Porch Reader's 2008 Reading

I read 63 books last year, so 75 may be a stretch, but I can always borrow from my sons' bookshelf if I fall behind!

So far, here's what I've read this year:

#1 - Sammy's House - Kristin Gore - Finished January 2, 2008
A light read about a young, quirky White House aide

#2 - The Bean Trees - Barbara Kingsolver - Finished January 7, 2008
Wonderful! An amazing story with one of the most memorable main characters I've read in a while. Also wonderful descriptions of friendships between women.

#3 - The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox - Maggie O'Farrell - Finished January 10, 2008
Interesting, if a little unusual. A young woman learns of a great aunt, about whom she knew nothing, who is being released from a mental facility. The story is revealed through flashbacks.

#4 - Amsterdam - Ian McEwan - Finished January 16, 2008
Not as good as Saturday, but better than On Chesil Beach, in my opinion. As McEwan does, big themes (death, relationships, personal pursuits) are explored through intimate portraits of individual lives.

#5 - Pigs in Heaven - Barbara Kingsolver - Finished January 17, 2008
Another wonderful story from Kingsolver. Explores the distinctions between independence and community.

#6 - The Missing Class: Portraits of the Near Poor in America - Katherine S. Newman and Victor Tan Chen - Finished January 23, 2008
A fascinating look at the challenges facing those who are just above the poverty line. Raises questions about low-paying jobs, education, and safety in America's neighborhoods.

#7 - The Sea - John Banville - Finished January 24, 2008
I was a little disappointed. Banville does write lyrically, but the story did not pull me in. Perhaps it was timing - my two boys were recovering from tonsillectomies - but I found it hard to connect with the characters.

welcome to LT, porchreader! Can't wait to see February's books!

Thanks, Avaland! I'm really enjoying LT - even though I don't get here as often as I'd like. Here's my February reading:

#8 - The Emperor's Children - Claire Messud - Finished Febuary 2, 2008
I found this story somewhat compelling, even though some of the characters were a bit over the top.

#9 - The Namesake - Jhumpa Lahiri - Finished February 3, 2008
This was the February book at my book club. I had read it when it first came out, and loved it just as much the second time around. Lahiri paints a beautifully rich picture of Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli and their family as they adjust to a new culture. The movie is very true to the book, but given the clear pictures that Lahiri paints, the movie was somewhat unnecessary in my opinion.

#10 - The Jewel Trader of Pegu - Jeffrey Hantover - Finished February 10, 2008
The story of a Jewish man in the late 1500's who travels from Venice to Pegu to trade fabric for jewels. The story is told almost entirely in Abraham's letters because to his cousin Joseph - an effective way to convery Abraham's view of a new culture.

#11 - How to Write a Lot - Paul J. Silvia - Finished Feburary 17, 2008
A book on academic writing. The ideas were not shocking, but I found myself re-committed to my writing schedule.

#12 - The Monsters of Templeton - Lauren Goff - Finished February 19, 2008
A great story with lots of intertwining storylines.

#13 - Fire in the Blood - Irene Nemirovsky - Finished February 21, 2008
This story was found among Nemirovsky's papers and published posthumously. The story is short (a plus, given my goal to read 75 books this year), but is packed with rich description. The storyline seems relatively simple, but with the death of one character, secrets are revealed that add a great deal of complexity to the plot.

#14 - Gentlemen of the Road - Michael Chabon - Finished February 26, 2008
While I was intrigued by the friendship between the two men in this story, the actual storyline (fighting battles, protecting royalty, etc.) did not hold my interest.

Alright, I'm playing catch-up again. Here's some more of what I've read this year.

#15 - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J. K. Rowling - Finished March 7, 2008
I had read this before, but haven't read the whole series, so I decided to start from the beginning again. This is a good story - Harry is a hero that you can root for. There's some mystery and a villain - overall an enjoyable read.

#16 - Under the Tuscan Sun - Frances Mayes - Finished March 10, 2008
This was our March book club book. When I finished, I wanted to buy a house in Italy. But even more, it made me want to slow down - to make pasta by hand, to eat fresh simple food, and to be aware of the beauty of my surroundings.

#17 - The Places in Between - Rory Stewart - Finished March 18, 2008
Stewart tells the story of his walk across Afghanistan in January 2002. Although the Taliban had been removed from power, the places in between Herat and Kabul were dangerous. But through Stewart's eyes, I saw a side of Afghanistan that isn't often reflected in the media.

#18 - Brother I'm Dying - Edwidge Danticat - Finished March 20, 2008
One of the best books I've read this year (or possibly ever). Danticat tells the story of two men - her father and her uncle. Although a great deal of the story focuses on the last few months of her father's life, Danticat also shares some of Haiti's history and her Uncle Joseph's role in it. The story is compelling, but it is the clarity and passion in Danticat's telling of the story that made this book one of my favorites.

#19 - Good Dog. Stay. - Anna Quindlen - Finished March 26, 2008
A short book about Quindlen's dog and its relationship with the family. Since my boys are trying to talk me into adopting a dog, I thought I'd give this a shot.

#20 - The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw - Bruce Barcott - Finished March 28, 2008
The book was reviewed in the New York Times Book Review. It is the story of Sharon Matola, a zookeeper in Belize and her fight to prevent the building of a dam in Belize. Barcott intertwines the environmental issues with the story of an interesting cast of characters.

#21 - Lost - Gregory Maguire - Finished March 31, 2008
I generally like Maguire's books, but this was not his best. The book drags a bit until the last few chapters.

#22 - A Common Life - Jan Karon - Finished April 1, 2008
I listened to this one on tape. Like all of the Mitford books, the plot is simple, but I care about the characters and their relationships. A great one to listen to on a long car ride.

#23 - The Eyre Affair - Jasper FForde - Finished April 12, 2008
For my book club, we are each choosing a different mystery to read for May. (So if anyone has favorite mysteries, let me know!) I picked this one up before an airplane trip, and really liked it. When the bad guy (Hades) steals original manuscripts and threatens to delete characters, Special Operative Thursday Next is on the case. Thursday is a great female detective, and the story moves along quickly. I will definitely read more of this series.

I am going to have to move Brother I'm Dying up higher on my TBR list. It's been there quite a while and I just have not gotten to it yet!

I definitely recommend Brother I'm Dying. I was an amazing read. The history of Haiti is quite interesting, but it is Danticat's way of describing her relationships with her father and her uncle that made the book one of my favorites. Have you read any of her fiction?

>4 porch_reader: I actually thought Maguire was trying to do too much in Lost in paying homage or alluding to too many other tales. I've forgotten much of it now. Love the first Thursday Next book but the second one seemed not as good. I think for me, the kind of humor had played itself out in the first and wasn't so funny the second time around.

And I actually had much the same reaction to The Sea. He does indeed write beautifully, but I found the story to be a real yawn.

Avaland - I'm now reading Christine Falls, which is written by Banville under the pen name Benjamin Black. I'll write more about it when I've finished, but so far, I'm finding the same beautiful writing, but a much more compelling story than in The Sea.

Another reading update:

#24 - Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin - Finished April 14, 2008
I had read this a year or so ago, but re-read it for my book club. What a wonderful book! This description of Mortenson's work building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan is a compelling story in its own right. However, I also learned a lot about the region. It is amazing to me that one person can make such a big difference in the world.

#25 - The Confessor - Daniel Silva - Finished April 17, 2008
A mildly interesting suspense book, but I felt like the story dragged a bit. I got pulled off this book several times in the middle, so maybe just bad timing on my part.

#26 - The Wife: A Novel - Meg Wolizer - Finished April 19, 2008
In an attempt to cut my book buying expenditures, I'm trying to avoid buying hardbacks. So when I see a new book that sounds interesting, I often go back and read a previous book by the same author. So, when I read about The Ten-Year Nap, Wolitzer's new novel, I decided to try The Wife. I loved this book - the plot is OK, but Wolitzer writes the story of a woman who put her career on hold for her husband in an authentic voice that makes the story ring true.

#27 - Enduring Love - Ian McEwan - Finished April 23, 2008
I've read several of McEwan's book, but mostly more recent ones. Saturday is my favorite. This book was almost on par with Saturday and definitely better than On Chesil Beach. McEwan artfully weaves big issues with the intimate details of a well-crafted story. Through specific events, he explores the issues of individualism vs. collectivism, truth and doubt, and love.

#28 - Murder at the Vicarage - Agatha Christie - Finished May 1, 2008
When my book club decided to each choose a different mystery for our May meeting, I chose The Eyre Affair. But I also couldn't resist going back to a classic. Christie's first Miss Marple mystery is a traditional mystery - beginning with a murder, introducing lots of interesting characters and red herrings, and ending with the observant Miss Marple identifying the killer. A satisfying read!

porch_reader, what did you think of The Ten-Year Nap? I loved her The Position, but haven't gotten to the others yet.

So, what would be the reason that Banville wrote under a pseudonym? Is the book meant to be a mystery or something different from his literary fiction? Another lyrical writer is the Australian author Gail Jones. I've read two of her books now and really enjoyed both.

I haven't read The Ten-Year Nap yet, but it is definitely on my TBR list after having read The Wife: A Novel. Now I'll put The Position on there too.

Yes, Christine Falls is a mystery - the first in a series, from what I understand. The second just came out - The Silver Swan. I haven't read it. Although it's definitely a different genre for Banville, the writing is still superb.

Now I'll have to add Gail Jones to my list as well - thanks for the recommendation!

#29 - Christine Falls - Benjamin Black - Finished May 8, 2008
As I mentioned above, Benjamin Black is a pseudonym for John Banville. I read a review of this book that said it includes the same lyrical writing as The Sea, but is much more accessible. I have to say that I agree. The book is well-written. A mystery that takes place in Dublin in the 1950s, this book tells the story of a pathologist - Quirke - who discovers that his brother has falsified the death certificate of Christine Falls. His investigation of the true cause of her death leads him to discover a major conspiracy. Although there is no real mystery to this book, following Quirke in his attempt to unravel the story makes for an engaging read.

#30 - The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon - Finished May 13, 2008
Thanks to all of you who sang the praises of this book on alcottacre's thread. At about the same time, this book was recommended by one of the owners of a favorite book store of mine - Prairie Lights. Then I saw the book on the "library staff recommends" shelf of the local library. With all of these signs, I picked the book up and couldn't put it down. Beautiful writing, memorable characters, and a complex interwoven plot - what more could I want! When I got to the end, I felt as though I could start all over and get even more from this book.

One of my favorite lines was, "Bea says. . . that a book is a mirror that offers us only what we already carry inside us" (p. 484).

Have any of Zafon's other books been translated into English? If not, I may have to brush up on my Spanish.

Re: Shadow of the Wind

Just a heads up to let you know that the author's new book "El Juego del Angel' has not yet been translated (to my knowledge). Maybe the publishers are waiting to see how good the word-of-mouth is before giving the go-ahead?

Glad you liked it!!

Kathy

#31 - Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East - Robin Wright - Finished May 21, 2008

I cannot say enough good things about this book. I've already recommended to about 10 people, and I just finished it last night.

Wright is a journalist for the Washington Post and has covered the Middle East for over 3 decades. While the focus of the book is on the changes that are occurring in the region, she weaves these current stories with a historical perspective. Each chapter covers a different country (e.g., Egypt, Morocco, Iran, Lebanon), and because of this, Wright avoids generalizations and provides an understanding of the nuanced positions of various political parties.

Wright shares her insights by telling the stories of the people of the Middle East - both those who are creating change and those who are resisting it. This approach makes the book a pleasure to read.

Perhaps because a colleague of mine was in Lebanon during the summer of 2006, I found Wright's chapter on the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel particularly compelling. When my colleague returned from Lebanon in fall of 2006, he told me about his experiences there, and I felt as though I gained a great deal of insight from talking to him. After reading Wright's book, I feel as though I made 100 new friends, each of who helped me understand this complex region a little better.

Definitely, the best non-fiction book that I've read recently!

>13 kmbooklover: the new Zafon is due out this fall, I believe. The last time I was in the bookstore where I used to work, that was the news one of my former bosses passed on to me.

Avaland - That's great news! After The Shadow of the Wind, I'm ready for another Zafon story.

#s 15 and 16:

According to Amazon the paperback edition of the new book titled The Angel's Game in English will be available April 2009...

Maybe i'll have been able to make a considerable dent in my TBR pile by then ;)

I'm definitely willing to make space in my TBR pile for The Angel's Game!

#32 - The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - Junot Diaz - Finished May 23, 2008

Wow! This is an amazing novel. I can't wait to go back and read Drown, Diaz's debut book.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao is the story of Oscar, an overweight boy who has trouble fitting in. Oscar's mom moved to New Jersey from the Dominican Republic before Oscar and his sister Lola were born. The story begins by telling about Oscar's trials and tribulations during high school. However, he is not really surprised that his life is not going well because his whole family believes that they are cursed or doomed (in the Dominican Republic, this is referred to as a fuku). The book alternates between the present day story of Oscar, his sister Lola, and their friend Yunior, who serves as the narrator, and flashbacks to tell about the experiences of Oscar's mother Beli and his grandparents in the Dominican Republic. This is how we learn the origins of the fuku.

This book has so many layers. It is the story of the Dominican Republic itself, especially during the brutal dictatorship of Trujillo. Interestingly, Diaz reveals much about the history of the Dominican Republic through footnotes in the story. For those of you who, like me, write academic-style articles in which we hide boring details in the footnotes, do not fret. These footnotes are written in the same engaging style as the story and provide an important context for those of us who do not know as much as we should about the history of the Dominican Republic.

This is also the story of Oscar and his family. Although she will certainly never win any mother-of-the-year awards, I have to admit to finding Beli one of the most compelling characters in this story. Her early life in the Dominican Republic is filled with heartbreaking sadness, but also provides her with the opportunity to show her pluck and determination.

Both stories are well served by Diaz's writing style. Reading the book is like having a conversation with its narrator, who speaks to us as if we'd sat down together to have a drink in a bar. His special relationship with Oscar is clear in the heartfelt manner that the story is conveyed.

All and all, a great book! I highly recommend it.

#33 - Atonement - Ian McEwan - Finished May 30, 2008

My book club decided to read McEwan for June. Each of us is choosing a different book, which may make for an interesting discussion. I've read several of his - Saturday was my favorite - and had Atonement on my TBR shelf, so I decided to tackle it. I'd read mixed reviews, so I was a little concerned, but all in all I really liked it.

The book had several features that I recognized from other McEwan books. One of my favorite things about his writing is his ability to weave the intimate story of a few individuals with the concerns of society as a whole. In Atonement, two days with the Tallis family and a few friends and relatives are described in painstaking detail. The events of these days are described from multiple perspectives, and the single episode that is described has lasting repercussions. The story unfolds against the backdrop of WWII as the horrors of war are transposed with the tragedies of the Tallis family.

I haven't yet seen this movie, but may rent it now that I've read the book.

#34 - Mudbound - Hillary Jordan - Finished June 1, 2008

I've read several good books lately, but none that I just couldn't put down - until this one. In Mudbound, Jordan tells the story of two families in post-WWII Mississippi. Henry and Laura McAllan own a farm in the Mississippi delta, and Hap and Florence Jackson are black sharecroppers on the farm. When Henry's brother Jamie and the Jackson's son Ronsel come home from fighting overseas, they become unlikely friends and together face the prejudices that still exist among many in the Delta. The book not only explores the social issues of the day, but also conveys the rich web of relationships that are formed between the characters. Because Jordan writes each chapter from the point of view of a different character, she is able to convey the diverse and complex perspectives of the time. This book won the Bellwether Prize for Fiction (a biennial prize given to a first novel with a theme of social justice).

#35 - The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini - Finished June 7, 2008

How is it that I had not read The Kite Runner until now? I'd seen it on the new books shelf when it first came out, but never picked it up. However, I read A Thousand Splendid Suns when it came out and loved it. So, when my mom passed along her copy of The Kite Runner, I couldn't wait to read it and wasn't disappointed. I learned a lot about Afghan history and culture and was captivated by the story and multidimensional characters.

porch_reader, Mudbound sounds interesting...I might have to check it out:-)

Hi
Thanks for the recommendation re. The Kite Runner. This has been on my book shelf since it was printed. I'll move it up on the to be read pile.

Avaland - I'm recommending Mudbound to everyone I know. One of my book club friends already read it, and it is making the rounds through several others. If you do read it, I'll be interested to hear what you think - especially about the ending!

Whisper - I definitely recommend reading The Kite Runner. I had delayed reading it because I needed some time to recover from A Thousand Splendid Suns - which was a wonderful book, but with some images that stuck with and haunted me. The Kite Runner is less intense than that, but still conveys the tragedies that have been faced by the Afghan people and tells a wonderful story. Enjoy!

Porch_reader, it might be a while, I'm presently overcommitted with theme reads, group reads and other literary promises:-) Still, it doesn't stop me from adding to the wish and tbr lists!

#36 - What Now? - Ann Patchett - Finished June 11, 2008

An expanded version of Patchett's commencement address to her alma mater, Sarah Lawrence. My favorite idea from this speech is that the question of "What now?" is never really answered. Patchett conveys this idea by telling her rather round-about path to becoming a published novelist - including what she learned while working at TGI Fridays. The best quote - "Receiving an education is a little bit like a garden snake swallowing a chicken egg: it's in you but it takes a while to digest."

#37 - People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks - Finished June 14, 2008

I really enjoyed this book. Brooks tells the story of Hanna, who is a rare book expert. She is offered the opportunity to analyze and conserve a Haggadah, a beautiful Hebrew manuscript, that has recently be found in war-torn Sarajevo. Based on the clues that she uncovers, Brooks flashes back to tell the history of the book and the people who created and saved it time and time again. Through the book's history, we learn of the numerous times that the Jewish people have been persecuted and that the book was placed in jeopardy. Although each piece of the book's history is told in a chapter, Brooks does a wonderful job of capturing the essence of the time and the people who were in possession of the book.

#38 - Small Wonder - Barbara Kingsolver - Finished June 15, 2008

I've been reading an essay or two from this book from time to time over the past few weeks. I love Kingsolver's fiction and found her essays wonderfully insightful as well. Several focus on the tragedy of 9/11 and the decisions that were made in the months afterward. However, others focus closer to home, on her family, her garden, and the homeless community in her hometown. This juxtaposition works. As Kingsolver says, "Soon I understood that I was examining aspects of life that seemed a world away from the World Trade Center towers or the Pentagon, but a world away is exactly where the grief begins and ends. This is a collection of essays about who we seem to be, what remains for us to live for, and what I believe we could make of ourselves. It began in a moment, but ended with all of time."

#39 - A Wind in the Door - Madeleine L'Engle - Finished June 16, 2008

I re-read A Wrinkle in Time last year, and decided to revisit A Wind in the Door this year. I love L'Engle's books. Meg, her friend Calvin, their principal, and a cherubim journey into Charles Wallace's (Meg's brother) mitochondria to try to save his life. With a plot like that, how can you go wrong? But L'Engle also manages to convey broader themes (for example, the interconnectedness of human life) through the story she tells. I can't wait until my boys are old enough to read these with me.

Hi
I hope your academic schedule allows summer breaks for you. I still have a yearbook to help students pull together and to get ready for fall, but all in all the pace is different and I am not as tired so I can read more. I note you recently read another Mazdeleine L'Engle book. I met her years ago through a friend. She was a very gracious person..very spiritual.

Take care,
Linda

Linda - That's amazing that you met Madeleine L'Engle. I've loved her books since I was a kid, but think that I enjoy them more as an adult.

I agree that summer is a much different pace. I don't teach in the summer, and I spend much less time responding to e-mails. I do spend a lot of time doing research. And this summer has been unusual with the flooding here in Iowa. I am working from home to help converse resource use at the University. With two kids at home, that is never very productive. So, I've found myself picking up "fun" reading when I should be working - not that that's such a bad thing.

That's how I finished book #40 - Run - Ann Patchett 0 finished June 20, 2008. I've read two of her other fiction books - Bel Canto and The Magician's Assistant - and loved them both. With high expectations, I wasn't disappointed. Run describes the events of a 24-hour period in the life of two families. Bernard Doyle, a former mayor of Boston and a widower, has convinced his two adopted sons, Tip and Teddy, to join him at a political speech. After the speech, Tip steps out in front of a car. His life is saved when Tennessee Moser pushes him out of the way. Tennessee, who lives near the Doyles in a much poorer neighborhood, is severely injured, and the Doyle family takes her daughter Kenya home with them while her mother undergoes surgery. It is then that the links between the two families are revealed.

While the plot is interesting, it is really Patchett's character development that I love. As the story moved from one character's perspective to another's, I found myself wondering what was happening to the others at that moment. The voices of the younger characters - college students Tip and Teddy, and 11-year-old Kenya - especially ring true. Although I was a bit disappointed in the ending, I highly recommend this book.

I've been fighting strep throat this past week, and needed a couple of books that were quick and easy. These two fit the bill!

#41 - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J. K. Rowling - Finished June 27, 2008

I'm working my way through this series - picking one up when I need a "comfort" read. I like the pace of these books, the clear (but fallible) heroes, and the mystery.

#42 - Track of the Cat - Nevada Barr - Finished June 28, 2008

When we had mystery month in my book club, someone told me about this series, featuring Anna Pigeon, a national park ranger. In this first book of the series, Anna discovers the body of a fellow ranger when she is looking for signs of mountain lions. Although the death is labeled accidental - it appears that the ranger was attacked by a mountain lion - Anna believes that foul play was involved. She follows the clue and catches the killer.

Two things made me like this first book of the series. Anna is a heroine who I can get behind. She's a strong, complex woman. I also liked the detail about Guadalupe Mountains, where the book is set. Barr's experience working in national parks clearly contributes to the details that she shares.

Hi
So sorry you have streph throat. This is not an easy illness. As you know, it knocks the stuffing out of you!

I hope you are better soon.

Get better soon porch_reader! I know that I hate having strep throat, so I can sympathize. Hope you are feeling better shortly.

Whisper and Alcottacre - Thanks so much for the good wishes. I'm feeling much better. As the mother of a 7 year old and a 4 year old, I'm pretty used to picking up these sorts of germs.

#43 - Founding Mothers - Cokie Roberts - Finished June 30, 2008

The members of my book club each picked a book about the American Revolution for our July meeting. I had Roberts' book on my shelf, so decided to read it. It covers a fairly long period of time - from prior to the revolution through the end of Washington's presidency. Roberts highlights the contributions of a number of women. In fact, my one complaint about the book was that I felt like I only got a taste of each woman's story.

Hi
A very dear friend who is a physcian, told me that children don't catch illness from us, rather we catch germs from them....
I'm a grandmother of a five year old who spreads her cold germs each time she sneezes.

I'm glad you are feeling better.

And, congratulations on finishing 43 books!

Linda

Linda,

I'm never sure who to blame for my colds - my own kids or the college students that I teach. Both seem to have plenty of germs to share!

43 books by June 30 is a lot for me - I read 63 total in 2007. But keeping track like this seems to keep me focused on finishing books. Before this, I was great at starting books, but not always so focused about finishing them! Plus, all of the great recommendations have my TBR pile mounded over.

#44 - Insecure at Last: Losing it in Our Security Obsessed World - Eve Ensler - Finished July 7, 2008

Ensler uses her personal experiences and recent world events to support her thesis that an obsession with security does not make us more secure. Focusing on post-9/11 policies, she argues that security measures often encourage us to cling to a narrow identity, dividing the world up into US and THEM. When we are obsessed with protecting US against THEM, we wind up feeling less secure and more disconnected.

Ensler contrasts the desire for security with the desire for connectedness and compassion. In a compelling chapter on Hurricane Katrina, she suggests that we crave not security, but kindness. She says, "I think maybe the closest we get to the feeling of security is in the gathering, the coming together, becoming a group, a community, a whole" (p. 193). She returns to this point in her concluding chapter. In defining freedom, she suggests, "Freedom comes not from holding your life more precious or sacred than others'. Not from consuming more than your share. . . Freedom is about becoming vulnerable to one another, rather than becoming secure, in control, and alone" (p. 197).

These ideas echo the feminist literature on care and compassion, connectedness and empathy. But Ensler excels in telling stories - her own and those of women in throughout the world - that make these ideas come to life. She introduces a new frame through which to view the post-9/11 world, one made up of both reality and hope.

#45 - Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro - Finished July 8, 2008

This is an unusual, but oddly compelling book. On the surface, it is the story of three friends who attended a boarding school together. However, Ishiguro gradually reveals why these students are different than most boarding school students. While their secrets seem to be somewhat unbelievable, I could easily identify with the characters, their concerns, and their relationships.

This is the first of Ishiguro's books that I've read, but I plan to read others.

Porch Reader...
Thanks for noting Never Let Me Go I see that others highly recommend this as well. Ah, the bane and blessing of Library Thing is that I hear of so many wonderful books to read...and then...the to be read pile builds astronomically.

I hope you are feeling better!

I haven't read much Ishiguro, but if you're looking for one that is not as well known, I'd recommend When We were Orphans. I read that one because I was looking for something a little off the beaten path to judge his writing and storytelling. I enjoyed the book. It's not a favorite or anything but it was well written and well told.

Whisper - I picked Never Let Me Go up because I'd seen it recommended on LT too. Well, that, plus it was on the Iowa City Public Library Recommends. . . shelf, which is right by the door, and sometimes the only shelf that my kids have the patience to let me browse!

Blackdogbooks - Thanks for the other Ishiguro rec. I'm curious to read another of his books, and will put When We Were Orphans on my TBR list.

#46 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl - Finished July 12, 2008

OK, I usually don't include the books that I read to my kids, but this one is one of my favorites. I bought a copy for them when I was on a business trip to San Francisco (along with some chocolates). Their reactions made this story even better for me. They were disappointed when Charlie didn't get a golden ticket in his birthday chocolate bar, excited when he finally found the fifth golden ticket, frustrated by the selfish, glutinous behavior of some of the children, and excited by the possibility that one day they might be able to find an everlasting gobstopper or a fizzy lifting drink. We also watched both versions of the movie (the Gene Wilder one and the Johnny Depp one), but they liked the book the best. Even though they look just like their dad, they are their mama's boys!

#47 - My Antonia - Willa Cather - Finished July 13, 2008

This is one (of many) classics that I never read in school, so this was my first exposure to it. I loved it. The epigraph to the book is "Optima dies . . . prima fugit" (Virgil; The best days are the first to flee). The book tells the story of Jim Burden, who goes to live with his grandparents on the Nebraska plains in the early 1900's. Jim shares a series of episodes from his childhood and early adulthood, and although these stories reflect the hardships of the times, it is clear that Jim views these days as his best days. There is a sense that Jim longs for those days of his youth, especially for his friendship with his Bohemian neighbor, Antonia. All and all, a well-told story.

#48 - Hard Eight - Janet Evanovich - Finished July 14, 2008

Another of the Stephanie Plum series. I've read a couple of these, and find them generally funny and engaging. I listened to this one on tape while driving across Iowa, and it definitely made the trip go faster.

If you enjoyed My Antonia, you should try Death Comes for the Archbisop, also by Cather. This is a wonderful book, based on historical events in New Mexico. The characters are rich and flawed and the story is effortlessly told. A great tribute to the frontier days of the west and some of the more unusual characters who shaped its path.

Thanks, Blackdogbooks - I'm definitely going to read more Cather!

#49 - Interpreter of Maladies - Jhumpa Lahiri - Finished July 16, 2008

I'd read stories from this collection in the past, but had never read the whole collection at one time. I love Lahiri's writing style - her spare prose works especially well in short stories. I can't wait to read Unaccustomed Earth.

#50 - Half of a Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Finished July 29, 2008

What a wonderful book! The story is set during Biafra's struggle to separate from Nigeria during the 1960s. I learned much about this period in the region's history, but I was also completely captivated by the characters in the story. Odenigbo, a revolutionary professor, and his partner Olanna, a beautiful woman from an influential family, begin the book with a comfortable life in which they entertain friends and discuss ideas. However, as war breaks out, they have to deal with the hardships that war brings. As the story unfolds, we see how Odenigbo, Olanna, their houseboy Ugwu, Olanna's twin Kainene, and her lover Richard deal with the struggles of war. The chapters alternate between perspectives providing a rich view of their varied reactions to war.

Hi Porch Reader
I hope you are enjoying your summer away from the academic world. Soon, very soon, classes begin again.. I'm enjoying the break and even though I go into the office often, I don't have the student traffic.

Coincidentally, I started Half a Yellow Sun yesterday and thus far have read three chapters. I like the writing style.

#46 porch_reader: I just finished Half a Yellow Sun as well. The only thing I really did not care for (and it is a minor point) is some of the 'soap operaness' of it: the sister's lover sleeping with the sister, the illegitimate child, etc. Granted, the author does not go down the melodramatic path that a soap opera would, but I thought they were unnecessary rabbit trails for the book which had enough drama as the stories stood in and of themselves.

Whisper - As I turned over the calendar to August today, I started to get that back-to-school excitement/panic! I travel quite a bit in August for seminars and conferences, so I know that I'll be back in the classroom before long.

Hope you enjoy Half a Yellow Sun. I also liked the writing style. It was a quick read for me.

Alcottacre - I completely agree with your assessment of the soap operaness of Half a Yellow Sun. The illegitimate child didn't bother me as much. It seemed consistent with what I thought Odenigbo and Olanna would do. But the sister's lover and the sister sleeping together seemed over-the-top. Richard was not my favorite character in the book, and this part of the plot just didn't seem to fit.

#51 - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows - Finished August 5, 2008

I've already thanked Alaskabookworm for her recommendation of this book. It is fabulous! Through a series of letters we learn the story of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society and their struggle to survive the German occupation of Guernsey, an island in the English Channel, during World War II. I fell in love with the characters and loved their comments about the ways in which reading enhanced their lives.

This may be my favorite book of the year so far.

#52 - The Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears - Dinaw Mengestu - Finished August 10, 2008

I read most of this book on an airplane yesterday. I do not enjoy flying and need a book that helps me escape. This one did the trick. In Mengestu's first novel, he tells the story of Sepha Stephanos, an immigrant living in DC who fled Ethiopia during the revolution. Sepha owns a corner grocery story in Logan Circle, a poor neighborhood that is in the process of beginning gentrified. The identity shift of the neighborhood only intensifies Sepha's search for identity and connection. As Sepha says at the end of the book, "a man stuck between two worlds lives and dies alone." I liked Sepha and hope that this is not true for him, but Mengestu does not tie everything up in a nice, neat package. When the book ends, the only thing that I was sure of was that Sepha's struggle would continue.

I first learned about this book on NPR Book Tour. Mengestu's reading is available online.

#53 - Home to Holly Springs - Jan Karon - Finished August 20, 2008

I listened to this book on my iPod, most of it in short chunks going to and from work. Then I finished it up on a 3 hour drive to Madison, WI today. I have read all of Karon's Mitford series - they are comfort reads to me. Throughout that series, I enjoyed the ongoing story of Father Tim, an Episcopal priest, and the cast of characters in his life, but I thought that the Mitford series was done. So, when this book came out (billed as the first of the Father Tim series), I was excited to revisit old friends again.

In this book, Father Tim returns to his childhood home, Holly Spring, Mississippi. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn about Father Tim's early years. For readers of the Mitford series, this book fills in many of the gaps in Father Tim's early history, connecting dots that were raised in the early books. Although the pace is a bit slow and loose ends are tied up a bit too easily, reading this book felt like sitting down with an old friend.

By the way, Madison has great used book stores. I'm going home with We Were the Mulvaneys, Crabwalk, Peace Be Upon You, and Great Christian Thinkers. Not a bad trip!

Hi
I agree with you regarding the Mitford series. They are comfort reads wherein I'd like to believe life can be that bright and caring. While Jan Karon does deal with some heavy issues in some of the books, I never find myself bogged down by drama.

I will add Home to Holly Springs to one of the top books to read next.

Whisper - I agree! While I'm sure that these books aren't for everyone, I like to believe that there are places like Mitford and people like Father Tim. These books also feel a bit familiar to me. I grew up in a small town Episcopal church, so much of Karon's writing rings true to me - although no one in our congregation baked orange marmalade cakes.

#54 - Twelve Sharp - Janet Evanovich - Finished August 22, 2008

Another of the Stephanie Plum series. I listened to this one on audiobook - for me, they are perfect for that format. The story moves along quickly, there is some humor, and I like the main character.

#55 - The Search for God at Harvard - Ari Goldman - Finished August 24, 2008

I love to read books or watch movies about other people's educational experiences. Maybe it's because it has been 4 years since I was last a student (after 27 consecutive years in school, at least part time), I feel the need to live vicariously through others. This book tells the story of a religion reporter for The New York Times who enrolled in Harvard Divinity School for a year. While I did get some insight into what the educational experience was like, the book was more about spiritual growth and exploration. Goldman is an Orthodox Jew, who came to know more about his own faith while exploring others. As one of his professors said, "If you know one religion . . . you don't know any."

#56 - The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett - Finished September 6, 2008

My book club is reading this book for both our Sept and Oct meetings - it is nearly 1000 pages. I might not have picked it up if it hadn't been a book club book, but I found it to be a generally enjoyable read. Set in 12th Century England during the civil war that followed the death of Henry I, this book tells the story of earls and monks and townspeople and outlaws. Their lives are very much affected by the actual events of history. I found some the characters to be a bit one-dimensional (too good or too bad), and the book could have been a great deal shorter, but the plot kept me interested. I now want to read more about this period in history.

#57 - The Kalahari Typing School for Men - Alexander McCall Smith - Finished September 7, 2008

This is a loan from my mom. We've both read the first three books in this series. This one was much like the others. I rather like the no-nonsense voice of Precious Ramotswe, who runs a detective agency in Botswana. The book has a bit of a plot (a couple of mysteries to solve), but is mostly about the everyday lives of Mma Ramotswe, her fiance, her assistant, and an interesting cast of clients.

#58 - Son of a Witch - Gregory Maguire - Finished September 13, 2008

I loved Wicked - both the book and the musical - so I bought this sequel as soon as it came out. But somehow, it got put at the bottom of my TBR pile. When I heard that the 3rd book in this series is coming out next month, I thought I'd better go ahead and read this one.

Son of a Witch was good - not quite as good as Wicked in my opinion, but I really liked finding out what happened next. Liir, who was (most likely) the son of the Wicked Witch of the West, returns to the Emerald City with Dorothy after the Witch melts, and then struggles to find his friend Nor and make his own way in the world when Dorothy realizes that there's no place like home. The plot moves along relatively quick and involves an interesting cast of characters. I'll be interested to see where the third book in the series takes us next.

HI Porch Reader

I saw the play Wicked on Broadway a few months ago. It was incredible.....better than the book!

Linda,

I saw Wicked on Broadway too - it was amazing. I listen to the soundtrack a lot, which always brings the play back again.

HI porchreader. I imagine the fall semester is very busy for you. I'm working 50-55 hour weeks and I'm very weary.

Regarding Wicked, actually, I thought the play was better than the book. There were parts of the book that drug on and on and on and on, leaving me with no desire to read any others of his.

Hi porchreader - as I seem to keep saying, I'm slow to catch up on everyone's individual threads having only joined this group last month! I thought Christine Falls was fantastic, and am going to hear "Benjamin Black" read from The Lemur in October - hoping it will be good! The Silver Swan is on my TBR list as well. Some great books on your list.

RE Message 63: Linda - I read the book of Wicked first and really liked it. I've actually read most of his others too. But when I saw the musical, I was blown away - the story, music, sets, etc, etc were just amazing.

I hope that you get a chance to rest with the weekend approaching. I'm also having a very busy fall. I'm hoping to go up for tenure next fall, so the pressure is on!

RE Message 64: Hi FlossieT! Welcome to Librarything! I can't wait to hear about the Benjamin Black reading. I don't read a lot of mysteries, but I really liked Christine Falls. I'm hoping to get to The Silver Swan soon.

#59 - The Dew Breaker - Edwidge Danticat - Finished September 17, 2008

I read my first Danticat book earlier this year - Brother I'm Dying - and was blown away. This was the first of her fiction that I've read, and I was not disappointed. The book is a loosely woven collection of stories about a Haitian immigrant, who served as a Dew Breaker, or torturer, in the Duvalier regime. As the book unfolds, we learn more and more about the Dew Breaker, both in the present and in the past, through the eyes of the people whose lives were affected by him. The prose is beautifully written, creating an evocative portrait of the Dew Breaker and this troubled period in Haiti's history.

#60 - Rome 1960 - David Maraniss - Finished September 18, 2008

Having watched a great deal of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, I was excited to read this book about the 1960 Olympics in Rome. The 1960 Olympics was blessed with an amazing cast of characters - Wilma Rudolph, Rafer Johnson, and Cassius Clay, among others. Maraniss tells each of their stories, giving us insight into the varied paths that brought them to Rome. Perhaps because I felt like I came to know each of the athletes, I found myself captivated by descriptions of events that took much longer to read than it took to actually complete the events.

But this book was more than just the story of the Olympic athletes and the events in which they competed. Maraniss helps us understand how the Olympics were impacted by the events of the day - including the Cold War, US and USSR propaganda, South African apartheid, and segregation. In this context, the Olympics became more than just a series of athletic events. This book made me realize the broader implications of the 1960 Olympics and made me wonder how more recent Olympic games will come to be viewed through the lens of history.

I read my first Danticat earlier this year, too (The Farming of Bones), and, just as you say, I was blown away. I hadn't heard of The Dew Breaker, but I'll be looking out for it now - thanks!

I will be adding to my TBR continent with both The Dew Breaker and Rome 1960. I read Brother I'm Dying earlier this year and thought it was terrific, and read Maraniss' book Clemente last year, I believe, and thought it was very well written. Can't wait to read more of the both of them!

Rachbxl - I'm putting The Farming of Bones on my TBR list right now. I love it when I "discover" an author that I hadn't read before and who writes as beautifully as Danticat. Thanks for the recommendation!

Alcottacre - Rome 1960 was my first Maraniss book, but I'll have to check out Clemente too. My brother was a sports journalist for a number of years, so I enjoy sports-related books, but Rome 1960 was so much more than a sports book for me. The integration of the broader context added so much depth to the story. Did Clemente have this same broader viewpoint?

#69 porch_reader: The biography of Clemente deals a lot with the context of the times, especially the racism that was still rampant in baseball during Clemente's career, but I do not know if that is what you mean by a broader viewpoint.

Alcottacre - That's exactly what I meant. Thanks! Clemente sounds like a book that I will really enjoy.

#71 porch_reader: I really enjoyed the book because it did not treat Clemente as a saint, even though he was very involved in charity work throughout his career and ultimately died from it. He is very human in the book, with all his flaws, foibles, and greatness. I heartily recommend it and hope you enjoy it.

#61 - We Were the Mulvaneys - Joyce Carol Oates - Finished September 23, 2008

I had never read a book by Joyce Carol Oates. After I saw several on Whisper's list, I was inspired to read one myself. I got a good deal on We Were the Mulvaneys at a used book store in WI, so I decided to give it a try.

Now that I'm finished with the book, I can say that I liked it, but I had a love/hate relationship with it while I was reading. The book tells the story of the Mulvaney family. Following a family tragedy (which is revealed fairly near the beginning of the book), the previously happy, close-knit family gradually is torn apart. In many ways, the story is masterfully told, with one event leading to the next as events spiral out of control. I found myself angry with the family that they could not make things right again, while at the same time convinced that nothing could have been done to change the unfolding events. My primary complaint while reading the book was that this unfolding chain of horrible events seemed to go on and on with no relief, but upon reflection, I realize that this was the power of the book.

I think that I'll have to read Oates in small doses. I experienced frustration and sadness and anger while reading this book, and don't think that I can go through that too many times in a row. But I will definitely read more.

#62 - Apex Hides the Hurt - Colson Whitehead - Finished September 26, 2008

Thanks to Avaland for this recommendation. I was drawn to this book because I'm interested in books about the work that people do. (I'm a management professor and some of my research focuses on the intersection of identity and work.) Apex Hides the Hurt tells the story of a nomenclature consultant (a person who names products) who has been hired by the town of Winthrop to determine a name for the town. Whitehead alternates between describing the nomenclature consultant's work in renaming Winthrop and flashing back to provide us with an understanding of how the nomenclature consultant got to be where he is today.

I found the story itself interesting on several levels. First of all, it made me very aware of all of the things that must be named by marketers. How do they come up with these names that we take for granted (Pampers, Lubriderm, Pepsi)? I know the stories behind some of them (for example, I think that Gatorade was originally invented to rehydrate the Florida Gators), but most I never think about.

But I was more fascinated by the exploration of what it really means to name something. By giving something a name, do we cover its true nature or reveal it? As he became a nomenclature consultant, did the expert (whose name is not revealed in the story) lose himself, covering up something important? In the end, he choose a name for Winthrop that doesn't cover the pain, but that reveals its past. But we are left with questions about whether this choice will make any real difference.

Your review of We were the Mulvaneys reminds me very much of Black girl/White girl also by Ms. Oates. I went through moments where I was just exasperated, angry and overwhelmed by the willful ignorance displayed. But I ended up liking the book. There was a movie made of We were the Mulvaneys made a few years ago. I never saw it but it looked interesting. I really liked your review and I am going to add this book to my TBR pile.

Trish and Porch Reader, you both hit the nail right on the head regarding Joyce Carol Oates and her writing style.

The emotions you expressed are ones I've felt when reading some of her works. I do find that after awhile the doom and gloom is a bit much, but then I go back to her because in my opinion, she captures human emotions, motivations and the complexity of relationships.

Re #62 - even more keen to read this book now! One of my final dissertations for my degree was on naming in the novels of Toni Morrison, and I read an awful lot of theory books about it... Will have to seek out a copy ASAP.

Trish and Linda - Thanks for validating my Joyce Carol Oates experience. I will definitely try more of hers, but must read something sunny and cheery first.

I didn't know that there was a movie of We Were the Mulvaneys, but I just found it on NetFlix. I'll have to check it out.

FlossieT - Wow - what an interesting topic for a dissertation! I'll be interested to hear what you think of Apex Hides the Hurt. Whitehead does a good job of satirizing the role of naming in corporate America. I wonder if there are parallels with naming in literature.

Hi
Chiming in regarding Apex Hides the Hurt to say that it was worth the time spent reading.

Porch_reader, glad you liked Apex. Great review.

Thanks, Avaland. I'm reading another of your recommendations - The Outcast - right now. Wow! What a great first novel. I'll post more when I finish it.

#63 - The Little Guide to Your Well-Read Life - Steve Leveen - Finished September 30, 2008

I love to read (and I'm pretty sure that I'm not alone in that). So occasionally, I get the urge to read books about reading. Just the other day, I found myself at Dewey Decimal 028 - Books about Reading, and I picked up this short book by the CEO of Levenger. The book's subtitle is "how to get more books in your life and more life from your books." That sounded appealing to me. But I'm not sure that the book lives up to its subtitle.

First, in all fairness, I already read quite a bit (although not as much as many of you), so I've already tried tips like, "keep a list of books you want to read," or "join a book club," or "listen to audio books." I did like Leveen's discussion about making future reading choices. I have a massive TBR list, but it is not at all organized. I want to be more purposeful about my reading choices next year (while still leaving room for serendipity), so I like the idea of being more organized with my TBR list.

There was one part of the book that made me want to throw it across the room. Leveen recommends using the SQ3R (survey, question, read, recite, review) method to retain more from your reading. I had brief flashbacks of high school, and then decided that was a recommendation that I would not be adopting.

In all, I've learned more from all of you about how to get more books in my life and more life from my books than I did from Leveen's Little Guide. Thank goodness (again) for LT!

By the way, I read 63 books total last year, so I'm about to surpass that total! Yeaaaa!

#64 - The Outcast - Sadie Jones - Finished October 1, 2008

Wow! I loved this book. Another great recommendation from Avaland.

This is a beautifully written first novel. The book begins as Lewis Aldridge returns home from prison at the age of nineteen. Through an extended flashback, we learn about Lewis's early life, his father's return home from World War II, and a tragic event that leaves Lewis shaken and leads to his crime. The second half of the book tells Lewis's story after he returns home.

While this book does tell an interesting story, what I loved most about this book was getting to know its complex characters. Jones reveals their true natures slowly, letting us get to know them through their relationships with others. Near the end of the book, one of the characters visits a psychiatric institution and observes, "The whole place seemed to be fake; pretending to be respectiable when it was full of damage, pretending to be quite open when it was full of shame." This describes many of the characters in this book as well. Jones helps us see through the pretending, revealing the best and worst of these characters true selves. I came to love some and to intensely dislike others, but to understand all of them a bit better.

This is definitely going on my Top 10 list for this year.

Interestingly, three of the best books that I've read this year have some connection to World War II - The Outcast, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and Mudbound. Together they have given me greater insight into that time in history and especially into the years immediately following the war.

Yay! Congrats on exceeding last year's number of books!

Have you read The Book Thief? I thought it was also a unique perspective on WWII.

No - I haven't even heard of that one, and it sounds wonderful! Thanks so much, Streamsong!

Thanks for the wonderful description of The Outcast by Sadie Jones...to the mountainous TBR pile it goes.
And, off to the library I go.

#83 Porch Reader: I completely agree with you on The Outcast (which I stole of avaland's list, too). It is a very powerful novel and hard to believe it is a first book. I will definitely be on the watch for more books by Sadie Jones.

Porch,

Have to agree with you about the Leveen book, I got sucked into the title and read it also, moslty to disappointment. But, I took the same tidbit from the book you did about organizing what you read next a little more thoughtfully. I've used a few of his suggestions this year and I've been more successful with choosing goods groups of books to read. If you like books about reading, one of my favorites isReading Like a Writer. Prose also wrote a fun book called Bigfoot Dreams and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. She turns out to be a great lover of books and writing and gets that across in Reading Like a Writer. Turns out it was less about writing than about reading. Lots of great suggestions lie within!

Thanks, Blackdogbooks! I think I've thumbed through Reading Like a Writer at least two or three times at my local bookstore. I've always thought it sounded interesting, so will definitely pick it up now that I have your recommendation. Bigfoot Dreams sounds interesting too. I'll put them both on my TBR list - which is still a collection of post-it notes, but which I have every intention of organizing soon!

In full disclosure, I ran across another post just after I posted here which was completely opposite in feeling on Reading Like a Writer. But I did enjoy it.

#65 - The Boat - Nam Le - Finished October 10, 2008

An amazing collection of short stories! Although I agree with some of the reviews that some stories are better than others, the best of them are absolutely phenomenal and all are well developed.

Le has the ability to write in a range of voices. The first story is somewhat autobiographical. It features a young Vietnamese writer named Nam who is living in Iowa City and attending the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Up to this point, he has avoided drawing from his Vietnamese heritage to write the ethnically-based story that his advisors have encouraged. However, writers' block and a visit from his father lead him to reconsider. In the span of a few short pages, Le provides us with sharp insight into this troubled father-son relationship.

Le returns to his Vietnamese heritage in the final story, telling the story of a teenage girl who is escaping Communist-controlled Vietnam in the mid-1970s. The description of the days that she spends crammed onto a boat with 200 other refugees is haunting.

However, the other five stories take us around the world - we are given a glimpse into the lives of a revolutionary in Columbia, an aging artist in NYC, a high-school athlete in Australia, a young girl in Japan during World War II, and a female lawyer visiting Iran. Each of these stories focuses on an intense moment in the lives of the main characters. Through these snapshots, in which they face death, broken relationships, physical danger, and emotional distress, we gain insight into the each of these varied lives. Almost without fail, Le transports us through place and time so that we feel that we are inside the heads of his characters. This was not a relaxing book to read because of Le's skill in building tension, allowing release only at the end of each story.

I teach at the University of Iowa and am always on the lookout for first books from Iowa Writers' Workshop graduates. This one does not disappoint. I will be interested to see what Le writes next.

#66 - This Land is Their Land - Barbara Ehrenreich - Finished October 11, 2008

This book is a collection of short essays that cover a range of social issues, from poverty to education to religion to health care. I am a huge fan of Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed and was very much looking forward to this collection. I thought that she did a good job of emphasizing the downsides of many current social policies, and she does so with a great deal of wit and sarcasm. Her writings on low-income Americans are the strongest in the collection, in my opinion.

Although I liked this book, I enjoyed Nickel and Dimed much more. From the perspective of participant observer in a variety of low-wage jobs, Ehrenreich provided an in-depth view of the challenges of the working-class poor. This book, with its 3-4 page essays, simply did not allow for that type of depth.

#92 porch_reader: I am also a big fan of Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed, so I will definitely be on the look out for this one too.

LT is simply amazing. I'm learning about authors I previously had never known. I've added Nickel and Dimed and This Land is Their Land to my tbr list.
I spent many years volunteering at a local homeless shelter in different capacities, from serving meals, giving lectures to various local groups regarding homelessness in America and then becoming a board of directors member. I have some very strong opinions regarding the challeges of working-class poor.
There are no easy answers and I'm particularly interesting in knowing what Ehrenreich says regarding failed social programs.

#67 - Gilead - Marilynne Robinson - Finished October 15, 2008

This book is told from the perspective of John Ames, a preacher in Gilead, Iowa who is nearing the end of his life. He is writing his "begats" for his young son, who he knows he will not see grow up. The story is told in a way that felt exactly like someone recounting his life. The story does not flow strictly chronologically. Instead, Ames meanders a bit, telling about some events twice and moving from present day to his childhood and back again. My favorite parts of the book were where Ames was describing his son. He clearly is sad that he will not see his son grow up, but he expresses such joy each time he talks about his son. It is clear that he loves him very much.

Ames has had an interesting life, and as he tells his life story, some mysteries are revealed. But this is not a story that is focused on plot. For me, this book was all about character development. Through the events that he recounts and the observations he makes, we come to know who Ames is and what he values most.

I listened to this one as an audiobook. In some ways, I'm glad. The reader was great - he sounded just like I thought Ames should sound. But the language in this book was beautiful in places, so I wished I could go back and re-read some of Robinson's phrases.

Now that I've read Gilead, I'm anxious to read Robinson's new book, Home.

#95: Sounds like a good one, porch_reader. On to Continent TBR it goes!

#68 - Certain Girls - Jennifer Weiner - Finished October 15, 2008

I needed a "fun read" and found this at the library. I've read several of Weiner's other books, and have always enjoyed her characters, the fast-paced stories, and the humor. This book was quite similar. It picks up the story of Cannie Shapiro (who was featured in Good in Bed) as she is struggling with the challenges of raising her 13-year-old daughter. Although I was surprised by the ending, I thought that this book was a good, breezy read.

I read Little Earthquakes this year and really enjoyed it - in the genre, I think she's really pretty good at it. Also always interesting the way writers of this type graduate into the stories with kids in them...

FlossieT - What a good observation! I guess we shouldn't be surprised that a book titled Good in Bed should be followed up with a book featuring kids! I liked Little Earthquakes too. I need a good escapist read now and again.

I need a good escapist read now and again.

Doesn't everyone? I know I do - I call them BC books. BC as in Brain Candy.

#69 - Bleachers - John Grisham - Finished October 21, 2008

I listened to this on audiobook - it worked well in that format. Bleachers tells the story of Neely Crenshaw, a high school football star, who has returned home after 15 years because his coach Eddie Rake is about to die. As members of Messina Spartans football teams from across the years gather in the bleachers of Rakefield, we learn about the process of coming of age in a town that loves its football and hates losing. The legendary coach Eddie Rake was a demanding coach, pushing players up to (and sometimes beyond) their limits.

Although Coach Rake comes across as unsympathetic at times, Grisham does a good job of also presenting his other side. As he helped integrate the football team and encouraged his players to always live up to their potential, we see this complex man as his players saw him - a man that we both love and hate.

I grew up in a small Missouri town that loved its high school football. I was the team statistician and saw every game during the four years that I was in high school. I now live in a small Iowa town that loves its high school football. My sons - who are 4 and 7 years old - already have Bears jerseys and we spend many Friday nights watching the high school team play. Because of this, I liked Bleachers. It is a pretty simple story, with no real surprises, but it is told in a voice that rings true.

#70 - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson -Finished October 23, 2008

This was an entertaining mystery. Mikael Blomkvist, a financial journalist recently convicted of libel, is hired by Henrik Vanger to investigate the murder of his niece Harriet which occurred almost 40 years ago. Blomkvist enlists the help of Lisbeth Salander (the girl with the dragon tattoo), a young hacker with a troubled past. Together, they uncover the secrets of the Vanger family and work to restore Blomkvist's professional reputation.

Although I found the book generally enjoyable, the plot is uneven. At some points, the pace drags. However, I found the characters, especially Mikael and Lisbeth, well-drawn. And Larsson does a good job integrating multiple plot lines.

I won't spoil the ending, but I will say that I thought the book was going to wrap up well, just the way I thought it should, but the final paragraph ruined that. Enough said!

Hmmm, it's 3 down on my TBR pile. I picked it up based upon a number of people really liking it. We'll see.

TadAD - I definitely think that The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is worth the read. And I just found out that it is the first of a trilogy - so maybe that explains why I didn't like the ending. I'll be interested to see what you think.

#71 - The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - Muriel Spark - Finished October 26, 2008

I read this after reading Prop2gether's reviews of several of Spark's books. I had never read any of them and decided to start with this one. I enjoyed it very much. It is a quick read that tells us the story of a teacher, Miss Jean Brodie, at a girl's school in 1930's Edinburgh. Miss Brodie is definitely an unconventional teacher. She takes six of the students under her wing and through her relationships with them, we learn a great deal about Miss Jean Brodie in her prime.

Hi porch reader
I recently finished The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. I know you, like me, work in academia so I am curious regarding your impressions of taking the girls under her wing and, in my opinion, manipulating them.

Whisper - I agree that Miss Brodie's relationship with "her girls" was a manipulative one. I liked her idea of educating students based on the Latin meaning of the root educare - to lead out. It seemed admirable to me that she didn't want to stuff knowledge into her students, but rather to let their true selves emerge. However, I definitely did not think that this is what she actually did in the book. And in the end, it seemed clear to me that Sandy didn't feel as though Miss Brodie had done right by the girls either.

Given her manipulative relationship with her girls, it made me wonder what it meant to Miss Brodie to be in her prime. Throughout the book, I found myself wondering if I'm still in my prime. By the end, I'd decided that if Miss Brodie was in her prime, I am happy to be "past my prime."

#104--I finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and enjoyed it a lot. I didn't have as much problem with the plot being uneven, I just kept turning pages. I agree about not liking the last paragraph. However, Knopf has announced The Girl Who Played With Fire for next summer and it's about Mikael and Lisbeth...so we'll see.

Glad to hear you liked The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and I heartily recommend just about any other book by Muriel Spark. Her stories are never long, always have a twist or two, and I've not been disappointed yet with any of her works (even if the critics were blah).

Ah, good. I've just found an old penguin edition of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and I am looking forward to reading it. I've read The Girls of Slender Means and A Far Cry From Kensington both by Muriel Spark and both this year.

I was just browsing through the thread and was interested to see that you had read Gilead as I got it for christmas a couple of years ago and have never got round to reading it. Was considering getting rid of it without reading it.

Would you recommend I give it a go? I like a lot of different things, am mostly reading historical and fantasy at the moment but also like things such as Life of Pi, Saturday and The Road if that gives you any inclination as to my reading preferences

#108 - TadAD - I'm glad you liked The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Thanks for filling me in on the sequel. I'm excited to see what happens with Mikael and Lisbeth next.

#109 & #110 - Prop2gether and hjelliot - Thanks for the other Muriel Spark recommendations. I'm excited to read more of her work.

#111 - Hi Lunacat - I was just on your thread. I don't read a lot of fantasy, but we have similar taste in terms of other novels. I've read Life of Pi, Saturday, and The Road too - and liked them all. But Gilead is much different than all of those. The story meanders, and as I said above, the book is really more about character development than plot. Robinson uses words beautifully, so I definitely enjoyed her writing. And I'm planning on reading Home, her new follow-up to Gilead.

But I'm not sure that means that everyone will like it. I do think that the style of Gilead is pretty consistent throughout. So, I'd recommend trying about 25 pages. I think you'll know by then if it's for you.

Book 72 - Reading Like a Writer - Francine Prose - Finished October 27, 2008

Thanks to Blackdogbooks for this recommendation. I really liked this book. I hadn't picked it up before because I'm not a writer (well, I write boring journal articles with a lot of statistics in them, but that's not really the same thing). But Prose's book has a lot to say to readers as well. Through numerous examples, she shows how great writers write beautiful sentences and paragraphs, how they use details and gestures to get their point across, how they create characters, etc., etc. Prose advocates close reading and helps readers understand how to get the most out of a book.

My only complaint about this book is that Prose shares a paragraph or two (or sometimes more) from many books to illustrate her points. These examples only served to whet my appetite. It took me a while to read this book because I had to keep stopping to add to my TBR list!

Come on.....that's not really a complaint, it's a guilty pleasure!!!!

Glad you enjoyed it as I did. I have read one of Prose's own novels and found it a lot of fun.

Book 73 - My Name is Will: A Novel of Sex, Drugs, and Shakespeare - Jess Winfield - Finished November 3, 2008

This is an odd book - it may not be for everyone - but I really enjoyed it. In alternating chapters, Winfield tells the stories of Willie Shakespeare Greenburg, a Master's student who is writing his thesis on the influence of Shakespeare's Catholic roots on his writing, and Shakespeare himself. While Willie stresses out about his Master's thesis, experiments with drugs, and hooks up with women, Shakespeare struggles against authorities who enforce Queen Elizabeth's Protestantism, learns of his family's effects to promote the Old Faith (Catholicism), and hooks up with women. I'm not a Shakespearean scholar, so I don't know how accurately Winfield keeps to the facts, but he tells a plausible story and often uses puns and language to effectively approximate Shakespeare's style.

I grew a little tired of Willie Shakespeare Greenburg's lack of focus and excessive drug use, but overall the story worked for me. It was fast paced, and made me want to read something more authoritative about Shakespeare's life.

Hang in there Porch Reader...You only have two more books to go to reach the 75 mark! Congratulations!

Thanks, Whisper1! I'm two chapters away from finishing Death Comes for the Archbishop, my November book club book. And last night I read the first 50 pages of The Brief History of the Dead, which sucked me in immediately. (I'd read a lot about that one here, so I have high hopes for it.) So that may get me to 75!

That's difficult because those are both are wonderfully written and captivating books. I'd love to hear your thoughts on both of these books.

Book 74 - Death Comes for the Archbishop - Willa Cather - Finished November 4, 2008

Thanks to Blackdogbooks, who recommended this one after I read My Antonia earlier in the year. My book club also chose this as our November book.

This book tells the story of Bishop Latour and Father Vaillant, who are sent to New Mexico as missionaries. Through Cather's beautifully written story, we learn about their efforts to spread the Catholic faith. However, this is another book that is less about plot than it is about the development of characters. Not only do we come to know Bishop Latour and Father Vaillant, but Cather also provides amazingly sharp snapshots of a number of others who they encounter in New Mexico. Often these characters appear in only a single chapter, or only for a few pages, yet many of them are memorably drawn.

This is not a fast-paced book. However, Cather's pacing seems to match well the story that she tells. And her beautiful language deserves to be savored.

Book 75 - The Brief History of the Dead - Kevin Brockmeier - Finished November 6, 2008

This is a book that I saw recommended on several of your threads. If I had picked it up and read the book cover, I would never have bought it. It just doesn't sound like my cup of tea: "The City is inhabited by those who have departed Earth but are still remembered by the living. They will reside in this afterlife until they are completely forgotten. . ." However, so many of you loved this book, that I decided to give it a try.

And I loved it too. Brockmeier can write! He gets out of the way of the story and just lets it unfold. There were many times when I wasn't conscious that I was reading - the story just flowed into me. The prose is simple, direct, and elegant. What a joy to read!

And the story itself is compelling. Half of the chapters take place in the City, where people go after they die until all of the people on Earth who remember them are also dead. Life in the City operates surprisingly easily. There are diners, newspapers, places to live, jewelry stores, etc., etc. But suddenly a large number of people disappear. Meanwhile on Earth, there has been a disaster. Laura Byrd, who is trapped in Antarctica, sets out across the continent to look for help. Her struggles are described vividly by Brockmeier. Not since The Road have I been so worried for a character in a book. I was on the edge of my seat.

This is the first book that I've read by Brockmeier, and now I want to read others. Has anyone read Things that Fall from the Sky or The Truth about Celia?

And with that, I've read 75 books this year. I think that it is telling that #75 is a book that I never would have read if it hadn't been for your recommendations, and it was one of the best books that I've read this year. It's nice to have read 75 books this year, but it's even nicer to have found so many good ones. (And to have a staggered TBR pile ready to take me through the rest of the year - or maybe the rest of my life.) Thanks for your help!

Hi
Congratulations on reaching the 75 book challenge! Way to go!

What a great reading year you have had! Congratulations.

--and keep posting what you are reading now. I got lots of good ideas from your list.

Congratulations on reaching the 75 book goal! You've had some great recent reads, too.

I liked The Brief History of the Dead, but have not read any of his other books, so I am sorry I cannot help with that.

Yay for the 75 reached!!!!!

And how appropriate that the 75th should be something instigated by this website. If it wasn't for Librarything, I wouldn't be reading half the things I am, and my tbr pile would be a heck of a lot smaller!!!

Many congratulations on reaching 75 - and still a couple of months to go! So glad you liked the Brockmeier. I didn't realise he had written other stuff too.

Thank you all for your encouragement! This group has really made my reading more enjoyable.

Wht a great book for hitting the 75 mark! I'm glad you liked it. Unfortunately, I haven't read any of his other books either. So Now I'll have to go find some!

Congratulations on reaching 75! I may not have posted here before but I've certainly enjoyed following your progress and great reads through the year!

Congratulations on making your goal--may you have some of those TBRs finished by year's end as well!

congratulations!

WOOOOOOHOOOOO!!!

What a great way to meet your challenge. The Brief History of the Dead is one of my favorite reads this year and I am so glad you enjoyed it.

Death Comes for the Archbishop is one of those rare books. Cather is actually telling a largely true story. The cathedral can actually be visited; it is one of the main tourist attractions in Santa Fe, NM, and is also a very vibrant place of worship for those of the Catholic faith. Cather captures so many varying voices in the narrative, as well as capturing a truly New Mexican tale.

Death Comes for the Archbishop is one of my favorite books of all time--although I came to it late. I read it for the first time last year but I will definitely reread it. It is just beautiful and very moving--even though I'm not Catholic and have only driven through New Mexico. One of the things I want to do when hubby retires is visit Santa Fe.

Thanks for all of the congratulations!

By the way, I was at the bookstore this weekend and couldn't find any of Brockmeier's other books. I'll have to order them.

#131 - Blackdogbooks, I didn't know that the cathedral from Death Comes for the Archbishop can actually be visited. What an amazing place it must be! I thought Cather did an excellent job of painting a picture of the region, but I would love to see it in person.

#132 - MusicMom, this is the first time that I read Death Comes for the Archbishop and I read Cather for the first time earlier this year (My Antonia). I can't believe I've missed her all this time, but I've really enjoyed these two books!

WOW...looks like I need to add Death Comes for the Archbishop to be tbr pile. It is a good thing that the semester will end in December and I can take some time to read.

Again, thanks to all for this incredibly wonderful group of people who have expanded by reading genre so very much!

Linda - I'm already counting the weeks until the end of the semester too! Two more weeks until Thanksgiving Break, two more weeks of classes after Thanksgiving, and then finals week - at least here at Iowa. I'm hoping to make at least a small dent in my TBR list after that!

Did you ever think that while wishing the semesters to end, we are wishing away our life? I've been at Lehigh for 25 years...
I'm growing weary...but I'm only 56 and too early to retire.

And here I am, sitting at work, wishing I were back in college. Of course, that would be as a student, not faculty. Somehow, what seemed like a lot of work then doesn't seem so bad now. :-)

Linda - Yes, I agree. I try not balance my wishing that semesters would end with wishing that Christmas and summer break would never end!

TadAD - I think that I would be a professional student if only it paid the bills!

Book 76 - Clemente - David Maraniss - Finished November 13, 2008

Alcottacre recommended this one after I read Maraniss's Rome 1960 a couple of months ago. This book is an in-depth biography of Roberto Clemente, focusing especially on his years as right fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates. I generally don't read a lot of sports books (although my brother was a sportswriter for a number of years), but I am glad I read this one. (Well, actually I listened to it. It worked well in that format.) Not only did I learn a lot about Clemente, but Maraniss also provided a great deal of background about racial relations in the US and in major league baseball. I also really enjoy Maraniss's style. It is probably not for everyone - he provides a great deal of detail. I listened to this book on my relatively short commute to work, and I think it took 3 or 4 days to get through the chapter on the 1960 World Series. I felt like I was there!

Thanks for the recommendation, Alcottacre!

#139 porch_reader: Your thanks are reciprocated, because I very much enjoyed Rome 1960.

Book 77 - The Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett - Finished November 16, 2008

FlossieT recommended this one to me as "the book most likely to calm your nerves on an airplane." However, with any luck, I won't be flying again until spring, and I just couldn't wait to dig into this one.

This is a short book - 120 pages, subtitled "A Novella" - so I was able to fit it into a rather busy weekend. It is an amusing read. The premise of the book is that the Queen Elizabeth II is walking her dogs and stumbles upon a mobile library. She feels obligated to check out a book, and thus become a reader. Bennett pokes fun at the monarchy while also explore what it means to be a reader. One of the most vivid scenes for me describes the Queen meeting with subjects. While previously she would ask where they were from or what they do for a living, she nows asks what they are reading. This rang true to me. No matter how little I have in common with someone, if they are a reader, I can always start a conversation.

Thanks for the recommendation, FlossieT!

>141 porch_reader:.Book 77 - Porchy, glad you enjoyed it. I read The Uncommon Reader a short while back and I too found it an amusing read - . You can see my review on my thread - message 32, #14.

See we have something in common! Let's chat!

- TT

I tried for The Uncommon Reader as an Early Reviewer but no luck. Now I've got it requested on ILL. It sounds fun.

>141 porch_reader:: really pleased you liked this, Porch Reader! It is a lovely book. I particularly appreciated the character of Kevin, the senior civil servant with an almost pathological distrust of reading. Marvellous.

>143 TadAD:: I got my copy for Christmas last year, TadAD, and it felt like a perfect time to be reading it, so if your ILLs are about as speedy as they are in the UK, it should hit the sweet spot. I hope you like it!

Edit to correct character name...

#142 - TheTortoise - I love the quotes from The Uncommon Reader that you included in your review! You captured some of my favorite lines.

#143 - TadAD - I hope that you get to read The Uncommon Reader soon. It is a fast read and pretty funny!

#144 - FlossieT - I agree that Sir Kevin was an interesting character. I laughed out loud when one of the other characters called him "Kev!" I have to guess that he didn't like that.

I just picked up The Uncommon Reader at Borders today. Should read it by the end of the week.

With all of these copies of The Uncommon Reader floating around, pretty soon it will be The Common Reader.

For my 2 cents, I thought the book was very charming and sweet. I hope you all enjoy it as well.

I thought the same, Stasia. It took me about an hour to read Tuesday evening. I think that British readers might enjoy it even more. I picked up some of the caricature of the prime minister and Prince Philip, even as an ignorant American, but I'll bet a royal subject would have picked up even more satire about "the way things are". Some great quotes about reading, and I loved the ending!!

I'd never really paid any attention to what The Uncommon Reader was about but now I've seen, it sounds like something I would really enjoy, especially being a brit :)

I recently read The Uncommon Reader too, and enjoyed it. But, having also recently watched "The Queen" with Helen Mirren, that's who I kept picturing.

porch_reader....I saw on TadAD's thread that you teach an undergraduate course in leadership. How interesting! What sorts of things to you teach? Do you see a migration in student mentality over the years towards responsibility and entitlement as they relate to leadership?

Blackdogbooks - Thanks for asking about my leadership class. I've only been teaching for 5 years, so I don't have a very long-term perspective on changes in students' views toward responsibility and entitlement. Also, I teach in a business college, so I imagine that the students' views are a bit different than the general population. However, I do teach undergraduates, graduate students, and occasionally executives, so I get perspectives from students with a range of experience. I've also taught at two different Universities (University of Notre Dame and University of Iowa).

In general, I would say that at least some students are now taking a broader view about the responsibility of business leaders than they did five years ago. As corporate scandals became prevalent, students realized some of the dangers of assuming responsibility only for short-term profits and have started considering their responsibility to a broader range of stakeholders (employees, customers, society, environment, etc.). I will be interested to see how the current economic crisis impacts this thinking. Right now, my students are not very interested in talking about their responsibilities to others, but are more focused on just getting jobs!

Book 78 - The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - David Wroblewski - Finished November 20, 2008

It is always dangerous for me to read a book that has gotten as much publicity as this one. Both the media (OK, Oprah) and friends have raved to me about this book. So I might have gone in with unrealistic expectations. With that said, I liked this book, but I wasn't overwhelmed. It was good, but probably won't go on my Top 5 list for the year.

The writing is beautiful. Wroblewski paints a clear picture of the Wisconsin landscape where the story is set. He also provides clear and distinct portraits of each of the main characters - including some of the dogs. Edgar Sawtelle, who is born without the ability to speak, helps his parents breed and train dogs. The relationships that he develops with some of the dogs are as complex and intimate as many human relationships. I loved getting to know Edgar and his dogs.

I was not as impressed with the plot of the book. Although the first section of the book flowed nicely, the second section moved a bit more slowly, and the third section seemed somewhat predictable to me. I also did not like the ending of this book, so that may have biased my evaluation of the whole, but enough said about that.

So, I'm a little torn about this one. I think that I recommend it. It may be one of those books that I like better after a few days when I've had time to make my peace with the ending.

Thanks for posting comments regarding book 78... I saw this in the library, was tempted to check it out, but I was already carrying an arm full at the time.
I think I'll hold off a bit before adding it to the pile.

Hang in there... The semester is almost over for both of us and then perhaps there will be more time to relax and read...I hope;; I hope!

Linda - We get all of next week "off" for Thanksgiving. Do you? I'm looking forward to having time for working on some research, writing my final exam, starting Christmas shopping, and (of course) reading. Then just two more weeks of class + final exams!

Let me know if you do end up reading Edgar Sawtelle. I'm anxious to hear what others think of it. I'm taking it to my mom at Thanksgiving, so I'll let you know her reaction to it too.

Hi.
I have much to do, so I'll be in the office next week, but will take time away Thursday and Friday. It has been a VERY busy and stress-filled semester. My break will arrive at the end of the semester and then I won't return until January. In between semesters, I'll be visiting an aunt in Florida and will be going on a cruise.

I may be getting older, but it simply seems that the academic work load increasingly feels like I'm on a treadmill and the dial simply moves up more and more notches until soon, I'll be flying off the track....

I enjoy what I do, so I am mindful of that reality as well.

Good luck with your research and with your final exam.

Leadership in a business school enviroment....even more interesting. How do you handle the corruption scandals of late like Enron, Tyco, Healthsouth and such?

Blackdogbooks - That a great question. Business schools in general are still trying to figure out how to educate future managers so that we can decrease the likelihood of these types of scandals in the future. Unfortunately, we do have a lot of case studies to draw on now. One thing that I do is try to help students think about the factors that contributed to these scandals. Many students think that they can be blamed on a "bad apple" (an ethical person), while in fact situational factors (like reward systems, organizational climate, etc.) play an important role too. I also try to help my students think about what they would do (as a relatively low-ranking manager) if they learned about unethical activity. Few employees are willing to be "whistleblowers." Finally, I also spend some time on "doing good" rather than just on "not doing bad." There is some interesting research on organizations that pay attention to a "triple bottom line," which includes not only financial performance, but also impact on the environment and society. In my classes, we talk a lot about the range of stakeholders to whom businesses are responsible. It is difficult to know if any of this makes a difference when students go out into the "real world" and are faced with the pressures of meeting quarterly profit projections, but hopefully it provides them with some awareness.

This is something that I'm continually working to do better, so thanks for asking!

Book 79 - Election - Tom Perrotta - Finished November 22, 2008

Rarely do I finish a book in one setting. Inevitably someone needs help with homework, a snack, a clean shirt, an opponent for a video game, or something else important that causes me to divide my reading into small chunks. However, I checked this book out from the library yesterday afternoon, and had finished it by the time I went to bed last night. I gulped it down in just a few big chunks.

As I reflect, I wonder why. The book was good, but not great. I think that it kept me engaged partly because Perrotta is an incredibly observant storyteller. He knows his characters well and is able to describe them in a few brief snippets in a way that is clear and memorable. For example, one of the characters (Tammy) is a high school student who is somewhat frustrated with most of her fellow classmates and teachers. She seems to want something more out of the education system. In a short paragraph, Perrotta describes why Jeopardy is her favorite show - because it allows her to believe that there are regular people out there who are smart and know lots about topics like Greek literature, British monarch, etc. Through that one description, I learned a lot about Tammy.

The plot moves along quickly. The book centers on a high school student body president election. The students and teachers who are involved in the election are all unhappy with themselves in one way or another. They all seem to be searching for their better selves (and, in some cases, failing miserably to find them). I think that I would have liked this book better if there had been one or two characters who seemed to have it more together. I kept asking myself - is this really how high school is these days? Students sleeping with teachers, a male student sleeping with the girl who used to sleep with his sister, teachers discussing the physical attributes of students - Yikes! However, despite all that, Perrotta does tell a compelling story about interesting (if not wholly likeable) characters. I think I'll try another of his books sometime soon.

#159 porch_reader: I read The Abstinence Teacher by Perotta, and agree that he does tell compelling stories about interesting characters. Although I did not agree with some of the morality of the book, I would recommend it. I will have to give Election as try as well.

I'll definitely try The Abstinence Teacher. Thanks for the recommendation! I heard Perrotta read from that one on NPR's Book Tour and thought it sounded interesting. He's written several others too, but I don't know anything about them.

Book #79, Is this the book on which the Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick was based?

Msg #158, Interesting point about "not doing bad" vs. "doing good". Glad to know there is someone out there actually dabbling in ethics. One of my favorite points in such a discussion is about a concept known as akrasia - weakness of will. So many people see the right thing to do, know the right thing to do, but fail because they were never equipped with the will to do the right thing.

How do local factors play into your teaching on corruption? For example, corruption has been institutionalized in some systems, ie, LAPD or 'good 'ol boy networks'.

Blackdogbooks - I didn't know that Perrotta's Election was the one that the movie is based on, but according to Wikipedia it is. His book Little Children was also made into a movie.

I have never heard of the term akrasia, but I think this concept is very important to the teaching of ethics. It is possible to give students frameworks that will help them analyze situations and make ethical decisions based on a variety of criteria. But I think that it is more difficult to help them develop the will to do the right thing. Maybe this is something that is developed (or not) before they get to me. This goes right to the heart of the debate over whether we can teach ethics in the classroom.

The issue of local factors is also a tough one. Most of my undergraduates won't be in a position to change systems in which corruption has been institutionalized. (In fact, this is probably difficult for most individuals in organizations.) But it is clear that these factors influence ethical behavior, and when individuals are in systems that conflict with their personal values, dissatisfaction results. We spend some time talking about how to determine whether or not you fit with the culture of an organization prior to taking a job.

Book 80 - Digging to America - Anne Tyler - Finished November 25, 2008

I loved this book. I picked it up because it was the All Iowa Reads book for 2008. And since 2008 is almost over, I figured I'd better get it read.

The book begins with two families at the airport meeting babies who they have adopted from Korea. One family is a loud, boisterous, all-American group - new parents Bitsy and Brad Donaldson, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, and cousins have all come to welcome Jin-Ho to their family. The other family - Sami and Ziba Yazdan and Sami's mother Maryam - is of Iranian descent. The two families become friends and throughout the book, we watch Jin-Ho Donaldson and Susan Yazdan grow up. However, the book is only tangentially about welcoming adopted children. Tyler uses the connection between the two families to help us understand each one better. She writes beautifully about the struggles that Maryam Yazdan faces as she melds her Iranian and American identities. And about the pain that Bitsy Donaldson faces when she loses her mother. The characters are all distinctly drawn. (Only the two husbands, Brad and Sami, seem a bit stereotypical at time.)

It has been a long time since I read an Anne Tyler book. (Maybe not since The Accidental Tourist.) This one has made me want to read more.

Book 81 - A Mercy - Toni Morrison - Finished November 29, 2008

This book takes place in the 1680s. Jacob, a trader and famer, accepts a slave girl, Florens, in partial payment of a debt. When Florens joins Jacob's household, she meets Lina, a Native American women; Sorrow, another African American slave; and Jacob's wife, Rebekka. As Morrison tells of the struggles that the household faces after Jacob dies of small pox, we learn of the struggles faced by each woman as their stories are told in alternating chapters.

Morrison is a beautiful writer. It is amazing how much we learn about each character in only a few paragraphs. This book is relatively short - only 167 pages - so the story is not as deeply told as Beloved, yet I still came away with a richer understanding of the struggles of life in this time period.

Oh, Porch reader - I can't wait! I'm getting A Mercy for Christmas :) (I did one of my finals theses on Toni Morrison).

FlossieT - I think that you'll like A Mercy - I really did. I felt like I should read it really slowly just to savor the beautiful phrases. But it was only the 2nd of Morrison's books that I've read. (I've also read Beloved.) I'd like to read another. Which one of hers is your favorite?

porch_reader

I'm not FlossieT but the only Toni Morrison I've read so far is Song of Solomon and it is one of my favorite books of all time. I have Beloved and I'm now tempted to move it up the TBR pile.

Thanks, MusicMom! I'll check out Song of Solomon. I definitely recommend Beloved. I read it several years ago, and it is one of those books that really stayed with me.

>166 porch_reader:, I think Beloved is still my favourite, but I also really liked Jazz, and indeed Paradise - which got terrible reviews, but which I found really moving, and thought made a really excellent and interesting point about race and colour in literature. (Even if it did nearly scupper my dissertation by inconveniently being published three weeks before my deadline!!! That was some fast reading and thinking there...)

I have never read any of Tony Morrison - but you all write so enthusiastically about her writing that I will look out for some of her books - which one do you recommend to start with?

- TT

I read both Jazz and Paradise and really enjoyed them both. Very thought provoking.

Flossie, you really should be sharing more of your dissertation with us !!!!!!

>170 TheTortoise:, TT, I would recommend that you *not* start with the one I read first (also the one she wrote first), The Bluest Eye, as it may put you off trying more. The style is excellent, but the subject matter may be a bit much.

Song of Solomon may be a good one to start with, although I remember it taking me a while to get to - one of those books I had to put down and then come back to six months later, when those first 30 pages flowed more smoothly for me.

>171 blackdogbooks:, BDB, I'm ashamed to say I don't even know where my dissertation is any more... I didn't keep a hard copy, as I wanted to see the back of it after living with it for so long. I must have floppy-disk copies but have not yet been able to bring myself to hunt through the stacks of them that I rescued from my mum's house to try and work out which one it's on.

My attitudes to data storage and clear labelling have moved on somewhat since my university days ;)

I reread The Bluest Eye as a group read--and as an adult--and found it deeply involving. It's certainly not a happy story, but there's a reason it still "gets" people. I've read at least three or four other Morrison novels, and I find her writing just amazing. My current read is Jazz and it is fabulous.

Book 82 - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J. K. Rowling - Finished December 3, 2008

This was a re-read for me. I read the first 4 books in this series when they came out, and I'm now re-reading them so that I can remember what happened before reading the last three.

I also decided to read this one again right now (despite all of the other books calling out to me) because I'm using clips of the movie in my Middle School Sunday School class to illustrate themes of light and dark. So far, it's been very popular with the students! But the books are far better than the movies, in my opinion.

Book 83 - So Brave, Young, and Handsome - Leif Enger - Finished December 7, 2008

I borrowed this book from my mom and dad. They both read it. I read Peace Like a River a few years ago, so I was excited to read another one by Enger. This one didn't disappoint. In So Brave, Young and Handsome, Enger tells the story of Monte Becket, a Minnesota writer with one bestseller who can't find another story to tell. As he is struggling to write, he meets Glendon Hale, an ex-outlaw who is planning to head south to find the woman who he abandoned years ago as he ran from the law. He invites Monte to go along.

With that intriguing beginning, Enger sets off and never breaks stride. This is a story that is about plot as well as character. Monte finds himself and his voice. Glendon makes peace with his past. And like any good story about outlaws in the west, there is more than one shoot-out and plot twist. I highly recommend this one!

Hi porch reader.
Happy, happy end of the academic semester!

book #83 sounds like a delight! Thanks for your review.

I agree with Whisper, porch_reader! Sounds like the Leif Enger book is one I need to read. On to Continent TBR it goes!

Linda and Stasia,

So Brave, Young, and Handsome was a quick read for me - definitely worth the time. And it was exactly what I needed here at the end-of-the-semester busy time. I give my final exam one week from today - Tuesday night from 7-9 pm. Who can think at 7-9 pm? That seems so late to me - but probably not to my students. Happy end-of-the semester to you too, Linda! Do I remember right that a cruise is in your future?

Book 84 - The Clothes They Stood Up In - Alan Bennett - Finished December 8, 2008

I enjoyed Bennett's An Uncommon Reader, so I decided to try this one. Like An Uncommon Reader, it is a novella, so it didn't take long to read.

Bennett's insightful way of describing human nature is once again in evidence in this book. A married couple returns from the opera and finds that a burgler has taken everything from their apartment - absolutely everything. We learn a lot about Mr. and Mrs. Ransome from the ways in which they react to the blank slate with which they are left.

This book was worth the read, but I didn't find it as witty as An Uncommon Reader.

Book 85 - The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Brian Selznick - Finished December 9, 2008

I picked this up at the library. At this time of year, with so much going on, I seem to have less time to read and a shorter attention span. So, I thought this book, with its relatively short story and its wonderful illustrations, might fit the bill. I was right!

First, the book tells a simple but wonderful story about a young boy - Hugo Cabret - who lives in a train station and maintains the clocks there. His father died and left him a broken automaton, which Hugo is determined to fix. In the process, he meets a toy seller, and as the story unfolds, we learn how their lives are intertwined and the secrets of the automaton are revealed.

The story itself would be entertaining, but the illustrations make Hugo and the others come to life. I really enjoyed this book.

#179 porch_reader: I loved The Invention of Hugo Cabret when I read it recently. I was glad when my library finally got it because I had heard such wonderful things about the book. Glad to see that you enjoyed it as well.

I will probably give the Bennett book a try, too. I will see if my library has that one.

Alcottacre - I'll be interested to hear what you think of the Bennett book. It just didn't grab me like An Uncommon Reader did, but it wasn't bad. (How's that for a lukewarm recommendation?!?)

I do not think you can get much lukewarmer (I just made that up) than that!

I will definitely have to make getting A Mercy a priority. I loved both Beloved and Song of Solomon. Morrison is an amazing writer.

sounds like I'll have to move Enger's newest up the list too. I've got a copy floating around the house.

Thanks for the comments re. The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I've added this to the list.

porch reader...All good wishes to you for a smooth end of the semester! A break is in sight!

#183 - Alaskabookworm - I'm definitely adding Song of Solomon to my TBR list. I've heard that it is one of Morrison's best. I look forward to hearing if you like So Brave, Young, and Handsome.

#184 - Whisper - I think you'll like The Invention of Hugo Cabret. The illustrations alone are worth a look. And I hope that your semester wraps up nicely too. We are counting down the days here!

Argh, Whisper and Porch_Reader, one more class to go this semester, but then all the papers to grade!!

Ronincats - Good luck with the grading! That is the one part of the job that I do not enjoy. I tend to bribe myself. I'll grade three papers, and then read a chapter of a book (or eat a piece of Christmas candy)! With 316 essay questions to grade (79 students * 4 questions), I think I'll be better off bribing myself with reading than with candy!

I only have 10 students in my graduate seminar, but it's an applied course and I have two reports from each of them on students they've been working with this semester coming in during the week. Complex rubrics, complicated cases. I also try to give myself a positive during the grading, but I can't read a chapter--I'd go off and read the whole book instead!

porch and ronincats..

good luck.
My semester is about done. The final issue of the student newspaper was last week.

The spring semester is usually the busy one for me...
The students who procrastinated on writing pages for the yearbook now find that deadlines loom.

Book 86 - Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell - Finished December 17, 2008

In Outliers, Gladwell explores the factors that contribute to extreme success. Why did Bill Gates become a multi-billionaire in the computer industry? Why do certain hockey players make it to the big leagues? What explains the success of some extremely successful lawyers? Gladwell purports that we often attribute such success to talent, hard work, and other individual level factors. In this book, he argues that we often don't pay enough attention to the role of opportunity and other contextual factors. For example, Gates happened to come of age at the dawn of the computer industry and was given access to computers at a young age that was unprecedented at the time. This opportunity greatly contributed to his success. Far more Canadian professional hockey players were born in January, February, and March, than in October, November, and December. In Canada, the cutoff date to join a youth hockey league is January 1. Thus, kids with birthdays early in the year are bigger in their early hockey seasons, and thus get picked for traveling and all-star leagues, get more practice time, etc., etc. Gladwell strongly argues that success (and failure) are often more a result of opportunity and other contextual factors than individual ability and hard work.

Gladwell makes a good point, but I worry that his point is made just a bit too strongly. Clearly, it is important to focus on contextual factors as a source of success given the strong previous focus on individual factors. However, in actuality, success is probably a complex combination of both opportunity and individual factors. A complete understanding of success requires attention to both.

By the way, Gladwell is a good writer. This book does not read like academic research on success. Instead the points are supported with fascinating stories. It is definitely worth the read.

Hi porch reader
Thanks for the insightful description of Outliers. I'm adding this to my tbr pile for 2009. It sounds like a good book.
Happy Holidays to you.
Linda

Linda- Hope you enjoy it! Happy Holidays to you, too!

Book 87 - Maps for Lost Lovers - Nadeem Aslam - Finished December 21, 2008

I went to the library looking for The Wasted Vigil which FlossieT so highly recommended. That one was out, so I decided to try Maps for Lost Lovers instead.

I enjoyed this book for several reasons. First, Aslam writes beautifully. In the very first paragraph: "The snowstorm has rinsed the air of the incense that drifts into the houses from the nearby lake with the xylophone jetty, but it is there even when absent, drawing attention to its own disappearance" (p. 3).

The story itself moves along quickly. It centers around Shamas and Kaukab, a Pakistani couple who have moved to London. Shamas's brother Jugnu and his lover Chanda have disappeared. As the story unfolds, Shamas and Kaukab's lives intertwine with those of other Pakistanis, all of whom are facing a variety of challenges in negotiating their identities. It is through the ways in which they relate with each other that we learn the most about them.

I did have one complaint. At times some of the characters were one-dimensional and stereotypical. The characters in this book face a number of challenging situations - most especially reconciling traditional Islamic beliefs with modern-day life in London - and I would have liked to have seen more recognition of the conflicts that the characters were facing.

But for the most part, this was a fascinating, well-written book. I will definitely read more of Aslam.

>193 porch_reader:: porch_reader, so glad you enjoyed this. I picked up a copy of Maps for Lost Lovers from a charity shop a couple of weeks ago. It sounds worth a look.

A small aside on my personal crusade for The Wasted Vigil - have been vvv pleased to see it coming up in lots of books of the year, 'sadly overlooked' etc. etc. lists over here. Tariq Ali recommended it as the novel you ought to read if you wanted to understand something about what was going on in Afghanistan and it has really sparked an interest for me.

I will have to look for both of Aslam's books that have been mentioned. My local library does not have either of them, so I will go further afield. They both sound like they are worth reading!

FlossieT - Yes, I've seen The Wasted Vigil popping up on lots of year end lists too, although I was certain that I wanted to read it after reading your review. I'm hoping to get my hands on it soon.

Alcottacre - I hope you enjoy them!

My copy of The Wasted Vigil (per your passionate recommendations is enroute from Amazon at this time. Not sure when I'll get to it. (Mental aside: I've GOT to stop getting library books - they're interferring with the eight five-shelf double-stacked bookcases that contain my TBR universe.)

#197: Linda, if you can stop getting library books, would you let me know how you did it? I have 90 home from the library right now and I can never seem to get ahead, lol. I have a ton of books on Continent TBR here at my house I need to get to!

I have the maximum allowable out from my libraries at any one time, and in Southern California, without a car, that can sometimes be a problem in the hauling--on the other hand, I can read the library book and then decide if I want it on my shelves for rereading and loan. Such a conundrum!

SoCal without a car........hmmmmm......are you crazy?!?!?!!?

Book 88 - The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - Barbara Robinson - Finished December 25, 2008

Oh, I love reading an old favorite. My mom read this book to my brother and me when we were little, and this year, for the first time, I got to share it with my boys.

The six Herdman kids are the meanest kids in town. They terrorize their classmates, wreak havoc in their neighborhood, and even set a fire and then steal the doughnuts that someone brought for the firefighters. They decide to come to church one Sunday (because they've heard that there is free food) and end up taking all of the main parts in the Christmas pageant. They've never heard the Christmas story, and they are shocked that the innkeeper made Mary have a baby in a stable, angry that Herod sent the Three Wise Men to find Jesus so that he could be killed, and frustrated that the Wise Men have brought such impractical presents. They don't sit quietly and listen - they are incensed!

SPOILER PARAGRAPH
In the end, the Herdmans do put their own spin on the Christmas pageant, but they don't ruin it as everything thinks they will. Instead, they make everyone think a bit more about what it must have been like for Joseph and Mary and the others involved in the event. Imogene Herdman, as Mary, burps the baby before putting him in the manger and makes sure the Wise Men keep their distance. The Wise Men trade in their gifts of precious oils, and instead bring a ham from the food basket that the church gave their family. And Gladys Herdman, the littlest one of all, shouts at the shepherds, "Hey, unto you a child is born!"

As I child, I thought this story was funny. I've always remembered the antics of the Herdmans. But as an adult, I see that Robinson has also captured the deeper meaning of Christmas quite nicely through these unlikely voices. Highly recommended for all ages!

Book 89 - Nixon and Mao: The Week that Changed the World - Margaret Macmillan - Finished December 26, 2008

I listened to this as an audio book, so that may have colored my reaction somewhat. I found this book a little slow. Through 13 CDs, Macmillan describes in great detail Nixon's trip to China in February 1972. She also spends some time talking about the historical events leading up to the visit. But I wanted to know more about how Nixon's visit impacted US-China relations after the visit. I wanted to know more about how that week changed the world that we live in today. I'm planning to read more about China in 2009, so hopefully I'll find other books that cover that issue in more detail.

>198 alcottacre:: Stasia, If I figure out a way to control acquiring books from the library, I definitely will let you know. However, my primary chore today is to go to the library and pick up a book I put on hold. Dag nabbit.

I just got back from the library. Despite the stack of books that I got for Christmas, I just "had" to go and pick up a couple of others that I've been wanting to read. But, as my kids say, it's such a good deal!

Alaska and porch reader

Like you, I went to the library. I guess it is a library kind of day.

I have at least 35 books on hold for me at the library at any given time. Sigh.

Hey porch_reader,

If you are not too tired pedaling, you could try the Nixon biography Nixon by Stephen Ambrose. It's a good behind the scenes look at the man and his Presidency. also, I think either All the President's Men or The Final Days, I think the latter, talks a good deal about his hopes and purposes for the trip. None of these are directly on point but they help put the trip in context.

In the same vein, try Shadow which is a terribly enlightening look at how the Watergate crisis affect the presidencies of every following president.

BDB - Thanks for the recommendations! I've read Shadow and loved it, but haven't read the Ambrose biography. I know a bit about Watergate, but really want to learn more about Nixon's other legacies.

OK, I don't think that it is likely that I'm going to finish anything in the next three days. I'm in the middle of Nixonland, but at 750 pages, it's going to end up on the 2009 list (if I'm lucky). So, it seemed like a good time to reflect on the year. Here's a summary by the numbers.

89 books read (26 more than last year!)
68 fiction, 21 non-fiction
46 by authors I've never read before (thanks to lots of good recommendations)

Overall, I'm quite pleased by this - although next year, I'd like to read a little more non-fiction. I'd also like to read several books in a few categories (although nothing as formal as the 999 challenge) - China, social issues (poverty, the environment, education), the brain, Presidents of the US, religion, etc. But of course, it's hard to tell where the year will take me!

I also want to record my best books here on my thread. (I've also posted these on The Best of Books, The Worst of Books.)

Top Five Fiction (in no particular order):
Mudbound - Hillary Jordan
The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Bean Trees - Barbara Kingsolver
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer
The Boat - Nam Le

Top Five Nonfiction (in no particular order):
Brother I'm Dying - Edwidge Danticat
The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw - Bruce Barcott
Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson
The Places in Between - Rory Stewart
Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East - Robin Wright

From The Bookie Awards thread
Best Fiction: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and Mudbound by Hillary Jordan (please, don't make me choose between these two!)

Best Nonfiction: Brother I'm Dying by Edwidge Danticat - Amazing!

Best Short Stories: The Boat by Nam Le - With a story set in Iowa City, how could Le go wrong!

Best Re-Read: Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

How Could It End That Way (fiction): The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

How Could It End That Way (nonfiction): The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw by Bruce Barcott - It wasn't the author's fault - that is just the way real life goes sometimes.

I Loved This Character: Taylor Greer - Heroine of The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

How Nice to See an Old Friend: Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon - For fans of the Mitford series, it's great to have Father Tim back again.

I Felt Like I Should Like It, but I Didn't: The Sea by John Banville

A final list of my 2008 books:

1. Sammy's House - Kristin Gore
2. The Bean Trees - Barbara Kingsolver
3. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox - Maggie O'Farrell
4. Amsterdam - Ian McEwan
5. Pigs in Heaven - Barbara Kingsolver
6. The Missing Class: Portraits of the Near Poor in America - Katherine S. Newman
7. The Sea - John Banville
8. The Emperor's Children - Claire Messud
9. The Namesake - Jhumpa Lahiri
10. The Jewel Trader of Pegu - Jeffrey Hantover
11. How to Write a Lot - Paul J. Silvia
12. The Monsters of Templeton - Lauren Goff
13. Fire in the Blood - Irene Nemirovsky
14. Gentleman of the Road - Michael Chabon
15. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J. K. Rowling
16. Under the Tuscan Sun - Frances Mayes
17. The Places in Between - Rory Stewart
18. Brother I'm Dying - Edwidge Danticat
19. Good Dog. Stay - Anna Quindlen
20. The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw - Bruce Barcott
21. Lost - Gregory Maguire
22. A Common Life - Jan Karon
23. The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde
24. Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
25. The Confessor - David Silva
26. The Wife: A Novel - Meg Wolizer
27. Enduring Love - Ian McEwan
28. Murder at the Vicarage - Agatha Christie
29. Christine Falls - Benjamin Black
30. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
31. Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East - Robin Wright
32. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - Junot Diaz
33. Atonement - Ian McEwan
34. Mudbound - Hillary Jordan
35. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
36. What Now? - Ann Patchett
37. People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks
38. Small Wonder - Barbara Kingsolver
39. A Wind in the Door - Madeleine L'Engle
40. Run - Ann Patchett
41. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J. K. Rowling
42. Track of the Cat - Nevada Barr
43. Founding Mothers - Cokie Roberts
44. Insecure at Last - Eve Ensler
45. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
46. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
47. My Antonia - Willa Cather
48. Hard Eight - Janet Evanovich
49. Interpreter of Maladies - Jhumpa Lahiri
50. Half of a Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
51. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
52. The Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears - Dinaw Mengestu
53. Home to Holly Springs - Jan Karon
54. Twelve Sharp - Janet Evanovich
55. The Search for God at Harvard - Ari Goldman
56. The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett
57. The Kalahari Typing School for Men - Alexander McCall Smith
58. Son of a Witch - Gregory Maguire
59. The Dew Breaker - Edwidge Danticat
60. Rome 1960 - David Maraniss
61. We Were the Mulvaneys - Joyce Carol Oates
62. Apex Hides the Hurt - Colson Whitehead
63. The Little Guide to Your Well-Read Life - Steve Leveen
64. The Outcast - Sadie Jones
65. The Boat - Nam Le
66. This Land is Their Land - Barbara Ehrenreich
67. Gilead - Marilynne Robinson
68. Certain Girls - Jennifer Weiner
69. Bleachers - John Grisham.
70. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson
71. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - Muriel Spark
72. Reading Like a Writer - Francine Prose
73. My Name is Will: A Book of Sex, Drugs and Shakespeare - Jess Winfield
74. Death Comes for the Archbishop - Willa Cather
75. The Brief History of the Dead - Kevin Brockmeier
76. Clemente - David Maraniss
77. The Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett
78, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - David Wroblewski
79. Election - Tom Perrotta
80. Diggiing to America - Anne Tyler
81. A Mercy - Toni Morrison
82. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J. K. Rowling
83. So Brave Young and Handsome - Leif Enger
84. The Clothes They Stood Up In - Alan Bennett
85. The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Brian Selznick
86. Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell
87. Maps for Lost Lovers - Nadeem Aslam
88. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - Barbara Robinson
89. Nixon and Mao: The Week that Changed the World - Margaret Macmillan