Challenge: 50 Books discussion
Finish Line 2011
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Kate's 3rd Try: 50 in 2011
2. Organizing the Disorganized Child: Simple Strategies to Succeed in School
Always throwuing in some parenting stuff . . . Great resource for a student with this issue. Back to a novel I'm really enjoying . . .
3. Best-Ever Easy-to-Use Herb Cookbook: Add flavour and fragrance to your favorite recipes
. I received this in the mail yesterday from bomc.com. It is FULL of great, simple ideas -- right up my alley!!
4.The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
So, I would give this book a solid 3.5. Symbolism well-developed. Some things didn't make sense. Some things I needed resolved didn't resolve. Some issues were resolved or foriven or explained too simplistically. I just wasn't intrigued-- but I did finish and I did enjoy.
5.
Fat Witch Brownies: Brownies, Blondies, and Bars from New York's Legendary Fat Witch BakeryWow, this book is a keeper-another steal from bomc2.com-i'll be pulling out my 9x9 today!!!
6. Milton Hershey chocolate kingMilton Hershey, Chocolate King. (b/c my son's homework is my homework, too)
Indeed, certain items in The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake did not make sense (the magical elements), but I loved this book nonetheless. Rose
Obsessedreader wrote: "Indeed, certain items in The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake did not make sense (the magical elements), but I loved this book nonetheless. Rose"
I found that this book had good symbolism, such as choosing whether to develop your particular God-given skill or not. But, I thought the brother's "skill" was a bit over the top. I read this with my book club, and it caused what I call "rants" by several members (yelling what they didn't like about it) and jokes by many of the rest of us.
When I first read the description of the brother's "skill," I was so stunned that I read it several times. I was flabbergasted. I've never read anything like this before. (I loved it!)Rose
It would come in handy if more people than expected showed up for a meeting.
7. Out of My Mind
This little gem should be required reading; I'll be asking my 5th grader to read it. The main character is plagued by cerebral palsy and, at the same time, incredible intellectual gifts -- the star of the school trivia team headed to a national competition. Simply but powerfully the book delves into the perspective of crippled Melody, her loving neighbor, her struggling but devoted parents, her schoolmates and even the professionals charged with educating her at school. It was a wonderful read.
8.The Narcissistic Family: Diagnosis and Treatment
Wow. I always enjoy work-ish non-fiction. Great read for a layperson.
What do you do, if you don't mind me asking? I'd LOVE to pick up The Narcissistic Family... it seems like a good work-ish non-fiction for me too. (I'm a school psychologist)
I'm a lawyer for our state's child welfare agency and a Mom of 3 boys . . .
9. The History of Love
This book was magical. There's a splash of e.e. cummings, stylistically. The character development had me immersed completely. What a beautiful story! Definite 4.5 star read . . . That I kept flipping all over the place connecting storylines was the only detraction (and might be more a reflection of me . . )
So at this pace I'm slated to read 40 books this year. Gotta find time for those other ten; I want to say I've read 50. So little time, so many books!
11. The Neighbors Are Watching: A Novel
I happily finished the whole story and the intrigue piqued my curiosity. I reflected on human interactions and relationships. But it's just a two-and- a-half.
12The Organized & Inspired Scrapbooker
So, am I downstairs organizing my craft table? No, I'm typing that I read this into the computer. Still a great little workbook full of inspiration.
13. Lost Recipes: Meals to Share with Friends and Family
Picked this up in one of my favorite used bookstores in Northampton, Ma yesterday. Read it cover to cover -- great, traditional recipes, anecdotes and artwork. It's already a huge fave!!
14.The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
Calpurnia is an easy read and smooth, quick read. The travails of a young Texan girl in 1899 evolved nicely. Calpurnia didn't want to be "Nellie" from Little House on the Prairie; she wanted to be Laura -- her grandfather, at first, reluctantly, but then devotedly, helped Callie define that for herself. I would read a novel following her through adolescence and into young adulthood . . .
Kate wrote: "14.The Evolution of Calpurnia TateCalpurnia is an easy read and smooth, quick read. The travails of a young Texan girl in 1899 ev..."
I just finished this one, too, and really enjoyed it. I just wonder if modern girls would be bothered reading it - no paranormal activity, slow moving. It's a shame because it's a sweet book and a good look at a place and time.
15. Dirty Secret: A Daughter Comes Clean About Her Mother's Compulsive Hoarding
*****If you enjoy this genre, Secret is a 5 star read. Sholl humanizes a difficult issue as she experienced it: her Mom's hoarding.
16. Case Histories
****What a great mystery! I like the way the characters were developed individually and then intertwined.
17. **** The Recipe Club: A Tale of Food and Friendship
I disagree with cricism of this book. The story held my interest and I enjoyed the evolution of a friendship from grade school to adulthood.
****18. A Mother's Story
I loved this little book. The first two pages may be the best description of pain and loss I've ever read.
19. ** Room
Apologies to the author, but what a disappointment. Apparently the story is based on a real news event with which I wasn't that familiar. Even so, the book seemed to tread upon some serious issues quite superficially (attachment, trauma, interpersonal violence . . . ) and I didn't walk away with a single memorable quote. Interesting and readable but far too shallow.
20. ***Life Expectancy
I hadn't read Koontz for quite a while. A friend from work recommended this one b/c it was too crazy to ignore. I enjoyed the zany plot!
21.Different Learners
I re-read this book this weekend . . . always learning and re-learning about my son's LD . . .
22. Fragments: Poems, Intimate Notes, Letters
Very enjoyable to peruse . . . I prefer her own notes and writings to (what I imagine are) biased biographers. GORGEOUS pictures!
23. The Gates
YA again. I thought it was a wonderful, humourous read! Passing it on to my 6th grader for his opinion.
Bullyville
Well, I did like the way some of this resolved and the realizations the main character made. I'm passing it of to my 12 y.o. to try. 3 stars.
25.A Visit from the Goon Squad
This was interesting . . . cryptic. I wonder whether I lost track of characters because I read it mixed in with other things. I like stories told as a collection of short stories. 3.5 stars.
26. The Chisellers
****Great story. Not as laugh-out-loud funny as the Mammy. More poignant. I see that the third in the trilogy is slightly better reviewed; perhaps this second in series provides the details to weave the three volumes together.
27. Enough About You: Adventures in Autobiography ***I found this little work intriguing. I agree with other reviewers that the chapter on Bill Murray was spot on. I get it when a person is so neurotic that they have to bask in their own perceived weaknesses. I get that, for many of us, authentic, energetic people are easier to understand and enjoy than superficial or contrived people. That message got lost or was too much work to derive in some of the ramblings.
28. Labor Day
(MINOR SPOILER . . . )Three stars. I confess to skimming. That the story derives from a real-life experience delivers the real intrigue. The characters were well and interestingly developed but the whole thing is just . . . contrived?
29. Helping Children With Nonverbal Learning Disabilities to Flourish: A Guide for Parents and Professionals
This was a re-read; a compendium to my son's quarterly progress report!!
31.
GraysonThis work is a sweet little story about an adolescent's ocean encounter with a baby whale. I'm passing it on to my 12 year old. ***
32. Legends of the New England CoastI picked this book up in Sandwich, MA at a DIVINE bookstore named Titcombs. Headed back there Sept 4 for a booksigning my 12 y.o. wants to attend. Loved reading about legends of the area I was visiting!!
34. Therapy Therapy
Therapy was a great mystery. Like many other reviewers, I was a bit disappointed by the ending (which wasn't as engaging as the rest of the story). Still, it was a mesmerizing read (in short, simple, quick chapters)
35
I have become a Carson McCullers junkie . . .
Kate wrote: "35 I have become a Carson McCullers junkie . . ."Not a bad thing at all. "Member of the Wedding" was on TV the other day. Made me want to go pick up a copy at the library, unfortunately someone else had the same idea, so now I'm on the wait list.
Haven't seen the movies; I take it I should???
36 Time and Timing in the Classroom
Brief foray into some educational theory. Always thinking about my sons' educational experiences and comparing them to various best-case scenarios.
Kate wrote: "Haven't seen the movies; I take it I should???"They were made back in the day when movie makers didn't feel the need to rewrite the book, so they're pretty faithful representations. "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" is both my favorite of her books and movie adaptations. Alan Arkin will break your heart.
37. House Of Secrets
House of Secrets is my true crime read for the year. It's more journalistic than literary but of interest to me b/c I do child protective work. Horrifying story . . . eager to see where the defendants are at in 2011 given that the book was written in '97.
Challenge: 50 Books
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Solid 4 star read. I'll save many quotes.