Challenge: 50 Books discussion

The new year has began and time to start all over again. :)

1. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close 3*

A good book with some high moments and some WTH moments. I understood the basic premise about a young boy who lost his father in 9/11 and the grief that he was in. I hated the grandparents story intensely, especially the grandfather. But the biggest WTH moment, for me, was a mother allowing her 9-10 yo old go all over NY alone? Really? Of course, the story wouldn't have worked without Oskar's ability to roam freely but had to suspend my disbelief over that one.

Having said all of that, I still enjoyed Oskar's journey from stalled in grief to acceptance. There were parts that were incredibly moving and I admit to shedding a few tears. Things I loved- the letters from famous people in response to Oskar's letters & the incorporation of photos in the book.

Although I wish I could say that it was 5*, it wasn't but still worth reading. I went into it with expectations that were too high.

*edited to lower the stars from 3 1/2* to 3* because in the couple days since I've read it, I realized that I didn't quite like it that much, lol.

I read Foer's first book Everything Is Illuminated, and had the same reaction to it. There are parts of it I still think of periodically and that touch me, and there were parts of it I intensely disliked. Not sure if I'm up to reading another one of his.

I think, though I enjoyed many aspects of the book, I won't be reading another of his books for a long time because of the things I disliked about it. And, I went back and forth about the rating between a 3 & 3 1/2*. Now that I've had a couple of days to digest it, I'll be changing it down to a 3*.

Susan wrote: "I read Foer's first book Everything Is Illuminated, and had the same reaction to it. There are parts of it I still think of periodically and that touch me, and there were parts of it..."

2. Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson 2 1/2*

The thing I liked about the book was the writing (prose). The author is obviously very talented in describing places and quiet moments. She managed to pull me in and kept me engaged on the strength of her skill with the word. Best description of the novel, quiet.

The biggest disappointment in the book was that there was no connection between the characters and the reader (me). I did not know them or understand where they were coming from. The most generous thing I can say is that it was like watching a documentary made by a mental patient. Not a violent one but one that has no connection to the real world. I could not understand the thought process that they go through. And perhaps that's what the author was going for.

I read that one, too, Lillie. It was a strange one.

Glad to hear I wasn't the only one to feel that it was a bit out there. :)

Susan wrote: "I read that one, too, Lillie. It was a strange one."

3. Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts 3 1/2*

The fourth and last book in the series about a group of friends who run a wedding business. As always, Roberts books are fun and don't require me to do anything but sit back and enjoy. And, I did enjoy this one. I know exactly what I'm going to get with one of her books and it makes me happy. Kinda like mint chocolate chip ice cream or rocky road. ;)

Or cinnamon dulce de leche... Crap! Now you've done it.

Susan wrote: "I read Foer's first book Everything Is Illuminated, and had the same reaction to it. There are parts of it I still think of periodically and that touch me, and there were parts of it..."

I saw an Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close audiobook on the library shelf and picked it up. So I am going for a second round with Foer.

Lol, we all need a little dessert in our lives ;)

Donna wrote: "Or cinnamon dulce de leche... Crap! Now you've done it."

You'll have to tell me what you think. Maybe the audiobook will come across better.

Susan wrote: "Susan wrote: "I read Foer's first book Everything Is Illuminated, and had the same reaction to it. There are parts of it I still think of periodically and that touch me, and there we..."

4. Indulgence in Death (In Death, #31) 3 1/2*

Another fun book. Love this series about as much as when I started with book #1. Always look forward to Eve Dallas. :)

5. Light Boxes 2 1/2*

Actually have no clue how to rate this book or describe it. Simplest summary, a town is fighting against February which has lasted over 900 days and is a person.

I felt like I was dropped in an alternate universe with no understanding of the rules. Definitely not a traditional book even in format. There are pages that have one word or one sentence, sometimes just the word or phrase, sometimes repeated.

Gave it a 2 1/2* because it did keep me reading. But I gave it a 2 1/2* because I thought the writing was interesting but not the story.

You seem to go for the unusual books. I'm starting my audio of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Saffron Foer tonight.

I do like to read books that are different but not all the time, lol.

Susan wrote: "You seem to go for the unusual books. I'm starting my audio of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Saffron Foer tonight."

6. Doomsday Book 3 1/2*

Really enjoyed this one. It was different from what I was expecting. I thought there would be more science facts but there weren't. Time travel is a fact, we don't hear all the ins and outs of the process or who invented it. Instead this book has two distinct stories to it. The first is set in the not too distant future and the second on the eve of the black plague (1348). The time travel is a device that bridges the two.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book To Say Nothing of the Dog.

I read that a while ago. But did you notice: even though it supposed to be in the future, no one has cell phones.

I did notice and it made me laugh. I looked at the copyright date (1992) and realized it had been written 19 (!) years ago.

Susan wrote: "I read that a while ago. But did you notice: even though it supposed to be in the future, no one has cell phones."

So much for foretelling the future!

Lillie wrote: "The new year has began and time to start all over again. :)

1. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close 3*

A good book with some high m..."

Well, I finished it. Here's my review.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45...

Have been enjoying the weekend reading Zoe Archer's Blade of the Roses series. First time reading this author. Went into it with no expectations and I wasn't disappointed. This series would be classified as a fantasy romance.

7. Warrior 4* fun

8. Scoundrel 4* fun

9. Rebel 3 1/2*

10. Stranger 3 1/2*

You read all four of them in one weekend?

No, I started them last week but finished the last one this past weekend. Should've been clearer, lol.

Susan wrote: "You read all four of them in one weekend?"

11. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks 4*

I feel conflicted about my rating for this book. Not sure if 4* is really quite correct. I think my biggest annoyance with the book is that I felt I was reading two books. I would get into one part and then it would switch. I really liked both stories but got annoyed when I got pulled out of one to the other.

On the other hand, this story really needs to be out there, all parts of it. I did find the human story so much more compelling than the scientific one but even that was well written. Deborah, Henrietta's daughter, was definitely the heart of the book and you could tell the author felt very connected to her.

Of course, I probably wouldn't have read this quite yet had it not been for my book club meeting on Thursday. I don't really like non-fictions but there you go...

12. The Madonnas of Echo Park: A Novel 4*

What a beautifully written book! Wasn't too sure when I first started but ended up spending the day reading it.

It is, essentially, a collection of short stories but they are all connected by Echo Park and by their experiences as Mexican-Americans. Throughout the book we are introduced to a group of individuals that show us the diversity in their community. I cannot get over the fact that this is the author's debut. Very glad I picked it up on a whim. The cover art is just gorgeous (the paperback edition I have is the same as the kindle edition but that cover wasn't available on goodreads).

13. Dreamfever 3 1/2*

Love this series but I waited over a year to read this one until now because the fifth and final book just came out. Was warned, when this one came out, that there was a huge cliffhanger. Boy, were they right! Glad I have the next one requested at the library. Hopefully, I'll get it soon!

So, the story...didn't like it as much as previous books. Somethings were written very unrealistically. I think the many times I said, yeah, right to myself lowered my love. I really don't want to go into what because they would be spoilers. Still interested in reading the final book but not quite as eager as I was before reading this installment.

Hmmm...rereading what I wrote makes the book sound awful but it was, in fact, good. I was just expecting something slightly different.

14. Jar City 4*

Really enjoyed this detective novel from Iceland. Loved the way the author guided us through the mystery as well as the detective's life. My only quibble was that 3/4 of the way through, I was able to figure out the mystery. But I continued to enjoy the writing. Good translator (am having major difficulties with another translated book, so a good translator is much appreciated!).

I liked it so much that I checked out the next in the series from the library and can't wait to read it. :)

15. Undead and Unfinished 1*

Disappointed.

Lillie wrote: "11. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks 4*

I feel conflicted about my rating for this book. Not sure if 4* is really quite correct. I think my biggest annoyance with the book is th..."

Lillie -- I just finished this not too long ago, and I think of a book like this as being a program on the History or Discovery Channel. On those channels they might have a show on beer, for instance, and give you every aspect of it, from the history of beer, to how hops are grown, to the popularity of microbreweries. So, therefore, the switch back and forth from Henrietta, to the family, to the doctors and lab techs, to the people making museums, did not bother me.

That's a great comparison between the History/Discovery Channel shows and the book! I wish I had known that before I read the book to prepare myself. Of course, I have read many other books that switch narratives so I'm not sure why this bothered me. Maybe because I was so interested in each half. Shrug. Still an excellent book.

Yes, I can't wait for
my book club discussion on it.

Lillie wrote: "15. Undead and Unfinished 1*

Disappointed."

I'm hoping the title is an hint that there's at least one more to come, because that whole Book of the Dead thing, what did I say about this one?... I'm back: creepy and heartbreaking.

Susan wrote: "Yes, I can't wait for
my book club discussion on it."

I wish we had had more time to talk about it. Everyone was moved by the book and there was so much ground to cover. Have fun! :)

Donna wrote: I'm hoping the title is an hint that there's at least one more to come, bec..."

I don't think the author is finished with the series but I hated the ending so much that I won't be following it anymore (unless you come back and say the next one is extraordinary, lol).

16. The Fat Woman Next Door Is Pregnant 2*

Think that I'm being generous in giving this work 2 stars. The saying "lost in translation" fits here. A friend, who has read both the French and the English, says that a whole layer of meaning has been stripped away. I wish I could read French, then maybe I could understand why this book is thought of so highly.

That said, I did end up giving this 2 stars because there were bits of humor, though they were few and far between.

17. Shadowfever 3 1/2*

Good book but could've been edited down about 100 pages. Would've liked more story than filler. But overall a fun book. Good ending to the series, I guess? I bet she'll put out something to do with this world again.

18. Snow Angels 2*

Very graphic, violent and had use of a word that is unacceptable (the n word)...not just the once but over and over again. The mystery itself was just okay, in the end with one too many red herrings. Not sure I'd recommend it but I might borrow the next one from the library.

19. Huckleberry Finished 1*

Won't be picking up her books again. The mystery was confusing, the characters unappealing. I was disappointed. Gave it a star because goodreads doesn't accept 0 stars.

20. The Remains of the Dead 2 1/2* (originally a 3* but since I can't remember it very well, though I only read it a couple of days ago, it lost 1/2*)

Liked this book. Will check out the next in the series from the library though.

21. Case Histories 4 1/2*

Fun book. Liked the detective, Jackson Brodie. Liked the setting, Cambridge. Liked the cases Jackson Brodie investigated. Loved the writing. Kate Atkinson kept me interested in all three mysteries where a less accomplished writer wouldn't have.

I thought that Brodie would've been more along the lines of the "tough guy" detective but luckily he wasn't. I understand that they will be making a series based on this book. I can see it.

Lillie wrote: "18. Snow Angels 2*

Very graphic, violent and had use of a word that is unacceptable (the n word)...not just the once but over and over again. The m..."

That's how I felt about Grisham's "A Time to Kill". I actually started counting how many times he used that or "the redneck" when referring to a character. One of my few not finished reads. I'm not easily offended by words, especially when in context, but it just got tiresome to the point of disgust.

"Donna wrote: That's how I felt about Grisham's "A Time to Kill". I actually started counting how many times he used that or "the redneck" when referring to a character. One of my few not finished reads. I'm not easily offended by words, especially when in context, but it just got tiresome to the point of disgust "

Actually, Case Histories used the same word but it wasn't gratuitous. There was quite a different feeling that I got, that the main character was appalled at the use of it. I'm not sure how to explain it any better.

You explained it just fine. It's all about context & time period. There are words that were in common usage for years or centuries that are unacceptable today. Do I get offended when Chaucer or Shakespeare or Mark Twain use them? No. If the reason it's being used in a modern work fits the character or the theme of the book? No. Gratuitous use in a modern work like "A Time to Kill"? That's an author trying to jerk my chain for no good reason or because he's just a bad writer.

22. Let's Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship 3 1/2*

The writing is top notch. The author is a wonderful wordsmith. Kept me reading. Reason for lower stars is that I was annoyed with some of the content.

23. The House on Mango Street 2 1/2*

Another book I was wanting to love but I just thought it was okay. It was a book of short stories, usually 2-4 pages in length. Good writing, just not my style. I would've probably loved it as a novella but this style felt very jarring to me.

Just reorganized my night stand and realized that I have 5 books that have been partially read. Three of them that I had started last year but had put aside for various reasons. Always funny when I do that. Looking at all five books, I will definitely try to finish them this year, lol.

24. Silence of the Grave 3*

Kept me reading and I will pick up the next book but I did not love it. There were too many threads to keep straight. Central to the mystery was domestic violence which is one of my least favorite topics to read about.

25. The Sherlockian 3 1/2*

Enjoyed this fictionalized tale of Arthur Conan Doyle and his missing diary. There were two storylines in alternating chapters. The first was an account of Doyle during the time of the missing diary (which apparently is really missing) and the second was about a modern day "Sherlockian" (a person who is a part of an exclusive Sherlock Holmes society) looking into a murder that is related to the missing diary.

I found it slow to start and it took some time to get invested in the characters, though, I have to say, it was easier with the Doyle chapters. Also, there was too much build up or filler and then the mystery was resolved rather quickly. Not as satisfying as I was imagining it would be.

26. The Draining Lake 4*

Loved it! It kept me engaged throughout. I learned about Iceland and the Cold War. The book focused on the central mystery and didn't delve too deeply in the detective's life. His life is too messy and in the previous book, overshadowed the mystery. This time around, the focus was on the right place. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.

27. Come, Thou Tortoise 3.5*

I can't even begin to describe it other than that it's like being dropped in the middle of a conversation where no one tells you what it's about and you end up playing catch up. I got the general gist of the story but wish I could've connected more with the main character but she was slightly out of reach. Still liked it enough that I would give this author another try.

Very odd, very quirky.

28. 84, Charing Cross Road 5*

I cannot believe I put this book off for so long! Absolutely loved it! Loved the letters, loved the humor, loved the relationships. Fabulous book! My first 5* of the year.

29. The Tiger's Wife 3.5*

Another book that I was ambivalent about for most of it. Really enjoyed the tales the grandfather told. Loved the deathless man and the tiger's wife. Had the book been from his perspective the entire time, I would've given more stars. But, because the main protagonist was Natalia, the granddaughter, it brought the story down. She was unnecessary.

30. Homicide My Own 1*

Hated the first person narrative. Made for a confusing read.