DONNA R'S 50 BOOKS READ IN 2014

[Bryan]

Great, Donna, I will read it.

[Donna]

August

39. by Nathaniel Philbrick

Finish Date: August 10
Genre: Nonfiction/History
Rating: C
Review: A well-written account of a true event that inspired the novel Moby Dick. After their whaleboat was rammed and sunk by a huge sperm whale in 1820, the Nantucket-based crew of 20 men boarded three small boats and headed for the South American coast. Three months later, after a harrowing ordeal in which they were forced to eat their own shipmates, only eight survived.

I'm not sure why it took my forever to read this National Book Award winner. Perhaps knowing it contained some unspeakable acts and would end very badly made me loathe to pick it up. Lots of good historical detail about the Nantucket whaling industry of the early 19th century and the Nantucket community, if you are up for the dismal realities of the tale itself.

by Herman Melville

[Martin]

Donna wrote: "4. by Arthur Conan Doyle

Finish Date: January 7
Genre: Fiction/Mystery
Rating: B
Review: The..."

One of my favorites, near and dear to my heart. I ripped through all of Sherlock Holmes during an intense transition to adult literature (including nonfiction) from childhood literature. I can remember every book I read during that period shortly after crossing over to 13. HotB remains one of my favorite 'olmes.

[Donna]

I can remember every book I read during that period shortly after crossing over to 13.

Me too. But even then I was drawn more to nonfiction. Carson's "Silent Spring" had a big impact. I'm glad I read "The Hound of the Baskervilles" just so see what I had been missing, but I doubt if I'll read another Sherlock Holmes.

by Rachel Carson
by Arthur Conan Doyle

[Jill H.]

Donna wrote: "I can remember every book I read during that period shortly after crossing over to 13.

Me too. But even then I was drawn more to nonfiction. Carson's "Silent Spring" had a big impact. I'm glad ..."

I have also read the majority of the Holmes books and I hate to admit it but they began to get on my nerves a bit. His "I see you have been in Canada and have a sister who is deaf" observations based on a visitor's shoes, gloves, or limp got a little old to me. But I did love "The Hound......". They just aren't re-reads for me.

by Arthur Conan Doyle

[Martin]

Poe's detective stories, I think, are superior, but I never tire of 'olmes. The best of bad literature.

[Donna]

You are not alone in your love of Holmes, Martin!

[Donna]

October

40. by Karen Cushman

Finish Date: October 19th
Genre: Historical Fiction/YA
Rating: B
Review: TBA

[Donna]

November

41. by Sebastian Faulks

Finish Date: November 26
Genre: Historical Fiction (WWI)
Rating: B
Review: TBA

[Donna]

December

42. by John Grisham

Date Finished: December 3
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B
Review: TBA

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Wonderful progress Donna and we have set up your new thread for 2015.