2025 Reading Challenge discussion
ARCHIVE 2016
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Stephanie (R.A.)- Attempting the Unlikely
26. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende445 pages, ★★★☆☆
I was OBSESSED with this movie when I was growing up and I cannot believe it has taken me this long to read the book. Having watched the movie so much, I found myself stunned by how closely the first movie follows the first half of the book. There are enough differences to make it interesting- for example, Atreyu is green- but more or less it follows the story.
It is definitely written for children- I didn't find myself as emotionally gripped as I was when I watched it (the loss of Artax has no impact whatsoever in the book and I was sobbing like a little baby when I watched the movie, still do, actually). The last half of the book, I remember bits and pieces of the second movie from it, but there was far less that I was familiar with. So, that part was particularly engrossing.
Overall, this is a solid book. I will recommend it to my daughters when they reach about fifth grade. It is definitely worth reading.
Genre: Fantasy
Applicable Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, The Sorting Hat, Build Your Own Boxed Set (I Put A Spell On You), LEPRECHAUN, Read for Courage and Marvelous March
27. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf97 pages, ★★★★☆
For such a small book, "A Room of One's Own" sure does make you think. It took me back to being in high school and my women's study classes and the arguments of what makes a real feminist? Should she be accepting of all forms of women or should she expect certain behaviors of women to promote a desired image. I won't go into my feelings on this, but I will, if you will permit me go into the impression I got of what Ms. Woolf's opinions might be.
The book talks a lot about the history of existence that women have faced. Certain women stand out (Queen Elizabeth, for example) but by and large until very recently in human memory, women have been erased or caricatured. These women, if they did write, have been lost to the ages. During these times, these women had no real reason to pursue a voice or even money, because these things reverted to their husbands/fathers/brothers by law and custom. So, there, for a time were more books written by men about women and this is the lens through which women were given to gaze through about themselves.
Throughout time, women became more educated. As Woolf puts it- education breeds genius. It is only when education enters the picture that we begin to get the female authors that were missing. Woolf talks VERY highly of Jane Austen and Emily Bronte, but not so much about Charlotte Bronte or George Eliot. The reason seems to be something to the affect that Jane Austen and Emily Bronte do not write with an agenda, where Charlotte Bronte and George Eliot do and therefore Austen and the younger Bronte are somehow more feminine in their writing for doing so. This is more or less the argument, which I am not sure that I buy (especially since it doesn't agree with her conclusion, but whatever).
As far as her conclusion, it to some degree negates her previous arguments. She actually says that authors in general should write with a mixture of the masculine and feminine qualities. Women and men should not seek to express their anger in the system of things, more or less, and should accept each other for who and what they are because they are both necessary to each other. However, according to Woolf, women will not be able to do this as they should until they can earn money on their own enough to support a house with a room they can retire to and write by themselves. This will allow them to think deep thoughts and write the female poetry (the highest form of literature to Woolf) that is so lacking from the world...or that's the impression I got.
It is heavy material, and at times, extremely confusing. It was definitely worth reading once...I am not sure I will be reading it again.
Genre: Memoir
Applicable Challenges: The Pop Sugar Challenge, Read Women, Let's Turn Pages, Listopia Challenge, Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge, Build Your Own Boxed Set and COURAGE
28. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath288 pages, ★★★★☆
Ever since I was in high school I have heard about "The Bell Jar." I was terrified of this book before I started it two days ago and now I can't believe I waited so long to read it.
Esther is a character I identified with immensely, both as a woman and as an observer of life. I think everyone falls into these patterns of feeling like nothing you do can possibly have meaning if you have to repeat it again. Of course, Esther is different because she can't seem to escape that downward spiral and her journey is incredible- the good, the bad and the apathetic.
A lot of the themes here are heavy and you have to be ready for them to hit you because they are incredibly powerful and force you to look at a side of humanity that society tends to try to avoid or mask. I think hearing about these themes are what put me off from the book initially. However, I highly recommend that every person read this book, when they are ready to examine the nature of a relationship between a man and a woman, the power that each have within that relationship, the expectations of society vs. personal fulfillment and despair so acute that one grows numb to the world around them. Like I said, heavy, but incredibly worth it.
In less words- read this book.
Genre: Classic/Fiction
Applicable Challenges: Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, Read Women, Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Titles (J), A-Z Characters (G), The Listopia Challenge, Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge, Group Reads, Build Your Own Boxed Set (Treat Her Like a Lady), LEPRECHAUN and Read for Courage
29. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood311 pages, ★★★★★
One chapter into this book I was hooked. Nearly everything was horrifying and strange. I cared IMMEDIATELY for Offred in her situation. Honestly, I am afraid to say too much about the plot of this book because everything I could say feels like a spoiler.
What I will say is that the society of Gilead is messed up. We can only hope that society will never come to this. As a woman in particular I would tear my hair out in clumps if half of these things happened to me. I cannot think of a single society of women I would be happy being a part of- everything feels so forced.
The character of Offred is complex in the best ways. She has moments of weakness and strength and everything in between. She is afraid and brave and it is WONDERFUL. I will look to Offred for a long time as an example of what a good character is, not to mention a good female character.
I cannot believe I did not read this book in high school. This should be mandatory stuff- far more interesting than Dickens or Twain, not to mention entertaining. Basically, if you are a human being, you should read this book.
Genre: Classic
Applicable Challenges: The Every Year Book Challenge, The Pop Sugar Challenge, Read Women, USA Road Trip, Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Titles (H), The Listopia Challenge, Build Your Own Boxed Set, LEPRECHAUN, COURAGE and Marvelous March
30. The Help by Kathryn Stockett451 pages, ★★★★★
This is a book that will stay with me for a LONG time. I can't think of a single book written about this time in American history that has impacted me as much.
This is the story of Aibliene, Minny and Skeeter and the complicated relationship black maids had in the south with the white families they served. It feels like everything is in here- the good, the bad and the ugly. These women loved the children they took care of as their own and then were forced to watch them turn against them once those children grew old enough to realize what Jim Crow meant. Of course, some of those children never grew to understand why they should look down upon these women who took care of them, but they were not the rule.
However, Skeeter was one of those children. She is the one who wants to write the book that would expose the way things were for these women. How they were mistreated. How one wrong word said by their employers would mean they could never be hired again, even if that thing wasn't true. The whites would always be believed over the blacks. She also wanted to tell the good things (the way she remembered it to be), of course, but there seems to be so much more that was bad.
It was really cool to watch Skeeter grapple with her image of what it must be like for these women and then hear what it really was like for these women. It was even better to read about how empowered it made these maids feel to tell their stories, to feel like they were contributing to how the nation saw their situation.
I love that the maids themselves are so different. I actually want Aibliene to be my grandmother. She strikes me as kind, clear-headed and very intelligent. She gets angry but she doesn't let it consume her. Minny, I think, is what I would be if I were a maid. She hears something that it unfair and she lets loose and the only thing that saves her position is the quality of her cooking. She has a very complicated family life where it feels like her mouthing off to her employers is a way to make up for the lack of power she has in her own family life. Her transformation is probably my favorite it in the book. Skeeter goes from very naïve and biddable to much more aware of the injustice around her. In the process she becomes much more independent. ALL of their stories are worth reading.
So, what I am trying to say in far more words than I need to is: READ THIS BOOK. High school students should be reading it in school to understand this time period and adults should be reading it to remember that in the end, we are all just people and how we treat each other is important.
I think the thing that surprised me the most about this book is how very applicable it is to today and the tensions around the country concerning race relations. "Make America Great Again" is talking about this era in time and we all know how that message has been received by almost 1/3 of the American population. What people tend not to remember (and maybe they do and just don't want to say it) is that people were mistreated on an enormous scale during these times. If, economically speaking, the nation was doing better than we are now- our humanity was lacking in a large part of the country. Do we really want to go back to those times? For me, personally, I do not. I knew if before in a very vague way and now I am absolutely certain that there needs to be another path forward. That is the power of this book. I am hoping maybe it has the power to change a few minds, too.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Applicable Challenges: USA Road Trip (MS), Let's Turn Pages, The Listopia Challenge, The Recommended by Readers Challenge, Group Reads, Build Your Own Boxed Set (Treat Her Like a Lady), LEPRECHAUN and Read for Courage
31. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith496 pages, ★★★☆☆
"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" is a sweet story about Francie Nolan and how she grows up in Brooklyn, in one of the poorer neighborhoods leading up to World War I.
As sweet as her story is, I found it organizationally jarring. The book jumps through time with no clear indication as to where you are in the timeline. I spent a lot of time wondering how old Francie was or Katie or whomever the narration was about at the time. Also, as nice as the metaphor is of the tree growing in Brooklyn for Francie, sometimes the writing seemed a lot rougher, like it could have used another read through before publication.
That being said, I really commiserated with Francie's story. She is a young girl who doesn't make friends easily. All she has is her family and she doesn't feel a desire or a need to be any different. She has a fantastic ability to see the opportunity in every situation and to accept what she cannot change.
On top of that, it is heartwarming because it is the story of a family sacrificing to support each other through some really rough times to come out on top. If anything smacked of the American Dream, this does. It's a really lovely story.
Genre: Classics
Applicable Challenges: Read Women, Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Titles (T), A-Z Characters (N), Listopia Challenge, Group Reads, COURAGE and Marvelous March.
32. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott489 pages, ★★★☆☆
I can remember being completely disinterested in this book when I was in school even though at least four or five of my friends read it between fifth and seventh grade. I stalwartly avoided this book until I had my own daughters, and wondering if they might be interested, ventured a peek.
This book is lovely. I fell in love with the March family within a few short chapters. I immediately identified with Jo and the entire first part of the book was enchanted.
The second part is still enjoyable, but the storytelling begins to fall apart. I disliked everything from the unfortunate circumstances of Beth onwards. I do not understand why or how things turned the way they did. If the twist doesn't make any sense, you shouldn't write it. Furthermore, there is a great deal of convenience throughout, which is annoying/distracting.
That said, I can imagine my daughters reading this and being delighted by it in a few short years. A solid three stars.
Genre: Classics
Applicable Challenges: Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, The Pop Sugar Challenge, Read Women, Let's Turn Pages, The Listopia Challenge, Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge, Build Your Own Boxed Set (Treat Her Like a Lady) and LEPRECHAUN
33. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky213 pages, ★★★★☆
When I first started "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" I thought that the writing style was going to drive me to insanity. After about ten pages, however, I was sold.
My heart went out to Charlie from the very beginning of the book and nearly burst at the end. Even better, I didn't see it coming (which is unusual for me). It didn't have me crying on my couch, but I felt real pain for him.
I really enjoyed all of the references to the early nineties- I was in elementary school at the time, but it is hard to forget some of those songs and movies. Mostly, I just really identified with the struggle to understand how other people see things when you are growing up- how badly you want to fit in when you feel like you couldn't possibly fit in anywhere and how lonely it can be when the people you do find go away.
So, this is a really good book. I gave it four stars as opposed to five because of the writing style, which I still don't like a lot even if I got used to it. Otherwise, this is a stellar read.
Genre: Fiction
Applicable Challenges: The Every Year Book Challenge, Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Authors (C), The Sorting Hat, Recommended Reading by Challengers, Group Reads, LEPRECHAUN, COURAGE, Read for Courage and Marvelous March
SECOND QUARTER CHALLENGE: CLEAR THE SHELVES- Completed!Duration: April 1 - June 30, 2016
As we move into the second quarter of the year, it's time to clear our shelves! Many of us (myself included) have shelves full of books that we haven't read. In my case, it's my goal to read as many books from my "owned-but-unread" shelf as possible. Others don't buy books, but have to-read lists that are getting out of control.
Either way, pick a goal and try to clear that many books off your shelves!
Feel free to make this your own - you can add extra requirements, like using a random number generator to select books like our randomizer challenge. You could limit the challenge to books you actually own, or tackle the books that have been on your to-read list the longest.
1. I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
2. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
3. American Psycho
4. Speak
5. Shatter Me
6. The Book Thief
7. Invisible Man
8. The Color Purple
9. Room
10. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
11. The Shadow of the Wind
12. Rosemary and Rue
13. On the Road
14. A Local Habitation
15. Jane Eyre
Total Books Read: 15/15
AWARD WINNING BOOKS- Completed!Duration: April 1 - June 30, 2016
As book lovers, we want to be entertained, but we also appreciate great literature. For this challenge, choose books that have won one of the various book awards. This is a great opportunity to read a book you've been meaning to get to, or to try a new genre.
There are lots of awards to choose from, but here are a few to get you started:
Pulitzer Prize for journalism and literature
National Book Award for literature in the US
Man Booker Prize for literature in the UK
Hugo Award for fantasy and science fiction
Edgar Award for mystery
Bram Stoker Award for horror
Newbery Medal for children's fiction
Goodreads Choice Awards for various genres, chosen by users
You can also use this challenge to read a book from one of the many Nobel laureates in literature (Wikipedia link).
Total Books Read: 5/5
It feels appropriate to post this on my Member Corner page, somehow- my short story is being published! I entered a writing competition towards the end of last year, and last week I found out that I made the final cut! Here's hoping it leads to future success!
Congratulations! Will it be online somewhere? I'd love to read it.
Cassandra wrote: "Congratulations! Will it be online somewhere? I'd love to read it."Yes. I will definitely post links when it comes out :)
34. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie322 pages, ★★★☆☆
I didn't know the ending! I was so sure I was going to know who did it and then she changed it up on me! Usually, it is the opposite- she does something in the beginning that tells you who it is. Then tries to devise ways for you to second guess yourself and then goes, just kidding! Not this time.
That said, I didn't find the characters as fully developed in "Murder on the Orient Express." Usually, I get a strong sense of personality from the Agatha Christie books from everyone involved. Not so much this time. There were strong characters, but there were also characters that I completely forgot about until the end and that hasn't happened to me before.
I also found some of Poirot's jumps in logic just a little bit too much. A lot of the time, I felt like he got an answer from absolutely nowhere. Just because a lady says she can cook does not make her a professional cook. It was too big of a leap- there were others, but that is the example that leaps to mind.
Still, it was an enjoyable read. Perhaps it was made a little bit better for having read some of her earlier works and assuming that because she seemed to set everything up the same way, that I knew exactly who had done it and then was so very pleased to find out that I didn't. I actually think I preferred some of my Nancy Drew books to this though, but it is definitely worth reading at once.
Genre: Mystery
Applicable Challenges: Pop Sugar Challenge, Read Women, Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Characters (P), The Sorting Hat, LEPRECHAUN and Marvelous March
Awesome. Please message me or one of the other mods with the link so we can give you permission to post it somewhere more public in the group.
Cassandra wrote: "Awesome. Please message me or one of the other mods with the link so we can give you permission to post it somewhere more public in the group."I definitely will do that :) Thank you!
35. Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine351 pages, ★★★★☆
"Ink and Bone" was a slow starter for me, but it picks up so quickly that I barely minded. Jess's journey feels more like a roller coaster ride than most adventures I have read that I don't mind so much some of the one-dimensionality of some of the secondary characters.
I really love the premise of the book- that the Alexandrian Library survived and as a result a sect arose to try to control the world's knowledge. Learning about that world was FASCINATING and worth some of the tiny issues I have with some of the character portrayal. Certainly the primary characters are very real- Jess, Wolfe and Santi are wonderfully complex characters, but the friends around Jess, with perhaps the exception of Thomas, were a little lacking for me.
That said, I will definitely be looking for the second volume in the Great Library series.
Genre: Fantasy
Applicable Challenges: Read Women, Let's Turn Pages, SPRING CLEANING and Egg Hunt
In the way of doing authorly things...I now have a blog! If you are interested in hearing about my journey from unpublished to published (and hopefully much more) you can check out my little corner of the internet at sarohrbaugh.com!I think I am going to be updating it weekly (as the mood strikes me) to start and then we will see where it goes.
So, I just heard that my story is being published in a book and not a magazine, which is cool, but now I am not sure it will be available online or not. However, if anyone has an interest in buying said book the preorder is on amazon now: Neoverse Anthology
My author name is S.A. Rohrbaugh!
That's fantastic! I bookmarked the collection - I may buy it. :)
Kadijah Michelle wrote: "Congratulations Stephanie!"Thanks! I am super excited about it. I am really hoping that it jump starts things for me. If not, it's just really fun to see my name in print. Kindergarten dreams really do come true :)
Cassandra wrote: "That's fantastic! I bookmarked the collection - I may buy it. :)"You know you are extra awesome, don't you? I actually worried that it was too expensive for many people to contemplate that. I'm not sure how many of us in the book are very well known. I haven't had time to look us up on Google yet :)
The price doesn't seem too bad to me. I don't buy a lot of new books, but it's not every day that someone I know gets published! Plus, I like short story collections.
Cassandra wrote: "The price doesn't seem too bad to me. I don't buy a lot of new books, but it's not every day that someone I know gets published! Plus, I like short story collections."You are the coolest :)
36. I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai313 pages, ★★★★☆
I had a lot of respect for Malala Yousafzai before, but now that I have read this book I think she may live on eternally as something to aspire to for everyone I can convince to do so. The writing style isn't my favorite, and I had a really time getting involved in the first section or two.
However, when the Taliban begins to influence her community (Swat! How did I not know that she was from there?) the stakes are so heavy that you can't help but be swept into the story. I knew how this story ended and yet I found myself hoping that Malala and her countrymen could find their way to peace and happiness like they so clearly deserved.
This book was a real eye opener for me and my own hidden prejudices that I had. I will recommend this book to anyone who feels like they are powerless to stop things that are beyond their control. Sometimes, standing up for what you believe in is the first step to achieving just that. Because, Malala may feel like she has a long way to go, but the conversation about education in the Middle East has already changed because of her.
In other words, this is good stuff.
Genre: Memoir
Applicable Challenges: I Spy Book Challenge, The Every Year Book Challenge, The Pop Sugar Challenge, From Reality to Fiction, Read Women, Let's Turn Pages. A-Z Challenge Titles (A), A-Z Challenge Authors (Y), A-Z Challenge Characters (Y), The Sorting Hat, Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge, Clear the Shelves, SPRING CLEANING, Easter Egg Hunt and Spring Cleaning for the Soul
37. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford290 pages, ★★★★★
"Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" is a GREAT book. Not a good one. Great. I expected nothing that I read in this book.
I grew up just across the water from Seattle, in Bremerton (a city that is mentioned in the book, by the way- shout out to Bremerton), and nobody talks about this. I had vaguely heard about the Japanese being carted off and sent to work camps, but had no sense of how much of an effort that had to have been until I read this book. This is a book that will do away with preconceived notions. It showed me how very narrow my own "open-minded" world view was and I would recommend it over and over again just for that.
However, the love story contained within these pages is one of the most beautiful things I have read in a long time. Henry and Keiko are immediately relatable and you root for them the whole entire time. There are tons of themes concerning responsibility, family heritage and true friendship and how those things can conflict.
Overall, this book was written beautifully. I could not put it down. Do yourself a favor and read it.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Applicable Challenges: Pop Sugar Challenge, USA Road Trip, Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Authors (F), A-Z Characters (H), Clear the Shelves SHOWERS, SPRING CLEANING, Spring Cleaning for the Soul and Egg Hunt
Interesting! I live near Seattle and I didn't know about that at all. I mean, I'm aware that this sort of thing happened all over the country, but it's another to read about it happening so close to home. I'll add this one to my to-read list.
Cassandra wrote: "Interesting! I live near Seattle and I didn't know about that at all. I mean, I'm aware that this sort of thing happened all over the country, but it's another to read about it happening so close t..."Do it! I didn't know very much about it. The only thing I had heard about was the evacuation from Bainbridge Island, and I only knew about that because one of the 3rd grade teachers at my elementary school was part Japanese and she was a little girl when it happened. Crazy right? It's really a great book, though, the Seattle bit aside. I highly recommend it
38. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis399 pages, ★★★☆☆
I am not going to lie, I had to grit my teeth through a lot of this book- not because it was poorly written but because it is horrifying. About a third of the way through, Bateman's murderous sprees begin being described in much more detail and by the end...it was rough for me. However, I finished it.
The story is interesting in the sense that Bateman, in no way, suffers for his actions. I won't go into detail about how it ends, but I was hoping for something along the lines of jail. It seems Mr. Ellis had something different in mind. I do appreciate that he got away with it, if only because it says a lot about what the rich and affluent can get away with. In this case, it is serial murder.
So, you might be interested in reading it if the violence doesn't bother you. It is probably worth reading once just to remind yourself that you are a good person, despite what short comings you may possess. Unless you are a budding Jack the Ripper, of course.
Genre:> Classic
Applicable Challenges: Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, The Every Year Book Challenge, Let's Turn Pages, The Sorting Hat, Clear the Shelves and SPRING CLEANING
39. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson198 pages, ★★★★☆
This book needs to be read by EVERY junior high/high school student from now until forever. This book speaks incredibly well to what it feels like to be bullied. It is also a very powerful testament to what rape can do to a person and to the people around them.
Most of this book's impact comes from how simply it is written. It feels like you are reading a 15 year old girl's journal as she navigates the personal hell that high school is while dealing with the trauma of her rape. I really loved almost everything about it.
The only tiny issue I have is that you didn't really get to see her heal. You see Melinda speak, but you didn't get to watch her learn to use her voice again. I think that would have made for a much more complete story. That said, it is wonderful and should be read.
What are you doing? Go read it.
Genre: Fiction
Applicable Challenges: Read Women, Let's Turn Pages, The Listopia Challenge, Clear the Shelves, SHOWERS and Spring Cleaning for the Soul
40. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi338 pages, ★★★★☆
If you ever wondered what X-Men would be like if it was not a comic and written in book form, this is it. It isn't directly a rip off, but it is the same kind of scenario.
Girl discovers that if she touches people she kills them. Society ostracizes her and eventually she is institutionalized. Then one day, someone out of her past arrives and suddenly not only can she touch someone but she falls in love for the first time. Eventually, she finds a group of people with all kinds of powers and suddenly feels like she belongs It sort of feels like a variation on Rogue to me.
I am writing about this book like I don't like it, which couldn't be further from the truth. I was obsessed with this boo while was reading it. The language in this book is pretty fantastic and poetic (and sometimes over the top but it is a pseudo-X-Man book so it's fine). It leads you along very well- you know that something is "wrong" with her from the get-go, but you don't know what. It is incredibly readable. I practically inhaled it.
The only reason I gave it four stars as opposed to five is that it is so clearly like something else that I have read/watched. However, if you like the idea of X-Men (in any format) you should definitely give this book a try.
It is like reading a very personal X-Men comic in some respects. It really delves into the psychology of how it must feel to be rejected like that and how wonderful it can be to find people who accept you for who you are. I feel like the comics (at least the ones that I have read) allude to these things but don't actually let you into the characters' heads all that often. So, it is worth reading just for that.
I will add that the ending is a little ridiculous and things happen very quickly towards the end in a way that isn't exactly believable. So be prepared for that, but otherwise, this is a very solid book.
Genre: Science Fiction
Applicable Challenges: The Pop Sugar Challenge, Read Women, Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves, SHOWERS, SPRING CLEANING and Spring Cleaning for the Soul
41. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak552 pages, ★★★★☆
I am going to be honest. This book didn't grab me in the beginning. Having the narration done by Death was a big issue for me. You basically know how everything ends within the first few pages. Then, the first 200 pages or so are just fair to middling. I like Liesel and Rudy's story, but it didn't grip me until Max enters the picture.
Read this book for when Max enters the picture and just trust that it is coming. Amazing stuff. On top of that, this book is just a great picture of what it must have been like to be amongst the 10% in Germany who didn't support Hitler's actions. There aren't enough of those stories out there and for that reason alone this book is worth reading at least once. One of the reviews on the back of my book said that this book should be on the shelf next to Anne Frank's Diary. I wouldn't take it that far, but it is worth reading.
So, what are you waiting for? Do it!
Genre: Historical Fiction
Applicable Challenges: The Pop Sugar Challenge, Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Authors (Z), Listopia Challenge (Books Everyone Should Read Once), Recommended Reading by Challengers, Clear the Shelves, CELEBRATIONS, Marathon and Major League Baseball (ZUNINO)
Special 10,000 ChallengeDuration: May 1 - June 30, 2016
Our group has hit 10,000 members! And to celebrate this achievement we have this special challenge as part of our celebration:
1. Home, 10,000 members...read a book that has more than 10,000 ratings on Goodreads.
2. Math: 100 x 100 = 10,000. So for this one, read a book that has 100 in the title or has 100 or so pages.
3. Some more Math: A myriagon is a polygon with 10,000 sides. Sci-fi and fantasy novels often also have a lot of sides. So for this one, read a book that falls into the science fiction or fantasy genres.
4. U.S. History: Salmon P. Chase was the face of the $10,000 greenback, and he was the Secretary of the Treasury under Abraham Lincoln. So for this one, read a fictional or non-fictional book about U.S. history before 1900.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
5. World Geography: There is no €10,000 note, but if there was, it would have some beautiful European architecture on it. So for this one, read a book that takes place in Europe or is about an amazing piece of architecture.
6. Psychology: It is assumed that each neuron in the human brain is connected to 10,000 others. Read a book about human behavior or a book about someone’s mental health
7. Biology: There are about 10,000 species of birds. Read a book with bird (or a type of bird) in the title or a book with a bird on the cover.
The Eagle of the Ninth
8. Language Arts: Imagine you could read 10,000 books. That was your job. You could read whatever you wanted, where would you start? Read the book you would start with if you could have the job of reading 10,000 books.
9. Technology: It is believed that storytelling is a 10,000 year old technology dating back to our earliest civilizations. Read a book that is based on a myth or about a culture before the common era.
The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt
10. Extra Curricular: It takes approximately 10,000 hours to become an expert at something. Read a book, fiction or nonfiction, that has to do with the activity you would love to become an expert at.
Total Read: 3/6
42. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison572 pages, ★★★★★
This book. What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said? I am sure there are a million reviews for "Invisible Man." Still, I will try to put into words what it meant for me.
Ralph Ellison might have defined what it means to be a human being on this planet. No specific color, religion or political affiliation required. In the book he (the narrator) talks of waking from the dream that had been his life and discovering that no one really saw him at all. He didn't even know himself. I think that this must be the plight of humanity, trying to make yourself seen past all of the labels that society and individuals put on you. Even then, you can't really escape it, you'll put them on yourself.
Perhaps even better is that he puts no judgement on this. There is no bad or good, it just is. He had a hard time seeing people as they truly were and so of course others would have a hard time seeing him. The questions he poses at the end are good. Even with all these misconceptions of self and others out there, is it worth it to try to achieve anything? Even if all that happens as a result is that more misunderstandings occur? The many don't always have the best intentions for a person, even if they believe that they do.
These are almost unanswerable questions, but they are worth considering over and over again. What are my intentions? Does this help myself or others? Who should it benefit?
Perhaps better is that he presents these questions, this journey the main character goes through (nameless, as far as I can tell), in such an entertaining way. You really are just reading the fascinating story of an intelligent, naïve, black man in the Depression-era South. That innocence quickly leaves when he reaches New York, but it is the most interesting story I have read in a long time- on its own, without the profundity of the philosophy driving it.
So, what are you waiting for? Go read it!
Genre: Classic? Historical Fiction?
Applicable Challenges: Boxall's 1001 Books to Read Before You Die, The Pop Sugar Challenge, USA Road Trip, Let's Turn Pages, The Sorting Hat, Listopia Challenge (Best Books of the 20th Century), Clear the Shelves, Award Winning Books, 10,000 Challenge, CELEBRATIONS, Marathon and Major League Baseball (MARINERS and ZUNINO)
43. The Color Purple by Alice Walker244 pages, ★★★☆☆
The format of this book was a real surprise to me, but I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. I hadn't seen the movie, so everything about this book was a surprise to me.
Celie's journey is a fascinating one. Of course, you feel terrible that she has such terrible things happen to her, but I like the shifts in her attitude and by the end, you can really tell she has learned some things about life. I can only hope that, one day, I can handle my life's disappointments as well as Miss Celie. Can I just say that, I love the fact that (view spoiler). Although, I am a little annoyed that it appears to come about because of the way she was treated and not because she just is.
Overall, this was a nice book to read. It didn't make me cry, it was just uplifting. The title is very fitting as it really shows how you can appreciate the small things even when the big stuff gets you down. It is definitely worth reading once in your life.
Genre: Fiction
Applicable Challenges: From Fiction to Reality, USA Road Trip, Read Women, Let's Turn Pages, Listopia Challenge (Best Feminist Books), Recommended Reading by Challengers, Award Winning Books, Clear the Shelves, 10,000 Challenge, FLOWERS, CELEBRATIONS and Marathon
44. Room by Emma Donoghue321 pages, ★★★★☆
This is one of those books that once you start you are compelled to read to the end. I thought that maybe it would switch perspectives between Ma and Jack, but it stays in Jack's perspective the entire time and I love it.
It is fascinating to read how Jack's world expands. First in Room- just the thought that Outside is a real place. It's so good. The psychology involved in this book is fantastic. Everything- captivity, recovery and then the process of learning to live outside of his former boundaries. I can't say enough about it.
Of course, the Great Escape had my heart in my throat. I was really worried something would happen to Ma. That is by far the most emotional part- when Jack escapes. That was the part that had me in tears.
Strangely, that was the only part that really made me cry- which is why I only give it four stars. In some senses, I felt very far off from lots of the stuff that happened. I should have been horrified when Jack comes back from the mall, but I wasn't. Stuff like that brought the star rating down a bit. This is one of those books that does tug at your heart while you read it and then after you're done. I lay up for hours thinking about it when I finished. Good stuff. What are you waiting for? Go read it!
Genre: Fiction
Applicable Challenges: Read Women, Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves, Award Winning Books, FLOWERS, CELEBRATIONS, Marathon and Major League Baseball (MARINERS)
45. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz359 pages, ★★★★☆
I have to give props to this book because the description of it gave nothing away about the real story in this book while being 100% accurate. This was a lovely story. I am not sure I have ever read anything like it before.
Benjamin Alire Saenz does a fantastic job of describing what it feels like to be a teenager. He gets into that head space so well that you only get a few hints as to where it is going in the end, which I won't spoil because it is so lovely.
In the midst of describing the friendship between Dante and Ari, which is so real it hurts sometimes, Ari is dealing with the absence of his brother due to his imprisonment and a father who doesn't like to talk about his war experiences in Vietnam. All of this is dealt with really well.
The one gripe I have about it is that the ending feels very sudden to me. I wanted a little more soul searching on the part of Ari after the talk with his parents. He shouldn't have just accepted their opinion, but figured out for himself why they were right. He only does a tiny bit, but it is a big revelation and I feel like it deserved more time. Otherwise, this book is fantastic. Go read it.
Genre: Fiction
Applicable Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Characters (Q), Clear the Shelves, CELEBRATIONS, Marathon and Major League Baseball (MARINERS and ZUNINO)
46. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon487 pages, ★★★★☆
"The Shadow of the Wind" is everything you would want from a book set in Spain about the sense of mystery and wonder that books give us. Despite it being a translation, the language inside is absolutely beautiful. Once you start, you will be compelled to read until it is finished.
This is the story about Daniel who wants to know the story of Julian Carax, the author of a book that he discovers in a place where books go to "die." Really, I suppose they come back to life again in the hands of someone who really cares about them. Anyway, because he has never heard of Carax he wants to know what happened to him.
In many ways, Daniel and Carax's lives reflect each other. It is really exciting how Carlos Ruiz Zafon weaves the different pieces of information, misinformation and action together. The only reason I rated it four stars was because there were times when something didn't quite fit the way I thought it could (always very slight and nothing anyone but nitpicky old me would notice)- and I predicted who the man with no face was from the introduction of him.
Otherwise, this book was stellar, A-level material. What are you waiting for? Go read it!
Genre: Mystery
Applicable Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Characters (X), Clear the Shelves, FLOWERS, CELEBRATIONS, Marathon and Major League Baseball (MARINERS)
Just enjoyed reading your year of books so far. Well done on getting published. I've just added a stack of books to my TBR :)
Amanda wrote: "Just enjoyed reading your year of books so far. Well done on getting published. I've just added a stack of books to my TBR :)"Thanks. Glad you found some books that appealed. I have been really pleasantly surprised with how many good books I have discovered this year. It's been very enjoyable so far. :)
47. Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire346 pages, ★★★☆☆
I wanted to read these books because I read "The Hollow" series by Kim Harrison and I wanted something that felt like those books with a slightly different flavor. I would say that these books fit the bill nicely for that. I didn't like this one as well as I enjoyed the first book from "The Hollow" series, but it was still quite enjoyable.
The faerie politics are probably the most interesting thing about the book. The fact that you are just dumped into them is much to the book's benefit- it keeps you wondering. October "Toby" Daye as a character is compelling enough, but she is way too hard for my tastes. I will probably read the next few books with the hope that she softens a bit as a character. I realize she has dealt with some stuff, so as long as she grows over the next few books it shouldn't be a huge problem.
Probably the most disappointing thing about this book was that it was incredibly predictable. I knew from the moment the culprit was introduced that he was the culprit. Now, I don't know if that is Ms. McGuire's fault as much as it is that I just know these kinds of tropes pretty well. I was really hoping to be surprised by something though and I wasn't. The action at the end wasn't extremely heart pounding either. So, it was good, but not the greatest start to a series that I have read. That said, I will be reading the next one- probably this evening.
Genre: Fantasy/Mystery- probably classify it as Mystery
Applicable Challenges: Read Women, Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves, Marathon and Major League Baseball
48. On the Road by Jack Kerouac310 pages, ★☆☆☆☆
I really wanted to like this book. It had great reviews. Supposedly, this book describes the mentality of the generation that grew up after WWII. A lot of reviews said that. If that is the case, all of those people are jerks. (Which is not my opinion of every single person who grew up during that time, btw).
EVERY character in this book is incredibly self absorbed. It is really hard to sympathize with characters who complain about the way they are being treated, when they treat others the exact same way. Maybe that was the point of the book, I don't know, but I very nearly didn't finish it because I hated it so much. I basically forced 30-40 days upon myself until it was over. Wasted time, in my opinion.
Some people will probably enjoy this book. I am not one of them. I also didn't like Huckleberry Finn and this book feels a lot like that. So, if you like Huck, maybe you should give it a shot.
Genre: Classic
Applicable Challenges: Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, USA Road Trip, Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves, FLOWERS, CELEBRATIONS, Marathon and Major League Baseball (MARINERS and ZUNINO)
49, A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire377 pages, ★★★★☆
This may be the second book in the series, but it is leaps and bounds better than the first one. The first one felt like a prequel. This one feels like the real beginning to the story.
Again, it is a slow starter- the first three chapters sort of drag. Once you get past those, you are compelled to read until the end. It is a murder mystery at it's core and really keeps you guessing as to who did it. I think I figured it out about 2/3 of the way through the book. Not too bad, really, considering the first book I knew almost immediately.
There is a lot of great character development in this one- Tybalt becomes more complex, Quentin grows up quite a bit and October Daye is forced to face some of her own demons, through the demons that another character has. I really enjoyed the blending of technology and faerie lore.
This one is solid- because of this book I will probably finish the series out. Good stuff.
Genre: Mystery
Applicable Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves, FLOWERS, CELEBRATIONS and Marathon
50. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte524 pages, ★★★☆☆
I have to admit, I didn't expect this book to be anything like it was. That said, the first third of the book was barely interesting except for the sweet friendship between Jane and Helen.
The meeting and subsequent relationship of Jane and Mr. Rochester was when it started to get good. I was filled at complete dismay, however, when Mr. Rochester and Jane were about to get married at about page 300. I feel like she was quite justified in leaving, and I realize that she had feelings for him, but I really dislike that she came back to him in the end. It doesn't really help that he was worse for the wear, because she didn't know that he was when she ran back to him.
This might be my biggest criticism of the book. The entire entertaining bit of the story revolves around her relationship between Mr. Rochester who is incredibly possessive of her. Yet, she just can't quit him and I don't understand. She seems on the face, especially given her childhood, to be strong enough to realize that she doesn't deserve the kind of treatment she receives from either Rochester or St. John. In fact, she seems to welcome it. I just don't understand.
There are moments of brilliance in this book when Jane does stand up for herself. Nearly all of those moments seem to be undone later in the book. That said, it was much more entertaining than I usually ascribe so-called "literature." It is definitely worth reading at least once.
Genre: Classics
Applicable Challenges: Boxall's 1001 Books To Read Before You Die, The Pop Sugar Challenge, Read Women, Home School, Let's Turn Pages, Listopia Chalenge (Best Feminist Books and Books that Everyone Should Read Once), Recommended Reading by Challengers, Clear the Shelves, SUMMER and Get Royal
51. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon850 pages, ★★★☆☆
When I started this book, I assumed I was going to love it. After all, time travel, Scottish history and witch lore- what's not to love? Answer: sex on almost every page. Now, don't get me wrong. I can take a healthy amount of sex in the books I read two or three scenes, no matter how explicitly written, don't really bother me. However, I feel like you eliminate about 80% of the sex scenes in this book and you are left with a book about 500 pages. That, my friends, is too much for me. It just got way too old, way too quickly.
I did enjoy the way the historical facts were sprinkled throughout the first bit where Claire is in her own time and as you read things you go, oh! That! She's going to see that! Enjoyable. I even was okay with Claire's internal dilemma even if it felt a bit over dramatic- caught between two men and two times. Whatever shall she do? However, Claire as a character although she fights for more equality with the men, often capitulates or believes herself of incapable of doing something. She is furious when her Scottish husband beats her (rightfully so) as punishment, but then decides to let things lie. I don't understand how or why that is even possible- he made it so she couldn't sit down for almost a week. (That moment also makes the supposed hero less likeable for me.) Which is why towards the end when she actually does do something it is so rewarding. It feels like finally! Some agency- which she has been trying to get all along.
There are some moments of extreme violence in the book in general- murder, rape, etc. Those don't bother me as much as Claire's reaction to the things that happen to her. Murder happens. Rape happens. War happens. That's humanity. Those are the bits that end up leaving you gripping your seat during the book. What I disagree with is Claire's reaction to 75% of it. I think is says something about the skill of Ms. Galbadon if I find her main character's perspective worthy of eye-rolling and I still could not stop reading. The historical events that are portrayed are great.
So, I am torn. There are aspects of this book that made me roll my eyes and want to fast forward. However, there were also some really nice character-developing moments and some edge of your seat action. I will probably read the series just because I wasn't given the ending that I wanted and I know it is going there and I want to see how it goes down, but for all the hype this book was given, it was just good.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Applicable Challenges: Read Women, Let's Turn Pages, The Sorting Hat, 10,000 Challenge and Villains
52. Loving Frank by Nancy Horan377 pages, ★★★☆☆
I struggled through a lot of this book. There were about 80 pages in the middle that almost made me give up on it. The first part is interesting and dramatic enough. Frank and Mamah fall in love and the ensuing drama is interesting enough, even if their decisions make me roll my eyes a little bit- mostly because Frank Lloyd Wright feels like the biggest liar in the universe. I just assumed he was using her. By the end you figure out that he isn't.
Part of the theme of this book is the question of a woman's personal happiness and how that may impact her family and whether she has the right to be happy if she makes some wrong decisions in her life. I understood that, but that doesn't make the situation any harder. I can see the argument for showing your children that living in unhappiness doesn't make for a positive role model. However, Mamah has to abandon her family for two years in order to (view spoiler).
The most boring bit is when Mamah stays in Germany by herself. There are a TON of "oh woe is me" moments that I had very little sympathy for. Mamah made a very conscious decision to leave her family. She has two choices: to go back and ask forgiveness or to continue on. All the hemming and hawing made me really dislike her, probably because of her feminist intuitions. A woman who would choose personal happiness is going to sacrifice her family a bit- particularly pre-WWI. The fact that she didn't realize this annoyed me to no end.
I digress, the ending bit is the part that really gets you. You feel like things are heading to an ultimate end (I have no knowledge of Frank Lloyd Wright and his life) and then it takes a sharp right turn. It left me a little numb inside. I was just beginning to like Mamah again. She was making efforts to think of people outside of herself and Frank again. Then...well, I won't spoil it, but it was awful. I think it is even worse because it actually happened. I think my heart hurts the most because her kids were pulled into it. That's what feels the most unfair about it.
So, it is probably a book worth reading, but it really drags in the middle. Still, I won't forget it for some time.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Applicable Challenges: Read Women, USA Road Trip, Let's Turn Pages, and Get Royal
So, I have hit my reading goal for the year in the beginning of June. I feel like I am going to have to make it bigger now. I guess I will be shooting for 104? That is two times 52 and as it is in the middle of the year, it makes sense to double it right?
So, Hamilton broke some pretty big records at the Tony's last night, and based on the performance they gave it is well deserved. I am not sure how well I am going to keep up on my reading after watching that performance. It is SO very good. I am obsessed now. It's all I can think about today, so far. That's all, nothing to do with books (although, there are books: Alexander Hamilton and Hamilton: The Revolution) I just wanted to proclaim my newest obsession.
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Atonement (other topics)Atonement (other topics)
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250 pages, ★★★☆☆
I had never thought of stars in the sky as anything but burning balls of gas. I think after reading this book, I will wonder for just a second if they might be alive in a different way. The story is engrossing and imaginative and everything you want a modern day fairy tale to be.
However, I am a little sad because 90% of this book is extremely appropriate for kids, even young ones. I can imagine both my daughters (6 and 8) being captivated by the idea of a falling star crash landing and turning into a woman when she hits the ground and then needing to be helped against witches and all manner of things. There are, however, two separate scenes where characters have sex- in pretty clear detail. It isn't glossed over at all and I just can't see showing even just my 8 year old the book, even though she would enjoy the other aspects. Now, I'm not prudish about these things- we've had the beginnings of those conversations already, but I just can't imagine giving it to her to read until she is at least 13. That's just me.
In the end, I would recommend that people read this book, say 13 and older, to get a sense of what a modern fairy tale could look like. It is absolutely captivating and lovely. A fun read for sure.
Genre: Fantasy
Applicable Challenges: The Every Year Challenge (2006), Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Authors (G), Build Your Own Boxed Set (I Put A Spell on You) and Read for Courage