Prop2gether's Act II

Discussão75 Books Challenge for 2010

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Prop2gether's Act II

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1Prop2gether
Editado: Jan 4, 2011, 3:26 pm

You can find my 2011 thread here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/105437

In order to maintain some order, I've started a new thread for the second half of 2010.







Reviews for January through June can be found at:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/81498

December

Mulengro
Inkheart (999)
Grover Cleveland (999)
The Tale of Despereaux (999)
Charlie Wilson's War (999)
Everlost (999)
The River of Doubt (999, Presidents)
Ulysses S. Grant (999, Presidents)
The Knife of Never Letting Go (999)
The Master of Ballantrae (999, 1001)
A Child's Christmas in Wales
Myths and Truths About Coyotes (ER)
Skipping Christmas
The Beasts of Tarzan

November

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (reread)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (reread)
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Galilee (Halloween Read)
The Death of Ahasuerus
Children of the Wolf
The Return of Tarzan
The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton (75 Halloween Read)
Quidditch Through the Ages
The White Stag
Once There Was a War
The Little Book of Hanukkah
It Wood Be Fun
Salt, Lemons, Vinegar and Baking Soda
It Wood Be Fun (ER)
Aunt Dimity: Snowbound
The Man on the Balcony (999)
Armadillos and Old Lace

October

Elvis, Jesus and Coca-Cola
Harry Potter and the Socerer's Stone (reread)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (reread)
24-Hour Knitting Projects
Creative Crochet
Holiday Knits
Simple Knits for Little Cherubs
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (reread)
Wizard's Hall
Shade's Children
Caleb's Story
Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday
Change One For Diabetes
The Sybil
Angel of Darkness (Halloween)
Written in Blood (ER)
I'll Be Watching You
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (reread)
One Beastly Beast
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (reread)

September

Blockade Billy
In a Persian Kitchen
Dead West
Voyager
Time Cat
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Vol. 1: The Pox Party (2010)
Good Grief Third Grade
Firewall (2010)
My Father's Dragon
The Vampire Tapestry (75 Halloween Thread)
The Collector (75 Halloween Thread, 1001 Must Read)
From a Whisper to a Shout (75 Halloween Thread)
Puppet Masters (75 Halloween Thread)
The Haunting of Hill House (75 Halloween Thread)
Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (75 Halloween Thread-off list)
The Mystery of Cloomber (75 Halloween Thread-off list)
The Halloween Tree (75 Halloween Thread-off list)
A Clockwork Orange (75 Halloween Thread, 1001 Must Read)

August

Story of O (1001)
Vengeance in Death
Christmas in Death
Death at La Fenice (2010)
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County (2010)
Barabbas (1001)
Sky Horizon
Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library
The Dark Tower (Book VII of the Dark Tower series) (2010)
Freaky Green Eyes (2010)
Dragonfly in Amber (2010)

July

Obsession (999)
Hamlet Note: this is a narrative telling for YA
The Underneath (2010)
Breaking Dawn
Immortal in Death
Hard Times (1001, 2010)
Abhorsen (75 Trilogy Read)
The Iron Giant
Song of Susannah (Dark Tower Book 6)
Peaceful Places: Los Angeles (ER)
The Whisper of Glocken
The Trial of Elizabeth Cree
Rapture in Death
Ceremony in Death
Shadow of a Bull
The Land of Mist
The Bear That Wasn't
Escape From Hell
At the Earth's Core
Musical Chairs
Charlotte Lowenskold

June

Daisy Miller
Passager (Young Merlin Trilogy 1)
Hobby (Young Merlin Trilogy 2)
Merlin (Young Merlin Trilogy 3)
The Gammage Cup (LT)
Fourth Grade Rats
Trollbridge
Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil
Gotz and Meyer
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Aunt Dimity: Detective
The Devil's Arithmetic
New Moon
Night Walker
Eclipse
What-The-Dickens
Hellboy: Seed of Destruction
The Touchstone
Moby Dick
Catching Fire
My Dad's a Birdman
Sabriel (Abhorsen/Old Kingdom Trilogy Book 1)
Paris in the Twentieth Century
The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano (1001-Librivox Recording)
The Barrio Kings (ER)
Lirael (Abhorsen/Old Kingdom Trilogy Book 2)
Pay the Piper
Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1
The Devil's Pool (1001-Librivox Recording)
Sherlock Holmes Was Wrong (75er)
Any Small Goodness
Seize the Day

May

The Eyes of the Dragon
This is Water
The High King (75 Challenge)
The Stone Gods
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Skylark
Whose Body?
The Shootist
One More Day
Bernard Shaw On War (ER)
Confession (HCC)
After the Fireworks (ER)
Kill Now, Pay Later (HCC)
Tarzan of the Apes (Librivox recording, 1001)
Mr. Peters' Connections
Milkweed
Maniac Magee
Whittington
Bridge to Terabithia
Elysiana (ER)

April

The Wastelands
Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination (LT)
Wizard and Glass
Wolves of the Calla
Here There Be Dragons
The Poison Belt
Odd and the Frost Giants
Dr. No
The Sorrows of Young Werther (1001, 999-2010)
The Westing Game
Aunt Dimity's Christmas
Lucky Breaks
Raven Summer
The Cavalier in the Yellow Doublet (999-2010)
The Yellow Wall-Paper (1001)

March

The Black Flame (LT)
Secret of the Andes
The Boxcar Children
The Bells of Nagasaki (LT)
The Santaroga Barrier (SABG)
M is for Magic
The Silver Wolf (LT)
Secret Heart
Aunt Dimity Digs In (999 2010)
The Chronicles of Prydain IV: Taran Wanderer (LT Group Read)
The State of Jones (LT)
From Russia With Love
Christine
Cycle of the Werewolf
The Archivist's Story
The Brontes Went to Woolworth's

February

The Long Walk
The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three
Shakespeare's Secret
The Twits
Call It Courage
Carrie
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
Thinner
The Running Man
'Salem's Lot
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles
Mr. Popper's Penguins
Dear Mr. Henshaw
Sarah, Plain and Tall
Roadwork
Danny Champion of the World
The Door in the Wall
The Black Cauldron
The Castle of Llyr
Cujo
Freak the Mighty

January

Bucky Katt's Big Book of Fun
The Unteleported Man
My Rotten Life: Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie
Tents, Tigers and the Ringling Brothers
How to be Cool in the Third Grade
The Matchlock Gun
When the Cat's Away
Frequent Flyer
The Fire-Eaters
A Wrinkle in Time
Diamonds Are Forever
Our Man in Havana
Finger Lickin' Fifteen
The Cat Who Went to Heaven
The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger
The Chronicles of Prydain I: The Book of Three
The Green Mile

2Prop2gether
Editado: Set 8, 2010, 2:00 pm

75er Recommendations:

This is recommended reading from 75ers, coming forward from 2008, which I want to get to:

alcottacre: My Wars are Laid Away in Books
blackdogbooks: all the rest of Stephen King
The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger (January)
The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three (February)
The Green Mile (January)
The Long Walk (February)
Carrie (February)
Thinner (February)
The Running Man (February)
'Salem's Lot (February)
Roadwork (February)
Cujo (February)
Christine (March)
Cycle of the Werewolf (March)
The Dark Tower III: The Wastelands (April)
The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass (April)
The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla (April)
The Eyes of the Dragon (May)
The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah (July)
The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower (August)
Blockade Billy (September)

TadAD: Random Harvest
TheTortoise: Who Moved My Blackberry?
mamachunk: Triangle
alcottacre: The Climb
ThePam: Now the Drum of War
torontoc: Famous Last Words
TheTortoise: Heavy Weather
porch_reader: The Invention of Hugo Cabret
dfreeman2809: Click.....
missylc: Book of Lost Things
aethercowboy: The Mac is Not a Typewriter
Severn: Dancing in a Distant Place
LisaLynne: The Spanish Bow
Cait86: Hitler's Willing Executioners
fannyprice: The Anglo Files
TadAD: Three Day Road
nancywhite: The Elegance of the Hedgehog
kiwidoc: The Grass Arena
kiwidoc: Kate's Klassics
mlake: Never Heave Your Bosum in a Front Hook Bra
sten: Sherlock Holmes Was Wrong (June)
ronicats: Speed of Dark
paghababian: The Lost Painting
KarenMarie: What Time Devours
nancyewhite: Lullabies for Criminals
TadAd via drneutron: Holmes on the Range
rebeccanyc: The Book of Chameleons
porch_reader: A Thread of Grace
TheTortoise: Oliva Joules and the Overactive Imagination (April)
drneutron: Ending an Ending
drneutron: The Gun Seller
TheTortoise via kiwidoc: Oscar's Books
fannyprice: The Female Malady
Kat32: The Good Ghouls Guide to Getting Even
Awilkins: Brighton Rock
Awilkins: Whale Talk
fantasia655: A Girl of the Lumberlost
kiwidoc via kidzdoc: A Journey Round My Skull
rachbxl: Woman at Point Zero
LisaLynne: Down to a Sunless Sea
lindsacl: The Road Home
Kat32: Real Vampires Have Curves
Kat32: High Stakes
gregtmills: The Ayatollah Begs to Differ
sanddancer: The Boy Who Kicked Pigs
rebeccanyc: Freedom From Fear
kethonna: Luna
enheduanna: Thus Was Adonis Murdered
kidzdoc: The Illusion of Return
kidzdoc: Mishima's Sword
Pummzie: The Mischief
cjji955: The House on the Strand
LT 75: The Book Thief
shewhowearsred: Predictably Irrational
mckait: Society of S
mckait: The Tricking of Freya
mckait: Skeletons at the Feast
drneutron: Let the Right One In
drneutron: The Various Haunts of Men
LT 75: Looking for Alaska
gregtmills: Catapult: Harry and I ....
tokyoadam: The Forever War
seasonsof love: Dying by the Sword
Deedledee: Every Man Dies Alone
TheTortoise: I'll Cry Tomorrow
RebeccaAnn: Frozen in Time
RebeccaAnn: The Lies of Locke Lamora
amarie: The Box...
TadAD: The Gammage Cup (June)
whisper via kiwidoc: The Frozen Thames
WillowRaven: The Forest in the Hallway
Trystorp: Pandora's Star
kiwidoc: The Great Crash
drneutron: Afraid
drneutron: Here There be Dragons (April)
browngirl: Annie's Ghosts
kidzdoc: Golpes Bajos
kidzdoc: Burnt Shadows
kidzdoc: The Fat Man and Infinity
kidzdoc: The Invention of Everything Else
kidzdoc: Plants Don't Drink Coffee
CatyM: The Archivist's Story (March)
laytonwoman3d: In the Fall
meanderer: If Pirate I Must Be
FlossieT: The Gone-Away World
TadAD: Cooking with Fernat Branca
tututhefirst: Plato and a Platypus Walk...
LT: Mistress of the Art of Death
Bridget770: The Plague of Doves
TadAD: Battle Cry of Freedom
dihiba: The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher
whisper: The Adoration of Jenny Fox
aquascum: The Very Bloody History of Britain
sjmcreary: Code Black
avatiakh: The House of Sixty Fathers
avaitakh: Bloodtide
avaitakh: My Swordhand is Singing
avatiakh: A Bottle in the Gaza Sea
avatiakh: Swallows and Amazons
avatiakh: The Silver Wolf (March)
SqueakyChu: What the Deaf-Mute Heard
Landshark5: Red Thunder
laytonwoman3rd: The Hero's Walk
tiffin: Georgiana....
loriephillips: Little Bee
mamachunk: Our Guys
davidw: Epileptic
saraslibrary: While You're Down There
sgtbigg via petermc: Wolf of the Deep
porch_reader: The Rope Walk
saraslibrary: Frankenstein Moved in on the Fourth Floor
porch_reader: When the Emperor was Divine
RebeccaAnn: Captain Francis Crozier
daddygoth: The Infected
gregtmills: An Utterly Impartial History of Britain
TheTortoise: Lincoln's Melancholy
drneutron: Johannes Cabal the Necromancer
Banoo: Salmonella Men on Planet Porno
sjmcreary via petermc: The State of Jones (March)
whisper1: The Day the Falls Stood Still
booksontrial: The Brain That Changes Itself
boekenwijs: Never Hit a Jellyfish With a Spade
kiwidoc: Skating to Antarctica
laytonwoman3rd: Jenny Wren
beserene: Old Friends and New Fancies
TadAD: The Black Flame (March)
kidzdoc: Blood and Guts: A Short History of Medicine
torontoc: Galore
drneutron: The Book of William
alaskabookworm: The Magicians
alaskabookworm: Emily's Ghost
Loosha: Dancing With Rose
Banoo: Magnetic Fields
booksontrial: Losing My Virginity
suslyn: Gremlins Go Home
laytonwoman3rd: The Bird Artist
avatiakh: Dear Alison
judylou: The Year of the Flood
marise: The Incredible Charlie Crewe
snat: The Order of Odd Fish
judylou: After the Fire, A Small Voice
cyderra: His Majesty's Dragon
Banoo: The Bells of Nagasaki (March)
womansheart: The Earth Hums in B Flat
avatiakh: The Family Under the Bridge
avatiakh: Tender Morsels
girlunderglass: Dawn of the Dumb
cushla: The Dark Room
TadAD: Children of the New World
TadAD: The Ivankiad
lbucci3: Wolf Hall
jbeast: The Phoenix and the Carpet
jbeast: Miss Happiness and Miss Flower
arubabookwoman: History of the World in 10-1/2 Chapters
TadAD: Miss Bundle's Book
beeg: The Warded Man
lauranav: Tears of the Desert
beserene: The Sorceress of Karressc
ALK982: Tough Guide to Fantasyland

3Prop2gether
Editado: Jan 4, 2011, 3:30 pm

999/2010 Challenge:

2009 Leftover 1
Sorrows of Young Werther by Goethe
Hard Times by Charles Dickens

2009 Leftover 2
Charlie Wilson's War

Chunkster
Moby Dick by Herman Melville (75 Group Read)
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

Children's (Completed December 2010)
The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
Danny Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman
The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander (5 books)
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DeCamillo

Young Adult
What-The-Dickens by Gregory Maguire
New Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Freaky Green Eyes by Joyce Carol Oats
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Vol. 1 by M.T. Anderson
Everlost by Neal Shusterman
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

75er Recommendations
The Black Flame by Stanley G. Weinbaum
The State of Jones by Sally Jenkins and John Stauffer
Here There by Dragons by Jane Yolen

Presidents
Grover Cleveland by Henry F. Graff
Ulysses S. Grant by Josiah Bunting III
River of Doubt by Candice Millard

Complete and/or Return
Salem's Lot by Stephen King
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker
Mysteries
Whose Body? by Dorothy Sayers
The Man in the Yellow Doublet by Arthuro Perez-Reverte
Aunt Dimity Digs In by Nancy Atherton
Obsession by Jonathan Kellerman
Immortal in Death by J. D. Robb
Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon
Firewall by Henning Mankell
The Man on the Balcony by Sjowall/Wahloo

SABG/Strikes My Fancy (Completed November)
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
The Santaroga Barrier by Frank Herbert
The Shootist by Glendon Swarthout
One More Day by Mitch Albom
The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Gilman-Perkins
Elysiana by Chris Knopf
Paris in the Twentieth Century by Jules Verne
The Dark Tower by Stephen King (7 books)
Once There Was a War by John Steinbeck

Plus One
Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene (a 1001 Must Read author)
Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovitch (Mysteries--next in order)
Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli (Children's)
Abhorson (Old Kingdom) Trilogy by Garth Nix (Young Adult) (3 books)
Story of O by Pauline Reage (2009 Carryover)
Salt, Lemons, Vinegar and Baking Soda by Shea Zukowski (SAGB)

4alcottacre
Jul 3, 2010, 12:35 am

Found you again, Laurie!

5Prop2gether
Jul 6, 2010, 2:10 pm

Ha! Didn't try to sneak away, but the year is moving so fast!

Finished

Obsession by Jonathan Kellerman
Hamlet: A Novel by John Marsden (and William Shakespeare!)
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt

Obsession by Jonathan Kellerman is the next in order of the Alex Delaware series for me. Kellerman was off-track in some of these mid-series books, but this one was crisp, with a back-to-basics setup that I enjoyed. It also marks another book down on my 999/2010 lists.

Hamlet: A Novel by John Marsden is exactly that-- a novelization of the Shakespearean tragedy, aimed at young adults, but not fawning to them. Enough of the original script is intact for most Shakespeare fans, and the story is intact (including Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, as well as Fortinbras). There are some conjectured scenes with Ophelia and some other secondary characters, but the novel is an excellent introduction to the play.

The Underneath by Kathy Appelt came from the ALA Young Adult list for this year, and is another on my 999/2010 list. It's the story set in the swamps of East Texas, about a hound dog chained to a house, a pregnant calico cat, a vicious man, spirits and mysteries of the swamp and peoples of the past. The story flips between time periods and POV, but it is a delight for lovers of slightly dark fantasies geared for tweeners and teen readers.

Incidentally, saw Eclipse this weekend and was favorably impressed by the movie version. Could have skipped the book and seen the film alone.

6London_StJ
Jul 6, 2010, 3:00 pm

aimed at young adults, but not fawning to them.

That sounds perfect!

7Prop2gether
Editado: Jul 7, 2010, 6:30 pm

#6, yes, isn't that an entertaining proposition? Speaking of dumbing down to readers, I just finished Breaking Dawn, the last(?) of the Twilight Saga (okay, yes, I know there are other books either in the works, online, or whatever, but this is the main story to date). Stephenie Meyer is not a particularly good or innovative writer, but she sure can keep the story and characters moving through to the oh-so-obvious-but-do-you-care resolution. *meh* My favorite modern vampire book is by Octavia Butler, which, incidentally also is about a family of vampires not living a standard vampiric life style.

The best of the books was the third, Eclipse, which, incidentally, is also the best of the movies to date.

At the moment, I'm involved with Dickens (Hard Times), J.D. Robb (Innocent in Death) and Nix (Abhorsen for the Group Read). I also got an order from Dover Thrift of 20 books for indecent pricing and no shipping, so things are looking up.

8alcottacre
Jul 8, 2010, 12:42 am

20 books for indecent pricing and no shipping! Wow! Congratulations on the haul.

9London_StJ
Jul 8, 2010, 4:07 pm

I don't see the Twilight movies in theatres, but I pick them up when they come out. I've heard great things about Eclipse, which was also my favorite book...

The Twilight series is so very ... emotastic. Which is exactly why I think they're so much fun. Oh, the teenage melodrama! The forced sexual tension! The very plain girl who is admired by the hottest guys in town - human and non alike!

But, oh my, The Host was horrible. Terrible. Painful. Blech.

Octavia Butler, you say? To Amazon I go!

10Prop2gether
Jul 8, 2010, 5:33 pm

Luxx, I'm a huge Octavia Butler fan in any regard, but I thoroughly enjoyed Fledgling, although you will find very mixed reviews about it. Butler's writing was focused on family and family issues as well as diversity and prejudices in most of her work, and Fledgling, for me, was an entertainingly different look at the "bloodsuckers." The printed version I read was a library first edition and it was rife with typesetting errors, but the story was first rate.

And I've picked up the copies of The Host, looked at the blurbs, and put it back. Sounds like it was a good idea!

11London_StJ
Jul 8, 2010, 6:01 pm

Yes; stay far, far away.

I'm glad you mentioned Fledgling, because I couldn't figure out where she started.

12Prop2gether
Jul 13, 2010, 5:10 pm

Finished:

Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb
Hard Times by Charles Dickens
Abhorsen by Garth Nix (part of 75 Group Read)
The Iron Giant by Ted Hughes

Currently reading:

Song of Susannah by Stephen King
Tragically I Was An Only Twin by Peter Cook
The Whisper of Glocken by Carol Kendall

13Prop2gether
Editado: Jul 14, 2010, 5:08 pm

So reviewing...

Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb continues the story of Lt. Eve Dallas, ending with her marriage. I'm enjoying this detective and her story, but there are soooo many more books in the series! Honestly, does Roberts/Robb ever not write?

Hard Times by Charles Dickens is both a 1001 Must Read and a carryover read from 2009 to my 2010 Challenge. I'd seen the BBC presentation starring Alan Bates some time ago and figured, eh, another Dickens. This one is a more difficult read than other Dickens novels, however, because it is, like its lead characters often totally relentless. It was not until I was in the third section that I really got with the story and, when it concluded, I did feel like I'd finished a marathon.

Abhorsen by Garth Nix is the third and closing novel of the Abhorsen (Old Kingdom) trilogy, and I absolutely loved this trio of books. I would never have been interested, but it was a sequel 75 group read to the Lloyd Alexander quintet. Really entrancing fantasy that I had totally missed along the way--thanks for the referrals.

The Iron Giant by Ted Hughes is the original story which was made into an animated film which was quite charming. Quite nice, with lessons on cooperation and the environment (where else will you find a dragon that lands on the country of Australia?) for elementary age readers.

14TadAD
Jul 14, 2010, 5:12 pm

>13 Prop2gether:: I think entrancing is quite a good word for that series. I know some people don't quite fall under their spell but, for me, that was one of the most refreshing and entrancing fantasy series to come out in a long while. While also good, I don't think his Keys to the Kingdom series quite lived up to it.

I admit to being half in love with Sabriel...

15Prop2gether
Editado: Jul 15, 2010, 7:25 pm

#14--Yep, yep, yep. I seriously liked this series, and it was enchanting and refreshing! And well--there are several lovable characters here-but my favorites are the Disreputable Dog and Mogget.

Finished:

Song of Susannah by Stephen King
Peaceful Places: Los Angeles by Laura Randall

Song of Susannah is the sixth in King's Dark Tower series, and, I have to say--okay, whatever. I really enjoyed Wolves of the Calla and this one just didn't have the power of that novel, even with Susannah/Mia/Detta/Odetta's pregnancy and its issues. The introduction by King of himself into the story was, on the other hand, interesting for lots of reasons. Some background plot was explained (or re-explained) and continuity issues were worked out. One more to go and this series is complete--except, of course, for the one King's said to be contemplating....

Peaceful Places: Los Angeles by Laura Randall was an Early Reviewer copy of a travel/local interest book. Randall lists 110 sites she has explored in the Los Angeles County (for those of you outside this state, that's a lot of territory!) which she finds "peaceful." As an Angeleno, I've been to about half of the locations and generally agree with her assessments. She also provides maps, some information about amenities, prices, and public transportation, all of which are nice to have (even if you should doublecheck them all before you set out for one of the sites). There are some interesting omissions--I personally would have included Descanso Gardens and the Huntington Hartford Museum, based on the "peaceful" listing (she's got the Arboretum, so why not?). She's also not wildly consistent about some of the interesting points about some of the sites (the Southwest Indian Museum does, indeed, have a nice picnic area, but it also has a fabulous collection of artifacts when it's open; and the Vasquez Rocks are known for being used in films and television, but they were originally the hideout for one of the most famous of California bandits--think Hole-in-the-Wall for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). I plan on checking out a couple of the libraries and parks which are included, and it's a nice book to use as a source.

16alcottacre
Jul 16, 2010, 3:38 am

#13: Honestly, does Roberts/Robb ever not write?

Considering her output, I think not.

17Prop2gether
Jul 17, 2010, 1:42 am

#15 Review errata--So a mea culpa--Randall includes a mention of the Descanso Gardens but emphasizes a hiking park behind it, and she does include the Huntington, but mostly its gardens while mentioning the museum almost casually. Which is why I missed that reference. I guess I'm just more sold on the actual gardens in both locations plus the lovely, lovely homes which are in those locations. Besides in the heat of a Southern California summer--those shady lanes in La Canada/Flintridge area usually prove to be a blessed relief.

18beserene
Jul 19, 2010, 11:00 pm

Glad to have found you again!

19avatiakh
Jul 20, 2010, 4:58 am

Checking in again and have to say I must track down a copy of Fledgling, it sounds v. interesting. I had The host on request at my library, waited 10 months for my turn to read it and gave up after 2 chapters. I also was entertained by the Twilight books turn on teen angst.
Ooh I'm another fan of the Abhorsen books - love them, need to reread them at some point.

Anyway this is the second thread where I've noticed Tad declaring his love for Sabriel!

20alcottacre
Jul 20, 2010, 7:52 am

#19: this is the second thread where I've noticed Tad declaring his love for Sabriel!

Yes, but we are not allowed to tell his wife!

21TadAD
Jul 20, 2010, 8:28 am

LOL!

Actually, she's got a few fictional guys of her own. ;-)

22Prop2gether
Jul 26, 2010, 12:54 pm

#21 *sigh* Don't we all?

I have another batch of books--I seem to be either "theme" reading (without intending to) or series reading--oh well, since I'm a mood reader, that almost makes sense:

The Whisper of Glocken by Carol Kendall
The Trial of Elizabeth Cree by Peter Ackroyd (US title here)
Rapture in Death by J. D. Robb
Ceremony in Death by J. D. Robb
Shadow of a Bull by Maia Wokciechowska
The Land of Mist by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Bear That Wasn't by Frank Tashlin

Reviews coming....

Currently reading:

Escape From Hell by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
Tragically I Was An Only Twin by Peter Cook
Musical Chairs by Kinky Friedman

23Prop2gether
Ago 5, 2010, 6:48 pm

Well, reviews to catch up are:

The Whisper of Glocken by Carol Kendall is the sequel to the delightful The Gammage Cup. Sad to say, the sequel was not as entertaining as the original and the ending seemed forced. However, The Gammage Cup is a great fantasy for younger readers.

The Trial of Elizabeth Cree by Peter Ackroyd (the US name for the Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem listed in touchstones) was typical Ackroyd, in that he took actual events, and reinvented them for his story. Essentially a diary of Elizabeth, the story is of murders in London, theatre, a bit of cross-dressing, and mystery. Ackroyd's style is not for everyone, but I enjoyed this one.

Rapture in Death and Ceremony in Death are both Lt. Eve Dallas mysteries, the next in order for the series. I like this lady cop and her husband, co-workers, and friends. They are fast reads, but very entertaining, and not all that obvious in the mystery.

Shadow of a Bull by Maia Wojciechowska is the Newbury-winning novel of a young Spanish boy who wants, more than anything, to be a bullfighter. While I'm not a fan of bullfights, this story is really a coming of age and it gives a more sympathetic portrait of the entire bullfight atmosphere. It was especially intriguing that I finished it the week before Catalonia outlawed bullfighting in the province.

The Land of Mist by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is the next Professor Challenger novel, set just after his wife has died. The good professor bookends this novel which is a very strong argument by Conan Doyle for the spiritulism which so strongly influenced his later years. Still, it was entertaining and it kept me interested, even through the sermons.

The Bear That Wasn't by Frank Tashlin is a picture story book about a bear who hibernates in a cave, only to wake up and find himself in a commercial development of buildings and people. They tell him he's not a bear, just a man in big fur coat, and he tries, oh so hard!, to believe it.

I finished:

Escape from Hell
At the Earth's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Musical Chairs by Kinky Friedman
Charlotte Lowenskold by Selma Lagerlof
Story of O by Pauline Reage
Vengeance in Death and Christmas in Death by J. D. Robb

and am reading

Tragically I Was an Only Twin
The Enormous Room
Death at La Fenice
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County

24alcottacre
Ago 5, 2010, 10:34 pm

#23: The Trial of Elizabeth Cree caught my attention. I will have ot look for that one. Thanks for the recommendation, Laurie.

Glad to see you are continuing to enjoy the 'In Death' series.

25TadAD
Ago 6, 2010, 8:34 am

>23 Prop2gether:: I recently re-read The Whisper of Glocken with my daughter (actually, she read it to me) and I was disappointed in it. I re-read The Gammage Cup last year and it matched my memories but the sequel didn't. I had remembered it as "good but not quite as good." On re-read, I'd say "fair and nowhere near as good." Based on that, I've abandoned any thought of reading The Firelings.

You're certainly on a Doyle kick! :-) The speechifying on spiritualism really turned me off when I encountered it in his books. I much preferred his earlier stuff.

You're the second read of The Story of O that I've seen in this forum lately. I think it was on lycomayflower's thread we were discussing this. Her mother and I come from the generation where this was the "forbidden erotica" to sneak read. She thought maybe it lost something across the generations.

I'll be interested to see if you like the Donna Leon.

26Prop2gether
Ago 6, 2010, 12:15 pm

#24--I like Eve Dallas a lot. She reminds me a bit of Lia Matera's sleuths combined with the best attributes of Kinsey Millhone and VI Warshawski, but the stories are great fun. There are just a million of them--kidding, but not really.

I enjoy Ackroyd's work a lot (a find from the 1001 Must Read lists), and this one was especially intriguing--the ending I just suspected about three pages before I read it. So the suspense held.

#25--Yep, I've decided to give up the prequel, figuring it was the third one written and, really, the first was perfect, especially for its age group.

Yeah, I seem to be reading a lot of Doyle and Verne (and have Chesterton on my shelves). This one was specifically and emphatically about the spiritualism, which, curiously, is not as irritating to read when it's so upfront.

LOL! I'm also at least derivative of the "forbidden erotica" generations, but in my parents' house, anything on a bookshelf I could read was fair game. So I managed to read The Group when I was twelve or so and understood Prissy's situations as well as Pokey's, but Lakey was over my head. Years later, I more truly appreciated the writing and story, but it could well have been considered erotica. I know that Tropic of Cancer was there, but I didn't like the cover. As an adult, I've tried to read it, but have trouble getting past the gutter language. Same thing happened when I listened to Sabbath's Theater last year--only it was really more of an serious annoyance having gutter language interrupting the story. And, of course, erotica is highly subjective--there are parts of the Biblical Song of Solomon that are very erotic.

In any event, I found Story of O a fascinating read. It's certainly not for everyone,but I was enticed in the opening segment. No foul language, just banal or loving descriptions of a woman slowly being led into a life of total subjugation. It became an almost reasonable resolution for a woman who, in later sections, is shown to be very conflicted about sexual and sensual behavior. I think a lot of today's romance writers and teen books actually write far more descriptive, and possibly upsetting, sex scenes. A lot of detective stories offer more explicit and degrading descriptions of sexual encounters. This story, however, was told carefully, slowly, and sensually.

Oh, and I very much enjoyed Donna Leon's detective.

27Prop2gether
Ago 6, 2010, 3:23 pm

And to continue....

Escape From Hell by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
At the Earth's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Musical Chairs by Kinky Friedman
Charlotte Lowenskold by Selma Lagerlof
Story of O by Pauline Reage
Vengeance in Death by J. D. Robb
Christmas in Death by J. D. Robb
Death in La Fenice by Donna Leon

Escape From Hell is the sequel to Inferno by two of my favorite writers who team together. However, the sequel, which basically rehashes the original retelling of Dante's story with a new cast of characters, is not as much fun. Where originally Benito (Mussolini) was the guide/companion, now the companion is Sylvia Plath. The levels haven't changed, the goal hasn't changed, and some of the people assigned to the levels of hell are totally arbitrary. Aimee Semple McPherson is crusading through hell on a motorcycle, though, and that was amusing.

At the Earth's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs was a fun romp through the depths of the earth--and wow! Do some film writers need to give credit for these ideas!

Musical Chairs by Kinky Friedman was a return to murder mysteries featuring the author and his friends. Totally non-PC, but cute. The mystery's not hard to figure out, you just hang for the ride.

Charlotte Lowenskold by Selma Lagerlof is the second of her "Ring" trilogy--I read the first last October during the Halloween read because I found it on a library shelf. This is described as a young adult novel, I suppose because it is a romance disguised as a coming-of-age. It was, if you can adapt to early 20th century translated prose, worth the read.

Story of O I discussed above. Not for everyone, but I'm glad I read it.

Vengeance in Death and Christmas in Death are the next Eve Dallas mysteries--because I'm a roll here.

Death in La Fenice by Donna Leon is due to finding the Brunetti series highly praised. I liked it (although I did figure the mystery before the end). Brunetti has a bit of Rumpole of the Bailey air about him, but I am now looking for the next in series. Which reminds me, I get seriously annoyed when a series (like this) is sold without listing the books in order. Oh well, a marketing ploy, I guess.

Still reading:

The Enormous Room by E.E. Cummings
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker
The History of the Siege of Lisbon by Jose Saramago
Tragically, I Was an Only Twin by Peter Cook

28TadAD
Ago 6, 2010, 3:50 pm

>27 Prop2gether:: I get seriously annoyed when a series (like this) is sold without listing the books in order

Yep. Here...down at the bottom...both British and American titles.

29elkiedee
Ago 18, 2010, 6:41 am

I first read The Group at 14 (and then again last year at 40) and remembered the contents about sex as very interesting, but not sure about erotica - most of it might well have been a bit of an eye opener in some quarters, but it's not really erotic, nor is it intended to be.

30Prop2gether
Ago 18, 2010, 12:57 pm

elkiedee, I was actually rather stunned years after I first read The Group to read about how controversial the plot lines were considered, both when first published and then when made into a film. I read a story about women who were friends and acquaintances, and what happened to them. That's what makes all this reading so fascinating to me--interpretations can be so different.

31TadAD
Ago 20, 2010, 9:11 am

Well, 1963 was a long ways from today socially. Can you imagine what they'd think of something that we consider controversial today? :-D

32Prop2gether
Ago 20, 2010, 12:51 pm

Oh yeah! Of course, there are still debates going on about some very old books!

33blackdogbooks
Set 5, 2010, 10:12 am

34Prop2gether
Set 8, 2010, 2:08 pm

Oh my, a trip to Seattle, a bout with bronchitis, and the following books:

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker (2010)
Barabbas by Par Lagerkvist (1001)
Sky Horizon by David Brin
Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library by Eth Clifford
The Dark Tower by Stephen King (2010; final book in series)
Freaky Green Eyes by Joyce Carol Oates (2010)
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (2010)
Blockade Billy by Stephen King
In a Persian Kitchen by Maideh Mazda
Dead West by Spears and Goodridge
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (2010)
Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1 by M. T. Anderson (2010)
Good Grief Third Grade by Colleen O'Shaughnessy McKenna

back for reviews!

35alcottacre
Set 8, 2010, 2:09 pm

Hope you are feeling better, Laurie!

36blackdogbooks
Set 8, 2010, 3:21 pm

Is that your second time through the Dark Tower books? How did you like the ending?

37beserene
Set 8, 2010, 11:29 pm

Hope that bronchitis is kicked -- glad to see you back.

38Prop2gether
Editado: Set 10, 2010, 5:46 pm

Oh thanks to you all--it was a rather standard case of bronchitis for me (I usually have one or two episodes a year), but it's always debilitating while it's ongoing. In any event, I'm much better, thanks.

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker is a book that was recommended to me last year by a friend and I needed to return her copy to her. It was an interesting read of lives in a small town where everybody knows everybody--and really doesn't. The "little giant" is the narrator who discovers a family secret that enables her.

Barabbas by Par Lagerkvist is from the 1001 Must Read list, and I really enjoyed this short novel. It is the basis of the Anthony Quinn film of the same name, but in very, very spare style, and examines what may have happened to the man who was spared from crucifixion when Jesus went on trial.

Sky Horizon by David Brin was a surprise find on a library shelf. While I haven't read all of David's works, this title was one I hadn't heard of before. Turns out it's a young adult novella, to be part of a series, about teens, high school, invaders from outer space, and all that. I had fun.

Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library by Eth Clifford is for elementary readers about two sisters who get caught in a house turned library in the middle of a snowstorm. Okay for young readers, but fourth or fifth graders would probably be nodding off.

The Dark Tower by Stephen King is the last (??-King's made noises about another one) in the the Dark Tower series (and, again, not including any auxillary works). For me, the end is what it should be, based on the set-ups throughout the series. I know people who are upset by the ending, but it was the long foreshadowed (and, therefore, forewarned) ending. Of the series, I really enjoyed Wolves of the Calla, which is fortunate since it ties a long of ends together in this volume.

Freaky Green Eyes by Joyce Carol Oates was a recommendation from a friend as a young adult novel--and it is fabulous. Frankie (whose alter-ego self, the one that's honest with her, is Freaky) has some growing up to do and self-realization. I highly recommend this work, and I'm not always a fan of Oates's writing.

Dragonfly in Amber and Voyager by Diana Gabaldon the second and third in the omnibus of the Outlander series. I enjoyed them as works in the series, but my lands! The way Gabaldon's characters get around and meet people reminds me of the John Jakes's novels I read years ago, where the lead characters kept meeting everyone who was a "name" in the period.

Blockade Billy by Stephen King is two stories in one novel, and while not particularly scary, they were somewhat thought provoking. I enjoyed "Morality" a bit more than "Blockade Billy," but I think it asked harder questions of the reader.

In a Persian Kitchen by Maideh Mazda is a cookbook I now have in order to recreate some of my brother-in-law's family dishes (rots of ruck to me!). Interspersed with the recipes are short family stories, which makes it more fun to read. Now I just have to use it.

oops, computer glitching....

39Prop2gether
Set 10, 2010, 5:59 pm

and to go on . . .

Dead West by Spears and Goodridge is a graphic novel which was on the bargain shelf. Vampires, Indian legends, gunfighters, lots of booms and stylized blood. Wish there had been more of a story.

Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander is the story of a young man and his cat told by the man who wrote The Chronicles of Prydain series. Lots of stops in various historical times and locations where cats are important (sometimes good and sometimes bad), it would be good for third to fifth graders, because of the mix of story and history.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1 by M. T. Anderson was amazing. Anderson has written the entire novel (and, I presume, its sequel) in the style of American Revolutionary writers, including most spelling and grammar. That makes the introductory chapters a bit difficult to work through, but it was worth the time to familiarize myself with the styles. Oh, and the pox party is a party where you go to infect yourself with the smallpox in order to immunize yourself. Sort like my mom letting all of us in the sickroom with whoever had the measles so we'd catch it as children.

Good Grief Third Grade by Colleen O'Shaughnessy McKenna, I read because William is a third grader. But the story of a girl who gets teamed up with the boy she's sure has been trying to make her life miserable since pre-school becomes awfully preachy. I'll send it on, but with something a bit lighter.

I've also finished:

Firewall by Henning Mankell and, I love Kurt Wallander! This story is extremely topical (computer issues as well as office politics) and I sailed through the novel.

My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett is for very young (or read to me age) readers in which a young boy tells about how his father rescued a dragon. It's cute, but older elementary children will definitely be uninterested.

Currently working on several books, but have to run. Computer viruses are running rampant.

40alcottacre
Set 11, 2010, 11:31 pm

Wow! You have some had some great reading lately, Laurie. I am adding several to the BlackHole.

41blackdogbooks
Set 12, 2010, 10:06 am

I also enjoyed the ending of the Dark Tower series. I wouldn't be surprised to see some other stories set in soem of the locales or following some of characters.

I don't yet have Blockade Billy.

42Prop2gether
Editado: Nov 24, 2010, 1:50 pm

Okay, the next four in order are from the Halloween reading list Blackdogbooks has compiled:

The Vampire Tapestry by Suzy McKee Charnas
The Collector by John Fowles
From a Whisper to a Scream by Charles de Lint writing as Samuel M. Key
Puppet Masters by Robert A. Heinlein

BDB's list, as ever, is full of fun, terror, and some great ghouls and beasties. I had read all the writers on the list, although not necessarily the works listed, except for Charnas, so I started with her book--which, incidentally, is the last one on the list.

The Vampire Tapestry is a fascinating look at a singular (as in there is only one in the world) vampire who is, in his current life, a misanthropic anthropology professor. The book is actually a series of five sequential vignettes about Dr. Weyland, told from four perspectives (a suspicious co-worker, a fascinated young boy, a concerned therapist, and the good doctor himself). While not horrific in the traditional vampire scenario, the book is scary enough to warrant inclusion on the list. It also happens to be a very fine read.

The Collector is John Fowles first novel, and, wow, it is a doozy. Not since The Killer Inside Me have I felt so close to the real mind of a maniac. I was intrigued as well by the fact that I recently watched some "Criminal Minds" episodes where the villain gives clues to his work through a cover of The Collector. The book is essentially in three parts: the first details the thoughts of a young man who wins a lottery and has an obsessive interest in a young woman he's seen. He creates a basement world for her in a house in the country and singlemindedly tries to make her understand how much he loves her. The middle section is her version of those same events, and the last section is a bookend for the story told by him. Much scarier than lots of straight horror! I have to go find the movie now to watch it.

From a Whisper to a Scream is Charles de Lint writing as Samuel M. Key, an undisguised alter ego who writes darker stories--similar in theory to Stephen King and Richard Bachman--where sometimes really bad things happen. This story involved murders of young women who all resemble each other, each murder more horrific than the next because the murderer appears to be getting stronger with each kill; a young runaway who has scary voices in her head; a young musician; a news photographer; an Indian cop who should have become head of his tribe but moved off the reservation; and a Caribbean mystic. There's the city and there's the spirit world and there's some nasty history--all of it nicely worked into de Lint's world.

Puppet Masters is a Heinlein I missed when I was on a mission years ago to read his work. I have always liked Heinlein for his readability and his humanistic approach to possible futures. The only thing I didn't like about this story was the final chapter, but it felt added on for editorial purposes as opposed to necessary for the story. But, again, BDB scores high on the referral list!

43mstrust
Set 21, 2010, 12:54 pm

I'm a big fan of Jim Thompson and loved The Killer Inside Me. If you haven't read his Pop. 1280, it's actually almost as good (but TKIM is still my favorite so far).

44blackdogbooks
Set 21, 2010, 2:46 pm

You should really post that on the Halloween thread too, Prop. For the benefit of those halloween readers who haven't discovered your fine thread.

45beserene
Set 22, 2010, 10:47 am

Great reviews. I am not much of a crime/horror reader, but everyone seems to be talking (not just on LT) about The Collector. I had planned on skipping that one on the Halloween list, but perhaps I'll give it a try.

46Prop2gether
Editado: Out 12, 2010, 2:44 pm

#44 Your wish is my command...done. :-)

#45 Beserene--I have always read a lot of true crime and watched movies and shows about the law (and, coincidentally work in a law office--just not criminal law). I've also read a lot of mystery writers over the years, but also a lot of fantasy and science fiction--so this Halloween list created by Blackdogbooks is great. It incorporates at least one book in each genre. The Collector was a pleasant surprise in its readability. I have some issues with some of Fowles's work, but not this one which is pretty straightforward, and, consequently, a pretty non-stop read.

I've now finished The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson as a re-read, and The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner is a novella about a character in Eclipse (the third Twilight book, if you haven't read them) with whom Meyer became enamoured when she was writing Eclipse. Blessedly short, it is another character point of view of events Meyer spells out in the bigger book--something she seems to be fond of doing, having written Twilight from Edward's perspective as well. *meh* Better than some of Meyer's writing, but . . . .

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson is, as my daughter pointed out, based on a Bennington, Vermont mansion (now part of the college), which is reportedly haunted. It is also, bar none, one of the scariest books I've read or re-read simply bacause the entire story is perfectly plausible. A professor invites three people to join him to test exactly how haunted a small town's mansion really is--and they experience everything from strange people working at the house; townspeople who avoid the house; loud and scary sounds in the night; a definite disinclination to leave the house at night; and so on. Doors shut by themselves; the floor plan is hard to figure out; glimpses of "other" things are seen from the corner of eyes; and the mystery keeps deepening until the resolution. It's great!

47TadAD
Set 24, 2010, 3:11 pm

The continued pursuit of Meyer is...disturbing. ;-D

48Prop2gether
Set 24, 2010, 3:26 pm

#47--Tad--just wanted to complete the series. That's it. And, fortunately, this is the last of the works. Whew! Now--why in the world the last book is being divided into two films? Well, that's a question, isn't it! LOL! I definitely do not need to see or hear Bella in pregnancy and birth trauma, and Edward in agony? OMG! The angst!

49TadAD
Set 24, 2010, 3:34 pm

>48 Prop2gether:: Hmmm. Having only read Twilight, I'm not sure I'd mind seeing Edward in agony. Angst is certainly the right word, however.

50Prop2gether
Editado: Set 24, 2010, 6:15 pm

LOL--my tag category for "Young Adult" or teen books has always been "Teen Angst" because, well, at what other age is everything such a total agony? And Eclipse is, by far, the best plotted and written of the series.

51tututhefirst
Set 25, 2010, 5:27 pm

Sorry I've been gone so long....I think I lost track when your 2nd thread started. You've been doing some really great reading this year and I promise to try to stay more current.

52Prop2gether
Editado: Out 11, 2010, 3:02 pm

Not to worry, I've been unable to keep up with my favorite threads in this group this year. I figure about the time I'm in St. Louis and alone with a loaned computer, I'll be able to spend the time to do so, and add to my list.

However, since I last posted, these are my latest reads:

The Mystery of Cloomber by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (a reread for the Halloween read)
Elvis, Jesus and Coca-Cola by Kinky Friedman
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling (reread)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling (reread)
24-Hour Knitting Projects by Rita Weiss
Creative Crochet by Darla Sims
Holiday Knits by Sara Lucas and Allison Isaacs
Simple Knits for Little Cherubs by Erika Knight
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling (reread)
Wizard's Hall by Jane Yolen
Shade's Children by Garth Nix

I'm rereading Harry Potter in anticipation of the films coming out, and you can tell that I'm looking through pattern books for gift ideas. I do read the books or I wouldn't count them, but I'm always in the hunt for simple yet interesting patterns. The Cherubs book has an absolutely darling toddler pinafore which, even I who has forsworn items which require pieces), may attempt. I've also read for the Halloween thread, and some fantasy authors I enjoy. Reviews will come....

53beserene
Out 11, 2010, 11:49 pm

Excited to hear what you think of the Yolen - she is one of my favorite authors.

54alcottacre
Out 12, 2010, 3:34 am

I will be interested in seeing what you think of The Halloween Tree by Bradbury. I have not yet read that one.

55Prop2gether
Editado: Out 12, 2010, 2:44 pm

Reviews...

The Mystery of Cloomber by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is a short novel, actually Sir Arthur's second published book, and I liked this very Victorian ghost story. Sherlock Holmes took off and this work and similar ones by Conan Doyle are often ignored--that's a pity because this has some throwbacks to The Moonstone plus a couple of nifty subplots. Recommended, especially for fans.

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury is a story written for younger readers, essentially an introduction to the customs of Halloween. When one boy in a gang (before gangs were not correct) falls sick, his buddies are dressed and ready to go trick or treating. They, of course, go the scariest house in town, and end up time traveling to find out how to both save their friend and how Halloween evolved. It's a bit didactic, but aimed for elementary age readers. I've always like Bradbury, and, while this won't be a favorite, it's worth the read.

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (a reread for the Halloween read) is (a) extremely difficult to read because it's written in the sublanguage of the protagonist; (b) fascinating because it's a story of violence and its consequences, and then, of the consequences of "correcting" judicial decision; and (c) fun to compare to the movie. Burgess and his American editors had a disagreement about the novel's ending, which is described and then resolved by including the previously excised final chapter.

Elvis, Jesus and Coca-Cola by Kinky Friedman is the next-in-order about the semi-autobiographical novice sleuth. Kinky's style is an acquired taste, but I do like things like:
"They say when you die and go to heaven all the dogs and cats you've every had in your life come running to meet you."

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling are all rereads in the series so I can be ready for the last two films. I've read the entire series several times and I always enjoy the ride.

Wizard's Hall by Jane Yolen is a very short novella, which Yolen and some of her fans have claimed is the basis for Rowling's Harry Potter--thus believing that Rowling stole the outline. Sorry, doesn't wash for me at all. I am a Yolen fan, and much of her work is amazing. This book is not. Why the claim? Henry is a wizard who goes to wizard school, makes a couple of friends, and saves the school. Henry is really not much of a wizard, but he gets a new name, Thornmallow (hard on the outside, soft on the inside), when he enrolls. The plot develops so fast there is no chance to find any character depth or challenge to the reader as to who or what is happening. Rowling's main character is Harry (derivative of Henry) and he's a boy wizard at a special school for wizards. If Yolen had enlarged her story, perhaps there could be some reason to see a strong similarity. She chose to keep the story short, simple, and resolved. There are, and have been, many stories about witches/wizards/special talented kids who end up in special schools/special training/saving the world (okay, Ender's Game comes right to mind). Last week, the Nobel prize for medicine was awarded in a controversy about the time of the registering of the discovery. So, end words? Not Yolen's best. Not even close to Harry Potter. Cute story, but really for young readers.

24-Hour Knitting Projects by Rita Weiss, Creative Crochet by Darla Sims, Holiday Knits by Sara Lucas and Allison Isaacs, and Simple Knits for Little Cherubs by Erika Knight--because this is the time of year when I swear I'm going to reduce that evergrowing yarn stash.

Shade's Children by Garth Nix is a standalone teen novel by the author of the Old Kingdom Trilogy (which I loved in the group read earlier this year). Shade is a parent figure (is a hologram a figure?) in an era when children celebrate their Sad Birthday at fourteen. It's sad, because unless they escape from their dorms, they will become part of the machine system which fights each other and hunts them. I liked this one.

56alcottacre
Out 12, 2010, 2:54 pm

#55: Adding The Mystery of Cloomber and Shade's Children to the BlackHole. I discovered The Halloween Tree is already there :)

57beserene
Out 13, 2010, 12:25 pm

I am bummed to see that Yolen tried to lay claim to HP. Hmm. Makes me respect her a little less, frankly, especially since nearly everyone could say they inspired something from that series - that's what literature is: an amalgam of who we are and what we have read and, if the author is very lucky, enough originality to enchant the reader afresh.

58Prop2gether
Out 13, 2010, 4:02 pm

Yep, my thoughts exactly. I like both writers most of the time, but I work for an attorney who specializes in such claims and, frankly, most of the claims are hogwash. One my earliest "real life" reads was some of Louis Nizer's work on similar claims, and, well, the treadmill keeps repeating. This story by Yolen was just not that good or memorable-- her Briar Rose is much more entertaining. Oh well. The controversy does go on.

59TadAD
Out 13, 2010, 4:28 pm

How disappointing about Yolen. I don't really care what her fans claim, but her claiming it is rather unfortunate. I agree that it makes me respect her a bit less...and I considered her a major force in promoting good fantasy.

60Prop2gether
Out 13, 2010, 6:30 pm

Just for the record--I believe Yolen has backpedaled a bit and is now saying it's just a really big coincidence and isn't that funny.

What's the quip? Something about only 10 plots in the world of books or screenplays and the only question is how is the writer going to make one of them interesting?

There are SO very many wizard stories out there (and we won't even count vampire angst) that I can believe the 10 plot rule!

61Prop2gether
Out 21, 2010, 11:51 am

Latest reads, reviews to follow:

Caleb's Story by Patricia MacLachlan
Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday by Nancy Atherton
Change One for Diabetes
The Sibyl by Par Lagerkvist
Angel of Darkness by Charles de Lint
Written in Blood by John Wilson (Early Reviewer)

62Prop2gether
Out 25, 2010, 7:17 pm

And to review. . .

Caleb's Story by Patricia MacLachlan is the third in the Sarah, Plain and Tall series, and it was quite good. Where the first two books are "girly" because they are written by a girl, this one is strictly for the boys. I liked it.

Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday by Nancy Atherton and she tackles another family problem, this one involving the neighbors and their lordly kin.

Change One for Diabetes is a diet/exercise book (which was on the sale shelf, I admit) based on the Reader's Digest promoted program of changing one thing about your diet/exercise/life style per week to succeed. This one has been nicely adapted to accommodate a diabetic's needs for blood sugar control. It's marked and being used.

The Sibyl by Par Lagerkvist is the second in a trilogy which began with Barabbas. I liked very much Lagerkvist's very spare style in Barabbas, and this short novel is very much in the same line. It continues with a man looking for a sibyl who will answer his question: having been cursed to ever-lasting life by a man bearing a cross on the street because he did not let the man lean against his house, when will he die? She, in turn, who was the pythia (the priestess of the oracle) and has been living in a desolate house with her mentally deficient son, tells him her story in response. I found this book intriguing by what it doesn't say. There's the third book, the story of the Wandering Jew, and I am looking forward to reading it.

Angel of Darkness by Charles de Lint is an extremely dark story written under de Lint's "Samuel M. Key" persona, which I looked for after reading another one of these books for the Halloween thread. I found this one quite intense, involving dreams, abuse, and questions of redemption. I like reading about this side of de Lint's world at least as much as I enjoy reading his more "positive" books.

Written in Blood by John Wilson (Early Reviewer) is a teen Western--really. No vampires, no exploratory sex, no gang wars (well, except for Western gangs). A fifteen-year old leaves home in Canada to find his father who left the family nine years earlier to settle accounts in Mexico. This novella is the story of that journey. I found it highly readable (although I doubt I would pay market price for it) and, aside from the usual bloopers for a proof edition, recommend it.

63TadAD
Out 25, 2010, 7:42 pm

I'd also like to try the rest of de Lint's "Darker Side" books. I enjoyed the one back in Sept.

64elkiedee
Nov 4, 2010, 7:47 am

Actually, I've always thought J K Rowling drew on work by lots of UK children's authors - Diana Wynne Jones and Jill Murphy (the Worst Witch series) are big influences. I've never heard of the Jane Yolen book, and I think JKR probably grew up reading a lot of the same books as me since she's only a few years older.

65Prop2gether
Nov 4, 2010, 1:12 pm

elkiedee, I'm sure Rowling drew on lots of source materials, but frankly, the Yolen claim is that Harry is a direct draw from Henry, and that's not the way I saw the two stories. Rowling has mentioned that Dodie Smith's I Capture the Castle was a strong influence on her life and work, and that, too, shows up in some of the Harry Potter and related books.

Authors use experience, reading, and research in their works, and stuff creeps in from all over the place. Neither Chaucer nor Dante, and certainly not Shakespeare or even King, is immune from borrowing elements of stories or characters. It's how they use that material that makes their works interesting. It has been said that there are only 10 plots in fiction and they just keep getting rewritten--

66Prop2gether
Editado: Nov 10, 2010, 3:55 pm

Okay, I owe reviews...

I'll Be Watching You by Charles de Lint (writing as Samuel Key)
One Beastly Beast by Garth Nix
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by New Scamander
Galilee by Clive Barker

plus note that since my last posting, I've reread Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to get up to speed for the release of the penultimate film next week.

The Halloween thread in this group included a de Lint book written under his alter ego of Samuel Key, and I was intrigued enough by the style to read all three of the Key novels, with I'll Be Watching You the last in order. I really enjoyed this darker side of de Lint and his world. The three Key novels are all heavy on ghosts and abuse themes, but they are fascinating reads as well. This one was the most seductive in drawing the reader into the scenario and, I think, the best ended. Thanks for the introduction!

One Beastly Beast by Garth Nix was a set of four short stories by Nix for younger children and they were quite marvelous. In the first, a young boy returning a DVD sees a line of rats dressed as pirates stealing videos being chased by rats dressed as sailors and follows them into the sewer. Introduced to Nix through the 75er read of the Abhorsen Trilogy, this set of stories just charmed me.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne took a very long time to read for me (several months) because I felt like I was taking biology, botany, oceanography, and sailing courses while traveling with the Professor and his companions on Captain Nemo's submarine. However, the story itself is great and I want to read The Mysterious Island in the next few months to see what the Captain is up to on dry land.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander is a title familiar to Harry Potter fans. The short book, printed to raise funds for Rowling's favorite charity, was just fun to read.

Galilee by Clive Barker was on the Halloween thread, and, it takes the narrator 397 pages to say:
"Ah well; this was never fated to be a book distinguished by its tidiness. I'm sure it's going to get a damn sight less orderly before we get to the final pages."

Really? At nearly 600 pages, this "romance" from the writer of some well received horror fiction could have used an editor with a machete. There's a very basic storyline here that is amended, extended, qualified, and carried on so long that what should have been a fast neat families feud is so bloated that it seems interminable. For the interim, I'm back to a much shorter and cleaner Stephen King.

67alcottacre
Nov 10, 2010, 4:01 pm

I do not think I have heard of One Beastly Beast by Nix. Thanks for the recommendation of that one, Laurie. I will look for it!

68blackdogbooks
Nov 11, 2010, 1:48 pm

Galilee was probably the least liked of my choices for this year's Halloween Reading, and it turned out to be my least favorit Barker. I really do like his others a lot. But I'm glad you liked the dark de Lints. I just finished up The Dreaming Place and started From a Whisper to A Scream today.

69Prop2gether
Nov 17, 2010, 2:54 pm

I'm finishing up the Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton and enjoying the later stories much more than the first two I read. So kudos again for the Halloween thread, BDB. I do have some suggestions for next year....

In the meantime, I've finished

The Death of Ahasuerus by Par Lagerkvist
Children of the Wolf by Jane Yolen
The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs

The Death of Ahasuerus is the third in the series which Lagerkvist started with Barabbas and continued with The Sibyl. I enjoyed the first two more than this one, which is the tale of the Wandering Jew and his death (okay, a contradiction but poetic license). This novel completes the story Lagerkvist is telling, but it is not as strong as the first two. I very much like the very lean prose of Lagerkvist and I am glad the 1001 Must Read list introduced this author to me.

Children of the Wolf by Jane Yolen is a very slim novelization of the story of two girls discovered living with wolves in India. Yolen has transmuted the fact by changing the Indian doctor to a British missionary and by having the story told by one of the orphans at the mission. It is a fascinating read.

The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs--when I left Tarzan at the end of the first novel, he had relinquished his title for the happiness of Jane, so she could marry another. *oh my* This second novel has Honor! Spies! Shipwreck! Hidden City! Slave Trading! Rescues! More Honor! and True Love! It was a great adventure read.

70beserene
Nov 17, 2010, 4:04 pm

Cool -- a Jane Yolen book I hadn't heard of! **whooshing sound as book is added to wishlist**

Thanks!

I really must read some of the Tarzan books someday. I keep forgetting that they are fun to read -- I appreciate the reminder. :)

71alcottacre
Nov 18, 2010, 1:34 am

I am also adding Children of the Wolf to the BlackHole. Thanks, Laurie!

72blackdogbooks
Nov 19, 2010, 5:57 pm

I am always open to suggestions, prop! Shoot me a message here, on my thread, or on my profile page. I'm still finishing up the list myself, reading the HG Wells now.

73TadAD
Nov 24, 2010, 8:16 am

Children living with wolves in India...ummm...didn't Kipling kind of do that already? *smile*

74Prop2gether
Nov 24, 2010, 12:12 pm

Oh, but this was based on fact--actually, probably the same facts that Kipling used, come to think of it. *chuckle*

75Prop2gether
Nov 24, 2010, 6:01 pm

Completed:

The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton
Quidditch Through the Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp
The White Stag by Kate Seredy
Once There Was a War by John Steinbeck
The Little Book of Hanukkah
It Wood Be Fun: Woodworking with Children by Michael Bentinck-Smith (ER)
Salt, Lemons, Vinegar and Baking Soda by Shea Zukowski

more to come....

76Whisper1
Nov 24, 2010, 7:18 pm

Happy Thanksgiving Laurie

I'm thankful for your participation in the 75 challenge group!

77blackdogbooks
Nov 30, 2010, 11:15 am

Love the Steinbeck, Once there was a War. What'd you think. About to pick up the ghost story book, but gotta finish the Henlein first.

78Prop2gether
Editado: Dez 15, 2010, 12:53 pm

Okay, I'm late . . .

The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton was the last book I finished for the Halloween challenge. Most of the stories were incomplete for me, but there were some gems, and I loved this quote from "All Souls":
"I read the other day in a book by a fashionable essayist that ghosts went out when electric light came it. What nonsense! The writer, though he is fond of dabbling, in a literary way, in the supernatural, hasn't even reached the threshold of his subject. (deleted sentence) And, by the way, haven't you noticed that it's generally not the high-strung and imaginative who see ghosts, but the clam matter-of-fact people who don't believe in them, and are are they wouldn't mind if they did see one?"
The stories were written over the years and I enjoyed the later stories more. In any event, I am glad I read them.

Quidditch Through the Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp is a fund raiser for Rowling's charities. No great challenges or insight-it was cute, and I'm a fan.

The White Stag by Kate Seredy is her short tale of the legends the Huns and Magyars which culminate with Attila. Nicely imagined (or retold, if you prefer) with marvelous illustrations by the author. Told for elementary age children, it was a fine short read for an adult as well.

Once There Was a War by John Steinbeck was for my RL book club, because in November we discussed Steinbeck's works. I read nearly all of his fiction near the end of high school, but have read very little of his non-fiction. Now I have to go back and read more. Steinbeck got himself assigned as a war correspondent during WWII, but because of his age and political inclinations, it took a while. He did not actually get to the war until the last couple of years. Then he focused on the individual soldier or unit in his dispatches, rather than battle or action reports. The result is a wonderful pastiche of essays about the people he was with during his tour. He started in England, was briefly in North Africa, and landed with troops in Italy. Highly recommended--reminded me a bit of Orwell's Homage to Catalonia, being one man's vision of war.

The Little Book of Hanukkah--just what the title says. A little of this, a little of that--and one of the few books out right now which is not addressed to children about the holiday.

It Wood Be Fun: Woodworking with Children by Michael Bentinck-Smith was an Early Reviewer book, designed for adults who work with young children on woodworking projects. My greatgrandfather was a master woodworker, and my dad was pretty good at it. This is a good primer of basic tools and projects. There is a fair amount of discussion about approaches to working with children (and wood), but overall a nicely laid book. William is a Wolf Cub Scout, so I gave him and his dad the book.

Salt, Lemons, Vinegar and Baking Soda by Shea Zukowski is a fabulous book about how to use these four basics for all kinds of household reasons. I found a lot (and I mean a lot) of my mother's and grandmothers's tricks, and this is now the gift book for several on my list. I found it in the discount aisle at B&N.

79Prop2gether
Dez 15, 2010, 1:01 pm

Hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving and are enjoying the year-end festivities.

Also finished:

Aunt Dimity: Snowbound by Nancy Atherton
The Man on the Balcony by Sjowall and Wahloo (999)
Armadillos and Old Lace by Kinky Friedman
Mulengro by Charles de Lint (999)
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (999)
Grover Cleveland by Henry F. Graff (Presidents, 999)
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (999)
Charlie Wilson's War by George Crile (999)
Everlost by Neal Shusterman (999)

As you can tell, I've picked up my 2010 999 Challenge list and slightly panicked. The good news is that I've enjoyed my chosen reads so far. Now, if I could just get of the boot on my foot. . . . I broke my toe October 9, splinted it to the next, and finally went to the doctor's on November 10 because it was still swollen and sore. His x-rays revealed I broke the toe in three places (fortunately no joints!) plus the toe next to it. So I'm in a boot until all heals up. Tonight's plane trip should be fun! My daughter's ceremonies for her master's degree take place this weekend, so I'm off to meet her and watch.

80Prop2gether
Editado: Dez 15, 2010, 5:44 pm

So, to try to get up to date:

Aunt Dimity: Snowbound by Nancy Atherton is the next in series for this cozy mystery series. No murders, just mystery, snowstorms, love and hate, and, of course, a really attractive man to tempt Lori. This was more involved than the last couple, and I do enjoy the series.

The Man on the Balcony by Sjowall and Wahloo is the third in the Martin Beck mystery series, and this one involves child murders in Stockholm, and a mugger/rapist who may or may not be the killer.

Armadillos and Old Lace by Kinky Friedman is also the next in series and Kinky's starting to use more PC terminology. He's also returned to Texas where he gets involved in a series of murders of older ladies who seem to have no discernable connection. Kinky's his own character, and, like Flashman, you either go along for the ride, or you never read him again. It's a nice change of pace for me.

Mulengro by Charles de Lint is the novel which he claims so upset some of his fans that he wrote similarly dark-themed mysteries under a pen name, Samuel Key. This one is based around the Rom (Gypsy) culture and I was intrigued from the start. Mulengro is the name of a walking spirit which is killing Rom members who it deems are dishonorable. He's violent, he can control dead spirits, and the characters fighting him are a strange and fascinating mix.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke is the first of her trilogy about Meggie, her father Mo, and great-aunt Elinor and their abilities with the written word. Mo can bring characters out of books and stories he reads out loud (although someone or something swaps into the story), but he stops all such reading when his wife disappears into Inkheart. When one character from Inkheart tries to get Mo to perform his skill on command, all the action starts. I enjoyed this book (haven't seen the movie), but not so sure yet that it is worth another 1000 pages and two sequels. However, I'm game to try next year.

Grover Cleveland by Henry F. Graff is a short biography which effectively introduces the only man who was elected president, lost the reelection, and then was elected again to the position. A man of great probity, but something of a workaholic, Cleveland looks to be more interesting for follow-up reading.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo is the story of the mouse with big ears who loves to read, fights the rats to rescue the princess, and is responsible for reintroducing soup to the human population. Cute, but also written cute, which I found mildly annoying.

Charlie Wilson's War by George Crile is the history upon which the film was based. It's chock full of details about the CIA's unofficial war with the Russians in Afghanistan, and it was a fascinating read.

Everlost by Shusterman is the world between life and "somewhere else" where apparently only children go because there are no adults around. Two children involved in a head-on collision (Nick and Allie) find themselves in Everlost trying to figure out what's going on and how to move on. Shusterman's books are sometimes very entertaining, and sometimes I really don't care about the characters. This book was entertaining, and seemed to end well--then I realized that it's the first of a series. Argh! The last series by Shusterman was a serious disappointment in the third book, so I'm not sure I'll read the sequels. However, I did enjoy the storyline of Everlost and would recommend it.

81alcottacre
Dez 16, 2010, 12:22 am

Sorry to hear about the broken toes, Laurie! I have broken just about all of mine at one time or other. They are really a pain, aren't they? You never realize how much you depend on them until you need them, lol.

Congratulations to your daughter! Safe travels.

82ronincats
Dez 20, 2010, 10:50 pm

Laurie, just a note to let you know I've set up a thread for "Future Women: Explorations and Aspirations" in the 2011 group. This is for the readings we talked about after reading The Postman in October, with post-apocalyptic or otherwise future views of women's role in societies. I'm not scheduling reading to start until February 1, but am letting people know so that they can star it and start acquiring books if they so choose.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/105210

83TadAD
Dez 21, 2010, 10:43 am

>80 Prop2gether:: Mulengro is one of my favorite de Lint works. I'm glad you found it interesting.

On the Inkheart front. I listened to the first on audio book and rather enjoyed it though, perhaps, it went just a little too long. I couldn't get into the second one, however. Some part of my brain was telling me the story was over, time to move on.

84blackdogbooks
Dez 22, 2010, 10:07 am

DeLint is brilliant. Haven't read that one yet, but I will.

85Prop2gether
Dez 22, 2010, 10:40 am

Gentlemen, actually, I've very much enjoyed de Lint's "darker" novels. The Key novels are thematically quite similar, where Mulengro was a slight shift in style, but all of these works read well. I wish he'd write more.

As for Inkheart, I may try the sequel, but I felt the story ended well in this book. I've been disappointed this year in some of the trilogies (or longer) series, especially those set for children or teens. So we'll see.

Ronincats, thanks for the heads up. I'll check the thread.

86beserene
Dez 22, 2010, 4:36 pm

Funke's sequels to Inkheart are perhaps not as good -- I remember reading them and wishing that some parts had been left out -- and I agree with you that the story was wrapped up pretty well to begin with.

Apparently the movie folks thought that too, because they made a change to the ending and cut off the possibility of the sequels. First time I'd ever seen Hollywood do that. The movie was decent, if not brilliant. Best part for me was Paul Bettany doing the firedancing. Hot. :)

Have you started a 2011 thread? I'll look for you...

87Prop2gether
Jan 4, 2011, 3:12 pm

Okay, the last books I read in December and 2010 were:

The River of Doubt by Candice Millard
Ulysses S. Grant by Josiah Bunting III
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
The Master of Ballantrae by Robert Louis Stevenson
A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas
Myths and Truths About Coyotes by Carol Cartaino
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
The Beasts of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs

At year's end, I reviewed a "999" list of 1010 (i.e., 100 books in 10 categories) that I was interested in reading, finishing, or just browsing. When mid-December came, I hadn't done too well on the list of books, so I went to my shelves and dug in. Happily, I found a lot of great reading, some of which is reviewed below:

The River of Doubt by Candice Millard is the story of Teddy Roosevelt's last great adventure, up a river in the Brazilian jungle. He had just lost his third party bid for the White House, and talked his son Kermit into joining him in an attempt to prove that the "River of Doubt" met the Amazon. The trek nearly killed both men and many in their party, but the story is a fascinating study of both hubris and great bravery in facing the unknown. It was on my 999 list for Presidents, but I gifted this book to my son, who is looking for "interesting history books." Highly recommended.

Ulysses S. Grant by Josiah Bunting III is part of the series of Presidential biographies which are short, concise, and written to introduce the casual reader to one of the men who has led this country. I'll tackle Grant's memoirs this year, I hope, and get more detail, but this was a nice primer.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness is the first of the Chaos Trilogy and I found on the ALA Teen/Young Adult recommendations for the year and filled a Teen Angst category slot for the 999 list. What if you couldn't hide what you were thinking from anyone? In this novel, a young man is about to come of age in a remote planetary settlement where there are no women. One day, he "hears" silence for the first time. His "family" of two men who have raised him, literally throw him, and his dog, out on the road to run away from the settlement. The questions of why, his history, his travels, and his coming of age are the story. Word of caution--this ends on a "Matrix 2" ending, meaning you need to be ready to start the next book. I got it yesterday.

....have to continue....

88Prop2gether
Editado: Jan 4, 2011, 3:25 pm

and continuing. . . .

The Master of Ballantrae by Robert Louis Stevenson is a 1001 Must Read, and I put it down much earlier in the year because the story seemed to be dragging a bit, but, man oh man, I should have read five more pages--everything started! The story of two brothers who deliberately take opposing sides in war (the elder joining Prince Charles and the younger holding the family title to lands), and then find themselves forced together. The younger's wife was the elder's sweetheart; the title was passed to the younger, but actually belongs to the elder. The elder is a thief, braggart, and wastrel; the younger a sober and conscientious landlord. Told by a family retainer, this is an absorbing story of what we today call a "dysfunctional" family. I'm very happy that I decided to finish it.

A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas is the well-known holiday book about Christmas and its activities as seen by a child. It was charming.

Myths and Truths About Coyotes by Carol Cartaino was an Early Reviewer book about--coyotes. Having known about coyotes all my life, this was an interesting commentary on the animal which is both urban and rural, and wild in both places. There was some repetition, but Cartaino tries to present a balanced view of coyotoes today, and she provides an interesting reference section for further reading.

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham is one couple's attempt to disavow all the expense and habits of Christmas when their daughter goes to South America with the Peace Corps. They are bullied, praised, embarassed, and envied. The ending is happy, and it was a cute short novel for the season.

The Beasts of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs is the next in the Tarzan series. I am really enjoying these novels--who knew? Tarzan's baby is kidnapped and he ends up back in the jungle amid, guess what, the beasts! It has intrigue, the apes, the nasty and nastier villains, and lovely Jane.

So--in sum:

I read 225 works this year, all over the map in style and content. Most I enjoyed and only a couple were so dreadful as to recommend to no one. I have acres of books stacked to read, from lists and suggestions, and will move to my 2011 list here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/105437

See you there!