CHALLENGE: Herding Cats II: Attack of the Hairballs

Follow the links to renay's place to get more detailed information. She really is herding cats with this one - last year I think there were over 300 600 books on the reading list.

Here are the rules Herding Cats II (April 1st, 2009 - December 31st, 2009):

1. Make a list of five books you love. Directions:

• Five. I'm as serious as a beached whale.
• All titles must be books you've read in 2007, 2008 or 2009.
• Please don't list a series; just the first book. If you really want to list a book in the middle of a series, you can, but it has to be that specific book.
• Feel free to share why you're putting the book on your list, because I am nosy.

2. Post your list:

• in your own journal, in the comments here, whatever is fine. Share the list here.
• Lists should be public (no locked entries, no logging in to view).

3. Browse the new book list. Stay a while. Read a few (eta: if you want; not even reading is required this time around if you don't have time to commit to a new challenge but still want to share your favorites).

4. If you review your books, you can share the reviews. You know, if you want. No pressure. Definitely not.

I did this challenge last year, but we were allowed to list 10 books. I guess with the economy the way it is, everything is cut back. Even the reading requirements are less, as reading is actually optional this year. I know once I see that big fat juicy list of books I won't be able to resist, but I'll save my decision of how many books I want to read until later. Here's a list of books I'd recommend to read as I really enjoyed each one in the past reading year, and each is very different, representing my eclectic reading style.

1. Crow Lake - Mary Lawson
Canadian novel about growing up and perspective and disappointing family and bleak Canadian landscape.

2. The Blinding Absense of Light - Ben Tahar Jalloun
Imagine being in a hole in the ground in Morocco for a couple of years - if it doesn't kill you, you will leave with a heightened spiritual awareness.

3. Life As We Knew It - Susan Beth Pfeffer
When the moon is struck by an asteroid, the Earth's weather patterns are thrown way out of whack, and this young adult book follows one family's strugle to survive in a pretty scary world. You will stock your pantry after reading this one.

4. The Outlander - Gil Adamson
A 'widow by her own hand' is hunted by her ex brothers-in-law in early 1900s western Canada. I thought this one should have won Canada Reads, but then I haven't read the winning book yet so I'm just reacting to my response to this book, which I really enjoyed. Makes you appreciate how far women's rights have come in 100 years.

5. Beat the Reaper - Josh Bazell
Crazy wild ride of a book. May not be for everyone, but imagine Dr House in witness protection, and then trying to save himself. Rude, crude and funny, you may not be interested in getting to a hospital any time soon.

The Ones I've Read Since It Started:
1. The Pull of the Moon by Elizabeth Berg rec'd by Mercy's Maid
2. Skellig by David Almond rec'd by Mariel
3. Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver rec'd by jenny simpson
4. The Houskeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa rec'd by 3M, a book lover
5. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen rec'd by jenny simpson
6. Sacred Cows by Karen Olson rec's by literary feline
7. Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale rec'd by pussreboots
8. The Lizard Cage by Karen Connelly rec'd by freshinkbooks

Books that are on the list (so far) that I may tackle:
The End of the Alphabet by C.S. Richardson
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Broken for You by Stephanie Kallos
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden rec'd by freshinkbooks
Geek Love by Katharine Dunn
Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli