englishrose60

Hello, Thought I would like to join the challenge. I shall list what I have read this year as soon as I can. Shall have to rely on memory for those I read before tjis month.

I look forward to seeing what you've been up to, reading-wise, englishrose60.

Here goes then christiguc.

1. The History of Mary Prince by Mary Prince

2. Indiana by George Sand

3. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs

4. Kelroy by Rebecca Rush

5. Castle Rackent by Maria Edgeworth

6. The Coquette by Hannah W. Foster

7. Evalina by Frances Burney

8. Mary and The Wrongs of Woman by Mary
Wollstonecraft

9. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft

10. Mothers of the Novel by Dale Spender

11. Memoirs of a Korean Queen by Lady Hong

12.Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

13. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

14. Shirley by Charlotte Bronte

15. The Professor by Charlotte Bronte

16. Villette by Charlotte Bronte

17. Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte

18. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

19. The Last Man by Mary Shelley

20.Hope Leslie by Catharine Maria Sedgwick

21. Iola by Frances W. Harper

22. My Antonia by Willa Cather

23. Frost in May by Antonia White

24. Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

25. Mr.Fortune's Maggot by Sylvia Townsend Warner

26. The Passion of New Eve by Angela Carter

27. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Phew! Halfway there!

Castle Rackrent is in my TBR stack, englishrose60, what did you think of it? Also curious about the George Sand!

What do you think of Iola? It is in one of my TBR mountains.
Marise, I was given a copy of Indiana as a young teenager, and read it with pleasure. To tell you th etruth, though, that is the only thing I remember of the book!
Herland is another good one, imo, an unusual kind of story, utopian, quite interesting....

I'm curious to hear more about Mary and The Wrongs of Women. Looks interesting.

christiguc, I should have an extra copy of that. If I manage to dig it up (my dear significant other has been tidying up, bless his heart), would you like it?
:-))

P.S. It might take some time, though, I warn you!

marise: I enjoyed reading both books. Castle Rackrent is a very good satire on the Anglo-Irish class to which Maria Edgeworth belonged. I had a little difficulty with the Irish dialect.

George Sand's Indiana is a romance in which the heroine after marriage to an older man and a torrid love affair with a handsome young man discovers the man who really loves and respects her. A good read highlighting the change needed in the French marriage laws, women's education and in the attitude of society on the position of women. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in women's studies, or anyone who likdes a good romance story.

>9 aluvalibri: aluvalibri--I would LOVE it, if you'd be okay with sending it to me! You must now drop some hints of which books you are interested in so I can return the favor!

#7 I liked Iola. Strong character, a black woman who could pass as white because of her paternity. She could have had an easy life married to a white doctor who loved her dearly but chose to live as a black woman and do what she could to help her people in the aftermath of the Abolition of Slavery.

#8 These are two separate stories Mary and The Wrongs of Women, a fictional sequel to the Vindication of the Rights of Women.

'In both novels the heroines have to rely on their own resources to establish their independence and intellectual development. Mary learns to take control of her destiny and become a social philanthropist, while Maria, in The Wrongs of Woman, fights imprisonment and a loveless marriage to claim her rights.' (From jacket cover).

28. The Hours by Michael Cunningham. Loved it - but I think if you have not read Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf then appreciation of The Hours will not be fully realised. Now I can watch the DVD.

29. Ordinary Families - Finding this an OK read but not one of my favourites.

30. William - an Englishman by Cecily Hamilton. Enjoyed this novel about one man's experience of the First World War.

31. Child of the Dark by Carolina Maria de Jesus. A harrowing account of life in a slum area of a Brazilian city in the form of a diary written by the author, a single mother with three children. This book makes me realise how lucky I am.

32. Every Man for Himself by Beryl Bainbridge - perhaps not as exciting as the film of the Titanic but nonetheless a good read by a really good author.

33. Man Crazy by Joyce Carol Oates - strange story about a teenage girl but beautifully written.

34. O Pioneers! by Willa Cather - liked this one.

35. Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya - very poignant story about a woman's struggles with poverty in rural India.

36. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood - brilliant dystopian novel.

37. Light a Penny Candle by Maeve Binchy - still reading this, its over 600 pages and I am halfway through it. Liking it very much - such a wonderful storyteller.

38. I'm Not Complaining by Ruth Adam - an account of a teacher in a primary school in Nottinghamshire during the Depression. A time when female teachers were forced to give up teaching when they married. I enjoyed this book - Adam describes what it was like to be a middle-class teacher, in a working-class area.

39. Every Eye by Isobel English.

40. So Long a Letter by Mariama Ba. Excellent little book about two muslim women who are displaced by their husbands' second wives, and how each copes with this situation.

41. Master Georgie by Beryl Bainbridge - the horrors of the Crimean War told from different people's perspectives and their relationships with each other.

Oryx & Crake, probably high on my top 10 greatest books of all time.

#28. I rate Margaret Atwood very highly. So far I have not read any of her books that I haven't enjoyed.

42. According to Queeney by Beryl Bainbridge. Enjoyed this more than Master Georgie.

43. The Lilac Bus by Maeve Binchy - the lives of Tom and his seven passengers are revealed as they travel home from Dublin each Friday night to spend the weekends with their respective families. One of my favourite authors, Maeve Binchy once again brings her characters to life with both compassion and humour.

44. Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott - great fun if a bit preachy. Reading sequel next - Rose in Bloom.

45. Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott - Well! Rose got her man!

Now to something a bit more modern. So much to chose from!

46. The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton.

47. Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man by Fannie Flagg - very humerous coming of age novel.

48. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. An excellent if disturbing book.

>35 englishrose60:: I agree with you. I thought this book was quite compelling, a real page-turner. And there is much food for thought about how (whether?) the family dynamics influenced events, don't you think?

lindsac. yes I agree with you. Within a family what one person says or does affects the way in which others in the family react.

49. Heligoland by Shena Mackay.

50. The Accidental by Ali Smith.

51. Fasting, Feasting by Anita Desai.

52. Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler - very good. I shall definitely read more of her work.

53. The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville.

54. Brick Lane by Monica Ali/
Loved this book.

55. The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. What a brilliant storyteller Atwood is.

56. Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood. Another very good book.

57. The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni -
At first I thought I was not going to like this book but I persevered and after a few chapters I really got into it. The suspense of not knowing what was going to happen to her kept me reading to the very end.

58. The Siege by Helen Dunmore - a very chilling and emotional story about Anna and her family during the Siege of Leningrad.

You're a very fast reader, englishrose60!

Perhaps - but then I do have lots of time to enjoy reading my books - its such a luxury!!

59. Buddha Da by Anne Donovan - an enjoyable read; funny at times and poignant at others. Loved her characters especially Anne Marie.

60. The Electric Michelangelo by Sarah Hall. Phew!! This was a slow but enjoyable read.
She is a very verbose narrator but for all that I liked her descriptions of Morecambe and Coney Island, and the characters were unusual and interesting.

61 Fred and Edie by Jill Dawson - based on the true story of Edith Thompson and Freddy Bywaters; the murder of her husband and their subsequent trial. A very engrossing story, well told.

62. The Gathering by Anne Enright - I enjoyed this book about a large Irish family on the suicide of a brother. The story is told from Veronica's point of view. Her fragmented memory of events from childhood is interspersed with details of her adult life including her marriage. She uses her imagination to fill in the gaps and slowly builds a picture of her own life, past and present, and her relationships with other members of her dysfunctional family. A good read.

englishrose60, you are an inspiration! I wish I could read as fast as you. And such good books as well!

Thank you christique - 'an inspiration' I like that. It's so much better than 'bookworm' or 'lazy s*d'.

Some call it 'escapism'. Personally I think of it more as sharing other journeys, other lives, which I will not experience myself, except through reading about them.

I don't think I am an exceptionally fast reader; it's more likely that I have more time to read than other people.

63. The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard -Another one for my Orange July. Brilliant! A story set in the aftermath of the Second World War about people living across Europe and Asia reassessing their lives after the turmoil of war.

64. Small Island by Andrea Levy. Loved this book.

65. The Hiding Place by Trezza Azzopardi. Very moving. Liked it immensely.

66. The Short History of a Prince by Jane Hamilton.

67. Anita and Me by Meera Syal - I enjoyed both the book and the DVD.

68. If I Told You Once by Judy Budnitz - wonderful mix of fact and fable. Loved it.

Must get off this d***** computer and finish The Mammoth Cheese.

69. The Mammoth Cheese by Sheri Holman - enjoyed this one.

70. A Child's Book of True Crime by Chloe Hooper.

71. I Was Amelia Earhart by Jane Mendelsohn - this was a very quick read which I enjoyed. I think I would like to read her biography at some stage.

It looks like you could fit another in before July is out!

You are so right!! Unless by Carol Shields - I started this last night and as it's not too long I think it will fit time left in July (about 14 hours for me - being in UK)

72. Unless by Carol Shields - liked this book about a writer writing a book about a writer.
I particularly enjoyed the literary references. Liked all her characters except the new editor. He wouldn't let her finish a sentence!
Must be difficult being a writer, especially if you are a woman.

I am now reading Union Street by Pat Barker.

73. Union Street by Pat Barker
74. Blow Your House Down by Pat Barker

75. Century's Daughter by Pat Barker.

76. Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood. Superb. I would recommend this book.

77. The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler. I wasn't sure about this one at first. But once Muriel came on the scene I just had to read more and more until I had finished it.

Halfway through Darkmans by Nicola Barker. Took a while for me to get used to the way the story is unfolding - all those asides. Still haven't worked out what the bold type signifies. Perhaps someone more enlightened can help me there.
Had to intersperse my reading of it with something light and fluffy - Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary and its sequel Bridget Jones:The Edge of Reason

78. Darkmans by Nicola Barker - finished this at last.

79. Bridget Jones's Diary
80. Bridget Jones:The Edge of Reason

Light, fluffy and fun!

What was your verdict on Darkmans? Glad you took the time to read it or no?

I am glad I read it but disappointed that I did not fully understand it. Was there a sinister presence or just some very emotionally disturbed people??

81. Regeneration by Pat Barker

82. The Eye in the Door by Pat Barker. Second book in the Regeneration Trilogy.Next read is The Ghost Road, the final book of the trilogy.

83. The Ghost Road by Pat Barker

84. A Very Great Profession by Nicola Beauman. Enjoyed this. Read it from cover to cover and will probably be dipping into it in the future.

85. Frankie and Stankie by Barbara Trapido. Story narrated by Dinah, set in South Africa. She tells us about her childhood, school, college, and the friends she makes along the way to adulthood. Her story is set against the political background of South Africa which I found very illuminating.
A pleasure to read. I have added Trapido to my favourite authors.

86. The Travelling Hornplayer another good book by Barbara Trapido.

87. Worst Fears by Fay Weldon - about death, marriage and infidelity. Enjoyed this.

88. Rhode Island Blues by Fay Weldon - quite good but I feel the ending seemed a bit rushed compared to rest of book. Took me a while to work out how the different characters were related to each other.

89. Female Friends by Fay Weldon.

90. Wilderness Tips by Margaret Atwood. I prefer her novels to this short story collection.

91. The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood. I liked this, her first published novel, and a sign of good things to come in the future.

92. Surfacing by Margaret Atwood. Another interesting read by Atwood.

93. Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood.

94. Life Before Man by Margaret Atwood. Enjoyed this.

95. Bodily Harm by Margaret Atwood
96. Dancing Girls by Margaret Atwood

97. Mariana by Monica Dickens - a delightful story.

Oh, Mariana was my first Persephone! I think it's time I took it down for a reread.

I have an old Penguin edition of Mariana, perhaps I should move it up in the TBR mountain....

Yes, Paola, definitely.

Will do!
:-))

It's definitely worth a read and a reread IMO.

98. Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple - I enjoyed this story about a woman faced with her husband's betrayal.

99. Fidelity by Susan Glaspell - the story of Ruth who returns to the small town 11 years after she left it with a married man and how her actions have affected a whole community, not least her own family. Throughout Ruth remains true to herself and does not give in to the conventions of 'society'.

100. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson - apart from some slight racism I thought this was a delightful story, fun to read.

101. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy - enjoyed this book immensely.

102. Circles of Deceit by Nina Bawden - very good.

#englishrose: I have just read this thread for the first time. Love your reading list and comments.

Thanks Amanda! As you can see my reading nowadays consists mainly of books written by women with the occasional man-thing e.g.The Hours (and that's about women). :-))

And I loved The Hours.

Me too and the DVD.

103. Just finished Possession by A.S.Byatt - what a wonderful book. Loved it.

See? Told ya........

104. Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner.

Two more books which I have on my shelf and can't wait to read. Oh why can't a day last for thirty hours??

Could try crossing the date line - or would that lose you time! :-))

105. In Custody by Anita Desai - amusing story. Wonderful characters even if not all likeable.

106. Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai - thoroughly enjoyed this book set in post-colonial India and New York. Interesting characters, wonderful detail.

107. The 27th Kingdom by Alice Thomas Ellis.

Did you like the Ellis? I haven't read it, but I did enjoy The Inn at the Edge of the World and some others.

This is the only book by Ellis that I have read - I enjoyed it more this second time around - I like her writing style and may try something else of hers in the future!

108. The Secret River by Kate Grenville - great read.

109. Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller - enjoyed reading this, although ending left questions unanswered.

110. The Bone People by Keri Hulme - well written and intersting - I am glad I have read this book although the subject matter, child abuse, I found quite horrific at times.

111. Shadows on our Skin by Jennifer Johnston - young boy growing up amidst the harsh realities in Northern Ireland. Held my interest throughout.

112. Good Behaviour by Molly Keane - another author to add to my favourites.

Oh yes, englishrose60, isn't she great?

She is great! I loved Good Behaviour - first of Keane's books I've read, but definitely not the last.

I have read several of them, and liked them all a lot!

113. The Orchard on Fire by Shena Mackay - I enjoyed this novel of a child growing up in Kent in the 1950's.

The Bone People was a very powerful book. I am glad I read it as well.

It is lovely having people popping in with their comments!
It's like having an extended family!

I read The Bone People many years ago when it was first published in the US and it is one of those books that has stayed fresh in my mind over the years. I am glad I read it before I became a parent, though, don't know if I could now.

114. Bruno's Dream by Iris Murdoch - quite a good story of the intricacies of the lives and loves of the people in Bruno's life as he faces the inevitability of death.

115. The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch - another good book by this author.

116. Daughters of the House by Michele Roberts. Secrets and lies in a French village which two cousins, Leonie and Therese, unwittingly uncover during their childhood. A bit confusing at times but overall not a bad read.

117. A Five Year Sentence by Bernice Rubens - a short read about a sad, lonely lady and how her life changes when she retires. I was hooked from the first sentence of this
black comedy.

118. The Dark Room by Rachel Seiffert - an absorbing read consisting of three German people's experience during and after WWII. Very poignant.

119. The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields - I liked most of this book but it did not hold my attention towards the end.

120. On Beauty by Zadie Smith - Enjoyed this. Good characterization. Very engrossing.

I finally found your thread! I will be following along now - excellent selections here! =)

mrstreme - There are so many people on this thread; even I have trouble finding mine, and I have starred it! Pleased you like my selections.

I have just started The Red and the Green by Iris Murdoch
and will also be reading Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset for the Group Read-Literature group!

I have your thread "starred" so I won't lose it!

What a coincidence--so do I!

I'm glad you're joining for Kristin Lavransdatter, englishrose60. I've finished only the first of three parts, but I've loving it!

I just realised a few days ago what the star was for and use it now for my favourites:-))

I am reading Part 1 of KL and like it so far!

I read it a few years ago and loved it. Maybe it's time for a reread!

I will definitely read it again. I remember enjoying it very much.

121. The Red and the Green by Iris Murdoch - after a few chapters I became more interested in this story set at the time of the Easter Rising in 1916 in Dublin, Ireland. A large mix of inter-related characters caused a bit of confusion for me at the start but once I had them sorted out I enjoyed the rest of the book.

122. Knowledge of Angels by Jill Paton Walsh - a medieval fable set on a Mediterraneum island. I enjoyed this story about faith and intolerance.

123. The Night Watch by Sarah Waters - did not enjoy this as much as Fingersmith, and when I got to the end I had to read first part again to see how it ended, if you know what I mean. Still a good story though.

124. Praxis by Fay Weldon - this is an account of the life of Praxis from childhood to the present. An absorbing read.

125. Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively - enjoyed this story about the dying Claudia recounting her life. Liked the way events were not only told from her point of view and memories but also how the other character's remembered the events. A really good read.

I loved Moon Tiger - must find more by this author.

It is moving up that TBR pile next to the bed!

amandameale - me too.

marise - keep on moving it up.

126. Hotel World by Ali Smith - wow! loved it!

I started it (moon tiger) last night and didn't want to put it down! Up early to get back to it!

Glad your enjoying it marise.

127. John Brown's Body by A.L. Barker.

128. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson - very well written. More than a mystery story.

129. The Time of the Angels by Iris Murdoch - darker than other Murdoch novels!

130. Another great read - March by Geraldine Brooks. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize. This story was about the harrowing experiences of Mr March, the father of Louisa Alcott's Little Women, during the Civil War. Recommended.

131. Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset - group read.

132. The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende - this was a reread and worth it!

The Passion of New Eve by Angela Carter was one of the strangest books I've ever read. Even two years after having read it I still remember the incredibly disturbing images. I love her short stories. You should definitely try The Bloody Chamber if you liked her writing. It's a collection of her short stories.

I second AndyRed. The Bloody Chamber is an excellent book.

#160/161 Thanks for the recommendation! I will put The Bloody Chamber on my wishlist!

I wonder if someone has wandered out of the asylum!

You might want to put Burning Your Boats: Collected Short Stories on your wishlist too. It includes pretty much all of her Angela Carter's short fiction.

The list gets longer!!

133. A Spell of Winter by Helen Dunmore - very good! Set at the beginning of the 20th Century Catherine abandoned by her parents has to deal with family secrets, love, incest and war and loss.

134. When to Walk by Rebecca Gowers - interesting, quirky Rambles who is a copywriter and how she copes the week after her husband walks out on her. Liked this a lot and had a few LOL moments.

135. Round Rock by Michelle Huneven - another book I did not think I would enjoy because of the subject matter, alcoholism and drying out, but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this story of a rehab centre for alcoholics set in California.

136. The Voyage of the Narwhal by Andrea Barrett - a story of Arctic exploration in the 19th Century. Very well written and althought I do not usually go for adventure storied I found this engrossing and thoroughly enjoyed it.

137. The Seven Sisters by Margaret Drabble - after her divorce Candida moves to London. She does not have much money and no friends in London. Gradually she builds a new life for herself which is made easier once she receives and unexpected windfall. Very moving story which kept me absorbed to the end.

138. Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy - one of my favourite authors for comfort reads. This is the story of 2 childhood friends, Benny (female) and Eve, and the new circle of friends they make when they leave their village school for university life in Dublin. Warm and entertaining told with great compassion and insight like her other novels.

Englishrose, I just found this thread! I have to go back up to the top and read down, of course, but just wanted to wave. I like Binchy for comfort reads too but it's been yonks since I've read her. Ok, up to the top...

*waves to tiffin* as she ascends. Good to see someone else who likes Binchy.

Wow, englishrose60, I admire both the amount you are able to read and the interesting list of books you've put together here. A lot of items to add to my many teetering TBR piles.

Thanks rebeccanyc. I have plenty of time to read now I have reached retirement age and children have all grown up, although my 3 sons are still living at home + 1 grumpy old man (because he still has to work, poor thing). Your reading for this year is quite impressive too.

139. How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn - a coming of age story about Huw Morgan set in a mining village at the beginning of the 20th century. Beautifully written.

140. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark - this book still charms and delights me as much as it did decades ago.

Hi englishrose60,

Just stopped by to peruse your list. I, too, loved the Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Read it years ago. Maybe it's time for a reread!

141. No Bones by Anna Burns - a child's life growing up in Belfast during the troubles. Funny, tragic, frightening. Shortlisted for the Orange Prize.

142. Orlando by Virginia Woolf - exquisite.

isn't Orlando fun, english? I need to reread it one day soon.

Migosh, the speed at which you read! Please tell me you have a cook, a housekeeper and a butler so that you can do this. If I were even to attempt this, the family would starve to death in a condemned house (and I've just retired too)!

tiffin - Orlando terrific!

(cook, dishwasher and washerwoman) - that's me.
(housekeeper, gardener, chauffeur) - his name is Eddie, my husband, who does most of housework for us as well as his regular job. This means I have more time to read than most women, and I am a fast reader. My family won't starve - I taught them all to cook, iron their own clothes, clean their rooms. If necessary they know how to use a phone to order a take-away.

Now back to business:

143. Buxton Spice by Oonya Kempadoo - can't say I really liked this book about Lula, a young girl growing up in Guyana. I would have liked to know more about the underlying political background going on and less of her sexual awakening. I did enjoy the descriptions of the environment in which she lived.
I am going to look on Web for more info about Guyana.

Interesting assessment of Buxton Spice, er60. I've seen it reviewed by other LTers and the reactions have been mixed. I suppose if I really want to tick Guyana off my visited countries list I could read this, but there's not much more than that to merit a look, is there?

You could read it lindsac and tick Guyana off your list. You might like it, I did not care for it too much, but then I am no literary expert, just your everyday common reader. I have some more books to read for Guyana which I might prefer. Will post comments here.

Hardly a common reader, ER. Not too many read 143+ books.

(BTW, I have to confess that my husband is a superb cook and wouldn't starve in the least - that was sheer hyperbole to express my admiration for your reading.)

Don't know if it's my age or just what, but I find I don't devour books the way I used to. I used to be an Arabian but now find I'm a Clydesdale.

I really like Clydesdales!
:-))

I think Clydesdales are cute.

I love Clydesdales - such hard workers - it's a shame we don't still have horse and plough!

lindsacl - re Guyana. I am halfway through reading The Ventriloquist's Tale by Pauline Melville. I would recommend this book to you in preference to Buxton Spice.

Excellent, thanks er60! I will make a note of it.

Wow! Englishrose. I've just checked out your thread and what an interesting bunch of books. I think Orlando is my favourite Woolf novel and I haven't read Binchy for about 10 years but I agree she's great.

Thanks purpleelephant. Off to check your thread....

...May I return the compliment - you have read some of my favourites. I am looking forward to see what else you have hidden away in your library.

144. The Ventriloquist's Tale by Pauline Melville - this had me enthralled throughout, story about the life and culture of Amerindians in Guyana.
Recommended.

Yet another one to take away from your list! Thanks englishrose!

christiquc, glad to be of help!

145. Lantana Lane by Eleanor Dark - a new author to me. Very funny and enjoyable read with interesting characters making a living off the land.

I am so happy you liked it, er60!

146. The Little Company by Eleanor Dark - set in WWII in Australia. An interesting read.

147. Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living by Carrie Tiffany. Set in the Mallee area of Australia - Robert and Jean live their life and farm their land in a scientific manner. Humerous at times and poignant in the final chapters. OK but not great.

I was so proud of my 70th book - and look at you! 147 books! WOW, that's impressive!!!

Thank you! *blushes modestly*

er60, you rock!

I agee with you on Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living, an ok read but not much more than that.

148. The Persimmon Tree and Other Stories by Marjorie Barnard.

149. The Overlanders by Dora Birtles - another very good Australian novel.

150. The Three Miss Kings by Ada Cambridge - a lovely story about three young ladies entering 'society' in Melbourne, Australia at the end of the 19th Century.

151. Painted Clay by Capel Boake. I read this in one day and enjoyed it.

152. Bobbin Up by Dorothy Hewett. Another enjoyable read by an Australian author.
Set in Sydney during the 1950's this book is about the lives of several woman working in a textile factory in a very poor area. A hard life with very little reward. Loved the characters and the history behind their stories.

153. Finished The Orchard by Drusilla Modjeska. What a beautiful book. Recommended.

I will try to get a copy, er60.
I have Modjeska's Stravinsky's Lunch and Exiles at Home: Australian Women Writers 1925-1945. I have not read the first and only part of the latter, but I like her style.

I shall try to get more of Modjeska's work. One of the reasons I liked The Orchard so much was the way she mixed fact with fiction and I too liked her style.

154. My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin - I enjoyed this and shall now read the sequel My Career Goes Bung

155. My Career Goes Bung by Miles Franklin - Not as good as 154 but interesting nonetheless.

156. The Guyana Quartet by Wilson Harris - First book very difficult to understand, other three more accessible. Lovely writing and evocative descriptions of Guyanan landscape.

157. Bethany Bettany by Fred D'Aguiar - a Guyanan child, 5 years old is told her mother killed her father. She is left in the care of her father's abusive brothers and sisters and their offspring in the Abraham's house, home of her grandparents. Spanning the years until she is 16 this story tells of her search for love in a country faced with border wars. Quite good but not great.

158. The Counting House by David Dabydeen - Videa and Rohin a young couple living a life of poverty in India are emigrated to Guyana where, they believe, they will find a land of plenty. Instead they are no more than slaves to a plantation owner and must come to terms with this new life. An interesting story about the imigrant experience, both black and Asian.

159. The Murderer by Roy Heath - a man's descent into madness as he deals with the guilt of his wife's murder and the attitude of those around him. Set in Guyana I enjoyed this book with its straightforward narrative. Only 190 pages so a quick read too.

Your link went to a Ngaio Marsh book, er60.
The Murderer by Roy A.K. Heath
I think that should fix it.

Thanks tiffin!

160. Cecilia by Fanny Burney - Phew! 919 pages but a delightful read about a young woman, an orphan, whose inheritance depends on her future husband relinquishing his own family name for hers. A delightful read if taken in small sections.

Hearty congratulations on finishing Cecilia. Did you read one chapter per day as you had originally planned? Amazing persistence, I must say!

Thanks Laura. I read one chapter per day until this weekend then the suspense factor took over and I had to keep reading to see what was going to happen to Cecilia. It has been a long read but I have enjoyed it and I am pleased that I read this delightful story of 18th Century society. Apparently Jane Austen also enjoyed this book and it provided her with the title of Pride and Prejudice. Pemberley is also mentioned, but in this case it is a person not an estate.

161. The Trial by Franz Kafka - a group read. V. good.

162. The Nice and the Good by Iris Murdoch - thoroughly enjoyable.

163. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez - excellent book.

164. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez - another fine book by Marquez.

165. The General in His Labyrinth by Gabriel Garcia Marquez - not as enjoyable as previous 2 I read but good nonetheless.

Missed 2 books out in November

166. Oroonoko by Aphra Benn - reread.

167. The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende - reread.

>189 englishrose60:: just wanted to let you know that on your recommendation, I mooched a copy of The Ventriloquist's Tale, which just arrived yesterday ! I'm looking forward to reading this soon.

lindsac, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

168. Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende - set in 19th century this story takes us with Eliza from Chile to California during the 1850's as she searches for her lost love.
Brilliant storyteller and the historical aspect is very interesting.

#163-165, If you are enjoying Gabriel Garcia Marquez, you might want to take at the first (and so far only) volume of his autobiography, Living to Tell the Tale. When I read it a few years ago, it made me go back to read some of his novels, which I had originally read probably 20 years ago or more, because you can see where his ideas came from. It provides a lot of insight and is, of course, beautifully written.

Thanks rebecca, I would like to read his autobiography one day.

169. Portrait in Sepia by Isabel Allende - sequel to Daughter of Fortune - good follow-up story, but can be read as a stand alone novel.

170. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce. Beautifully written story of a young boy growing up in Ireland.

171. Of Love and Shadows by Isabel Allende - story of a journalist and a photographer during Pinochet's regime in Chile. Also a love story. I enjoyed this book but I do not think it is as good as some of her other novels.

You have certainly passed the 50 book challenge this year! And you also deserve bonus points for Cecelia, I think! Will you be starting a 200 book challenge for next year?

You've read so many good books this year and I've added more than a few to my wishlist! So glad you liked Bobbin Up!

Thanks marise. I think someone else may be initiating the 200 book challenge. If not I think I may join the 100 book challenge; not sure I can do 200.

Boy, you don't check in here for a few days and there is some catching up to do, Rosie! I loved A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man too when I read it many moons ago.

I have to agree with you tiffin. If I miss one day there's loads to catch up on.

172. The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts by Louis de Bernieres - first part of a trilogy set in South America. Behind Bernieres magic realism and humour is the inescapable horror of the cruelty of a military regime. A captivating read. I shall now carry on and read the rest of this trilogy.

173. Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord by Louis de Bernieres - another good read which deals with the world of drug barons.

I have both those de Bernieres books on my shelves - good to hear you enjoyed them. Please tell me it took you more than the 5 1/2 hours between posts 234 and 235 to read Senor Vivo!! (hmmm... maybe you had 5 1/2 hours of peace and quiet and it was really un-put-downable.)

I do not always post books as soon as I have finished them. I spent 2 days on each book. I am now reading the third in Berniere's South American trilogy. I must admit I try to fit my housework round my reading unlike most people who do it the other way round and sometimes with a job thrown in. It's nice to be retired but time seems to go more quickly as you get older.

Phew!!
Um, what's housework? Whenever I do it, the mess just creeps back.

LOL!

174. The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman third of Louis de Bernieres' South American trilogy. Very enjoyable.

175. The Dark Bride by Laura Restrepo - poignant story of Sayonara, a prostitute in Colombia.

176. Rosario Tijeras by Jorge Franco - a little gem of a book.

Are you tromping through South America at the moment, er60?

I am indeed reading my way through South America and shall probably be there until the summertime next year with quick forays into other climes.
Where are you with your reading tiffin?

No rhyme, no reason, no method, just picking up whatever seems to feel right.

If I did that I would probably dither about too much choosing, leaving less time for reading. Each to his own.

Merry Christmas everyone!

177. Journey through the Wilderness by Moris Farhi - erotic, violent, great storytelling, set in South America.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

I had a lovely time thank you Jill. Hope you did too.

178. Nostromo by Jospeh Conrad - so much detail - it took me an age to resad this, but I am pleased I perservered with it. Outstanding.

179. Pride and Prejudice - my first audiobook - so relaxing! Love Jane Austen's work.

I am emigrating to the 100 Book Challenge and hope to see some of you over there. I have had a wonderful and fruitful time with you all and wish you all the best for 2009.

Thank you and happy reading folks!
Valerie.

Great completion to an inspiring thread! Where is your new one?

kambrogi glad to be inspiring here's my link to 100 Book Challenge:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/51853