Michael’s Comments (group member since Jul 09, 2008)

Michael’s comments from the Challenge: 50 Books group.

I consumed this book when it came out and have been in Dresden withdrawal ever since. I feel your pain! :)

I know there are a lot of challenges out there. There are some that are based on the overall total page count.

I say that when it comes to the challenge that unless the rules specifically state otherwise, you can pretty much do what you want.

Of course, while I'm not snobby in my book challenge mode, I'm a total snob in other areas...like my Doctor Who obsession. LOL

I don't think it really matters what kind of book you read. What matters if you're reading and that you're enjoying what you read.

The debate reminds me a bit of the way certain English teachers and professors would look down on my choices of pleasure reading material--sci-fi, etc. They didn't think they were worthy of my reading or time while I felt that I enjoyed and got as much out of them as they did out of the "accepted" classics.

Finishing out the year....

171. Off Armageddon Reef by David Weber
172. Ford County by John Grisham
173. 7th Son: Descent by J.C. Hutchins
174. Star Trek Titan: Over a Torrent Sea by Christopher L. Bennett.
175. Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
176. Flesh and Fire by Laura Anne Gilman
177. Blue Heaven by C.J. Box
178. Star Wars: Death Troopers by Joe Schreiber
179. After by Amy Efaw (audio)
180. Doctor Who: Day of the Troll (audio)
181. Nine Dragons by Michael Connolly
182. Plastic Jesus by Eric Sandras
183. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (audio)
184. The Catch by Gary Meyers
185. Under the Dome by Stephen King
186. Fletch by Gregory McDonald
187. E Squared by Matt Beaumont
188. Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 9: Predators and Prey
189. The Caves of Steel by Issac Asimov
190. Doctor Who: Hornet's Nest--The Dead Shoes (audio)
191. A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore

You can do it! :)

You'll make it. Two good books to finish the year. :)

142. Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man, Volume 1
143. A Princess of Landover by Terry Brooks
144. Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo
145. Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming (audio)
146. Have Space Suit Will Travel by Robert A. Heinlein
147. The Goneaway World by Nick Harkaway
148. In the Woods by Tana French
149. King Dork by Frank Portman
150. A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clark (audio)
151. Doctor Who: The Mind Robber by Peter Ling (audio)
152. Pilgrims: A Lake Wobegon Romance by Garrison Keillor
153. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
154. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
155. The Law of Nines by Terry Goodkind
156. Episodes: My Life as I See It by Blaze Ginsberg (audio)
157. Juliet Naked by Nick Hornsby
158. Fall of Light by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
159. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
160. Sheriff of Yrnameer by Michael Rubens
161. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
162. Doctor Who: The Nemonite Invasion (audio)
163. Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett
164. And Another Thing... by Eion Coffer
165. Intervention by Terry Blackstock
166. Spider-Man: Family Ties
167. Spider-Man 2099 by Peter David
168. Diary of a Wimpy Kid 4: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney
169. Doctor Who and the Planet of the Spiders by Terrance Dicks (audio)
170. Rules of Deception by Christopher Reich

116. The Walls of the Universe by Paul Melko
117. The Memory Collector by Meg Gardiner
118. Doctor Who: The Eyeless by Lance Parkin
119. Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain
120. Perelandra by C.S. Lewis
121. Star Trek: Destiny: Lost Souls by David Mack
122. Stalking Susan by Julie Kramer
123. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
124. Higher Hope by Robert Whitlow
125. Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell
126. Undiscovered Gyrl by Allison Burnett
127. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
128. Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child
129. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
130. Contagious by Scott Sigler
131. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller
132. Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr
133. Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen by Joe Drape
134. Look Again by Lisa Scotoline
135. The Dead Place by Stephen Booth
136. Missing Mark by Julie Kramer
137. Wild Cards, Book 1 edited by George R.R. Martin
138. On Rocky Top by Clay Travis
139. I Love You, Miss Huddleston by Philip Gulley
140. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
141. Someplace To Be Flying by Charles De Lint

You're going to break 100 before we can turn around twice! :)

Great job.

As for my best and worst.

Best:
This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller
The Mystery of Grace by Charles DeLint
Turn Coat by Jim Butcher

Worst: (Or should I say the most disappointing)
Intensity by Dean Koontz
Fool by Christopher Moore
Glory Road by Robert A. Heinlein

Sarah wrote: "It is really all about what you pick out in the first place isn't it. That's key. "

Yes, enjoying the book(s) you are reading is one important factor. I always say you should read what you enjoy. I've met a lot of people who allow the fun to be removed from reading by reading what they think they "should" read rather than something that want to read. Don't get me wrong--there are books in this world I think we should all read. But that shouldn't be ALL you read.

97. The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan
98. Sucks To Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire by Kimberly Pauley
99. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wolves at the Gate, Time of Your Life
100. Who Goes There?: The Novella That Formed The Basis Of "The Thing" by John W. Campbell (audio)
101. Dog On It: A Chet and Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn
102. I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle
103. Santiago: A Myth of the Far Future by Mike Resnick
104. Star Trek: Troublesome Minds by Dave Gallanter
105. Trader by Charles De Lit
106. Garfield - 30 Years of Laughs & Lasagna: The Life & Times of a Fat, Furry Legend! by Jim Davis
107. Relentless by Dean Koontz
108. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
109. Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night by David Mack
110. This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
111. North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
112. Star Trek: Destiny: Mere Mortals by David Mack
113. The Lovers by John Connolly
114. Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis
115. The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (audio)

73. Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks
74. The Stars, My Destination by Alfred Bester
75. The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks
76. Savvy by Ingrid Law
77. Promises in Death by J.D. Robb
78. Star Trek: Countdown by Robert Orci, Mike Johnson, Tim Jones, Alex Kurtzman
79. Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind
80. Doctor Who and the Abominable Snowmen by Terrance Dicks (audio)
81. Deceived by James Scott Bell
82. Star Trek: New Frontier - Treason by Peter David
83. Fault Line by Barry Eisner
84. The Mystery of Grace by Charles De Lint
85. Little (Grrl) Lost by Charles De Lint
86. King of the Screwups by K.L. Going
87. Growing Old with BC: A Celebration of Johnny Hart by Johnny Hart
88. Doctor Who: Beautiful Chaos by Gary Russell (audio)
89. Columbine by Dave Cullen
90. Earthbound by Richard Matheson
91. The Gospel of Jesus (audio)
92. The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly
93. Rick and Bubba's Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage by Rick Burgess and Bill "Bubba" Bussey
94. The Last Child by John Hart
95. Doctor Who and the Daemons by Barry Letts (audio)
96. WWW: Wake by Robert J. Sawyer

Mary wrote: "I kept saying that I wouldn't read Twilight and finally got sucked in (it's really bad). I kept saying that I wouldn't read The Secret and my curiosity finally got the better of me (wish for it an..."

It's a shame. Duma Key was vintage King IMHO. Dark, scary and utterly compelling reading.

Ashley wrote: "12. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

A complete let-down from the initial book in the series. Although that's not unusual, I was heavily disappointed in the fact there was next to zero a..."

I "read" the audio versions of the first three. Part of it was to see what the buzz was about. And part of it was I felt I could't really have a valid opinion unless I'd read the books.

I hate to tell you, but it doesn't ever really get much better.

If you're looking for a good novel by Meyer, try "The Host."

Name: Michael H
Where do you live: Tennessee
Age (Optional): 36
What are you studying/What are you working as: State employee
What makes you happy: Lots of things.
What are you listening to now/have listened to last: Rick and Bubba Show
An interesting fact about you: I have a lot of orange in my wardrobe
Favourite place to be: Neyland Stadium on a football Saturday when the Vols are winning
Favorite lyric: "Isn't it enough that I ruined a perfectly good pony making a gift for you?"
Favourite book: "To Kill a Mockingbird," "Lake Wobegon Days," "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
Favourite movie: "The Searchers"

RECOMMEND TO THE GROUP
1. A film: Leatherheads
2. A book: The entire Dresden Files series
3. A song: First of May by Jonathan Coulton (NSFW!)
4: A band: Jonathan Coulton--if you're a geek, his songs are great.

You've got a good start on the 50 books. I bet you'll make it. :)

Mary Todd wrote: "I think if I were only to choose one it would be The Suspisions of Mr. Whicher...it is non-fiction, HOWEVER, it talks about the origin of detective fiction as it tells the story. I found it really..."

Sounds interesting. I will have to add it to my pile of books to be read. :)

I read this when it came out and was kind of disappointed by it.

But part of that is I'm really over Heroes at this point....

A great list. Any one novel you recommend?