Nicole’s Comments (group member since Jun 29, 2010)

Nicole’s comments from the The Complete Idiots Guide to the Ultimate Reading List group.

This is great. Thanks southpaw.

Just wanted to let you know that Evergreen by Belva Plain is not on the spreadsheet (it's one of the popular fiction books).

Chapter 1: Lincoln by Gore Vidal (for some reason I'm really interested in learning about history at the moment)

1. Father's Day- I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max June 7
(I don't think my father has ever read a book in his life, so this was recommended by my boyfriend who reads only slightly more than my dad)

2. Summer Time- Tourist Season by Carl Hiaasen **list** July 4
(Nothing says summer to me like traveling)

3. Candy Month- Dying for Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson June 30

4. Rose Month- The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin June 17

Cassandra, I think it depends on the level you choose... if you choose Level 1 the one book has to be from the Guide, for all the other levels (2 and 3) at least one book must be from the Guide, but you can do more if you want... You don't have to do them all from the Guide though.

Hope this helps.

Maybe since it's Father's Day, we can say read a book that your dad (or another man in your life) has recommended.

Or maybe there is some list somewhere with the best books for Father's day?

Chapter 1

Sherry wrote: "Goodness!I've only read one book off this list.
Water for Elephants which I enjoyed very much.I grew up on a carnival as a child.My mother was part of a "freak show"where she "took of..."

Ok, so that is officially the coolest thing I've ever heard

I absolutely loved this book... I became so engrossed in the story and the time period and I never even expected to enjoy it. Immediately, after I read it, I started reading more about Henry and then discovered the series the Tudors... I am officially obsessed with the English monarchy.

Just finished The Boleyn Inheritance and loved it, although most of the time Henry acted like a selfish little brat. Cannot wait to read the rest of the series.

I've recently been reading Phillipa Gregory's books about the Tudors (eg. The Other Boleyn Girl) and I am officially obsessed with Henry VIII... Cannot wait to read this one.

I love challeges.

I'm going to aim for Level 3:

M: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (list) May 17
A: All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy (list) May 18
Y: You're a Horrible Person, But I Like You by Eric Spitznagel (not list) May 25

It definitely did not start to get good until like 100 pages in, but once you got into the story line, you were hooked. In my opinion, this was the best of all three of the books (maybe because of the novelty) and I was actually quite surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did.

At first I was a little skeptical of the books... I was in high school and they were kids books, but then a school assignment forced me to read this one and so my obsession began (By the way, I love young adult books now). I absolutely LOVED every single one of these books (although the third was my absolute favorite due to its uplifting ending) and have been scouring for a replacement since the last one. At first I thought it would be Twilight (but those books sucked royally), then I found Hunger Games (which to me was phenomenal), but sadly that ended as well. So if anyone knows what the next Harry Potter will be, can you let me know?

Also, I totally agree that it is the parents' responsibility to encourage their children to read. When I was young, my dad read to me every night and now I am totally addicted to reading and carry books around with me constantly... However, by the time he had my little brother, he was much older, and had less time to spend with him, so never read to him. Now it is shocking if my brother ever picks up a book... I actually think my dad would have a heart attack if he ever saw him reading on his own (you know, without being forced to do so). I don't blame my dad for this, but I can totally see how much of an impact he had in my life and I wish he had done the same for my brother. Of course, now it's harder because you have to compete with a million different types of video games. However, I will always be eternally grateful to my father for opening me up to the world of reading.

I really enjoyed the book, and I started writing very as v. also... I did that for at least two years after reading it (I'm weaning myself off now). The only thing that bothered me was her complaining about her weight and it was like 135lbs... Come on. Really? I would never complain if I weighed 135lbs.

I picked up this book while I was in college (before entering the "real-world") and was super worried that my job would turn out to be like Andrea's. Luckily, it didn't... I mean I still don't enjoy working, but whenever I feel bad about my job, all I have to do is pick up this book and then I'm grateful for it :)

I really wasn't expecting to like this book at all... I usually don't jump on the book of the moment bandwagon, but I love the circus and the elephant was awesome (badly treated, but awesome). The portions of the book that touched me the most were when old Jacob was narrating... It really made me want to go and spend more time with the older generation, listen to their stories and give them company. In my opinion, any book that motivates me to do something is a winner.

I read this book right after I had read The Other Boleyn Girl and I was a bit disappointed... I guess I got used to Gregory's style and was a bit taken aback by how PG this book was.