Mandy's 2010 Reading Progress

[Mandy]

I'm trying for a minimum of 50 books in the new year. I finished off 2009 with 35 books and I didn't start reading heavily until March or April. Wish me luck. =)

JANUARY
1. Nineteen Minutes
2. The Choice
3. Twenties Girl: A Novel
4. Best Friends Forever: A Novel
5. Marley & Me: Love and Life with the World's Worst Dog
6. Light on Snow

FEBRUARY
7. Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage
8. The Big Love: A Novel
9. The Local News: A Novel
10. Lifeguard
11. Mary Poppins
12. Wedding Girl
13. Honeymoon
14. The Wisdom of Bruce Lee
15. The Lake House
16. Winter Garden
17. The Cellist of Sarajevo

March
18. Saving Ceecee Honeycutt: A Novel
19. Her Fearful Symmetry
20. The Tenth Circle
21. The Book Thief
22. The Weight of Silence
23. Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
24. The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother

[Holli]

Good luck Mandy! I think this is a goal you can accomplish for sure....

[Mandy]

Thanks Holli! I look forward to another year of sharing reviews and recommendations with you. =)

[Holli]

Me too, I love that we like the same stuff.... hey have you read Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult?

[Mandy]

Me too, Holli. I read Handle with Care. I only gave it 2 stars. I was really disappointed in it. Here's my review.

"Although I normally enjoy Picoult's novels and controversial subject matters this book was a true disappointment. Any Picoult fan can tell you that she follows a formula -- which I normally enjoy. The problem with Handle with Care is that with the formula; it is too similar to My Sister's Keeper to not compare the two. There's a child with a medical issue, parents with personal issues, a sibling that is struggling with life and lawyers with long dragged out stories that have nothing to do with the main story line except to add a few extra hundred pages.

If you read My Sister's Keeper, you don't need to read this one to know how it will pan out or how it will end. The only part I enjoyed about this book was learning about Osteogenesis Imperfecta and how Picoult used recipes in the fronts of chapters to elaborate more. Other than that, a huge disappointment! I suggest either taking it out of the library or skipping it all together. It's not worth the purchase price on clearance."

[Holli]

Ok. I'm thinking that my review would look an awful lot like yours if I finish this book. I'm on page 25 and I just don't care about it at all. Its too much like My Sister's Keeper and maybe that's why I can't get into it since I just read that not too long ago. I don't know... I'm going to try another 50 pages or so but I may throw in the towel.

[Mandy]

The further along you get, the more it resembles it and the more pissed you get. By the ending I was so angry I almost gave up on Picoult entirely because I don't want to read another writer who is trying to get to her deadline and not care what is written. I have lost respect for too many authors who have done that.

But, then again...tomorrow I will be starting Nineteen Minutes so I will see if it's just the new book I have a problem with. LOL

[Holli]

I'm glad you're telling me this. I think I'm going to give up on it. I don't want to waste my time. I do like her.... I just don't think its cool that its following so closely to My Sister's Keeper, that's just ridiculous.

[Mandy]

It really does although the subject matter is interesting....that's all it has that is different.

[Barb H]

Mandy Sue wrote: "Me too, Holli. I read Handle with Care. I only gave it 2 stars. I was really disappointed in it. Here's my review.

"Although I normally enjoy Picoult's novels and controversial subject matte..."

I could not understand the enthusiasm for this book. In my review, I gave Picoult credit for being a good writer, but I think it is time for her to steer away from her formulaic pattern. I think that this book,in particular, fell apart rather quickly. The ending came upon the reader too hastily and was a thin, unsatisfactory resolution.
One of her best books for me was "Plain Truth", but I really liked My Sister's..., probably because it was the fist Picoult novel that I read.

[Jennifer W]

I haven't read this one yet (and won't be anytime soon, by the reviews). My favorite Picoult was The Pact, which was my 1st of hers. I find that most people love the first book they read of hers, whichever it is (if they like her books at all, that is).

[Holli]

I'm moving my Picoult discussion here....

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Sorry to hijack your goal page Mandy! LOL

[Mandy]

Barbara ~ I completely agree. I was highly disappointed in it. At some point they need to either steer clear of their formula or try to work it in a different way. I will check out Plain Truth. I'm reading Nineteen Minutes right now.

Jennifer ~ I did love My Sister's Keeper which was my first, but I think I liked Change of Heart better. I will check out The Pact too. Thanks.

Holli ~ Don't worry about it. No big deal. =)

[Barb H]

Plain Truth was actually a little different for Picoult. Of course it includes a legal issue. Do you suppose Picoult has a desire to be a lawyer?
There was a fairly good movie made of Plain Truth a couple of years ago.

[Wendy T]

I started Change of Heart and OMG it is sad right from the start.

[Vicki]

Good Luck Mandy Sue!

And since we seem to be talking about Picoult books, I read Change of Heart, Vanishing Acts and My Sister's Keeper. I liked all of them. I tried Tenth Circle twice and for some reason couldn't get into it.

I have Nineteen Minutes, Plain Truth and The Pact to read. I'd love to hear what you think about Nineteen Minutes.

[Kristie]

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Barb H]

Vicki wrote: "Good Luck Mandy Sue!

And since we seem to be talking about Picoult books, I read Change of Heart, Vanishing Acts and My Sister's Keeper. I liked all of them. I tried Tenth Circle twice and for..."

I agree with you about The Tenth Circle, Vicki. It was just terrible. Those comic character drawings added nothing at all to it. When I finished reading it I wondered why I had done so.

[Mandy]

Barbara ~ I don't know if I believe she wanted to be a lawyer more than I believe she wants her opinions out there. KWIM?

Wendy ~ Let me know what you think.

Vicki ~ I'll push The Tenth Circle to the bottom of the TBR Picoult books. LOL

Thanks, Kristie Faye!

[Cecilia]

Mandy Sue wrote: "I'm trying for a minimum of 50 books in the new year. I finished off 2009 with 35 books and I didn't start reading heavily until March or April. Wish me luck. =)
"

Good Luck Mandy Sue, there is a 50 books in a year group that is a great place for support.

[Mandy]

Thanks, Cecilia. =)

[Mandy]

1. Nineteen Minutes

I really enjoyed this book. I did find myself feeling for the criminal which shocked me. It was very well developed. I figured out the ending about halfway through which is surprising for me and a Picoult novel but then again, maybe not being she is so formulaic. Definitely worth picking up!!

[Mandy]

2. [image error] The Choice

At first I didn't really care for this book. It just seemed like another Spark love story. But Part II, caught me by surprise and I couldn't put it down.

[Mandy]

3. Twenties Girl: A Novel

Buddy read this with Wendy. What a great fluff read. Very well written and has the flighty characters that make Sophie Kinsella books so much fun to read.

[Mandy]

4. Best Friends Forever: A Novel

A ridiculously out there fluff read. Still fun, none-the-less but not something I would recommend.

[Mandy]

5. Marley & Me: Love and Life with the World's Worst Dog

The ending got to me. I finally understand why people love this book. It's not the book but the loss of man's best friend.

[Usako]

Tear jerker, Mandy Sue? I keep looking at Marley & Me. May need to ensure my tissues are nearby!

[Mandy]

Tanja ~ Honestly, I didn't like it. If you look at my review it wasn't favorable. It does make you cry at the ending though.

[Vicki]

I don't think I could handle that book, especially with a 14 year old dog...

[Mandy]

Vicki ~ It would be difficult to read with an old dog.

[Mandy]

6. Light on Snow

Very good, quick read. Very interesting story. Shreve's overly detailed storytelling actually was enjoyed in this book.

[Cindy]

So glad you enjoyed this one Mandy! I started reading it thinking I wouldn't like it...but then had trouble putting it down!

[Ahtims]

Mandy Sue wrote: "6. Light on Snow

Very good, quick read. Very interesting story. Shreve's overly detailed storytelling actually was enjoyed in this book."

I have become a huge fan of Anita Shreve after reading 2 of her books (Seaglass and Fortune's rocks). Now I'll be searching out this one.

[Bloomin’Chick (Jo) aka The Eclectic Spoonie]

Mandy Sue wrote: "6. Light on Snow

Very good, quick read. Very interesting story. Shreve's overly detailed storytelling actually was enjoyed in this book."

This is one of my all time faves and the only one of hers I could ever finish! I love this book!

[Vicki]

I loved Light on Snow. Glad you liked it too.

[Mandy]

Cindy ~ Thank you. I loved it!! I thought the same thing in the beginning and then I couldn't put it down.

I'm definitely going to try another Shreve book.

[Bloomin’Chick (Jo) aka The Eclectic Spoonie]

Cindy wrote: "So glad you enjoyed this one Mandy! I started reading it thinking I wouldn't like it...but then had trouble putting it down! "

I remember getting it at the book sale just before they closed for the summer and I read it in less than 3 days! Not my usual type of book but I couldn't put it down.

[Mandy]

Shreve is interesting to me. Her subject matters are interesting but her writing rather juvenile. I think the reason Light on Snow worked so well is that it is told through a 12 year olds narration.

[Vicki]

This one was actually my first audio book and the narration was excellent. I also read Body Surfing, but didn't connect with that one as well. I would be interested in trying more by her though. Love to hear what you think about others.

[Mandy]

I'm definitely going to try another. I am interested. The Pilot's Wife, I didn't like and this one I did. So, I have to try a third, right? LOL

[Bloomin’Chick (Jo) aka The Eclectic Spoonie]

I didn't like The Pilot's Wife either!

[Mandy]

I'm glad I wasn't alone!!

[Cindy]

I didn't like The Pilot's Wife either! I did enjoy the movie though...weird!

[Vicki]

Oh no Pilot's Wife is one I have on my shelf. I guess I should find another to read first.

[Mandy]

Vicki ~ It's not that the story wasn't good, it's more that it is written in such details that it consumes you to the point you feel like it is happening to you. Not the type of book I wanted to "live through."

[Vicki]

I see, it'll sound silly probably but because I liked one of her books and wasn't crazy about the other, I want to like the third book. I also have Resistance by her, and there are tons at the library.

[Mandy]

Read a different book as the third than, definitely!!

[Mandy]

7. Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage

A childish rant, trying to justify her reasons to avoid conforming to the norm of marriage and parenting.

[Cindy]

Mandy, You are reading up a storm! Go girl!!

[Mandy]

Thanks, Cindy. I'm going to need to slow down or make amends with my library situation soon. LOL