Challenge: 50 Books discussion

Hi,
I’ve set the goal so let’s see if I can make this work. I’m off to a slow start but I’m reading 3 books right now that I’m about to finish.

So far this year I’ve finished reading:
1. The Late Bloomer’s Revolution by Amy Cohen

This book was interesting but fell a little flat at the end.

2. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

This wasn’t a book I would recommend

3. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

I’m quickly got hooked on this story, something about it just draws you in. It’s nothing but a guilty pleasure.

4. The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo by Steig Larson

Good mystery with interesting characters and plot twists.

5. The Hindi-Bindi Club by Monica Pradhan

This book was amazing! The writing was beautiful and I loved the characters.

6. Letters to My Daughter by Maya Angelou

7. New Moon by Stephanie Meyer
This book is a pure guilty pleasure. Stayed up late one night and read the book in one sitting.

LOL, yeah the Twilight series can do that to a person. Are you planning on reading the other two?

Aprile wrote: "LOL, yeah the Twilight series can do that to a person. Are you planning on reading the other two?"

Definitely!! I haven't picked them up yet because I was afraid I wouldn't go to work 8) I'm getting them this weekend so I'm not expecting to sleep much.

I can't wait to hear what you think of them!

8. Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

9. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

10. The Book of Unholy Mischief by Elle Newmark

This book was intriguing and reading about the food in this book was divine. At times you wanted to smack the main character though because he was so impatient when it came to his teacher mentoring him. Overall I enjoyed it.

Tip of the topper to your first ten!

Thanks Mary!!

11. Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

12. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris

13. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

how fun to read all these at one time...I had to wait for the next one to come out!!

14. All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
15. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

Mary Todd wrote: "how fun to read all these at one time...I had to wait for the next one to come out!!"

I can't imagine having to wait for each one. I'm only waiting for #9 coming out May 5th and it's driving me insane!!

whoohoo! May isn't so far!

16. Eclipse Stephenie Meyer

17. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

18. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

This book was terrible and very depressing. I've heard people say that this book was an amazing love story but everyone in the book was involved in very unhealthy relationships.

19. The Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney

This was a really good book. For anyone that enjoys reading books on faith, this is definitely one to pick up.

20. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

This was a wonderful fantasy book. This is just the first in a three part series. If you enjoy fantasy, give this one a try.

21. The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller

22. Note to Self: 30 Women on Hardship, Humiliation, Heartbreak, and Overcoming It All by Andrea Buchanan

This book was inspirational. It should be required reading for every woman. Definitely a wonderful gift for the women in your life.

23. The Shack by W.P. Young

24. Radical Womanhood by Carolyn McCulley

I loved this book!! It clearly explains how women are supposed to live according to scripture and covers some history on the various women's movements.

25. Happens Every Day by Isabel Gillies

True story about how quickly things can fall apart.

26. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

I had to read this book for my book club and it was painful. I don't know what all the talk was about because I thought this book was terrible.

27. Humility by C.J. Mahaney

28. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

29. Gilead: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson

30. The Mortal Instruments Book One City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

This was a fun and easy book to read. I'm looking forward to the next 2 in the series.

31. The Strain (The Strain Trilogy, Book 1) by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan

This book was REALLY good!! It was written well and a great story. I can't wait for the next two to come out.

32. American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

I enjoyed this book a lot. The author had wonderful dialogue between the characters.

33. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

It's tough to write a good sequel let alone a 7 part series. I'm contiually amazed at Rowlings imagination and she did not disappoint on book 7. The ending of this book gave me goosebumps it was so good.

34. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

I found a new edition of this book that I had to have. So now I think I own about 6 copies of this book! I finished it in 2 days and I loved it as much as I did the first time I read it. Bronte's writing is magical and you feel so many emotions for the characters in this book.

35. Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye?: Trusting God with a Hope Deferred by Carolyn McCulley

36. The Truth about Cheating: Why Men Stray and What You Can Do to Prevent It by M. Gary Neuman

37. City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments, #2) by Cassandra Clare

38. Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse #9) by Charlaine Harris

39. Her Fearful Symmetry: A Novel by Audrey Niffenegger

I've been trying to figure out all day what I was going to say about this book. It was a haunting novel that left me feeling slightly uneasy. I couldn't seem to put it down but I'm left feeling unsure of how I feel about it. If you like ghost stories give this book a try. It's nothing like her first novel (Time Travelor's Wife!!) but just as original.

40. Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship by Joshua Harris

41. Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D. Kristof, Sheryl WuDunn

42. Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

Completely engrossing, interesting characters and story line. I read the book quickly and didn't want to put it down.

43. Miracle on 34th Street: by Valentine Davies

This is the only time I can say that the movie is better than the book.

Antoinette wrote: "Stacie wrote: "43. Miracle on 34th Street: by Valentine Davies

This is the only time I can say that the movie is better than the book.
"

I've never read Miracle on 34th Street but I feel tha..."


I wanted to read The Devil Wears Prada..but if the movie is better I may move the book to the bottom of my to read pile.

Another movie that I feel is better than the book is the 2006 remake of The Painted Veil. The movie that starred and was produced by Edward Norton and Naomi Watts is about a socially inept bacteriologist Dr. Walter Fain (Norton) and underacheiver callow party girl Kitty Fain (Watts) who marry and go to China because of his work. Each frame in the movie is an exquisite frame of the Chinese landscapes alternating with interiors that reflect the challenges of helping people to overcome the ravages of a cholera epidemic.
The movie alters the ending and I usually don't like it when the intent of the author is changed. However in this case there is a better resolution in the development of the wife's character. There are also splendid performances by Toby Jones, Liev Schreiber, and Diana Rigg.
Maugham wrote what he knew best- social climbing women that were very destructive in there quest for power (Razor's Edge). Kitty Fain was weaker in the book than in the movie and it left me with an empty feeling.
In the movie's case I feel the alternate ending was more fulfilling.
There are many reasons that a screenplay may alter a book. They are very different mediums. It is like comparing apples to oranges.



i>Stacie wrote: "43. Miracle on 34th Street: by Valentine Davies

This is the only time I can say that the movie is better than the book.
"

44. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

I fell into this book and didn't want to put it down. It was poetic, haunting and a wonderful mystery. The story blew me away and after I read the last page and closed the book all I could say was 'wow'! It's now one of my all time favorites and I plan on reading anything I can get my hands on from this author.

45. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler

This book was decent and an easy read. It was a little difficult to follow the author's writing style at times.

46. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

This book was written in 1972 and was my sister's originally. She was never a big reader so when I got old enough I inherited it. I enjoyed it as a child but it moved me to tears when I read it for the first time in years on Christmas day. It's a quick children's book and it has so many life lessons things that escaped me when I was a child.

47. How to Sew a Button: And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew by Erin Bried

This was a really fun book with a lot of useful information. Some of it isn't very practical, like brewing your own beer, but fun to read about none the less. Other bits were very useful with topics broken into cleaning, cooking, entertaining etc.

48. Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall

This is one of those books that I think everyone should read. I couldn't put it down.