Bridgit's comments
(member since Mar 06, 2009)
Bridgit's comments from the The Next Best Book Club group.
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Becca wrote: "Glad to see that Valek from Poison Study has been mentioned a few times. He's my ultimate book crush! (I kind of want a whole series just on him.)
Also seconding Captain Picard.
..."
OH GOD! Rick Castle!! I LOVE him. have been a huge fan since Firefly and was so excited to see him in a new show that is amazing!! Witty and hot! Can't beat the pair!
I have always hovered at +/- 100 books per year. THis year, largely as a result of the Seasonal Challenge, I already at around 150. I'll probably hit 160-165 by the end of the year. So that right there is something totally new for me. (and i think it is actually too much and I will set my goal at 120 next year.
My favorite books of the year were:
Ender's Game - LOVED this book. Am defniitely planning on reading more by him. For anyone who hasnt crossed the sci-fi barrier, this book is an excellent introduction. Think War Games.
The Poisonwood Bible
A Fine Balance - a beautiful, tragic story of life in India for the lower castes under Indira Ghandi
Salt A World History - absolutely fascinating history of the role that salt has had in shaping live around the globe from ancient times to present day. This was written so well and so educational.
The World Without Us - hypothesis about what would happen to the world if humans disappeared tomorrow. This really expanded the way I thought about the impact we have on our planet
I am actually really happy with the variety of books that made my list.
Worst books of the year:
The Enchantress of Florence - ugh. had to force myself to finish for my RLBC.
The Road - i guess people either love this or hate this. I was a hater. It was punishment for me to read it. Luckily, the formatting made it go by pretty quickly.
World Without End - a poor imitation of the first book. It seemed so clear to me that Follett was just trying to take advantage of the buzz from Oprah and the firt book to publish a sequel. I loved Pillars of the Earth, but thought this one was just so repetitious. Its like he just hit find and replace and changed the names of the characters from PotE and kept everything else the same.
Wise Blood A Novel - first read of O'Connors. won't be going back.
2nd splurge in a week. ravaged the bargain books section of BN.com for some classics this round: The Girl Who Played with Fire
Noah
The Raw Shark Texts
Lolita
A Christmas Carol
The Call of the Wild
Treasure Island
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Dubliners
The Importance of Being Earnest
Went to B&N to pick up my latest RL book club read and ended up with 7 more...
Wolf Hall - Book Club
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Lord of the Flies
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Dune
Water for Elephants
and I got home to find a free review copy of a book in my mailbox: Powers (can't find link right now)
OK. Let's see...
Noah from The Notebook
Roarke from ...In Death Series
Jaime from Outlander
Jean Claude from Anita Blake Series
Jason Bourne - Bourne Identity
Ramses from Amelia Peabody series (only when he is grown up)
Kisten - Dead Witch Walking Rachel Morgan series
Lucivar- Black Jewels Trilogy
Jeff Stevens - If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon
OK, went to go buy a guidebook to San Francisco and ended up with another haul. My husband is getting annoyed at me now...
1. San Francisco Guidebook 2009 (dont remember which one)
2. Lonely Planet - Sonoma
3. Olive Kitteridge A Novel in Stories
4. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
5. The Princess Bride
6. Gideon
7. Fearless Fourteen
8. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
9. Specimen Days
10. The Romanovs
Reading Jonathan Kellerman's A Cold Heart. I read a ton of the Alex Delaware series about 10-15 years ago, but nothing since. I really liked it back then, so hopefully I will like the revisit!
Hi Lori - Are the polls supposed to be closed? I thought they were open until Friday? I still wanted to vote!
I tend to avoid reading the 'it' book of the moment. I always try to avoid reading anything on the Oprah book list - it really throws my interest off.
El wrote: "Bridgit wrote: "Unfortunately, knowing all that, and reading it in context didnt actually help me enjoy it. I KNOW i had biases going into the book, which affected my response to it, but unfortunat..."
I hated Wuthering Heights too! :) So it is probably just the same thing. :)
I definitely understand why the character didnt have a name, and in fact both understood and realized all the points you brought up above while I was reading it, El.
I understand that not giving her a name helps to underscore the role that her character is a 'replacement' wife in most people's eyes. I understand that because she was so young and an orphan to boot that she hadnt yet developed the character stability and backbone to really stand up for herself. I also get that being forced to live in a situation where you are constantly facing comparison to a paragon of virtue and beauty and character (and ending up short) would lead to the kind of behavior that she displayed.
Unfortunately, knowing all that, and reading it in context didnt actually help me enjoy it. I KNOW i had biases going into the book, which affected my response to it, but unfortunately, I couldnt really look past my annoyances for both Maxim and the narrator to find anything enjoyable about it.
OK. i finished reading it last night. I sort of hesitate to be the first to post here because I know so many people LOVE this book, but these are my thoughts:
I was left very non-plussed after reading this book. I had heard so many great things about it over the years and really didnt see how it merited them. It took me a long time to become even remotely interested in teh book. Probably around page 125 I finally didnt have to force myself to pick it back up. But it was never something that I looked forward to.
I thought the 'romance' was so contrived. Max was never once affectionate towards her (did she even have a name) in any way. Not before they were married, not when they were just back from their honeymoon and at Manderley for the first time, and not even AFTER he finally broke down and expressed his love for her. I just didnt buy it.
And the 2nd Mrs. de Winter (seriously, she didnt have a name?) was so weak and pitiful that there was nothing to really like there. I hated her as a character. At least Rebecca has some spunk.
I really dont see what all the fuss was about. I know people loved the descriptions of places, but frankly, they bored me and i found myself skimming them more than really reading them.
I know I am reading it long after it was written so am aware that I am bringing multiple biases to the table. I'm sure that has affected my perception of it, but not enough for me to have really found it a worthwhile read.
and in advance to all those who i KNOW will have loved it... SORRY!
I'm on page 126. I had to force myself to read the first 100 or so pages. Im not hating it right now, but its not a book that is calling me back to it. Right now, I am preferring to channel surf on the TV rather than get back into the book - which isnt a good sign for someone who rarely ever watches TV
am about 70 pages into Rebecca and I just don't get the appeal. I have no real urge to get back to reading it. It so far doesnt hold my interest at all. I'm hoping it gets better, otherwise this will hang me up for at least a week...
Am reading two books right now - Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin at home and Away by Amy Bloom when I am out. I can't justify lugging ToR around in my purse everywhere - it's heavy enough as it is without adding another five pounds to it!
Katie wrote: "Wow, Bridgit, this thread is super weird for me because I think it was you who introduced me to my literary doppelganger. The series, mentioned (I think) in the Seasonal Challenge group, is about a..."Hey - that was totally me!!! So funny how things work out that way!
Bridgit wrote: "And I guess also, on a related note, do you relate to a book more, or find it more enjoyable if you share a first name OR a last name with a main character ?"
Hi - Not new - but thanks anyway!
Darcia wrote: "I'm an author and didn't join this group with any thought of having my books chosen as one of the monthly reads. I joined simply because I love to interact with other readers, to find new books, et..."
bravo.
And I guess also, on a related note, do you relate to a book more, or find it more enjoyable if you share a first name OR a last name with a main character ?
