Alice_Wonder's 50 Books for 2008

I am joining this Challenge! I am sure I will read 50 books during 2008. I am an avid fan of recorded books, but for this challenge I will just include the print books I read in 2008.

I am currently reading Light on Lucrezia by Jean Plaidy

I plan on keeping track of books and the number of pages this year. It will be fun to see what the rest of you are reading.

I finished Light on Lucrezia by Jean Plaidy yesterday (12/31/07). I picked up two more books at the thrift shop for 99 cents each. So I have started on book #2 and so far am enjoying it. The copy of Light on Lucrezia was so old with cracking glue for the binding that I shreded the pages as I read and put them in my worm composter. Maybe the worms will improve their Renaissance history.
(200 pages to date)
1. Light on Lucrezia by Jean Plaidy 240 pages
2. A Sensible Life by Mary Wesley 298 pages

I just finished another book:
#3. The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly 404 pages

I really enjoyed this book. It was a good look at legal ethics and ethics in general while adding some good courtroom drama. The main character was likeable but flawed (like most humans I know).

This brings my total pages to 942

Now for my next choice----I brought home a book from our school library from a series called Dear America. It is historical fiction written in diary form. Easy reading and high interest I am hoping because I would like to encourage some of my students (high school) to read more--and while they are at it to absorb some history.----------------Alice

I used to be quite into Dear America, about 3rd to 7th grade, and while the protagonists tend to be in the 13-18 range, the books are definitely targeted at a younger audience. So if you're pitching the books to highschoolers, you might want to say things like "an easy read" or "intended for a younger audience" or something. There are definitely "this is a kids' series" moments, even if the history is good and the themes can get a little intense. Just remembering (sadly, I got rid of them all, so I can't go back and look), I think there were some treatments of "adult themes" that would make me laugh now.

-Your friendly neighborhood 18-year-old . . .

I finished another book:
#4. So Far from Home by Barry Denenberg 170 pages
total 1112 pages

I have not decided what book to read next. Since I am a high-school teacher, I think that this year I might re-read some of the classic novels I read when I was in high school.

Dear Undeadgoat: I agree that this book from the Dear America series is at the reading level of 3rd to 7th grade level. A frustrating aspect of teaching high school is that you have some students reading at a college level and some even down to a 3rd grade level. But all students want reading material at their age level. I am always looking for easy reading books that will still keep interest and focus. I hope these books will interest a couple of my students that are poor readers that failed US History last semester. Thanks for your comments. ---Alice

For #5/50 I am reading Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr. I am really enjoying this book set in Mexico in about 1960. An American couple living in a remote Mexican village. The book is poetic and has interesting descriptions of the people in the village.

I finished reading Stones for Ibarra last night. I really enjoyed this book. The author Harriet Doerr graduated from Stanford in her 70s (1977) and this was her first novel and was published after that time. I would like to read more by this author.
#5 Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr 214 pages
TOTAL PAGES=1326

I just found an interesting article on the Internet about Harriet Doerr.
http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/1997/novdec/articles/doerr.html She is an intereting person.

I just finished another historical fiction book called One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus. The book is set in the times of the Indian Wars against the Cheyenne in the Black Hills.

This is book #6 in the 50 Book Challenge @302 pages

Total pages is now 1,628 pages.

I just got a new treadmill, and I am reading while briskly walking. Although it is "killing two birds with one stone," I sure hope I don't find any dead birds lying around.----Alice

I read One Thousand White Women about a year ago, and I think that the most fascinating part was, unlike most alternate history, it was presented in such a way that it could have been real, and we'd have no idea.

This weekend I finished The Bear in the Attic by Patrick F. McManus. This was a semi-random choice from our school library. I guess I liked the funny picture on the cover. It was mislabeled as fiction. A funny collection of ourdoorsman type stories. I usually don't like short story collections or essay collections, but I really enjoyed this book. I am not a hunter or fisherperson but it brought back memories of camping trips.

This is book #7 for me in the 50 Book Challenge. Total pages to date = 1,853.

I picked up a couple of novels at the thrift store yesterday from the 10 cent shelf outside---I usually have good luck there, and, if not, I can just recycle the book again.-----------Alice

I am now reading The Night of the Twelfth by Michael Gilbert. It is a suspense novel and not very long---so maybe I'll finish it in the next couple of evenings.---Alice

#8 The Night of the Twelfth by Michael Gilbert finished today. A suspense novel set in a boy's boarding school in England. Interesting characters and I wish that I had the time to read it straight through.

216 pages

total pages to date=2,069

starting tonight while on the treadmill is The Last Family by John Ramsey Miller----------------------Alice

Completed #9 The Last Family by John Ramsey Miller for an additional 383 pages. My total pages to date = 2,452.-------- Alice

This morning I finished The Middle Heart by Bette Bao Lord. It is a novel telling of friendship set in China during the Japanese occupation and through the communists in 1989. I really enjoyed the book and will look for more of Ms. Lord's books at the library.

#10 complete for 408 pages. A total of 2,477 pages.

I just started Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain

I am still reading Life on the Mississippi but also started and finished The Moment she was Gone by Evan Hunter about a family's denial of mental illness of a young woman--especially the viewpoint of her twin brother.

#11 The Moment She was Gone by Evan Hunter 208 pages
A total of 2,685 pages so far.

I just finished
#12 If I Did It by O.J. Simpson which is 208 pages

which makes my total 2,893

I got this book at the city library so you won't find it in my personal library. The book was published by Ron Goldman's family (Ron was a victim of the murder by O.J. Simpson). I found the book to be rambling and strange yet it gave me insight into O.J. I am sure that you psychologists and psychiatrists would find the book revealing. He seems to remember exactly all the times Nichole said she did something wrong, what car he was driving when, and when and who he made love with, also what clothes he had on. Simpson has a poor range of adjectives. He does mention his children often and when he was playing with them. It was hard to follow the transition from the "hypothetical" chapter to back to the "truth."
I am sure that whether you feel he did it or not, you will find something lacking in this book Simpson wanted to be published. I am sure glad that it is the families of the victims that will profit from the sale of the book rather than Simpson (which he tried to do).

I finished another book on Thursday (3/13). It was one of a series, The Golden Compass. I saw the movie but found some parts difficult to understand. That is so often true when they try to cram too much into a normal length movie. I have already started the second book in the series. I ordered the movie to see again through Netflix and also a couple documentaries regarding Philip Pullman and the series. I don't find the story so far to be anti-Church or anti-religion but more pro-free thought and against a too powerful church.

#13 The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman 351 pages.
total pages to date=3,244

I finished #2 in Phillip Pullman's series The Dark Materials on Saturday.

#14 The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman 288 pages.
total pages to date=3,532

I don't know if I am going to like how this series ends. There are things that are negative about established religion. But, it turns out that the story might end with a new version of Eve in the garden.....

I am on schedule to complete 50 books by the end of 2008. I have this vision of a reading marathon the last week of the year.

Alice

Now I have finished #3 in Philip Pullman's series, His Dark Materials. Again, I still don't know about the ending of the book. Although it is better than I expected. I am looking forward to watching the movie based on the first book again. I have ordered it and interviews with the author from Netflix. Maybe I just need to stay away from books of this genre. These fantasy assumptions make too big leaps for me at times. And the biblical references were too numerous. It seems like Pullman could have been a little more original--or was that his purpose???? This is a book series for a teen and not a younger child.

#15 The Amber Spyglass 465 pages
total pages to date=3997

Just finished #16 Timbukto by Paul Auster --excellent book (181 pages)

total pages to date = 4,178 pages

After reading Philip Pullman's three-parter I needed some more reality. I still have not decided if it was just too much fantasy or too much overdone symbolism. Anyway---I really liked Timbukto which was a view of life from a dog's standpoint. A short, touching reality.

Now I am reading a memoir by Ruth Reichl called Comfort me with Apples. Yes, I agree with the author:Love is complicated!!!! Yikes, I need to grade papers but I would much rather sit here read and watch hummingbirds outside my window.

# 17 Comfort Me with Apples by Ruth Reichl 302 pages. I really enjoyed this book. I picked up two more books at the thrift store today. I don't want to run out of new things to read. I admire Reichl's honesty about her life and her sensual enjoyment of cooking and eating.---Alice
total pages to date=4,480

Spring is so beautiful outside---what a gift!

#18 Chasing Away the Devil by Susan Rogers Cooper. with 183 pages. Although the book was short the characters were well developed. It is one of a series with Sheriff Milt Kovak in a one stop light town in Oklahoma. The Good Old Boy hero of this book (Deputy Sheriff Kovak at this time) is full of contrasts.
total pages to date=4,663

#19 On Tall Pine Lake by Dorothy Garlock with 368 pages. Actually, I read a large print version of this book so to keep things consistent, I am using the number of pages in the regular paperback. This book read like a TV show. I read the reviews in Amazon.com and the main comment was that this was not up to her usual writing style. So maybe I will chance another book by this author. It was a suspense & romance novel.
total pages to date=5,031

#20 Houston in the Rearview Mirror by Susan Rogers Cooper 165 pages and
#21 Other People's Houses by Susan Rogers Cooper 250 pages
total pages to date= 5,446

I really liked Chasing Away the Devil by Susan Rogers Cooper so I ordered through interlibrary loan all I could find in our County system in the same series. Houston in the Rearview Mirror is the first in the series. I like not only the mystery/suspense aspect of these books but also the relationships the main character has with his widowed sister and her two children (who live with him) and his lady friends.---Alice

#22 The Passions of Chelsea Kane by Barbara Delinsky 432 pages.
I read the large print version so I changed to the hardcover number of pages. This is "chick lit" and most people can guess pretty much how it will end. I did enjoy some of the characters and the setting in a small town with a granite quarry.
total pages to date=5,878

I have started another Milt Kovak mystery. I am trying to get this series done because I got them on inter-library loan.

#23 Doctors and Lawyers and Such by Susan Rogers Cooper 231 pages
total pages to date=6,109

#24 The Divide by Nicholas Evans 339 pages
total pages to date=6,448

I liked this better than the Horse Whisperer which is his better known book.

#25 Brass Ring by Diane Chamberlain 384 pages
total pages to date =6,832

Story about a woman with repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse. Strangely enough this is set in a romance novel.

I just realized that I am half way through my list. I have a couple of books I picked up at the thrift store that look interesting and I have a history book I ordered from Amazon to read. I sure I will not get bored.

#26 The Camel Club by David Baldacci 624 pages
total pages to date=7,456

I enjoyed this book and there are more in the series. Now I'll need to get more from the library. It was an action & political thriller. I like it that those who live on the fringe of society are the heros.

I don't know what I'll read next.

#27 Finnegan's Week by Joseph Wambaugh 335 pages
total pages to date=7,791

I received an ARC through LT for The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton.Being in a negative mood I thought it might be trite chicklit but it is proving to be well written with interesting characters who are just a few years older than me. I am now on page 57. I would like to finish the book quickly and get my review in a couple of locations. It is fun to be one of the first people that get to read this book. I'll check out to see if she has other books at our city library.

#28 The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton 286 pages
total pages to date=8,077
This was my first ARC received through Library Thing. I'll be posting my review this evening or tomorrow AM.

I have already started to read another Susan Rogers Cooper book in the Milt Kovak mystery series. This is Lying Wonders. I have a feeling that if I started reading any of her other series, that I would also get hooked.

#29- Lying Wonders by Susan Rogers Cooper 250 pages
total pages todate=8,327

I received this book through Bookmooch.com

#30 Muletrain to Maggody by Joan Hess 326 pages
total pages to date=8,653

Not one of my favorite book so far this year but an enjoyable read. I am reading an Ellis Peters book now and that is more to my liking.

#31 The Raven in the Foregate by Ellis Peters 201 pages
total pages to date=8,854

I was much happier when I finished this book than when I read my previous book listed. I always like Ellis Peters and have read several others in this Brother Cadfael series.

#32 Dead Soul by James D. Doss 328 pages
total pages to date=9,182

I really liked this book. I am already a big fan of Tony Hillerman novels so I can see that this novel would appeal to me also. This is the first I have read in the Charlie Moon Mystery series by James D. Doss. I plan on getting more in the series from my local interlibrary loan.

#32 Dead Soul by James D. Doss 328 pages
total pages to date=9,182

I really liked this book. I am already a big fan of Tony Hillerman novels so I can see that this novel would appeal to me also. This is the first I have read in the Charlie Moon Mystery series by James D. Doss. I plan on getting more in the series from my local interlibrary loan.

Hello, Alice_Wonder,

Your name caught my eye as I've just finished Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

I like Joan Hess. I enjoy her Maggody series (having lived in small town Arkansas) but prefer her Claire Malloy mysteries.

Happy reading! :)
cee2

Dear cee2, thanks for your comments. I will have to get a copy of one of Hess's Claire Malloy books. It is fun to read all in a series.

#33 the curious incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon 226 pages.
total pages to date this year: 9,408 pages

What a delightful book. Now, I am going to get on the internet and search some information about the author. I enjoyed his insight into the autistic teen and his struggling parents.

I am now reading The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

I've read 2 of the Ladies' Detective Agency series and enjoyed them immensely. It's interesting to see the cultural differences that affect how she does her "detecting."

#34 - The No.1 Ladies' Detctive Agency by Alexander McCall Smith 235 pages
total pages to date this year: 9,643

I have a basket full of books to read.

#35 A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton 390 pages
total pages to date this year: 10,033 pages

I had read several reviews of this book even from people that said they did not finish the book because it was so depressing. It was very sad to see what can happen in life through no fault of your own. But it also showed that slowly we can forgive others and in particular ourselves. Yes, life will never be the same, but we can survive.

#36 The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama 211 pages
total pages to date this year: 10,244 pages (and enjoying this challenge more and more)

I wrote a brief review in my library. I enjoyed this book because I usually enjoy novels that have a sense of the time and geographic setting. This is in 1938 Japan by a Chinese man who hears the news of the Japanese invasion of his homeland. I noted that the author is the child of a a Chinese mother and Japanese father. I would like to read some of her other novels such as Women of the Silk.

#37 The Language of Light by Meg Waite Clayton 319 pages
total pages to date this year: 10,563

This is the second book by this author I have read this year. It was her first novel and has a different tone than the second. I enjoyed the story about a young widow struggling with life and her passion for photography.

#38 The Shaman Sings by James D. Doss 230 pages
total pages to date this year: 10,793

This is the first book in the Charlie Moon series of novels by Doss. I read a later one in the series and now I want to start at the beginning. Charlie Moon is not introduced until the end of the book. I obtained this book through interlibrary loan from my country library system. I like to read a series in order so I'll look for the next books from the library system or bookmooch.com. As always, I look at my local thrift store. I go looking for a certain author and come home with an armload of new authors to read.

My next book is an ARC I obtained from Harper Collins' first look program. It is called Superdove and is about pigeons. I am one of those that think pigeons are flying rats. So I'll see if this book changes my perspective.

#39 Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich 310 pages
total pages to date this year 11,103

I agree with many of the other reviewers of this book. It seems like Janet Evanovich just keeps churning out more books to milk the cash cow some more. She has not allowed her characters to develop. A mildly entertaining book but will not go out of my way to read any more she should crank out in this series.

#40 Superdove by Courtney Humphries 196 pages
#41 The Shaman Laughs by James D. Doss 337 pages
total pages to date this year 11,636

I enjoyed Superdove because it made rethink my bias against pigeons. In particular, I liked the commentary on evolutionary biology and the relations between man and domesticated animals. It was good for me to read a little non-fiction (besides history) now and then.

The Shaman Laughs is another in the Charlie Moon mystery series. Now I feel a need to read (a thirst maybe) to read the whole series. So far, I am finding all the books through interlibrary loan.

By chance I came upon another good mystery series: the Rachel Porter mystery series by Jessica Speart. Rachel Porter is a Fish and Game agent. I like Nevada Barr mysteries so I guess I was destined to also like this series. My basket of books to read is currently overflowing. I have no doubt that I will reach my 50 book goal for 2008.

#42 Tortoise Soup by Jessica Speart 293 pages
total pages to date this year 11,929 pages

I liked some parts of this book and liked the characters and the twists of the plot but was somewhat bothered by some things that were not quite accurate about the desert setting. Maybe I'll read the previous book in the series and then make my decision whether or not I will read any more. Maybe I am just a little tired with government conspiracies.

#43 Woman of a Thousand Secrets by Barbara Wood 483 pages
total pages to date this year = 12,412

This was an Advanced Reader's Copy I obtained through LibraryThing. I just posted my review. I feel I would best tolerate some light reading such as a book I recently picked up at the thrift store Murder, She Meowed. It is co-authored by a cat. It may be just the thing for these hot summer afternoons.

#44 Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters 262 pages
total pages to date this year = 12,674

#45 The Shaman's Bones by James D. Doss 276 pages
total pages to date this year = 12,950

This is #3 in this series by Doss set in the Southern Ute Reservation. I'll see if I can obtain a copy of #4 from interlibrary loan.

#46 Murder, She Meowed by Rita Mae Brown 301 pages
total pages to date this year = 13,251

I didn't realize that I had left this book off my list. Actually, I finished it before #45 above. There is a review in my library listing.

#47 War and Peas by Jill Churchill 250 pages
total pages to date this year = 13,501

I will place a review in my LibraryThing listing.

#48 Thyme of Death by Susan Wittig Albert 309 pages
total pages to date this year = 13,810

This is the first I have read in this series and the first book in the series. I plan on reading more in this mystery series. I wrote a review.

#49 The Shaman's Game by James D. Doss 370 pages
total pages to date this year = 14,170

I really like this series and seem to be able to obtain the books through inter-library loan. It is beginning to look like I can join the 75 book Challenge next year.

#50 Murder on a Girls' Night Out by Anne George 244 pages.
total pages to date this year =14,414

Now I have reached my 50 book goal. Although this book was an enjoyable read, it is not great literature. I have plenty of more books to read for the rest of the year!

Hi, Alice_Wonder!
Congratulations on reaching your 50 book challenge goal!
--BJ

#51 (goal reached plus 1) The Spy Within by Tod Hoffman 282 pages
total pages to date this year=14,282

I wrote a LT review on this book which I received as an ARC through LibraryThing. Just yesterday, I received another LibraryThing ARC, The Swap by Antony Moore. And on top of that, I went to the Salvation Army thrift store and found 6 more interesting books. My basket of books-to-read is overflowing!!!!!!

#52 (goal reached plus 2) The Swap by Antony Moore 262 pages
total pages to date this year = 14,544

I will be writing my LT review on this book, which was an ARC through LT, later today. I thought the book was very funny--I'm still thinking about that ending.

#53 (goal reached plus 3) The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan 375 pages
total pages to date this year = 14,919

This was a city library book so I won't be writing my review in my library. I'll write a review in a message post. I really enjoyed this book. Somehow it was recommended for me through LT or maybe Amazon.com. Anyway I got it from interlibrary loan. Before I even read it, I gave The Lightning Thief to our school librarian/English teacher and she really liked the book. She might use it for a English assignment or for our next school book club selection. It was written by a Middle School teacher. It would be great for getting students interested in Greek mythology. The book will also also help those that are "different" to be more accepting of who they are.--anyway, more later on this

#53 (goal plus 3) The Curse of the Pharaohs by Elizabeth Peters 304 pages
total pages to date this year=15,223

This was another large print book so I looked up the number of pages on Amazon.com. We are reading the first in this series for our book club at school. There are 18 in the whole series and the author is still writing. This was an inter-library loan so I wanted to get it back as soon as possible.

This is a busy weekend for me, but I hope to get in some reading. ---Alice

#54 (goal plus 4) The Florabama Ladies' Auxiliary & Sewing Circle by Lois Battle 358 pages
total pages to date this year=15,581

Review is in my library. I think I will list this book on bookmooch.com

#55 (goal plus 5) Eighth Moon by Bette Bao Lord 222 pages
total pages to date this year=15,803

Review is in my library. Very good book.

#56 (goal plus 6) Powers That Be by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough 251 pages
total pages to date this year=16,054

I enjoyed reading this book. I was previewing it to consider for the Book Club at the school where I teach (a high school girls' boarding school). I think this would be a good selection. It gets you thinking about the relationship between people and their planet. It has science fiction and fantasy but not too much. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the trilogy.

#57 (goal plus 7) The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan 279 pages
total pages to date this year=16,333

This is the second in the series by Rick Riordan. It sure looks like I need to brush up on my Greek mythology. Riordan displays a good sense of humor. Although the book is written to appeal to a teen, an enjoyable read for this "adult."

I have plenty of books on hand to read. I might start reading Twilight by Stephanie Meyer so I will have read it before the movie comes out in November.

#58 (goal plus 8) Twilight by Stephanie Meyer 498 pages
total pages to date this year=16,831

I have suffered through reading Twilight and will be posting my review soon. I would have put the book down if it weren't so popluar with my female teen students. I ended up giving it a two star rating just because the book was so lacking that I kept on reading it jotting down notes for my negative review.

Thank heavens when I was stuck at the tire repair store that I had another book with me to read.

#59 (goal plus 9) Bitter Sweets by Roopa Farooki 355 pages
total pages to date this year= 17.186

Whew, thank heavens I had a good book to read after reading Twilight. I liked this book although the ending was a little weak. Good presentation of how lies live in families and the harm they do. I am considering using it as a selection for the book club at school.

#60 (goal plus 10) Free-Range Knitter by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee 228 pages
total pages to date this year= 17,414

I really enjoyed reading this little book. My review is posted on LibraryThing.com and also on Amazon.com

I have started reading Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

I can tell that next year I should join a challenge for at least 75 books.

#61 (goal plus 11) Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay 293 pages
total pages to date this year=17,707

Another very enjoyable read from Reading Group Gold. Now I having a hard time deciding if I want to use Bitter Sweets or Sarah's Key for the January selection for my Book Club. I'll probably get my review written this weekend. I did give Sarah's Key 4 stars.

#62 (goal plus 12) Chalked Up: Inside Elite Gymnastics' Merciless Coaching, Overzealous Parents, Eating Disorders, and Elusive Olympic Dreams by Jennifer Sey 289 pages
total pages to date this year=17,996

The title sums up well what this book describes. Ms. Sey describes her childhood (or what should have been her childhood) taken over with gymnastics. Clearly the adults in her life were not taking their proper roles to nurture, guide, and protect Ms. Sey. I will not be doing a review of this book on LibraryThing because it is not really in my library but my city library. I will post my review on Amazon.com. The reviews on Amazon are interesting because several of the girls mentioned in the book posted their comments.

#63 (goal plus 13) Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden by M.C. Beaton 196 pages
total pages to date this year=18,192

An entertaining mystery with an amusing main character. A warm fall afternoon and I just felt like finishing this book all in one day.

#64 (goal plus 14) The Honk and Holler Opening Soon by Billie Letts 290 pages
total pages to date this year = 18,482

I probably won't get my review written until this weekend.

#65 (goal plus 15) Death at Bishop's Keep by Robin Paige 296 pages
total pages to date this year = 18,778

This is what is sometimes called a cozy mystery. I did like the historical setting. I ended up looking up a lot of things on google searches to find out more about things mentioned in the book. This is the first of the series. I will be looking for the next book in the series.

#66 (goal plus 16) Alice's Tulips by Sandra Dallas 243 pages
total pages to date this year = 19,074

I am behind in writing my reviews. I'll get to posting my comments about this book in my review this weekend. There are somethings that I thought could be left out of this book and somethings that should have been included. I'll give it 3 stars. Next I plan to read the M C. Beaton book Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death which is the first in the Agatha Raisin series. I expect it to be an easy and entertaining read. I think there is a BBC series so I'll have to check that out on Netflix too. I was disappointed in the BBC series based on her Hamish Macbeath series. He was not at all like I visualized him from reading the books.

#67 (goal plus 17) Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton 185 pages
total pages to date this year =19,259

I plan on reading more in this series.

#68 (goal plus 18) The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls 288 pages
total pages to date this year=19,547

From school library. A fascinating memoir. It shows how resiliant children can be.

#69 (goal plus 19) Power Lines by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough 297 pages
total pages to date this year=19,844

#2 in the Powers that Be series but not as good as the first book. I expect that the last book in the series will be better.

Wow, I have quite a few reviews to get caught up on over the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend!

#70 (goal plus 20) Hunting Badger by Tony Hillerman 275 pages
total pages to date this year=20,119

I think I missed a couple of books I finished over Thanksgiving. I'll get caught up on those. This book I did like. I have not read this series in order and now that Hillerman has passed away, I think I will read the series in order.

#71 (goal plus 21) Legacy of Silence by Belva Plain 419 pages
total pages to date this year=20,538

I must have really enjoyed this book--or maybe it was the cold weather outside--because I read it almost straight through this weekend.

#72 (goal plus 22) Billy Straight by Jonathan Kellerman 428 pages
total pages to date this year=20,966

#73 Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam by M.C. Beaton 197 pages
total pages to date this year=21,163

I am now reading Reading Lolita in Tehran and already I am enjoying it very much.

I have not completed Reading Lolita in Tehran and I am enjoying it very much. As with many people, I am thinking about my goals for next year. I plan on keeping with a 50 book challenge. That way, I am not tempted to avoid long books or books that are slow reading. There are plenty books of all types waiting in baskets in my living room, lined up neatly in my hutch in my dining room, on my bookshelf in my bedroom, and on my wishlist on bookmooch.com. Maybe the challenge will be deciding which to read next. I hope everyone is enjoying their holidays. Sincerely, Alice

This book is due at the library so I set aside Reading Lolita in Tehran because I knew it was a quick and funny read A Spoonful of Poison by M.C. Beaton. The book is copyright 2008 so I think it is the most recent in the series.
276 pages
total pages to date this year=21.439

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL LIBRARYTHINGERS!!!! ---- Alice

This ends my 50 books in 2008 Challenge. I have started a new subject line for 2009. ------Alice