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

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

#77-Crocodile on the Sandbank
Granted, the mystery wasn't much of one, but the characters were so much fun I didn't even care. It's sad that Elizabeth Peters passed away last month. Wish I'd discovered her earlier. 4*

#76-In The Skin Of A Lion
Ondaatje writes some beautiful sentences, but I just couldn't connect with the book. 2 1/2*

#75-My Lucky Life in and Out of Show Business
I really enjoy reading auto-bios of people I admire. 4 1/2*

#74-The Midwife's Apprentice
Am liking most all the Newbery winners - probably not as much as if I were a child... 3*

#73-Sarah, Plain and Tall
Short, enjoyable Newbery. 3*

Have a bunch to catch up on here:

#72-The Westing Game (Newbery winner)
Fun, zany characters. 3 1/2*

It was interesting to peruse this list. I've read Gilead (3*), The Road (2*), The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (4*), A Visit from the Goon Squad (3*), and The Orphan Master's Son (2*). Guess the reasons I find to love a book are not what the Pulitzer people look for.

#71-American Pastoral
This was my 2nd Philip Roth novel, and I think I own one more (which I will read). Don't know if I'll pick him up after that. As for pure talent and occasionally brilliant insight, he's up there with the best of them. However, I find him too depressing. 3*

#70-The Hero and the Crown
Newbery winner. I suppose it would be a big hit for the fantasy/adventure fans. 3* for me.

#69-The Wedding Song
I liked the narrative style with the different points of view. Interesting perspective on life in Cairo, but certainly not an uplifting story. 3 1/2*

#68-Death on the Nile
Yet another good one from Dame Christie. 4*

#67-Mockingjay
3* for imagination, but I thought the 2nd book was better.

#66-Saturday
Beautifully written. I liked this almost as much as Atonement. 4 1/2*

#65-The Book of Lost Things
The gruesomeness canceled out the positives for me. 1 1/2*

#64-The Remains of the Day
Lovely, heartbreaking book. I can't wait to read more Ishiguro. 5*

#63-Selected Poems
Beyond my comprehension most of the time, but T.S. Eliot puts words together beautifully. 3*

#62-One Hundred Years of Solitude
Amazing writing and imagination. 4*

#61-The Importance of Being Seven
Who wouldn't love 6-year-old Bertie? 4*

#60-Where the Sidewalk Ends
Clever and fun. 4*

I am on page 350 of a 1200-page version (the translation by Julie Rose). I'm just at the part where Valjean comes to get Cosette. Loving it so far, although I did get a little bogged down in The Battle of Waterloo.