Play Book Tag discussion

Please post reviews for books you read for the decathlon here and indicate which month's theme you are reading for. Also, don't forget to shelve your reads!

March: (5 points awarded) read all three tags that were vote options (classics, autobiography, illustrated). One book can count for all three, you can read three separate books, or any combination in between!

IMPORTANT FOR MARCH DECATHLON CHALLENGE: Please DO NOT post in this thread for the March challenge until you have read for all three of the March tags. If you read more than one book to complete the Decathlon challenge, then please put all of the book reviews including which tag they fit in a single post! That will help me immensely.

Previous Months Themes: (3 points awarded)

February: read any one of the ten books listed on your Goodreads TBR that have been there the longest.

January: read something that is a tribute to our retiring administrator, Linda (Ladyslott).

Want more info on the challenge? Check out our announcement and discussion thread.

Want to double check my math? Check out the scoring spreadsheet. If you see an error, please send me a PM with the month that I am missing your score and the message number in that thread. Thanks!

Jenny wrote: "March
Book Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops
Tag: Illustrated

This book was quite funny (I tried to take a photo of one of the illustrations but it came out a bit blurry so I..."

Hi, Jenny, I forgot to include in my instructions to NOT POST here until you have read for all three books. I will amend that. Then, after you see this note, will you please delete your post?

Thanks!

Nicole R wrote: "Jenny wrote: "March
Book Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops
Tag: Illustrated

This book was quite funny (I tried to take a photo of one of the illustrations but it came out a b..."

Have done so, sorry!

Jenny wrote: "Nicole R wrote: "Jenny wrote: "March
Book Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops
Tag: Illustrated

This book was quite funny (I tried to take a photo of one of the illustrations bu..."

Oh no, you did nothing wrong! I totally forgot to put that instruction in the opening post until I saw your review.

I appreciate your deleting it and look forward to seeing it again when you have completed the March Decathlon challenge by reading the other two tags as well.

Nicole R wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Nicole R wrote: "Jenny wrote: "March
Book Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops
Tag: Illustrated

This book was quite funny (I tried to take a photo of one of the il..."

I'm hoping it shouldn't take too long - I'm using the Serial Reader app for my classic choice and have got 3 more 'serials' until I finish it, but it depends on how I get on with the autobiography book! :-)

A Classic Option: Part One Complete:

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare;

Would you believe this was a first time read for me? Yet another wonderful classic missed earlier, that I now get to read courtesy of the imagination and curriculum of the 9th grade. I'm so glad I had the opportunity. I can see why this is a classic. I do admit we used a companion book, that retells the story in modern day english, highlighting specific quotes. And then, my fifteen year old would read the original version a second time, once he understood the unfolding of events. I hope that did the trick. But I actually found it helpful myself, and more deeply understanding the story, let me have the words wash over me too. I really enjoyed that experience, and I am quite excited for Catcher in the Rye later this Spring.

Plan for Part Two: Classic and Illustrated; James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl.

Amy, as the intro instructions state, please do not post in this thread until you have completely finished the March challenge by reading all three tags. Then, please post all three reviews in a single post.

This will make the scoring infinitely easier for me. Thanks!

Alternate option: if you want to post your reviews as you read them, then please edit your first message to add to it each time.

That would work to. However you choose, I just would like all three reviews in a single message so I can clearly see that you have completed the challenge.

Forgive me for the lack of read through. Got it now and that makes sense.

March - reading all 3 tags.

Illustrated and Classic - The Little Prince
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Autobiography - Reckless: My Life as a Pretender
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Waiting by Ha Jin- 4 stars -FEBRUARY DECATHALON-Longest on TBR

Waiting by Ha Jin has long been waiting for me to read it. It appears that I've had this National Book Winner so long that it has languished on my Goodreads' shelf for years.

I wasn't the first owner, but my cat Roxanne has helped me to put my own personal stamp on it in the form of teeth marks. I hope to release it in the near future and hopefully it will find someone who wants a free book, but is not offended by tiny pinpricks in the cover.

Enough about my tale of the book, I want to let everyone know that I quite enjoyed it. Ha Jin is indeed an entertaining author who is able to translate the waiting, into something beyond ennui. Everyone in the novel is waiting. Lin Kong, a military doctor is waiting for his wife Shayu to divorce him as she promises annually. Shayu is waiting for him to return to her as a husband. Manna Wu, Lin's girlfriend is waiting for him to obtain the divorce and marry her.

One might wonder how long this can continue, we are told in the prologue of the book that this situation has lasted 17 years. It seems beyond belief and as one friend tells him:

"You've been shilly-shallying and made yourself miserable. I've handled hundreds of men for many years. I know your type. You're always afraid that people will call you a bad man. You strive to have a good heart. But what is a heart? Just a chunk of flesh that a dog can eat. Your problem originates in your own character, and you must first change yourself. Who said 'Character is fate'?"
"Beethoven?"
"Yes. You know so much, but you can't act decisively."

I encourage anyone who has the strength of character to deal with the indecisive Doctor Lin to read this book.

Book: Peter Pan - 3 stars
Tag: Classic

Blurb: Peter Pan, the book based on J.M. Barrie's famous play, is filled with unforgettable characters: Peter Pan, the boy who would not grow up; the fairy, Tinker Bell; the evil pirate, Captain Hook; and the three children--Wendy, John, and Michael--who fly off with Peter Pan to Neverland, where they meet Indians and pirates and a crocodile that ticks.

Review: You would think that by having a heart transplant at Great Ormond Street Hospital I would have read this book earlier. (If you didn't know, the hospital benefits from sales of the book and performances of the play - there's a statue of Peter at the front of the hospital).

However, the only highlight of the book was the fight between Peter and Captain Hook. I'm glad I've read it as it ticks off a classic I've wanted to read for a long time but it's not one I would rush out to read again - I much prefer the film!

Book: Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops - 5 stars
Tag: Illustrated

Blurb: This Sunday Times bestseller is a miscellany of hilarious and peculiar bookshop moments: 'Can books conduct electricity?'
'My children are just climbing your bookshelves: that's ok... isn't it?'

A John Cleese Twitter question ['What is your pet peeve?'], first sparked the 'Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops' blog, which grew over three years into one bookseller's collection of ridiculous conversations on the shop floor.

From 'Did Beatrix Potter ever write a book about dinosaurs?' to the hunt for a paperback which could forecast the next year's weather; and from 'I've forgotten my glasses, please read me the first chapter' to 'Excuse me... is this book edible?: here is a book for heroic booksellers and booklovers everywhere.

This full-length collection illustrated by the Brothers McLeod also includes top 'Weird Things' from bookshops around the world.

Review: This book was very funny, and the illustrations were very appropriate to some of the scenarios faced by the booksellers. For example. a cartoon of Poseidon (I think!) and a diver holding a map of Atlantis matching the following query:

Customer: I've been looking through your geography section - I can't find any books on Atlantis.
Bookseller: You know, I think we managed to lose those.

:-)

It's a nice, quick read that will appeal to all book lovers and is ideal if you are waiting around for a delivery man or are feeling under the weather - there is bound to be at least one scenario that makes you laugh out loud!

Book: A Charmed Life: Growing Up in Macbeth's Castle - 4 stars
Tag: Autobiography

Blurb (copied from GR because I'm lazy!): We grew up with the same parents in the same castle, but in many ways we each had a moat around us. Sometimes when visitors came they would say, 'You are such lucky children;' 'it's a fairy tale life you live.' And I knew they were right, it was a fairy tale upbringing. But fairy tales are dark and I had no way of telling either a stranger or a friend what was going on; the abnormal became ordinary.

Liza Campbell was the last child to be born at the impressive and renowned Cawdor Castle, the family seat of the Campbells, as featured in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Liza's father Hugh, the twenty-fifth Thane, inherited dashing good looks, brains, immense wealth, an ancient and revered title, three stately homes, and 100,000 acres of land. A Charmed Life tells the story of Liza's idyllic childhood with her four siblings in Wales in the 1960's, until Hugh inherited Cawdor Castle and moved his family up to the Scottish Highlands. It was at the historical ancestral home that the fairy tale began to resemble a nightmare. Increasingly overwhelmed by his enormous responsibilities, Hugh tipped into madness fuelled by drink, drugs, and extramarital affairs. Over the years, the castle was transformed into an arena of reckless extravagance and terrifying domestic violence, leading to the abrupt termination of a legacy that had been passed down through the family for six hundred years.

Written with a sharp wit, A Charmed Life is a contemporary fairy tale that tells what is like to grow up as a maiden in a castle where ancient curses and grisly events from centuries ago live on between its stone walls. Painstakingly honest and thoroughly entertaining, Liza Campbell offers a compelling look at what it is like to grow up with enormous privilege and yet watch the father she idealizes destroy himself, his family, and his heritage.

Review: This was a good book exploring Liza's life growing up in Macbeth's castle, although it dealt mainly with her Dad rather than herself.

I particularly enjoyed the bits detailing the history of the castle (I studied Macbeth three times whilst I was at school) and the family - fans of the Outlander series of books will recognise names and events described in here.

4 stars as it was difficult to read in certain places because of the abuse listed in the spoiler.

(view spoiler)[Domestic violence, implied child abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, animal abuse. (hide spoiler)]

February
Got busy and couldn't get it read before the end of the month, but finished The Death Cure. I was alright, but still like the first book the best.

March

Autobiography Tag:

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

5 stars

In her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou tells of her life growing up. Her name was Marguerite Johnson and her older brother was Bailey. At the age of three years old, she and her brother were sent to live with their grandmother in the small town of Stamps, Arkansas. It was a time of segregation and poverty for many in the South. Her grandmother stressed school, church, work and respect.

The book tells of her early everyday life. Graduation, moving in with her mother and relationships with her parents are discussed. She talks of what it meant to be black during the time period and people who have influenced her. She also touches on important topics including molestation and racism. Angelou's writing definitely captures and holds your attention.

Classic Tag:

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

4 stars

The Bell Jar tells how Ester Greenwood is a talented student who struggling with depression. She feels trapped, alone and loses confidence to the point of trying to commit suicide. Ester is eventually hospitalized and faces shock treatments. The Bell Jar was written in the 1950's and is a semi-autobiographical story of its author, Sylvia Plath.

Due to the time frame it was written The Bell Jar also has other themes. Work and expectations of family weight on Ester's mind, as she decides what she wants and does not want. It is hard not to get drawn into The Bell Jar, even if Ester is not always likable. Plath's writing gets across the emotions that Ester is feeling and creates a very memorable book.

Illustrated Tag:

The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

3 stars

The illustrated book, This Little House, is story about a house in the country that watches the seasons and the sky. At first it could see city lights far away. As time went on the city grew and the little house was now part of it. Buildings became taller, the house got shabbier and finally people stopped noticing it. Then one day it is recognized.

This Caldecott Medal winner is a sweet children's book that can be enjoyed by all ages.

March Decathlon (classic, illustrated, autobiography)

The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui
(illustrated/autobiography)
3 stars

fter the birth of her son, Thi Bui reflects on her family heritage. Her parents were both born in Vietnam but from radically different lifestyles. Her father, Bo, lived a poor and dangerous life with a father who was a North Vietnamese guerrilla fighter. After he was deserted by his father Bo went to live with his grandparents and life improved immensely. Mother, Ma, grew up in a privileged home, the daughter of a highly respected civil engineer. Servants, palatial homes, French schooling were Ma's life. The two met while attending school and despite Ma's family's protests, the two were married. Once the Vietnam War began the couple knew they must leave their homeland. It would take several years for Bo and Ma to arrange boat passage, especially now that they were the parents of three young children. Eventually they became part of the refugees fleeing Vietnam and ended up in Malaysia. From there they made their way to America and a new home for their growing family.

This graphic novel is well drawn and emotional. There is a lot of important history of Vietnam's conflicts covered in its pages. I became confused quite often as the story jumped between three different generations of Bui's family.


The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
(classic)
4 stars

Gregor, a harried traveling salesman, has taken on the responsibility of sole provider for his aging parents and younger sister. He is happy to take care of his family but has become over-worked and endlessly fatigued. Waking up one morning he finds that he has become a large insect. What has caused this metamorphosis is never explained. His family is understandably repulsed by the formerly benign Gregor. Although his sister has been brave enough to bring food to her brother's bedroom, Gregor feels the isolation and sees the looks of horror on his family's faces. Eventually Gregor realizes that his family would be happier without him.

I liked this much more than I thought I would but I am not sure I quite understand it. To me it seems like Gregor did not literally become an insect but instead suffered some sort of mental breakdown that alienated him from his family. I did enjoy the mental images evoked by this novella; quite creepy.

March Decathlon entry:
Tags: autobiography, classic, illustrated
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (Illustrated) by Benjamin Franklin
link to my review

March Decathlon entry:
Tag: autobiography + Illustrated
Maus 1: My father bleeds history by Art Spiegelman
5 Stars
Tag: autobiography + illustrated
Maus 2: And here my troubles begin

Tag: classic + illustrated
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
5 Stars

So I was able to read 2 books yesterday when we had no power. I started with Maus 1. A book I have heard so much about, but the power this medium gives the story is startling. Although the story is hard, the medium makes it more real. The pictures of the hiding places were so much more than reading how these were. Just like Anne Frank, until you actually visit her home, you can't really understand the space they experienced. The way the story unfolds, switching between now and the past, with glimpses into the struggle the family has with the memory of the past, made me upset that I didn't have Maus2 at home to finish the story immediately.

Maus2 was at the library. This has left me with so many more questions than not. Why the craziness with Mala? How did this happen? What is up with the racism from the father? And most of all, how has the survivor guilt been passed to Artie?

A Little Prince, while always a beloved children's book, was one I had actually never read. I had selected this from my parent's book case as they are looking to liquidate as they are downsize their belongings as they face their late 80s. So glad to have read the gentle tale of how each world is so small, and each has such a focus, but the unseen is what is important. We need to protect our little flowers in this world, and cherish the uniqueness that makes them ours.

Lovely review left a little prince. I have never read Maus, and hope to someday get to it. I’m so impressed that you have jumped right into PBT and have embraced all the challenges. I look forward to reading something together with you some time.

I am having a blast. Couldn';t do the one you sent me, but keep me in mind!

For the home group, three of us are currently reading Wild Swans. Two others who read it years ago, might join in. The Hate U a Give was small, but amazing. It was held during that rainstorm when a lot of us lost power. I ended up having to leave as soon as I arrived, but I hear the teens did just great.

March

read all three tags from voting options

Classics and illustrated

Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne 5 stars

The tale of Christopher Robin, his best friend Winnie the Pooh and all the other animals in the woods. I loved the stories and the illustrations. I'm not sure why I never read this as a child. I was bummed to learn my favorite character from the Disney films, Tigger, doesn't make an appearance until the next book, which I will have to read sometime. I liked that Rabbit wasn't as annoying as he always seemed to be in the Disney version and that Owl was actually in the stories more than he is in any cartoon. Sweet stories with gentle humor.

Autobiography

Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen: How One Girl Risked Her Marriage, Her Job, and Her Sanity to Master the Art of Living by Julie Powell 3 stars

Julie Powell is almost thirty, may have a tough time having children and is working in an uninspiring job as a receptionist when she decides to cook all 524 recipes from Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking Volume 1 in a year. She also starts a blog to follow her project and over time gains followers and media attention. I thought this book would be more about cooking than it actually was. It's more about Julie's life and marriage with some struggles over cooking recipes thrown in. There is also very little about Julia Child if that's who you're interested in you'll need a different book. I found myself not liking Julie very much in places which brought down my rating. It's also never really clear why she decided to do this in the first place. I could never eat some of the things she makes, such as brains, but the book does make me feel like cooking more, though not French cuisine.

I am excited about this month. My goal was to find a 3-n-1 to meet this challenge and I did!!!!! I can’t wait to finish it and review it.

March: read books for each of the nominated tags

Autobiography

Born a Crime - Trevor Noah

5 stars

I really enjoyed reading/listening to Trevor Noah's stories of growing up as an interracial child/young adult in South Africa. While his humor entertained me, what I like most about his story is how much I learned about South Africa in the post-apartheid era and how much his stories helped me look at events here in my country in a more empathetic way. I definitely recommend the audiobook. Just hearing him speak in the different languages and with the different accents makes it worthwhile.

Classic and Illustrated

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl

4 stars

Roald Dahl books are hit and miss with me and I have found that even the ones that I enjoyed as a child have lost some of their magic when I reread them as an adult. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the exception to this generalization. I love the world that Dahl created and although I have fond memories of the the movie I liked listening to the novel with my son even more. Although I appreciate some of the depth Wilder and Depp gave to Willie Wonka, I really like the simplicity of the character in my imagination as I read the original book.

March: Read a Book for Each Nominated Tag

Dress Accessories, C. 1150-1450- Geoff Egan and Frances Pritchard
3 stars
This book describes objects excavated from several archeological digs in England around the 1990s. Over 2000 objects are described and illustrated in this book, all pertaining to accessories worn on the medieval person. The main focus of this collection is metallurgy, focusing on objects such as buckles and girdle clasps. Additionally, purses, mirrors, rings and many others receive their own sections. Drawings included show how and where these objects were worn in some cases, and images of the artifacts themselves are also included. The digs and the collected volume of their results were sponsored by the British Museum. Informational, but unfortunately did not provide me with the info I was looking for. But I did learn a good deal about archaeologic digs using ancient trash piles. Pretty cool in that regard.

Classic and Autobiography- On Writing- Stephen King
4 stars
This is a very nice, short read, which is both an autobiography of Stephen King's life but also on his approach to writing. It in he outlines the tools he recommends for building a career as a writer, using his many layered toolbox (an illustration he takes from his grandpa's toolbox, which he would bring over to help fix things for Stephen's mom growing up). In it you have your grammar but also your plot devices and your passion for writing. I read the audiobook which was narrated by the author and you can really feel the passion he has for the craft of writing- it lights him up. I feel that is a necessary first step to doing anything- the passion for the thing is what drives potential excellence, and the toolbox you put together ensures that the necessary details are in place for you. A good read, and a nice concise description of what makes a writer tick

March: read books for each of the nominated tags

autobiography: Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah - 4.4 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

classic & illustrated: The Annotated Alice: The Definitive Edition by Lewis Carroll - 4 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

March: Read books with all three nominated tags

Autobiography:

In The Pleasure Groove: Love, Death, and Duran Duran / John Taylor
4 stars

John Taylor of Duran Duran was born Nigel John Taylor and he was an only child. He and his best friend, Nick, later formed what would become Duran Duran. This book looks at John’s life.

I enjoyed more of his childhood and personal life than the details of Duran Duran, to be honest. He did mostly keep to his own life and didn’t share too much of the other guys’ lives beyond the group (so no “dirt” dished out in this book!). John shared more of his seemingly happy childhood than details on the alcohol, drugs, and women as he got older (and successful!), though there was some of that, as well. However, despite being short on details, I still really enjoyed this. There were lots of photographs spread throughout the book and it was quick to read.

Illustrated, Classics (yes, two people have tagged this classics!)

Library of Souls / Ransom Riggs
3.5 stars

Trying to do a summary without giving anything away in the previous books: Jacob and Emma, along with talking dog, Ambrose, need to help the others. (Hey! It’s a “Ridiculously simplified synopsis”, like I used to sometimes add on shelfari!)

This one picked off right where the 2nd book left off. It took me a while to remember what was going on and to get back “into” it, but I quite enjoyed it once I did. I don’t think I liked it as much as the first book, though I still love the old photographs and how the author used them to come up with a story, but I liked it better than the 2nd book.

March - all three nominated tags

Classic -
Of Mice and Men

Illustrated -
A Monster Calls

Autobiography -
The Glass Castle

March: Classic Illustrated Autobiography

MAUS I by Art Spiegelman
1 Star.

I picked this book up because a number of people suggested it fit all three tags and because its one of the PBT 100 NF books. I'm not entirely sure its autobiographical, as its mostly about Art's father, but I'm going to stick with this definitely for the decathlon. I've already finished Born a Crime by Trevor Noah as my "official" PBT autobiography.

I hated it. I don't want to go on a 20 minute rant, so I'll briefly outline my problems with this book:

1. Both the father and son are unlikable characters with no visible redeeming qualities. I can imagine excuses for them, but that doesn't actually make them better people. The son/author is the worst!

2. The story was unremarkable. I can not even begin to understand the hardships that Art's father endured, but I've read Anne Frank and Corrie ten Boom and Elie Wiesel and, I'm sorry but, MAUS I just can't hold a candle. I understand that MAUS II is concerning Art's father's time in Auschwitz but I'm seriously unmotivated to pick up the second installment.

3. The illustrations were unremarkable. I barely even looked at them, they weren't interesting or well done in my opinion. And did anyone else notice the two random times that Art's mother had a seriously long tail that doesn't appear any other time in the book?! Also, I don't understand the reasoning behind the very obvious cats vs. mice symbolism. Why is this necessary? I feel like Jews vs. Nazis is just as recognizable. Maybe the author can't draw people? Not sure ...

And now I'm just getting mean and so I'll stop here. I would highly suggest that IF you decide to pick up this book, pick up both MAUS I and II. I'm hoping there's some sort of catharsis and/or character development that happens in the second installment because you won't find it in the first.

March: Book(s) satisfies all three nominated shelves for month of March

Classic

My Name is Red – Orhan Pamuk – 3***
Set in 16th-century Instanbul, this is a murder mystery, an art history lesson, and a love story all in one. I found it difficult to follow because of Pamuk’s unusual style. Each chapter has a different narrator. When he focuses on the murder and the investigation, the story is quite compelling. However, Pamuk also includes long passages on art, the history of Turkey, and the teachings of Islam. I found these interesting, but felt they interrupted the story arc and sometimes had me scratching my head wondering what I had just missed.
LINK to my review

Illustrated -and- Autobiography

March: Book Two – John Lewis – 4****
This is the second in a trilogy of graphic memoirs detailing the Civil Rights Movement and early career of U.S. Representative John Lewis. I applaud Lewis and his collaborators for bringing this era in America’s history to the attention of young readers. Providing this information in this format makes it more accessible to a young audience, and it’s important that they learn about this episode in our nation’s history.
LINK to my review

Done!

I'm not doing this for points (as an admin), but for the record, I read and reviewed three books to cover the three tags:

Stories I Only Tell My Friends for autobiography - 4 stars

The Crying of Lot 49 for classic - 1 star

Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened for illustrated - 3 stars

January / Inspired by Ladyslott (on her shelf)

The Hearts of Men by Nickolas Butler - 4 Stars

This book is an example of why I am so glad I belong to a book club. It's not the type of book that I would normally read, but I read it for book club and I think this book will stay with me for a loooong time.

I immediately identified with young Nelson at the beginning of the book, a socially awkward boy who experiences the ultimate in humiliation for a child - no one shows up at his birthday party. Noone, that is, except an older and much more popular boy named Jonathan. The two are very different in personality, and they will never be on the same social level. Despite this, they develop a friendship that seems tenuous and strained at times, but stands the test of time as it lasts through their experiences together as Boy Scouts, through Nelson's years in VietNam and on into adulthood as Nelson takes over the leadership of the Boy Scout camp they attended as young men.

I finished this book at 11:30 on a weekday night (when I really should have been sleeping), and cried at the end. When my emotions are that involved in a book, that's an indication that it was pretty darn good.

Classic
Sounder 3 stars
It is an YA book that is about a slave family and their coon dog Sounder. It was not a very long book, but the story was kind of long and drawn out. Would have liked a little less of the boy talking about random stuff and a little story detail

Robin wrote: "Illustrated
Sounder 3 stars
It is an YA book that is about a slave family and their coon dog Sounder. It was not a very long book, but the story was kind of long and drawn out. Would ..."

Did you mean "CLASSICS"? I don't remember illustrations in this ... but I read it long before Shelfari or Goodreads, so my memory could be way off.

It had a handful of pictures in it and has on cover Illustrations by James Barkley.

Book Concierge wrote: "Robin wrote: "Illustrated
Sounder 3 stars
It is an YA book that is about a slave family and their coon dog Sounder. It was not a very long book, but the story was kind of long and dra..."

It had a handful of pictures and had on cover Illustrations by James Barkley

Robin wrote: "It had a handful of pictures in it and has on cover Illustrations by James Barkley."

Yeah, I would guess it would have had illustrations. I would think it must also be tagged "classics"? Yes, it is:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/users...

Robin, go ahead and also use it for "classics".

Classic & Illustrated:
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Autobiography:
The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo byAmy Schumer

My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Book Concierge wrote: "Robin wrote: "Illustrated
Sounder 3 stars
It is an YA book that is about a slave family and their coon dog Sounder. It was not a very long book, but the story was kind of long and dra..."

There's a lot of published editions of Sounder, and since it is a children's/middle grade book, I'm sure some editions have illustrations.

For this leg of the decathlon, we want people to select reads that fit the three tags in the spirit with which we usually pick reads that fit the tag . . .a lot of books that are illustrated may not be tagged as illustrated. It's okay . . .so long as the member is reading an illustrated version.

We will try to be more clear on our rules each month going forward.

There are a lot of new members this month, and we want them to have fun and enjoy getting involved in the Decathlon!

March: All three nominated tags.

I found a three-n-one!!!! An Illustrated, Classic, Autobiography

Black Beauty

From Goodreads:

Perhaps the most celebrated animal story of the nineteenth century, Black Beauty is the suspenseful and deeply moving account of a horse's experiences at the hands of many owners — some, sensitive riders who treated him gently; others, cruel drivers who thoughtlessly inflicted lasting damage.
Written as the animal's autobiography, and as an appeal for the humane treatment of horses, Anna Sewell's beloved classic reveals as much about human conduct and the social ills of the time as it does about the treatment of animals. Scenes from the lives of both the landed gentry and the impoverished working class offer a subtle but well-rounded perspective of social conditions in England during the late nineteenth century.
Animal lovers of all ages will cherish this memorable story, now available in this unabridged, modestly priced edition.

________________________________________________

My review:

I think I read this book as a young girl but I think it may have been the abridged version as I don't remember everything that I read this time. I absolutely loved Black Beauty. Written as Beauty's autobiography, he tells of his life from his very first home as a young colt to his final home. He tells of all the love and wonderful care he received with his first owner and a few others to the awful treatment he received from others....those who felt that a horse was just meant to work and to be worked hard. All the while, Beauty, did his best and befriended other horses along the way.

Beauty was such a gentle soul. This was a very beautifully written book with wonderful illustrated artwork. A true classic.

I loved "Black Beauty" on a recent reread. I'm sure I read it as a kid, but didn't remember it at all. My mom found my old copy/edition at "home" and brought it to me, so I decided to reread. It made my favourites list that year. :-)

January Catch Up

January Challenge: Book: Tribute to Linda
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
From Linda’s Shelf, and we have the same 4 star rating.
Rating: 4 stars

Review
I am very late to the Anne of Green Gables party, and it is such a shame, because I think I really would have loved this if I had read it first when I was around Anne’s age. Also, while living in Japan, where the book seems to enjoy universal adoration, it was the book that popped up the most in conversation. The shock in the faces when people found that I had not read it effectively shamed me, and I read it almost grudgingly this year. I am glad that I did.

Anne is on fire with life, she is quick to love the beauty and power of the world around her. She lives every minute to the fullest, and is brave in the face of everything. It is almost impossible to dislike Anne, and I liked that she did show great character growth while still remaining the same old Anne Shirley.

In addition to the wonderfully spirited, imperfect Anne, Montgomery’s writing style is smooth, immersive, and captures each character perfectly. This is an excellent book that has not gotten stale at all in the 110 years since publication.What a inspiring role model for girls, both then and now.

February Catch Up

February Challenge: One of the ten books listed on your Goodreads TBR that have been there the longest.
O Pioneers! (Great Plains Trilogy, #1) by Willa Cather
On my TBR shelf since May 5, 2015 (I joined GR in May, 2015, and this was one of the first books that I added!)
Rating: 5 stars

Review
This is the story of Alexandra and her family in early 1900s Nebraska. Alexandra has a deep love and respect of the land and a less than ideal family. Over her lifetime, she experiences both highs and lows, yet always remains true to her beliefs, and loving and loyal to her family and friends.

I love Willa Cather’s writing, and O Pioneers! did not disappoint. The text is so full of beautiful passages, that I found myself re-reading them over and over again, the meaning and musicality just dancing in my brain.

Cather’s women are strong, not quite flawless, but always determined and admirable. The background of prairie, USA is generally not one of my favourite settings, but the way that she writes is so gorgeous and heartrending, it matches the land and the era perfectly.

What I really liked was that (view spoiler)[Alexandra, in the late 1800s, did what she knew to be correct in the face of her brothers' opposition, protected someone who was incorrectly targeted as a mentally ill and threatened with persecution and institutionalization, and faced down ridicule from society to be true to her love. (hide spoiler)]

I did not care for (view spoiler)[ Alexandra’s reaction at the end of the book, and her misplaced blame of poor Marie as the cause for all that happened. Hello, enabling of toxic Frank... (hide spoiler)]

“There is something frank and joyous and young in the open face of the country. It gives itself ungrudgingly to the moods of the season, holding nothing back. Like the plains of Lombardy, it seems to rise a little to meet the sun. The air and the earth are curiously mated and intermingled, as if the one were the breath of the other. You feel in the atmosphere the same tonic, puissant quality that is in the tilth, the same strength and resoluteness.”

“There was about Alexandra something of the impervious calm of the fatalist, always disconcerting to very young people, who cannot feel that the heart lives at all unless it is still at the mercy of storms; unless its strings can scream to the touch of pain.”

“The years seemed to stretch before her like the land: spring, summer, autumn, winter, spring; always the same patient fields, the patient little trees, the patient lives; always the same yearning; the same pulling at the chain — until the instinct to live had torn itself and bled and weakened for the last time, until the chain secured a dead woman, who might cautiously be released.”

March
Classic, Autobiography, Illustrated.

Classic: Middlemarch by George Eliot
Finished March 21, 2018
Rating: 4 stars

Review
Beautifully written, story covering so many individual stories as they are woven together in early 1800s small town England. Grand, consistently surprising, and packed with a variety of distinctly individual, well-developed characters. Basically, a masterpiece.

In this, we (mainly) follow the lives of idealistic Dorothea, repulsive Edward and irresistible Will, 'Real Housewife of Provincial England' Rosemary and doormat Tertius, adorably practical Mary and goofy Fred, and despicable hypocritical Nicholas.

I loved Silas Marner very much. This felt a bit like it was so much bigger than me, with all of the characters. Also, the flavour of helplessness that was in Silas Marner was more present in Middlemarch, which I did not love.

Overall, this one left me with mixed feelings: awe of George Eliot's writing style and ability to manage such a monumental piece of work, yet overwhelmed by the length and melancholy.


Autobiography: All the Colors We Will See: Reflections on Barriers, Brokenness, and Finding Our Way by Patrice Gobo
Finished March 14, 2018
Rating: 3 stars

Review
This was a bit difficult to get into as I found the thoughts scattered and a bit removed, like the author was waking up from a strange dream and not sure how exactly to put everything into words. There is a feeling of helpless acceptance throughout that perfectly summarizes a life of looking but never really finding.


Illustrated: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson
Finished March 10, 2018
Rating: 3 stars

Review
One day in the life of Miss Pettigrew - charming (except for the casual racism) story of a down on her luck older unmarried (horrors!) woman in London, between World War I and II. By mistake, she is directed to the lovely Delysia's flat, and is drawn helplessly into an exciting whirlwind of a day. The illustrations were adorable, the story farcical, and my rating would have been higher if it weren't for the smack-in-the-face remarks regarding ethnicity.

January Catch-up: Tribute to Linda-from Linda’s Read list

Review of A Darker Shade of Magic

4 Stars


I was excited to see this on Linda’s list, as I had it on my own shelf To Read.

A Darker Shade of Magic is the first in the Shades of Magic Trilogy by V.E. Schwab. Schwab was an author new to me, so I was going in blind.

The storyline revolves around a magician named Kell, who is one of the last magicians able to travel between parallel cities: The Red, White, Grey and sealed-up Black London. Kell is in the service, and an adopted member, of the Royal Family of Arnes in Red London, the only London where magic seems to thrive.

But Kell has a secret life. During his duties of carrying messages across the London's, he has become a smuggler of items between the 3 London's that are open to him. Prince Rhy, his friend and adopted brother has discovered his sinister hobby and told him to stop before something goes wrong.

After an exchange of items, something does start to go wrong and Kell slips into Grey London where he meets Delilah Bard-a thief and want-to- be-pirate. As things snowball into chaos, Kell and Delilah jump between London’s-in a quest to not only save Red London, but magic itself.

I really did enjoy this book, but it only gets 4 stars because it took awhile for me get attached to it. I was a little confused at the start and it seemed slow. But, my opinion changed as I finally grasped what was going on. I am looking forward to the next book and will be reading more of this author!

March 25th - Read both and illustrated and classic book. (In addition to autobiography). I have three of those this month.

1) Romeo and Juliet - classic by William Shakespeare. Found in Other Books March.

2) The Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl - classic and illustrated. Also in March Other books and Review below:

A Classic Children's Book, Illustrated in Color! Years ago, I came across a special version of the Roald Dahl books, illustrated in Color, and I bought like three of them. They were limited edition and hard to find. I found two of them in an airport bookstore, and the third in a local bookstore. Just finished it with the Curly haired monster. I had never read this one, and I enjoyed it. Just loved the illustrations, so I was happy for the classic/illustrated challenge that allowed me to get to this for the little guy. It was great fun.

Was I supposed to name the autobiographies?
Have a Little Faith - Mitch Albom
Born a Crime - Trevor Noah
Wild Swans - Jung Chang - review coming in two minutes....

March

Autobiography: The Know-It-All, AJ Jacobs
Classics: Three Men In A Boat, Jerome K. Jerome
Illustrated: Almost Midnight, Rainbow Rowell (It's only tagged 4 times as illustrated, because it's still a relatively new book (it's tagged 17K times as to-read, lol) but I swear there are illustrations in it!)

March

Autobiography & Illustrated: March: Book Two. Review posted here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Classic: Whose Body?. Review posted here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

March -read all three tags that were vote options (classics, autobiography, illustrated)

Autobiography: Open - Andre Agassi ( REVIEW )
Classic: Robinson Crusoe - Daniel Defoe ( REVIEW )
Illustrated: Hard Luck - Jeff Kinney ( REVIEW )

March
Autobiography, Classic, Illustrated
Autobiography Bossypants by Tina Fey
Finished March 14, 2018
Rating 3 stars

Over the years I have enjoyed watching Tina Fey on SNL and in the smattering of movies she has made. This book, however, doesn't even register on the humor scale for me. I gave it three stars because even though I didn't love it I've read worse. She includes many stories about her awkward childhood and adolescence. The better stories are about her adult career in comedy. Her best anecdotes concern her portrayal of her doppleganger Sarah Palin.
If you're looking for a laugh out loud book, this one isn't for you. You might get a snicker or two, but that's about it.

Classic and Illustrated
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahme
Rating 5 Stars

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. The book was first published in 1908 and reads as though it was written yesterday. Mr. Grahame writes quite eloquently of the lives of the small woodland creatures that populate his story. From Mr. Toad's crazy adventures and run-ins with the law to the quiet Mole always considerate of those around him misadventures abound.

As the story opens, we meet Mole, Ratty, and Otter. Mole has his first boating excursion and experience with the River. Even the River is personified taking on the characteristics of a child interacting with her environment. Laden with sensory imagery, Grahame paints a picture in the imagination of the lush Wild Woods and all the "little people" that reside there.

About a third of the way into the story we meet the boisterous Mr. Toad and learn of his affinity with motorcars. While the others recognize Toad's obsession with cars, Toad is overcome with his obsession. Eventually this leads to his stealing his neighbor's car and his subsequent arrest, trial, and imprisonment. Wild adventures ensue taking us to the battle for Toad Hall and the ultimate defeat of the stouts and weasels.

I am not sure (a little research is called for) but given the idyllic presentation of the characters and setting and the time when this book was published in 1908, I suspect Wind in the Willows is a metaphor or allusion to WWI and memories of happier times in England. I'm going to investigate and see if there's a connection. Too coincidental.

For an enjoyable read and a little escapism, I highly recommend Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.