Ash’s Comments (group member since Jun 22, 2008)

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

Here starts another year - One to be filled with 50 books or more!

Dates of Challenge:
January 26, 2010 - January 26, 2011.

A Review:

I've decided to list the best and the worse of my reading list - a little summary.

Best: Survivor, the Harry Potters, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, The Age of Innocence, Coraline, and Dear Genius.

Worst:The Life and Times of Michael K, InStyle Parties, Dead Until Dark, and The Host.


Decision for next time: Don't get caught up in what everyone tells you to read because it won't suit my reading interests. Case in point the Sookie Stackhouse novels, most Stephenie Meyer, and the ultimate no-no: what librarians recommend.


Overall, I'm very glad I embarked on this challenge. As one of my resolutions for 2009, I am very proud of all I've read this past year. Here's to 2010!

48. Soap by Elaine Stavert.
49. Mad About Muffins, Among Friends by Dot Vartan.
50. Coal by Barbara Freese.

All nonfiction-short-reads. I'm ready to begin my 2010 challenge! AND it will be 50 books this time.

47. Dear Genius: The letters of Ursula Nordstrom edtited by Leonard S. Marcus.

46. Dim Sum by Fiona Smith.

Emily - your YA books = my cookbooks. :)

Okay, I like REAL soapmaking! Haha. No Fight Club reinactments for me.

I think I'm going to make it a challenge to actually read 50 books in a year, mainly because I didn't get there this time. You, however, should definitely take on the 100-book challenge! :)

44. The Soapmaker by Janita Morris.
45. Our Smallest Towns: Big Falls, Blue Eue, Bonanza & Beyond by Dennis Kitchen.

43. The Host by Stephenie Meyer.

I have to admit, I read the first several chapters, read the last four chapters, and went back and skimmed the rest. I couldn't get into it! It just seemed as sappy and sad as New Moon and Eclipse. Anyone else feel this way?

Emily wrote: "You had to make yourself finish a Sookie Stackhouse book! Oh no!! I'm so addicted to them!

You're almost done with 50! I say next year we go for 100. :) Easy as pie!"



It just wasn't my favorite! I hear the TV series is addictive, but I can't do that either! Maybe I'm being punched in the face by pop culture karma for liking gnomes and soap-making when no one else does?


Yes, let's try for 100 - and I will fail miserably! It took me a year and 8 months (projected) to finish 50! Maybe this year will slow down and allow me more reading time. :)

42. The Giver by Lois Lowry.

It wasn't as good as I thought it would be. The ending was rushed and stunted.

42. Stardust by Neil Gaiman. (Great, but the movie was WAY better!)
43. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. (Had to MAKE myself finish that one!)

41. The Lighthouses of New England by Edward Rowe Snow.

40. My Kind of Town by Eric and Margaret Burnette.

39. InStyle Parties by the InStyle Magazine Editors.

LAME! I picked up this book thinking it would be full of classy tips on throwing amazing parties, but it's like an Idiot's Guide! AND they named dropped every other page. But then again, it IS InStyle.

37. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
38. Coraline by Neil Gaiman.

35. Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell.
36. Daisy Miller by Henry James.

34. Cooking with Master Chefs by Julia Child.

32. Cafe Pasqual's Cookbook: Spirited Recipes from Santa Fe by Katharine Kagel.
33. Getting Started Crochet (Getting Started series) by Judith L. Swartz.

Both were fun to read!

Leslie wrote: "Ashley wrote: "31. The Man Who Ate Everything by Jeffrey Steingarten."

Did you like this? I get so mad at him when he judges Iron Chef, yet I'm curious what his book is like."

It was exhausting to read. He goes into WAY too much detail, and half of the time it's not worth it. The book is composed of short essays he wrote (for various outlets) over the course of 10 years or so. I never realized how long he's written for Vogue.

I found most of his chapters drawn-out and uninteresting. The chapters on salt, white truffles and Olestra, however, are page-turners. Also, I do like him on Iron Chef, because of the knowledge he brings into his reviews. Many of the guest judges, in my opinion, have no business being on that show.

Thanks for the comment!

31. The Man Who Ate Everything by Jeffrey Steingarten.