Molly's comments
(member since Oct 05, 2008)
Molly's comments from the 50 Books A Year group.
(showing 1-20 of 221)
#26 - "The Man Who Made Vermeers: Unvarnishing the Legend of Master Forger Han Van Meegeren" - Jonathan Lopez***
Non-fiction book about legendary forger who duped the world with his fake Vermeer paintings until his reality as a Nazi collaborator/sympathizer was discovered after WW2.
Arlene wrote: "Carol, It is easy to start your own list. Just go to the discussion > A-E and click on the link to the right that says "New Topic". Then you can add your own topic title (something like Carol's ..."
Carol - I actually sent you a message yesterday about how to do this as well. Go to your Inbox (top right of the page - between "Hi Carol" and "signout" - on Goodreads and you'll find the same instructions from me there.
Arlene wrote: "Lewis Carol was a mathematician who made up the stories to entertain a child (a niece I think)..."
He made up the story to entertain the daughter of a friend (or maybe it was his boss?) named Alice. There have been suggestions that he did more than entertain young girls with just stories however.
Sounds to me like Keillor would be better for you on audio book Carol. I thought I heard that he narrates his own - but maybe not. I've never read him myself and can see how it might be distracting in print.
Leslie wrote: "69. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath 
Interestingly, the woman who authored Girl, Interrupted was treated at the same facility as Ms. Plath a few years later..."
I did not know that Leslie! I loved The Bell Jar - I actually found lots of humor in it which surprised me. I haven't read Girl, Int. either but am a big fan of the movie.
Amber wrote: "50. i am the messenger--markus zusak"
Congrats on your 50 goal!
Jenny wrote: "20. Eat, Pray, Love One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
So I'm never going to reach 50 but at least I can make a target to beat next year!"
Hey Jenny! That's what I'm doing too - just trying to match or improve upon the prior year's total. I'm at 25 now and last year I did 27. So I'm pretty confident I'll succeed. I'm not sure if I have time to reach 30 but that would be terrific for me.
#25 - "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" - Betty Smith****
A young girl growing up in the early 1900's in Brooklyn has a love for books, life and family. The innocence of childhood protects her from the hardships of the time.
#24 - "Rebecca" - Daphne Du Maurier****
Classic suspense novel perfect for Halloween reading. The new wife is haunted by the dead wife and the secrets she learns only make things more and more sinister. Not to mention the surprise twists.
Emily wrote: "19) This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women, Jay Allison & Dan Gediman 
In 10th..."
My mom gave me this book for Christmas a few years ago. I had never heard of the TIB project. I really enjoyed reading the essays here. My favorites were the woman who believed everyone deserved flowers on their grave in gangland LA, and the person who wrote about being nice to your pizza delivery person.
Carol - you can count anything you want. There are no actual rules in this group - just a place for people to keep track of their goal. Some people count audio, some don't. Some count kid lit, some don't. Some count books read for school, some only use books read for pleasure. Some include graphic novels, others don't. Some consider re-reads OK, others don't include those. You get the idea. It is all up to you! Have fun reading, recording, and getting lots more suggestions here seeing what everyone else has read.
#23 - "Getting Mother's Body" - Suzan-Lori Parks***
The similarities to Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying" distracted me away from full enjoyment of this one which could have stood on its own. Quick read with humor via an updated twist on his classic.
Ryan wrote: "I am Ryan, I just joined today. I usually wouldn't have a problem with 50 books per year but I just had a baby so I am more doing this for 2010 and to keep myself reading. In 2009 I haven't read ..."
I absolutely loved The Color of Water. That is a terrific memoir.
Brian wrote: "71. Magnetic Field by Ron Loewinsohn
This book starts off like a crime novel with a couple of brutal scenes and some really screwed up characters. Then it's not.
Bei..."
Sounds intriguing enough to give it a shot.
Ryan wrote: "53. The Dart League King A Novel - Keith Lee Morris
I really enjoyed this fast paced, crazy, very dark novel about Thursday night dart leauge championship in a small Idaho town. ..."
I don't think it sounds boring - I used to be in a dart league - seems like a quirky story with potential. I'll check it out.
I always am so impressed by Faulkner's utter daring to begin his book with Benjy. I think people either abandon it after the first page or keep reading because they want to know the key to the seeming nonsense - they like a challenge. So maybe he did it intentionally to weed out those he felt weren't ready or willing to experience his work. I re-read it every few years - that certainly helps. Another example of the same writing style is his As I Lay Dying. Not nearly as challenging for a reader, but still the same idea. And quite funny too.
Michelle wrote: "42. The Sound and the Fury - Faulkner - September 14th"
This is one of my favorites. What did you think? Did you love it like I do or did it drive you crazy with the writing style?
Sorry to hear you are leaving CR Ed. Glad I can still hear your insight into books here.
#22 - "The Innocent Man: Murder & Injustice In A Small Town" - John Grisham***
Non-fictional accounting of what it was like for a wrongly convicted man to exist on Death Row.
Ed wrote: "Adding:
55. Red Azalea - Anchee Min
This is a simple story of the life of a young person in China during the Cultural Revolution. The hardships she and her family had to endure are difficult to ..."
You might enjoy Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress A Novel.
