Challenge: 50 Books discussion
Finish Line 2009!
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Lisa's 2009 Reads
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Lisa
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Jul 02, 2009 11:35AM
Thanks Molly!
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53.
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Sarah's Key by Tatiana de RosnayEnlightening. Haunting. Suspenseful. I liked the alternating stories between Sarah and Julia, the intertwining of the past and present. The story started out strong and riveting, but I felt it fizzled towards the end.
54.
Julie and Julia 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie PowellSnarky commentary by Julie as she undertakes the massive project of cooking all of Julia Child's recipes in Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Humorous, but not always appetizing!
55.
No Good Deeds A Tess Monaghan Novel by Laura LippmanI was excited to discover this P.I. series, which uses Baltimore, MD as it's setting. I loved the local flavor of a nearby city, plus my hometown was was a part of this particular mystery. The writing was sharp and witty. I especially liked the pop culture references to books and movies. This was book 9 in a series of 10 thus far......so, it looks like my TBR pile is going to grow!
56.
Born Standing Up A Comic's Life by Steve MartinSteve Martin is a likable, funny guy; but he's admittedly very private. What it means for this book is while I did enjoy reading about his early jobs and routines that led to his success, I was disappointed that it wasn't more personal.
57.
The Other Queen A Novel by Philippa GregoryAn intriguing story surrounding the captivity of Mary, Queen of Scots. Plots, conspiracies and paranoia abound at court. This is what i luv about Tudor historicals!
58.
Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet EvanovichThis book should've come with a BBQ bib; not for the finger lickin' barbeque cook-off, but to catch all the dreamy Ranger drool. Evanovich has another winner!
59.
Driftwood Summer by Patti Callahan HenryEvery summer I look forward to a Patti Callahan Henry novel as a pleasant beach read. This one didn't disappoint. How could I resist a story set in a southern beach town with an old beach home turned bookstore as the center of action? Add to that the tale of sisters, jealousies and an old flame to spark a sure-fire summer pleaser.
60.
Loitering With Intent by Stuart WoodsStone Barrington novels are always predictable.........dinner at Elaine's, a mystery assignment, sex, exotic locale, more sex, sidekick Dino, sex until you drop, mystery solved! Sometimes predictable is good. I always rely on Woods for an entertaining beach read.
61.
The Woods by Harlan CobenSpooky, suspenseful and a startling conclusion! The mystery of what really happened to the summer campers in the woods comes back to haunt the survivors. What a page turner!
62.
The Love Season by Elin HilderbrandThe book was okay. I liked how the story of love and friendship was told in a couple of days, but I never really liked the characters.
63.
The Virgin of Small Plains A Novel of Suspense by Nancy PickardThe naked body of a young, unidentified girl is discovered frozen to death on a ranch during a blizzard. This discovery leads to a chain of events that changes the course of many lives in this small town. The mystery surrounding the death of the girl, who becomes known as "the virgin," comes to a climax many years later as fears, secrets and the past become revealed.
This is the first Pickard book I've read and it won't be the last. I didn't want to put this down. Although I had my suspicions as to what really happened, and some of them turned out to be right, this story kept me engaged until the end.
64.
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The White Tiger by Aravind AdigaI liked the story, although I didn't find any character likable; that includes the narrator, aka the white tiger, Munna and entrepreneur. The story definitely showed the seedy side of India and the corruption of government. In fact, it made it seem as if this was the real India. The powerlessness of the people is heartwrenching, however I still couldn't use this to justify the choices the narrator made. I gave it 3 stars because I found it so disturbing.
65.
Cutting for Stone by Abraham VergheseThis book took my breath away. Verghese spun a beautiful epic tale of love, loss, family, betrayal, forgiveness, medicine and healing. The story spanned the globe, from India to Ethiopia to America. The characters were well developed and came alive to me. It was an amazing saga of compassion that I can't wait to pass along to my friends.
66.
Everything I Needed to Know about Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume by Jennifer O'ConnellA fun collection of essays from current YA authors on the influence of Judy Blume novels in their lives. I laughed; I cringed; I sighed........I reminisced about the agony and ecstasy of navigating my teen years. I really must go back and revisit Blume's novels!
67.
The Uncommon Reader A Novella by Alan BennettA pleasurable little satire about the austere Queen Elizabeth II discovering the joy of reading after an impromptu visit to the bookmobile. What starts as an act of politeness, checking out a book so not to offend the BM employee, turns into an avid pastime and life altering event. I had to laugh out loud at the not so polite impressions people make about us bibliophiles. This book was an amusing way to spend a couple of hours.
Wow! I can't believe how fast you're shredding throught the second 50 of the year...you'll probably PASS 100! Way to go...I'm reading THE STAND, so I haven't updated my list for a while, haha
I was stuck for over a week reading between Cutting For Stone and Everything I Needed to Know, then boom! I finished them both the same day, followed by a quickie. It will be a first if I reach 100.
68.
Running with Scissors A Memoir by Augusten BurroughsBurroughs said he always dreamed of being in the spotlight and he certainly made it happen with this memoir. I think it takes a unique kind of person to offer up their abberant childhood for public scrutiny. In fact, it makes me question if Burroughs didn't exaggerate all the deviant and odd behavior for the shock value. Everyone was so bizarre, I found it difficult to believe he never associated with anyone with some degree of normalcy. (And no, Bill Cosby's daughter doesn't count.) I've read other terrible childhood memoirs and come away feeling hope or sensing a catharsis on the part of the author. This just made me feel disgusted and embarrassed, because I felt the author was trying to milk his situation for whatever it was worth.
69.
Love Is a Mix Tape Life and Loss, One Song at a Time by Rob SheffieldSheffield took me back to an earlier time in my life when music dominated my every waking moment and even some sleep filled ones. Just like movie soundtracks, I had a soundtrack for the times of my life. I got a kick out of all the occasions Sheffield had a mixed tape for..........washing dishes? Reading this I grew nostalgic for the mixed tapes I use to make for boyfriends, break-ups, partying and riding the back roads. I thought, "Where has that girl gone?
This book was also a tribute to his wife Renee and their love story as told through the music they shared. When Renee died tragically at a young age, Rob looked to music to get him through his loss. I ached at his descriptions of being a widower.
This book rocked me! It was moving, funny, and nostalgic. It has me wanting to go back and check out all my old Maxell's and TDK's.
70.
The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton WilderFive people die tragically in the collapse of a footbridge. Was it an accident or part of God's greater plan? A monk who witnesses the fall is determined to examine the lives of these people to see if the lives they lived led them to their deaths.
I read this for my Modern Library 100 Best Novels Challenge group and found the story eloquently articulated. It's a wonderful examination of the distinction between fact and faith, and the importance of love in our lives.
71.
Crank by Ellen HopkinsI thought Hopkins poetry was brilliant and was amazed that she was able to maintain it throughout the entire book. I was wowed by all the nuances of her prose, the shapes liker roller coasters, house and letters. It was really beautifully done.
The story itself was mesmerizing, but the poetry was the snare that entranced me. It was the perfect way to get inside the head and emotions of a teenage girl. I was able to ride that roller coaster with her, long for the look of a boy I didn't think would give me a second glance, be seduced with a sense of power the drugs gave me, lie to my parents, make promises and excuses, shut out the truly awful and continue to look for the next high. But when the book ended and the poetry stopped, the spell was broken and I was able to decipher the horror hidden in the haze of Kristina's drug induced thoughts.
72.
A Journal for Jordan Hopes, Prayers, and Life Lessons from a Fallen Soldier and the Woman He Loved for the Son He Left Behind by Dana CanedyI'm still sniffling. Dana Canedy has written an honest, sensitive book about her fiancee, First Sergeant Charles King, who was killed in Baghdad. She shares their love story and the insightful journal entries King wrote for his son to guide him in becoming not just a man, but a gentleman. King defines hero on and off the battlefield.
73.
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine HoweA dark tale, alternating between the past and present. Grad student, Connie Goodwin, stumbles upon a mystery surrounding Deliverance Dane, while cleaning her grandmother's long abandoned New England house. The mystery leads her on a search for Dane's physick book and plunges her into the history of the Salem witch trials. This story was magical and an absolute page turner.
74.
A Reliable Wife by Robert GoolrickRalph wanted a reliable wife. Catherine wanted money and love. They both got something they didn't bargain for. A gothic, psychologically twisted tale, at once repelling, yet also hard to put down.
75.
Speak by Laurie Halse AndersonI thought this was a well written and accurate portrayal of a teenage girl dealing with a traumatic event, her subsequent withdrawal, depression and ostracism from her peers. A great YA read!
76.
Dune by Frank HerbertI read this for The Modern Library Best 100 Challenge group. I'm a little amazed that I found I liked this book and am interested in finding out what happens further in the series. Admittedly, it was a little slow going at first due to the foreign wordage and scientific gobbledygook; but once I decided to not let that deter me, I became caught up in the story. This isn't something I'd want to read a lot of, yet I'm glad I completed this. I'd be interested in seeing the movie now.
77.
The Mysterious Stranger by Mark TwainDefinitely not what I'm used to reading by Twain. He lulled me into an idyllic calm with his opening description of the village in Austria, then he shook up the world with the introduction of the Mysterious Stranger, an angel who's a member of the Satan family. Twain has a wry way of reflecting on good and evil, and on our moral compass. His message may be a little unsettling, yet one I've often pondered, that our life is not real, but just a dream. Actually, it's a little Edgar Allan Poe-ish.
78.
An Enemy of the People by Henrik Johan IbsenI'm at once reminded of my college studies in epidemiology, where John Snow discovered the source of cholera being contaminated waters. I wanted to scream at the people to listen to the doctor. He knows what he's talking about.
And how true it is that just because the masses agree on something, doesn't make it right.............there are definitely more idiots in this world than intelligent people. Or maybe there are a few more intelligent people, but they choose to act like idiots for reasons of their own devise - greed, popularity, guilt......The right decisions and popular choices are not always one and the same and it absolutely takes a strong man or woman to stand by the right choice, because there are times when they will be standing alone.
I started out giving this 3 stars, wanting to give it 3.5, but now after railing against the idiots I'm giving it a 4! Take that......you know who I'm talking about!
79.
The Little Stranger by Sarah WatersWhat a wonderful psychological suspense! Sara Waters' words were evocative and drew me into Hundreds Hall and its history. Though the time period was set in the 1940's, when you entered the doors of Hundreds you were transported back in time over a century in its grander and more glorious days. The struggle of its past with the present haunted the house and it's owners. The obsolescent aristocracy, antiquated structures and the infringement of the modern world onto the grounds of the Hundreds estate brought down ruin to the family and the Hall. Breathing the dusty, moldy air of Hundreds seemed to infect the occupants with a pervasive sense of the past and the foreboding that this way of life was not going down without a fight. I loved this gothic tale!
80.
Club DeadCharlaine HarrisThe Sookie books keep getting better. Loads of laughs and lots of sexual tension.
81.
Shane by Jack SchaeferRead this for my Modern Library challenge. I always liked the movie and found I also enjoyed the book. I loved a quote in the book, "What a man know isn't important. It's what he is that counts." Gotta love the strong, silent type.
82.
Falling Boy A Novel by Alison McGheeI thought the story had potential, but fell flat due to poor writing style and annoying characters. By the time I came to the end of the story and found some redeeming circumstances, it was too late to care. I only gave this 2 stars and I was being generous.
83.
Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood AndersonI read this for my Modern Library Challenge group. Anderson gave us a glimpse of small town life and it's inhabitants. Unfortunately, I never connected with the story. I thought the writing was dull and uninteresting. I didn't expect to be dazzled with plot, but I would've liked to felt something for the characters. It just didn't happen.
84.
Everything Matters! A Novel by Ron Currie Jr.Junior is born with a prophecy, which details the end of the Universe. The story revolves around the effect this knowledge has on Junior, his family and the rest of the world. How would you act if you knew the exact time, day and means to the end of the world and would your actions matter. Junior discovers everything matters. I thought the book was slow and off-putting in the beginning, but became engaging once I reached Part II.
85.
The Fourth Bear by Jasper FfordeI thought this was a clever, tongue-in-cheek nursery rhyme mystery centered around "Persons of Dubious Reality." The Gingerbread man as a homicidal maniac was hilarious. I loved how the author turned Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Dorian Gray, and Punch and Judy into LOL characters. Detective Jack Spratt, a PDR in denial, was a comical spoof on many classic tv and fiction detectives. The book dragged for me in some parts, but was overall a fun, unique reading experience.
86.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John BoyneWhile I thought some of the writing was a little too juvenile for my tastes, I became caught up in the poignancy of the meetings between Bruno and Shmuel. The innocence of Bruno to what was happening in the world around him was touching and unnerving. Sometimes we all need to view things from the eyes of a child. It's a very enlightening perception. Although I saw the end coming, it was nonetheless startling.
87.
Catching Fire by Suzanne CollinsI wondered if Collins could continue The Hunger Games, while still keeping the story as exciting and absorbing as her first book. Well, the title of the second book in her series is apropos, because she was on fire! The story quickly ignited and I blazed through the pages! It was explosive! I was sad to come to the end and am now hungering for the next book in the series.
88.
Home Safe A Novel by Elizabeth BergAnother enjoyable read by Berg. She writes so many things that get to the heart of a woman. She is becoming my go-to author for reliable, thoughtful stories.
89.
Two Little Girls in Blue A Novel by Mary Higgins ClarkThe story had an interesting premise that identical twins could telepathically communicate with each other to help solve the mystery of their abduction, however parts of the story just didn't ring true. I find that while I enjoyed this light read, Higgins Clark seems to being losing the zing she use to have with her earlier works.
90.
Franklin and Winston An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship by Jon MeachamI only picked this up as part of a book challenge, but am glad I did. I enjoyed reading about the developing friendship of FDR and Churchill. The dynamics of their friendship and the resulting relationship helped shape the U.S.'s relations with England and other foreign countries. I saw their leadership skill and vision as the beginning of a new world view and globalization of foreign affairs. The creation of the United Nations was one of many FDR contributions to world history.
Churchill was a complex and intriguing character. This book whetted my appetite to further read about him. I was struck by his sentiment, patriotism, and devotion to his causes or his friendships. The book made these two historical giants human. My only complaint was it was sometimes too wordy or detailed, which caused my mind to wander a bit
91.
Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene A wonderful coming of age story, which teaches us the enemy is not always who it appears to be.
92.
Things Fall Apart by Chinua AchebeI liked this story of African culture, even though the main character wasn't very likeable.
93.
The Falls A Novel by Joyce Carol OatesThe powerful forces of Niagara Falls can be felt throughout the entire storyline, its foggy mist envelops the characters, and its mystery pervades the life of the Burnaby family.
94.
Shutter Island by Dennis LehaneLoved the psychological suspense. The story had a great twist at the end!
95. [image error] Cursed by Carol Higgins Clark
Eh! Only OK, just a watered down version of her mom.
96.
Fallen by David MaineA retelling of the story of the first family, which goes to show that dysfunctional is not new to this generation.
97.
Another Thing to Fall by Laura LippmanThis was the second Tess Monaghan book I've read. I really like the sarcastic Baltimore private eye. The current plot put her on the production lot of a t.v. series being filmed in Baltimore. The pop references to movies and literature, and the local color of Baltimore, which is in my backyard, are fun to read about.
Interestingly, Lippman is married to a producer of the HBO series, The Wire, which was filmed in Baltimore. I can't wait to go back and start the beginning of this series.
98.
Coraline by Neil GaimanI read this for the Ultimate Teen Book Guide Challenge group. This was a quick read, geared more for the younger reader. In fact, my library had it shelved in the youth section and not the teen lounge. I think I was expecting it to be written on a more mature level.
The story was creepy and imaginative and I suspect if I was about 10 or 12, I would thoroughly enjoy it. However, it didn't really grab my attention as an adult. I don't know anything about the movie, but I think it would work well, if not better in film. I don't usually say that.
That being said, I'll probably go to bed and hear noises tonight and feel a hand tiptoeing across my bed, a fingernail caressing my cheek.........
99.
Dead to the World by Charlaine HarrisThe paranormal activity in Bon Temps is heating up and so is Sookie's bedroom. I am most definitely enjoying this series!
100.
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth SteinI want to thank all my Goodreads friends who highly recommended this book. I'll never look at my dogs in the same way. The story was funny, sad and heartwarming, and should be read with a box of tissues nearby.
101.
We Need to Talk About Kevin A Novel by Lionel Shriver102.
Book Crush For Kids and Teens-Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment and Interest by Nancy Pearl103.
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier104.
Empire Falls by Richard Russo105.
A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan106.
Song Yet Sung by James McBride107.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
108.
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen109.
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Sparks110.
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury111.
The Storyteller's Daughter by Cameron Dokey112.
A Night Without Armor Poems by Jewel113.
The Angel's Gameby Carlos Ruiz Zafon114.
Aunt Dimity Beats the Devill by Nancy Atherton115.
The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill116.
Embers by Sandor Marai
117.
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen118.
Eat, Pray, Love One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert119.
Arabella by Georgette Heyer120.
Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs121.
Just Who Will You Be? by Maria Shriver122.
The Bright Forever A Novel by Lee Martin123.
Zipporah, Wife of Moses A Novel by Marek Halter124.
Santa Cruise A Holiday Mystery at Sea by Mary Higgins Clark & Carol Higgins Clark125.
Out Stealing Horses A Novel by Per Petterson126.
Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo127.
The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister128.
Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler129.
Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Challenge: 50 Books
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