Challenge: 50 Books discussion
Finish Line 2009!
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Muphyn's 50 reads in 2009
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7. Another YA book :)Emily Rodda The Wizard of Rondo
The sequel to The Key to Rondo - wasn't as good as the first one, though still enjoyable. a little bit too much on the descriptive side.
Ok, not a YA book this time!8. Henry Reynolds Why Weren't We Told?
It's part memoir, dealing with the treatment of Aboriginies in Australia, both from the author's personal experience as well as from his perspective as a historian. Found it quite emotional in parts and highly illuminating.
9. Nicole Krauss The History of Love A Novel
Part love story, part historical, set in New York and quietly told, with subtle twists and turns. Found it intriguing from the start.
10. Robert Cormier The Chocolate War
YA novel about bullying, corruption at (private) schools and standing up for what you believe in. Thought it was brilliant!
Hi Muphyn- I completely forgot about The Chocolate War - I read it ages ago and remember really enjoying it. Glad you liked it!
Melanie wrote: "Hi Muphyn- I completely forgot about The Chocolate War - I read it ages ago and remember really enjoying it. Glad you liked it!"The YA group on GR read it as their Feb book club read and I'm still so stunned that basically none of them liked it! they couldn't get into it, thought it was boring and there was I thinking that it was a brilliant book! huh?! maybe it doesn't speak to today's teenager population/culture anymore and/or maybe I'm too old (i don't even feel like i'm approaching 30 this year but huh, what do I know I guess... :) ). Sounds like you liked it too. did you have to read it for school?
I actually read it on my own when I was a teenager.
More YA fiction!! I'm so hooked on YA books at the moment, can't seem to stop. :) Have almost finished Pullman's Sally Lockheart trilogy, onto the last part now.11. Philip Pullman The Ruby in the Smoke
12. Philip Pullman The Shadow in the North
Muphyn,Have you read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins? I think that is technically YA fiction. Really good - though my really only other recent foray into YA were the Twilight books so I am not sure if we want to gauge it by that... : )
Melanie,no, haven't read or heard of "The Hunger Games" - just read the synopsis on the book page and it sounds really good!! i'll let you know what I think of it! yay, more YA!!! :)
I hope you like it - I am a sucker for post-apocalyptic/dystopian novels.
The last in the Sally Lockheart series:13. Philip Pullman The Tiger in the Well
Great stuff!! Thoroughly enjoyed the series and the historical backdrop, especially in the last one when there's a lot about Jewish immigrants, socialism, unions etc. going on! Adds a nice dimension to the story.
14. Victor Hugo Les Misérables
Admittedly, it's an abriged production I listened to (4 audio CDs) but never mind, it's another step towards reaching that "magical" 50! Enjoyed the classical music that is part of the production but not so much the reader, sounded a little too pretentious for my liking.
15. John Connolly The Book of Lost Things
Fantasy and sort of YA but not really - too dark and gruesome. Haven't quite decided yet what I make of it. I really enjoyed parts of it and other parts were really scary and gruesome.
16. J.R.R. Tolkien The Hobbit Or There and Back Again
Didn't mind "The Hobbit" as much as when I first read it but it's still not a favourite one of mine. The BBC production, however, was simply awful; often enough it just felt like a lot of noise rather than story telling.
17. Mende Nazer Slave
Memoirs of a Sudanese slave girl. Quite touching.
18. Neil Gaiman Coraline
Creepy, little tale about a girl named Coraline. Enjoyed it heaps!
19. Ian McEwan Black Dogs
I just love Ian McEwan's writing style, it is just beautiful and lyrical. Loved the book too. Quite different to "Atonement" but still told in the same "tone".
20. Kate Morton The Shifting Fog (published as The House at Riverton in the US)
Great story, really enthralling plot, set in early 20th century England. Totally absorbed me!
21. Randa Abdel-Fattah Where the Streets Had a Name
Something different... YA fiction that's set in the Middle East, dealing with the Israel-Palastinian conflict. New terroritory for me but I found it quite engaging.
22. Jane Austen Emma
Abriged version but not too bad. Great if you just want a quick overview of the plot rather than all the intricate details (not saying it's not worthwhile).
23. Colin Thompson The Floods #1 Good Neighbors
Funny, creepy, morbid story about an Adam's Family-type family. Dark, very British humour! Kinda a children's book but not really.
24. Cornelia Funke Inkheart
25. M.I. McAllister The Mistmantle Chronicles, Book 2 Urchin and the Heartstone
Second book in the Mistmantle Chronicles - great animal story for kiddies!
Oh YES!!! I hadn't even realised!!! :) Thanks Mary Todd!!!
26. Colin Thompson
The Floods Playschool
A tale about a morbid family - highly enjoyable!
27. Colin Thompson The Floods Home & Away
28. M.A. McAllister
The Mistmantle Chronicles, Book 3 The Heir of Mistmantle
29. Kate Morton The Forgotten Garden
30. Dianna Wynne Jones Howl's Moving Castle
31. M.A. McAllister The Mistmantle Chronicles, Book 4 Urchin and the Raven War
32. Rachel Billington
Emma & Knightley The Sequel to Jane Austen's Emma
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33. Cornelia Funke Inkspell
34. Sonya Hartnett The Ghost's Child
35. Francis Durbridge News of Paul Temple
36. Shannon Hale The Goose Girl
37. Cornelia Funke
Inkdeath
38. Walter Wangerin Jr. Jesus
just terrible. had to force myself to finish it.
39. Henry Blackaby Experiencing the Spirit The Power of Pentecost Every Day
40. Bernard Beckett Genesis
Brilliant!
41. Tim Ecott Stealing Water A Secret Life in an African City
Interesting memoir about a childhood spent in South Africa and Ireland.
42. Yann Martel Life of Pi
Tried reading this 1.5 years ago and couldn't get into it. this time it wasn't too bad - maybe listening to the audio version helped.
If you don't mind reading some fantasy young adult fiction I highly recommend the Pendragon Series. Here's the first book:
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Vi wrote: "If you don't mind reading some fantasy young adult fiction I highly recommend the Pendragon Series. Here's the first book: [image error]"Thanks for the rec, Vi! I don't mind reading YA fantasy, in fact, I really love it!! :) I'll see if I can get the Pendragon series at the my local public library.
I hope you like it. I really enjoy the series so far. The last one just came out, and I can't wait to read it!
Challenge: 50 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Merchant of Death (other topics)The Merchant of Death (other topics)
Stealing Water: A Secret Life in an African City (other topics)
Life of Pi (other topics)
Genesis (other topics)
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2. Stephenie Meyer New Moon
3. Stephenie Meyer Eclipse
4. Axel Hacke Der weisse Neger Wumbaba. Kleines Handbuch des Verhörens (german)
5. Stephenie Meyer Breaking Dawn
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6. Agatha Christie 4 50 From Paddington A Miss Marple Mystery