Challenge: 50 Books discussion

I read some of the reviews, Cam, and I am going to take a chance of putting this on my TBR list, also recommending to a friend who is a Francophile. I understand, also, that this is the first book of the series...which is nice, because when I usually find a new author, the first books are hard to find.

Hi Carol, have you ever tried www.fantasticfiction.co.uk - it's great for finding out the order for series reading.

29. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (MTI) By Jean-Dominique Bauby
20th October 2010
Unbelievable story about the nightmare the French editor of 'Elle' magazine was thrown into by suffering a massive stroke, waking from a coma 20 days later to find he's trapped within a rare condition called 'Locked In Syndrome'. Whereby he has 100% awareness of all sensory, but has no ability to move due to near complete paralysis or to communicate any of his comprehension through normal means other than the movement of his left eye, which is exactly how he wrote this amazing book. It's funny, it's brave, it's honest & extremely terrifying & brutally sad.
4Stars****

Cam wrote: "29. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (MTI) By Jean-Dominique Bauby
20th October 2010
Unbelievable story about the nightmare the French editor of 'Elle' magazine was thrown into by..."

I loved reading this memoir and its film adaptation by Julian Schnabel was beautiful, too! In a way, it reminded me of Wayson Choy's Not Yet, a memoir about a writer who suffers a heart attack. I seem to be going through a phase of reading a lot of memoirs about people trapped in debilitating conditions (perhaps because I'm currently writing my own memoir, looking for inspiration....)

Ex Lit Prof
www.the-reading-list.com

Hi Leslie, every time I've gone to get the movie out it's not available, so when I saw this at a book sale I snapped it up quick haste. I haven't heard of the other book you mentioned.
Have only had a quick look, but I love your blog. I look forward to having a closer peruse shortly, best of luck with the memoir - I'm guessing that your putting that Ex Lit Prof to good & constant use. Cheers

30. Picking Cotton By Jennifer Thompson-Cannino
28th October 2010
This is the story of Ronald Cotton, a man that served 11 years of a 2 x life sentence + 55 years conviction for rape x 2. He was one of the first prisoners to be cleared of all charges due the new technology at that time called DNA screening. The story alternates between the actual rape victim, Jennifer Thompson & Ronald Cotton. It paints a clear picture of the unworthyness of eyewitness accounts as the only evidence being totally unreliable way of solely convicting a person. I think at the writing of the book in 2006ish there was over 30 prisoners that had been released due to DNA evidence later proving their innocence - 75% of which had been convicted on the say so of a single person. Ronald's case was also the blue print for procedual changes in witness lineups & identity cards and how they were presented to all future witnesses. I think to most people what Ronald endured is unfathomable, it is an amazing story.
4Stars**** (3 1/2 - 3 3/4) if i could have

31. Burning For Revenge By John Marsden
7th November 2010
The 5th installment of the 'Tomorrow When the War Began' series & so far my favourite - along with the first that is. Was concerned as to how Marsden was going to keep this fresh, especially for so long. I needn't have worried, as the stories direction remains unpredictable whilst Marsden continues with his masterful grasp on the believable voice of a teenage girl & her band of courageous friends.
5Stars*****

32. If I Should Die Before I Wake By Han Nolan
20th November 2010
Hilary is a young girl that has become heavily involved in a white supremacy group. After being involved in a motorbike accident, whilst in hospital she begins to black out - travelling back in time, she starts experiencing life as a young Jewish girl called Chana during World War II that has just fallen under control of the Germans. The book itself has a target demographic of Teenager to Y.A. it is very well done, presented as what I believe would be an accurate depiction of a life many experienced during that time. I read it alternating chapters with my young Daughter and found that we both had tears sliding down our faces on many occassions similtanously.
4 Stars****

33. White Oleander By Janet Fitch
23rd November 2010
Found this particularly slow going at the beginning and perhaps again about 2/3 of the way through. It is the story of Astrid (a young girl) & her Mother - Ingrid. It largely follows the life of Astrid once her Mother is convicted of the Murder of a former Boyfriend, and then her various methods of upbringing as she is shuffled from foster home to foster home. I enjoyed WO as it was a group read for me, but had you taken that away, much of the shine was gone. I wasn't all that fond of the characters, nor did I really connect with the story. There was some great passages and language that I thought were beautifully put together that may have nearly bolstered the star rating to a three and a half but ultimately as the book drew to a conclusion I found myself not at all concerned for the outcome, so .....
3Stars***

34. The Night Is For Hunting By John Marsden
26th November 2010
One more to go in this 'Tomorrow' series, and not a sign of it slowing.
4Stars****

35. Pretty Little Things By Jilliane Hoffman
4th December 2010
This is another solid book by Jilliane, a little different from her usual centralised court based dramas - this being straight detective/thriller. I enjoyed her story alfresco style for a touch of something new.
3Stars***

36. The Road By Cormac McCarthy
9th December 2010
This book took me completely by surprise. I had an ache in my stomach that began from the start of the book & still lingers now. I loved these characters & I worried for them the entire time I was reading, they had me so scared to turn the next page, yet it was impossible to leave them alone. A apocalyptic novel about the survival of a man & his young Son. This won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2007 & deservedly so, prize winners or Oprah picks usually don't mix well with me for some reason but I hope this is a sign of changing tides as this was really well done. I gave it full Stars & can't wait to turn the first page of another McCarthy.
5Stars*****

37. Helicopter Man By Elizabeth Fensham
12th December 2010
This is the story of a young boy and the life he shares with his Father who suffers from schizophrenia. I believe this was written from true events to be used as a resource for families with immediate contact with the disease. This story works very well in this intended context aimed at tweens & teenagers but put it in the hands of someone that age with no previous contact with Schizophrenia & they'll be lost for the first half at the least.
3Stars***