Robin M Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 Happy Sunday! Today is the start of week 27 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 blog - Z is for Zhivago. Another russian epic on my nightstand. Dr. Zhivago is a political social romantic drama about 5 young people during the Russian Revolution spanning from 1901 to 1943. Sounds similar to War and Peace so it will be interesting to compare this one to them. Here's an interesting piece of trivia. Boris's father, Leonid was a Russian Impressionist painter and not only painted portraits of Tolstoy but illustrated War and Peace. Hope everyone (in the states) enjoys their three day weekend. What are you reading this week? Link to week 26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted July 3, 2011 Author Share Posted July 3, 2011 I just finished reading Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson. Intense book about a woman with amnesia. She can only retain her memory for a day, so every night when she falls asleep, she loses her memory again. It's a great psychological drama. I'm involved in her virtual tour and will be reviewing on the 12th. Also giving away a copy of the book. Be sure to check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narrow Gate Academy Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 I am way behind in the book challenge, but I actually finished 3 books this week!! Book 13 - The Church History by Eusebius (This is preparation for Omnibus 2 with my 7th grader in the fall. An excellent read for history of the early church from Christ to Constantine.) Book 14 - The Hobbit by Tolkein (This is also for Omnibus 2 the secondary books and just because I'll reread it whenever I find time or a good excuse to do so.) Book 15 - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by Rowling (I'm trying to reread the series before the movie comes out.) On the list for the upcoming week, I'll be starting Confessions by Augustine. Hopefully, I'll also get through The Fellowship of the Ring by Tolkien and at least books 2 and 3 in the Harry Potter series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermom Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 I was doing a lot of traveling, so I read easy stuff. The Throne of Fire is the second book Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles, and Patty Fairfield is a storybook from 1901 that features a teenaged girl learning how to run a home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiegirl Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 I am busy planning for the next school year so my reading has fallen by the wayside. I just started Book #33 The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. I am hoping that I actually finish this book. It's really good so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 (edited) . Edited September 12, 2014 by Stacia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 (edited) (Continued from previous post...) I'm working on A Secret Gift for my book club. I can tell already that it will be an Excedrin book for me (meaning I'm going to cry when reading... and crying always gives me a headache, hence the Excedrin). It's good & (of course) touching so far.... From Publishers Weekly: "In a book grown out of a New York Times op-ed piece that drew a huge response, Gup (The Book of Honor) explores an unusual act of generosity by his grandfather, Sam Stone, during the Great Depression and other mysteries of Stone's life. Discovering a trunk full of old letters addressed to "Mr. B. Virdot," Gup soon learned that the letters were responses to a newspaper ad Stone ran before Christmas 1933, anonymously promising to 75 of Canton, Ohio's neediest families if they wrote letters describing their hardships. (Some of the heartbreaking letters are reprinted here.) But Gup soon learns that Stone had other secrets: the jovial, wealthy businessman had escaped a horrific childhood as a Romanian Jew, immigrating to America and reinventing himself to fit into all-American Canton, Ohio. Gup also tracked down families who benefited from Stone's gift to discover the impact it had on their lives. Gup paints sobering pictures of "the Hard Times" and the gift made by a successful man who hadn't forgotten his own hard times." The last one is just a fun, fantasy book that I stumbled across at the library (actually the first three books of this series are contained in the book): The Book of Jhereg. I'm enjoying it so far. From Library Journal: "Quick with both sword and wit, Vlad Taltos makes his way through the world of Dragaera as an assassin, aided by a small talent for magic and a lizard-like jhereg companion. Collecting the first three novels in Brust's Vlad Taltos series (e.g., Jhereg), this volume serves as a good introduction to the adventures of the author's archly sophisticated, wryly humorous hero." Books read in 2011: The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag People Die Three Ways to Capsize a Boat The Perfect Man The Abyssinian Food Rules Empress Orchid Sister Pelagia and the Red Cockerel A Voyage Long and Strange All the Names When We Were Orphans Her Fearful Symmetry Meeting Faith: The Forest Journals of a Black Buddhist Nun The Guinea Pig Diaries 13, rue Thérèse The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno Twelve Fingers Fatu-Hiva Apartment Therapy Haroun and the Sea of Stories The Broom of the System Well-Schooled in Murder A Red Herring without Mustard Treasure Island I Have America Surrounded Kafka on the Shore The Dream of Perpetual Motion Five Quarters of the Orange The Wooden Sea The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack Me Talk Pretty One Day Edited July 4, 2011 by Stacia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imprimis Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 (edited) Ok---while in Italy last week (in Epcot, alas ;))---I picked up How to Think Like Leonardo DaVinci by Michael Gelb. It's a combination personal growth/mini da Vinci history book/ mini art course that encourages (by using the suggested exercises) strengthening your thinking skills. I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be, however the book does contain some interesting info and I do feel some of the exercises are quite helpful. Plus, I've got a list of da Vinci books now that I plan to make my way through eventually. Edited July 3, 2011 by Imprimis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 Finished two books this week (had some airport/airplane time): The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley and Anna of Byzantium by Tracy Barrett. Found out about the first from this thread a month or two ago and enjoyed it very much--thank you! The second is on my 6th grader's history reading list for this year. I need to pre-read some of those just so I can discuss them intelligently with her this year. I'm still working on Do Hard Things by the Harris brothers. 2011 Reading List 30. Anna of Byzantium-Tracy Barrett 29. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie-Alan Bradley 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...
JennW in SoCal Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 Stacia, I have a movie recommendation for you, a movie based on the life of Richard Burton and the expedition to find the source of the Nile. It is "Mountains Of the Moon", and I remember really liking it when it came out. This week's book was The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. While I didn't love the main conflict of the story, it was great fun as it is told through the eyes of the dog who is a wise observer of human activity. I've started another Terry Pratchett novel, Monsterous Regiment" and am slowly working through Simon Winchester's Atlantic. I'm typing this on my iPad and I can't figure out how to underline or italicize anything. Ugh! And it is slower than typing with a keyboard!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyfaithe Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Still working on my high school reads list.... Just finished Lord of the Flies and have begun Their Eyes were Watching God. I really loved Lord of the Flies in a weird way. Poor Piggy:-( Faithe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Stacia, I have a movie recommendation for you, a movie based on the life of Richard Burton and the expedition to find the source of the Nile. It is "Mountains Of the Moon", and I remember really liking it when it came out. Thanks! Sounds like it would be interesting. My library doesn't seem to carry it, though. :glare: I'm going to have to figure out some other way to see it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawneinfl Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 This week I'm working on Total Truth by Nancy Pearcy. It's a worldview book that my book group is reading. I just switched to the audiobook version because everytime I sit down with it - it puts me to sleep! Hopefully listening to it on the treadmill will help me stay awake. See what I've read this year at http://www.gurulib.com/Swampmom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennW in SoCal Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Thanks! Sounds like it would be interesting. My library doesn't seem to carry it, though. :glare: I'm going to have to figure out some other way to see it.... Netflicks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsbaby Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 I think I am on book 33 or 34. STILL trying to get through The Trial by Kafka. I find it torturous to read and can only tolerate a few pages per day. I keep reading thinking there must be some redeeming quality since it is a classic. I finishes Night Light by Terri Blackstock. It is the second in a series describing life after electromagnetic pulses destroy all electronics. I've enjoyed the first two books. I have started Uncle Tom's Cabin as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 (edited) Netflicks? We don't have that. Hmmm. Maybe a friend w/ Netflix can get it & we'll watch it together..... STILL trying to get through The Trial by Kafka. I find it torturous to read and can only tolerate a few pages per day. When I read that book (many years ago), I felt SO stressed out while reading it. I felt like the uncertainty, fear, confusion, etc... that the main character is feeling is exactly what I was feeling. I felt like I was living the book. I can't say I 'liked' it (who wants to feel panicked all the time), but I thought it was profound & pretty amazing. Edited July 4, 2011 by Stacia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglei Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 This was a slow-reading week for me; much ado, plus fighting allergies, but I managed to conclude: #47 - Chrissy's Endeavor, by Isabella Alden Today I plan to begin: #48 - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkle Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 I read The Listerdale Mystery by Agatha Christie, Do Butlers Burgle Banks? by P.G. Wodehouse, and Mrs. Pollifax and the Whirling Dervish by Dorothy Gilman. Right now, I'm reading Mrs. Pollifax and the Second Thief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawneinfl Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 I just finished reading Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson. Intense book about a woman with amnesia. She can only retain her memory for a day, so every night when she falls asleep, she loses her memory again. It's a great psychological drama. I'm involved in her virtual tour and will be reviewing on the 12th. Also giving away a copy of the book. Be sure to check it out. I just put this one on hold at the library after reading about it on amazon. Glad to hear you liked it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 I'm still reading The 19th Wife by Eliza Young. I don't get too much time to read this because it's on my Nook and my oldest claims the Nook for a lot of the time. I'm listening to Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. At first I didn't like it much but as the story continues I'm interested in what happens to the characters. I've also started reading The Moonstone and enjoying it. I like the writing style. Stacia, was it you that read it a while back and posted here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 I'm still reading up on Egypt. I just finished some stupid, conspiracy book that would have been almost good if it had been novel style a la Dan Brown, but was just stupid because it was masquerading as a scholarly work. Why did I even read it? I also finished listening to 'Emma' which confirms for me that Mr Knightley is my favourite Jane Austen hero, even though he has bad taste in women. Emma really doesn't have such excellent understanding as the novel keeps insisting she does. Anyway, I almost liked it as an audiobook, though I dislike Emma's character so much I couldn't like reading the book myself and couldn't like the Gwenyth Paltrow version of the movie, even though I thought it pretty well done. I haven't seen any other version and I should like to in case it can make me like the story because I want to like it. Apologies for incoherence, I'm horribly sleep deprived. Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 I love Mr. Knightley. :001_wub: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 I've also started reading The Moonstone and enjoying it. I like the writing style. Stacia, was it you that read it a while back and posted here? No, it wasn't me. I've never read anything by Wilkie Collins, but I've seen many recommend her books on here. I need to put something by her on my 'want to read' list. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 I think I am on book 33 or 34. STILL trying to get through The Trial by Kafka. I find it torturous to read and can only tolerate a few pages per day. I keep reading thinking there must be some redeeming quality since it is a classic. I finishes Night Light by Terri Blackstock. It is the second in a series describing life after electromagnetic pulses destroy all electronics. I've enjoyed the first two books. I have started Uncle Tom's Cabin as well. I read Terri Blackstock's restoration series. Like all the books except the last one. Was sort of disappointed in the ending. I have all the books. If you would like me to send you the last two or all of them, let me know and I'll ship them out to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imprimis Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 No, it wasn't me. I've never read anything by Wilkie Collins, but I've seen many recommend her books on here. I need to put something by her on my 'want to read' list. :001_smile: Wilkie Collins (a he, btw :)) was a contemporary of Charles Dickens. In fact they were close friends and collaborated on a number of short stories and plays. They worked together on a literary magazine called "Household Words." Anyway, I had never read anything by Collins until after I read the book Drood by Dan Simmons. It's a trippy, historical fiction/mystery/fantasy/thriller that features both Collins and Dickens. I loved it, btw! I started Collins' The Woman in White after reading Drood, got about half way through, but didn't finish it. I don't recall why I put it down---I think I purchased a new book that I couldn't wait to get to, and never did get back to poor Collins (but I plan to!) despite the fact that I was really enjoying it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Wilkie Collins (a he, btw :)) was a contemporary of Charles Dickens. In fact they were close friends and collaborated on a number of short stories and plays. They worked together on a literary magazine called "Household Words." Anyway, I had never read anything by Collins until after I read the book Drood by Dan Simmons. It's a trippy, historical fiction/mystery/fantasy/thriller that features both Collins and Dickens. I loved it, btw! I started Collins' The Woman in White after reading Drood, got about half way through, but didn't finish it. I don't recall why I put it down---I think I purchased a new book that I couldn't wait to get to, and never did get back to poor Collins (but I plan to!) despite the fact that I was really enjoying it. Oops about the he (not she) mistake! :tongue_smilie: Thanks for pointing that out to me. I checked out Drood awhile back, but didn't really get started on it before it was due back at the library.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Just finished "Saving Fish From Drowning" by Amy Tan which I really liked and I am half way through The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen which is just kind of weird to be honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giraffe Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 I haven't gotten much reading done. I think I'm going to punt for a while and IF I get time, I'll read, but right now there's just too much happening to sneak in some reading time. Sigh.... I did finish Omnivore's Dilemma though - loved it, though at the end I was thinking, yeah, I get it, processed bad, natural good, organic - maybe. Got it. I'm still going to change our eating habits when we get back to the States. Here it's all natural, just want to keep it up. I've read: History Of The Ancient World Evangelical Is Not Enough Square Foot Gardening (and yes, I really did read the whole thing) A lot of cookbooks (I know, they don't count) The Backyard Homestead Animal, Vegetable, Miracle The Spirited Child Museum of Innocence Reasons To Believe The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley Herodotus, Book 1 The Omnivore's Dilemma I'm reading: Fun: NOTHING Reading Project: Herodotus' Histories Religion: nothing, for now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Not getting to the reading this week, must be a holiday thing, or the fact that I've just been really busy. I did pick up Steve Berry's The Charlemagne Pursuit from the library. I read one of his other books (The Emperor's Tomb) and really enjoyed it. Everytime I've sat down this week to read, my eyes close. Maybe this next week will be more productive in the reading department. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 For all you reading gals (& guys), if you love American Lit (a la the Fitzgeralds, Hemmingway, etc...), you would probably really enjoy the movie "Midnight in Paris". I just posted about it in a separate thread, but wanted to add a note here because it is a movie especially for those who love Jazz Age literature & art. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289466 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 (edited) I finished The Reluctant Entertainer: Every Woman's Guide to Simple and Gracious Hospitality (and you guys didn't even know I was reading it, huh? ;):lol:... even though I usually blather on & on about books...:tongue_smilie:). It was in my library book pile & I forgot I had it. I realized it was due & I couldn't renew it (it has other holds), so I quickly read it. It can be a bit repetitive, but there is some reasonable advice in there & some of the recipes look tasty (and fairly easy to make). I can't say it was a favorite read (it's really more of a practical advice book), but I like some of the info the author pointed out (esp. about conversation). Probably worth reading if you're not the type to entertain others in your home, but would like to start.... ETA: I stopped reading A Secret Gift. I know it's a worthwhile book, but I'm just not in the mood to cry every time I pick up the book. Plus, parts of it slowed (imo) in too much detail; I wasn't getting into the back-and-forth between heart-wrenching sadness & family minutiae. Edited July 7, 2011 by Stacia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
readinmom Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Finished... The Unwritten Rules of Friendship: Simple Strategies to Help Your Children Make Friends (Read about this on one of the threads, sounded interesting.) Struglgling with... I, Claudius, Robert Graves Working on... The Summer of Us, Holly Chamberlin On Folly Beach, Karen White Dragonhaven, Robin McKinley Don Quixote, new translation by Edith Grossman 19. Lord of the Flies, William Golding 18. The Red Garden, Alice Hoffman 17. The Missing, Beverly Lewis 16. The Secret, Beverly Lewis 15. The Girl Who Chased the Moon, Sarah Allen 14. One Week in December, Holly Chamberlin 13. The Thorn, Beverly Lewis 12. Salting Roses, Lorelle Marinello 11. The Well Trained Mind, 2004 Edition 10. Night, Elie Wiesel 9. Last Light Over Carolina, Mary Alice Munroe 8. Homeschooling, A Family's Journey, Gregory and Martine Millman 7. Time is a River, Mary Alice Munroe 6. Commencement, Courtney Sullivan 5. The Redemption of Sarah Cain, Beverly Lewis 4. Thursdays at Eight, Debbie Macomber 3. The Three Weismann's of Westport, Cathleen Schine 2. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier 1. The Search, Nora Roberts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jujudalu Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 I am so envious and in awe of all you readers. I have a question. "How do you find the time?" And as a follow-up question, "How do you stay awake?" If I read at the end of the day, even with the best of intentions, I fall asleep. I really would like to regain the habit of reading for myself. I read almost all day to my children :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 I am so envious and in awe of all you readers. I have a question. "How do you find the time?" And as a follow-up question, "How do you stay awake?" If I read at the end of the day, even with the best of intentions, I fall asleep. I really would like to regain the habit of reading for myself. I read almost all day to my children :-) Limit time on the computer. I don't watch TV except a movie on weekends. I'll be able to read more when my youngest is older. It can be hard to read with toddlers in the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
readinmom Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 (edited) I have different books for different times of day, if that makes sense. The ones that take the most concentration I read first thing in the morning before someone wakes up. (only quiet time in our house:tongue_smilie:) The others are for appointments, park day, swimming, etc. My reading definitely is not on a consistent level by any means. There are days that I go without reading! Edited July 9, 2011 by readinmom wrong quote Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 Link to week 28 - please continue the conversation in the new thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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