Challenge: 50 Books discussion

I'm almost embarassed to post just one book in 2008 so far, but I'm also inspired by the amount of reading you all do! So here goes:

1. Lamb - the Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, by Christopher Moore.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book. I didn't think I was going to like his humor style at first, but I did laugh out loud at several points in the book. I found it a very original approach to this particular story, and surprisingly well researched. It was irreverent where it needed to be, and respectful in the right places.

Aha, remembered two books I read on the plane in early January!

2. Skinwalkers, by Tony Hillerman.
3. Dress Her in Indigo, by John D. MacDonald.

Love Tony Hillerman mysteries. He has a deep understanding of the Navajo culture, traditions, and stories, weaving them into modern-day crime scenarios on the reservation. Joe Leaphorn is a favorite character of mine.

6, The Emperor's Children, by Claire Messud.

Another one I bought in an airport bookstore. I put it down halfway through ... I just wasn't getting into it. I picked it up again because I'm stubborn like that, and wound up really getting interested in the whole Murray - Danielle - Marina - Ludo dynamic. I was honestly really disappointed in the "9/11 changed everything" ending ... I mean, I realized that it did, but as a plot device it kinda seemed to provide a big "out" for the characters (or maybe for the writer) ... they seemed to be building to some sort of interesting confrontation or unravelling ... I would have like to have seen that change come from within. I wound up liking it more than I thought I was going to, though. I'd be interested to see what anyone else though of it.

5. The Witch of Portobello, by Paulo Coelho.

I hadn't read any of his works before, and I have to say I didn't love this one. The structure was interesting -- he puts together the story of this woman through interviews with people who knew her. Unfortunately this kept me really distant from the character herself, so that I just didn't really relate to her at all, or feel much interest in what happened to her. I kinda resented the ending too ... I won't spoil it in case anyone is reading it, but ... really? Meh.

4. In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote.

Incredible book! Capote does this amazing job of bringing the killers closer and closer to the family during the course of their last day alive ... it was so suspenseful. Bad book to read when alone in the house, though. The violence was so completely random, savage, and unnecessary. I look forward to reading this again someday.

3. Dress Her in Indigo, by John D. MacDonald.
2. Skinwalkers, by Tony Hillerman.
1. Lamb - the Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, by Christopher Moore.

7. Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson.

I am completely inspired by this book. I want to send Greg Mortenson my entire life savings. He is an amazing person, and the personal risks he takes every day to bring education to the children of Pakistan and Afghanistan make me speechless. This isn't just a feel-good book about volunteerism. This guy is truly fighting the war on terror, the only way it can ever be won. The post 9/11 portion of the book made me cry in the airport. Read it!

6. The Emperor's Children, by Claire Messud.

Another one I bought in an airport bookstore. I put it down halfway through ... I just wasn't getting into it. I picked it up again because I'm stubborn like that, and wound up really getting interested in the whole Murray - Danielle - Marina - Ludo dynamic. I was honestly really disappointed in the "9/11 changed everything" ending ... I mean, I realized that it did, but as a plot device it kinda seemed to provide a big "out" for the characters (or maybe for the writer) ... they seemed to be building to some sort of interesting confrontation or unravelling ... I would have like to have seen that change come from within. I wound up liking it more than I thought I was going to, though. I'd be interested to see what anyone else though of it.

5. The Witch of Portobello, by Paulo Coelho.

I hadn't read any of his works before, and I have to say I didn't love this one. The structure was interesting -- he puts together the story of this woman through interviews with people who knew her. Unfortunately this kept me really distant from the character herself, so that I just didn't really relate to her at all, or feel much interest in what happened to her. I kinda resented the ending too ... I won't spoil it in case anyone is reading it, but ... really? Meh.

4. In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote.
Incredible book! Capote does this amazing job of bringing the killers closer and closer to the family during the course of their last day alive ... it was so suspenseful. Bad book to read when alone in the house, though. The violence was so completely random, savage, and unnecessary. I look forward to reading this again someday.


3. Dress Her in Indigo, by John D. MacDonald.
2. Skinwalkers, by Tony Hillerman.
1. Lamb - the Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, by Christopher Moore.

8. Me and Mr. Darcy, by Alexandra Potter.

In celebration of Earth Day, I promise to go out and plant a tree to make up for the one that had to die to print this awful little book. I've already gone on enough about it in my review, so won't repeat it all here. If you're still thinking about buying it, please read a few of the bad reviews on the book's page!

7. Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson.
6. The Emperor's Children, by Claire Messud.
5. The Witch of Portobello, by Paulo Coelho.
4. In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote.
3. Dress Her in Indigo, by John D. MacDonald.
2. Skinwalkers, by Tony Hillerman.
1. Lamb - the Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, by Christopher Moore.

9. The Reluctant Fundamentalist, by Mohsin Hamid.

This book wasn't very long but the writing reminds me of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly ... the prose is so elegant and dense, no words are wasted. The end still has me in denial.

8. Me and Mr. Darcy, by Alexandra Potter.
7. Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson.
6. The Emperor's Children, by Claire Messud.
5. The Witch of Portobello, by Paulo Coelho.
4. In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote.
3. Dress Her in Indigo, by John D. MacDonald.
2. Skinwalkers, by Tony Hillerman.
1. Lamb - the Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, by Christopher Moore.

11. Jade Island, by Elizabeth Lowell
10. Amber Beach, by Elizabeth Lowell

A bit formulaic and not particularly realistic, but fun light summer reading, like big puffs of cotton candy. If you like hunky men with almost constant erections, detailed histories of the titular gems, and a fabulous locale (the San Juan islands), these are the books for you. I definitely needed a bit of a brain-break from my Netflix queue, which is 60% grim documentaries. Now to dig back into Coyote Blue by Christopher Moore which I'm having some trouble with, hard to explain why.

9. The Reluctant Fundamentalist, by Mohsin Hamid.
8. Me and Mr. Darcy, by Alexandra Potter.
7. Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson.
6. The Emperor's Children, by Claire Messud.
5. The Witch of Portobello, by Paulo Coelho.
4. In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote.
3. Dress Her in Indigo, by John D. MacDonald.
2. Skinwalkers, by Tony Hillerman.
1. Lamb - the Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, by Christopher Moore.

12. Jade Island, by Elizabeth Lowell
11. Amber Beach, by Elizabeth Lowell
10. Dune, by Frank Herbert

Forgot to add Dune, which I re-read recently. Amazing book, although it seemed to go faster this time than when I read it years ago, and it didn't seem quite as magical, maybe because I knew what to expect. Still an incredible book, to this day, and even more relevant given our own planetary struggles with water and resources.

9. The Reluctant Fundamentalist, by Mohsin Hamid.
8. Me and Mr. Darcy, by Alexandra Potter.
7. Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson.
6. The Emperor's Children, by Claire Messud.
5. The Witch of Portobello, by Paulo Coelho.
4. In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote.
3. Dress Her in Indigo, by John D. MacDonald.
2. Skinwalkers, by Tony Hillerman.
1. Lamb - the Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, by Christopher Moore.

13. Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson.

I'm not making much progress on this list, but having just finished Crytonomicon, which in paperback form clocks in at a whopping 1132 pages, I still feel a huge sense of accomplishment! In fact I think this book should really count for about five Oprah's-Book-Club-sized books, but hey, it's not a competition. This is an amazing book, I highly recommend it, although it requires pretty good concentration and a pretty high reading level. I'm not patting myself on the back here, just giving fair warning. I'm as proud of finishing this one as I was of finishing War & Peace. I'll definitely try some of his others!

12. Jade Island, by Elizabeth Lowell
11. Amber Beach, by Elizabeth Lowell
10. Dune, by Frank Herbert
9. The Reluctant Fundamentalist, by Mohsin Hamid.
8. Me and Mr. Darcy, by Alexandra Potter.
7. Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson.
6. The Emperor's Children, by Claire Messud.
5. The Witch of Portobello, by Paulo Coelho.
4. In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote.
3. Dress Her in Indigo, by John D. MacDonald.
2. Skinwalkers, by Tony Hillerman.
1. Lamb - the Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, by Christopher Moore.

18. Coyote Blue, by Christopher Moore
17. Double Whammy, by Carl Hiassen
16. We'll Meet Again, by Mary Higgins Clark
15. The Scarlet Ruse, by John D. MacDonald
14. Darker Than Amber, by John D. MacDonald

I love this group because it shows me more clearly than anything just how little time I leave in my life for reading these days, a pastime that was once such a huge part of my life. When I joined this group, 50 books didn't seem like that many, but as my first yearly cycle approaches (February), I realize I might not even make it halfway! A recent trip to Costa Rica gave me loads of time to read, and I took advantage of it by soaking myself in mystery novels, my favorite guilty pleasure. Mary Higgins Clark is going to remain a 'guilty' pleasure, I'm afraid, just because the quality of the writing really isn't there, but I am delighted to say that John D. MacDonald and Carl Hiassen have both taken the guilt out of this particular pleasure. What amazing writers, both of them ... but especially John MacD. I'd love more recommendations from people in the mystery genre for writers of his calibre. I plan on reading every single John MacD book in print!

13. Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson.
12. Jade Island, by Elizabeth Lowell
11. Amber Beach, by Elizabeth Lowell
10. Dune, by Frank Herbert
9. The Reluctant Fundamentalist, by Mohsin Hamid.
8. Me and Mr. Darcy, by Alexandra Potter.
7. Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson.
6. The Emperor's Children, by Claire Messud.
5. The Witch of Portobello, by Paulo Coelho.
4. In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote.
3. Dress Her in Indigo, by John D. MacDonald.
2. Skinwalkers, by Tony Hillerman.
1. Lamb - the Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, by Christopher Moore.

Updated my list to include Coyote Blue and American Gods ... I definitely won't make it to 50 if I keep forgetting to add books to the list! I just didn't love Coyote Blue the way I did Lamb, although it was definitely entertaining. I LOVED American Gods ... what a completely original view of modern America. I'll definitely seek out more of Gaiman's books.

19. Coyote Blue, by Christopher Moore
18. Double Whammy, by Carl Hiassen
17. We'll Meet Again, by Mary Higgins Clark
16. The Scarlet Ruse, by John D. MacDonald
15. Darker Than Amber, by John D. MacDonald
14. Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson
13. American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
12. Jade Island, by Elizabeth Lowell
11. Amber Beach, by Elizabeth Lowell
10. Dune, by Frank Herbert
9. The Reluctant Fundamentalist, by Mohsin Hamid.
8. Me and Mr. Darcy, by Alexandra Potter.
7. Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson.
6. The Emperor's Children, by Claire Messud.
5. The Witch of Portobello, by Paulo Coelho.
4. In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote.
3. Dress Her in Indigo, by John D. MacDonald.
2. Skinwalkers, by Tony Hillerman.
1. Lamb - the Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, by Christopher Moore.