Jthierer's 26 book challenge

I don't think I can do 50, but 1 book every two weeks sounds doable. I'm starting with Cavalry Man and Sense and Sensibility. Both are new reads for me, and I'm looking forward to them.

Good luck!

>2 idyllicmelody: Thanks for the encouragement.

I finally got around to finishing another book, so my first seven books for 2008 have been:

1. The Six Wives of Henry VIII. Good, informative read that didn't seem to biased.
2. The Children of Henry VIII. Raised some serious questions for me about the quality of Weir's research because it seemed to contradict some of her assertions in Six Wives.
3. Water for Elephants. I enjoyed this book a great deal more than I expected. I don't ordinarily like "book club" fiction because I feel it often tries too hard to impress the reader or make him or her feel something specific. That said, part of my goal this year was to broaden my horizons a little and this was a welcome change of pace. Well written and enjoyable to read without being lightweight.
4. Wonderful Tonight. Doesn't have a touchstone today. Its Patty Boyd's autobiography and would have been much more enjoyable if she hadn't namedropped so many people I have never heard of.
5. X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble. My brother likes Star Wars books and it makes him happy to have someone to talk to about them.
6. The Memory Keeper's Daughter. An example of "book club" fiction I did not like. I thought the premise was interesting. Unfortunately, the characters were not. The writing style just seemed flat and lifeless, which made it difficult to want to read.
7. Cavalry Man: The Killing Machine. I like Ed Gorman, but I did not like this one. Too many close brushes with death that the hero narrowly escapes and a resolution that didn't seem supported by the rest of the book.

Next up: Wife for Hire and Sense and Sensibility

8. Wife for Hire. Not bad, not good. It took me about 1 1/2 hours to read after I finally sat down to read. The romance was cute, and I chuckled a few times. Nothing to write home about one way or the other. I might read more in her romance series.

Next up: Sense and Sensibility and Augustus

9. Sense and Sensibility My first Jane Austen. I loved it, but I can see why others don't. Its not particularly fast-moving and, really, Edward has got to be the most unappealing love interest to come along in a while. That said, I liked the details and the way the characters had to read between the lines of others' words and actions due to the proprieties of the day.

Next up: Augustus and The Mighty and the Almighty

10. Augustus. Another good one. Easy and fun to read, but I feel like I actually learned something. I really liked the seamless integration of cultural background with the narrative flow of Augustus' life.

Next up: The Mighty and the Almighty and Memo to the President Elect

11. The Mighty and the Almighty. Good balanced take on the role of religion in foreign policy. She focused more on her impressions and experiences, which made it very readable, but also made the book seem to lack some substance.

Next up: Memo to the President Elect and I am Spock

12. Memo to the President Elect. This one was not as good as The Mighty and the Almighty I thought it had the same lack of substance problems, but also suffered from a bit too much partisanship. I get that she doesn't like Bush, but bashing him is not a solution to the problem.

Next up: I am Spock and Arthurian Omen.

13. Arthurian Omen. It was readable. The main character was so annoying that it got in the way of my enjoying the plot. Really, if someone is trying to kill you, is it a good idea to go running in the middle of the night by yourself. No.

On a somewhat unrelated note, somehow all of G.G. Vandagriff's books have been combined into one work. I'm unclear why and I can't fix it. Either someone keeps coming along and recombining them or I'm not separating them correctly. Anyway, I don't want to muck around too much because I'm afraid of accidentally separating someone's review of this book out and them not getting credit for it when the next round of ER books comes out.

14. Middlemarch Wow. Just wow. I think after Arthurian Omen just about anything would have seemed good but this was just incredible. I added some quotes from it to my WikiThing page and I have already decided I need to reread this book, something I very rarely do. Seriously, kudos to the people in the Group Reads-Literature group who suggested this.

Next up: I am Spock and Pride and Prejudice

15. Split: A Memoir of Divorce Beautiful and sad. I had to stop reading at some points just because it so accurately reflects what I'm feeling as someone just coming out of a long-term relationship, even though the situations are vastly different.

Next up: I am Spock and Pride and Prejudice

16. I am Spock. This one suffered a bit in comparison with my last two amazing reads, but I think it was a good palate cleanser so I can move on to other stuff. I liked it, but then I love Mr. Spock so...

Next up: ARCs of The Lace Reader and The Aviary Gate

17. The Lace Reader. Wow. This one comes out in July, and I recommend everyone track down a copy then if you can't get your hands on an ARC. Its not a perfect book by any means, but it sucked me in and kept me reading and suspending my disbelief, which is all I ask of my fiction.

Next up: The Aviary Gate and Pride and Prejudice

18. When You Are Engulfed in Flames. Another great collection from David Sedaris. I know his humor isn't for everyone, but I found myself laughing throughout this book. Plus, I love all the crap Hugh puts up with from him.

Next up: The Aviary Gate and The Glimmer Palace

19. The Aviary Gate. Really enjoyed the parts in the harem. Really wanted the modern parts to be over. The main modern character was a graduate student who appeared to rely on psychic insights rather than research, then got offended when someone pointed out that you can't cite a feeling in a thesis. If the book had been 350 pages of life in a Turkish harem, I could unequivocally recommend it. The fact that it wasn't means I won't be pulling this one off the shelves and insisting someone read it.

Next up: The Glimmer Palace and The White Mary

20. The Glimmer Palace by Beatrice Colin. Possibly the most downer, depressing book I've read this year. Nothing good ever seems to happen to the main characters. I understand that Berlin during and after WWI was not a pleasant place, but my goodness the characters in this book get knocked down a lot. The writing and characterization were decent, so someone who can get past the unrelenting gloom might enjoy it more than I did.

Next up: The White Mary and Pride and Prejudice

21. The White Mary by Kira Salak. I was excited to read this one because it was about a foreign correspondent, but I was not particularly impressed. The story just didn't flow for me, and the ending felt rushed.

Next up: Pride and Prejudice and The Watercooler Effect

22. Pride and Prejudice. I can see why this is so many people's favorite Austen, though I think I still prefer Sense and Sensibility.

Up Next: The Watercooler Effect and Mr. Monk Goes to Hawaii

23. The Watercooler Effect by Nicholas DiFonzo. Interesting quick read. Unfortunately, it was more than a little shallow and some of the examples were way overused.

Up Next: Mr. Monk Goes to Hawaii and Star Wars: Cloak of Deception

24. Mr. Monk Goes to Hawaii by Lee Goldberg. Funny, light brain candy. A good choice, since that's exactly what I was looking for.

Up Next: Star Wars: Cloak of Deception and Star Wars: Shadow Hunter

25. Star Wars: Cloak of Deception by James Luceno. Solid read, kept me entertained on a five-hour plane trip.

26. (My original goal!) A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. The entire time I was reading this novel, I was wondering why this was not a book I had been required to read in high school. Powerful stuff, that teens could actually relate to. I'm glad I eventually got to it.

Next up: Star Wars: Shadow Hunter and The Forgotten Man

I've tried A Clockwork Orange several times, but I can never quite get myself through it. I'm sure you get used to his using (entirely too many) non-English words, but I just found it annoying.

>23 Whicker: I think I tolerated the non-English only because my friend insisted I would like the story if I got past it. She was right, but without her strong recommendation I doubt I would have kept trying.

27. Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter by Michael Reaves Good read, moved much faster than I expected. I was also surprised by the ending, mostly because I was so positive they would not go that direction with it.

Next up: The Charlemagne Pursuit and The Forgotten Man

Hi, Jthierer!
I just wanted to say congratulations on meeting your goal -- and so early in the year, too! I have a couple of Star Wars books, too, but I think that my kids have them, now. I thought they were well thought-out and written. I love Star Wars, so maybe I will get some more. Great job on your challenge!
--BJ

>26 billiejean:, Thanks for the encouragement. I've decided to push my goal up to 50 so I've got motivation to keep reading.

28. The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller. What can I say, I liked the movie.

29. The Watchmen by Alan Moore. Its considered the best graphic novel ever written. If you have any interest in superheroes, politics, philosophy or life in general you should read this. I know I sound like I'm gushing but this book is easily the best I've read this year.