group discussion
topic:
P-T >
Ryan Mac's 50+ books in 2009
I read 65 books last year and hope to read at least that many again. So far, I have finished two:
1. Salem Falls - Jodi Picoult
2. The Ladies of Grace Adieu - Susanna Clarke
Both pretty good books!
Finished book #3 tonight:
3. Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for the Control of the Supreme Court - Jan Crawford Greenburg
Good book for the legal junkies!
4. Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut
This book was okay. I have another Vonnegut book in my pile (Breakfast of Champions) that I'm going to try as well.
Slaughterhouse-Five is alright - kind of odd and weird. Read Welcome to the Monkey House if you want some good Vonnegut.
erin wrote: "Slaughterhouse-Five is alright - kind of odd and weird. Read Welcome to the Monkey House if you want some good Vonnegut."
I'll add it to my list. Thanks!
5. Breakfast of Champions - Kurt Vonnegut
Another weird one but I checked this one out from the library already so I thought I would get through it.
7. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim - David Sedaris
Pretty good set of essays from David Sedaris--Me Talk Pretty One Day is better though.
8. The World of the Golden Compass - edited by Scott Westerfelt
Literary criticism from young adult and fantasy writers about the His Dark Materials series. I need to stop reading literary criticism--just not a huge fan.
Wow--it has been awhile.
9. Good Omens - Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet
It took me awhile to get into it but it was a funny book.
10. Buy, Buy Baby - Susan Gregory Thomas
A well written (and sometimes depressing) book about babies and our consumer culture.
Buy, Buy Baby How Consumer Culture Manipulates Parents and Harms Young Minds
11. Gathering Blue - Lois LowryThis is the "companion book" to the Giver. Now I HAVE to read the third book in the series, Messenger.
Gathering Blue
12. Messenger - Lois Lowry
I think that I have my YA fantasy/fiction fix for now. The third book in "The Giver" series. A very quick read (I finished this one in about 90 minutes).
14. Handle with Care - Jodi Picoult
Not bad, but not her best work. Somewhat predictable and too many convenient coincidences. The usual twist in her stories wasn't there...or I've read too many of them and see through her attempts at surprising the reader.
Unconditional Parenting - Alfie Kohn
It took me awhile to get through this one--not a big parenting book guy.
18. First Daughter - Eric Van Lustbader
Yeah, you probably want to stay away from this book unless you REALLY like the author. Fast paced, quick read but pretty lame.
21. The Caddie Who Played With Hickory - John Coyne
If you like golf fiction, this is a pretty good book featuring Walter Hagen and Chick Evans.
23. American Savior A Novel of Divine Politics - Roland Merullo
Satirical look at the presidential election process in the United States with Jesus Christ as a candidate for the Divinity Party--pretty funny and interesting read.
24. The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis
Not his best work, in my opinion. Several people that I know really liked this book. I just couldn't get into it.
25. The Sea of Monsters - Rick Riordan
The second in the Percy Jackson series. Another good YA series to get into. It helps me brush up on my Greek Mythology.
Half-way there!
I just read the Screwtape Letters myself. There were some good points, but overall, I found myself daydreaming and wondering when the book would be over.
I also noticed you've read Vonnegut. May I suggest some of his shorter books? (Those would be "Man Without a Country" and "God Bless You Dr. Kevorkian")
Both of these books are incredibly short and can be read quickly. Also, there is a newer book out (published after he died) called "Amageddon in Retrospect."
I don't care for long-winded Vonnegut, but short and satirical Vonnegut makes me happy. :)
Tori wrote: "I just read the Screwtape Letters myself. There were some good points, but overall, I found myself daydreaming and wondering when the book would be over.
I also noticed you've read Vonnegut. ..."
Thanks for the tips on Vonnegut--I'll check those out.
27. Love, Stargirl - Jerry Spinelli
I read this one on my flight today--quick read but nice follow-up to Stargirl.
28. Resistance - Owen Sheers
Good although scary alternate World War II setting. It isn't a violent war book--good read!
33. Bozo Sapiens Why to Err is Human - Michael and Ellen Kaplan
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. Not a fantastic book but not bad. Lots of interesting information about the human brain and our behaviors.
36. Kingdom Come - Mark Waid
I read this graphic novel as part of the summer challenge in The Next Best Book Club group. This one was not bad.
39. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon - Stephen King
A nice little story about a girl lost in the woods and how her favorite baseball player, Tom Gordon, and the Boston Red Sox games on the radio help her through her journey.
40. The Ha-Ha A Novel - Dave King
It was okay. I liked the character in Howard and would like to read more about him but this particular story was missing something. Anyone else read this book?
41. So Much Damn Money - Robert Kaiser
Well researched book about the rise of money and lobbying in U.S. government in the last 30 years. It might frustrate you but well written book by a Washington Post reporter.
Hey Ryan, I was really impressed with The Blade Itself and am looking forward to picking up the other books. He's a fantastic author and I'm so glad to have stumbled across him.
