Michelle is going to read instead of sleep in 2010

[Sherry]

Michelle, this is amazing. I don't think I can keep up! But I'm having a great time trying. Can you pick a favorite in all of this? I've read four of the books you post.

[Michelle]

Hmmm...my top reads for 2010 (so far) are:
In the Woods, The Hunger Games, The Bottoms, Bless Me, Ultima, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Mistress of the Art of Death, Under the Dome, Never Let Me Go, Blacklands.

Hahaha...I've been lucky with my book choices this year.

[Sherry]

I loved Never Let Me Go as well. Have you seen the movie? I haven't, I'm looking forward to it.

[Michelle]

I haven't, but the married couple in my local book club went to see it and really liked it. They said it was better than the book, which I can understand. Because I think Ishiguro wrote in a very visual way anyway. A lot of the book wasn't plot driven, and we were seeing the characters' interactions through Kathy's eyes, so in that sense, I could see how the movie would capture a lot of the nuances and the differing viewpoints of the other characters more fully on film.

[Sherry]

It looks well cast too. I think you are right about the visual style because my own imagined pictures are still very vivid in my mind.

[Michelle]

78. THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett

If a friend from my local book club hadn't chosen this as her reading pick, I probably would never have read this book. So THANK YOU Shirley! SUCH a great book, I think Stockett did the difficult topics of interracial relationships between employers and their black housekeepers/nannies/workers, etc. justice. Also, really REALLY liked her strong female characters, and even the variety of characters she DID use to tell her story. Told from different perspectives but written in a simple, straightforward format, so there wasn't any confusion, which I appreciated. And I learned about some historical events that I've never heard before, which is sad and not a great commendation for California's public school system. This was told in an authentic and respectful way, but still maintained the suspense and tension of the political ridiculousness of the time. Lots of things in this book moved me, either to tears or to laugh or even shout out in agreement or in anger. I may be buying copies of this book for some of my favorite women for Christmas.

[Michelle]

79. THE SERPENT'S TALE by Ariana Franklin

Chapter 2 in the Mistress Adelia series, and I thought this novel was just as good, if slightly less dark, than the first. Meaning, I guess, that the murders weren't of children. I think King Henry is fast moving up the ranks of my favorite characters and I may actually research him. Franklin really makes history come alive in these books, not that they are all completely accurate, but she DOES attempt to stick to most of the truth. :) Overall, I enjoyed this suspenseful medieval murder mystery very much and am looking forward to the third installment.

[Sherry]

I loved the Serpent's Tale too. I read it first, so I have to go back and read the first one.

[Michelle]

Really? I think you will appreciate it more after you finish the first book. I cannot read books out of order...it makes me go a little nutty. LOL I kinda envy you.

[Sherry]

I know I will. Sometimes I'm halfway through a book before I actually realize there's a prequel. Then, I figure, "might as well finish!"

[Michelle]

80. THE PRIVILEGES by Jonathan Dee

I spent this morning reading this instead of running my errands, so I'm going to review after I get stuff done.

******OKAY, DONE WITH ERRANDS

This book is a hidden gem. I came across a random recommendation for this book and didn't really go looking for it. Then I was at the library and saw it on the shelf, so I thought, What the heck? I'm so glad that I read this book. Most of the characters are, although human and therefore not faultless, actually pretty UN-likeable. But somehow, you root for them. This book has so many great passages that I won't even try to list, but its a pretty fast read, because I didn't want to put it down and gives us "regular" folk a glimpse at the uber-rich -- how they got there and what it costs to stay there. Dee's writing, although more wordy, reminds me a lot of Stewart O'Nan's and for that, and for this amazing tale of characters and their development and interaction, a family adrift in a sea of uncertain dysfunction and barely hanging on, I will look for his other writings. Five stars AND it makes my Top Books Shelf. :)

[Michelle]

81. OUTER DARK by Cormac McCarthy

Gonna think about this one for awhile before I write about it...

[Michelle]

82. FULL DARK,NO STARS by Stephen King

[Sherry]

I am sooo impressed.

[Michelle]

Thanks, but if you think this is awesome, you should see my friend Marvin's accomplishments. He's in the 150s I think. Crazy guy. :)

[Sherry]

He must do nothing else! Or else be a speed reader.

[Michelle]

Well, he works and is married so I think he has a pretty full life. He probably reads fast, but I don't think he SPEED reads. I remember fondly the days before kiddos when I could just sit around and read for hours. Yeah right, I've never been able to do that! LOL

[Sherry]

I know, me neither. Only if I take long rides in the car and my husband drives! I love that.

[Michelle]

83. THE STRAIN by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan

I enjoyed this book. I can see this being a really decent horror flick, and that's exciting because I love all of Del Toro's films. I think that the series will build and the next book will probably be better. I have it and plan on starting it tomorrow. Different type of vampires, but kept some of the standard beliefs. Thoughts it was interesting and the characters are believable and interesting. I WAS rooting for the ex-wife though. :(

[Michelle]

84. DARK HARVEST by Norman Partridge

The PERFECT spooky Halloween season read. A great, fast-paced tale of a young man attempting to save himself from suffocating in a small town. If you like Shirley Jackson, you'll probably like this book. Surprisingly good for the simple writing style and it sticks with you. Could just as easily be talking about war. 5 stars.

[Michelle]

85. WITH RED HANDS by Stephen Woodworth

The second in a series that has, I believe, 4 books total. I liked this book as well, and sometimes more, than the first one. There were some cheesy moments that earned some well-deserved groans but the premise is different than what I normally read in mysteries, and the character isn't a TOTAL idiot. :) LOL Also, the kill scenes are surprisingly graphic, for what I would consider a pretty mainstream novel. It's a hell of a lot better than anything I've read from Dean Koontz in a LOOOOOOOOOOOONG time. Sorry, Mr. Koontz. 3 1/2 stars.

[Michelle]

86. SACRED by Dennis Lehane

Oh Dennis, how I've missed you! I started this series, read and absolutely LOVED the first two books, then paused when life got in the way. I thought that I had lent the whole series to my mom, but I saw this book on the shelf at the library and decided to check the rest of the books out if I had to. This series is just too good, great characters, dark but with enough humor. And the relationship between Kenzie and Gennaro is believable, dynamic and just plain interesting. LOVE this and I also love that the 6th book was just released, so I don't have to wait to read what happens next once I finish the ones I have. I am interested (and don't know) whether book 6 wraps it up or not. I hope it doesn't.

87. IN GOLDEN BLOOD by Stephen Woodworth

So, as the third book in this series, the author decides to have the main character travel to a completely foreign land and submerges her into a situation that is both historically relevant, as well as politically motivated, neither of which is in keeping with the previous two books. In some sense, this is refreshing, but it is mostly distracting. I prefer Natalie dealing with her regular life issues, like raising her psychologically damaged and preternaturally gifted daughter or working on her shaky relationship with her father. Searching for lost Incan gold is a little too farfetched and Indiana Jones-like for this reader. The flow of what happened with the characters as the last book ended and where this book went didn't blend together at all, and nothing was resolved. Disappointing, but I'll read the fourth book because I'm a sucker and compelled to finish a series once I begin.

[Michelle]

88. THE NIGHTRUNNERS by Joe R. Lansdale

I can see where a lot of people would be put off by the topic of this book, but I saw Lansdale's early potential shining through the graphic and steadily building terror and gore. Maybe I'm hardened to some of the topics in this book, but I could sort of identify with the two protagonists and really appreciated how Lansdale injected a run of the mill slasher/revenge horror tale with his ample talent of forming believable and sympathetic characters. Just as well as that, he was able to create characters that were the COMPLETE opposite of that. One of his early books, but definitely worth looking into, if you're a fan of his other work.

89. MASTER OF PETERSBURG by J.M. Coetzee

Another book that deals with downer topics, but told in such a fascinating way that I was hooked, despite repeated distasteful references to off-color topics. I can appreciate that some books have to include topics that are uncomfortable to be true to their historical, geographical and political context, and Coetzee is a brilliant writer. If I had been highlighting great lines or thought-provoking passages, the pages would have been pretty colorful. :) Also, the way that death/suicide/loss/grief was dealt with in this book was believable, interesting and very well-down, in my opinion. You can tell the author is speaking from the heart, and I liked the balance of the emotions regarding that with enough of the rest of events to keep me from curling up into a ball and having grief flashbacks. :) Will definitely be reading more of his work AND am for SURE going to dive into some Dostoyevsky (spelling?).

[Michelle]

90. HANDLING THE UNDEAD by John Ajvide Lindqvist

An interesting take on zombies, great characters, but something was missing for me. Maybe the more humane approach, giving the zombie less animalistic characteristics made it sadder for me to enjoy. Sounds weird, I know. I don't know about the cover's plug of comparing Lindqvist to Stephen King, but I haven't read Let the Right One In, so I'll reserve my opinion until then.

91. THE END OF THE AFFAIR by Graham Greene

I've been wanting to read something by Greene ever since I became friends with Kathryn, who spoke very highly and this did not disappoint. Seems like a standard plot, but the writing and character development was masterful, I actually ended up sympathizing with people I wouldn't have suspected to. Very heavy with religious themes, but also a great historical tale taking place during a time of war and social upheaval. Looking forward to reading more Greene! Thanks Kathryn! :)

[Michelle]

[Michelle]

92. THE WASP FACTORY by Iain M. Banks
93. CAPTAINS OUTRAGEOUS by Joe R. Lansdale