Tatum’s Comments (group member since Jan 01, 2012)

Tatum’s comments from the Read 100+ Books in 2012 group.

That sounds like a really good book Kristy!

4/9, that's great :) How were the other three? Good/bad, would you recommend them?

Finished The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde yesterday as well and am counting it as a bonus book.

Rating: 2/5

Review: This should be a good book. It gets 2/5 rating from me because I still like the premise if not the execution. If it had been based on execution alone, it would have gotten 1/5.

A young man has his portrait painted and realizes how handsome he is. Impulsively he wishes for the painting to grow old while he remains untouched by time, a wish that comes true. He is influenced to engage in any number of wicked activities by a friend of his and watches the painting become more and more hideous while he himself stays completely unscathed... a wolf in sheep's clothing so to speak.

So why isn't it an enjoyable read? Because it just gets bogged down by Oscar Wilde's allusions and opinions. The prose can be overpowering at times. None of the characters are particularly sympathetic or likeable. And yet one can't really work up enough feeling to dislike the "bad guys" either.

This novel is considered to be a classic which has withstood the test of time. A good many people think it is excellent, so I wouldn't want to specifically dissuade anyone from reading it. I just don't see what other people see in it.

Finished my #3 entry, Crosscurrent today. I gave it a rating of 3/5. If you aren't a fan of Star Wars, you won't want to read this. If you are it's worth a go being the oldest (chronologically) setting in the universe. The book itself was good, the ending was kind of anti-climatic though, which was unfortunate.

Wow Janie, you've already read two??!! Were they any good?

1. Read the first book of an author, first book of a series, a book with 1 in the title: The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis (Changed original choice to this one. First in the Didius Falco mystery series). Done! 01/26/12

2. Read a book with a J-A-N-U-R-Y in the title: Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson (Has U and J. No clue if these are any good, but the blurb got me). Done! 01/31/12

3. Read a book with space as a theme in rememberance of the Space Shuttle Challenger: Crosscurrent by Paul S. Kemp (Chronologically the first book in the Star Wars world. Yeah, I'm a geek!). Done! 01/07/12.

4. Read a Young Adult book: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (First in the Percy Jackson series. So much talk about them, I've never read them but I intend to this year). Done! 01/29/12

5. Read a book with snow or snowflakes on the cover: ? Not sure yet.

6. Read a book that takes place in Europe: The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie (The second book Christie ever published, the first with Tommy and Tuppence. Somehow I never read it before. Takes place in Britain and I think(?) France).

7. Read a book that is set in contemporary times: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (Second in the Percy Jackson series). Done! 01/31/12

8. Read a book by your favorite author: Paint Your Dragon by Tom Holt Done! 01/19/12

9. Your choice: The Help by Kathryn Stockett Done! 01/15/12

Bonus:The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde 01/07/12

Challenge: 7/9 Read: 8 books.

I thought it was a book that had those letters in the title, not the actual word... though I haven't yet found a book with all those letters either. The other one I have trouble with, believe it or not, is #5, book with snow/snowflakes on cover.

Hi, I'm Tatum from Montreal. I'm a wife, mother to two, currently staying at home though I want (need) to find a part-time job this year.

I've always loved reading and set my goal this year for 100 books. I think I can do it, especially since I got an e-reader as an early Christmas gift and find it much easier/faster to read on that. (I hate to admit it, but I think my eyes were starting to go a bit, so being able to adjust font size and the clear print is good for me!).

Looking forward to checking out the monthly challenges and discussing books with everyone else :)