electrice's 2013 category challenge

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electrice's 2013 category challenge

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1electrice
Editado: Dez 31, 2013, 6:11 pm

Hi everybody,

I've wanted to join the group since this summer but think better of it because two-third of the year had already passed.

So I'm more than happy to start fresh for 2013 !

  1. Plays (3)
  2. Science (3)
  3. Non-Fiction (4) COMPLETED
  4. Science-Fiction (3)
  5. Comics, Mangas and Bandes-Dessinées (4) COMPLETED +1
  6. Classics (4) COMPLETED
  7. Going back to childhood or teenage days (3)
  8. Travel and Adventure (4) COMPLETED
  9. FairyTales, Folklore, Legends and Myths (3)
  10. Translations (4) COMPLETED
  11. Miscellaneous (4) COMPLETED +1
  12. Alternate History (4) COMPLETED
  13. Fantasy (4) COMPLETED

I'm set to read 50 books overall ...




Books owned before 2013 will be signaled by an #




Books acquired in 2013 will be signaled by an +




Some books will be in french ...




Rating for the books:

  • I couldn't even finished it and I don't dare to give it to a friend.

  • I'm seeing what could appeal to other people but meh. This one has to go where it will be really appreciated.

  • Interesting but I'll probably not read it again.

  • I reaally had fun reading it ! Or this one is a keeper ...

  • Perhaps a hard read sometimes, but really rewarding, got me thinking beyond the scope of the book, about life, ya know ?


  • Let´s the fun begin !

    2electrice
    Editado: Dez 31, 2013, 12:03 pm

    1. Plays

    Selection

  • 1.1 +Dom Juan by Molière 176p February
  • 1.2 #Une Tempête by Aimé Césaire 92p October
  • 1.3 #Une Saison au Congo by Aimé Césaire 132p December
  • 3electrice
    Editado: Dez 31, 2013, 7:33 am

    2. Science

    Selection

  • 2.1 Longitude by Dava Sobel 208p June
  • 2.2 +Théorème Vivant by Cédric Villani 312p October
  • 2.3 #Je n'aurai pas le temps by Hubert Reeves 339p December
  • 4electrice
    Editado: Nov 30, 2013, 9:42 am

    3. Non-Fiction

    Selection

  • 3.1 +Une Bibliothèque Idéale by Hermann Hesse 144p February
  • 3.2 +Saint-George by Alain Guédé 392p August
  • 3.3 #Terra Nullius by Sven Lindqvist 263p August
  • 3.4 +The View from Castle Rock by Alice Munroe 368p November
    COMPLETED
  • 5electrice
    Editado: Dez 31, 2013, 7:33 am

    4. Science-Fiction

    Selection

  • 4.1 #The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams 160p March
  • 4.2 +L'Instinct de l'équarrisseur by Thomas Day 432p November
  • 4.3 #Meddik by Thierry Di Rollo 237p November
  • 6electrice
    Editado: Nov 27, 2013, 7:54 am

    5. Comics, Mangas and Bandes-Dessinées

    Selection

  • 5.1 The Unwritten by Mike Carey (scenario) and Peter Gross (graphics) 144p March
  • 5.2 Fagin the Jew by Will Eisner 128p March
  • 5.3 Maus I by Art Spiegelman 160p April
  • 5.4 The Unwritten Vol. 2 by Mike Carey and Peter Gross 168p April
    COMPLETED
  • 5.5 The Unwritten Vol. 3 by Mike Carey and Peter Gross 160p April
  • 7electrice
    Editado: Dez 31, 2013, 7:37 am

    6. Classics

    Selection

  • 6.1 +The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan 100p June
  • 6.2 #Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson 96p November
  • 6.3 #The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde 80p December
  • 6.4 #A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 80p December
    COMPLETED
  • 8electrice
    Editado: Dez 31, 2013, 6:12 pm

    7. Going back to childhood or teenage days

    Selection

  • 7.1 #The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum 160p February
  • 7.2 #Le Château des Carpathes by Jules Verne 240p May
  • 7.3 +Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson 232p December
  • 9electrice
    Editado: Nov 19, 2013, 8:11 pm

    8. Travel and Adventure

    Selection

  • 8.1 #The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen 388p April
  • 8.2 #L'Entreprise des Indes by Erik Orsenna 296p September
  • 8.3 +Quel trésor ! by Gaspard-Marie Janvier 364p October
  • 8.4 +Where'd you go Bernadette ? 352p November
    COMPLETED
  • 10electrice
    Editado: Dez 31, 2013, 7:34 am

    9. FairyTales, Folklore, Legends and Myths

    Selection

  • 9.1 +The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 352p July
  • 9.2 #The Fire Gospel by Michel Faber 208p July
  • 9.3 #Les Milles et Une Nuits by Naguib Mahfouz 323p December
  • 11electrice
    Editado: Nov 27, 2013, 7:53 am

    10. Translations

    Selection

  • 10.1 +Anna Karénine by Léon Tolstoi 910p January
  • 10.2 +À l'Ouest, Rien de Nouveau by Erich Maria Remarque 254p March
  • 10.3 #Sky Hawk by Jiro Taniguchi 283p March
  • 10.4 #Comment Voyager avec un Saumon by Umberto Eco 283p September
    COMPLETED
  • 12electrice
    Editado: Dez 18, 2013, 2:40 pm

    11. Miscellaneous

    Selection

  • 11.1 +The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama 422p April
  • 11.2 +The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett 124p May
  • 11.3 +La cote 400 by Sophie Divry 94p August
  • 11.4 +Mystère rue des Saint-Pères by Claude Izner 282p August
    COMPLETED
  • 11.5 +Major Pettigrew by Helen Simonson 384p December
  • 13electrice
    Editado: Nov 20, 2013, 11:36 am

    12. Alternate History

    Selection

  • 12.1 +His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik 356p February
  • 12.2 +Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik March
  • 12.3 +The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde 400p May
  • 12.4 +The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick 272p August
    COMPLETED
  • 14electrice
    Editado: Nov 20, 2013, 11:36 am

    13. Fantasy

    Selection

  • 13.1 +Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman 400p February
  • 13.2 +Soulless by Gail Carriger 384p June
  • 13.3 +Changeless by Gail Carriger 320p August
  • 13.4 +Blameless by Gail Carriger 320p September
    COMPLETED
  • 15electrice
    Editado: Dez 31, 2013, 6:12 pm

    Listing of the books read in 2013

    January

  • 1. Anna Karénine by Léon Tolstoi (30/01/2013)

    February

  • 2. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik (03/02/2013)
  • 3. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (06/02/2013)
  • 4. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (23/02/2013)
  • 5. Dom Juan by Molière (25/02/2013)
  • 6. Une Bibliothèque Idéale by Hermann Hesse (26/02/2013)

    March

  • 7. Sky Hawk by Jirô Taniguchi (01/03/2013)
  • 8. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (03/03/2013)
  • 9. The Unwritten Vol.1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity by Mike Carey and Peter Gross (03/03/2013)
  • 10. À l'Ouest Rien de Nouveau by Erich Maria Remarque (04/03/2013)
  • 11. Fagin the Jew by Will Eisner (06/03/2013)
  • 12. Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik (19/03/2013)

    April

  • 13. The Street of a thousand blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama (03/04/2013)
  • 14. Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman (07/04/2013)
  • 15. The Unwritten Vol.2: Inside Man by Mike Carey and Peter Gross (10/04/2013)
  • 16. The Unwritten Vol.3: Dead Man's Knock by Mike Carey and Peter Gross (17/04/2013)
  • 17. The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen (19/04/2013)

    May

  • 18. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (10/05/2013)
  • 19. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett (11/05/2013)
  • 20. Le Château des Carpathes by Jules Verne (14/05/2013)

    June

  • 21. Longitude by Dava Sobel (07/06/2013)
  • 22. Soulless by Gail Carriger (25/06/2013)
  • 23. The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan (30/06/2013)

    July

  • 24. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (01/07/2013)
  • 25. The Fire Gospel by Michel Faber (06/07/2013)

    August

  • 26. La cote 400 by Sophie Divry (01/08/2013)
  • 27. Mystère rue des Saint-Pères by Claude Izner (04/08/2013)
  • 28. Saint-George by Alain Guédé (07/08/2013)
  • 29. Changeless by Gail Carriger (09/08/2013)
  • 30. Terra Nullius by Sven Lindqvist (10/08/2013)
  • 31. The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick (23/08/2013)
  • 32. Blameless by Gail Carriger (31/08/2013)

    September

  • 33. L'Entreprise des Indes by Erik Orsenna (03/09/2013)

    October

  • 34. Quel trésor ! by Gaspard-Marie Janvier (01/10/2013)
  • 35. Comment Voyager avec un Saumon by Umberto Eco (17/10/2013)
  • 36. Théorème Vivant by Cédric Villani (19/10/2013)
  • 37. Une Tempête by Aimé Césaire (28/10/2013)

    November

  • 38. L'Instinct de l'équarrisseur by Thomas Day (03/11/2013)
  • 39. The View from Castle Rock by Alice Munroe (12/11/2013)
  • 40. Where'd you go Bernadette ? by Maria Semple (20/11/2013)
  • 41. Meddik by Thierry Di Rollo (30/11/2013)
  • 42. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (30/11/2013)

    December

  • 43. Je n'aurai pas le temps by Hubert Reeves (02/12/2013)
  • 44. The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde (12/12/2013)
  • 45. Les Milles et Une Nuits by Naguib Mahfouz (17/12/2013)
  • 46. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson (19/12/2013)
  • 47. Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (28/12/2013)
  • 48. Une Saison au Congo by Aimé Césaire (31/12/2013)
  • 49. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (31/12/2013)
  • 16lkernagh
    Dez 8, 2012, 11:37 am

    Welcome to the challenge electrice! Looks like you have a nice mix of book genres to keep things interesting.

    17PawsforThought
    Dez 8, 2012, 11:41 am

    Welcome! Are you planning on joining any of the group reads? Both Ivanhoe and The Coun of Monte Cristo are group reads for 2013 (September and March-May, respectively).

    18rabbitprincess
    Dez 8, 2012, 12:12 pm

    Bienvenue au groupe! Je suivrai avec intérêt votre catégorie de livres classiques en français en particulier! :)

    19hailelib
    Dez 8, 2012, 1:07 pm

    Welcome and have a fun challenge!

    20electrice
    Editado: Dez 8, 2012, 2:47 pm

    #16 Hi ikernagh, I absolutly love your image and I will follow with pleasure your different categories ...

    #17 Hi PawsforThought, I didn't think about it but that's a great idea, I will probably do it.
    Thanks for the welcome, I'm looking forward to follow your thread based on 1980's film, how fun is that ?

    #18 Salut rabbitprincess, je n'ai jamais vu M*A*S*H mais je suis maintenant juste assez intriguée pour etre tentée ... Au plaisir de te suivre.

    #19 Hi hailelib, thanks that's the goal, all in the spirit of fun. I didn't find your thread ?

    21PawsforThought
    Dez 8, 2012, 3:15 pm

    I'll definitely have an eye on your thread too. I'm always meaning to read more French literature (and read more IN French - though at a much, much lower level of difficulty) but other things - other books - always get in the way. I did really like La peste, though, and hope you will too.

    My challenge wasn't actually BASED on those movies, I came up with the categories I wanted first and then got a theme I could work around the categories. I'm really happy with the result, though.

    22hailelib
    Dez 8, 2012, 3:28 pm

    I'm at http://www.librarything.com/topic/144597 but there's not much there yet as I select my books as I go. Preset lists are too much like homework for me. I also tend to keep my categories rather broad!

    23PawsforThought
    Dez 8, 2012, 3:48 pm

    Some of us liked homework. ;)

    24cyderry
    Dez 8, 2012, 3:58 pm

    Bienvenue dans le groupe! J'espère que vous apprécierez votre lecture en 2013.

    gee, I hope I got that right.. It's been a long time since French class.

    25thornton37814
    Dez 8, 2012, 5:02 pm

    J'espère que vous obtenez la possibilité de regarder M * A * S * H. C'est l'un des salons de l'Amérique de télévision classiques.

    I cheated and got Google translate to help me. I took Spanish instead of French decades ago.

    26mamzel
    Dez 8, 2012, 5:26 pm

    My poor French is so rusty I hesitate to attempt a comment. I will endeavor to try and translate what you've written though. Glad you're along for the ride!

    27electrice
    Dez 9, 2012, 4:51 am

    #21 Yep I'm happy to tackle La Peste this year, I like homework too, if only homework was more like this growing up it would have been lots of fun :)
    I'm going back to your thread right now to ckeck things more attentively (pas de lecture en diagonale, cette fois-ci !)

    #22 I get what you mean, my sister is a big reader but she can't imagine having a reading list ; it just puzzled me ;) How can she keep track of her reading, wishlist and so on ... utter baffle .... but yeah to each his own (ou chacun voit midi à sa porte). Thanks for the link, now I can look at what you intend to read.

    #24 Hi cyderry, thanks for the welcome. Your french is impeccable if I can say so myself ;) I wish that my english was as good. Looking forward to read your thread.

    #25 Hi thornton37814, I will probably try to check the serie in 2013, it's not always easy to try new, or not so new, series in France but thanks to the web it is way more easier than let's say a decade ago. Google translaste is not always accurate but you always get the meaning. I really appreciate the effort. I'm going to take a look at your thread.

    #26 Hi mamzel, thanks for the welcome. If one day, let's say any day really, you feel like trying and write in french, I'll be more than happy to assist if needed. After all, you all do with my english and I know for a fact that it is not always up to par (wrong idiom, expression, grammar and so on ...) I'm glad too to be along for the ride, you people are so welcoming. I look forward to read tour thread.

    28-Eva-
    Dez 11, 2012, 2:35 pm

    Welcome!! Looks like you have a great challenge ahead of you - regardless of language. :) I must admit I had to look up what "Bandes-Dessinées" meant, but it turns out I read them on a regular basis!

    29psutto
    Dez 11, 2012, 4:53 pm

    Just catching up to echo all the welcomes, looks like a bunch of interesting categories. Shamefully although I work for a French company mon Francais est trais mal

    30electrice
    Dez 12, 2012, 11:27 am

    #28 Hi Eva, I'm really happy to be a part of the group. What did you read lately ?

    #29 Hi psutto, thanks for the welcome as we say in France, 'l'essentiel est d'essayer' meaning 'the most important is to try'.

    Just wanted to thank all of you for your warm welcome, I'm trying to catch up on the different thread, it's a lot of fun ...
    Oh and as the title of the category 12 suggest I am more than open to suggestions.

    31-Eva-
    Dez 12, 2012, 1:46 pm

    Well, Tintin, Lucky Luke, Asterix & Obelix, and the Smurfs often get rereads, and I keep all my Suske & Wiske-books in Sweden, so whenever I go back, I try to get through them. It's what I grew up with, so they're all old friends. My French abilities are well below par, so I'll not even attempt that, though. :)

    32PawsforThought
    Dez 12, 2012, 2:27 pm

    Eva, speaking of Tintin, I recently found a French copy of Objectif Lune (Destination Moon) in the foreign language section of my library. I was quite excited - first time I've read a book in French without diving into the dictionary every other word.

    33electrice
    Editado: Dez 12, 2012, 3:27 pm

    #31 Hi Eva, oh you spoke to my heart, I've grown up with Tintin. I remember keeping the money that I had for my birthday and going to the bookshop to buy the BD. Asterix and Obelix was a favorite at my grandmother's home. I don't know Suske & Wiske ... It seems to be in german ? Do you know Blake et Mortimer or Quick et Flupke ?

    34electrice
    Dez 12, 2012, 3:35 pm

    #32 That's great ! First book I ever read in english was Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, I was already 20 I think and I didn't understand half of the book but I was really proud of myself.

    35.Monkey.
    Dez 12, 2012, 3:37 pm

    Suske & Wiske is actually Dutch :)

    36electrice
    Dez 12, 2012, 3:42 pm

    Thanks ;) Well isn't dutch a little bit german (oh just kidding) ; Do you know if there is any translation in english or french ?

    37PawsforThought
    Dez 12, 2012, 3:43 pm

    I've read other (light) books (Le Petit Prince last year) in French before but it was a lot easier this time (the smaller amount of words might have something to do with that...)
    I read a couple of chapter in Harry Potter à l'école des sorciers earlier this year but had to put it away as I had too much going on (I read it alongside the Swedish edition, helped a lot).

    38.Monkey.
    Dez 12, 2012, 3:45 pm

    In English they're called "Spike and Suzy," and in French "Bob et Bobette," lol.

    39electrice
    Dez 12, 2012, 3:49 pm

    #37 Sweden now that seems for me a rather difficult language, I must confess that I'm impressed ...

    40electrice
    Dez 12, 2012, 3:59 pm

    #38 Ah, that's a funny name Bob et Bobette and I remember vaguely reading it being a kid ; I must find it and read it again ... Some more for category 5 if I can ! I know why people here have so much fun ;)

    41cyderry
    Dez 12, 2012, 5:20 pm

    34>>lots of us didn't understand the world of Harry Potter at the beginning - many of the words were foreign to us and it was our native language! lol

    42PawsforThought
    Dez 12, 2012, 6:20 pm

    ->39 electrice:. Well, it's pretty easy if you're born into it... ;) It's a pretty good one to have, though. I can understand pretty much anything in Norwegian and Danish and even some Icelandic - without even trying. All Germanic languages have similar words and I can guess what's being said. Plus, there are TONS of French loanwords (we imported a king from France back in the day and the court all spoke French for a while) so French isn't completely off even for those who (unlike your truly) haven't studied it.

    43-Eva-
    Dez 12, 2012, 6:34 pm

    I think my brothers read Blake and Mortimer and I definitely remember Quick et Flupke from their pictures, but I can't remember what they're called in Swedish.

    Swedish is indeed one of the trickier langages, so I don't blame anyone for not trying it. French is quite easy, I think, until you get deeper into the grammar - year 4 of studying for me and that's when I gave up. :)

    Yes, Suske & Wiske (called Finn & Fiffi in Swedish) are most definitely Dutch - I think they may be somewhat too surreal to be German - and highly recommended!!

    44PawsforThought
    Dez 12, 2012, 6:39 pm

    43, Quick & Flupke = Smecken & Sulan.

    I found French rather easy to learn, but I've always had a knack for languages. Spanish was really confusing for me as I kept thinking of the French words and then trying to work it out from there. I quit Spanish fairly soon. No regrets whatsoever.
    I wish I could speak German and Russian. Think of the literary treasures you could read in it's original language!

    45cammykitty
    Dez 12, 2012, 10:52 pm

    Good to keep the goals real. Looks like you've got some good books lined up!

    46electrice
    Editado: Dez 13, 2012, 1:21 am

    #41 Even so, it was a great motivator to learn this new language, talking about magic of course ! well don't tell anybody else but I think that it can be considered the language of magic ...

    47electrice
    Editado: Dez 13, 2012, 1:34 am

    #42 Ah better understanding of this great accomplishment :) That's pretty cool, knowing many language give a better understanding of other culture. I learned a long time ago german but not practicing it leads to losing it ... By importing you mean kidnap (kidding !) or ? sorry can't say that I'm an history buff. Talking about sweden, could you maybe recommend some author or book (which are not crime book, the french are very fond of swedish crime author) ? I would love to learn more about your beautiful country what better way other than traveling up there (it will come but not right now) ...

    48electrice
    Editado: Dez 13, 2012, 1:58 am

    #43 I must say than even born french are not so clear about grammar most of the time ;) oh and even conjugation and spelling make us sweat sometime ... so you see you're in the clear.

    49electrice
    Dez 13, 2012, 2:04 am

    #44 So do I, Tolstoy or Goethe in the text ...

    50electrice
    Dez 13, 2012, 2:12 am

    #45 Thanks cammykitty. Looking forward to follow your treads.

    51PawsforThought
    Dez 13, 2012, 2:42 am

    ->47 electrice:. Ha! Kidnap! No, he was one of Napoleon's generals and was asked very politely. His descendants are still on the throne (hence the very French last name of Bernadotte).

    Anyway, Swedish non-crime authors? Depends a little on what kind of books you like. One of my favourites is Jonas Hassen Khemiri who generally writes in a sort of mock ghetto slang (and is brilliant). I'd recommend any of his novels. Mikael Niemi is also good (and funny, at least the books I've read).

    52electrice
    Dez 13, 2012, 2:50 am

    #51 Well you can't get any more french sounding than that I suppose ;) And here I was thinking about adventures, polite does not fit at all !

    Going to check these authors and see if they can go in my category 12 !

    Thanks

    53antqueen
    Dez 22, 2012, 4:16 pm

    Another person with a category for plays... seems to be more than usual this year. Some good books listed, too. I read Cloud Atlas and The Shadow of the Wind this year... both very good. Always nice to see what other people think of them!

    54electrice
    Dez 23, 2012, 6:39 am

    #53 I'm thinking about shakespeare too if I can found one leather bound used book ... Oh and I'm reading for the first time an Henrik Ibsen this year so it will be nice to know what other people think about it

    55electrice
    Dez 23, 2012, 12:04 pm

    So I've changed a lot my categories but now I'm set on my new layout and fairly ready for 2013. Going through the different thread to find book bullets and no I'm not a masochist ;)

    56PawsforThought
    Dez 23, 2012, 12:36 pm

    I see you're planning on reading His Dark Materials. I'm going to be re-reading Northern Lights/The Golden Compass later this year. If I have time, I'll read the while trilogy.

    57electrice
    Dez 23, 2012, 12:46 pm

    #56 Great, I read Northern Lights a few years back and really loved it. Fun, fun, fun ...

    58lkernagh
    Dez 23, 2012, 9:17 pm

    Going through the different thread to find book bullets and no I'm not a masochist

    When it comes to books, I think we all possess..... deep, deep down inside.... a bit of masochism as we instinctively search out yet more books to hit our toppling mountains of 'yet to be read' books! Totally normal and healthy behaviour...... really, it is. ;-)

    59craso
    Dez 29, 2012, 3:06 pm

    You have a lot of really good book possibilities. If you enjoy British humor, but aren't to thrilled with Science Fiction, then Hitchhiker's Guide is the way to go. Little, Big is one of my all time favorite Fantasy novels. I've thought about reading The Secret History of Moscow and I look forward to reading your review if you decide to read it.

    60PawsforThought
    Dez 29, 2012, 3:08 pm

    Seconding craso's recommendation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - it's brilliantly fun to read.

    61electrice
    Dez 29, 2012, 3:40 pm

    #59 & 60 Thanks for the recommendations, I'm starting the AlphaCAT challenge with Douglas Adams so waiting, waiting, waiting .... Tuesday will be there soon enough or so I thought one week ago !

    62BookLizard
    Jan 28, 2013, 7:37 am

    Hi electrice, thanks for reading my thread. For the Fairy Tale thread, I'm thinking of reading Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm: A New English Version by Philip Pullman.

    63electrice
    Jan 30, 2013, 7:30 am

    I have finally finished a book, yeah me ! I had a car accident the first week of january which keep me to bed with little energy for reading but I'm back and kicking. I have tried to keep up to date with the different threads, starred some of them and will made some comments in the next few days :)

    64electrice
    Editado: Mar 3, 2013, 1:49 am

    Anna Karénine by Léon Tolstoi

    Perhaps a hard read sometimes, but really rewarding, got me thinking beyond the scope of the book, about life, ya know ?

    Group Reads January
    AlphaCAT January A

    10. Translations



    I read this book in french so I will comment in french ;)

    Je ne m'aventurai pas dans un résumé car je ne pense pas rendre justice à l'oeuvre ...

    Je vais plutôt relater mes impressions sur les deux personnages qui m'ont fait le plus d'effet :

    Que reproche-t-on au fond à Anna ? D'avoir fait au grand jour et par passion ce que certaines personnes de son entourage pratiquaient en toute hypocrisie sous couvert de secret de Polichinelle. Elle n'a pas accepté le système de valeurs inégal imposé aux hommes et aux femmes. S'il ne doit y avoir qu'une seule raison pour la respecter malgré la situation, c'est sa bravoure face à une société de bien-pensant.

    Lévine est un Homme en quête perpétuelle d'un sens à donner à sa vie. J'ai beaucoup aimé la manière dont il arrive à trouver son équilibre, partagé ses moments de doutes et de joies ...

    Une chose est sûre, c'est une oeuvre qui m'a poussée à m'interroger sur le sens que l'on souhaite donner à sa vie, sur la manière dont on se forge son propre système de valeurs qui d'ailleurs n'est pas toujours en adéquation avec le monde ...


    Je le relirai sans aucun doute !

    65mamzel
    Jan 30, 2013, 12:16 pm

    Bien fait!

    66electrice
    Jan 30, 2013, 1:00 pm

    Thanks mamzel, I mean to leave a comment on your thread that I read and starred by the way. I even have some of the comments in my favorites so count on it soon :)

    Just to be clear, you mean it as well done not as it serves you right, right ? I love double meaning ;)

    67mamzel
    Jan 30, 2013, 4:03 pm

    I meant it as "well done" since I would not be able to write a review in French. I was barely able to make out what you had written. Shame on me!

    68electrice
    Jan 30, 2013, 4:50 pm

    No at all, I'm happy enough that you take the time and make the effort of reading it. And I'm french so there is no merit for me to read and write in french ;) Anyway going to your thread right now to make this long due comment.

    69rabbitprincess
    Jan 30, 2013, 6:08 pm

    >63 electrice:: Oh no! I hope there wasn't any long-term damage from the accident. Glad to hear you're back to reading again :)

    Bonne critique aussi! Lorsque je finirai le tome qui habite sur ma table de nuit actuellement (il y habite depuis octobre!) je penserai à commencer Anna Karenina.

    70cyderry
    Jan 30, 2013, 9:30 pm

    Je suis désolé que vous avez été blessé mais j'espère que vous guérissez bien et sera complètement revenue à la normale bientôt.

    hope I got all the accents and verbs in the right form.

    71electrice
    Jan 31, 2013, 2:42 am

    >69 rabbitprincess: Thanks, no long-term damage, just some back pain that will be take care of with some physical therapy.

    Quel tome ? Est-il en français ?

    >70 cyderry: Merci, Don't worry you did all right ;)

    Now going back to reading your posts rabbitprincess and cyderry, I know that I wanted to make some comments ...

    72rabbitprincess
    Jan 31, 2013, 4:57 pm

    I'm reading London: The Biography, by Peter Ackroyd. Il compte 800+ pages pleins d'histoire et d'informations. J'ai cherché amazon.fr et il ne semble pas être traduit vers le français, mais je pourrais avoir tort. Because it's so big it's difficult to read for long periods, but the chapters are fairly short so it is a good book to dip in and out of.

    73electrice
    Fev 2, 2013, 4:15 pm

    Oui cela semble être le genre de livre où l'endurance compte si l'on souhaite savourer chaque moment ;)

    74electrice
    Editado: Jun 3, 2013, 7:40 am

    His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik

    I reaally had fun reading it !

    bookbullet from antqueen thread

    AlphaCAT February N

    13. Fantasy



    I hardly if ever read books in the fantasy category, the last ones being the Harry Potter Series. I started the book with the hope of not being disappointed but without any certainty. Imagine my surprise when I was hooked from the beginning ...

    The action is set in the Napoleonic Wars Era. This time around battles are also fought in the air with the help of dragon forces composed of well a dragon of course, but also of a captain and their crew.

    I follow with great attention and emotion the development of the relashionship between Temeraire and his captain Laurence, from the hatching to the battlefield (perhaps battleair will be more adapted).

    I was surprised to not even care that one of them was a dragon and believe me when I say that I am not one to easily accept the mixing of reality with supernatural.

    Anyways, Temeraire has me when he (and not it) revealed to be a booknerd, Laurence had to brush up his knowledge to satisfy the unsatiable curiosity of Temeraire.

    Add to this wonderful relashionship, the intricate new world of aerial corps and you get a really really great book.

    I will read the next one, deux fois plutôt qu'une, even if the french are doomed :)

    75electrice
    Fev 3, 2013, 9:06 am

    Oh, if one of you could perhaps explain how to update my ticker I would be eternally grateful, I seem to have miss something there, sigh ...

    76BookLizard
    Fev 3, 2013, 10:07 am

    75> It seems like you copied the ticker image and not the code. Go back and make the tickers again and copy the code in the second box - the HTML code.

    77electrice
    Fev 3, 2013, 10:38 am

    >76 BookLizard: Thanks, I'll try now

    78electrice
    Fev 3, 2013, 10:52 am

    It's working just fine :)

    79BookLizard
    Fev 3, 2013, 1:36 pm

    Yay! :)

    80cyderry
    Fev 3, 2013, 1:44 pm

    J'ai adoré His Majesty's Dragon- toute la série en fait. Je vais chercher #6 de la bibliothèque de demain.

    Did I say that right?

    81electrice
    Editado: Fev 3, 2013, 3:18 pm

    Oui, c'était très bien.

    Unfortunatly, the library doesn't have any Naomi Novik books. I will have to buy the whole collection.

    I will have to wait a little before my next buying because it's coming from UK or US and shipping is expansive.

    82BookLizard
    Fev 3, 2013, 6:49 pm

    81> Book Depository has free shipping. www.bookdepository.com/

    83electrice
    Fev 3, 2013, 9:20 pm

    >82 BookLizard: Thanks a lot, this means that all my money will go in actual books and not in shipping cost :)

    84mamzel
    Editado: Fev 5, 2013, 11:41 am

    I'm so glad you've discovered Temeraire and Laurence. I've enjoyed following them all around the world, not just in the air over the Channel.

    85electrice
    Editado: Fev 5, 2013, 12:21 pm

    Thanks, I just buy the next one Throne of Jade on bookdepository, couldn't wait to know what happened with this chinese delegation, there was an exerpt at the end of the book one, sigh ...

    86electrice
    Editado: Mar 3, 2013, 1:51 am

    The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

    Interesting but I'll probably not read it again.

    AlphaCAT February B

    7. Going back to childhood or teenage days



    I am happy to have read this one as I have never seen the film adaptation with Judy Garland, I only knew the basics.

    It brings me back to fond chilhood memories when our mother would read FairyTales to my sister and I before going to bed.

    Growing up, the FairyTales would be from Charles Perrault, Grimm or H. C. Andersen but no L. Frank Baum or Lewis Carol.

    I will definetely read this one to my future children.

    87mamzel
    Fev 6, 2013, 4:25 pm

    There is a new movie coming out this year called Oz the Great and Wonderful starring James Franco that looks like it might be pretty good!

    88electrice
    Fev 6, 2013, 5:25 pm

    This seems interesting, I love Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams, not so much James Franco but I will keep an eye on this one, thanks !

    89psutto
    Fev 7, 2013, 5:14 am

    I have never seen the film adaptation with Judy Garland wow, it was on every Christmas in the Uk for what seemed like forever so as a child I must have watched it lots - I remember my sisters hiding behind the couch from the witch :-)

    90electrice
    Fev 7, 2013, 7:36 am

    Well here on christmas, we had 'The Ten commandments' with Charlton Heston years after years after years ... For a treat like Oz, you had to wait midnight and it was on a channel dedicated to culture. I was always too tired. My big sister had the pleasure to watch it a few times with my mom.

    91clfisha
    Fev 8, 2013, 6:15 am

    You will be telling me you didn't get 'The Great Escape' and a 'James Bond' film too :-) Ah the great British Christmas, I remember one year I wanted to watch the alternative to the Queens speech and all hell broke loose.

    92electrice
    Fev 8, 2013, 7:11 am

    LOL, Queens speech here will rise hell here too but for other reasons :)

    Well I would have love these kind of films over the other alternative 'Ben Hur' sigh. I would take any days Steve McQueen over Charlton Heston.

    93clfisha
    Fev 8, 2013, 7:28 am

    Maybe we should have Christmas TV amnesty and swap. I would have loved a bit of Charlton Heston, just for a change.

    94electrice
    Fev 8, 2013, 7:56 am

    With pleasure :) Going to take a look to your thread.

    95electrice
    Editado: Jun 3, 2013, 7:40 am

    Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

    Interesting but I'll probably not read it again.

    bookbullet from majkia thread

    AlphaCAT February N

    13. Fantasy



    I've liked it and found it interesting but I couldn't really cheer for the good guys or be enthralled by their quest. I feel like I didn't have enough background story to connect ?

    What makes Richard special ?

    That being said I've found the bad guys Mr Croup and Mr Vandemar rather funny, the deadpan answers of Mr Vandemar are a perfect counterbalance to the verbosity of Mr Croup.

    In fact, I would have like to know a little bit more about their background stories. Where and When are they from ? When did they meet and how have they come to this business ?

    The end feels like a cop-out, I feel like there are too many loose-ends.

    I can honestly say that it's not a book that I will re-read unless there is a sequel, then maybe my frustation will be satisfied.

    96-Eva-
    Fev 23, 2013, 7:10 pm

    I've been watching its accompanying TV-series and, although it's not great, Croup and Vandemar are pretty great in it!

    97electrice
    Fev 23, 2013, 9:47 pm

    >96 -Eva-: Yep, I can imagine with the one-liner these two have !

    98electrice
    Editado: Mar 3, 2013, 1:52 am

    Dom Juan by Molière

    Interesting but I'll probably not read it again.

    1. Plays



    This one is in french so the comment will be in french too.

    La pièce est la parfaite illustration de l'expression 'être un vrai Dom Juan'. Ce n'est pas un compliment, c'est certain.

    Le personnage n'a aucune qualité permettant de lui trouver une grace quelconque. Molière n'y va pas avec le dos de la cuillière pour critiquer l'hypocrisie des 'honnêtes' gens se cachant de leurs méfaits sous couverts de sainteté.

    Est-ce qu'on peut lui reprocher d'avoir forcé un peu trop le trait ?


    Je ne pense pas relire la pièce de si tôt mais je suis contente de connaitre l'origine de l'archétype.

    99cyderry
    Fev 26, 2013, 3:57 pm

    Sonne comme quelque chose que je sonore ajouter à ma liste Classics.

    100electrice
    Fev 26, 2013, 7:50 pm

    Yes I would recommend it. I don't know if the expression 'c'est un vrai Dom Juan' or 'He's a real Dom Juan, this one' is used in english but in french it is and well it's not really a compliment, is it ? Anyway, it was a real treat to know first hand the story behind the expression.

    101rabbitprincess
    Fev 26, 2013, 9:35 pm

    I've heard the Don Juan expression used in English. And now I must find a way to use "n'y pas aller avec dos de la cuillière" in my French writing :)

    102electrice
    Fev 27, 2013, 4:29 am

    Well I must confess that I love to overuse expressions sometimes, but some are so much fun :)

    103psutto
    Fev 27, 2013, 4:32 am

    In English it's always Don not mJuan, from the original legend I guess rather than the Moliere play

    n'y pas aller avec dos de la cuillière - "do not go with the back of the spoon"? not heard that one before :-)

    104electrice
    Fev 27, 2013, 8:37 am

    Yes, it will go this way I think :)

    105mamzel
    Fev 27, 2013, 11:32 am

    103> doesn't hold water?

    106electrice
    Fev 27, 2013, 11:48 am

    > 105 Are we still talking about the expression if so More like 'kill a fly with a kalashnikov instead of fly swat'

    107electrice
    Editado: Jun 3, 2013, 7:41 am

    Une Bibliothèque Idéale by Hermann Hesse

    Interesting but I'll probably not read it again.

    AlphaCAT February B

    3. Non-Fiction



    This one is in french so the comment will be in french too.

    Ce petit ouvrage est un recueil d'articles écrits par Hermann Hesse au sujet des livres, de l'écriture, du métier d'écrivain ...

    Il y est question aussi de la constitution d'une bibliothèque et de ce qu'il considère être une bibliothèque idéale.

    Il est intéressant de découvrir que pour Hermann Hesse les classiques doivent s'y trouver mais qu'il est tout aussi indispensable que s'y trouve ce qui va distinguer sa propre bibliothèque de tout autre bibliothèque académique.

    Pour Hermann Hesse ce sera:
  • Les ouvrages de littérature allemande de 1750-1850 dont la qualité est très inégale mais qu'il a découvert tout petit dans la bilbiothèque de son grand-père
  • La philosophie indienne et chinoise qui ont comblé un besoin de spiritualité qu'il ne s'expliquait pas avant de découvrir ces ouvrages


  • C'est un petit ouvrage dans lequel je viendrai piocher de futurs idées de lecture

    108electrice
    Editado: Mar 3, 2013, 4:03 am

    Sky Hawk by Jiro Taniguchi

    I reaally had fun reading it !

    5. Comics, Mangas and Bandes-Dessinées



    This one is in french so the comment will be in french too.

    Deux samourais Sky Hawk et Winds Wolf sont obligés de s'exhiler aux États-Unis après la défaite de leur clan. Bien sûr, Sky Hawk et Winds Wolf ne sont pas leurs noms de 'baptême'.

    Ces noms ils les gagneront lors de leurs combats au côté des Sioux pour préserver leur indépendance et leur mode de vie. Leur destin est lié à celui de la nation Sioux et de Crazy Horse par le respect du mode de vie des 'Guerriers'. J'ai suivi avec plaisir et trépidation les évènements menant à l'issue finale.

    "Et si l'état américain avait respecté les traités ?". J'ai été prise de nostalgie pour un mode de vie originel, respecteux de la parole donnée et d'une harmonie avec la Nature. Bien évidemment "Avec des si, on met Paris en bouteille".

    Ce roman graphique est un bel hymne à la lutte de la nation Sioux pour conserver son droit à vivre sur son territoire et à l'amitié pouvant unir deux peuples que l'on pourrait dans un premier temps penser alien.


    Dans une réalite alternative, Crazy Horse, Sky Hawk et la nation Sioux continuent à chasser le bison dans les grandes plaines.

    109electrice
    Mar 3, 2013, 4:03 am

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

    I'm seeing what could appeal to other people but meh. This one has to go where it will be really appreciated.

    4. Science-Fiction



    I just couldn't appreciate the humor or absurd ideas which were for me just like white noise 'blablabla'.


    Really not my style.

    110clfisha
    Editado: Mar 3, 2013, 4:36 am

    A shame Hitchikers wasnt for you, I admit I prefer the radio play to the books but he humour remains the same!

    I wish they translated more European comics into English, last one I read, and quite enjoyed, was the noir Blacksad

    111electrice
    Mar 3, 2013, 8:33 am

    So do I. Some of you and my sister liked it so much that I wanted to be charmed but alas it was not meant to be ;)

    You know I never read Blacksad. I remember seeing it at the library when I was a teenager, appreciating the graphics but not wanting to read it because at the time I was put off by the cat/person thing. But hum, thanks god, nowdays I'm all grown up and not bothered by this. In fact, I will give it a try sometime in the near future. It got so good reviews :)

    I just borrowed the first three The Unwritten from the library, I will be reading it between other books. Can't wait to start ;)

    I've taken 3 others GN: Fagin the Jew, little star and Maus. It will be nice breaks from Le comte de Monte Cristo.

    I never thought about translation in the other direction, you know from an european language to english. Thing is that in France, we will have great access to mangas, I think that we are the first market for it. But we have some problem to read let say varied comics, meaning not from the super-hero kind. For this one we don't have any problem, my uncles were already reading it in the sixties ;)

    112lkernagh
    Mar 3, 2013, 8:00 pm

    Getting caught up here and see that you have been busy reading, and quite the range of books too! Sorry that Hitchhiker's didn't work for you but I have to admit that it has been a couple of decades now since I immersed myself in the books and British TV series based on the books. Not sure if it would still have the same appeal now that it had back then.

    113electrice
    Mar 4, 2013, 3:22 am

    My sister said the same about Hitchhiker's, she reads it 15 years ago ...

    Happy to have read it all the same. I'm just starting reading SF, I need time to find the style or styles that I prefer, it's half the fun.

    It's why the category challenge is such a treat, it allows to expand the kind of books that we read. If not for the group, I don't think that I would have read SF, fantasy or children's books ; and certainly not any time soon Anna Karénine :)

    114electrice
    Mar 4, 2013, 3:49 am

    The Unwritten by Mike Carey and Peter Gross

    I reaally had fun reading it !

    AlphaCAT March C

    I have Claire to thank for this one :)

    5. Comics, Mangas and Bandes-Dessinées



    Imagine a fantasy series just as successful as Harry Potter but even more so. Now think of what would happen if the author disappeared (not dead), letting the serie unfinished with an horde of fanatics. Add to that that the son of the author Tom Taylor is the model for the serie hero Tommy Taylor. Can you imagine the mayhem that would be for Tom ?

    You think that you do, oh I tought so too but IMHO I don't think that you can. You must add to that a conspiracy based on the influential world litterature, most importantly on the unwritten one ; and of course you must think of the serie Tommy Taylor. After all, it must play a role, right ?


    A real pleasure, you're in for a fun ride of fantasy, intrigue and litterature.

    115whitewavedarling
    Mar 4, 2013, 4:40 am

    That does sound fun! Onto the wishlist it goes...

    116psutto
    Mar 4, 2013, 7:58 am

    Glad you liked Unwritten, a great series

    you'll be amused to know that I took your Moliere review to my French class last week (after I'd struggled to translate it) so the whole class got to read it :-)

    The teacher was impressed by the "beautiful language of the review" too

    117electrice
    Mar 4, 2013, 8:18 am

    >115 whitewavedarling: It really is. I've got the next book in the series from the library. I'll be reading it after I finished À l'Ouest Rien de Nouveau.

    >116 psutto: Hi Pete, thanks I'm blushing. French class ? Is it for pleasure or for business ?

    I'm thinking about taking one in german. I used to be able to talk and read in german but it was sadly in the last century, funny you would think that I'm already 80 years old. I would love to be able to read books in german (even children's one) in a few years.

    118psutto
    Mar 4, 2013, 8:24 am

    >117 electrice: it's for business - I work for a French firm and although English is the official language obviously there are a lot of French speakers - some emails start in French between the French guys but eventually get forwarded to me for comment

    119electrice
    Mar 4, 2013, 10:05 am

    >118 psutto: Well I know how it feels, sometimes at work suppliers or clients will be also partner on some projects, discussions will be forwarded with the beginning being in german or arabian.

    In these moments, I really wish to understand the whole thing. Summary done by intermediary is not the same, thing is that what seems important to my colleague is not always what is important to my side of the project ...

    120clfisha
    Mar 4, 2013, 3:50 pm

    Glad you enjoyed it!

    121electrice
    Mar 5, 2013, 3:13 am

    Thanks Claire

    122electrice
    Mar 5, 2013, 3:42 am

    À l'Ouest Rien de Nouveau by Erich Maria Remarque

    Perhaps a hard read sometimes, but really rewarding, got me thinking beyond the scope of the book, about life, ya know ?

    AlphaCAT March O

    10. Translations



    This one is in french so the comment will be in french too.

    Ce récit est La sublime narration de la vie des poilus. Comment pourrait-on après sa lecture penser que la guerre est la solution ? Tout ce que je pourrais ajouter ne ferait pas justice à l'atrocité de la guerre et sa déshumanisation ou à la profonde humanité et fragilité des soldats.


    Sa prose est empreinte de lyrisme. À relire dès qu'on pense que la guerre est la solution.

    123sandragon
    Mar 6, 2013, 12:43 am

    I've seen The Unwritten at the store and wondered about it. You've just convinced me to put it on my wishlist, electrice :o) Sounds intriguing.

    124electrice
    Mar 6, 2013, 3:55 am

    Oh you definetly should. It's all very intriguing and the best part is that there's still more to come ... I'm going to read the next one this week :)

    125clfisha
    Mar 6, 2013, 5:40 am

    That's a great cover for All Quiet on the Western Front. It's a hugely evocative book isn't it?

    126electrice
    Mar 6, 2013, 8:20 am

    Absolutely, this cover is perfect for this story.

    The impressions put you there, in this miserable situation, the absurdity, the despair, the quench for life, the need for it to be again possible, truly, deeply moving ...

    This book has really an ethereal quality, I can't do it justice.

    It's blew me away just as much as 15 years ago. And in 15 years again, I think.

    127electrice
    Editado: Mar 6, 2013, 9:21 am

    Fagin the Jew by Will Eisner

    Interesting but I'll probably not read it again.

    5. Comics, Mangas and Bandes-Dessinées



    Yep Fagin the Jew is the one that you perhaps read about in Oliver Twist. We learned about what could have been his life before the novel, what happened to lead Fagin to his fate ?

    And there is the "What If" question. What if Fagin had made the right decision at the pivotal moment of his life, what would it have been like ?

    It address the question of nature versus nurture.

    It's a good graphic novel, the theme is bleak BUT the end gives us hope.


    It's, I think, a fair account of how prejudices can mercilessly destroy lifes ...

    128lkernagh
    Mar 7, 2013, 11:54 pm

    Love the cover for The Unwritten. You review has sold me on it - which means another series gets added to the reading list!

    129electrice
    Mar 8, 2013, 3:30 am

    Hope that you'll like it !

    130electrice
    Editado: Jun 3, 2013, 7:41 am

    Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik

    Temeraire series (2)

    I reaally had fun reading it !

    13. Fantasy



    Temeraire and Laurence are going to China for political reasons. The trip is eventful, the arrival in China even more so ...

    They each learn interesting things about the dragon-way of life in China. Temeraire gets acquainted with his family and Laurence makes some sobering discoveries ...

    I will read the next one.

    131mamzel
    Mar 22, 2013, 1:49 pm

    This was my favorite. Temeraire really becomes self-aware when in China.

    132christina_reads
    Mar 30, 2013, 3:16 pm

    Love the Temeraire books! Glad you're enjoying them.

    133cyderry
    Editado: Mar 30, 2013, 6:33 pm

    Vous avez tant d'aventures vous attend avec Téméraire et Laurence!
    Je sais que vous les apprécierez!

    hope I go that right?

    134electrice
    Abr 5, 2013, 7:02 am

    >131 mamzel: Hi mamzel, this one is more intimate, Temeraire learns to be his own-dragon, I rather like it !

    >132 christina_reads: Thanks christina, I hope to like the next as much as the this one.

    >133 cyderry: Hi cyderry, better and better with the french part :) Love the adventures so far. Je les apprécie à leur juste valeur.

    Back after two weeks, I have a lot of catch-up to do ...

    135electrice
    Abr 7, 2013, 6:48 am

    The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama

    I reaally had fun reading it ! Or this one is a keeper ...

    11. Miscellaneous



    Japan, Tokyo, 1939

    Hiroshi and Kenji are growing up On the Street of Thousand Blossoms with their grandparents Fumiko and Yoshio, dreaming of sumotori and noh theatre masks until the hardship of war is felt in the day to day life. Dreams left place to surviving.

    After the war, as their grandfather used to say, they will have to know what they are fighting for: tradition or changes, career or family ?

    I'm left with a yearning to learn more about japanese culture and way of life ...

    It was poetic, thoughtful and profoundly moving. I'll definitely reread it and read other books by Gail Tsukiyama.

    136electrice
    Abr 7, 2013, 10:53 am

    Maus I by Art Spiegelman

    Perhaps a hard read sometimes, but really rewarding, got me thinking beyond the scope of the book, about life, ya know ?

    5. Comics, Mangas and Bandes-Dessinées




    Does what other medias couldn't; must be experienced to do it justice.

    Powerful, spellbinding.

    137lkernagh
    Abr 8, 2013, 3:15 pm

    I have heard great things about Gail Tsukiyama's books, looks like you are helping move her up my TBR list..... and I really needs to get around to reading Maus at some point.

    138clfisha
    Abr 10, 2013, 8:46 am

    I really must get around to reading Maus too

    139electrice
    Abr 10, 2013, 2:33 pm

    > 137 Hi ikernagh, this one was very great, I'm definitely reading more from her next year.

    >137 lkernagh: & 138 ikernagh and Claire I didn't read it for years because I was not happy with the graphics. What a shame because these graphics are just right for the story/history.

    140electrice
    Abr 10, 2013, 3:27 pm

    The Unwritten Vol.2: Inside Man by Mike Carey and Peter Gross

    I reaally had fun reading it ! Ot this one is a keeper

    5. Comics, Mangas and Bandes-Dessinées



    Oh this one is so good ! The plot thickens.

    Can you imagine what would happens if Tom was at the centre of a spree murder conspiracy ? Doesn't Tom owe something to the world (well to the fanatic at least) ? After all, a whole generation has thrived and developed its imagination on Tommy Taylor series and he's Tommy Taylor real-life incarnation. Right ?

    Who are the men trying to trick Tom ? All right, there is a world's literature conspiracy. But what does it have to do with Tom and why, why the world doesn't leave him alone. There is a conspiracy, but just to be clear, this one is just to F**K with his mind.


    A real pleasure, you're in for a fun ride of fantasy, intrigue and litterature.

    141clfisha
    Abr 11, 2013, 8:28 am

    Yeay more Unwritten love :)

    142-Eva-
    Abr 11, 2013, 6:11 pm

    Good thing claire has already put this series on my wishlist... Bullet "avoided." :)

    143AHS-Wolfy
    Abr 11, 2013, 6:52 pm

    I want to read his Lucifer books first but also have The Unwritten on the radar as well.

    144electrice
    Abr 12, 2013, 7:36 am

    > 141 Hi Claire, I've a great time reading the series so far, thanks again :)

    > 142 Hi Eva, It really is a fun and intriguing read. I highly recommend it.

    > 143 Hi AHS-Wolfy, I have Lucifer on my wishlist too ;)

    145electrice
    Editado: Ago 25, 2013, 2:17 pm

    The Unwritten Vol.3: Dead Man's Knock by Mike Carey and Peter Gross

    I reaally had fun reading it ! Ot this one is a keeper

    5. Comics, Mangas and Bandes-Dessinées

    This series gets better and better.

    What to say ? I don't know what I love most:
  • Is it the headline of online newspapers, the social network or the anchor following the "Tommy Taylor" story ?
  • Not really knowing if real-life is impinging on stories or if it's the other-way around ?
  • The diving in "Tommy Taylor - Harry Potter like" world ?
  • The interlude in well-know or not not so well known stories ? Ever think of La chanson de Roland or Beatrix Potter in a different way ;)
  • Or perhaps, it is the "choose your own adventure" immersion masterpiece in the middle of the story, which only serve to enhance the "What would be the impact if our familiar stories were told in small different ways that the one we know ?"

    Oh, and the best still have to come, they are diving right into the Whale story for the next one ...


  • A real pleasure, you're in for a fun ride of fantasy, intrigue and litterature.

    146mamzel
    Abr 18, 2013, 10:41 am

    OK, you've sold me. The public library has the first one so I put it on hold and will pick it up. The covers of the books have me so intrigued!

    147electrice
    Abr 18, 2013, 4:05 pm

    >146 mamzel: Mamzel, I hope that you'll like it !

    148mamzel
    Abr 19, 2013, 10:32 am

    Got the first two. Yay!

    149electrice
    Abr 19, 2013, 12:27 pm

    Oh, I think that you'll have fun. I'm looking forward your review :)

    150electrice
    Editado: Ago 23, 2013, 6:06 am

    So far, on 23/08/2013, I have read 31 books:

    1. Plays (1)
    2. Science (1)
    3. Non-Fiction (2)
    4. Science-Fiction (1)
    5. Comics, Mangas and Bandes-Dessinées (4) COMPLETED (+2)
    6. Classics (1)
    7. Going back to childhood or teenage days (2)
    8. Travel and Adventure (2)
    9. Fairytales, Folklore, Legends and Myths (2)
    10. Translations (2)
    11. Miscellaneous (4) COMPLETED
    12. Alternate History (2)
    13. Fantasy (4) COMPLETED (+1)

    151electrice
    Abr 20, 2013, 7:14 am

    The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen

    I reaally had fun reading it ! Or this one is a keeper ...

    Award longlist in 2011 for the IMPAC

    8. Travel and Adventure



    T.S. is a 12 years old boy who makes elaborate maps of the world, at large. He works out and puzzles things with these intricate schematics:
  • The length of jeans cutoff and their meaning in group hierarchy
  • The facial expression of people
  • The draining chart of his natal Montana
  • The Sounds of Silence
    Anything, he'll draw it ....

    He's good, anyway good enough to be the recipient of the sought-after 'Baird Award' of the Smithsonian Institution. Of course he's a child, he can't go all other to Washington from Montana even though they don't know that he's a child, right ? And how in the hell, his works come to the attention of the Smithsonian Institute ?

    Well that was before he thinks about this last year, the death of his little brother Layton and his involvement in it, the accident, the forgetfulness of his mother Dr. Clair, the ever eluding scientist, the wall of silence from his father, the rancher, and his pop-loving older sister and her never ending complaining of ranch life ...

    There are some credibility gap but it's easily forgotten for the thrill pleasure of secret society, murder attempt and rocambolesque trip.

  • It's really a great story, a must-read if only so for the maps.

    152lkernagh
    Abr 20, 2013, 8:34 pm

    I thought Larsen's book was really creative, with the maps, the journal and everything - what a great way to tell a story!

    153electrice
    Abr 21, 2013, 4:11 am

    Yep, that's unusual and so compelling !

    154clfisha
    Abr 21, 2013, 8:01 am

    Oooo maps :) sold

    155electrice
    Abr 21, 2013, 1:05 pm

    Hi Claire, if you like unconventional book, you're in for an interesting read ;)

    156electrice
    Editado: Nov 2, 2013, 8:37 am

    Mensagem removida pelo autor.

    157electrice
    Jun 12, 2013, 6:56 am

    The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett

    Interesting but I'll probably not read it again

    11. Miscellaneous



    The Queen Elizabeth reads one book the week following this small accident caused by her dogs at the mobile library because it was the appropriate thing to do after all ...

    Well it was not her cup of tea but one thing leading to another, she began to really take pleasure in her reading and as some say, the rest is history ...

    Fun book treating with humor of the difficulties that many people encounter when they start to read at an adult age: what to read ? should I read for pleasure only or should I try some more challenging reading ? I'm too unread to follow and understand this author, maybe I should stop to kid myself and quit, I'm way too late in this reading business to catch up !?

    Great book full of deadpan humor about the mayhem that reading can create in one life when one is not used to it !

    158electrice
    Editado: Jun 14, 2013, 4:01 am

    Le Château des Carpathes by Jules Verne

    Interesting but I'll probably not read it again

    7. Going back to childhood or teenage days



    Le mythe des Carpathes raconté à la sauce Jules Verne: il y a une explication technique et rationnelle à ces superstitions !

    Comme tous les voyages extraordinaires, ils méritent d'être lus de préférence jeunes, du moins à la première lecture, au risque d'être lasse des leçons de choses ...

    Mérite d'être lu à un âge où il sera apprécié à sa juste valeur

    159-Eva-
    Jun 12, 2013, 5:25 pm

    ->157 electrice:
    I'd be interesting to know if she's read it herself! :)

    160clfisha
    Jun 13, 2013, 4:27 am

    @158 love that cover though :)

    161electrice
    Jul 4, 2013, 7:02 am

    >159 -Eva-: Eva, I'm chuckling thinking about it, it sure will be fun !?

    >160 clfisha: Claire, it's a reprinting of the collection with the original Hetzel illustration. That's one of the reasons why I choose this edition.

    162electrice
    Editado: Jul 4, 2013, 4:12 pm

    Longitude by Dava Sobel

    I reaally had fun reading it ! Or this one is a keeper ...

    2. Science



    Great narrative about the men who work on the problem of longitude which make countless death year after year for more than two centuries.

    The mariners had no way to keep track of longitude once the coast was out of sight. Lots of scientific work on this particular problem for human and economic reasons, but the Longitude Prize promised by the british parlamient made the quest even more competitive.

    There were two schools: the astronomic approach based on sky-chart and the mechanic approach based on clockwork. The second one was not very popular until John Harrison a self-made, perfectionist and humble horloger works on it for more than 40 years ...

    Lots of intrigue, lack of sportmanship and twist made this one a really fun ride !

    Wonderful book that we'll be fully appreciated with the illustrated version, even more so if you're not familiar with sailing.

    163electrice
    Jul 4, 2013, 4:27 pm

    Soulless by Gail Carriger

    Interesting but I'll probably not read it again.

    13. Fantasy



    Miss Tarabotti is almost a proper british lady, well if you go past her italian heritage and well some other little details like her lack of soul.

    She only wanted a nice cup of tea and some appetizer because if she had to endure this soirée, she'll have to do it with some sustenance.

    Well it's all fine and dandy 'til she had to kill this unmannered vampire in the library, and the rest, as they say, is history ...


    Nice steam-paranormal-punkish romance mystery. First one in the series, a little bit heavy on the romance side for my taste but it seems that it continues with more mystery and less romance. So I'm in for the next one ...

    164rabbitprincess
    Jul 4, 2013, 5:30 pm

    >162 electrice:: Ooh, that book looks really interesting. Will have to look for it at the library!

    165lkernagh
    Jul 4, 2013, 10:08 pm

    I have had my eye on a number of the Dava Sobel books, including Longitude so very happy to see the 4 star rating for it! Soulless is a bit of entertaining fluff and I agree, it did seem to be heavy on the romance side. I have started Changeless as my before bed reading and love how it picks up only a few months after where Soulless left off.

    166clfisha
    Jul 5, 2013, 4:46 am

    Longitude sounds fascinating.. I have a weird feeling its buried in my TBR somewhere... lucky me :

    I loved Souless, perfectly fitted my mood at the time but I admit I got series fatigue fast. I think I am one of the few and I understand there's less romance too

    167paruline
    Jul 5, 2013, 7:36 am

    And Longitude goes on the wishlist. Luckily, my local library has it. Thanks for the rec!

    168electrice
    Jul 5, 2013, 11:38 am

    >164 rabbitprincess: & 167 Hi rabbitprincess and paruline, I borrowed it from my library too. I think that you'll like it.

    I'm thinking about buying the illustrated version as I really loved it but felt a little but frustated at times as I know very little about sailing and reading charts. However it does not detract from enjoying the narrative.

    >165 lkernagh: Hi ikernagh, I'm thinking about reading The Planets by Dava Sobel. What is the one that you were thinking about ?

    Happy to see that Changeless is picking in a few months. I think that I'll read this one next month and I'll make sure to check your review :)

    >166 clfisha: Hi Claire, yes lucky you indeed, it's really a good one.

    I'm waiting to read the next one in the series to know if it's definetly up my alley ...

    169electrice
    Jul 5, 2013, 12:49 pm

    The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan

    I reaally had fun reading it ! Or this one is a keeper ...

    6. Classics



    I've been to Edinburgh in May and I wanted to bring back some books from scottish authors, and John Buchan seems like a good choice at the time. I was feeling a little bit nostalgic thinking about watching The Thirty-Nine Steps with the family.

    And oh boy, I was in for a thrilling and classic ride !? Over the top spy intrigue, check, numerous murder attempts on Richard Hannay, the retired hero from South Africa, check, improbable last minute saving by of course ingenuousity from Richy Boy but also perfect strangers ready to help a nice fellow, check :)

    Everything is there, even the famous plane pursuit over scottish landscape alas I'm afraid that I have to reveal that he is to late to prevent WWI (hope that I didn't spoil anything with this one) ...


    Wonderful book, I can't barely wait to check the next adventure of Rickie Boy, Greenmantle.

    170rabbitprincess
    Jul 5, 2013, 5:54 pm

    You were in Edinburgh in May? So was I! :D If you haven't read Ian Rankin, he's another excellent Scottish author. Really brings Edinburgh to life.

    Thirty-Nine Steps was pretty fun. Did you see the recent PBS adaptation with Rupert Penry-Jones or the black-and-white movie?

    171-Eva-
    Jul 6, 2013, 10:25 pm

    There is an awful lot of pawing in Soulless, which isn't really my thing either, but the characters are such fun!

    I recently watched the PBS-movie, but I do want to read The Thirty-Nine Steps as well!

    172BookLizard
    Jul 6, 2013, 10:50 pm

    171> There is an awful lot of pawing in Soulless

    Well, what did you expect from werewolves? LOL.

    173-Eva-
    Editado: Jul 6, 2013, 10:54 pm

    ->172 BookLizard:
    Haha, I should have seen that one coming. :)

    174electrice
    Jul 7, 2013, 12:50 am

    >170 rabbitprincess:, being in Edinburgh I had to have one of Rankin of course, I buy the first Inspector Rebus novel for 1 £ at a church sale on george street. I'll probably read this one before the end of the year.

    I buy two or three scottish folktale and fairytales which will go nicely in category 9 of my challenge too.

    >170 rabbitprincess: & 171, I watched the Hitchcock adaptation, it's really a free adaptation if I remember correctly, it's been ten years.

    >172 BookLizard: & 173, LOL.

    175psutto
    Jul 8, 2013, 8:15 am

    I also gave longitude 4 stars when i read it a couple of years ago iirc

    176clfisha
    Jul 8, 2013, 8:35 am

    Nice review of The 39 Steps, its been on my wishlist for years and years, I really need to track down a copy.

    177electrice
    Jul 8, 2013, 4:26 pm

    >175 psutto: Hi Pete, it was a good one, I'll read another one from Dava Sobel.

    >176 clfisha: Hi Claire, I don't regret reading this one. I have rewatched the Hitchcock adaptation this WE and with the exception of the hero name, everything else is changed and not for the better IMHO.

    178electrice
    Jul 8, 2013, 4:41 pm

    The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

    I reaally had fun reading it ! Or this one is a keeper ...

    9. FairyTales, Folklore, Legends and Myths



    Credible retelling of the Iliad. We're following the story of Patroclus companion of Achilles and his side of the myth. The narrative is thoughtful and profoundly human, it's like having a behind-the-scene transcription. We know of course beforehand what happens but it does not dectract from the tale: the hearthache, the absurdity and the doom feeling, all is there.


    Wonderful book, it's a tour de force to be able to retell an epic and avoid the pitfall.

    179electrice
    Jul 8, 2013, 5:07 pm

    The Fire Gospel by Michel Faber

    Interesting but I'll probably not read it again.

    9. FairyTales, Folklore, Legends and Myths



    When Theo find some scrolls of papyrus after the explosion of the museum in Iraq, he legimated his stealing by pointing out that these are written in a language that he specialized in and that few in the world can read. Also, they did't even know those existed before the explosion.

    He thought that it was his destiny to transcript these scrolls and to bring this new knowledge to the layman. OK if he could make some money at the same time, can you really blame him ?

    What he didn't anticipate is the world going coocoo over his transcription ...


    Fast read, full of suspence and keeping you on your feet all along.

    180electrice
    Ago 14, 2013, 9:47 am

    La cote 400 by Sophie Divry

    I'm seeing what could appeal to other people but meh. This one has to go where it will be really appreciated.

    11. Miscellaneous



    Monologue d'une bibliothécaire cinquantenaire, aigrie et désabusée.

    J'ai trouvé que l'introduction du monologue était maladroite et je n'ai pas pu m'affranchir de cette impression lors de la lecture.

    La description du système de classement Dewey était intéressante: son ethnocentrisme, la hiérarchie qu'il peut créer au sein de certaines bibliothèques ...

    L'obsession qu'elle développe pour un usager est tirée par les cheveux et ridicule.

    181electrice
    Ago 14, 2013, 10:19 am

    Mystère Rue des Saint-Pères by Claude Izner

    Interesting but I'll probably not read it again.

    11. Miscellaneous



    Paris, 1889, Exposition universelle

    La vedette de l'attraction est la Tour Eiffel.

    Victor Legris, libraire et son associé Kenji Mori, ont rendez-vous avec l'équipe de rédaction du Passe-partout au deuxième étage de la Tour Eiffel lorsqu'une femme s'écroule sous le coup d'une étrange piqûre. Ainsi commence le mystère ...

    J'ai aimé le Paris de cette fin du XIX, très vivant et crédible: petits métiers, artistes, bourgeois, nouveaux riches, bidonvilles, rien n'y manque.

    Les relations entre les protagonistes sont pleines de vie et prometteuses pour la suite. L'amourette de Victor et Tasha m'a paru manquer de maturité pour leurs âges et l'obsession de Victor est agaçante ; cet aspect de l'intrigue prend beaucoup trop de place à mon goût.

    La vie de la librairie est amusante et j'aurais aimé y rester lire des policiers avec le commis, Joseph.


    Prometteur, je lirai le prochain avec plaisir.

    182electrice
    Editado: Ago 25, 2013, 1:27 pm

    Saint-George by Alain Guédé

    Perhaps a hard read sometimes, but really rewarding, got me thinking beyond the scope of the book, about life, ya know ?

    Well for this one, the hard part would be my lack of culture concerning the subtlety of the period ... Otherwise, as we said in french Que du bonheur

    WELL WORTH THE READ

    3. Non-fiction



    Que dire pour faire justice à la vie du chevalier Saint-George ?

    Saint-George est fils d'aristocrate et d'une esclave né au 18° siècle en Guadeloupe. Il fut reconnu à son époque comme un escrimeur talentueux (le meilleur de France) et un musicien et compositeur de mérite (à l'égal de Mozart). Acteur de son époque, il joua aussi un rôle dans la révolution française. Il est tombé dans l'oubli lors de l'avènement au pouvoir de Napoléon qui rétablit l'esclavage et interdit aux noirs et mulâtres l'accès aux arts.

    Sa vie fut pleine de joie, ses amitiés et ses réussites auraient dues lui ouvrirent toutes les portes, cependant le mariage avec une jeune femme de son cercle social ou l'obtention de positions dûment méritées font partie des raisons qui font qu'il ne se départira jamais d'une certaine mélancolie merveilleusement retranscrite par l'auteur.

    Alain Guédé nous dresse un tableau riche et animé du 'siècle des lumières' qui s'achève en bain de sang.

    C'est un ouvrage dense accessible aux non-initiés mais donnant envie de se replonger dans cette tranche d'histoire.

    C'est le premier ouvrage qui me fait ôter mes lunettes roses d'écolière sur le siècle des lumières.

    183rabbitprincess
    Ago 14, 2013, 5:28 pm

    J'ai lu la traduction anglaise du Mystère Rue des Saint-Pères, mais elle m'a laissée indifférente. Cela étant dit, j'ai bien aimé le concept de la série et les scènes avec Joseph et la librairie. Peut-être je dois lire un autre livre de la série en français.

    184lkernagh
    Ago 14, 2013, 10:45 pm

    Stopping by to say that I love your one sentence review summaries in English!

    185clfisha
    Ago 15, 2013, 8:59 am

    Looking forward to Alain Guédé review ;)

    I admit to not liking The Crimson Petal and the White so not keen on picking another of his books but it does sound intriguing

    186electrice
    Ago 15, 2013, 12:12 pm

    >183 rabbitprincess: Salut rabbitprincess, je pense que nous avons apprécié les mêmes éléments du livre. Le premier de la série me paraît assez prometteur pour essayer le second mais c'est sans aucune garantie. Cela dit, je me demande ce que cela pourrait donner traduit ...

    >184 lkernagh: Hi Ikernagh, thanks ! I don't read and write enough in french since I've began to read in english so that's the best compromise.

    >185 clfisha: Hi Claire, this one is one of the best so I'm pondering about what to write to make it justice but coming soon.

    The one by Faber was interesting but not gripping so it will probably be a miss for another one for now ...

    187electrice
    Ago 25, 2013, 1:42 pm

    Changeless by Gail Carriger

    Interesting but I'll probably not read it again.

    13. Fantasy



    More silliness for Miss Tarabotti and her entourage.

    There're some strange happening in the paranormal world leading to chasing Lord Maccon in Scotland, meeting the in-laws and avoiding more horrific hat selections for Miss Hisselpenny. Well the first two essentially.

    Okay, I don't really read this series for the mystery or the plot but for the pure silliness and I LOVE the character of Miss Tarabotti: her inner thought and her interactions with the cast. We could call it the Miss Tarabotti show. And I laugh a lot, out loud.


    Well, I liked this one better, less romance, not really heavy on the mystery but so funny ...

    188electrice
    Ago 25, 2013, 2:11 pm

    The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

    Interesting but I'll probably not read it again

    12. Alternate History



    I like the premise of this one: Germany and Japan win WWII and divide the world in two parts with a small part of USA being 'une zone franche'.

    The depiction of the post-world is fascinating and disturbing. Nazis fanaticism and resulting slow degeneration is well described.

    West coast is occupied by Japan. The american way of life never had a chance to exist and asian culture and way of thinking is mainstream. The american objects before WWII are actively sought after by the japanese living in USA as art pieces. This creates a credible world and the inner thoughts of some characters are wonderfully flesh out.

    The great let-down is the end.

    Wonderful world but the end is disappointing.

    189electrice
    Ago 25, 2013, 2:34 pm

    Terra Nullius by Sven Lindqvist

    I reaally had fun reading it ! Or this one is a keeper ...

    Okay the subject of this one was not even remotely funny but it is a keeper.

    8. Travel and Adventure

    Sven Lindqvist voyage en Australie et relate au fur et à mesure de ses pérégrinations quel a été le sort des aborigènes dans les différents régions d'Australie depuis l'arrivée des anglais. C'est une lecture difficile du au sujet malgré la fluidité de l'écriture.

    On finirait la lecture de cet ouvrage avec un sentiment de désolation et désespoir si ce n'était pour la conclusion qui apporte des pistes de réflexion pour avancer et le vivre-ensemble.

    Peut-on imputer au fils les erreurs et crimes du père ? Peut-on se satisfaire de profiter des privilèges liés à l'histoire sans accepter d'endosser aussi une partie des responsabilités liées à la colonisation et l'occupation ? Comment dédommager les peuples humiliés et spoliés ?

    A lire pour en connaître plus sur l'histoire de l'Australie.

    190clfisha
    Ago 27, 2013, 2:59 pm

    I tried to read Philip K Dick recently Ubik and I really wasn't that taken with it. Core idea, yeah but style and humour and characters not at all. Can't say your review inspired me to rush out and try again, I hate disappointing endings.

    191electrice
    Ago 27, 2013, 3:49 pm

    Ow, I just read your review. I've list Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? as a potential read for next year. Think it'll not be at the top of the list ...

    192aliciamay
    Ago 29, 2013, 1:45 pm

    I loved Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? when I read it earlier, but it sounds like The Man in the High Castle might not be the best one to follow it up with. Too bad about the ending because it sounds like a really interesting premise.

    193electrice
    Ago 29, 2013, 2:06 pm

    Yes it really was an interesting view on the what if ?. It was credible not without fault but enjoyable all the same.

    Going on your thread right now to see what you thought of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? ...

    194aliciamay
    Ago 29, 2013, 4:48 pm

    I don’t think I wrote much about it on my thread, but I thought the book was a really clever way to get a person thinking about what it means to be human and it also brings up the topics of racism and immigration thinly veiled in an entertaining story. The basic plot is this, something bad has happened on Earth causing many species to go extinct and many humans to flee to Mars. Androids are allowed on Mars to do the menial jobs, but they have been outlawed on Earth. Decker is a police officer on Earth whose job it is to hunt down the impostors and ‘retire’ them. But these new androids are so lifelike, not to mention that they have original thoughts and memories, that sometimes they don’t even know they are androids. And there are actually electric sheep in the book too : )

    195electrice
    Ago 29, 2013, 5:47 pm

    Thanks, sound promising. I've started to read your first thread, I'm roughly a little less than halfway through but liking it so far, lots of BB. Will post a little something on your second thread soon to let you know what you hit me with ;)

    196clfisha
    Ago 30, 2013, 6:36 am

    To be fair I think I picked a baddie from Philip K Dick but I have no energy to try something else!

    197mamzel
    Ago 30, 2013, 3:51 pm

    I watched the movie version, Bladrunner, a couple of weekends ago. Yummy young Harrison Ford!

    198electrice
    Ago 31, 2013, 1:53 am

    >196 clfisha: well it happens, maybe later on ?

    >197 mamzel: I'm all for yummy Harrison, I'll probably think of him when reading now, not really a bad thing, all things considered, if I happen to not like it, I'll have Harry to cheer me up :)

    199electrice
    Editado: Nov 11, 2013, 2:39 pm

    So far, on 03/11/2013, I have read 38 books:

    1. Plays (2)
    2. Science (2)
    3. Non-Fiction (2)
    4. Science-Fiction (2)
    5. Comics, Mangas and Bandes-Dessinées (4) COMPLETED (+2)
    6. Classics (1)
    7. Going back to childhood or teenage days (2)
    8. Travel and Adventure (4) COMPLETED
    9. Fairytales, Folklore, Legends and Myths (2)
    10. Translations (3)
    11. Miscellaneous (4) COMPLETED
    12. Alternate History (2)
    13. Fantasy (4) COMPLETED (+2)

    200paruline
    Set 5, 2013, 11:43 am

    Plusieurs lectures intéressantes ces dernières semaines. Je vais tenter de mettre la main sur Saint-George et sur Terra Nullius.

    201electrice
    Nov 9, 2013, 10:26 am

    Blameless by Gail Carriger

    Interesting but I'll probably not read it again.

    13. Fantasy



    After the cliffhanger of Changeless, we follow Miss Tarabotti going from France to Italy as she made some research concerning her preternatural state. Some agressive vampires, mad scientists and templars are making an appearance ...

    Fun, action and loquaciousness are still part of this delicious steampunkish romance.

    202electrice
    Nov 9, 2013, 11:17 am

    L'Entreprise des Indes by Eric Orsenna

    I reaally had fun reading it ! Or this one is a keeper ...

    8. Travel and Adventure



    The Adventure narrated by Christopher Columbus brother, Bartolomé.

    It all starts with their childhood in Genoa, dreaming of fame and sea travel. Then each brother goes his own way, Christopher as a navigator in commercial travel around the Mediterranean and Nordic Sea and Bartolomé as a cartographer in Lisbon. And that's what made this book worth it. We learned about the prestige of Portugal through the travels, the priceless work of the cartographers, the life of the city in the XV century, the different districts and communities. It's lively and well done.

    The Columbus brothers meet again after the shipwreck of Christopher on the coast of Lisbon. After working a few month alongside Bartolomé in the cartographer workshop, Christopher starts again with his lifelong dream, the discovery of India and who can be more helpful than a cartographer brother working with and knowing the best of them ? This is the beginning of a decade of collecting and cross-checking maps and travel journal and convincing the King council.

    Then the departure, the quest, the disenchantment ...

    It's really a great story, a must-read if only so for Lisbon and the cartographers work.

    203electrice
    Nov 9, 2013, 12:04 pm

    Quel Trésor ! by Gaspard-Marie Janvier

    Interesting but I'll probably not read it again.

    8. Travel and Adventure



    The original map of 'Treasure Island' is found in the belonging of the late father of David Blair. Now successor of Edinburgh publishing house, Blair & Sons. The chase starts ...

    It may be possible that during this modern treasure hunt, some poor scot guys are abandoned on lonely island, some other 'accidentally' murdered and the rest gets filthy rich ...

    As they say, read and see.

    Engaging and funny but with some monotonous parts.

    204electrice
    Editado: Nov 11, 2013, 2:25 pm

    Comment Voyager avec un Saumon by Umberto Eco

    Interesting but I'll probably not read it again.

    10. Translations



    This one had me laughing, quite a few time and rather out loud. It's a collection of anecdote from 80's and 90's: how to travel with a salmon 'or how to be taken by his children and his publisher for an alcoholic'

    Some I found really funny, other less so but I think that anyone can find something to his liking ...

    205electrice
    Editado: Nov 9, 2013, 1:20 pm

    Théorème Vivant by Cédric Villani

    I'm seeing what could appeal to other people but meh. This one has to go where it will be really appreciated.

    2. Science



    Cédric Villani was the recipient of the Fields Medal in 2010. He recall the months leading to 2010.

    This is an hard act to follow for people who are not mathematics graduate student.

    206hailelib
    Nov 9, 2013, 3:14 pm

    The book about the Columbus brothers sounds interesting.

    207electrice
    Nov 9, 2013, 4:07 pm

    >206 hailelib: I've thought so, particularly the first part about the Lisbon life.

    208lkernagh
    Nov 9, 2013, 6:21 pm

    Oh, thanks for the reminder that I was waiting for my library to get in replacement copies of Blameless! They are in, so I can now go back to enjoying the series.

    209clfisha
    Nov 10, 2013, 4:37 am

    Oh dear book bullet for The Indies Enterprise ( I think that's the right English translation).. well maybe library or secondhand as it seems to be in hardcover only!

    That cover for Théorème vivant makes it seem like modern take on the Victorian time travelling adventure :)

    210electrice
    Nov 10, 2013, 3:06 pm

    Hi Lori, I hope you have fun with this one.

    Hi Claire, The Indies Enterprise is an interesting one, the part about Lisbon is real treat. I would not have buy the hardback but second hand or paperback sure, I've no regrets.
    Théorème vivant had nice bits about mathematician story and how Cédric Villani work on new problems but the part about the work leading the Fields Medal was not 'reader friendly'. That being said, the photo is representative of the guy I think. Reading the book, he seems really nice and he could easily have been a steampunk hero :)

    211electrice
    Nov 10, 2013, 3:27 pm

    Une Tempête by Aimé Césaire

    Interesting but I'll probably not read it again.

    1. Plays



    It's supposed to be based on The Tempest, I can't say anything about that, I didn't get the chance to read it so far.

    After a shipwreck, the crew and the passengers end up on an island. The island is inhabited by a men, his daughter and two slaves. This men has been wronged by some of the passengers and be exiled on this island.

    This is a tale about freedom, of doing the wrong thing for the right reason and doing the right thing even for the wrong reason.

    Beautifully written, make me want to read another play by him.

    212electrice
    Nov 10, 2013, 3:54 pm

    L'Instinct de l'Equarisseur by Thomas Day

    I reaally had fun reading it ! Or this one is a keeper ...

    4. Science-Fiction



    Sherlock Holmes and the Professor Watson are real human being in an alternate universe. Arthur Conan Doyle is helping them resolve mysteries in their world. The tricky part is to not reveal too much things about their life in his books.

    The thing is that Sherlock is not so much a brilliant detective, that's still true but he so much more than that, like a commissioned killer for the queen. The public from our world can't know that about that their favorite hero. As for Watson, he's not so much a physician but more a brilliant scientist who made possible space travel between our world with a few tweak here and there with the help of H. G. Wells.

    Nikola Tesla, Albert Einstein and some other scientists could make an appearance but shh I don't want to spoil it for you :)

    A little bit of exageration but well it does not detract from the fun.

    Great steampunk !

    213paruline
    Nov 21, 2013, 9:52 am

    L'instinct de l'équarisseur a l'air intéressant. Crois-tu qu'il faut être familier avec l'oeuvre de Doyle pour bien apprécier ce livre?

    214electrice
    Nov 21, 2013, 10:24 am

    Salut Paruline, non je pense que même les néophytes pourront apprécier ce livre, c'est complètement déjanté et l'histoire ne repose finalement que sur peu d'éléments de l'oeuvre de Doyle.

    215electrice
    Editado: Dez 19, 2013, 3:13 pm

    I had no internet access for a fortnight and well I've read 8 books since my last review.

    I've reviewed the books in french. I'll see if I have time to do some in english before the end of the year. I've still have 4 books to read to achieve my challenge, so we'll see ...

    No time at all for reading the different threads, sigh, and I have no hope to remedy this sad fact at the moment but there will be a fresh start for the New Year in a few days. I've learned my lessons and I'll try to stay up to date ;)

    216BookLizard
    Dez 21, 2013, 8:31 am

    The good thing about no internet is more time to read, right? If you think you can finish your 4 books, go for it! No one else has time to read everyone else's thread either, so don't worry about the reviews. Think of yourself and your challenge first - we can wait.

    I have 1 1/2 books left to go myself. I'm hoping I can finish. Best of luck to you!

    217electrice
    Dez 21, 2013, 9:01 am

    Hi BookLizard, great job for 1.5 book ! The other good thing about not having time for the reviews is no more BB :)
    I have great hope to finish, I'm on holidays sunday at 5 pm, this means 10 days of free time.

    218rabbitprincess
    Dez 21, 2013, 12:06 pm

    Ooh enjoy your holidays! Good luck with the last few books :)

    219electrice
    Dez 22, 2013, 12:49 am

    Thanks rabbitprincess !

    220clfisha
    Dez 23, 2013, 8:05 am

    New year new group to start afresh :) Good luck with the remaining 4!

    221electrice
    Dez 23, 2013, 9:49 am

    Thanks Claire !