amanda4242's thread
Talk 75 Books Challenge for 2014
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3amanda4242
Hi! Glad to be back!
9amanda4242
6. Mike at Wrykyn by P. G. Wodehouse
Only Wodehouse could write a book about cricket and make me love it.
Only Wodehouse could write a book about cricket and make me love it.
10scaifea
I'm just starting My Man Jeeves myself, which will be my first Wodehouse. I'm excited!
11amanda4242
Oooh! That has some of my favorite stories in it!
12amanda4242
7. Flora Segunda by Ysabeau Wilce
Cool world building, but the characters were a little weak.
8. The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea by Yukio Mishima
I liked it, but I can see why others would despise it.
Cool world building, but the characters were a little weak.
8. The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea by Yukio Mishima
I liked it, but I can see why others would despise it.
14amanda4242
The benefits of having no life ;)
18sandykaypax
I've never read any of the Psmith books by Wodehouse...like it more than Jeeves? Really? Have to check it out!
What did you think of The Loved One? I read that years ago and I don't think that I fully appreciated it.
Sandy K
What did you think of The Loved One? I read that years ago and I don't think that I fully appreciated it.
Sandy K
19amanda4242
17: I like to start the year off with short novels so it seems like I've accomplished a lot more than I have.
18: I liked the pitch-black humor and bitting satire of The Loved One, but I thought it was kind of insubstantial.
And do check out Psmith! If you have an e-reader, you can get the first few books free from Project Gutenberg.
18: I liked the pitch-black humor and bitting satire of The Loved One, but I thought it was kind of insubstantial.
And do check out Psmith! If you have an e-reader, you can get the first few books free from Project Gutenberg.
20sandykaypax
Yes, insubstantial--that's a good word for it.
I don't have an e-reader, but that's ok. We have an excellent library system here so I'm sure I'll have no problem getting any of the Psmith books!
Sandy K
I don't have an e-reader, but that's ok. We have an excellent library system here so I'm sure I'll have no problem getting any of the Psmith books!
Sandy K
21amanda4242
11. At the Mountains of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft
Insanely detailed account of creepy Antarctic architecture.
12. Scott-King's Modern Europe by Evelyn Waugh
Would have been better as a full-length novel.
13. Animal Farm by George Orwell
Really is brilliant.
Insanely detailed account of creepy Antarctic architecture.
12. Scott-King's Modern Europe by Evelyn Waugh
Would have been better as a full-length novel.
13. Animal Farm by George Orwell
Really is brilliant.
24amanda4242
Thanks!
25amanda4242
15. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Not impressed. It was much better as a short story in Arabian Nights.
Not impressed. It was much better as a short story in Arabian Nights.
26amanda4242
16. 1984 by George Orwell
29scaifea
>28 amanda4242:: Oh, I've read a couple of his stories and just loved them! I keep meaning to pick that one up, but just haven't yet - did you enjoy it?
30amanda4242
I did enjoy it, but the stories were really dense. Definitely something that I'll need to reread.
31amanda4242
19. Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell
I know it's only January, but this book will be on my top 5 reads of the year list. I can't imagine finding many books that are finer than this.
I know it's only January, but this book will be on my top 5 reads of the year list. I can't imagine finding many books that are finer than this.
32amanda4242
20. 1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England by W. C. Sellar & R. J. Yeatman
Wonderfully silly. Kind of like an extended version of Jane Austen's History of England.
Wonderfully silly. Kind of like an extended version of Jane Austen's History of England.
33amanda4242
21. Dark City by F. Paul Wilson
34drneutron
How was it? I'm a fan of Jack's but have been putting off dipping into the early life stuff.
35amanda4242
The main plot was kind of crap, but it was fun picking out references to later events.
36amanda4242
22. With Nails: The Film Diaries of Richard E. Grant by Richard E. Grant
Great read. I especially liked the chapter on Hudson Hawk.
Great read. I especially liked the chapter on Hudson Hawk.
37amanda4242
23. Smoking in Bed: Conversations With Bruce Robinson by Alistair Owen
24. Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman
Listened to the audiobook this morning. Gaiman, as usual, did a fantastic job reading.
24. Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman
Listened to the audiobook this morning. Gaiman, as usual, did a fantastic job reading.
39scaifea
Oh, I just recently read Fortunately, the Milk, too. Wonderful, no? Has convinced me that not only is Gaiman an amazing writer, but he must also be a fantastic dad. *dreamy sigh*
41amanda4242
26. Reading the Middle Ages by Theodore L. Steinberg
A decent intro to some of the major works of Medieval lit. Gets bonus points for discussing Marie de France, Tale of Genji, and Jewish writers.
A decent intro to some of the major works of Medieval lit. Gets bonus points for discussing Marie de France, Tale of Genji, and Jewish writers.
42amanda4242
This message has been deleted by its author.
45scaifea
>44 amanda4242:: Ha! That's the best review I've read in a long time! Love it.
47amanda4242
45 & 46: Thank you both!
50PaulCranswick
>44 amanda4242: Just shows Amanda that reviews don't need to be verbose to be successful!
Have a great weekend.
Have a great weekend.
51amanda4242
31. Andrew's Brain by E. L. Doctorow
Well, I’ve reached my quota of pretentious crap for the month.
Received via Goodreads First Reads.
Well, I’ve reached my quota of pretentious crap for the month.
Received via Goodreads First Reads.
53amanda4242
33. The Empire Striketh Back by Ian Doescher
It was fun to read Han and Leia bickering like Benedick and Beatrice, but The Empire Striketh Back just doesn’t live up to William Shakespeare’s Star Wars; the joke has worn thin in the sequel.
It was fun to read Han and Leia bickering like Benedick and Beatrice, but The Empire Striketh Back just doesn’t live up to William Shakespeare’s Star Wars; the joke has worn thin in the sequel.
54xymon81
Thats too bad, I have it on request through my library. I got the first one as a early review and kind of enjoyed it for what it was.
55amanda4242
It had some good stuff in it, but it just wasn't as much fun as the first one.
57amanda4242
35. Everything I Ever Needed to Know About _____* I Learned from Monty Python by Brian Cogan
36. Sexplosion: From Andy Warhol to A Clockwork Orange-- How a Generation of Pop Rebels Broke All the Taboos by Robert Hofler
Good subject, but not a ground-breaking work.
36. Sexplosion: From Andy Warhol to A Clockwork Orange-- How a Generation of Pop Rebels Broke All the Taboos by Robert Hofler
Good subject, but not a ground-breaking work.
62amanda4242
41. Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
I kind of liked The Hunger Games, but this is a thousand times better.
42. Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness by Bryan Lee O'Malley
I kind of liked The Hunger Games, but this is a thousand times better.
42. Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness by Bryan Lee O'Malley
65amanda4242
45. The Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore
I'm not sure if I liked it as much as I did Fool, but it didn't disappoint.
I'm not sure if I liked it as much as I did Fool, but it didn't disappoint.
71amanda4242
51. Aesop's Fables by Aesop
74amanda4242
55. Basil of Baker Street by Eve Titus
56. Basil and the Lost Colony by Eve Titus
57. Last Days by Brian Evenson
56. Basil and the Lost Colony by Eve Titus
57. Last Days by Brian Evenson
78amanda4242
61. Tales of Nevèrÿon by Samuel R. Delany
Sometimes slow, but usually quite interesting.
62. Ben and Me by Robert Lawson
Sometimes slow, but usually quite interesting.
62. Ben and Me by Robert Lawson
80scaifea
>79 amanda4242: Oh, how was that one?
81amanda4242
Eagleton didn't say anything that hasn't been said a zillion times before, but he was usually amusing while saying it.
83scaifea
>81 amanda4242: I like Eagleton, so I think I have to wishlist that one...
>82 amanda4242: Love Moore. LOVE him. Haven't read that one yet, though, but it's waiting for me on my shelves.
>82 amanda4242: Love Moore. LOVE him. Haven't read that one yet, though, but it's waiting for me on my shelves.
87amanda4242
72. We by Yevgeny Zamyatin
88amanda4242
73. The Jedi Doth Return by Ian Doescher
A chore. I only finished it becasue it was an ER book.
74. Preacher, Vol. 6: War in the Sun by Garth Ennis
A chore. I only finished it becasue it was an ER book.
74. Preacher, Vol. 6: War in the Sun by Garth Ennis
91amanda4242
Thank you!
95amanda4242
Thank you!
I first read Preacher a couple of years ago and fell in love with it. But I'm a little sad because I'm almost finished with the series.
I first read Preacher a couple of years ago and fell in love with it. But I'm a little sad because I'm almost finished with the series.
97scaifea
>95 amanda4242: I read the series waaay back when it was coming out in monthly installments, so it's been awhile.
98amanda4242
I can barely wait for the library to send me the next collection, and it's only been a few days. I don't think I could have survived waiting an entire month for my next fix!
104amanda4242
85. Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
I may be in the minority here, but I didn't find this one scary. Sure, being caught in a conspiracy and having no one believe you would be terrifying, but I just found the idea of a building full of senior citizen satanists laugh-out-loud funny.
I may be in the minority here, but I didn't find this one scary. Sure, being caught in a conspiracy and having no one believe you would be terrifying, but I just found the idea of a building full of senior citizen satanists laugh-out-loud funny.
106amanda4242
86. The Robber Bridegroom by Eudora Welty
Not bad.
87. In Our Time by Ernest Hemingway
Love this collection, especially "Big Two-Hearted River."
Not bad.
87. In Our Time by Ernest Hemingway
Love this collection, especially "Big Two-Hearted River."
108amanda4242
89. Thank You, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse
Enjoyed this one less than other Jeeves stories due to the minstrel show sub-plot.
90. The Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains by Neil Gaiman
Okay story, but I didn't particularly like the art.
Enjoyed this one less than other Jeeves stories due to the minstrel show sub-plot.
90. The Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains by Neil Gaiman
Okay story, but I didn't particularly like the art.
109amanda4242
91. The Lovecraft Papers by P. H. Cannon
What a treat for that small group (in which I am included) who are fans H. P. Lovecraft, Arthur Conan Doyle, and P. G. Wodehouse!
The first half of the book is an okay detective story featuring Sherlock Holmes working with Lovecraft to retrieve some stolen letters. The second half is where all the fun is: Jeeves and Wooster face off against Lovecraftian horrors.
Not for those who are unfamiliar with the works of any of the three authors Cannon is parodying, but a quick, fun read for those who are.
What a treat for that small group (in which I am included) who are fans H. P. Lovecraft, Arthur Conan Doyle, and P. G. Wodehouse!
The first half of the book is an okay detective story featuring Sherlock Holmes working with Lovecraft to retrieve some stolen letters. The second half is where all the fun is: Jeeves and Wooster face off against Lovecraftian horrors.
Not for those who are unfamiliar with the works of any of the three authors Cannon is parodying, but a quick, fun read for those who are.
111amanda4242
It was a fun, quick read.
114amanda4242
94. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
117amanda4242
97. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
I didn't hate it, but I can see why people who were forced to read it in high school do.
I didn't hate it, but I can see why people who were forced to read it in high school do.
119amanda4242
100. Fatal Enquiry by Will Thomas
124amanda4242
106. Gateways by F. Paul Wilson
126amanda4242
108. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
I started this Friday and planned to read about fifty pages a day...I finished it last night.
I started this Friday and planned to read about fifty pages a day...I finished it last night.
127amanda4242
109. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher
138amanda4242
122. The Gospel According to Monty Python by Julian Doyle
What a mess! If ever a book called out for a competent editor, it was this one. With the poor structure, spelling and grammar errors, the horrific abuse of punctuation, and the limited connection to Python, it was a torturous read.
Received via Netgalley.
What a mess! If ever a book called out for a competent editor, it was this one. With the poor structure, spelling and grammar errors, the horrific abuse of punctuation, and the limited connection to Python, it was a torturous read.
Received via Netgalley.
147amanda4242
132. Gifts by Ursula K. Le Guin
149amanda4242
134. Voices by Ursula K. Le Guin
152amanda4242
137. Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
A re-read of an old favorite.
A re-read of an old favorite.
157amanda4242
143. Halloween Rain by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder
Reminded me of the Buffy-shaped hole in my life.
Reminded me of the Buffy-shaped hole in my life.
162amanda4242
>161 scaifea: And to you, too!
148. Trout Fishing in America by Richard Brautigan
People actually like this book?
148. Trout Fishing in America by Richard Brautigan
People actually like this book?
