Challenge: 50 Books discussion
Finish Line 2009!
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Charity's 2009 Reading - The End
BOOKS OF 2009
JANUARY
1. The Ruins by Scott Smith 1/3
2. Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish by Tom Shachtman 1/5
How did you like The Ruins? I have it on my TBR shelf and was thinking of reading it soon.
I thought it was just okay. Several people I know told me that they couldn't put it down, but I think that reading it while I was sick might have had some unjust influence on my feelings about the book because I didn't find it as compelling as others have. It was a decent enough read overall.I would highly recommend skipping the movie adaptation. Just terrible.
BOOKS OF 2009
JANUARY
1. The Ruins by Scott Smith 1/3
2. Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish by Tom Shachtman 1/5
3. The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham 1/7
Wow... John Wyndham. I remember really liking his stuff when I was in high school, but I haven't read any of it recently. I should pick it up again and give it a spin, see how it holds up to my memory of things.
The Midwich Cuckoos was my first Wyndham and it really blew me away. I now have a craving for more, so I'm going to have to seek him out on my next venture to the bookstore.
The Chrysalids is the one that got me hooked. Though I enjoyed Cuckoos as well. G'luck on your hunt :D
Thanks! I have The Chrysalids on my list along with, The Day of the Triffids, Chocky, and The Kraken Wakes. Although, I'm going to have to hold off on reading The Day of the Triffids for a bit. After recently finishing The Ruins, I need a break from man-eating plants. :-)
Well Amber, this was my first foray into the science fiction genre and it really surprised me. I guess I expected it to be a little cheesy or campy (maybe because most movie adaptations of science fiction books are a little of both, I don't know), but it was a very smart book...well-written and engrossing. I would recommend John Wyndham, or at least, this novel by John Wyndham, as a great place to start for anyone wanting to give science fiction a try. I think that it would exceed most novices' expectations of the genre.
BOOKS OF 2009
JANUARY
1. The Ruins by Scott Smith 1/3
2. Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish by Tom Shachtman 1/5
3. The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham 1/7
4. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates 1/9
BOOKS OF 2009
JANUARY
1. The Ruins by Scott Smith 1/3
2. Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish by Tom Shachtman 1/5
3. The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham 1/7
4. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates 1/9
5. From Here to Eternity by James Jones 1/16
BOOKS OF 2009
JANUARY
1. The Ruins by Scott Smith 1/3
2. Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish by Tom Shachtman 1/5
3. The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham 1/7
4. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates 1/9
5. From Here to Eternity by James Jones 1/16
6. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 1/17
BOOKS OF 2009
JANUARY
1. The Ruins by Scott Smith 1/3
2. Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish by Tom Shachtman 1/5
3. The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham 1/7
4. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates 1/9
5. From Here to Eternity by James Jones 1/16
6. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 1/17
7. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky; Translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky 1/27
8. Misery by Stephen King 1/29
9. Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason by Nancy Pearl 1/30
I just read Brave New World too. What did you think?
Very good. It has been collecting dust on my shelves for years now. I'm glad I finally made it a priority.
Loved the book...hated the rats...it was Brave New World with the rats, right, not 1984?
No, it was 1984, but the rats did freak me out, too.
BOOKS OF 2009
FEBRUARY
10. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn; Translated by Ralph Parker 2/19
11. Burning Bright: A Play in Story Form by John Steinbeck 2/20
12. Dead Babies by Martin Amis 2/21
13. Where Angels Fear to Tread by E.M. Forster 2/26
BOOKS OF 2009
MARCH
14. In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck 3/2
15. The Complete Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe 3/2
16. The Pearl by John Steinbeck 3/2
17. The Red Pony by John Steinbeck 3/2
18. The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck 3/3
19. The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen 3/4
20. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce 3/5
I'm so sorry!!! I seemed to have missed your first ten! Mia Culpa
BOOKS OF 2009
MARCH
14. In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck 3/2
15. The Complete Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe 3/2
16. The Pearl by John Steinbeck 3/2
17. The Red Pony by John Steinbeck 3/2
18. The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck 3/3
19. The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen 3/4
20. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce 3/5
21. Diary by Chuck Palahniuk 3/7
22. The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain 3/8
I'm really liking your book selections. We share similar tastes. In Dubious Battle was my first Steinbeck read. Joyce, Cain, Dostoevsky... I'm using my mobile phone now but when I get to a computer I'll have to check out your library. For sci-fiction try Philip K. Dick... Ubik just rattled me.
and you're right... it's not because you were sick. the ruins was just flat.
BOOKS OF 2009
JANUARY
1. The Ruins by Scott Smith
2. Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish by Tom Shachtman
3. The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham
4. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
5. From Here to Eternity by James Jones
6. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
7. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky; Translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky
8. Misery by Stephen King
9. Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason by Nancy Pearl
FEBRUARY
10. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn; Translated by Ralph Parker
11. Burning Bright: A Play in Story Form by John Steinbeck
12. Dead Babies by Martin Amis
13. Where Angels Fear to Tread by E.M. Forster
MARCH
14. In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck
15. The Complete Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe
16. The Pearl by John Steinbeck
17. The Red Pony by John Steinbeck
18. The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck
19. The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen
20. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
21. Diary by Chuck Palahniuk
22. The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
23. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
24. Emma by Jane Austen
25. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
26. Little Bee by Chris Cleave
APRIL
27. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
half-way there! and what amazing choices! You need to read The Rievers by Faulkner...my favorite next to To Kill a Mockingbird.
Thanks, Mary Todd! I definitely need to pick up some Faulkner soon. I have 3 or 4 books of his here at home, but I'll have to try to seek out The Reivers sometime when I'm at the bookstore.I agree, To Kill a Mockingbird is fabulous. This was my third reading of it and I must say, it gets even better every time.
BOOKS OF 2009APRIL
27. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
28. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco; Translated by William Weaver
BOOKS OF 2009APRIL
27. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
28. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco; Translated by William Weaver
29. This Boy's Life: A Memoir by Tobias Wolff
FAB list, you really need to read The Rievers and Barbara Kingsolver's Prodigal Spring!
BOOKS OF 2009APRIL
27. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
28. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco; Translated by William Weaver
29. This Boy's Life: A Memoir by Tobias Wolff
30. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Yours is definitely the most impressive list I've seen Charity, (Little Bee is surrounded by her elders)! I think 80% of what you've read this year is sitting on my Mt Bedsidetable. I would never have the staying power to read them back to back. Amazing! Can't wait to see what you've got lined up for the rest of the year.
Thanks, Cam! It's been a good year so far. A few books have been re-reads, but I've really been making an effort to read some of the books that have been languishing on my shelf for years.
BOOKS OF 2009APRIL
27. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
28. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco; Translated by William Weaver
29. This Boy's Life: A Memoir by Tobias Wolff
30. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
31. Watership Down by Richard Adams
32. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
33. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
BOOKS OF 2009APRIL
27. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
28. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco; Translated by William Weaver
29. This Boy's Life: A Memoir by Tobias Wolff
30. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
31. Watership Down by Richard Adams
32. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
33. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
34. The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
35. The Secret People by John Wyndham
BOOKS OF 2009
JANUARY
1. The Ruins by Scott Smith
2. Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish by Tom Shachtman
3. The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham
4. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
5. From Here to Eternity by James Jones
6. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
7. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky; Translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky
8. Misery by Stephen King
9. Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason by Nancy Pearl
FEBRUARY
10. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn; Translated by Ralph Parker
11. Burning Bright: A Play in Story Form by John Steinbeck
12. Dead Babies by Martin Amis
13. Where Angels Fear to Tread by E.M. Forster
MARCH
14. In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck
15. The Complete Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe
16. The Pearl by John Steinbeck
17. The Red Pony by John Steinbeck
18. The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck
19. The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen
20. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
21. Diary by Chuck Palahniuk
22. The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
23. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
24. Emma by Jane Austen
25. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
26. Little Bee by Chris Cleave
APRIL
27. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
28. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco; Translated by William Weaver
29. This Boy's Life: A Memoir by Tobias Wolff
30. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
31. Watership Down by Richard Adams
32. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
33. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
34. The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
35. The Secret People by John Wyndham
MAY
36. Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson
37. March by Geraldine Brooks
Really, read the Reivers...a Faulkner. It would so fit with your 'coming of age' theme and all the aha books you have read.
BOOKS OF 2009
JUNE
38. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
BOOKS OF 2009
JUNE
38. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
39. Q & A by Vikas Swarup
40. Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra
BOOKS OF 2009
JANUARY
1. The Ruins by Scott Smith
2. Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish by Tom Shachtman
3. The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham
4. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
5. From Here to Eternity by James Jones
6. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
7. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky; Translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky
8. Misery by Stephen King
9. Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason by Nancy Pearl
FEBRUARY
10. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn; Translated by Ralph Parker
11. Burning Bright: A Play in Story Form by John Steinbeck
12. Dead Babies by Martin Amis
13. Where Angels Fear to Tread by E.M. Forster
MARCH
14. In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck
15. The Complete Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe
16. The Pearl by John Steinbeck
17. The Red Pony by John Steinbeck
18. The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck
19. The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen
20. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
21. Diary by Chuck Palahniuk
22. The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
23. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
24. Emma by Jane Austen
25. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
26. Little Bee by Chris Cleave
APRIL
27. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
28. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco; Translated by William Weaver
29. This Boy's Life: A Memoir by Tobias Wolff
30. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
31. Watership Down by Richard Adams
32. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
33. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
34. The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
35. The Secret People by John Wyndham
MAY
36. Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson
37. March by Geraldine Brooks
JUNE
38. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
39. Q & A by Vikas Swarup
40. Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra
41. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
42. The Cost of Living by Arundhati Roy
JULY
43. A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
BOOKS OF 2009
JANUARY
1. The Ruins by Scott Smith
2. Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish by Tom Shachtman
3. The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham
4. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
5. From Here to Eternity by James Jones
6. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
7. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky; Translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky
8. Misery by Stephen King
9. Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason by Nancy Pearl
FEBRUARY
10. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn; Translated by Ralph Parker
11. Burning Bright: A Play in Story Form by John Steinbeck
12. Dead Babies by Martin Amis
13. Where Angels Fear to Tread by E.M. Forster
MARCH
14. In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck
15. The Complete Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe
16. The Pearl by John Steinbeck
17. The Red Pony by John Steinbeck
18. The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck
19. The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen
20. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
21. Diary by Chuck Palahniuk
22. The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
23. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
24. Emma by Jane Austen
25. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
26. Little Bee by Chris Cleave
APRIL
27. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
28. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco; Translated by William Weaver
29. This Boy's Life: A Memoir by Tobias Wolff
30. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
31. Watership Down by Richard Adams
32. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
33. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
34. The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
35. The Secret People by John Wyndham
MAY
36. Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson
37. March by Geraldine Brooks
JUNE
38. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
39. Q & A by Vikas Swarup
40. Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra
41. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
42. The Cost of Living by Arundhati Roy
JULY
43. A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
44. Mandala: A Novel of India by Pearl S. Buck
I love A Passage to India. It's been one of my fav's for years. I have never read #44 and Pearl S. Buck is one of my favorite writers. So I will look for this one.
Helen, Mandala was my first experience with Pearl S. Buck and it convinced me that it won't be my last. She was a masterful storyteller!A Passage to India was a delight also.
Have you read The Jewel in The Crown by Paul Scott? It's pretty good too.
No, I haven't. Is that from his Raj Quartet? Someone was just talking to me about that the other day. I'll have to check it out. Thanks!
Yes, it's Book #1. So start with that one.
JANUARY
1. The Ruins by Scott Smith 1/3