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    • 1 person found this helpful

    End of Year Questions

    Posted by Lisa Voss, 3 years ago

    How many books read in 2009? 71. I'm disappointed. My goal was 75 and I keep thinking I must have forgotten some that I've read.

    Fiction/Non-Fiction ratio? All fiction although I am reading a memoir now.

    Male/Female authors? I don't know. I don't really pay attention to whether I'm reading male or female authors

    Favourite book read? Possibly Last Night In Twisted River - John Irving but that could be because its the most recent. Loved Her Awful Symmetry as well as Labour Day.

    Least favourite? The Slap - no doubt about it.

    Oldest book read? I think all my books this year were fairly recent. I didn't keep track of publishing dates.

    Newest? Last Night in Twisted River

    Longest book title? Last Night in Twisted River (I think)

    Shortest title? The Slap

    How many re-reads? None

    Most books read by one author this year? One

    Any in translation? Was Girl with The Dragon Tatoo Translated?

    And how many of this year’s books were from the library? Maybe one or two

    Anybody else trying to squeeze in one more book by Thursday? I was trying to finish Too Close to the Falls but I didn't get it done.

  • Finishing off the Year

    Posted by Lisa Voss, 3 years ago

    67. The Rose Labyrinth by Titania Hardie. A little long winded.
    68. Under the Dome by Stephen King. He's Back!! I'm not going to write anything about it - I love that the flyleaf on the book is blank. The reader doesn't know any more than the characters in the book.
    69. South of Broad by Pat Conroy. The book follows a group of friends through a few decades in Charleston. I was disappointed in this book. I found the characters unlikely and somewhat unlikeable.
    70. The Bishops Man by Linden MacIntyre. The Giller winner. I definitely recommend it.
    71. Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving. The story, spanning decades, of a man and his son. There are only 3 books I've read more than once and two of them are by John Irving. I love most of his books (not all) and this one ranks up Cider House Rules and Owen Meany. Highly recommended.

    • 1 person found this helpful

    ENDING 2009

    Posted by Christine L, 3 years ago

    Happy New Year to all … I am enjoying a nice quiet New Year’s Eve (as planned) … so thought to finish off 2009 by posting the last books of the year.

    96. EVE by Elissa Elliott. This was quite an undertaking for a first time author and she did the story justice. We meet Eve as she is created from Adam, follow her through the expulsion from Eden on through her life. The story is told by Eve herself and her daughters Naava, Aya and Dara. Ms. Elliott fills out the story nicely and even puts in some humour about her relationship with Adam. Well done story.

    97. HOMER’S ODDYSSEY by Gwen Cooper. I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my daughter and had to read it before wrapping it. (Oh, don’t roll your eyes at me, like some of you haven’t done the same?!?) It is the true story of Homer, a cat who lost his eyes as a kitten and the adventures he has in growing up and living with Gwen. A little bit of a spoiler alert here: although Homer is alive and well at the end of the book I still found myself tearing up. A good read and perfect choice for my daughter who is a vet tech.

    98. PIRATE LATITUDES by Michael Crichton. Blood and guts … looting and pillaging … ships and sea monsters … a dashing captain and a buried treasure of Spanish gold. What more could one hope for in a pirate book? Aaaargh … t’was a good tale! (Sorry, couldn’t resisit)

    99. KINDRED IN DEATH by J.D. Robb. The latest installment in the Eve Dallas and Rourke series. In my opinion this has been one of the best. Thoroughly enjoyed it and if anyone is interested … YES … I would still time travel to meet Rourke!

    100. & 101. REMEMBER ME & TWENTIES GIRL by Sophie Kinsella. An amnesia victim finds the value in life and love and a modern girl is haunted by the ghost of her great-aunt (a flapper) respectively. These were the first books I have read by Ms. Kinsella and I enjoyed them both. I will definitely be picking up some more of her books when I want a fun, quick read.

    That’s it for 2009 I reached my personal goal of 100 so on to next year.

    • 1 person found this helpful

    Interesting year end survey.

    Posted by Charity, 3 years ago

    · 1. How many books read: 64

    2. How many Fiction: 50 Non-fiction: 14

    3. How many Male vs. Female? Probably more male than female, hard to tell because of joint efforts (graphic novels and non-fiction books in the mix)

    4. My favourite book I read this year: Combination of Hunger Games and Catching Fire, both by Suzanne Collins. This series is turning out amazingly!

    5. My least favourite book read: Out of the ones that I finished I would have to say Death’s Daughter by Amber Benson

    6. The oldest book that I have read: This year? I guess it would be Dracula by Bram Stoker

    7. The newest book that I read: Ha ha, that’s probably FU Penguin by Matthew Gasteier

    8. The longest book title: Spellbound: The Surprising Origins and Astonishing Secrets of English Spelling

    9. The Shortest book title: Fool by Christopher Moore

    10. How many re-reads: just one this year, and that was Lamb by Christopher Moore

    11. Any in Translation: possibly By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept by Paulo Coehlo

    12. How many books from the library: None

    13. The most books by one author read was: Looks like four by Neil Gaiman

    14. . Anyone trying to squeeze in one more book before end of the year: I will be finishing Lamb tonight. I decided to read it to celebrate Christmas this year and I may make it an annual read.

  • She's just not that into you

    Posted by Charity, 3 years ago

    These are the titles that I started and then dropped.

    Dear Only Revolutions by Mark Danielewski
    Normally I find such pleasure in reading post-modern books written in a unique style. You seemed like such a great match for me when I saw you for the first time. Sure it was going to be trying having to read you eight pages from the front and then eight pages from the back. I even hunted down two bookmarks to make this relationship work. And then you threw in the random lists down your left hand margin, you were just full of surprises. Even with that new quirk I thought we could have something special. But then I realized that all of your post-modern bells and whistles were simply a ploy to hide your lack of decent writing. When will you learn that writing like kids talk isn’t cool? I couldn’t understand your lingo and couldn’t maintain interest in your story. I’m sorry but I just had to let you go. (and if I were bitter I would have written half of this letter upside down just for your amusement).

    Dear Another Faust by Daniel & Dina Nayeri
    Your profile picture was a lie. A modern retelling of the Faustian legend through the lives of teenagers with special abilities? Right, and I am a fairy tale princess. I had something special with Faust so I know when I am being lied to. I think the main issue was your bipolar nature. You can’t decide between being an intellectual title for English majors or a new teen drama romp for the Gossip Girl fans out there. In the end you are a horrible mess with a complicated plot mired in banal teenage situations. Too 90210 for the intellects, and too morally deep for Twilight readers. You need to know who you really are before anyone can love you. Please seek help soon.

    Dear Michael Buble: A Biography by Juliet Peel
    If I were writing this letter to Michael himself it would be a completely different situation. However, I cannot abide the presence of this other woman. Not because I feel threatened about our relationship (I know you are singing to me) but because her writing style makes me want to pull out my hair. Like a desperate English major she repeats the same statement over and over to make her word count without providing any additional information. How dare you become involved with such a poor writer? Dump her and I will gladly come running back to you.

    • Really?! Full sentences never killed anyone. Well, except for "off with their heads" but that's another story.

    • Oh, I have amazing powers because I most likely made a deal with the devil. Whatever shall I do with them. Oh, that boy is pretty, I think I shall steal him from his girlfriend. That's a suitable use of this ill-gotten powers right?

    • Look how pretty he is! He should just sing his own autobiography. And she should learn what the word "filler" means.

    • 1 person found this helpful

    2009 in Review

    Posted by Charity, 3 years ago

    Here are the titles I read this year

    1. Forever Odd - Dean Koontz
    2. Fool - Christopher Moore
    3. The Tattoo Artist - Jill Ciment
    4. The Gone Away World - Nick Harkaway
    5. Hatter M: The Looking Glass Wars - Beddor, Cavelier, Templesmith
    6. Snark: A Polemic in Seven Fits - David Denby
    7. High Voltage Tattoo - Kat von D
    8. Death: The High Cost of Living - Neil Gaiman et al.
    9. Death: The Time of Your Life - Neil Gaiman et al.
    10. This Book has Issues: Adventures in Popular Psychology – Christian Jarrett & Joannah Ginsburg
    11. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 6 – Dark Horse Comics
    12. Violent Messiahs: The Book of Job – Dysart, Rodriguez, O’Neill. Smith
    13. American Gods – Neil Gaiman
    14. Dracula – Bram Stoker
    15. This Book Does Not Exist – Gary Hayden & Michael Picard
    16. The Mammoth Book of Tattoos – ed. Lal Hardy
    17. The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
    18. Death’s Daughter – Amber Benson
    19. In the Tongues of the Dead – Brad Kelln
    20. By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept – Paulo Coehlo
    21. Pride of Baghdad – Brian K. Vaughan
    22. The Three Signs of a Miserable Job – Patrick Lencioni
    23. Anansi Boys – Neil Gaiman
    24. The Plain Janes – Cecil Castellucci & Jim Rugg
    25. House of Mystery – Sturges, Willingham, Rossi
    26. Y: The Last Man Vol. 1 – Brian K. Vaughan. Pia Guerra, Jose Marzan Jr.
    27. The Cabinet of Wonders – Marie Rutkoski
    28. The Summoning – Kelley Armstrong
    29. There’s a Whip in My Valise – Greta X
    30. The Eternal Smile – Gene Luen Yang & Derek Kirk Kim
    31. Spellbound: The Surprising Origins and Astonishing Secrets of English Spelling – James Essinger
    32. LA Candy – Lauren Conrad
    33. Dharma Bums – Jack Kerouac
    34. The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
    35. The Mystery of Grace – Charles de Lint
    36. The Fire Gospel – Michel Faber
    37. Child of the Morning – Pauline Gedge
    38. X-Men Noir
    39. The Doors of Perception & Heaven and Hell – Aldous Huxley
    40. Stitches – David Small
    41. The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel – Michael Scott
    42. X-Men: Phoenix Rising – Stern, Byrne, Layton, Buscema, Guice
    43. Obsession – Gloria Vanderbilt
    44. The Science of Everyday Life – Jay Ingram
    45. Everything Bad is Good For You – Steven Johnson
    46. The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet – Reif Larsen
    47. Asterios Polyp – David Mazzucchelli
    48. Dark Entries – Ian Rankin & Werther Dell’edera
    49. The Tall Book – Arianne Cohen
    50. The Lost Symbol – Dan Brown
    51. Her Fearful Symmetry – Audrey Niffenegger
    52. White is for Witching – Helen Oyeyemi
    53. The Colour of Magic – Terry Pratchett
    54. Angel: Blood & Trenches – John Byrne
    55. FU Penguin – Matthew Gasteier
    56. Fallen Angel Omnibus – IDW Comics
    57. Ishmael – Daniel Quinn
    58. Angel Time – Anne Rice
    59. The Chrysalis – Heather Terrell
    60. Filthy Rich – Brian Azzarello, Victor Santos
    61. Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate – Brad Warren
    62. Morality Play – Barry Unsworth
    63. Catching Fire – Suzanne Collins
    64. Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff – Christopher Moore


    An interesting year, I am excited to see what next year's challenge brings me.

  • Betty's December 2009 Reads

    Posted by Betty in Smithers, 3 years ago

    The Ghost Writer

    66 The Ghost Writer by John Harwood - A ghost story within a ghost story, unique plot. 4 1/2 stars

    67 Santa Claus Is Coming by M.J. Rodgers. - M.J. Rodgers has concocted a warped version of “The 12 Days of Christmas” in this suspenseful and fast-paced foray. 4 stars

    68 Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich - Bounty hunters, superheroes and elves, oh my! 4 1/2 stars

    69 Shadow Man by James Doss - Hilarious, with a solid mystery as usual. I love Charlie Moon and his aunt Daisy Parika's pranks. 4 1/2 stars

    70 A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - My all-time favourite Christmas story & movie (Alistair Sim) 5 stars

    71 Cockatiels at Seven by Donna Andrews - #9 in the series, Meg Langslow is a reluctant mother replacement for a 2 year old boy when her old friend asks her to watch his "for a while". 4 1/2 stars

    72 The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale - The true case of a small boy's murder in 1860 England with added surmises from very good research 4 1/2 stars

  • December Books I Read

    Posted by Bookworm, 3 years ago

    111. Stardust by Neil Gaiman - Audio Book - 3/5
    112. Demon Rumm by Sandra Brown - Audio Book - 3/5
    113. Megan's Way by Melissa Foster - 4/5
    114. While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky - Audio Book - 5/5
    115. Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella - Audio Book - 4/5
    116. Eleven On Top by Janet Evanovich - Audio Book - 4/5
    117. Twelve Sharpe by Janet Evanovich - Audio Book 4/5
    118. Wishin and Hopin by Wally Lamb - 4/5
    119. The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evan - Audio Book - 4/5
    120. Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich - Audio Book - 4/5
    121. Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich - Audio Book - 4/5
    122. Bleachers by John Grimshaw - Audio Book - 4/5
    123. Year of Wonder by Geraldine Brooks - Audio Book - 4/5
    124. The Diary by Eileen Goudge - Audio Book - 4/5
    125. Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult - Audio Book - 5/5
    126. Dewey The Small Town Library Cat - Audio Book - 4/5
    127. The Surrogate by Judith Henry Wall - 5/5
    128. The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingslover - Audio Book - 4/5
    129. Finger Lickin Fifteen by Janet Evanvoich - Audio book - 4/5
    130. White Tiger by Aranind Adiga - Audio Book - 3/5
    131. Virgin River by Robyn Carr - 5/5
    132. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong - Audio Book - 3/5

    • 1 person found this helpful

    My summary...

    Posted by Shanie [Raksha], 3 years ago

    1. How many books read: about 103

    2. How many Fiction: 90 Non-fiction: 13[?]

    3. How many Male v.v. Female authors: I don't usually differentiate by sex of author - however, I do have some 9 female authors that I make it a point to follow. Maybe more female than male this year.

    4. My favourite book I read this year: This is a hard one - The Book of Negroes is up there, along with Patterson's The 1st to Die, and the now sold out bio of Julia Child by Shapiro.

    5. My least favourite book read: Had to be Julie & Julia!

    6. The oldest book that I have read: The Woman in White [have always loved this one...]

    7. The newest book that I read: Oops, didn't keep track of the publishing dates!

    8. The longest book title: Don't have an answer for this one.

    9. The Shortest book title: Drood - haven't finished it yet - too easy to put down & too bl**dy heavy to haul around...

    10. How many re-reads: about 25 - didn't count them in the ones I listed, but I really enjoy Rita May Brown, Elizabeth George, Tony Hillerman, and so forth...

    11. Any in Translation: None this year I think (- can't remember if Infidel was a translation or not...& not sure if I counted it)

    12. How many books from the library: None

    13. The most books by one author read was: seven titles by Patterson & probably that many by Laura Childs as well.

    14. . Anyone trying to squeeze in one more book before end of the year: My "squeeze" was The Jasmine Moon Murder...finished over breakfast this a.m. Will have to count the other 3 in 2010! Maybe I will get through Drood yet. I already have 4 bios for 2010 - Shatner, Julie Andrews, Paul Schaeffer, & My Life in France by Child...plus all those kindly recommended to me by this community of readers...mille mercis.

    In answer to Question 1 - my last 2 of 2009

    Posted by Shanie [Raksha], 3 years ago

    A number of twists to keep you enthralled...

    #64 - Blood Orange Brewing - Laura Childs - 3.75 / 5
    A good mystery - actually very "Christie" in nature. And I really hadn't expected the type of lynch-pin of this particular one. Really kept me interested.

    #65 - The Jasmine Moon Murder - Laura Childs - 3 / 5
    While interesting, found this one a bit 'easier' to put down for a while...or is it the crazyness of the holiday season? However, this one abounds in murders in public situations! I am looking forward to completing this series in 2010!

    I actually am also trying to finish (by tonight) the volume on Christmas from the "Dear Canada" series - I won't make it however, as last evening was spent celebrating husband's birthday! So, to all, a Bonne Annee, et a bonne lire in 2010!

  • Some stuff to do on the last day of 2009

    Posted by ChrisM, 3 years ago

    Take this difficult book quiz:
    www.guardian.co.uk/books/quiz/2009/dec/23/2009-in-books-quiz

    Get a jump start on your tbr list for 2010
    www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/books-to-look-for-in-2010-ian-mcewan-yann-martel-carlos-ruiz-zafn-1846928.html

    Check out dovegreyreader's book blog
    dovegreyreader.typepad.com/
    The Bookseller calls its author one of our most important literary bloggers!

    The Telegraph (UK- based paper) compiled a list of 100 Books that defined the noughties
    www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/6554803/100-books-that-defined-the-noughties.html
    Agree or disagree?

    Check out Book Drum, a new web site that's inviting people to do something pretty cool with their favourite books...and there's prize money, too...
    www.bookdrum.com/

    Happy New Year everyone. I'll be changing the date for this group tomorrow!

    • 1 person found this helpful

    #46 - 47 The meaning of clothes and an Icelandic mystery

    Posted by Eileen, 3 years ago

    #46 The Thoughtful Dresser, Linda Grant

    A series of essays on clothes and the meaning of the clothes we choose. A recurring story anchors the book, that of Catherine Hill, who survived the death camps of Auschwitz to become a mover and shaker in the fashion world, and owned a Yorkville boutique for many years. For her, clothes became a way of surviving and re-inventing herself after the horror of her past. An interesting read about an activity we all participate in.

    #47 Voices, Arnaldur Indridtason

    A man in a Santa suit is found dead under compromising circumstances in a Reykjavik hotel. It's up to Detective Elrendur to discover how the man's past finally led to his grisly end. Elrendur is a melancholy detective trying to avoid all things Christmas, whose own buried demons start emerging during the case. This book was translated from the Icelandic, and I found the Icelandic setting fascinating. Good plot and interesting, fleshed-out characters.

    • 1 person found this helpful

    60-62: Ending On A Great and Fitting Read!

    Posted by Marion Abbott, 3 years ago

    60. A Christmas Story - Jean Shephard
    Hilarious! I only watched the film based on this book for the first time this year and it definitely does the book justice. A Christmas Story is a set of short stories, only one of which is about Christmas. My favourite two are the one about the leg lamp and the one about the hillbilly neighbours. If you haven't taken the time to read this yet - add it to your list of "Seasonal Must Reads" - it's deliciously funny. :)

    61. Wishful Drinking - Carrie Fisher
    This book is based on (taken from? the script for?!) Fisher's one-woman show where she shares her experiences with substance abuse in an attempt to control/deal with being bi-polar. At times it is hilarious and the explanation of living with a mood disorder is excellent. Personally, I loved the writings about her mom (Debbie Reynolds - I'm a huge fan!) and her description of living with Star Wars fame made me laugh out loud. Ultimately, however, I found the book sad - she is a woman that is fighting a tough, tough situation.

    62. U Is For Undertow - Sue Grafton
    My reading goal for 2009 was to read Sue Grafton's 'alphabet mystery series' - and with this last book for 2009, I did it! :) Kinsey Milhoune is a P.I. whom Grafton has taken from A Is For Alibi right through to this (just in time for my husband to buy for me for Christmas!) U Is For Undertow. I love Grafton's pace - she creates a reality that, although it may be unlike your own, feels like another ordinary work week, as though Kinsey is one of your neighbours, paying her bills, doing her job, sorting things out. For those of you reading through the earlier books in the series, I'm happy to report that this latest installment finds Kinsey in a happier frame of mind. :)

    I'm pretty sure I won't get another book read by tomorrow night, so that takes me to 62 for 2009 - not what I was hoping for, but a good year of reading nonetheless. Thank you to everyone in this group for your 'friendship' and encouragement - here's to a rockin' 2010 for all.

  • Year in Review

    Posted by Claire Humphrey, 3 years ago

    How many books read in 2009? 105. That's 18 less than in 2008. I ascribe the difference to the fact that I now do some of my volunteer work online during my breakfast, which used to be solid reading time.

    Fiction/Non-Fiction ratio? 100:5 fiction to non. The nonfictions were mostly memoirs.

    Male/Female authors? 39:66 male to female.

    Favourite book read? Bone Dance by Emma Bull (really amazing narrator) or Blood Sports by Eden Robinson (all-round great).

    Least favourite? Death's Head by David Gunn: sexist, boring science fiction novel. I have to say, though, this is only the worst of the ones I actually finished. I gave myself permission to stop reading some things this year.

    Oldest book read? The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins: 1868.

    Newest? By the Mountain Bound, by Elizabeth Bear: 2009. I read it on its release day in October.

    Longest book title? Lord John and the Hand of Devils; although it's not particularly long it wins on word count.

    Shortest title? Stay by Nicola Griffith (definitely in my Top 5 favourites of the year).

    How many re-reads? 16: mostly Georgette Heyer and Diana Wynne Jones.

    Most books read by one author this year? 8 by Georgette Heyer; I re-read her books every few years.

    Any in translation? Yes--the one that stands out is Master & Margarita, because Edward Smith and I were discussing the different translations.

    And how many of this year’s books were from the library? Zero--I don't have a library conveniently located any more, so I end up buying, borrowing from friends or begging at the office.

    Anybody else trying to squeeze in one more book by Thursday? At least one--maybe two!

    • 1 person found this helpful

    My Reading Habits This Year

    Posted by Unknown User, 3 years ago

    -Message Deleted-

    • 2 people found this helpful

    Books 106 & 107 - This Christmas & Precious

    Posted by Unknown User, 3 years ago

    -Message Deleted-

  • Almost at the end of the year...

    Posted by ChrisM, 3 years ago

    so here's a little thing to help you sort out your book reading habits this year.

    How many books read in 2009?

    Fiction/Non-Fiction ratio?

    Male/Female authors?

    Favourite book read?

    Least favourite?

    Oldest book read?

    Newest?

    Longest book title?

    Shortest title?

    How many re-reads?

    Most books read by one author this year?

    Any in translation?

    And how many of this year’s books were from the library?

    Anybody else trying to squeeze in one more book by Thursday?

  • #82 & 83 -- Billie Letts and Reginald Hill -- Two Mysteries

    Posted by Joanna, 3 years ago

    #82 -- Shoot The Moon by Billie Letts (the author of Where The Heart Is)

    This tale of small town Oklahoma centers arouns the towns darkest secret, a thirty year old double murder which is brought back to front page news by the mysterious return of Nicky Jack [who was believed to have been murdered 30 years before].

    I really enjoyed this Letts novel with it cast of mostly likeable characters.

    4****

    83 -- Roar of The Butterflies by Reginald Hill -- this is part of Hill's Joe Sixsmith series.

    This was a quick enjoyable mystery BUT I did not find it as humerous as the cover states (maybe I'm lacking a sense of Humour)

    I will probably read more of Hill

    3***

    • 3 people found this helpful

    Happiness Key

    Posted by Virtopia, 3 years ago

    This book made me absolutely fall in love with Emilie Richards' writing. I'm actually smiling right now as I think of the characters. It was a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will be looking for more of her books in the near future.

  • 96 - 100 Yay!

    Posted by Cathy, 3 years ago

    96. The Runner’s Rule Book -by Mark Remy
    A mix of humour and good advice for anyone who enjoys running.

    97. Emma -by Jane Austen
    I enjoyed this book, but like another group member (sorry, I don't remember who), I didn’t find it an easy read. There is a lot about class distinction to wade through, which isn’t relevant today. My favorite character was Emma’s father, with all his quirks and fears.

    98. Play the Monster Blind -by Lynn Coady
    Coady is a truly Canadian voice. This is a book of short stories and her humour is apparent, but I enjoyed her novels (Strange Heaven, Saints of Big Harbour) more.

    99. Ladies with Options -by Cynthia Hartwick
    Light read about a group of mostly older women with very good instincts who form what becomes a very successful investment club. A comment on the cover uses the word “delightful” - apt.

    100. Better Not Cry -by Augusten Burroughs
    This is one of the strangest collection of Christmas stories I've ever read. I liked Burroughs’s writing - up until now. It wasn’t all bad, but I would hesitate before picking up another of his works.

    I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

  • I'm having surgery in the am, so i thought it'd be a good time to catch up!

    Posted by Virginia, 3 years ago

    129 A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer
    I've had this sitting on my shelf for a while, but never got around to reading it. My step-sister asked for it for Christmas, so i read it quick before i sent it to her:P I am amazed that someone could come out of that situation relatively ok, and horrified that someone could inflict such trauma, or allow such trauma to be inflicted, on someone they *should* love most.... i used to really like this kind of book, for the "overcoming" parts, but i'm not sure i do anymore....

    130 Silent Night by Stanley Weintraub
    A non-fiction account of the Christmas Truce the first Christmas of WWI. I've long been intrigued by this incident, and i learned quite a bit from this book:) A little military jargon-y for me at parts, but all in all good:)

    131 The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaarder
    I really really like Gaarder's work, and this was a quick, enjoyable, peaceful story that also taught me some history in a neat way:) I think that's what i like most about him- he teaches a lot, but is never boring:P

    132 Adrian Mole The Wilderness Years by Sue Townsend
    I'd been curious about this series for a while, and this one got good reviews form my aunts, so i borrowed. Unfortunately, i was very disappointed. I understand this starts when Adrian is 15, and his character might've been ok at that age, but at 24, it's frustrating, grating, immature.... i think this is the only book i've finished that i've rated 1 star here:(

    133 The Indian Trilogy By Lynne Reid Banks (Indian in the Cupboard, The Return of the Indian and The Secret of the Secret of the Indian)
    I enjoyed these as a kid, and i'm happy to say i enjoyed them jsut as much as an adult:) I was a little concerned about racism or prejudice, but in fact they offer the exact opposite in many cases:) Yay for kids' books living up to their memories;)

    134 And my Shoes Keep Walking Back to You by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
    A n easy read with some heft to it:) there were a few parts toward the end when I had to willingly suspend my disbelief, but that was ok for this:P i fun ride i'd recommend to anyone:)

    135 A Field Guide to getting Lost by Rebecca Solnit
    (i have to confess, i still have 10 pages to read:P) I borrowed this from my brother on his recommendation. For the most part, i really don't like it. I find her flighty, wiht awkward transitions, and self-centred and condescending. Even in the parts i liked overall, i was often frowning or furrowing my brow. I like her recounting people's stories and experiences, or histories of areas or things, but i can't stand her "philosophizing".

  • End of the year....

    Posted by ChrisM, 3 years ago

    It's that time of year when everyone is compiling Best Of Lists...here's Stephen King's list of Best books in 2009...I'll be posting my own list around the end of the month...just about the same time as I change the name of this group to 50 Books in 2010!

    Stephen King: My Top 10 Books of 2009
    Take it from your Uncle Stevie -- book lovers on your shopping list will thank you for the gift of any of these rockin' reads
    ...

    10. ROUGH COUNTRY, by John Sandford
    Sandford's mystery-suspense novels are rich explorations of what it is to be a plain old American guy. This tale is rich, satisfying, and frequently hilarious.

    9. RAVENS, by George Dawes Green
    Bad boys Shaw McBride and Romeo Zderko decide to cut themselves in on a big lottery win by taking the Boatwright family hostage. When Green isn't making you laugh, he's making you bite your nails down to the bleeding point.

    8. GONE TOMORROW, by Lee Child
    If you're not hip to rambling adventurer Jack Reacher, you've missed a mother lode of escapist entertainment. In the wonderfully tense opening, Reacher spots a late-night subway-rider who looks like a suicide bomber. The thrills build from there. Child's writing is lean and wiry.

    7. DROOD, by Dan Simmons
    The last years of Charles Dickens, as narrated by his increasingly unstable colleague Wilkie Collins. This is a beautifully realized historical novel, but it's also a modern tale that chronicles the descent of a great mind into dope-fueled madness.

    6. SHATTER, by Michael Robotham
    Plenty of people saw the naked woman jump to her death, but professor Joe O'Loughlin discovers the lady was afraid of heights. Someone out there has become an architect of suicide, and soon he's got his sights set on O'Loughlin¹s family. The most suspenseful book I read all year.

    5. 2666, by Roberto Bolano
    This surreal novel can't be described; it has to be experienced in all its crazed glory. Suffice it to say it concerns what may be the most horrifying real-life mass-murder spree of all time: as many as 400 women killed in the vicinity of Juarez, Mexico. Given this as a backdrop, the late Bolano paints a mural of a poverty-stricken society that appears to be eating itself alive. And who cares? Nobody, it seems.

    4. MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN, by Salman Rushdie
    1,001 children are born in India at midnight on Aug. 15, 1947; this epic social comedy follows one of them through a lifetime of adventures worthy of Dickens.

    3. HOLLYWOOD MOON, by Joseph Wambaugh
    Only Dream City could produce cops as cool as Flotsam and Jetsam (surfer cops), Nate Weiss (the aspiring-actor cop), and Dana Vaughn (the cynical, fortysomething mom-cop). The best of Wambaugh's Hollywood Station novels.

    2. Revolutionary Road, by Richard Yates
    Thank God I read the novel before seeing the movie, which is a pale imitation in spite of great acting. Set in 1955, Road focuses on a suburban couple living what looks like the American postwar dream. But Frank Wheeler's fantasy life as an intellectual rebel is just a hollow pose, and when April makes the mistake of believing he's serious about busting out of the rut they've dug for themselves, tragedy ensues. Skip the DVD; read the book.

    1. The Little Stranger, by Sarah Waters
    This is a terrifying, engrossing ghost story set in the English countryside not long after World War II, but it's so much more. Although told in straightforward prose, this is a deeply textured and thoughtful piece of work. Several sleepless nights are guaranteed.

    • 2 people found this helpful

    42, 43, 44

    Posted by Amanda Augustine, 3 years ago

    Well I'm pretty sure I'm not going to make it this year, from weddings and my move I've come close but hopefully next year I'll knock it out of the park.
    Well here are probably the last 3 of this year, Happy Holiday's everyone !

    42. The Dangerous Days of Daniel X - James Patterson
    Hmm, different. Aliens and alien hunters odd but fast.

    43. Death Of A Blue Movie Star - Jeffery Deaver
    Second book in the Rune series. In this book we find our quirky friend Rune wanting to desperately make a documentary about a porn theatre bombing. But Rune of course is always getting herself into trouble, and by trouble I mean almost being blown up herself.

    44. Hard News - Jeffery Deaver
    Third in in the Rune series, this I think was the best of the three that I have read so far. After a letter on her news desk is read, Rune believes that the man in jail for the murder is innocent. The twist? She's trying to free the man who killed the executive of the tv station she's now working for.

  • DECEMBER SO FAR

    Posted by Christine L, 3 years ago

    92. YOUTH IN REVOLT by C.D. Payne. I picked up this book because my daughter was raving about it. The coming of age of Nick Twisp. The teenage angst, stress and rebellion of a 15 year old boy. All in all, an amusing read but I am not going to run out to see the movie.

    93. WHO IS KILLING THE GREAT WRITERS OF AMERICA? by Robert Kaplow. This satirical story was laugh out loud funny. Some of the best contemporary writers in America are dying under extremely suspicious circumstances and Tabitha King has disappeared. Stephen King, concerned that his wife has finally seen the light and realized that she made a mistake marrying him sets out to find her. And, since he is suffering from writer’s block on a plot for his next book decides to solve the mystery of the writers deaths along the way. What totally amazed me about this book was how the author captured the personalities of the authors … whether correctly or incorrectly I do not know … but certainly fitting with their public personas.

    94. BREATHLESS by Dean Koontz. As I continue to read Mr. Koontz I can’t help but notice that he has mellowed with age. From the anger and terror of books like WHISPERS and COLD FIRE he now brings us books that have a reminiscent amount of the terror he imparted and other than that are rather heartwarming and uplifting. All I can say is hmmmmm? In this book two little white fluffy balls of fur are sent to earth to save humanity. It was a quick read that I enjoyed more than his last two publications.

    95. CHANGE OF HEART by Jodi Picoult. I keep going back to this author and find that I am hot and cold on her books on an individual basis. This is the story of a death row inmate who brutally murdered a police officer and his daughter. Now, facing death, he wants redemption by donating his heart to the sister of the little girl he murdered. That plot line in itself would have been more than enough to sustain the book. Personally, I could have done without the “second coming of the Messiah” sidebar to the story.

    96. THE KEEPSAKE by Tess Gerritson. I have not read any Gerritson since THE MEPHISTO WALTZ. Although I enjoyed this book as a quick read because it contained elements of archeology and Egyptology which I found interesting, I don’t think I’ll be going out of my way to pick up another in the series.

    • 5 people found this helpful

    #44-45

    Posted by Eileen, 3 years ago

    #44 Mallory's Oracle, Caroll O'Connell

    An absorbing mystery. Detective Kathleen Mallory was a street kind stealing from parked cars when a kindly police detective and his big hearted wife adopted her and changed the course of her life. Kathy grows up to become an IT expert with the NYPD, specializing in hacking into sites she shouldn't. When her adopted father is brutally murdered, steely eyed Kathleen goes on the hunt. A unique detective.

    #45 Suffer the Little Children, Donna Leon

    I enjoyed this one for the Italian setting and the easy-going character of police inspector Brunetti. A lot of delicious lunches and dinners are enjoyed, and wine is sipped, while Brunetti slowly unravels the case of a doctor who may have illegally adopted a child.

    The audio version is appealing, with the author reading in an Italian accent and voicing the different characters very believably.

    I am now enjoying Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, which is over 600 pages, so probably won't hit 50 after all. Well, quality not quantity is also good sometimes.

    • 2 people found this helpful

    Bradley McGogg A very Fine Frog

    Posted by Joanna, 3 years ago

    I posted this book a while ago but some how managed to get the author wrong.

    This wonderful book is by Tim Beiser and it was a finalist for the GG award.

    A great book for all children, great rhymes and great pictures.

    My Grandson loves it and would give it 5 stars

    • 1 person found this helpful

    #79 to 81 -- 3 great books

    Posted by Joanna, 3 years ago

    79 -- Extraordinary Canadians -- Emily Carr by Lewis Desoto

    This is the second book that I have read in the extradordinary Canadian series and I highly recommend it to all. Lewis Desoto, a painter and Novelist does an amazing job of opening a door into Emily's life for us the readers,

    Carr is revealed as a unique individual one who gives us a look into the native life, art and a history of the Totem pole in art. We see how hard it was for a woman artist to make it in her world.

    If all the books in this series are as good and informative as the two which I have read I will be reading the entire series.

    80 --- The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville. Grenville is the author of the Secret River.

    The Lieutenant is a work of fiction by was inspired by real events; It takes place in the late 1700 when England transported boat loads of convicts to Australia.

    I won't say any more about the story except to say that I think I enjoyed it as much as the Secret River.

    81 -- I can't find the name of this wonderful small book; it was written by the Dali Lama and a women from Africa who won a peace prize for a project where many many trees were planted. In the few pages we are given great lessons on living as well as helping to green our world. It also has a wonderful native art.

    I tried to find it on Chapters but am unable to at this time. I'm on Vacation and will post the name and co authors as well as the artist's name when I return after the new year.

    Mean while more beach reading.

  • The Author Alphabet

    Posted by Charity, 3 years ago

    A: Kelley Armstrong "The Summoning"
    B: Dan Brown "The Lost Symbol
    C: Lauren Conrad "LA Candy"
    D: Charles de Lint "The Mystery of Grace"
    E: James Essinger "Spellbound: The Surprising Origins and Astonishing Secrets of English Spelling"
    F: Michel Faber "The Fire Gospel"
    G: Pauline Gedge "Child of the Morning"
    H: Aldous Huxley "The Doors of Perception & Heaven and Hell"
    I: Jay Ingram "The Science of Everyday Life"
    J: Steven Johnson "Everything Good is Bad for You"
    K: Jack Kerouac "Dharma Bums"
    L: Reif Larsen "The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet"
    M: David Mazzucchelli "Asterios Polyp"
    N: Audrey Niffenegger "Her Fearful Symmetry"
    O: Helen Oyeyemi "White is for Witching"
    P: Terry Pratchett "The Colour of Magic"
    Q: Daniel Quinn "Ishmael"
    R: Anne Rice "Angel Time"
    S: David Small "Stitches"
    T: Heather Terrell "The Chrysalis"
    U: Barry Unsworth "Morality Plays"
    V: Gloria Vanderbilt "Obsession"
    W: Brad Warner "Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate"
    X: Greta X "There's a Whip in My Valise"
    Y: Gene Luen Yang (and Derek Kirk Kim) "The Eternal Smile"
    Z: Markus Zusak "The Book Thief"

    For next year I am going to start tackling "501 Must Read Books" by attempting to read 25 titles from this book over the year. I also intend to make sure I have at least one selection from all of the various sections, including Biographies and History titles.

  • The alphabet is complete!

    Posted by Charity, 3 years ago

    Finally finished!

    #61: W is for Warner
    Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate by Brad Warner
    I've always been intrigued by the titles and covers of Warner's Zen Buddhism books and W presented me with a great opportunity. Warner speaks about his own personal life and how Zen Buddhism is a large part of how he deals with the harder parts of life such as losing his mother, his marriage and his job all in one year. Warner approaches Zen Buddhism from a more pragmatic viewpoint rather than spouting about sprirituality and a lot of the "zen" terms that have been tossed around in regards to many Eastern religions. He doesn't pull any punches (he doesn't actually punch anyone because that's not exactly Buddhist at all) and he is candid in what he expects from Zen Buddhism and what is expected from those who decide to follow the Middle Path.

    #62: U is for Unsworth
    Morality Play by Barry Unsworth
    Set in the 15th century this book looks at what happens when a travelling group of players (including a fugitive priest) stumbles upon a mystery in a small town where a young boy has been found murdered on the side of the road. As the players become more involved in the lives of those connected to the murder they place themselves in danger. While the mystery itself was fairly simplistic, the descriptions of how people lived during this time were really interesting.

  • The Dead and the Undead

    Posted by Claire Humphrey, 3 years ago

    91. Jailbait Zombie by Mario Acevedo: I normally love zombies but this wasn't really my thing--so tersely and plainly written in places that it felt like a synopsis more than a story.

    92. Face of a Stranger by Anne Perry: for anyone who's seen the film Heavenly Creatures, Anne Perry is one of the two girls who conspired to murder one of their mothers, when the mother objected to their relationship. Perry hasn't spoken much about this period of her life, as far as I know, but her choice of career as a writer of murder mysteries feels weighted with all kinds of things unsaid. She's talented, too: this book, the first in her Inspector Monk series, is sensitive and psychologically interesting.

    93. Bullet Trick by Louise Welch: gritty, despairing tale of a stage magician down on his luck. Welch is a wonderful but amazingly dark writer--her characters make the most dismal decisions, and never get a break.

    94. Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris: a collection of Sookie Stackhouse stories. Harris is one of my least-guilty guilty pleasures: a vampire writer who excels at the realistic depiction of Southern life and culture, and a first-person protagonist who engagingly shows us her shortcomings without being aware of them herself.

    95. Hunter's Prayer by Lilith Saintcrow: Jill Kismet is a sort of demon-slayer who works with the police to solve supernatural crimes. Saintcrow's strength is a strong, cinematic sense of action, which kept me turning pages with rabid greed, although I doubt I'll remember much about this book in a few more weeks.

    • 1 person found this helpful

    59: Another Soul-Revival Read

    Posted by Marion Abbott, 3 years ago

    Can't Wait To Get To Heaven - Fannie Flagg

    While preparing for my studio's Christmas Concert (a huge success - phew!!) I found solace in another Flagg novel. It's a sort of sequel to Standing In Rainbow (highly recommended!!) about a recurring character that dies ... for a brief time, but comes back to life, making those around her reconsider their lives and their relationship with her. I don't LOVE this novel as a whole, but I LOVE certain portions of it and thus it is an annual 're-read' for me.

    Just saw Disney's latest Christmas Carol movie so I'm opening my copy of that classic next! :)

    A Sin and a Shame

    Posted by Virtopia, 3 years ago

    Didn't bother to put a number because I was nowhere close to 50! LOL I won't have school distracting me in 2010, so I should be good to go.

    This was just the type of book I needed to read; it had a lot of drama and that's exactly what I like during this cold season! I hope to read more by this author in the near future!

  • I've lost count... this is a long post. :D

    Posted by Ligeia, 3 years ago

    This semester I have had 6 University English courses, and my love of reading has been tested. when you take classes you read things you would never pick up, and some you will never pick up again.
    For Medieval class we were looking extensively at Chaucer and the Canterbury Tales. I have a lot of respect for the variety of stories within the whole of the book and how they can all be tied together. I read a non-translated version so had the pleasure of being able to decide for myself what Chaucer meant.
    For Shakespeare I read Measure for Measure, Othello, The Winter's Tale, Cymbeline and Macbeth. All magnificent, but would be better on stage than on a piece of paper. The one I would recommend the most would be the Winter's Tale. Paulina is such a rich character and the best stage directions , "exit pursued by bear" being one, makes this a fascinating read.
    For Canadian I read Senton, Bliss Carmen, L.M Montgomery, Stephen Leacock, Archibald Lampman, Pauline Johnson and Charles Roberts. For this class, and it is a short read for people out there is Senton's Lobo the King of Currampaw. It is meant to show you how animal act without pushing out emotions on to them. In this story a reader can see that maybe the wolves aren't that different from the humans.
    For pre 1700 literature (you'd think there would be some overlap) we looked at Sidney, Spenser, The Tempest, Shakespeare's sonnets, Thomas More, Henry Howard and several unknown authors. I enjoyed Henry Howard's poetry. Most of what we had to do was about his love for Anne Boleyn and the frustration he felt with her not being able to recipricate like she used to.This was how I interpreted it- but understand that others can see differently. I did not like "the most influential book in the English language", Utopia. Something about it just bored me.
    For my romantics we looked at Byron, Keats, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Burns. All for of these authors, as Scott is more a novelist than a poet are amazing. I would recommend them all to anyone who likes personal exploration. Keats was my favorite of everything I read this semester- his "Lamia" and "Isabella; the pot of Basil" were interesting, written beautifully and displayed how happiness is sometimes paired with melacholy.
    My last class, and probably my least favorite class was Modernism. I feel the authors of the 20th century spend so much time trying to proove something that end up making their books to hard to read. Mrs Dalloway , Portrait of an Artist, and the works of T.S. Elliot made little sense to me, and more then once I wanted to put them down and stop reading. However, I had great respect for all the WW1 poets I had the pleasure to read. Wilfrid Owen's work is powerfully moving and I'd recommend it to people interested in literature concerning wars. Another treat was William Butler Yeats. His poems has a great balance of context and subtext that his work is both meaninful and interesting.

    That's the semester and I've definately hit over 50 books. My hope for next year- to be able to read some more leisure books, and poetry. I've even considered giving Milton another chance...

  • Books 104 & 105 -Christmas Jars & Christmas Jars Reunion by Jason F. Wright

    Posted by Unknown User, 3 years ago

    -Message Deleted-

    # 75 to 78 -- Mysteries and a couple of Pre-Teen books

    Posted by Joanna, 3 years ago

    # 75 --Runner by Thomas Perry
    One of the latest books in Perry's Jane Whitefield series

    "Jane pursued her unusual profession: "I''m a guide . . . I show people how to go from places where somebody is trying to kill them to other places where nobody is.""

    An interesting book, I may read more but not right away.

    3 1/2 ***

    #76 -- A Plague of Secrets by John Lescroart -- this book is in a series. A mystery legal thriller, I enjoyed this book and would read more of Lescroart's books.

    3 1/2 ***

    #77 -- Trouble at Turtle Narrows by Peggy Dymond Leavey -- an action mystery preteen novel by a Canadian author. Lots of action and another mystery solved by a boy. Should be a good Christmas gift.

    #78 -- On The Run #6 - Hunting the Hunter by Gordon Korman. Korman is a Canadian who wrote his first book at 12. Since then he has written many many books for teen and pre-teen readers. This series has lots of action and I beleive it would be well received by a 8 to 12 yr old. Aiden and Meg Falconer must get their parents out of jail and to do so must find a heartless killer who framed them.

  • Philosophical Fantasies

    Posted by Claire Humphrey, 3 years ago

    All three of these books are magical adventures with deeper philosophical, political and religious underpinnings.

    88. Raphael by R.A. MacAvoy: the archangel is made human during a struggle against his brother Lucifer, and has to work his way through slavery and pain before regaining his angelic form. The angel, who has appeared in two of MacAvoy's previous books, has always been ready with gentle advice about what it means to be human--but now he is forced to learn how it feels. MacAvoy has a true talent for memorable, wry and surprising dialogue, in particular.

    89. Beginning Place by Ursula LeGuin: a favourite from childhood that I recently found again. Two unhappy young adults find their separate ways to a hidden twilit country, which at first seems to be a simple and natural paradise--but its citizens are bound by strictures and fears, and cannot save themselves from an encroaching menace. I read this as a metaphor for leaving childhood: the main characters need to keep the innocent spirit of the place, but they can't stay imprisoned by ignorance, and they can't remain walled off from the real world. It's a short, beautiful book that would also be suitable for teen readers.

    90. Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: the author of "The Yellow Wallpaper", writing at the end of the nineteenth century, shares her vision of a feminist utopia, rediscovered for the first time in two millennia by a group of male explorers. Gilman has a pretty rosy idea of what society would look like, without men; in fact, she has a pretty rosy idea of people in general, for her male characters, far from being demonized, are eager, open-minded, and enchanted by the women's country. They marry some of the women and end the book with plans to take their utopian ideals back home. Gilman does best when having her male characters describe the society in which they were raised, half defending it, half examining it with newly awakened minds. What she skips over is how, if people are so naturally decent and willing to change, society got so bad in the first place. It's hard to read this book as a novel--almost nothing happens--but as a historical political work, it's fascinating.

    • 1 person found this helpful

    45-52

    Posted by Kay, 3 years ago

    My reading has been so up and down this year. i can't ever remember having a year like - I have reached 50 and will start 2010 fresh.
    Here are the last of books for 2009.
    45. The Other Boleyn Girl - 4/5
    46. The Quilter's Homecoming - 4/5
    47. The Risk of Darkness - 3/5
    48. Absolute Power - 4/5
    49. Black Out - 3/5
    50. Strange Affair - 3.5/5
    51. Winding Ways Quilt - 4/5
    52. A Man to Call My Own - 3/5

  • Culture clashes, past, present and future

    Posted by Claire Humphrey, 3 years ago

    I can't believe how quickly the year draws to a close, and I still haven't caught up with my list! Here's the next instalment.

    84. Affinity by Sarah Waters: I adore everything I read of Waters. Atmospheric, Gothic, and haunting: a Lady Visitor, spending charity time in a women's prison, falls in love with one of the prisoners.

    85. Kindred by Octavia Butler. This book is a classic of speculative fiction. Butler uses the speculative element to speak movingly and powerfully about the influence of the past on the present. Dana and Kevin, an inter-racial couple from the twentieth century, find themselves transported back in time to visit Dana's ancestors, a plantation owner and one of his slaves. Dana has to save the lives of her ancestors in order to save her own life, and in the process discovers just how damaging is the legacy of slavery.

    86. Carnival by Elizabeth Bear: more strong science fiction, dealing with culture clashes between several different utopian societies, none of which have turned out the way their founders imagined.

    87. Tamburlaine Must Die by Louise Welch: short but fascinating murder mystery starring Christopher Marlowe.

  • deserves it's own post:P

    Posted by Virginia, 3 years ago

    I'm not sure i can do justice to how much I love Little Women, how good and peaceful it makes me feel. I don't usually rate books, but I'd put this at 4.5/5, with the first half at about 4.95/5. There are a few things I take exception to, many of which are products of the time (yet are still prevalent today), but other than that, I think it's extraordinary!

    I had actually forgotten how much I like it. I've had my copy for 16 years, and I haven't read it in about 10 years, but (esp. judging by how well-loved the book is), I must have read it about 8 times in the 6 years before that:P I got it for Christmas when I was 9, and it would've been a perfect book for me from 9-15ish:)

    I love and really relate to the girls' innocence and good-ness. Even the "preachy" bits are done in such a way that I don't get offended or turned off, but can take what I feel are the important bits and leave the rest:P The love and care among the sisters, the rest of their family, their neighbours and the world in general, I adore and aspire to. While I don't agree with everything and/or the way it's presented, in LW, I find lessons, morals, themes, etc that I think are lost in a lot of ways today, and that I think we should strive to regain.

    I can't adequately describe how good and ... whole this book makes me feel.

  • 56-58: Reading For The Soul

    Posted by Marion Abbott, 3 years ago

    I started four other books before turning to some old favourites for some much-needed soul comfort.
    Mama's Bank Account - Kathryn Forbes
    A lovely book that tells of a Norwegian family living in San Francisco during the early 1900's. Each chapter tells a different story of the various family members' adventures. The dignity, love and warmth of this book make it a lovely, lovely read. Highly recommended.

    The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - Barbara Robinson
    I still remember my Grade Four school teacher reading this to my class and I've been hooked ever since! The Herdmans are the worst kids in town and suddenly find themselves playing the 'starring roles' in the local church Christmas Pageant. If you haven't read this, do it! Do it now! It will make you both laugh and cry, and maybe make you reconsider the Christmas story. (Extra highly recommended to those of you that have ever directed/produced a church Christmas show! :P)

    Redbird Christmas - Fannie Flagg
    A short novel by Flagg that tells of Oswald Campbell who moves to Florida to live out his life due to his poor health. Once there, he finds himself becoming a part of a very special community and very special miracles begin to happen. Not my favourite Fannie Flagg, but a wonderful Christmas read nonetheless.

  • #74 --Extraordinary Canadians -- Nellie McClug

    Posted by Joanna, 3 years ago

    This series has 18 books on 20 extraordinary Canadians; this book on Nellie McClug was written by Charlotte Grey and tells us a lot about Nellie in about 200 pages.

    This biography of Nellie McClung is well written, fast paced and easy to read. Grey tells Nellie's story fairly, showing the bad along with the great things accomplished by Nellie McClug and others who worked along with her to improve the lives and rights of women.

    This is a must read for todays woman so she can better understand the work that Nellie and others did in order for us to enjoy many things we tend to take for granted such as the vote or women being able to sit in the senate. Even woman being legaly considered persons.

    Nellie was an extraordinary Canadian and to quote Nellie . " We could all be able to accomplish a great deal more if none of us cared who got the credit."

    I have a few more of the books in this series and look forward to reading them.

    • 1 person found this helpful

    Book 62: Blue Moon by Alyson Noel

    Posted by Midnight Sunrise, 3 years ago

    The sequel to Evermore, Blue Moon was a lot better. But I still find this series a little dull at times and not that special. 3 stars.

  • A FEW MORE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

    Posted by Christine L, 3 years ago

    88. THE TAKEN by Inger Ash Wolf. Having read and enjoyed the first book of this series I was pleased when I saw the second. We revisit with Hazel and her competent staff of the OPP division. This time they stumble across a kidnapping case and butt heads with the Metropolitan Toronto PD. I like Hazel! We get to know the characters a little more intimately and I definitely hope this series continues. Still wondering about the true identity of the author.

    89. UNDER THE DOME by Stephen King. A mysterious dome falls and covers a small New England town. The inhabitants of the town become a self enclosed biosphere. The corruption and personal traumas come into play and life goes to hell for awhile. This book is back to what I like to call “vintage King”. Mr. King lost me for a little while a few years ago. I remained a “constant reader” but was wondering about his books. I thought his last novel redeemed him, as does this one. A definite must read for King fans.

    90. THE APOSTLE by Brad Thor. A kidnapped doctor in Afghanistan and a Presidential scandal. Two story lines that run concurrently through the book. For me, this book had it’s rare moments but overall it was a bit of a yawn. I think David Baldacci has spoiled me for this genre.

    91. LAID BARE by Lauren Dane. A short little excursion into “ménage-trois” erotica. It was an alright book for what it was. A little sherbet to clear the pallet before continuing on to my December pile.

    • 3 people found this helpful

    A few more

    Posted by Charity, 3 years ago

    #58: R is for Rice
    Angel Time by Anne Rice
    The first book I ever read by Anne Rice was Memnoch the Devil for a grade 8 book project (it took some convincing for my teacher to go for that). That tale had me hooked on Rice's view of the world and the nature of good and evil. At the time, Rice was an atheist who had turned her back on her religious upbringing. Now, however, Anne has returned back to her spiritual roots and her recent books have shown just how dramatic that change has affected her. At one moment in Memnoch the Devil. Memnoch tells Lestat that God no longer concerns Himself with the events of the people and the world, that the only one paying attention any longer is the Devil. In Angel Time the story is dramatically reversed as the reader is informed that angels watch over us every second. While I am not certain which big brother I would prefer, I definitely preferred Rice's devil to her angel. I enjoyed the book, but it certainly isn't her best.

    #59: T is for Terrell
    The Chrysalis by Heather Terrell
    This title actually sat on my bookshelf for a little while and I only just go around to reading it (one of the best parts of this alphabet challenge is the titles I am only now getting around to). Set around the ownership of a piece of art that went missing during WWII this tale deals with a young lawyer finding herself delving into the human story behind a painting in order to discover the truth. There seems to be a good chance that the author will be continuing the story line in future books and I will certainly be picking those up as well. Out of the three Dan Brown novels revolving around Robert Langdon my favourite has always been The DaVinci Code because of its roots in art and art history. The Chrysalis surpasses that book and Heather Terrell seems to be getting ready to take the literary world by storm.

    #60: Filthy Rich by Brian Azzarello and Victor Santos
    Another graphic novel from the new Vertigo Crime series. This title reads like a comic film noir. If you enjoyed the movie Pulp Fiction or Sin City this would be a great read for you.

  • So much to read, so little time to talk about it....

    Posted by Charity, 3 years ago

    Possible Top Pick of the Year

    November was a busy reading month, which is surprising because it was a busy month everywhere else as well. However, I now only have two more letters to go, U and W!

    #53: P is for Pratchett
    The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
    After a false start with another P author, I decided to give Pratchett a try. I had read Good Omens years ago which he wrote with Neil Gaiman and the Discworld series had been intriguing me for quite some time (enough people get excited about something I will give it a go). I was a little disappointed as I didn't find the story as humourous as I was anticipating and I found it difficult to get into Pratchett's language. I can't see myself continuing on with the series.

    #54: Angel: Blood and Trenches by John Byrne
    A little graphic novel reading to fill the hours. Interesting tale about what happens when the 3rd Reich starts employing vampires for their war and how the vampire with a soul finds himself involved. Enjoyable read!

    #55: F U Penguin: Telling Cute Animals What's What by Matthew Gasteier
    Everyone needs a little bathroom reading. And everyone has seen those adorable kitten and penguin pictures (LOL Cats anyone?) Well in this book, created from the website of the same name, Gasteier tries to mount a defense against this new threat to humanity by putting the seals and monkeys in their place. Beware of the language, but if you don't laugh, you need t get your humour reinstalled.

    #56: Fallen Angel Omnibus by Peter David, published by IDW
    I have had issues reading Fallen Angel before, simply because the storyline has been held by both IDW and DC. I ended up reading two very distinct storylines under the belief I was reading the tale in the correct order. This collection has helped correct that issue. IDW has really jumped on the Omnibus bandwagon and I can only hope that DC follows suit, at least for the Fallen Angel stories.

    #57: Q is for Quinn
    Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
    You know those books you have tucked away in your mind as a future must read? That's what Ishmael was for me for so long. Finally I took this opportunity to pick up this cult hit when I got to Q. I am glad I did. This is one of those titles that require a lot out of the reader, (patience at the beginning, thought in the middle and passion by the end). Quinn was addressing issues that are popular today years in advance and in ways no one else has even considered. Do yourself a favour and pick this title up, and do yourself another favour and persevere through the first part to get to the meat of this tale.

  • #63 - Chamomile Mourning - Laura Childs 3.75 / 5

    Posted by Shanie [Raksha], 3 years ago

    Tea, antiques & murder!

    The 6th in Childs' Tea Shop mysteries features murder, antiques, and art fraud - really a good read. Frankly, either I am slipping or Childs is really good - I didn't have this one figured out until nearly the last two pages. I really like Detective Burt Tidwell, an excellent foil. The more that I read by Childs, the more I like her!

    #62 - Blood Orange Brewing - Laura Childs 3.75 / 5

    Posted by Shanie [Raksha], 3 years ago

    Tea, murder & politics!

    Really like this one, found it hard to put down. After all, tea, politics, & murder are so interesting. Only problem - I wish that I had started with the first of the series, rather the most recently published. Kind of hard to keep some characters straight when you read them out of order, but DON'T let that deter you! I enjoy both gentle mysteries as well as the hard-hitters like those of Rankin, Reichs, & George.

  • Betty's November Reads 2009

    Posted by Betty in Smithers, 3 years ago

    Cleopatra's Daughter, wonderful book

    59 Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran - Michelle Moran is, pure and simple, an excellent author. Cleopatra's Daughter is historical fiction that brings the history to life. The characters are well-rounded and historical, they are fleshed out with research and interact entirely believably.I loved this book and recommend both author and "Cleopatra's Daughter". 5 stars definitely. Reviewed

    60 Arson and Old Lace by Patricia Harwin - My first venture into Far Witchwood and I enjoyed every minute of it.

    61 The God Machine by J.G. Sandom - A fast-paced thriller of a ride which kept this reader on her toes. With side by side search and chase sequences more than two centuries apart, the pace and mystery do not waver. Reviewed.

    62 Uneasy Relations by Aaron Elkins - I enjoy Aaron Elkins' books about Gideon Oliver (aka Skeleton Detective) particularly due to the interplay of all characters, some continuing and some that only show up here and there. Gideon is a lovable character with flaws, a squeamish forensic anthropologist prefers to detect anomalies in totally dessicated from age rather than attend a "fresh" body. Reviewed

    63 Bluenose Magic by Dr. Helen Creighton - This book is non-fiction, the result of many Maritime interviews featuring folklore. Though legend, the book contains hundreds of stories as remembered by the people involved, many repetitive. The kind of book that can be picked up any time; many stories are less than a paragraph. Of interest to me, I had grown up with most of these folklore sayings myself!

    64 Dead Soul by James Doss - Not exactly what I expected but there were several new revelations and nuances in this very enjoyable Ute nation series. Signs of change? Perhaps, life moves in real time in Doss’s novels and the characters do age as time goes on. This one I found more interesting than some, which is difficult since he is another favourite author!

    65 The Thin Place by Kathryn Davis - I will review this book next week once I get my thoughts in order. In the meantime, I quote "What an odd and entrancing novel 'The Thin Place' is!..." (Andrea Barrett). This pretty much echoes my feel for the book too. I will add a comment once I have posted my review.

  • Books 100 - 103 All Audio Books

    Posted by Unknown User, 3 years ago

    -Message Deleted-

    • 2 people found this helpful

    Books 97 - 99 - Audio Books

    Posted by Unknown User, 3 years ago

    -Message Deleted-

    • 2 people found this helpful

    Book 96 - The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber

    Posted by Unknown User, 3 years ago

    -Message Deleted-

  • Update on recently finished books.

    Posted by BookThia, 3 years ago

    32. Mossflower by Brian Jacques I'm reading this series with my 9 yr old son. The stories might be for kids, but the language is mature and rich. I really enjoy these books, and the Kiddo is getting a great vocab. 4.5/5
    31. The Princes of Ireland by Edward Rutherford. Interesting, but long. 3/5
    30. The Secret History by Donna Tartt There's a review on my profile. I loved this book, but it isn't an easy read. 4/5
    29. In A Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson. Bryson is a terrific writer. If you’ve always wanted to visit Oz, this will be a fun read. 4/5
    28. Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee. Another difficult read. And I didn’t really like this story, although I have to acknowledge Coetzee’s writing skill. 3/5

  • November's Reads

    Posted by ChrisM, 3 years ago

    Well, I did *slightly* better in November than I did in October.

    40. The Art of Meaningful Living by Christopher Brown
    A self-help book, unusual because it's partnered with art. I couldn't post my review here because Chapters/Indigo doesn't carry the book.

    41. The Trade Mission by Andrew Pyper
    I think Andrew's a great writer, but I didn't love this book.

    42. The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier
    I read this book as a 12 or 13 year old and had such fond memories of it that I re-purchased it on a whim. Sad to say the book doesn't hold up.

    I wonder if I'll be able to read 8 books this month? Hard to believe we'll soon be turning the calendar and embarking on our third year of 50 books!

    • 2 people found this helpful

    Still catching up!

    Posted by Claire Humphrey, 3 years ago

    I've fallen severely behind last year's count--which may mean I've read less, or it may mean I've been slipshod about keeping track!

    76. We by Yevgeny Zamyatin: extremely cool early modern SF set in a future where people are literally cogs in a machine, contrasting the political ideal with the messy reality of human life.
    77. After Dark by Haruki Murakami: follows several young people through a long night. Not his best.
    78. Bone Key by Sarah Monette: second read for me; I liked it quite a bit better this time around. Series of linked short stories about an archivist in a spooky museum. Smart and haunting.
    79. Moonstone by Wilkie Collins: has its political problems, like many classics, but it's still a wonderful read.
    80 & 81. Flesh & Spirit / Breath & Bone by Carol Berg: engaging political fantasies with a charming hero.
    82. Half a Crown by Jo Walton: conclusion of her alternate historical series in which England didn't join WWII. Intriguing premise, strong and thoughtful writing.
    83. Always by Nicola Griffith: damaged, tough Aud Torvingen teaches self-defense to a group of women. The plotting is tight and breathtaking, and the background on violence against women is some of the best I've ever read. As a boxer I recognized things I've only begun to learn in the ring. There's also a second plot around a film set in Seattle, which supplies the narrative momentum. Griffith is really, really good at all of the above.

> Read more posts from: November 2009 or January 2010

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