Deedee’s Comments (group member since Aug 04, 2010)

Deedee’s comments from the Reading with Style group.

Task 20.10 Goodreads Feature - Elizabeths' Task:

The Garden of Evening Mists recommends In a Strange Room

In a Strange Room (2010) by Damon Galgut (Paperback, 207 pages)

+20 Task
+10 Non-Western (author born & lives in South Africa)

Task Total: 20 + 10 = 30

Grand Total: 705 + 30 = 735

Task 20.3 - Best Historical Fiction Books that Are Actually Historical Fiction.

On February 23, 2015: #123 on the list

Lady of the English (2011) by Elizabeth Chadwick (Goodreads Author) (Paperback, 514 pages)
Review:Queen Matilda was the daughter of King Henry I and the granddaughter of William the Conqueror of England. This novel begins after the death of her first husband in Germany. She returns to England, and to her father’s household. The novel follows her life from that point onwards. She eventually is involved in a destructive English Civil War between herself and her cousin Stephen. I liked that the author kept to what is known about the historical Matilda, with reasonable speculations about the parts of her life that isn’t known. The writing is in an easily accessible bestseller style. Recommended for fans of historical fiction.

+20 Task
+05 Jumbo 500-699 Pages:
+10 Review

Task Total: 20 + 05 + 10 = 35

Grand Total: 670 + 35 = 705

Task 10.4 - Island Dreams:
Read a book that takes place (at least 75%) on an island country listed under Sovereign states.

After I was done reading this 5 star Dickens novel, I went back and counted pages; depending on how you assign “letters written”, between 76% to 78% of the novel was set in England, the remainder occurring on the Continent. Yeah!

Little Dorrit (1857) by Charles Dickens (Paperback, 889 pages)
Most popular edition had 985 pages.
Review:Dickens is amazing, easily the best English novelist of the 19th Century. The best way to read a Dickens novel, including this one, is to read 1-3 chapters every couple of days. That is how the original readers in the 1850s read his novels, and it works well for modern day readers as well..

This novel focuses on prisons – both the physical Debtor’s Prison called Marshelsea, and the psychological prisons various characters create for themselves. The first half of the novel, called Poverty, is set in the prison Marshelsea itself, and in nearby working class neighborhoods. The second half of the novel, called Riches, is set in more upscale locations, including a long visit to Italy (Venice and Rome). The characters are well-drawn, their reactions are realistic, and the social commentary is shown not preached. My only criticism is that the ending is wrapped up very quickly – Dickens could easily have an additional 100 pages or so of text if he wanted to. (In my edition, Appendix A summarizes a confusing aspect of the novel, and I found it very helpful.) Recommended for all readers.


+10 Task
+15 Oldies -151 to 250 years old: (1764-1863)
+20 Jumbo 900-999 Pages:
+10 Review

Task Total: 10 + 15 + 20 + 10 = 55

Grand Total: 615 + 55 = 670

Task 10.6 - Foreign Language:
Read a book originally published in one of the world's most spoken languages: Mandarin (Chinese), Hindi, Spanish, OR Arabic.

This book was originally published in Spanish.

Purity of Blood (Adventures of Captain Alatriste #2) (1997) by Arturo Pérez-Reverte; translated by Margaret Sayers Peden (Paperback, 268 pages)
Review:This book is the second in a series of the swashbuckling adventures of Spanish soldier Captain Alatriste. It is a stand-alone book, however, with only a couple of brief references to the events of book #1. Our hero, captain Alatriste, is an accomplished swordsman who defends his HONOR whilst serving his friends and his King. The “purity of blood” in the title means: “no Jewish ancestors”. Set in the early 1600s, during the height of the Inquisition, our heros main opponents are the Inquisition and the mercenaries that the Inquisition hires. It’s an OK read. I expected more swashbuckling and less lectures.

+10 Task
+10 Review

Task Total : 10 + 10 = 20

Grand Total: 595 + 20 = 615

Would Pink Carnation series qualify?

There are a lot of romance "series" that take a sibling - best friend - neighbor from Book #1 and they become the stars of Book #2 (one example: Wallflowers).

And ... how about Discworld?

One of the novels is:
The Discworld Series by Terry Pratchett
Would each book in the series count? Thanks!

Africa

Asia - Eastern

Asia - Western

The Caribbean

Central America

Europe

European Union

Middle East

North America

Oceania

South America

Task 20.10 Goodreads Feature - Elizabeths' Task:

Tenth of December recommends Bobcat and Other Stories

Bobcat and Other Stories (2013) by Rebecca Lee (Paperback, 209 pages)
Review:This book has seven stories, all by Rebecca Lee, 5 stories published previously, and 2 stories published here for the first time. All the stories are told in first person; 6 of the 7 the “first person” is a New York City gal aged 25-40; 1 is “first person” male pursuing such a New York City gal. All 7 contain main characters who are either college professors, published writers or college students. Write what you know – I’d guess Rebecca Lee is a college educated white woman, aged 25-40, living in New York City for most of her life, and, obviously, a published writer. These stories are all slice-of-life stories about people like her (and, extrapolating, her friends). The writing is clear and solid, the events believable, and it really does read like the New York City gal at the neighboring table is talking about her life to a friend. Recommended.

+20 Task
+10 Review

Task Total : 20 + 10 = 30

Grand Total: 565 + 30 = 595

Task 10.8 - Two for One -
Read a combination of 2 or more books, each under 100 pages, that total at least 100 pages when combined.


Most popular version: 20 pages
Johannes Cabal and the Blustery Day (Johannes Cabal #1.1) (2013) by Jonathan L. Howard (Goodreads Author) (Kindle Edition, 20 pages)
Review: Cute, entertaining short story about an aspiring beginner necromancer versus enterprising sprites. This story was actually the first one in the Johannes Cabal series, and occurs before the events of The Necromancer, at a time when Johannes was a young man beginning to learn about magic. Recommended for those entertained by humorous fantasy stories.

Most popular version: 88 pages
Balfour and Meriwether in The Incident of the Harrowmoor Dogs (Balfour and Meriwether .5) (2013) by Daniel Abraham (Kindle Edition, 52 pages)
Review:I've enjoyed Daniel Abraham's other stories, but this one, bleh. The great reveal towards the end had nothing to do with the "adventure tale" that the novella was advertised as being. The whole story just never came together – I suspect that happens sometimes even with wildly successful authors. (Also – I thought this would be “steampunk” genre. Nope.) Not recommended.


+10 Task
+10 Review

Task Total : 10 + 10 = 20

Grand Total: 545 + 20 = 565

Anyone excited about the new Harper Lee book? For some reason, I thought she had died many years ago!

I also thought she had died a long time ago. I'll take a look at the new Harper Lee book. The blurb I read says that this new book is actually the first book she wrote. The editor recommended that she take Scout's story, told in flashbacks in the first book, and make a novel with that story, which she did and it became To Kill a Mockingbird. So we'll see. Sometimes first novels are not published for good reason.

I'm not going to finish the challenge this time .... too tempted by books that are Square Pegs LOL. And, I've had a bit of bad luck. I was going to claim Little Dorrit for 10.4 Island Dreams, but midway through the novel the characters depart England for Europe! When I'm finished with the novel I'll have to see if 75% is in England. I'm also getting ready to start A Fair Maiden (2010) by Joyce Carol Oates and that one doesn't seem to fit anywhere either. Still good books!

Task 10.1 - Square Peg:

Yes Please (2014) by Amy Poehler (Hardcover, 329 pages)

+10 Task

Task Total: 10

Grand Total: 535 + 10 = 545

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Deedee wrote: "Task 10.1 - Square Peg:

Coming Home (Alex Benedict #7) (2014) by Jack McDevitt (Hardcover, 358 pages)

+10 Task

Task Total: 10

Grand Total: 510 + 10..."

Yeah! I missed that because 1935 + 79 = 2014.

Re-done:

Task 20.9 - Respect Elders:

Coming Home (Alex Benedict #7) (2014) by Jack McDevitt (Hardcover, 358 pages)

+20 Task

Task Total: 20

Grand Total: 510 + 20 = 530

Task 10.1 - Square Peg:

Coming Home (Alex Benedict #7) (2014) by Jack McDevitt (Hardcover, 358 pages)

+10 Task

Task Total: 10

Grand Total: 510 + 10 = 520

Task 10.7 – Black Humor-
Read one of the top 100 Best Dark Humor books.

On January 27, 2015, this book was #49 on the list:

The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror (Pine Cove #3) (2004) by Christopher Moore (Goodreads Author) (Hardcover, First Edition, 275 pages)

+10 Task

Task Total: 10

Grand Total: 500 + 10 = 510

Task 20.2 - Persephone:
Read a book written by a Persephone Books author.

Dorothy Canfield Fisher is a Persephone Books author.

Understood Betsy (1916) by Dorothy Canfield Fisher (Hardcover, 211 pages)
Lexile 950L
Review: Persephone Books author Dorothy Canfield Fisher is best known for bringing the Montessori method of child-rearing to the U.S.. The children’s novel Understood Betsy reflects her educational philosophy. The novel stars a young girl who moves from a coddled, spoon-fed educational/familial situation to a Montessori-like “learn by doing” situation. The young girl’s emotional reactions to the events in her life are minutely observed. This makes the argument that “learn by doing” is an effective, emotionally satisifying, and superior way to learn about the world. Ms. Fisher clearly expected adults as well as children to read this novel, and for both audiences to conclude that the hands-on Montessori method is superior to the methods of child-rearing currently (1916 currently!) being used. Recommended for parents and teachers of young children.

+20 Task
+10 Oldies -76 to 150 years old: (1864-1938)
+10 Review

Task Total: 20 + 10 + 10 = 40

Grand Total: 460 + 40 = 500

Task 10.8 - Two for One -
Read a combination of 2 or more books, each under 100 pages, that total at least 100 pages when combined.


Most popular version: 26 pages
Before the Party (1922) by W. Somerset Maugham (Kindle Edition, 26 pages)


Most popular version: 80 pages
Madame de Mauves (1874) by Henry James (Paperback, 80 pages)

+10 Task
+10 Oldies -76 to 150 years old: (1864-1938)

Task Total : 10 + 10 = 20

Grand Total: 440 + 20 = 460

Task 10.5 - Author Achievements:

Margaret Atwood
2008 winner – Princess of Asturias Awards - Literature (Letras).

The Handmaid's Tale (1985) by Margaret Atwood
Lexile 780L

+10 Task

Task Total: 10

Grand Total: 430 + 10 = 440

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Deedee wrote: "The Watsons by Jane Austen is 56 pages in the Dodo Press edition. However, the most popular edition is The Watsons, at 316 pages. That c..."

OK fine -- thanks for the quick response!

The Watsons by Jane Austen is 56 pages in the Dodo Press edition. However, the most popular edition is The Watsons, at 316 pages. That can't be right. The 316 page edition must have other text besides "The Watsons". I'd like to use the Dodo Press edition with its 56 pages and combine it with, maybe, Lady Susan. Would that be OK? Thanks!

Task 10.8 - Two for One -
Read a combination of 2 or more books, each under 100 pages, that total at least 100 pages when combined.


Most popular version: 96 pages
The Strange Library (2005) by Haruki Murakami; translated by Ted Goossen (Paperback, 96 pages)


Most popular version: 30 pages
Sleeper (2014) by Jo Walton (ebook, 30 pages)

Free online fiction, available at;
http://www.tor.com/stories/2014/08/sl...


+10 Task

Task Total: 10

Grand Total: 420 + 10 = 430