Challenge: 50 Books discussion

Getting ready for 50 books in 2011! I made it just in time this year, but fairly confident I can do it again next year!

1. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (5 stars)

I had yet to read this wonderful novella, but have seen multiple versions of the movies. I absolutely loved it! I have no idea why it took me so long to finally get to it, but it will no doubt be a tradition from now on to read this around the holidays! Wonderful beginning to 2011!

2. A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas (3 stars).

Hmmm, maybe 3 stars is too generous, but I just have to admit that I didn't "get" this book. I got it for Christmas from my mother, who usually knows what I like (just about everything, really), but this book didn't envoke the nostalgia that it has laid claim to. The writer's "lyrical poetry" read more like a 3rd graders 'stop-start' writing. While charming in its illustrations, I am not sure this will be an annual read for me.

3. The Christmas Journey by Donna VanLiere (4 stars).

A wonderfully short and concise story of the reason we celebrate Christmas. It reminded me a little of Elizabeth Berg's The Handmaid and the Carpenter in that it tells what would be considered a more realistic account of how Mary was viewed. It is not unreasonable to assume that she was not thought of highly and that many people did not believe her "immaculate conception" story. She was outcast, as well as was Joseph.
A pleasant Christmas read.

Currently reading the Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnely. I am enjoying it quite a bit, but can't seem to carve out enough time to really sit down and get into it. Hopefully tomorrow!

4. The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly (5 stars)

If it weren't for all the class texts I have to read, I would have finished this in a few days, but instead it took me a month. Oh well! It was worth savoring!

5. The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox (4 stars)

A quite good historical mystery with enough psychology to really draw me in. Looking forward to the sequel!

And just getting started on The Savage Garden by Mark Mills, a recent purchase.

6. The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli (3 stars)

A useful piece of history, but not the most interesting thing to read. Required reading.

7. The Christian Moral Life by Paul Wadell & Patricia Lamoreux (2 stars)

Not a very original piece of work and nothing very new. Required reading.

Emma wrote: "4. The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly (5 stars)

If it weren't for all the class texts I have to read, I would have finished this in a few days, but instead it took me a month. Oh well! It was wo..."

I really enjoyed Meaning of the Night. Every time I hear the word "daunt," I think of Phoebus. Savage Garden is a good, but I like Mill's Amagansett even more.

Chris wrote: "Emma wrote: "4. The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly (5 stars)

If it weren't for all the class texts I have to read, I would have finished this in a few days, but instead it took me a month. Oh we..."

Sorry, I haven't been checking into Goodreads as often as I used to. I just finished Savage Garden and loved loved loved the setting and house (I am a sucker for a great setting in the country-and the garden), but the mystery itself was lacking. I am not very familiar with Mills, but I will be looking into him now that you mentioned your like of Amagansett. Have you read the sequal to Meaning of Night? It's on my life, but I am not running out to get it (mostly because of a lack of time).

8. Savage Garden by Mark Mill (3.5 stars)

Great great great setting, but a mediocre mystery. The setting makes it up for it though, with the wonderfully indepth descriptions of the garden and the house. I love stories where the house is more the main character than anyone else.

Currently reading, Last Dickens and am addicted to his writing. This is the perfect book for me, lots of mystery, atmosphere, history. Love it! I am about 60 pages from the end, and confident I will be giving it 5 stars.

What to read next? The Poe Shadow or the Dante Club?

9. The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl (5 stars).
I was addicted to this book. The atmosphere, the mystery, the characterss, it had it all. I tore through this book at a time when I really didn't have time to spare, but for this book, I made it! Highly recommend!

10. Body by Design by Kris Gethin (3 stars)
I do love all the motivation speak he includes in his book and that is really what the book is about. But the diet seems a bit drastic. No fruit or natural sugars, basically anything with flavor lol. Part of it seems unhealthy to me, but I guess people really do see results. I am following the workouts, but I've tweaked the diet (I was starving...and cranky)!

Next? No idea! So many to choose! I just stare at my bookshelf and try to decide which is screaming the loudest!

11. The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (4 stars)
One of my favorite authors doesn't disappoint! Would have liked a little "magic" that is synonymous with her name, hence the 4 stars, but still wonderful!


12. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (5 stars)

This book was absolutely fantastic! A classic with a little bit of romance, mystery,a beautiful setting, wonderfully developed characters, philosophical wonderment, a little suspense...and more! This book definitely got me out of my mini slump and I want more! Sadly, he doesn't have anything coming out soon, but this made me want to revisit Shadow of the Wind.

Currently reading The Weird Sisters and enjoying!

13. The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown (3 stars)

I enjoyed this glimpse into the lives of three very different sisters and how their experiences have shaped not only their perspectives but their relationships with each other. However, I was intrigued by the fact that their mother was battling breast cancer and the sisters barely seemed to consider this a major issue in their lives. They were quite absorbed in their own issues, which made me a little hesitant to like any of them. I was most sympathetic to the youngest sister, Cordy, who (no spoiler it occurs in the first 20 pages) ends up pregnant with a fly-by-night's child. The look inside her head seemed to resonate more because of its tangibility. I could imagine myself in her place and understand why she was thinking the way she was. With her two sisters, I was less understanding and especially with Bean, the middle sister, I nearly hated her! But you'll have to read the book to find out why. In the end, not the best book I've ever read, but not a waste of time either. The town of Branwell itself was endearing.

14. The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen (4 stars)
I didn't plan on reading two similar books back to back but that's what InterLibrary Loan had in store for me, I guess. This was a charming, yet very sad little book traveling back and forth between the late 1930's and present day. I loved the two sisters and the way they perfectly complemented each other. In the span of one summer, with the visit of their cousin, they lose their innocence and become not only mature young women but almost wise beyond anyone's years. They are instantly transformed into the elderly women the author introduces them as. I finished this book feeling melancholy and a little bit remorseful at the thought of aging. For the simple act of creating such heavy emotions, I should consider giving it 5 stars instead.

15. Love from Your Friend Hannah by Mindy Warshaw Skolsky (5 stars)
I read this book as a child on a road trip to Salt Lake City and I recently rediscovered it. Wow, it was probably better than I remembered. And I realized that it is one of two books that made me want to write in a journal. I have never aspired to more than that, but this book really instilled a desire to record the events of my life. I love Hannah's innocence yet ability to read between the lines. Also her kindness that she displays through her letters and the understanding she has of the world at such a young age. There is another book with her as the main character and I plan to hop into that one right after reading The Tie that Binds by Kent Haruf.
I'm catching up!

16. Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett (4 stars)

A nice cozy to bring me back into the reading world. I was having a slow few days and this was perfectly paced. I really liked the setting of the bookstore and the cast of characters. Looking forward to the next one!

17. The Ghost and Mrs.McClure by Alice Kimberly (aka. Cleo Coyle) (4 stars)

I felt like this could be the second in the Booktown Mystery series as it was VERY similar. The same kind of setting (small New England town, mystery bookstore, widowed woman,new to the town, etc). But having said that, it was still very enjoyable. The ghost touch was a nice addition and I really like the main character, Penelope, as well as her aunt Sadie. I think she was my favorite. The mystery itself was ok, but it kind of took second place to the goings on of the characters. Looking forward to the next one!

Next up is Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle !

Slowly catching up! My goal is to finish 30 by the end of July. EEk!

18. Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle (4 stars)

A quite-good cozy mystery surrounding book restoration. The mystery itself was a little week as most cozies are, but of course, the characters make up for it. I liked Brooklyn's family and their hippie ways. Made for a different and interesting setting. And the fact that I could picture the San Francisco setting was a great bonus.

Currently reading Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert The Tale of Hill Top Farm

19. The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert (3 stars)

I am quite the cozy kick, trying to get through some of the books I own so I chose about 15 to read this summer from my shelves and almost all of them happen to be cozies. This book, however, was not quite a cozy mystery, but a cozy story. I tend to think of cozies as stories involving murder, but not in a gruesome way. This cozy revolved more around the life of Beatrix Potter and her visit to a small English town where she acquires a cottage and farm. However, the "mystery" part of it was just a few items that disappeared but were recovered by the cute, communicating pets of the town residents. If I were more aware of the fact that it wasn't really a mystery, I may have liked it more, but because I was expecting a mystery, I was a bit disappointed. I also am not too into talking animals, but that's just me.

I think I am going to try reading Susan Wittig Albert again and try her other series featuring China Bayles. I am about 2 chapters into Thyme of Death and enjoying this quite a bit more than the Beatrix Potter series (although I will continue with that as well, knowing now that a mystery is not to be expected).
After this, I think I will take a cozy break and read The Making of a Royal Romance since it arrived from amazon not too long ago and I have been wanting to delve into it. Of course, my mind is constantly changing!

20. Thyme of Death by Susan Wittig Albert (4 stars)

Very, very good mystery. Love the characters, the murders, everything! The writing was excellent, and I can't wait to start the next one. Will probably read Witches Bane along with the Making of a Royal Romance to mix things up.

Emma wrote: "8. Savage Garden by Mark Mill (3.5 stars)

Great great great setting, but a mediocre mystery. The setting makes it up for it though, with the wonderfully indepth descriptions of the garden and t..."

I agree. His first book, Amagansett was very good.

Chris wrote: "Emma wrote: "8. Savage Garden by Mark Mill (3.5 stars)

Great great great setting, but a mediocre mystery. The setting makes it up for it though, with the wonderfully indepth descriptions of the..."

I completely forgot about him! I just added his books to my TBR list.

21. What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris (5 stars)

A very good mystery! It's a historical mystery surrounding Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin. I loved the setting more than anything, but the mystery itself was so compelling, I had a hard time putting it down!

I have to sneak in Old Man and the Sea for a summer course before I can run into my next book.

22. Old man and the sea by Earnest Hemingway

I remember it being better. But this time, I got so little out of it. I had to read for a summer course, just glad it was short.

23. Fundraising the Dead by Sheila Connelly (2 stars).
Not the greatest cozy. Quite boring actually and a lot of time spent describing the ins and outs of museums/libraries and fundraising. And it was all mostly irrelevant to the mystery. Won't be continuing the series.

24. William and Kate by Christopher Andersen (4 stars)
Very good chronicle of the royal family with a focus on William and Kate. There was a lot of background information on Diana and Charles and the whole royal family which was really interesting and necessary to understand the importance of their marriage to the people of England. Wonderful read.

25. A Test of Wills by Charles Todd (4 stars)
I love this series! This is the first and it was so intriguing. The added element of his army buddy, Hamish, being the voice in his head is quite interesting and a great addition to the character of Ian Rutledge. I am excited for the second!

26. Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris (5 stars)
Excellent! I was completely transported into this wonderful setting of a private boys school. Of any setting to be steeped in, I love English private schools more than anything. Something so romantic and mysterious about them somehow. This book had absolutely EVERYTHING you could ever want in a book, including a killer ending that you could NEVER see coming. I had so much fun discussing this one with a friend of mine and am so glad it was a book off my own shelves so I can revisit it again and again. The best book of the year so far!

Currently reading: From This Moment On

27. From This Moment On by Shania Twain (4 stars)

Only the second biography I have ever read. I used to have such disdain for Shania and I honestly have no idea why, but as I saw her on a few talk shows promoting her book, I grew curious about her life and the experiences she touched upon. Needless to say, her new book has turned me into a fan. I have always enjoyed her music, but now I think I appreciate her artistry more than anything. She had quite the tough childhood and adolescence and I respect all her experiences. She also has a way with words which made this book feel very poetic at time and not just a timeline of her life.
Very well written and intriging.
From This Moment On

28. Top Girls: a Play by Caryl Churchill(3 stars)

Required reading for a seminar, not usually my kind of thing. While an easy 2 hour read, the dialogue was so choppy and everyone was constantly talking over each other, constant interruptions, which I guess would have played out well in a performance, but as a reading was quite confusing. I have to say, the themes of the play were also a little annoying. Written to show the perspective of a woman working her way up the "corporate" ladder in the early '70s, for some reason I find this topic tiresome and therefore could not give it both my full attention or much praise.
Top Girls

29. Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (4 stars).

Was required reading for a summer course. I had read this play back in my sophomore year of high school and wasn't thrilled with it then. However, I guess a decade of experience has made me appreciate Willy Loman and his plight a little more than my younger self. I found myself empathizing with Willy and being completely overwhelmed by his emotion and..."stuckness" for lack of a better world. Feeling like your trapped in a world of failure and there is no way out. While I've never gotten to the point of wanting to poison myself, I understand his reasons for doing so. Great play. Would love to see it performed.
Death of a Salesman

Don't think I'm going to make my summer goal of 40. So much travelling and hanging out with family has really effected my reading time. Hopefully I'll still be able to meet my 50 by the New Year. Crossing my fingers...

30. The Hound of Rowan by Henry Nedd (5 stars)

Outstanding! They call it the second coming of Harry Potter and I agree! I picked this book up because the woman who cuts my hair is the mother-in-law of the author and I honestly expected to just kind of puruse it. But a chapter in and I was hooked. I had been in a kind of reading slump since reading for a summer course and this was the perfect thing to drag me out of it.
I love Neff's style of writing, his characters and his setting! Max McDaniels and his friends are very endearing and charming, the setting is extremely rich with detail and while it is targetted toward teens, I did not feel as though I were reading something that was dumbed down in any way. I think adults would like this as much as children and it is completely appropriate for all audiences. This book has also been optioned for a movie and I can't wait to see it play out on the big screen- I think it would be fantastic! The Hound of Rowan

31. Bookmarked For Deathby Lorna Barrett (4 stars)

A pretty good mystery to occupy my mind while I waited for a hold to come in. I like this series quite a bit and plan to coninue with it. The characters are very real to me and the mystery is always in the forefront, which I like in a cozy. And the setting of a small town mystery bookstore is very appealing. Great series!


32. The Second Siegeby Henry H. Neff (5 stars)
I honestly cannot get enough of these books! The next book isn't available at the library right now and I am panicking! I am in love with these characters, the New England setting and Neff's writing. Definitely a man to watch! This is an absolutely outstanding series. I lay awake at night thinking about it after I close the cover, and then I pull it back out again. The five stars should say it all!

33. The Mrs. Dalloway Reader by Virginia Woolf (4 stars)

Required reading for a course, but pleasant. It was a few months ago, so I wish I had recorded it then when my thoughts were more fresh.


34. 1984 by George Orwell (4 stars)

More required reading. I was dreading reading it, but I was pleasantly surprised.


35. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (4 stars).

Tempted to give it 5 stars, but I wasn't raving about it at the end, I just loved it. So 4 stars it is. A very very good exploration into what makes us human and our search for an identity. Another pleasant surprise for required reading.


36. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (4 stars)

Not requierd but for pleasure. Another very thought provoking book about loyalty and a little about our search to be human again. Looking forward to the move!

37. Lost December by Richard Paul Evans (5 stars)

I have to read one of his books every holiday season. It instantly lifts my spirits, gives me faith in humanity, and makes me want to contribute to the bettering of this world. A wonderfully crafted story that is inspiring and heart felt without being terribly mushy or overly sentimental. The 5 stars says it all.