Reading with Style discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Archives
>
Winter 13/14 RwS Completed Tasks - Winter 13/14
10.3 In Honor Edgar Allen PoeDeath Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James
PD James is on the list of "detective fiction authors"
+10 task
Task Total = 10
Grand Total = 10
10.5Wicked Hungry by Teddy Jacobs
listed as YA Urban Fiction, no lexile
Wicked Hungry is a book that I got for free as a prerelease from a website like a year ago. I wasn’t all that enthralled with it when I downloaded it, so I let it sit. Then, as I was looking through my kindle for ideas for this challenge, I see it and realize that the author is a Goodreads author so I could use it for this one. I was not terribly impressed when I started reading it, but I will say that it sucked me in. *rimshot* WH is one of the currently popular supernatural YA sort of romance novels, complete with were-critters, vampires, fae, and other things that go bump in the night. That said, it was surprisingly original. The author’s writing style needs to be developed, but the story was solid. If you’re looking for something kind of brainless and fun to read, this is a good one.
+10 task
+10 review
task total: 20
grand total: 190
10.5 - Goodreads authorizedDare You To by Katie McGarry
(YA, no lexile)
+10 Task
Grand Total = 65 points
Post 99 Rachelccameron wrote: "20.10 Between the WarsThe Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis born 1898
Review: I grew up with these books however I never finished the series. I've also been wanting t..."
I'm sorry, this is classified as Juvenile Fiction at BPL and has a Lexile of 790. You will get your 20 point task score, but no styles.
Heather wrote: "10.5Wicked Hungry by Teddy Jacobs
listed as YA Urban Fiction, no lexile
Wicked Hungry is a book that I got for free as a prerelease from a website like a year ..."
This book is not shelved at BPL, so has no YA designation. Any styles will apply.
20.2 PicaresqueThe Golden Ass by Apuleius
Review:
‘The Golden Ass’ is apparently the only novel written in Latin during the Roman empire to have survived in full and you can see why people would have hung onto it because it’s very funny in a bawdy way. It’s the story of a young man named Lucius who, through his own curiosity and impetuosity, gets turned into a donkey. He’s captured by a band of robbers who use him to haul stolen goods; he’s whipped and maltreated and often threatened with death, but he also hears some good tales along the way, most famously the story of Psyche, who fell in love with Cupid. I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected and found it very easy to read but I imagine that would depend on the translation: mine was by P.G. Walsh.
+20 task
+10 review
+25 oldies (2nd century AD)
Task total: 55 points
Grand total: 230
20.5 DisturbingA Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Review:
I’ve had this book on my TBR shelf for some time and it seemed to fit so many tasks this season that this was clearly the moment to crack it open. It’s an involved story with many characters and battles of aristocratic clans fighting each other for the throne and some zombies on the side. You get different sections told by different characters – some were rather too good or heroic and I’m not that interested in reading about battles so I found Tyrion the Imp and Daenerys and her nomad husband the most interesting. I raced through it and gave it 5 stars but I’m not sure I will read the rest of the series because I’ve heard it loses a lot of pace…?
+20 task (shelved 11 times as disturbing)
+15 combo (10.2, 20.6, 20.9)
+10 review
+15 jumbo (835 pages)
Task total: 60 points
Grand total: 290
10.4 - Chinese New YearDog Songs by Mary Oliver
+10 Task
+ 5 Combo (10.6 - most recently published book)
+10 Not-a-Novel (poetry)
Task total=25
Grand total=65
Karen GHHS wrote: "20.8 – Disastrous Reading: Kate S’s taskThe Great Fire by Jim Murphy
1130 Lexile
When I taught elementary music, I used to teach a camp song that the kids loved. The..."
+10 Not a Novel
Heather wrote: "10.1The Epic of Gilgamesh by Anonymous
The Epic of Gilgamesh is definitely a worthy read. If you can get past the sometimes stilted prose, it’s a Bromance movie in the making. Gre..."
Sorry, Heather, the most popular edition of this book is only 77 pages and has not been approved for this challenge.
Rosemary wrote: "20.2 PicaresqueThe Golden Ass by Apuleius
Review:
‘The Golden Ass’ is apparently the only novel written in Latin during the Roman empire to have survived in full an..."
+10 Not-a-novel (as classified at the BPL)
10.5 - Goodreads AuthorizedPandemonium - Daryl Gregory
This started off as a potential 5-star read for me, but unfortunately it ended up being pretty mediocre. The more details that the author threw into the mix, the less drawn in I felt. The premise of demonic possession as an epidemic was really interesting, and the first 100 pages or so were fantastic. Unfortunately after the "plot twist" midway through, the whole thing just got really messy and rushed. There was also a really forced sex scene which really took me out of the story. It didn't fit at all, and seemed to be there just so the author could say he had a sex scene. Also lots of mentions of random characters who never come into play in the story, which was frustrating for me. Still a very interesting idea, but it definitely could have been executed better.
+10 task
+10 review
+5 combo (10.6 - debut novel)
Post total: 25
Grand total: 40
Rosemary wrote: "20.5 DisturbingA Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Review:
I’ve had this book on my TBR shelf for some time and it seemed to fit so many tasks this season that t..."
+5 Combo 20.7-Group Reads Redux
Kate S wrote: "Karen GHHS wrote: "20.8 – Disastrous Reading: Kate S’s taskThe Great Fire by Jim Murphy
1130 Lexile
When I taught elementary music, I used to teach a camp song that ..."
Thanks again, Kate!
TtPR Seafarer15.3 TtPR: Columbia (third stop) A,B,C
The Angel of Galilea by Laura Restrepo.
Task: 15 points
Bonus for third stop: 10 points
Total for task: 25 points
Grand total: 120 points
10.1 Reading Resolutions (reading books for library book groups)The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
Written in Julie Otsaka's spare prose, this novel tells the story of Japanese women who traveled by ship to California as brides of men who they have never met. They carried pictures of their future husbands and a bunch of false promises. They were put to work picking fruits and vegetables, cleaning houses, and doing laundry. It was very difficult to adapt to a new country where they did not know the language. Their children often rejected their Asian culture as they learned the American ways.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, many Japanese were rounded up and put in camps during World War II. The book ends on that note with the fate of these Japanese people in the camps still unknown.
The author uses the pronoun "we" in many of the sentences as she tells the story of the Japanese brides rather than telling the story of specific women. It does indicate a universality of their experiences. However, I started to tire of the repetitious sentence structure in parts of the book.
Overall, I thought the book was very effective at delivering its message about the hard lives of these women. The story seemed very well researched. Both this book and her previous book, "When the Emperor Was Divine," are works that would make for good discussions in book groups and classrooms.
Task: 10 points
Review: 10 points
Task total: 20 points
Grand total: 140 points
10.5 Goodread authorizedCloaked by Alex FlinnAlex Flinn is a goodreads author
Task: 10
Style :+10 Review
Review
I really liked this book. This is the same author who wrote Beastly. I really enjoyed that book. This book covers several fairy tales: "The Shoemaker and the Elves", "The Six Swan", "The Brave Little Tailor", "The Fisherman and His Wife", The Golden Bird", "The Frog Prince" and "The Salad". I was familiar with these tales except for the "The Salad". I liked how the author blended these tales into one story and yet you can still identify the original fairy tales.
In a quick summary, Johnny is the son of a shoemaker who works in South Beach's posh hotels. He is friends with Meg who works in a café. A beautiful girl who is a princess asks him to help find her brother who has turned into a frog and if he succeeds, he will marry the princess. Typical fairy tale right? Well, it isn't always what you think.
Grand Total: 20
Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "10.2 ReindeerCloaked by Alex FlinnShelved 361 times as Fantasy.
Task: 10
Style : +15 (Combo 10.5 Goodreads authorized Alex Flinn is a goodreads author, Review
Review"
This task needs the fantasy shelving 1000 times. Do you want to switch this to 10.5? Also, you'll need to post your review here to get the style points.
It's 1000? I thought 100. Switch to 10.5. I posted the link to my review. If you need the actual review I can copy and paste it.
Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "It's 1000? I thought 100. Switch to 10.5. I posted the link to my review. If you need the actual review I can copy and paste it."Thank you - the actual review is better!
TtPR – Seafarer15.4 (4th Stop): New Zealand
Here at the End of the World We Learn to Dance by Lloyd Jones
+15 task
+10 bonus
Task total: 25 points
Grand Total: 170
20.4 In Honor of A Moveable Feast - TravelDon't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller (#33 on FTB list)
Review
This is a memoir about the author’s strange and crazy childhood with her odd and crazy family in a politically crazy era in strange Southeast Africa. Born to British parents as a second daughter in 1969, she spends all but her earliest infancy in Africa. During her growing up years this part of Africa is unstable, filled with wars of independence, civil wars and vicious political reprisals as coups are made. Her parents are farmers. First in the former Rhodesia on the Mozambique border during the time of the Mugabe takeover and the violent eviction of white settlers as the country became what is now know as Zimbabwe. Then on to a drought ridden poor dirt farm of Malawi under the corrupt regime of Banda who sends a spy to work for them. Then to Zambia where the farm is a bit more fertile and although the politics mean walking on eggshells, they seem to manage well enough to stay, all this with the help of daily alcohol and drinking binges. Even though this life might raise eyebrows with us over their child-rearing practices, the reader learns to accept they had a very difficult life. Not only with the danger of violence but with their own personal tragedies. They lose two infants as well as a darling two-year-old drowned in a duck pond. Despite the racism of both sides, the uneasy side-by-side life of settlers with the natives, they love Africa and can imagine living nowhere else. It’s a story not soon forgotten and brings to focus a way of life that is little understood or appreciated.
+20 pts - Task Total
+10 pts - Review
+ 5 pts - Combo (10.4- Chinese New Year)
+10 pts - Not a Novel
Task Total - 45 pts
Grand Total - 255 pts
20.9The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
557 pages, low lexile
+20 task
+5 jumbo
task total: 25
grand total: 175
Task 20.10 - Between the Wars: Read a book written by an author born between the Civil War and WWI (1866-1913). Evelyn Waugh
Born: October 28, 1903
Died: April 10, 1966
Men at Arms (Sword of Honour #1) (1952) by Evelyn Waugh (Paperback, 342 pages)
James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction (1952)
Review:This novel is the first of a trilogy. The trilogy follows a 30ish divorced proper Catholic British man from the start of World War II (1939) through the end of World War II (1945). This novel covers 1939 – 1940. Our hero’s determination to do his duty in the fight against the Nazis is chronicled with wry amusement. Numerous examples of the bureaucratic idiocy involved in the British War Effort are described. Numerous examples of the quirks (both noble and ignoble) of the British Ruling Class are described. Sometimes I wanted to just sit the characters down in an enclosed room and have a group therapy session ---- the goal: get all of their issues aired and resolved (So American of me to want to do that! So British of the characters in this novel that they never even considered doing that!) Towards the end there is one incident that is only funny if the reader feels that non-white humans are not *really* human and so moral treatment of such non-white humans is unnecessary. Because of that, I ended reading the novel with a cringe rather than a smile. I’d probably pick up the sequel one of these days.
+20 Task
+10 Review
+05 Oldies -25 to 75 years old: 5 points (1939-1989)
Task Total: 20 + 10 + 05 = 35
Grand Total: 90 + 35 = 125
TtPR - Seafarer15.3 (3rd Stop): Mexico
Swift as Desire by Laura Esquivel
+15 task
+10 bonus
Task total: 25 points
Grand Total: 120
20.10 – Between the Wars: Liz M’s taskDeath in Venice by Thomas Mann, 1410 Lexile
I was searching books set in Venice when I came across Thomas Mann's Death in Venice. I didn't really pay any attention to what it was about, but thought it was a murder mystery from the Agatha Christie-like title. My copy from the library didn't have a synopsis, so I jumped right in. What struck me about the writing from the start was the sense of atmosphere and foreshadowing that Mann achieved. It took me a while to realize that even though the book carried a sense of impending doom in its pages it was not going to be about a murder. The author/main character of the book had lived a lonely existence, apparently in denial of his true self. Considering the 1912 publication date of the book, it was a forerunner in its honesty about the forced hibernation from life of an aging gay man.
+20 Task: born 1875
+ 5 Combo: 10.9 – Nobel Prize
+10 Review
+10 Oldies (1912)
Task Total: 45
Grand Total: 290
20.10 Between the WarsThe Magician of Lublin by Isaac Bashevis Singer
+20 Task (Singer b. 1902)
+10 Combo (10.8 Bingo, 10.9 Nobel)
+ 5 Oldie (pub 1959)
Task Total = 35
Grand Total = 95
10.1 - Reading ResolutionsRead a book from the listopia list: Stephen King recommends
The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole
+10 Task (#86 on designated list)
+15 Oldies (1764)
Task total=25
Grand total=90
10.1 - Reading ResolutionsRead a book from the listopia list: Stephen King recommends
The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin
+10 Task (#164 on list)
+ 5 Oldies (1972)
Task total=15
Grand total=105
10.7 Keep it ShortThis Is How You Lose Her by Junot Díaz
(Short Award finalist in 2012, PEN award in 2002)
Review:I have only read a few short story collections before. I was anxious to read this because I enjoyed the author's previous works. Like those, the stories revolve around people from the Dominican Republic and their experiences in the US. Over half are stories of Yunior, his brother, Rafa, and his Mami. They go back and forth in time and the reader gets a bit in the head of Yunior. The rest of the stories tell of the struggles Dominicans go through adjusting to life in the US. I did my best trying to figure out the Spanish phrases (There was a lot of help with this in his Oscar Wao book!).
I liked the book overall though not as much as his novel. After awhile I would try to figure out if each story was a Yunior story or something else. I'm not sure if there was an overall message, but one thing it seemed at the end is that cheating may make you lose the one you truly love.
+10 Task
+10 Review
+10 Not-a-Novel (short stories)
+5 Combo (10.6 most current work)
Task Total = 35 points
Grand Total = 100 points
10.2 Reindeer (fantasy)This book has been shelved as fantasy 3581 times.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
A funeral has brought a middle-aged man back to Sussex, England, his childhood home. He drove down the lane to the Hempstock's home, which brought back memories of the year when he was seven years old. He was a bookish child without many friends, lacking family support. The suicide of a boarder brought on a chain of terrifying events. The trio of Hempstock women, who had supernatural powers and a warm, nurturing presence, helped him navigate a dark, scary time.
I loved the way Neil Gaimon mixed the real world with the supernatural world in this magical story. The powerless, innocent child needed warmth and friendship--as well as magic-- to fight off the evil demons. I recommend this charming, imaginative walk into a fantasy world.
+10 points task
+10 points review
+5 combo (10.5-Goodreads author)
Task total: 25
Grand total: 165
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Post 99 Rachelccameron wrote: "20.10 Between the WarsThe Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis born 1898
Review: I grew up with these books however I never finished the s..."
Damn! And its the only one with a low lexile :( Ok i'll update that post right away!
TtPR – Seafarer15.5 (5th Stop): Australia
Grim Tuesday by Garth Nix
+15 task
+10 bonus
Task total: 25 points
Grand Total: 195
20.7 – Group Reads Redux: Joanna’s Task:Thurber's Dogs: A Collection of the Master's Dogs, Written and Drawn, Real and Imaginary, Legends All by James Thurber
Thurber's Dogs is an enjoyable collection of stories, essays and cartoons that made me smile and laugh out loud and occasionally get a bit emotional, too! I have a big brute of a dog that doesn't always behave the way he should and can be chased off by our cats even though he has about 100 pounds on them and so the less than perfect dogs in this collection brought me a lot of joy. I was also interested in the ending essay about the bloodhound breed and how dogs working with the police force operated in history both before and after get away cars were available. My overall favorite, though, was the inclusion of many of Thurber's cartoons. I'm really glad I chose this one from the past Reading with Style group reads!
+20 Task
+15 Combo: 10.4 Chinese New Year / 10.8 – BINGO! (thurBer’s doGs collectION) / 20.10 – Between the Wars: Liz M’s task (born 1894)
+10 Review
+10 Not a Novel
+ 5 Oldies (1955)
Task Total: 60
Grand Total: 350
10.8 BingoThe Man Who Would Be King and Other Stories by Rudyard Kipling
Review
A book of short stories by the famous author of the British Raj Era is jam-packed with the mystery, magic and mythicality of India. Published in 1888, the stories pull the reader into the complex dual culture of the time. There were the British who as much as possible adapted their British traditions and lifestyles into a world nothing like their native land. Then there is the Indian culture that in turn can be broken in hundreds of sub-cultures on lines of nativity, religion, caste and history. With so many layers and in such a vast land, which at the time would have included Pakistan and Bangladesh, there never could be complete understanding and acceptance of one culture for the other especially when one arrogantly believes it is superior and the other is resentful of their presence. This is well described in the title story. What does being white mean? Does it mean being civilized or does it mean suspicion?
A story that is particularly poignant is entitled Baa-Baa Black Sheep based on Kipling’s own life. Although Kipling was born in Bombay he and his sister were shipped away to England at a very tender age to get “the right sort of education”. Imagine moving from all you know at age 5 to stay with strangers! Strangers that develop an antipathy for the little boy early on and make him absolutely miserable for the next five years of his life! I’ll admit, I cried for the little chap.
Most of the stories include a cliff hanger or unresolved ending which may have inspired Alfred Hitchcock Many describe the intrigues of the bored English wives with the men available, the superstitions of the Indians, the deep currents underneath everyday life. I gave the book 5 stars.
+10 pts - Task
+10 pts - Review
+ 5 pts - combo (10.9 -won in 1907)
+10 pts - Not a Novel (short Stories)
+ 10 pts - Oldies (pub in 1888)
Task total - 45 pts
Grand Total - 300 pts
Wah! He was born Dec 30, 1865! If he had waited 2 days he would have fir 20.10!
10.5 Goodreads AuthorHere, There Be Dragons by James A. Owen
Review
A Fantasy which was so similar to The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, I was thinking plagiarism. The same animal people, a Winter King rather than Queen, Aslan is divided into characters, an ancient dragon and Captain Nemo. There is Jack who like Edmund is tempted to the dark side. There is an epic journey, an epic battle, time travel, a special ring and many such similarities not only to C.S. Lewis’ book but to The Lord of the Rings also. There were a few parts I hadn’t felt déjà vu about but mostly it felt so familiar. I was going to give it 1 or 2 stars because of this surmise of mine that the plot was lifted from other, greater works, until the very last when a very surprising and logical twist makes the whole device meaningful. I don’t want to give anything away but I was introduced to an author I had not heard of which gave it another star. I look forward to finding his work to read. Ironically this author had the same name as my grandfather and great-grandfather, Charles Williams. I’m stuck between 3 and 4 stars on this one.
+10 pts - Task
+10 pts - Review
+ 5 pts - Combo (10.4 - dragons)
Task Total - 25 pts
Grand Total - 325 pts
10.6 - Beginnings/EndingsIf You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan
Lexile: 670
+10 Task, Debut
Task Total: 10
Grand Total: 20
Don, we know these are for 10.2, but we really need you to post the task number with the task name. Thank you!
Don (The Book Guy) wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Don, we know these are for 10.2, but we really need you to post the task number with the task name. Thank you!"Oops. That what I get for watching basketball and postin..."
LOL - thank you!
10.1 Resolutions – read a book I already ownThe White Mountains by John Christopher (Lexile 920)
Review: I’ve started (a little late) what I call ‘prereading’ – reading books that I think family members would like and that I would also enjoy in the hopes of finding some Christmas presents. This one I thought might be good for my brother, and after reading it I think he’d enjoy it but I wasn’t blown away. It is the story of Will, a boy who lives in a kind of post-apocalyptic England where humanity has been enslaved by alien creatures called Tripods (I choose to picture them as giant metal elephant-jellyfish hybrids). It manages to feel both like a fantasy novel with its medieval-like setting and hero’s quest, but with elements of sci-fi in the robot alien things.
I’d probably have enjoyed the book more if I had immediate access to the rest of the trilogy – at only 195 pages, it felt less than satisfying on its own, even for a young adult book. Still, it’s a great option for anyone looking for something sharing qualities with The Hunger Games, and I’ll definitely seek out the remaining books.
+10 Task (I’ve owned this book for a while)
+5 Oldies (pub. 1967)
+10 Review
Task Total: 25
Grand Total: 65
10.5 Goodreads AuthorOld Man's War by John Scalzi
Review: This is another ‘preread’ for my brother and dad – and I bought a copy for each of them since I enjoyed it so much. The basic premise is that humanity has spread across galaxies, and in order to fight the various alien races impeding colonial progress, people over the age of 75 are reborn as youthful soldiers, serving ten year terms. The main character is great – a don’t give a damn grandfather type getting to relive his twenties… at least to some extent. It’s a funny book and a well done story, although I was less invested in the last third than I was in the first two. I’ll definitely read the second.
+10 Task
+10 Review
Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 85
10.5 Goodreads AuthorBubbles Unbound by Sarah Strohmeyer
Review: Sarah Strohmeyer said in her introduction that she wrote part of this in Janet Evanovich’s dining room, which shows in the result – the book shares a lot of similarities with the Stephanie Plum novels. It’s set in the fictional city of Lehigh, PA, which is quite obviously Strohmeyer’s hometown of Bethlehem, PA. I know this because my mom is from there, and the only thing that was obviously changed was the name – none of the surrounding towns, etc. were. That was pretty fun though – trying to figure out where Bubbles was getting up to her antics just added to the experience for me. It’s not new, it’s not unique, but it is fun – I bought a copy for my sister-in-law and will pick up the second in the series at some point. At least, unlike Stephanie Plum, Bubbles only seems to have one possible love interest!
+10 Task
+10 Review
Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 105
20.9 Daytona 500The Blinding Knife by Brent Weeks
+20 task (671 pages)
+10 Combo (10.5, 10.6 – as far as I can tell this is his most recent book)
+5 Jumbo
Task total: 35 points
Grand Total: 230
20.9 - Daytona 500The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton 12/12/13
This book has 648 pages.
Review:
I just loved The Forgotten Garden and could kick myself for owning this book but leaving it unread for four years. Kate Morton did a wonderful job of drawing the reader into her tale, interlacing events taking place in 1900-1913, 1975, and 2005, in both England and Australia. Without revealing any spoilers, I will say that the story involves an elderly woman whose origins were a mystery. She did not even know she was adopted until she was an adult. Readers can look forward to reading about Nell O’Connor, her granddaughter Cassandra Ryan, and their search to find Nell’s biological family. I found the story enthralling and gave it 5 stars.
+20 task
+10 review
+5 jumbo
Task total: 35 points
TtPR Total: 15
RwS Total: = 110
Grand Total: 125
20.1 – 1964If Morning Ever Comes by Anne Tyler
I enjoy going back and reading an author's debut book and getting to know how that author has matured since starting out on his or her career. Anne Tyler's first book, If Morning Ever Comes, is a journey into that history and also a journey into a time period from my past and I enjoyed the experience of revisiting 1964. I was about ten years younger than the main character, Ben Joe, but I still remember the time without cell phones and the ability to take off around town and be on your own disconnected from your family and the stresses of the world for awhile. The book is more character then plot driven and I enjoyed getting inside Ben Joe's head. The story picked up when grandma became more important in the book and the best writing is in the descriptions and dialog in scenes including her near the end of the book. I haven't read Anne Tyler in a while and I will be remedying that situation soon!
+20 Task: published 1964
+. 5 Combo: 10.6 – Beginnings and Endings (1st book)
+10 Review
+. 5 Oldies (1964)
Task Total: 40
Grand Total: 390
20.4 - Travel:A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
I am a big fan of Bill Bryson’s wit, so I was really looking forward to A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail. Previously I have only read his book on the history of science, A Short History of Nearly Everything, so I felt it appropriate to use this chance to delve into the travel books, which comprise most of his back catalogue.
This book is an account of his attempt to complete the Appalachian Trail, a hike of just over 2000 miles. The premis is promising, especially in that he loves humourous situations and it seems that a slightly overweight man in poor condition hiking through some of America’s more taxing trails with an even more overweight acquaintance as companion should easily lend itself to writing funny prose. And it does, the best parts of the book are the actual telling of the hiking which is both interesting and funny. However, Bill Bryson spends, what I consider, an inordinate amount of time railing against pollution, extinction of animals and the horrible federal agencies which allow and promote the pollution and the extinction. It should make me as angry as the author that these things are taking place, but somehow I found myself not caring that much and wishing that the book would get back to the man-versus-wilderness parts.
So even though this is a quick read with sme very good parts, it didn’t rise above the mediocre for me.
+20 task (#1 on the "favorite travel books"-list
+5 combo (20.6, #460)
+10 review
+10 not-a-novel
Task total: 45 points
Grand Total: 120 points
20.6 - 20th CThe House of Mirth by Edith Wharton 12/14/13
This book is #137 on the Best Books of the 20th Century list.
Review:
I like Edith Wharton’s style of writing, which has elegance, flows well, and incorporates a rich vocabulary. Having read Ethan Frome last season, I looked forward to reading The House of Mirth. Here again was the lovely writing style. Published in 1905, the setting is New York City at the turn of the century, again familiar since I grew up in New York. Sadly, there was the central character with whom I could neither empathize nor sympathize. Lily Bart was raised to be a Socialite by parents whose extravagances left her without the funds to support that lifestyle. As she is about to turn 30, Lily finds herself in need of money, taking actions that appear scandalous to her society friends, and trying to figure whom she might marry that could give her both financial security and increased social standing. I just couldn’t relate and gave the book 3 stars.
+20 task
+10 review
+10 oldies (pub. 1905)
Task total: 40 points
TtPR Total: 15
RwS Total: = 150
Grand Total: 165
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Reading with Style
Books mentioned in this topic
A Dance with Dragons (other topics)Tracks (other topics)
Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops (other topics)
The Frenzy (other topics)
The Counterfeiters (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
George R.R. Martin (other topics)Robyn Davidson (other topics)
Jen Campbell (other topics)
Francesca Lia Block (other topics)
André Gide (other topics)
More...
What I Lived For by Joyce Carol Oates
+20 Task
+ 5 Combo (10.3 - Detective Fiction author)
+ 5 Jumbo (624 pages)
Task total=30
Grand total=40