This topic is currently marked as "dormant"—the last message is more than 90 days old. You can revive it by posting a reply.
1Magadri
Started this challenge in 2008, but fell off track, but I am going to work harder at it this year!
I started on Jan. 1, 2009, but haven't done well so far, but I WILL be doing better come March, for sure.
I started on Jan. 1, 2009, but haven't done well so far, but I WILL be doing better come March, for sure.
2Magadri
Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev
This was my first book of the year and I LOVED it! I went through it incredibly fast, and I'm pretty sure that I will be calling this book one of my favorites for years to come.
This was my first book of the year and I LOVED it! I went through it incredibly fast, and I'm pretty sure that I will be calling this book one of my favorites for years to come.
3Magadri
2. Flash Fiction: 72 Very Short Stories
This was a great mix of short stories that were so short that they were perfect for reading in traffic, on elevators, or during class while waiting for the professor. It probably took about 1-2 minutes to read each story, and I found myself re-reading several of them.
This was a great mix of short stories that were so short that they were perfect for reading in traffic, on elevators, or during class while waiting for the professor. It probably took about 1-2 minutes to read each story, and I found myself re-reading several of them.
4Sandydog1
I too, loved Fathers and Sons. The self analysis during the duel, was alone worth it. Great Book. Go snotty young nihilists!
5billiejean
I haven't read Fathers and Sons, but I generally love Russian literature. I need to check that book out. :)
March is also going to be a better month for me. :) Have a great day and good luck with your reading challenge.
--BJ
March is also going to be a better month for me. :) Have a great day and good luck with your reading challenge.
--BJ
6Magadri
3. Quicksand by Nella Larsen
I had to read this one for my African-American Literature course. It was a really good novel though. I often wanted to grab the main character and shake some sense into her, but my professor reminded us all that the character was only a representation of the author's ideals. The novel definitely makes you think about race and gender relations of black women in the 1920's though. Heart-breaking and eye-opening.
I had to read this one for my African-American Literature course. It was a really good novel though. I often wanted to grab the main character and shake some sense into her, but my professor reminded us all that the character was only a representation of the author's ideals. The novel definitely makes you think about race and gender relations of black women in the 1920's though. Heart-breaking and eye-opening.
7Magadri
4. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler
A good, light chick-lit read. I needed a break from the "heavy literature" I am having to read in my courses, and this was the perfect one. I read through it in a day. I'm not one to spoil endings, but I will say this: the ending was a little dissatisfying. I kept flipping through the pages looking for the rest of the story.
A note about plot: a 21st century American woman finds herself in someone else's body in 19th century England.
A good, light chick-lit read. I needed a break from the "heavy literature" I am having to read in my courses, and this was the perfect one. I read through it in a day. I'm not one to spoil endings, but I will say this: the ending was a little dissatisfying. I kept flipping through the pages looking for the rest of the story.
A note about plot: a 21st century American woman finds herself in someone else's body in 19th century England.
8Magadri
5. Diary by Chuck Palahniuk
This novel was intense! It's a diary that a woman writes for her comatose husband, and there is this whole island mystery/conspiracy thing going on as well. Palahniuk does a great job of leaving the reader just the right amount of in the dark. You're never fully sure what's going on, but you have just enough of an idea to keep you hungry for more. This novel was beautifully written (with the standard Palahniuk repetition--which I love) and the details all come together wonderfully in the end. Absolutely loved it! I was worried this would be bad because I liked Fight Club fair enough and couldn't work my way through Choke, but Diary was definitely worth the time and money! If you weren't impressed with Choke or Fight Club, don't despair: this may be the right Palahniuk book for you! :)
This novel was intense! It's a diary that a woman writes for her comatose husband, and there is this whole island mystery/conspiracy thing going on as well. Palahniuk does a great job of leaving the reader just the right amount of in the dark. You're never fully sure what's going on, but you have just enough of an idea to keep you hungry for more. This novel was beautifully written (with the standard Palahniuk repetition--which I love) and the details all come together wonderfully in the end. Absolutely loved it! I was worried this would be bad because I liked Fight Club fair enough and couldn't work my way through Choke, but Diary was definitely worth the time and money! If you weren't impressed with Choke or Fight Club, don't despair: this may be the right Palahniuk book for you! :)
9girlunderglass
I'm glad you liked it - my boyfriend is a big Palahniuk fan and we've been waiting to mooch it for ages but there are no copies available. Your review makes me want to read it NOW.
10Magadri
>>girlunderglass
Yes, it was wonderful. I looked on Amazon.com to see some other reviews, and they were mostly negative, but I have no idea why.
I like Palahniuk, but I'm not a crazed fan, so I feel that I was pretty objective in how I felt about it. But yeah.... it was great! Definitely try to get ahold of it!
Yes, it was wonderful. I looked on Amazon.com to see some other reviews, and they were mostly negative, but I have no idea why.
I like Palahniuk, but I'm not a crazed fan, so I feel that I was pretty objective in how I felt about it. But yeah.... it was great! Definitely try to get ahold of it!
11Magadri
6. The Soul of Creative Writing by Richard Goodman
I had to read this book for my Comp class. It was okay. I don't generally read non-fiction, so this one was a little out there for me. He gave a few good examples of tips to help you write better more creatively, but I became bogged down by all of the quotes and examples he used. Each page had at least 6 or 7 examples to illustrate his point. I probably won't be reading this one again any time soon.
I had to read this book for my Comp class. It was okay. I don't generally read non-fiction, so this one was a little out there for me. He gave a few good examples of tips to help you write better more creatively, but I became bogged down by all of the quotes and examples he used. Each page had at least 6 or 7 examples to illustrate his point. I probably won't be reading this one again any time soon.
12Magadri
7. Choke by Chuck Palahniuk
So, after being very satisfied with Diary and then watching Choke this weekend, I felt that I would pick up Choke again despite the fact I hated it last time I tried to read it. I'm so glad I went back to it. It was wonderful! I may very well end up being one of those "crazed Palahniuk fans." This novel was intense. I absolutely loved it. After reading it, I couldn't do anything other than lay on my bed and THINK for awhile. I love when books do that. Looking forward to reading more Palahniuk books, but all I have left is Haunted, and I think I'm going to save it for whenever nothing else I own sounds any good.
So, after being very satisfied with Diary and then watching Choke this weekend, I felt that I would pick up Choke again despite the fact I hated it last time I tried to read it. I'm so glad I went back to it. It was wonderful! I may very well end up being one of those "crazed Palahniuk fans." This novel was intense. I absolutely loved it. After reading it, I couldn't do anything other than lay on my bed and THINK for awhile. I love when books do that. Looking forward to reading more Palahniuk books, but all I have left is Haunted, and I think I'm going to save it for whenever nothing else I own sounds any good.
13elephantango
Haunted !!!! I have never had a book turn my stomach within five or so pages like that one did... awesome! Very dark and hilarious.... but I'm a hooked Palahniuk fan. I may be biased.
14Magadri
>>elephantango
I've read "Guts" and I loved it. I have a sick sense of humor. I hope the whole book is as good as "Guts" was.
I've read "Guts" and I loved it. I have a sick sense of humor. I hope the whole book is as good as "Guts" was.
15Magadri
8. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Okay, so this one was a re-read, but I'm letting re-reads count for my 50. Last time I read HP was when I was 12 or 13, and I loved it! Upon re-reading it, I was delighted to find that it was still just as much fun. Rowling really is a great writer, and I love Harry Potter. I stopped reading the HP series at Book 4, but this year, I plan to read all 7 since they are out now.
Okay, so this one was a re-read, but I'm letting re-reads count for my 50. Last time I read HP was when I was 12 or 13, and I loved it! Upon re-reading it, I was delighted to find that it was still just as much fun. Rowling really is a great writer, and I love Harry Potter. I stopped reading the HP series at Book 4, but this year, I plan to read all 7 since they are out now.
16girlunderglass
oooh how could you? Books 5 and 6 are the best of the series!!
17Magadri
>>girlunderglass
I just got distracted and by the time I wanted to read them, I felt I would need to re-read the first 4, and I kept putting it off until now. :)
I just got distracted and by the time I wanted to read them, I felt I would need to re-read the first 4, and I kept putting it off until now. :)
18Magadri
9. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
10. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Still loving this series! It's so much fun re-reading them whenever I know what's going to happen next because I am picking up a lot of the subtle clues that Rowling slipped in there. Definitely a lot of fun!
10. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Still loving this series! It's so much fun re-reading them whenever I know what's going to happen next because I am picking up a lot of the subtle clues that Rowling slipped in there. Definitely a lot of fun!
19Magadri
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Still on my Harry Potter "binge," but it's probably fixing to slow down since school is starting back. :(
Still on my Harry Potter "binge," but it's probably fixing to slow down since school is starting back. :(
20Magadri
12. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
"Angsty" Harry Potter... Not one of my faves, honestly.
"Angsty" Harry Potter... Not one of my faves, honestly.
21Magadri
13. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Much better than the 5th one. Loved it!
Much better than the 5th one. Loved it!
22Magadri
14. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Found the very last chapters kind of confusing and not very satisfying. Other than that though, the book was good.
15. Less than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis
Depressing. Maybe I would have appreciated this more if I had lived during the 80s? I liked it, but not as much as American Psycho and The Rules of Attraction.
Found the very last chapters kind of confusing and not very satisfying. Other than that though, the book was good.
15. Less than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis
Depressing. Maybe I would have appreciated this more if I had lived during the 80s? I liked it, but not as much as American Psycho and The Rules of Attraction.
23Magadri
16. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
25Magadri
19. How All This Started by Pete Fromm
Loved this book. My second Pete Fromm book; I think I love HIM. :)
Loved this book. My second Pete Fromm book; I think I love HIM. :)
27Magadri
21. Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen
22. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
23. Crazy in Alabama by Mark Childress
22. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
23. Crazy in Alabama by Mark Childress
28Magadri
24. Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett
29Magadri
The Children of Men by P.D. James
30Magadri
26. The Abs Diet by David Zinczenko
31Magadri
27. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
32Magadri
28. I Married a Dead Man by Cornell Woolrich
Excellent book! I haven't seen the movie, but I'm interested now.
Excellent book! I haven't seen the movie, but I'm interested now.
34Magadri
30. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
35Magadri
31. The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells
36Magadri
32. A Separate Peace by John Knowles
37Magadri
33. The Dain Curse by Dashiell Hammett
This book was a little messy. It felt like too much was crammed in, and the plot was all over the place. Characters would be mentioned in passing and resurface several chapters later with no explanation about who they were. Still though, things tied up nicely in the end, so I would give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars. This book wasn't bad enough to keep me from trying any more Hammett books. Red Harvest was wonderful, so I have hope for better books ahead.
This book was a little messy. It felt like too much was crammed in, and the plot was all over the place. Characters would be mentioned in passing and resurface several chapters later with no explanation about who they were. Still though, things tied up nicely in the end, so I would give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars. This book wasn't bad enough to keep me from trying any more Hammett books. Red Harvest was wonderful, so I have hope for better books ahead.
