Kiwi’s 2015 Reading Challenges

[Overbooked ✎]

Finished , it's my first 5 stars book of 2015. Excellent read even for non-history buffs. Philip Freeman crafts Alexander's story as a captivating novel. The description of his long campaign is interspersed by curious events, facts and legends of the lands he travels and interesting reflections on his character all of which make Alexander's figure come to life. Yes, he was a great general, a shrewd politician, but also a man, with human faults despite all his glory. Highly recommended.

[LauraT]

CAn you please also write the titles of the books? In some smartphones the covers can't be seen!

[Overbooked ✎]

@LauraT, I like pictures! I also update my month summary, which has links, in case you want to see what I'm reading :-)

[LauraT]

But you can have both!
Like "I'm reading Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

[Overbooked ✎]

Finished Sharp Objects , another 5 stars for me, no surprises here though, this book being part of my favourite authors challenge.

[Overbooked ✎]

Finished another couple of books: Liesl & Po and Read for Your Life: 11 Ways to Better Yourself Through Books .

I didn't like the fist book as much as I would have hoped (it was at the bottom of my TBR after all) but it allowed me to complete my first BINGO, so Yay!

The second book makes a convincing case for people to read more (preaching to the choir I know), it goes into the why, when, where, what, who and how. It provides lots of inspiring quotes (some of which I added to GR) and I particularly liked the chapter summaries.
I have to agree with some reviewers, the book contains a lot of repetition and it feels a little bit dated. I also noticed a narrow perspective in terms of book choices, I would have liked to see more suggestions to broaden one's reads by choosing books written in a foreign language for instance. Altogether not a bad read 3 stars from me.

[Maggie]

I read Sharp Objects a while ago - really good book, very dark.

I'm reading Orphan train at the mo and enjoying it very much.

[Overbooked ✎]

Maggie I really enjoyed both books. I agree with Sharp objects, I found it disturbing but beautifully written. I was surprised that it was Gillian Flynn début book, she is a very talented writer. Now that I have read her 3 novels (in reverse order for some reason) I have to join the queue of her fans and wait for her next one!

I really liked Orphan Train, although I preferred Vivian's story to Molly's I think that the teen perspective balanced the book, which could have been too sweet otherwise, just my 2 cents :-) I hope you'll like the book till the end.

[Maggie]

I agree Kiwi. I'm enjoying Vivian's story most.

I still have Dark Places to read, really enjoyed Gone Girl - may watch the film this weekend.

[Overbooked ✎]

Finished Tell No One by Harlan Coben. It's an excellent mystery thriller, a page turner with surprises till the very last page, literally! I loved the main character (Beck) funny humour, there is even some romance. I enjoyed it immensely, 5 stars.

The book is one of my hoarder's but also perfect to cross off another square in my bingo challenge, as well as adding another new-to-me author that I like!

I discovered there is a French film based on the book which I'm tracking down.

[Leslie]

Kiwi wrote: "Finished Tell No One by Harlan Coben. It's an excellent mystery thriller, a page turner with surprises till the very last page, literally! I loved the main character (Beck) funny humou..."

Excellent book! Let me know if you manage to see the film - I don't mind watching foreign movies :)

[Julia]

Kiwi wrote: "Finished Tell No One by Harlan Coben. It's an excellent mystery thriller, a page turner with surprises till the very last page, literally! I loved the main character (Beck) funny humou..."

Sounds great, do you know if this is a series? I'd love to read but would like to read the first book if it's a series.

[Overbooked ✎]

will do Leslie. I have asked one of my overseas friends to find it for me, the reviews are quite good IMDb review, beside, I have a soft spot for François Cluzet LOL

[Overbooked ✎]

Julia wrote: "Sounds great, do you know if this is a series? I'd love to read but would like to read the first book if it's a series."

Doesn't look like, Julia. Harlan Coben has written quite a few books, so I'm definitely going to read more from him :-)

[Julia]

Thx Kiwi!

[Leslie]

Julia wrote: "do you know if this is a series? I'd love to read but would like to read the first book if it's a series..."

Coben does have a series, the Myron Bolitar series of mysteries, but this (Tell No One) isn't part of that series. He has written several (many?) stand-alone thrillers of which this is one.

[Maggie]

Kiwi wrote: "will do Leslie. I have asked one of my overseas friends to find it for me, the reviews are quite good IMDb review, beside, I have a soft spot for François Cluzet LOL"

I've seen the film - it is really good.

[Overbooked ✎]

Finished Of Lions and Unicorns. I find Michael Morpurgo comforting warm and wholesome, I like how he can capture the magic of childhood, affinity with animals, and his sensitivity when dealing with sad topics (e.g. war).
This long book is a collection of stories, I was expecting a sampler of Morpurgo’s work but I was disappointed that some of them are simply part of longer novels, they stop abruptly and feel like teasers for the novel themselves. I would not recommend this book for this reason and instead suggest picking up one of Morpurgo’s proper novels, they usually short (and sweet :).

In the meantime I'm reading Hamlet for the first time. I'm integrating the original play with Hamlet's Cliffs notes (the complete ones), which helps me with the translation to modern text and also provides some interesting characters interpretation. At the same time I'm watching the 2009 movie version by Gregory Doran with David Tennant (of Doctor Who and Broadchurch fame) as Hamlet, I'm enjoying this.

Also currently reading Fuzzy Nation. I've become a Scalzi fan since I discovered his sci-fi novels last year, however I'm not enjoying this novel as much as I though I would.

[Leslie]

Good thinking, combining reading the Shakespeare with Cliff Notes & video. I am (very slowly) making my way through his "Complete Works" and almost always augment my reading in a similar way. Even doing that, it can be hard going!

[Overbooked ✎]

Leslie, I agree with hard going and it is definitely time consuming. Reading Hamlet is a prerequisite of a MOOC I'm enrolled in, with the second week of the course starting next Monday I need to complete my reading fast. Interpreting the language (as well as "getting" the meanings/innuendos behind the text) is proving a real challenge but also very rewarding for me, I'm learning a lot. The video is very useful, after all it is a play and therefore meant to be watched as well as read.
I have now reached the last Act and having nothing planned for tonight I should be able to finish by tomorrow, Yay!

I'm really impressed by you reading all Shakespeare's works!

[[deleted user]]

Leslie wrote: "Good thinking, combining reading the Shakespeare with Cliff Notes & video. I am (very slowly) making my way through his "Complete Works" and almost always augment my reading in a similar way. Eve..."

I do this as well. I think I get more enjoyment out of Shakespeare when I read it with some notes.

[Overbooked ✎]

Finished The Lost Crown , I rate it 3 stars. My thoughts:

Don’t be fooled, like I was, by this book cover, it looks like a light chick-lit novel, but instead is it a well researched book on the last years of the Romanov sisters: Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia (OTMA for short), daughters of tsar Nicholas II.
The author chose a mock diary format and the novel starts innocently enough, describing the girls’ privileged life and careless attitude. Soon enough the tone changes as the characters’ lives turn upside down during the events of WWI. The royal family is slowly stripped of their life of luxuries, to be effectively held prisoners and eventually coveting a breath of fresh air from a small open window (painted white from the outside!). My experience of reading this book has been similar to watching the slow progress of a train wreck to its abrupt and bloodied end.
The book focuses on the royal family and as such it does not reveal the events happening outside their limited “world”. I would have l preferred that a timeline be included with historical events happening during the book narration, as well as a better map (the places where the family travels are strangely not included in the one provided).

I'm currently reading Lolita as part of my Masochist challenge. It's a book I have delayed reading during the years. I am aware of the nature of the book and of its high controversy potential, but I finally decided to give it a go

[Julia]

Thanks for the review Kiwi, i've added to my shelf.

[Overbooked ✎]

I hope you'll like it Julia

[Erica]

Does sound like a good one, I've added it as well :)

[Overbooked ✎]

Finished Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov.

I’m having real trouble rating this book. I have the distinct impression that Nabokov is having fun at the reader’s expense, just as Humbert is when describing other characters in the novel. Nabokov is clearly an accomplished writer, more so considering that he wrote this novel in English, which was not his native tongue. From this viewpoint the novel deserves a high rating for the richness of the language and the clever witticism.
The protagonist is clearly a sick creep and Nabokov masterfully alternates disturbing insights in the pervert’s mind while showing his human side to the point of almost pitying him. On a moral and emotional level, some parts made me literally sick (sometimes to gagging level) and felt like giving up on this book.

I listened (while reading) to the audiobook version by Jeremy Irons (I didn’t see the movie) who did a chilling but brilliant rendition of Humbert Humbert. I watched Irons’ interview on Lolita (available on youtube) and the interesting BBC documentary on Nabokov life and Lolita (also available on Youtube). I also watched the video interviews available on GR Lolita page and finally read some great reviews from fellow GR readers, all of these present valid points but I am still puzzled.

In other cases, when I liked some aspects of the book but not others, I simply averaged the scores; in Lolita’s case, this process feels inadequate. I honestly do not know how to rate this book, for the moment I will mark it as “read” and defer its rating to leave more time to process my thoughts on it.

I am happy to have finally read the book even if I cannot say I enjoyed it; like someone said, Lolita is a good book to have read but it is not a good book to read.

On a different note, I'm really happy with my January books reads, I think has been one of my most successful months probably due to the holidays, now I'm selecting the books to read for upcoming February.

[[deleted user]]

Kiwi wrote: "Finished Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov.

I’m having real trouble rating this book. I have the distinct impression that Nabokov is having fun at the reader’s expense,..."

I've seen the Lolita movie with Jeremy Irons, though I have not read the book yet (I want to... someday, but it is such an uncomfortable story that I always find myself rather reading something else).
I thought Irons did a splendid job, I was torn between thinking "this guy is a pedophile, someone should really stop him" and "it's still Jeremy Irons, I'll take him, thanks". He wasn't simply obsessed, he was really in love, a crazy and insane love for sure, but there was something not completely rotten there, which is not something I am happy to admit.

Do you plan on watching the movie ( either the Kubrick one or the one with Irons)?

[dely]

Kiwi wrote: "Finished Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov.

I’m having real trouble rating this book. I have the distinct impression that Nabokov is having fun at the reader’s expense,..."

I loved it, it's a masterpiece! You are right, Nabokov is such a talented writer that the reader feels pity for a pedophile.

[Overbooked ✎]

Yes, Giorgia, Jeremy Irons was brilliantly cast to portray Humbert Humbert, he was so credible and good looking too, you can see how a girl can fall for him :-) I've only seen snippets of the movie on Youtube. To be honest I don't know if I want to watch the movie from beginning to end.

@dely, I can see why many people love the book, some passages are simply beautiful and so witty! If I were to consider only those parts I would rate the book highly too!

[Overbooked ✎]

Updated the stats for January

February reading list
As always, in no particular order (depending on the mood at the time of choosing the next read):

The Bronze Horseman – currently reading (monthly genre: chick-lit/romance + TBR slimming + hoarder’s + new to me author + colossal)
The Slow Regard of Silent Things (favourite author + bingo + shortie + TBR slimming)
The Forever War (guilty pleasure + TBR slimming)
Before They Are Hanged (Favourite Genre: Fantasy + bingo + TBR slimming) and also February SF&F group read
The Great Gatsby (masochist + decade + TBR slimming + bingo + monthly genre)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Favourite Genre: YA + chunkster + decade + TBR slimming) and also The Reading For Pleasure Book Club group read
Me Before You (monthly genre: chick-lit/romance + new to me author + Recommended by family/friends + Bingo + TBR slimming)
Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant? (monthly NF: Relationships/Family)
Wit & Wisdom of Mothers (monthly NF: Relationships/Family + bingo)
Maybe ? Eldest (hoarder’s + chunkster/colossal) maybe postponed due to having already included 2 long boos this month

[Overbooked ✎]

I’ve finished reading a book from my favourite authors (Patrick Rothfuss) The Slow Regard of Silent Things, and gave it only 2 stars my review ... well, I’m glad I borrowed this book instead of buying it.

I still have to finish The Bronze Horseman, but I'm not enjoying it either. February hasn't started well :-(

[Pink]

Glad you 'liked' Lolita, I think Nabokov does a great job at making us sympathise with Humbert Humbert, which of course makes it even more controversial. It's one of my favourite books, but I'm not sure I'd like to watch the film versions.

Sorry you didn't enjoy your recent book so much, but good that you hadn't bought it! This is something I like about borrowing books, it doesn't matter if I don't like them, or don't finish them as I haven't wasted any money.

[Overbooked ✎]

I agree Pink, borrowing books has got that advantage. I have started buying books after I've read a borrowed copy and I liked the book, although it's a bit sad looking at their crisp covers on the shelf, looks like they haven't been loved !

[Overbooked ✎]

Finished The Bronze Horseman . my review with spoilers
I confess I’m not a “romance girl” and I have always struggled with the genre. Looking back and comparing this book to others, like Outlander (read when I was young) or Eleanor and Park (read in Feb last year, I found it sweet and short at least) and given that I won’t read more from the series (by my own rules) this book does not stretch to 3 stars so 2 stars it is.

Well, truth be told, I’m disappointed that both of my colossal reads so far turned out as duds for me, when you commit to a 800+ pages book you would expect to rating them 3 stars at least. There is still hope though; I’m looking forward to reading The Pillars of the Earth for July's group read.

I still have another romance book planned for this month: Me Before You, maybe it will be a better read for me. In the meantime I've started one of my maso reads: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

[Overbooked ✎]

Well, The Great Gatsby as my masochistic read turn out better than expected, it must have improved since I read it for the first time, LOL. 3 stars. Review below

This melancholic and nostalgic story fits perfectly my idea of the languid 20s era. Gatsby’s wealth can buy anything except for what he longs for: his past (and lost) love for Daisy. She proves to be shallow and money/status driven (a mirror of Fitzgerald’s own wife Zelda). Is it one of the best North American novels of all time? I prefer To Kill a Mockingbird.

Trying to decide what February book to pick as next read...
eta: Before they are hanged by Joe Abercrombie, second book in a fantasy series I read a couple of years ago.

[Overbooked ✎]

Finished Before They Are Hanged, absolutely brilliant novel, the second in the First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. 5 stars
Highly recommended is also the audible version of the book, read by Steven Pacey, which does an amazing job of bringing the characters in the story to life.

I've now started A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

[Alannah]

Kiwi wrote: "Finished Before They Are Hanged, absolutely brilliant novel, the second in the First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. 5 stars

I've now started A Tree Grows in Brooklyn"

Hope you enjoy it.

[Overbooked ✎]

Thanks Alannah

[Greg]

Kiwi wrote: "Finished Before They Are Hanged, absolutely brilliant novel, the second in the First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. 5 stars
Highly recommended is also the audible version of the boo..."

Sounds good Kiwi! Just added it to my to-read list!

[Overbooked ✎]

I hope you'll like the first book Greg, it gives you an introduction to the main characters. See if you can get hold of the Audible audiobook too (the narrator is still Steven Pacey), it's worth it.

[Overbooked ✎]

Finished few other books:
Some Desperado a short story by Joe Abercrombie, 2 stars (love the author but Western isn't my style).
Mother-Daughter Duet: Getting to the Relationship You Want with Your Adult Daughter for this month NF genre: family and relationships. 3 stars, easy read with lots of common sense and a few good points to reflect upon. My DD is in her teens and not an adult so I used the chapters regarding the "grown up" relationships by reflecting on my own relationship with my mother.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, 3 1/2 stars rounded to 3, This book will probably be my payoff book of the month: 5 challenges (Favourite genre: YA, chunkster, Decade, TBR slimming and Bingo).

[Overbooked ✎]

Finished Me Before You. I enjoyed this book part of my "recommended by family and friends" challenge, more than I thought I possibly could. Jojo Moyes managed to deal with a very sensitive subject with subtlety, humour and compassion and to avoid the "pity" pitfalls. 3 1/2 stars rounded to 4 because I think I won't have another chance of rating a romance book to 4 stars Haha. As a bonus I get to cross out another tile on the bingo challenge Yeah!

[Gemma]

I read Me Before You a while ago and I didn't enjoy it. I found it quite predictable. I think I'm in the minority though.

[Overbooked ✎]

It's OK Gemma, I'm sure there are other books that you enjoyed and others didn't, if we all liked the same things what a boring world it would be :-)

I like to try new genres and styles, and obviously not all attempts are successful but I read some interesting books that I would never have read if I didn't push myself a bit.

Happy reading!

[Overbooked ✎]

Updated the lists with another couple of books: Pride and Prejudice and The Husband Project: 21 Days of Loving Your Man--On Purpose and with a Plan.

Currently reading Station Eleven. I'm quite excited about this book.

[Leslie]

I love Jane Austen's books-- was P & P a reread or your first experience?

[Overbooked ✎]

Leslie, I must confess that it was my first time *blush*.

I delayed my reading it because I loved the BBC mini series (with a young Colin Firth) and I could remember every scene in the book, so the "surprises" in the story were lost for me.

What I enjoyed most about the book is not the romance but the portray of female characters; Jane Austen's vivid depiction of how women had to "operate" in society in order to lead a contented life.

Are you a Jane Austen fan?

[[deleted user]]

I agree that the romance is the least important part of Jane austen ' s novels. I love above all her ability to create ridiculous characters ( Mr Collins, lady dr bourgh, Mrs Bennet and her sister, Mr Lucas. ...) which she uses to poke fun at certain aspects of society.

[Overbooked ✎]

Totally agree Georgia! I loved how Mr Bennet would say something witty or sarcastic every time he opened his mouth. He's certainly not a good role model for fatherhood but he is hilarious!

[Leslie]

Kiwi wrote: "Leslie, I must confess that it was my first time *blush*.

I delayed my reading it because I loved the BBC mini series (with a young Colin Firth) and I could remember every scene in the book, so ..."

I am a fan - I like this style of gentle wit combined with romance. The romance may be the least important part of the story, but it provides a framework for the social commentary which I find enjoyable. Without the wit, the romance would be humdrum but without the romance, the novel would degenerate into caricatures.

I hope you will be reading some of her other novels.