe

First line:
~ Now she sits alone and remembers ~

This was an odd book. But I liked it!

Full review is here:

http://www.librarything.com/work/84298/reviews/86220931

Have had a very busy July so did not read very many of my planned reads. Hopefully will get a few completed by the end of the month.

I finished reading Pontius Pilate by Paul L Maier on June 30 and am finally getting around to reviewing it! This was not the greatest book but I enjoyed reading it. It did get a little boring in the fourth quarter. (3.5 stars)

Full review here:
http://www.librarything.com/work/225874/reviews

When I started this challenge in January, I did not think I would be able to read 50 books let alone 75. But I signed up for both challenges. Today, I hit 52 books!

So, I am abandoning this thread and will move over to the 75 and keep on trucking ... reading!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/134715