Cindy's 2008 challenge

[Cynthia]

#86 Seamstress of Hollywood Boulevard by Erin McGraw Well researched and well written.

#87 The Gilded Chamber: A Novel of Queen Esther by Rebecca Cohn
a quick exciting read

[Cynthia]

#88 Audition by Barbra Walters
This book is very interesting, in spite, or may be because of the fact that it is more a series of vignettes than a biography. Walters has certainly lead an interesting life but she really doesn't present it chronologically. Sometimes you sort of need to make notes to figure out what was happening when. The stories never cease to entertain, though.

[Cynthia]

#89 Twenty Fragments of a Ravenous Youth by Xiaolu Gou Interesting window into the Chinese culture.
#90 Hole in my Life by Jack Gantos Interesting reflection and cautionary tale about how he drifted into crime and ended up in prison. Not for the young or the faint of heart. Not at all like the fiction he writes, but truthful in a matter-of-fact way.
#91 Mother Warriors by Jenny McCarthy Families talk about their journey in trying to get help for their autistic children.

[Cynthia]

#92 Dewey the Library Cat by Vicki Myron
A real tear jerker and a very sweet story.

[Cynthia]

#93 Vanity Fair : the Portraits: A Century of Iconic Images by Graydon Carter
This is one of the most beautiful books i have ever seen.
#94 Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou
What a fascinating collection of wisdom from someone who really has some thoughts to share. What a privilege to be numbered among her daughters and have access to her experience.

[Cynthia]

#95 Good Intentions by Charles M. North and Bob Smietana
#96 Best American Science Writing of 2008 edited by Sylvia Nasar
#97 Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Huruki Murakami

[Cynthia]

#98 Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
#99 Dashing Through the Snow by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark
That's a dissimilar pair if I ever saw one!

[Cynthia]

#100 The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
Great stuff. Love Harry Bosch and Connelly's ability to make me actually care about his tough guy characters never ceases to amaze me. 4 books to go for the year.

[Cynthia]

#101 The Tempest Tale by Walter Mosley
An interesting theological discourse for the season when we celebrate God made man and come to earth.

[Cynthia]

#102 Annie Leibovitz At Work by Annie Leibovwitz
Interesting glimpse into the life of this famous photographer
#103 Hounded to Death by Rita May Brown
One more to go for 2008!

[Cynthia]

My 2008 challenge is finished just under the wire with #104 Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. This book was a great way to end the challenge, touting as it does the benefits of hard work and discipline and the fact that no one is successful either by accident or alone. For 2009 I am going to begin the A-Z authors challenge and try to do both A-Z authors and A-Z titles within the year.