Challenge: 50 Books discussion

Here we go again, hopefully I will finish the 50 before the very last day of the year!

1. The Mirror - Marlys Millhiser

Another time travel book. Not my type of book at all. It is readable and I preferred the person that went bacx in time to the person that went forward in time.

2. Still Alice - Lisa Genova

This is a story about a brilliant, Harvard professor that gets early onset Alzheimer's. What is particularly compelling about this book is that the point of view is from the patient. Anyone who has a family member or friend that is afflicted with this dreadful malady should read the book.

3. Cleopatra's Daughter - Michelle Moran

I loved the book. I loved learning about Selene. It is a period I know very little about so it was exciting, interesting and well written. If you like historical novels, this is a good one to read.

Meg wrote: "3. Cleopatra's Daughter - Michelle Moran

I loved the book. I loved learning about Selene. It is a period I know very little about so it was exciting, interesting and well written. If you lik..."

If you wanted another good read in the same period setting, I recommend Cleopatra's Heir by Gilliam Bradshaw. Actually, I recommend all her historical novels.

Thank you for that, I will definitely look her up.

4. Tim - Colleen McCullough

My friend Laura recommended this book. It is about hope, disabilities, love and acceptance very simplistically written.

5. Half-Broke Horses - Jeannette Walls

This book was written by the same author as Glass Castle in the same style of story telling. I really like her style and liked the book.

6. The Girls From Ames

I really loved this book. It has a few drawbacks, but it really centers on the power of women's friendships and how important that is in life. Highly recommend it!

7. The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilks

Another one that I loved. It was exciting, it made me cry and it really made me question what would I do if I were in that situation.

8. A Gift from The Sea

A self help type book, which I am really not into. A quick short read describing what we can learn from nature.

9. Beach Girls - Luanne Rice

My friend Jo loves this author and sent me the book. So while on vacation, sitting on the beach, this book was read. It is a perfect beach book, but I did cry a few times. An easy to read, and I like the author's style.

10. When The Emperor Was Divine - Julie Otsuka

This book was picked as Vermont's annual book to read. I am not sure why Vermont picked this because it has nothing to do with Vermont. The book was beautifully written about a sad period of time in American history, the Japanese Internment Camps.

11. One Thousand White Women - Jim Fergus

This was an outstanding book. It takes place in the mid 1800's during the time Grant was president. The premise of the book is that the Cheyenne tribe is diminishing to the point that the chief believes that they will die out. He meets with Grant and they come to an agreement that Grant will provide 1000 white women to marry into the tribe and have children in exchange for 1000 horses. After three years, the women will go back to "civilization" and assimilate their children. The book is a journal of one of these women. It is an outstanding novel.

Meg wrote: "11. A Thousand White Women

This was an outstanding book. It takes place in the mid 1800's during the time Grant was president. The premise of the book is that the Cheyenne tribe is
diminishin..."

Meg-
I tried to look up "A Thousand White Women" on Goodreads but is would nt come up. Can you tell me who the author is?
Thanks-
Stephanie

Sorry it is One Thousand White Women and it is written by Jim Fergus

Meg wrote: "Sorry it is One Thousand White Women and it is written by Jim Fergus"

Thanks - I found it now!

12. Driving with Dead People: a memoir - Monica Holloway
This book was so well done and well written. It deals with very tough subject matters, but if you have a strong stomach it is well worth reading.

13. Last Night in Twisted River - John Irving
If you like John Irving you will love his latest book. Well written, great story. It is a long one though!

14. Middlemarch - George Eliot

A classic that withstands time. A bit long, the politics were difficult to read through, but the storyline is great.

15. Same Kind of Different As Me

I really didn't like this book. The beginning started out really well and a good bird's eye view of the deep South with plantation living, sharecropping and slavery. Then it lost me into a boring tale of a memoir poorly told

16. My Cousin Rachel - Daphne du Maurier

I just loved this book. I couldn't put it down. It is one of the few books that I can honestly say that I loved the ending. The storyline, character development, everything, was just perfect,

Meg wrote: "3. Cleopatra's Daughter - Michelle Moran

I loved the book. I loved learning about Selene. It is a period I know very little about so it was exciting, interesting and well written. If you lik..."

Have you read Nefertiti, by Michelle Moran? I just finished it and really enjoyed it.

Yes it was really good too. If you liked that you would love this one.

I have added it to my TBR list :)
I just got The Heretic Queen, which is the sequel to Nefertiti.
What are you reading now?

I have just started Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks

17. House Rules - Jodi Picoult

I loved this book even though there were some minor "errors". For example,living in Vermont, where the story takes place, there is no Townsend High School. There were also some facts about autism that were incorrect.

The storyline is a great one. If you want a glimpse at the life of a child on the autism spectrum and how a family is affected by it, this is a good novel about it.

18. Sister Mine - O'Dell

This book was okay. An easy read, nothing to rave about.

19. Julia's Chocolates - Lamb

It took me a long time to get into this book. Some of the parts really didn't interest me at all, but the main subject matter was intense and important to read. It is very hard to read about women being abused.

20. The Twenthieth Wife
I really love these kinds of books, this take place in India.

21. Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks
An extremely well written book about John Brown told through the eyes of Owen Brown, his son.

22. Under the Tuscan Sun
A really fun book for anyone wanting to buy a home that needs a total revamp, especially if you want one in Italy!

I'm in the middle of this one and am really enjoying the food sections. I've got a list for when the farmer's market is in full swing so I can have the girls over for one of those lovely meals she describes.

I wish I lived near you!

It is nice. When traffic is good, I can make the Loop in half an hour. Ten minutes in the other direction it's still mostly corn fields. The Fox River is five minutes up the street, & I have to drive through a forest preserve to get to work every day. I get the best of almost all worlds. No mountains...
Doesn't mean I wouldn't love to renovate an old house in Sicily. I'm sure Tuscany is nice, but blood will tell...

my home is in the mountains, which is what I love about Vermont. Doesn't mean Sicily isn't extremely inviting!

23. Juliet Naked by Nick Hornby
I love Hornby but this is not on the top of my Hornby list. It is readable, it is ok.

Meg wrote: "my home is in the mountains, which is what I love about Vermont. Doesn't mean Sicily isn't extremely inviting!"

I spent a lovely afternoon in Vermont two Septembers ago. It was about the only day of the trip (my dad's service reunion) that it didn't rain thanks to a hurricane skirting Maine on it's way to Nova Scotia. We had lunch next to a river...autumn leaves... rushing water... O.K. I feel much better about the whole day now...

glad you have found memories of Vermont. It really is a beautiful state that many people know so little about.

24. The White Castle - Orhan Pamuk

OK I really didn't like this book. At first I struggled, then thought I was going to get into it, but as it was nearing the end I just didn't like it.

25. True Colors - Kristin Hannah
My friend Dolly gave me this book to read. It is a perfect summer read. Predictable, but you don't care. Tears will be shed, I enjoyed this for a nice, light read.

26. Girl in Translation
I loved this book. Highly recommend it. Thanks Nancy for telling me about it.

27. Shoot The Moon - Billie Letts
An easy read by a good author. Her books are always very readable. I enjoyed this one as well as her other books.

28. The Rug Merchant - Meg Mullins
I really liked this sleepy little book.Some good cultural insight.

29, The Other Wes Moore
this book was really well done. It took two men with the same name that grew up in poverty. One went to jail one did not. The contrast and writing style was excellent.

30. The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory
I loved this book. I knew very little about Queen/Princess Elizabeth (Anne Boleyn's daughter) This book was well written and easy to read.

31. Between Sisters - Kristin Hannah
An easy read but not my favorite Hannah book. It will make you cry but the ending is way too predictable for me.

32. The Queen's Fool - Philippa Gregory
This book was terrific. I would recommend this to anyone interested in learning more about Queen Mary and Queen/Princess Elizabeth. I should have read this before reading The Virgin's Lover.

33. The Other Queen - Philippa Gregory
this one is about Mary Queen of Scots. I think I will read all of her books.

34. Sweetness in the Belly
Although it is cultural, and learning about different traditions and ceremonies, this book just didn't do it for me.