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July 14
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Charlotte
marked as to-read:
The Dreams Our Stuff Is Made Of: How Science Fiction Conquered the World (Paperback)
by Thomas M. Disch
bookshelves:
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my rating:
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Charlotte
marked as to-read:
334: A Novel (Paperback)
by Thomas M. Disch
bookshelves:
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my rating:
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Charlotte
marked as to-read:
The Genocides (Paperback)
by Thomas M. Disch
bookshelves:
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my rating:
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Charlotte
marked as to-read:
Camp Concentration: A Novel (Paperback)
by Thomas M. Disch
bookshelves:
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my rating:
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July 11
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Charlotte
gave
to:
The Alchemist's Daughter: A Novel (Paperback)
by Katharine McMahon
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Charlotte said:
"I enjoyed the quirky characters and the historical setting but Emilie was a frustrating character to follow. My biggest annoyance (aside from Emilie’s perpetual naiveté) was that the storyline was very predictable. Basically, this was a romance no...more
I enjoyed the quirky characters and the historical setting but Emilie was a frustrating character to follow. My biggest annoyance (aside from Emilie’s perpetual naiveté) was that the storyline was very predictable. Basically, this was a romance novel spliced with scientific study and a touch of fashion & flair from historical London.
The novel is a fictional portrayal of Emilie Seldon, the only daughter of - you guessed it - an alchemist. Set in the mid 1700's in England, one of the factual references includes the death of Sir Isaac Newton. Though the story is focused on Emilie and her father and their studies, we also follow her descent into love and obsession.
Key characters include her father John Seldon, a boyishly charming young merchant, Shales a respected priest and fellow scientist, Mr and Mrs Gills who tend to the Seldon Manor and Sarah the maid from London. The cast is short but each played an important role in the story of Emilie.
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Charlotte
gave
to:
Next (Hardcover)
by Michael Crichton
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my rating:
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read in July, 2008
Charlotte said:
"NEXT had nearly as many strengths as weaknesses but was certainly worth reading. The novel takes on the subject of genetic modification, both in current practices and possible applications in future years.
Dozens of characters make appearances; s...more
NEXT had nearly as many strengths as weaknesses but was certainly worth reading. The novel takes on the subject of genetic modification, both in current practices and possible applications in future years.
Dozens of characters make appearances; some stay the length of the novel while others make brief cameos. One of the major drawbacks to this is that few stories really reach a conclusion and those that continue through to the final pages are easily confused. My biggest annoyance was that well over half of the novel is divided chapter by chapter with separate stories that only begin to collide in the last third of the book. By then you can easily become lost in the character interaction, specifically the various doctors and two young boys both named Jamie (a critical aspect to the plot at one point).
The book is able to illustrate the possibilities of genetics very well and by means of highly engaging stories. I found some of the seemingly outlandish tales very near to real life and real science. It was actually quite eerie.
Oh - Bonus points for UCSD Summer Contest readers, we end up in the streets of La Jolla during a wild car chase involving a chimpanzee and bounty hunters. Fun stuff!
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Charlotte
is currently reading:
The Kite Runner (Paperback)
by Khaled Hosseini
bookshelves:
currently-reading
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my rating:
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June 25
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Charlotte
gave
to:
The Liars' Club: A Memoir (Paperback)
by Mary Karr
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Charlotte
gave
to:
Haunted (Paperback)
by Chuck Palahniuk
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in June, 2008
Charlotte said:
"A warning for anyone unfamiliar with his work, Chucky P writes some deeply disturbing stories and “Haunted” is surely one of his most graphic compilations.
The first time I ever heard the short story "Guts” it came straight from the au...more
A warning for anyone unfamiliar with his work, Chucky P writes some deeply disturbing stories and “Haunted” is surely one of his most graphic compilations.
The first time I ever heard the short story "Guts” it came straight from the author's own lips in a crowded Borders Bookstore. By the time the story was finished, six people had fainted. (The best body count at a single event yet.) When I showed up I hadn’t seen the popular movie “Fight Club”, let alone read the book. I was a Chuck-virgin. All that changed when he stood up and asked us to take a deep breath and began reading “Guts”… As the story progressed I searched nearby faces and saw shock, disgust, nausea, amusement and horror – all on the same face and at the same time. Truly this was a gifted story teller.
“Guts” was my first encounter with Chuck Palahniuk and certainly an unforgettable one at that. I’ll admit I didn’t get around to reading “Stranger Than Fiction” the book being plugged at the book signing – but I did consume all of his fictional pieces I could find over the following months.
“Haunted” was later released and included “Guts” among 23 stories, prose and a running narrative. The book follows each character on a 3 month writers retreat gone awry. Of course, we won’t be reading about our writers sipping margaritas in hammocks by the sea or pacing the floor of cozy cabins snuggled away in a snow covered forest - no, this will be much more interesting. Much more violent. Much more memorable.
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May 19
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Charlotte
marked as to-read:
My Life with Corpses (Hardcover)
by Wylene Dunbar
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
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