Ann A’s Comments (group member since Apr 18, 2010)

Ann A’s comments from the Challenge: 50 Books group.

That's it for 2014. 121 books - not too shabby. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and lots of Happy Reading in 2015!

118-Madame Bovary. 4*

119-Their Eyes Were Watching God. 4*

120-The Rosie Project. 5*
Great fun - loved it.

121-All Quiet on the Western Front. 5*
One of the most powerful books I've ever read.

Wow - I'm stingy with my 5* ratings - had two in a row!

116-Death of a Cad
After reading the 1st in this series I wasn't sure if I would continue, but now Hamish has grown on me. 4*

117-Middlesex
VERY good book. 4 1/2*

113-The Hoops Whisperer: On the Court and Inside the Heads of Basketball's Best Players
I love basketball, but this book was also full of life lessons. 5*

114-The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
Probably my favorite of the three. 4 1/2*

115-Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?
Carver packs a wallop in a 10-page short story. 4*

111-Like Water for Chocolate
It takes a really "magical" novel for me to appreciate magical realism. It didn't fully grab me here. 3*

112-Adam of the Road
Fun Newbery winner about a young English minstrel in 1294. 4*

108-Why Didn't They Ask Evans?
Not a favorite Christie, but she's ALWAYS entertaining. 3*

109-The Secret of Shadow Ranch
I enjoy revisiting Nancy Drew, a childhood favorite. 3*

110-The Polish Officer
I'm a big fan of Furst's writing. This one didn't flow quite as smoothly as I would have liked. 3 1/2*

106-We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves
I am a bit "beside myself" with frustration at trying to convey what I think of this novel. It addresses some important topics, and is a brave effort. However, I had a hard time connecting with any of the dysfunctional characters (essentially, everyone in the book). Disturbing read, but it will keep me thinking - and for that, 3 1/2*.

107-The Sea
Liked it, but a little too much "writing" (nice though it is) and not enough story. 3 1/2*

Tiffany wrote: "44. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Darn skippy. I woke up this morning, and it was POURING and DARK and COLD (well, not that cold, but it was early morning, so it was coldish..."

I love that you read "It's the Great Pumpkin..." on Halloween! I didn't even know there was a book - thought it was just a TV show. I'll have to add it to my children's book collection.

I also enjoyed Johnny Tremain - had never read it until earlier this year in my "quest to read the Newberys".

Congratulations on reaching your goal! I love the Sue Grafton books as well - have read them all. "W is For Wasted" (the latest one) is actually one of my favorites. It's great that the series has not become stale with time.

103-This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women
Enjoyable book of inspirational essays. 4*

104-Fever
Ok, but I expected more somehow. 3*

105-The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Lovely book. 4*

100-A Tale for the Time Being
Parts of this were brilliant, but the sections from Ruth's viewpoint didn't work as well for me. 3 1/2*

101-In the First Circle
VERY good. Solzhenitsyn is some writer. The chapter from Stalin's "viewpoint" was fascinating. 4*

102-Maya's Notebook
The Chilean history and supporting characters were great, but Maya and all her poor decisions began to bore me. 3*

96-The Wisdom of Menopause (Revised Edition): Creating Physical and Emotional Health During the Change
Lots of info - most of it valuable - I think. 4*

97-The Pale King
I think DFW's work is brilliant and hilarious. I'm sure parts of this book would have made more sense if he had finished it before he died, but I agree with the editor - there was just too much good stuff not to publish it. 4* (certain sections were 5*)

98-A Town Like Alice
Very enjoyable. 4*

99-Death Of A Gossip
The best part of this was listening to the Scottish accents on the audiobook. Not Agatha Christie, but entertaining. 3*

93-The Signature of All Things
I found the science more interesting than Alma's life story. 3*

94-Call It Courage
Newbery-winning hero legend. 3 1/2*

95-The Good Lord Bird
Entertaining fictional tale of abolitionist John Brown. 4*

91-The Friday Night Knitting Club
Not bad, for chick lit. 3*

92-Ariel
Disturbing poems, but Plath was unquestionably talented. 4*

88-The Keeper of Lost Causes
Normally love mysteries, but this one didn't do it for me. 2 1/2*

89-Falling Up
Delightful. 4*

90-The Light Between Oceans
Lovely, sad story. 4*

Looks like you've read some great books this year! I'm also trying to do at least 12 each year from the 1001 list - only at 6 so far in 2014.

86-Anne's House of Dreams
This series is losing steam. This was #5 and I enjoyed the earlier ones more. Three more to go, so I'll see it through... 3*

87-Rapunzel's Revenge
Fairly entertaining graphic novel - a new genre for me. 3*

83-The Goldfinch
I loved most of the book. There were a few sections that annoyed me and went on too long. 4*

84-Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001
Worth the effort to get through this one - can absolutely understand why it won a Pulitzer. 5*

85-The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Lovely story and wonderful drawings. 4*

80-Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Great Newbery winner. I enjoyed the audio version by Lynn Thigpen, with a blurb by the author at the end. 4*

81-And the Mountains Echoed
Absolutely LOVED this book. My favorite of Hosseini's three novels so far. What a talent this man is. 5*

82-Mystic River
Normally I wouldn't give 4* to a book this dark and gritty, but I'm an admirer of Lehane's writing and this was a real page-turner. 4*

Renee wrote: "94) Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Book Store
Great Fun!

95) The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
..."

Loved 'Penumbra". Wasn't excited enough about 'Divergent' to read any more in the series. And 'Middlesex' has been waiting on my Kindle for ages. Need more reading time!! Congrats on #97 - wow!