Nancy's 2009 85-ish

Discussão75 Books Challenge for 2009

Entre no LibraryThing para poder publicar.

Nancy's 2009 85-ish

Este tópico está presentemente marcado como "inativo" —a última mensagem tem mais de 90 dias. Reative o tópico publicando uma resposta.

1nancyewhite
Editado: Dez 27, 2009, 10:45 am

I read 87 books in 2008 so I've left the 50 Book Challenge (here's 2008's)and hopped over here. I enjoyed the conversation on the 75 Challenge group a lot in 2008 even though I wasn't a formal member.

I'm not going to do the 999 even though I did do 888 last year, but there are some categories on which I'd like to focus.

Books Not Set in the US or England
Classics
History
Memoir/Autobiography/Biography
LT-inspired or recommended
Debut Writers
TBR Pile Reduction




Read as part of 2009 Challenge
December 2009
66. Carpe Demon by Julie Kenner
65. Birnbaum's 2010 Walt Disney World
64. Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby (5 of 5 stars)
63. Hide by Lisa Gardner (3.5 of 5 stars)
62. 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (5 of 5 stars)
61. Mind the Gap by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon (3.5 of 5 stars)
60. The Bottoms by Joe R. Lansdale (3.5 of 5 stars)
59. The Likeness by Tana French (4 of 5 stars)

November 2009
58. The Matisse Stories by A.S. Byatt (4.5 of 5 stars)
57. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks (4.5 of 5 stars)
56. The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood (5 of 5 stars)

October 2009
55. Creepers by David Morrell (3 of 5 stars)
54. An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris (3.5 of 5 stars)
53. The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny (4.5 of 5 stars)

September 2009
52. Perdido Street Station by China Mieville (4.5 of 5 stars)
51. Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris (4 of 5 stars)

August 2009
50. Columbine by Dave Cullen (5 of 5 stars)
49. A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny (4 of 5 stars)
48. Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris (4 of 5 stars)
47. The Complete Walt Disney World by Julie Neal (4 of 5 stars)
46. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson (3.5 of 5 stars)
45. The Unofficial Guide: Walt Disney World by Bob Sehlinger (3 of 5 stars)

July 2009
44. The Strain by Guillermo del Toro (3 of 5 stars)
43. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson (4 of 5 stars)
42. In the Woods by Tana French (3.5 of 5 stars)
41. The Himmler Brothers by Katrin Himmler (3.5 of 5 stars)
40. Closing Time by Joe Queenan (4.5 of 5 stars)
39. Dirty Secrets Club by Meg Gardiner (3.5 of 5 stars)
38. Roadside Crosses by Jeffery Deaver (3 of 5 stars)
37. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill (3 of 5 stars)

June 2009
36. When Skateboards Will Be Free by Said Sayrafiesadeh (4 of 5 stars)
35. The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill (4 of 5 stars)
34. Grave Goods by Ariana Franklin (4.5 of 5 stars)
33. The Believers by Zoe Heller (4.5 of 5 stars)
32. Abraham Lincoln by James McPherson (5 of 5 stars)

May 2009
31. New and Selected Poems: Volume One by Mary Oliver (4 of 5 stars)
30. Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem (4.5 of 5 stars)
29. Foreskin's Lament by Shalom Auslander (4 of 5 stars)
28. My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor (3 of 5 stars)
27. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick (4.5 of 5 stars)
26. The Serpent's Tale by Ariana Franklin (3.5 of 5 stars)

April 2009
25. Farthing by Jo Walton (Abandoned)
24. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (4 of 5 stars)
23. Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon (5 of 5 stars)
22. Just Shy of Harmony by Philip Gulley (3.5 of 5 stars)
21. Jesus: Uncovering the Life, Teachings and Relevance of a Religious Revolutionary by Marcus J. Borg (4.5 of 5 stars)
20. A Year of Reading by Elisabeth Ellington (4 of 5 stars)
19. Down River by John Hart (3.5 of 5 stars)

March 2009
18. Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz (4.5 of 5 stars)
17. Still Life by Louise Penny (4 of 5 stars)
16. The Woods by Harlan Coben (3.5 of 5 stars)

February 2009
15. Havana Blue by Leonardo Padura (3.5 of 5 stars)
14. Another Life by Andrew Vachss (3.5 of 5 stars)
13. Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman (5 of 5 stars)
12. Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami (3.5 of 5 stars)
11. Half of A Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Adichie (4.5 of 5 stars)

January 2009
10. Not Quite What I Was Planning by Larry Smith (4 of 5 stars)
9. The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry (4 of 5 stars)
8. Rotten Reviews by Bill Henderson (4 of 5 stars)
7. Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill (4.5 of 5 stars)
6. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barberry (5 of 5 stars)
5. Pyonyang: A Journey in North Korea by Guy Delisle (3.5 of 5 stars)
4. Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain (2.5 of 5 stars)
3. Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto (4.5 of 5 stars)
2. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (4 of 5 stars)
1. Worried All The Time by David Anderegg (3 of 5 stars)

Abandoned in 2009
2. Out by Natsuo Kirino - Read about 250 pages and skimmed rest including ending
1. Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff Read 100+ pages. Wildly overwrought.

Read but not included in challenge
1. Hungry Girl by Lisa Lillien (2 of 5 stars)
2. Continuous Cables by Melissa Leapman by (3.5 of 5 stars)

2cushlareads
Jan 2, 2009, 1:40 pm

Looking forward to seeing what you're reading!

3Donna828
Jan 2, 2009, 2:08 pm

Hi Nancy, I took the plunge and joined this group as well. I look forward to following your choices this year. I am just going to try to take a few more reading risks this year rather than trying to fulfill different categories. That sounds too much like reading school to me. :-)

4FlossieT
Jan 2, 2009, 4:18 pm

I like "TBR Pile Reduction" - I hope that that category will form a big chunk of my reading this year!

Welcome to the 75ers.

5alcottacre
Jan 2, 2009, 9:37 pm

Glad to see you here, nancy!

We have a thread set up for nonfiction, if you care to take a look. As far as reading books not set in the US or England, I would recommend checking out the threads by rachbxl, akeela, and Carlos for starters.

6nancyewhite
Editado: Jan 5, 2009, 1:00 pm

Hi Everyone!

1. Worried All the Time by David Anderegg
A pretty good look at overparenting and some insightful reassurances about why some of the changes and "overscheduling" make sense in this age of smaller families ie. what used to be the purview of siblings, it is now necessary to get from coaches, group leaders etc. It didn't really address my specific worries, but should prove useful as my son moves into suburban American childhood.

Why I read it: The title caught my eye as I wandered around my public library. I think we definitely have an unnecessarily overly anxious group of parents running around and wanted help in avoiding some of that for our family.

2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson - Sweden
A well-written and engaging murder mystery. The Salander character called to mind Barbara Saranella's early Munch Mancini or Carol O'Connell's Kathleen Mallory in that sociopath doing good kind of way.

Why I read it: I knew from the (stellar) reviews that I would like the tough female character and the "locked island" mystery. It helped that it is neither British nor American but is in a genre with which I am very familiar as I try to branch out geographically in my reading.

7Whisper1
Jan 5, 2009, 1:08 pm

Welcome back..nice to see you here

8alcottacre
Jan 6, 2009, 2:02 am

#6 nancy: I loved The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo! It made my list of memorable books of 2008. If you are interested, the 2nd book in the series, The Girl who Played with Fire is coming out in July in the States. It is already out in the UK.

9nancyewhite
Jan 6, 2009, 11:21 am

Abandoned 1 - The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff
I really wanted to like this and there are moments where the writing shined, but ultimately they were outweighed by how much I didn't like the main character or the secondary characters. It felt like chick lit trying to pass as high falutin' in a fur coat, and I wasn't enjoying it but decided to pursue it a little further. When she turned out to have been the prom queen and the guy trying to tow her car happened to have been her prom king, I was finished.

Why I read it: I'm participating in the Orange January Group Read and this was one of the New Writer prize nominees.

10alcottacre
Jan 6, 2009, 12:38 pm

I read The Monsters of Templeton and though I finished it, I am amazed that it is up for any kind of award! No way did I think it was that good.

But then again, most of the prize committees and I do not see eye to eye anyway. Most of my attempts to read Booker Prize winners have gone for naught.

11Donna828
Jan 6, 2009, 7:48 pm

>9 nancyewhite: & 10 I remember intensely disliking the mother in this book for keeping the identity of her daughter's father secret. I thought the author tried way too hard to be clever here and the book was just too "over the top." I think you did the smart thing, Nancy, not to waste too much time on this one.

12nancyewhite
Editado: Jan 9, 2009, 12:36 pm

3. Kitchen / Moonlight Shadow by Banana Yoshimoto - Japan
A short novel and a story both of which are gentle tales of death, being alone and connectedness. She explores both the grief at the death of loved ones and living with the awareness of our upcoming death. It seems like an oxymoron to say that these are gentle stories, but somehow they are. I enjoyed both of them very much.

Why I read it: For the Japan Group Read on the Reading Globally thread. I selected this one based largely on the cover picture which I adored and because I wanted to read something besides Harukami for the challenge.

13nancyewhite
Jan 9, 2009, 11:40 am

4. Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain
As Stephen King says, the books in this series shouldn't work, but somehow they do. A violent look at a female serial killer and her only living victim who also happens to be the police officer that caught her. There is a subplot about a corrupt senator and his lackeys and the journalist who smells the story. This thriller is not for the cozy reader. It is very dark and adult. I hope that this is only a trilogy. I think if it goes on into a full-blown series, it will go the way of Scarpetta for me.

Why I read it: My partner was in the hospital for a few days and I needed something that would hold my attention, but not require actual brainpower. I'd read the first in the series.

14alcottacre
Jan 9, 2009, 4:39 pm

Sounds like some very good recent reads. I will look for them. Thanks for the reviews and the recommendations.

BTW - I hope your partner is doing better now!

15nancyewhite
Editado: Jan 13, 2009, 7:53 pm

Thanks, alcottacre. She is much improved.

5. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
This book blew me away. A curmudgeonly autodidact and a bright but nihilistic little girl live in the same building. One is wealthy the other is the concierge to the building's residents. They document their thoughts and observations many of which are funny and bitter. A new resident comes to live in the building and SEES them which, of course, changes everything. Just beautiful and surprising and very, very satisfying. Highly recommended.

16nancyewhite
Jan 16, 2009, 10:54 pm

6. Pyongyang by Guy Delisle
A graphic novel depicting his time working as an animator in North Korea. Very much a travelogue that provides insight into being a foreigner in a place that dreads exposure. There is little insight into the lives of actual North Koreans in large part because there is grave danger in showing anything that may be perceived as disloyal to the government.

Why I read it: I'm interested in North Korea. This was recommended by someone on LT.

17nancyewhite
Jan 24, 2009, 5:54 am

7. Rotten Reviews by Bill Henderson
A fun little compendium of terrible reviews given to works from the canon. Very funny and comforting little book.

Why I read it: I saw it on the shelf at the library and hoped it would be amusing.

18alcottacre
Jan 24, 2009, 6:07 am

#17: It does sound amusing, nancy. Thanks for the mention - I will look for it!

19FlossieT
Jan 24, 2009, 5:16 pm

>17 nancyewhite:: this sounds great fun and a nice antidote to some of the logrolling that goes on in contemporary book-reviewing... makes me think of those famous quotes from school reports of people who went on to be actors.

20Whisper1
Jan 24, 2009, 5:34 pm

Message 15

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. I liked your description of this one and thus have added it to my pile.

And, I sincerely hope your partner is improving.

21nancyewhite
Jan 26, 2009, 2:40 pm

Hi Whisper. Luckily for us, she is completely well again. It was the first real health scare for either of us and really caused me to take stock. Thank you so much for asking.

If fiction about class-related issues resonates for you, I think you'll enjoy The Elegance of the Hedgehog.

22nancyewhite
Jan 26, 2009, 3:06 pm

8. Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill
I really enjoyed this very lyrically descriptive novel about a little girl growing up poor and neglected on the streets of Vancouver. For me, the author really captured how street kids are required to invent childhood for themselves while living with none of the amenities to which many of us have very easy access including things like showers, affection, food, clothes that fit etc. I thought the main character, Baby, behaved heroically through most of the book. O'Neill captures the details of that kind of childhood very, very well. For example, she paints a scene where Baby is forced to hug the frightening mother of a friend but ends up loving the hug because the woman is soft and smells good and there is nothing else in her life like that. That sort of longing is shown without overtness in this book.

Why I read it: It is an Orange-prize nominee so I read it for the Girlybooks group read. It really appealed to me when I read its description.

23tarendz
Jan 26, 2009, 3:44 pm

Hey Nancy!
If you plan to branch out geographically, you should really read Smilla's Sense of Snow by Peter Høeg. It is a kind of atypical thriller set in Denmark and Greenland and tells a lot about the history and traditions of Greenland. Though I have to admit that the final part does pull all Hollywood cliches out of the cupboard, the first part makes the book worth reading all on its own!

24girlunderglass
Jan 26, 2009, 4:18 pm

hmm I'm not sure, part of me wants to agree with tarendz, and part of me doesn't I read Smilla this year, just about two weeks or so ago - if I've only confused you more than ever maybe take a look at my review of it here to see what I mean...

25Whisper1
Jan 26, 2009, 8:40 pm

Message 22
I'm ever so glad that your partner is well. I imagine it was scary and yes, these things do make us take stock..count our blessings and prepare for the future.

I'm delighted that you read Lullabies for Little Criminals Coincidentally, I finished this book in December while I was in the hospital. I originally found this on Torontoc's list and added it to my to be read pile. It was/is a book that haunted me.

Good Wishes to you and your partner for continued good health.

Linda

26nancyewhite
Editado: Jan 31, 2009, 10:36 am

Hi everyone,

G-U-G and tarendz - I read Smila a few years ago. I remember liking it and finding it moody, but not the details.

Linda - I was truly moved by Lullabies for Little Criminals. As a person who grew up close to the streets but with better parents than Baby, I felt that she really got the details and the feelings that accompany that childhood.

9. The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
Another very lyrical book. Just beautifully written look at the lives of a very elderly resident of a mental institution and her doctor. Included a lot of Irish history that I had to look up on Wikipedia. The ending didn't fit the story and while it ties up the book neatly, the story was worthy of more than that.

Why I read it: I saw it on a lot of year-end Best Of lists and the summaries made it appealing to me.

27nancyewhite
Fev 2, 2009, 10:27 am

Abandoned 2 - Out by Natsuo Kirino
This tale of working class women who help a friend by disposing of her husband's body after she killed him was just too bleak for me right now. It was well written, but literally nothing good happened to anyone. I read about 250 pages and skimmed the rest including the ending. Good enough for me on this one.

28nancyewhite
Fev 2, 2009, 10:31 am

10. Not Quite What I was Planning edited by Larry Smith
This compilation of six-word memoirs was funny, sad, witty and insightful by turns. Amazing how much about life you can convey with six little words.

Why I read it: It was well-loved around LT and the concept appealed to me.

29Whisper1
Fev 2, 2009, 10:37 am

Hi Nancy
right you are....six little words can convey a lot.

30alcottacre
Fev 3, 2009, 12:54 am

#28: He did a pretty good job conveying the title of his book in 6 words. On to the Continent it goes!

31nancyewhite
Fev 6, 2009, 8:46 pm

11. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Adichie
This novel describing of the lives of two sisters and the people who surround them as they try to survive the Biafran War is a knockout. It really manages to convey the horror and devastation of war -even one that is "justified" - without becoming preachy. Unlike Barbara Kingsolver in The Poisonwood Bible, Adichie shoulders the Herculean task of having an agenda and still managing to write a book that is primarily concerned with the lives of the people involved. Highly recommended.

Why I read it: I liked her debut Purple Hibiscus and wanted to read this one which was even more highly regarded around here. February's group read on the Reading Globally group is Africa.

32nancyewhite
Fev 15, 2009, 10:16 am

12. Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami
A novel filled with unrequited love and the mystery of inexplicable occurences. This book is gorgeously written, but somehow not very compelling. I kept not wanting to pick it back up after I'd lay it down. The characters don't feel quite real. Although when I got to the experience that Miu had in Switzerland, I was interested in understanding more about that. This is my second Murakami, I love After Dark and feel ambivalent about this one. I'll read more though as he can really write beautifully.

Why I read it: I loved After Dark and was interested in another Murakami. This one was on the library's shelf when I went looking.

33nancyewhite
Fev 18, 2009, 2:08 pm

13. Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman
Just delightful. An exploration of the ways in which we who love books are a tribe unto ourselves. Explores the mixing of libraries, reading onsite where books are set, messages in flyleafs and, my favorite, compulsive proofreading as well as other book and reading related topics. If you haven't, read this.

Why I read it: Nearly biblical reverence here at LT. I thought it was about time.

34alcottacre
Editado: Fev 18, 2009, 2:37 pm

#33: I am one of the nearly Biblically reverent people. I am glad you enjoyed it!

ETA: Fadiman has another book of essays out, At Small and At Large, in case you are interested. I did not like it as well as Ex Libris, but it is still worth the read.

35nancyewhite
Fev 22, 2009, 11:27 am

Hi alcottacre - I have At Small and At Large around here somewhere! I heard a review of it on NPR and actually bought it. Then I never got around to it and somehow ended up reading Ex Libris first.

14. Another Life by Andrew Vachss
Burke is called upon to use his gift to rescue one last child. This one sets his family free. There was a lot of political observation and the plot was sort of hard to follow. Nonetheless, if you follow the series, you won't want to miss this one. It is bittersweet to think of no more Burke novels, but I think it is probably time.

Why I read it: I read all of them. I love to catch up on Burke's family, and I love the vicarious thrill when child predators get what they deserve.

36alcottacre
Fev 22, 2009, 11:32 pm

#35: Ex Libris was written first, but I do not think in this case that one book had any bearing on the other. I hope you can find your copy of At Large and At Small some time. Have Jack help you hunt for it - kids always know where everything is, lol.

I have never heard of Andrew Vachss, but that looks like a series I would enjoy. I will have to look for it. Thanks for the mention.

37nancyewhite
Fev 25, 2009, 1:52 pm

Hi alcottacre - the Burke series is very dark and sometimes graphic. It is also passionate and well-written. But I wanted to be clear that it wasn't for the faint of heart on the mystery front.

15. Havana Blue by Leonardo Padura
A Cuban mystery about a policeman's high school acquaintance who goes missing and the investigation into his whereabouts. Introduces us to the detective, his friends and coworkers and his high school crush. This is the first book I've written by a Cuban who is still living in Cuba and the details about life there were fantastic. The translation feels a little clunky occasionally. There were times where I could feel the words wanting to sing but being held back by translation issues. Definitely worth your time if you like mysteries set in non-American places. Particularly interesting to compare the voluptuous language with the spareness of the Icelandic and Swedish mysteries I've read recently.

Why I read it: I have an ongoing fascination with Cuba that stems from my mother having visited shortly before the revolution. She was a young and naive tourist and has no insight into Cuba then or now. The fact of her visit is just what tripped the switch of my interest.

38alcottacre
Fev 26, 2009, 4:27 am

#37: Thanks for the heads up, Nancy. I will give the first one a try and if I do not care for it, I do not have to finish it or any of the others.

39nancyewhite
Mar 9, 2009, 1:45 pm

16. The Woods by Harlan Coben
My first Kindle book! I really enjoyed this tight thriller about the violent deaths at a summer camp that return to haunt the survivors many years later. Twisty plot developments abound, but the writing is tight enough that I found myself just hanging on for the ride.

Why I read it: I wanted something 'easy' yet engrossing for my first Kindle read so that I could discern if the device disappeared while reading. It did. And I can read while I exercise now which I could never do with a non-virtual book.

40nancyewhite
Editado: Abr 14, 2009, 11:03 am

17. Still Life by Louise Penny
A good semi-cozy set in a small town near Montreal. The cast of characters was intriguing and the head detective emphasized the empathetic investigation rather than forensic which was refreshing. There were plenty of 'smile out loud' witticisms and better than average literary references. I'll be continuing this series.

Why I read it: I love well-written mysteries. This was recommended by LT member jnwelch.

Edited to try to correct touchstones and for grammar...

41nancyewhite
Mar 25, 2009, 11:38 am

18. Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz
A travel narrative and exploration of the ongoing impacts of the Civil War on southern culture. The book was entertaining and insightful. While I still don't totally "get" the folks who hate Yanks and glorify the Confederates, I have a little better understanding of their perspective.

Why I read it: I knew it was very good from general word of mouth. I finally picked it up at Taylor's Books and Music (my favorite bookstore ever) in Charleston WV the last time I visited. I like to buy something from their regional section each time I'm there.

42Whisper1
Mar 25, 2009, 11:42 am

Carolyn (MusicMom) also recently read Still Life and I've added it to my tbr pile. I hope to read this one soon.

I agree with your comments regarding not understanding the concept of folks who hate yanks and glorify the confederates... Yikes, this mindset goes on still these many years. But, then again, I don't understand or relate to nastiness on any level.

I have added the book to my to be read pile.

43alcottacre
Mar 25, 2009, 11:40 pm

#41: I loved Confederates in the Attic when I read it a few years ago. Tony Horwitz is one of my favorite writers - I think I have read all of his books to this point, but my favorite remains Blue Latitudes.

44nancyewhite
Abr 6, 2009, 10:48 am

I will add Blue Latitudes. I had already added his most recent, but perhaps I'll work from start to finish instead!

19. Down River by John Hart
I enjoyed but did not love this recent Edgar winner. It was the very southern and melodramatic story of a prodigal son who returns home several years after being acquitted of a murder on his father's farm. Bodies begin to pile up and so do emotional interactions. Well-written, but over the top.

Why I read it: Probably because it won the Edgar. I like well-written crime novels.

45alcottacre
Abr 6, 2009, 10:52 am

#44: I am forever indebted to Horwitz if for no other reason that he mentioned his wife so much in the first book of his that I read, that I started tracking down her books as well!

I read Down River last year, and agree, it is a bit over the top. I enjoyed it more than you did, though, from the sounds of it.

46nancyewhite
Abr 6, 2009, 1:13 pm

Alcottacre - I did like it. I just thought of all the long ago scandals etc that reside in the distance of family-members or friends and how few of them had such dramatic outcomes...

The BBC apparently believes most people will have only read 6 of the 100 books here:

How do your reading habits stack up? bold those books you've read in their entirety, italicize the ones you started but didn't finish. I will also place asterisks next to those I own but haven't begun.

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveller’s Wife*** - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch*** - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited*** - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion*** - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
37 The Kite Runner*** - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy.
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi*** - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility*** - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth.
56 The Shadow of the Wind*** - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones*** - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula*** - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession*** - AS Byatt.
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day*** - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

47nancyewhite
Editado: Abr 8, 2009, 8:37 am

20. A Year of Reading by Elisabeth Ellington
This has been on my wishlist for over a year so I was delighted when I found it on the shelf at Goodwill yesterday. So delighted in fact that I went home and spent the evening reading it. It broke down each month into a theme (eg. Women's History, Cold, Gardening, etc.) and then selected books in the following categories for each theme: Crowd Pleaser, Classic, Memoir, Challenge and Potluck. Each selection was followed with some information related to the book and author as well as questions. The book can be used for either individual or group reading. It was friendly without being patronizing in tone. I really liked this and intend to use it to enhance my reading.

Why I read it: I just couldn't resist. I was just going to glance at a few pages and ended up reading the whole darn thing instead.

48nancyewhite
Abr 13, 2009, 9:54 am

21. Jesus: Uncovering the Life, Teachings, and Relevance of a Religious Revolutionary by Marcus J. Borg
I really enjoyed this look at the historical Jesus. I came to understand the liberal theological perspective on the pre- and post- Easter version of Jesus. Reading Borg helps me find my way to believing in a manner that doesn't ignore my doubts about the "factual" reality of certain Biblical events.

Why I read it: I've liked other books and articles I've read about Borg in the past. I began it in October with the idea that I'd finish for Christmas. Instead I wrapped it up Easter evening.

49alcottacre
Abr 13, 2009, 10:08 am

Sounds like a very appropriate book for the season, Nancy. I hope you, your partner and Jack all had a wonderful Easter!

50nancyewhite
Abr 13, 2009, 8:03 pm

Thanks alcottacre. We sure did! Hope you and your family did as well...

22. Just Shy of Harmony by Philip Gulley
The second in the Harmony series is a little darker than one might expect when Sam the Quaker pastor loses his faith. Still a fast and charming read, but I'd certainly recommend reading the first one first.

Why I read it: Second in a series by one of the authors of If Grace is True which I loved, loved, loved. Seemed appropriate for Easter.

51alcottacre
Abr 14, 2009, 3:11 am

#50: Another series for me to be on the lookout for! I have read at least one of Gulley's other books, but not any in this series, but I will definitely try and find them. Thanks for the recommendation.

52Cauterize
Abr 14, 2009, 3:34 am

Interesting bunch of books you've read this year. I also read Sweetheart this year, and later read Heartsick and enjoyed both. Your comments about Still Life have got me to add it to my TBR.

53nancyewhite
Abr 18, 2009, 9:40 am

Hi Cauterize and Alcottacre - I love the Gulley books--the are warmly religious without any holier than thou qualities or saccharine sweetness. Still Life is popular around LT - I think you'll enjoy it if you like cozy mysteries.

23. Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon.
I'm caught up in the Leon epidemic that's broken out on LT thanks in large part to Joycepa. What's left to say except I can't believe it's taken me this long to read the first wonderful book in this series. Highly recommended.

Why I read it: Joycepa. I'm a well-written mystery lover.

54nancyewhite
Editado: Abr 20, 2009, 11:37 am

24. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
A morbid start left me thinking I might not like this dark YA story. However, the tale of a little boy being raised by the long dead residents of a defunct graveyard is filled with wit, intelligence, imagination and love. Truly a delight.

Why I read it: I like Gaiman's American Gods and this has been generating a lot of heat on LT. It was sitting on the shelf of the library's New Book section so I thought it was destiny!

Edited for a missing letter.

55Whisper1
Abr 20, 2009, 11:33 am

Hi
I hope to read The Graveyard Book by month's end. Right now I'm reading The Reader and have to finish it by tomorrow night....

Thanks for your comments./

56nancyewhite
Abr 30, 2009, 1:39 pm

25. Farthing by Jo Walton
I gave up on this about 100 pages into it and just skimmed the rest. Since that consumed 8 days of thinking I 'should' read it but actually putting it down, I'm counting it. I liked the premise with an alternate history in which Great Britain had made peace with Hitler's Germany, but I didn't like the voice of one of the two alternating narrators and it was in the end, the wrong book at the wrong time.

Why I read it: The alternate history premise was intriguing.

57alcottacre
Maio 1, 2009, 12:25 am

#56: I am seriously hoping I like that one better than you did since I bought it already.

Congratulations on making it to 25 books!

58TadAD
Maio 1, 2009, 6:52 pm

>56 nancyewhite:: Oh, too bad! I enjoyed it and have the sequel on order.

59nancyewhite
Maio 1, 2009, 7:05 pm

I really think at a different time I would have liked it much more. It just didn't work for me right now. I couldn't lose myself in it.

60nancyewhite
Maio 10, 2009, 8:40 am

The Serpent's Tale by Ariana Franklin
I liked this but found it dragging in the middle a little bit. I like the characters and historical details regarding daily life (eg. chewing up food and then giving it to the baby to eat). I missed some of the focus on medicine that the first in the series had and thought some of it felt a little 'modern' in thinking although Franklin includes an Author's Note that explains where and why she fictionalized historical figures and thinking. There was some thought-provoking exploration of the ways in which medieval women were dehumanized and abused.

Why I read it: I liked the first one. I read this one to get to the third which JoycePA raved about in a very compelling manner!

61alcottacre
Maio 10, 2009, 8:43 am

#60: I am eventually going to get to Franklin's books. I own the first one (it is here somewhere, I just know it is!), but I would really like to have the other 2 accessible as well. One of these centuries . . .

62loriephillips
Maio 10, 2009, 10:26 am

I liked the first book In Ariana Franklin's medieval mystery series as well. I plan to read the other two in the series soon. I agree that some of it seemed a little too modern. Thanks for the review.

63Cauterize
Maio 10, 2009, 8:24 pm

#60: I also liked the first Ariana Franklin book, but felt the second was more of a drag. The third is supposed to be awesome? Hmmm... I was going to give up on the series, but I am now rethinking that idea.

64nancyewhite
Maio 10, 2009, 10:00 pm

I am posting a link to Joycepa's review HERE. If this doesn't make you want to read the third then you probably aren't interested in this book. Otherwise, I'm sure you'll be as compelled as I am.

65Whisper1
Maio 10, 2009, 10:17 pm

I've added this book to my tbr pile. Thanks for your comments!

66loriephillips
Maio 11, 2009, 3:14 pm

#64 Thanks for the link.

I guess I'll slog thru the second in the series and look forward to the third.

67nancyewhite
Maio 13, 2009, 8:14 pm

27. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
A tale of loneliness, cold winters, dark secrets raging under austere exteriors, sexual obsession and whether the possibility of redemption exists. This book takes off running and gallops for quite a while until it settles down to explore the relationship between a wealthy manufacturer, his younger mail order bride and his estranged adult son. It is dark and there is a lot of sex, but I thought both were done with purpose. I liked it a lot.

Why I read it: I read a good review in the New York Times or Entertainment Weekly or maybe both.

68nancyewhite
Maio 16, 2009, 7:37 pm

28. My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor
A neuroscientist walks the reader through her experience of having and recovering from a stroke at age 37. Very chatty with a lot of exclamation points! I liked the parts where she described her physiological, cognitive and emotional reactions during and after her stroke. I was a little less taken with her very New Age-y love for her right brain.

Why I read it: Taylor was the guest on Fresh Air with Terry Gross on NPR on Friday and the book was on the shelf at the library when I stopped by.

69alcottacre
Maio 17, 2009, 3:20 am

#68: I need to check into getting that book. Perhaps it will help me better understand what my father is going through right now.

70nancyewhite
Maio 17, 2009, 10:02 am

I do think it provides insight into the experience of a stroke survivor. She also discusses and provides a checklist of what she found helpful for healing as well as what absolutely didn't help. A down and dirty summary is sleep followed by effort followed by more sleep.

71alcottacre
Maio 18, 2009, 1:53 am

Thanks for the additional info, Nancy. I have already checked and my local library does have the book, so I am picking it up my next trip.

72nancyewhite
Maio 21, 2009, 9:25 pm

29. Foreskin's Lament by Shalom Auslander
A memoir of growing up Orthodox. Shalom's family was abusive as well as religious leaving him with a very problematic relationship with God. The narrative is primarily set in his childhood with glimpses into his marriage and impending fatherhood. Some of the reviews criticize this book for its anger, but I think sometimes anger is appropriate--not every look at troubled childhoods could or should end with forgiveness or even understanding. Oh, and it's really funny.

Why I read it: I like memoir, particularly when there is a religious or spiritual component.

73Whisper1
Maio 21, 2009, 9:31 pm

I very much agree with your comment "not every look at troubled childhhoods could or should end with forgiveness or even understanding"

It seems to me that in some instances anger is very justified and to hear people say that you MUST forgive, only leads one to be more frustrated and feeling once again like there must be something wrong with you if you cannot forgive...

I've added Foreskin's Lament to my tbr pile.

74nancyewhite
Maio 31, 2009, 7:23 pm

</i>30 alcottacre:. Motherless Brooklyn by Jonatham Lethem A study of character and place in the clothing of a mystery. Lionel Essrog has Tourette's and lives his life as a "freakshow" in the gang of a small time hood who he looks up to like a father. When his boss/mentor is killed, Lionel sets off to solve the murder. Whodunit is less important and less emotionally resonant than the story of Lionel and coming to know him. I loved this.

Why I read it: A friend of mine liked it. I believe I read good things about it somewhere on LT as well.

75alcottacre
Jun 1, 2009, 2:10 am

#74: I have that one somewhere around my house! I need to get to it soon.

76nancyewhite
Jun 2, 2009, 9:33 am

One of the things I didn't point out in my comments on Motherless Brooklyn is the way that Lethem brings Brooklyn to life. It really plays the role of another character in the novel. I hope you enjoy it when you read it!

31. New and Selected Poems: Volume One by Mary Oliver
I'm not a poetry reader--as evidenced by the fact that I started this in March. Oliver is well-loved and snippets of her poetry are often used as readings in our church, so I thought I'd give her a try for Poetry Month. I really enjoyed these poems that connect the natural to the spiritual world. Sometimes I found myself speed reading without the focus required to connect, but mostly I worked hard to take my time and really got a lot from this collection.

77alcottacre
Jun 2, 2009, 11:37 pm

#76: I am not a big poetry reader, either, although I do try. Maybe I will give that one a go.

78FlossieT
Jun 6, 2009, 2:13 pm

>74 nancyewhite:, I've never read any Lethem - yet - but someone else on here read As She Climbed Across the Table recently and gave it a good review, so am resolved to try. Eventually.

79nancyewhite
Editado: Jun 7, 2009, 12:18 pm

Stasia - Many of Oliver's poems were truly lovely - they aren't too long either which helped me as a non-poetry reader. I liked the more recent better than the older and hope to read one of her newer books rather than an anthology one of these days.

Flossie - I have to say, I didn't have high hopes really, but I loved Motherless Brooklyn. Lethem took characters that could easily have been caricatures (petty mobsters) and made them come alive.

32. Abraham Lincoln by James McPherson
A concise (65 pages), readable and well written biography of Lincoln. It hits the highlights of his life, presidency and legacy. I realize I should read a more detailed exploration one of these days, but this refreshed my memory and makes me feel a little more literate about President Lincoln.

Why I read it: I must admit when I saw it on the library New Books shelf, I was attracted by its size and convinced by the blurbs.

80nancyewhite
Editado: Jun 12, 2009, 1:20 pm

33. The Believers by Zoe Heller
I really enjoyed this look at the family of a radical Jewish lawyer as they deal with his stroke. Some folks found the characters unsympathetic or even hateful, but I found them to be damaged human beings groping around in the dark. There is a moment when the matriarch realizes that the rage, cynicism and bitter language that was 'cute' and precocious when she used it to hide that she was a shy and naive young woman amongst New York sophisticates has become her actual personality and that she has no idea how to shed herself of it. It felt real to me as did many other moments in the book as the characters attempted to find religion, lose drugs and connect to others. Not necessarily pretty, but definitely real.

Why I read it: I was intrigued by the reviews and found it on the New Books shelf at the library.

Edited to add: LET'S GO PENS! Game 7 is tonight!!!

81Whisper1
Jun 12, 2009, 2:31 pm

I'm adding both of your recent reads. I always enjoy your writing and descriptions of what you read!

Thanks!

82nancyewhite
Jun 20, 2009, 3:54 pm

Awww, thanks, Whisper.

34. Grave Goods by Ariana Franklin
Third in the Mistress of the Art of Death series. In this one Adelia is sent by King Henry Pantigenet to determine if some bones unearthed in Glastonbury are those of Arthur and Guinivere. This book rocked and rolled. The series has really grown on me and this is the best of them so far.

Why I read it: JoycePA strongly recommended it. Who am I to resist?

83alcottacre
Jun 20, 2009, 11:35 pm

#82: The best of them so far! I must get to it soon.

My personal opinion is that no one can resist Joyce, lol.

84nancyewhite
Jun 22, 2009, 7:19 pm

35. The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill 4 stars
A fairly spooky, very short gothic that is quite well-written and engaging. Is the painting on Oliver's teacher's wall sinister or just unpleasant? There isn't much more I can say without giving away too much since it was so short. Another book that I quite enjoyed. I'm on a roll of good ones that I hope continues for the rest of the summer.

Why I read it: Honestly, I wanted something both short, simple and diverting. It served all purposes very well.

85Whisper1
Jun 22, 2009, 8:54 pm

I read The Man in the Picture last year. I agree with you. It was quite enjoyable...and creative.

I hope your summer continues to be a good one!

86alcottacre
Jun 22, 2009, 11:52 pm

#84: Have you read any of Hill's other books? One of the books I am currently reading, Writer's Choice, mentions a couple of others of hers, The Bird of Night and Strange Meeting. I was just curious to see if you had read them.

87nancyewhite
Jul 1, 2009, 11:01 am

#86: I haven't read those, but I've just begun The Woman in Black -- another ghost story. I'd also like to try her mystery series one of these days.

36. When Skateboards Will Be Free by Said Sayrafiesadeh - 4 Stars
A memoir of growing up with parents who are very dedicated members of the Communist Party at the expense of being good parents. Said's life is dominated by the literal absence of his father who left when he was a baby and the domination of The Party's ideology over his mother's life. It also documents being an Iranian child during the hostage crisis. Sayrafiesadeh writes in a matter of fact tone that I found very compelling and much of the pain lies just beneath the surface which I appreciate much more than the wallowing typical of some current memoirs.

Why I read it: Sayrafiezadeh grew up in Pittsburgh where I grew up and continue to live. The seemingly deluded yet intense comrades were always handing out leaflets and newsletters at events when I was a lefty political activist, and I was curious to know more about their lives.

88alcottacre
Jul 4, 2009, 4:24 am

#87: Looks like another good book you have been reading. I will add it to Planet TBR. Thanks for the recommendation, Nancy.

89nancyewhite
Jul 7, 2009, 10:16 am

Stasia - I really liked this one and thought it was unique among the current spate of memoirs.

37. I'm on vacation and brought easily 2000 books. So far, I've read 1. It was The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. I enjoyed it. It was a good gothic ghost story. I may have read it too soon after The Man in the Picture though as they were thematically quite similar.

Why I read it: I enjoyed The Man in the Picture and this one was supposed to be even better.

90nancyewhite
Jul 13, 2009, 2:01 pm

38. Roadside Crosses by Jeffery Deaver and 39. The Dirty Secrets Club by Meg Gardiner
Two vacation thrillers. Of the two, I preferred the Gardiner which read like a movie in a good way. I like the main character of the Deaver, but the whole book felt technophobic in a way that was a little overstated to me.

Why I read it: Some easy travel reading.

91alcottacre
Jul 14, 2009, 12:10 am

I had The Dirty Secrets Club home from the library but had to return it before I got a chance to read it. Looks like I need to get it back.

92nancyewhite
Jul 14, 2009, 9:57 am

>>90 nancyewhite: & 91 I neglected to say that I selected the Gardiner in the first place because of a recommendation from Blackdogbooks. I think he wrote a real review too if you're interested.

93nancyewhite
Jul 14, 2009, 6:25 pm

40. Closing Time by Joe Queenan
This memoir is the only thing of substance I read on vacation, but it was a doozy. Queenan who once made me laugh obnoxiously loud while reading Red Lobster, White Trash and the Blue Lagoon in an airport lounge waiting for a delayed plane here takes on his own painful childhood. Raised poor in Philadelphia by an abusive alcoholic father and only moderately interested mother, he examines how the Catholic church rescued his family, the pseudo-fathers he used to craft a picture of manhood upon which he could model himself, and the role education played in his eventual escape. Queenan's unflinching and often funny exploration of his life is well worth the read. Highly recommended.

94FlossieT
Jul 16, 2009, 7:35 pm

Joe Queenan used to write a regular cinema column that I found absolutely hysterical, but I wasn't sure I could take the content of his memoir, to be honest - sounds like it is not all as black as it's painted..?

95Whisper1
Jul 19, 2009, 11:50 pm

Hi. Thanks for posting your comments regarding The Woman in Black. They prompted me to read this book.

96nancyewhite
Jul 21, 2009, 11:38 am

>>>94 FlossieT:. Hmmm. I think it depends on your own life experience how 'black' you find Queenan's book. It is not upbeat but it isn't hopeless either. He is not empathetic nor forgiving toward his father at all.

>>>95 Whisper1:. I'm glad you read the book. Did you enjoy it?

41. The Himmler Brothers by Katrin Himmler
Ms. Himmler is the great niece of Heinrich and Gebhard and the granddaughter of Ernst Himmler. She retraces their Nazi history and discusses how it feels to learn these things about her family history. Most interestingly, she discusses the family mythology that created retrospective distance between Heinrich and his family members that did not, in fact, exist. The best news of all is that she is happily partnered with an Israeli Jew and they have a child together. Hopefully this news has reached her ancestors as they burn in Hell. There are some translation issues that result in challenges following the chronology but certainly this honest examination of a woman coming to terms with her family's Nazi history is worth reading.

Why I read it: Recommended by clfisha and petermc. I was quite curious how it would feel to be the descendent of a Nazi war criminal.

97Whisper1
Jul 21, 2009, 12:17 pm

This book has been on my tbr pile for awhile. Thanks for your review. It does sound like a fascinating book.

98avatiakh
Jul 22, 2009, 2:12 am

I'm also keen to read it eventually.

99nancyewhite
Jul 23, 2009, 9:17 am

>>>97 Whisper1: & 98 It is fascinating. I had to Interlibrary Loan it from Texas, and it definitely was worth it

42. In the Woods by Tana French
Hmmm. This didn't enthrall me, but it was very well written. The narrator survived a childhood attack in which two of his friends disappeared and of which he has no memory. He is now a policeman and a little girl is murdered in the same woods as his friends. He and his partner investigate. I liked his partner much better than I liked the narrator himself. The next book focuses on her so I'm probably going to read it.

Why I read it: A much-hyped mystery often gets my attention.

100nancyewhite
Jul 23, 2009, 9:20 am

43. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
This YA book knocked my socks off. I read it in 2 hours and couldn't put it down. Jenna Fox wakes up from a coma after a car accident with almost no memory. Slowly things begin to come back to her and she learns new things about how she survived. Questions about what makes a person human abound in this thought-provoking book.

Why I read it: Whisper1 recommended it!

101Whisper1
Jul 23, 2009, 9:36 am

The Adoration of Jenna Fox is one of my top reads for 2009. It is a book that I continue to tell people they MUST read. As you said, it is a hard book to put down.

Thanks for trusting my recommendation...makes me feel good!

I hope you are having a great summer.

102loriephillips
Jul 24, 2009, 8:20 am

Ok, I'm adding The Adoration of Jenna Fox to the wishlist. Thanks for the reccomendation!

103nancyewhite
Jul 29, 2009, 9:00 am

44. The Strain by Guillermo del Toro
Exciting and action-packed, but the writing was pedestrian. It still was refreshing to read about old-school vampires that neither emote nor sparkle.

Why I read it: There were comparisons to Stephen King. They are false.

104alcottacre
Jul 29, 2009, 5:22 pm

I hope you like your next book better, Nancy!

105nancyewhite
Ago 14, 2009, 10:00 am

I am in a reading funk. Not sure why. I keep picking things up and reading about 100 pages then putting them down again. Grrrr.

I did read the following from cover to cover though so given the circumstances I'm counting it.

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World by Bob Sehlinger
A good but snarky guide to visiting Disney. This focuses on maximizing park tours to avoid lines.

Why I read it: Thinking of a trip in Jan/Feb.

106alcottacre
Ago 14, 2009, 10:06 am

I absolutely hate reading funks! I hope yours abates quickly, Nancy.

107Whisper1
Ago 14, 2009, 10:46 am

Jan/Feb. is a good time to go to Disneyworld...
I've been there in March and the lines were not long at all.

In May, the heat and humidty is a problem, especially if you have breathing problems. The latest times we went we booked through Boscov's Travel agency and got great deals on packages which included airfare, hotel accommodations and hopper passes for six days.

108dk_phoenix
Ago 15, 2009, 9:21 am

Nancy, hope you get over your reading funk soon! I seem to be in a bit of one too... only finished 2 books so far this month. Hope you're able to book a Disney vacation - Sehlinger's book was one we used to plan our trip last year, found it very helpful and well written :)

109nancyewhite
Ago 17, 2009, 11:51 am

The reading funk continues. I pushed my way through this book because it is much-requested at the library, and I knew others were waiting. However, it definitely felt like work. GRRRRR. I need something to catch me up and absorb me. Usually a mystery does it.

46. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
The second in the series starring Blomqvist and Salander. They spend almost no time together this book and I missed their interaction. While Salander is a compelling character, this book was too long and had too many secondary characters.

Why I read it: Hotly anticipated second in the series.

47. The Complete Walt Disney World by Julie Neal
This one focuses on the parks. It has loads of pictures so it was fun to page through with Jack.

Why I read it: Trying to decide on a Disney vacation.

110alcottacre
Ago 18, 2009, 1:46 am

#109: They spend almost no time together this book and I missed their interaction.

I think that is the reason I did not enjoy this book as much as I did the first one. There were other things as well, but I think that is the primary one. Of course, it did not stop me pre-ordering the third book :)

111nancyewhite
Ago 18, 2009, 6:00 pm

#110

Oh, no I'll totally be getting the third book! Aren't we readers a funny bunch?

112alcottacre
Ago 19, 2009, 3:55 am

#111: I choose to think that we are believers in hope - hoping that the next book will be better :)

113nancyewhite
Ago 20, 2009, 1:19 pm

48. Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris
I quite enjoyed this first in a series. Harper has been able to locate dead bodies and see a person's last few minutes of life since she was struck by lightning. She travels with her stepbrother, Tolliver, and makes her living bringing closure to folks with questions. Harper and Tolliver end up entangled in some murders in a nasty little Ozarks town. Good characterization and an interesting premise make this an enjoyable read. I already have the next one on hold at the library.

Why I read it: Another Whisper1 recommendation. I enjoyed the couple of Sookie Stackhouse books I've read.

114Whisper1
Ago 20, 2009, 2:29 pm

Hi There!

I hope you are having a great summer.

I'm glad you liked Grave Sight. This was a quick, easy read!

You make me feel good to note that you like my recommendations...What a nice person you are!

115nancyewhite
Ago 28, 2009, 3:59 pm

Easy enough to be nice when the company is as good as it is on LT.

49. A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny
Another witty and literate mystery set in Three Pines. I'm enjoying this series populated with interesting and decent characters. However, I guessed the murderer in this one very early, and I'm not a person who aims to do that. Still, well worth the read.

Why I read it: This is the second in the series. I got an ARC for the newest, and I'm trying to read all of them before I read that one.

116alcottacre
Ago 28, 2009, 5:15 pm

#115: I am enjoying the series as well. Book #3 has been the best I have read so far. I have book 4 home from the library now but have not had a chance to read it yet.

117tymfos
Ago 28, 2009, 8:32 pm

Hi! I just visited your thread for the first time. (I am slowly, slowly trying to see what everyone has been reading . . . ) You have a very nice list of books that you've read, and I've wishlisted one that wasn't on my list before. I now have you starred.

I'm glad to see you're enjoying the Three Pines series. I received and read the new ARC, and plan to go back and read the others!

118nancyewhite
Ago 31, 2009, 3:43 pm

>>116 alcottacre: & 117. Went ahead and reserved #3 as soon as I finished this one. I think it is a series that blends the lines between cozy, literary and procedural exceptionally well.

50. Columbine by Dave Cullen
By turns disturbing, sad, infuriating and though-provoking. Cullen (who, as many of you know, was a great LT-author to interact with) maintains a level of respect and decency that makes this well worth the read. Sheds a lot of light on the killers, the media and law enforcement as well as tells the story of the aftermath's effect on the community. I gave it 5 stars and highly recommend it.

119alcottacre
Set 1, 2009, 11:22 am

#118: I read that one earlier this year and whole heartedly agree with your 5-star rating.

120nancyewhite
Set 10, 2009, 6:27 pm

51. Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris
The second in the series featuring a woman who can "see" the last few minutes of a corpse's life due to a lightning strike. She and her stepbrother make their living traveling around the country performing this service. I'm enjoying these easy reads and intend to read the next one soon.

Why I read it: The second in a series that I began on Whisper's recommendation and enjoyed.

121Whisper1
Set 10, 2009, 9:35 pm

Hi There Nancy.

I hope you are well. I'm glad you are enjoying Grave Surprise. This series is fun and quick to read. I was able to obtain a copy of Columbine from my library, but alas, had to return it before I had time to read it. Your comments prompt me to check it out again.

122nancyewhite
Set 29, 2009, 9:45 am

52. Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
This guy has lots and lots of words. I actually felt drunk on them sometimes as I was reading this. He also has an amazing imagination and world building skills. New Crobuzon is easily the most well-developed 'other' world I've ever read. It becomes a character (perhaps THE character) with its own life. The other characters are fully fleshed and interesting as well. I'm not much of a fantasy/sci fi/steam punk reader, but this thing is amazing. It is also very, very long. Nevertheless, worth it.

Why I read it: I knew it had many accolades and it was a Kindle freebie.

123Whisper1
Set 29, 2009, 3:22 pm

Nancy

How do you like using a Kindle? A co-worker is enamored with his and no longer buys printed books.

124alcottacre
Out 1, 2009, 6:21 pm

#122: I started that last year, did not get far with it, but you are spurring me to give it another shot!

125profilerSR
Out 1, 2009, 6:38 pm

> 101 (yeah, I'm behind the times) I have had The Adoration of Jenna Fox on my list from Whisper, and my daughter just got it. She is not putting it down! As soon as she lets go, I'm reading it!

Glad you liked Columbine. It is one of my favorite reads of the year so far.

126Whisper1
Out 1, 2009, 9:47 pm

Sher
I'm anxious to hear what you and your daughter think of the book.

Nancy,
How is your son? I love the photo of you and he on your home page.

I'm the grandmother of twin grandsons. They are such a delight.

127nancyewhite
Out 26, 2009, 10:21 am

Linda,
I love my Kindle. I have been spending a lot of time at the hospital with a friend of mine whose son is critically ill. Having the Kindle makes reading in that situation so much easier. I never have to worry about whether I'll need a new book or losing my place etc. I can make the print bigger (but not as large as a Large Print book which gives me a headache) and thereby fool myself into thinking I don't need bifocals. For readers, I really recommend it. The Kindle itself disappears for me with no problem at all.

Jack turned 4 on Friday. He is the light of my life. He is becoming such a person, if you know what I mean. He is such a boy - I expected the artsy, nerdish child and got the rumbling, fighting, sports kid. It is teaching me whole new lessons about life. I'm enjoying the heck out of him. How old are your grandsons?

Stasia - For me Perdido Street Station is all about the words. Mieville must have the craziest vocabulary ever and he's very creative in his reinvention and usage of them. For a sci fi fan with a love of words, this book must be heaven.

128nancyewhite
Out 26, 2009, 10:24 am

53. The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny
My favorite in the series so far. Many strings are tied off and much is learned about both Gamache and the other characters.

Why I read it: Like most of LT, I'm loving the heck out of this series of literate mystery novels.

129nancyewhite
Out 26, 2009, 10:28 am

54. An Ice Cold Grave Charlaine Harris
Another series I'm really enjoying (thanks Linda). These aren't as good as the Three Pines mysteries, but they are certainly worth the little effort it takes to read them. I like the concept she created of a young woman "gifted" with the ability to find bodies and determine cause of death.

Why I read it: Easy to read in a difficult time yet compelling enough to hold my interest.

130nancyewhite
Out 26, 2009, 10:33 am

Since my posting has gotten away from me a little, I'd like to add that I'm midway through The Year of the Flood and absolutely loving it. If you are a Margart Atwood fan at all, get this book. It is set in the same world as Oryx and Crake but focuses on the plebelands, young women, and The Gardeners religious group. I love how her world-building is so effortless and the characters so real that you almost don't notice how detailed and complex the world she's created is. This stands in juxtaposition to the Mieville book where the world is very in your face, and I think I prefer it although both are geniuses at it in my current opinion.

131Whisper1
Out 26, 2009, 11:33 am

I'm so sorry that your friend is going through so much. I can only imagine the heart break of a son who is critically ill. How very kind of you to be there!

Happy belated birthday to your son Jack! Four year olds are such a treasure. Time goes by so quickly.

I'm the grandmother of four, all born within 14 months.

Kayla, born in February during a 24 inch PA snow fall, is going to be seven Feb. 2010

One month later twins were born to my oldest daughter. She and her husband were told they could never become pregnant so the twins were invitro and thus are not identical...
lo and behold, they discovered that they could indeed become pregnant because 12 1/2 months later little Zoe was born.

I like your description of Year of the Flood!

Happy fall to you!

132nancyewhite
Out 26, 2009, 8:23 pm

55. I forgot to add Creepers by David Morrell.
A group of urban explorers sneak into an abandoned hotel and get a lot more than they bargained for... The beginning of this was appropriately creepy and tension-filled. About 2/3 of the way through it got a little flat. Still a good October read.

Why I Read It: It was on the 75ers Halloween Reading List.

133nancyewhite
Nov 4, 2009, 6:31 pm

My friend's 7 year old son, Ben, passed away last Tuesday. He fought Leukemia for most of his little life. It has been a very sad time in my life, and I can't express how much this community has meant to me this summer as I tried to help them fight. Even without knowing it, you have helped me so much by giving me a place to go for a little respite.

134nancyewhite
Nov 4, 2009, 6:36 pm

56. The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
I absolutely loved this post-apocalyptic book which stands beside Oryx and Crake but focuses on the folks that live in the plebelands particularly a religious cult called the Gardeners. I liked Oryx and Crake, but just felt so much more connected to this. I suspect it is because Atwood tells the story through the lives and relationships of women which is something she does very, very well.

Why I read it: Dude, it's Atwood.

135alcottacre
Nov 4, 2009, 6:39 pm

#134: I really enjoyed Oryx and Crake, so I must find a copy of The Year of the Flood! I just found out my local library finally has a copy of it in - YES!! It has now been placed on hold for me!

136BookAngel_a
Nov 4, 2009, 8:51 pm

So sorry for your loss, and I'm glad you were able to find some comfort here.

137kidzdoc
Nov 4, 2009, 9:22 pm

I'm sorry to hear that news, Nancy. It sounds as though his mother had a good friend in you, which I'm sure gave her much support and comfort.

138FlossieT
Nov 5, 2009, 4:25 am

My thoughts and prayers are with you and with Ben's family, Nancy. It sounds like it's been a tough summer.

139tymfos
Nov 5, 2009, 3:57 pm

I'm so sad to hear about Ben. It never seems right when little children die. God bless you for being such a good friend to his family. My thoughts and prayers are with you and with them.

140Whisper1
Nov 6, 2009, 12:25 pm

Nancy
My heart goes out to all concerned. How very, very, very sad! Ditto what was expressed in message 136, 137, 138 and 139!

141nancyewhite
Nov 19, 2009, 1:14 pm

Thanks to everyone for your kind thoughts. It has been quite a difficult time and community is greatly appreciated.

142nancyewhite
Editado: Nov 20, 2009, 9:35 am

57. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
Looks like November is getting off to a roaring start for reading. I liked this a whole lot. It is the story of different people involved in the "life" of the Sarajevo Haggadah. The framework is set in the current day and surrounds a book conservator who finds items such as a butterfly wing and a wine stain in the book.Brooks uses the research into these items as the starting point to tell the stories of the people who are responsible for these things being in the book.

Readers overall opinion of this one seems predicated on whether or not they like the conservator and/or find her believable. I did find her likeable and believable but agree that some of the modern-day plot twists were a little outlandish. Otherwise I'd have given it the full 5 stars instead of 4 1/2.

Why I read it: It started popping up all over the What We're Reading thread a couple of weeks ago which led me to the Group Read over in the 50 Book Challenge.

edited for clarity

143alcottacre
Nov 19, 2009, 4:09 pm

#142: I loved that one when I read it last year, too. My main quibble with the book was the ending that just seemed a bit pat or I would have given it a full 5 stars as well. I am glad you enjoyed it.

144nancyewhite
Nov 26, 2009, 11:37 am

58. The Matisse Stories by A.S. Byatt
Well, November continues to be very generous in the reading department. This little book of three short stories is exquisite. Three stories use Matisse as a jumping off point to create intimate and detailed portraits of women.

Why I read it: Possession scares me, so I wanted to get a feel for how I like Byatt. Turns out, I like her a lot...

145arubabookwoman
Nov 27, 2009, 11:03 pm

I don't usually like short stories, but I remember loving The Matisse Stories. For me the title perfectly conveys the atmosphere portrayed in these stories. My favorite was the one about the artist with the cleaning woman and her coat of many colors.

I'm sure you will like Possession too.

146alcottacre
Nov 28, 2009, 5:21 am

IMHO, Possession is excellent. I hope you enjoy it, Nancy.

147nancyewhite
Editado: Dez 7, 2009, 4:48 pm

>>>146 alcottacre:. I am definitely going to read Possession next year.

>>>145 arubabookwoman:. I also am not typically a lover of short stories. I think that there were only three themed stories and they were so glorious helped. My favorite was the first with the woman who doesn't like her haircut.

59. The Likeness by Tana French
I'm probably one of the few people that prefers this to its predecessor In the Woods. I think, in general I like female protagonists better, and I'm a sucker for folks in alternate living arrangements such as the communal house some of the murder suspects live in. I like the premise of an unexplained doppleganger that has taken over Cassie's undercover police identity. Altogether, I just really enjoyed this.

Why I read it: I was intrigued by the "free" chapter included in the first book and had the feeling it might suit me even better.

edited to remove a renegade 'b'.

148bonniebooks
Dez 7, 2009, 5:25 pm

I prefer novels over short stories as well, but I like the premise of the book. Have you read Ship Fever? Your comments make me think of how Andrea Barrett included well-known scientists (e.g., Mendel, Darwin) in her stories. Each time I felt a bit of a thrill to get a glimpse of these famous people's everyday lives as part of another person's story.

149nancyewhite
Dez 7, 2009, 6:13 pm

>>>148 bonniebooks:. Bonniebooks - I have not read Ship Fever, but I've added it to Project TBR after your recommendation. Thanks!

150nancyewhite
Dez 9, 2009, 10:32 am

60. The Bottoms by Joe R. Lansdale
I liked but didn't love this mystery/coming-of-age story set in East Texas. It definitely is a darker play on To Kill a Mockingbird - exploring race, violence and youth with an open-minded and tolerant father who happens to be the town's constable. My current attention span is such that I read the first half in its entirety, skimmed the next third and then read the rest.

Why I read it: I'm in a reading funk so I decided to read the left-most book on the uppermost shelf and this was it.

151alcottacre
Dez 10, 2009, 1:20 am

Sorry you are in a reading funk, Nancy. Interesting method of choosing a book though :) Hope the funk ends soon!

I am putting The Bottoms in the BlackHole.

152nancyewhite
Dez 15, 2009, 3:46 pm

One of the frustrations of being an aggressive book buyer with far more interests and TBRs than time to read is that I badly want to buy the new Patricia Highsmith biography The Talented Miss Highsmith by Joan Schenkar but I haven't yet read the old Patricia Highsmith biography, Beautiful Shadow by Andrew Wilson which was also well-reviewed and that I already own.

Of course, there's also the 4 books by Patricia Highsmith herself that I have on my shelves and haven't read and the memoir by one of her partners Highsmith: A Memoir of the 1950s by Marijane Meaker.

Sigh. Grrr.

153Whisper1
Dez 15, 2009, 4:34 pm

Hi there Nancy

I'm very sure we can all relate to your quandry.

154alcottacre
Dez 15, 2009, 5:10 pm

#152: I know how that goes!

155bonniebooks
Dez 15, 2009, 5:17 pm

I haven't read any Patricia Highsmith, but I sure like looking at her picture every time I click on avatiakh's thread. :-)

156nancyewhite
Dez 15, 2009, 6:13 pm

I figured some folks on LT would relate. Jane surely would be less than sympathetic!

157nancyewhite
Dez 16, 2009, 9:21 am

61. Mind the Gap by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon
When a young woman comes home to find her mother murdered by the "Uncles" who had always protected them, she must hide. She goes deep underground where she meets up with a group of lost children and their elderly protector. Magical and sinister antics ensue. Not as good as it should be but quick-moving.

Why I read it: Picked it up from Dr Neutron's list. Looking for something that didn't take a lot of effort.

158nancyewhite
Dez 16, 2009, 9:23 am

62. 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
Lovely and authentic. I adored this book of letters and cannot believe it has taken me this long to read it. Absolutely delightful. 5 stars.

Why I read it: I just grabbed it from the shelf on impulse. I know it is well-loved on LT.

159alcottacre
Dez 16, 2009, 10:35 am

I am one of the 84 Charing Cross Road lovers! Glad to see you enjoyed it.

160Whisper1
Dez 16, 2009, 8:57 pm

add me to the list of 84 Charing Cross Road enthusiastic folk.

161kidzdoc
Dez 16, 2009, 9:19 pm

Same here.

162nancyewhite
Dez 18, 2009, 12:53 pm

Yesterday at a thrift shop I picked up Double Shot by Diane Mott Davidson on a whim for .79. I thought I might enjoy a cozy. However, when I looked it up it is 12th in the series. I've been trying to start series from their beginnings. Does anyone know how important it would be for me to start this particular series from its start?

163alcottacre
Dez 18, 2009, 3:18 pm

#162: Nancy, the Goldy series can really stand alone for the most part. I am not sure in the case of Double Shot how much of the back story you get (it has been a while since I read it and I cannot locate my copy at the moment), but I think you should be OK. If not, you can always blame it on me :)

164nancyewhite
Dez 19, 2009, 8:44 pm

63. Hide by Lisa Gardner
A rollicking thriller. A woman whose father kept her and her mother running from city to city and identity to identity throughout her childhood learns that a little girl's body has been found wearing a necklace bearing her original name. She goes to the police who slowly come to believe her. There are many coincidences, but Gardner weaves a tight plot that keeps you hopping.

Why I read it: Found it on cdnshopaholic's thread and realized I'd never read the author. Someone else (Was it you, Stasia?) agreed that she wrote a good thriller.

165alcottacre
Dez 20, 2009, 12:29 am

I have not read all of Gardner's books yet, but she does indeed write some good thrillers. I am glad you enjoyed it!

166nancyewhite
Dez 20, 2009, 6:01 pm

64. The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby
A collection of Hornby's Believer columns about books purchased and books read over the course of a year. Delightful. It was as if one of my favorite writers had suddenly started an LT Thread. I loved, loved, loved this book.

Here is a quote that is both appropriate for most of us on this site and one of the myriad reasons I love the book: "I suddenly had a little epiphany, all the books we own, both read and unread, are the fullest expression of self we have at our disposal....With each passing year, and with each whimsical purchase, our libraries become more and more able to articulate who we are, whether we read the books or not."

Why I read it: I pulled it and a couple of others off the shelf last night to see if any appealed. I read 3/4 of this before bed and finished it during the Steeler's game.

167arubabookwoman
Dez 20, 2009, 6:29 pm

I loved this one when I read it earlier this year too.

168kidzdoc
Dez 20, 2009, 7:31 pm

I enjoyed that book, too.

I wish I could say that I enjoy watching the Steelers this year...

169kidzdoc
Dez 20, 2009, 7:53 pm

Wow! What a comeback by the Steelers. I take back what I said.

170nancyewhite
Dez 20, 2009, 8:54 pm

Still, Darryl - hardly enjoyable to watch. I had to put my hands over my eyes and then rewind to see the final play after I heard the crowd cheer. I'm glad they won - many of them were very good to my friend's son when he was in the hospital. Not unexpectedly, Troy Polamalu in particular was fantastic.

171bonniebooks
Dez 20, 2009, 9:16 pm

He's very funny, isn't he? My favorite one is Housekeeping vs. Dirt! :-)

172alcottacre
Dez 21, 2009, 1:27 am

#166: I already have that one in the BlackHole, so I do not need to add it again. I am glad to see you enjoyed it.

The Steelers are giving me a heart attack every game. I wish they would get some kind of consistency!

173Whisper1
Dez 24, 2009, 11:43 pm

Merry Christmas Nancy!

I've enjoyed getting to know you in 2009! All the best for a bright, shining holiday.

174nancyewhite
Dez 27, 2009, 10:46 am

Thanks, Linda. It was bright and shining! Hope yours was too.

175nancyewhite
Dez 27, 2009, 10:53 am

65. Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2010 The Official Disney guide to WDW. It is a manageable size and filled with pictures if a little too happy, happy.

Why I read it: We are going to Disney World in less than a month, and I'm getting excited!

66. Carpe Demon by Julie Kenner A stay-at-home mom is forced out of retirement as a demon hunter when she encounters a nasty old demon at the Walmart. Unfortunately, her husband, friends and kids don't know about her prior career. Trouble and hilarity ensue. It was lighthearted and formulaic. In this genre, Kenner has nothing on Charlaine Harris, and I'm unlikely to buy any more of these.

Why I read it: I wanted something straightforward for Christmas that I could dip in and out of without worrying that I'd lose the plot.

176alcottacre
Dez 28, 2009, 12:23 am

Congratulations on the Disney World trip. I hope you, Jack and your significant other have a wonderful trip!

177nancyewhite
Jan 3, 2010, 8:07 pm

Year in Review

My Stated Goals:

Books Not Set in the US or England:
The Likeness & In the Woods (Ireland)
People of the Book (Bosnia)
Three Pines series (Canada)
The Girl Who Played w/ Fire & w/ a Dragon Tattoo (Sweden)
Death at La Fenice (Italy)
Havana Blue (Cuba)
Sputnik Sweetheart (Japan)
Half of a Yellow Sun (Nigeria)
The Secret Scripture (Ireland)
Lullabies for Little Criminals (Canada)
The Elegance of the Hedgehog (France)
Pyongyang (North Korea)
Kitchen (Japan)

Not too bad at getting out of my comfort zone.

Classics
84 Charing Cross Road
Dracula (unfinished)
To Kill a Mockingbird (unfinished)

Horrid. Just not the year for it. I may try for a group read or two in 2010.

History
People of the Book
The Himmler Brothers
A Jury of Her Peers (unfinished)
Blood and Politics (unfinished)
Abraham Lincoln

Not too bad, really. This is a genre I'm interested in but never read so this is progress.

Memoir/Autobiography/Biography
The Polysyllabic Spree
The Himmler Brothers
Closing Time
When Skateboards Will Be Free
Foreskin's Lament
My Stroke of Insight
Not Quite What I Was Planning
Pyongyang
Abraham Lincoln

Pleased with this one. A nice variety although mostly memoir. I'll try a long literary biography next year, perhaps.

LT-inspired or recommended
Hide - Member = cdnshopaholic
84 Charing Cross Road - Member = everybody
Mind the Gap - Member = drneutron
Creepers - LT Halloween Group Read
Grave Sight - Member = whisper1
The Adoration of Jenna Fox - Member = whisper1
The Himmler Brothers - Members = clfisha, petermc
The Dirty Secret Club - Member = blackdogbooks
The Three Pines series - Member = jnwelch
Ex Libris - Member = everybody
Pyongyang - Wishlisted before I started tagging members.

Very, very good. I'm especially grateful to the LT member who suggested tagging lt-inspired books and then the different person who thought of noting which member recommended a particular book. Of course, I made note of neither of their names :-)

Debut Writers

TBR Pile Reduction

MORE TO COME LATER