krysbrezinski - This time I'll make it!

In years past I've been more than proud of myself to read at least 50 books in a year, but since joining LibraryThing in October '09 I've been motivated to aim higher. Hopefully with your support I'll make it this year!

Please, feel free to comment/chat here! I need all the motivation I can get, especially from people as interesting and kind as those I've met here so far. Come say hi!




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Last year's thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/77232

My Best of 2009:
Juliet, Naked - Nick Hornby
The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
Diary - Chuck Palahniuk
The Catcher was a Spy: The Mysterious Life of Moe Berg - Nicholas Dawidoff
The Bean Quartet - Orson Scott Card

To Be Read (Hopefully at Some Point in the Near Future):

A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawking
The Yiddish Policeman's Union - Michael Chabon
When We Were Orphans - Kazuo Ishiguro
The Blind Assassin - Margaret Atwood
Boardwalk Empire - Nelson Johnson

Thoughts? Suggestions? I always have so much trouble deciding what to read next! A complete list of the 50 - 100 books in my to-read pile can be found here.

Books 1 - 10:
((Click the number for my review of a particular title))

o1. Phillip Pullman - The Amber Spyglass (reread)
o2. Orson Scott Card - Ender in Exile
o3. Chuck Palahniuk - Choke
o4. Chuck Palahniuk - Survivor
o5. Bill Buford - Heat
o6. Alice Sebold - Lucky
o7. Phillip K. Dick - A Scanner Darkly
o8. Lauren Weisberger - The Devil Wears Prada
o9. Stan Redding and Frank W. Abignale - Catch Me if You Can
1o. Peter J. Kastor - The Nation's Crucible

Books 11 - 20:
((Click the number for my review of a particular title))

11. Jennifer Crusie - Faking It
12. Nick Hornby - 31 Songs
13. Kazuo Ishiguro - An Artist of the Floating World
14. Truman Capote - In Cold Blood
15. Rick Riordan - The Lightning Thief
16. Margaret Atwood - Alias Grace
17. Rick Riordan - The Sea of Monsters
18. Rick Riordan - The Titan's Curse
19. Rick Riordan - The Battle of the Labyrinth
2o. Rick Riordan - The Last Olympian

Books 21 - 30:

21. Harriette Wilson - Harriette Wilson's Memoirs
22. David Aaronovitch - Voodoo Histories: The Role of the Conspiracy Theory in Shaping Modern History
23. Steven Pressfield - The Virtues of War
24. Ryu Murakami - Audition
25. Nick Hornby - Speaking with the Angel
26. Joseph Ellis - Founding Brothers
27. Markus Zusak - The Book Thief
28. Agatha Christie - The Murder at Hazelmoor
29. Gregory Maguire - What-the-Dickens
3o. James Bradley - The Imperial Cruise

Books 31 - 40:

31. Zadie Smith - White Teeth
32. Robert Conquest - The Harvest of Sorrow
33. Stieg Larsson - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
34. Azar Nafisi - Reading Lolita in Tehran
35. Paul Feig - Superstud
36. Simon Baatz - For the Thrill of It: Leopold, Loeb, and the Murder That Shocked Jazz Age Chicago
37. Ken Kesey - Sailor Song
38. Jedediah Berry - The Manual of Detection
39. John Seabrook - Nobrow: The Culture of Marketing, the Marketing of Culture
4o. Brian James Freeman - The Painted Darkness

Books 41 - 50:

41. Paul Hoffman - The Left Hand of God
42. Anthony Burgess - A Clockwork Orange (reread)
43. Philip K. Dick - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
44. Ron Hansen - Mariette in Ecstasy
45. Stephen Sorrentino - Luncheonette
46. Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird (reread)
47. Shirley Jackson - The Haunting of Hill House
48. Orson Scott Card - A War of Gifts
49. Stephen King - Danse Macabre
5o. Shirley Jackson - We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Books 51 - 60:

51. Mario Puzo - The Godfather
52. Suzanne Collins - The Hunger Games
53. David Rakoff - Don't Get Too Comfortable
54. Suzanne Collins - Catching Fire
55. Jay Anson - The Amityville Horror
56. Jennifer Traig - Devil in the Details: Scenes from an Obsessive Girlhood
57. Suzanne Collins - Mockingjay
58. Hilaire Belloc - Cautionary Verses
59. Phillip Roth - The Breast
6o. Per Petterson - Out Stealing Horses

Books 61 - 70:

61. Hunter S. Thompson - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
62. Bret Easton Ellis - Less Than Zero
63. Oliver Sacks - The Mind's Eye
64. Orson Scott Card - The Lost Gate
65. Chuck Palahniuk - Stranger Than Fiction
66. Abraham Verghese - Cutting for Stone
67. Philip Roth - Nemesis
68. David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
69. Stephen King - The Long Walk (reread)
7o. Christopher Isherwood - A Single Man

Books 71+:

71. Philip K. Dick - Solar Lottery
72. Philip K. Dick - Confessions of a Crap Artist
73. Muriel Spark - The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
74. James Cain - Double Indemnity
75. H.P. Lovecraft - The Call of Cthulhu

I am so glad you will be joining us again in 2010, Krys!

:) Me, too! And thanks for reminding me to move to the new group.

No problem!

Nice meeting you Krys. I must have missed your thread in '09 but I'm trying to keep up to date with all posts in '10 so I'll be peeking in occasionaly. Happy reading!

ETA: just read your intro - Gonzaga! Could this be the college I always choose to win in the NCAA brackets, simply because I like the name? Better Luck in '10 Zags!

Starred! Glad to have you with the 75-ers.

I did not like The Yiddish Policeman's Union but slogged my way through that entire book because I like Michael Chabon. I'm not sure it was worth the trek, though.

I thought Lucky by Alice Sebold was excellent. I read it when my daughter was a high school senior. When I finished reading it, I gave the book to her because she was about ready to leave home to move to her college campus. I just wanted her to be aware of the dangers out there and to be pro-active in protecting herself from harm. The book is nonfiction and about the rape Alice Sebold experienced while she was a college student. It was truly frightening. My daughter is now a college graduate (who can't find a good-paying job, but that's another story). I also just recommended Lucky to my husband's niece, also a high school senior, when I saw that she was reading The Lovely Bones (which I opted to not even finish, by the way, disliking it so much).

Bottom line: Start with Lucky by Alice Sebold. Good luck with the challenge.

Welcome back!

>15 Carmenere:
Good to meet you, Lynda! I'm pretty fond of my school's name, too--it's unique, at the very least. Though it gets a lot of raised eyebrows when my out-of-state relatives ask where I'm going to college. "Where?"
I just found and starred your thread, too. Good luck this year!

>16 SqueakyChu:
I'm sorry to hear that about The Yiddish Policeman's Union. I really enjoyed The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay and The Final Solution, so I had high hopes for this one. I won't force myself to keep reading if it turns out to be disappointing.
On a recommendation like that, I'll definitely start reading Lucky as soon as I can. I was also underwhelmed by The Lovely Bones, but I found myself enjoying Sebold's writing style, so I'm excited to give her memoir a chance.
Thanks for the input, and good to meet you! It's Madeline, right?

>17 drneutron:
Thanks! Now I'm impatient for New Year's so I can start listing. ;)

hi Krys

Past months i have not been able to catch up with the threads of the 2009 group, so I missed your thread.

In 2008 I managed to read ALL threads.
Now I try to keep up with the 2010 threads, but I am not sure if that is humanly possible at all (I know Stasia can, but she is the fastest reader of all).

Anita

Hi, Anita--

Haha, I don't know how some people manage to keep up with all the posts on here. I'm hard pressed enough finding time to just read my 75 books! But kudos to those who manage it, and kudos to you for trying.

Hi, Krys! Someone else from Washington! :-) Madeline and I tend to like a lot of the same books, so it's still hard for me to believe she didn't like The Yiddish Policemen's Union. I don't even like that genre that much and I loved it, so I say go for it.

I also looked through your tbr's and saw you had Heat by Bill Buford. That was such a fast read and very entertaining. I'm surprised you haven't read it yet, considering your interest in culinary school, but maybe you've already read a lot of books like this?

I'm new to the 75 group and am already wondering how I'm going to keep up with all the threads I've got starred, much less the whole group. See you next year and happy reading!

Krys, I also have Heat which I haven't read yet. Let me know when you plan to read it and perhaps we can read it at the same time.

Bonnie, you're going to be spending a lot of time clicking on members' threads. This is a *hot* group!

>21 bonniebooks:
Hi, Bonnie! Haha, I'll definitely be reading Heat soon--the only reason I haven't yet is that I only just received it yesterday for Christmas, and am already in the middle of a couple of other books. I'll probably read it on the plane back to school in a week, now that it's got your endorsement.
I actually haven't read many culinary arts-related memoirs/novels yet. For some reason, until recently I never thought to intersect my passions for cooking and reading, but this year I'll be on the lookout for more books in that range.
Now I don't know what to expect from The Yiddish Policeman's Union! I'll read with an open mind and let you guys know whose side I end up taking in this one.

>22 SqueakyChu:
I've got a 5 hour flight on January 1st, so I think I'll plan to read Heat then. Maybe we can both make it our first book of the new year. ;)

Krys, Krys, Krys...seems to me I've seen the name, met the lass, but where...? Must ponder....

Meanwhile, I'm here to cheer as you aim high.

Hey! :) i'm studying in cold blood by truman capote in college at the moment and it is definatly a good book. Good luck with the challenge! :)

*pulls Heat out of my closet and brings it downstairs* (a good sign I'm going to read it soon)

>24 richardderus:
If it comes to you, let me know!

>25 laydeedreamer:
Hi, and thanks for the endorsement. I read Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's in November and really liked his writing style, so I'll probably try to get to ICB sometime soon. What sort of class are you studying it for? English? Criminology?

>26 SqueakyChu:
Haha, all right! I've already got it tucked into my carry-on bag for Friday. :)

Hi, Krys,

I'm Cheli. I noticed on your intro that you want to go to culinary school. Have you read any culinary mysteries? They have all kinds of recipes and techniques, maybe you could get a headstart!

Good luck in 2010!

Just starred you! Looking forward to seeing what you're reading! :)

>28 cyderry:
Culinary mysteries? I assume these would be whodunnits set in the kitchen, though I've never heard of anything like that before. Any recommendations? I'd love to check this out!

>29 Tammiejx:
Hi, Tammie! I just saw your profile picture--I love your hair! I never had the guts to color mine all over, but my bangs were purple, pink, and then blue at separate times in the last couple of years. I went back to brown last January, but I do kind of miss it. Is it tough to maintain color like yours? I'd be afraid of my roots being really obvious as my hair grew out.

Ooh! My favortie culinary mystery was Agnes and the Hitman (okay...more of a culinary romance/mystery/comedy, but still very good). Also, in terms of books about people who cook/bake/whatever, my all time favorite is Sunshine. It's a vampire novel, don't know if you're into those, but the main character is a baker. The description of her baked goods (her baking figures pretty heavily in the storyline) makes me soooooooooo hungry. And the food names--cinnamon rolls as big as your head! Bitter Chocolate Death! *mmmmmmmmm*

Thanks for the recommendations! I haven't read a vampire novel in a long time, so it'd take a pretty special one to lure me back in, but I'll check it out. :)

Edited the first post to add my top five reads of '09.

Krys, re: culinary mysteries...Diane Mott Davidson is la doyenne of the genre.

Catering to Nobody
Dying for Chocolate

The first two, introducing her catering sleuth Goldy Something-cute. I think they're fun.

Those do sound like a lot of fun. I'm adding them to my wishlist now, for my mom's benefit when my birthday rolls around in March. She's always at a loss as to what to get me.

Diane Mott Davidson - jotted down in wish list notebook

Ooh, it looks like BookMooch has copies of these novels. I might just have to snag them myself.

Adding my first 9 reads; I'll be back to hopefully post some reactions/reviews when I have more time. Sorry to be AWOL for so long!

Reviewing:
Ender in Exile - Orson Scott Card (3.5 stars)
While I have to disapprove a bit of Card's obvious milking of the Ender series for all that it's worth, I'll admit that I've been eagerly awaiting this novel for some time.

I can't say I was disappointed--the book demonstrates Ender's maturing from the young, reluctant soldier of Ender's Game to the man he is in Speaker for the Dead quite seamlessly, as far as I could tell, and I enjoyed the new characters the author introduced as well as the old ones he expanded on.

Is this book necessary to tell the entire Ender story? Probably not, but it's a nice treat for Ender fans eager for more canon material. Overall, I'm satisfied, and I'll continue to breathlessly await Card's final (for now) offering in the Shadow series, too.

Reviewing:
Choke - Chuck Palahniuk (3 stars)
This novel follows a typical Palahniuk cast--nymphomaniacs, sadists, and a series of strippers, mental patients, and ultranormal members of the middle class--as Victor, a sex-addict working in a Colonial Williamsburg-esque historical reenactment village, pays his dying mother's hospital bills with money provided by all of the men and women who've "saved" him every time he pretends to choke in upscale restaurants (several times a night at times). His discovery of his mother's journal leads to a (possibly) divine twist, and the delicate house of cards Victor has built up around himself threatens to collapse.

This one is middle-of-the-road for Palahniuk--not bad, but by no means his best (that honor still goes to Diary, in my opinion). I'd recommend it to any Palahniuk enthusiast, with the caution that the sex scenes are graphic and pretty gross at times (but then, Palahniuk is never for the weak-stomached).

Reviewing:
Survivor - Chuck Palahniuk (2.5 stars)
Protagonist Tender Branson, the last survivor of an Amish/Hutterite-styled cult that committed suicide en masse, describes his lauch to fame with the help of a corrupt agent and the prophesies of a reluctant seer--from the cockpit of the plane he's hijacked, intending a dramatic public suicide.

This was not my favorite of Palahniuk's books. I don't expect his characters to be likable, but I usually end up identifying with them on some level anyway--not so with Survivor. I found every character repulsive and generally obnoxious, and reading with the kind of detachment I developed was unpleasant. I can't say I'd recommend this book to anyone but a Palahniuk superfan.

Reviewing:
Heat - Bill Buford (3.5 stars)
Buford details his adventures (and misadventures) working as an unpaid apprentice to the Mario Batali style of cooking in the kitchens of Babbo and, later, training with master pasta makers and a butcher in Italy itself.

An insightful outsider's view of the culinary world. I enjoyed this, though I couldn't help gaping at the sheer impossibility of those sorts of experiences for someone like me, lacking the financial means that this author obviously had. Besides the envy it aroused, though, I enjoyed this book.

Reviewing:
Lucky - Alice Sebold (4.5 stars)
This memoir opens with Sebold's rape and follows the author as she works to bring the rapist to justice and to pick up her own life and relationships in the aftermath.

What a disturbing, moving story! This is definitely not for the weak-stomached, with graphic descriptions of rape and violence. Still, I'm glad I took the time to read this, and I'd recommend it for any woman, especially one entering college.

Reviewing:
A Scanner Darkly - Phillip K. Dick (4 stars)
Dick illustrates the symbiotic relationship between law enforcement and the criminal element in this novel about the real-world consequences of drug abuse in his science-fictionalized setting. Bob Arctor, undercover officer, monitors Bob Arctor, both dealing and addicted to Substance D, a compound that splits the hemispheres of the user's brain as it drives him insane. Can he trace the drug to its source before he succumbs to its effects himself?

What a disturbing, intense book! The first thing I did after finishing this novel was hand it off to a friend so I'd have someone to discuss it with. It's definitely not a light read, so don't pick it up if you're not looking for something thought-provoking. It's science-fiction, yes, but also has a lot of interesting things to say about drug abuse and addiction and, whether you agree with Dick's views or not, the sociology of crime.

Vedanta: for the Western World great philosophy for 2010!

Reviewing:
Catch Me If You Can - Stan Redding and Frank W. Abignale (5 stars)
Frank W. Abignale describes his life as a fake arline pilot, pediatrician, lawyer, security guard, and FBI agent--among many other guises he takes on in his life as a con-man in the 1960s before his capture. As difficult as it is to believe, the events described all take place before the author is legally an adult.

As much as I love the movie based on this memoir, I was shocked to discover how much more extensive and amazing Frank's capers were! It's hard today to imagine a world where one would be able to pull off these crimes--which can be credited, in part, to Frank's work with law enforcement after his final arrest--but that doesn't make it any less fun to read about. The book is well-written and engaging, and it's one story I couldn't stop gushing over to my friends as I read. Definitely pick this one up if you're interested in crime or merely looking for a good memoir.

And that catches me up! Well, besides The Devil Wears Prada, which I would review, if I could think of anything to say about it. It was a bit of fun, but not particularly fulfilling, and I can't see myself picking up anything of Weisberger's in the future. 3 stars.

Wow! You have been busy reading, Krys.

I read Sebold's Lucky when it first came out and remember how powerful a memoir it is. Not enjoyable reading by any means, but definitely worth while.

I will see if I can find a copy of Catch Me If You Can. I enjoyed the movie quite a bit. Thanks for the recommendation.

Stasia -

What can I say, all those Christmas-gifted novels were too tempting to stay away from. I'm happy to have already taken such a chunk out of my goal!

Catch Me If You Can is definitely worth picking up. I couldn't put it down once I started! Abignale is a great storyteller, and it's interesting to note the differences between the movie and book--the screenwriters definitely idealized him quite a bit (he's not nearly so virginal in reality), though the real man seems twice as brilliant as his movie counterpart.

I checked and my local library has Abignale's book, so I hope to read it in the near future.

I read Catch Me If You Can shortly after the film came out, and thought it really was fantastic. You're right -- it's different from the film in a number of ways, but the story isn't any less fascinating (maybe moreso) and is definitely worth the read!

Hi Krys,

Re #40:
I so agree with you about Diary being Palahniuk's best story. I'd read a few Palahniuk novels since then, but got tired of them as I began seeing them as formulaic. After a while, I stopped picking up his newer novels.

Re #42:
I never made it to reading Heat. I got too sidetracked reading other books. Oh, well!

Re #43:
I'm glad I took the time to read this, and I'd recommend it for any woman, especially one entering college.

That's exactly what I did after reading Lucky: A Memoir. I gave my copy of it to my daughter who was just about to enter college at the time. Since reading it, she completed college and, thankfully, never encountered a situation such as Alice Sebold.

You've been reading some great books! :) Think I'll see if I can find Catch Me If You Can at my library, seems really interesting.

Reviewing:
The Nation's Crucible - Peter J. Kastor (4 stars)
This book chronicles Lousiana's history from the territory's purchase during Jefferson's administration to its admission into the union in 1812. I really enjoyed the read, as the Louisiana Purchase is most often taught as a footnote in America's history, important only in that it expanded US borders--one doesn't reflect on the fact that there were people already living there when it was incorporated! It's interesting to read about the issues faced by these new citizens and their struggle towards statehood.

It's also well-written, as history books go, and I didn't find it overly dense or pedantic. A casual reader would enjoy this as much as a student.

@50: I hope you enjoy it! I'll keep tabs on your thread for it. :)

@51: I enjoyed both the film and the book, and I understand and agree with the changes that were made for the movie, but the book really is more unbelievable! I'm glad I got to read this one.

@52: I agree on Palahniuk's work seeming formulaic after a while--the past three or four of his books I've read have all blurred together in my mind, they're all so similar. He relies to much on shock value, I think; once you're desensitized to it there's not much draw to his novels. I might give one or two others of his a chance, but my enthusiasm is definitely waning.

@53: Definitely check it out! It's my favorite read of the year so far.

#54: That one looks interesting. I will see if I can find a copy. Thanks for the recommendation, Krys.

Reviewing:
Faking It - Jennifer Crusie (2.5 stars)
This is a paperback romance set in the present, focusing on the relationship between a reluctant art forger and the con man who just moved in above her family. It's the first romance novel I've ever read, and I can't say I hated it--it was all the fun of a good, mildly trashy RomCom movie--but I also can't say I'll be dipping back into this genre any time soon. It was a comfortable read (the characters were all fairly archtypical and easy to relate to) and I understand the appeal, but I'm too much of a TV junkie to spend my reading time on fluff, too. I'll raid my shelf for something a little more thought-provoking next time.

Hmm, touchstones aren't working for me today.

I hope you enjoy your next read more, Krys!

Reviewing:
31 Songs - Nick Hornby (4 stars)
A series of essays on contemporary music and the role it has played in his life. I was expecting to enjoy this, as I'm a huge Nick Hornby fan (About a Boy, Juliet, Naked, and High Fidelity are among my favorite novels), but I wasn't expecting it to be as particularly thought-provoking as I found it. I'd recommend this to anyone who'd like to think a little bit more about what he listens to--what makes music important in our lives, as well as the peculiarities of genre and the biases of our fellow listeners.

Reviewing:
An Artist of the Floating World - Kazuo Ishiguro (4 stars)
The story of a Japanese Nationalist painter post-WWII as he adjusts to a Westernizing nation and attempts to help his youngest daughter marry despite his own now-distasteful background.

I recently finished a course on twentieth century Japan, and I have to say, Ishiguro has done an amazing job of capturing the atmosphere and character of the time. The protagonist is imperfect but endearing; I felt for him, and found myself missing the (inevitably destructive) ideals that he felt that Japan had lost. Other reviewers have expressed annoyance at the way the main character's daughters treat him--I'll second that, but with a note that the situation does closely echo that faced by many Japanese adults in the mid-twentieth century.

I want to recommend this to anyone interested in Japanese history, a different perspective on World War II and its cultural impact, or merely an engaging story told well. Though if you haven't read Ishiguro before, I highly recommend his Never Let Me Go to start--it's one of my all-time favorites.

#61: I own that book. I just need to find where I put it. Glad to see it is a good one.

#60: 31 Songs sounds really interesting, adding it to my tbr list! :)

@62 It's definitely worth reading. Good luck finding your copy, and enjoy!

@63 I'm sure you'll like it; it was a lot of fun to read. 31 Songs was also published under the name Songbook in some countries (USA included), if you're looking for it.

#60 & 61: I read 31 Songs a few years ago, and found a number of great songs and artists in there that I still listen to. I didn't think the book itself was that great, but the music! :) I did really like Never Let Me Go, however, and this book about Japan sounds even more interesting. Thanks for the advice!

@65 I agree, on the great new music recommendations. I can't believe I hadn't listened to Rufus Wainwright before now! His Poses album is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Aimee Mann, too, was one I'd never gotten around to hearing.
It's definitely more a series of articles than a book, though, so I can understand why one might not enjoy it.

An Artist of the Floating World is great! I hope you enjoy it. :)

Hmm, I wonder if anyone on here has read the Percy Jackson novels. I haven't read any YA Lit in years, but I saw that movie over the weekend and the concept was really cute and clever. I'd be interested to see if the series is any good, too. :)

#67: I have read the entire series, Krys, and recommend it. The first book is the weakest, IMHO, but the series improves from book to book.

Reviewing:
In Cold Blood - Truman Capote (3 stars)
One of the first true crime novels, this is Truman Capote's scintillating narration of the events leading up to and following the murder of the Kansas Clutter family.

I enjoyed this, but I can't say it was riveting. The first 100 pages dragged, and I only managed to keep going because of the historical significance of this work in the field of literature. I wouldn't recommend it to a casual reader looking for a scandal; there are far more interesting true crime novels out there.

@67 Thanks! I'll definitely look into the series.

>67 KLmesoftly: - I just read the first Percy Jackson book, The Lightning Thief, this month. I really liked it and plan to continue reading the series. I probably won't see the movie until it is out on DVD, but I'm glad to hear you like it.

@71 I'm glad to hear you liked it! I just started it last night, and so far am not disappointed. I hate to be constantly comparing it to the movie, but so far I haven't encountered any significant differences, besides Percy's age (in the movie he and his friends are 17).

Reviewing:
The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan (4 stars)
This novel follows 12-year-old Percy Jackson as he discovers his identity as a demigod, son of Poseidon, and embarks on a quest to restore Zeus' stolen lightning bolt. Along the way he encounters other demigods, gods themselves, and many other characters recongnizable from Greek mythology.

I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. As someone who had all but given up on Young Adult genres, I was excited to discover such an interesting concept--the Americanizing of Greek myth was playful and inventive, and the characters were easy to become invested in. I've already downloaded the rest of the series!

I'm not going to touch the Harry Potter comparisons many people are intent on making, but I would recommend this to any young person or adult looking for more fantasy in the child-coming-of-age-with-extraordinary-gifts vein.

I have to say that I was surprised that I liked it, too. I saw the preveiw of the movie and wanted to see it, so when I found out that it was a book I wanted to read it so bad.

My sister read the book and she raved on and on aabout it. So I read it and got totally hooked. I'm reading the 4th book right now, but I'm so mad I havn't had any time to read it. I was also interestsed in the storeis of the characters, too. I think it shines a light on ore characters than most books do.
I saw the movie and it was TERRIBLE. Nothing like the book. HATED IT. But I love the books.

I've just caught up on 74 messages in your thread - have added An Artist of the Floating World to my wishlist, and don't know why I haven't looked for it before. I adored The Remains of the Day 20 years or so ago but haven't even read Never Let Me Go yet.

And it was great to read all the talk here about the Percy Jackson series. I was listening to a podcast (books on the nightstand) last weekend and they were raving about the book being a favourite of one of their kids. I have a 5 year old boy and am always looking for new stories, but it sounds like this one needs to wait a few years.

@74 Hmm, I might be the only person who enjoyed both the Percy Jackson movie and the novel it was based on. Maybe it's because I saw the film first, but I see the sense in many of the simplifications and alterations--too many loose ends in the movie would've come off as shameless sequel-grabbing, whereas they just made me want to keep reading in the book.

My only real issue with the movie was that it couldn't seem to decide whether to play to adults or a younger audience. The aged-up characters and embracing of a lot of the story's darker elements was nice, but the randomly inserted bits of comedy and the attempt to make the gods (Poseidon, mainly) more human/fatherly fell flat to me. But to explain my viewpoint, I don't think movies need to be identical to the books they're based on. I'd rather see the best elements adapted to the new media, and I think Percy Jackson was fairly successful at distilling the most important parts of The Lightning Thief for a different audience.

@75 Good luck with An Artist of the Floating World! It's possibly my favorite read of the year so far.

Re: Percy Jackson, I'd definitely keep it out of a 5-year-old's hands for now. It's a great series (or start to a series, anyway--I've only just gotten ahold of the other four books), but there are definitely some dark elements. It is a great story, though, with a really imaginative premise, and definitely will be worth reading at some point. :)

Reviewing:
The Sea of Monsters - Rick Riordan (4 stars)
The second book in the Percy Jackson series, this narrative follows Percy as he quests to recover yet another legendary object--this time, Jason's golden fleece. Two books in, I'm still completely loving this series. The characters I grew to like in The Lightning Thief are further developed, as is the conflict between Percy's desires and his destiny as a demigod and hero.

Well done, Riordan! The second volume of a series is crucial, and with a follow-up as strong as this book I have high hopes for the rest. I'll recommend this without reservation (and I've started book 3 already, myself).

Reviewing:
Alias Grace - Margaret Atwood (3.5 stars)
Based on the press surrounding a set of real-life murders, this novel is told from the perspective of Grace Marks, a woman serving a life sentence for her role in the deaths of her employer and his mistress, as she tells her story to a young psychiatrist. I was immediately hooked by the story--it's a tough one to put down! The details of what really took place are revealed bit by bit, drawing one further and further into Grace's world. The writing style is fascinating (alternating first- and third-person sections, intersperced with actual newspaper quotes regarding the murders) and the climax is rewarding--if a bit predictable.

This isn't my favorite Atwood (that would be The Handmaid's Tale), but it's well-written and peopled with rich and interesting characters. I'd recommend it to anyone who's read and appreciated the author's writing in the past.

#77: Book one in the series is definitely the weakest and each book from thereon out is an improvement, IMO. Glad to see you stick with it, Krys.

#78: I bought that one last year. I just need to get it read!

@79 I have to agree--I've loved every book in the series more than the last. It's really a well-written five books.

Reviewing:
The Last Olympian - Rick Riordan (4.5 stars)
A perfect ending to an amazing series! This novel finishes off the overarching conflict of the first four books: Kronos' rise and assault on Olympus. Riordan does an excellent job tying up all of the subplots and character arcs along with the main storyline, and does it with amazing style--I couldn't put this down after the first page.

#80: You finished it! I am glad to see that you thought as I did - a perfect ending to the series.

Finally finished Harriette Wilson's Memoirs, which were great fun to read but took forever, and now I'm moving on to one of my ER wins, Ada Leverson's Love's Shadow.

#82: I have read some good reviews here in the group of Love's Shadow so hopefully it will be a faster read for you and one that you enjoy.

I'm a bit behind on my reviews, but here's my most recent read as a step towards catching up:

Reviewing:
Audition - Ryu Murakami (1.5 stars)
I'm not sure whether to blame the original author or his translator for the mess this book's turned out to be. Ultimately, I'm sure it's a mix of the two. Where the author is definitely concerned, the book's ending is weak and poorly-paced, the characters are all flat (It's as though Murakami heard the adage "show, don't tell" in reverse - I found myself picturing cardboard cutouts with characteristics scrawled on their backs in place of real people), and the ham-fisted attempts at foreshadowing and suspense-building are laughably obvious.

I'm willing to place blame tentatively on the translator for other issues: the simplistic, uninteresting (though granted, readable) prose; the horrifically bad descriptions of sex ("lolling," "sluicing," and "oozing" are three of the least erotic verbs I've ever read); and the sudden narrative shift from restricted third person (Aoyama) to apparent third person omniscient and then back again, in order to conveniently clarify Asami's motivation, to name a few.

I wouldn't call this novel terrible, but it's by no means a masterpiece, and I won't be recommending it to any of my friends. Even cult horror fans are better off preserving their memories of the far superior film version.

It has been a while, Krys! Glad to see you back.

I think I will skip Audition. It does not sounds like my cup of tea at all (or yours either from the looks of it!) I hope you enjoy your next read more.

@85 - Thanks, and no, definitely avoid that one. If it weren't an ER read I don't think I would've finished it at all.

Reviewing:
Speaking with the Angel - Nick Hornby (4 stars)
Edited by Nick Hornby, this collection of short stories includes the work of some excellent and often best-selling contemporary writers. This sort of collection is usually a mixed bag for me as a reader, but Speaking with the Angel was made up almost entirely of high-quality, entertaining fiction. High points were the efforts of Dave Eggers, Zadie Smith, and Hornby himself, and the only story I didn't enjoy was Irvine Welsh's unsubtle, unfunny "Catholic Guilt You (Know You Like It)." I'll second one reviewer's note that even Colin Firth's piece is surprisingly good.

Overall, the collection is very strong (and very worth recommending).

#86: I am glad you enjoyed that one more than Audition, Krys.

I will put Speaking with the Angel in the BlackHole. Maybe I will get lucky and my local library will acquire it one of these days.

>86 KLmesoftly: - Krys - Speaking with the Angel sounds great. I just read my first books by both Dave Eggers (The Wild Things) and Nick Hornsby (Juliet, Naked) this year, and I liked both of them very much. Speaking with the Angel is going on on my TBR.

It's been so long! I've been so unfaithful, fellow 75-in-2010-ers! My apologies to all. Anyway, I just added books #37 - 52 to the list. I'm quite a bit behind, obviously, as far as finishing by 31 December, but we'll see.

Currently I'm working on finishing Suzanne Collins' Catching Fire and Mockingjay, and need to have Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas read for a class by 29 November. Also on the TBR list is Per Pettersen's Out Stealing Horses for the 2 December meeting of the local book club I attend with my mother. :)

Krys! Glad to see you back again!

I'm glad to be back, Stasia! I can't believe I neglected this challenge group(/entire site, really) for so long. :P

I am surprised you did not go through withdrawal. I know I would!

Haha, I think I've been busy enough until lately to forget about a lot of the things I used to participate in online. This past summer I transfered colleges (a good thing) and moved back in with my parents (not such a good thing), so I've been in transition for a while. Things are settling down again now, though, so I've had time to reflect on things I've been missing out on and correct a lot of it. :)

Wow! Lots going on with you. I can see why LT has been neglected.

Well, we're glad yu made it back this way... :)

Thanks, Jim! I'm happy to be here again.

Just Added: #53: David Rakoff - Don't Get Too Comfortable: The Indignities of Coach Class, The Torments of Low Thread Count, The Never- Ending Quest for Artisanal Olive Oil, and Other First World Problems

I felt like listening to an audiobook this morning, so I downloaded this one from the library and threw it on my iPod. It's really just four hours of mildly amusing rants - nothing to write home about, and certainly nothing impactful, but there are worse ways to spend an hour's commute. :P

Because apparently I take very good advantage of my snow days (and maybe that deadline's breathing down my neck a bit, too!), I just added: #54 Suzanne Collins - Catching Fire.

I won't even pretend I don't have Mockingjay sitting on my night table next to me right now. I guess I know what I'm doing tomorrow!

I waited until Mockingjay was safely at my home before even thinking about reading Catching Fire!

Added:
55. Jay Anson - The Amityville Horror
56. Jennifer Traig - Devil in the Details: Scenes from an Obsessive Girlhood
57. Suzanne Collins - Mockingjay

I can't say I found the final volume in The Hunger Games trilogy particularly satisfying - maybe it was the glossed-over conclusion? I'll have to think about it more; I literally just closed the last book 10 or so minutes ago.

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving, Krys!

Thanks, Stasia, you too! :D

I did! :)

Added:
58. Hilaire Belloc - Cautionary Verses
Amusing tales for children re: obedience to one's parents and proper observance of manners, etc, all told in rhyming verse. I listened to these in audiobook format (whilst cleaning my bedroom, appropriately), and found some of them pretty hilarious.

59. Phillip Roth - The Breast
Typical middle-aged white male literary angst, with a weird, Kafka-esque twist. I'm still deciding what I think about this one - though, since it's the holiday season, I will say that it'd definitely be an interesting (read: ill-advised) gift. I can only imagine what the recipient would assume was being implied by the choice.

In other news, I just snagged a copy of Orson Scott Card's latest, The Lost Gate, from Early Review! I'm really excited; I love everything he's written, even those totally-milking-the-cash-cow late additions to the Enderverse, so I can't wait to get an advanced look at his newest work. :)

I will be interested in seeing what you think of The Lost Gate, Krys!

I just finally updated my reading list, and it looks like I might actually make it to 75 this year! I'm in the middle of my 73rd book - Muriel Spark's The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and have a few others to choose between for the next couple of days' reading material.

To summarize the last half-month of reading:
I got a nook e-reader for Christmas and am LOVING it so far. It's been incredibly easy to use and with the amount of travel/commuting I do during the year the portability of it will be really nice - especially since I'm planning to tackle some superlong Russian classics this coming year, as well as a few longer books that've been sitting on the top of my to-read pile for a while (Infinite Jest, I'm looking at you!). I'm glad I got the nook; the touch screen is wonderful and wonderfully easy to use.

Of the books I've recently read, Cutting for Stone, Nemesis, and A Single Man I would most recommend. I wasn't all that impressed with The Lost Gate, sadly, though if one is already a fan of Orson Scott Card's work s/he would probably enjoy it. Avoid Confessions of a Crap Artist at all costs - this novel may have ruined Philip K. Dick for me.

I know you can make it to 75, Krys!

I made it, but with a bit of cheating - that last work is a short story. :P

Congrats!