Ann E's 50 Book Challenge--2011 Version

[Ann]

Here we go! I missed last year's challenge by 4 books, so I'm extra motivated this year!

[Ann]

#1 The Flamboya Tree

4/5 Well-written account of survival in a Japanese concentration camp

[Ann A]

Another Ann! Good luck reaching your goal this year. This challenge really helps to motivate me.

[Ann]

#2 Olive Kitteridge

This book was very well-written...especially because the characters were hard to like. All of the short stories combined eventually made Olive a well-rounded character.

I'm off to a slow start...I have some major catching up to do!

[Ann]

#3 Sacred Time

I could not get into this book at all! Some of the character description was interesting, but the book was just too choppy and downright boring in parts to keep my interest. After almost a month, I'm ready to move on!!

1/5

[Ann]

#4 Belles on Their Toes

4/5 I'm honestly not sure if I've read this before. I know I read Cheaper by the Dozen a few times as a kid and really liked it, especially the "efficiency expert" aspect of living in a house with so many children! This book was a much-needed, light-hearted diversion!

#5 My Life on the Run: The Wit, Wisdom, and Insights of a Road Racing Icon

The author came to speak to my running group, and he was an amazing story-teller. The book is good, too, but I kept wishing it were an audio version.

5/5

[Ann]

# 6
Left Neglected

4/5 Dragged a little, but still an excellent read about a young working mom's experience with brain trauma after a car accident.

[Ann]

#7 What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

Inspirational stories, but choppy and repetitive.

[Ann]

#8 Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

4/5 One of the better books I've read this year. I have seen it mentioned in many diverse places, and I like to be in the loop about what's "hip"!

[Ann]

#9 Deep Down True: A Novel

Well-written; entertaining 4/5

[Ann]

#10 The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Read to decide if I wanted to teach it this summer. It is a good teen read, but I don't think I want to go there for my first year of teaching summer school!

[Ann]

#11 Readicide: How Schools Are Killing Reading and What You Can Do about It

Very good! Gave me some new teaching ideas and inspiration! 5/5

School's out for summer...time to catch up on my reading! :)

[Ann]

#12 The Book Thief

Took much longer than I expected, but very good. 5/5

[Ann]

#13 The Catcher in the Rye

I am a little embarrassed to say that I've never read this book. I'm glad I can now say I did, but it wasn't my cup of tea...
3/5

[Ann]

#14A Visit from the Goon Squad

1/5 This book is getting rave reviews, but I just could not appreciate it. It was so choppy!

[Ann]

#15 Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life

I loved this one! I could really relate to the random snippets...

5/5

[Ann]

#16To Hell with All That: Loving and Loathing Our Inner Housewife

2/5 Easy read but hard to relate to...I think she is seriously misguided thinking most stay-at-home moms have nannys, and I really couldn't get past that!

[Ann]

#17 The Confession

3/5 Easy, enjoyable read...similar to his other works.

[Ann]

#18 The Book of Eleven: An Itemized Collection of Brain Lint

3/5 Super short book of random lists...not as good as Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life

[Travis]

I just finished The Confession myself a few days ago. I also gave it three stars. Even thought I read The Chamber many years ago, I couldn't escape the feeling that I was reading it again.

I guess after this and An Innocent Man, which I thought was really well done, I hope he has done all he is going to do with the death penalty. But even if he isn't, I am sure I will read it anyway.

[Ann]

#19 Bossypants
I'm a big Tina Fey fan, so of course I loved this!
5/5

#20 Working It Out: A Journey of Love, Loss, and Hope
I had a hard time with this one. Her story is tragic and her success is inspirational, but the book itself wasn't very well-written and it became a tedious read.

#21 Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen
As a runner, I loved this book and its crazy characters and adventures lost in Mexico.
5/5

#22 The Best Advice I Ever Got: Lessons from Extraordinary Lives
I'm not a big audio book fan, but the short, inspiring essays really lent themselves to commute-listening!
5/5

[Ann]

#23 Before I Go to Sleep

4/5
I was really interested at the beginning but began to grow bored and wanted to race ahead to get the plot resolved. Overall an interesting premise. I see that it's going to be a movie, which wouldn't interest me, since I know how it ends! Would probably be a better movie than book.

[Susan]

Ann wrote: "#23 Before I Go to Sleep

4/5
I was really interested at the beginning but began to grow bored and wanted to race ahead to get the plot resolv..."

I had the same reaction.

[Ann]

#24 Joy For Beginners

3/5 This book was light, easy, and enjoyable...not life-altering.

[Ann]

#25 The Sweet By and By



4/5 Lives up to its name...very sweet and likeable characters. Enjoyable, touching read.

#26
Someone Knows My Name

4/5 Epic book about a slave's experience. Strong female character...very well-written.

#27 Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength

4/5 Interesting book about human nature. I picked up some good tips to use in my daily life to help me reach some personal goals.

[Ann]

#28 Cook without a Book: Meatless Meals: Recipes and Techniques for Part-Time and Full-Time Vegetarians

5/5 Great, easy ideas for "normal" vegetarian meals!

[Ann]

#29 Happy Accidents

4/5 I'm a big Glee fan, so I really liked this book. It's funny, entertaining, and mildly shocking, just like Sue Sylvester!

[Ann]

#30 Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

4/5 Light, funny read, for the most part, although it did drag a little at the end.

#31

4/5 Quaint read about a Norwegian immigrant family surviving during hard financial times. Now I want to see the 1948 movie...good thing Netflix has it!

[Ann]

Well...I didn't quite make it! I can't believe I read 15 more books last year WHILE completing my master's degree! Oh well, on to 2012!