Welachild's 11 in 11 challenge

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Welachild's 11 in 11 challenge

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1Welachild
Out 24, 2010, 11:07 am

I plan on reading at least 4 books in each category but no more than 11 per category. I will be lucky if I do 4 in each!!

1. AD 500-1500
2. Memoirs
3. Nobel Prize for Literature
4. Re-reads
5. South America
6. US Presidents
7. Graphic Novels
8. TBR Challenge
9. Ken Follet
10. Morgan Llywelyn
11. Leon Uris

2Welachild
Editado: Ago 7, 2011, 10:52 pm




AD 500-1500

1. The Saga of the Volsungs
2. The Nibelungenleid
3.
4.

Possible reads:
The Bhagvad Gita
The Book of the City of Ladies
The Nibelungenlied
The Book of Margery Kempe

3Welachild
Editado: Ago 3, 2011, 4:21 pm

Memoirs

1. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running: A Memoirby Haruki Murakami
2. Extraordinary, Ordinary People by Condoleezza Rice
3. American Son: My Story by Oscar de la Hoya
4. Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
5. Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10

Possible Reads:
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
All Things at Once by Mika Brzezinski
My Life in France by Julia Child
Patti LuPone: A Memoir

4Welachild
Editado: Dez 8, 2011, 6:10 am

Nobel Prize for Literature

1. Sula by Toni Morrison
2. Death in Venice by Thomas Mann
3. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
4. Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter

Possible Reads:
Soul Mountain by Gao Xingjian
A Personal Matter by Kenzaburo Oe
Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter: A Novel by Mario Vargas Llosa
The Captive Mind by Czeslaw Milosz

5Welachild
Editado: Set 6, 2011, 3:46 pm

Re-reads

1. Beloved by Toni Morrison
2. Anne of Avonlea
3.
4.

Possible Reads:
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Possession by A.S. Byatt
Anne of Avonlea by LM Montgomery

6Welachild
Editado: Out 7, 2011, 9:57 pm

South America

1. The Lost City of Z by David Grann
2. In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin
3.
4.

Possible Reads:
The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann
In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin
The Silence and the Scorpion: The Coup Against Chavez and the Making of Modern Venezuela by Brian A Nelson

7Welachild
Editado: Out 20, 2011, 12:51 am

U.S. Presidents

1. American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph J. Ellis
2. Renegade: The Making of a President by Richard Wolffe
3.
4.

Possible Reads:
John Adams by David McCullough
Thomas Jefferson by R. B. Bernstein
His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis
The Defining Moment: FDR's Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope by Jonathan Alter

8Welachild
Editado: Dez 18, 2011, 6:00 pm

Graphic Novels

1. I Saw You... by Julia Wertz
2. Johnny Cash: I See a Darkness by Reinhard Kleist
3. Maus:A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman
4. Maus: And Here my Troubles Began

Possible Reads:
Redwall: The Graphic Novel by Brian Jacques
Maus:A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman
Watchmen by Alan Moore

9Welachild
Editado: Ago 10, 2011, 1:10 pm

TBR Challenge

1. Everything is Illuminated: A Novel by Jonathan Safran Foer (msg. 23)
2. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson (msg. 25)
3. Daniel Deronda by George Eliot
4. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
5. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest by Stieg Larsson

Possible Reads:
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Daniel Deronda by George Eliot
Everything is Illuminated: A Novel by Jonathan Safran Foer

10Welachild
Editado: Maio 12, 2011, 2:38 am

Ken Follett

1. The Pillars of the Earth (msg. 13)
2. Hornet Flight
3.
4.

Possible Reads:
World Without End
Hornet Flight
Eye of the Needle
Lie Down with Lions

11Welachild
Editado: Set 26, 2011, 5:43 pm

Morgan Llywelyn

1. Grania: She-King of the Irish Seas (msg. 21)
2. 1916
3.
4.

Possible Reads:
Grania: She-King of the Irish Seas
Finn Mac Cool
1916
Brendan

12Welachild
Editado: Jun 23, 2011, 11:23 pm

Leon Uris

1. Exodus
2. QBVII
3.
4.

Possible Reads:
QBVII
Exodus
Mila 18
Trinity

13Welachild
Out 24, 2010, 11:15 am

I wasn't planning on starting this challenge so early but I couldn't help myself and here I am. The Pillars of the Earth took quite a long time to finish but it was one of the most entertaining books I've read in a while. The story was fast-paced and never dull which is suprising for it's length. I especially wanted to read it because the mini-series has been on my tivo for a while and I didn't want to watch it until after I finished the book. I really look forward to reading more works by Follett and hope that they are as entertaining as Pillars was.

14lkernagh
Out 24, 2010, 11:31 am

Welcome to the challenge! I will be interested to see what books you read for your AD 500 - 1500 category. I have heard great things about Pillars of the Earth and will need to think about moving that one up my TBR pile.

15Welachild
Out 30, 2010, 1:08 am

Thanks for the welcome lkernagh!!

16auntmarge64
Out 30, 2010, 9:47 am

I think I've read most of Uris and have read QBVII several times as well as seeing the TV film, which starred Ben Gazzara and Anthony Hopkins. It's based on his own experiences, and the court transcripts of his trial are probably available via inter-library loan (that's how I got them to read). I'll look forward to your reviews.

17DeltaQueen50
Out 30, 2010, 1:48 pm

Welcome to the challenge, I too am a big fan of Leon Uris and look forward to revisiting his books through you. Lots of interesting categories here.

18bruce_krafft
Out 31, 2010, 6:55 pm

I had to add The Book of the City of Ladies to my wish list.

I read Wishfull Drinking this year for my 75 book challenge (that category already being finished on the 1010.) I found it laugh outloud funny.

DS
(Bruce's evil twin :-))

19Welachild
Nov 4, 2010, 5:33 pm

Auntmarge , I have been meaning to read Uris for a long time now, it is good to read that you've read QBVII several times. I love a book that gets better with each re-read!

DeltaQueen, thanks for the welcome!

DS, I read excerpts taken from City of Ladies in college and I always meant to go back and read the book. It is good to read a good review of Wishful Drinking. I love reading memoirs and books that make you laugh out loud are such a treat!

20pammab
Nov 25, 2010, 11:13 pm

There's a Redwall graphic novel??? I'm laughing a bit. That's crazy. Huh. I had no idea!

I like your AD 500-1500 category. I actually read a few of those during college -- not sure I could get myself to read them now....

21Welachild
Dez 1, 2010, 5:51 pm

Grania:She-King of the Irish Seas by Morgan Llywelyn wasn't as good as I thought it would be (having read The Lion of Ireland and really enjoying it). I'm thinking I just wasn't in the right mood to read this book because the characters and story are interesting, the book just felt a little drawn out.

22billiejean
Jan 5, 2011, 7:41 pm

Hi, Welachild!
Thanks for the link to your new challenge! Happy New Year! I look forward to seeing all that you are reading.
--BJ

23Welachild
Jan 5, 2011, 10:44 pm

Thanks BJ,
I have a really good feeling about my possible reads this year. I ended last year with a wonderful book and began this year with a heartbreaking book.
Everything is Illuminated: A Novel by Jonathan Safran Foer was not quite what I expected. I loved the movie and have had this book on my TBR list for a while now. It was suprising to me how similar the book was to the movie yet at the same time how different. The writing style was amazing and lent a magical air to the story. Some of the book was funny which actually made the sad parts even more heartbreaking. I will be thinking about this book for a while, especially because it managed to say something about life and living without this reader ever really noticing until I thought about what made this story seem so right, if that makes sense.

24billiejean
Jan 6, 2011, 2:42 am

I have heard some really good things about that book. Guess I better wishlist it. I did not realize there was a movie of it.
--BJ

25Welachild
Jan 18, 2011, 10:21 pm

The Girl Who Played With Fire by Steig Larsson
This second book in the millennium trilogy was so much better than the first, and that is saying a lot. The action was fast and I was constantly surprised by what happened. What a great read.

26Welachild
Jan 26, 2011, 6:00 pm

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami I loved the topics: running and writing. He made me want to hit the pavement. But he is a serious runner, running a marathon every year. It was also interesting to find out how he became a writer. He says at one point that he learned everything he needed to know about writing from running. I loved the way the two tie together in his life.
I also read Kiss Me Deadly by Michele Hauf which I got for free and just started on a whim. The beginning left me muttering, "lame" under my breath but then the vampire fell under a love spell and I couldn't help it, I had to see how it all worked out! It did end up being an entertaining read and there was even a little lecture on the ridiculously high doctors malpractice insurance which was actually kind of weird, in the way an awkward product placement in a movie can take you out of the story.

27Welachild
Editado: Fev 9, 2011, 7:00 pm

Extraordinary, Ordinary People was a very interesting read and was eye opening, because I knew so little about Condolezza Rice's personal life. She really had an eventful childhood, having grown up in Birmingham, Al during segregation. And her college and professional years were just as interesting. Since the focus of the book was her relationship with her parents, she didn't go into the W. years which is what I was most interested in. I hope she writes another book about being the national security advisor and secretary of state.

I also read The Death of a Poison Pen by M.C. Beaton. It was a quick read and as with other Hamish Macbeth books, I didn't know who did it until it was revealed. I love her characters and the mystery always keeps my attention.

28billiejean
Fev 4, 2011, 12:36 am

I saw Condolezza Rice on tv cheering on the Stanford women's basketball team when they ended UConn's winstreak. I would like to know more about her for sure.
--BJ

29JimThomson
Fev 4, 2011, 4:40 am

>1 Welachild: Welachild; May I recommend a work for your AD 500-1500 category; 'A DISTANT MIRROR'. Reviews of this can be found by clicking on the title in Librarything. It is widely regarded as a superb work of history, and is distinctly engrossing.

30Welachild
Fev 8, 2011, 9:27 pm

Thanks so much for the recommendation JimThomson, I thought that book sounded familiar! I just found it in a pile of books I got at goodwill. I will have to start reading it, it's a fairly thick book and may take me a while!!

Hi BJ--One of the interesting facts I learned about Condi is her love of sports. Since she got her doctorate at Standford and was also provost there, it is no suprise to me she was cheering them on. I think I also saw her at the Super Bowl, I wonder who she was rooting for there?

American Son: My Story by Oscar De La Hoya was an okay read. My sister recommended it to me because she is a huge Oscar fan. I wasn't as impressed or inspired by it as she was but it was interesting just to find out something about his personal life. I felt the writing was stilted and jumped around too much chronologically. But funny enough, I did feel there was a strong voice to the writing. I felt like I was sitting down having a conversation with Oscar himself, which made up for the books faults.

31billiejean
Fev 8, 2011, 9:57 pm

Yes, you're right. I saw her at the Super Bowl, too. I don't know who she was rooting for, but I remember one time hearing her say she would like to be the NFL Commissioner.

I need to update my thread. Got to go find my paper copy so I can remember where I am.
--BJ

32Welachild
Fev 20, 2011, 2:41 am

Just finished American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph Ellis and I really enjoyed it. It was a chronological examination of Jefferson's thoughts and actions to uncover his character. It made me want to learn more about his presidencies, since only the biggest events of his two terms were discussed. And it also made me excited to pick up the book on John Adams that I've wanted to read for quite a while.

33billiejean
Fev 21, 2011, 1:58 pm

I have been wanting to read that book. Is it long? I remember the McCullough John Adams book was long but well worth it.
--BJ

34Welachild
Fev 22, 2011, 1:40 am

Hi BJ,
I think American Sphinx is half the size of the McCullough John Adams. Whenever I picked it up, I felt that I flew through the pages because it was interesting and fast paced. I can't wait to read John Adams. Right now I'm reading The Lost City of Z.

35Welachild
Fev 24, 2011, 7:48 pm

The Lost City of Z is a fascinating read about author David Grann's search for the lost city. Famous British explorer Percy Fawcett had searched for it all his adult life and Grann decides to follow his trail. I have always had a romantic idea of what exploration is like (in part, thanks to Indiana Jones) but this book showed me the truth. Disease, starvation and insects are what they faced and some of the descriptions in the book grossed me out. I like the way the author alternated between his present search and Fawcett's past. It was saddening and frustrating to read that 270,000 sq. miles of forest have been destroyed because of logging. The ending of this book was so satisfying, it left me wanting more. That's the only drawback with a great piece of non-fiction; it leads to more books on your TBR list!

36billiejean
Fev 24, 2011, 8:10 pm

Nice review! I have a copy of this book, but I think I let my daughter borrow it. I better ask her if she has finished with it yet.
--BJ

37Welachild
Mar 3, 2011, 6:42 pm

The Saga of the Volsungs is, per the introduction, “founded on the debris of songs and poems”. These old tales of the Northman were recited over and over until around 1141 to 1220, when they were finally written down. I decided to read the saga so I could compare with the reading of The Nibelungenleid. I have read the first part of The Nibelungenleid many times but have never gotten to the end and had hoped that reading the saga would motivate me. I prefer reading the “saga-form” and The Saga of the Volsungs has all those elements of recited works, as well as the appearance of the gods. Odin appears as an old man at important parts of the story. This saga was known by all the North people in one form or another and then it inspired many later generations to reinterpret it. I remember watching a movie “The Curse of the Ring” which had some of the magic of the saga in it. I felt bad for Brynhild in the saga but I don’t think Sigurd has the same history with her in The Nibelungenleid as in the saga.

38billiejean
Mar 3, 2011, 6:46 pm

Added this to my wishlist!
--BJ

39ivyd
Mar 4, 2011, 2:52 pm

And to mine also!

40Welachild
Mar 6, 2011, 10:42 am

Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman was such a great read, I devoured it! Every essay reminded me of my own experiences with books. I too have found my tummy rumbling while reading-I'm about to go toast some cheese right now! Some essays made me gasp, "What would Belloc have thought of my father, who, in order to reduce the weight of the paperbacks he read on airplanes, tore off the chapters he had completed and threw them in the trash?"; some made me laugh out-loud, "For a time I haunted shops that sold secondhand pens, pathetically clutching an old writing sample and saying, 'This is the width of the line I want.' I might as well have carried a photograph of a dead lover and said, 'Find me another just like this.'" ha ha!!
Thank you BJ for your review of Ex Libris that inspired me to get it from the library!

41Welachild
Mar 6, 2011, 10:44 am

The Devil to Pay by Michele Hauf was a fun sequel to Kiss Me Deadly.

Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart was a sweet romance.

42billiejean
Mar 7, 2011, 1:12 pm

Nice review of the Fadiman book! Both of my girls were in town, and all I could talk about was how they had to read this book right away! The story about the pen was wonderful.
--BJ

43Welachild
Mar 10, 2011, 12:46 am

Thanks BJ, I ended up reading some of my favorite lines out loud to my husband. What a little gem that book turned out to be!
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher was a funny read. I liked the writing "voice" which was conversational and witty. Now I will be adding her fiction to my TBR pile.

44Welachild
Mar 18, 2011, 1:23 pm

Run by Blake Crouch is probably in my top 5 of most terrifying reads. I first heard about the book while reading a blog. So I went to Amazon to check it out and the blurb discription of the book instantly hooked me. At $2.99, there was no way I could pass it up and boy am I happy I did. From the first page, Run is intense. I was on the edge of my seat and had a hard time putting the book down. Once I put the book down, I had a hard time picking it back up because I was seriously concerned about what was going to happen to the characters next. I haven't read a book that made me react so strongly and get sucked up into the story in this way in a while.
I would highly recommend this book for those who like an action packed story but it is not for the faint of heart. Be ready to grit your teeth and have dreams of running!!

45billiejean
Mar 19, 2011, 11:23 am

Another terrific review! I wonder if I could read it or not? I am thinking about it anyway.
--BJ

46Welachild
Mar 25, 2011, 1:38 am

Soulless An Alexia Tarabotti Novel by Gail Carrigar was such a fun read. It is an alternative history type novel set in Victorian era London. London society has accepted the werewolves and vampires and it turns out Alexia is neither (but she hasn't got a soul!) Alexia is a hoot, she is super outspoken and loves fashion.
And now my reading has gone off the reservation. The books I want to read next don't fit any of my categories. Oh well, I plan on reading the sequel Changeless soon and also have The Iron King (YA fantasy) on my TBR. John Adams will just have to wait ;)
I'm currently rereading Beloved and it has put me under its spell once again.

47billiejean
Mar 25, 2011, 10:35 am

I see that you have a Leon Uris category. I had never even heard of him, but I saw one of his books QB VII at a used bookstore this week and bought it. It looked interesting. He must be a good author since you have a whole category for him. So I feel happy that I took a chance!
--BJ

48Welachild
Mar 25, 2011, 7:54 pm

Hi BJ--
My mom has really good things to say about almost all Uris books. I have been wanting to read QBVII since forever! According to my mom, QBVII and Exodus are his best works. Isn't it so much fun to find interesting books used. I always wonder what the previous owner thought of the book and if the book went on vacation with them, maybe to someplace exotic! But sometimes I just let my imagination go a little wild, ha ha.

49billiejean
Mar 25, 2011, 11:38 pm

Used bookstores are all about serendipity. You never know what you might find. That makes it kind of exciting.
--BJ

50bruce_krafft
Mar 29, 2011, 6:05 pm

>47 billiejean: I said to my husband, wow someone who hasn't heard of Leon Uris and he said - 'Leon who?' :-) So now I have to buy them . . . :-) and read then again. . . the things that I do to stay happily married! Of course he said the same thing about Georgette Heyer. . .

DS
(Bruce's evil twin :-))

51Welachild
Abr 3, 2011, 7:26 pm

@50 Georgette who? just kidding

Changeless by Gail Carrigar
The first book, Soulless, was good but Changeless was even better. The plot was much more interesting this time and I had no idea where the story would go next. Alexia was just as funny but the ending of the book took a serious turn. I can't wait to read Blameless!
Beloved by Toni Morrison
I've been wanting to read Beloved again for a while now but especially after Oprah called finding out she had a half sister a " Beloved moment". I couldn't figure out what she meant by that, and after re-reading Beloved, I still don't get it.
Beloved is a heart wrenching, emotional book but most of all it's beautiful. I don't know how such a sad, heart breaking story can be so beautiful, but it is.
Beloved is the only Morrison book I've read, so I will probably read Sula for my Nobel category.

52billiejean
Abr 3, 2011, 11:41 pm

I felt the same way about Beloved. When it was first published, I purchased it. But once I realized what it was about, I did not think I could read it. So I got rid of the book. A few years ago, my girls both read this book in high school. I have this plan to read all the books that they read in high school that I had never read. So I finally read it. It was tied for my top read of that year or it was my top read that year (I can't recall for sure, because around that time I also read If This is a Man by Primo Levi, another truly amazing book). I wonder what Oprah meant?
--BJ

53Welachild
Abr 16, 2011, 3:38 pm

Sula by Toni Morrison is about two young girls, Sula and Nel, whose friendship sees them through their childhoods and changes as they become women. Morrison weaves a story like no other author and her characters are amazing. Having read the back cover blurb, I was not prepared for what happened in the first half of the book. I didn't like Sula and didn't know what to think about Nel. After I turned the last page, I felt Sula was redeemed and Nel was the bad one. But really they were both bad people. Because of that, I'm not sure how I feel about Sula but that is the greatness of Morrison's writing. She tackles subjects that are hard and she creates characters who are extremely flawed. Her characters are relatable, just harder (maybe extreme is a better word, maybe not) than anything I know. Reading Morrison makes my life feel soft and easy. That's the only way I can think to explain how Sula made me feel.
Blameless by Gail Carriger is the third book in the The Parasol Protectorate Series. I'm really enjoying this series. It has the perfect mixture of humor and drama. Unfortunately I have to wait until July to read the next book, Heartless. I'm looking forward to it!

54Welachild
Abr 29, 2011, 7:37 pm

I read Death in Venice by Thomas Mann for my Nobel category. Taken from Nobelprize.org, "The Nobel Prize in Literature 1929 was awarded to Thomas Mann 'principally for his great novel, Buddenbrooks, which has won steadily increased recognition as one of the classic works of contemporary literature'." I actually never heard of Buddenbrooks and only knew about Death in Venice. It is a good read. After I had closed the book, I started to contemplate the tragedy of Aschenbach, basically dying over an obsession. The object of his obsession, the young and beautiful Tadzio, symbolized youth that the aging Aschenbach is longing for, completely unbeknownst to himself. At least, that is the way I started thinking about his character. Aschenbach makes himself ridiculous and ends up dying because he doesn't want to let go of the state of mind Tadzio's presence puts him in. He knows when he leaves Venice the spell will be broken and I found that to be tragically heroic. Maybe I felt like he did a heroic thing because he was a writer. One who created his art in such a structured manner that I applauded his obsession for being so honest and unreasonable.

55Welachild
Abr 29, 2011, 7:50 pm

I also read Spell of the Highlander by Karen Moning which was entertaining and fast-paced. Her characters are interesting, especially the highlander Cian. I really felt like he was from the ninth century.

Small-town Moms offers two novellas, A Dry Creek Family by Janet Tronstad and A Mother for Mule Hollow by Debra Clopton.
A Dry Creek Family is a sweet story about family and finding faith in God. Maegan Shay is a product of a foster care experience that has left her yearning for her biological family. When she discovers she had a sister who died, leaving two kids behind, Maegan is determined to meet her niece in Montana. Her niece, Lilly, is being cared for by her uncle, Clint. Clint is immediately likable but really every character in this story is. I especially liked how Clint admired her, comparing her beauty to a Greek goddess statue! I loved the way their story unfolded and especially the way Maegan became reacquainted with God's love.
In A Mother for Mule Hollow, Maegan's sister Olivia goes to meet the other child of their deceased sister. The father of her nephew, Gabe, is prickly towards her and it took me a while to warm up to him. I didn't like the way he called his mother by her first name. It's just a pet-peeve of mine. Olivia has a daughter, Trudy, so she finds it easier to create a relationship with her nephew than it was for Maegan. I really like the way the two stories were tied up at the end.
I would recommend Small-town Moms, especially for Mother's Day. The back cover states this collection celebrates motherhood and it really does. These women step outside their comfort zones, and beyond their fears and doubts, to mother and it is very inspiring.

I misplaced my copy of the Nibelungenlied and just found it this week. So now I have to try and get back into it. For some reason this always happens with this book.

56Welachild
Maio 12, 2011, 2:36 am

Hornet Flight by Ken Follett is a WWII novel set in Nazi occupied Denmark. I really enjoyed the plot and the characters in this book. The bad guy really got under my skin but that just made me cheer the good guys on even more. This is one of those books that you can't put down until you've reached the last page.

57Welachild
Maio 27, 2011, 11:35 pm

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway was an okay book. It took me a couple chapters to get in sync with Hemingway's writing style but once I did, I found the characters to be really interesting. I sometimes get confused as to who is speaking while reading a bit of dialogue by Hemingway, so I get annoyed at having to reread dialogue pieces over again but maybe that is just me and not a stylistic problem. I read Hemingway for my Nobel Prize category. "The Nobel Prize in Literature 1954 was awarded to Ernest Hemingway "for his mastery of the art of narrative, most recently demonstrated in The Old Man and the Sea, and for the influence that he has exerted on contemporary style".", as quoted from nobelprize.org. I wanted to read The Old Man and the Sea but it was checked out. It's on my TBR pile!
I also read The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman because my sister bought it. Having just read Hornet Flight which takes place during WWII, it was nice to read a non-fiction about the war but from a different perspective. Ms. Ackerman does a great job of weaving the true story of the Warsaw Zoo and it's place in the Warsaw underground during WWII into an interesting, vibrant and fast-paced drama. Using journals and interviews with the Zookeeper's son and others, she recreates the danger the zookeepers faced and the courage they had to save Jews and Polish intelligentsia during the war.
Next, I will be reading Exodus, which i believe takes place after the war. I feel like I'm in a WWII reading zone! I'm also slowly reading through The Nibelungenleid and will probably have finished another handful of books before I finish.

58billiejean
Maio 28, 2011, 10:16 am

You are having a great year of reading! I thought The Old Man and the Sea was a wonderful book. I hope that you get to read it sometime.

59Welachild
Jun 14, 2011, 2:56 am

The Nibelungenlied surprised me. When I first started reading, I kept judging it against the Saga of the Volsungs, which I preferred. I thought after seigfried died the book would get boring but that is when it got interesting. At one point, Brunhild ties up her husband who just tried to rape her and hangs him from a nail. He pleads with her to let him down before someone else sees him. He hangs there until morning! The battle scenes are well done and the ending of the story is gruesome and surprising. I'm really glad to have finally read this book to the end!

Exodus is an amazing read! The story sucked me in and never let go. As I got to the last 100 pages, I didn't want it to end. I can't wait to read Uris's other books.

60Welachild
Jun 23, 2011, 11:22 pm

QBVII by Leon Uris was a good read. Starting it so soon after Exodus was a bad idea. I loved Exodus and found myself thinking about the characters and the story constantly. It is a hard act to follow and I kept comparing the two--exodus wins all the time! But QBVII is still a good read if you like court room dramas.

61chinquapin
Jun 24, 2011, 11:34 am

I remember reading QBVII years and years ago, and liking it, but Exodus is definitely my favorite of his.

62Welachild
Jul 12, 2011, 10:29 pm

I have been reading Daniel Deronda off and on since last year but I decided to finally sit down and finish it. This took some effort because it is such a long winded book. Or maybe I've a short attention span. Even with the long descriptions, I enjoyed this read. I didn't care for the character of Gwendolen but I think that was Elliots idea. Gwendolen was so self-centered which was a contrast to Daniel Deronda who was extremely selfless. I still don't know what to think of their relationship. Daniel's story was much more interesting without the Gwendolen entanglement. His journey is about identity and duty. There is a bit of destiny in what happens to him and I wonder if Elliot was making a comment about predestined roles in life or not.

I read Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie because I kept reading about it being one of the best romances written. I really enjoyed it. The characters are believable and the leads are extremely likable. It was funny too!

And because I kept hearing about the movie being made, I also read The Hunger Games. I love love LOVE this book. It's a YA dystopian story that hooks you right away and never gets boring. I can't wait to read the next book in the trilogy, Catching Fire.

63Welachild
Jul 16, 2011, 2:38 pm

Beowulf on the Beach: What to Love and What to Skip in Literature's 50 Greatest Hits is a funny and thoughtful guide to reading the classics. I've read 19 of Jack Murnighan's 50 picks and his love of the books makes me want to immediately read the remaining 31. He says in the preface, "I want you to feel these books in your heart, in your soul, and maybe even below the waist." Well, mission accomplished Murnighan! He does a great job of introducing each book and then gives a cheat sheet for each selection: the buzz, what people don't know (but should), best line, what's sexy, quirky fact, and what to skip. He tells of the "highest-brow fart joke ever told" in Moby Dick and uses the word 'gag' quite a bit but his understanding and thoughtfulness about every selection is what really stood out to me. He's genuine. He's got me wanting to read Remembrance of things Past! He also validated a feeling I had about one of my favorite books, Beloved. In 'What to Skip' for Beloved, he points out "Also both (but especially the first) non-narrative, 'I Am Beloved' chapters will grate on a lot of readers and genuinely dont make much sense." While these chapters didn't grate on me, I did get confused by them and they pulled me out of the story. I don't like to skip anything or skim when I read a book but it was nice to see I wasn't alone in my confusion. (I wonder why Morrison put them in?)

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is a delightful read. It's a great mixture of mystery, reflections on Africa, and meditations on life. I just loved how the story unfolded! I can't wait to read the other books in the series. It seems like I'm getting pulled into a lot of series lately.

64Welachild
Jul 22, 2011, 1:03 am

I saw you... Edited by Julia Wertz was not my cup of tea. I went to the library expecting to pick up Maus in the graphic novel section but somebody had already grabbed it. I browsed the covers and came upon I saw you... which had an interesting blurb. It is a collection of comics based on real missed connections ads posted on Craigslist and the newspaper. Some of the comics were cute or funny but mostly they were cringe worthy and in some cases unsettling (especially in part 5).

Across the Universe by Beth Revis Is such a fantastic read. One of the blurbs on it says it better than I could
"An astounding ride! Beth Revis erases genre boundaries with a murder mystery, a budding romance, and a dystopian world gracefully integrated into a sci-fi novel that blow away all expectations.”
–Melissa Marr, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked Lovely

65Welachild
Ago 3, 2011, 4:18 pm

The Bhagavad Gita was a nice short read. It reminded me of scripture. One example that stood out was in chapter 13: "And when a man sees that the God in himself is the same God in all that is, he hurts not himself by hurting others: then he goes indeed to the highest Path." it reminded me of some of the teachings in the New Testament. I found myself constantly thinking of my God while reading and not Krishna. What I don't understand is how Hindus would follow any other God after reading the Gita? Krishna says he is, "the One source of all" and also says whoever you follow in life, whoever you think of as your dying, that is who you will go to. I'd rather worship the Supreme and go to him than any other Hindu God. (Translated by Juan Mascaro, for some reason the touchtone won't let me choose others.)

Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 was a good book. It is the story of U.S. NAVY SEAL Marcus Luttrell, the sole survivor of a covert mission in the mountains of Afghanistan. I didn't really care for Marcus as a narrator, there was just something about his arrogance and attitude that turned me off. He even admits that he is very sarcastic. But mostly it got under my skin that he states in the first chapter, "I am not a political man" but he repeatedly takes jabs at the "liberal media" and the left. His comments are straight out of Conservative Rhetoric 101, which doesn't bother me, but it bothered me that he wants us to believe he is not political. And I could write a too long essay on his rants over ROEs. But I won't because ultimately, this book is too important to get caught up in one man's hypocrisy.
Marcus states that he wanted to live to tell his teams story and he believes God protected him so he could do just that. Thank you God. There are moments in the story where you will tear up and have to take a break. The heroism and strength of these men are amazing. Marcus spends the beginning of the book explaining the tests and training a SEAL must go through and it is inspiring. These men are put through hell so they can survive anything. And Marcus does. He survives the largest loss of life in Navy SEAL history, with a little help from the an Afghani tribe.
If you don't mind the political jabs, this book is a must read. Even if you don't care for military books, Patrick Robinson (who co-authored), does a great job of building a narrative that hooks. He makes the military experience accessible.

66bruce_krafft
Ago 6, 2011, 4:34 pm

Bhagavad Gītā is a scripture which means Song of God in Sanskrit. It is part of the Mahabharata which is the longest epic in world literature, and is to Hinduism what the Bible is to Christianity.

I believe that in Hinduism that there is only one God, but there are different aspects or personifications of that God which enable believers to have a more personal relationship with God. This fact is often confused because many people who are Hindus are not educated and are following the traditions of their family and this fact has been lost.

DS
(Bruce's evil twin :-))

67Welachild
Ago 7, 2011, 10:47 pm

DS,
Thanks so much for the clarification! I vaguely remember watching a film version of the Mahabharata in high school. Mascaro called the Mahabharata "the longest poem in the world" and wrote, "to include a story in the Mahabharata was a way of securing its immortality." But I never made the connection between what I think of as scripture (the Bible) and the Mahabharata.
--Melissa

68Welachild
Ago 7, 2011, 10:51 pm

And speaking of the Bhagavad Gita, I just realized it's dated c. 500 B.C. which means it doesn't fit into my AD 500-1500 category. I am going to blame that on lack of sleep ;)

69Bcteagirl
Ago 7, 2011, 11:21 pm

I read the Bhagavad Gita last year and remember being drawn into sections in much the same way. It has a wonderful rhythm to the writing.

70Welachild
Ago 10, 2011, 1:09 pm

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest is a book I put off reading because I didn't want the series to end. I really like the style the book was written in and it's obvious that he was dropping bits of clues to what future books in the series would be about. It's a bummer he didn't live to see the sensation his books have been.

The Carrie Diaries was given to me as a present and I found it to be entertaining. It's the first book of Candace Bushnell I've read, which is strange because I loved the TV show Sex and the City and the movies too. I will be checking out her other books in the future.

71Welachild
Ago 20, 2011, 12:11 pm

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, the second book in the Hunger Games series was just as good as the first. I didn't think that was going to be the case when I first started it, but a couple chapters in the story took off. I can't wait to read Mockingjay!

72Welachild
Set 6, 2011, 3:44 pm

I had Red Mars on my kindle forever before I picked it up, thanks to a group read. Very interesting read. I enjoyed imagining what it would be like to colonize mars and KSR created an interesting cast of characters too. It turns out Red Mars is the first in a series so now I have to pick up the next installment, I'm so curious to find out what happens next.

Room has gotten a lot of buzz and I knew when I heard about it I would have to pick it up one of these days. The hype was right on. This is a haunting read that still has me thinking everything over. Donoghue picked a perfect narrator and I felt the voice was very believable. This book was hard to put down so it was a quick read in that sense.

Anne of Avonlea is a reread I've been wanting to undertake since last year. L.M. Montgomery's books are perfect for summer. I've been rereading the Anne books since I was a teenager, especially during summer vacations. Montgomery has a way of describing nature that is sweet and beautiful, and always make me want to take a walk down a winding lane or haunted wood. I will probably never tire of this series.

73christina_reads
Set 6, 2011, 5:46 pm

@ 72 -- Aww, I love the Anne books! It's been forever since I've read them, but my paperback copies are worn pretty ragged!

74Welachild
Set 26, 2011, 5:42 pm

1916 by Morgan Llywelyn was such a fantastic read but it took me forever to get through (2 months!). The book follows Ned, a fictional character, as he grows up and joins the Irish Volunteers. The historical characters who surround Ned are extremely well-written and Llywelyn does a great job of plopping the reader right in the middle of the Easter rising. I feel like I took a history course while enjoying a very good book! I was so excited when I was done, I watched the movie Michael Collins, which pretty much starts where the book left off!

75Welachild
Out 7, 2011, 9:56 pm

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins was so great! It tied up the trilogy perfectly and also made me cry. Well, I teared up. The whole book addressed some of the moral and societal questions underlying the stories in the first two books. I was very satisfied and also moved by the ending.
Leviathan Wakes by James SA Corey was a book I hadn't heard about before it was picked for a group read. I'm so glad I read the book even though I only got it at the very end of the group read (there is a hold queue at the library!). I loved the story, the characters, and the surprises I encountered while burning through this book. The pacing is perfect and made this a quick read. I can't wait until the next book in the series comes out!
In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin was a disappointing read for me. I'd read reviews that made it sound like the ultimate travel story but I've read better. There are parts of this book that shined and really kept my interest but they were few. For the most part I found the story to be slow and I felt like some of the info Chatwin shared was just to show how much he knew. He really packed his book full of information and it just weighed the book down. Chatwin is at his best when describing a resident of Patagonia and transporting the reader to their living rooms. I felt I got a feel for the people of that time period, the '70's, their ancestors (lots of stories are told of great great grandfathers) and the land they inhabit.

76Welachild
Out 20, 2011, 1:08 am

Renegade: The Making of a President by Richard Wolffe is an interesting read. I felt like it was too "rah rah Obama", which is a feeling I couldn't put examples to. It was just an over all impression after reading the book and I'm an Obama supporter. It might have been because he made Obama's high points seem huge and his low points not that big of a deal. In fairness to Wolffe, his Bush quotes (the few he used) made Bush sound great too, so maybe he is just "rah rah Presidents". That's my unbiased take on the book.

My biased side got really excited again as I was reminded of the high, good emotions I felt during Obama's general election campaign. I didn't hop on the Obama wagon until he clinched the Democratic nomination (being a Clinton supporter) but once I stopped looking at him as the opposition I liked what I saw. His actions show he cares about communities and national consensus. In looking at his candidacy, I got the impression he is a genuinely good guy. Wolffe's writing definitely reinforced that impression.

77Welachild
Out 30, 2011, 1:20 am

Johnny Cash: I See a Darkness was an interesting graphic novel. I especially liked how the artist imagined the songs Johnny sang in the book. The ending was really cool.

78Welachild
Nov 20, 2011, 2:38 am

I read Oryx and Crake for a group read and have mixed feelings about. On one hand, it's a well written and thoughtful novel, on the other hand, some of the subject matter left me uncomfortable and questioning if I really wanted to finish the book. I'm planning on reading The Year of the Flood with hopes it will sit better with me.

79Welachild
Nov 24, 2011, 3:35 am

Maus is a must read. Spiegelman is so open about his rocky relationship with his dad that the Holocaust experience comes across as even more real. His father is honestly portrayed and that's when it hits you that the victims of the Holocaust all had normal lives and relationships. I've been reading books on the holocaust since I was a kid and I'll admit that the survivors seem larger than life to me many times. The enormity of the events sometimes overwhelms my perception of the personal story but Spiegelman's "interruptions" of his fathers story with their conversations is done so masterfully you are constantly reminded of the person, who could be anyone of us really.
I thought I was checking out the complete Maus when I got it from the library but it was only the first part. I can't wait to read part two.

80Welachild
Dez 18, 2011, 7:36 pm

Part Two wasn't as gripping as the first. Spiegelman is trying to come to terms with the success of Maus. The scenes were he is trying to come to grips with everything are just too melodramatic in my opinion. The story is at its best when he is conversing with his father. Spiegelman is a master at showing his fathers faults without judgement. His father feels so real to me, I feel like I'm sitting in on their interviews. I'm so glad I read these books.

81ivyd
Editado: Dez 26, 2011, 2:24 pm

>29 JimThomson: I thought I was checking out the complete Maus when I got it from the library but it was only the first part.

I did the same thing.

>30 Welachild: Part Two wasn't as gripping as the first.

Not quite. But I still thought it was beautifully done.

82Welachild
Dez 31, 2011, 1:42 am

Ivyd-- yes, beautifully done, I agree. I was just totally blown away with the raw honesty of the first part, the insecurity of the beginning of part two threw me. But I will recommend both parts with my entire being. Maus is a must read.

83Welachild
Jan 3, 2012, 5:18 pm

I read a total of 69 books this year but only 32 fit my challenge! This always seems to happen to me. I will be heading over to the 50 book challenge. No more categories! I'm too much off an impulse reader to tie myself down that way. Oh well.