Book a Week in 2012 - Week 22

[VeganCupcake]

I just finished Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden. It was very interesting--a bit of a different take on the story from Nothing to Envy. It wasn't as compelling as Nothing to Envy, but part of that might have been because I listened to the audio book instead of reading it.

 

I'm also reading and really enjoying The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. Her use of language is just perfect. It's invisible--it doesn't get in the way of the story, it is transparent to creating the images in my head. I love it. I don't know where the story itself is going, but I don't really care--I'll go along with Barbara for the ride. :001_smile:

[Jane in NC]

I actually think I liked Sins of the Fathers better. Hope you enjoy it!

 

I've got Cashelmara and Penmarric to take with me on vacation.

You know what I'll be reading on the beach this summer! I also plan on rereading Silent Spring in this year's 50th anniversary.

[Angel]

I finished Faro's Daughter by Georgette Heyer late last night. I am having a horrible time with my allergies and feeling yuck so I laid around all day yesterday reading! Honestly, I needed it after the crazy Graduation weekend ;) Up next, the next Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mystery! I'm guessing this was #20 or #21. I will have to check my list!

[ladydusk]

You know what I'll be reading on the beach this summer!

 

Heading to OBX in June ... I might read by the pool, but certainly some on the beach. I no longer have to freak out quite as much on the beach with my kiddos (Vigilant, yes. Crazy mom, less so [grin])

[Robin M]

Finished The Great Gatsby. Good writing but story wise - Meh! I like stories with happy endings and I don't like stories in which characters get away with bad behavior.

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

According to Goodreads, I'm 8 books behind! I started Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner this week. My sister brought it home as an Advance Copy from B&N. It's an easy and quick read. I'm hoping to catch up. I also started reading Universal Rights: Down to Earth while feeding the baby, but she hasn't been letting me get very far! :tongue_smilie:

[LostSurprise]

Sorry, dbl post.

[LostSurprise]

50. The Essential Garden Design Workbook by Rosemary Alexander~non-fiction, gardening, landscape design. One of the best books on landscape design I've read. Clear, succinct, in-depth, workbook.

 

49. The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: a Novel in Pictures by Caroline Preston~fiction, '20s, NY, Paris, coming of age. This was a fun easy read, a bit like Griffin & Sabine without the mystery. Very, very visual. If you like that St. Vincent Millay-FS Fitzgerald time period you would enjoy this.

 

48. Q: a Novel by Evan Mandery~fiction, quirky, time travel.

47. The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi~memoir, Italy, criminal case, serial killer.

46. Food Chaining by Fracker~non-fiction, food issues, picky eaters.

45. The Long Retreat by Andrew Krivak~memoir, Jesuit.

44. Exploring Garden Style by Tauton Press~non-fiction, gardening, design.

43. Homeschooling Children with ADD (and Other Special Needs) by Lenore Hayles~non-fiction, education, medical issues.

42. Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafrisi~non-fiction, memoir, Iran, literature.

41. Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris~fiction, France, WWII, food. *

40. Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller~memoir, stories, Christianity.

39. Just Take a Bite! by Lori Ernsberger~non-fiction, food issues, special needs.

38. Suspense and Sensibility by Carrie Bebris~Jane Austen, Mystery.

37. Pride and Prescience by Carrie Bebris~Jane Austen, Darcys, Mystery, supernatural.

36. Superfudge by Judy Blume~fiction, classic children's book.

35. The Explosive Child by Ross Greene~non-fiction, behavior, children

34. Cyteen 2: The Rebirth by CJ Cherryh~science fiction, cloning.

33. The Peace War by Vernor Vinge~science fiction, future, technology.

32. Whiskey Breakfast by Richard Lindberg~memoir, Swedish Immigration, Chicago.

31. Corvus: a Life with Birds by Esther Woolfson~non-fiction, birds.

30. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen~classic literature.

29. Cyteen: The Betrayal by CJ Cherryh~science fiction, future, space, cloning.

28. Divergent by Veronica Roth~youth fiction, dystopian.

27. The Help by Kathryn Stockett~fiction, '60s, race relations.

26. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs~youth, fiction.

25. Below Stairs: the Classic Kitchen Maid Memoir by Margaret Powell~non-fiction, memoir.

24. Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card~fiction.

23. Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood by Oliver Sacks~non-fiction, memoir.

22. The Garden Book of Wisconsin by Melinda Myers~non-fiction, gardening, flowers and landscaping.

21. Putting Down Roots: Gardening Insights from Wisconsin's Early Settlers by Marcia Carmichael~non-fiction, history, gardening.

20. Gudrun's Kitchen: Recipes from a Norwegian Family by Irene and Edward Sandvold~cookbook, biography.

19. Twelve Owls by Laura Erickson~non-fiction, birds.

18. A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell~fiction, WWII **

17. A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge~science fiction, space

16. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card~classic science fiction, read aloud.

15. Flour by Joanne Chung~cookbook, baking

14. Home to Woefield by Susan Juby~light fiction, humorous

13. Making the Most of Shade by Larry Hodgson~non-fiction/gardening

12. Growing Perennials in Cold Climates by Mike Heger~non-fiction/gardening

11. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson~mystery

10. Letters from Yellowstone by Diane Smith~historical fiction

9. The Circus in Winter by Cathy Day~fiction

8. The Alphabet in the Park by Adelia Prado~poetry

7. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman~non-fiction/medical *

6. One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus~speculative fiction

5. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Hidden Gallery by Maryrose Woods~juvenile

4. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Jester~(read aloud) juvenile

3. The Alienist by Caleb Carr~Mystery

2. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton~Fiction

1. The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt~Fiction *

 

Working on:

Blood Meridian (McCarthy)

Hyperion

The Fall of Hyperion (Simmons)

The Sacred Journey (Beuchner)

North by Northanger (Bebris)

 

 

*~top 5 books of the year (so far)

**~best book of the year (so far)

[LostSurprise]

I didn't either until I mentioned it on FB and someone mentioned it.

 

The second book is Gathering Blue and takes place a few years later than The Giver, in a village, with different characters. It just ends without any real ending.

 

The third book is Messenger and has various characters from the first two books meeting. I don't know the plot because I haven't read this one yet. It's next on the list.

 

I was really disappointed with this "series" but at least you find out a little more Jonas and Gabe.

 

Personally I prefer the open ending.

[Stacia]

Finished The Great Gatsby. Good writing but story wise - Meh! I like stories with happy endings and I don't like stories in which characters get away with bad behavior.

Aw, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it more! :mellow: I loved the writing AND the story, even if the characters were shallow & self-serving. :D

 

I'm feeling that way w/ Wuthering Heights. There is just so much personality dysfunction in this book that I feel *stressed out* reading it. Oh, the angst, the spitefulness, the hatred, the revenge... :svengo: -- it makes me think of a mix of reality tv, soap operas, telenovelas, & a crew of people that could have perhaps enjoyed the benefits of Valium &/or a stiff drink. :tongue_smilie: :lol: (Oh, wait, one of the characters did do that part & died from his alcoholism. And, yeah, I know WH is an example of gothic writing, but for Pete's sake...!) In spite of that, the writing is good & I'm soldiering on... (mainly for my book club). Not sure how I'll feel about it after I finish; I'm really on the fence right now.

Edited September 12, 2014 by Stacia

[KnitWit]

I just finished Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris and LOVED it! I enjoyed the movie "Chocolat" so I am reading her book now. The librarian told me that The Girl With No Shadow is a sequel to Chocolat so I am planning on reading it next.

 

I recently reread The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton and then I picked up her House at Riverton and The Distant Hours at the Goodwill bookstore. I really enjoyed all three of her books.

 

I also read The Housekeeper and The Professor. What a warm story! I thoroughly enjoyed that one as well.

 

I really appreciate these threads. I am discovering many new books!

[TravelingChris]

I read a two books this week and last. Neither would I recommend.

 

31. Of Thee I Zing, America's Cultural Decline from Muffin Tops to Body Shots by Laura Ingraham. Off the cuff rantings with no back-up from any research and some of these have nothing to do with any cultural decline but just her personal tastes and dislikes- like why would cupcake bakeries mean cultural decline, same with flags people fly outside their home (like sport teams or Easter eggs)- I don't patronize cupcake bakeries and don't fly flags but think that these are all personal preferences, not linked to any cultural decline.

 

32. THe Merlot Murders- Ellen Crosby. THe writer is a freelance reporter and a former foreign correspondent for ABC news. This mystery has thoroughly unlikeable characters with no sympathetic ones and the mystery is just bizarelly stupid. Not a good plot. This is her first novel and I won't be reading others if she does get published again.

 

Next up- finishing Pusher by Ed McBain (an old 50's mystery) and I have to start reading Red on Red by Edward Conlon for my mystery book club but thankfully, that is a second novel so maybe it will be okay. I don't usually have a run in with two bad books in a row.

 

Oh and thank you, PP, for the recommendation for The Essential Garden Design Workbook. I will look for it as I am continuing on my multiyear journey of redesigning my entire yard.

[Rosie_0801]

Just finished Terry Pratchett's 'Making Money.'

 

:)

Rosie

[Guest]

I am reading Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris. I haven't decided if I like it yet. It has a multi narrarator thing going on that I think I finally have figured out.

 

The Great Gatsby is on hold at the library, I just have to go get it.

[SunnyDays]

Lots of Joanne Harris books! I have seen the movie "Chocolat" but haven't read any of her books. Which book of hers would you recommend to be read first??

[Chocolate Rose]

#40 A Fine Balanceby Rohinton Mistry. This was a very long book set in India, primarily in the mid 1970's. Another book that underscored my lack of knowledge of world history. It reminded me of a kind of Indian Candide things kept getting worse and worse, but at least one of the characters was eternally hopeful-all evidence for such optimism to the contrary.

 

Awesome book! I read this years ago and it is one of the few books that I continue to think about.

[KnitWit]

Lots of Joanne Harris books! I have seen the movie "Chocolat" but haven't read any of her books. Which book of hers would you recommend to be read first??

 

I'm not that far into it yet, but so far "Chocolat" the movie has followed the book. I REALLY enjoyed Five Quarters of the Orange. I haven't read the others yet so I'd say start there. :)

[aggieamy]

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglass Adams - Finally a book I loved! I know I started this when I was younger and then for some reason put it aside because the first few chapters were familiar but I didn't remember any of the later ones. Great fun to read. If you love quirky British humor and sci fi then you'll enjoy this book. A fun fact I discovered was that Douglass Adams actually wrote a few episodes of the old Doctor Who. Cool.

 

In progress:

 

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien

The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien (for bookclub)

Free-Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy

Red Sails to Capri by Ann Weil (read aloud)

Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome (audiobook)

 

2012 finished books:

 

64. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglass Adams (*****)

63. Death of a Cad by MC Beaton (**)

62. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (***)

61. The Year of Living Biblically by AJ Jacobs (***)

60. A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie (***)

59. The Secret Adversary (Tommy and Tuppence) by Agatha Christie (****)

58. Tales of Robin Hood by Tony Allan - read aloud (****)

57. Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace (*****)

56. The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie R. King (****)

55. Death of a Gossip by MC Beaton (***)

54. The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett (**)

53. On Writing by Stephen King (*****)

52. Maus by Art Spiegelman (****)

51. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (***)

50. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins (****)

49. The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffinegger (*)

48. Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson (***)

47. Casino Royale - James Bond by Ian Fleming (**)

46. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson - Audiobook (***)

45. The Lucky Shopping Manual by Kim Lenitt (*****)

44. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (****)

43. Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer - Audiobook (****)

42. Half Magic by Edward Eager (***)

41. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede - Read Aloud (****)

 

Books 1 - 40

 

Amy's Rating System:

 

***** - Fantastic, couldn't put it down

**** - Very good

*** - Enjoyable but nothing special

** - Not recommended

* - Horrible

[LostSurprise]

A Fine Balance is a good book, but you have to be open to a lot of character pain. Really bad stuff.

 

Some people have trouble with that.

[LNC]

I have read 40 books! I won't list them all again, but it has been a great reading year... I am now starting the Harry Potter series for the first time ever. Should be fun and take a while!

[Melinda in VT]

I have read 40 books! I won't list them all again, but it has been a great reading year... I am now starting the Harry Potter series for the first time ever. Should be fun and take a while!

 

*cough* It might take less time than you think. :D Are your kids old enough to get themselves food?

[aggieamy]

I have read 40 books! I won't list them all again, but it has been a great reading year... I am now starting the Harry Potter series for the first time ever. Should be fun and take a while!

 

Yay! You'll love them.

 

*cough* It might take less time than you think. :D Are your kids old enough to get themselves food?

 

:iagree: :lol:

[Zebra]

I just finished The American Heiress by Barbara Eden (38) and Quiet The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain (39).

 

I listened to Quiet on CD and it was EXCELLENT! Definitely one of my top two books this year (the other one being Overtreated). We definitely live in a pro-extrovert society, and worse than that it's an ANTI-introvert society. Introverts have a lot to offer the world, but they don't go around yelling about it. We thrive as a society and in groups when there is a healthy mix of introverts and extroverts. Neither personality is superior, even in specific situations interestingly enough.

 

Business situations in particular are anti-introvert. Yet, there is an interesting theory in this book that claims extroverts caused the financial meltdown. I know at my DH's job they are always telling introverts to "get out of the their shell" and that's just unfair. Being an introvert is not a deficiency. It's the latest form of discrimination in our country. Other countries appreciate introverts, but not consumer driven America. Which is a real loss for us.

 

Susan Cain is married to an extrovert and loves extroverts. Her whole point is that introverts are okay the way they are, they should be allowed to be themselves, and that they have lots to offer every sort of situation. I loved this book, and I urge all of you who either don't understand/appreciate introverts OR want to feel better about being an introvert to read this book.

 

And the other book was okay too....:lol::lol::lol:!!!

[joannqn]

I was really disappointed with this "series" but at least you find out a little more Jonas and Gabe.

 

Personally I prefer the open ending.

 

Yeah, I've been told that I won't like the series ending. I'll finish it anyway.

 

*cough* It might take less time than you think. :D Are your kids old enough to get themselves food?

 

I'd say two weeks. :D

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

I have read 40 books! I won't list them all again, but it has been a great reading year... I am now starting the Harry Potter series for the first time ever. Should be fun and take a while!

 

I'm so excited for you! I read them all as they came out, but over the last year, I've been reading them to my kids. I've taken breaks in between them with the kids. We have one more chapter of The Secret Garden to read tonight, and then we are starting The Deathly Hallows tomorrow.

[Jane in NC]

Note to Ladydusk:

 

May I just say that I despise Cornelius Van Zale? In fact, I don't think I have despised a literary character so much since first encountering Guy Pringle in Olivia Manning's series The Fortunes of War. Excellent series of six books, by the way..in case you need more despicable men in your life. ;)

[SunnyDays]

*cough* It might take less time than you think. :D Are your kids old enough to get themselves food?

 

:iagree: Don't plan anything too strenuous for a while. Like cooking dinner.

 

I'd say two weeks. :D

 

I did it in 10 days. My DH wondered if I would ever come up for air again. Luckily he knows how to cook dinner himself. :lol:

[LNC]

:iagree: Don't plan anything too strenuous for a while. Like cooking dinner.

 

 

 

I did it in 10 days. My DH wondered if I would ever come up for air again. Luckily he knows how to cook dinner himself. :lol:

 

My identical twin is a law professor. She had her first baby (a boy) last year, and I recommended that she find good books to read while nursing... So, anyway she decided on Harry Potter to read when he was born. I think she read them in the first month or so, but she was also working on a book project. She badgered me all last summer that I MUST read them...

Edited May 31, 2012 by LNC

[ladydusk]

Note to Ladydusk:

 

May I just say that I despise Cornelius Van Zale? In fact, I don't think I have despised a literary character so much since first encountering Guy Pringle in Olivia Manning's series The Fortunes of War. Excellent series of six books, by the way..in case you need more despicable men in your life. ;)

 

He is rather despicable, more so in Sins of the Fathers than in Rich are Different, I believe. I think, I think, he never grew up past Paul's influence. He listened to Paul and took him and his public example to define his being rather than looking around him and seeing what was good in Paul and what was bad in Paul and growing up already. The worst of it is that he doesn't seem to realize he's despicable.

 

Can't wait to see what you think toward the end ...

 

Was Augustus Caesar the same? I haven't looked much at him.

[NanceXToo]

I have read 40 books! I won't list them all again, but it has been a great reading year... I am now starting the Harry Potter series for the first time ever. Should be fun and take a while!

 

I'm kind of jealous. I wish I was reading those for the first time, since I'm sad the series is over and I'll never have a "new" Harry Potter book to look forward to again!

 

52 Books In 52 Weeks 2012

 

COMPLETE

 

1. Envy, by J.R. Ward (Fallen Angels series)

 

2. Kiss of the Highlander, by Karen Marie Moning (Highlander series)

 

3. The Ramayana, A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic, by R.K. Narayan (with my daughter for school reading)

 

4. Dark Highlander, by Karen Marie Moning (Highlander series)

 

5. The Immortal Highlander, by Karen Marie Moning (Highlander series)

 

6. Spell of the Highlander, by Karen Marie Moning (Highlander series)

 

7. 11/22/63, by Stephen King

 

8. The Traveler, by John Twelve Hawks (Fourth Realm Trilogy, Book 1)

 

9. Into the Dreaming, by Karen Marie Moning (Highlander series)

 

10. A Judgement In Stone, by Ruth Rendel

 

11. The Dark River, by John Twelve Hawks (Fourth Realm Trilogy, Book 2)

 

12. The Golden City, by John Twelve Hawks (Fourth Realm Trilogy, Book 3)

 

13. Forbidden Pleasure, by Lora Leigh

 

14. Relic, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

 

15. House Rules, by Jodi Picoult

 

16. Midwives, by Chris Bohjalian

 

17. Wind Through the Keyhole, by Stephen King

 

18. The High Flyer, by Susan Howatch.

 

19. Daughter of the Blood, by Anne Bishop (The Black Jewels Trilogy, Book 1)

 

20. Heir to the Shadows, by Anne Bishop (The Black Jewels Trilogy, Book 2)

 

21. The Host, by Stephenie Meyer

 

22. Queen of the Darkness, by Anne Bishop (The Black Jewels Trilogy, Book 3)

 

CURRENT

 

23. Ahab's Wife, by Sena Jeter Naslund (Yeah, this one has been my "current" for a while now; I keep putting it aside to read other books)!

[Mom-ninja.]

You know what I'll be reading on the beach this summer! I also plan on rereading Silent Spring in this year's 50th anniversary.

 

 

I have yet to read this.

Now would be good.

 

 

I am now starting the Harry Potter series for the first time ever.

 

 

How exciting! I wish I could trade places with you. That first trip through Hogwarts is the best one.

[Sparkle]

I forgot to list one last week that I read: #52 The Warden by Anthony Trollope. This week I finished The Venetian Affair by Helen MacInnes - fun suspense book set in Paris and Venice. I also read The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. I had read this a number of years ago but it was nice to re-read it.

 

And I read A Groom with a View by Jill Churchill, part of her Jane Jeffry mystery series, and Wanted! by Caroline Cooney, a YA murder/suspense book that was enjoyable. So that brings me up to 56 books so far this year.

[Just Robyn]

I forgot to list one last week that I read: #52 The Warden by Anthony Trollope. This week I finished The Venetian Affair by Helen MacInnes - fun suspense book set in Paris and Venice. I also read The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. I had read this a number of years ago but it was nice to re-read it.

 

And I read A Groom with a View by Jill Churchill, part of her Jane Jeffry mystery series, and Wanted! by Caroline Cooney, a YA murder/suspense book that was enjoyable. So that brings me up to 56 books so far this year.

 

 

Congrats on hitting/passing 52! :hurray:

[rieshy]

I finished:

1. Giving Him Back To God, by Beth Baker

2. Ride the River, by Louis L'Amour

3. The Sorrows of Young Werther, by Goethe.

 

I think I should win a "random" award.

 

Giving Him Back to God is a really tough read written by a mom about the life and death of her son with ASD and epilepsy. As a mom of children with chronic illness I found it strangely encouraging.

Edited June 1, 2012 by rieshy

[-M-]

#53 The Devil All the Time (Donald Ray Pollock) Fiction.

Relentlessly grim but perfectly paced and neatly woven, this was the "it" book a couple of seasons ago. What seemed to capture many imaginations then was Pollock's personal history: He published his first book, Knockemstiff, in 2008 after working as a laborer in a paper mill for more than thirty years. While that is interesting, I think his work would have been compelling even without the backstory. The jacket copy notes similarities to Natural Born Killers and the stories of Flannery O'Connor, but I was reminded of that underappreciated 2001 film Frailty. Pollock's novel explores some of the same psychological landscape -- the twisted pursuits, the underlying faith, the inevitability of it all.

 

 

Progress toward goals:

I hit the 52 benchmark earlier this month, but the more important goal for me this year is to increase my non-fiction reading. Early on, I thought I could finish 52 non-fiction titles, but I'm not sure that's realistic. At. All. I've only reached 19 on Week 22 and have already committed to a dozen fiction books for "The Shelf Discovery Project." I plan to keep trying, though. Here's what I have toward that goal, to date:

 

■ Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting (Pamela Druckerman; non-fiction)

■ Shelf Discovery: The Teen Classics We Never Stopped Reading (Lizzie Skurnik; non-fiction)

■ Bossypants (Tina Fey; non-fiction)

■ Are You My Mother? (Alison Bechdel; graphic memoir)

■ Retirement without Borders (Barry Golson; non-fiction)

■ The World's Top Retirement Havens (ed. Margaret J. Goldstein; non-fiction)

■ Let's Go: Peru, Ecuador & Bolivia (ed. Michelle R. Bowman; non-fiction)

■ iDisorder: Understanding Our Obsession with Technology and Overcoming Its Hold on Us (Larry D. Rosen; non-fiction, psychology/technology)

■ The Difference (Jean Chatzky; non-fiction, personal finance)

■ The Pen Commandments (Steven Frank; non-fiction, writing)

■ The Memory Palace (Mira Bartók; memoir)

■ The Fiddler in the Subway (Gene Weingarten; non-fiction, journalism/essays)

■ The Power of Habit (Charles Duhigg; non-fiction)

■ Unpacking My Library: Writers and Their Books (Leah Price; non-fiction)

■ Immortal Bird (Doron Weber; memoir)

■ Stop Acting Rich... And Start Living Like a Real Millionaire (Thomas J. Stanley; non-fiction; personal finance)

■ Like Shaking Hands with God (Kurt Vonnegut, Lee Stringer; non-fiction)

■ The Autobiography of an Execution (David R. Dow; non-fiction)

■ Artist's Journal Workshop (Cathy Johnson; non-fiction, art)

Edited June 1, 2012 by Mental multivitamin
to add a note about my progress

[Angel]

Ok, I have not enjoyed being under the weather with allergies/cold this week, BUT I have enjoyed school being out, graduation being over, and that it has given me a few days in which to do nothing and read! (I still have two weeks to think about the graduation party). So I finished #22 (I'm caught up now :hurray:) last night. The Intrigue at Highbury, the fifth Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mystery. This one was so enjoyable! It is the first of the books that has had one of the main characters from Jane Austen's books as a main character along with Elizabeth & Darcy. Emma and Elizabeth were a great pair ;) No reading today, I have to actually get groceries (who knew people would actually want to eat in this house when I have so many books to read :lol:)

 

#22 "The Intrigue at Highbury" by Carrie Bebris

"Faro's Daughter" by Georgette Heyer

"The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare

"The Sword of Shanara" by Terry Brooks

"The Matters at Mansfield" by Carrie Bebris

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare

"Juliet" by Anne Fortier

"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare

"North by Northanger" by Carrie Bebris

"Yarn Harlot" by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

"Suspense and Sensibility" by Carrie Bebris

"The Tempest" by William Shakespeare

"Cotillion" by Georgette Heyer

"Pride and Prescience" by Carrie Bebris

"Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

"Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" by Tom Stoppard

"Hamlet" by William Shakespeare

"The Sisters Grimm" by Michael Buckley

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J. K. Rowling

"The Lost Hero" by Rick Riordan

"Henry V" by William Shakespeare

"The Eyre Affair" by Jasper Fforde

[Stacia]

Progress toward goals:

I hit the 52 benchmark earlier this month, but the more important goal for me this year is to increase my non-fiction reading. Early on, I thought I could finish 52 non-fiction titles, but I'm not sure that's realistic. At. All. I've only reached 19 on Week 22 and have already committed to a dozen fiction books for "The Shelf Discovery Project." I plan to keep trying, though. Here's what I have toward that goal, to date:

 

Congrats on reaching 52. As much as you read, I would think you would have no problem doing 52 non-fiction books this year. :001_smile: If you're looking for a few suggestions to meet your goal of 52, my favorite non-fiction books are (I'm guessing you've already read a few of these):

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford

Fatu-Hiva: Back to Nature by Thor Heyerdahl

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

 

Some others that were enjoyable:

Swimming to Antarctica by Lynne Cox

The Man Who Swam the Amazon by Matthew Mohlke & Martin Strel (poorly written, but still an amazing feat; interesting to read alongside the previous book in this list by Lynne Cox)

The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner

I Have America Surrounded: The Life of Timothy Leary by J.M.R. Higgs

A Voyage Long and Strange by Tony Horwitz

Packing for Mars by Mary Roach

The Monsters: Mary Shelley and the Curse of Frankenstein by the Hooblers

Waiting for Snow in Havana by Carlos Eire

any of A.J. Jacobs' books

Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley & Livingstone by Martin Dugard

1776 by David McCullough

The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sobel

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

Gal: A True Life by Ruthie Bolton

[LostSurprise]

Does everyone love Harry Potter?

 

Years ago, when the third one came out, DH and I read the first 2. I couldn't even finish the second one. It was so mediocre.

 

People keep telling me it gets better after book 3 or 4 but honestly there are too many books in the world for me to waste time on a series that only gets good halfway through.

[Sparkle]

Congrats on hitting/passing 52! :hurray:

 

Thanks ! :001_smile:

 

Does everyone love Harry Potter?

 

Years ago, when the third one came out, DH and I read the first 2. I couldn't even finish the second one. It was so mediocre.

 

People keep telling me it gets better after book 3 or 4 but honestly there are too many books in the world for me to waste time on a series that only gets good halfway through.

 

I tried reading the first one and didn't get too far into it. Just not my cup of tea. My kids have read them and enjoyed them though, FWIW.

[Mom-ninja.]

 

Progress toward goals:

I hit the 52 benchmark earlier this month, but the more important goal for me this year is to increase my non-fiction reading.

 

My goal is the opposite which is to read more fiction. So far I'm at 14 fiction and 15 non-fiction so I'm doing good.

 

Here are non-fiction that I like:

 

Your Body Beautiful if you're into health books.

 

Books by Malcolm Gladwell if you haven't read them.

 

The Botany of Desire I loved this book. I recommend it to everyone. :001_smile:

 

 

 

I just finished Your Body Beautiful and Don't Sweat the Small Stuff with Your Family.

[Stacia]

#52

 

Congrats to you too! :001_smile:

 

Does everyone love Harry Potter?

 

Years ago, when the third one came out, DH and I read the first 2. I couldn't even finish the second one. It was so mediocre.

 

People keep telling me it gets better after book 3 or 4 but honestly there are too many books in the world for me to waste time on a series that only gets good halfway through.

 

Well, I've read only the first one (but I've seen all the movies :lol:). I rated the first one 5 stars; however, I classify it that way because I think it's great for what it is (a book for KIDS), not really in comparison to the regular, adult fiction I usually read. I rarely read juvenile/YA literature (not really my cup of tea), but I found HP to be an outstanding example of excellent, modern YA lit (hence the 5 stars). I plan to read the others in the series, more because my ds has been begging me to finish them than because I find them so enthralling. So, yes, I really enjoyed it as YA lit; however, no, I'm not rushing to read the others (because I have plenty of other books I'm more interested in reading).... Does my explanation even make sense? :tongue_smilie:

 

If you're finding them boring, why waste the time? Read what you love. :D

[Robin M]

Barnes and Noble free book Friday - Today's book is a historical fiction "through a Glass Darkly" by Karleen Koen. Check out the excerpt and see if it tickles your fancy. It did mine. Amazon excerpt if you prefer

Edited June 1, 2012 by Mytwoblessings

[Mom-ninja.]

 

 

I rated the first one 5 stars; however, I classify it that way because I think it's great for what it is (a book for KIDS),

 

I think this is important to point out again. My dh's bil complained about the last two HP movies. He said they were not intense enough. I looked at him like :001_huh: and then asked him if he realizes that they are technically PG13 movies not adult movies.

[Rosyl]

Fluff, but isn't that what summer is for? lol

 

38) Love Finds You in Sunset Beach, Hawii Robin Jones Gunn

37) Coming Attractions Robin Jones Gunn

36) On a whim Robin Jones Gunn

35) Peculiar treasures Robin Jones Gunn

 

 

 

 

 

34) Loving by Karen Kingsbury

33) Watch Over Me by Christa Parrish

32) The Core by Leigh Bortins

31) Breaking Intimidation by John Bevere This was a little charasmatic for my taste, but good.

30) Big Decisions Linda Byler

29) Mockingjay Collins

28) Catching Fire Collins

 

27) I walk in Dread the Diary of Deliverance Trembley A Dear America Book

26) A Hope For Hannah by Jerry Eicher

25) A Year of Living Biblically A.J. Jacobs

24) Through My Eyes by Tim Tebow on audio

23) A Dream For Hannah by Jerry Eicher.

22) Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare on audio

21) A Love That Multiplies, Duggars on Audio

 

20) Ella Finds Love, Eicher

19) Hunger Games bySuzanne Collins

18) The Duggars 20 and counting by Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar

17) Emotionally Healthy Spiritually by Peter Scazarro

16) Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider

15) The Survivor by Beth Wiseman (yet another amish book)

14) The Art of Mingling by Jeanne Martinet audio book

13) Growing up Amish by Beth Wiseman

12) Ella's Wish By Jerry Eicher

11) Growing up Amish by Ira Wagler

 

10) The Healing by Wanda Brunstetter

9) Christmas in Sugarcreek by Shelley Shepard Gray

8) The Dark Tide

7) Little Men, Louisa May Alcott on Audio

6) Winter of the Red Snow.

5) The Daniel Fast by Susan Gregory.

4) A Wedding Quilt for Ella by Jerry Eicher

3) Longing by Karen Kingsbury.

2) Little Women by Alcott

1) Midummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare

[VeganCupcake]

Does everyone love Harry Potter?

 

Years ago, when the third one came out, DH and I read the first 2. I couldn't even finish the second one. It was so mediocre.

 

People keep telling me it gets better after book 3 or 4 but honestly there are too many books in the world for me to waste time on a series that only gets good halfway through.

 

I don't really care for HP. I don't usually like YA literature, though, so that's probably why.

[-M-]

Congrats on reaching 52. As much as you read, I would think you would have no problem doing 52 non-fiction books this year.

 

Thanks for the encouragement and the recommendations!

[-M-]

My goal is the opposite which is to read more fiction. So far I'm at 14 fiction and 15 non-fiction so I'm doing good.

 

Thank you for the recommendations!

[Stacia]

Just finished Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I read it in high school, but didn't remember much about it except Heathcliff, moors, & angst.

 

I did not care for the story or characters -- a full complement of angry, mean, souless, raving, spiteful, whiny, &/or lunatic characters. What a stressful book to read. Originally, I thought I would give it three stars for the writing, but I have decided that the horrible characters & the long, somewhat boring plot lower the overall score.

 

No wonder I didn't remember that much about it; I think I made a mental block of it. :tongue_smilie:

Edited June 2, 2012 by Stacia

[Robin M]

Link to week 23 - please continue conversation in new thread