aktakukac's 2010 Challenge

I read 56 new books, two rereads, and most of Anna Karenina in 2009. My goal was 60 books, so I almost made it! The 2009 thread is here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/53449

I'll try for 60 books again in 2010!

I like lists, so here's a list of what I've read this year:

I finished Anna Karenina, although I started it in 2009.
1. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
2. The Hireling by L.P. Hartley
3. The Bro Code by Barney Stinson
4. The Blue Lenses and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier
5. 'Allo 'Allo: v. 2: The War Diaries of Rene Artois
6. A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich
7. A White Bird Flying by Bess Streeter Aldrich
8. The Ballad of the Sad Cafe and Other Stories by Carson McCullers
9. Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor
10. The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey
11. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
12. More Was Lost by Eleanor Perényi
13. The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne
14. The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy
15. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
16. Anne of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery
17. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
18. Anne of the Island by Lucy Maud Montgomery
19. A Shilling for Candles by Josephine Tey
20. Anne of Windy Poplars by Lucy Maud Montgomery
21. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
22. Eclipse of the Crescent Moon (Stars of Eger / Egri csillagok) by Géza Gárdonyi
23. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
24. Anne's House of Dreams by Lucy Maud Montgomery
25. Anne of Ingleside by Lucy Maud Montgomery
26. Rainbow Valley by Lucy Maud Montgomery
27. Rilla of Ingleside by Lucy Maud Montgomery
28. None to Accompany Me by Nadine Gordimer
29. Kilmeny of the Orchard by Lucy Maud Montgomery
30. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
31. Fireworks Over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff
32. The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright
33. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
34. Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot
35. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
36. Mrs. Mike by Benedict Freedman
37. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
38. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
39. The Endless Steppe: Growing Up In Siberia by Esther Hautzig
40. City of Shadows by Ariana Franklin
41. The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
42. Bookends by Jane Green
43. Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
44. Company of Liars by Karen Maitland
45. The Girl from Junchow by Kate Furnival
46. Etta: A Novel by Gerald Kolpan
47. The Glass Room by Simon Mawer
48. Diplomatic Baggage: The Adventures of a Trailing Spouse by Brigid Keenan
49. Coventry: A Novel by Helen Humphreys
50. Jim the Boy by Tony Earley
51. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
52. Once on This Island by Gloria Whelan
53. The Diplomat's Wife by Pam Jenoff
54. Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson
55. The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
56. The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean
57. The Journey Back by Johanna Reiss
58. My 'Dam Life: Three Years in Holland by Sean Condon
59. The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran
60. Train from Marietta by Dorothy Garlock
61. Annie, Between the States by L.M. Elliott
62. Love and War in the Apennines by Eric Newby
63. The Corset Diaries by Katie MacAlister
64. Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky
65. The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner
66. Crofton's Fire by Keith Coplin
67. Katherine by Anya Seton
68. Shadow of the Silk Road by Colin Thubron
69. Tatiana and Alexander by Paullina Simons
70. Blockade Billy by Stephen King
71. Ines of My Soul by Isabel Allende
72. Death by Darjeeling by Laura Childs
73. The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
74. The Violin of Auschwitz by Maria Àngels Anglada
75. Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati
76. Insatiable by Meg Cabot
77. Where the River Ends by Charles Martin
78. Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
79. The Rose of Sebastopol by Katharine McMahon
80. The Dead Travel Fast by Deanna Raybourn
81. The Night Journal by Elizabeth Crook
82. Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn
83. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig
84. The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder
85. The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan
86. The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan
87. The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo
88. An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor
89. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
90. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
91. Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher
92. The Widower's Wife by Prudence Bice

Great on finishing Anna Karenina!! I don't know if I will read that book this year. It sounds like a very lengthy book. Good luck on your goal this year of 60 books.

I starred you even though I have a devil of a time saying "ak-tak-u-kac" every time I read your thread. ;-)

Good luck with your challenge this year! And looking forward to your thoughts on The Poisonwood Bible, it's one of my favourites that I'm planning reread later this year.

1. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

I bought a copy of The Poisonwood Bible for less than a dollar when I was in the US last summer. When I was packing to come back to Hungary last August, I decided to throw it into my suitcase at the last minute, even though I had a feeling I wouldn’t enjoy reading it. I’m happy to say I was wrong! It took me a few chapters to get into the book, but after that I couldn’t put it down. I liked getting different perspectives from the five narrators. One thing that surprised me was how little Nathan Price’s character was developed, especially considering how much he influenced his family, their situation in the Congo, and the rest of their lives. Overall, a good book to start off the year.

2. The Hireling by L.P. Hartley

Hartley's The Go-Between has been on my want-to-read list for a while, and when I came across The Hireling in my school's English Library, I decided to give it a go. It's the story of a young, widowed English aristocrat and her hired driver. Leadbitter, the driver, creates an imaginary wife and family and tells stories about them to distract Lady Franklin from her grief. I don't want to give too much away, but I will say the end surprised me.

3. The Bro Code by Barney Stinson

Lately some of my students have been asking me if I like "How I Met Your Mother." I told them I do, and then they mentioned The Bro Code. The other day, one of my students came up to me after the lesson and handed me his copy. It was a quick read, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I listened to it on audiobook.

4. The Blue Lenses and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier

I read a collection of du Maurier's short stories last year and loved them, so I was eager to read this collection as well. I didn't quite "get" a couple of the stories, but once again I loved the author's writing style. I'm going to have to read some of her novels in the future.

5. 'Allo 'Allo: v. 2: The War Diaries of Rene Artois

For fans of the classic British comedy series.

6. A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich

I'm not sure how I missed this book as a teenager, because it's exactly what I enjoyed reading when I was in my teens. The novel follows Abbie Deal through her life as a pioneer in Nebraska. Beautifully written and touching, I will definitely be reading the sequel, A White Bird Flying.

Edited because I still am a young adult...technically...

I like Willa Cather, so I will be giving these books a try. Thanks for mentioning them.

tjblue: I haven't read Willa Cather yet, so I can't compare her to Bess Streeter Aldrich. If you like reading about pioneers and the settling of Nebraska, I think you'll like A lantern in Her Hand.

7. A White Bird Flying by Bess Streeter Aldrich

The sequel to A Lantern in Her Hand follows Laura Deal, a granddaughter of Abbie Deal, as she grows up, graduates from university, and makes some important decisions about her life and her future as a writer. A great follow-up, in my opinion.

There are Allo, Allo books? Now I have to hunt for some.

d_perlo: Yes, there are books! They are basically the beginning seasons as told through Rene's diary entries. There are some running gags, which make them even funnier. I have to admit, however, the books are probably only for die-hard 'Allo 'Allo fans.

I'm not sure how common they are; my colleague/friend randomly found them in charity shops in England...

8. The Ballad of the Sad Cafe and Other Stories by Carson McCullers

Not bad, but not exceptional either. I did give it an extra half star on the rating because of the "lover and the beloved" passage from the title story.

Edited to try to fix Touchstones

9. Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor

I was really looking forward to reading this, because I had heard it is an excellent example of historical fiction. I have to agree. It's well-written; Winsor really did her research, and it shows.

HOWEVER...

I hated 95% of the characters. I couldn't relate to Amber at all, and there were many times when I wanted to throw my book across the room and not continue with it. Furthermore, I have no idea why this is considered a "great romance." Those who expect a romantic novel will be sorely disappointed.

10. The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey

I enjoyed this mystery featuring Inspector Alan Grant, even though I had trouble with the language at times. It was VERY British. Basic synopsis: A man was stabbed in the back while in a tightly-packed line for the theater. Most of the story is set in the London area, but my favorite parts took place in the Scottish Highlands. I will continue with this series, and can't wait for The Daughter of Time.

11. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

I don't know if my expectations were too high or if I was expecting something different from this book. I just couldn't get into it. It wasn't bad, and there were some parts I liked, but overall I was disappointed.

12. More Was Lost by Eleanor Perényi

A friend lent me More Was Lost, because 1. she knew I would be interested in the story (especially the setting and the author’s experiences living in this part of Central Europe) and 2. we want to visit the Ukraine and see the Perényi estate, which is now mostly a museum. My friend prepared me for the ending, or lack thereof, which is my main criticism with the book. Otherwise, it’s a fast, fairly easy read, especially for someone familiar with Hungarian history and names.

The author, an American, married Zsigamond Perényi, a Hungarian baron, in 1937 and moved with him to his estate in what had been Hungary, was then Czechoslovakia, and is now the Ukraine. She wrote about life in the countryside, managing a large farm and vineyard, travels, and the political situation leading up to and during WWII. Due to various circumstances, Eleanor returned to the USA in 1940. I did not like how the ending was "unresolved" and it left me with a lot of questions about what happened to the characters, the land, and why Eleanor made some of the choices she did.

13. The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne

I'm teaching a graded reader version of this story to one of my advanced classes, so I thought I should read the actual story. I did the same with In Search of the Castaways with a different class a couple of years ago. They are the only two Verne novels I have read, and while I like them, I definitely need to read something different after completing one of his stories. I do have Around the World in Eighty Days on my TBR list.

14. The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy

I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would, even though it took forever to remember which characters were which, and how they were related. Some parts dragged on and on. I liked the first two novels more than the third.

15. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

I'm thoroughly ashamed of myself. How could I have not read the Anne series when I was a child/teenager? Actually, I can answer that...I loved the movies so much that I really thought the books wouldn't be as good. How silly I was! However, I can appreciate Montgomery's writing more now that I am older. Lovely writing, wonderful characters, it definitely gets five stars from me! I can't wait to read Anne of Avonlea!

16. Anne of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery

I really enjoyed the second Anne book, and will continue with the series.

17. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

I'm glad this was so short, because if it had been any longer, I probably would have abandoned it.

18. Anne of the Island by Lucy Maud Montgomery

I loved the ending the most! The series is just as charming as I had imagined it would be.

19. A Shilling for Candles by Josephine Tey

It took me a few weeks to get through this one. I'd read a chapter or two and set it aside, which probably didn't help me follow the mystery. There were too many secondary characters and too many storylines. I think that I like Tey's writing style, but it takes some getting used to.

20. Anne of Windy Poplars by Lucy Maud Montgomery

I loved the first three books in the Anne series, but this one didn't quite meet my expectations. This could be partly due to the format: much of the book is a series of letters that Anne wrote to Gilbert. I wanted letters from Gilbert to Anne, too...or at least some idea of his thoughts during the three years!

21. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

I wasn't sure what to expect from Mansfield Park, since a lot of people consider it to be one of their least-favorite Austen novels. I had also read a lot of negative opinions about Fanny Price, which made me wonder if I would like the heroine or not. Overall, I enjoyed this, my fourth Austen.

Northanger Abbey was my least favorite Austen. My favorite will always be Pride and Prejudice although Mr. Darcy has started to wear on me as I get older and (hopefully) wiser.

So far, my favorite has been Emma, followed by Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Sense and Sensibility is most definitely in last place! I'm saving Persuasion for last, but I have a feeling it'll be my favorite.

>30 aktakukac:: I'm curious. Which one did you read first?

I read Pride and Prejudice first. It took me a while to get used to the style, and I remember I wrote down a lot of new vocabulary! I think if/when I read it again, it'll be my favorite.

22. Eclipse of the Crescent Moon (Stars of Eger / Egri csillagok) by Géza Gárdonyi

This is considered one of the most popular Hungarian novels, and students all over the country read and study it. I figured that it was high time I read it, and I wasn't disappointed. I knew a bit about the Siege of Eger from a class trip there a few years ago, but I learned a lot more from this fictionalized account. One thing that really surprised me, however, was how long it took to actually get to the siege in the story. The first three parts dealt with one of the heroes as a child and teenager, and included a rescue mission to Istanbul. The last two parts of the novel felt like an entirely different story. Four stars.

>30 aktakukac:: I think Persuasion is the most romantic of her novels. Emma is really funny.

@carlym: Now I can't wait to read Persuasion :) Maybe I'll get to it later this year, I'm not sure. I agree that Emma is really funny. I also didn't find her as irritating as most people do.

I don't find Emma irritating either. I think she is very true-to-life.

23. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

I wanted to like this more than I did, especially since Wilde touched upon so many interesting ideas and themes. Sometimes it was easy to read, and other times I had to read paragraphs more than once to make sense of it all. It's not my favorite "classic," but not the worst.

24. Anne's House of Dreams by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Not what I expected now that Anne and Gilbert are married. The novel had more of a serious and melancholy tone than the previous books. I missed the characters from Avonlea, but I really liked one of the new characters, Captain Jim. Another good addition to the series.

25. Anne of Ingleside by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Most of Anne of Ingleside was actually about her children, not Anne herself. The ending, dealing with Anne and Gilbert, was definitely different from the rest of the book.

I’m getting ready to move back to the USA at the end of the month, so my reading habits have changed a lot. I don’t have a lot of time to read, and when I do I’m usually thinking about other things instead of concentrating on the book. I’m struggling through None to Accompany me, and continuing with the next in the Anne series when I have time. I have been given three books by my students and colleagues: two novels by Antal Szerb, and a lovely hardcover of One Hundred Wonders of Hungary, Part II. The Szerb novels look really good and I’ll take them with me when I fly. I’ll probably take The Radetzky March and The Daughter of Time with me as well. Who knows, I might get stuck in an airport if a volcano decides to erupt or something!

#38: As I recall, all the books after Anne's House of Dreams are more about the children. But the last one, Rilla of Ingleside, is one of my favorites.

Are you excited to be coming back to the U.S.? Or...? I'm going to read Radetzky March one of these days; I keep hearing good things about it. Have you read it before? I don't travel very much, but I like a very particular book when I'm traveling.

Carlym: I've heard good things about Rilla of Ingleside too. Over the last few years, I have started to get more interested in World War I, so I'm looking forward to reading Rilla. I can hopefully start it later today or tomorrow.

Bonnie: I'm excited to be going back to my books, my sister's books, two great libraries and inter-library loan systems, and lots of book sales and thrift stores to help build my library. I have notebooks and pages filled with books I can't wait to get my hands on, and of course I add more all the time thanks to LT.

I'm not excited to leave Europe, but I know I'll be back at least for visits and vacations. I'm going to miss living here, good public transport (I love trains!), being able to visit my favorite cities/countries fairly often, my students, and the beer. I'm not sure what the future holds, but I know I'm not done with Europe!

I haven't read The Radetzky March before, but I've wanted to for a long time. I found a cheap copy in an English bookshop in Budapest a couple weeks ago and snatched it up...although I have a lot of books to bring back and could have waited to get it. I like to have at least a couple books with me when I travel (I hate finishing a book and not having another one to start...that is not fun when you still have three hours left of your train ride!) but I tend to look out the window too much or people watch. Of course, it also depends who I'm stuck sitting by on the airplanes...with my luck I usually end up next to overweight, smelly, grumpy old businessmen. THEN I want a 600-page tome at least!

Wow, sorry for the rambling :)

26. Rainbow Valley by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Well, I can’t say that Rainbow Valley was a bad book. There just wasn’t enough Anne in it. I wonder why Shirley Blythe wasn’t included, hardly mentioned, in fact. All of the other children were…both the Blythe children and the Meredith’s.

Edited to fix Touchstones.

27. Rilla of Ingleside by Lucy Maud Montgomery

There was much more about WWI than I was expecting, but that wasn’t a problem. One of my favorites of the series.

28. None to Accompany Me by Nadine Gordimer

Not my kind of book for several reasons. I couldn’t relate to the characters, especially Vera Stark. I couldn’t follow what had happened and was happening politically because I don’t know anything about South Africa at that time. This is a book that makes you think, and my life is too complicated and busy at the moment for that.

29. Kilmeny of the Orchard by Lucy Maud Montgomery

This is another case where if I had read the book as a teenager, I probably would have enjoyed it more. I enjoyed Montgomery’s writing style, but could not get over the sexism, prejudice against foreigners, and how things were resolved so "neatly" at the end. This book made me think about how much society and what is considered acceptable has changed in the last 100 years. I’ll take a break from Montgomery for a while, and when I return to her works (perhaps The Blue Castle), I hope I will enjoy them more than this one.

I have three books ready to start reading between now and when I leave Hungary, but I have no idea if I’ll open any of them before I get on the plane.

I'm glad you liked Rilla.

I remember enjoying the Emily of New Moon series in addition to the Anne books, but the stand-alone books weren't that great (except maybe The Story Girl, which is sort of a stand-alone book, as I recall).

I haven't had any time to read in the last few days, and it will probably be at least a week before I finish my next book. On Saturday, I was given three books: another Hungarian novel from one of my colleagues/friends, a book about my town in Hungarian, German, and English and filled with pictures of old postcards and things from the school, and a book with the Lord's Prayer in 121 European languages from the family that kind of "adopted" me while I was here. They are all nice books, but between those and the ones I already have here, I'm having a hard time figuring out how to pack them and send them back to the US!

I've also been passing along some of the books that I had bought while in Europe or brought from the US. Mostly, ones I have already read or books that I can easily get again in the US if I want to. I gave some to a few teachers, donated some to the English library, and gave some others to another family I did a lot of things with.

30. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

I borrowed this from my sister while I was recovering from jet lag and all the travel problems I had coming back to the US. I liked most of it, but the ending was rushed. It was good, but the author could have done more with it.

It stinks when there are travel problems, but glad to see you made it back safe and sound!

@tjblue: Thanks! I was so stressed, worried, angry, etc. that I couldn't read AT ALL during the flights or layovers. What a waste of perfectly good reading time! I'm making up for it now, though :)

31. Fireworks Over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff

I learned about this book on LT. It looked promising, but I ended up disappointed. The author could have done so much more with the characters. A quick read, and good for people who like The Notebook or Titanic or things like that.

32. The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright

Another quick read, somewhat predictable.

33. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Do not stay up until 12:30 in the morning to finish this book and then expect to sleep well. This was easily one of the best books I have read this year. 4 1/2 stars.

34. Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot

Not as good as the first two, which was disappointing.

35. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

I finally got around to reading this one...sometimes I felt like I was the only person who hadn't read it yet! It was good historical fiction, but I had problems relating to any of the characters. I was also irritated by Lily at times. She was too "lucky" most of the time.

36. Mrs. Mike by Benedict Freedman

A wonderful story about Katherine Mary Flannigan's life after she moved to Alberta, met and married a Canadian Mounty, and their life in northern Canada. Another gem I found through LibraryThing.

37. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Really enjoyable, it MIGHT make my top ten of the year. I liked Simonson's writing style, and the story never got boring. I also wonder how many times the word "tea" was used from the first page to the last :)

38. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

I haven't read many books that are heavy on magical realism, but after reading Like Water for Chocolate, I might have to add some more to my list. I was pleasently surprised by the novel and now I want to see the movie version. And cook.

39. The Endless Steppe: Growing Up in Siberia by Esther Hautzig

Somehow I missed the fact that this is a Young Adult book until I looked it up and found it at the library. Keeping in mind that it is a YA book, I felt the chapters were generally too long, and found several instances of poor editing.
However, the story itself more than makes up for those problems. I especially liked how it shows an aspect of Jews and WWII that isn’t as familiar as concentration camps. This is a good book to use in the classroom. An afterword or some notes about what happened after the ending would have been nice.

The movie was fantastic! I'm not big on magical realism, but there are some books that so good, I can get beyond that.

Bonnie, good to know about the movie! I didn’t even know there was a movie based on the book!

40. City of Shadows by Ariana Franklin

When I first started reading this book, I thought it would just be “ok.” By the time I finished reading it, I thought it was fantastic, and I am picky when it comes to suspense and crime. I’ve even finished another book since then, and my mind keeps going back to Berlin in the 1920s and 1930s, and I can’t get the characters out of my head.

As for the big twist at the very end, I did NOT see that coming! It was a big surprise, and added a lot to the novel.

41. The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

A disappointment, but I had been prepared for that after reading several reviews. Wish it would have been better.

42. Bookends by Jane Green

Somewhat dated chick lit that I picked up because the main character decides to open a book shop. Well, there wasn't that much about the book shop, and most of the characters annoyed me.

43. Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

A good story, but I don't think it deserved a Newbery Honor. I learned a lot, especially about how German immigrants were treated during WWI.

44. Company of Liars by Karen Maitland

Not what I expected, but a nice change from the time periods I have been reading about lately. The ending was rushed and not very fulfilling.

45. The Girl from Junchow by Kate Furnivall

In The Girl from Junchow, the sequel to The Russian Concubine, the writing is only a bit better, and the main character is even more irritating. However, I was interested in the story enough to want to read to the end.

46. Etta: A novel by Gerald Kolpan

Not what I expected, and not a book I could rush through. Four stars out of five.

47. The Glass Room by Simon Mawer

Not a quick or light read, The Glass Room deals with a lot. The writing style won't be for everyone, and I know a lot of things in the story went over my head. I had to get it back to the library today, so I didn't take time to absorb the details like I should have. It's one I'll reread in some years.

48. Diplomatic Baggage: The Adventures of a Trailing Spouse by Brigid Keenan

Keenan, a diplomat's wife, has lived in many countries on several continents due to her husband's postings. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartwrenchingly sad, and always interesting, I couldn't put the book down. While I didn't always agree with her personal opinions, I still enjoyed the book for what it was. Recommended for anyone who has lived or worked abroad for extended periods of time or is thinking of going into international relations.

49. Coventry: A Novel by Helen Humphreys

Short, simple, and descriptive, I thought this was wonderful! I expected to hear bombs dropping around me as I read it. There were only a few characters in the story, but they were well-written and I felt a connection with them. Four and a half stars.

50. Jim the Boy by Tony Earley

One of my favorites of the year (so far)! I loved the characters, the setting, and the story. I just found out there is a sequel, so that is definitely going on my want-to-read list!

51. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

I really wanted to like this one, but I think it was the worst book I have read in a very long time. Not even the historical or cultural bits about Italy, India, and Bali could redeem it for me. I'm all about helping yourself feel good and overcoming problems in your life, but the author was a whining, complaining piece of work. When she wasn't whining or complaining, the book was boring, so it's definitely not a book for me.

52. Once on This Island by Gloria Whelan

A good children's or YA historical fiction about life on Mackinac Island (Michigan) during the War of 1812. Good for Michigan history, as well. I definitely want to read the other two books in the trilogy.

53. The Diplomat's Wife by Pam Jenoff

I wanted to read this because I remembered enjoying Jenoff's The Kommandant's Girl a couple of years ago. Marta, who played an important role in the first novel, continues her story, and some questions regarding characters from the first novel are answered as well. I really liked a couple of the new characters (Paul and Delia), but there were some things that drove me crazy, too. One: The plot was too unbelievable, yet they were intirely predictable, if that makes sense. I know this is fiction, but come on! Another thing was the language, when Marta was learning English. She would have been using short, simple sentences, not long, drawn-out, complicated phrases weeks after starting to learn the language. Overall: a fast read that had a lot of potential but fell short.

54. Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson

An easy-to-read, sweet story about a woman who never forgets the imaginary friend she had as a child, and the imaginary friend who eventually becomes not so imaginary. It was a nice story, but something was missing. Three stars.

55. The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

What took me so long to read this?? Hands down, The Bronze Horseman is my favorite book of the year. It has everything I like: historical fiction, drama, a love story, wonderful & unforgetable characters, etc. I could NOT put the book down, and I've already requested the next book in the trilogy from ILL...hopefully it will arrive soon! This is definitely a favorite, and I'll be purchasing a copy of my own soon.

It also didn't hurt that right from the beginning, I pictured Alexander as looking exactly like Henry Cavill...

>55 aktakukac:: I hadn't heard of this book, and when I looked on the book's page, I found several other reviews that were equally enthusiastic--that's pretty unusual. It's going on my wishlist!

I hope you'll enjoy it! I forgot to mention that I learned a lot about what the citizens of Leningrad had to deal with during the siege and some important historical events too. I already want to reread the book, it's that good!

56. The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean

I really wanted to like this, especially after loving The Bronze Horseman so much. Yes, the books are completely different, but I thought there would be enough similarities in dealing with the siege and other events. I think the author had an interesting idea of describing two very different parts of Marina's life, but I couldn't get into it. I'm sure art lovers would appreciate all the "art stuff" that is in the book as well, from the descriptions of paintings to the tours of the Hermitage, but it wasn't interesting to me. When I finished the book, I was confused about a few key points, and generally disappointed. I see there are a lot of positive reviews of the book, so some people like it...

57. The Journey Back by Johanna Reiss

The follow-up to The Upstairs Room, The Journey Back deals Annie and her "families" rebuilding their lives in the Netherlands after WWII. Annie, her sisters, and father all struggle with accepting what happened while they were in hiding and the aftermath of the war. Annie in particular has to deal with leaving the family that hid her, health problems, making up for years of missed schooling, her sisters leaving for different reasons, and her father remarrying. The story did a good job of describing what it took to rebuild the country in the years after the war, but it didn't engage me the way the first book did. If the author wanted to focus on that, she succeeded. I'm glad Annie kept up a relationship with the Oostervelds and they were an important part of this second book.

58. My 'Dam Life: Three Years in Holland by Sean Condon

Since I've been an expat on a few occasions, I enjoy reading about the adventures other expats have, and I especially enjoy them when their adventures take place in my favorite places. Since I love Holland and Amsterdam, I thought I couldn't go wrong with Condon's My 'Dam Life.

I had never read anything by Condon before, and I don't know if this was helpful or a hinderance. There were times I laughed out loud, and there were times I was quite bored. Reading about his long bouts of unemployment, and constant drinking got a bit old. I also thought the bit about going to California for a work assignment and all that stuff was unnecessary...if you are writing a book about living in Holland for three years, write about that! I did understand and agree with some of his comments regarding the Dutch, and I enjoyed descriptions of the city. I'd say the book was good, but definitely not great.

59. The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran

In the 1890s, Henry moves his family from England to New Zealand so he could accept a new accounting job. One day while he was in town, his wife, Margaret, and four children are kidnapped by Maoris and their house is burned down. Due to various circumstances, Henry assumes his family are dead, and he moves to California. Eventually he remarries a widow who just had a baby. After several years, his first wife and children escape and make their way to Berkely to find him.

Not long after Margaret and the children arrive, she, Henry, and the second wife, Nancy, are accused of bigamy and suffer through jail, trials, harassment, and more.

I thought the story was a good example of historical fiction, and I was able to sympathize with both wives at various times (although I was always on Margaret's "side" so to speak). However, I DID NOT like the ending, and wonder how different it would have been if the case had been set today instead of over 100 years ago.

Yay! I just reached my goal for the year! I decided to make the goal 60 books because that's what I had tried (and failed) to reach for the last two years. I was also unsure of my plans...if I would stay in Hungary, what I would be doing job-wise if I moved back to the US, etc. I've also had a lot of extra time to read since I am currently unemployed and it looks like it'll stay that way for a while... oh well, at least I have more time to read! I honestly have no idea how many books I'll read between now and the end of the year, but I'm anxious to find out!

60. Train from Marietta by Dorothy Garlock

I had never heard of Garlock, but one of the smaller libraries in my county has a ton of books by her. Train from Marietta was rather predictable, but it kept my attention and I wanted to know what would happen in the end. It was a fast read and the writing was rather simple. I liked most of the character descriptions as well. If another Garlock novel catches my interest I'd probably read it if I needed some "light" reading or something I could read quickly.

61. Annie, Between the States by L.M. Elliott

A good YA book set during the Civil War, Annie, Between the States is filled with well-developed characters and a lot of history. If you are interested in the impact the war had on central Viriginia, you should definitely read it. Jeb Stuart was also an important character, although I don't know how much he was fictionalized throughout the story. I had expected more of a love story, but the author did not really focus on that. I think a lot of teenage boys would enjoy the story as well, especially due to descriptions of battles, horse rides, raids, and Civil War prisons.

Congratulations on meeting your goal!!!

>tjblue, thanks! I'm glad I made it after falling short the last two years!

62. Love and War in the Apennines by Eric Newby

Newby recounts the time he spent as a prisoner of war and his escape and survival in the mountains of Italy in WWII, and how he met the woman he would eventually marry. I like Newby's travel writing, in particular The Big Red Train Ride, but thought Love & War fell a bit short. Perhaps a better title would be "Hiding in the Apennines;" his future wife was a minor character.

63. The Corset Diaries by Katie MacAlister

Good if you have a few hours to kill, but nothing special. The Victiorian-era reality tv premise was interesting.

64. Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky

I know this book was popular a few years ago, but I just got around to reading it now. It contains more information about the history, usages, production, economics, and obscure trivia of salt than I ever thought possible. Economists, chemists, geologists, historians, and trivia enthusiasts should find it interesting and a good read.

That being said, I thought it was far too long (over 450 pages), was sometimes redundant, and left out some large parts of the world (sub-Saharan Africa, South America, Australia and Oceana, etc.). I would have also liked more about different ways salt was used throughout history besides preserving and enriching foods.

I learned some things that could be useful if I ever make it on Jeopardy!, and the maps, recipes, pictures, and quotes/bits throughout the book added to it.

65. The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner

An entertaining book in which the author travels to ten of the world's happiest and unhappiest countries and researches the causes of happiness. I definitely enjoyed some chapters more than otheres, depending on the country. I could especially relate to Switzerland and Moldova, and thought the chapter on Iceland was one of the best. I enjoyed Weiner's sense of humor and writing style.

66. Crofton's Fire by Keith Coplin

A quick, surprisingly good read about a career soldier in the late 19th century.

67. Katherine by Anya Seton

Historical fiction the way it was meant to be written! I haven't read much set in the Middle Ages, and I don't know much about English royalty or nobility, but I enjoyed most of this long story. After hearing so much about the love story aspect of the book, I was surprised by what acutually happens in the novel. I definitely plan to read more by Anya Seton in the future.

68. Shadow of the Silk Road by Colin Thubron

I enjoy travel writing, but couldn't get into this book. It just wasn't what I expected...it seemed to drag on and on and didn't have as much information as I had expected. The first third of the book took forever to get through. Maybe it wasn't the right time for me to read this, maybe it wasn't what I wanted (more information about the history of the Silk Road routes, etc.), I don't know. Guess I'll stick with other travel writers for a while.

69. Tatiana and Alexander by Paullina Simons

After loving The Bronze Horseman so much, I was a bit surprised by how the author chose to continue the story in Tatiana and Alexander. The flashbacks, especially from Alexander's point of view, added to the story. However, Simons drew out the continuing saga too much and the book could have been a hundred pages shorter. I love the characters and will put the book on my wishlist as it continues the trilogy, but I wish the author had done some things differently.

Oh, and I STILL picture Alexander as looking exactly like Henry Cavill :)

I agree with you about Shadow of The Silk Road. I heard about it WI public radio and thought it would be a good one. I had a hard time getting through it. It didn't flow well and much of it was not very interesting.

You might like Undress Me In The Temple. It's about 2 young women and their ordeals in China.

Tammy :-}

Thanks for the recommendation, Tammy. It sounds interesting, and I think I can relate to some of it, especially the parts about being a "foreigner" in a strange country. I'll check if I can get it at my libraries or if it's available on ILL.

Currently reading Ines of My Soul by Isabell Allende. We're so busy on the farm right now that I haven't had much time for reading, but it's due back at the library on Thursday...

70. Blockade Billy by Stephen King

First off, let me say that I have only read one other Stephen King book, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, and by read I mean listened to it on audiobook on a road trip through New England a few years ago. So, I can't compare Blockade Billy to any of King's other works.

If you don't like baseball, don't bother reading this short novella. In fact, if you don't like older baseball, don't bother either. I enjoyed it, although I might have liked it better in a book of short stories. It might even look for more of King's non-horror stuff.

Too bad about Shadow of the Silk Road--that was one I had put on my wishlist, but if it's boring, I won't bother. But there are plenty of other books on the list :)

I wouldn't bother with it, Carly. I almost gave up on it, and even skimmed through a few sections. My Want-to-Read list is so long, I'm afraid to count the number of pages! I never have to worry about running out of books I want to read :) Or reread :)

I usually think of getting recommendations for good books as one of the main benefits of LT, but really, being warned off wasting time with boring or bad books is just as important!

>96 carlym: I definitely agree, my problem is I don't listen to enough of the warnings, because if a book is on my list, I want to like it! I put it there for a reason, whatever that reason may be!

On to my next book:
71. Ines of My Soul by Isabel Allende

I've only read one other book by Allende, although I own more and plan to get to them at some point. Ines of My Soul is a novel based on historical facts, and it doesn't have the magical realism Allende is known for. It's hard for me to compare it to her other books at this point, but I enjoyed it and learned a lot about the history of Chile and how Spanish conquistadors "settled" South America. It was also interesting how Ines did the things she did in that day and age.

72. Death by Darjeeling by Laura Childs

In this book, the first in the Tea Shop Mysteries, Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop, becomes an amateur detective after a man unexpectedly dies at a party she is catering. Set in historical Charleston, South Carolina, it has charming characters, short chapters, lots of tea, and is quick enough to read in less than a day. My library doesn't have the other books in the series, but I'll probably request them at some point. There were some grammatical errors, but I enjoyed the characters enough to want to continue with the series.

73. The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

It was brilliant! Fantastic historical fiction with mystery, suspense, and gothic elements thrown in. The story alternates between young Grace working as a servant and ladies maid at Riverton Manor in the 1910s and 1920s, and 99-year old Grace living in a nursing home and helping with a movie based on the events that happened at the manor house. Morton keeps the reader wondering what happened until the very last page, and I simply devoured the book in about two sittings because I was so anxious to find out what happened. Highly recommended.

74. The Violin of Auschwitz by Maria Àngels Anglada

I have mixed feelings about this book. I gave it four stars, which in a way seems like a lot. Things I liked: it was short, easy to read, and I really liked Daniel's character and the emotions and feelings he felt. However, I have read my fair share of literature set during the Holocaust, and this one didn't blow me away like others stories have. The end cleared up some things, but left me wondering a lot as well. In some ways it was hard to feel a connection to the characters, perhaps because the novella is so short.

75. Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati

I don't want to make comparisons to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, even though there are lots of similarities, Gabaldon lent some of her Outlander characters to Into the Wilderness, and I first learnt about the Wilderness series because of reading some Outlander-related threads here on LT.

That being said, if you like Outlander, you'll probably like Into the Wilderness. They both have strong heroines, dashing male love interests, and beautiful settings in an interesting time period.

As much as I enjoyed this first book in the series, some things annoyed me. For example, I got tired of hearing about Elizabeth being a spinster, and I found some situations to be rather unrealistic.

I also didn't know about the connection to The Last of the Mohicans. Had I known, I would have read that first. I will continue with the series in the future.

76. Insatiable by Meg Cabot

I hardly ever read anything related to anything scary/horror/paranormal/involving blood, weapons, etc. and the only previous reading experience I have with vampires is Dracula and Twilight. So, I am probably not the best expert on vampire fiction. I liked Insatiable because there wasn't much blood-spurting or disturbing parts. I also liked some of the characters and the twist at the end which left it open for a sequel(s). At times, Meena really drove me crazy, especially because...

*SPOILER*

she fell in love with Lucien over the course of what, two days?! And of course she had to sleep with him right away, because that made the story sooo much more interesting, right? One minute she doesn't even want to go to the party where she'll find out who Lucien is, and a handful of pages later they are both helplessly, hopelessly in love with each other?! Sure.

*End spoiler*

I don't know if Cabot will write any follow-ups to Insatiable, but if she does, I will read them. I'm curious to know more, and I have to admit Alaric grew on me by the middle of the book...

77. Where the River Ends by Charles Martin

I don't know why, but I just couldn't get into this book. I stuck with it, but it didn't get any better (or worse) for me.

78. Let it Snow by John Green (and Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle)

Let it Snow contains three interconnected short stories set during Christmas. I haven't read anything by the authors before, so I can't compare it to any of their other works. I particularly liked Johnson's "The Jubilee Express," although I thought all three stories were charming and worthwhile reads. I think fans of Young Adult fiction will definitely enjoy them, as would anyone wanting cute, quick Christmas stories.

Oh, and yes, I know Christmas is more than a month and a half away, but since I had to Interloan Let it Snow, I thought I should do it before the big Christmas rush would possibly have it in constant circulation :)

Edited because I forgot to put the number before the title.

79. The Rose of Sebastopol by Katharine McMahon

Oh, how disappointed I was with this book! It sounded so promising, but it ended up dragging on and on, had a timeline that jumped back and forth (not in a good way), and ended with conclusion that totally baffled me. The relationship between Mariella and Rosa was difficult to understand and I never felt like they had such a strong bond. Henry's character was also difficult to understand.

There was a lot of historical detail in this novel, especially regarding nursing and the conditions of hospitals and troops in the Crimea. The things happening in society in London were also interesting to read about. I definitely plan to read more about the Crimean War, but I don't recommend this novel.

80. The Dead Travel Fast by Deanna Raybourn

This wasn't a bad novel, and I certainly plan to read more of Raybourn's books, but I was disappointed with some things regarding The Dead Travel Fast. At first, I was excited by what I thought was build-up regarding the paranormal aspects (vampires and werewolves), but then that went cold. A lot of the gothic elements seemed muddled and confusing, and too vague. I enjoyed Raybourn's writing style, and look forward to reading more by her.

81. The Night Journal by Elizabeth Crook

I guess I had too many things going on and not enough time to concentrate on this story while reading it. It took quite a while for me to actually get into the story, and while there were interesting parts, especially in some of the journal entries, I just couldn't stay interested for very long. This might be one I'll go back to in a few years and try to reread. I can see how some people could really like it.

82. Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

A historical fiction/mystery, the first in the Lady Julia Grey series. It didn't knock my socks off, but it kept me interested and wondering about the eventual outcome.

83. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig

The first novel in the Pink Carnation series was a fun read, and I can't wait to see what happens in the books that follow. Historical fiction mixed with romance and chick lit makes for a fun, entertaining read. The books aren't even set during one of my preferred/favorite time periods, but I still want to continue with the series.

84. The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder

I thought this novella started out fine, but it didn't keep my attention very well. I might try it again in 10+ years.

85. The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan

Wonderfuly written non-fiction about such an interesting topic. I learned a lot, and am glad I didn't have to live through that. The book also made me think of some questions to ask my granmda.

#83: I enjoyed the first one but thought the quality declined a lot with book 2.

#84: I had the same reaction! I didn't even finish it, even though it's short.

Carly: Good to know, I got The Masque of the Black Tulip at the library the other day, so I'll hopefully get to it in the next few weeks.

86. The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan

While I liked the main characters, Bess and Tom, and I liked the fact that Tom's character was based on a real-life riverman, I found too many faults in the book overall. I have been to Niagara Falls three times in my life, but I couldn't imagine the setting of the story very well. I often felt like the reader needed a lot of prior knowledge about events, places, politics, etc. to understand what was happening. Sometimes I was really caught up in the story, so don't get me wrong, it's not bad...but I just couldn't get into it and felt like I was missing something obvious. I also thought some of the minor characters could have been more developed.

87. The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo

A charming fairy tale about a small mouse, a princess, a rat, and a girl. I enjoyed the first half more than the ending. A story that children of all ages can enjoy and learn from.

88. An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor

A sweet, charming, and somewhat predictable story about a young doctor in a village in Northern Ireland. Since I bought one of the later books in the series at a book sale, I'll eventually read the others. Good if you want a quick, comforting read.

89. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

There were things I liked about this book, but in the end I was unsatisfied with it. The author tried to fit in too many different angles, characters, etc. and I don't think Ginny grew and developed the way she was supposed to. Her traveling also seemed too easy, especially for someone who had never traveled on her own before. An okay read, but not great.

90. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

When I checked this out of the library last year, the librarian told me she thought it was "weird." I didn't have enough time to read it then, but pulled a copy I had bought at a library sale off the shelf on a whim the other day. After reading a few pages, I had to agree with the librarian. It wasn't "weird" in a bad way, but the more I read, the more I found that was creepy and disturbing.

I have a feeling this is a book I will reread. I was caught up in it and know I missed a lot. I especially enjoyed the atmosphere everywhere...in the bookshop, at Angelfield, at Vida Winter's estate, even when Margaret was on the train. This is the type of book that makes you wonder what the author will think of next.

91. Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher

A YA novel that would appeal to adults, too. It was a fast read, but it kept me interested the entire time. Ruby, growing up in Chicago in 1941, decides to work as a taxi dancer in order to make more money and escape the meat packing job she loathed. The story touches on respectability, racism, relationships, young love, and society changing due to WWII. I didn't always agree with Ruby's choices/actions, but overall, the story was a good reflection of the time period.

Hi Aktakukac, I loved The Thirteenth Tale as well - it was deliciously sinister and creepy. Particularly loved the twist... It was my first book of 2010 and it definitely made it into my Top 5!

Hi, Bookbugg! I knew there had to be a twist in The Thirteenth Tale, but I couldn't figure out what it was. Then it was like, "Ahh! Right!" I'm sure it will be in my Top 10 of 2010. I don't know if it'll make my Top 5 though...

I didn't see the Twist coming at all... I can never guess the end of books!
What other books made it into your Top 10?

I usually can't guess the endings either, but once I learned what the twist was, it made sense because of a couple of random clues from earlier in the book.

My absolute favorite book of 2010 was The Bronze Horseman. If you like historical sagas, are interested in WWII or Russia, and enjoy a love story, it's the perfect book for you!

The rest of my top 10, in no particular order, are:

A Lantern in Her Hand
City of Shadows
Into the Wilderness
The Thirteenth Tale
More Was Lost
Mrs. Mike
Jim the Boy
The Anne Books by Lucy Maud Montgomery (Yes, I know that's cheating, but there were too many good ones!)
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and The Blue Lenses and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier are tied for 10th place.

I didn't read many bad books this year, but the one I couldn't stand at all was Eat, Pray, Love. I know this is a book you either love or hate, and I detest it! I also finished up a pretty bad historical fiction novel last night, The Widower's Wife by Prudence Bice, and I will write about that later.

I wish I hadn't asked because now I have another couple of books to add to my TBR pile!! The Bronze Horseman looks very good, and I've heard such good things about Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. I love Anne of Green Gables! There is a particularly good tv version of it starring Megan Follows. Best of luck with your 2011 challenge. Are you going to hang around here or head over to the 75 book challenge?

Happy New Year!

So, I had made a list of my Top 10 of 2010, but I had it in my other bag. As I was typing my list on here yesterday, I had a feeling I was missing something...and I was! The House at Riverton was actually in my Top 5 of 2010, so I have to mention that! I love the Megan Follows version of Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea! I thought Gilbert was sooooo handsome! I think I need to watch that again soon...

I will move up to the 75 group for 2011, but I'll put a link to that thread on here when I get it made. I was thinking about doing the 11-11-11 Category Challenge, but I have a feeling I will be too busy with work and school to have time to keep up with that. I'm not sure approximately how many books I'll read in 2011. I already have several in mind that I want to read next year, and I want to read some more classics, so it'll be interesting to see what happens. :)

92. The Widower's Wife by Prudence Bice

I read a lot of Historical Fiction, and this was the worst I have read in a long, long time. The story itself was predictable. A beautiful woman decides to become a mail-order bride because she was hurt in a past relationship. The man needing a new wife is greiving for his wife who died in childbirth. Of course, he is a handsome man, and both parties want to be married in name only...well, you can guess what happens.

Besides it's incredily amateur writing style, The Widower's Wife is bad historical fiction. It was set sometime "after the war," after the invention of the telegraph, and after the railway made it to Wisconsin. Other than that, I have no idea when the story took place. The characters names did not fit with this time period. I never got a feel for the farm or town, either. The town was two hours from Dalton's farm, yet characters were always going there?! In the middle of the planting and growing season? I could go on and on...

Since I like to give constructive criticism, I will say that I enjoyed getting both Jillian and Dalton's perspectives on things. It was nice to know what each was thinking, even if it made the chapters and sections too short to get pulled into. Finally, the ending was too sweet for me. I won't need any sugar for a while.

I've created a thread for my 2011 Challenge. I decided to join the 75 Book Challenge, and I'd love comments on the thread! It's here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/105970