Laurie's comments (member since Dec 30, 2007)

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

Stardust by Neil Gaiman. An entertaining read.

The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau. I like this YA series. It's entertaining for me: interesting to see how the Emberites interact with the people from Sparks and how we take so much for granted these days.

Living Dead in Dallas
Fun stuff!!! I'm digging this series. Can't decide yet if I am on "Team Bill" or "Team Eric"!

A Prayer for the Dying by Stewart O'Nan
- First of all, Eeeww!! Necrophilia.
- I'm curious also about the ending? When he gets out of the lake with his shovel and heads back to Friendship to be with the ones he loves. Does that mean he is going to properly bury everyone in Friendship because he loves the town and the people so much. Or, does it mean he is going to dig up his wife and daughter and play house with them again? I kind of take it to mean both, but more-so the being with his family. (Again, eeewww!! He knows what he is doing on some level because he mentions that he should have used more fluid when his wife's jaw starts to show or droop or whatever. How nasty (and sinky!) to be sitting around with a corpse?? And, he even bathes her - gross).
- Is he is crazy already or does this epidemic push him over the edge? I looked up some information on diphtheria and not everyone is susceptible to it, so Jacob probably was the carrier and infected all those people. I didn't find anything that mentioned that the infection can cause people to go crazy, though, so that does not seem to be related to the disease. By burning the elderly woman alive in her nephew's (or whatever relation's) house, and having to kill the cow, the cat, etc., does he just go mad or was he already a little bit ways down that path? Seems to me that we're led to think he's already troubled, at a minimum, seeing as how he won't ride a horse and the way he takes such painstaking pride in his work as the undertaker. Seems to me like he considers that his primary job and being the town preacher is secondary. We just experience so much more detail of him taking care of the dead than preaching. And what was up with the statement about the war guy that he fed and when he buried him Jacob had to make sure his shirt sleeves were down so that people wouldn't see the strips of skin missing? Is he a cannibal, too?
- I didn't really care much for the 2nd person narrative. I'm guessing it was written that way to impress that driven to extreme's, anyone is capable of anything. "You did this" and "You did that" just didn't really resonate with me, though. If anything, it made me more detached from the story.

I was ALL about Sweet Valley High when I was 12 to 13 years old!!

#4 - Finished The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz today. I liked it OK, it got a little annoying in places.

The Red Tent, Time Traveller's Wife, The Road, In Her Shoes

I've read 21 of them

DEB & DANINE: Chautauqua Park is really beautiful, I agree!! I've never gone there to read, though. Mostly, I read in bed or on the sofa. In the summer, I spread out a blanket in the backyard while my kids play outside so that I can be with them. As it turns out, I do more playing than reading when I do that, though! :-)

Aprile wrote: "Have fun at The Phantom! That's my hubby's favourite musical!" Thanks, I am looking forward to it!

#3 - The Phantom of the Opera - I'm really glad I read this book before going to see the musical next weekend. I've seen the show before, and have seen the recent movie adaptation a couple of times. I love the music from those. The book gives a great insight into the minds of the characters and the catalyst for some of the actions and decisions they make. There were some parts that were pretty fantasic, as in the hard-to-believe sense of the word. All in all, very enjoyable when making sure to remember the context of the times in which it was written.

A non-Vampire series that I like is the Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig. It is a bit far-fetched as the books all deal with female spies in the late 1800's and their adventures in saving England while also finding their true loves, but it entertains me nevertheless!

Danine wrote: "How do you choose what 50 books you will read? Do you have a prepared list are your book choices spur of the moment?"
- The TBR list here on GoodReads is a great help. Generally, I read whatever is chosen for my book club, then just look at my TBR list and compare it to what I already own. I'm trying to make it through the ones I own and have not read first.

Danine wrote: "Do you lend books to friends? Why or why not?
- I'll lend books to my friends, or if there is one I think they will really like, I will give it to them. As for the why/why not part of the question, I guess it never dawned on me not to lend out a book that someone wants to read or that I'd think they'd like and enjoy.

Danine wrote: "With the basic necessities of life (food, shelter, etc) how do books fit into your budget?
- I use rewards, such as from from Amercain Express, to get Barnes&Noble gift cards to buy books. I like to buy what I read to support the author. It's normally cheaper than going to a movie and I can revisit the book when I want and take my time reading it. I try not to buy books unless I am using a reward gift certificate, though.

#2 - The Thin Man - Dashiell Hammet. I enjoyed this, though could not figure out the ending. This book is from the 1930's starring the characters of Nick and Nora Charles. Nick is a Private Investigator and gets pulled into helping figure out a murder mystery. I would have liked for the author to let the reader into Nick's head a bit more, though. I didn't really understand why he thought and did some of the things he did. I can see why these characters were adapted for movies - most of the book is dialogue. I like Nora, she was so secure in her relationship with Nick! And boy-oh-boy, can those two really drink! It was entertaining, all-in-all.

I have "The Pity of It All: A Portrait of the German-jewish Epoch"" by Amos Elon on my TBR shelf because I read an interview where Natalie Portman had stated she read it and it really made her think and realize some things. I checked out what the book was about and sounds very intriguing.
Also, I read Maria Shriver's "Just Who Will You Be?" because she wrote it.

Dead Until Dark - I enjoyed this, and I also like the HBO series. I like Tara in the HBO series so am glad they created/added her. It made me feel bad in the book that Sookie really had no one to go to. I wonder if her and Bill's love can be sustained, though? It would be nice to have the quiet that he brings to her mind, but perhaps that novelty will wear thin, as he can be a very bad vampire! A very fun read, all-in-all, and a good way to kick off the New Year! I finished 32 in '08 - not a great percentage - but am trying to meet at least that - and hopefully the full 50! - in '09!

#1 - Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse Series)
#2 - The Thin Man - Dashiell Hammett
#3 - The Phantom of the Opera - Gaston Leroux
#4 - The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - Junot Diaz
#5 - A Prayer for the Dying - Stewart O'Nan
#6 - Living Dead in Dallas - Charlaine Harris
#7 - The City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau
#8 - The People of Sparks - Jeanne DuPrau
#9 - College Success Guide - Karine Blackett and Patricia Weiss
#10 - The Prophet of Yonwood - Jeanne DuPrau
#11 - Business English, fourth edition - Barron's
#12 - Club Dead - Charlaine Harris
#13 - Medical Office Procedures - Becklin
#14 - Stardust - Neil Gaiman

Re: Heinlein - I have a copy of "Stranger in a Strange Land" around here somewhere and have heard from others that it is definitely a must-read. I'll have to dig it out! Thanks!!