christiguc's 2010

I'm finally getting around to starting my 2010 thread. :)

1. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf ****

2. And the world changed : contemporary stories by Pakistani women edited by Muneeza Shamsie ***1/2

3. The Case is Closed by Patricia Wentworth **1/2

4. A Mad Desire to Dance by Elie Wiesel ***

5. The Gardener's Year by Karel Čapek ****

6. Exit Lines by Reginald Hill **1/2

7. The Woodlanders by Thomas Hardy ****

8. The Wandering Jew by Stefan Heym ***

9. Looking Good Dead by Peter James *1/2

10. Balkan ghosts : a journey through history by Robert D. Kaplan ***1/2

11. The Furies by Janet Hobhouse ****

12. Name to a Face by Robert Goddard ***

13. The Outcast by Sadie Jones ****

14. A Pair of Blue Eyes by Thomas Hardy ***

15. A Pale Horse by Charles Todd ***

16. Compulsory Happiness by Norman Manea **1/2

17. Rebellion by Joseph Roth ***

18. The Sibyl in her Grave by Sarah Caudwell ****

19. The Broken Shore by Peter Temple ***

And now I'm caught up!

20. Maurice Guest by Henry Handel Richardson ***1/2

Henry Handel Richardson (pen-name for Ethel Robertson) is probably best-known for The Getting of Wisdom, another vmc. This book is just as good! It's the semi-autobiographical tale of an Australian, Louise, in Leipzig at the turn of the twentieth century.

21. The Complete Poems by Walt Whitman ****

An uneven collection, but, then again, it is the complete poems. Overall, excellent.

22. Green for Danger by Christianna Brand REREAD

Hi christi--I don't know why I would ask this, but any reviews or particular recommendations? I cannot think of why I am looking for more books to read.

23. Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens ****

Read for Monthly Author Reads. I always enjoy Charles Dickens, and this was no exception. Although it was a bit long, I think it is quality-wise on par with his better-known A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations.

>10 LisaCurcio: Lisa, I see you like mysteries. Of the ones I've read this year, I would definitely recommend the Sarah Caudwell: The Sibyl in Her Grave. Another one of my favorites so far has been The Furies by Janet Hobhouse.

Thanks, christi. I have something by Caudwell somewhere, but have not heard of Hobhouse. Actually, I think the only thing I don't like is sci-fi and most fantasy, although I do like Guy Gavriel Kay. And I like Dickens, although I don't have Dombey and Son--just on the wishlist. A bit long? Compared to "Great Expectations", or just the book was too long for the story?

How have you read 22 books already?!

I've seen the Robert Kaplan book on the Balkans around and looked at it - did you like it?

>13 LisaCurcio: Lisa: A bit long? Compared to "Great Expectations", or just the book was too long for the story?

Length-wise it was about comparable to Great Expectations, and I think with Dombey and Son, the story wasn't long enough to sustain the length. I know Dickens is known for his characters, but I need those characters to do something, at least every couple of pages! But, it was well-written and overall well-done.

>14 cushlareads: Cushla: How have you read 22 books already?!

Straight up: I'm amazing. ;) But, five of them were also started prior to the start of this year, so that inflates my numbers a bit.

Yes, Balkan Ghosts was wonderful. It was rich in history for an area about which I am humbly ignorant. If you are at all interested in learning more about the region, I recommend you consider it.

Great - thanks. I thought your 3 1/2 stars was the same as my 4 1/2...

And yes you are!

Q1 wrap-up!

Top Five of Q1
1. Tomorrow in the Battle Think on Me by Javier Marías (****1/2)
2. The Woodlanders by Thomas Hardy (****)
3. The Furies by Janet Hobhouse (****)
4. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf (****)
5. The Gardener's Year by Karel Čapek (****)

Average Rating Q1 : 3.23

Pages Read Q1 : 12447

Author Nationality Q1
British (16)
American (6)
Romanian (2)
Australian (2)
Irish (2)
Pakistani (1)
Czech (1)
German (1)
Spanish (1)
Belgian (1)
Austrian (1)
Scottish (1)

Author Gender Q1
Male (20)
Female (14)
n/a (1)

Original Publication Q1
2000s (14)
1990s (4)
1930s (3)
1920s (3)
1980s (2)
1900s (2)
1970s (1)
1960s (1)
1940s (1)
1890s (1)
1880s (1)
1870s (1)
1840s (1)

Genre Q1
Non-Genre Fiction (17)
Mystery (12)
Non-fiction (3)
Short Stories (2)
Poetry (1)

Prizes/Honors Q1
Virago Modern Classics (1)
Orange Prize Listed (2)

Date of Acquisition Q1
2009 (17)
2008 (9)
2010 (5)
2005 (1)
2000 (1)
1997 (1)

How Acquired Q1
Purchased (25)
Gift (9)
Borrowed (1)