bell7's 81-ish challenge in 2009

2008 was a great reading year, but my last with school and a summer vacation. From here on out, I actually expect to read less. :-(

My goal is to read approximately 81 books in 2009. I will also be keeping track of manga and graphic novels (2008 thread), with a separate count. I'm also participating in the 999 challenge; my thread is here.

Wish me luck, here I go!

Good Luck!
--BJ

Thanks! :-)

1. Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde
999 Challenge, Category 7, Book 1

The second in the Thursday Next series (the first is The Eyre Affair) starts soon after the first ends. Thursday is being inundated with requests for appearances on TV shows (she's even asked to create a workout video) after her adventures in the pages of Jane Eyre. The Goliath Corporation is none too happy with her treatment of Jack Schitt; meanwhile, Cordelia Flakk is chasing Thursday down for more PR appearances, and someone seems intent on killing Thursday by coincidence (decrease in entropy occurs every once in awhile, but I'll let Mycroft explain how that happens). As full of deliciously stupid puns and literary references as the first book, and not to be missed. 5 stars.

Currently reading - 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
Currently listening to - Anne's House of Dreams

Graphic Novels/Manga Count:

1. Ouran High School Host Club Volume 5
2. Ouran High School Host Club Volume 6
3. Ouran High School Host Club Volume 7
4. Ouran High School Host Club Volume 8
5. Ouran High School Host Club Volume 9
6. Ouran High School Host Club Volume 10
7. Ouran High School Host Club Volume 11

2. The Shack by William P. Young
999 Challenge, Category 7, Book 1 (Recommended Reads -- I might change this to Category 2, New-to-me Authors)

Mack hasn't been the same ever since his youngest daughter, Missy, was kidnapped during a camping trip he took with three of his children. Her body was never found but the trail ended at a shack in the woods. Now he's received a note asking him to go to this shack, and it's signed "Papa." As this is his wife's favorite name for God, this seems like some sort of cruel joke. But when Mack decides to take the trip, his life will never be the same.

The book is a very emotional, internal read. Not much happens in terms of plot, but we're mostly along with Mack during a series of conversations and interactions. Some of the conversations seemed a little transparent and heavy-handed at times, but the book made me think about my relationships with God and others. 4 stars.

Currently reading - 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
Currently listening to - Anne's House of Dreams

3. The Tempest by William Shakespeare
non-999 Challenge Book

Prospero, once Duke of Milan now stranded on an island with his daughter, Miranda, orchestrates a tempest that sends the ship carrying the King of Naples, his usurping brother Antonio, and others, crashing on the shore of the island. With his spirit-servant Ariel's help, Prospero exacts revenge on those who wronged him twelve years ago.

This was a reread, and it's one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. The characters are complex, the wordplay is fun, and each reread is always a little different depending on what element of the story stood out the most. This time around, I think the drunken servant was my favorite character. I reread it for an upcoming book discussion. Unfortunately, it doesn't fit into my 999 Challenge categories. 5 stars.

Currently reading - 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die and (soon to start) The Last Lecture
Currently listening to - Anne's House of Dreams

4. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
999 Challenge Category 4 (Nonfiction), Book 1

When college professor Randy Pausch learned that he had only months to live, he decided to live life to the fullest. He and his family moved so his wife could be close to family when he died; he made memories with his children. He had been scheduled to give a lecture, and instead of canceling, he gave a lecture about "living your childhood dreams."

An inspiring tale, I was often reminded of Tuesdays with Morrie, the difference being that this is told in the first-person by the dying man himself, rather than the man's protegee. Divided into five larger, thematic sections, there are short vignettes from Randy's childhood, adulthood, family life, work life, and just general experience in which he tells you how he lived his life and imparts wisdom on various subjects such as "how to maximize your time." I laughed, I teared up, and I remembered defining moments in my own life along the way. A quick read that packs a lot of punch. 5 stars.

Currently reading - 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die and Krakatoa
Currently listening to - Anne's House of Dreams

5. Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery (audio)

The fifth in the "Anne" series, newly married Anne moves to Four Winds with her husband, Dr. Gilbert Blythe. In her new home, she meets new people like Captain Jim, the keeper of the lighthouse, Leslie, who is trapped in an unhappy marriage, and the unique Miss Cornelia, who hates men and entertains them all with her pronouncements.

This was a reread for me. Though I already knew what to expect in terms of the story, reading it now as an adult was very different from when I was a young teen. Then, I was rather scandalized by some of Miss Cornelia's ways and Leslie's strongly emotional outbursts. This time around, Miss Cornelia was much funnier and though I couldn't really relate to Leslie's feelings I could understand them a little bit more. I think calling this a "teen" novel is a bit of a misnomer. 4.5 stars.

Currently reading - 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, Krakatoa, and Castle Roogna
Currently listening to - Bird by Bird

6. Castle Roogna by Piers Anthony

Oops -- I finished this a week ago and forgot to post.

So, this is the third in the Xanth series which I began rereading last year. Dor, Bink and Chameleon's son, is now age twelve and realizes that he's attracted to his nurse Millie the (former) ghost. She's unhappy (and a few centuries too old for Dor, but her talent is sex appeal so there you go), and Dor is a restless almost-teenager. King Trent suggests that what Dor needs is a quest, so Dor and Grundy the (former) Golem go off to Good Magician Humphrey's castle for their directions.

I'd forgotten a lot about the series, as I found in the last few books -- what really stood out for me was the zany humor and constant punning. In this book, I'd remembered a bit more about the end but couldn't really remember how everything happened. Also, I "got" the jokes a bit more, both puns like "Murphy's Law" and the sexual humor (approx. PG13, I'd say). A fun romp, as always. 4.5 stars.

7. 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die edited by Peter Boxall (2006 ed.)

In his introduction, Peter Boxall writes about the difficulty of compiling such a finite list. As many books as it contains, it covers hundreds of years of fiction (and some nonfiction) writing, and could hardly cover all books you ought to read, ever. The chosen titles are organized chronologically by publication date. Each summary begins with the author's birth and death dates, the date of publication, and the publisher. Depending on the book and author, we are also told other information, such as the author's real name or an award the book won. Then, one of the 100 contributors summarizes and offers a bit of literary criticism in approximately 300 words.

Of the completed offering, the editor writes, "this book reflects a set of priorities that are shared by today's readers, a certain understanding of where the novel comes from, a particular kind of passion for reading" (9). This was an interesting way to read the list, as I kept reflecting on what each choice had to say about the world we live in now and the worldview of the contributors. Especially in the largest section - the 20th century - many of the choices seem to question authority, religion, government, or push the boundaries of fiction itself. Though I haven't read many on the list (56), and don't really want to read many more (approx. 71), but I found it interesting reading all the same. One thing I found extremely frustrating was that many of the summaries summarized to the end of the book. So if you are planning on reading all the 1001 books, I recommend that you use the book mainly for reference and don't read the summary until afterwards so you don't get any spoilers for those titles you're not familiar with. 4 stars.

8. Things I've Been Silent About by Azar Nafisi

This is the second book I've read by this author, who also wrote Reading Lolita in Tehran. Though both books are nonfiction about her life in Iran, this one is much broader in scope than the first. Things I've Been Silent About focuses much more on her personal life, particularly her relationship with her parents. Written in roughly chronological order from before her parents were married through the early 2000s, the narrative covers many years in Iran and the U.S. with a very personal focus on historical and political events going on in the background. For those memories that seem particularly poignant, she lapses into the present tense taking the reader into the moment with her. Her memoirs are often sad, but beautifully written. Here is a sample of her writing, from the prologue when she discusses the meaning of the title: "There are so many different forms of silence: the silence that tyrannical states force on their citizens, stealing their memories, rewriting their histories, and imposing on them a state-sanctioned identity. Or the silence of witnesses who choose to ignore or not speak the truth, and of victims who at times become complicit in the crimes committed against them. Then there are the silences we indulge in about ourselves, our personal mythologies, the stories we impose upon our real lives" (xxi). This book speaks of all these types of silences. Highly recommended. 4.5 stars.

Currently reading - Bird by Bird and The Inn at Lake Devine
Currently listening to - Shakespeare: The World as Stage

9. The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman

In the 1960s, Natalie Marx and her family are looking into various hotels and cottages around Lake Devine, where they're going to be vacationing. Most get back to them with rates and accommodations, but one in particular, the Inn at Lake Devine, suggests that Gentiles would feel more comfortable in this lodging. Natalie becomes somewhat fascinated with the establishment that would flout laws (she sent the proprietor a copy of the Civil Rights Act), and finagles her way into a visit.

This is hardly even the crux of the story, but the plot is much more delightfully fun when you don't know what's coming. Natalie is the narrator as well as the main character, and she's a fun person to be "in the head" of. All the characters were great: I never had the sense that any of the secondary characters were cookie cutter or background, all of them felt very real. Also, it was a somewhat "local" New England story, so it was fun recognizing a surprisingly large number of locations mentioned in the tale. Though racism is a main theme throughout, it's dealt with both seriousness and humor and isn't a heavy story. I'm definitely going to be looking to read more by this author. 4.5 stars.

10. Levels of the Game by John McPhee

In 1968, the U.S. Open Championship was first opened to amateur players. They weren't expected to do very well against the players on the pro tour, but both Arthur Ashe and Clark Graebner made it to the semifinals. This is the story of that game. McPhee starts right off with the first serve, moving cinematically for a close shot of several points, then backing out to focus on the perspective of someone in the player's box or watching the match on television, or maybe taking a panoramic shot of the background of one of the players and how they started playing tennis, and moving in again for a closeup of a game or two.

I chose this read because in an interview recently the author of The Best Game Ever, Mark Bowden, said that it served as a model for his writing in his book about the 1958 Championship football game. The book, published in 1969, is a little dated in the description of the "modern" game of tennis, and by comments made by some of the players, like "he plays like that because he's white" or "because he's black", or he has a "Latin temperament". McPhee was definitely at his best describing moments in the match, a tense point, a solid ace, and the reaction of players and fans. A worthwhile read that left a smile on my face in the end. 4.5 stars.

11. Bad Twin by Gary Troup

Paul Artisan is a private detective in California, where the cases he receives are mostly petty disputes and insurance fraud. But when Cliff Widmore appears and asks him to find his twin, Artisan knows this case won't be like the others he's had before. He's not sure who to trust or which is really the "bad" twin. The book itself is the "manuscript" that Hurley and Sawyer read in Season 2 of Lost, written by author "Gary Troup" who died in the plane crash. Other connections include the Hanso Foundation (located on floor 42 of the Widmore Building), repetition of the numbers, and a comment about the Paik's business.

This is one of those rare books that I finished thinking, "I could've written better than that." Granted, it had a compelling story and characters, but the writing was full of misplaced adjectives and jarring similes. For example: "The sloop--a good size, maybe forty feet, a third of a million dollars' worth of fiberglass and teak with the name Escape Hatch etched into the transom--was lifted in a giant wooden cradle in the hanger-like shed of Hap's Marina; there was something rude and almost obscene about the sight of the boat's raised, bare bottom, its stiff keel stabbing downward like the penis of an excited whale" (53). After that, I didn't read the descriptions to closely, but even then the story structure was somewhat unbelievable until it finally came down to the last four pages of Paul Artisan explaining, "Oh, I talked to ---, so now I can tell you exactly what's been happening." Not recommended. 2 stars.

Currently reading - Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Currently listening to - Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson

12. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney

***minor spoilers***

In the sequel to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Greg Heffley has a new journal to write about his troubles with older brother Rodrick. Rodrick has a band that Greg can't stand, picks on Greg, and -- worst of all -- Greg can't do anything about it because Rodrick might let slip the really embarrassing thing that happened over the summer.

Rodrick rules is complete with stick drawings and just as humorous as the first. The characters aren't always nice to each other (and Rodrick throws a party when his parents leave town), but are true to life. It's a quick read, and I highly recommend it for those in middle school and older. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment. 5 stars.

Have you read Watchmen? Before Christmas I went to get this book for my daughter and I saw there were two versions, the regular one and a special one. I did not know which to get so I did not get either. Now her birthday is coming up. Do think it would make a difference which one?
--BJ

I didn't know there were two versions, so I'm not sure. Sorry! I've only read a few graphic novels that weren't manga, V for Vendetta and the Bone series. I'm planning on reading Watchmen for my 999 Challenge.

I should probably ask my daughter which one she thinks she would like. I think that really the content for both would be the same. Thanks!
--BJ

13. Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson (audio)

Not too much is known about Shakespeare beyond the basic facts of his life: where he was born, when he was baptized, when and to whom he was married, that he wrote several plays (and acted in them, too), when he died. What is not known is so very enticing: what happened in those years leading up to his arrival on the playwright scene in London? Which play was written first? How large was his vocabulary?

In this brief biography, Bryson explores what (and how) we know what we do about Shakespeare, as well as what we do not. You gain an appreciation for the immense work of scholarship in trying to find out anything about this time period, and get a sense that even what we do know is a pretty incredible amount of information for its time. The audio version read by the author is excellent for getting a sense of his dry sense of humor, seen at its best when discussing the various far-reaching theories about Shakespeare and his plays. 4.5 stars.

14. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

Anne Lamott, a writer of fiction and nonfiction, distills the advice she gives to her creative writing students. Using her two cornerstones of writing -- short assignments and "shitty first drafts" -- a lot of humor, personal stories, and memorable metaphors, this is unlike any writing how-to book I've ever read. She doesn't beat you over the head with "you must write every day" (though she suggests writing at least 300 words a day, even if you only write about how much you don't want to write) or give you a formula. She doesn't making writing sound easy but doable, not overwhelming. It made me want to write again. 5 stars.

Currently reading - Krakatoa and The Well of Lost Plots
Currently listening to - Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

15. The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde

If you haven't read the other books in the Thursday Next series, than this is a ***spoiler alert*** for those titles.

Now hiding out from the Goliath Corporation in the Well of Lost Plots, Thursday has entered the Character Exchange Program in a never-will-be-published mystery featuring Jack Spratt. Aornis is still dangerously able to make Thursday forget Landon, her eradicated husband, and Miss Haversham is prepping Thursday to take the test to enter Jurisfiction.

Most of the events that The Well of Lost Plots is concerned with takes place in the Book World. We find out more about the history and politics going on in Jurisfiction. The footnoterphone is back, complete with junkfootnotes. Even more fanciful than the first two, I didn't think it held up as strongly but was still an enjoyable read. 4.5 stars.

Currently reading - Krakatoa, The Pleasure of Reading and Wicked
Currently listening to - Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

January in review --

1. Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde
2. The Shack by W.P. Young
3. The Tempest by William Shakespeare
4. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
5. Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery
6. Castle Roogna by Piers Anthony
7. 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die ed. by Peter Boxall
8. Things I've Been Silent About by Azar Nafisi
9. The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman
10. Levels of the Game by John McPhee
11. Bad Twin by Gary Troup
12. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney
13. Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson
14. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
15. The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde

Books read: 13
Books listened to: 2
GN/Manga: 7
Books abandoned: 2
Standouts: Lost in a Good Book
"I can't believe I read the whole thing": Bad Twin

edited in an attempt to fix touchstones...

16. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

In this reworking of The Wizard of Oz, Elphaba is born, grows up, goes to school, has extremely strong feelings about injustices in the world, and becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. The cast of characters including humans of all shapes and sizes, Animals (including a Goat who teaches at the school), and animals, as well as familiar characters like Dorothy, the Wicked Witches, and the Good Witch, each with a new twist. Maguire mixes serious moments, such as discussions about the existence of a soul or the nature of evil, and purely weird fantastical elements that left me wondering whether or not I liked the book.

I still don't know if I like the book, which is making it extremely hard to review. The tale is definitely unique, and includes moments that I liked and others I didn't. I'm not planning on reading this book again, but I'd try another book by this author. So, I'm giving it a rather ambivalent rating of 3 stars.

17. The Pleasure of Reading edited by Antonia Fraser

For the bicentenary of the publishing house W. H. Smith, forty writers of the English language talk about their early experiences reading, what reading they do now, and (if possible - not everyone did) their ten favorite books. Many authors -- such as Catherine Cookson, Doris Lessing, A.S. Byatt, and Margaret Atwood -- were names I recognized, though the only author I have read to date is Ruth Rendell. Keeping in mind that the book was published over 15 years ago, however, it's quite an impressive array of authors.

I first heard about this on LT, but can't remember who I first saw mention it (sorry!). I loved reading the variety of experiences each author had with reading and books. In particular, I loved seeing the same books or author mentioned (like Enid Blyton or the Biggles), but with very different responses. Also, the various approaches to "top ten" (in order, alphabetically, with a few more titles thrown in) were fun. I kept wanting to write my own essay or agonize over a top ten list or talk back to the authors that had a particularly nice point (or those I completely disagreed with!). An absolute pleasure to read; I WANT this book! 5 stars.

'Twas me - which oddly enough I just admitted on another thread then came across this one! :-)

>26 elliepotten: LOL, well thanks, Ellie. I enjoyed it a lot!

Good good - it's always nice when a review or a recommendation bears happy fruit!

18. The Last Knight by Hilari Bell

Michael is a knight errant far after it's the fashionable thing to do (try 200 years), and Fisk is his squire. When the boys free a "damsel" from a tower, they had no idea she was being held on murder charges. This sends them on a quest for both of them to redeem themselves. This is a character-centric story told in alternate points of view between Michael and Fisk, which helps the reader get to know them each boy as he sees himself and as the other sees him.

Hilari Bell is one of my favorite young adult fantasy authors, so I snatched this immediately when I saw it at the library. Its plot is meandering at times, but I didn't mind because I loved the characters so much. I was sad when the book ended, and very happy to find out that the sequel had already come out. 4.5 stars.

Currently reading - Krakatoa and The Brothers Karamazov
Currently listening to - Going Postal

Graphic Novels/Manga Count:

8. Maus by Art Spiegelman
9. Maus II by Art Spiegelman

These two graphic novels chronicle the Holocaust experiences of the author's father, Vladek Spiegelman. The action moves back and forth between the present, with Art and his father talking and bickering, and the story Vladek tells his son about living in Poland during World War 2. The art complements and extends the meaning of the conversations, often playing off stereotypes (the Jewish people are represented as mice and the Polish people as pigs) that bring home the events described all the more powerfully.

Absolutely deserving of the 1992 Pulitzer Prize it received, Maus is not an enjoyable story, but an absolutely necessary one to remember. I highly recommend this sobering, powerful work and would definitely read it again. 5 stars.

I have The Complete Maus on my tbr. I totally agree that it is important to always remember so that it can never happen again.
--BJ

nice reads you've got so far, Mary! Maus is on my tbr as well. Here's to hoping I get to it this year! :)

Hi bell7, I also made note of The Pleasure of Reading after reading about it on elliepotten's thread. And you loved it, too, so I'm going to have to get a copy soon!

>31 billiejean: and 32 - definitely worth a read, though to be quite honest I found it difficult to read anything else for a few hours afterward.

>33 theaelizabet: - if you find it, let me know how & where. It's a little older, so I was worried it would be hard to find a new copy for sale. :-)

Don't know about brand new copies, but on Amazon UK at least I know they're selling it used from 1p (+ p&p, obviously) upwards...

#34 Well, I had to check, of course! My library doesn't have it, but it is sold used-through second parties-on Amazon. I should be able to get one for $10, give or take. Think I will order it because it sounds terrific.

I just bought this book yesterday. I have read it, but loved it so much, I wanted to own it for myself. I think Maguire is a superb writer, but I agree that it takes a while to get into his wordworld. He can be very comic, but, like most funny people, he is a serious person at base.

Where to go next is a difficult question. "Son of a Witch" continues the story begun in "Wicked" (and is itself continued in part 3 of "The Wicked Years": "A Lion among Men". "SoaW" goes even more deeply into the mind of the characters and can get very dark on occasion. Still, that is where the story goes.

If you want to leave Oz, you might try "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" or "Mirror, Mirror". I think both are masterpieces (I liked "Lost" less).

Let yourself be swept away by Maguire's words!

Please keep me posted what you decide.

-disquod

>35 elliepotten: and 36 - making a note of that on my birthday list. :-)

>37 disquod:, Thanks for your suggestions, disquod. I may try Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister next, but it will probably be later in the year so I can fill in a bit more of my 999 challenge categories; Maguire no longer fits (Wicked was a "new to me" author) unless I listen to one of his on audio.

19. The Cross: 38,102 miles 38 years 1 mission by Arthur Blessitt (Early Reviewer copy - touchstone doesn't want to load)

The subtitle "38,102 miles. 38 years. 1 mission." is a little misleading, perhaps suggesting that this is Arthur Blessitt's account of his carrying a cross to every nation on the globe from 1969 to 1998. This is only incidentally the case. The story is very much about The Cross, but instead of being organized chronologically, every chapter is a theme such as "following God's call on your life" or "tearing down walls." Within that chapter, various stories from different years and countries highlight the point as Blessitt challenges his readers to do this in their own lives. Ultimately, it's about his 1 mission to point people to Jesus.

Though his storytelling is mediocre, his passion for evangelism and loving people really shines through. Arthur Blessitt's theme of following God's call no matter what and encouraging others to do the same loosely holds the book together. His approach to writing and inclusion of God's words to his heart, a vision, and phrases most familiar to those who have grown up in church (such as "the miraculous power of God was manifest" (p.121)) may make this book less appealing to some, but it will definitely challenge readers to live their lives boldly for God.

This was my first early reviewer book, and it took me awhile to decide how to rate it. The writing didn't impress me, but his passion did. Maybe it's a little high, but I give it 4 stars.

20. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation Volume I: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson

Octavian, a slave owned by Mr. Gitney (aka 03-01) of Boston, and son of an African princess, doesn't realize that his childhood - consisting of Latin and violin lessons, experiments and the measuring of his waste - is odd. His narrative begins with impressions from his younger days and gradually follows a more chronological path as he becomes older and more aware of the revolutionary world beyond the College of Lucidity.

This exceptional historical fiction received the National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 2006. The plot took awhile to get going, especially with the short, impressionistic glimpses we get of Octavian's earliest memories, but the writing is superb and the characters so well-drawn and sympathetic that I couldn't help but read on. In the end, I was ready to start the second book as soon as possible. 5 stars.

>40 bell7: sounds great!! Good review, as well!

>41 girlunderglass:, thanks! I'm always a little unsure of how well I review, but I try to discipline myself to do it because it helps me both to remember what I've read and to recommend books to others at work (I'm a librarian). I've enjoyed reading the reviews on your thread as well - Book Lust is a book I'm hoping to get to this year, even though I really don't need to be adding anything to my mental TBR piles (or physical ones, for that matter!).

21. Rogue's Home by Hilari Bell

(Warning: if you haven't read the first book in the series, this is necessarily going to have spoilers for that story.)

Michael and Fisk are on their way back to Baron Seven Oak's, knowing that Michael will soon be declared "unredeemed," when a mysterious messenger gives Fisk a letter. It's pretty much incoherent, except that his sister Anna writes "come home" and that they need him. As in the first book, each chapter switches between Michael's and Fisk's first-person, humorous narratives. This time, we learn much more about Fisk's background and hometown.

I really didn't mean to read this now. I mean, I'm working on The Brothers Karamazov for a group read, and have another huge tome, Drood, waiting to be read as well. But it just cried out to be read, and I knew it would be a quick read...So yeah, I ate it up in about two days and pushed my other reading aside. I figured out the end way before the main characters, but that's really the only gripe I have. 4.5 stars.

22. Housekeeping vs. the Dirt by Nick Hornby

In his second collection of articles from the Believer, Nick Hornby writes his impressions of various books he has read each month. Continuing where The Polysyllabic Spree left off, the articles are from February 2005 to June/July 2006, and include his thoughts on various books from Gilead by Marilynne Robinson to The Dirt by Motley Crue. Humorous and thoughtful by turns, this is a great addition to any avid reader's bookshelf.

If it weren't for LT, I wouldn't have even known there were sequels to The Polysyllabic Spree, so thanks to all of you who have mentioned them lately! These articles really suit my sense of humor, and I found myself nodding in agreement with some of his comments about some of the reading baggage we carry - about reading "good" books, for example, or that reading must be hard work. These themes are dealt with directly in the preface and come up again from time to time in the articles. I wish I could express my thoughts about that half as well as he does, but as it was I found myself reading passages aloud to my family as I read. 5 stars.

Currently slogging through (I mean reading) - The Brothers Karamazov
Currently listening to - Going Postal

I loved it too - plus your review very helpfully tells me that the columns in this book are covered in my complete version - now I've just got the third collection to clarify!

Ellie, according to the description of Shakespeare Wrote for Money in my library catalog, the articles in it run from August 2006 to September 2008. (I just found out yesterday that a library in my regional system has the book, but it's unfortunately checked out.) I've put it on hold even though I'm trying to get through 2 books that are 775 each (delayed gratification? me?).

Cheers - that must be a new one then, 'The Complete Polysyllabic Spree' finishes in June 2006. I'll add it to my wish list THIS MINUTE!

I was wondering what the difference between the Complete... and the Polysyllabic Spree was too, so thanks for helping me clarify, Ellie. It'll make my birthday/wishlist so much clearer. :-)

I'm glad we've managed to sleuth our way through that one too! I didn't want to duplicate things but I loved 'The Complete Polysyllabic Spree' and didn't want to miss out on a new one either! LibraryThing Detectives 1, Confusing Publishers 0

LOL. "Confusing Publishers" is right. I remember one time reading a trilogy that changed names in the middle (it took me some time on Amazon figuring that one out!).

23. Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (audio)

Moist von Lipwig, con man extraordinaire who unfortunately got caught, narrowly avoids dying...only to be practically forced into becoming Postmaster at the long-defunct Post Office of Anhk-Morpork. The task is, well, impossible - he has only two employees and a golem for a parole officer to make sure he stays in line. Maybe it's a perfect job for a con man, after all.

Though the 30th in the Discworld series, you don't need to have read any of the others to enjoy the story (I've only read one other one that had nothing at all to do with it). I enjoyed the humor and liked the characters, and Stephen Briggs did an excellent job narrating. 4.5 stars.

Currently reading - The Brothers Karamazov (almost done!) and Krakatoa
Currently listening to - Then She Found Me by Elinor Lipman

I've really liked E. Lipman's books. Isabelle's Bed was my first one so it is still my favorite, although, come to think of it, I've read Inn at Lake Devine more times. I'm wondering whether I would like listening to someone read one her books? If it's the right reader, it might make it an even more fun, funny experience; but, on the other hand, I worry that it will be like watching a movie of a favorite book--never as good! What's been your experience?

I just started the audio last night. I haven't gotten far enough to say what I think of the story yet, but the audio seems pretty good overall. I'm using a Playaway for the first time and the quality is so-so (it's a little tinny). But the reader is good, everyone has their own unique voices that seem to fit their personalities.

Bell- I've enjoyed reading your list! I must have missed it up until now. I also have 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die out from the library but haven't had a chance to do much more than skim it yet.

I also liked your review of The Last Knight, it looks like something I should put on my "to read" list.

What did you think of the Ouran High School Host Club manga? I think Tamaki is hilarious! Have you seen the anime? It mostly follows the manga series up until the last episode.

Hi Jenson, glad you found it. I may have to hit you up for another manga recommendation soon. :-)

I'm really enjoying Ouran High School Host Club, thanks for your recommendation last year! Tamaki & Co. make me laugh out loud. I haven't seen the anime, but I'll have to look it up at the library.

I would definitely recommend The Last Knight and sequel. Loved the characters, and was really bummed that I couldn't find a title or publishing date for the third book (impatient much? me?).

I'm always happy to make recommendations and am glad to hear you are enjoying OHSHC!

24. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Fyodor Pavlovich has three sons: Dmitri (Mitya) Fyodorovich, Ivan Fyodorovich, and Alexei (Alyosha) Fyodorovich. Each have been affected by their father's "sensualist" nature - dear daddy is a drunkard and carouser, and pretty much left the boys' upbringing to the servant, Grigory. Now adults, Dmitri similarly follows his father in lifestyle and currently has an argument with him regarding his mother's inheritance, Ivan the intellectual has rejected the idea of God and figures he can do whatever he wants, and Alyosha is training in a monastery. Soon events unfold that will affect the brothers for the rest of their lives.

This story is incredibly hard to sum up without giving spoilers. Coming in at 776 pages long, I'm not sure I would have finished it except for participating in a group read on LT, and if it weren't one of the books referenced in Lost. It definitely had its dull moments, but the second half of the story was a compelling study of people driven by guilt, suffering, and more virtuous moments. I'm glad I pushed through the slower chapters and finished it. 4 stars.

Currently reading - Krakatoa and Drood
Currently listening to - Then She Found Me

February in review --

16. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
17. The Pleasure of Reading edited by Antonia Fraser
18. The Last Knight by Hilari Bell
19. The Cross by Arthur Blessitt (apparently I can neither touchstone nor link to this title)
20. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by M.T. Anderson
21. Rogue's Home by Hilari Bell
22. Housekeeping vs. the Dirt by Nick Hornby
23. Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (audio)
24. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Books read: 8
Books listened to: 1
GN/Manga count: 2
Books abandoned: none
Standouts: Maus, The Pleasure of Reading, The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, and Housekeeping vs. the Dirt
Proud to say I've read: The Brothers Karamazov

Graphic Novels/Manga:

10. The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman

While trying to summon Death, the leader of a mysterious order inadvertently captures Dream, imprisoning him for years. This wreaks havoc on the world as we know it, as Dream's tools are used by humans who have no way of coping with their power, and several people become infected with a "sleepy sickness." All Dream can think about is getting free - and then getting revenge.

The first in the Sandman series is a little uneven, very creepy ("24 Hours" was downright scary), and I liked Dream and some of the other characters introduced. I'm definitely going to read the next book in the series to see how things develop. 4 stars.

>58 bell7: - Love how you've done that! Especially the 'Proud to say I've read'... aren't those ones just so very satisfying?!

Yes, indeed, though it wasn't one of my favorite reads this month, I did have a certain sense of accomplishment for finishing it, and I felt like acknowledging that. :-)

Graphic Novels/Manga Count:

11. Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan

A phenomenon causes all men on the planet to die, except one. Yorick Brown, son of an English professor and a congresswoman, and his monkey Ampersand are apparently the last males living of any species. Nobody knows why. But maybe they can keep the human race from dying out - as long as none of the crazy gangs kill Yorick first.

I thought this set up a great "what if," and had a convincing way of exploring what could happen if most males died. Yorick is an interesting guy - escape artist, English major, and surprisingly well-adjusted for being named after a skull in a play. I look forward to reading the next in the series. Recommended for fans of science fiction; I would rate it R, primarily for language and violence. 4.5 stars.

>62 bell7: sounds interesting! I find myself reading more sci-fi this year than I ever have, so maybe I'll look it up!

girlunderglass, you may also be interested that it's referenced in Lost - the comic that Hurley brought along on Flight 316, though I actually had it out from library before that episode aired.

oh yay, Lost-referenced books :)



p.s. I'm not THAT obsessed, I just stuck the post-its when we had the Lost-themed party and then removed them :P

LOL that's great. And don't worry that I'd think you're obsessed. I actually went through the Lost Book Club and typed out my own list of the books in alphabetical order, along with what episode referenced them, and made made the title bold if it was one I'd read. :-)

25. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Family and friends still see Frankie as "Bunny Rabbit," a good girl going to a good school who follows the rules and still needs to be protected. But Frankie doesn't see herself that way at all, and she's out to prove that she can think for herself and blaze her own trail.

Frankie is a really likable heroine, and her relationships and schoolmates are believable and sympathetic. I found myself rooting for her even when I didn't 100% agree with her. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author. 4.5 stars.

26. Then She Found Me by Elinor Lipman (audio)

April Epner, adopted daughter of two Holocaust survivors, never really thought much about her birth mother. When her mother Bernice, local TV celebrity and drama queen extraordinaire, shows up out of nowhere, April's fairly quiet life as a single Latin teacher of 36 will never be the same.

By turns sweet and hilarious, this was a fun story set in Boston. The characters were great: I could sympathize with April's mixed feelings towards Bernice (who was sort of annoying but such a funny, wonderful character, too) while they get to know each other. The narrator, Mia Barron, did a fabulous job interpreting the characters and made the dialogue that much more enjoyable. This was my first time using a Playaway, and while I found the format so-so (the sound was tinny and if I fell asleep without pausing it, I had to start over at the beginning of a chapter), the story itself made up for it. 4.5 stars.

27. Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox

Laura and Rose have been inseparable since birth. They are cousins, both the daughters of dreamhunters, and expect to soon be allowed into the Place to catch dreams themselves. Only certain people can enter the Place, and even fewer of them have the ability to catch dreams that can then be shared with the populace - exciting dreams like Wild River or healing dreams like Convalescent One. But there seems to be something inexplicably sinister about them...

This first book in the Dreamhunter Duet takes awhile to get going, but once it does it's a compelling read. The story sometimes gets sidetracked into history of dreamhunting or other explication, but the world Knox creates is rich as a result. Mostly told from Laura's perspective, we see her change from a young teen who follows her cousin's lead to someone who takes action. I look forward to seeing where the story goes in Dreamquake. 4 stars.

28. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

In 1986, the current owner of the Panama Hotel begins remodeling, and finds possessions of several Japanese families who left Seattle in the 1940s when they were sent to internment camps. This discovery makes the news, and reminds newly widowed Henry Lee of his experiences as the son of Chinese immigrants in 1942. "Scholarshipping" in an all-white school, he makes a friend when Keiko Okabe transfers to his school and works alongside him in the cafeteria.

The narrative shifts between 1942 and 1986, and we see past and present from Henry's perspective. Ford evokes a rich sense of place in his descriptions of Seattle neighborhoods and the jazz scene in the 1940s. More a story of internal discovery than external events, the story and its characters insinuated their way into me until I found, to my surprise, that I cared enough to cry. 4.5 stars.

Hi, bell7!
So you have used one of those elusive Playaway devices! I have been curious about them lately. Sounds like you did not really like it. Is that correct? Is this something that you bought or borrowed from the library? Thanks!
--BJ

I did borrow it from the library, and just had trouble adjusting to the format. I wanted to get a sense of how they worked so I could show people who wanted to check them out of the library. I think if I had tried it before getting an MP3 player I would have had a better experience. But my MP3 player is more versatile - I can create up to 10 bookmarks whenever I get close to dropping off, so it minimizes the amount of time I listen to the same thing.

This, compared to one chapter (most were about 10 min. long) that was 30 minutes, and I kept falling asleep somewhere midway. I couldn't fast forward through part of a track, either (or if I could, I couldn't figure out how), so I had to listen to the same chapter beginning a few days in a row before I finally got to the next track.

I'd heard that the sound quality on Playaways isn't great, so I was kind of expecting that. Since I have the option, I'll probably stick to digital audiobooks on my MP3 player.

Thanks for all the info! Just what I wanted to know.
--BJ

29. Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde

Thursday Next has been the Bellman for a couple of years now, but she's ready to go back to the real world. Along with Hamlet (who's concerned about the outside world's perception of him as a ditherer), Thursday returns determined to get her husband Landen uneradicated and to send Yorrick Kaine back to the Bookworld where he belongs.

For months, my mom has been begging me to read this book, the fourth in a series that I first recommended to her. So she was pleased when I finally got to it, laughed at loud on several occasions, and promptly finished it only to revisit some favorite parts with her. I recommend reading Hamlet first, as it will make the bookish humor that much more enjoyable. 4.5 stars.

Currently reading - Shakespeare Wrote for Money and Krakatoa
Currently listening to - 16 Lighthouse Road

30. Shakespeare Wrote for Money by Nick Hornby

The last in his collection of article written for The Believer, Shakespeare Wrote for Money is just as funny as the first two. The dates on the articles are from August 2006 to September 2008, and include a wide range of books read from YA titles to a biography of Shakespeare.

I love getting the perspective of someone that's intelligent and interesting and humorous and feels like a real reader telling a friend what they liked or didn't like about the books they've read lately. That's the main reason these books appeal to me. Even when I'm not all that interested in the books he's talking about, I enjoy reading about his experiences as a reader instead of reading a more objective, professional review that tells me lots about a book but little about someone's experience reading it. 4.5 stars.

31. 16 Lighthouse Road by Debbie Macomber (audio)

Cecelia Randall, grieving from the death of her daughter, decides to divorce her husband, Ian, who was unable to be with her when the baby was born, lived, or died because of his Navy obligations. This is one of several story threads that run through 16 Lighthouse Road, which also follows the stories of other Cedar Cove residents, including divorced judge Olivia, and her friend Grace, over the course of several months.

I'm not really sure why I pushed through to finish this book, since it just wasn't working for me. I had trouble following all the different characters - while I could keep track of them all, the story shifts made it hard for me to care about one or the other because when I was getting close, the story moved again. Furthermore, these shifts meant that sometimes changes in a character that happened over weeks were summarized in a paragraph instead of shown through changes in attitude or behavior. A story I may have enjoyed more in a different mood. 2 stars.

32. Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce (audio)

Alanna and her twin, Tom, are not happy with their father's plans for them - Alanna to be trained as a lady and Tom as a knight. So Alanna cooks up a plan to switch places (their scholar father will never notice) so they can follow their dreams: Alanna to become a knight and Tom, a sorcerer. But what will happen if she's discovered?

While I found the story mostly predictable, I liked Alanna and the friends she makes, and enjoyed the stories about her training. I look forward to continuing the series. 4.5 stars.

Currently reading - The Graveyard Book and Krakatoa
Currently listening to - My Man Jeeves

33. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Nobody ("Bod") Owens, orphaned by a man Jack who killed everyone in the family but failed to kill the toddler, lives in a graveyard. The many residents of the graveyard have a hand in raising him, particularly his foster parents, the Owenses, and his guardian, Silas. Somewhere out in the wider world, however, Jack still wants to finish his job.

This year's Newbery Award winner is pretty much as odd as you would expect if you've read any of Neil Gaiman's other books. I liked the premise and the details of life in the graveyard, such as the lessons that teachers long dead taught Bod and the addition of dates and inscriptions after the mention of various inhabitants. Some readers may enjoy the nods to The Jungle Books, but you don't have to be familiar with Kipling's work to enjoy this one. 4 stars.

I just ordered Shakespeare Wrote for Money and since I adored 'The Complete Polysyllabic Spree', I can't wait to get started on the next installment! I too appreciated the more personal take on the books and the experience of reading and loving books, which made every book interesting to read about even if I wouldn't read it myself.

I had that same reaction, Ellie. Even when I didn't care to read the book he was talking about, I enjoyed getting a sense of what he liked (or didn't) about it. It makes you think about why you choose the books you do, and what you want to get out of a particular story. I'm being good about not buying myself books lately, but I have put the books on my birthday list and I'm hoping to get at least one of the series. :-)

34. Dreamquake by Elizabeth Knox

The second book in the Dreamhunter Duet starts before the first ends - there's about 15-20 pages of overlap told from a slightly different point of view. From there, we learn where Laura went to hide after delivering a horrible nightmare that had been used to keep convicts in line to a large number of people in order to bring awareness to what Cas Doran and his Regulatory Body has been up to. Rose soon finds out that this isn't the only thing they're up to, so the fact that nobody seems to care that this nightmare is used on convicts quickly moves to the background.

Like Dreamhunter, Dreamquake starts a little slowly, but steadily builds momentum as the reader and characters discover just what is going on with dreams and the Place. I grew a little frustrated that I figured out a lot before the main characters did, but overall it was an enjoyable read. 4 stars.

35. In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce

The second in the Song of the Lioness quartet starts a few months after Alanna: The First Adventure ended. Alanna, now Prince Jonathan's squire, is traveling when a storm forces her to seek shelter. That night, she meets a new friend - a cat with eyes as violet as her own - and the Goddess herself, who gives her advice about what is to come.

I read the book in one evening. The plot seems meandering, but is really more of a journey, as Alanna prepares to become a knight. A couple of years go by very quickly, which sometimes makes events that were probably a bit slower to occur in the internal chronology happen very quickly. All my favorite characters - Alanna, Jonathan, George, and the rest - were back in this entertaining tale. 4.5 stars.

Graphic novels/manga count:

12. Naruto Volume 21 by Masashi Kishimoto
13. Naruto Volume 22
14. Naruto Volume 23
15. Naruto Volume 24
16. Naruto Volume 25
17. Naruto Volume 26
18. Sandman: The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman
19. Naruto Volume 27
20. Naruto Volume 28
21. Naruto Volume 29
22. Naruto Volume 30
23. Naruto Volume 31
24. Naruto Volume 32
25. Sandman: Dream Country

I've gotten a little behind keeping count of the graphic novels and manga - these were spread out from March 7 to yesterday.

Naruto is a story I continue to enjoy. I am so not the target audience, but the books are such FUN. :-)

Sandman is...weird. I like it, because it's unique and thoughtful and a little creepy (OK, a lot creepy). My favorite story from Dream Country was A Midsummer Night's Dream.

36. Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris

Christian ran away from home when he was six. Living with his foster father in the forest for eleven years, Chris doesn't regret it for a minute - he has a happy (if isolated) life with his two dogs and distantly watches Princess Marigold throuhg a telescope from outside his house. But now it's time for him to leave the life he's known and seek his fortune.

Though I enjoyed several aspects of this story, Once Upon a Marigold was clearly written for readers younger than me. The seventeen-year-old protagonists often seemed a bit young in their thoughts and actions and the narrator had a habit of making pronouncements in a way that irritated me. The direction of the plot was clear early on, though it was entertaining to see how it all came together. Edric the troll was a great character, and I enjoyed his merged sayings that seem to almost make sense. A quick, fun read that I would've enjoyed more fifteen years ago. 4 stars.

37. Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson

Ruby Lennox knew almost from conception that she was unwanted. Her mother Bunty, father George, and sisters Patricia and Gilliam live Above the Shop (a pet shop) that George and Bunty grudgingly own and run. Ruby insightfully narrates their lives, inserting "footnotes" between each chapter that detail the lives of her ancestors.

I'm finding it difficult to summarize my impressions. The story that unfolds of an ordinary family kept me reading primarily because of Ruby's voice rather than my interest in the characters (I was often annoyed with them) or the plot (internal and retrospective even while being narrated in present tense). At times beautifully descriptive, it was an often unsettling story that I found compelling even when I didn't enjoy it. 3.5 stars.

Currently reading - Naruto Volume 35 (touchstone not loading) and Krakatoa
Currently listening to - My Man Jeeves

38. The Secret by Beverly Lewis (touchstone not loading)

Grace's mamma Lettie has been acting strangely ever since meeting an old friend at a barn raising. Grace doesn't know who the woman is, but Lettie went off with her to talk for some time, and has been morose and weepy ever since but won't tell anyone what's wrong. Does Lettie have some secret she can't share with the rest of her family?

The first in the "Seasons of Grace" series starts typically with a Prologue narrated in first-person by a young woman, Grace. Set in Bird-in-Hand and switching back and forth between the Amish community there and the point of view of an "Englisher," Heather, Lewis sets up a new story of family secrets and faith. I look forward to reading more of the series. 4.5 stars.

I am enjoying your reviews!
--BJ

thanks, BJ! I'm often a little unsure of myself writing up these reviews, so it's good to get feedback! :-)

39. My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse (audio)

After hearing so much about the Jeeves and Wooster stories between LT and The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, I thought I should give the series a try. My Man Jeeves is a collection of short stories, most of which are narrated by Bertie Wooster, about the scrapes he and his friends get into and how his servant, Jeeves, always brilliantly saves the day. The middle stories were narrated by a guy named Reggie, who didn't have a servant to save the day, but were much the same otherwise (I was a little confused by this interlude, and wondered if there was an error in the audio file).

The stories were amusing but, as a few people have mentioned in their reviews, repetitive. I often found myself confused about where I'd left off, so it took me two weeks to finish even though it was a fairly short book. Simon Prebble was a good narrator who did an admirable job of dealing with both British and American accents. I think this is the first in the Jeeves and Wooster stories, but if these stories were any indication of the books as a whole, they can be read in any order. 4 stars.

good to know I'm not the only one (re Wodehouse) !
However, I take it that this books, as well as the one I read, is not an indication of the books as a whole because the books in general are novels not short stories. I think that was our mistake - mine too. I'm willing to try a novel too, just not in the very near future.

Happy reading!

Hi bell7! Wodehouse seems to be popping up on everyone's threads. I've yet to read him (glaring omission, apparently), but am realizing I'm going to have to rectify that soon. I'm really enjoying your reviews!

>90 girlunderglass: Eliza, it's good to know that what I read is not really typical of Wodehouse in general. I'll probably try another title at some point in time, but I think I'll knock down some of my 999 Challenge reads first.

>91 theaelizabet: theaelizabet, yeah, I noticed that around the same time I started listening to My Man Jeeves a few other threads were mentioning his stories as well. I'd never heard of him before joining LT, so it's funny to think of it as a "glaring omission," though I daresay it felt a bit like that for me too (nothing like LT to make me feel like I'm not so well-read in the classics after all, hm?).

40. First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde

It's been fourteen years since the end of Something Rotten, and SpecOps has been disbanded. Thursday is now working for Acme Carpets (at least, that's her story), and Friday is a slothful sixteen-year-old that has shown no interest in joining the ChronoGuard, which rather unnerves his parents as he was supposed to join 3 years ago. Will his reluctance spell the end of time as we know it?

Once again, another fun, unpredictable story about Thursday Next and the BookWorld. One difference from the others seemed to be that there was no one book that was referenced throughout (or if there was, I missed the reference). These are hard books to describe or put in a box, so suffice it to say that I enjoyed it as much as the others, especially the parts about the stupidity surplus. 4.5 stars.

Graphic novels/manga count:

26. Fruits Basket Volume 20
27. Fruits Basket Volume 21
28. Fruits Basket Volume 22

Of course I had to go back a little and revisit the last few volumes of Fruits Basket before reading the newest. I absolutely loved Volume 22, it made me happy.

29. Y: The Last Man: Cycles by Brian Vaughan

For some reason I didn't like this quite as well as the first, but I'll keep going for now.

30. Naruto Volume 33
31. Naruto Volume 34
32. Naruto Volume 35
33. Naruto Volume 36
34. Naruto Volume 37

Yes, I nabbed these as soon as my library's copies were ready to go on the shelf. No, I'm definitely not the target audience. But it's such a good story!

March in review -

25. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by Emily Lockhart
26. Then She Found Me by Elinor Lipman (audio)
27. Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox
28. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
29. Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde
30. Shakespeare Wrote for Money by Nick Hornby
31. 16 Lighthouse Road by Debbie Macomber (audio)
32. Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce (audio)
33. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
34. Dreamquake by Elizabeth Knox
35. In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce
36. Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris
37. Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson
38. The Secret by Beverly Lewis
39. My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse (audio)
40. First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde

Books read - 12
Books listened to - 4
GN/Manga count - 25
Books abandoned - 2
Stand outs - Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

So much reading! Mine's been a slow month - the Chaplin autobiography took a lot longer than expected. Here's to April!

Nice to see others out there besides myself trying and ready to try Wodehouse. And you're right gug, they are mainly not "short" stories, but are not big books. Typically I think they run about 300 pages or so. I put him off sooooooooooo long and asked sooooooooooo many people about him that when I finally read him, I was like: Ahhhhhhh, that's what it's about with a big old grin on my face and wondered why I had waited so long.
And who wouldn't love to have an "our man Jeeves"?
Loved it!~!

>96 elliepotten: Ellie, March surprised me with how much time I had to read! But my list of "books bought" by the month would be incredible short (for this whole year, honestly), so you make up for it on that end. ;-)

>97 rainpebble: nannybebette, is there a title you would recommend for me to get a better idea of what he typically writes?

I really am not the one to ask on this subjuct as of yet. But give me time. I have only read the one. Code of the Woosters. I found myself smiling throughout the book. The ramblings and predicaments gotten into are sublimely ridiculous which is why they are so funny, but the very end was so poignant that I wept. I definitely would recommend this book, but I started with this one because it is the one I had on my shelf.
I am just now getting into Wodehouse, but I don't find myself stopping. I really want to read more of him.
I got into him because I saw his name everywhere I went on LT and I knew there had to be a reason so I started a thread and I began researching online. Both encouraged me to read him and give him a try so I did and I was not disappointed. He is difinitely worth the read. I hope that helps you.

He was one of the first authors I ever read when I moved from the young adult to the adult section of the library. Wodehouse and Louisa May Alcott's The Chase, chosen with the help of my mum, awww. I haven't read any of his for years now but I'll be on the lookout for one to start me off again!

Pretty clever lady; your mum.
later,
belva

>99 rainpebble:-101, thanks nannybebette and Ellie for the recommendations. I'll have to return to Wodehouse sometime in the future, I think, and give him another try.

I really have been reading lately, but have been housesitting without Internet access and haven't been able to post my thoughts. I'll be trying to update slowly but surely over the next few days. :-)

41. Blood and Iron by Elizabeth Bear

Matthew is a magician in New York City, a member of the Promethans, who works to protect humans from the Fae that would steal them into their world as changelings. Elaine is a human bound to the Faerie world by the Mebd, one of the Queens of Faerie, and by her loyalty to her son, Ian. She is also the Seeker, one who prowls shadows looking for Fae children. A collision of their worlds seems inevitable, but as players are drawn into events beyond their control the morality of either side becomes ambiguous.

This urban fantasy is a bit different from my normal fare -- darker, more sensual than the fantasy I usually choose to read. I kept going because I wanted to see what would happen to Elaine and the other characters, if their fates were truly predetermined or if they could choose a different outcome. Bear throws readers into her alternate universe and leaves them to discover along with her characters (a knowledge of Arthurian legend and the ballad of Tam Lin would be especially helpful). I'm interested in seeing where the series heads from here. 4 stars.

42. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Aibileen is a black woman working for Elizabeth Leefolt taking care of Mae Mobley. Minny is Mrs. Walters' maid, constantly at odds with her employer's daughter for speaking her mind. And Eugenia Phelan (more commonly known as "Skeeter") is an educated white woman who didn't really think about "the help" too much until her own family's maid disappeared. These women at first appear disparate, but find that they are alike where it truly counts.

This historical fiction set in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962 is surprisingly hopeful in tone, even while depicting tragic and horrific events in history. The narrative voices of Aibilieen, Minny and Skeeter tell us most of the story, each with a distinctive voice and point of view, and the characters feel very real. An emotional but overall uplifting read. 4.5 stars.

43. Letters to Alice on First Reading Jane Austen by Fay Weldon

Well, I heard about this on another thread and could hardly pass up the chance to read something about Jane Austen! This is about an aunt who (much like Jane Austen before her) corresponds with a niece interested in writing novels. The niece, Alice, is a fictional girl of green-and-black colored hair who can't imagine why Jane Austen would be considered relevant today.

The blend of fiction and literary criticism threw me for a loop at first. The first few letters talk about Jane Austen's life and times, then move on to talk about, in turn, each of her novels and peppered with advice about reading, writing, and listening (or not) to critics. In fact, this struck me as much more about the act of writing than about Jane Austen in particular. At times witty, and other times confusing, sometimes I agreed and at others I wholeheartedly disagreed. But that, as I'm sure "Aunt Fay" would agree, is one of the joys of visiting the City of Invention. 3.5 stars.

44. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

The year is 1776. Isabel's owner, Miss Finch, has died. She left a will freeing Isabel and her sister Ruth, but Miss Finch's nephew is in a hurry and the lawyer is in Boston -- unreachable given the current unrest. He sells the girls to a couple who live in New York. Upon arrival in her new home, Isabel meets Curzon, a fellow slave and Patrio who claims they can contact the lawyer if she'll spy for his side.

The narrative weaves a convincing and nuanced tale in which even the side of libery is not all that interested in the plight of slaves. Each chapter is titled the dates it covers (which could be a day or nearly two months), followed by a quote from historical writing -- a letter, a journal entry -- that also highlights the exploration of liberty and justice in the Revolutionary War. I look forward to the sequel. 4.5 stars.

ETA: Completely wrong touchstone, and it doesn't want to work with me to fix it today...oh well, I'll try again soon.

Edited again to fix touchstone.

45. The Radiation Sonnets by Jane Yolen

This was my National Poetry Month read, a collection of 43 sonnets that Jane Yolen wrote during her husband's radiation treatment for brain cancer. The only way I can describe it is "intense" - intensely personal, honest, emotional. More than one poem made me tear up and I often stopped after only two or three sonnets just to let it settle. Highly recommended. 4.5 stars.

#107
Wow, I cannot imagine publishing anything so personal. On the other hand, I bet it was amazing.

Lots of good reads here! Have a great weekend!
--BJ

46. Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher

Amara, ready for her graduation exercise as a Cursor, travels disguised as a slave, hoping to confirm rumors of a renegade legion. Tavi is an orphan with no fury in a land where furycrafting as as common as breathing, but when he makes a discovery when trying to recover his sheep, the safety of his people suddenly rests on his shoulders.

A character-rich, in-depth world is introduced in this first book of the Codex Alera series. There's a lot of political maneuvering, and the point of view changes (primarily between Amara and Tavi) mean that the reader knows more than the individual characters. After about sixty pages, the pace quickly builds and never lets up. 4.5 stars.

47. Walden Two by B.F. Skinner

A behavioral psychologist imagines a utopia based on principles of positive reinforcement and training peopl eto act in a way that benefits the community. Professor Burris narrates for us when he and some friends visit his old colleague Frazier, the founder of Walden Two. Each character is on varying levels of acceptance, as Frazier expounds on his Utopia; Castle, in particular, remains a determined skeptic, while Burris finds himself mediating between Castle and Frazier.

I was rather disappointed by this book. It was a fictional way of promoting Skinner's ideas, and there's no story outside of that, only Frazier promoting while Castle digs his heels in further. I remain unconvinced that it could work, and found myself getting annoyed that ultimately Frazier's reasoning was, "Well, you see it working before you" as he led his charges around Walden Two, when I don't know of any such successful community. Also, Skinner is a strict behaviorist and doesn't give much credence to the "nature" or genetic side of psychology. 3 stars.

48. A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

The theory of relativity, quantum mechanics, and the search for a unified theory of the universe are the subjects of this mindboggling explication of physics (I found I could read about 5 pages at a time without my brain hurting). Perhaps I was even more at a disadvantage for never having taken physics, though I did feel a little better when an engineer friend of mine told me that quantum mechanics is covered in Physics 3. Even so, it's ultimately a rewarding learning experience investigating the universe as we know it. I'm interested in learning more, and daresay I'll understand more for having persevered. 4.5 stars.

49. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder

Dr. Paul Farmer devotes much of his life to caring for the poor in Haiti, where diseases like tuberculosis and AIDS run rampant, made much worse by the abject poverty in which many Haitians live. Dr. Farmer is an absolutely driven man who keeps a crazy schedule, constantly advocates for his patrients, and expects a lot of himself and others. His story is both challenging and inspiring.

I read this for a community group read in my hometown. Kidder takes a very personal approach in writing this story, even showing up as a "character" from time to time. As a result, he emphasizes Dr. Farmer's personal approach to medicine and shows Dr. Farmer in a very human light. I thought it was neat that he loved The Lord of the Rings (and its influence could be seen throughout), and especially liked the story about how he asked a librarian to find another story "just like this one." Fantasy didn't work, but War and Peace did (I can only wonder how she came up with that - did she make a connection between the stories, or was she just frustrated?). 4.5 stars.

50. The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

Lillian, now the owner of a restaurant, knows the magic of food. She discovered it for herself as a child, and now she shares it with her cooking classes, "The School of Essential Ingredients." The Prologue sets of the story like so: "Lillian knew that whatever their reasons for coming, at some moment in the course of the class each one's eyes would widen with joy or tears or resolution -- it always happened. The timing and reason would be different for each, and that's where the fascination lay. No two spices work the same" (3).

The story hinges on description and character, as we follow the course of the class and see each character's "moment" through his or her point of view. The descriptions are sometimes awkward but never boring or cliched. The tastes and smells of the kitchen are lovingly rendered. The characters are unique, and I enjoyed their back stories and internal growth. Like the food described, the story has a nuanced flavor that doesn't bole you over with plot but asks you to savor and enjoy. 4.5 stars.

51. Academ's Fury by Jim Butcher

Two years after Furies of Calderon ended, we find Tavi at the Academy under the patronage of Gaius, the First Lord himself. Bernard is now Count, and his sister Isana is finding herself caught between a rock and a hard place because of Gaius' appointment of her as the first woman Steadholder. Meanwhile, trouble is brewing for Alera from without and within.

My cousin recommended this series to me, and I'm enjoying it a lot. As the series progresses, I'm getting to know the characters more, and the pace of the plot builds until I don't want to put the book down until it's finished. Can't wait to read the next one! 4.5 stars.

Great book! I think Kidder--like so many readers of this book, I imagine--was so amazed and inspired by Dr. Farmer's work (which is way too anemic a word to describe all that Dr. Farmer is doing) as well as the locations/situations in which he is working, that Kidder couldn't not get somewhat involved, but also that is how Kidder writes. At least, I don't remember his book about teaching being significantly different.

>108 billiejean: billiejean, yes, it was incredibly personal but very powerful. I think it was even more intense for me knowing that she was talking about a hospital that I've been to myself and knowing several people affected by cancer.

>115 bonniebooks: bonniebooks, I haven't read any of Kidder's other works, so I can't really compare. I was thinking about it because the edition I read had discussion questions at the end, and one of them asked what it did to have Kidder be a part of the story. Definitely an inspiring read.

Hey, congrats on passing 50 books! And so many interesting reads, too! I notice so many people reading Stephen Hawking. I have always wanted to read one of his books, but I am a little chicken! Maybe later this year, I will give one a try!

Have a wonderful day!
--BJ

Thanks, BJ! I was surprised at how quickly I accomplished it, and figured I'd try 100 instead of 80 - what the heck, right?

Yeah, A Brief History of Time is by far one of the hardest books I've ever read. I'm sure there's stuff I didn't get and a lot more I just had to take his word for, but overall I was happy with what I was able to remember and learn. It was really interesting, if challenging, and I wanted to learn more. I bought The Elegant Universe at a tag sale not too long ago, hoping that having read the former, the latter would make more sense! (We'll see how that goes...)

I tried reading my family's copy of A Brief History of Time a few years ago and got about halfway through before my brain exploded. However, bearing in mind that I'm only 21 now, I'm thinking maybe it was a teeny bit ambitious at that point and I just bought myself a copy to try again!

It may sound tragic, but I've been watching so many documentaries and geeky comedies that I've kind of slipped back into my passion for science and bizarre non-fiction recently! I'm reading a kind of love letter to/history of honey and honey bees right now (Robbing the Bees by Holley Bishop) and I have a pile of similarly random books waiting to be read...

Hey Ellie, I'm not that much older than you. ;-) I found it helped if I...

1. read slowly (that 5 pages a day wasn't joking...that was really all I read most of the time!)
2. took notes and reread if I really didn't get it (I did that when he started talking about C, P, and T symmetry)
3. asked my friend the engineer about it

Isn't it funny how reading one thing leads to another in semi-random ways? "Books on bees" sounds like a fun category! Late last year I went on a kick of reading books about the English language/linguistics which was a lot of fun.

52. Krakatoa by Simon Winchester

In 1883, the volcano on the island of Krakatau shocked the world by literally blowing the island apart. In this detailed account that starts with trading and the Dutch control of the area, describes the science of plate tectonics (which wasn't fully understood until some 80 years after), and then gives various eyewitness accounts of the eruption itself.

It's a fascinating account, and there is a lot of information packed into this book. I was rather surprised by the breadth of topics covered (trade, plate tectonics, even some biology) over a couple of hundred years (1600s-1900s). Still, Winchester writes engagingly without many technical terms, and there are ample pictures and graphs to aid as well. 4.5 stars.

(Doing a happy dance for finishing this book after reading it for 3 1/2 months)

Looking forward to reading it! I got a shiny new hardback copy from the charity shop for £1.50, perfect...

ooh, gotta love second-hand shops! I bought my paperback copy used, too and will probably turn around and donate it to my library's book sale (it was entertaining, but I have no need to read it again, so away it goes to make room in my bookshelves).

53. The Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett (audio)

Polly Perks runs off to join the army, disguised as a boy, in an attempt to find her brother. Her country of Borogravia has been at war since nobody knows when and appears to be on its last leg when this group of recruits starts its journey. Pratchett explores serious subjects of war and gender relations while telling a story with his trademark humor and wit.

I'm having trouble summarizing the book & describing my thoughts, mostly because it took me almost a month to complete it and I can't remember how far along in the story certain things were revealed. I enjoyed the story, even in its goofiness and even when I could see where things were going. This seems to be another standalone in the Discworld series, though the three books I've read have all been parts of different mini-series, so unrelated to each other. I might try reading them in order now. 4.5 stars.

bell, you're moving right along, congrats!

A Brief History of Time, yup, that's one I actually gave up on many years ago. Quantum physics is one of those things I wish I understood, but apparantly just cannot grasp! I have Stephen Hawkings' quasi biography in my tbr pile that I'm looking forward to. Maybe I'll understand the man more than I can understand his theories.

On Blood and Iron, this is one in my tbr pile, nice to know you enjoyed it!

On Fruits Basket, I just finished watching the anime last night and am looking into reading the manga where it leaves off which, I guess, is around manga volume 8. It was pretty interesting although I got a little tired of the inner monologues (this might be something more specific to the anime than the manga, I'm not sure). I loved the last couple eps that explored more about Kyo and had Tohru's encounter with Akito.

54. Reimagining Shakespeare for Children and Young Adults, edited by Naomi J. Miller

This collection of essays discusses various adaptations of Shakespeare for children, critical viewpoints of Shakespeare's plays and adaptations, and pedagogy in teaching Shakespeare to grades K-12. Probably most useful for teachers (though part 1 about adaptations could also be of interest to parents and librarians), I found in reading these essays that I had a definite opinion about my own approach to Shakespeare, story, or really any sort of convention that becomes ingrained. Each author has his or her own unique perspective, but agreed most with those who would "play" with Shakespeare's words or story, arguing that this is exactly what Shakespeare himself did when he rewrote the works of those who came before him. If his work is not entirely original, do we really have to hold his work up as untouchable?

I enjoy reading and watching Shakespeare's plays, and I've enjoyed historical fiction like The Shakespeare Stealer and stories that play with Shakespeare like Lords and Ladies. So this exploration of Shakespeare and teaching was a fun read for me even though I am not a teacher and would not find the pedagogy portion of this useful in any practical way. I still managed to add a handful of books to my TBR list, from young adult novels like King of Shadows to more academic works like Shakespeare, the Movie. 4.5 stars.

>125 Jenson_AKA_DL: Thanks, Jenson. Yeah, I almost gave up on A Brief History of Time which was crazy-complicated most of the time.

Re: Fruits Basket, personally I would recommend you start with Volume 6. There's quite a bit of overlap and it revisits what you already saw about Kyo, but there are some differences in 6-8 regarding the order things happen in (when some characters are introduced, for example), and some things are added to the anime that didn't happen in the manga. But Fruits Basket Volume 6 is one of my favorite volumes of the manga, so I'm a little bit biased. :-)

Thanks for the info! I've requested Fruits Basket volume 6 from the library and will start there :-)

>128 Jenson_AKA_DL: Hope you enjoy it! :-)

Speaking of manga, here's an update on what I've read lately -

Graphic Novels/Manga count:

35. Watchmen by Alan Moore

What is there once had been masked vigilantes, humans insipred by superhero comics, roaming the streets of New York City to keep the world safe? In this sydtopian vision of just such a world, such activism has been outlawed since 1977 and most of those who participated have retired. But then one of them is murdered, and no one knows why or if the killer will strike again.

I'm glad to be able to say I've read this title, but I didn't particularly enjoy it. It was gritty and violent and depressing and just not the kind of story I like. It's a complex story that I read much slower than I expected to. Recommended for fans of dystopian and apocalyptic fiction, maybe even hard-boiled mystery fans who want to read something a little different. Just not my cup of tea. 2 stars.

36. Naruto Volume 38 by Masashi Kishimoto
37. Naruto Volume 39
38. Naruto Volume 40
39. Naruto Volume 41

I've almost caught up on all that's come out now. :-(

April in review -

41. Blood and Iron by Elizabeth Bear
42. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
43. Letters to Alice on First Reading Jane Austen by Fay Weldon
44. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
45. The Radiation Sonnets by Jane Yolen
46. Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
47. Walden Two by B.F. Skinner
48. A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
49. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
50. The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
51. Academ's Fury by Jim Butcher
52. Krakatoa by Simon Winchester
53. The Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett (audio)
54. Reimagining Shakespeare for Children and Young Adults, edited by Naomi J. Miller

Books read - 13
Books listened to - 1
GN/Manga - 5
Books abandoned - none (!)
Standouts - The Help, Furies of Calderon and Academ's Fury
Proud to say I've read - A Brief History of Time
I can't believe I read the whole thing - Walden Two
Embarrassed it took so long - Krakatoa (Jan. 4 - Apr. 28)

>125 Jenson_AKA_DL: Jenson - I hadn't heard of other Hawking books until now, but I'm trying to work out which book you meant by the quasi-biography so I can look it up - is it Black Holes and Baby Universes and other essays?

55. Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis

Orual, the daughter of the King of Glome, is the oldest of three sisters. She loves the youngest, Psyche, almost as a daughter, especially since Psyche's mother (Orual's stepmother) died in childbirth. Orual's world begins to crumble when Glome is threatened by famine and the possibility of war - the priest of the goddess Ungit tells the King that the only way to prevent both is for Psyche to be sacrificed to the goddess.

Narrated by Orual, who believes the gods hate her, she demands and justifies herself and ultimately reveals herself more honesty that even she expected when she first began. Retelling the myth of Cupid and Psyche, Lewis weaves a tale similar in theme to The Chronicles of Narnia, but more mature both in terms of audience and writing style. A story I would definitely reread. 5 stars.

I am glad that this is such a good one! I just bought this book yesterday.
--BJ

BJ, I'd be interested in hearing what you think about it when you've finished. It was driving me slightly crazy that I didn't know anyone who had read it so I could talk about it. :-)

56. Slow Reading by John Miedema

Based on the title, I assumed that Slow Reading would tell me all the things I'm doing wrong. I read at a fairly fast pace, averaging about two books a week, and often chose teen books over Literature. I expected that, while having an interesting premise, I would ultimately disagree with the author if he told me I should slow down and read only "good" books.

That's not what this book is about. "Slow reading" is less about pace (though that tends to be a factor) that it is a deliberate mental shift from task-oriented purpose to pleasure: "The most obvious sense of slowness in reference to quality is temporal - we stop racing against the clock to better appreciate a meal or a book" (43). In five short chapters, Miedema calls for a return to this pleasurable savoring of books, Literature or no. He draws on such diverse subjects as the connection between religion and slow reading, the innate differences between online and from-the-page reading, and neuroscience to make his points. Besides agreeing more than I thought I would, I found myself slow reading his book as I stopped to ponder my own reading experiences, talk back about a point that struck me, or looked through the thorough list of references in the back to follow up an intriguing idea. 4.5 stars.

57. The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott

Sophie and Josh, fraternal twins living in California for the summer, walk in on a magical fight between none other than Nicholas Flamel and Dr. John Dee. Flamel is the keeper of a book called the Codex, which Dee has been trying to steal for his masters, the Dark Elders, for ages. Now, Dee has the book and Nick's wife, and Sophie and Josh suddenly find themselves in a world where magic exists and legends live.

Definitely a fun read, pretty fast-paced except when a few pages of explication were thrown in, with all sorts of creatures and myths re-imagined. Set in modern-day U.S., my only real complaint is that often references to "modern" stuff is thrown in - Wiki (I think he meant Wikipedia?), movies - that sometimes miss the mark, like when there's a reference to Sophie seeing Titanic. I'm not saying she couldn't have, just that it seems to be an outdated reference since she would have been about one year old when it came out. But a small complaint about an overall enjoyable story - I've requested the second book from the library already. 4.5 stars.

58. The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley

When Harry Crewe's (don't ask her real first name) parents die, she has to move closer to her brother Richard, which means becoming the ward of Lady Amelia and Sir Charles. She falls in love with this wild Hill country and becomes embroiled in the political climate when Corlath, king of the Damarians, comes to parley with Sir Charles. Corlath's magic won't let him forget her, however, so he kidnaps her knowing she has some sort of part to play in the coming war with the Northerners.

I have no real complaints: the characters were interesting (I especially enjoyed reading when Corlath was on-scene), the story well told. But I never felt fully invested in the story, nor did I feel compelled to read if the book were not already in my hands. Probably a case of too much going on at the time. 4 stars.

59. The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

In this fifth and last installment of the "Percy Jackson" series, Percy's 16th birthday is fast approaching - and with it, the fulfillment of the Great Prophecy. When he returns to Camp Half-Blood, Percy finds a lot of things changed. Campers are gearing up for war with Kronos, and the Ares and Apollos cabins are at odds. Percy finally hears the Great Prophecy in its entirety, and is weighed down with its implications: Will his decision spell the end of Olympus?

I've so enjoyed this series of humorous Greek myth set in the United States and told from a boy hero's perspective. This one didn't disappoint, and though I'm sorry to see Percy go, the end seemed to leave open the possibility of more stories coming from Camp Half-Blood. 4.5 stars.

60. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Taylor Markham's mother left her at the 7-11 on the Jellicoe Road. Six years later, Taylor is the House leader at her school and the school leader in the "territory wars" against the Townies and the Cadets. It doesn't help that the leader of the Cadets, Jonah Griggs, is someone Taylor has something of a history with. On top of all this new responsibility, Taylor freaks when Hannah, the woman who found her at the 7-11 and took her in for a time, suddenly disappears.

This well-crafted story is told in two parts - Taylor's first-person, present tense narration and another story, interspersed here and there, about the survivors of a car crash on Jellicoe Road 22 years before Taylor's story. Though at first confusing, seeing the two narratives come together was a lot of fun, even after I'd figured out much of the connections. The story and characters will stay with me for a long time. 5 stars.

61. As They See 'Em by Bruce Weber

Baseball has its fair share of books, but what about a book about the umpires? This is what reporter Bruce Weber sets out to do, starting with his stint at an umpire training school in Florida, and following with interviews with umps in the minor and major leagues. In between, he fills it out with some history (the changing strike zone, for instance) and recent events like the 1999 struggle between the MLB and the umpires' union.

My dad has umpired Little League since I was very young, so maybe I'm a little biased when I say I thought this was a fascinating account of a part of baseball that's largely overlooked. As Weber makes abundantly clear, if umpires are noticed at all it's usually the shouted profanity type of notice, and little credit is given to them for keeping the game running smoothly and making good close calls. His conversational style makes the book run by fast. 4.5 stars.

62. The Family Man by Elinor Lipman

After his ex-wife's husband of 24 years dies, leaving her with nothing thanks to a pre-nup that stipulated the marriage had to last 25 years, Henry Archer sends her a sympathy card. He has, for the most part, gotten over any heartbreak, and in fact has made peace with his homosexuality. He decides to reconnect with Thalia, the daughter from Denise's first marriage that Henry adopted but hasn't seen in two decades. Meanwhile, Denise has no idea about this, and is clinging to Henry as her last lifeline...oh, and wants to set him up, too.

Lipman's newest novel is set in New York City, a departure from the other books that I've by her so far. The dialog kept the pace fast and funny, even though the story is primarily about the characters and their relationships. A light read that was fun, and would have gotten a higher rating if I had been in a different mood. 3.5 stars.

Hi, bell,
Just wanted to let you know that I have your thread starred. I am still reading Till We Have Faces. I am about halfway through. All the excitement and company have slowed my reading tremendously. But I have to say that I am loving this book so far. I will check back in when I finally finish it. I must finish a book soon, and I think that this will be the one. :) Have a super day!
--BJ

thanks, BJ! I hope you have a good day, too, and that Till We Have Faces is great through the end. :-)

Graphic Novels/Manga count:

40. Good as Lily by Derek Kirk Kim
41. Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi

I'm not sure I could have picked two more different titles to read one on top of the other. Good as Lily is about a girl named Grace who is visited on her eighteenth birthday by three different versions of herself, at six, twenty-nine, and seventy-something. Each of them have something to teach her that will impact the direction in which her life is going. In Persepolis 2, Satrapi picks up the thread of her story from Persepolis after arriving in Vienna for school. The sequel covers from when she was 14 to when she was about 24, and there's a lot of growing up and feelings of isolation during her adolescence and young adulthood. For some reason, it struck me more than the first one.

Now I have the next 3 Naruto volumes ready for me... :-)

63. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

When the Sarajevo Haggadah is discovered, saved in a bank vault by the museum curator, Hanna Heath has the opportunity of a lifetime to conserve this beautiful book. The haggadah has survived against the odds, and Hanna's research gives her tantalizing glimpses of where the book has been while readers learn even more about the book's true history and the "people of the book" who impacted (and were impacted by) the amazing artifact.

This well-crafted story is the imagined history of a true artifact, a Jewish haggadah from medieval times with lovely illuminations. In an afterward, Brooks quickly writes about what is and isn't known about its history, and it's a fascinating exploration of what might have been. I love that the book itself is essentially a character and the details included about conservation work. 4.5 stars.

Graphic Novels/Manga count:

42. Naruto Volume 42 by Masashi Kishimoto
43. Naruto Volume 43
44. Naruto Volume 44

45. Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale

This hair-long-as-a-lasso girl doesn't need a prince to do any rescuing for her. Once she finds out that Mother Gothel isn't her mother at all and her real mother is forced to work in the mines, Rapunzel plans her way out of the tree in which she is imprisoned. She then plots revenge on Gothel and the rescue of her mother. Along the way, other fairy tales and well-known characters emerge, re-imagined in this funny, quick read. 4 stars.

Hi, bell!
I am adding Rapunzel's Revenge to my wishlist. It looks pretty good!! I just read Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood, and it was quite compelling. Reading first hand experiences about events that I saw on tv always reaches me. But it was sad, too. I am going to look for the second one, especially since you liked it even better. Have a great day!
--BJ

Hi, BJ! Rapunzel's Revenge was a fun read, a nice light break from the longer, more difficult David Copperfield that I started a few days ago.

I liked reading your impressions of Persepolis on your thread. I think there are a few reasons that I liked the second one better, the first being that I wasn't familiar with the Iraq/Iran war that makes up so much of the first story - I was really too young to know what was going on at the time. Added to that, she often told what was going on from her child's perspective, which made it that much harder for me to follow. I think one of the reasons that I liked Persepolis 2 better was because I was a bit more used to her writing style, perhaps just more used to the way in which to read graphic novels in general, and also because I could just relate to her more - not her individual experience, per se, but the sort of isolation and separation she felt as a teen. (Now that I read this, maybe if I went back and read the first Persepolis again I would like it better)

Hope that's not too much information! :-)

64. Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card (audio) - technically I finished this before People of the Book, but forgot to review it

If you haven't read the first book in this series, Ender's Game, this is a **spoiler alert** for that story.

Three thousand years after Ender defeated the Buggers, another alien group is in danger of being eradicated due to a similar misunderstanding. On Lusitania, the "piggies" are kept separate from people, except those few privileged to study their way of life while never giving away anything about human culture or technology. The peace on Lusitania is threatened, however, when one of these humans is brutally killed by the piggies. No one exactly knows why, but one of his apprentices, Novenha, knows it has something to do with information she learned. She calls for a Speaker of the Dead and Ender (who has been traveling a lot at near-light-speed and has only aged to about 29 due to the relativity of time) answers the call.

Perhaps this was not the best book to choose as an audiobook to listen to as I fell asleep, and this certainly had an impact on my enjoyment of the story. First, the particular audio version I listened to had 3 narrators, who switched off based on the point of view the narrative was coming from (it was always third person, but we see events from several different perspectives). So I had to get used to about 3 different interpretations of different people's voices. Secondly, it's a complicated story that took me about three weeks to listen to, long enough that I didn't always remember exactly what happened and didn't have the ability to flip back a few chapters and refresh my memory. Still, I would recommend it to those who had enjoyed Ender's Game and didn't mind something a little meatier. Speaker for the Dead raises ethical questions about leaving different cultures alone to preserve them, and has a lot to say about the power of speaking the truth. 4 stars.

65. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

The unnamed narrator crashes his plane in the desert and comes across the little prince, an alien boy visiting earth from asteroid B-612, who has a lot to say about a child's faith and matters of "consequence."

This is a rather strange little story, and I'm afraid to say to much about it without giving out spoilers, since it's only 91 pages long. Imagination, faith, and the inability of most grown-ups to see what is truly important are recurring themes. 4 stars.

66. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Lia's former best friend Cassie has died of unknown causes. Though the girls haven't spoken in months, Cassie called 33 times before she died - and Lia didn't pick up. But Lia can cope. She's strong. After all, she's managed to control her calorie intake and her weight for a really long time now.

Welcome to the world of an anorexic, as eighteen-year-old Lia tells you exactly what's going on in her head. "Enjoy" is definitely the wrong word for this book, but it's powerful and heart-wrenching and I couldn't put it down. Lia's first-person narration makes her story all the more immediate; as a reader, I felt for her while still being able to see her emotional and psychological downward spiral. Highly recommended. 5 stars.

Currently reading - David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Currently listening to - A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

67. The Magician: The Immortal Secrets of Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott

If you haven't read the first book, The Alchemyst, this is a *spoiler alert* for that title.

After going through the ley gate, Nicholas, Sophie and Josh find themselves in Paris. Sophie is Awakened; Josh is not. This puts them somewhat in conflict with each other, even as they find out more about their powers and find themselves up against Machiavelli (yep, he's immortal too).

Well-paced and a fun read. Small things bugged me in this one, like the first, but I'll keep reading 'cause I want to know what happens. 4 stars.

I was so glad to see your review of Speaker for the Dead as I just finished Ender's Game last night. I really did enjoy that book, so I will probably look for this one. I haven't tried an audio book yet, although I think about it alot. I just like reading so much. But there are times when a hands free book would be just the ticket! Have a great day!
--BJ

Hi BJ - Depending on the situation, I find audiobooks can either be as enjoyable than reading or really difficult. On the one hand, if I know a story well it doesn't matter if I fall asleep and lose the thread of things, and sometimes the reader is just so good that I'm paying attention and really interested. On the other, sometimes it can be hard to follow the story aurally (like Around the World in Eighty Days) or the narrator's voice just happens to be the perfect tone to put me to sleep. Ah well....

Speaker for the Dead seemed to me a much different book from Ender's Game (though it's been a few years in between), so I'd be interested in reading what you think of it, too. :-)

68. The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun by J.R.R. Tolkien

Tolkien taught Old Norse language and literature for several years at Oxford, so he was familiar with such ancient poetry as the Elder Edda. This book includes two poems that he wrote in modern English but in the style - the metrical form, alliterative techniques, and the sense of "seizing a situation" (7) as Tolkien himself describes it - used in the Old Norse poetry he taught. The first of the two poems is "The Lay of the Volsungs," in which we read of Sigmund and Sigurd and their deeds. The second, "The Lay of Gudrun," focuses on the fate of Gunnar and Hogni, the brothers of Gudrun.

I enjoyed seeing the form of the poetry, after being clued in by the introduction what kind of alliterative and metrical technique to look for. I liked the sound of the verses. As is typical for me and poetry, however, I sometimes had difficulty following exactly what was happening. The notes were thorough; I wish I had realized before starting to read that each poem had notes that went along with it, as many of these notes were organized by stanza and were hard to follow once I had finished the poem, particularly "The Lay of the Volsungs" with its 9 parts. I think I would have had an easier time if I were more familiar with the original legends. Recommended for those interested in Norse mythology and Tolkien completists. 4 stars.

May in review -

55. Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
56. Slow Reading by John Miedema
57. The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott
58. The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
59. The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
60. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
61. The Family Man by Elinor Lipman
62. As They See 'Em by Bruce Weber
63. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
64. Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card (audio)
65. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
66. The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott
67. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Books read: 13
Books listened to: 1
Graphic novels/Manga: 7 (Correction - I'm actually up to 46 volumes for the year, and forgot to list Hellsing Vol. 1 above)
Books abandoned: none (!)
Standouts - Till We Have Faces, Jellicoe Road and Wintergirls

69. Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O'Connor

This is a collection of nine short stories, seven of which had been previously published, that was published posthumously. Each is well-crafted, packs an emotional punch, and develops realistic characters in approximately 20 pages. Probably my favorites were "The Enduring Chill" and "Revelation."

I hadn't read any of Flannery O'Connor's writing before this story collection, and chose it because of its appearance in the Lost Season 5 finale. This is the second of her works to be reference in Lost - the first was The Third Policeman. (You'd think I would've noticed this with the touchstones, but this author is actually Flann O'Brien - my mistake). This was the one that Jacob was reading when Locke fell out of the window, and I can't help but think that (*spoiler warning*) it was a bit of foreshadowing, as most of the stories involve someone's death in the end. I'm kind of interested in reading The Third Policeman now, though. I'm interested in reading more of her works. 4 stars.

Edited to add some spaces where needed and to correct my confusion with authors.

70. Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith

Mma Ramotswe has her hands full when Mr. Molofololo, the owner of a football (soccer) team, asks her to look into why his team has been losing. After all, football is not one of her interests, and she could hardly be expected to keep track of everything going on in the game, let alone figure out if any one player was throwing the game. But of course, she agrees to take the job and solve the case in her trademark manner of understanding people.

The tenth book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is exactly what the doctor ordered for a sick day. Revisiting old characters was fun, and I was just in the mood for this light and sometimes funny tale. 4.5 stars.

71. Heroes of the Valley by Jonathan Stroud

Halli who is dark and short is unlike his family, the descendants of the hero Svein, as it is possible to be. The second son of the Arbiter is not expected to do much besides farm a bit of land while his older brother, Lief, will someday become Arbiter and his sister Gudny will make a good marriage. Halli longs for adventures like those of the twelve heroes, but all he seems to do is get in trouble.

A fun, well-told fantasy by the author of the Bartimaeus Trilogy (which I loved). I liked the characters, especially Aud and Halli. The book seems to be a standalone, but I wouldn't say no to a sequel. :-) 4.5 stars.

72. Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

In 1967, Susanna Kaysen was diagnosed with "borderline personality disorder" and sent to McLean's in Cambridge at the age of eighteen. She stayed there for nearly two years, and in short, non-chronological vignettes describes her life there and shortly after being released.

My sister, a psych major, recommended this book to me awhile back when I asked various members of my family for book recommendations. Kaysen brings up questions of sanity that sometimes reminded me of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - how do we know where the "border" is between sane and insane, especially when those definitions change over time? The disjointed narrative suited her account, but made it kind of hard for me to follow what was going on. 4 stars.

Interesting review of Girl, Interrupted - have you seen the film yet? I actually preferred the film to the book, partially because of the disjointedness you mention. It skipped around too much for me, even if the individual vignettes raised interesting questions. I wrote my A-level coursework piece on Girl, Interrupted and The Bell Jar so maybe I just got too close to the text - or maybe I expected more having seen the movie and also suffered with mental illness myself... Glad you enjoyed it anyway, and if you haven't seen the movie, do - I may not be keen on the book, but the film is one of my favourites!

I haven't seen the film, but may check it out on your recommendation. Is it really different from the book (not so much in terms of narrative flow, but what happens in the story)?

It's more comprehensive than the book, I would say - but just as scary, in its own way. Lisa - and some of the other patients - are much more strongly characterised in the movie (Angelina Jolie won an Oscar for it) and Susanna has some of the self-awareness that was used to write the book rather than what might have been in her mind at the time. There's an interview with Susanna Kaysen on the DVD. Oh, I don't know how to describe it! It's memorable, it makes me cry, it has some fantastic moments of humour and lucidity - rent it and see what you think! Oh, and prepare to get Petula Clark's 'Downtown' stuck in your head for AGES...

thanks, Ellie, I'll definitely look into it. :-)

73. Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff

After writing 84, Charing Cross Road, at long last Helene Hanff's dream of going to London is going to be realized! This is her diary of that trip, in which she meets Frank Doel's wife and daughter, friends old and new, and gets to see the sights she's always wanted to see.

Her descriptions of London and the people she meets made me want to come along for the trip. She knew delightful details about literary London, places I never would have heard of otherwise but now wish I could see too. Even her disappointments are humorously, wittily expressed in this charming account. 4.5 stars.

74. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man by Tamora Pierce

The third in the Song of the Lioness trilogy finds Alanna, newly made a knight of the realm, in the south deserts seeking adventure. Events conspire to make her an integral part of a Bazhir tribe, using and teaching the Gift she is so afraid to use.

Unlike the second book, this covers only about a year. Though still fast-paced, the second half especially felt like a bit of a set up for the fourth book. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens to Alanna, George, Jonathan, and all the great characters in this series. 4.5 stars.

75. The Pearl by John Steinbeck

From page one, the reader is clearly told that this is a fable in which "there are only good and bad things and black and white things and good and evil things and no in-between anywhere." In this parable, Kino lives with his wife Juana and son, Coyotito, living simply as a pearl diver. Coyotito is stung by a scorpion, and since Kino is poor he cannot pay for the doctor to help his boy. Then, he finds the Pearl of the World and plans on changing his life for the better, forever.

Steinbeck has a knack for describing things briefly but powerfully and memorably, an aspect of this story that I definitely enjoyed. The story is short and simple and, like any parable, has a moral to it. My recurring difficulty with Steinbeck seems to be that I am simply unhappy with what the story is, and wish he told a different one (this strikes me as a bit unfair, but it's how I react as a reader, perhaps because I find some of his writing depressing). In this case, I also had some trouble connecting with the characters. While not the story for me, I could definitely appreciate the description and would recommend it to others. 3 stars.

76. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

David Martin has worked at a newspaper office since he was a teenager. He shows great promise in his writing ability, dreams of becoming a novelist, and is taken under the wing of Don Pedro Vidal, a well-known and respected author in his own right. After being dismissed from the newspaper, however, David finds himself churning out meaningless bestsellers under an assumed name instead of creating a work into which he can pour his soul. Then a mysterious publisher, Andreas Corelli, makes him an offer that seems too good to be true.

**SPOILER WARNING** The other book by this author that has been translated into English, The Shadow of the Wind, was one of my absolute favorite books last year. My expectations and hopes for The Angel's Game, then, definitely had impact on my reading experience. I enjoyed seeing characters and places that I recognized, such as the Semperes, their bookstore, and the Cemetery of Lost Books. Once again, there was a sort of Gothic atmosphere and mysteriousness to the story that perhaps felt a bit flat to me because of the comparison rather than any actual shortcoming in the writing. Finally, the ending was extremely confusing for me, and the author gives no easy answers about David's story - did he lose his mind? Did he murder several people? Does Andreas Corelli even exist? Though the ending had all the suspenseful impact of that in The Shadow of the Wind, I felt left adrift because I was left to make up my own mind about David's sanity and guilt, and still have more questions than answers. In the end, though I would read more of Zafon's books, this one left me feeling unsettled. 3.5 stars.

77. Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (audio)

Many are familiar with this classic tale, so I won't repeat a plot synopsis here. Since it's fantasy, children's, and classic, I feel like I should like it more than I do. I first read it as a child, and what stood out for me (and got annoying, to be plain) was Alice's continual size changes. It's a very strange, meandering story that got exciting but ended in what seemed to me to be a bit of a cop out. On rereading it, I still didn't love it and found it rather difficult to follow on audio as well. An alright story, but not one of my favorites. 4 stars.

78. Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce

*spoiler warning* if you haven't read the first three books in the Song of the Lioness quartet.

Alanna goes on a quest to find the Dominion Jewel, a legendary stone said to bring prosperity to the land or any ruler to wield it. Meanwhile, she has a feeling that all is not right in Tortall.

I liked this least of all of the books in the quartet because all the little annoyances in the first three books built up and became big annoyances to me in the fourth. I was irritated by the wording of sentences, the easy way Alanna has of going through lovers (three in three books? really?) and the fact that the part of the story I was really interested at the end of The Woman Who Rides Like a Man didn't get addressed until the second half of the book. It probably would have gotten a higher rating if I had taken more time between books 3 and 4. 3.5 stars.

79. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

Have you ever wondered about the origins of the universe or the workings of a cell? This introduction to many different branches of science gives you a taste of the history of how we know what we know (and what we think we know) about the world and how it works. Giving a brief overview of such diverse scientific disciplines as physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, and lots more, you may find yourself frustrated by only being given a taste of one subject before Bryson moves on to another. But the extensive notes and bibliography at the end will show you where to go next for those subjects that most interest you, and Bryson's characteristically witty narration will keep you reading even during those explorations you may not have found interesting in school.

I was most fascinated to discover the reasons behind current scientific thought, and how much we really don't know about the earth and our universe. Since I read A Brief History of Time a few months before picking up this title, I was inevitably comparing and contrasting, especially during the early chapters when Bryson covers similar subjects, related to physics and the universe. Though the science in both sets my head spinning if I read too much in one sitting, the tone of the narrative is much different. I would recommend reading this title first (assuming you feel like reading both), if only because it's written by a layperson for a layperson rather than by a scientist for a layperson. 4.5 stars.

I have to admit I didn't like Alice in Wonderland either - and I felt REALLY guilty because it's one of those books you're 'supposed' to love, treasure forever, etc etc... Maybe I was too young, I'll have to give it one more chance perhaps.

Thanks for the review of A Short History of Nearly Everything - I bought it years ago now, I think, and I love Bill Bryson, but for some reason I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I might push it up my TBR pile now!

Hi Ellie! It's good to know someone out there shares my feelings about "Alice" - I always feel a little guilty when I don't like a book that's a quintessential childhood favorite. I hope you enjoy A Short History of Nearly Everything. :-)

80. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

For 25 years, a strange sickness has kept those buried from staying under the ground, leaving Meryton and Longbourn open to attack. Mr. Bennet has prepared his daughters to fight the menace; meanwhile, all Mrs. Bennet can think of is getting them married.

I was interested in reading this after a review I read estimated that about 85% of this story is from the original book, and I wanted to know how that worked. Well, the estimate is probably pretty close. For the first half of the book, I really enjoyed the intermingling of the original and new. One of the best instances of this is Darcy's conversation with Miss Bingley while he is trying to write a letter to his sister. All of Caroline's lines are exactly the same, while Darcy says what every reader was thinking. For the second half of the book, however, the new was not so gracefully integrated with the original story and I found myself best enjoying the parts that were solely Austen's. So with 5 stars for the first half and 4 stars for the second, I'll give it an average of 4.5 stars.

81. Q's Legacy by Helene Hanff

The third in a set of memoirs by Helene Hanff begins before the others, when she had to drop out of college during the Depression. Visiting the library, she found a set of books - the lectures of Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch - to teach herself about writing and English literature. With the success of her memoirs, 84 Charing Cross Road and The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, Helene had no idea how far-reaching indeed his influence would turn out to be.

I love these books for Helene's sense of humor and quick wit. She has excellent timing for both comedy and poignancy. Her delightful descriptions of Q's lectures made me want to read them, too. Though 84 Charing Cross Road is forever my favorite of her three memoirs, Q's Legacy is a lovely capstone of her memories of both books and her tribute to the man who taught her to write through his published lectures. 4.5 stars.

82. Cursor's Fury by Jim Butcher

A few years after the Vord's defeat, Gaius sends Tavi as a Cursor and officer in the newly created First Aleran, a group of legionares purposely made up of men from various cities so that it would not be under the control of any one of the High Lords of Alera. At the same time, Bernard tries to convince others of the threat the Vord still poses and the High Lord Kalarus maneuvers against the First Lord.

Fast-paced action and cliffhanger chapter endings have been the strength of the Codex Alera series so far, and book three is no exception. I did sometimes get frustrated with the narrator's tendency to slow down the action with unnecessarily lengthy explanations of what was going through a character's head. I like getting to know the characters, but sometimes only a few words rather than two paragraphs would have explained their thoughts and actions sufficiently. Still, the ending left me looking forward to the next book in the series. 4 stars.

83. Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton

Sugar Maple, Vermont is not all that it appears to be, and no one knows that better than Chloe Hobbs, the only human (well, half-human) resident among witches, vampires, and all those other creatures of fairy tale ilk. Chloe's ancestor put a protection spell on the town to keep it safe and away from prying eyes as long as a female of her line exists. Chloe, still single at 30, knows that the spell is failing when a visitor is murdered. She suddenly has a lot on her plate when Luke, a cop from Boston, shows up to solve the murder.

Told in alternating narratives from Luke and Chloe's perspectives, the story is told in a chatty style, mixing gentle romance, cozy mystery, and a bit of the paranormal thrown in. Details about knitting are added at the end, and almost made me want to take it up myself. A nice, light book for reading curled up in a blanket, especially with the wintry Vermont setting. 4 stars.

84. Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll (audio)

Before starting this audiobook, I couldn't remember if I'd read it before or not. As I listened, I realized I had. I'm even decently sure that I finished it (twice now, counting the audiobook). But I still have no idea what happened. Like the dream it is, the action jumps from place to place and from person to person, and is only loosely connected by the story of Alice crossing a chessboard to become queen. I liked it less than the original "Alice." 3 stars.

85. Kingdom on the Waves by M.T. Anderson

This second volume in the Octavian Nothing series begins right when the first left off, with Octavian and Dr. Trefusis running away from the College of Lucidity. Their flight through the rain and mud-flats leaves Dr. Trefusis with a terrible fever, and Octavian must find a place for them to stay and a way to pay for lodgings - not an easy task for a runaway slave in Boston, a city under siege during the Revolution.

This is merely the beginning of a long (560 p.) continuance of the story begun in The Pox Party. As the first, it is well-constructed from the voice of the characters to the rough-cut pages and old-fashioned title page and type. The story is an intelligent, complex look at the ideals of liberty and the hypocrisy of those who would cry "liberty" for themselves while condemning others to slavery. Though not for the fainthearted because of length, vocabulary, and descriptions of war, for those willing to persevere the story provides much food for thought.

86. Necropolis by Anthony Horowitz

The fourth novel in the Gatekeepers series begins with Scarlett - the fifth of the Five who can save the world from the Old Ones - attending a rich kids' school in Dulwich. When her class goes on a field trip to an old church building, she discovers one of the doors with the strange five-pointed symbol that links together passages across the world that only the Gatekeepers can use, setting off a chain of events that will change her life forever.

Maybe it was because there was a two year gap between my reading Nightrise and Necropolis or because the Old Ones are now back, but for some reason this book didn't have the same intensity and creepy supernatural aspect the earlier books did. The plot felt too drawn out and long-winded, before finally getting exciting at the very end. Even so, I'm looking forward to reading the last book in the series and seeing how things turn out with Matt, Jamie, Scott, Pedro, and Scarlett. 4 stars.

87. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
(Actually, I read this before finishing Kingdom on the Waves)

In 1949, scriptwriter Helene Hanff chanced upon an advertisement for a used bookstore in London. Thinking that she might be able to find some out-of-print books that she was interested in for a decent price, she wrote a letter asking for some particular books she was interested in. What follows is a long correspondence between Helene and "FPD," one of the workers at Marks & Co., the bookstore located at 84, Charing Cross Road.

I recently reread this book, a favorite read from last year that I ended up purchasing because I loved it so. Helene's sense of humor is fabulous, and I loved her descriptions of her beloved books as well as the friendship that developed over the course of these letters. An absolute must read for book lovers. 5 stars.

June in review (two weeks late) -

68. The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun by J.R.R. Tolkien
69. Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O'Connor
70. Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith
71. Heroes of the Valley by Jonathan Stroud
72. Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen
73. The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff
74. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man by Tamora Pierce
75. The Pearl by John Steinbeck
76. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
77. Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (audio)
78. Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce
79. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

Books read: 11
Books listened to: 1
Graphic novels/Manga: 2 (Three Shadows and Hatter M, bringing the count to 48)
Books abandoned: 3

88. Captain's Fury by Jim Butcher

After two years of leading the First Aleran's defense against the Canim, Tavi has a new challenge when Senator Arnos and his Senatorial Legion come alongside to "help" them. Arnos has his own agenda - and he's Tavi's superior. Meanwhile, Isana and Araris decide it's time for Tavi to learn of his heritage.

This is my favorite of the Codex Alera series so far. The characters, engaging all along, really start developing and changing, and the pace stays compelling throughout. I loved every minute of it and started the next book right after finishing this one. 5 stars.

89. Princeps' Fury by Jim Butcher

Only a few months after the story left off in Captain's Fury, Tavi sails to Canim lands to work out a treaty between his people and the Canes. Back in Alera, the Vord is still a very real threat and Gaius Sextus suddenly announces to all that they are at war.

If you've enjoyed the Codex Alera series so far, this one will not disappoint. Great characters and excellent pacing make it a fast read. I can't wait for the next one to come out! 4.5 stars.

I don't know why the touchstone doesn't want to work for me...

90. On the Art of Reading by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch

Q's Legacy prompted me to try a collection of lectures by Arthur Quiller-Couch. The lectures brought together in this volume were first given from 1916-1918, all regarding reading English literature, particularly focused on either teaching it or studying it in college.

Quiller-Couch seems to me a very down-to-earth professor, and I like his approach to literature as something living, not academic, and at its best when put to use in life. I sometimes had difficulty following his thought, primarily because I was unfamiliar with much of the literature he quotes and because, ninety years later, his language can be rather hard to follow. Because of this, it was hard for me to say whether or not I agreed with him. I think I was mostly able to apprehend what he was saying, however, and I would like to read more of his lectures in the future. 4 stars.

91. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Auden has always been mature and responsible, excelling academically but missing out on all those regular high school things people do - like go to parties, hang out with friends, go to the prom (Jason of The Truth About Forever stood her up). The summer before she goes to college, she rather whimsically decides to go to her father's house and meet his new wife and baby Thisbe. While there, she meets a group of kids about her age and will learn whether or not people really can change.

Though I enjoyed the story and would consider rereading it, Auden is not one of my favorite protagonists. She was more distant, even though the narration was in first-person, and I found myself liking some of the secondary characters like Eli and Maggie and Heidi much more. A nice, light summer read that I would readily recommend to Sarah Dessen fans. 4.5 stars.

92. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Clare has known Henry since she was six, but Henry doesn't meet her until he's twenty-eight - a fact that could make for a very awkward first date. But both Clare and Henry are somewhat used to dealing with these side effects of Henry's time travel.

I've been meaning to read this book for awhile, and finally moved it to the top of my TBR pile with the movie coming out. Henry and Clare's love story is told in a nonlinear manner, which makes sense in terms of both character's knowledge of each other, particularly when they are. Despite the time travel, this is much more a romance than science fiction. Both Henry and Clare are fleshed out, real characters that I cared deeply about while reading their engrossing story. 4.5 stars.

93. A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

Everyone knows the story of Sleeping Beauty: girl gets pricked by spindle, girl and castle and everyone fall asleep, dashing prince kisses said girl 1000 years later and voila! Happily ever after. But in this retelling, the kiss is only the beginning. The narrative shifts between Jake and Talia, each telling the reader their story. Talia fell asleep when Virginia was a colony and suddenly has to cope with the change of centuries - iPods and airplanes and whatnot. Jake was just a regular guy from Miami until he had this princess tagging along - and who would believe the truth anyways?

I often enjoy fairy tale retellings, but this one fell a little flatter than I expected. Part of it was that the characters didn't really change much, and I felt Jake could have been fleshed out more. Another part was that the modernization struck me as a little too self-conscious. Mostly, though, I think that because loved _Beastly_, another fairy tale retelling by the same author, so much my expectations were extremely high and I was mentally comparing the two stories. A quick and fun read, but probably not a reread. 4 stars.

I find it fascinating how much readers can love/hate what others hate/love. My reaction to The Time Traveler's Wife was very similar to yours. It was only at the very end that the time-traveling had me questioning some events. Overall, I thought of it as a satisfying romance too, so why does whitewavedarling's review make sense to me too?

Hi Bonnie! It was really interesting looking at the reviews for The Time Traveler's Wife after I read it, as it really ran the gamut between love & hate. There were aspects of it that I could've done without, but overall the characters felt so real that I teared up at a couple of points, and I really couldn't find it in me to rate it any lower than I did as a result (books don't often make me cry, so I tend to pay attention when they do). I can definitely see it as a book that some readers would love and others would hate. I love how oddly personal/individual reading taste can be, and I always get a kick out of reading a good review of a book that someone hated and coming away with the idea that I would probably like the book myself. :-)

Yeah, it's a bit ironic isn't it when someone's rant can lead to more interest in a book. I guess we LT-ers are more rebellious than some might imagine, huh? ;-)

LOL - yes, and a little more understanding of personal taste. :-)

94. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Clary lives with her mom; her father died in a car accident before she was born. At least, that's what she's always been told. But when she and her best friend Simon go to a club and she sees some people - and something - that Simon can't, she knows something's up. Finding out the truth will turn her world upside-down.

Cassandra Clare's imaginary world, set in New York, is really well-realized with vampires, werewolves, demons, and more. Clary meets the Shadowhunters (also known as Nephilim), a group of people dedicated to killing demons. The characters are wonderfully complex, so much so that even the "good guys" seem a little nefarious. The fast-paced plot kept me up reading late last night, and I immediately put the next two books in the trilogy on hold from the library after finishing. 4.5 stars.

95. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris

I've heard a lot about how funny Sedaris's essays are, so I decided to try one. I started listening to the audiobook read by the author, until I found out it was abridged. So, I read the book instead. The short stories in this book are not in chronological order, running the gamut from his childhood to his adulthood in Paris.

Sometimes sad, and often humorous, each story is about 4 to 10 pages long and I read the whole book in one afternoon. My favorite stories were the first and last - "Us and Them" and "Nuit of the Living Dead." I also listened to the former on that abridged audiobook, and I think I preferred the experience of having the author read the stories overall. When I try another book by Sedaris, I'll look for it in audio. 3.5 stars.

96. The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

During a bit of "peripatetic reading," fifteen-year-old Mary Russell literally stumbled upon a recently retired Sherlock Holmes. The legendary sleuth takes up the hobby of beekeeping and Mary as an apprentice. This feisty heroine has a mind like his, and she's not about to be a mere foil like Watson.

This first book in the series in an engaging tale with wonderful characters and a fun premise. Referring quite a bit to Conan Doyle's stories, reading this made me interested in revisiting the original as well as continuing this series. Though the set up takes some time (about four years goes by as their partnership develops), it's well worth it in the end. 4.5 stars.

Currently reading - Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Currently listening to - Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

July in review -

80. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
81. Q's Legacy by Helene Hanff
82. Cursor's Fury by Jim Butcher
83. Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton
84. Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll (audio)
85. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
86. Kingdom on the Waves by M.T. Anderson
87. Necropolis by Anthony Horowitz
88. Captain's Fury by Jim Butcher
89. Princeps' Fury by Jim Butcher
90. On the Art of Reading by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch
91. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
92. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
93. A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn
94. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
95. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris
96. The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

Total books read - 16
Total listened to - 1
Standouts - Captain's Fury by Jim Butcher and City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

97. Show Me God by Fred Heeren

In _Show Me God_, Heeren gives an overview of what scientists have learned about the cosmos in the 20th century, and stresses how science and the Bible are not incompatible. He includes interviews with scientists such as Stephen Hawking, George Smoot, and others, several of whom first made the discoveries he's discussing. He does an excellent job of explaining a lot of pretty heady science like the red shifts of galaxies and microwave radiation in the universe in a way that makes sense to the layperson.

The major strength of Heeren's approach is his interviews with scientists, only one of whom is a Christian himself. The science facts are absolutely fascinating, and I found myself remembering explanations from _A Brief History of Time_ and _A Short History of Nearly Everything_, both books that I had read earlier this year. Reading those books beforehand made this book much more comprehensible than it had been when I attempted to read it in high school. At the same time, Heeren's explanations were quite good, and I found myself understanding what the previous books were talking about much better for having read this one. Unfortunately, the weaknesses of this book kept me from rating it as high as I would have for the science alone. Heeren has two audiences in mind: the unbelieving skeptic and the Christian who wants to have more of a background in science to be able to witness to the unbelieving skeptic. This means that he not only introduces the book to both audiences in two different chapters, he also at times spends a paragraph or an entire chapter speaking to one group and not the other. It was very distracting to have him not talking to me for chunks of the book at a time. The second weakness was the gimmicky way in which he tried to make the science more accessible, which he did by inserting a science fiction story as the third chapter and by breaking things up with conversations with his imaginary editor Carl that were riddled with lame jokes. I thought that, overall, it would have worked better to let the science facts speak for themselves and let the reader both make the inferences for himself and decide when the science was getting too much and take a short break from reading (I did manage to do this on my own with _A Brief History of Time_, after all). All in all, I would keep the book for reference to the science facts and explanations, but would not read the entire book again. 3.5 stars.

98. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Clary's mother is still in the hospital, Jace is in trouble with the Clave and their Inquisitor, and a murderer on the loose appears to be targeting Downworlder teens and draining their blood. Not much time has passed since the first book ended, and this one jumps right back into the situation. Jace and Clary are trying to figure out how to act like brother and sister, and it's not going so well. Valentine is still on the loose, and his plan is anyone's guess.

Though fast moving and intense, this second book in the "Mortal Instruments" series is more about developing the main characters than about furthering the plot. On occasion, things seemed to be set up a little too neatly (a character just happened to be right where s/he needed to be for an action sequence) or forgetfully (Isabelle and Alec are suddenly Jace's stepsiblings?). But this was still an excellent installment and I can't wait to start City of Glass. 4.5 stars.

Graphic novels/manga count:

(actually read in July and forgot to count them)
49. Fruits Basket Volume 22 *reread
50. Fruits Basket Volume 23 by Natsuki Takaya

So sorry that the series ended...this was one of my first introductions to manga, and I really enjoyed them all.

99. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

At the end of City of Ashes, a woman named Madeleine suddenly informs Clary that she knows how to get her mother to wake up - and it involves finding the warlock named Ragnor Fell. Clary is ready to journey to Alicante, knowing that Fell will be there, along with Jace and the Lightwoods, who are going to discuss with the rest of the Shadowhunters what to do about Valentine's impending threat.

In the first two books, I especially enjoyed getting to know Jace, Clary and Simon (unfortunately, the secondary characters felt very underdeveloped) and the breakneck pacing of the stories. This book didn't hold up for me as much, primarily because a twist was telegraphed fairly early on and I'd figured it out much earlier than the characters themselves. I enjoyed the series, however, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to those who want a fast-paced fantasy. 4 stars.

100. Shakespeare's Spy by Gary Blackwood

As one of the prentices in the Chamberlain's Men, Widge has plenty to worry about: the plague, Queen Elizabeth's health and what that means for the future of theater in England, and the competition between his company (Shakespeare's company) and the Admiral's Men.

Like the other books in the series, Shakespeare's Spy is rife with historical details and definitely well-researched. I recognized both historical fact and surmise related to Shakespeare that I first learned in college classes, and it was fun to see Blackwood's take on it. Though Widge is a really fun character, I was often frustrated with the loose plot in which the most interesting elements were loose ends tied up from the previous two books. I never felt fully invested in what was happening, and things happened in such a meandering manner that I wasn't made to feel any tension either. So overall, it was a bit of a mixed bag and I was a little disappointed, especially since I liked The Shakespeare Stealer so much. 3.5 stars.

Currently reading - David Copperfield, Rebecca and You Just Don't Understand
Currently listening to - Born to Run

101. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

David Copperfield is the narrator of his life from boyhood through young adulthood, an account that in some ways mirrors Dickens' own life. It begins with David's own birth and his Aunt Betsey Trotwood's disappointment that he was not a girl. David's father was already dead, and his mother eventually remarried a man who believed in "firmness." So begins Master Copperfield's tale.

This is one of those books I've been meaning to read for years, those classics that I enjoy but only seem to get a chance to read over the summer. The length is daunting and the story starts slowly, which was much of the reason the book took me so long to finish. It was well worth it, however, as I was introduced to some of the most memorable characters - Mr. and Mrs. Micawber, Mr. Dick, Uriah Heep, and my personal favorite Miss Betsey Trotwood - that I have ever encountered. I'm sure I will read it again. 4.5 stars.

102. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

The unnamed narrator, a young woman working as a companion to a rich American woman, meets the mysterious widower Max de Winter while in Monte Carlo. Days later, they are married and the new Mrs. de Winter must cope with taking the place of vivacious Rebecca.

I have mixed feelings about this book. As a classic Gothic novel, the descriptions were delightfully evocative, particularly in reference to the de Winter home, Manderley. Though the book read rather slowly, the tension and moody feel kept me reading without feeling bogged down by details. On the other hand, few of the characters were likable, except perhaps Frank Crawley, and I found myself very frustrated with the narrator and her decisions. I did like being introduced to the original Mrs. Danvers after reading about the "Mrs. Danvers clones" in the Thursday Next series. While I may not read this book again, I would try another book by this author. 3.5 stars.

**major spoilers** So because I kind of need to let some steam off and wanted to warn off anyone who hadn't read the book - I really didn't like Max. It bugged me that the narrator would just be like, "It's OK that you murdered your wife as long as you love me." How very creepy. And it seemed like they really hadn't been gone that long (I went back to the beginning after finishing it), that all this inquest stuff had just finished and what the heck is she doing still married to him? Doesn't that put her in an awful lot of danger? What's to stop him from killing her? I wanted to shake her. So I was left feeling really unsettled (which perhaps was part of the point...), unsure if I was supposed to agree with the narrator and be happy Max got off free or if I was supposed to be left with the creepy feeling that he might just kill her next. *shudder*

Oh no, I loved Max! And I found myself utterly caught up in the Gothic description. Despite putting off reading the book because I thought (for some unfathomable reason) that it would be slow and stuffy, it was one of the few books that had me literally shaking as I flew through the pages to the climax. Have you seen the film with Laurence Olivier? Mrs Danvers is perhaps even creepier in that than in the book! :-D

I'm reading Frenchman's Creek now and finding it gentler and more lyrically evocative of Cornwall than the Gothic decay of Rebecca; how thrilling the climax will be I have yet to find out...

Hi Ellie, I kind of felt bad not liking the book as much as I hoped to, especially knowing it was a favorite of yours. :-) I'll have to look into the movie - I've only seen Laurence Olivier in Shakespeare films! And I was sort of unsure if I was supposed to end up liking Max or not...in a way it felt very much like Jane Eyre and I'm not sure why I would like Mr. Rochester and be creeped out by Max (timing, maybe? I don't know). I loved the evocative descriptions, though, and the feel of the writing and story and everything sort of working together, and for that I would definitely try another book by the author someday.

103. Labor Day by Joyce Maynard

Do you remember those pivotal moments in your life, those memories of maybe a few days in which your life changed completely? The Labor Day weekend that Henry was 13 was like that for him and his mother, Adele. Sometime in the 1980s, Henry and his mother are living in an isolated home in New Hampshire until Frank Chambers enters their lives. He is an escaped convict who comes to their house to hide out, and the experience will leave neither Henry nor Adele unchanged.

Henry narrates the story in a slightly meandering sort of way, with several flashbacks that allow the reader to know him and his mother far beyond what happens in just those five days. There are no quotation marks, a device that usually annoys me but surprisingly worked in this story because I felt more firmly in Henry's head. Henry, Adele, and Frank are wonderful characters; I cared about what happened to them and wanted to spend more time with them when the story was over. Though there was more sex/thinking about sex (this is a 13-year-old boy after all) than I tend to like in books, it made sense in terms of theme and Henry's development; really, the story was much more about love. 4.5 stars.

Ellie, how are you finding Frenchman's Creek? Oh...and this was a really interesting followup to Rebecca - for some reason I found Frank much more sympathetic than Max. One of reading's mysteries, I guess. ;-)

104. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Susie Salmon recounts her murder and over the ensuing years, watches from heaven over her family as they deal with their grief. Having Susie as the narrator gives the reader a semi-omnipotent view of events, as Susie knows who her killer is, can watch the action in two places at the same time, and can tell us the thoughts and emotions of the other characters. Though disjointed at times, some passages of narration are lovely and thought-provoking.

My brother recommended this to me, warning me that the beginning might be a little much for me. It was gruesome, but not as violent as I'd anticipated. As might be expected, the story is a little sad and even though the setup was a little surreal to begin with I found a few elements stretching my ability to suspend disbelief. A really intense read that will stay with me for awhile. 4.5 stars.

And now for something light and fluffy after a few really intense reads...

Graphic novel/manga count:

51. Ouran High School Host Club Volume 1 by Bisco Hatori through
61. Ouran High School Host Club Volume 11

Yup, this definitely fit the "light and fluffy" bill. I also needed to remind myself what happened in preparation for reading Vol. 12 (on its way to me from the library!)

Currently reading: Singled Out by Virginia Nicholson, You Just Don't Understand by Deborah Tannen, and A Supremely Bad Idea by Luke Dempsey
Currently listening to: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

Seeing that I've read over 100 titles and have over 200 messages on this thread, I'm thinking it's time to start afresh with a new thread and a new counter for 2009 part 2.

Here is my new thread. Hope you'll all join me & comment on books I'm reading - I love the discussion even when we don't agree. :-)