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

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

Hey, Naomi, that's so funny - I was just wondering if you would start a new thread for this "group read"! I'm thinking maybe we should move it into the "General" category, though (instead of F-J). I noticed another group is reading The Great Gatsby and they have their thread there. Not that it really matters. I don't yet have a copy of the book, so maybe you could look at the number of pages/chapters and decide what a comfortable amount might be to aim to read each week. That way, the comments can be organized as to different sections of the book. Look forward to starting this in a couple of weeks!

#57-Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter-Mario Vargas Llosa
Unique premise/plot. I enjoyed it, except the ending was a little abrupt.

#58-Cat's Cradle-Kurt Vonnegut
Weird, but with some laugh-out-loud moments.

#59-The Best of the Best: 18 New Stories by America's Leading Authors
Very good book of short stories (published in 1998).

#60-Dead to the World-Charlaine Harris
I don't WANT to keep reading these Sookie Stackhouse books, but I seem to be addicted.

#61-Three Bedrooms, One Corpse
Charlaine Harris seems to be my author of the summer. This is another fun, light series, and my library seems to have all her books as eBooks, making them very convenient to read.

I'm willing to tackle Infinite Jest! I won't be able to start it until August, however, as I want to get a library copy and I'm traveling for the next few weeks.

I've been wanting to read some David Foster Wallace, too, ever since I listened to a show about him on NPR. Infinite Jest is on my TBR list - hopefully I'll get to it this year.

#55-Something Borrowed-Emily Giffin
The characters annoyed me. 2*

#56-A Bone to Pick
Light, quick, fun.

This is an unusual year (as far as my reading time). Next year I'll probably be back to 50 or so books, but this year I'm going for it (to 75 and beyond!)

Looks like you've read some really interesting books so far. Congrats on 26 before mid-year!

#52-The Lincoln Lawyer-Michael Connelly
#53-The Count of Monte Cristo-Alexandre Dumas
#54-The Caine Mutiny-Herman Wouk

Liked all three a lot - and from different eras: 2005, 1844, and 1951!

Maybe I should give Gatsby another shot. Since years (and years) have gone by, it's quite possible I would appreciate it more now.

As far as re-reading high school books, I have a daughter in high school now, and over the past two years I have re-read A Separate Peace, Lord of the Flies (thought the writing was good, but it was a disturbing story) and To Kill a Mockingbird. I would say I definitely enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird more the second time around - in fact, I've decided it's probably my favorite American novel. Poor Donna - having to read The Great Gatsby 3 times! That's one I do remember not liking.

That is so freaky. I was just going through basement boxes to prepare for a garage sale, and came across "My Darling, My Hamburger"! I decided to keep it just for the novelty of the title (not that anyone would buy it, but I was also preparing a "get rid of" pile)!

When we visit people, I like to peruse and read stuff from their shelves. However, I usually can't finish the book while I'm staying there, so I have to come back home and find it (as I don't want to steal from the hosts :). Twice I've come back from England and had to order the book I had started. The first one was from $40 to $400 (!) new, so I ordered the best used copy available for about $5.00. When it arrived, the cover was so worn you couldn't read the title, and the pages were yellow. I finished that sucker, though! With the second one, a new copy was not available and I think I had to pay almost $20.00 (+ shipping) for a used paperback! It's my crazy compulsion to finish all books I start. I wish I could stop it - life's too short! By-the-way, the books were Death of a President by William Manchester and By the Waters of Liverpool by Helen Forrester.

Thanks, Donna!

#51-The Eden Express-Mark Vonnegut
He was brave to tell his story, but I got tired of the long sections spent in the middle of his delusions.

#50-Tea Time for the Traditionally Built-Alexander McCall Smith, 3 1/2*
That's it! Number 50! I've changed my goal to 75 for the year (a new record for me), but maybe I can even surpass that.

Mariana wrote: "Helen wrote: Haha... I JUST started reading the Elegance of the Hedgehog about an hour ago.

Ah, it'll be interesting to know what you think of it then :)"

Just to be contrary :) I really enjoyed The Elegance of the Hedgehog. I liked the characters and just found it very unique. I think it's one of those books you either love or hate!

I didn't like The Road Either, but I loved Water for Elephants. My kids LOVED Goodnight Moon. That's what makes sites like this so interesting - reading all the different opinions!

Great mid-year (almost) report! I'm afraid I have also been on the LIFO system lately. They're not necessarily "new" books, but just ones I've picked up at library sales, recently heard about, etc. Anyway, I've decided to create some "challenges" for myself so I'll get back to those bookshelves in the basement!

Jennifer wrote: "Half way done!!! Woo Hoo!!"

Applause!!!

You HAVE been busy!

Sara wrote: "11. This I Believe II: More Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women By Jay All..."

Looks like 2 more for my TBR list...sigh. I accept I will NEVER catch up, but I will never stop trying.

The Da Vinci Code. The story was interesting, but I was disappointed in the quality of the writing (after SO much hype). I agree with the previous 2 as well, especially Twilight.