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

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

76-Walk Two Moons
Plot too heavy handed with the disappearing mothers, (and another in a psychiatric hospital, to boot.) 2 1/2*

77-King Henry IV, Part 1
Enjoyed this, as I always do Shakespeare. Am going to see a performance of this tomorrow, and I appreciate the plays more if I read them first. 4*

78-The Comedy of Errors
Probably only Shakespeare could get away with such silliness. Looking forward to the performance. 4*

79-An Object of Beauty
I'm impressed with Steve Martin's writing chops, and I enjoyed learning more about the art world. However, I really disliked the main character. The audiobook was well-done, but I recommend getting a library copy of the book as well since it has photos of some of the paintings mentioned. 3*

73-Someday, Someday, Maybe
A cut above most of the chick-lit I've read (I don't read the genre much). Since my daughters and I loved The Gilmore Girls, I probably added an extra 1/2*. 4*

74-You Can Date Boys When You're Forty: Dave Barry on Parenting and Other Topics He Knows Very Little About
The entire book wasn't worthy of my 4*, but it made me laugh enough that I'll be generous...4*

75-The Poisonwood Bible
Heartbreaking and brilliant. 5*

69-The Thirteenth Tale
A dark tale, but I found the writing mesmerizing. 4*

70-The Charming Quirks of Others
A.M. Smith is always a comfort read for me. I am glad I don't have to think as hard as Isabel does. 3*

71-Anne of Windy Poplars
Anne is great fun. 4*

72-Eleanor & Park
I'm too old and cynical to love this (though I did LIKE it). I was also frustrated with Eleanor's mother. 3*

Wow - you're nearly to 100 and the year is only half over! Way to go! I bought The Awakening and Girl in Translation at my latest library used book sale - haven't gotten to them yet. June was a crazy month and I didn't get much reading done. Hopefully, July will be better.

67-Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
Entertaining, but I was expecting more from this. 3*

68-Lord Edgware Dies
I've said it before and I'll say it again - I love Agatha Christie! 4*

64-Unusual Uses for Olive Oil
Liked it, but not as much as the earlier ones in this series. 3*

65-Island of the Blue Dolphins
Rounded this up to 4* (from 3 1/2) because it is based on a true story.

66-Flowers for Algernon
I must be about the only person who couldn't LOVE this book - it just made me too sad. 3 1/2*

61-Billy Joel The Life and Times of an Angry Young Man
Perhaps not stellar writing, but I loved reading about Billy's music. 4*

62-Kinsey and Me: Stories
Some 4* stories, but overall not up to her standards of the full-length "Alphabet" mysteries, which I love. 3*

63-Poirot Investigates 4*

The Da Vinci Code

Donna wrote: "Ann A wrote: 58-Crank
Disturbing, but riveting. 4*..."

I just started this as a compare/contrast to my "Go Ask Alice" reread. So far I'm intrigued by the format."

I really liked the free verse format - hadn't read anything like that before.

57-The Mummy Case
Peters's books may not be serious mysteries, but they're fun. 4*

58-Crank
Disturbing, but riveting. 4*

59-The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon
Maybe not quite 4*, but I'll always round up for the gentle, uplifting A.M. Smith.

60-Breakfast at Tiffany's: And Three Stories
Capote is some writer. 4*

54-One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories
I appreciate Novak's intelligent nuttiness! 4*

55-Ender's Game
Entertaining enough, but the genre is not really my cup of tea. 3*

56-The Uncommon Reader
Utterly charming. 4 1/2*

Tiffany wrote: "Alison wrote: "hey I'm just wondering how u are keeping track of the 1001 books? computer?? Just curious!"

I bought the massive book itself, read the descriptions of every book, made a list of all..."

I have the same '1001' goal as you for the year - 12 books. I've read 4 so far. Hope we make it! How many have you read in total?

50-Bad Monkey
Definitely some laugh-out-loud parts, but a little crude for me. 3*

51-The Mystery at Lilac Inn
I want to be Nancy when I grow up! 3*

52-Fangirl
I don't read a lot of YA, but will read more by Rainbow Rowell. She's a clever writer with interesting characters. The (thankfully short) Simon and Baz fanfiction sections of the book did bore me. 3 1/2*

53-The Giver
I'm discovering some real gems in reading the Newberys. 5*

Renee wrote: "55) The Idiot by Dostoyevsky
My first real experience with Russian Lit. It wasn't an easy read, but it knocked my socks off.

56) Beasts and Super Beasts by Saki [bookc..."

Wow - 60! I can't keep up with you! I love Doestoevsky - haven't read "The Idiot" yet, but highly recommend "Crime and Punishment" and "The Brothers Karamazov".

Looks like we'll both surpass our goals of 75 books for the year!

47-Grimm's Fairy Tales
Interesting how much darker many of the original stories are than the "popular" versions. 3*

48-Bertie Plays the Blues: A 44 Scotland Street Novel
I think this may have supplanted 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' as my favorite A.M. Smith series. 4*

49-A Week in Winter
Lovely novel. I will miss Maeve Binchy. 4*

Renee wrote: "You're doing a great job with your challenge. Are you working from a website for your Newbery list, by any chance?"

Thanks, Renee! I actually just use a spreadsheet for my Newbery reads.

Renee wrote: "More by Oscar Wilde...

52) The Importance of Being Earnest

53) Lady Windermere's Fan

54) An Ideal Hus..."

I haven't read these last two, but really enjoyed 'Earnest' and 'Dorian Grey'. Sigh...two more for my ridiculously long TBR list.

45-Case Histories
Excellent writing, but a tad dark for my tastes. 3*

46-The Unconsoled
Very strange book, but Ishiguro's writing flows beautifully. 3 1/2*

42-Swami And Friends
Clever tale of a 10-year-old mischievous boy in India. 3*

43-The Wheel on the School
Absolutely delightful tale of a group of Dutch school-children's efforts to bring storks back to their town. Newbery winner, 1955. 4 1/2*

44-A Darkness More Than Night
Connelly's novels continue to be my page-turning, guilty pleasure. 4*

Renee wrote: "Thanks! I am an Audio Book Slut for certain. :)"

LOL. I'm growing increasingly fond of Audiobooks myself, although I don't think I've quite crossed into Slutdom (hood?) yet!