Best Books of the Decade (aren't I glad I've kept a reading list of all the books I've read, and that I didn't use to read over 100 books in a year, making it easier to pick top books?) Some years, I read a lot of books from one particular series. I can never pick one book in particular book that I liked best, but the series as a whole deserved recognition, as I read several books in a year of that particular series.
2000
Evening Class - Maeve Binchy (not sure if this was the first time I read this)
The White Bone - Barbara Gowdy
Harry Potter - the first two books
series of the year - Thomas and Charlotte Pitt mysteries by Anne Perry
2001
The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver
A Good House - Bonnie Bernard
Girl with Pearl Earring - Tracy Chevalier
Bridget Jones' Diary - Helen Fielding
series of the year - Clan of the Cave Bear series by Jean Auel
2002
Bridget Jones: Beyond Reason - Helen Fielding
series of the year - Kathy Reichs' Temperance Brennan
2003
Ella Minnow Pea - Mark Dunn
Confessions of a Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella
series - William Monk mysteries by Anne Perry
2004
The Five People You Meet in Heaven - Mitch albon
DaVinci Code - Dan Brown
The Live of Pi - Yann Martel
A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follet
2005
America: Democracy In-action - Jon Stewart
The Poet - Michael Connolly
The Birth of Venus - Sarah Dunant
Middlesex - Jeffery Eugneides
A Girl Named Zippy - Haven Kimmel
2006
Pope Joan - Donna Woolfolk Cross
A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson
The Lady and the Unicorn - Tracy Chevalier
The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
2007
I Am the Messenger - Markus Zusak
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chobsky
The Bone People - Keri Hulme
Never Let Me Go - Kazou Ishiguro
Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
series of the year - Shakespeare mystery series by Charlaine Harris
2008
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde
Crow Lake - Mary Lawson
Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk
Life as We Knew It - Susan Beth Pfeffer
Black Swan Green - David Mitchell
series of the year - Inspector Montalbano by Andrea Camilleri
2009
The Lizard Cage - Karen Connolly
Twenties Girl - Sophie Kinsella
Fingersmith - Sarah Waters
The Outlander - Gil Adamson
The Housekeeper and the Professor - Yoko Ogawa
series of the year - Inspector Erlunder series (Icelandic mysteries)
Showing posts with label list. Show all posts
Showing posts with label list. Show all posts
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
LIST: New Author Finds in 2009
I read a lot of new authors this year, and I've divided the top 14 into several categories:
I liked them so much, I read more than one:
John Green Looking For Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Let It Snow
- writes with a wonderful voice, young adult books for everyone. I lent An Abundance of Katherines to anyone who would take it
Malcolm Gladwell The Tipping Point, Blink
- pop psychology written so easily, using great examples to make his point, examples that you remember
Sarah Dessen Just Listen, Keeping the Moon
- another young adult writer with easy, enjoyable books
Elizabeth Berg The Pull of the Moon, The Art of Mending
- dependably written characters, with an interesting look at relationships. Heavy chick-lit? Not light and fluffy, but from a strong woman's point of view
Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games, Catching Fire
- young adult dystopian, with the most awaited third book in a series to come next year. I don't often buy new releases, but this series was gobbled up by myself and my 12 year old
first book I read by the author, but definitely not the last (other titles to read in brackets):
Linden MacIntyre I read The Bishop's Man (Causeway, The Long Stretch)
- a new Maritime author, with the heart of Cape Breton in him
Michelle Moran I read Nefertiti (The Heretic Queen, Cleopatra's Daughter)
- historical, Egyptian books, fabulous and engrossing
Christopher Moore I read Lamb (Fool, the Stupidist Angel)
-funny, funny, funny!
Elizabeth Strout I read Olive Kitteridge (Amy and Isabelle)
-great character study in Olive, written with such unique perspectives
Sarah Addison Allen I read Garden Spells (The Sugar Queen)
-magical and wonderfully light
Only book they've written, hurry up! I want another! (maybe not technically their only book)
Brian Selznick The Invention of Hugo Cabret
- loved, loved this book. The combination of pictures and story, was amazing. I'd love to read another book like this one
Gil Adamson The Outlander
- great page-turner, adventure, love story set in the wild west of Canada. Another book I recommended to everyone, with some beautiful writing (Adamson is a poet)
Andrew Davidson The Gargoyle
- I was leery of picking this one up, but I fell on the love-it side of the argument. The ambition of this book, and the love stories
Josh Brazell Beat the Reaper
- There must be more adventures of this doctor in the witness protection program, the potential is too great to stop at one. Brazell is a doctor with a wicked sense of humor
New authors are so much fun to discover. I'm going to try the New Author Challenge next year, and keep better track of my-to-me authors.
Who was your best author find in 2009?
I liked them so much, I read more than one:
John Green Looking For Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Let It Snow
- writes with a wonderful voice, young adult books for everyone. I lent An Abundance of Katherines to anyone who would take it
Malcolm Gladwell The Tipping Point, Blink
- pop psychology written so easily, using great examples to make his point, examples that you remember
Sarah Dessen Just Listen, Keeping the Moon
- another young adult writer with easy, enjoyable books
Elizabeth Berg The Pull of the Moon, The Art of Mending
- dependably written characters, with an interesting look at relationships. Heavy chick-lit? Not light and fluffy, but from a strong woman's point of view
Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games, Catching Fire
- young adult dystopian, with the most awaited third book in a series to come next year. I don't often buy new releases, but this series was gobbled up by myself and my 12 year old
first book I read by the author, but definitely not the last (other titles to read in brackets):
Linden MacIntyre I read The Bishop's Man (Causeway, The Long Stretch)
- a new Maritime author, with the heart of Cape Breton in him
Michelle Moran I read Nefertiti (The Heretic Queen, Cleopatra's Daughter)
- historical, Egyptian books, fabulous and engrossing
Christopher Moore I read Lamb (Fool, the Stupidist Angel)
-funny, funny, funny!
Elizabeth Strout I read Olive Kitteridge (Amy and Isabelle)
-great character study in Olive, written with such unique perspectives
Sarah Addison Allen I read Garden Spells (The Sugar Queen)
-magical and wonderfully light
Only book they've written, hurry up! I want another! (maybe not technically their only book)
Brian Selznick The Invention of Hugo Cabret
- loved, loved this book. The combination of pictures and story, was amazing. I'd love to read another book like this one
Gil Adamson The Outlander
- great page-turner, adventure, love story set in the wild west of Canada. Another book I recommended to everyone, with some beautiful writing (Adamson is a poet)
Andrew Davidson The Gargoyle
- I was leery of picking this one up, but I fell on the love-it side of the argument. The ambition of this book, and the love stories
Josh Brazell Beat the Reaper
- There must be more adventures of this doctor in the witness protection program, the potential is too great to stop at one. Brazell is a doctor with a wicked sense of humor
New authors are so much fun to discover. I'm going to try the New Author Challenge next year, and keep better track of my-to-me authors.
Who was your best author find in 2009?
Monday, December 28, 2009
LIST: Best Crime Fiction Reads of 2009
If I had to pick my favorite genre, I would have to go with mystery. Some of the best series I've read were crime and mystery. It's that suspense quality, the clues, trying to figure out what happened. A great series will have a detective that makes you want to know them better. And they have their own issues to deal with, generally some terrible event in their life that leads them to make order in the world.
At Mysteries in Paradise, Kerrie has a great blog that is all about mysteries. I only recently found this site, but have been hanging around, getting lots of great new mysteries to read. There is an ongoing event, Crime Fiction Alphabet highlighting authors, or titles that begin with a particular letter. She also is looking for lists of your best crime fiction reads of 2009. She is taking lists, collating and listing them, and then making a big ole list. Here's my little effort for the year, in order of excellence, according to me.
1. Wife of the Gods, Kwei Quartey
First in a series with Det Darko Dawson, this mystery set in Ghana was a wonderful find. Darko was a great character, and the juxtaposition of present world and old traditions really worked.
2. Inspector Erlendur series
The Draining Lake, Indridason
Arctic Chill, Indridason
Hypothermia, Indridason
I'm putting all these books together, the Icelandic mystery series. I give these books to everyone who likes mysteries, as the setting, and characters, and the mystery all work so well. A flawed lead detective, two other police on the team who have their own interesting back stories, and the cold, dark Iceland: what are you waiting for?
3. Still Life, Louise Penny
A new to me series set in Quebec, I like when I find a mystery series that already has 4 or 5 books written. Inspector Gamauche solved a wonderful little crime, and is a detective in the Poirot mold - smart, cool, and ideal. I have to go back to Three Pines again soon.
4. Sacred Cows, Karen E Olson
Another first in a series for me. It reminded me a lot of Stephanie Plum by Evanovich, but I preferred Annie Seymour's humor and romantic leads in this book. Great mystery as well.
5. Excursion to Tindari, Andrea Camilleri
The Smell of the Night, Camilleri
Rounding the Mark, Camilleri
The Patience of the Spider, Camilleri
Every now and then I need a trip to Sicily and a little visit with Inspector Montalbano. Salvo is rude, and crude, and a bit obnoxious. He knows what he needs to do and doesn't let the actual law get in his way of solving the crime. He also enjoys his food, and reading these books is fun, and makes me hungry.
6. Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris
The book where Sookie Stackhouse, mindreading waitress of True Blood fame, got her start. She meets Bill, a vampire whose mind she can't read. She ends up solving a murder to help clear Bill. I prefer Harris' Shakespeare mystery series, but when I want to read another vampire book/mystery, I'll continue with this series.
7. Three Bags Full, Leonie Swann
The idea of the book is a bit better than the execution, but it was worth a read to see how sheep think. The flock of sheep solve the murder of their shepherd in Ireland.
8. December Heat, Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza
Continuing my 'around the world one mystery at a time', this one is set in Brazil. It was a great feel to the book, the hot December in Rio deJaneiro with another slightly flawed detective. I do plan to go back and read another mystery by this author - there are a few in the series.
Monday, December 21, 2009
LIST: Best Raidergirl3 Reads of 2009
It's time for my list of favorite reads of 2009. I find it difficult to pick, to compare such different books, so this is my result.
The Runner's Up (or how can I pick the best ten when I read over a hundred books?)
The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylor - Sally Armstrong best historical fiction
I Feel Bad About My Neck - Nora Ephron best essays
Still Life - Louise Penny best mystery
eta: Wife of the Gods - Kwai Quartey best start to a mystery series (I missed this on my list!)
e=mc^2 - David Bodanis best nonfiction
The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread - Don Robertson best book I read on a blogger rec
DeNiro's Game - Rawi Hage best war book
Garden Spells - Sarah Addison Allen best magical realism book
Rapunzel's Revenge - Shannon Halebest fairy tale retelling
The Sister- Poppy Adams best crazy person/plus moths
the top dozen:
The Housekeeper and the Professor - Yoko Ogawa best awww!
Beat the Reaper - Josh Brazell best action/adventure/humor
Then We Came to the End -Joshua Ferris best narrative voice
The Hunger Games/ Catching Fire -Suzanne Collins best series
Olive Kitteridge - Elizabeth Stout best short story collection
The Gargoyle - Andrew Davidson best love story
The Outlander - Gil Adamson best western
Clara Callen - Richard B Wright best epistolary
Fingersmith - Sarah Waters best Victorian, best suspense
Twenties Girl -Sophie Kinsella best all-round easy/fun read/best published in 2009
The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Brian Sleznick best children's, and best graphic novel
The Lizard Cage - Karen Connelly best book
How many of these have you read? Do you agree on my picks? Which ones will you be looking to read?
The Runner's Up (or how can I pick the best ten when I read over a hundred books?)
The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylor - Sally Armstrong best historical fiction
I Feel Bad About My Neck - Nora Ephron best essays
Still Life - Louise Penny best mystery
eta: Wife of the Gods - Kwai Quartey best start to a mystery series (I missed this on my list!)
e=mc^2 - David Bodanis best nonfiction
The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread - Don Robertson best book I read on a blogger rec
DeNiro's Game - Rawi Hage best war book
Garden Spells - Sarah Addison Allen best magical realism book
Rapunzel's Revenge - Shannon Halebest fairy tale retelling
The Sister- Poppy Adams best crazy person/plus moths
the top dozen:
The Housekeeper and the Professor - Yoko Ogawa best awww!
Beat the Reaper - Josh Brazell best action/adventure/humor
Then We Came to the End -Joshua Ferris best narrative voice
The Hunger Games/ Catching Fire -Suzanne Collins best series
Olive Kitteridge - Elizabeth Stout best short story collection
The Gargoyle - Andrew Davidson best love story
The Outlander - Gil Adamson best western
Clara Callen - Richard B Wright best epistolary
Fingersmith - Sarah Waters best Victorian, best suspense
Twenties Girl -Sophie Kinsella best all-round easy/fun read/best published in 2009
The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Brian Sleznick best children's, and best graphic novel
The Lizard Cage - Karen Connelly best book
How many of these have you read? Do you agree on my picks? Which ones will you be looking to read?
Sunday, November 29, 2009
LIST: NY Times Notable Books 2009
The New York Times most notable books for 2009 has been released. Here's the link to the most recent list, and past years. There are another fifty books or so from the nonfiction list, but I didn't retype all of them out! There were a few on the nonfiction side that intrigued me though. I have read 3 of the books this year, bolded, and there are a few others I'd like to read, italicized, but I haven't heard of most of them at all.
Have you read any of these? Any recommendations or warnings?
- Amatuer Barbarians by Robert Cohen
- American Rust by Philipp Meyey
- The Anthologist by Nicholson Baker
- The Art Student's War by Brad Leithauser
- Asterios Polyp by David Mazzuchelli
- Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon
- Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It by Maile Meloy
- The Case Book of Victor Frankenstein by Peter Ackroyd
- Chronic City by Johnathan Letham
- The Confessions of Edward Day by Valerie Martin
- Dearest Creature by Amy Grestler
- Do Not Deny Me: Stories by Jean Thompson
- Don't Cry:Stories by Mary Gaitskill
- Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada
- Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower
- Family Album by Penelope Lively
- Follow Me by Joanna Scott
- A Gate at the Stairs by Lorri Moore
- Generosity: An Enhancement by Richard Powers
- Half- Broke Horses: A True Life Novel by Jeannette Walls
- How It Ended: New and Collected Stories by Jay McInerney
- In Other Rooms, In Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin
- Invisible by Paul Auster
- Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi by Geoff Dyer
- The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
- Lark and Termite by Jayne Anne Phillips
- Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
- The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
- Love and Obstacles: Stories by Aleksander Hemon
- Love and Summer by William Trevor
- The Museum of Innocence by Orham Pamuk
- My Father's Tears: And Other Stories by John Updike
- Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazou Ishiguro
- Nothing Right: Short Stories by Antonya Nelson
- Once the Shore: Stories by Paul Yoon
- One DOA, One on the Way by Mary Robison
- Sag Harbour by Colson Whitehead
- A Short History of Women by Kate Walbert
- The Sky Below by Stacey D'Arasmo
- The Song is You by Arthur Phillips
- Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro
- Typhoon by Charles Cumming
- A Village Life by Louise Gluck
- Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
- The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
Thursday, January 8, 2009
BOOKING TRHOUGH THURSDAY: The Best?
It’s a week or two later than you’d expect, and it may be almost a trite question, but … what were your favorite books from 2008?(It’s an oldie but a goodie question for a reason, after all … because, who can’t use good book suggestions from time to time?)
These are my top rated books from last year at librarything, so I liked them best, at least when I rated them! No, in retrospect, these were all great reads, for all different reasons. Enjoy!
Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson
Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Crow Lake by Mary Lawson
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
Black Swan Green by David Mitchell
The Blinding Absense of Light by Ben Tahar Jalloun
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
LIST: Books Read in 2008
Here's the numbers and the lists. (Last year's totals are in parenthesis, I'm remarkably consistent!)
Titles in green were my favorite reads.
total books: 132 -I'm not including some very short books, including some graphic novels, or the book I didn't finish, but sometimes they get included in other stats (131 )
average per month: 10.9 (10.9)
Fiction: 115 (117)
Nonfiction: 20 (14)
books for Around the World in 80 books: 17 (24)
books for Booking the 50 States: 7 (11)
Pulitzers: 2 this year + 8 previous = 10
Bookers: 6 this year + 5 previous = 11
Canadian: 18
new to me authors: 100 (76)
short story collections: 3 (7)
mystery: 16 (17)
young adult/children: 21(22)
Challenges Completed: I completed 38 challenges and didn't get 2 finished at all. Here's my list of them:
Year of Reading Dangerously - on haitus
It's the End of the World - DNF
decades challenge - done
Winter Holiday Reading Challenge - done
Japanese Literature Challenge - done
What an Animal! - done
A - Zed Author and Titles Challenge - done
888 Challenge - done
A Well-Rounded Challenge - done
2nds Challenge - done
RIP III - done
Books to Movies - done
Science Book Challenge - done
Nonfiction Five 2008 - done
mini-challenges 2008 done
African Reading Challenge - done
Cardathon Challenge - done
Orbis Terrarum Challenge - done
Graphics Novel Challenge - done
notable books 2007 - done
July Book Blowout - done
in their shoes - done
342745 Ways to Herd Cats - done
chunkster challenge 2 - done
Southern Reading Challenge 2008 - done
Heard It Through the Grapevine - done
In the Pub - done
Once Upon a Time II -done
novellas challenge - done
Canadian Book Challenge - done
Series Challenge - done
Man Booker Challenge - done
Book Award Challenge - done
What's in a Name? - done
Austen Mini-Challenge - done
YAC books - done
Themed Reading Challenge - done
Hometown Challenge -done
The Eponymous Challenge - done
The Book List:
132. Lisey's Story - Stephen King
131. Ukridge - PG Wodehouse
130. Voices - Arnaldur Indridason
The Christmas Shoes - Donna Van Liere
129. After Dark - Haruki Murakami
128. The Camel Bookmobile - Masha Hamilton
Weetzie Bat - Francesca Lia Block
127. Heart and Soul - Maeve Binchy
126. The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories - ed by Alberto Manguel SS
Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston DNF
125. Montmorency - Eleanor Updale
124. Gentlemen of the Road - Michael Chabon
123. The Secret Scripture - Sebastian Barry
122. The Xibalba Murders - Lyn Hamilton
121. Too Close to Home - Linwood Barclay
The Scream - Rohinton Mistry
120. Drive Like Hell - Dallas Hudgens
119. All She Was Worth - Miyuki Miyabe
The Borden Tragedy - Rick Geary (graphic novel) NF
118. Life As We Knew It - Susan Beth Pfeffer
117. The Night Country - Stewart O'Nan
116. People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks
115. High Spirits - Robertson Davies SS
114. Shiloh - Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
113. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - Lisa See
112. When Will There Be Good News? - Kate Atkinson
111. Miss Julia Hits the Road - Ann B Ross
110. Who Killed Palomino Molero? - Mario Vargas Llosa
109. A Complicated Kindness - Miriam Toews
108. Child 44 - Tom Rob Smith
107. A Pale View of Hills - Kazou Ishiguro
106. The Trouble with Physics - Lee Smolin NF
105. Creepers - Joanne Dahme
104. Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk
103. The View from Saturday - EL Konisburg
102. Last Orders - Graham Swift
101. Exit Lines - Joan Barfoot
100. The Plague - Albert Camus
99. Rain Song - Alice J. Wisler
98. Flying Too High - Kerry Greenwood
97. The Stone Angel - Margaret Laurence
96. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict - Laurie Viera Rigler
95. The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga
94. The Stone Diaries - Carol Shields
93. Speaker for the Dead - Orson Scott Card
92. Out Stealing Horses - Per Petterson
91. Mama Makes Up Her Mind - Bailey White NF
90. Before Green Gables - Budge Wilson
Pedro and Me - Judd Winick NF
89. The Birth House - Ami MacKay
88. Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe
87. The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher - Kate Summerscale NF
86. Pretties - Scott Westerfeld
85. A Fraction of the Whole - Steve Toltz
84. Maus I and II - Art Spiegelman NF
83. The Planets - Dava Sobel NF
82. Running With Scissors - Augusten Burroughs NF
81. The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot
80. Crow Lake - Mary Lawson
79. The Night Watch - Sarah Waters
78. The Snack Thief - Andrea Camilleri
77. Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
76. Miss Julia Throws a Wedding - Ann B Ross
75. Hotel du Lac - Anita Brookner
74. Heart-Shaped Box - Joe Hill
American Born Chinese - Gene Luen Yang
73. Mudbound - Hillary Jordan
72. A Case of Exploding Mangoes - Mohammed Hanif
71. A Long Way Gone - Ishmael Beah NF
The Complete Fairy Tales - Oscar Wilde
70. The Awakening - Kate Chopin
69. The Cellist of Sarajevo - Steven Galloway
68. Shadow Family - Miyuki Miyabe
67. The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
66. How to be a Canadian - Will and Ian Ferguson NF
65. The Kalahari Typing School for Men - Alexander McCall Smith
64. The Interloper - Antoine Wilson
63. In the Country of Men - Hisham Matar
62. A Lesson Before Dying - Ernest J Gaines
61. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid - Bill Bryson NF
60. The Call of the Wild - Jack London
59. 28 Stories of AIDS in Africa - Stephanie Nolen NF
58. The Jane Austen Book Club - Karen Joy Fowler
57. The Goose Girl - Shannon Hale
56. Gods Behaving Badly - Marie Phillips
55. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith
54. The Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett
53. The Chocolate War - Robert Cormier
52. The Outcast - Sadie Jones
51. The Gathering - Anne Enright
50. Mister Pip - Lloyd Jones
49. The Chatham School Affair - Thomas H Cook
48. This Blinding Absence of Light - Tahar Ben Jelloun
47. Stardust - Neil Gaiman
46. The Ravine - Paul Quarrington
45. Latitudes of Melt - Joan Clark
44. Beauty - Robin McKinley
43. Miss Julia Takes Over - Ann B Ross
42. Maniac Magee - Jerry Spinelli
41. Yellowknife - Steve Zipp
40. Zel - Donna Jo Napoli
39. The Bleeding Dusk - Colleen Gleason
38. Vegan Virgin Valentine - Carolyn Mackler
37. Lost in a Good Book - Jasper Fforde
36. Princess Academy - Shannon Hale
35. Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson
34. Shopaholic and Baby - Sophie Kinsella
33. The Terra-Cotta Dog - Andrea Camilleri
32. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist - Rachel Cohn
31. Life and Times of Michael K - JM Coetzee
30. The End of East - Jen Sookfong Lee
29. Angry Housewives Eating Bonbons - Lorna Landvik
28. Black Swan Green - David Mitchell
27. The Quirks and Quarks Guide to Space - Jim Lebans NF
26. Remember Me? - Sophie Kinsella
25. Silence of the Grave - Arnaldur Indridason
24. All in Together Girls - Kate Sutherland SS
23. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things - Carolyn Mackler
22. Atonement - Ian McEwan
21. So Long, Jackie Robinson - Nancy Russell
20. Reading Lolita in Tehran - Azar Nafisi NF
19. Never Have Your Dog Stuffed - Alan Alda NF
18. Lorelei - Lori Derby Bingley
17. Shakespeare's Counselor - Charlaine Harris
16. Island of the Blue Dolphins - Scott O'Dell
15. Booked to Die - John Dunning
14. Persepolis 1,and 2 - Marjane Satrapi NF
13. Ex Libris - Anne Fadiman NF
12. House of Meetings - Martin Amis
11. The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde
10. Eleanor Rigby - Douglas Coupland
9. The Case of the Missing Books - Ian Sansom
8. Shakespeare's Trollop - Charlaine Harris
7. The Remains of the Day - Kazou Ishiguro
6. 84, Charing Cross Road - Helene Hanff NF
5. The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak
4. Housekeeping vs The Dirt - Nick Hornby NF
3. Brainiac - Ken Jennings NF
2. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler - E.L. Konisburg
1. The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz - Mordecai Richler
Titles in green were my favorite reads.
total books: 132 -I'm not including some very short books, including some graphic novels, or the book I didn't finish, but sometimes they get included in other stats (131 )
average per month: 10.9 (10.9)
Fiction: 115 (117)
Nonfiction: 20 (14)
books for Around the World in 80 books: 17 (24)
books for Booking the 50 States: 7 (11)
Pulitzers: 2 this year + 8 previous = 10
Bookers: 6 this year + 5 previous = 11
Canadian: 18
new to me authors: 100 (76)
short story collections: 3 (7)
mystery: 16 (17)
young adult/children: 21(22)
Challenges Completed: I completed 38 challenges and didn't get 2 finished at all. Here's my list of them:
Year of Reading Dangerously - on haitus
It's the End of the World - DNF
decades challenge - done
Winter Holiday Reading Challenge - done
Japanese Literature Challenge - done
What an Animal! - done
A - Zed Author and Titles Challenge - done
888 Challenge - done
A Well-Rounded Challenge - done
2nds Challenge - done
RIP III - done
Books to Movies - done
Science Book Challenge - done
Nonfiction Five 2008 - done
mini-challenges 2008 done
African Reading Challenge - done
Cardathon Challenge - done
Orbis Terrarum Challenge - done
Graphics Novel Challenge - done
notable books 2007 - done
July Book Blowout - done
in their shoes - done
342745 Ways to Herd Cats - done
chunkster challenge 2 - done
Southern Reading Challenge 2008 - done
Heard It Through the Grapevine - done
In the Pub - done
Once Upon a Time II -done
novellas challenge - done
Canadian Book Challenge - done
Series Challenge - done
Man Booker Challenge - done
Book Award Challenge - done
What's in a Name? - done
Austen Mini-Challenge - done
YAC books - done
Themed Reading Challenge - done
Hometown Challenge -done
The Eponymous Challenge - done
The Book List:
132. Lisey's Story - Stephen King
131. Ukridge - PG Wodehouse
130. Voices - Arnaldur Indridason
The Christmas Shoes - Donna Van Liere
129. After Dark - Haruki Murakami
128. The Camel Bookmobile - Masha Hamilton
Weetzie Bat - Francesca Lia Block
127. Heart and Soul - Maeve Binchy
126. The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories - ed by Alberto Manguel SS
Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston DNF
125. Montmorency - Eleanor Updale
124. Gentlemen of the Road - Michael Chabon
123. The Secret Scripture - Sebastian Barry
122. The Xibalba Murders - Lyn Hamilton
121. Too Close to Home - Linwood Barclay
The Scream - Rohinton Mistry
120. Drive Like Hell - Dallas Hudgens
119. All She Was Worth - Miyuki Miyabe
The Borden Tragedy - Rick Geary (graphic novel) NF
118. Life As We Knew It - Susan Beth Pfeffer
117. The Night Country - Stewart O'Nan
116. People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks
115. High Spirits - Robertson Davies SS
114. Shiloh - Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
113. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - Lisa See
112. When Will There Be Good News? - Kate Atkinson
111. Miss Julia Hits the Road - Ann B Ross
110. Who Killed Palomino Molero? - Mario Vargas Llosa
109. A Complicated Kindness - Miriam Toews
108. Child 44 - Tom Rob Smith
107. A Pale View of Hills - Kazou Ishiguro
106. The Trouble with Physics - Lee Smolin NF
105. Creepers - Joanne Dahme
104. Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk
103. The View from Saturday - EL Konisburg
102. Last Orders - Graham Swift
101. Exit Lines - Joan Barfoot
100. The Plague - Albert Camus
99. Rain Song - Alice J. Wisler
98. Flying Too High - Kerry Greenwood
97. The Stone Angel - Margaret Laurence
96. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict - Laurie Viera Rigler
95. The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga
94. The Stone Diaries - Carol Shields
93. Speaker for the Dead - Orson Scott Card
92. Out Stealing Horses - Per Petterson
91. Mama Makes Up Her Mind - Bailey White NF
90. Before Green Gables - Budge Wilson
Pedro and Me - Judd Winick NF
89. The Birth House - Ami MacKay
88. Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe
87. The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher - Kate Summerscale NF
86. Pretties - Scott Westerfeld
85. A Fraction of the Whole - Steve Toltz
84. Maus I and II - Art Spiegelman NF
83. The Planets - Dava Sobel NF
82. Running With Scissors - Augusten Burroughs NF
81. The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot
80. Crow Lake - Mary Lawson
79. The Night Watch - Sarah Waters
78. The Snack Thief - Andrea Camilleri
77. Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
76. Miss Julia Throws a Wedding - Ann B Ross
75. Hotel du Lac - Anita Brookner
74. Heart-Shaped Box - Joe Hill
American Born Chinese - Gene Luen Yang
73. Mudbound - Hillary Jordan
72. A Case of Exploding Mangoes - Mohammed Hanif
71. A Long Way Gone - Ishmael Beah NF
The Complete Fairy Tales - Oscar Wilde
70. The Awakening - Kate Chopin
69. The Cellist of Sarajevo - Steven Galloway
68. Shadow Family - Miyuki Miyabe
67. The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
66. How to be a Canadian - Will and Ian Ferguson NF
65. The Kalahari Typing School for Men - Alexander McCall Smith
64. The Interloper - Antoine Wilson
63. In the Country of Men - Hisham Matar
62. A Lesson Before Dying - Ernest J Gaines
61. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid - Bill Bryson NF
60. The Call of the Wild - Jack London
59. 28 Stories of AIDS in Africa - Stephanie Nolen NF
58. The Jane Austen Book Club - Karen Joy Fowler
57. The Goose Girl - Shannon Hale
56. Gods Behaving Badly - Marie Phillips
55. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith
54. The Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett
53. The Chocolate War - Robert Cormier
52. The Outcast - Sadie Jones
51. The Gathering - Anne Enright
50. Mister Pip - Lloyd Jones
49. The Chatham School Affair - Thomas H Cook
48. This Blinding Absence of Light - Tahar Ben Jelloun
47. Stardust - Neil Gaiman
46. The Ravine - Paul Quarrington
45. Latitudes of Melt - Joan Clark
44. Beauty - Robin McKinley
43. Miss Julia Takes Over - Ann B Ross
42. Maniac Magee - Jerry Spinelli
41. Yellowknife - Steve Zipp
40. Zel - Donna Jo Napoli
39. The Bleeding Dusk - Colleen Gleason
38. Vegan Virgin Valentine - Carolyn Mackler
37. Lost in a Good Book - Jasper Fforde
36. Princess Academy - Shannon Hale
35. Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson
34. Shopaholic and Baby - Sophie Kinsella
33. The Terra-Cotta Dog - Andrea Camilleri
32. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist - Rachel Cohn
31. Life and Times of Michael K - JM Coetzee
30. The End of East - Jen Sookfong Lee
29. Angry Housewives Eating Bonbons - Lorna Landvik
28. Black Swan Green - David Mitchell
27. The Quirks and Quarks Guide to Space - Jim Lebans NF
26. Remember Me? - Sophie Kinsella
25. Silence of the Grave - Arnaldur Indridason
24. All in Together Girls - Kate Sutherland SS
23. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things - Carolyn Mackler
22. Atonement - Ian McEwan
21. So Long, Jackie Robinson - Nancy Russell
20. Reading Lolita in Tehran - Azar Nafisi NF
19. Never Have Your Dog Stuffed - Alan Alda NF
18. Lorelei - Lori Derby Bingley
17. Shakespeare's Counselor - Charlaine Harris
16. Island of the Blue Dolphins - Scott O'Dell
15. Booked to Die - John Dunning
14. Persepolis 1,and 2 - Marjane Satrapi NF
13. Ex Libris - Anne Fadiman NF
12. House of Meetings - Martin Amis
11. The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde
10. Eleanor Rigby - Douglas Coupland
9. The Case of the Missing Books - Ian Sansom
8. Shakespeare's Trollop - Charlaine Harris
7. The Remains of the Day - Kazou Ishiguro
6. 84, Charing Cross Road - Helene Hanff NF
5. The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak
4. Housekeeping vs The Dirt - Nick Hornby NF
3. Brainiac - Ken Jennings NF
2. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler - E.L. Konisburg
1. The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz - Mordecai Richler
Sunday, July 6, 2008
LIST: Favorite Literary Couples
In honor of literary feline's 10th wedding anniversary, she is having a little contest to give away some books. How generous is that? She wants to know her reader's favorite literary couple. I think this is worthy of a post of its own. Of course, I am not picking one, as the directions clearly state: name as many as you like--sometimes narrowing down a list can be extremely difficult and painful. Or maybe that's just me. No Wendy, it is not just you.
First reaction: Anne and Gilbert, of course. I am planning to go see the musical about their love story, so I think they will stay at the top of my list, especially when I am refreshed about all the wonderfulness of Gil and Anne.
Then I read the comments at her blog, musings of a bookish kitty, and was reminded about :
Jamie and Claire from the Outlander series, whose love travels all time.
Laura and Almanzo Wilder from the Little House Books. Their story is based on real lives, so they get an added bonus.
Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley are a more recent couple, but they have such a great base in friendship that I think they should definitely make the list.
Of course the Austen fans made their recommendations of Elizabeth and Mr Darcy, but I am more a fan of Henry Tilney and Catherine Moreland from Northanger Abbey. I loved Tilney's humor and twinkle in his eye as he gets to know and adore Catherine. Plus he gives up a lot to be with Catherine, while Elizabeth and Mr Darcy still get to be rich; they only lost a bit of pride.
I am trying to think of what books I've read where I love the couple, or they finally get together after the obstacles are removed and I am left in a puddle of tears. Some contenders:
Kerewin and Joe from The Bone People were two people who were better together than separately. They were horrid on their own, but brought out the best, or at least the good, in each other.
Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester: I was certainly rooting for them to get together.
Tommy and Tuppence : I love their adventures and the respect they have for each other's intelligence.
And my list will end with my favorite: Bridget Jones and Mark Darcy, of course. They are so great together and since it is essentially Pride and Prejudice, I love how they break down each other's guard and compliment each other perfectly after all the misunderstandings are solved. And Mark Darcy!
I know I am missing some great couple, but this is a bit of a list for now.
First reaction: Anne and Gilbert, of course. I am planning to go see the musical about their love story, so I think they will stay at the top of my list, especially when I am refreshed about all the wonderfulness of Gil and Anne.
Then I read the comments at her blog, musings of a bookish kitty, and was reminded about :
Jamie and Claire from the Outlander series, whose love travels all time.
Laura and Almanzo Wilder from the Little House Books. Their story is based on real lives, so they get an added bonus.
Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley are a more recent couple, but they have such a great base in friendship that I think they should definitely make the list.
Of course the Austen fans made their recommendations of Elizabeth and Mr Darcy, but I am more a fan of Henry Tilney and Catherine Moreland from Northanger Abbey. I loved Tilney's humor and twinkle in his eye as he gets to know and adore Catherine. Plus he gives up a lot to be with Catherine, while Elizabeth and Mr Darcy still get to be rich; they only lost a bit of pride.
I am trying to think of what books I've read where I love the couple, or they finally get together after the obstacles are removed and I am left in a puddle of tears. Some contenders:
Kerewin and Joe from The Bone People were two people who were better together than separately. They were horrid on their own, but brought out the best, or at least the good, in each other.
Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester: I was certainly rooting for them to get together.
Tommy and Tuppence : I love their adventures and the respect they have for each other's intelligence.
And my list will end with my favorite: Bridget Jones and Mark Darcy, of course. They are so great together and since it is essentially Pride and Prejudice, I love how they break down each other's guard and compliment each other perfectly after all the misunderstandings are solved. And Mark Darcy!
I know I am missing some great couple, but this is a bit of a list for now.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
LIST: EW top books from 1983 - 2008
It's the list from EW of the 100 most, something, books published since 1983. Maybe it's best book, maybe books that should be classic. I've read 27% of them, which isn't too shabby. I must be EW's demographic.
in red are the books I've read.
in blue are the books I have in the house already, waiting to be read.
1. The Road , Cormac McCarthy (2006)
2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling (2000)
3. Beloved, Toni Morrison (1987)
4. The Liars' Club, Mary Karr (1995)
5. American Pastoral, Philip Roth (1997)
6. Mystic River, Dennis Lehane (2001)
7. Maus, Art Spiegelman (1986/1991)
8. Selected Stories, Alice Munro (1996)
9. Cold Mountain, Charles Frazier (1997)
10. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Haruki Murakami (1997)
11. Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer (1997)
12. Blindness, José Saramago (1998)
13. Watchmen, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (1986-87)
14. Black Water, Joyce Carol Oates (1992)
15. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Dave Eggers (2000)
16. The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood (1986)
17. Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel GarcÃa Márquez (1988) Mar 14/09
18. Rabbit at Rest, John Updike (1990)
19. On Beauty, Zadie Smith (2005)
20. Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding (1998)
21. On Writing, Stephen King (2000)
22. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot DÃaz (2007)
23. The Ghost Road, Pat Barker (1996)
24. Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry (1985)
25. The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan (1989)
26. Neuromancer, William Gibson (1984)
27. Possession, A.S. Byatt (1990)
28. Naked, David Sedaris (1997)
29. Bel Canto, Anne Patchett (2001) Jan/09
30. Case Histories, Kate Atkinson (2004)
31. The Things They Carried, Tim O'Brien (1990)
32. Parting the Waters, Taylor Branch (1988)
33. The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion (2005)
34. The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold (2002)
35. The Line of Beauty, Alan Hollinghurst (2004)
36. Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt (1996)
37. Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi (2003)
38. Birds of America, Lorrie Moore (1998)
39. Interpreter of Maladies, Jhumpa Lahiri (2000)
40. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman (1995-2000)
41. The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros (1984)
42. LaBrava, Elmore Leonard (1983)
43. Borrowed Time, Paul Monette (1988)
44. Praying for Sheetrock, Melissa Fay Greene (1991)
45. Eva Luna, Isabel Allende (1988)
46. Sandman, Neil Gaiman (1988-1996)
47. World's Fair, E.L. Doctorow (1985)
48. The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver (1998)
49. Clockers, Richard Price (1992)
50. The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen (2001)
51. The Journalist and the Murderer, Janet Malcom (1990)
52. Waiting to Exhale, Terry McMillan (1992)
53. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Michael Chabon (2000)
54. Jimmy Corrigan, Chris Ware (2000)
55. The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls (2006)
56. The Night Manager, John le Carré (1993)
57. The Bonfire of the Vanities, Tom Wolfe (1987)
58. Drop City, TC Boyle (2003)
59. Krik? Krak! Edwidge Danticat (1995)
60. Nickel & Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich (2001)
61. Money, Martin Amis (1985)
62. Last Train To Memphis, Peter Guralnick (1994)
63. Pastoralia, George Saunders (2000)
64. Underworld, Don DeLillo (1997)
65. The Giver, Lois Lowry (1993)
66. A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again, David Foster Wallace (1997)
67. The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini (2003)
68. Fun Home, Alison Bechdel (2006)
69. Secret History, Donna Tartt (1992)
70. Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell (2004) Jan/09
71. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, Ann Fadiman (1997)
72. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon (2003)
73. A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving (1989)
74. Friday Night Lights, H.G. Bissinger (1990)
75. Cathedral, Raymond Carver (1983)
76. A Sight for Sore Eyes, Ruth Rendell (1998)
77. The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro (1989)
78. Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert (2006)
79. The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell (2000)
80. Bright Lights, Big City, Jay McInerney (1984)
81. Backlash, Susan Faludi (1991)
82. Atonement, Ian McEwan (2002)
83. The Stone Diaries, Carol Shields (1994)
84. Holes, Louis Sachar (1998)
85. Gilead, Marilynne Robinson (2004) Feb/09
86. And the Band Played On, Randy Shilts (1987)
87. The Ruins, Scott Smith (2006)
88. High Fidelity, Nick Hornby (1995)
89. Close Range, Annie Proulx (1999)
90. Comfort Me With Apples, Ruth Reichl (2001)
91. Random Family, Adrian Nicole LeBlanc (2003)
92. Presumed Innocent, Scott Turow (1987)
93. A Thousand Acres, Jane Smiley (1991)
94. Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser (2001)
95. Kaaterskill Falls, Allegra Goodman (1998)
96. The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown (2003)
97. Jesus’ Son, Denis Johnson (1992)
98. The Predators' Ball, Connie Bruck (1988)
99. Practical Magic, Alice Hoffman (1995)
100. America (the Book), Jon Stewart/Daily Show (2004)
Who's missing? I'd like to see at least one by Douglas Coupland, Stephen King. How about Pillers of the Earth by Follett? The Bone People by Hulme? Life of Pi by Martel? A Fine Balance by Mistry?
in red are the books I've read.
in blue are the books I have in the house already, waiting to be read.
1. The Road , Cormac McCarthy (2006)
2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling (2000)
3. Beloved, Toni Morrison (1987)
4. The Liars' Club, Mary Karr (1995)
5. American Pastoral, Philip Roth (1997)
6. Mystic River, Dennis Lehane (2001)
7. Maus, Art Spiegelman (1986/1991)
8. Selected Stories, Alice Munro (1996)
9. Cold Mountain, Charles Frazier (1997)
10. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Haruki Murakami (1997)
11. Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer (1997)
12. Blindness, José Saramago (1998)
13. Watchmen, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (1986-87)
14. Black Water, Joyce Carol Oates (1992)
15. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Dave Eggers (2000)
16. The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood (1986)
17. Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel GarcÃa Márquez (1988) Mar 14/09
18. Rabbit at Rest, John Updike (1990)
19. On Beauty, Zadie Smith (2005)
20. Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding (1998)
21. On Writing, Stephen King (2000)
22. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot DÃaz (2007)
23. The Ghost Road, Pat Barker (1996)
24. Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry (1985)
25. The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan (1989)
26. Neuromancer, William Gibson (1984)
27. Possession, A.S. Byatt (1990)
28. Naked, David Sedaris (1997)
29. Bel Canto, Anne Patchett (2001) Jan/09
30. Case Histories, Kate Atkinson (2004)
31. The Things They Carried, Tim O'Brien (1990)
32. Parting the Waters, Taylor Branch (1988)
33. The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion (2005)
34. The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold (2002)
35. The Line of Beauty, Alan Hollinghurst (2004)
36. Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt (1996)
37. Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi (2003)
38. Birds of America, Lorrie Moore (1998)
39. Interpreter of Maladies, Jhumpa Lahiri (2000)
40. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman (1995-2000)
41. The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros (1984)
42. LaBrava, Elmore Leonard (1983)
43. Borrowed Time, Paul Monette (1988)
44. Praying for Sheetrock, Melissa Fay Greene (1991)
45. Eva Luna, Isabel Allende (1988)
46. Sandman, Neil Gaiman (1988-1996)
47. World's Fair, E.L. Doctorow (1985)
48. The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver (1998)
49. Clockers, Richard Price (1992)
50. The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen (2001)
51. The Journalist and the Murderer, Janet Malcom (1990)
52. Waiting to Exhale, Terry McMillan (1992)
53. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Michael Chabon (2000)
54. Jimmy Corrigan, Chris Ware (2000)
55. The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls (2006)
56. The Night Manager, John le Carré (1993)
57. The Bonfire of the Vanities, Tom Wolfe (1987)
58. Drop City, TC Boyle (2003)
59. Krik? Krak! Edwidge Danticat (1995)
60. Nickel & Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich (2001)
61. Money, Martin Amis (1985)
62. Last Train To Memphis, Peter Guralnick (1994)
63. Pastoralia, George Saunders (2000)
64. Underworld, Don DeLillo (1997)
65. The Giver, Lois Lowry (1993)
66. A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again, David Foster Wallace (1997)
67. The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini (2003)
68. Fun Home, Alison Bechdel (2006)
69. Secret History, Donna Tartt (1992)
70. Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell (2004) Jan/09
71. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, Ann Fadiman (1997)
72. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon (2003)
73. A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving (1989)
74. Friday Night Lights, H.G. Bissinger (1990)
75. Cathedral, Raymond Carver (1983)
76. A Sight for Sore Eyes, Ruth Rendell (1998)
77. The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro (1989)
78. Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert (2006)
79. The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell (2000)
80. Bright Lights, Big City, Jay McInerney (1984)
81. Backlash, Susan Faludi (1991)
82. Atonement, Ian McEwan (2002)
83. The Stone Diaries, Carol Shields (1994)
84. Holes, Louis Sachar (1998)
85. Gilead, Marilynne Robinson (2004) Feb/09
86. And the Band Played On, Randy Shilts (1987)
87. The Ruins, Scott Smith (2006)
88. High Fidelity, Nick Hornby (1995)
89. Close Range, Annie Proulx (1999)
90. Comfort Me With Apples, Ruth Reichl (2001)
91. Random Family, Adrian Nicole LeBlanc (2003)
92. Presumed Innocent, Scott Turow (1987)
93. A Thousand Acres, Jane Smiley (1991)
94. Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser (2001)
95. Kaaterskill Falls, Allegra Goodman (1998)
96. The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown (2003)
97. Jesus’ Son, Denis Johnson (1992)
98. The Predators' Ball, Connie Bruck (1988)
99. Practical Magic, Alice Hoffman (1995)
100. America (the Book), Jon Stewart/Daily Show (2004)
Who's missing? I'd like to see at least one by Douglas Coupland, Stephen King. How about Pillers of the Earth by Follett? The Bone People by Hulme? Life of Pi by Martel? A Fine Balance by Mistry?
Friday, April 25, 2008
LISTS: Authors from A - Z
Who are my favorite and newly favorite authors?
Lizzy Siddal made a list, and I thought it was a great idea. It's a combination of old standbys and authors I've recently discovered, and loved, so much so that I'm trying to find all their books and squeeze them into my reading list. But if you ask me tomorrow, half of these would change, lol. I've seen versions of this where you have to list your favorite book by the author, but lizzysiddal did it this way, and I'm not prepared to make that big of a decision tonight.
A - Jean Auel - I love the Earth Children series, but I've read them all
B - Maeve Binchy - I think I have read all her books now, except of few short stories
C - Douglas Coupland - I haven't read nearly enough of his books yet
D - Sarah Dunant - I've only read Birth of Venus, but I loved it
E - Jeffrey Eugenides - I'm not sure about him;notice I didn't bold his name. I loved Middlesex and didn't like The Virgin Suicides at all. I need another one to test him out.
F - Jasper Fforde - loving the Thursday Next books
G - Phillipa Gregory - the first historical novel was fabulous and I'm looking for another
H - Charlaine Harris - I devoured her Shapespeare mysteries, and will start her other mysteries soon
I - Kazou Ishiguro - loved the first two I've read. His quiet style is sneakily wonderful
J -
K -Stephen King/Sophie Kinsella - they seldom let me down
L - Lois Lowry - a new author, but The Giver is so wonderful, that she can make the list
M - David Mitchell - I think he could become a favorite author, I'll try another book to make sure
N -
O -
P - Orhan Pamuk - His two nonfiction books have been fab, I'm anxious to try his fiction
Q - Paul Quarrington - I'll be honest, I haven't read a lot of Q authors, so he is winning by default
R - Mordecai Richler - He's got a big list of books I haven't read yet, but I liked Duddy Kravitz a lot, and don't forget about Jacob Two-Two
S - Jerry Spinelli - another new author, and people rave about Stargirl
T -
U -
V - Sarah Vowell - I found her first book Assassination Vacation rather funny and I'd like to try another of hers. If I had read more Vonnegut, he might make the list
W -
X -
Y -
Z - Markus Zusak - He hasn't written enough books yet. Hurry up!
Do we have a lot of the same authors listed? Do I love an author you hate? Do you have any suggestions for my empty letters?
Lizzy Siddal made a list, and I thought it was a great idea. It's a combination of old standbys and authors I've recently discovered, and loved, so much so that I'm trying to find all their books and squeeze them into my reading list. But if you ask me tomorrow, half of these would change, lol. I've seen versions of this where you have to list your favorite book by the author, but lizzysiddal did it this way, and I'm not prepared to make that big of a decision tonight.
A - Jean Auel - I love the Earth Children series, but I've read them all
B - Maeve Binchy - I think I have read all her books now, except of few short stories
C - Douglas Coupland - I haven't read nearly enough of his books yet
D - Sarah Dunant - I've only read Birth of Venus, but I loved it
E - Jeffrey Eugenides - I'm not sure about him;notice I didn't bold his name. I loved Middlesex and didn't like The Virgin Suicides at all. I need another one to test him out.
F - Jasper Fforde - loving the Thursday Next books
G - Phillipa Gregory - the first historical novel was fabulous and I'm looking for another
H - Charlaine Harris - I devoured her Shapespeare mysteries, and will start her other mysteries soon
I - Kazou Ishiguro - loved the first two I've read. His quiet style is sneakily wonderful
J -
K -Stephen King/Sophie Kinsella - they seldom let me down
L - Lois Lowry - a new author, but The Giver is so wonderful, that she can make the list
M - David Mitchell - I think he could become a favorite author, I'll try another book to make sure
N -
O -
P - Orhan Pamuk - His two nonfiction books have been fab, I'm anxious to try his fiction
Q - Paul Quarrington - I'll be honest, I haven't read a lot of Q authors, so he is winning by default
R - Mordecai Richler - He's got a big list of books I haven't read yet, but I liked Duddy Kravitz a lot, and don't forget about Jacob Two-Two
S - Jerry Spinelli - another new author, and people rave about Stargirl
T -
U -
V - Sarah Vowell - I found her first book Assassination Vacation rather funny and I'd like to try another of hers. If I had read more Vonnegut, he might make the list
W -
X -
Y -
Z - Markus Zusak - He hasn't written enough books yet. Hurry up!
Do we have a lot of the same authors listed? Do I love an author you hate? Do you have any suggestions for my empty letters?
Thursday, December 27, 2007
MEME: Booking Through Thursday
It’s an old question, but a good one . . . What were your favorite books this year?List as many as you like … fiction, non-fiction, mystery, romance, science-fiction, business, travel, cookbooks … whatever the category. But, really, we’re all dying to know. What books were the highlight of your reading year in 2007?
I did a top ten list already, but I'll reprint it here again, and ... I'm reading a really good book in the last week of 2007, so I may have been a little quick in picking my top ten - Owen Meany?
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - JK Rowling This was the best book, especially if you look at how long it took me to read - not very long at all, and was such a great end to the series. It wasn't just this book, it was all seven in the series, and the ten years it took to read them all. I knew it about Snape!
- The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory Best page turner and historical fiction, made me interested in The Tudors, which I watched on CBC. Excellent entertainment, and I've added The Boleyn Inheritance to my tbr for next year.
- the perks of being a wallflower - Stephen Chbosky Best tearjerker and heartwarming novel, Charlie's voice was wonderful.
- I Am the Messenger - Markus Zusak Best message of faith and believing in yourself
- Cloud of Bone - Bernice Morgan Best Canadian historical fiction, from an author who hasn't written enough yet.
- The Gun Seller - Hugh Laurie Best action adventure, rip roaring yarn, with comedy
- Never Let Me Go - Kazou Ishiguro Best dystopian novel, beautifully written and paced
- The Bone People - Keri Hulme Best award winner, I was completely swept into this dysfunctional threesome of terrible people, written in a style I've never read before, both beautifully lyrical and poetic
- Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman Best fantasy. I read a few Gaiman books, but this was my favorite. Underground London and the parallel universe he created were fabulous.
- Hey Nostradamus! - Douglas Copeland Best Coupland book, as he is going to make my favorite author list after this year. I read a few of his and this was my favorite of the bunch. I like how all his books are so different, and I have few left to read next year. Yay!
There were a bunch more too:
best nonfiction: Istanbul by Orhan Pamuk
best children's book: The Giver by Lois Lowry
best chick lit: something blue
best books in any other year: My Sister's Keeper, Half a Yellow Sun
Sorry for the reprint if you've read this before.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
LIST: Worst Reads of the Year
I should have posted this before my best reads, but I guess had already put this collection out of my head. I can generally find something to like in most books, and I don't think I'm very critical or fussy about the books I read, but some just don't do it for me.There weren't too many books I'd put on a worst read list, but a few stand out:
On the Road - Jack Kerouac : only book this year to DNF
Pedro Paramo - Juan Rulfo : magical realism is not for me
Elizabeth Costello - JM Coetzee: ugh, but I'll try Coetzee again, but just one more chance, bub
Not on the same level of bad, but not great reads, just too boring, include:
The Virgin Suicides - Jeffrey Eugenides: not on the same level for me as Middlesex
On the Water - JM van de Brink: nothing offensive, just too quiet
Generation X - Douglas Coupland: I still love him, just not this one. (read pre-reviewing)
The Picture of Dorian Grey - Oscar Wilde: too long and boring
On the Road - Jack Kerouac : only book this year to DNF
Pedro Paramo - Juan Rulfo : magical realism is not for me
Elizabeth Costello - JM Coetzee: ugh, but I'll try Coetzee again, but just one more chance, bub
Not on the same level of bad, but not great reads, just too boring, include:
The Virgin Suicides - Jeffrey Eugenides: not on the same level for me as Middlesex
On the Water - JM van de Brink: nothing offensive, just too quiet
Generation X - Douglas Coupland: I still love him, just not this one. (read pre-reviewing)
The Picture of Dorian Grey - Oscar Wilde: too long and boring
On the Road was read and reviewed before I started blogging here. I'm reposting my review I wrote because I can't really link to it:
It is very seldom I don't finish a book, but there are too many good books I want to read to continue with this one. I think I get it. Not much happens but a bunch of beatniks [slackers] put off finding real work and travel the roads, living on nothing, scamming food, breaking rules, scoring drugs, living for the moment. The writing style is very conversational, with tangents within sentences, but he sounds like he's on cocaine and trying to cover everything, and is so full of what he wants to say, he can't take a breath. If there were, say, a plot to follow; some sense of where this story is going, I might continue. But I even, gasp, looked at the last chapter to see if anything else might happen, but it is just more Dean updates, and nothing seems to have happen. It is like one long Christmas letter following these loosely associated friends that are driving me nuts with their self serving, avoiding life, philosophy.
I know, this bookwas a huge change in expectations that people had for their lives, that there were other options of life, new ideas being proposed and the beatniks were a novel lifestyle. But I am always annoyed by people who realize after much soul searching what they should be doing. It's not that they realize it, that's great for them, it's the need they have to tell others about their discovery. Like drug addicts who then protylize that drugs are bad and they ruined their life and don't let it ruin yours. Some of us already knew that; you got to live the fun life and now repent. You knew that drugs were bad and you tried it out; why will you change others minds?
I think the Bohemian life is just too slacker for me. I gave the book a try, almost halfway through, and it felt like an obligation to keep reading, like taking medicine: it's good for me, keep taking it. Well, there are too many other books to try and this one wasn't going anywhere else. I'll try Generation X by Douglas Coupland instead. At least I'll get the cultural references. It's not a classic for this challenge, but I'll find another.
I think the Bohemian life is just too slacker for me. I gave the book a try, almost halfway through, and it felt like an obligation to keep reading, like taking medicine: it's good for me, keep taking it. Well, there are too many other books to try and this one wasn't going anywhere else. I'll try Generation X by Douglas Coupland instead. At least I'll get the cultural references. It's not a classic for this challenge, but I'll find another.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
LIST: Best Reads of the Year 2007
Did I get this done too early? Is there one more book left to blow me away? Probably not, because these were la creme de la creme, of an amazing reading year. I have no reasoning to explain how I picked these books, and next week I could pick differently. But I read all of these quickly; generally late into the night; I want to recommend all of these to people; and maybe they surprised me by sneaking up on me and being so darn entertaining.
I read so many books this year that making a top ten list of books is very difficult. I read over 130 books, so I have to pick the top 10%, and I feel the quality of my reading improved immensely this year, making this task all the harder. I looked at my librarything account and only the highest rated books, and then had to whittle that list down to ten.
Books that were still really really good, but didn't make top ten:
I read so many books this year that making a top ten list of books is very difficult. I read over 130 books, so I have to pick the top 10%, and I feel the quality of my reading improved immensely this year, making this task all the harder. I looked at my librarything account and only the highest rated books, and then had to whittle that list down to ten.
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - JK Rowling This was the best book, especially if you look at how long it took me to read - not very long at all, and was such a great end to the series. It wasn't just this book, it was all seven in the series, and the ten years it took to read them all. I knew it about Snape!
- The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory Best page turner and historical fiction, made me interested in The Tudors, which I watched on CBC. Excellent entertainment, and I've added The Boleyn Inheritance to my tbr for next year.
- the perks of being a wallflower - Stephen Chbosky Best tearjerker and heartwarming novel, Charlie's voice was wonderful.
- I Am the Messenger - Markus Zusak Best message of faith and believing in yourself
- Cloud of Bone - Bernice Morgan Best Canadian historical fiction, from an author who hasn't written enough yet.
- The Gun Seller - Hugh Laurie Best action adventure, rip roaring yarn, with comedy
- Never Let Me Go - Kazou Ishiguro Best dystopian novel, beautifully written and paced
- The Bone People - Keri Hulme Best award winner, I was completely swept into this dysfunctional threesome of terrible people, written in a style I've never read before, both beautifully lyrical and poetic
- Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman Best fantasy. I read a few Gaiman books, but this was my favorite. Underground London and the parallel universe he created were fabulous.
- Hey Nostradamus! - Douglas Copeland Best Coupland book, as he is going to make my favorite author list after this year. I read a few of his and this was my favorite of the bunch. I like how all his books are so different, and I have few left to read next year. Yay!
Books that were still really really good, but didn't make top ten:
Best Children's Books I Can't Believe I Didn't Read Before:
A Wrinkle in Time
Bridge to Terabithia
The Giver
A Child's Christmas in Wales
Books I Read Quickly Because They Were So Good:
Half a Yellow Sun
My Sister's Keeper
Something Blue
Good Omens
Really Good Books That I Can't Find a Common Theme to Describe:
Arthur and George
Ordinary People
The Big Sleep
Veronika Decides to Die
The Lost Salt Gift of Blood
Istanbul: Memories and the City
Thursday, December 13, 2007
LIST: Nonfiction Books of 2007
Inspired by 3m, I'm going to make some more summary lists of my 2007 reading. (I have made a list of lists to make, mwah ha ha). It turns out I read 14 nonfiction books this year, which is more than ten percent, and I wouldn't have thought I read that many. I must thank Joy for hosting the Nonfiction challenge from May to September, which inspired me to look for nonfiction books.Longitude - Dava Sobel
Dispatches from the Edge - Anderson Cooper
Istanbul - Orhan Pamuk
Night - Elie Wiesel
A Man Without a Country - Kurt Vonnegut
In Cold Blood - Truman Capote
Assassination Vacation - Sarah Vowell
So Many Books, So Little Time - Sara Nelson
The Devil in the White City - Erik Larson
Zlata's Diary - Zlata Filipovic
Galileo's Daughter - Dava Sobel
Other Colors - Orhan Pamuk
Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman - Richard P Feynman
Hockey Dreams - David Adams Richards
I can't decide which was the best book. I can manage a top 3:
In Cold Blood Capote's masterpiece of murder in the midwest
Devil in the White City Larson ties up a serial killer and the Chicago World Fair
Istanbul Pamuk's memoir of a city and his life
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
LIST: Television Shows
I might read a lot, but I also watch a lot of television. I play on the computer in the living room, so I manage to combine those two activities at the same time. Some of my favorite shows are:
- The Amazing Race: This is possibly the best reality show, although I prefer the term game show. I like that you lose based on your own results, not based on friendships or bad behaviour. It's just your own skills. And of course, I would do really well on the race, only they don't allow Canadians to compete. I would race with my sister, and on our cruise last year, we pretended we were racing when we would be getting in lines or finding meeting points. The countries, the challenges or tasks, and of course Phil. The editors rock on this show.
- Cold Case: The cases themselves can be a little corny or contrived, but the team of investigators, led by the best boss and toughest cop, are what make this show special. The relationships between the cops and their dysfunctional lives are very touching. And I always cry in the last musical montage, showing how powerful images and music can be.
- Brothers and Sisters: I've always liked dramas and family shows, like thirtysomething and Once and Again. And this show has Rob Lowe, looking very presidential, like he learned how to be, on The West Wing. The family is real, or as real as a rich Californian family can be, but they fight and drink, and gossip and talk all the time and are there for each other. Funny and drama and did I mention, Rob Lowe?
- House: Again, it is not the medical story, I find them quite gross at times, but it is the relationships between the characters, especially House and Wilson. Wilson and House make one of the best pairings on TV. I am particularly liking the new 'numbers', auditioning for a spot on House's team of doctors, AKA the Cottages. I am not missing Foreman, Cameron and the Blond guy too much.
- Seinfeld: We are still enjoying the old reruns of the funniest show ever on television. I was in on this from the get-go, and can remember watching the first few episodes, like the one with 'the levels' that Kramer was going to put in his apartment. We use so many of the phrases from this show around our house. We used to torment our children in the car, when they would ask 'How much longer?" We always replied, 'Five, ten minutes" with just the right accent. Do you remember that episode?
- Survivor: Again, I remember watching the very first episode. I thought when I read the preview, that it sounded so stupid, but within the first half hour, I was calling to my husband and telling him how great the show was. Of course, Richard was the best player, because he figured it out first, how to win. But then, people who won afterward, like Brian, and Tom, who won when everyone already realized how the game was played, also deserve a lot of credit. Some seasons aren't as good as others, but overall, they keep it fresh and find a way to keep me interested.
- The Daily Show/The Colbert Report: I shouldn't be watching these shows because they don't come on until midnight here in the Maritimes, damn that Atlantic Time Zone, which is way too late for a little girl who has to teach the next day, but they are so funny. The writer's strike is hurting these shows so much, and I love how they manage to be humorous and informative at the same time.
There are many other shows that would fall into my second tier of shows I like to watch. I'll talk about those other shows another day. Oh, wait, one more show that my kids would say is my favourite show.
- Compass: Our local CBC news hour show. We let the kids pretty much have control of the television during the day, but at 6:00, I get the control and get to watch the first 10 -15 minutes of news, and the weather with Boomer for the next day.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
LIST: Favourite Reading Series [not mysteries]
I've always read a lot of mysteries, and I'll leave that list for another day, but a series is very satisfying to read. You get to know the characters, and you want to read about them. I think some authors feel handcuffed by their series books, that they can write other characters, much like some actors become so well known for a part that the audience only wants to see them as that character. Oh, hello Kelsey Grammer. And we want to read more and more about our favorite characters. Arthur Conan Doyle killed Sherlock Holmes off, but the public outcry demanded he resurrect him.
These are the series' that I am glad were written. My favorites over the years. I notice a large number are from my childhood. I think for this list and my purposes, a series has to be more than two books, that is, a trilogy minimum, which is why Bridget Jones isn't here. This list is in no particular order.
1. The Earth Children by Jean Auel
The prehistoric sex books, I was lucky to find these after they had all been written, except for the last book which was published within a year of reading about Ayla and the cave men. You must watch Ice Age after reading these books.
2. The Outlander by Diana Gabaldron
The Scottish sex books, that were passed around our staffroom for a few years. Claire and Jamie and their time travelling adventures throughout history. How can you not love Jamie? hmm, third daughter is named Jamie. That's weird.
3. Harry Potter by JK Rowling
Fabulous books, I read the first five aloud to my son. Luckily, he learned to read them himself this year. The imagination of Rowling to create this wizard world amazed me. I want an owl to bring me messages. I have found it very difficult not to read these books straight through. I knew it about Snape!
4. Bruno and Boots (MacDonald Hall) by Gordon Korman
Probably one of my favorite set of books all time. Korman has written much more than Bruno and Boots, but for young teenagers, these hilarious stories are terrific. Korman wrote the first book, This Can't Be Happening! (at McDonald Hall) when he was just fourteen, and I was ten when it first came out - it seemed so close. I still remember Mrs Adams reading it aloud to our grade five class, and laughing so hard she couldn't continue reading. Books can be so much fun.
5. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
What little girl didn't read this series? And wonder how they went to the bathroom? Laura and Mary, and Manly, and the Long Winter. I reread this series continually, and still have my books in the basement. I can't wait until my daughter is old enough to read these. She better enjoy them!
6. Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery
My comfort food. I think it gets better as the series goes along, and Anne becomes a smaller and smaller character. Once Anne finds her family, and the love she needed, she becomes quieter, and leaves the scrapes to her neighbours. Still lots of interesting people, and her children's story, especially Rilla's, is a wonderful view of life in Canada during World War I.
7. The Great Brain by John D Fitzgerald
Life in a small Utah town at the end of the nineteenth century, with The Great Brain, swindling and conning everyone in sight. Another funny series of my youth, and such a different life than I was used to.
8.??
So, what did I forget? Remember, mysteries don't count here, we'll look into that another day. I never read Chronicles of Narnia, or The Lord of the Rings, because I'm sure those will make many other lists. I'm know I've forgotten some British series; I've always read a lot of British books. I contemplated Enid Blyton, but I don't remember a particular series that I loved to read. What are some of your favorite reading, non-mystery, series?
These are the series' that I am glad were written. My favorites over the years. I notice a large number are from my childhood. I think for this list and my purposes, a series has to be more than two books, that is, a trilogy minimum, which is why Bridget Jones isn't here. This list is in no particular order.
1. The Earth Children by Jean Auel
The prehistoric sex books, I was lucky to find these after they had all been written, except for the last book which was published within a year of reading about Ayla and the cave men. You must watch Ice Age after reading these books.
2. The Outlander by Diana Gabaldron
The Scottish sex books, that were passed around our staffroom for a few years. Claire and Jamie and their time travelling adventures throughout history. How can you not love Jamie? hmm, third daughter is named Jamie. That's weird.
3. Harry Potter by JK Rowling
Fabulous books, I read the first five aloud to my son. Luckily, he learned to read them himself this year. The imagination of Rowling to create this wizard world amazed me. I want an owl to bring me messages. I have found it very difficult not to read these books straight through. I knew it about Snape!
4. Bruno and Boots (MacDonald Hall) by Gordon Korman
Probably one of my favorite set of books all time. Korman has written much more than Bruno and Boots, but for young teenagers, these hilarious stories are terrific. Korman wrote the first book, This Can't Be Happening! (at McDonald Hall) when he was just fourteen, and I was ten when it first came out - it seemed so close. I still remember Mrs Adams reading it aloud to our grade five class, and laughing so hard she couldn't continue reading. Books can be so much fun.
5. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
What little girl didn't read this series? And wonder how they went to the bathroom? Laura and Mary, and Manly, and the Long Winter. I reread this series continually, and still have my books in the basement. I can't wait until my daughter is old enough to read these. She better enjoy them!
6. Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery
My comfort food. I think it gets better as the series goes along, and Anne becomes a smaller and smaller character. Once Anne finds her family, and the love she needed, she becomes quieter, and leaves the scrapes to her neighbours. Still lots of interesting people, and her children's story, especially Rilla's, is a wonderful view of life in Canada during World War I.
7. The Great Brain by John D Fitzgerald
Life in a small Utah town at the end of the nineteenth century, with The Great Brain, swindling and conning everyone in sight. Another funny series of my youth, and such a different life than I was used to.
8.??
So, what did I forget? Remember, mysteries don't count here, we'll look into that another day. I never read Chronicles of Narnia, or The Lord of the Rings, because I'm sure those will make many other lists. I'm know I've forgotten some British series; I've always read a lot of British books. I contemplated Enid Blyton, but I don't remember a particular series that I loved to read. What are some of your favorite reading, non-mystery, series?
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
MEME: Unread book list
from Courtney at Once Upon a Bookshelf and 3M at 1morechapter.com
These are the top 106 books most often marked as “unread” by LibraryThing’s users (as of today).
As usual, bold what you have read, [I'm adding in blue books I've read this year ]
italicise that you started but couldn’t finish,
and strike through what you couldn’t stand.
Add an asterisk* to those you’ve read more than once.
Underline those on your to-read list.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Anna Karenina
Crime and punishment
Catch-22
One hundred years of solitude
Wuthering Heights
The Silmarillion
Life of Pi: a novel
The name of the rose
Don Quixote
Moby Dick
Ulysses
Madame Bovary
The Odyssey
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Eyre
A Tale of Two Cities
The Brothers Karamazov
Guns, Germs, and Steel: the fates of human societies
War and Peace
Vanity Fair
The Time Traveller’s Wife
The Iliad
Emma
The Blind Assassin
The Kite Runner
Mrs. Dalloway
Great Expectations
American Gods
A heartbreaking work of staggering genius
Atlas shrugged
Reading Lolita in Tehran: a memoir in books
Memoirs of a Geisha
Middlesex
Quicksilver
Wicked : the life and times of the wicked witch of the West
The Canterbury tales
The historian : a novel
A portrait of the artist as a young man
Love in the time of cholera
Brave new world
The Fountainhead
Foucault’s pendulum
Middlemarch
Frankenstein
The Count of Monte Cristo
Dracula
A clockwork orange
Anansi boys
The once and future king
The grapes of wrath
The Poisonwood Bible : a novel
1984
Angels & demons
The inferno
The satanic verses
Sense and sensibility
The picture of Dorian Gray
Mansfield Park
One flew over the cuckoo’s nest
To the lighthouse
Tess of the D’Urbervilles
Oliver Twist
Gulliver’s travels
Les misérables reading now
The corrections
The amazing adventures of Kavalier and Clay
The curious incident of the dog in the night-time
Dune
The prince
The sound and the fury
Angela’s ashes : a memoir
The god of small things
A people’s history of the United States : 1492-present
Cryptonomicon
Neverwhere
A confederacy of dunces
A short history of nearly everything
Dubliners
The unbearable lightness of being
Beloved
Slaughterhouse-five
The Scarlet Letter
Eats, Shoots & Leaves
The mists of Avalon
Oryx and Crake : a novel
Collapse : how societies choose to fail or succeed
Cloud Atlas
The Confusion
Lolita
Persuasion
Northanger Abbey
The Catcher in the Rye
On the Road
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Freakonomics : a Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance : an Inquiry into Values
The Aeneid
Watership Down
Gravity’s Rainbow
The Hobbit
In cold blood : a true account of a multiple murder and its consequences
White teeth
Treasure Island
David Copperfield
The three musketeers
These are the top 106 books most often marked as “unread” by LibraryThing’s users (as of today).
As usual, bold what you have read, [I'm adding in blue books I've read this year ]
italicise that you started but couldn’t finish,
and strike through what you couldn’t stand.
Add an asterisk* to those you’ve read more than once.
Underline those on your to-read list.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Anna Karenina
Crime and punishment
Catch-22
One hundred years of solitude
Wuthering Heights
The Silmarillion
Life of Pi: a novel
The name of the rose
Don Quixote
Moby Dick
Ulysses
Madame Bovary
The Odyssey
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Eyre
A Tale of Two Cities
The Brothers Karamazov
Guns, Germs, and Steel: the fates of human societies
War and Peace
Vanity Fair
The Time Traveller’s Wife
The Iliad
Emma
The Blind Assassin
The Kite Runner
Mrs. Dalloway
Great Expectations
American Gods
A heartbreaking work of staggering genius
Atlas shrugged
Reading Lolita in Tehran: a memoir in books
Memoirs of a Geisha
Middlesex
Quicksilver
Wicked : the life and times of the wicked witch of the West
The Canterbury tales
The historian : a novel
A portrait of the artist as a young man
Love in the time of cholera
Brave new world
The Fountainhead
Foucault’s pendulum
Middlemarch
Frankenstein
The Count of Monte Cristo
Dracula
A clockwork orange
Anansi boys
The once and future king
The grapes of wrath
The Poisonwood Bible : a novel
1984
Angels & demons
The inferno
The satanic verses
Sense and sensibility
Mansfield Park
One flew over the cuckoo’s nest
To the lighthouse
Tess of the D’Urbervilles
Oliver Twist
Gulliver’s travels
Les misérables reading now
The corrections
The amazing adventures of Kavalier and Clay
The curious incident of the dog in the night-time
Dune
The prince
The sound and the fury
Angela’s ashes : a memoir
The god of small things
A people’s history of the United States : 1492-present
Cryptonomicon
Neverwhere
A confederacy of dunces
A short history of nearly everything
Dubliners
The unbearable lightness of being
Slaughterhouse-five
Eats, Shoots & Leaves
The mists of Avalon
Oryx and Crake : a novel
Collapse : how societies choose to fail or succeed
Cloud Atlas
The Confusion
Lolita
Persuasion
Northanger Abbey
The Catcher in the Rye
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Freakonomics : a Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance : an Inquiry into Values
The Aeneid
Watership Down
Gravity’s Rainbow
The Hobbit
In cold blood : a true account of a multiple murder and its consequences
White teeth
Treasure Island
David Copperfield
The three musketeers
Friday, August 10, 2007
LIST: Top twenty books I've never read, and don't plan to.
John, at The Book Mine Set, made a list after he read Bybee's list, and I've love lists! So I have to make one too. And it's easy, because there are a lot of famous books I've never read. I'm going to focus here on twenty allegedly great books I have little to no intention of reading, because I've done a great job this year of reading many famous/classic books that for some reason never made it onto my reading list. I stuck pretty tight to mysteries and Stephen King for the last forty number of years, so my eyes are wide open this year. However, they will not likely ever open to the following:
- The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
- The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien
- War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
- Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
- One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel GarcÃa Márquez
- Ulysses by James Joyce
- Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
- Heart Of Darkness, Joseph Conrad
- The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
- Middlemarch by George Eliot
- The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
- Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand
- A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
- Watership Down - Richard Adams
- Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
- Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
- Les Misérables - Victor Hugo
- Kim - Rudyard Kipling
- The Old Man And The Sea - Ernest Hemingway
They are either too long, or just don't interest me. I'm sure I'll eat my words some day and end up loving one or two of these. But I doubt it.
There are, of course, many other great books I have not read, but I would like to get to some of them. That's a list for another day. Yeah, more lists! So, what's your confession? (go see John, he's giving out penance I believe)
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
MEME: Favorite Books
I've seen this meme at a few blogs, so I don't know who I properly gakked it from. And even though I copied it from someone, it's taken me so long to come up with the perfect books, and I know I've forgotten a ton of books that I'm sure I meant to pick.
A book that made you cry: I cry really easily in books. I bawl and bawl, so absorbed in the novel. The most recent book was "the perks of being a wallflower", but Anne of Green Gables gets me every time Matthew's name is mentioned.
A book that scared you: Misery by Stepehn King, or The Deep End of the Ocean
A book that made you laugh: Bridget Jones cracks me up, especially when she is on the phone with her 'smug married' friends.
A book that disgusted you: On South Mountain, a true story about a Maritime family, the Golers, who were charged with horrifying cases of incest and abuse. Everyone in the community knew them, and about them, but did nothing for years.
A book you loved in elementary school: I read a lot in elementary, but Gordon Korman's This Can't Be Happening at MacDonald Hall with Bruno and Boots would be right up there.
A book you loved in middle school: I remember loving Cue for Treason, a novel we studied in grade nine. Much like Shakespeare in Love; there was a mystery, and a girl pretending to be a boy to be able to act as the female roles in the plays.
A book you loved in high school: I can't remember what all I read during high school and university, they blend together. I'm guessing Stepehn King's Different Seasons
A book you hated in high school: The Lord of the Flies. Horrid, horrid book.
A book you loved in college: I went through a big Stephen King phase in university, so probably The Stand
A book that challenged your identity: I don't know if I've ever really read a book like this, or if I noticed. But A Fine Balance made me think about life, and my attitude to dealing with what life hands you.
A series that you love: There are many. Anne of Green Gables is a great series. I read this every few years, the whole 8 books.
Your favorite horror book: Stephen King's It
Your favorite science fiction book: This isn't a genre I tend to read much of. I guess it would be Hitchhiker's Guide, but I've only read that in the last two months.
Your favorite fantasy: Is this where Harry Potter would go? I've enjoyed this series.
Your favorite mystery: I have to pick one? There are so many series. I've been rereading some Agatha Christie, so I'll pick her. I hope Brother Cadfael, Inspector Lynley, Thomas Pitt, and the 87th precinct don't get mad at me.
I could break this down:
Best historical mystery: Brother Cadfael by Ellis Peters
Best police procedural: the 87th precinct by Ed McBain
Your favorite biography: The Story of Helen Keller
Your favorite "coming of age" book: perks of being a wallflower was the most recent I can think of; it was excellent
Your favorite classic: The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde
Your favorite romance book: Bridget Jones' Diary Oh, Mark Darcy, I won't make fun of your reindeer jumper.
Your favorite historical fiction: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Your favorite cookbook: The Best of the Best by the Best of the Bridge girls.
Your favorite book not on this list: The Life of Pi
A book that made you cry: I cry really easily in books. I bawl and bawl, so absorbed in the novel. The most recent book was "the perks of being a wallflower", but Anne of Green Gables gets me every time Matthew's name is mentioned.
A book that scared you: Misery by Stepehn King, or The Deep End of the Ocean
A book that made you laugh: Bridget Jones cracks me up, especially when she is on the phone with her 'smug married' friends.
A book that disgusted you: On South Mountain, a true story about a Maritime family, the Golers, who were charged with horrifying cases of incest and abuse. Everyone in the community knew them, and about them, but did nothing for years.
A book you loved in elementary school: I read a lot in elementary, but Gordon Korman's This Can't Be Happening at MacDonald Hall with Bruno and Boots would be right up there.
A book you loved in middle school: I remember loving Cue for Treason, a novel we studied in grade nine. Much like Shakespeare in Love; there was a mystery, and a girl pretending to be a boy to be able to act as the female roles in the plays.
A book you loved in high school: I can't remember what all I read during high school and university, they blend together. I'm guessing Stepehn King's Different Seasons
A book you hated in high school: The Lord of the Flies. Horrid, horrid book.
A book you loved in college: I went through a big Stephen King phase in university, so probably The Stand
A book that challenged your identity: I don't know if I've ever really read a book like this, or if I noticed. But A Fine Balance made me think about life, and my attitude to dealing with what life hands you.
A series that you love: There are many. Anne of Green Gables is a great series. I read this every few years, the whole 8 books.
Your favorite horror book: Stephen King's It
Your favorite science fiction book: This isn't a genre I tend to read much of. I guess it would be Hitchhiker's Guide, but I've only read that in the last two months.
Your favorite fantasy: Is this where Harry Potter would go? I've enjoyed this series.
Your favorite mystery: I have to pick one? There are so many series. I've been rereading some Agatha Christie, so I'll pick her. I hope Brother Cadfael, Inspector Lynley, Thomas Pitt, and the 87th precinct don't get mad at me.
I could break this down:
Best historical mystery: Brother Cadfael by Ellis Peters
Best police procedural: the 87th precinct by Ed McBain
Your favorite biography: The Story of Helen Keller
Your favorite "coming of age" book: perks of being a wallflower was the most recent I can think of; it was excellent
Your favorite classic: The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde
Your favorite romance book: Bridget Jones' Diary Oh, Mark Darcy, I won't make fun of your reindeer jumper.
Your favorite historical fiction: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Your favorite cookbook: The Best of the Best by the Best of the Bridge girls.
Your favorite book not on this list: The Life of Pi
Saturday, May 12, 2007
LIST: Used book sale finds
- Our local newspaper held a used book sale with proceeds to a literacy group in the province. they filled a whole store at the mall with used books. I limited myself to one hour and $20 and here is what I found:
- The Wizard of Oz (the local high school just put on this musical, I thought the kids might like)
- Kidnapped - RLS
- Madame Bovary - Flaubert (a classic I've been wanting to read; I started on dailylit, but never finished)
- The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz - Mordecai Richler
- Silas Marner - George Eliot (katrina just gave this a good review)
- Oryx and Crake - Atwood (a dystopian novel, if it's here I might read it, although Chris didn't give it a rave)
- Lie Down with Lions - Ken Follett (I love his Pillars of the Earth novel)
- The Little Prince - (I was planning to read for Once Upon a Time)
- The Incredible Journey (for the kids)
- Murder on the Orient Express - Agatha Christie
- The Picture of Dorian Gray (I'm reading for the classics challenge)
- A Tale of Two Cities (might be my first Dickens read)
- The Dog Who Woulnd't Be - Farley Mowatt ( I really wanted Owls in the Family, but this is funny too: for the kids)
- A Red Death and A Little Yellow Dog - Easy Rawlins Mysteries (for the hubby, and me too)
- Chronicles of Avonlea - LM Montgomery (her short stories; I like to reread these)
- A Lesson Before Dying - Gaines (somebody? reviewed this recently)
- Never Have Your Dog Stuffed -Alan Alda (kaliana gave this a great review)
- It's Fine to be Nine (Jack is nine, and we have the collection already for Six and Seven)
- Goosebumps: My Hairiest Adventure - RL Stine (kids)
- My Teacher is an Alien - Bruce Colville (kids)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
