Challenge: 50 Books discussion

This is the first "challenge" I have ever done...hopefully I will succeed!

Books read so far in 2010:

1. The Piano Teacher
2. The Eat Clean Diet Recharged
3. Japan Took the J.A.P Out of Me
4. A Reliable Wife

The Piano Teacher

Very interesting look into World War II as it affected Hong Kong.


The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged: Lasting Fat Loss That's Better Than Ever

I don't know if this one really counts, as it is a "diet" book- however, I read it from cover to cover, so I am including it! If you are a health and/or exercise fanatic, you will really like this book- although I don't think it is any better than the original version.


Japan Took the J.A.P. Out of Me

My favorite genre of book is memoir, and my passion is traveling, so I was naturally drawn to this book about an American twenty-something who left her comfortable life in L.A. to follow her new husband to Japan for two years. The book starts off a bit slow, but definitely picks up after a couple chapters. I have dreams of living abroad, so the book naturally fascinated me. It is a quick, fun read...I would definitely recommend it.

A Reliable Wife

I'm honestly not sure what drew me to purchase this book, but I am VERY glad that I did. After about one chapter, I was hooked. The story is compelling and unique and the imagery is beautiful.

5. Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea
Super funny book, a nice light and easy read. Chelsea Handler is witty and has absolutely no shame, which makes for a hilarious read. Definitely a good change of pace after the much darker "A Reliable Wife."

I just started reading this book this morning! Have you read My Horizontal Life? That one was hilarious as well.

Sherri wrote: "I just started reading this book this morning! Have you read My Horizontal Life? That one was hilarious as well."

No, I haven't read My Horizontal Life, but it is on my list! I try to alternate serious books with light reading, so that might be next. How does it compare to Are you There Vodka? Also, she is coming out with a new book- I forget if it is either later this month or in March.

Devon wrote: "Sherri wrote: "I just started reading this book this morning! Have you read My Horizontal Life? That one was hilarious as well."

No, I haven't read My Horizontal Life, but it is on my list! I try..."

Ok, I just now finished reading this book. I have to say in my opinion I liked My Horizontal Life better. I had more lol moments with that one. But they were both very humerous, good reads. Her next book Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang comes out next month and I can't wait to see what is in store for us in that book.

6. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

Stieg Larsson's so-called "millenium" series is comprised of three books centered around two fascinating characters- Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist. Larsson is truly a master at creating compelling and unique protagonists. This is the third, and due to the author's untimely death, final book in the series. I loved the first two books so much that I couldn't wait to get my hands on the third- i actually picked up a copy while abroad over the Christmas holidays. This book will not be published in the United States until the end of May.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, it was my least favorite of the trilogy. Its quite long (the trade paperpack is 600 pages of small print) and contains too much minute detail that only serves to distract from the story at hand. Overall however, this is a good book that won't disappoint the fans of Stieg Larsson's first two novels.

i also read A Reliable Wife - it was on a list of the best novels of 09 AND it was available at the library. so chance played a big part in me reading this book, but like you, i was so glad i had picked it up.

the title of course works - it is in keeping with the story - but i think it can be a little off-putting. it sounds so Jane Austen or something.

Sooz wrote: "i also read A Reliable Wife - it was on a list of the best novels of 09 AND it was available at the library. so chance played a big part in me reading this book, but like you, i was so glad i had ..."

I totally agree...the title gives the impression that the book will be something is not. Yes, it makes sense after reading the book, but I was actually a little skeptical about reading a book with that title. Honestly, if the book had not come recommended, I probably would not have even given it a second look. I'm glad I did though!

7. Lolita
This book was just too weird for words. I have been wanting to read it for a while because it is considered a "classic" and there are so many cultural references to it. However, I was not totally impressed. The book was well written and the author was certainly talented- it just did not really hold my interest. It was written through the eyes of a psychotic pedophile. Although I knew the story line involved a young girl, I just didn't know exactly how strange the entire novel was. Anyway, I am glad to have finally read it, but I definitely wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable book to read.

8.
This is the second or third book I've written by Lisa See, and I have not been disappointed. She writes beautifully about the lives of Chinese women in various historical settings. This particular novel takes place in privileged Shanghai society and the poor immigrant communities of Los Angeles in the era of World War II. Although Shanghai Girls is a work of fiction, I imagine that it follows the story of countless immigrants that left their native lands in search of a better life, only to find racism and hardship. It is a sad story, but one that is important to read.

I look forward to reading more books written by Lisa See.

i've seen this book listed as one of the best 50 novels (or some random number) of 2009. i've not read Lisa See before but will now add this one to the to-be-read list. :)

Sooz wrote: "i've seen this book listed as one of the best 50 novels (or some random number) of 2009. i've not read Lisa See before but will now add this one to the to-be-read list. :)"

I would definitely read it- its engrossing. It isn't a difficult read or anything, but very good. Any other books that you saw on this list that jumped out at you? I'm reading Pride and Prejudice right now, but I have no plans for my next book!

other than The Reliable Wife and Shangai Girls - i thought i might like:
Little Bee - which i have read and did like.
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
The Help
The Elegance of Hedgehog
The Year of the Flood - i also read this and liked it a great deal. it is the companion to Oryx and Crake by Atwood.
i think one of Larsson's millenium (whichever is most recent) was on this list as well.

i really like that you post a little about each of the books you read Devon - i'm always a little disappointed when group members just list the book without any context or opinion. i so enjoy reading people's impressions.

Devon: i am going to shamelessly promote a fine young Canadian author by the name of Joseph Boyden. he has written two novels. his most recent is Through Black Spruce - the novel explores the contrast between life in the First Nations community of Moosonee (it is on the coast of James (Hudson) Bay in the far reaches of N. Canada and the fast paced life of the modelling world in New York. His first is called Three Day Road and tells the story of two young First Nations men (again from the far reaches of Northern Canada) who enlist in the army (W.W.I). because of their skills in tracking and hunting they both become sharp-shooters. actually the story takes place when one of the young men returns home and what happened to him and his cousin during the war is told in a series of flashbacks.

shameless promotion of fine young Canadian author is now concluded. :)

Sooz wrote: "other than The Reliable Wife and Shangai Girls - i thought i might like:
Little Bee - which i have read and did like.
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
The Help
The Elegance of Hedgehog
..."

I read Little Bee- I absolutely loved it and could not put it down. Thank you for the recommendation! I will be sure to check out Joseph Boyden as well...his books sound great, and I love historical fiction.

9.

WOW. Amazing book. The story is sad and somewhat depressing, but ends with hope. Humans can be remarkably evil, but I think this book shows that it IS possibly for good to prevail. The writing in this book is gorgeous, and there are so many lines and quotes that really stuck with me. One quote at the beginning of the novel (so I'm not giving anything away!) is about physical scars and how they are not ugly, but beautiful because it shows survival. Little Bee says that the dead do not scar. I thought this was an extremely powerful statement, and it really made me think. This is one of the best books I've read in a long time.

s000 glad you liked it Devon.

*SPOILER ALERT*

it is possible for good to prevail. mmm. i don't know that it is possible for good to win - at least not any time soon. but goodness matters just the same doesn't it?

the book ends with the soldiers coming. but Little Bee isn't thinking of how to kill herself is she? she is watching the kids - one white boy, minus his super hero costume, playing i n the surf with a group of local Nigerian kids. and that is because of the kindness. the goodness she has experienced.

it is so beautiful and so sad it breaks your heart.

10. In This Dark House: A Memoir

This this was a somewhat strange book. The author seemed to make excuses for her abusive father...and never actually called him "abusive" although he clearly was abusive. The story was interesting, but it is not in my list of top memoirs.

11.

Great book, very engrossing. It is historical fiction (which I always love) dealing with World War II and the Nazi's little known policy of Lebensborn. Women in occupied countries would often get pregnant by Nazi soldiers. The Nazis wanted these "aryan" babies, so the women would go to these birthing centers. It is an interesting topic, and something that I would certainly like to read more about.

12.

I love Chelsea Handler's books...this woman really has no shame, and NOTHING is off topic! A nice, lighthearted read, especially after reading 3 books with dark and sometimes depressing stories.

13.

A collection of essays written by Malcolm Bladwell, a long time contributor to the New Yorker magazine. Many of the essays were sociological in nature and very interesting; however, some were a bit dull for me. Overall, I enjoyed the book, and would recommend it to anyone interested in this genre.

14.

What a fantastic book! Stunning and complex characters are at the center of this novel that takes readers on a journey through three continents. The majority of the novel is based around a missionary hospital/medical clinic in Adis Abba, Ethiopia, which is simply fascinating. Although Ethiopia is the definition of a "foreign land" to me, the author writes so well that I feel like I have visited a hundred times! Verghese is an outstanding author, and I look forward to reading more of his work.

15.

This was an entertaining book, but not quite as profound or moving as I had hoped. Yes, it kept me interested- but something was lacking. It was almost as if the book was a bit simplistic- a bit juvenile. I enjoyed reading it, but at the same time I really wanted to finish it so that I could cross it off my list and move on to the next book. The subject matter (Japanese internment camps) interests me greatly, but I felt the book concentrated too little on the plight of the Japanese and too much on an adolescent love story. However, my review is not completely negative- this book has peaked my interest to seek out other novels dealing with internment camps.

16. From the Heart - Laura Bush

17. Perfection

18. Some Girls

19. Orange is the New Black

20. Mennonite in a little black dress
21. Sh*t my dad says
22. Whip smart
23. A gate at the stairs

hey Devon: nice to see you back on Goodreads. i was checking out your list a while ago - cause we seem to like a lot of the same books - and so i got an email when you posted.

mmmmm i seem to feel the need to explain myself .... as in "i'm not stalking you. really!"

Haha, thanks for checking out my posts! I have still been reading, but not as diligently as I would like. I've also been terrible about updating this page...but I set a resolution and want to stick with it!

24. Dirty sexy politics

25. Apologize, apologize

26. The 19th Wife

27. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Wow, realized I haven't been on here in almost a year. wish I remembered everything I've read since then...it's been a lot!!!