Book Challenge 2009: Bridget770's List

I just joined the website, and I love the idea of a book challenge for 75 books. I'm trying to increase my reading about business and career books, but here's my list for 2009 so far. I'd love any suggestions too:

1. All Souls
2. Dear American Airlines
3. A Fraction of the Whole
4. Gilead
5. Home: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson
6. Hot, Flat and Crowded
7. House of Cards: A Tale
8. Liar's Poker
9. The Man who Loved China
10. Olive Kitteridge
11. Panic: The Story
12. Safelight
13. The Shack
14. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
15. Water for Elephants
16. While They Slept: An Inquiry

Welcome--just start wandering through the threads and you'll get more suggestions than you might wish for! Nice selection so far.

Welcome to both LT and our group!

We have threads set up called "What We Are Reading Now" and you can wander through those if you like. Choose a category you might like: Prize Winners, Mysteries, Young Adult, Fantasy/SciFi, etc. - we have threads for them all and I am sure you will get plenty of reading suggestions from them!

Welcome Bridget. You're off to a great start! How did you like Home:A Novel by Marilynne Robinson? I had borrowed it from the library but they wanted it back before I even got around to starting it. I'd like to know if it's worth purchasing. Thanks.

Hey-Thanks for the Welcome messages. I'm really glad I found this website.

I would recommend reading Gilead before Home, both by Marilynne Robinson. The characters overlap both books.

I liked both books; she is an excellent writer. But the topics can be pretty spiritual, and if you aren't interested in religion or spirituality, the books may not be interesting.

Hope that helps, and thanks again!

17. Eat. Pray. Love.
18. Wetlands

Welcome! What a great reading list. What did you think of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle? It seems to be one of those books that you either love or hate. I loved it when I read it last year.

I loved The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. I love dogs, and that was part of the attraction of the story. I highly recommend it.

Last night I finished:
19. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald
20. Happens Every Day:

21. Oscar Wao

I love books with unique characters and that explore the family dynamic. I also love books written in a conversational tone. This book was all of those things.

22. Brooklyn
The story is simple; a girl moves away from her family, falls in love, goes home and falls in love with someone different and then picks between the two loves. But do not be fooled. The book fascinated me because of Toibin’s exquisite writing and attention to detail. I felt as if I was following the main character throughout the book due to the vivid imagery. Beautiful book.

#10: I read Toibin's The Master last year and it was very good, so I will give Brooklyn a try, too. Thanks for the recommendation!

> #21 Hi Bridget, welcome to the group.
I just finished Oscar Wao and loved it.

23. I finished Envy last night. It was a really interesting book though very different than I expected. The topics the book touched on were dark, but not overwhleming because the book just touched on them. The overall story is a therapist's struggle with his relationship with his twin brother and the tragic loss of his son. In particular it addresses how those struggles affect his relationships with his wife and his patients. It was a good book but not a must read.

24. Dear Husband
I loved this collection of short stories about family dynamics. Some of the stories were dark, but I would highly recommend it. I will be reading more by Oates.

25. The Shipping News
I didn't really like this book, though it was well written wtih a lot of beautiful imagery. I thought the book was slow, and the characters weren't very interesting. I just see much of a story in it.

I hope your next read is better for you!

#15 I didn't like The Shipping News either. I can't figure out why it's so wildly popular. Oh well, different strokes....

edited for spelling

A belated welcome and i agree with you on The Shipping News! Glad to have you!

All of a sudden, work has become busy and it is really interfering with my reading of White Tiger, but I hope to finish it this week.

Despite my day-job getting in the way of my reading this week, I was able to finish:
26. White Tiger
Overall, I enjoyed the story, but it won't make the "must-read" list. It was cute and funny, and the story was interesting, but it wasn't compelling or overwhelming. Good light read.

27. Till We have Faces-Incredible book about a Princess and her family, including her unhealthy love for her sister, her self-absorbed rule of men in her service, and her struggle to understand the Gods who ruled her land (think Greek Gods).

28. I was told there would be cake-no touchstone; it was a favor from a cocktail party. Overall a cute collections of short stories about a young woman's everyday adventures in NY. Most women in their early-30s could relate to her family experiences and her bridesmaid story. Good light read.

29. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

30. Sway

That looks like an interesting book. What'd you think?

I keep promising myself to make time for reviews, but I haven't yet. But Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior
by Ori Brafman was an entertaining and information read. It's a short book that uses interesting studies and anecdotes to explain why people behave irrationally. The topics range from the NBA draft to auctioning money to mental disorder diagnosis. It's similar to Freakonomics in writing style and variety of topics.

31. The Plague of Doves
I absolutely loved this book; I will reread this book (which is something I have never said before). It is an exquisitely written tale of a town and the various characters whose lives and histories are intertwined, consciously and subconciously. This book is worth all of the praise it has received.

32. Housekeeping
I didn't like this book as much as Robsinson's other books. Something about this book seemed lost to me, and maybe that was the point. I couldn't tell.

#26: I read The Plague of Doves last year and greatly enjoyed it. Glad to see that you liked it as well.

I was able to read a bunch this weekend. Reviews to follow:

33. Act of Love
34. The Girls from Ames
35. Slaughterhouse Five
36. The Road

Wow! You did get some good reading done this weekend.

Loved The Road and did not like Slaughterhouse Five at all. What'd you think?

Bridget - I bought The Girls from Ames for my mom for Mother's Day, which means she'll (hopefully) loan it back to me in a couple of weeks. I'll be interested to hear what you thought of it.

Actually none of the 4 books I read this weekend blew me away. If I had to rank them in order of preference, it would be as follows:

1. Slaughterhouse Five
2. The Road
3. The Girls from Ames
4. Act of Love

Act of Love was just strange and condescending. I actually didn't think I would finish it.

The Girls from Ames was predictable.

I will write more detailed reviews later, but that is a preview.

ok. I'm promising myself to do reviews this weekend.

37. Mafia Summer-Loved it as a light, summer read. It has little literary quality, but if you need a good book with some action to escape your life for a little while, this is a good one.
38. We Were the Mulvaneys-this was an audiobook, but I think that still counts. I loved it.

39. Holidays on Ice: A delightful collection of Christmas short stories by the ever-hilarious David Sedaris. I'm not sure why I decided to read them in May, but they made me laugh-out-loud.

40. Never Let Me Go which I really liked. It reminded me a little of a Twlight Zone story. It was an intriguing story about three friends and their dynamic, but the background was the purpose of their births and their lives which has a slight sci-fi feel. Very well-written and great story.
41. A Complete History of the Mafia. This was a gift my husband received. It was a quick read and a brief history of the Cosa Nostra, but it focused largely on the mafia in Sicily which I had not read much about.

42. Expensive People

I love Joyce Carol Oates which is probably biased by the fact that I grew up in Buffalo, NY. But I really enjoy her writing style.

Expensive People is a somewhat tongue-in-cheek tale about Suburbia. The story is told from the perspective of a son whose father climbed the corporate ladder (moving his family from suburb to suburb every 18 months). The mother seemed to be a woman who was trying to avoid being the cliche housewife and only succeeded in being very cliche. The son is an only child and a geek who is very socially-awkward.

#36: Oates is another author I have yet to try. I will add Expensive People to the Continent!

#37. I just found out that Expensive People is the middle of a "informal trilogy," according to a website: http://www.usfca.edu/~southerr/works/novels/expensive.html.

So you may want to read the other novels as well. I will be adding them to my TBR list.

43. Columbine

I finished it this morning and need some time to process it and give a decent review, but the book was incredible. I could not put it down. Definitely 5 stars.

#38: Thanks for the info. I added all of them to the Continent.

44. The Secret Man

I will read more books by Bob Woodward, but I wish I knew more about Watergate before I read this book. It was a great book about journalism, but the Watergate context would have been helpful to know.

45. Shanghai Girls

Loved it!!

#42: I am adding that one to the Planet. That one looks very good - thanks for the recommendation.

46. Hooked: A Thriller about Love and other Addictions
Which wasn't great. I will review more later.

47. Rapt
48. Split Images which was my first Elmore Leonard book.

Reviews to follow

49. The Alchemist

50. How Shall I Tell the Dog?

Which I loved.

I can't believe how fast I hit 50. Where is the year going??

I could not resist that title and had to click on it! Looks very good...

51. I finished Apologize, Apologize last night. This book confirmed my love for all books published by Twelve (http://www.twelvebooks.com/content/index...)

I was totally wrong in my expectation of a book about the endless antics of a crazy Irish family who value fun about all else. Actually, the crazy Irish family part was correct, but the topics addressed in the book were serious: parental favoritism, loss of loved ones, depression, disowning various family members, courage (or lack thereof), and others. The central character (Collie) is the oldest son in a family which includes an heiress mother, an attractive fun-loving younger brother, a distracted father (preoccupied by drinking and other women), a drunken uncle, lots of beloved dogs and a serious and unloving grandfather.

Collie’s serious manner makes him an excellent student but pits him forever against her mother. After a series of family tragedies, Collie flounders around with little purpose, making mistake after mistake and undermining any self-esteem he had. Eventually he recovers to a large degree. The book would be unbearably dark if it were not for all of the funny adventures and hilarious family interactions.

I loved it.

>9 Bridget770: Hello Bridget, I have just caught up on your thread. I was interested in Oscar Wao as it looks something I would enjoy. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

~ TT

>9 Bridget770: Hello Bridget, I have just caught up on your thread. I was interested in Oscar Wao as it looks something I would enjoy. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

~ TT

Thanks for the wonderful review of Apologize, Apologize. I've been wondering about it for awhile and will have to add it to the TBR pile.

52. When Genius Failed: The Rise and Fall of Long-Term Capital Management
This book details the collapse Long-Term Capital Mangement, a large find in the mid-90s.

The arrogant leaders (including noble prize winners) of the fund took huge bets and gradually started trading in new investments about which the traders had limited information. The combination of large, unfamiliar positions led to the funds downfall.

Eventually the Fed encouraged a coordinated bail-out from Wall St, where all of the major banks participated. Ultimately the fund was liquidated in an orderly fashion.

The book provides incredible insight to the raise and the fall of the firm. It shows how the various personalities contributed as well as contribution from Wall St itself.

53. The Overlook A nice summer mystery.

54. Netherland: I'm not sure what I thought of this book.

55. Breakfast at Tiffany's

What about the Capote book?

#57. I liked the Capote book. I've never seen the movie, so I did not know what to expect. I only have time to review on the weekends, so a more thorough discussion is coming. Thanks!

56. Firefly Lane
Think "Terms of Endearment" meets "Up Close and Personal."

57. Unaccustomed Earth
This book was most deserving of all the hype it received. While the stories had similiarities (usually touching Boston or the Northeast and all involving Indian immigrants), the stories involved very different and thought-provoking themes. I was very able to relate to the characters (i.e. I wanted to invite them all over for coffee/tea). The characters were fascinating in their human flaws and frailities. I loved this book.

58. The Bin Ladens An Arabian Family in an American Century
A fascinating book which gives background about the vast Bin Laden family. It gives incredible detail about the family structure and dynamics, in particular the difficulty managing the Western influence on a Muslim family. What it does not do is tell you what made Osama the man he is now. The focus is clearly the Bin Laden family, it addresses Osama in that context. Excellent non-fiction read.

I loved Unaccustomed Earth too - I can't wait to read Lahiri's other two books. :)

59. The Glister

I didn't like this book. It was just not interesting. The characters were strange (but not in a good way). There was no real plot. I just didn't like it.

I hope your next read is better for you and one that you truly enjoy!

For anyone in the Atlanta area, there is a free "Book Club Bash" sponsored by the Decatur Book Festival on July 16.

http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/Community/bookclubs.php

Looks like a lot of fun!

60. Let the Great World Spin

I did not want this book to end. Not only will I read this book again, I will be talking about it and recommending it for a long time.

It's a beautifully written story of various people whose lives are interconnected by a tight-rope walker who walked between the World Trade Center buildings in 1974. The characters include a hooker, judge, a mother who lost her son in Vietnam, the judge's wife, a religious man and others.

While the event is extraordinary, especially to think about now, the lives are exquisitely common. The uniquely flawed and frail characters grasp the reader.

Great review, thumbed ya'. Got the book down to look for.

66 Thanks for the recommendation Bridget. It sounds like a great book - added to wishlist.

~ TT

>66 Bridget770: - Wow! I'm definitely adding that one to the TBR list. I had just read a blurb about this book in a magazine and I wasn't sure if I would like it, but your description really caught my attention. Thanks!

61. Bonfire of the Vanities

Keeping the perspective that my age was signle digits during the "Greed is Good" 1980s, I liked this book, but it wasn't a favorite.

The story is amusing, and the satire is thick (and deep and wide). The characters (or should I say caricatures) embody steteotypes: loyal-to-a-fault Irish cop, arrogant-yet insecure Wall St tycoon whose wealth is shallow, Southern Belle money digger, underpaid civil servant who craves the spotlight and reassurance from an affair, condescending British journalist who succeeds despite his drunken behavior.

It's a light read. I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more had I spent the 1980s with big shoulder pads and even bigger hair instead of Strawberry Shortcake and My Little Pony.

Having lived through the 80's, I've always wondered if that one was any good. And I've never read any Tom Wolfe before. I may look out for a copy of that and try it out. Nice review, especially with the cool cultural references.

If you want to read some Tom Wolfe blackdogbooks, I highly recommend The Right Stuff--about the original 9(?) astronauts and early space program.

While it is not literary in the least bit, Obama's Blackberry is laugh-out-loud funny if you need some humor. It makes fun of people from both parties, so I think it would appeal to both sides of the aisle.

Hi Bridget. I'm putting both Wolfe books in the wishNotebook, where The Right Stuff has actually languished for a while. I also added Obama's Blackberry, but the LT "Will You Like It?" feature said I abolutely Won't Like it with script in red letters saying Warning: Division by zero.... Scary!

Profiler: I hope the warning is wrong. The "book" (term used loosely) should only take 15 minutes to read, so if you don't like it, not much is lost.

61. Master of War: Blackwater USA's Erik Prince

Color me disappointed. This book was a timeline of Prince's life and Blackwater, glossing over the numerous contentious issuessurrounding the corporation and private military companies. Furthermore, the book gave only one point-of-view which largely favored Prince and Blackwater, despite being written by woman from CNN. Most disappointing was that there was no in-depth reporting on what actually happened during the controversial incidents with Blackwater employees and civilians (Iraqi and otherwise). I would definitely not recommend this book.

Hi, Bridget- Caught up with you here! You are reading some very good books!
Couple comments: I loved Split Images. The 80's were my favorite time for Elmore Leonard, almost everything he wrote during those years rocked. I loved Bonfire of the Vanities but it's been a long time. Maybe it hasn't held up but it seems all great books are timeless. I also had mixed feelings about Netherland. Don't get me wrong, it contains some excellent writing but I'm not sure it jelled for me. And I agree, Jhumpa Lahiri rules!

62. Saturday

The setting is a winter Saturday in London in 2003. The middle-aged neurologist participates in his common Saturday activities: errands, squash match, and visit to his mother. Then there are some bizarre happenings: fender bender, watching a plane crash and a visit from his daughter and father-in-law. Lastly, there is also a Iraqi war protest occurring in the background. Even with all the activities, McEwan deftly weaves the story of this man’s life, the incredible love he feels for his wife of 20+ years, a son whose gift is blues music, a poet daughter, and an overbearing, difficult father-in-law.

The ending is full of suspense and is truly compelling.

Five-star book.

#78: Saturday was one of my memorable reads from last year. Glad to see that you liked it, too!

63. Crime Beat

This was a case where I did not read the jacket closely enough and where I finished the book for no reason what-so-ever.

I do not read the newspaper, and this book was newspaper articles about various cases that Michael Connelly covered as a journalist before he became a best-selling fiction author. I'm sure that the articles were excellently written and told incredible stories. However, it's just not my cup of tea.

Hi Bridget- I have Saturday in my tbr stack. I have never read this author but based on your glowing review, I will have to bump it up. Glad to see you are enjoying "Lost City...". Great stuff!

64. The Lost City of Z

Great book. An adventure story if there ever was one. It's rare to find a book that is exciting and engaging without any of the normal vices (affairs, violence, etc). However, it is very much a love affair between Fawcett and Z. Plus Grann's own adventures add context and some humor to the book. Highly recommend.

It's good to know that The Lost City of Z is good. I've got it on the TBR pile and need to bump it up.

Yep. It's pretty good! Have you read The River of Doubt? It's about Teddy Roosevelt's exploration of an unnamed river in the Amazon basin. Teddy's trip was briefly mentioned in The Lost City of Z.

65. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Again, best of intentions on reviewing, but work and minor sickness have derailed my efforts, so instead of feeling guilty and apologizing, I'm just going to throw it out there: no review, but I loved the book. Have ordered the second in the series.

66. Trillion Dollar Meltdown
Basic, quick read of the current economic crisis. A bit outdated but gives some helpful background.

Bridget- Hope you are feeling better! I need to snag a copy of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ,so I can join it's legions of fans! I love a good crime thriller!
Have you started "Pillars"? I'm about to!

I am one of the legion of Dragon Tattoo fans. Glad to see it has another one.

Hope you are feeling better these days!

Finally finished a book recently:

67. The Shadow of the Wind
If you are in the mood for some drama, melodrama and then more drama, this is the book for you.

It's a fabulous story of a boy (Daniel) in Barcelona in the 1950s who finds a book by a mysterious author. Over the next 8 to 10 years, the boy grows up and tries to track the life of this mystifying author. Daniel's story is fascinating as falls in and out of love and he becomes friends with a quirky man. Many odd and engaging characters help Daniel on his quest to find out more information about this author who had a difficult childhood, lost the love of his life, and then disappeared from the earth. All the characters lives twist and turn and intertwine, so it's a real page-turner, but it's high drama, so gear up for it.

#88: One of my favorites from last year! The follow up book, The Angel's Game is out now, too, if you are interested.

Glad you enjoyed "Shadow"! I also recently finished it and was a big fan!

I also liked The Shadow of the Wind and am looking forward to The Angel's Game which is on my wishlist.

68. Child 44

The only word I can think of to describe this novel is gritty. The topics covered are dark, though there were some pleasant parts. The book's main character, Leo, is a devoted MGB agent (KGB). He is honored by his position which, in Soviet Russia in the 1950s, affords him some comforts such as running water, indoor plumbing, special lines in the grocery store, etc.

However, he makes a mistake and is demoted which lands him in a rural part of the USSA in a low-level militia job. Throughout this experience, his faith in the communist way of life is shaken. As he begins to investigate child murders throughout the country, he becomes completely disillusioned with the country he loves. He ignores the risk to his (and his family's) life and pursues justice, though he has been told not to carry out the investigation.

The novel is very well-written, and the story is griping. I recommend this book for sure.

#92: The Secret Speech, the sequel to Child 44, is due out soon if you are interested, Bridget.

Bridget- Nice review of Child 44! This book has been on my wishlist forever. i need to make a move on that one!

I stayed up much too late finishing:

69. The Girl who Played with Fire

I'm generally not into book series', but I officially love Lisabeth Salander. The book was excellent: suspenseful, intriguing, and action-packed. I started it on Sunday and couldn't wait to get home on Monday to finish it. I hope he is able to keep up the intensity and suspense in The Girl who Kicked the Hornets Nest. I have very strong feelings about some of the parts of the book, but I don't want any spoilers. Likewise, I have opinions about the Salander/Blomkvist relationship, but my lips are sealed (unless you have read the book-feel free to write me a message to share your thoughts).

Loved it!

I'm getting ready for the group read of Dangerous Liaisons starting tomorrow. 1 Part per week for 4 weeks. Should be fun!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/69742

I loved The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played with Fire. I am definately anticipating The Girl who Kicked the Hornets Nest.

I'm woefully behind on reading and posting. But in the meantime for some entertainment, check out this website:

http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

I haven't laughed this hard in quite some time!

Yet another book list to make me feel guilty that I don't read more "good" books.

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article6...

I really do not understand the hype about Netherland. I did not enjoy it.

Oh boy, another list to check...LOL!

Wow. I haven't finished a book in 2 weeks. But this one was worth the time:

70. Pillars of the Earth
Great book. Don't be daunted by the length. The story is incredible. The setting is a town in England in the 1100s, but you definitely do not have to be a historical novel buff to enjoy it. The novel is built around the construction of a cathedral, and the characters are all involved in the construction somehow. Philip is the monk overseeing the building. Tom Builder and Jack are designing and managing the construction. Their wives are big characters as well with their own trials and tribulations. William and Bishop Waleran are the two men who try to stop construction and ruin the lives of those characters involved (they are truly evil).

The construction of the cathedral has significant challenges throughout the novel which affects each character. The funding is difficult. There is a famine. There is civil war. William and Waleran will stop at nothing to seek revenge against Philip and Jack.

The novel has something for everyone, so I highly recommend it.

71. Long Past Stopping

The book is fast-paced and a quick read, but it is by no means a light and breezy book. The wit used does not disguise its serious subject matter, drug addiction. True to addict behavior, Oran is completely self-centered and self-absorbed. His autobiographical account of life through 26 and sobriety is well-written and thought-provoking. The chapters alternate between his childhood and his early 20s when he bounced in and out of rehab. His childhood had 2 constants: juggling and inconsistency. His parents, both successful therapists, basically abandoned him. While there are humorous parts, the childhood chapters are sad, as Oran is dumped off and discarded from school to school and location to location. The chapters discussing his drug usage and rehabs are compelling and haunting. They do not glorify an addict’s life, as some other books about alcoholism and drug addiction do. Those chapters are raw and real and recount a very few highs and the numerous and overwhelming lows of his experiences. Canfield is not a likable character (for lack of a better description), but I needed to find out what happened and how he survived his struggle.

I liked the book, but it is not for everyone. Readers should be ready to settle in for some incredibly heartbreaking moments. It’s definitely a story of survival, but there are times I questioned if and how he would make it and whether or not I thought he should make it.

72. Dangerous Liaisons

I appreciate the literary significance of this epistolary novel, and I'm glad I finished it, but it was a struggle. The first 2 parts of the book I found to be boring, but I enjoyed parts 3 and 4. These aristocrat characters live in France right before the revolution. They are connected by various unhealthy love connections and clearly have too much time on their hands. The overarching theme of the book is good vs. evil. Smaller themes center on desire and war (i.e. the battle of various sexual exploits). I do recommend reading this book because of its literary weight, but it’s not an easy read.

>72 arubabookwoman:: Well stated, Bridget. I am still trying to organize my thoughts about Dangerous Liaisons. I certainly had ambivalent feelings about it, but I can say that reading it with the group encouraged me to finish it.

Donna-Ambivalent is the perfect word to sum up my feelings on Dangerous Liaisons. Thanks for posting!

73. The Day the Falls Stood Still

I am somewhat biased because I grew up near Niagara Falls, NY, but I would have loved this book even if I was from Atlanta. The book is set on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls from 1915 to 1925. The main character, Bess, endures many successes and tragedies from the age of 17 until she is 26, when the book ends. Her privileged life is abruptly taken away from her, and everyone, including Bess, is pleasantly surprised by her perseverance. While there are frequent references to sacrificing because of the war, the major setting is Niagara Falls, which is very much a character in this book. The book invoked many feelings about Niagara Falls: awe of its majesty, fear of its power, and respect of its economic and social impact.

This love story hits all the traditional major loves: love of your partner, parental love, and sibling love. Loss is also a major theme: the demise of loved ones, sacrifice for the war, loss of lifestyle.

The book is relatively action-packed, but I don’t want to spoil any part of it because all the events were incredible. I highly recommend this book.

Bridget- Sounds like a winner. I need to wishlist that baby!

I'm reading Things I've been Silent about, and this quote really spoke to me:

"I have a feeling that if somehow I could understand just when she stopped dancing-when she stopped wanting to dance-I would find the key to my mother's riddle and finally make peace with her."

This is true for many mothers and daughters.

Another line that is so true: "I sometimes think we become so dependent on the images we create of ourselves that we can never discard them." I particularly like the choice of the word "discard."

I am regretting that I didn't buy this book. It will break my heart to send it back to the library.

Great quotes!

74. Leap of Faith: An Unexpected Life by Queen Noor of Jordan

I think it’s safe to say that any Queen has an extraordinary life, but being a Queen in the Middle East during the most conflicted times of the 20th century has a unique place in history. Queen Noor’s autobiography is a love story, not only the love of her husband and family but also her love of Jordan. The book chronicles her life from growing up in California to the death of her husband. Much of the book discusses relatively “normal” issues: a blended family with many stepchildren, having children, dealing with a spouse’s illness, etc.

However, those issues, which make the Queen seem very down-to-earth, are offset by the incredible duties of a Queen in a developing nation and the Middle Eastern conflict. She served as a champion for women’s rights, improving children’s lives, and liberalizing the rule of law in Jordan. She also sought to boost the economy with these changes; she started a large arts festival to showcase traditional Jordanian artists which were mostly women. She also implemented a vaccination program for children and a public education system. Lastly, she called for greater freedom of the press. These were all truly progressive ideas in the Middle East, and she handled them with grace and care for Jordanian traditions and respect for the Islamic religion.

Living on a country bordering Israel and being married to a beloved King who passionately pursued peace in the Middle East gave her an incredible vantage point in the late 20th century. I am not very educated on the Middle Eastern conflicts, and her book gave me a better idea of the Arab perspective in layman’s terms. She also effectively described the heartbreaking frustration of the peace negotiations between Arabs and Israelis.

It was a good read. The writing was decent, but her life has been incredible.

#110: I will have to investigate that one. Thanks for the recommendation, Bridget!

#75 … I can’t believe it happened so fast. “I’d like to thank the academy…” There will be more reading through the rest of the year, for sure.

I’m so happy that #75 was such a memorable and enjoyable book: Things I've Been Silent About

Azar Nafisi details her life, focusing on her imperfect relationship with her parents, the political unrest in Iran, and her love of literature. The excellent writing and engaging story makes the book impossible to put down once a reader has started.

A vast majority of readers can sympathize with Azar’s complicated relationship with her mother, Nezhat, who has a very “Jekyll and Hyde” personality. On one hand, Nezhat is bitter about all the challenges she has endured: her mother died young, her stepmother and father treated her badly and would not allow her education. Nezhat’s first husband (her true love) died 2 years after their wedding. On the other hand, Nezhat is no victim; she was an influential person in Tehran and was elected to Parliament. Azar’s does not claim her account of their relationship is accurate, but her perspective is clearly skewed. She is often too hard on her mother, but I can sympathize that the difficult relationship taints even the good times and memories.

Her account of her relationship with her father is equally flawed. Azar adores her father, the man who inspired her love of literature. This devotion causes her to overlook his shortcomings, in particular she aids in his extramarital affairs. Azar’s father is the Mayor of Tehran, and eventually he is arrested which breaks Azar’s heart. Azar is in her late teen years and making important decisions in her life regarding education and marriage, and without her presence, she is a lost and unanchored. This relationship will also be familiar to many readers.

On top of the challenges with her parents, Iran changes substantially while she is young: the Shah is overthrown, Ayatollah Khomeni’s institutes a strict and barbarous rule of law, and the Iran-Iraq war. Azar’s outspoken in her political thoughts, and the book really gives a good feeling for what it was like to live through the upheaval and chaos.

It’s a beautiful book. One I will surely read again.

Congratulations!

Congratulations on reaching 75! I'm adding your last two books to the wishNotebook. Thank you for the great reviews.

I've heard some great things about Queen Noor's autobiography... when I was in Jordan a few years back, the book got passed around our group, but somehow I never got ahold of it. I'd forgotten about it until now... thanks for the reminder :) It sounds fascinating.

Congrats on reaching #75! I've added both it and the Queen Noor book to my TBR.

Congrats!

I've been a little distracted from reading, but I did finish #76: Snow Falling on Cedars for book club and loved it. All of the praise it has received so far echos how I felt about it.

Bridget- So glad you enjoyed Snow Falling! I also saw you picked up some very promising books!

though others didn't enjoy his follow up as much, I did. you should try it, East of the Mountains

Hi Bridget, I noticed that you also live in metro Atlanta. Did you go to this weekend's Decatur Book Festival? I'm not in town, otherwise I would have gone.

Finally back on the reading bandwagon.

76. The Devil's Tickets
Gary Pomerantz's latest book. The book follows 2 couples during the bridge craze of the Depression. One couple is considered the king and queen of bridge, writing books, participating in celebrity tournaments, going on tour, etc. The other couple lives a upper middle class life in suburban Kansas City until an argument over a bridge game escalates to a death (no spoiler there). Pomerantz is a journalist, and I enjoy his style. The book is a quick read, and the people featured are truly characters. I give it 3 stars--definitely not a must read, but it was enjoyable.

77. Israel Under Fire
I read this book to prepare for my upcoming trip to the Middle East; I'm trying to increase my understanding of the conflict. I have been reading many books from the Arab viewpoint and needed a book to understand the opposing arguments.

This book was very different than I expected. Basically the premise of the book is that Israel is fulfilling a biblical prophecy.

The book is a surprisingly quick read, but the authors repeat themselves is so many times that it because annoying. I'm also not familiar with the Bible, so the second half of the book was difficult for me to follow as it references all the places in the book of Revelations where God promises a Jewish state. Likewise, the authors vry clearly implied that the current events (i.e. the many states that are ready to attack Israel) indicate that the Messiah will be arriving soon.

The interviews with Israeli leaders and experts were interesting, but the book was a little too much for me to read, mostly because I'm not that familiar with the Bible.

Bridget- Welcome back friend! Glad to see you are back in the groove. Are you joining us on the G.R. of People of the Book? I sure hope so!

78. Adderall Diaries

I wish I had more to say about this book. It was a fast read, and the story was easy to follow, but nothing about the book was particularly compelling. I have tremendous sympathy for the abusive and chaotic childhood that Elliott endured. The crime trial that he covered was strange, but seemed more made for a TV movie.

79. That Old Cape Magic

Similar to #78, I wish I had more to say about this book. Think mid-life crisis with some funny stories, and that pretty much sums it up.

Here's to better books...

I had an incredible vacation in the Middle East and an added bonus was finishing 5 books:
80. The Help: Good book set in Jackson, MS during the 1960’s. The story is interesting and well-written. It centers around a white woman who writes a book with various black maids. The book tells the maids’ various stories—good and bad.
81. South of Broad: A pretty typical Conroy book. The main character reminded me of the main character in “Prince of Tides.” It’s a good story and quick read.
82. The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest: I’m sorry to see this trilogy end. I like Salander and enjoy her character very much. Not the most well-written books (and certainly very poorly edited), but it’s a good vacation read and follow-up to the others.
83. Mothers and Sons: A collection of Toibin’s short stories. I love all the depictions of Ireland. The stories are haunting and relatable.
84. The Mirage of Peace: This book was more basic than I wanted. It gives an overview of the Middle East and that’s pretty much it.
85. Married to a Bedouin: I met this author in Petra, Jordan. Her story is really interesting-how see fell in love with, married and lived with a Bedouin and his community. She gives an outsider’s perspective into the various customs and traditions of the Bedouin culture. I highly recommend the book if you are going to travel to Jordan or the Middle East.

Wow! Looks like you had a nice reading vacation.

I am adding Married to a Bedouin to the BlackHole. It looks interesting.