false17762520true5647515read3true2820630currently-reading239true2820629to-read279false4626981sci-fi-fantasy190false4083340female-author56false4082852my-2009-books51false4082823my-2008-books50false3870045desert-island26false4573019i-gave-as-a-gift22false4627049children22false7261362audiobooks15false4707678jewish-theme9false4646289non-fiction
<![CDATA[Judy recommended the book
Digging to America: A Novel to
Kay]]>
http://www.goodreads.com/book/recommendation/680259
Judy
recommended the book
Digging to America: A Novel
to Kay
]]>
<![CDATA[Judy recommended the book
Digging to America: A Novel to
Naomi]]>
http://www.goodreads.com/book/recommendation/680258
Judy
recommended the book
Digging to America: A Novel
to Naomi
]]>
<![CDATA[Judy added 'Digging to America: A Novel']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78644607
Digging to America: A Novel (Paperback)
byAnne Tyler bookshelves: currently-reading,
female-author,
my-2009-books
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<![CDATA[Judy added 'The Story of Edgar Sawtelle']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74891216
to: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (Paperback)byDavid Wroblewski bookshelves: desert-island,
my-2009-books
This coming-of-age story is set on a farm in northern Wisconsin. Edgar lives with his parents, and they breed and train dogs. One of my favorite characters in the book was Almondine, the family's pet dog. She had a very special bond with Edgar, and a few chapters were told from her viewpoint. Somehow it didn't seem hokey or strange. A long lost uncle, Claude, the father's brother, shows up after being away for many years, and everything seems to go wrong from that point on. I found it almost unbelievable that Edgar's mom couldn't see through Claude.
I liked the section of the story that focused on Edgar's travels with three of the dogs as companions. Edgar's pain at being around the farm and seeing Claude spending time with his mom was really palpable. The ending, of course, is not to many people's liking, but some stories just have to end like that. I highly recommend this book -- one of the best I read in 2009.
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<![CDATA[Judy added 'Anything Considered: A Novel']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75648404
to: Anything Considered: A Novel (Paperback)byPeter Mayle bookshelves: audiobooks,
my-2009-books
I just finished listening to this audiobook on my way to work this morning. I originally picked this book out of a travelling bookcrossing box of audio casettes. I'd never heard of it. I was initially drawn to the fact that Tim Curry was doing the reading, and I know how awesome and talented he is. But the story itself, while not my usual fare, was so fun and improbable, I really enjoyed it. The ending left me with a silly grin on my face. And now I've added to my list of life goals to find out what truffles taste like, because I really don't think I've ever had one.
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<![CDATA[Judy added 'Charming Billy']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/76554512
to: Charming Billy (Paperback)byAlice McDermott bookshelves: audiobooks,
my-2009-books
I read this book on audio -- the Irish accents were lovely. This was a greatly woven story of the intertwined lives of Billy Lynch and his Irish family in New York. Good character development, plot complexity.
The story is a tale of love found, love lost, and of the close ties of family. Billy's story is sad, yet I kept feeling that he should have been able to get past the loss and disappointment at some point. But as many family members point out, alcoholism runs in their family. Making the story more complicated is the critical lie told to Billy, with the best of intentions, by his cousin Dennis. I wondered how differently the loss would have felt if the truth had been told?
An enjoyable read!
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<![CDATA[Judy added 'A Confederacy of Dunces']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75648334
to: A Confederacy of Dunces (Paperback)byJohn Kennedy Toole bookshelves: audiobooks,
my-2009-books
This is one of the zaniest stories I have ever read. I listened to it on audio -- the reader was Artie Johnson of Laugh-In fame. The main problem I had with the reading was that it sounded to my ears like most of the characters had northeastern accents, when the story took place in New Orleans. Maybe I'm mistaken, because there were some southern accents also, or maybe the folks I'm thinking of were transplants. Anyway, if you're looking for a totally madcap story, this is it. Not really my usual cup of tea, but pretty entertaining.
Funny, until this book came my way last month, I'd never heard of it, but it won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and PEN/Faulkner Award (1981).
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<![CDATA[Judy added 'City of God']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75457093
to: City of God (Paperback)byE.L. Doctorow bookshelves: audiobooks,
my-2009-books
I think this is an interesting book and very well written, I just couldn't follow it. I read it on audio, and I think I may try it again on paper.
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<![CDATA[new comment from Judy]]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75974364
Marion's review of
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle byDavid Wroblewski
hey -- that's what I'm reading also! loving it so far.
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<![CDATA[Judy added 'Range of Motion']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74890825
to: Range of Motion (Paperback)byElizabeth Berg bookshelves: audiobooks,
female-author,
my-2009-books
Sad and sweet story of a youngish couple with two small daughters. The husband has an accident and ends up in a coma. I liked the voice of Lainey, the wife, and the sequences that told the story of Jay while in the coma were interesting.
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