Challenge: 50 Books discussion
Finish Line 2009!
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Meg's List (09)
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Thanks. It's always good to hear good comments about an upcoming book.
30. Floating in My Mother's Palm - Urusala HegiIf you have read Stones from the River and remember Trudi Montag, she has a minor role in the story. the town is the same just centered on different lives,and the war has ended. I love Hegi's style, she has a great way of storytelling. The book was too short!
Hi Meg, If it's not there already, add "The Vision of Emma Blau" to your to-read list. It's another of Hegi's that I liked. She is a wonderful & creative storyteller!
Meg wrote: "Yes I read Midwives and Trans Sister Radio. Both good books, but so far I think that this is his best. "The Law of Similars is my favorite by Bohjalian. I have read Midwives and Skeletons at the Feast as well. I love his writing.
I will have to read Law of Similars. I have a few more of his that I haven't gotten to yet. I am really enjoying Bohjalian. I am also following him on twitter, which is also fun.I will add Emma Blau to my list, thanx Beth
30. The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters - RobinsonThis is a very well written tear jerker. You will love the characters, they are so well developed. An excellent first novel, but bring tissues for reading times.
30. The Zookeeper's Wife - Diane AckermanThis is another book I read on the Nazi's during the war. The setting is Poland. Very interesting facts. It read more factual than novel.
30. Factory Girlsthis was slow moving but a lot of interesting facts about women in factories in China and how their lives are affect by it
31. Double Bind
I enjoyed this book. It was about the death of a homeless man who treasured his photographs. The social worker tries to put his life together by researching the photographs. What she finds is not what she thought she would find.
32. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and SweetThis book is about a time period that America has kept quiet when they put the Japanese in camps during WWII. It is a well told story, the horrors of the camps are really not described. Well worth reading.
33. The OutsidersThis is a great YA novel about gangs, life in poverty and family.
34. Prayers for SaleAlthough I only rated this book a 3 I would have given it a 3.5 if goodreads let us do that. It is a wonderful book told in storyteller genre.
35. BrooklynI loved this book until the end. The end just fell flat. It was as if the author ran out of things to say or got bored writing.
36. The Colour of Lightningthis book dealth with the conflicts between Native Americans and the settlers. It was gruesome, bloody and sometimes hard to take; however, more realistic than most readers might want to read.
37. Vanity Fairthis extremely long Victorian soap opera was written as a serial for a magazine. The names of the characters were, to me, the best part of the book. The characters were social climbers, clawing their way for their place in society. It was hard to read due to the author's transgressions.
38. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane - k HoweI struggled through this book. Everyone loved it, I just couldn't get into it. Maybe it has a lot to do with the mood I am in but it just didn't do it for me. It seemed too technical/text book like.
Meg, in Post 37 about Vanity Fair, you said that it was hard to read due to the author's transgressions...what did you mean by that? The author as seen in the story, the author as how the story was presented, or???
The book was originally a series in a magazine so it reads like that. Then the author adds political climate which is not part of the story and other tidbits. It gets very distracting and boring at times and makes the book hard to read and hard to stay with.
Meg, RE: Message 68...I just saw the movie "Vanity Fair" last night, and the movie was hard to follow, too. I kept thinking I should read the book, that it was probably more 'fleshed out' and would supply some of the missing ingredients to the story, but after reading your message again, perhaps not...but maybe I will try it anyway.
let me know if you do. I am going to see the movie.
40. The HelpRarely does as book this good come along, especially dealing with such a sensitive issue. Bigotry, racism, civil rights all handled so well. I couldn't put this book down. In fact I read it twice, I just loved it. I was sorry when it was over. The character development was terrific. if you haven't read it go out and get it now, if you did read it get the audio it is terrific too.
Meg, did you see Vanity Fair (movie) yet?Carol
41. The Elegance of the Hegehog - Muriel BarberyI really must admit to not liking this book. I would rate it a one star but will give it a two star only because the writing was good, the storyline was one of the most boring books I ever read. I would tell everyone to avoid reading this book. The hype was incorrect.
Meg wrote: "41. The Elegance of the Hegehog - Muriel BarberyI really must admit to not liking this book. I would rate it a one star but will give it a two star only because the writing was good, the stor..."
I belong to the literary fiction lovers group and they had a big discussion about this book. It seems more people in that group felt the way you did about this book, with a few absolutely loving it. I was on the fence about it, but I think I'm gonna pass on it for now. I have so many books to read as it is.
There are so many great books out there, I was sorry I wasted my time with this one. Because I wasn't hooked it took a ridiculously long time to read it.
42. Those Who Save UsThis is another Holocaust book with a different twist. It deals with how some women had to survive Nazi Germany in order to live and the memories that stay with them long after the war. It was pretty well done but I felt some of the character development was lacking.
43. The Bean Tree - KinsolverThis is an old time favorite, a great reread. Who doesn't love Kingsolver?
44. Time Traveller's WifeI must say that this is just not my type of book. Saying that, it was better than I anticipated. If you like this genre you will like this book, it didn't excite me. However, I finished it, so that says something.
45. Memoirs of a GeishaAn old time favorite. Such a well written book. If you haven't read this it is must!
46. South of Broad by ConroyFirst I have to say that I love Conroy. Secondly, I didn't like his last book prior to this one (My Losing Season). This book is the old Conroy that I love so therefore I loved this book. He is a master storyteller, a great character developer.
47. East of Eden by John SteinbeckAll I can say is classic literature.
I loved it. Have you read it? We read it together on COL in the chunky novel section.
48. Knit Two - JacobsThis is a sequel to The Friday Night Knitting Club. I should know better than to read sequels. This book was blah, boring and not worth it.
49. Shanghai Girls - Lisa SeeI loved this book, I love this author. Anyone interested in Chinese culture will love this book.
One more to go, nothing like cutting it close!
Meg wrote: "49. Shanghai Girls - Lisa SeeI loved this book, I love this author. Anyone interested in Chinese culture will love this book.
One more to go, nothing like cutting it close!"
Funny, I just read an article yesterday and this was listed as one of the writer's Top 10 reads of the year and I looked it up and put it on my TBR list. Glad to see you liked it!!
TA DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA - Looks like I've made it!!!!#50. The Outside World by Tova Mirvis
Very interesting book about Orthodox/Hassidic Judaism and the search for God, religion and your inner soul. Deep and light, depending on how you want to read it. Definitely worth reading.
Challenge: 50 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Law of Similars (other topics)The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (other topics)
Gold Coast (other topics)
As for Sarah's Key. It was an extremely emotional book for me, very powerful. I am sure it will make for great discussion.