JulieLill's 2021 Reading Challenge

[madrano]

Julie, until last year, when i finally read The Handmaid's Tale, Surfacing and Edible Woman were the only novels i'd read by Atwood. I came to her work via her poetry, which i still prefer to her prose. I wondered if people were reading her earlier novels, so am tickled to see your post.

[Julie]

A Closed and Common Orbit
Becky Chambers
2.5/5 stars
This is the sequel to the The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet which I enjoyed. In this book, the author focuses on Lovelace who was her old ship’s artificial intelligence. After leaving the ship, she had been taken out of the ship computer and wakes up in a new synthetic body but her memories had been scrubbed clean. Lovelace has to learn how to function again with the help of her friends. I really enjoyed the first story in the series but this one was just okay for me. Science Fiction

[madrano]

Hmmm. So, Julie, do you think you'll read further in the series? 50-50 thus far. I've not heard of the series or Chambers, so am interested.

[Julie]

madrano wrote: "Hmmm. So, Julie, do you think you'll read further in the series? 50-50 thus far. I've not heard of the series or Chambers, so am interested."

She does have other books out but I don't think I will read her other books. Too little time and too many books to read!

[madrano]

Thanks for the fast reply, Julie. I suspect that too little time is why i don't follow up with more series. One was fun but two often seems just too much.

[Julie]

Anxious People
Fredrik Backman
4/5 stars
This is a story about a bank robber who ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time but is helped by the people who have been taken hostage by the robber. As the situation occurs we learn all about the hostages, the robber and the father/son policemen who show up to solve the crime and try to apprehend the criminal. Backman never disappoints in this unusual story. A Fredrick Backman Book

[madrano]

I didn't recognize his name and realized it's because i never even read his best known book, A Man Called Ove, which i thought i had read. And from his GR page, i see i should have recognized it for the HBO series based on his Beartown. I've got some catching up to do because the descriptions of his books sound as though i'd appreciate them.

Good continued work on your DL, Julie. Well Done.

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote: "
Anxious People
Fredrik Backman
4/5 stars
This is a story about a bank robber who ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time bu..."

I enjoyed this one a lot. I also appreciated the authors comments at the end explaining why he wrote the story.

[madrano]

I always appreciate such authors comments, too. It helps deepen the experience, imo.

[Julie]

Nobody's Perfect: Billy Wilder, a Personal Biography
Charlotte Chandler
4/5 stars
Chandler, who had met and had conversations with Billy Wilder, discusses his life and his career as a director, writer and highlights his films. She also discusses his life, surviving WWI and the holocaust though he lost his mother and grandmother in concentration camps. His films and his relationships with actors are discussed. This made me want to re-watch all his films especially the ones I missed. N

[madrano]

What a life even before his movie-making days. This sounds interesting, Julie.

[Julie]

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance
Barack Obama
4/5 stars
Obama writes about his life as a child living with his mother in Hawaii, then working in Chicago as a community organizer and ends the book with his travels to Africa to meet his father’s family in this well written autobiography. I look forward to reading more of his books! Presidential biography or autobiography

[madrano]

I haven't read any others by Obama but i really liked this one, Julie. I'm glad you did too.

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote: "
Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance
Barack Obama
4/5 stars
Obama writes about ..."

I thought we had read that as a group or buddy read but I don't see it on the list. Anyway, I did enjoy it.

If you haven't already read Becoming by Michelle Obama I highly recommend it.

[madrano]

Alias, as i recall you & i read it about the same time & posted our thoughts & replies. I agree re. Becoming. Indeed, the two books really flesh out from whence those two arose beautifully.

[Julie]

Alias Reader wrote: "Julie wrote: "
Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance
Barack Obama
4/5 stars
Obama..."
I got Michelle's on my list!

[Julie]

The Painter
Peter Heller
4/5 stars
Jim Stegner is a famous painter living in Colorado. His life has been marred by the death of his daughter and he can’t keep it together. One night he comes across a man beating a horse which enrages him and he kills the man which sets off an unusual arc for him, one of destruction and one of creative energy. I enjoy Heller’s works- they are never boring! Book by Peter Heller

[madrano]

What an interesting premise for a novel. Thank you for the introduction to Heller and this work, in particular, Julie.

[Julie]

I have read a few of his books and have enjoyed all of them. I definitely want to read more of him.

[Julie]

The Magician's Nephew
C.S. Lewis
4/5 stars
Written in 1955, this was not the first book written but one of the last but it is also the first story chronologically. This is a prequel to the series set in 1900 and revolves around 12 year old Digory, Polly Plummer, his friend and his Uncle who has given them magic rings which takes them to the land of Narnia and the beginning of the Narnian world and book series. Never having read the books when I was younger, I enjoyed this and look forward to the rest of the stories. Chronicles of Narnia

[madrano]

I found the series a mixed bag, Julie. Like you, i didn't read these as a child, so was more aware of the didactic aspects of some of the books. Still, the imagination is what draws young readers.

[Julie]

Hugh Martin: The Boy Next Door
Hugh Martin
4/5 stars
This is the very interesting autobiography of Alabama born Hugh Martin. Martin was a composer and song writer for theater and movie productions. Probably best known for writing Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and The Trolley Song, he worked with Judy Garland and many famous singers of that time period. He also served in WWII as a soldier and died in 2011 at the ripe old age of 97. This is definitely a must read for Hollywood fans. H

[madrano]

We should be grateful survivors like Martin write about their experiences, both in the war but also in the entertainment industry. What insights. Thanks for telling us about this one, Julie.

[Julie]

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
C.S. Lewis
4/5 stars
Lucy finds a wardrobe while visiting a professor and discovers that it leads to the land of Narnia. Her siblings don’t believe her but when they enter the wardrobe they realize she was not lying. While in Narnia, they realize that the White Witch has cast an evil spell on the land and with the help of a lion named Aslan, they attempt to free Narnia from the Witch. Enjoyable! Chronicles of Narnia

[madrano]

Julie, this is the best known of the series and my personal favorite. It's neat to remember it while others are reading the tale. Have fun exploring the series further this year.

[Julie]

madrano wrote: "Julie, this is the best known of the series and my personal favorite. It's neat to remember it while others are reading the tale. Have fun exploring the series further this year."

I am enjoying them- I never read these as a kid!

[madrano]

Happy for you. I think by the last two books, i realized i wasn't enjoying them as much. However, i had come so far, i continued and was glad.

[Julie]

The Horse and His Boy
C.S. Lewis
3/5 stars
Shasta, a young boy is on the run accompanied by Bree who is a talking horse. They hear of a dangerous plot by the Calormen who want to take over Narnia and they rush to stop the plan. Not my favorite of the three stories of Narnia that I have read so far but not bad. Chronicles of Narnia


Zen Pencils: Cartoon Quotes from Inspirational Folks
Gavin Aung Than
4/5 stars
I originally found this comic strip series on Today's Comics but it eventually ended. I was thrilled to find there are different editions of it published in book form and our library system had a copy of one of the editions. The author would take a famous inspirational quote and illustrate a short story around it. I thought it was nicely done!

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote: "
Zen Pencils: Cartoon Quotes from Inspirational Folks
Gavin Aung Than
4/5 stars
I originally found this comic strip series on Today's Comics but it eventually ended. I was thrilled to find there are different editions of it published in book form and our library system had a copy of one of the editions. The author would take a famous inspirational quote and illustrate a short story around it. I thought it was nicely done!..."

What a nice idea ! I checked out the preview on Amazon. The first one was, "the more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle".

I see Zen Pencils also has a FB page.

[madrano]

I had forgotten what that Narnia book was about, so thank you for the reminder.

Zen Pencils sounds quite fun. Thanks for the title. And, Alias, thanks for the FB page note.

[Julie]

My Planet: Finding Humor in the Oddest Places
Mary Roach
4/5 stars
Mary Roach is known for her excellent non-fiction books including STIFF: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, and GULP: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal, however in this book, she has written short humorous essays on her life and marriage. I thought this was quite funny but too short! Book by Mary Roach

[Julie]

Prince Caspian
C.S. Lewis
3/5 stars
The siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are returning to boarding school when they are whisked away to go back to Narnia where they find Trumpkin the dwarf who explains to them what is going on in Narnia. King Caspian has been killed by his brother who is now ruling Narnia. The siblings take up Prince Caspian’s cause to be instated as the new King. Not my favorite of the series but it was well written. Chronicles Of Narnia

[madrano]

Julie, it seems to me that any author would appreciate your concluding comment about Roach's book--too short. Keep us yearning for more. I've never read any of her books but have had Stiff on my list years now. Maybe these essays will motivate me.

And onward with the Lewis works. I think i read the entire series in under a week. I felt i should be savoring them more but wanted to know what the next adventure would be.

[Simon]

madrano wrote: "Julie, it seems to me that any author would appreciate your concluding comment about Roach's book--too short. Keep us yearning for more. I've never read any of her books but have had Stiff on my li..."

If you're interested in C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia, I happened to come across news that historical fiction author Patti Callahan in October is coming out with a new novel called Once Upon a Wardrobe.

[madrano]

Thanks for that info, Simon. The book sounds quite good, i'm looking forward to it.

[Simon]

madrano wrote: "Thanks for that info, Simon. The book sounds quite good, i'm looking forward to it."

You're welcome. I haven't read anything by this author yet.

[Julie]

Once Upon a Wardrobe does sound interesting!

[Simon]

Julie wrote: "Once Upon a Wardrobe does sound interesting!"

Indeed :)

[Julie]

The Voyage of the Dawn Trader
C.S. Lewis
4/5 stars
King Caspian has built the ship, the Dawn Treader to take his crew to find the End of The World (Aslan’s country). Invited on the voyage is Edmund, Lucy and their cousin Eustace (Peter and Susan are now too old to go on the journey). Caspian is looking for the seven lords that were banished by his uncle. They go to where no other ship has gone. This has to be my favorite book so far in the series and I couldn’t wait to see what happened. Chronicles of Narnia

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote: This has to be my favorite book so far in the series and I couldn’t wait to see what happened. ..."

It's terrific when you find a series you love.

[madrano]

Neat, Julie.

[Julie]

The Silver Chair
C.S. Lewis
4/5 stars
In this book, the storyline follows Cousin Eustace and Jill Pole and their adventures since the 4 siblings of the previous books are now too old. Eustace and Jill are being pursued by bullies at school and while running away from them they found a locked gate which is now unlocked and the kids are able to escape their bullies. However, they are now on the edge of a precipice and Jill accidentally pushes Eustace over it. She then sees Aslan, the lion and he has a task for her and Eustace. They are to find the missing Prince Rilian who is believed to have been kidnapped! This was good. This is the second to the last book in the series. Chronicles of Narnia

[madrano]

That was an exciting one. I hope the final book feels fitting to you, Julie.

[Julie]

The Last Battle
C.S. Lewis
4/5 stars
This is the last book of the Narnian adventures and follows Eustace Scrubb and Jill Pole as they unlock the secret of the fake Aslan (aka the donkey, Puzzle) and his conspirator Shift, an ape that are wreaking havoc to the land including cutting down all the Talking Trees. King Tirian, a descendant of King Caspian X hears the news, he takes off to help prevent the destruction. Chronicles of Narnia

[madrano]

Congratulations, Julie. I am surprised that i see this series referenced in contemporary literature as often as i do. You may well notice this, as well.

[Julie]

Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted
Suleika Jaouad
4/5 stars
Suleika Jaouad had just finished college and was ready to start her career and life with her boyfriend when she was diagnosed with leukemia. All her plans are dashed and she is thrown into the health care system which will do anything to get rid of her cancer. Well written and very informative on the cancer care she received. Book Published In 2021

[madrano]

So young to have to face cancer. It must be up-to-date if it was just published.

[Julie]

madrano wrote: "So young to have to face cancer. It must be up-to-date if it was just published."

She has her own website. https://www.suleikajaouad.com/ for more information.

[madrano]

That’s a nice website. She is giving service to the community with her success.

[Julie]

The Search for Anne Perry
Joanne Drayton
3/5 stars
This is the biography of Anne Perry, prolific writer of mysteries. However, Anne Perry is not her original name but she was actually born as Juliet Hulme. Her name change came about after she was imprisoned for the death of a young girl and became an author. Drayton covers her life but mostly her writing career and offers samples of Anne’s writings from her books throughout the biography. I enjoyed the book but I thought that the book summaries interrupted the flow of the book and the discussion of her life was not linear. The death of the girl was not discussed till later in the book and contained few details about it.
Biography of An Author