Connie's comments (member since Mar 11, 2009)

Connie's comments from the 50 Books A Year group.

O.K. so since so many have started their posts for what they are planning on reading next year I will start mine. My goal this year was 65 which I didn't quite make. I think I will be at 62. My plan is to finish 3 more books by next thursday. that being said my first books of 2010 will be:

Under the Dome by Stephen King
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
Bag of Bones by Stephen King
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Not necessarily in that order, but that's the start of 2010 for me. I also plan to read the Twilight books, & The Stand by Stephen King.

And a little side note, I don't plan on reading any physical books (at least not through July) and only the physical books that I have at home. I now have two ereaders and I plan on doing 95% of my reading on them (not that that has anything to do with anything here).

Good Luck to all of us in 2010 and hope the year is full of joy and great reading.

59)

I liked this book, but I think it may only be because the author grew up in Michigan around the time I did and the topics and descriptions were so familiar. This is not a pager turner although I did read it all today. But the story moved along o.k. I give it 3 stars.

58) The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

I really liked this book. I gave it 4 stars and would recommend to anyone. Probably one of the best books I've read this year.

Nancy wrote: "# 47 "The Art Student's War" Leithauser"

What did you think of this book? I know it's based in Detroit (where I'm from) and was interested in reading.

Kate wrote: "32.
The Gargoyle

WHAT A BOOK! Poetic, twisted, tragic -- very complex characters . . . I don't know what to think of the whole tale. Highly reco..."

I'm on about page 60 of the Gargoyle now. I've heard so many great reviews. So far I really like the book. I should finish it tomorrow (hopefully)!

57) Wishin' and Hopin' A Christmas Story

I absolutely Loved this book!!! so unexpected. although I love Wally Lamb, his subject matter is usually quite serious. Not this book, just a great little coming of age story set in 1964. There were parts of this book that actually made me laugh hysterically out loud!!! Highly recommend 5 stars!!!

I did like this book. I read this for my book club and wasn't really in the mood for a nonfiction. That being said, there were a lot of things I learned about Iran and the people that were different from what we are told by the Western media. I think if it's a topic you are interested in, you will like this book. she also wrote a book before it called "Lipstick Jihad" which I haven't read but may put it on my tbr.

56)

Sharyn wrote: "I found this list of authors at this site.
http://bookclubclassics.com/Blog/50-states-50-books-list/"

They have Annie Proulx for both Connecticutt & Wyoming. (although in CT they list her as E. Annie Proulx). I would find a different author for CT. Not sure who though.

Sheila wrote: "I have started to put together my list and am going to list my first 10.
My local library is having book discussion groups and the librarian was kind enough to give me the list ahead of time. So......"

I really liked In the Woods. Hope you enjoy that book as well.

Kathy wrote: "Hi Connie, I agree the movie definitely inspired me to read White Oleander too! Love Janet Fitch's style of writing - have you managed to read her other book, paint it black?"

No, I haven't read anything else by her yet.

Kathy wrote: "Name: Kathy
Where do you live: Durban, South Africa
Age (Optional): 22
What are you studying/What are you working as: Web Developer, studying programming
What makes you happy: Happy people, new ex..."

Kathy - I love White Oleander too. It's one of my favorite movies and when I found out it was based on a book I finally got around to reading that!!!

55)The Good Soldiers by David Finkel

This was an excellent non-fiction read. If you are interested in what war is like, in particular the Iraq war this is an excellent book. The author completely kept himself out of the narrative and focused completely on the soldiers and their thoughts and feelings.

Carol wrote: "Connie, is the picture on your thread really you? I mean, is that your picture? You look like a laid-back person with no need to complain...but I guess that's something that's in all of us. LOL ..."

It is me in the picture!!!

Kate wrote: "So sad . . . I'm a little stuck @ 31 . . . I've picked up a lot of "to reads" but not stuck with them, skimmed a LOT of non-fiction, caught up on magazines and bookreviews, done A LOT of Christmas ..."

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is on my TBR on my Kindle right now, but I have heard that the sequel The Girl that Plays with Fire is execellent. That might catch your interest. BTW I got so burned out this past summer I think I only read about 6 books from May to beginning of August. I usually go back to my old standby (James Patterson) and just do some mindless reading that I know moves.

Rachel wrote: "Name:Rachel
What makes you happy: reading, art, complaining."

Complaining (hahahaha) and I thought I was the only one that made happy!!! I'm really good at it too!!!!

Dawn wrote: "I PURCHASED FAULKNERS 3 BOOK COLLECTION THAT WAS ON OPRAHS LIST BECAUSE I READ ALOT OF JUNK AND WAS HOPING THAT COULD BE BY ONE SERIOUS BOOK FOR THE YEAR. ITS BEEN ON MY SHELVES FOR 2 YEARS ALREAD..."

Dawn - I really liked "As I Lay Dying" from that 3 book collection. "The Sound & the Fury" I thought was a very difficult read, the story is incrediby confusing (I actually had to go online and look at the cliffnotes to see what had happened in the story because I was so confused). I still have the last book to read, I think it's called "A Light in August" or something like that. I would definitely try As I Lay Dying. Once you get past the language he uses in the book it's a good book. (By language I mean they speak in a very southern and unintelligent manner and the reader has to work at understanding what is being said.)

Well I have ideas of what I want to read for 2010 but I always have my list and then it gets changed as I go along. Right now I'm finishing up the 8 books I have checked out from the library. I want to read some Stephen King next year (The Stand, Under the Dome & Salem's Lot), I'd like to read a couple of non-fiction biographies, I'm thinking about 1776 & John Adams and possibly Ted Kennedy's memoir, I'm also on a waiting list for Sara Palin's autobiography and I'd like to finally finish Bill Clinton's. I'd like to read the finalists for the Booker Prize (Wolf Hall, Summertime et. al.) and the finalists for the National book award and just work from my list of books and ebooks I already own.

The HBO series Generation Kill was based on the book, but it didn't do the book justice!!!

Silvana wrote: "Peg wrote: Go for it! What do you have to lose? If you've read all of Tracy Kidder's books, try Bill Bryson and Mark Kurlansky, or anything by Studs Terkel.

great, thanks for the encouragement and..."