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Bridgit's 2010 Reading Log
January 20101. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
I thought this book was cute, but it really didnt add all that much to the story that I already knew. Obviously, this is where all of the versions that I have seen actually ORIGINATED, so I feel like I should not judge it based on that, but I expected to love the book so much more than the plays and movies i have seen. In the end, it was basically exactly what i expected.
3/5 stars
2. The Golden Compass - Phillip PullmanSo my friend lent me the boxed set of the His Dark Materials trilogy over a year ago, and they have just been sitting on my overflowing bookshelves. Finally, I got around to it over my Christmas break. I think the reason I avoided it for so long (intentionally or unintentionally) was becuase I had seen the movie and was relatively non-plussed.
I'm really glad I finally read it however. The book, as is typical, really added a lot to the story. You really got to know the ice bears and their back story and you more fully appreciated Lyra's relationship with the gypsies. I will definitely be reading the next two, and I wont be waiting a whole year to do it.
4/5 stars
3. Lolita - Vladimir NabokovI read this while on the beach in the Carribean at my friend's destination wedding. Boy did I get a lot of stares. I'm pretty sure that made me enjoy it all the more. There is something sort of thrilling about laying on a beach surrounded by people telling them how you are reading a book about a 12 year old having sex with a 35 year old and then watching their faces...
On a serious note, the language and writing style Nabokov uses was really seductive. He brought you in and made you, if not sympathize, at least understand HH's obsession with his step-daughter. I had a visceral reaction to numerous portions of this book and that is a rare thing. Obviously the subject matter played a role in that, but i think it was more to do with the fact that the writing wrapped you up in the story and made you feel like you were a part of it, almost like you actually were HH and were struggling to control your own locked up desires.
Lastly, I was really impressed with how Nabokov was able to convey such salacious sexual behavior without ONCE ever actually getting graphic in print. I think that that is something that a lot of today's writers can learn from. The power of suggestion is really much more effective then spelling everythign out for the reader.
5/5 stars
4. Picture Perfect - Jodi PicoultEh. Typical Jodi Picoult book. Insert 'domestic violence' for the social concern of the day and you have a copy of the rest of her books. I wasn't all that impressed with it, but, as it was a beach read for me, I think it suited my purposes just fine.
2/5 stars
5. Graceling - Kristin CashoreThis was a really fun YA fantasy novel. I dont really read much YA, but after hearing all the reviews for this, was willing to give it a shot. I really liked it (and have gone and picked up the sequel from my library). I really liked the character Po and the complete world that she developed where 'gracelings' had all sorts of special powers. Particularly interesting was that the people with these powers were actually shunned and NOT revered (or even feared, with the exception of a few). I'm excited to see more from this author.
4.5/5 stars
6. The Name of the Wind - Patrick RothfussI truly don't think that I can express how much I loved this book. The first part of a trilogy, TNotW is told in first person by Kvothe, by turns a trouper, street urchin, arcanist, luter and grudging savior (not to mention the things that are alluded to in this book but wont actually transpire until the next two).
I am a relatively recent convert to fantasy fiction, with most of my prior reading lying firmly in the paranormal genre instead of more traditional fantasy - but this has won me over. The characters are so fully developed. Rothfuss has truly created his own world, with its own logic and magical rules. It makes so much sense that I almost believe that it is real, because SHOULDNT you be able to put x and y together and get z??
I know I am late to the game on this one, but I am chomping at the bit for the 2nd book to come out (May 2010). Cannot wait.
5/5 stars.
Bridget,I agree with you about Lolita. It's a disturbing book but also a very, very funny book, like all of Nabokov's works in which his characters verge on "puppets" in a crazy chess game. Check out Pale Fire. It's an intricate, hilarious book. It's just amazing, utterly unique. Those two books are definitely in my top 10 books of all time.
Hi again Bridget,Oh, I forgot to add on my last post. You should get the movie of Lolita directed by Stanley Kubrick, circa 1963. It stars James Mason, Sue Lyon and Shelly Winters. It's a GREAT movie, almost as good as the book. Perfectly cast, brilliantly acted, superbly photographed and edited. A black-comic masterpiece. It's too bad it's not better known. The other version of Lolita, made in the 1980s with Jeremy Irons is a disaster, a waste of time.
Whoops, Bridget, once again.I am expecting the arrival of Lolita next week via Netflix. That's the only place I know of where one can get that movie. Another great, little known, Kubrick movie to relish is Barry Lyndon (1975). One of the greatest under-appreciated films of all time. It's based on the English novel by -- is it Thackeray or Fielding? I just checked -- it's Thackeray.
Dennis wrote: "Whoops, Bridget, once again.I am expecting the arrival of Lolita next week via Netflix. That's the only place I know of where one can get that movie. Another great, little known, Kubrick movie to..."
Thanks for the advice Dennis! I definitely want to see the movie, but would have just gravitated towards the Jeremy Irons version. Will make sure I pick up the earlier version instead!
Also, am adding Pale Fire to my TBR. Im excited that Lolita is Feb's group read - i think we will all have a great discussion about this one!
Hi Bridgit,I didn't know Lolita was the Feb. Group Read. I'll have to stay tuned because I'd love to re-read that book with insights from others. I've read it four times, but the last time was probably eight years ago. I'm a Nabokov fiend. Favorites are Lolita, Pale Fire, King Queen Knave, Camera Obscura (Laughter in the Dark) and his memoir Speak Memory.
But everything he wrote is worth reading. I haven't read The Gift yet, one of the two or three I haven't read, but I've got to get to it as I've heard it's one of his very best.
7. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Jonathan Safron FoerIt took me a little while to realize what this book was about and get into it. But, boy, once I did, i REALLY did. Told in a very avant garde format, ELIC explores the story of Oskar, a precocious 8 year old boy as learns to deal with the death of his father in 9/11. This book touched me on so many levels - being a New Yorker, dealing with the loss of my own father 2 years ago, the glue that holds relationships together as individuals cope with death in their own way.
This is one of the first books that I have read that dealt with how people experience grief in a way that wasnt hopeless. There was so much hope in this book, despite the tragic origins of the story. What makes this novel so touching is the superb characterization of Oskar in all of the little details. He is beyond creative, using his imagination to help build context for his father's death. His complete faith and trust in his father and the assurance that he will not let him down, even after death. How his naivete combines with his adventurous spirit to help him reveal one last message from his father - and eventually - find closure and strength to heal.
I truly loved this book and Oskar has become one of my favorite characters of all time, certainly my favorite 8 year old.
5 stars
8. Gideon - Jacquelyn FrankI admit, its fluff. But that is what I was looking for after reading the emotionally taxing Foer novel. This was the second book in Frank's series, of which i have read the first (Jacob) and the third (Elijah). I actually really liked the other two, but this one fell short for me on numerous occasions.
1) I just didnt like Gideon. Having already met him in Jacob, and having really only heard neutral or negative things about him, I expected this novel to really delve into his character and his backstory to unearth his redeeming qualities. Not so. Most of the book was still about Jacob and Isabella from the first story and the love storhy between Gideon and Legna was almost a side plot. As far has his history goes, not much new was revealed. He's old. He was around for the Druid genocide and regrets it. He doesnt plan on changing. la di da.
2) He's not romantic and it appears that he mostly just settles on Legna becuase they were 'mated' (blanking the correct term). Its almost as if it were something out of his hands and he just decided to throw his hands up and give in to it. Certainly there is no growth of a relationship here.
3) i feel like i should have a third point. Criticisms always come in threes. But I dont really have anything else to say. I'll probably read another in the series, because they are mindless, and I already like Noah and want to hear his story...
2 stars.
Hi Bridgit,I heartily endorse your reading goals. Moby Dick and War and Peace are MUSTS for anybody the wide world over. Both books I struggled with for years until, eureka, they opened themselves to me at last, after umpteen tries, and WHAT BOOKS! WHAT EXPERIENCES!, I should say.
I loved Satanic Verses, but haven't read Midnight's Children yet. Thanks for the reminder. It's been sitting on my shelf for years. You nudged me to bump it to "next read."
As for Dickens, as a lifelong Dickens fanatic, I would urge you to read Bleak House (my favorite) and Our Mutual Friend. Another good one is Little Dorrit. For sheer reading pleasure, you can't go wrong on those three. I also love Dombey and Son.
Happy reading!
Hi Bridget again,100 Years of Solitude will blow your mind with its hallucinogenic, brilliant, vivid, surreal writing. It's just atonishing. However, I want to caution you. Read one chapter at a time and lay the book aside for a week or so before resuming because it is VERY MUCH like a too-rich dessert. Besides, great as it is, it is also very irritating because Marquez has that sickening "modern" habit of naming so many characters the SAME name! There ought to be a law against that. I can't count how many "Aurelianos" are in that book. After awhile I didn't give a hoot who's who. I just read it for its extraodinary surrealist brilliance. Nothing like it. Like exotic tattooes on the brain.
High on my reading list is Love in the Time of Cholera by Marquez.
Another tip: War and Peace? Get a Cliff's Notes guide so you can have list of characters and a historical background of the book. I don't think I could've finished that book without Cliff's Notes by my side. Another MUST READ Tolstoy is Anna Karenina. It's as if the all-seeing GOD himself wrote that one. You'll see what I mean.
Bridgit - I LOVE Oskar Schell. I think I have a crush on a fictional 8 year old. :)
Dennis wrote: "Hi Bridget again,100 Years of Solitude will blow your mind with its hallucinogenic, brilliant, vivid, surreal writing. It's just atonishing. However, I want to caution you. Read one chapter at a ..."
That's great advice Dennis. I'll definitely get some Cliff's Notes when I tackle War and Peace. 100 Years of Solitude was going to be in my next five books - probably starting in the beginning of February or so, so I will definitely take your recommendations of reading it slowly, in digestible bits seriously.
I have actually already read Anna Karenina and it is one of my favorite books of all time - which is why I am willing to brave War and Peace. If Tolstoy can write something like Anna, then W&P can't be all pain.
So far, I have not read any Marquez, but do have Melancholy Whores as well, which I am also excited about.
Jen wrote: "Bridgit - I LOVE Oskar Schell. I think I have a crush on a fictional 8 year old. :)"I know what you mean Jen! I want to pluck him out of the book and keep him in my pocket so I can always hear him talk about his newest inventions.
Hi Bridget,Anna Karenina is one of my all-time favorites, too. I'm going to re-read it again this year. War and Peace is just as great, although at times Tolstoy almost loses the story with his heavy-duty ponderings about history, destiny and warfare. One critic said Tolstoy shouldn't written TWO books, one called War, the other called Peace. Still, scenes from that book still haunt my mind: Andre thinking he's dying on the battlefield, the Halloween-style party of the youth, the hunt for a wolf, the magnificent extended scene at the battle of Borodino. Tolstoy was such a genius, even his dogs and the wolf in W and P have distinct personalities.
9. Fire - Kristen CashoreThis was the prequel to Graceling which I had just read a few days ago. Fire is a half monster, half human, where in this reality, monsters are actually the most beautiful things in the land. She has the power to understand people's thoughts and intentions as well as control them. Fire gets locked in a battle for the survival of the kingdom, siding with the current King and his brother.
A side plot (very side) involves the previously seen King Leck and sort of gives an insight on to how he developed. But...not really.
In general, I liked the book. Graceling was MUCH better. What I liked most was the Brigan's character and his daughter Hannah's. Archer was a so-so character for me. I liked him in the beginning, but halfway through, he transformed into a condescending, misogynistic jerk.
Where this fell short for me was the main character Fire. She was a little too whiny and narcissistic for me. "all the men love me. I'm so beautiful. Everyone loves me. Im so beautiful" you can only hear that so many times before it starts to grate on you.
The other problem was the superficial plot insertion of King Leck. There was no reason for this to be included in the book. Obviously, Cashore was trying to link the books in some way, but this was so poorly fit that it just served as a distraction. If you took all of the Leck scenes out, the book would have been a lot better and not actually lot any significant plot points.
Rating: 3/5
10. The Hunger Games - Suzanne CollinsI heart this book. So glad I read it. Katniss is a very cool character. At heart, this is a sci-fi survival of the fittest book. Set in the future, where the country is split into 12 different zones, which pit each zone against each other in a perverted Olympics game. Each zone is forced to send 2 teenagers to battle to the death once a year in order to possibly win riches and notice. The teens are pitted against each other for entertainment of the masses, with deliberately constructed obstacles and challenges designed to test their survival skills and provide the most entertaining show possible to their viewers.
Katniss is seemingly an underdog. From the poorest District, she has the most to gain by winning this battle (aside from her life). Throughout the "Games" she accesses all of her ingenuity and strength to survive, while still keeping her humanity and sense of self.
LOVED the characters. The pacing was really well done - kept me turning the pages well into the night. Will be definitly catching the sequel.
5 stars
11. Journey to the Centre of the Earth - VerneMy first Verne. What an adventure. I can't imagine how exciting it would be to read this when it first came out. This must have blown people's minds. Adventure, Science-fiction, exploration - it was really wonderful. Light-years better than the Brendan Fraser cheese-fest that was the movie.
I felt like a giddy 14-year old boy when reading this.
Will definitely be reading more Verne in the near future. I have already purchased 20,000 Leagues, but will look into more.
4.5 Stars
Bridgit wrote: "10. The Hunger Games - Suzanne CollinsI heart this book. So glad I read it. Katniss is a very cool character. At heart, this is a sci-fi survival of the fittest book. Set in the ..."
It truely is an amazing book! I loved it so much and you will definately like Catching Fire. It just brings you even more into their world and I am hanging on edge waiting for the third to come out.
Katniss was an amazing character. I loved being inside her head and even through there is mostly metal diologue in the book I was unable to be uniterested in it. There was surprises with every turn and even greater surprises are to come!
12. Dubliners - James JoyceSo this was my first Joyce. I was a little intimidated so when I found this copy for $2.00 at B&N, I snatched it up. Its a collection of short stories about different people that live in Dublin. Right off the bat, that is a bad sign for me. I honestly can't think of a book of short stories that I have liked. I just don't get into them.
That aside though, I liked the first story and was mildly looking forward to the rest. Unfortunately, that waned pretty quickly. For such a short book, this took me an ETERNITY to read.
Most stories were only 5-7 pages, but the last two were a bit longer. By the end, I was just skimming to get done. Really not my favorite, but I don't know if that was a result of the short stories, or a result of Joyce himself.
Hopefully someday I will read Portrait, but at after Dubliners, have no real aspirations of moving on to Ulysses or Finnegans.
2.5 stars
Bridgit wrote: "12. Dubliners - James JoyceSo this was my first Joyce. I was a little intimidated so when I found this copy for $2.00 at B&N, I snatched it up. Its a collection of short stories ab..."
Bridgit I totally agree with you! I don't know if it's just Dubliners or Joyce generally but I didn't like this book either.It took me almost 6 days to finish it!
Bridgit, I'm glad you enjoyed The Hunger Games. It's one of my favorite books.And your review of Lolita is great! It really makes me want to read the book.
13. The Dharma Bums - Jack KerouacJust not my style. Read this for my in-person book club. I have never really gone for the philosophical, existential, peace and love, what-is-the-meaning-of-life-and-what-is-my-role-in-it sort of books. I am also way too attached to my creature comforts to ever really find this sort of lifestyle appealing.
Though I do appreciate how this sort of writing really changed the way a lot of people thought back in the 60s and 70s and helped to form the Beat Generation.
2 stars.
14. Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde - Robert Louis StevensonFirstly, I didnt realize that this was more of a novella than a full-length novel. Secondly, I started reading this with a very preconceived notion of how the storyline went. I find this is the case for me with many of the classics that I have been reading lately.
Unfortunately, the story in my head was much more entertaining than the actual story. I suppose that is a product of Hollywood influence and just the natural way that stories like Frankenstein and Dracula are passed down and sensationalized. The Victorian language diluted the horror of the plot. The creepy was just weird. The horrifying was just 'meh'. The suspense wasn't there, though I don't blame Stevenson for that, since it was mostly a result of how famous the story had become, not the writing. But unfortunately, that affected my reading experience.
Frankly, for as short as this book was, it put me to sleep multiple times.
I do try to take a step back when reading classics and picture myself reading them at the time of publication, as opposed to in our present, desensitized days. Given that context, I would revise my opinion to assume that it was much more susepenseful and engaging. And groundbreaking in the horror / twist-ending genre.
Does anyone else have this sort of problem when reading classics for the first time? Do your preconceived notions about the story negatively affect your reading experience? Or am I the only one?
2.5 stars.
15. Thorn Queen - Richelle MeadThis was a great distraction. As much as I am enjoying challenging myself with big/important/educational reads, I can't sustain it without a little bit of fluff every once in a while.
Enter the Thorn Queen.
<<<<<<(view spoiler)
16. Dizzy City: A Novel - Nicholas GriffinThis is the story of an English soldier who gets injured in France during World War I and then deserts the British Army by escaping to NYC. While there, he meets a bunco artist and falls into a life of conning. The story, rich with the background of NYC just before US entered the war, is kept moving by telling the story from each of the main characters perspective.
It is the story of cons conning cons and you really need to stick to the end to see who is doing what and who is telling the truth. Every character is trying to pull something over on every other character. Unfortunately, the end of the story comes up a bit short for me - after such a build up of each different thread of the giant con is revealed with such detail, the wrap up is so abrupt that I was left not really understanding what happened, who was alive/dead, who got the money, etc. I think the author needed to consider the ending just a bit more before finalizing this one.
Caveat - I read an ARC of this book, so its possible the end changed from what I read, but based on other reviews I have read, it doesnt seem likely.
3 Stars
17. Dune - Frank HerbertOk – where do I start for this one. For years I have heard about Dune as the epitome of science-fiction literature. It was like the literary equivalent of the TV series Star Trek in my mind. And as a result, brought a stigma to it that I just wasn’t willing to go near. I have always liked fantasy and sci-fi in theory, but generally tended towards the lighter, more introductory choices. But as I have gotten older, I have become more willing to accept my nerdery and have realized that I can’t truly appreciate science-fiction while intentionally avoiding one of its cornerstones.
That said. It was time for Dune.
Overall I was struck by how readable and not over the top it was. I quite enjoyed the main characters – Paul and his mother. I always tend to enjoy when characters discover the ‘clever’ solutions to problems and defeat their enemies via outthinking them versus out fighting them. After reading this, it’s really easy how Dune was the genesis of so many different books/movies that have come since, particularly George Lucas’ Star Wars.
On the negative side, the book started out REALLY slow for me. It wasn’t until I was about 100-150 pages in that it really started singing. And unfortunately, I had a slightly difficult time keeping track of all the characters and mentors and who was fighting for which side and why. Other than that, the hardest part for me was the intricate language and vocabulary used in the story. I had to keep flipping to the glossary in the back, but know that I missed some stuff as a result.
I was also slightly disappointed that there wasn’t a particularly strong and conclusive ending. Which I get. When you have a multi-book series, most authors like to stretch the overall plot along to cover multiple books in order to keep people coming back.
I am really glad I read this, but don’t really think that I am intrigued enough to go back for the rest of the series.
Has anyone else read this? Thoughts? Worth returning to for a second dose?
4.25 Stars
18. Specimen Days - Michael CunninghamSpeciman days was not really a novel per se, but more like three linked novellas. The three stories were all set in different time periods: The Industrial Revolution, Present Day New York, 2150 New York. Each story loosely involved three characters named some derivation of Simon, Catherine and Lucas. There was a bowl of some sort that was passed between all of the stories (symbolism of this remains unclear). And then there was Walt Whitman.
In the first story, about a poverty stricken family where the oldest son has been killed (Simon) and the youngest son (11-year old Lucas) must go to work to support his disabled Father, distraught mother and sort of his brother’s fiancee’ widow. Lucas has some sort of problem where he constantly speaks in poetry. Specifically, Walt Whitman poetry. Whitman makes a cameo.
The second story, involves a NYPD call-center psychiatrist who’s job is to answer terrorist phone calls and she hears about a terrorist plot perpetrated by a series of children. Children who keep quoting Whitman. More Whitman references as the plot develops. The context is pseudo-present NYC, however it is in some sort of alternate world where terrorism is much more prevalent than today. Where this is such an all-consuming factor that it almost appears post-apocalyptic.
In the last story, Cunningham was clearly taking some happy pills. It is the story of a Cyborg (Simon) who rescues an alien lizard (Katreen) from persecution for lying to the robot-police and they take off on a cross-country race to Denver to meet up with the cyborg maker before he takes off on his spaceship to colonize another planet, picking up a disenchanted boy missionary with a freakish head (Luke) and dragging him along. Very strange.
I really didn’t get this book at all. Each one was difficult in its own way and I struggled with the writing style. I feel like I almost would have like the last one the best, but was unable to really appreciate it juxtaposed as it was to the other two stories. I am sure I should be pulling some deep meaning from the title “Speciman Days” as they all take place on the same day of the year (June 23 if I remember correctly) but each 150ish years apart.
Blah. I refuse to try to overanalyze this one.
If someone liked it, please tell me why. If forced to choose which I liked best, I would probably go with the middle one, though the ending pissed me off.
Rating: 2.0
19. The Sword of Shannara by Terry BrooksThis is the story of a group of mixed race travelers who go in search of ‘THE SWORD’ to save the world from an evil lord. A mixture of elves, a dwarf, and men travel through spooky forests, weird spider like killing creatures, flying death ghouls, underwater mist demons, trolls, gnomes, and other fantastical dangers along the way. One of the travelers is ‘the hero’ and all must sacrifice along the way to make sure he makes it safely to the sword.
I am not going to give away the plot here, but the corollaries between SoS and LOTR were undeniable. Orson Scott Card even commented on how wrong it was for Brooks to have written something so seemingly plagiarized. Lots of other people have written about the obvious counterparts (Shea = Frodo, Flick = Samwise, etc.) so I won’t go into that here.
In terms of the original aspects of the book, which weren’t really many, I think Brooks just really skimmed the surface. I would have loved to know more about the Troll and the special honor that he had received and his back story. The thief seemed like he could be pretty interesting if we only knew more about him. There were nuggets there that if expanded upon, would have made a big difference. Unfortunately at more than 700 pages, I don’t think I would have wanted to stick around long enough to read them.
I avoided reviewing this for a while so that I could really think about it. At first, I loved it. Then I couldn’t get past the LOTR rip offs. After finishing it, I realize that I am glad that I read it, because I really liked LOTR and this sort of brings me back to that world without having to reread. I think if I hadn’t been so familiar with LOTR, I would have ranked this much higher than I did.
Rating: 2.25
Ok - I am getting a bit behind on my book reviews here. I don't want to start listing without reviewing, but I am going to list a few of the here now since I seem to be getting too far out from some of these books to worry about forgetting to add them. 20. Company of Liars - Karen Maitland
21. The Penderwicks on Gardam Street
- Jeanne Birdsall
22. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnet
23. Poems by Emily Dickinson, Series Two -Emily Dickinson
24. The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
25. The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove - Christopher Moore
26. Three Bags Full - Leonie Swann
Will be adding reviews hopefully this week. Happily I checked off another book from my target list (CofMC).
Bhumi wrote: "How was The Count of Monte Cristo?"I LOVED it. Definitely making my short list of favorite books ever. I think I probably need to noodle it around a bit more before officially deciding its rank on my Best Books of All Time List.
I read the unabridged version and just FLEW through it. 1450+ pages in just under a week.
I am going to try to write my official review in the next day or two.
20. Company of Liars - Karen MaitlandThis book just really wasn’t for me. I have read that it is based on the Canterbury Tales – a group of travelers in the Dark Ages travelling around telling stories to each other. I think that that is a pretty loose description of the book. Yes, that happens, but really it is framed with them escaping from the Black Plague as it passes through various towns in England.
An arcanist – a guy who sells random crap like dirty old robes and claims they are from sanctified dead monks and the best way to fool God into letting you into heaven – two musicians – one a master, one an apprentice – a carnival/gameshow man with a cart, a couple with the wife pregnant, a freaky albino child and her nurse, and a fugitive half-bird/half-man story-teller, all meet up on their way out of a town and decide to travel together to escape the disease. Each character had their own quirks – and the premise of the story – they are all telling one huge lie. As the novel unfolds, the lies are revealed to us as characters start to die.
I think one of the reasons I did not care for this book was that despite its setting in Dark England, nothing felt particularly ‘old’ about it. The language was current, the feel was modern. It didn’t resonate ‘Dark Ages’ to me.
I also think the author was trying to throw too much into it – homosexuality and homophobia, superstitions, fortune-telling and irrational vendettas, incest and murder, (as well as a few others that I don’t want to mention without revealing too much.)
Not to get into the end and spoilers, but I thought the very end was completely out of the blue and unbelievable. The whole ‘wolf is attacking us’ bit was just dumb, and the way it was resolved seemed like a quick fix for something the author couldn’t solve. The villain…was just frustrating. I can’t believe I wasted time with a book, trying to learn who and why people were being killed off to find out the reason was basically ‘why not’.
Not recommended. 1.5/5 stars.
Woah, 1450+ pages is ridiculous! You must have read at the speed of light :)
Bhumi wrote: "Woah, 1450+ pages is ridiculous! You must have read at the speed of light :)"I really did. I was just so gripped by it that I didnt want to do anything else. But to be honest, I was also reading another book at the same time. Becuase it was so big, I wasnt willing to bring the CoMC out of my apartment. So I read a Christopher Moore book when commuting and at the gym.
OK - time for some reviews. 21. The Penderwicks on Gardam Street - Jeanne Birdsall
This was just way too far below my reading level for me to enjoy it, so I dont really want to rank it. It wouldnt be fair to the book since I can't really grade it for what it is. I read this for another reading challenge I am in, where I had to read a book from a list for young readers.
I listened to this as an audio book while at work and while my attention went in and out, I dont really think that harmed anything. Frankly, the most entertaining part of this book for me was the fact that I didnt realize my iPod was playing all of the chapters on shuffle for at least 20 minutes. I was SO confused. The second to last chapter is the second one that I heard.
The overall story is about four girls and their dad. Their mother has died when they are younger and has asked their father to start dating again. The girls make it their mission to make his dating life miserable so that they dont have to get a new Step Mother. Very parent trap, but less clever and less mean (i.e. less fun).
I'll abstain from rating, though if you check my list I am giving 2 stars.
22. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson BurnettApparently this is a classic. I feel bad, but I had never heard of it, except for as a movie, which I didnt see. This did help that I had no preconceived notions about it.
I'll admit, I started out really disliking this book. The little girl was such a little bitch, I frankly didnt see anything redeeming in her. And, honestly, that pretty much lasted until the end.
Nor did i like her cousin. What a whiny, self-indulgent, brat.
I did like her neighbor boy, Martha's little brother. He made the story for me.
Despite the fact that I pretty much hated all of the characters, Burnett did a great job of describing the wonder and excitement of little kids. And the joy of having that little secret place of your own to explore and pretend and dream and just let yourself go. In the end, I really liked the book, even though I think all these people really need a good slap in the face more than a hidden place to grow petunias...
3/5 stars
23. Poems by Emily Dickinson, Series Two - Emily DickinsonI'm not equipped to rate or review this. I don't like poetry unless its by Shel Silverstein or talks about places like Nantucket. I had heard a lot (obviously) about Dickinson and thought I should expand myself by reading some of it.
As far as poetry goes, I actually found myself 'getting' a few of them, which really means that these are probably awesome.
No rating.
24. The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre DumasWhere do you start reviewing one of the best books you have ever read?
I LOVED it. LOVE LOVE LOVED it. The pacing, the emotion, the build up, the action. Everything. Never have I read nearly 1500 pages in so short of a time period and not felt almost claustriphobic with a need to 'do something else' and 'get out of my reading zone'.
I found myself racing home to read this. Ignoring my husband. I think the TV remote was lost for 4 days before anyone noticed. I was entranced.
Things I didnt like: I wish the vengence happened earlier. And was bigger. More explosive. I know he ruined these people's lives (deservingly so) but I wanted it to be so much more spectacular. I wanted them to be on their knees and begging Dantes to leave them even a tiny shred of their lives. Begging for his forgiveness and his leniency. But really, I think that says more about me than about Dumas or Dantes.
My favorite characters were Abbe Faris and Valentine. I loved the relationship between Valentine and her grandfather and the way they communicated with each other by blinking.
I am torn by Mercedes. On the one hand, she waited 18 months and was ignorant of who set up her fiance. On the other, she ONLY waited 18 months!! and married the man who ruined Dantes life!! She clearly didnt like/respect her husband by the time Dantes meets up with her again, and yet she did not drop everything to speak with Dantes. I know its the romantic in me, because it is unlikely that a married woman, in that time period, with a child to consider would ever drop everything and run to her hold lover, but BOY did I want her to...
I could probably go on forever. Or at least for another page or two. But I'll cut it off here.
Rating: A HUGE 5/5 Stars.
More reviews to come. 25. The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove
26. Three Bags Full
27. Catching Fire
28. The Tempest
29. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
30. Black Magic Sanction
31. Highland Fling
32. The Art of Racing in the Rain
I'm really behind on the reviews here, but I am determined to review everything I have read this year.
I'm reading too fast to keep up with my reviews. Here is one for a book I just finished that I had to review for another site: 33. Powers: A Novel - John B Olson
I think this book was misrepresented. I expected fantasy book, bringing in supernatural powers, possibly occultism, but really, this was a christian fiction book. Realizing that part way through was off-putting. I dont think that I would have picked it up if I realized what it was.
But I continued to read it anyway. I didnt hate it, but it really didnt do much for me. Perhaps if I had read the prequel some of the "Standing" concepts would have made more sense. We never really learned why the Standing were being hunted - just becuase? That isnt enough of a reason for me. The two main characters, Mari and Jazz were both pretty weak and whiny. I think my favorite character was actually the girl that we werent supposed to really like, Hollis, though she too seemed completely unrealistic. "Hey - there's a terrorist cell, let me help them! Ooh, this girl I dont know got shot! Let me break the law and get a doctor over here that i pretend I'll sleep with for free medical care!"
And what the heck was the significance of the guitar. Jazz seems to think that is the MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER. and i refuse to believe that it is just so he can strum some Dave Matthews on the street corner.
Anyway, unless you are a Christian Fiction fan, I would not recommend. If you are, I actually would.
1.5/5 Stars
34. Behind the Scenes at the Museum: A Novel - Kate Atikinson35. Lord of the Flies - William Golding
36. Coyote V. Acme - Ian Frazier
37. The Prehistory of the Far Side - Gary Larsen
38. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
I'm not equipped to rate or review this. I don't like poetry unless its by Shel Silverstein or talks about places like Nantucket.Hahaha! That is SO me. I don't know if it's because I've just been reading the wrong kind of poetry, but I don't even have any idea where to start to find some good poetry...you know?
I can't believe how much you've already read this year! Very impressive! What did you think of Never Let Me Go?
39. Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron - Jasper Fforde40. Olive Kitteridge - Elizabeth Strout
41. Unwind - Neal Shusterman
42. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith
43. Powers: A Novel - John B Olsen
44. The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan
The Next Best Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Faefever (other topics)Darkfever (other topics)
Learning to Die in Miami: Confessions of a Refugee Boy (other topics)
Water for Elephants (other topics)
Bloodfever (other topics)
More...
- to read better books
- to not avoid challenging books
- to read at least half of the following:
War & Peace
Crime & Punishment
Midnight's Children
Satanic Verses
Les Miserables
Count of Monte CristoLord of the FliesOf Mice and Men
3 Shakespearian Plays previously unread (The Tempest, Julius Caesar, Alls Well That Ends Well)Moby Dick
20,000 Leagues Under the SeaJourney to the Center of the Earth2 Dickens (besides Great Expectations, Tale of Two Cities, Christmas Carol)
100 Years of Solitude2 Pulitzer Prize Winners (Olive Kitteridge, The Old Man and the Sea)2 Man Booker Winners (
The Bone People - Keri Hulme)2 Hugo Winners ( Dune - Frank Herbert, Speaker for the Dead)2 Nebula Winners (Dune - Frank Herbert, Speaker for the Dead)2 Edgar Winners
3 Monthly TNBBC Group Reads (Hunger Games - January - DONE; Lolita - February - DONE; One Hundred Years of Solitude - DONE)I think if I try to hit one of the above per month, I should be in good shape...
In the mean time, here is my list thus far.
***UPDATE*** June 1st and I have reached my goal. Not sure If I want to finish this list this year, but will amend my goal to be 15/20 of the tasks listed. War and Peace, I am looking at you!