Lizzie G's more realistic 50 for 2009!

Hi all!

I tried the 75 challenge last year and quickly realised I couldn't take the pace, managing about a book a week (and sometimes resorting to specifically picking shorter books to keep my average up. Oh dear....!).

This year I thought I'd be more realistic and go for the 50 challenge, which should free me up - psychologically at least - to reading books of whatever length I fancy. I liked my restriction though of reading a minimum percentage of new books, and aim to read about 2/3rds new to 1/3rd comfort reading.

So, the first two down are:

1. (New) Coraline by Neil Gaiman
2. (New) Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood

Hi, Lizzie!
I have seen some interesting reviews of Coraline. My daughter loves Gaiman. What did you think of this book? Is it fantasy or horror? I can't tell from what I have read on LT. I don't think that my daughter has read this one yet. I am trying to read more SFF this year.
Good luck on your challenge! :)
--BJ

Hi BJ
I really enjoyed it and it is a really well written story, but it is definitely on the dark end of the spectrum for childrens' books - much creepier than some of Gaiman's adult fiction. Some of the imagery is very vivid and I think could easily disturb some childrens. Possibly one to exercise a bit of caution over?
Lizzie

3. (New) Ghost by Robert Harris

4. (New) The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
5. (New) Enduring love by Ian McEwan

6. (New) American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis - not sure if I'm going to get through this, and it's a toss up whether the extreme violence or the utter banality of the rest of the book that's going to break me first....

7. (Comfort) The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton

>6 LizzieG: yep, my boyfriend (note: sex=male, supposed to more OK with violence, courtesy of endless nights shooting guys on video games) told me he had trouble finishing American Psycho cause it was just "too much". He advised me not to go near it. I figured I'll take his advice for now..

Hi, Lizzie,
I saw that the movie for Coraline is out. Are you planning to see it? I still haven't read it yet. Probably won't have time to see a movie until March, though.
--BJ

#8 - Hi girlunderglass - I've managed to get through 4/5 of it so far, and actually now think I'm going to finish it. A bit of judicious page skipping (both the gore and the endless descriptions of music/consumer durables) is getting me through! Definitely not one to reread though....

#9 - Hi BJ - its not out here until May unfortunately, but I am completely salivating at the thought! It should translate perfectly into stop animation and the fact that Gaiman is on-board (and has authorised some padding to the story) bodes very well.

8. (Comfort) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Something very different was required after finishing American Psycho and Austen certianly fills that brief!

I saw Coraline in 3-D last week and loved it! The stop-motion animation blew me away. I'm dying to read the book now. If you don't want to talk about it, I'd understand, but I'm super curious as to what made American Psycho so scarring?

#12 Glad to hear Coraline is as impressive as I'm anticipating!

My 'problem' (for want of a better word) with American Psycho had two facets - the first one was with the endless paragraphs of descriptions of what clothes Bateman's friends were wearing and the self indulgent chapters on the music he was listening to etc. Whilst not something to make me stop reading per se, they did get a little dull, but as a literary construct to explore Bateman's character they were pretty useful - the contrast of excessive, detailed information on 'fripperies' as compared to the lack of feeling displayed when carrying out (or was it all in his head?) his macabre fantasies. The second 'problem' was the descriptions of violence themselves. I'd count myself as broad-minded, and I'm not adverse to watching (or reading) horror, but the minutely graphic details and the style of the description, combined with the fact that a lot of it was sexual violence against women, made me quite hesitant to read more than the opening paragraphs of these scenes.

I wouldn't say don't read it (if you haven't already?), but perhaps approach with caution!

9. (New) In the Line of Beauty by Alan Hollingshurst

That movie American Psycho was on tv last summer. I don't know why, maybe a free movie weekend. After 10 minutes I just turned it off. I could not watch it. I just don't know if I can read that book. It did make the 1001 list, but I can wait awhile for that one.
--BJ

the book is apparently A LOT more violent than the movie. Imagine that.

13: I have not read the book yet; this is the first I've even heard of it. I'm curious though. Thanks for the warning, I'll put it on the list and see if I can brave it!

I do quite fancy the movie - it may sound shallow, but maybe watching Christian Bale will make it more palatable! There were a few times when the character was referred to as 'Batman' which made me chuckle, given the leading actor connection.

10. (Comfort) Hideous Kinky by Esther Freud

11. (New) The Princess Bride by William Goldman

I loved that book. :) Did you like it?
--BJ

Its fantastic! I've loved the film for ages, but only recently heard it calling to me in Waterstones. I must admit to double checking whether the Morgenstern thing true - my instinct luckily being right - and at the same time I discovered I have been to the Cliffs of Insanity without even knowing it! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizzie-g/2550116625/in/set-72157605425592428/)

12. (New) Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson - about a quarter of the way through and loving it. I seem to have been pretty lucky with my reads so far this year, not a real dud amongst them

Two on the go at the same time...

13. (New) Remains of the day by Kazuo Ishiguro and

14. (Comfort) The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein for a bit of bedtime reading

15. (New) PopCo by Scarlett Thomas

You've read some terrific books this year. Many are on my TBR pile (American Psycho NOT being one of those!)

Two long overdue updates:

16. (New) Delta of Venus by Anais Nin
17. (New) The Shipping Forecast by E. Annie Proulx

18. (New) Moral Disorder by Margaret Atwood

19. (New) The Suspicions of Mr Whicher by Kate Summerscale

20. (New) Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

21. (New) The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

22. (New) Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman

23. (Comfort) Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

24. (New) Turbulence by Giles Fodden. Just started this one, and not hooked so far.

25. (New) Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks writing as Ian Fleming

26. (New) Stardust by Neil Gaiman

27. (New) Vernon God Little by D.B.C. Pierre

28. (New) Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter

29. (New) A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro

30. (New) The Hours by Michael Cunningham

31. (New) Portrait of a Lady by Henry James

32. (New) Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

Quite a catch up to do:

33. (New) On the Holloway Road by Andrew Blackman

34. (New) The Crossing by Cormac McCarthy

35. (Comfort) Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen

36. (New) American Gods by Neil Gaiman

37. (Comfort) Carry On, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

38. (Comfort) Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett

39. (Comfort) Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett

40. (New) Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon