http://www.goodreads.com/review/list_rss/217031 en-US Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:01:53 -0700 60 http://www.goodreads.com/ 200 41 http://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_logo.gif 23845411 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:01:53 -0700
author: Louise Mushikiwabo
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2006
rating: 5
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/15/08
shelves: africa, memoir, non-fiction
review:

]]> 27218850 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:57:25 -0700
author: Sloane Crosley
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.44
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/15/08
shelves: bookclub, essays
review:
Sloane Crosley reminds me of a cross between David Sedaris and Elaine, from Seinfeld. Some of her essays made me laugh out loud, and some of them (especially the one of about volunteering at the museum) made me want to read faster to get through it. I enjoyed it, though. It was a nice weekend book, and I'll be interested to see if there any other people in my book club (besides P) who knows what My Little Pony is.
]]> 23304306 Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:52:39 -0700
author: C.S. Lewis
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.99
book published: 1951
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 06/09/08
shelves: children, favorites, spiritual
review:

]]> 6161160 Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:51:53 -0700
author: Jeffrey Eugenides
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.77
book published: 1994
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 06/09/08
shelves: 1001-books
review:

]]> 23844995 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:00:19 -0700
author: Marjane Satrapi
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2003
rating: 5
read at: 06/08
date added: 06/06/08
shelves: europeans, favorites, graphic-comics, history, memoir, non-fiction, women
review:
I want to be Marjane Satrapi's best friend, but I'm sure I'm not nearly cool enough to hang out with her. I read the first part of Persepolis last year, but I finished the "complete" version last night. She is so good at expressing complex emotions and ideas in such simple drawings. My seven year old was dying to read this "comic book", but I told her to wait until she was 12, then I would let her read it. I did show her quite a few scenes, though, so I'm not a total fascist book censor.
]]> 22109810 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 06:56:32 -0700
author: Ishmael Beah
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2007
rating: 5
read at: 06/08
date added: 06/06/08
shelves: africa, memoir, non-fiction
review:
There were times that I wanted to scream reading this book. I was outraged at what happened to Ishmael and his friends. I am so thankful he was able to tell his story. This book is our first year read this year, and if this doesn't get my students' attention, I don't know what will.
]]> 22813328 Fri, 23 May 2008 09:21:25 -0700
author: John Abramson
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 05/23/08
shelves: tr-nonfiction
review:

]]> 9116222 Tue, 20 May 2008 12:53:50 -0700
author: Anne Tyler
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.83
book published: 1987
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 05/20/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 22228193 Wed, 14 May 2008 08:01:12 -0700
author: James Stuart Bell
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 05/14/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 4283311 Mon, 12 May 2008 18:06:28 -0700
I wish I could give the book 2 1/2 stars. Firstly, I invested my leisure reading time (precious little that I have) for the past six months to read this massive book, and secondly, I really did enjoy some of the characters. I loved Helen and Mr. Bora... hey, how about someone write a spin off sequal where Bora and Helen go looking for some other undead guy. On to African memoir!]]>
author: Elizabeth Kostova
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.52
book published: 2005
rating: 2
read at: 05/08
date added: 05/12/08
shelves: europeans, history, stuff-i-m-supposed-to-like-but-didn
review:
I liked some of this book very much, and I will say that the last 50 pages or so went pretty quickly, but 50 pages is but a mere fraction of this tome. I enjoyed the basic storyline of the book -- searching through Europe for Dracula and lost loved ones, but this book could have been 2/3 its size and still been a lovely, fleshy, narrative. More than half the book broke my cardinal rule: "no detailed dialogue in epistolatory passages". You can't have your cake and eat it too, Elizabeth. Either have Elsie's dad leave her letters or have her learn the conversations that took place. You can't have it both ways (and have your readers' faith).

I wish I could give the book 2 1/2 stars. Firstly, I invested my leisure reading time (precious little that I have) for the past six months to read this massive book, and secondly, I really did enjoy some of the characters. I loved Helen and Mr. Bora... hey, how about someone write a spin off sequal where Bora and Helen go looking for some other undead guy. On to African memoir!
]]> 21642471 Mon, 05 May 2008 11:03:47 -0700
author: Robert Graves
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.40
book published: 1934
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 05/05/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 3637935 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:35:16 -0700
author: Alexander McCall Smith
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2001
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 04/21/08
shelves: bookclub
review:

]]> 17791307 Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:22:21 -0700
author: Won-Ldy Paye
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2003
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 03/15/08
shelves: children
review:

]]> 17604437 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:18:28 -0700
author: Catherine Gourley
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.00
book published: 1999
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 03/12/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 17604345 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:17:12 -0700
author: Dottie Raymer
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 03/12/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 17604296 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:16:42 -0700
author: Janet Shaw
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.47
book published: 2002
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 03/12/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 17604260 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:16:25 -0700
author: Janet Beeler Shaw
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2002
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 03/12/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 17499601 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 05:28:33 -0700
author: Sinclair Lewis
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.59
book published: 1922
rating: 5
read at: 03/08
date added: 03/11/08
shelves: 1001-books, listened-to
review:
I didn't think I would like this book, so I began to listen to it while running one of my mindless reports at work. I was hooked pretty early on. Lewis has such a great voice for description without wordiness that I could picture the scenes in my mind perfectly. More importantly, I found my own inner Babbitt and I welcomed her, with warning. Babbitt's boosters and Elks are my book club and PTA board. My ego has an easy blow up valve on it, and I feel like I have people I need to please, or at least make comfortable. Maybe memories of this book will help me to remain true to myself regardless of the size of my head.
]]> 16965399 Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:03:31 -0800
author: Jon Scieszka
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2005
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 03/04/08
shelves: children
review:

]]> 16691066 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:11:57 -0800
author: Voltaire
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.85
book published: 1759
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 02/29/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 15930378 Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:08:32 -0800
author: Paula Danziger
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.69
book published: 1974
rating: 4
read at: 01/82
date added: 02/20/08
shelves: children
review:

]]> 15806545 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:13:28 -0800
author: Ian McEwan
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.66
book published: 0
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 02/19/08
shelves: 1001-books, listened-to
review:

]]> 3815196 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:30:36 -0800
author: Eric Carle
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.35
book published: 1969
rating: 5
read at: 06/01
date added: 02/12/08
shelves: children
review:

]]> 3473178 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:30:13 -0800
author: Michael Cunningham
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.88
book published: 1998
rating: 4
read at: 01/04
date added: 02/12/08
shelves: 1001-books, bookclub
review:

]]> 4175386 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:29:39 -0800
author: Joyce Carol Oates
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.37
book published: 1997
rating: 4
read at: 10/07
date added: 02/12/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 10098202 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:29:07 -0800
author: David Remnick
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.31
book published: 1994
rating: 4
read at: 02/01
date added: 02/12/08
shelves: history, non-fiction
review:

]]> 3814166 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:28:28 -0800
author: Leo Tolstoy
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.11
book published: 1869
rating: 3
read at: 08/96
date added: 02/12/08
shelves: europeans
review:

]]> 8765715 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:25:57 -0800
author: Philip Gulley
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2001
rating: 5
read at: 05/98
date added: 02/12/08
shelves: spiritual
review:

]]> 3472401 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:25:27 -0800
author: Jane Austen
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.02
book published: 1981
rating: 4
read at: 06/96
date added: 02/12/08
shelves: 1001-books, bookclub, europeans, women
review:

]]> 3462673 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:24:30 -0800
author: Anne Frank
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.10
book published: 1947
rating: 5
read at: 09/06
date added: 02/12/08
shelves: bookclub, diaries, europeans, favorites, history, memoir, non-fiction
review:

]]> 12675600 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:23:28 -0800
author: Barbara Robinson
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.27
book published: 1988
rating: 4
read at: 12/83
date added: 02/12/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 3816464 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:21:43 -0800
author: Margaret Atwood
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.10
book published: 1986
rating: 1
read at: 07/99
date added: 02/12/08
shelves: listened-to, stuff-i-m-supposed-to-like-but-didn, women
review:

]]> 3469323 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:19:59 -0800
author: Stephen King
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.69
book published: 1985
rating: 4
read at: 10/85
date added: 02/12/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 4354315 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:19:24 -0800
author: Barbara Park
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.88
book published: 1993
rating: 4
read at: 02/07
date added: 02/12/08
shelves: children
review:

]]> 3472901 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:18:46 -0800
author: Ian McEwan
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2001
rating: 4
read at: 09/04
date added: 02/12/08
shelves: 1001-books, bookclub
review:

]]> 4176132 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:18:16 -0800
author: George Orwell
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.27
book published: 1945
rating: 4
read at: 12/87
date added: 02/12/08
shelves: highschool
review:

]]> 3475714 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:17:19 -0800
author: Iain Pears
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.01
book published: 1997
rating: 4
read at: 10/00
date added: 02/12/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 3462558 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:16:19 -0800
author: Jeannette Walls
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2005
rating: 5
read at: 05/07
date added: 02/12/08
shelves: bookclub, favorites, memoir
review:

]]> 3463231 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:11:49 -0800
author: Frank McCourt
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.57
book published: 2005
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 02/12/08
shelves: listened-to, memoir, non-fiction
review:
McCourt's books are always better when I hear him read it in that great brogue.
]]> 8856887 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:58:42 -0800 ]]>
author: Malcolm Gladwell
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2002
rating: 3
read at: 02/08
date added: 02/12/08
shelves: non-fiction, stuff-i-m-supposed-to-like-but-didn
review:
I thought I was going to love this book, but it got old. I couldn't make it to finish the last forty pages. Malcolm Gladwell is entertaining and talented, but his book is a little too smartypants.

]]> 15222088 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:57:22 -0800
author: Shaun Tan
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.58
book published: 2007
rating: 5
read at: 02/08
date added: 02/12/08
shelves: children, graphic-comics, history
review:
Wow. I sat down to catalog this book at work, and 30 minutes later, I'm wiping away tears. The art is stunning. The story is engrossing, and the book is just completely endearing. I let my supervisor see it, since she is an interest in graphic arts. Now we're both in love with the book.
]]> 3474935 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 05:44:24 -0800
author: Lee Smith
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.14
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at: 02/04
date added: 02/11/08
shelves: bookclub, southerners, women
review:

]]> 5318932 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 05:43:16 -0800
author: Fred Mustard Stewart
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.69
book published: 1992
rating: 2
read at: 08/91
date added: 02/11/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 9044527 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 05:42:31 -0800
author: Benjamin Franklin
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.00
book published: 1993
rating: 4
read at: 06/92
date added: 02/11/08
shelves: history, memoir, non-fiction
review:

]]> 3589521 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:28:47 -0800
author: Faulkner Fox
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.08
book published: 2004
rating: 4
read at: 07/04
date added: 02/08/08
shelves: memoir, non-fiction, southerners, women
review:

]]> 5318965 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:27:18 -0800
author: Clara Solomon
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.00
book published: 2002
rating: 4
read at: 01/96
date added: 02/08/08
shelves: diaries, history, non-fiction, southerners
review:

]]> 3816373 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:26:20 -0800
author: Herman Melville
name: Jennie
average rating: 2.47
book published: 1992
rating: 1
read at: 09/87
date added: 02/08/08
shelves: 1001-books, highschool, stuff-i-m-supposed-to-like-but-didn
review:

]]> 4265186 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:25:18 -0800
author: George Orwell
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.92
book published: 1945
rating: 4
read at: 02/88
date added: 02/08/08
shelves: highschool
review:

]]> 14806062 Thu, 07 Feb 2008 06:42:02 -0800
author: Daisy Meadows
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2004
rating: 3
read at: 01/07
date added: 02/07/08
shelves: children
review:

]]> 7253286 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:02:51 -0800
author: Lewis Carroll
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.14
book published: 1865
rating: 5
read at: 07/05
date added: 02/01/08
shelves: children
review:

]]> 3469101 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:01:44 -0800
author: Margaret Atwood
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at: 01/96
date added: 02/01/08
shelves: 1001-books, women
review:

]]> 3502742 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:00:29 -0800
author: Judith Viorst
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.40
book published: 1987
rating: 4
read at: 01/77
date added: 02/01/08
shelves: children
review:

]]> 9547879 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:59:44 -0800
author: David Hackett Fischer
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.14
book published: 1989
rating: 4
read at: 07/01
date added: 02/01/08
shelves: history, non-fiction
review:

]]> 3474522 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:58:56 -0800
author: William Faulkner
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.03
book published: 1991
rating: 2
read at: 01/97
date added: 02/01/08
shelves: 1001-books, southerners, stuff-i-m-supposed-to-like-but-didn
review:

]]> 3500671 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:58:09 -0800
author: John Grisham
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2004
rating: 3
read at: 10/96
date added: 02/01/08
shelves: african-americans, southerners
review:

]]> 6162454 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 06:12:24 -0800
author: Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.87
book published: 1995
rating: 4
read at: 07/96
date added: 02/01/08
shelves: southerners, women
review:

]]> 3816116 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 06:10:15 -0800
author: E.M. Forster
name: Jennie
average rating: 3.99
book published: 1908
rating: 4
read at: 11/96
date added: 02/01/08
shelves: 1001-books, europeans, women
review:

]]> 5143223 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 06:08:42 -0800
author: Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.08
book published: 1990
rating: 5
read at: 01/96
date added: 02/01/08
shelves: diaries, history, non-fiction, women
review:

]]> 3473563 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 06:07:53 -0800
author: Shel Silverstein
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.35
book published: 1981
rating: 5
read at: 01/82
date added: 02/01/08
shelves: children, poetry
review:

]]> 10692689 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 06:07:05 -0800
author: Erich Albert Walter
name: Jennie
average rating: 4.50
book p