Robin M Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 Happy Sunday! Today is the start of week 25 in our quest to read 52 books in 52 weeks. Welcome to everyone who is just joining in, welcome back to our regulars and to all who are following our progress. Mr. Linky is all set up on the 52 books blog to link to your reviews. The link is in my signature. 52 Books - X is for Xanadu. Highlighting Xanadu Kubla Khan poem by Samuel Coleridge. Short and sweet since I had to finish working on my final project paper for my last class to earn my Bachelors in Liberal Arts. Wishing a happy father's day to all the dads out there. Did anyone buy their dad a book? Share with us what the fathers are reading this week? What are you reading this week? Link to week 24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted June 19, 2011 Author Share Posted June 19, 2011 Happy Father's Day. James and I will be taking off shortly to go to Borders to find some interesting reading material for hubby. This past week I read Chesterton's autobiography on George Bernard Shaw and Shaw's An Unsocial Socialist for my final project paper. Shaw was certainly a scary dude. My paper is finished and hence I am done with my last class to earn my Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts. I'm done, I'm done, I'm done. Doing the Happy Dance! Currently I'm reading a paranormal suspense romance by Lara Adrian "Kiss of Crimson" which is #2 in her Midnight Breed Series. I finished Christine Feehan's Ghostwalker Series and will have to wait patiently until she writes the next one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giraffe Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 I finished Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk. Hated it. Sexually graphic, drawn out, and just overdone. If you're not a Turk you won't get half the references (I'm married to one and have lived in Turkey so I had a fighting chance but still missed a bunch). I'm coming to the conclusion that I'm just not a Pamuk fan. Dh is. Sigh. (Not all his novels have this level of sexuality. This one really surprised me.) Still trucking along with Herodotus. Now that's a dude to whom I can relate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 (edited) . Edited September 12, 2014 by Stacia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 I finished Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk. Hated it. Sexually graphic, drawn out, and just overdone. If you're not a Turk you won't get half the references (I'm married to one and have lived in Turkey so I had a fighting chance but still missed a bunch). I'm coming to the conclusion that I'm just not a Pamuk fan. Thanks for the review. I had been wondering how that book was. I read Pamuk's "My Name is Red" last year & it took me awhile to get through it. It was definitely challenging reading & I wondered if I was missing things because I figured I was probably not getting some of the cultural references, etc.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 It looks like I haven't posted in a couple weeks. I guess I can believe it, it's been crazy here! Of the last three books I've read, two have been shorter. "Prom and Prejudice" was a teen spin-off of "Pride and Prejudice." Definitely a bit of fluff, but clean and fun if you are familiar with Austen. Dd16 enjoyed reading it, too, since we just finished "Pride and Prejudice" a few weeks ago. I picked up a couple of Agatha Christie novels at the thrift store. It's been years since I have read Agatha Christie and I enjoyed "Dead Man's Folly." I just finished "Just Jane." It was a fictional account of Jane Austen's life, though the author blended fact with fiction. It was slow getting started and I was a little put off by what I felt would not have been Jane Austen's "voice." However, it picked up near the end and I did enjoy it. At the end of the book, the author explained the fact and the fiction of her story which I appreciated. I'm still thrilled that I'm keeping up! 26. "Just Jane" by Nancy Moser 25. "Dead Man's Folly" by Agatha Christie 24. "Prom and Prejudice" by Elizabeth Eulberg 23. "Half Magic" by Edward Eager 22. "Wings" by Aprilynne Pike 21. "Miniatures and Morals" by Peter Leithart (carried over from 2010) 20. "What Jane Austen Taught Me About Love and Romance" by Debra White Smith (carried over from 2010) 19. "Lessons at Blackberry Inn" by Karen Andreola 18. "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen 17. "The Silver Chair" by C.S. Lewis 16. "The Girl Who Chased the Moon" by Sarah Allen 15. "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith 14. "The Candlestone" by Bryan Davis 13. "Emma" by Jane Austen 12. "Turtle in Paradise" by Jennifer L. Holm 11. "It's a Jungle Out There!" by Ron Snell 10. "Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan 9. "Remarkable Creatures" by Tracy Chevalier 8. "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman 7. "The Diamond Throne" by David Eddings 6. "Adam and His Kin" by Ruth Beechick 5. "Persuasion" by Jane Austen 4. "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner" by Stephenie Meyer 3. "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" by C.S. Lewis (carried over from 2010) 2. "Mansfield Park" by Jane Austen 1. "Enchantment" by Orson Scott Card Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkle Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 Another week of mostly Agatha Christie for me (I will be so happy when I have my car back again and can go to the library): The Secret Adversary and Murder in Mesopotamia, and reading Three Act Tragedy right now. Also still reading Blessed John the Wonderworker and You Can Change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsbaby Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 I finished book 28 last night: Lucky by Alice Sebold. It is a memoir of her rape as a college students and the immediate aftermath. As with Sebold's other books, it was often harsh, very matter of fact, and hard to put down. I am in the middle of Sweetie by Kathryn Magendie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 I finished Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese this morning. Loved it. It took me a couple of weeks, mostly because I didn't have much reading time and it is 650+ pages. But we had a nice camping trip this weekend with extended reading time available. Next up: I think I'll do some pre-reading for next school year. I want to read Do Hard Things with the kids--I think I'll read it on my own first. 2011 Reading List 28. Cutting for Stone-Abraham Verghese 27. Stay With Me-Sandra Rodriguez Barron 26. Radical Homemakers-Shannon Hayes 25. Heaven is for Real-Todd Burpo 24. Under the Tuscan Sun-Frances Mayes 23. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother-Amy Chua 22. These Three Remain-Pamela Aidan 21. Chocolat-Joanne Harris 20. Where the Red Fern Grows-Wilson Rawls 19. Duty and Desire-Pamela Aidan 18. An Assembly Such As This-Pamela Aidan 17. Left Neglected-Lisa Genova 16. Classics in the Classroom-Michael Clay Thompson 15. True You-Janet Jackson 14. The Samurai’s Garden-Gail Tsukiyama 13. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet-Jamie Ford 12. God’s Middle Finger-Richard Grant 11. Kristin Lavransdatter-I: The Wreath-Sigrid Undset 10. The Housekeeper and the Professor-Yoko Ogawa 9. A Lucky Child-Thomas Buergenthal 8. Three Cups of Tea-Greg Mortenson 7. Run-Ann Patchett 6. The Red Queen-Philippa Gregory 5. Agnes Grey-Anne Bronte 4. The Daughter of Time-Josephine Tey 3. Mythology-Edith Hamilton 2. Phantom Toll Booth-Norton Juster 1. Her Fearful Symmetry-Audrey Niffenegger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Congrats Robin! It feels so good when you're done, doesn't it? I'm almost done with Leaps of Faith. Not as interesting as I'd hoped. I'm listening to Baggage Claim because I need some silly brain candy. I'm reading Wife No. 19 on my Nook, and I started Packing for Mars due to recommends from this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglei Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 This week I read: #45 - Growing Up Laughing, by Marlo Thomas. Not as enjoyable as I thought it would be, given an interview I saw with her concerning this book. She basically took snippets of her life, polished them off in quick fashion, and interspersed interviews with other comedians throughout the book. I will say, however, that I am glad that she didn't use this as a forum to divulge "too much information" - iykwim.:001_smile: (Melissa Gilbert, of Little House on the Prairie, did that, and it was just way too much. So kudos to Marlo for NOT doing that). Currently reading: #46 - Wise and Otherwise, by Isabella Alden. The aunt of Grace Livingston Hill, so if you like Hill's books, you'll likely enjoy Alden's. Hers have more references to the gospel and everyday living, I think, than do Grace's, but otherwise, more *gentle* stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennW in SoCal Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 I am done with my last class to earn my Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts. I'm done, I'm done, I'm done. Doing the Happy Dance! :party: and :cheers2: Congratulations! I read a Lord Peter mystery I had not seen before, Clouds of Witness. An earlier one, with a plot that is frequently referenced to in later books. As always I enjoyed it, loved the literary references, loved the clues and red herrings and loved trying to figure it out as I went along. I'm currently listening to Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte. I think she may be my favorite Bronte sister. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 I'm currently listening to Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte. I think she may be my favorite Bronte sister. I just finished Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights" and I don't think I'm an Emily fan. I read "Agnes Grey" by Anne Bronte and liked that much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Congratulations on finishing your degree! I read a book by Gabriel Cousins, recommended by Peela many moons back. And a book on Egyptian queens that was more photography than text, but what photography! I likes shiny! :) Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydusk Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 My paper is finished and hence I am done with my last class to earn my Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts. I'm done, I'm done, I'm done. Doing the Happy Dance! Congratulations! I'm working on Acedia and Me (theoretically), A Mother's Rule of Life (just started, but looks promising), and we decided for book club to read Persuasion which I'm reading enthusiastically. We'll see what I finish this week [grin] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giraffe Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 My paper is finished and hence I am done with my last class to earn my Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts. I'm done, I'm done, I'm done. Doing the Happy Dance! CONGRATULATIONS! :party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medieval Mom Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 I finished Part One of Pilgrim's Progress, and have just begun Part Two (Christiana's Journey). Interesting reading! Still plugging away on Springtime in Britain (Teale). With travel, family events, birthdays, and planning next year, I haven't taken much time to read... Sigh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyfaithe Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 I finished The Great Gatsby Sunday and I am beginning The Yanks are Coming by Albert Marrin in prep for teaching WWI. Faithe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edithcrawley Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 Didn't get much reading done last week, lots of rearranging of furniture and organizing. This week I plan to read Jane Eyre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermom Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 I read The Rational Optimist, which was really really interesting. I thought it was great. I also read The White Witch by Elizabeth Goudge, who I love--it's a historical novel about the English Civil War and very well-written. I spent the weekend at my 20th high school reunion, and had a great time! It was really nice to see that we're all grownups now and the awkward awful stuff has sort of gone away, and they're all reasonably pleasant people I enjoy talking with. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 (edited) I missed this thread, so I'm late posting, but I had a great reading week last week - dh was away during the week, so I read more in the evenings, then he was here on the weekend and I claimed "me time" and retired to the room with a few books! I though the write-ups on the back cover captured the first three books well: The Attack: “A moving, often troubling exploration of faith, self-belief and identity” The Cellist of Sarajevo: “Profoundly moving” The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie: “Utterly charming” The first two books were both set in war zones (Israel/Palestine and Bosnia respectively) but while the second offered some redemption for the characters, I was less clear on the theme of the first book. The main character's dreams allowed him to rise above the barriers of culture, religion and politics and achieve success and happiness in difficult circumstances. Despite the decision to separate himself from the conflicts around him, everything is still torn from him. The book ends with the theme of dreaming again, but I'm not sure what this means: that dreams can save us? that they can't? that they can't, but they're all we have, anyway? Confusing and disturbing! The final book was The Cure for Modern Life by Lisa Tucker, which I was hoping would be a good read, as I'd enjoyed her Once Upon a Day some years ago. I wasn't disappointed: it was a thoughtful "emotional drama" type of novel, set against the backdrop of a large pharmaceutical company and questions of medical (and other) ethics. It reminded me of a Nick Hornsby novel in some ways. Some aspects of the storyline seemed a bit contrived, but the characters, themes and humour were so satisfying that it hardly mattered. Back to Sarajevo this week with Bill Carter's Fools Rush In. Only 9 books behind now! Edited June 22, 2011 by nd293 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted June 22, 2011 Author Share Posted June 22, 2011 Thanks everybody. Got an A on Final project paper and an A for the class. Huzzah! Working my way through Midnight Breed series by Lara Adrian. Just finished "Veil of Midnight." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medieval Mom Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Thanks everybody. Got an A on Final project paper and an A for the class. Huzzah! Huzzah! :party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamee Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 After seeing it mentioned in a thread here, I found Longitude at the library and read that this week. Very interesting and a fast read. Now that I'll be at the pool everyday, I should get some more reading in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 I finally broke down and bought/read Water for Elephants after a friend took me to go see the movie. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Thanks everybody. Got an A on Final project paper and an A for the class. Huzzah! " :party: I'm reading Children of God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 I finished "Garden Spells" by Sarah Addison Allen on Tuesday. Actually, I read it in one day! I am absolutely adoring Allen's stories, however, I was disappointed that there was so much s*x in this one and multiple f words. :glare: I just don't do that anymore. "The Girl Who Chased the Moon" had no f words and only one scene that was explicit. I would love to read her other books, but I don't know what they will be like. Anyone know the answer to this? If they are like "Garden Spells" I will have to skip them. I just love her creativity, I just wish she could leave the other out of it. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydusk Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 I finished A Mother's Rule of Life last night and really enjoyed it. My 2011 Reviews: 1. Her Daughter's Dream - Francine Rivers 2. Island of the World - Michael O'Brien (AMAZING!) 3. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress - Rhoda Janzen 4. Cinderella Ate My Daughter - Peggy Orenstein 5. Devil's Cub - Georgette Heyer 6. Keeping a Nature Journal - Clare Walker Leslie and Charles E Roth. 7. Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization (Audio Book) - Anthony Esolen 8. Excellent Women - Barbara Pym 9. The Abyssinian - Jean-Christophe Rufin 10. In the Company of Others - Jan Karon 11. One Thousand Gifts - Ann Voskamp 12. Regency Buck - Georgette Heyer 13. Bath Tangle - Georgette Heyer 14. The Convenient Marriage - Georgette Heyer 15. The Organized Heart - Staci Eastin 16. Your Home: A Place of Grace - Susan Hunt 17. Christian Encounters: Jane Austen - Peter Leithart 18. Bambi: A Life in the Woods - Victor Salten 19. Aunt Jane's Hero - Elizabeth Prentiss 20. The Magician's Nephew (Audio Book) - C.S. Lewis 21. The Horse and His Boy (Audio Book) - C.S. Lewis 22. Beauty for Truth's Sake - Stratford Caldecott 23. A Mother's Rule of Life - Holly Pierlot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nono Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 I am keeping my list on a machine I don't use much, but it is near my reading chair. :) I'm still woefully behind, as I seem to keep involving myself in books that are too long, and liking them enough to read even slower to savor. :001_rolleyes: I think I wrote that when I last stopped by a couple weeks ago, so no progress there... Here's my list: 1. I Run, Therefore I’m Nuts 2. Forbidden Nation: A History of Taiwan 3. Pre 4. Extraordinary, Ordinary People 5. The Dance of Intimacy 6. Saltwater Buddha 7. When the Brain Can’t Hear 8. The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life 9. The Five Love Languages of Children 10. The Lost Gospel of Mary: The Mother of Jesus in Three Ancient Texts 11. The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite 12. The Last Week 13. The Janitor 14. Rescuing Patty Hearst 15. Throw out 50 Things: Clear the Clutter, Find your Life 16. Fire Your Stock Analyst! 17. The Art of Exceptional Living 18. Desilu : the story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz 19. Spirituality of Sport, Susan Saint Sing 20. The Middle Sea, John Julius Norwich 21. Islands in the Stream, Ernest Hemmingway I am stuck in The Middle Sea and Islands in the Stream this week...LOVING Islands in the Stream. I've avoided it for years, but am listening to it, and totally enjoying the narrator's take on the prose. The Middle Sea is rather dry, but he does get into certain areas of detail that are extremely interesting. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted June 26, 2011 Author Share Posted June 26, 2011 Link to week 26 - please continue the conversation in the new thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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