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Michelle says reading is more important than housework in 2009
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70. VERONICA by Nicholas Christopher
Not getting very much time to read between Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I was a little less than enthusiastic about slogging through this book, but overall, I enjoyed it and especially liked the ending...no, not that it was over, but the actual story completion. Haha. 4 stars...maybe 3.75...
Carol wrote: "Michelle, in my heyday Ray Bradbury was the go-to person for sci-fi. His stories usually depicted our own society's future, not those of other worlds, and some of his predictions bordered on the o..."Have you ever read Robert Heinlein's The Book of Job? It's the story of a man traveling through alternate worlds. Every time he arrives in a different world, he goes to the nearest public library to research the history of the world he is in - that's the way he orients himself. As a librarian (now retired) that was irresistible to me.
Thanks so much Carol. RB is def one of my favorite writers. I'll have to check out that link. Merry Christmas!
Michelle, in my heyday Ray Bradbury was the go-to person for sci-fi. His stories usually depicted our own society's future, not those of other worlds, and some of his predictions bordered on the ominous. I remember a short story (I think it was by him) in which a man is out walking after dark and gets stopped by the police...because he's walking after dark, and nobody does that any more so it's suspicious. Gives me the shivers (I love to walk after dark). Here's a link to the Wikipedia entry on RB... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Bradbur... . Oops, I guess you'll have to type it in, it doesn't seem to want to underline itself into a link. His history is fairly short, and (to me) very interesting, starting with the statement 'Libraries are my life...' Anyone who loves books has to be OK by me.
69. FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury
I listened to the audiobook and totally forgot to rate and add it when I got home. Duh! Really ended up liking this book. To me, the ending was much more powerful than the beginning, though its usually what's quoted more often. The man speaking of his grandfather especially touched me, maybe since my own grandfather is not well at the moment. I must say, I think I love his short stories more, but that may change the more I think about this wonderful book.
68. DARK PLACES by Gillian Flynn
Sooo dark, very good. I figured it out, but it was still compelling and disturbing and a great read. Flyyn is one of my favorite authors for SURE now.
67. THE GATES by John Connolly
Light and fun, this was a quick read and I liked it. I didn't like it as much as THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS, but its not fair to compare the two, because I don't like A LOT of books as much as I did that one. That being said (hehe), I appreciated the way Connolly covered so much science and religious information in a book that was so much fun to read. Maybe I will want to read more about quantum physics now. It reminded me of GOOD OMENS, quite a bit.
I keep forgetting to add my book club reads. Duh!
They're out of order,which sucks, but oh well.
65. ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL by James Herriott
66. SKINNY DIP by Carl Hiaasen
I hope I'm not forgetting anymore! I especially want credit for the ones I didn't enjoy reading. Haha.
64. ANGELA'S ASHES by Frank McCourt
This is the first memoir I've read (well, listened to, actually) that I ABSOLUTELY loved. I really want to get my hands on 'TIS now. I didn't like how it cut me off, and I want to know what happens to him next.
I rarely do audiobooks, but this was better I think, because his accent and voice was just beautiful and I wouldn't have been able to experience the songs and stuff the same way in my head. I could've listened to him read ANYTHING and loved it, probably, with his Irish accent.
63. SLAUGHTER by Marcus F. Griffin
Gruesome, gory, disgusting and freaky animals. Oh, don't forget the serial killer. Right up my dark and twisted alley. :)
62. SMASHED, SQUASHED, SPLATTERED, CHEWED, CHUNKED AND SPEWED by Lance Carbuncle
Hilarious! I had a great time reading this book. It's been a long time since a book cracked me up so much.
60. PRETTY WHEN SHE DIES by Rhiannon Frater
Just wanted to expand my knowledge of vampire fiction beyond DRACULA and the Sookie stories. Not bad, Nicholas, not bad. :)
59. THE LOST SYMBOL by Dan Brown
As with his other books about symbology and religious history, I really enjoyed this. It was thrilling, suspenseful, and a quick read. Not because it was flaky, but because you don't want to put it down. That's always a good sign in my book...
58. THE BEACH by Alex Garland
A GREAT BOOK! I wasn't ever really interested in seeing the film version until now. Leonardo DiCaprio, here I come... :)
57. FAERIE TALE by Raymond Feist
Haha! I don't have that much to say about this book. Very mixed feelings...feeling blah about it right now. I probably wouldn't read anything else of his.
56. SLOTH by Gilbert Hernandez
Meh...guess I'm not really a graphic novel fan?? We'll see. I'll try one more and that will probably be it.
54. A PRAYER FOR THE DYING by Stewart O'Nan
Yet another reason why he is one of my favorite authors. So, so glad I discovered him this year. This was dark, reminded me alot of THE ROAD, but more gothic, and absolutely terrifying. Read this very quickly.
53. A WINTER HAUNTING by Dan Simmons
I was interested in reading this sequel, as I thought that the first book offered a very decent 600 setup. However, this felt like something the author typed up in a weekend to make a fast paycheck. Disappointing, because it could have been sooooooo much better.
Not sure if I'll read anymore from him, but I kind of want to, because he's rumored to be a good author. Haven't been impressed yet. :(
51. THE LIVING DEAD Edited by John Joseph Adams
Like all anthologies, it was hit or miss. Some of it was excellent, and some was meh. I'm glad I read it though.
Well, I'd like to, but I want to enjoy the journey, so I'm not racing or anything. I think you'll make 100, Marvin.
Thanks Emily!
Thanks! It feels pretty great. I've never tracked my reading before goodreads, so I don't know if I've ever read that many books in one year. I probably have, but its cool to see them all here. Going for 75 now.
50. AN ICE COLD GRAVE by Charlaine Harris
WooHoo!!! I finally made it! I wonder if I can make it to 75. I think I just might. :)
49. THE KILLING MAN by Mickey Spillane...
One book to go!!! I think its going to be Charlaine Harris :)
Michelle wrote: "48. THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS by John Connolly
This book would be a GREAT movie!.."
Actually, one is rumored to be in production! I totally cannot wait to see that. Such an awesome story - very clever.
48. THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS by John Connolly
This is the first book I have read from Connolly and I was amazed. I really really loved it and am intrigued to see how well he writes detective novels, which is his norm. This book would be a GREAT movie! And, it actually made me cry, which rarely happens anymore. :)
47. SUPER-SIMPLE CREATIVE COSTUMES: MIX AND MATCH YOUR WAY TO MAKE BELIEVE by Sue Astroth
I am always overconfident, thinking that I can be frugal and just MAKE my girls their Halloween costumes. But living so far away from any type of craft or fabric store means its cheaper to just buy something online with a discount...this book DOES have lots of cute ideas, though. I may try to make things like the capes and wristbands and wands for their dress up box...
Michelle, you're almost there! I added The Somnambulist to my TBR. It sounds very dark and thrilling!
46. THE SOMNAMBULIST by Jonathan Barnes...
I think this was my first foray into steampunk and I gotta say, I liked it. Gonna look for his new book soon.
45. ANANSI BOYS by Neil Gaiman
I liked it, needed something fun and lighter than my normal stuff, and this did the trick. All of his books play in my head like movies, it must be the way he writes, just fun and very visual.
Working on it...I'm in the middle of two books right now and got LOTS of good stuff at Smiley Library!
43. THE BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DEAD by Kevin Brockmeier...this was a GREAT book! An interesting and unique mix of survivalist fiction, and alternative reality fantasy mixed with religion and spirituality, and the power of our memories.
44. GRAVE SURPRISE by Charlaine Harris..the second Harper Connelly book in the series. Good, but I don't love them as much as the Sookie books.
42. FINGER LICKIN' FIFTEEN by Janet Evanovich
Another Stephanie Plum novel...same as the others -- fun, light and a nice break from reality and the other "heavier" things I've got waiting for me to read..
41. THE STAND by Stephen King....
Whew! That took a looonng time, but it was so worth it. Can't believe I haven't read this book before now. It was great!
Really? When we meet again you need to give me more details. Jeanne and I will probably remember him.
Haha! No, probably not...I'm working on THE STAND...'nuff said. :) After THAT'S done, watch out! Haha My husband said he knows you and Jeanne from when you worked in the Blythe Jail doing mental health evals. That's where he works...
40. GRAVE SIGHT by Charlaine Harris
Wanted to try a book of hers that WASN'T about Sookie Stackhouse. Just confirms that I am really into her as an author. Going to try to get my hands on the rest of this series...
39. THE HERETIC'S DAUGHTER by Kathleen Kent...
Really, really ended up liking this book. It felt like it took me forever to get through it, with homework and life and whatnot, but I think it was mostly because I was savoring it and really paying attention to the timeline and the historical accuracy and whatnot. I was definitely impressed with the quality of Kent's writing and the beauty of her prose. She is a descendant of the characters in the book and was inspired to write a story after hearing of the history, so I didn't have super high hopes, I was afraid she was just a genealogy fan who wanted to document her family's history, but this lady can WRITE!
38. WET DESERT by Gary Hansen
The first fiction book that my local book club has read in a little while. I actually liked it, although I did have some issues with the author's judgmental opinions of EVERYONE else in the entire book beside the main character...haha! It was interesting to think about what would happen here in Blythe if all the dams on the Colorado River burst.
