Challenge: 50 Books discussion

1. The Third Translation: A Novel by Matt Bondurant

So the year has started with a fizzle. This book was not worth the $3.99 I paid for it on clearance.

2. The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt

This was an interesting history and comment on the culture and people of Venice, centered around the 1996 burning of the city's La Fenice Theatre. There were some fascinating stories. Berendt's writing is very readable, and I learned alot about Ezra Pound, Murano glass, and the way Italian government works. I just wish there had been more of a plot or center to the story. The separate chapters felt very disconnected. Is this what Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was like? I haven't read that and am now considering it.

3. The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History by John M. Barry

Boy, was this a dense book! But it was really interesting and went into detail about many things besides medicine and the flu, like WWI history and the politics and culture of the era. I also found interesting that the strain of flu that caused the 1918 pandemic was H1N1, the one we have been dealing with this past year. Now that I've finished the book, I really want to ask my 95-year-old great-grandmother if she remembers any of this when I see her next month. She was 4 when the epidemic broke out in the States.

4. The Position: A Novel by Meg Wolitzer

This was an entertaining, quick read, but since Wolitzer took turns with viewpoint, moving between 6 different characters, I feel like there were a lot of details and story lines that were never really finished or were rushed at the end. If she had made the book a little longer, it probably would have helped.

5. The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett

This was a pretty fascinating story of a man who has stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of rare and first edition books. It's a great look into the world of book collectors, and the thief, John Gilkey is a straight-up textbook sociopath, so I alternated between laughing out loud and my jaw hanging open while reading several of Bartlett's interviews with him. And it's definitely gotten me looking at the copyright pages of books on my bookcases and wanting to get some first editions of my own favortie books.

6. In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O'Brien

Pretty disturbing.

7. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

I picked up this book after reading Never Let Me Go, and then never got around to reading it. I have to say, the two books are totally different in pretty much every way. The Remains of the Day is a little boring, but it's not too long, which makes up for it, and it's really beautifully written. It did make me a little sad, though, because Stevens is so proud of his professional achievements and his devotion to his employer, but at the expense of having his own life and happinesses.

Kate wrote: "7. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

I picked up this book after reading Never Let Me Go, and then never got around to reading it. I have to say, the two books ..."


How did you like Never Let Me Go? I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Julie wrote: "Kate wrote: "7. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

I picked up this book after reading Never Let Me Go, and then never got around to reading it. I have to say, the..."


Honestly, I read it so long ago that I don't remember much about it any more, except that the subject and contect were totally different from The Remains of the Day. (That's one of the reasons I've started posting on this group. I'm finding that I can't remember alot of the books I read years ago. Hopefully this will help.) But I did like it enough to want to read more of Ishiguro.

8. The Likeness: A Novel by Tana French

This book was much better than her first novel, In the Woods. I think French better understood her characters and where she wanted to go in this book, and was therefore able to provide a much more satisfying ending.

9. Strange Things Happen: A Life with The Police, Polo, and Pygmies by Stewart Copeland

This was a pretty disappointing read. It was less a memoir of Copeland's life than an extended resume of his various career moves - except for his time with The Police. He keeps the entire book on an impersonal level, and he basically condensed his 6-year tenure with The Police into one paragraph at the end of a chapter. He doesn't mention Sting or Andy Summers again until they get back together for their reunion tour in 2007.

Another disappointing aspect of the book is the writing. Copeland is a fantastic and engaging writer, don't get me wrong. But, his stories are too shallow. He barely goes into any detail, and he would end a chapter pretty much when the story starts to get interesting. It's one thing to have a catchy ending; it's another to have no ending at all.

Overall, I would have liked to see so much more out of this book. Copeland has led a fascinating life (his father was in the CIA for pete's sake!), and this book just doesn't do him justice.

10. White Noise by Don DeLillo

Pretty amusing.

11. Love: A Novel by Toni Morrison

Morrison absolutely has a way with words. The writing was almost poetic, but the story was a little hard to follow until it all came together at the end. It's probably one of those books that needs to be read twice so that you can understand the first part of the book and who is who the second time around. But the way it all wrapped up so beautifully made the head-scratching worth it.

12. Case Histories: A Novel by Kate Atkinson

This was an enjoyable read, but the 'mystery' part definitely took a backseat to the rest of the story. Still, I'm looking forward to reading more of the Jackson Brodie series.

13. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

I never read this as a kid, so I swiped it from my brother's shelf while I was visiting my mom last month. Once I realized it was written in the 60s, I really enjoyed it.

Kate wrote: "12. Case Histories: A Novel by Kate Atkinson

This was an enjoyable read, but the 'mystery' part definitely took a backseat to the rest of the story. Still, I'm lookin..."

I LOVED this book when I was a kid. I remember reading several times.

14. The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman

Definitely a page-turner. I figured out most of the mysteries before the narrator did, but I still wanted to see how they were revealed. I was not expecting the last revelation, though, so it was a good way to end the book.

Kate wrote: "14. The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman

Definitely a page-turner. I figured out most of the mysteries before the narrator did, but I still wanted to see how ..."

I've read this one....Carol Goodman is a wonderful author.

Julie wrote: "Kate wrote: "14. The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman

Definitely a page-turner. I figured out most of the mysteries before the narrator did, but I still wanted ..."

I'd be interested in reading her other books. I don't know what any of them are about, but all the titles have to do with water, which I think is a little funny.

15. One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson

This is the sequel to Case Histories: A Novel. I really like how Atkinson shows how all the different characters are seemingly randomly connected. As main character Jackson Brodie says, coincidences are just connections waiting to be found. I like that idea. And I did not see the twist on the last page coming at all.

16. Clapton: The Autobiography by Eric Clapton

Considering I've been listening to Eric Clapton's music since I was in utero (thanks to my dad), I really didn't know much about his life. I had no idea how rough of a life he has had and just how young he was when he went through all his bands. What I found fascinating were his accounts of all these legendary musicians right on the cusp (or some fully in) superstardom, like The Beatles, The Stones, The Who, Steve Winwood, Stephen Stills, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix, the Vaughn brothers, and so many others, just hanging out, partying, and jamming together on a whim. Oh, to be a fly on that wall.

17. I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley

This was a book of short stories in the style of David Sedaris, except for those of us who grew up in the 80s. I knew I was hooked when I came across her story about the computer game Oregon Trail. Very witty.

18. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

I actually really enjoyed this book, even though it was a little young. It was pretty funny, and I think all the Greek mythology is great.

19. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

This is definitely a classic that should be read at least once, but it wasn't a very enjoyable read. I understand how Charlie's personality was bound to change along with his intelligence, but he wasn't very likeable, so it made for some slow reading.

20. Lyrics by Sting

I'm a huge Police fan, so it was interesting to see some of the stories behind the songs.

21. The Twits by Roald Dahl

Another from my brother's book shelf that I never read as a kid. Entertaining, but not as good as his other stuff.

Kate, if you enjoyed the story of Flowers For Algernon, you might rent the movie 'Charley' starring Cliff Robertson as the experimentee Charley. I don't remember Robertson's character as being unlikeable in itself, just a little sad given the ending. In fact, at first, when the experiment seems to begin working, he's very likeable. Robertson is very good as the feeble-minded worker who undergoes a transformation...

Carol wrote: "Kate, if you enjoyed the story of Flowers For Algernon, you might rent the movie 'Charley' starring Cliff Robertson as the experimentee Charley. I don't remember Robertson's character as being unl..."

I've already added it to my Netflix queue. Thanks for the recommendation!

22. Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos

This book was ok. It was a little contrived, and I'm all for witty dialogue, but not every single sentence has to be witty. It's just not realistic. I was also a little put off by the fact that it's marketed as a love story, and starts off as a love story, but the narrator tries to convince you throughout the book that this is not a love story, when turns out, it's just another love story. It seemed almost like de los Santos was embarrassed to be writing a love story. Be proud of what you write, no matter what genre!

Anyway, I did enjoy the relationships that developed throughout the story, and parts of it did give me that warm fuzzy feeling. But I'm glad I didn't pay full price.

23. The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon

This book was very similar to Flowers for Algernon, but much much better. I think alot of that has to do with the different eras in which the two were written. When Algernon was written, not only was the popular writing style very succint and non-descriptive (think Catcher in the Rye), but the cultural reaction toward mentally handicapped people was completely different.

In The Speed of Dark, the main character is autistic, and the majority of the book is the conflict he endures of whether to accept this treatment that makes him 'normal.' It's very introspective and philosophical, but not intimidatingly so. A very enjoyable read.

I just read this, too! At the end I didn't know if I wanted to cheer for Lew or cry.

Donna wrote: "I just read this, too! At the end I didn't know if I wanted to cheer for Lew or cry."

Me too, but I think that's the point. Was the treatment really necessary? He changed and grew so much throughout the story that I don't think it was. But then again, it allowed him to be able to accomplish his dream, even if only because of his 'more normal' appearance to others. In the end, I was happy for him, and glad that the 'old Lou' wasn't completely gone.

24. Tess of the D'urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

25. A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

26. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Sooo Good. I can't believe I waited this long to read it. Beautifully detailed and insightful. I could really put myself in the place of Francie.

27. The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie

28. Pretty Little Mistakes: A Do-Over Novel by Heather McElhatton

This was a choose-your-own-adventure book for adults. It was a really interesting idea, but the resulting product was not good. I read probably a dozen various stories, and in all but one I (the protagonist) was killed in some completely unrealistic way. After reading for awhile, I realized how uncreative the various story lines were. McElhatton also has a big preoccupation with crystal meth, because at least half of the story lines I read involved use of the drug. Over all, the character whose life we follow is a sex-crazed, amoral and immature girl, and I just couldn't see any redeeming value in her.

29. Personal Injuries by Scott Turow

I love Scott Turow, but then again, I'm a sucker for a legal drama. There were some really good twists, and Turow wrote the characters in such a way that I sort of saw it coming, but I didn't want to see it because I didn't want to think the characters would do that. Made for a good page-turner.

30. The Bridges Madison County by Robert James Waller

I borrowed this from my mom's bookshelf a long time ago and figured I should get it back to her while I'm visiting her. A heartbreaking love story. I have to admit, it made me cry a little.

31. The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation by Gene Roberts

The is a book about how journalists and the news media impacted the civil rights movement. It was so much better than I imagined it would be. It's the most thorough account of the movement from beginning to end that I've read to date. Very inspiring stories.

32. The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

33. When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson

This is the third book I've read by Kate Atkinson in the 'Jackson Brodie' series. The more I read her, the more I like her. Looking forward to another book in the series.

34. Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story by Chuck Klosterman

This was a really quick, enjoyable read. Klosterman is an excellent writer, very insightful and hilarious. I'm looking forward to reading his other books.

35. Master Your Metabolism: The 3 Diet Secrets to Naturally Balancing Your Hormones for a Hot and Healthy Body! by Jillian Michaels

Very interesting and very doable.

36. And She Was: A Novel by Cindy Dyson

The historical information on the Aleutian Islands and its native people was really interesting, but the present-day narrator was unlikable, and the plot line was somewhat of a disappointment.

37. Slam by Nick Hornby

I can always depend on Hornby for an enjoyable, quick read.

38. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Not quite what I was expecting from the final book in the series, but still so good. She is one the few authors I've read in a long time that can completely surprise me with plot twists. I am quite satisfied with the way it all ended.

39. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

This was just ok for me. There were definitely some very amusing parts, and I can see why the book is so celebrated, but for me, it was way too dense for that kind of non-stop satire. It just got old very quickly. Which is why is took me over a month to finish it.

40. Reversible Errors by Scott Turow

This one wasn't one of Turow's best. The story was pretty good, but the quality of the dialogue was less than stellar. Still, he's one of my favorites.

10 to go!

41. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

When I first started reading, I thought I was going to love this book. I really loved the mothers' stories of their childhoods in turn-of-the-century China. But I really did not enjoy the daughters' stories. They all came off as spoiled brats who showed no interest or pride in their culture until it benefited them. Also, I was somewhat dismayed at the lack of strength of character the grown daughters showed in their romantic relationships. Overall, I liked it, but there were definitely some stories I liked more than others.

42. Chuck Klosterman IV: A Decade of Curious People and Dangerous Ideas by Chuck Klosterman

I really enjoy reading Klosterman's work. He's incredibly insightful and funny, and I really liked his retrospective commentary on his own pieces. I have only two qualms: 1) The fiction piece at the end of the book was not good, but I think he realizes that himself; and 2) He overuses the word 'myriad.' I know this is really silly, but he did it in Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story too, and I can't overlook it this time. It was in that book something like 8 or 10 times, and it's in IV at least 3 times. Granted, he does use the word correctly (which is saying something), but it's one of those words that should be very sparingly used. Not 10 times in 400 pages. In my humble opinion.

Otherwise, the book was great.

43. The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

So good! I can't believe I never read these as a kid. I can't wait to read the rest.

44. Millionaire Women Next Door: The Many Journeys of Successful American Businesswomen by Thomas J. Stanley

This was pretty dry, and Dr. Stanley had only about 4 or 5 points that he just kept repeating throughout the 300 pages.

45. Coyotes: A Journey Through the Secret World of America's Illegal Aliens by Ted Conover

I really enjoyed this book. Even though it was written in the 80s, it could have been a present-day story of Mexican migrant workers. It's refreshingly told from a perspective that you don't see from the news and media outlets, and it really put a face on illegal migrants.