Challenge: 50 Books discussion

Here we go again!

1. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption - Hillebrand

this is such an incredible book, the ending was sappy but I am still giving it a 5 star which I don't do often. Totally recommended.

2. The Drowning Tree - Carol Goodman

Although I like this author, I found the book dragging and dragging.

3. Moby Dick - Herman Melville

I love reading classical literature. This is one that should be in everyone's repertoire.

4. Truman - David McCullough

I loved this book. I loved reading about Truman, a president I didn't know much about.

I just had to share this:
What would her father's of idea of heaven have been, Margaret would be asked years later, "Oh, to have a good comfortable chair, a good reading lamp, and lot of books around that he wanted to read." Once in New York, when Ken McCormick of Doubleday had called on him early in the morning at the hotel, Truman had been sitting in a chair in the bedroom with several new books stacked on a table beside him. "Did the President like to read himself to sleep at night," McCormick asked. "No, young man," said Truman, "I like to read myself awake"

5. The Space Between Us - Thrity Umrigar

I loved this book. It is a perfect book for a book club, or chat, dealing with very difficult subject matters. Highly recommended.

Meg wrote: "5. The Space Between Us - Thrity Umrigar

I loved this book. It is a perfect book for a book club, or chat, dealing with very difficult subject matters. Highly recommended."

You're right about that, Meg. My book club read it a while back, and we all thought it was great, and it led to a very good discussion.

Lucky you. Online book club?

No, offline.

6. Olive Kitteridge -- Elizabeth Strout

This book grows on you. You start off thinking, hmmm but each story pulls you in more and more. The ending is almost a moral. A well written little book.

7. My Name is Mary Sutter - Oliveira

This is a great book written during the Civil War Era. I highly recommend it. It would also be a great book discussion.

8. Best Friends Forever - Jennifer Weiner

Nice, fast read.

9. Beneath A Marble Sky - John Shors

Shors really knows how to tell a story. This is a love story that gives insight to the building of the Taj Mahal and the rise and fall of an empire. It felt like I was reading a Michelle Moran book instead of Shors though.

10. The Kitchen House - Grissom

this book is an excellent read. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes either historical fiction and/or black history.

11. The Weird Sisters - Brown

I really like the first 2/3 of the book. I thought it was hilarious how the author wove Shakespearian lines throughout the novel. It fell apart in the last third of the book. I almost felt like the author thought ok, I need to end the book, and just rushed through an ending.

12. Madame Tussuad - Michelle Moran

This book really dragged and dragged. It was interesting learning about the horrors that went on in France, but the book didn't read as a novel. The character development was weak. Not a typical style for Ms. Moran.

13. Falling Leaves - Adeline Yen Mah

Some interesting facts about Chinese traditions and culture. Sad situation about growing up in a family where you are unloved and how to deal with it all. A very fast read.

14. Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter - Franklin

This book was just okay for me. Not one of my favorite Southern Literature book. The best part was understanding the title.

15. The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove

I enjoyed this book but I hated the ending. The author was doing a great job and suddenly it stopped. I hate when they end like that.

16. The Feast of the Goat.

Incredibly well written historical fiction about the Trujillo era in the Dominican Republic.

17. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Every woman should read this.

18. The Far Pavilions - M. M. Kaye

The first 800 pages or so were terrific, the last 250 pages dragged for me. Interesting saga and information about Hindu customs, Afghanistan and the British influence.

19. The White Mary

20. One Was a Soldier - Spencer-Fleming

This book was okay as far as mysteries were concerned (not my genre)

21. The Postmistress - Sarah Blake

This book had promise, the last 100 pages kind of ruined it for me. The characters didn't gain, strength they lost them. What some of them did, made no sense to me. It is a very low 3 star rating.

22. You Know When the Men Are Gone

this book had promise, that is all it had. Poorly developed book, characters were just cameos. It is a shame, the idea was a good one.

23. Loving Frank - Nancy Horan

I thought this book was great. It sucks you in and you can't stop reading it, then suddenly you are blindsided (that is if you don't know the life story of Frank Lloyd Wright)

24. Forsyte Saga - Book One Man of Property

So far so good, lots of twists and a lot of disdain for the nouveau riche

25. Angels All Over Town - Luanne Rice

A nice beach read. Fast and not deep.

26. Some Girls: My Life in a Harem

don't bother!

27. A Short History of Tractors in Unkrainian by Marina Lewycka

This was a great book, a basically unknown gem. I highly recommend it. Good Character development.

28. M'olokai - Brennert

Another great book involving some history of Hawaii and leprosy.

29. Heart of the Matter - Emily Griffin

very predictable, easy read

30. That Old Cape Magic - Richard Russo

Disappointing read. Hard to become involved with the characters, book falls flat. I really liked other books that he has written.

31. Forsyte Saga - Book Two - In Chancery

I am having trouble hanging on.

32. Continental Drift - Russell Banks

A good, fast read with good character development.

33. Blue Nude - Elizabeth Rosner

hated this book

34. Sing You Home - Jodi Picoult

Although this dealt well with the subject matter, I was disappointed with the ending which was predictable.

35. In The Garden of Beasts - Erik Larson

Very interesting, factual book about Nazi Germany.

36. Gulliver's Travels - Swift

I would have appreciated this book more if I had a better knowledge of history in England in the early 1700's. It is incredible to read a book that was written in 1720.

37: The Greater Journey: An American in Paris - David McCullough

A great nonfiction read, highly recommended 4 star rating.

I have this on my to-read list and I'm looking forward to reading it. I'm glad you recommend it.

I hope you like it as much as I did.

38. Rule of the Bone - Russell Banks

Not one of his best, took me forever to finish!

39. The Paris Wife - Paula McLain

Interesting glimpse into Hemingway's life.

40. The Winter Garden - Kristin Hannah

I loved this book. Some parts were a little too predictable but great story line.

Meg wrote: "40. The Winter Garden - Kristin Hannah

I loved this book. Some parts were a little too predictable but great story line."

That's one of my favorite Kristin Hannah books...did you read Firefly Lane? It's just as good, but make sure you have tissues handy:)

That was my first Kristin Hannah book and it was great and I did cry!

41. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole

I didn't love this book as much as I thought it would. There were so many people that recommended this book, and the author's tragic connect still didn't do it for me. It was good, it was funny but it wasn't an all time favorite.

Meg wrote: "41. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole

I didn't love this book as much as I thought it would. There were so many people that recommended this book, and the author's tragic connect stil..."

I never could get through this book. I thought it was funny at first, but it seemed to be the same joke told over and over again. I could never figure out the adulation given to it.