Challenge: 50 Books discussion

I know I still have a few days until 2014 starts, and I still have one more book to read in 2013, but I wanted to get my 2014 thread planted.

Like last year, I'm going to try to read 30 selected books from my to-read bookcase. This year, I'm reading 30 in order of author's last name; this should take me from Abanes to Davis. I'd also like to return to reading one book from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list each month. I also already have a handful of books on reserve from the library scattered throughout the year, and a few other owned books I might read. Hopefully this year I'll hit 50 again.

Okay, 2 1/2 days and I can get this party started!

Good luck! I'm always impressed when people make game plans for what to read and then accomplish their goals. I've tried to plan ahead, but when it comes time to crack open the next book, I almost never feel like reading what I said I would. I even tried doing the "tbr challenge" on goodreads one year, and still wasn't motivated enough to stick to the plan.

Stefanie wrote: "Good luck! I'm always impressed when people make game plans for what to read and then accomplish their goals. I've tried to plan ahead, but when it comes time to crack open the next book, I almost ..."

Thanks for the good wishes :)

Even with my "Here's my pile of what I'm going to read, and I AM going to read it, darnit!" I still sometimes find myself wandering off (as proven in 2013). I think there's something about knowing you're *supposed* to read something that makes you NOT want to read it!

good luck again...tiffany

Thanks :)

Good luck and happy reading.

Librarianforhim wrote: "Good luck and happy reading."

Thanks :) Happy reading to you, too!

Good luck Tiffany!! Wonderful goals. Can't wait to see which of the 1001 books you pick to read. It may motivate me to read more of those. :)

Diane wrote: "Good luck Tiffany!! Wonderful goals. Can't wait to see which of the 1001 books you pick to read. It may motivate me to read more of those. :)"

Thanks :) I have a few 1001 books in mind already, but we'll see which ones I do actually read :)

Well, it's about time!

1. The Big Bang Theory and Philosophy

So, I started off the year already neglecting my "Let's read all the books I own, alphabetically by author's last name!" >.< BUT! I love the Pop Culture and Philosophy series; I love The Big Bang Theory; The Big Bang Theory is a show my mom and I both love, so it's something we can share and giggle about. So when my mom saw this book, not knowing I love the Pop Culture and Philosophy series, she bought it for me for Christmas, because she knows I'm a huge nerd. I didn't even know there was a TBBT and Philosophy book, so this was a huge surprise. So, add all those together, and I decided on Christmas day that this needed to be the first book I read for 2014 :)

This one didn't start off all that promising. It felt like some of the essays were either trying REALLY hard to fit into the Pop Culture and Philosophy umbrella or were saying the most obvious things so that they weren't insightful (like, a high schooler with no philosophy training could B.S. their way through writing the essays) at all. Luckily, it picked up after a while. Even if it hadn't gotten better, it still would have at least gotten a couple of stars for being nerdly and about The Big Bang Theory; but the fact that it *did* get better, with more insightful essays and deeper philosophical thinking, bumped it up to 4 stars. Not the Best book in the series, but definitely worth reading.

Good luck!

Mackenzie wrote: "Good luck!"

Thanks :) We'll see if I can do better than last year!

2. Harry Potter and the Bible: The Menace Behind the Magick, by Abanes (Richard)

Before I got this book, I read reviews that basically said it was crap. I decided to get it anyway and see for myself (his book about The da Vinci Code wasn't awful... which also isn't a ringing endorsement), and yes, I agree. My very long and ranting review is here.

Your review was fantastic! I haven't read the book (and I'm glad I haven't) but wow, I was chuckling out loud by the time I got to the part about Narnia.

Stefanie wrote: "Your review was fantastic! I haven't read the book (and I'm glad I haven't) but wow, I was chuckling out loud by the time I got to the part about Narnia."

:) Thanks.

It was quite a confusing book! I just didn't see the relevance to most of the "connections" he was making. Yeah, you haven't missed out on any great experience by not reading the book!

I have to agree your review was excellent. With such a "ringing" endorsement I think I'll leave it on the shelf. Hmmmm...I wonder what he thinks of vampires.....or maybe he's prejudice and just hates witches and warlocks. ;)

Powder River Rose wrote: "I have to agree your review was excellent. With such a "ringing" endorsement I think I'll leave it on the shelf. Hmmmm...I wonder what he thinks of vampires.....or maybe he's prejudice and just hates witches and warlocks. ;) "

Ha!

You know, vampires *are* briefly mentioned in this book! I think they're lumped in with all of the television-shows-and-movies-that-make-witches-look-glamorous. So yeah, Stephenie Meyer and the like better watch out!

Thanks for the review on the Harry Potter book. I am just starting reading the series for the first time, so when i saw the title I thought I might check it out. Your review made me think differently! Thanks! I dont want to read something that will make me mad or not make sense :)

Alison wrote: "Thanks for the review on the Harry Potter book. I am just starting reading the series for the first time, so when i saw the title I thought I might check it out. Your review made me think different..."

Yup, it totally wasn't worth it :)

3, League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions and the Battle for Truth

I've been wanting to read this since I saw the Frontline documentary last year. I finally got a copy, and even though the Frontline episode was really well done and in-depth, the book was able to go a little more in depth and provide more details about the studies and the saga of he said/she said.

My review is here.

4. The Politics and The Constitution of Athens by Aristotle.

meh. This was probably my least favorite of his works that I've read.

5. Harry Potter and Philosophy: If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts edited by Baggett (David, and Shawn Klein)

Another wonderful book in the Popular Culture and Philosophy series. I wavered between giving it 3 and 4 stars, but decided that since some of the essays aren't quite as in-depth and engaging as some of the essays in other volumes of the series, I'd only give it 3 stars. If I could, it would be a 3.5-star book.

One thing I did like, though, is that there's an essay devoted almost entirely to refuting Harry Potter and the Bible: The Menace Behind the Magick!

6. Seattle's Belltown

I spent a weekend in Seattle last September and fell in love. I always said if I left the midwest it would be for someplace like Anapolis, but now... My teenaged self was right when she joked about moving to Washington and marrying a lumberjack. I should've listened to her.

Donna wrote: "I spent a weekend in Seattle last September and fell in love. I always said if I left the midwest it would be for someplace like Anapolis, but now... My teenaged self was right when she joked about..."

Seattle is a lovely place, isn't it? Plus lots of different cultures and different cultural activities--music, plays, movies. Lots of good stuff. AND, all the lumberjacks are just a short drive away :)

7. When Science Meets Religion: Enemies, Strangers, or Partners?, by Barbour, Ian

Sadly, this wasn't such a great book. The book is broken down into five main chapters--Astronomy and Creation; The implications of quantum physics; Evolution and continuing creation; Genetics, neuroscience, and human nature; and God and Nature--each of which are then also broken down into how religion and science are in Conflict, Independence, Dialogue, and Integration with each other.

In theory, the book and its layout sound like a great idea. In reality, though, the book didn't really tell me much I didn't already know, couldn't already guess, or hadn't already read in other books, especially Barbour's own Religion and Science.

But, it's one more book I owned that I've now read; plus, since it wasn't a great book and I own the other one still, I'm going to give this one away, which means I also just freed up space on my bookshelf! Yay!

Tiffany wrote: "6. Seattle's Belltown"

I lived in Belltown for a few years, Seattle is my homebase. Might have to flip through this book

Tima wrote: "Tiffany wrote: "6. Seattle's Belltown"

I lived in Belltown for a few years, Seattle is my homebase. Might have to flip through this book"

Awesome! As I said in my review, apparently I was totally clueless about what really made up "Belltown." I thought Belltown was just 2nd up to 4th and a few streets on either side of Bell. Everything east, north, or south of that, to me, was just where you drove when looking for a parking space to go to the Croc! :)

Tiffany wrote: "Awesome! As I said in my review, apparently I was totally clueless about what really made up "Belltown." I thought Belltown was just 2nd up to 4th and a few streets on either side of Bell. Everything east, north, or south of that, to me, was just where you drove when looking for a parking space to go to the Croc! :) "

Ahaha, yes. It's true, most people associate Belltown with just a tiny snippet of the downtown area. I definitely did when I first moved there. Now I'll sit in a bubble of nostalgia for my college dorm days down on 2nd. :)

:)

You should definitely read the book, then. Those Images of America books are wonderful for nostalgia!

8. Mythologies, by Barthes, Roland

A LitCrit book. I'm no longer sure why I wanted to read this: I originally thought that I'd read part of it for an English class, but as I was finishing this book, I went and checked my course pack from that class, and we read a different essay by Barthes. So now I have no idea why I came up with this one! But it was definitely good, and the mini-essays were enjoyable as well as intelligent.

9. The Waves (1001 Books book #1)

Wow. Woolf has beautiful language in this book.

My review is here.

10. Jane Eyre (1001 Books book #2)

My very long review:

Up until a few years ago, I wouldn't be caught dead reading this book. I had a thing with "girl books" and "Chick Lit". I hate pretty much everything that's girlie. Pink is not a color I want to wear on a regular basis. I've even been known to turn down a pair of sneakers because the shoes had pink trim. Sports clothes that are pink? Ick! So all those old, Victorian books about women or love or women in love, and written by women (i.e. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, or Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, or anything else written by Jane Austen or any of the Bronte sisters, etc.) ... Not for me!

But then, for some reason, one day I decided to listen to Pride and Prejudice as a free audio book. And shock of shocks, it WASN'T girlie! The women (at least the main ones) were smart and smart-asses! And not all of them were all about getting a man! .... So what else might I have been missing all these years by turning down "girlie" Victorian novels?

Then I read the description of Jane Eyre in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. Honestly, the blurb still made it sound like Victorian chick lit, but it's on the list of books I *must* read before I die! So I decided that the blurb didn't make it sound horrible, so I'd put it on my to-read list. Plus, the success of Pride and Prejudice (that is to say, the fact that I didn't hate that one) made me have *some* hope for this book.

And now that I've read it, I've discovered that it's nowhere near as girlie as I thought it would be. Sure, love and romance, a female main character, and written by a woman, but it's not chick lit. It's a Good Story, has your typical Victorian turn of fortune, a touch of mistaken identities (or rather, unknown identities get revealed), ... and some ghostliness!

Other than saying that, I cannot write a review *nearly* as good as Nick's, so go read that one, instead. (Be warned, though, it does have unmarked spoilers.)

Oh, I've also decided (if I remember to do this on a regular basis) to keep track of my goals in one handy place, so from here on out, I'll add this (again, if I remember) to the end of my updates.

Books I own, in alphabetical order of author (out of 30): 5
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (out of 12): 2
Other books I own: 2

".... So what else might I have been missing all these years by turning down "girlie" Victorian novels?"

Welcome to the dark side.

Donna wrote: "".... So what else might I have been missing all these years by turning down "girlie" Victorian novels?"

Welcome to the dark side."

:)

11. The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy: Hogwarts for Muggles edited by Bassham, Gregory

Another book from the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series. Like most of the books, there were a few dud essays, but most of them were decent or spectacular.

To recap my year:
Books I own, in alphabetical order of author (out of 30): 6
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (out of 12): 2
Other books I own: 2
Goodreads group reads: 0 (but a bunch will be coming soon)

was this hp book worth reading????

Alison wrote: "was this hp book worth reading????"

Yes. I was going to say that it depends on how much you like philosophy, but there are enough essays that aren't dependent on a previous love of philosophy. If philosophy isn't already your thing, there are plenty of essays that will look at the HP books in broad enough terms, and in new ways, that you won't feel like falling asleep at a philosophy lecture.

So yes, this book is worth reading, whether you already like philosophy or not.

12. Memoirs of a Geisha (1001 Books book #3)

Not only does Arthur Golden, a man, do a fabulous job of sounding like the story is being told by a woman, but he does a sensational job of sounding like the story is being *told*. It's a "memoir" that actually sounds like it's being told to someone, which I love. It makes the story seem so much more personable and engaging, as if you're actually sitting there next to this once-famous geisha informally telling the story of her life.

This is a beautiful story and a beautifully-written book (although the next-to-last chapter did get on my nerves).

While discussing the book in another group, it was brought up that Golden perhaps didn't accurately portray the life of a geisha, so next I'll be reading Geisha, a Life, by Mineko Iwasaki, who was the main source of information for Golden's research, and who wrote her book as a sort of rebuttal to the unfair image in Golden's book.

I also "read" the picture book Window for a group, so I'm listing it (even though I'm not counting it) just to keep my group read count correct.

To recap my year:
Books I own, in alphabetical order of author (out of 30): 6
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (out of 12): 3
Other books I own: 2
Goodreads group reads: 2

13. Geisha, a Life

This book started out nice enough. Iwasaki and her co-writer, Rande Brown, tell a good story, use good language, and the story itself was interesting. About halfway through, though, Iwasaki just kind of started getting on my nerves. She was a very precocious child at times, knowing what she wanted and thinking that she had the right to voice her opinion on how to change life in Kyoto, but other times was very childlike, even after she got older, throwing tantrums and hiding in closets. As the story progressed into her adult life, she continued to sound like "I'm so wonderful. Did I mention that I was the highest-paid geiko? I'm so great." There was just something about her attitude and the way she came across in the book that made her much less likable.

It's not a bad book, especially if you want a second (and perhaps a more true, but I'm not even sure how true it is. There were just a few too many incredible moments for them to have been 100% real. Either that, or she has the strangest luck of anyone alive) perspective on the life of a geisha/geiko. If you're looking for a rebuttal from someone who was outspoken about Golden's inaccuracies in Memoirs of a Geisha, though, you're not going to get it here.

(My full review is here.)


To recap my year:
Books I own, in alphabetical order of author (out of 30): 6
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (out of 12): 3
Other books I own: 2
Goodreads group reads: 2

14. Latin American Folktales: Stories from Hispanic and Indian Traditions by Bierhorst, John (editor)

This is a decent compilation of folktales from Latin America, but most of them are REALLY short. That can be a good thing or a bad thing -- it makes them easy to read, but sometimes I found myself in a pattern of just reading as fast as I could because they were so quick. There wasn't enough time to really dig into them.

One interesting thing was comparing these stories to other folk-/fairytales I've read. There were a LOT of stories that were similar to ones in 1001 Arabian Nights (or whatever version of the title that you use), as well as creation tales and other random places that I couldn't remember.

My year so far:
Books I own, in alphabetical order of author (out of 30): 7
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (out of 12): 3
Other books I own: 2
Goodreads group reads: 2

15. Sonic Boom! The History of Northwest Rock: From Louie Louie to Smells Like Teen Spirit by Blecha, Peter

A decent look at the history of Seattle/Northwest music, from WAAAAAAAY before Nirvana broke out (Yes, we had a music scene before then).

I say it's "decent" because there's SO much to cover, you can tell a lot had to be left out to make this a normal-sized book. But for the most part, Blecha got the important stuff, with plenty of juicy parts thrown in.

My year so far:
Books I own, in alphabetical order of author (out of 30): 8
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (out of 12): 3
Other books I own: 2
Goodreads group reads: 2

hey I'm just wondering how u are keeping track of the 1001 books? computer?? Just curious!

Alison wrote: "hey I'm just wondering how u are keeping track of the 1001 books? computer?? Just curious!"

I bought the massive book itself, read the descriptions of every book, made a list of all the ones I wanted to read, then put them on a spreadsheet on my computer. So now I just go through and mark them off my list as I finish each one.

I also have my 1001 Books to read shelf :)

Tiffany wrote: "Alison wrote: "hey I'm just wondering how u are keeping track of the 1001 books? computer?? Just curious!"

I bought the massive book itself, read the descriptions of every book, made a list of all..."

I have the same '1001' goal as you for the year - 12 books. I've read 4 so far. Hope we make it! How many have you read in total?

Ann A wrote: "...How many have you read in total?"

If my math and list are correct, I've read 95 books from the list, which sounds really pitiful. I thought I'd read so many more than that!

16. Reading the Bible Again for the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously but Not Literally by Borg, Marcus

Well, I will say this: the pile of books I own that I was supposed to read this year is getting smaller. Unfortunately, it's not nearly small enough yet. And right now, that's about the only thing this book has going for it -- it helped make the pile smaller, quicker.

My short review: the book gets 2 stars from me: Great premise, poor follow-through.
My long review: here.

My year so far:
Books I own, in alphabetical order of author (out of 30): 9
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (out of 12): 3
Other books I own: 2
Goodreads group reads: 2

17. The Story of Ferdinand

A group read for the 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up group.

18. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

(Another group read for the 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up group.)

So.. I don't even know what to say. I never read this book while I was a young girl, and now that I've finally read it, and had some time to think about it, I don't think I missed anything by not reading it when I was younger! I can read a lot of YA-type books and see what I would have enjoyed about them as a youngster, but this book, I just couldn't.

My full review is here.


My year:
Books I own, in alphabetical order of author (out of 30): 9
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (out of 12): 3
Other books I own: 2
Goodreads group reads: 4

19. Einstein's Universe: The Layperson's Guide by Calder, Nigel


My year thus far:
Books I own, in alphabetical order of author (out of 30): 10 (Yay! 1/3 of the way through the pile, and less than 1/2 way through the year! *sarcastic cheer*)
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (out of 12): 3
Other books I own: 2
Goodreads group reads: 4