miss_chievous' 2nd attempt

I didn't make it to 75 last year, so I'm trying again. Right now I'm reading Gulliver's Travels and Marley & Me.

Which thread should we follow and which do we put on Ignore?

Ummm, I'm not totally sure, I guess this one. ?

This one it is. Welcome and don't sweat the 75. No one here cares if you don't.

My first book this year is (1) Marley & Me. Not amazingly good, just okay.

Two nights ago I finished (2) Strapless. Before I read this I had done a couple sketches of "Madame X", so it was really interesting to learn about the story behind the painting.

I started (3) The Four Seasons by Laurel Corona yesterday, and finished an hour ago. It was a very good story, a new look at Vivaldi's life with lovable characters.

Wow, 75? I'm just trying to make it to 50 after only 40 last year. Of course, as a middle school teacher and wannabe librarian, I do read a lot of young adult novels which don't take very long at all. Right now I'm on #10, Eragon.

> MissTeacher, I'm only at four, but I have a lot of books coming in from the library, so I think I'm going to be able to read to my hearts content soon. Except I'm might not have enough time :(

Last night I finished (4) Pilgrim's Progress: Christiana. A little redundant and not as good as part 1 (the first pilgrim's progress). Very preachy, but who am I to complain since I new that preachy-ness was ahead of me when I picked up this book. ^_^ Overall, the first book was better because the experiences were all fresh and new. In this book, Christiana and her band of pilgrims were all going through the same trials as Christian did in the first book. So like I said earlier, a little redundant.

#9: I agree with you - by the time you get to Christiana in part 2 it seems that everything is a repeat of Christian's experiences in part 1. I know that is not exactly true, but it sure felt that way when I read it.

I just finished (5) 1984 by George Orwell. Very interesting, Part 3 was very unexpected, I highly recommend this book.

miss_chievous

Glad you liked 1984, it is one my all time favourites and I am a huge George Orwell fan!

Great read, huh!!! Glad you got to read it. I was struck by how relevant the story was. These early scifi/dystopian authors had vivid but accurate, as it turns out, imaginations.

Richard Burton's last film was 1984, filmed in 1984, in parts of London identified in the book. It's a very good film of the book, especially if you liked the read.

You might also like to read a lesser known book Player Piano, it also has a dystopian theme and is I guess Kurt Vonnegut's first book.

> Prop2gether and PiyushChourasia: Thanks for the recommendations!

I just finished (6) Ranger's Apprentice: The Sorcerer of the North, I couldn't put it down. I started it last night and I finished it just a few minutes ago. Very lively story, a cliff-hanger ending.

#16: I have been loving the Ranger's Apprentice series as well, but I have only read the first 4 at this point. I think my local library only has the first 5. I think this has been a terrific series and I hope the level of writing continues all the way through.

> alcottacre: Throughout the whole series I have found myself constantly entertained. I can't wait to get the last two!

Last night I finished (7) The Winthrop Woman by Anya Seton. It was very good, but a slow read. It was a . . . . "in-between" book, if you get what I mean. It was a rest book between those amazing books that you can't put down. It was calm and slow, but entertaining.

#18: I have Katherine by Seton on the Continent. Have you read that one?

> alcottacre: I read Katherine last year, and a few of Seton's other books. Katherine is definitely my favorite out of all her books. I highly recommend it! :)

A few minutes ago I finished (8) The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks. This is the first book of his that I have read. I couldn't put it down! I started yesterday evening, read past 1:00 am, and finished it this afternoon. Very good romance, really sweet and captivating storyline. !!!

#20: That's good to know about Katherine. One of these years I will actually get it read!

miss_chievous
I have the book Katherine. It is sitting on my book shelf looking oh so pretty in the delightful Pre-Raphaelite cover.

Last night I finished (9) Brave New World, it was interesting, but the end wasn't entirely satisfying, much like 1984. I must say that I like the writing style and flow of Huxley compared to Orwell, but I'm not sure which one of their stories I like better.

I loved Brave New World and place it above 1984 also. Glad you read it, even if it didn't grab you.

Plan to read Brave New World this year, with a TBR pile as huge as mine and a reading speed as slow as mine (only 20 books this year), its hard to choose which ones to read first, then also need to make sure the reading is diverse, gosh! I think I might need to create an algorithm!!!

if your algorithm is done Piyush I would like it too ;-)
Anita

I have been reading Helen of Troy for a month now, and I still haven't finished it. I'm also reading Fahrenheit 451 and The Courtesan. I finished (10) The Dark Queen by Susan Carroll two days ago, and it was SO GOOD!! 4 1/2 stars!

I believe I have a copy of The Dark Queen on one of my bookshelves. If not, I'm going to see if my library has a copy. I read LT reviews. Please tell me what you liked about the book.

#27: Carroll is known for her romance novels, so it is not surprising that The Dark Queen is heavy in the romance department. If you have not tried her earlier books, I found The Bride Finder to be pretty good. There are 2 more books in that trilogy, but I did not think they lived up to the first.

I finished (11) The Courtesan by Susan Carroll a couple days ago, and I somewhat agree with alcottacre, it was not as good as The Dark Queen. But, I did like it a lot, so I will also award it 4 1/2 stars, because, although I wasn't as thrilled with it as The Dark Queen, I loved the characters (although they did sometimes annoy me) and Catherine de Medici was very interesting, and I loved the parts where we got to see into her mind. :) I can't wait to get the third book.

I just joined this group today. I just got 18 books on my profile at the moment. I'm hoping to make it to 100 but for the moment it looks like I'll go for the 75 books for now. Most of my books are in series. I've read the whole Harry Potter series and the Alex Rider series.

#31: Welcome to the group, SupaMaori! You can begin your own thread, just like this one, and begin listing your books there if you like.

> SupaMaori: How is the Alex Rider Series? I've heard of it many times, is it good?

I just finished (12) Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and enjoyed it immensely. I loved the commentary, the amazing writing and the story. I highly recommend it! ^_^

I am glad you liked this one. It is one of my favorite books of all time. In fact, I need to add it to my lsit on the profile page.

I finished (13) A Mercy by Toni Morrison today. The writing was really great, but the actual story was (I hate to say it) boring. I can see how others would like it, but I will probably re-read it in a couple years to see if life experience will change my opinion.

(14) Helen of Troy
It took me a really long time to read, but it was really good. Fun read.

#36: That looks like one I would enjoy. Thanks for the recommendation!

#37: You are most welcome. ^_^

Yesterday I read (15) Girl With A Pearl Earring in one sitting. It wasn't a book I couldn't put down, but I was just in the reading mood, I guess. It wasn't amazingly good, but it was good writing and an entertaining story. :)

#39: I have not read that one. I will have to look for it!

Yesterday I finished (16) The Last Olympian, and then I picked up (17) The Notebook and finished it in one sitting. ^_^ I'm not sure what to read next, but it'll probably be A Place of Greater Safety, Anne of Green Gables, or (if I can get my hands on it) Shadow Kiss.

Looks like you have some good reading coming up!

I'll put my vote in for Anne of Green Gables!

I just finished (18) Anne of Green Gables, and I found myself pleasantly surprised. I thought it was a children's book, but the writing was so descriptive and lively, and Anne was fascinating and fun.
Thanks for the recommendation Cait86!
Altogether, very good and entertaining.

Yay!!! I am so glad that you enjoyed Anne of Green Gables. In case you didn't know, it is merely the first book in a series of eight. I will list them for you, because I am shameless when it comes to recommending my favourite books!

1. Anne of Green Gables
2. Anne of Avonlea
3. Anne of the Island
4. Anne of Windy Poplars
5. Anne's House of Dreams
6. Anne of Ingleside
7. Rainbow Valley
8. Rilla of Ingleside

Numbers 1, 3, and 8 are my personal favs, though they are all wonderful, IMO!

#45: Thanks! ^_^

Last night I finished (19) Shadow Kiss. Not the best writing, but the story was GREAT!! I must admit that I began reading at 4:30 yesterday afternoon and finished it at 11:45 at night (I did break for dinner though, my stomach just wouldn't be quiet). ;) I can't wait for the next book!

I just got The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, Dark Angels, The Music Lesson, and Désirée from the library. I'm currently reading The Music Lesson.

#47: You are going to be busy!

I finished (20) The Music Lesson and (21) The Secret History of the Pink Carnation. Both very good. The Music Lesson was a little slow, but consistently entertaining throughout the story. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation was fun, fast, and funny.
I'm almost half way through Désirée, but so much has already happened I can't imagine what will happen next. ^_^

#49: The Music Lesson looks pretty good, so I am adding it to Planet TBR.

I read The Secret History of the Pink Carnation earlier this year and agree with you - it is fun. I am giving the rest of the series a pass for now, although I may come back to it eventually.

I look forward to your review of Desiree.

I just finished (22) Désirée by Annemarie Selinko. A satisfying story, not riveting, but a delightful jewel in my many piles of historical fiction. 4 1/2 stars.

I just finished (23) The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende. Entertaining. Interesting. Different. All-around, five stars. ^_^

She's one who I was surprised by...didn't expect to conect with her stories but I did. Having read a few now, you won't be disappointed if you pick up another.

The last couple of relatives flew back to the mainland today. Now there it time to read! But, I must say, it was really nice seeing my cousins and grandparents again. ^_^

I am currently reading In Cold Blood, Death with Interruptions, and Pride and Prejudice.

I hope you get to Dark Angels soon. I really like Karleen Koen's writing. Through a Glass Darkly I liked even more.

I had to return Dark Angels to the library. But I do have Through a Glass Darkly on my book shelf, courtesy of the local used bookstore. ^_^

I finished (24) Pride and Prejudice almost a week ago and (25) The Boleyn Inheritance a few hours ago.

I'm still reading In Cold Blood and Death with interruptions

I was never able to finish In Cold Blood but hope to return and try it again someday. Hope you're enjoying it though.

(26) The Last Boleyn

(27) The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier
*****

#61: That one looks very good. I will have to see if I can find a copy!

(28) Blood Promise

(29) Jane Eyre

(30) Through a Glass Darkly

(31) Son of the Mob

(32) Daughter of Fortune

(33) The Blood of Flowers

(34) Sense and Sensibility

(35) Falls the Shadow by Sharon Kay Penman

(36) The Reckoning by Sharon Kay Penman

(37) The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford

I hope you will be joining us for the challenge again in 2010!