Nans' 1010 Challenge

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Nans' 1010 Challenge

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1nans
Editado: Jan 12, 2010, 12:42 pm

Here are my categories though they might change as I get into the challenge.

I. Books that I moved overseas and still haven't touched
II. Vacation Destinations 2010 - Fiction
III. US States I have visited
IV. US States I have not visited
V. European Countries I have visited
VI. Reading Globally's Theme reads
VII. Friend Recommendations
VIII. LT'ers Recommendations
IX. Next in the Series
X. Books borrowed or gifted from others

And yes, some of these categories will be used towards other challenges

2nans
Editado: Dez 21, 2010, 2:19 pm

I. Books that I moved overseas and still haven't touched
1. In America: A Novel by sontagsusan::Susan Sontag - 02/09/10
2. Julie and Julia by powelljulie::Julie Powell - 02/22/10
3. This Charming Man by Marian Keyes - 5/5/10
4. Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson - 8/18/10
5. The Seduction by Nicole Jourdan - 8/23/10
6. The Map of Love: A Novel by Ahdaf Soueif - 11/14/10
7. Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs - 11/26/10
8. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl - 12/09/10
9.
10.

3nans
Editado: Dez 28, 2010, 1:22 pm

II. Vacation Destinations - Past & Present
1. Season of the Jew by Maurice Shadbolt - NZ 2009 - 7/10/10
2. The Tie that Binds by Kent Haruf- 9/19/10
3. The Meadow by James Galvin - 9/21/10
4. The Dig Tree by Sarah Murgatroyd - 11/23/10
5. Mother's Beloved: Stories from Laos by Bnounyavong Outhine - 11/25/10
6. Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin - 11/28/10
7. Everything is Broken by Emma Larkin - 12/6/10
8. Children of Cambodia's Killing Fields collected by Pran Dith - 12/18/10
9. Matilda's Last Waltz by Tamara McKinley - 12/27/10
10.

4nans
Editado: Dez 28, 2010, 1:23 pm

III. US States I have visited
1. Kentucky - The Kentuckians by Janice Holt Giles - 12/30/09
2. North Carolina - Serena by Ron Rash - 01/25/10
3. Louisiana - Zeitoun by Dave Eggers - 02/01/10
4. California - Epitaph for a Peach by David M. Masumoto - 03/10/10
5. Indiana - A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel - 05/24/10
6. Tennessee - Heart in the Right Place by Carolyn Jourdan - 07/13/10
7. South Carolina - Sullivan's Island by Dorothea Benton Frank - 8/3/10
8. West Virginia - The Midwife's Tale by Gretchen Moran Laskas - 11/21/10
9. Illinois - So Long, See you Tomorrow by William Maxwell - 11/6/10
10. New Jersey - Rococo by Adriana Trigiani - 12/22/10

5nans
Editado: Jun 3, 2010, 12:23 pm

IV. US States I have not visited
1. North Dakota - A Christmas Blizzard by Garrison Keillor - 12/07/09
2. Hawaii - Moloka'i by Alan Brennert - 01/30/10
3. Massachusetts - Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman - 01/31/10
4. Washington - The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
5. South Dakota - Lakota Woman by Mary Bird Dog - 02/10/10
6. Pennsylvania - Fun House A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel - 02/28/10
7. Alabama - The Well and the Mine by Gin Phillips - 03/20/10
8. Mississippi - The Help by Kathryn Stockett - 04/06/10
9. Minnesota - Schulz and the Peanuts: A Biography by David Michaelis - 04/11/10
10. Maryland - Life Sentences by Laura Lippman - 6/1/10

6nans
Editado: Dez 21, 2010, 2:28 pm

V. European Countries I have visited
1. France: Sarahs Key by Tatiana de Rosnay - 03/21/10
2. Hungry: Fateless: A Novel by Irme Kertesz - 04/12/10
3. Germany: Im Westen Nichts Neues by Erich Maria Remarque - 07/05/10
4. Greece: Zigzag through the Bitter-Orange Trees by Ersi Sotiropoulos - 07/22/10
5. Spain: The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón - 10/20/10
6. Austria: Die Arbeit der Nacht by Thomas Glavinic - 11/2/10
7. Netherlands: The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom - 11/26/10
8. Slovenia: Northern Lights by Drago Jancar - 12/18/10
9.
10.

7nans
Editado: Nov 3, 2010, 1:04 pm

VI. Reading Globally's Theme reads
1. Snow by Orhan Pamuk - Ottoman Empire - 05/16/10
2. The Kingdom of this World by Alejo Carpentier - Caribbean - 05/17/10
3. Fires on the Plain by Ooka Shohei - Rainforest - 05/21/10
4. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by larssonbystieg::Stieg Larsson - Sweden - 05/31/10
5. The Successor by Ismail Kadare - Dictators - 6/13/10
6. The Nine Guardians by Rosario Castellanos - Mexico - 8/7/10
7. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson - Nature - 8/15/10
8. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson - ghosts - 10/28/10
9.
10.

8nans
Editado: Out 4, 2010, 10:43 am

9nans
Editado: Abr 27, 2010, 12:46 pm

VIII. LT'ers Recommendations
1. Moonlight in Odessa by Janet Skeslien Charles - 11/23/09
2. The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman - 01/04/10
3. A Little Better than Plumb: The Biography of a House by Henry Giles & Janice Holt Giles - 01/11/10
4. Brooklyn: A Novel by Colm Toibin - 01/12/10
5. Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld - 01/20/10
6. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang - 01/20/10
7. The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson - 02/15/10
8. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen - 03/08/10
9. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford - 4/20/10
10. The Confessions of Max Tivoli by Andrew Sean Greer - 4/27/10

10nans
Editado: Ago 2, 2010, 11:55 am

IX. Next in the Series
1. Undone by Karin Slaughter 12/01/09
2. Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls 03/23/10
3. An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear 4/18/10
4. Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear - 4/25/10
5. The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear - 5/11/10
6. Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich - 5/22/10
7. The Double Comfort Safari Club by Alexander McCall Smith - 5/25/10
8. The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes - 6/11/10
9. This Body of Death by Elizabeth George - 7/16/10
10. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson - 7/31/10

11nans
Editado: Dez 6, 2010, 11:28 am

X. Books borrowed or gifted from others
1. The Women's Room by Marilyn French 11/30/09
2. Work in Progress: An Unfinished Woman's Guide to Grace by Kristin Armstrong - 04/20/10
3. Fade to Black by Lesslie Parrish - 05/19/10
4. Stolen Lives: 20 Years in a Desert Jail by Malika Oufkir - 08/08/10
5. I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away by Bill Bryson - 8/30/10
6. The Pure Land by Alan Spence - 9/02/10
7. Klaras Haus by Sabine Kornbichler - 12/5/10
8.
9.
10.

12nans
Nov 4, 2009, 1:08 pm

Ok, all set up. For the US States I have visited, there are only 14, and 4 of them I have already used in my 50 States challenge, so that leaves:
California
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Louisiana
New Jersey
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
West Virginia

My European Countries visited will give more flexibility. Have been to 17, one of which is England and has already been used in my European Challenge. So that leaves:
Austria
Belgium
Czech Republic
Denmark
France
Germany
Greece
Hungry
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Scotland
Slovania
Spain
Switzerland
Turkey

13nans
Nov 4, 2009, 1:15 pm

As of today, I've only read 88 books in 2009. This challenge might eventually be whittled down from 10 books per category.

14nans
Nov 23, 2009, 9:35 am

So I decided to start now since I have some great books from the library that matches my categories. Also, I am aiming for the 100 books, but think I can only make it with some extra time.

I'm also going to include the dates I post about each book in my master list. I wasn't sure why people did this, until I realized it is really handy when searching the long thread of messages for any comments about that book.

15nans
Editado: Nov 23, 2009, 10:21 am

XIII LTer Recommendations:
Moonlight in Odessa
Janet Skeslien Charles

This book was recommended at the European Book Challenge. In that Challenge, I'm trying to read books from people native to that country. This author is an American, so I did not include it there, but you can tell from the book that the author has spent some time there and really emersed herself into the culture of Odessa.

It's the story of Daria who speaks fluent English and works for an international company in Odessa with a boss that makes it clear a condition of her employment includes relations with him. She lives with her sweet grandmother in a one-room apartment outside the city center and doesn't want to endanger her grandmother's comfort. So she takes a second job in an agency that matches up western men with Ukrainian women.

I loved the main character, Daria. She is strong and is a fighter. The interactions of Daria with her bosses at each company, her American friend Jane, her Ukrainian friend Olga, and especially with her Grandmother. She is a very honest character, even though she has to dance around officials and mobsters to get things done. It’s an ugly life for Ukrainian women searching for Western men. In the book, most of those relationships go wrong. The author is honest about these encounters, but somehow manages to write them in a way that it is not too heavy.

I gave it 4.5 outta 5

16nans
Editado: Nov 30, 2009, 11:44 am

X. Books borrowed or gifted from others
The Women's Room
Marilyn French

it took me absolute ages to finish this book. And not because it wasn't good. I really enjoyed the book and reading about the various women's lives. But sometimes the book would tangent off and preach a bit. Still, though it was slow going, I definately recommend this book to others.

I gave it 4 outta 5 stars.

This book was a gift from my friend Emily and will be passed on to someone else.

17nans
Editado: Dez 1, 2009, 1:06 pm

IX. Next in the Series
Undone
Karin Slaughter

The latest book from Slaughter is a good page turner. Even better, characters from each of her series meet up.

Because it kept me so entertained, i gave it 4.5 outta 5 stars.

Darn touchstones keep confusing Undone with She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb and won't let me fix it.

Hmmm... what to read next???? What a lovely problem to have!

18nans
Dez 5, 2009, 11:09 am

IV. US States I have not visited
North Dakorta
A Christmas Blizzard
Garrison Keillor

I've never read Garrison Keillor, nor listened to his NRP show. I've read different books of this formula before - quirky stories about everyday people in out of the way places. But somehow the characters in this book were not sympathetic nor amusing to me.

I gave this book 2.5 outta 5 stars.

19nans
Dez 8, 2009, 12:23 pm

VII. Friend Recommendations
1. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

I had to fudge this category a bit. This is actually my real life book club choice for the month. But as I didn't pick it myself, it is sort of like a friend recommendation.

I really enjoyed this book. It is the 3rd I've read from Brooks, and my favorite followed by Year of Wonders. My favorite parts were the historical stories behind the clues found in the haggahah. Finding out the history behind an object is always fascinating to me. And I enjoyed reading a story set partially in Sarajevo as that is a part of the world I know so little about. The ending drama was unnecessary to the wonderful story this book told.

Reading around the groups, I saw that someone had mentioned that the Group called 50 Books had done this as a book read. So I went back and read their comments on the book. A lot of those readers seemed to have issues with Hanna. I didn't at all, but otherwise, I learned a lot more about the book reading through their posts and feel well prepared for my book club meeting tonight.

I gave it 4.5 outta 5 stars.

20DeltaQueen50
Dez 8, 2009, 10:25 pm

Hi Nans, I was part of that Group Read for People of the Book and it really is a great book. I have read and loved Year of Wonders and am planning on reading March for my 1010 challenge next year. Welcome to the challenge, I am looking forward to seeing all your postings. So far I have already added Moonlight in Odessa to my wishlist.

21nans
Jan 5, 2010, 11:57 am

III. US States I have visited
1. The Kentuckians by Janice Holt Giles - 12/30/09

I read this book over the holidays while visiting Kentucky. Book about the early settlers of KY and their battles with the Indians, the British and each other. An OK book. Not great, but good for the purpose of this challenge.

22nans
Jan 5, 2010, 12:00 pm

VIII. LT'ers Recommendations
2. The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman - 01/04/10

Can't believe this is the first Alice Hoffman book I've read, though I have seen the movie Practical Magic. I think I kept confusing her with Anne Tyler for some reason. Have been reading comments around the boards about her recently and picked this one up in my library. Maybe I should have started with a different Hoffman book. I sorta enjoyed it, but did not engage in the characters at all. I have Blackbird House at home yet to read and will give her another shot.

23nans
Jan 11, 2010, 12:39 pm

VIII. LT'ers Recommendations
3. A Little Better than Plumb: The Biography of a House by Henry Giles & Janice Holt Giles - 01/11/10

This category is going to fill up fast. A book set in KY and chosen for my Christmas jaunt to KY. Tells the interesting story of the author's quest to build their perfect log cabin house in KY.

24nans
Jan 12, 2010, 12:42 pm

VIII. LT'ers Recommendations
4. Brooklyn: A Novel by Colm Toibin - 01/12/10

Glad I've finally read a Toibin book, and thought the story had some potential, but didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

25nans
Jan 21, 2010, 5:06 pm

VIII. LT'ers Recommendations
5. Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld - 01/20/10
6. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang - 01/20/10

Really enjoyed both of these books. I've read Sittenfeld's latest book recently, and someone on LT recommended I go back for her first, and I'm glad I did. The book really captured that awkward, adolescence time. And I liked the glimpses into life in a mixed boarding school.

Funny enough, I was talking with a non-reader friend who asked what I was reading lately. I said Prep and she knew it immediately as she had worked with the author's father.

American Born Chinese was a really entertaining book in comic form. It was part present day, part fairy tale.

Definitely recommend both.

26nans
Editado: Jan 21, 2010, 5:16 pm

VII. Friend Recommendations
2. Three Weeks with my Brother by Nicolas Sparks 01/21/10

This book was recommended by a friend as I'm an avid traveler, and I listed to it as an Audiobook. The premise is that Sparks and his older brother took a 3 week trip around the world. The book is interspersed with flashbacks to their childhood.

Found myself dreading the family history and religious parts of the book and wanting to hear more about their travels. But the book came together in the end and held my attention, especially the stories of his sister and second son.

Am not a huge fan of Spark's. I think I've read 3 books. Two were not memorable and got lost to my memory in the pre-LT days. My favorite, the only one I remember is Nights in Rodanthe. I enjoyed hearing about his story as an author. He didn't go into too many details, and it all sounded like his publishing success came about much easier than I'm sure it was in real life.

27nans
Editado: Jan 25, 2010, 1:19 pm

III. US States I have visited
2. North Carolina - Serena by Ron Rash - 01/25/10

I feel so negative lately. I can't seem to like or relate to a lot of the characters I'm reading. But I really think I was never meant to like Serena. She was evil! And while I enjoyed the book, I loathed it at the same time. Mainly because they cut down so many trees.

Serena and her husband were basically in a race to harvest as many trees as they could before their land was taken as part of the Great Smokey Mt Park. At the end of the story, the landowner ordered his men to go out and fish up a trout and seemed surprised to be told there weren't any - all the animals had fled the wasteland that they created.

What I really did not like is how the character's dealt with obstacles in their way or their employees. I won't give any more away.

So I would recommend this book with reservations, because I don't think it's for everyone. All park lovers should read it or some book like it. It will make you appreciate your parks all the more.

28nans
Fev 1, 2010, 1:55 pm

IV. US States I have not visited
2. Hawaii - Moloka'i by Alan Brennert - 01/30/10
3. Massachusetts - Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman - 01/31/10

Both of these were excellent reads. That I highly recommend.

Moloka'i followed the life of a little girl that came down with leprosy around the turn of the century in Hawaii.

Blackbird House was the 3rd Alice Hoffman book that I've read and my favorite so far. I finally 'get' the love that she receives from her devoted readers. Blackbird House is a collection of short stories about the various inhabitants of a house through a century or so.

29nans
Fev 1, 2010, 1:57 pm

III. US States I have visited
3. Louisiana - Zeitoun by Dave Eggers - 02/01/10

A non-fiction book about a man named Zeitoun who stayed in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. I felt the need to read this book since I was living overseas when this occurred and didn't keep up with news reports at the time. This book had me marveling at human beings, both at their goodness and their not so goodness.

30nans
Fev 1, 2010, 2:02 pm

VII. Friend Recommendations
3. Cincinnatus by Rusty McClure 01/31/10

I received this book for Christmas and need to change the title of this category to include gifts.

Cincinnatus is a thriller, reminscent of Dan Brown. I thought the book was well written, but had the feeling that there were too many threads... that the author threw in all his knowledge on 4 subjects and spun his book around those threads rather than allowing it to develop. The story just seemed too disjointed. I think it was the author's first leap into fiction and would try another fiction book from him as this one was well written.

I do want to read his book on the Crosley Brothers. Apparantly one was the author's grandfather.

31nans
Fev 9, 2010, 11:01 pm

IV. US States I have not visited
4. Washington - The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

I can highly recommend this book, especially for dog lovers.

It is the story of a family going through some trying times as seen through the eyes of the family dog, Enzo.

32nans
Fev 9, 2010, 11:01 pm

IV. US States I have not visited
4. Washington - The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

I can highly recommend this book, especially for dog lovers.

It is the story of a family going through some trying times as seen through the eyes of the family dog, Enzo.

33nans
Fev 9, 2010, 11:07 pm

I. Books that I moved overseas and still haven't touched
1. In America: A Novel by Susan Sontag

Am thrilled to finally finish a book in this category. I think this one will be my challenging category of this year. But I hope that finishing this book will create a trend to grab more of these books.

I loved this book. It was a little slow going in the beginning, but then really took off and had me captivated. It is the story of a celebrated Polish actress who immigrates to America in the late 1800's. It is supposedly based on a true life story of actress Helena Modjeska. I'm off now to google her and learn more about her story.

34nans
Fev 15, 2010, 8:39 am

IV. US States I have not visited
5. South Dakota - Lakota Woman by Mary Bird Dog

This is sadly probably the first book I have read about the American Indians as told from their perspective. It was a very interesting read autobiography about a young woman's life on an indian reservation in the late 50-60's, and about her work in AIM in the 70's. Fascinating to me was how the Indians were treated and how that generation of Indians went back to traditional ways. This was read for a book club, and I'm anxious to get together in March for the discussion.

Highly recommended.

35nans
Fev 15, 2010, 2:25 pm

VIII. LT'ers Recommendations
7. The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson

What a sweet book! This is the second novel I've read by Ibbotson after The Countess Under the Stairs which was also outstanding.

Both novels are centered around a charismatic girl who is pulled out of her home and lands in obsurity in Englad. But because the girl is so good and irresistible, she always finds true love.

This review sounds so trite. But this book is written so well and the girl is so deserving that I can't help but fall in love with her myself.

36nans
Fev 22, 2010, 1:00 pm

I. Books that I moved overseas and still haven't touched
2. Julie & Julia by Julie Powell

I remember purchasing this book clear as day. It was in the Copenhagen Airport in Denmark with the last of my Kronen after a business trip maybe 5 years ago. Since I buy so few books new, this really stuck in my head.

I'm so glad I got to read this book before watching the movie. Have heard mixed things about the book, but I really enjoyed it. Parts of it were nauseating depending on what she was cooking. And the book inspired me to make my own Macaroni and Cheese last night, though I must admit, it came out rather bland.

I highly recommend this book if you like food. And are open minded about sex. A friend gave this book to her 70 year old mother in law before reading it. The author has a lot of hilarious food/sex analogies.

37RidgewayGirl
Fev 22, 2010, 5:58 pm

I did enjoy (in a cringing sort of way) the discovery of what was under the draining mat near the end of the book.

Doesn't that book make you want to undertake something really complex for dinner?

38nans
Fev 24, 2010, 11:57 am

Ugh, that draining mat bit was horrible!

The book really did inspire me to cook, and I jotted down a few of the recipe names to google as I was reading. Monday I made Julia's Potato Leak soup - Potage Parmentier. It's really delish, and not complex at all.

My next one will probably be Boeuf Bourguignon which was mentioned numerous times in the book and seems to be more complex, but not like brains or kidneys! I didn't jot those recipes down.

I go through spurts of cooking, so I have to take advantage of the mood while I'm in it!

39VictoriaPL
Fev 24, 2010, 3:28 pm

I was inspired to make Julia's Boeuf Bourguignon after watching the movie (the book is on my TBR). Beware, it's a little involved, as you have to cook the mushrooms and onions separate from the beef. It was very tasty, but I think you could get a similar result with a few glugs of burgundy in the crock pot the next time you do your roast.

40nans
Fev 25, 2010, 5:21 pm

Sounds like a recipe that will dirty all the pots and pans in my kitchen!

41nans
Editado: Mar 5, 2010, 11:37 am

IV. US States I have not visited
6. Pennsylvania - Fun House A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel

I've been reading a slew of autobiographical graphic novels. The latest I picked up because it was mentioned in Entertainment Weekly as a top pick for the decade. Didn't really care for it much. Maybe because the story was just so sad with the father not able to be who he really was?

42nans
Mar 5, 2010, 11:37 am

VII. Friend Recommendations
4. The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti

I think this is a YA book, but it's one I won't be passing on to my 13 yr old nephew. I couldn't really get into the story, though the premise held some promise. And my nephew won't be receiving it as I thought it had some sexual undertones not suitable for his ago.

43nans
Mar 10, 2010, 2:27 pm

III. US States I have visited
4. California - Epitaph for a Peach: Four Seasons on my Family Farm
David M. Masumoto

This book saddened me to think of the delicious fruits and vegetables which are slowly being replaced by tasteles, pretty to look at varieties. It was a little hard to read as it seemed like diary entries of what was on his mind that day. Things are repeated. On one hand, it was interesting to read it that way as it was the ramblings of a farmer as the year goes on. On the other hand, it was hard to get into and took me a week to read as I put it down frequently.

But still I'm glad I read it as I will appreciate my peaches and raisins so much more!

44nans
Editado: Mar 10, 2010, 2:42 pm

VIII. LT'ers Recommendations
8. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen - 03/08/10

I commented on this book on the Group Read chapter... here the link I hope: http://www.librarything.com/topic/86102

Enjoyed the book but wished it were written for adults rather than YA.

45nans
Mar 23, 2010, 12:56 pm

IV. US States I have not visited
7. Alabama - The Well and the Mine by Gin Phillips

Nice lite mystery set in Alabama during the depression (I think) about 2 sister's trying to discover who in their town put a baby into their well. The author told the story through each family member's words, but the son, the youngest family member, told tidbits from the future so you know how the family turned out. Nice read.

46nans
Mar 23, 2010, 12:58 pm

V. European Countries I have visited
1. France: Sarahs Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

A great book told in two voices... one voice is Sarah, a young Jewish girl from Paris during the Holocaust. The other is an American wife's story of the research into this time period and how it relates to her husband's family. It was such a sad tale, but beautifully written. The author is part American, French & Russian and grew up in France.

47nans
Editado: Mar 23, 2010, 2:08 pm

IX. Next in the Series
2. Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

So what if the category is a bit of a stretch... it's my category and I can do what I want to!

This is considered fiction but is the story of Jeannette's maternal grandmother as recounted through family stories. She was one amazing lady! She grew up in the west with a father that sounds a bit like Rex (Jeannette's father that we met in her memoir The Glass Castle in some aspects. She became a teacher in Chicago and moved back out west and started her family.

If you enjoyed The Glass Castle, then you'll enjoy Half Broke Horses. If you haven't read either, I would suggest reading The Glass Castle first, even though Half Broke Horses could be considered a prequel.

48nans
Editado: Abr 15, 2010, 1:20 pm

IV. US States I have not visited
8. Mississippi - The Help by Kathryn Stockett
9. Minnesota - Schulz and the Peanuts: A Biography by David Michaelis

So behind in keeping up LT. I'm in the midst of buying a house and training for a marathon and somehow both consumes all my time! but I've managed to squeeze in some reading.

To sum up quickly, I loved The Help and the characters in it. What a great storyteller.

The Biography on Schulz was dull in places. I enjoyed reading about someone I knew nothing about whose comics I love. But I wonder if I would have been better not knowing the bad parts of his life.

49nans
Abr 15, 2010, 1:21 pm

V. European Countries I have visited
2. Hungry: Fateless: A Novel by Irme Kertesz

A really great book about a young Hungarian boy that is transfered to the KZ's in Auschwitz and Buchenwald. His outlook is not typical of other Holocaust books I've read.

50nans
Abr 15, 2010, 1:25 pm

VII. Friend Recommendations
5. Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's childhood pal by Christopher Moore

I read this book for a bookclub and found it hilarious, perfect timing for Easter. i loved that it showed a human side to Jesus. The book covers the young years of his life not covered by the Bible and Jesus and his best friend Biff travel around.

51nans
Abr 27, 2010, 12:44 pm

IX. Next in the Series
3. An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear

I love these Maisie Dobbs novels set in England after WWII. This installment introduces gypsies and a mystery of what happened in a village during the war.

52nans
Abr 27, 2010, 12:48 pm

I've closed out my first category, and it's only April. I have a feeling I'm in trouble to stay on track with my categories and finish this challenge!

VIII. LT'ers Recommendations
9. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
10. The Confessions of Max Tivoli by Andrew Sean Greer

Of the 2, I prefered Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet as I learned more details behind what happened during WWII with Japanese Americans. Unfortunately Max Tivoli just reminded me of the movie Benjamin Button, so I couldn't enjoy the book on it's own merits.

53nans
Maio 17, 2010, 6:07 pm

X. Books borrowed or gifted from others
2. Work in Progress: An Unfinished Woman's Guide to Grace by Kristin Armstrong

I did not enjoy this book. It was a self help type book involving the Bible and God and it just felt pretentious and preachy. But it's not the type of book I normally read and was a gift. The gift giver was blown away by it.

54nans
Maio 17, 2010, 6:09 pm

IX. Next in the Series
4. Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear
5. The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear

2 more Maisie Dobbs books and now I'm caught up. They never disappoint and are always great reads.

55nans
Maio 17, 2010, 6:11 pm

I. Books that I moved overseas and still haven't touched
3. This Charming Man by Marian Keyes

I love love love Marian Keyes. Her newsletters crack me up every month and most of her books do as well. It took me until nearly half the book to get into the story and to stop considering it a DNF. I'm glad I stuck with it, but was disappointed that it wasn't a homerun.

56nans
Editado: Maio 17, 2010, 6:15 pm

VI. Reading Globally's Theme reads
1. Snow by Orhan Pamuk - The Ottoman Empire (April)

I've been trying to read this book since last year. So slow going. I really think it was the wrong time/wrong book for me. And I kept letting other books get in the way of really concentrating on this one. In fact, the only reason I finally finished it is because the library is demanding I return it. Sorry Orhan, just couldn't click with this one.

57nans
Maio 17, 2010, 6:17 pm

Am getting into the bad habit of not updating this thread after I complete a book. Then I have to come back and try and recollect my thoughts. Now that the marathon is run and the house is purchased, I hope to be more diligent with this thread... I also hope I can read more books!

58nans
Maio 18, 2010, 11:23 am

VI. Reading Globally's Theme reads
2. The Kingdom of this World by Alejo Carpentier

March's theme of the Reading Globally's thread was The Caribbean. I like to peruse that thread for ideas about books from places I never would have considered reading, but I don’t actively take part in the challenges on that thread… just on my own. This was a slim book set in Haiti during the slave trade times through the Haitian Revolution.

I had heard the history tidbit that Haiti was the only country where a slave rebellion worked. So I picked this book to learn a bit more about it. The book told the story from the perspectives of a former slave and slave owner, but I still have just as many questions about this time in history as before, so I’ll have to search out some more books on the subject.

59RidgewayGirl
Maio 18, 2010, 4:26 pm

I was also disappointed in This Charming Man because I've loved everything I'd read by Marian Keyes thus far. I didn't hate it, but it was by far her weakest. On a more positive note, The Brightest Star in the Sky was very good; although she kept with the multiple story-lines, it didn't feel as slap dash or disjointed. Which of her books are your favorites?

60nans
Maio 18, 2010, 5:07 pm

I'm so glad to hear The Brightest Star in the Sky is better. For me, her best books are the ones with the Walsh Family. My favorite was Anybody Out There?, but really all of the Walsh Family books I can read over and over. I think there is now a book for each sister but the youngest. And she is the most colorful!

61DeltaQueen50
Maio 18, 2010, 5:57 pm

I am another HUGE fan of Marian Keyes. I have This Charming Man sitting on my bedside table, but it keeps getting shifted downward. A lot of people have been less than thrilled by this one.

62nans
Maio 19, 2010, 2:34 pm

X. Books borrowed or gifted from others
3. Fade to Black by Leslie Parrish

What a great mystery novel! My friend kept talking this one up, and she finally gave it to me when I visited her last year. It's a modern mystery involving a killer discovered online with a romance on the side, but it's not too techy nor too romancy at all. 2 thumbs up.

63nans
Maio 19, 2010, 2:37 pm

@ 59 & 61
I had heard less than steller reviews about it, but had to read it for myself because it is Marian Keyes.

After reading RidgewayGirls' positive talk on The Brightest Star in the Sky, I immediately requested it from the Library. I need a dose of a good Keyes book to remind me how much I love her.

64nans
Maio 21, 2010, 12:49 pm

VI. Reading Globally's Theme reads
3. Fires on the Plain by Ooka Shohei - Rainforest

Great book. Poor choice to read during my lunch break! It's the story of an injured Japanese soldier in the Philippeans during WWII. The American and Philippean soldiers are taking backthe island and the Japanese are trying to get out and survive.

A very powerful story. The theme of this read was the Rainforest. I chose this book after perusing what others were reading on the thread. While the setting was the forest and the plains, it was not the main focus of the story, but I enjoyed the part it played.

65DeltaQueen50
Editado: Maio 21, 2010, 1:19 pm

Another great sounding book. Fires On The Plain sounds like a book I really want to read, so onto the wish list it goes!

66nans
Maio 24, 2010, 11:02 am

After perusing these threads and plotting how to fill some of my brackets, I requested 12 books from the library last week and picked them up on Saturday. My cousin was amazed with 12 books. And I thought I was showing restraint!

67nans
Maio 24, 2010, 11:04 am

IX. Next in the Series
6. Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich

Evanovich are the best escape books for me... this weekend I was escaping from mowing the lawn and had a fun romp with Stephanie Plum and her latest escapades in Trenton, NJ.

68nans
Maio 24, 2010, 12:59 pm

III. US States I have visited
5. Indiana - A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel

I've been looking for a fiction book on Indiana for awhile and kept running into this memoir. One reason I was against it was because it reminded me of a fantastic memoir I'd read set in Ohio called The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less by Terry Ryan.

Even though the only similarity really was that it was a humorous memoir set in small town, USA, I felt Zippy was overshadowed by my memory of Ryan's book.

Sure, it was funny and cutsy and there were some laugh out loud moments, but I was anxious for it to end.

69nans
Maio 25, 2010, 12:43 pm

IX. Next in the Series
7. The Double Comfort Safari Club by Alexander McCall Smith

Another soothing book from the Nr. 1 Ladies Detective Agency in Botswana. The pace of these novels always calms me.

70nans
Maio 25, 2010, 1:04 pm

I totaled up my reading for the year, and I'm well on pace to finish out this challenge in 2010... of course, I did start in November.

And as I'm nearing the end to some of my categories, I've also put in some overflow books that I'd still love to read for some categories that don't match in other categories. That got me thinking to my challenge for 2011. So I have preliminary slotted my categories for next year already and have added my overflow.

It brings me so much joy to plan this stuff out. I just love moving books from one point to the next, even if it is virtually.

71DeltaQueen50
Maio 25, 2010, 2:16 pm

I'm impressed, you are so organized! But I know what you mean about enjoying planning this out, there is nothing as satisfying as pawing through your books both literally and in virtural reality.

72RidgewayGirl
Maio 25, 2010, 3:11 pm

Yes, that mental book rearranging. I think it keeps us from despairing of all the books we won't be able to read. We can look at that book on the TBR and pat it gently and tell it that while we won't be reading it this year, it's under consideration for the next year.

73nans
Jun 1, 2010, 12:42 pm

VI. Reading Globally's Theme reads
4. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson - Sweden

Technically we weren't supposed to read a Krimi in our Sweden read, but this one has been on my radar for so long that I couldn't pass it up.

It took me 30 pages to get into it, but then I was hooked. There were many layers to this novel, and one of the criminals in the book I thought was too far fetched, but I still liked the book enough to give it 4.5 stars and to immediately request book 2 from the library.

74sarakglskklegsjdfs
Jun 1, 2010, 12:43 pm

i luv dis book 2

75nans
Jun 3, 2010, 12:28 pm

IV. US States I have not visited
10. Maryland - Life Sentences by Laura Lippman

Another category done, and still I have about 20 books I want to read to fill this one! I'll have to try to hold out until next year.

I did not care for this book, and didn't get into it until the last 5 chapters. The main character was unsympathetic. I wanted to shake her, but at the same time, I felt sorry for her. The people she thought were her friends obviously didn't give a lick for her.

There was a bit of a mystery to the book, but it was predictible and sad.

Not recommended.

76nans
Jun 8, 2010, 10:40 am

VII. Friend Recommendations
6. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon

Such a great book. This was a bookclub selection for a real life bookclub I don't really care for (they tend to discuss the book for a sum total of 2 minutes), but they chose good books that I don't typically read, so I keep them in my sights.

This was a Pulitzer Prize winning book about the creation of comics in the 30's by Jewish New Yorkers and one immigrant from Prague. The story has many elements that are supposedly taken from the lives of many of the comic book artists of that time.

The comic first developed by Kavalier and Clay was The Escapist. I loved the idea of this character and how his inspiration came from escape artists like Houdini. The theme of escape came up often in the life of the artist as well.

77nans
Jun 25, 2010, 12:54 pm

VII. Friend Recommendations
7. Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson
8. Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Greg Mortenson

I listend to the Three Cups of Tea on Audio while similtaneoulsy reading the follow-up Stones into Schools in print, so there's going to be some comparisons. Some of the stories are the same with a little more or a little less detail. But I prefer the followup book. And it could be partially because I'm reading it rather than listening to it, but I really think I prefer that the second book is told from the first person perspective.

As soon as I started these books, I was a convert to his way of thinking. Education has always been important to me, but the idea of fighting terrorism with schools makes so much sense to me. And I was especially encouraged to hear that a lot of US military people contribute to his cause as they have seen this country first hand. This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I've since recommended it to 3 of my friends.

78nans
Editado: Jun 28, 2010, 10:43 am

VII. Friend Recommendations
9. Skin Games by Ava Gray

My friend Sarah has a romance blog that I follow mainly to see what she's doing on the otherside of the ocean. But every once in awhile I'm inspired to try one of the books if it's one she really raves about. Plus there's a little bit of paranormal to the story which threw me off when reading her review, as it's not normally something I would like and can't picture her liking either. So that was another reason I decided to read it to find out why she had it as one of her top 10 reads of 2009.

Luckily the paranormal was very subdued, and I really enjoyed the story of the main characters as well as the supporting characters. Recommended for those that like romance novels.

79nans
Jul 8, 2010, 11:10 am

V. European Countries I have visited
3. Germany: Im Westen Nichts Neues by Erich Maria Remarque

Fabulous book that mainly took place in France but since the reader is so in tune with the German front line soldier, I decided it's more a German book than a French one. Highly recommended.

80nans
Jul 11, 2010, 7:28 pm

II. Vacation Destinations - Fiction
1. Season of the Jew by Maurice Shadbolt - NZ 2009

I picked up this book in the airport before I traveled to NZ and never got around to reading it. A lot of people said how well NZ treated the Maori's, and maybe compared to the US and Australia, their native people were treated better than other countries, but this book showed me that there were skirmishes and colonists intent on getting as much land from the native people as possible.

All in all, the book was a little too heavy on the battles for my tastes, but I loved the voice that Shadbolt gave to his main character, so I would like to read more from him.

81nans
Jul 13, 2010, 12:39 pm

III. US States I have visited
6. Tennessee - Heart in the Right Place by Carolyn Jourdan

Fabulous book. It's an autobiography about a woman having to come back to E. Tennessee from Washington DC and her high powered career to help out in her 72 yr old father's small town doctor's office for a couple of days and ends up staying a bit longer. There are great characterizations of the patients she encounters and of life in a small town in TN.

I listed to this book on Audio, and fell in love with the narrator's voice, Kate Forbes. Her voice was perfectly suited to the story and I'm off to see if my library has anymore of her work.

82nans
Jul 23, 2010, 12:05 pm

V. European Countries I have visited
4. Greece: Zigzag through the Bitter-Orange Trees by Ersi Sotiropoulos

A nice, short book that follows the lives of a handful of people that eventually intertwine. I didn't really feel like I got a great sense of Greece through this novel - maybe more of a sense of a hospital in Athens.

What I liked about this novel was that it contained a ton of symbolism. And even though I couldn't begin to understand all of it, the writing was so good that I still enjoyed it and felt like I knew what was going on, even if it was only on the surface. The characters were a little complex for me to be able to understand them completely. I felt every sentence contained some nugget to be unraveled.

83nans
Ago 2, 2010, 12:00 pm

IX. Next in the Series
10. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

Wrapped up another category. This is the second book in the series, and a very good one. I read it in just 3 days. I enjoyed that this book centered on Lisbeth and that we found out more on her backstory.

I'll get to read book 3 next week.

Last night we watched the movie for the first book, and I did not enjoy it. Too much was left out that would have made the characters more sympathetic to me. The movie left me uncaring about how their lives would turn out. I won't be watching the American version either. It's best left to book form.

84nans
Ago 5, 2010, 12:50 pm

III. US States I have visited
7. South Carolina - Sullivan's Island by Dorothea Benton Frank

This read was for a book club, otherwise I would not have finished it. The main character is brash and annoying, but 1/3 of the way in, we're introduced to the character of Livvie, and suddenly, I was engaged in the story.

This book takes place in 1963 on Sullivan's Island off the coast of SC near Charleston, and it takes place in 1999 in Charleston. Susan is going through a divorce in present day and goes back to her childhood on the island.

What I enjoyed about the story is their housekeeper in the 60's, Livvie, and how she brings some stability to their lives. What I did not enjoy was the craziness of the main character, though she eventually settles down from her nuttiness and begins to make sense.

Not sure if I'd recommend it, but if you do read it, keep at it.

85nans
Ago 9, 2010, 6:33 pm

VI. Reading Globally's Theme reads
6. The Nine Guardians by Rosario Castellanos - Mexico

A great read for Mexico. Got to understand more of the history between Indians and landowners and will search out more books on this topic. Recommended.

86nans
Ago 9, 2010, 6:38 pm

X. Books borrowed or gifted from others
4. Stolen Lives: 20 Years in a Desert Jail by Malika Oufkir -

I was so disappointed by this book. I expected so much. Malika had a somewhat privledged life for her first 20 years. She was adopted by the King of Morocco as a playmate for his daughter. Though she was 'taken' from her family growing up, she had a unique upbringing in the palace.

Her father was a top military official in the country and was accused of staging a coup and was killed. His children, wife, and 2 servants imprisioned for 20 years until they were able to escape and bring their story to the attention of the world via media.

I'm wondering if this was a poor translation? The story went round and round, especially when she was a child, which I guess would coincide with her fuzzy memories of the time. The imprisionment was more chronological, but all in all, the books was just too stream of conscious for me. It needed to be brought together better somehow.

87nans
Ago 17, 2010, 10:55 am

VI. Reading Globally's Theme reads
7. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson - Nature

This book didn't bowl me over like it has others. It's a story of a little girl and grandmother living for the summer on an island in Finland with the girl's father. The little girl was a brat. I liked the voice of the grandmother though and how she took care of the girl. They had a special relationship with the island and the sea which is why this book was chosen for this theme read.

88nans
Ago 18, 2010, 12:18 pm

I. Books that I moved overseas and still haven't touched
4. Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson

A really good, quick read set in turn of the century NYC. A woman is murdered in the boarding house where Midwife Sarah just delivered a baby. Sarah and the police Sergeant Malloy work together to solve the crime. I liked the twists and turns of the story, and the historical elements too. It was a nice read, the first in a series, but not outstanding enough for me to pick up the next book.

89nans
Editado: Ago 24, 2010, 4:47 pm

I. Books that I moved overseas and still haven't touched
5. The Seduction by Nicole Jordan

It doesn't happen often, but somehow I feel the need to reduce my TBR pile. I've lined up my next 5 books to try to take advantage of this while I have the chance.

You see, I'm a library person and rarely buy books, so my actual TBR pile is very small. And there was a desire to read these books at one time, or I wouldn't have gotten them. But somehow that desire has disappeared and I'm left with the weight of the books on my 'to accomplish someday' shoulders.

Anyway, the book above was a basic romance novel that for some odd reason made its way into a box from Germany. I enjoyed it, and I have the next one from this author which will be read shortly.

90nans
Ago 31, 2010, 5:50 pm

X. Books borrowed or gifted from others
5. I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away by Bill Bryson

Ugh. This was a well meant gift from a friend that should have been well suited to me. The American author lived in the UK for 20 years and wrote a bunch of newspaper articles for a UK paper after he returned about getting used to America after so long away and life and such. I lived in Germany for 11 years and moved back. It should have worked.

But this is my 3rd Bill Bryson book. I swore off him after book nr. 2, but I read this one anyway. I didn't really learn much. The thing that bugs me about him is his negativity. And I find it funny that in one of his articles his wife is chastising him for that very thing.

There were a couple of moments where I identified with him, but all in all, I'm glad I've finished it and can get it off my TBR stack.

91nans
Set 2, 2010, 10:41 am

X. Books borrowed or gifted from others
6. The Pure Land by Alan Spence

An fictionalized book based on the life of Thomas Glover. A young Scot that moved to Japan in the 1860's to work with a trading company and quickly became quite an influential person in Japan.

It was an enjoyable book, especially as I love to read fictionalized accounts of real life people.

My one regret is that when I was in Aberdeen, I didn't visit the Glover House. Apparantly both that house and his house in Japan are now museums.

92nans
Out 4, 2010, 11:31 am

finished another category, unfortunately the book was less than enjoyable

VII. Friend Recommendations
10. An Empire of Dirt by Manny Howard - 10/02/10

This guy planted a garden in his Brooklyn backyard with the plan to sustain himself for 1 month and then write an article in the NY Magazine about the experience. I would have gone vegetarian had I taken on this challenge.

I loved the idea of this challenge. But I did not care for Manny's attitude. He was so crass and manic. On the otherhand, I guess I should be happy that he didn't seem to lie about all that happened and how he handled it. Maybe if I were him, I would have painted myself in a better life - so kudos for honesty and enthusiasm.

In the end, he didn't sustain himself for the 1 month, and his marriage nearly ended...ooh, I was also disappointed that his wife didn't support him hardly at all in this venture btw.

I just kept reading this book in order to finish so that I can discuss it with the friend that recommended (and loved) this book.

93nans
Out 27, 2010, 5:43 pm

V. European Countries I have visited
5. Spain
The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

I'm slowly accepting the reality that I won't finish this challenge in 2010. On reason is that I've read some books that don't fit into my challenge categories. And for some reason, my reading has really slowed down in the last 2 months.

I'll try to kick it back into gear, but I won't be too disappointed if I don't finish. My categories for 2011 are already picked, and the 11th will be a grab bag to attempt to harness those books that don't fit anywhere else.

So, on to this book, The Angel's Game... I didn't care for it. The angel in this novel gave me the creeps. I've also used this book for my European Countries Challenge, at at least it did give me a great sense of beautiful Barcelona.

94nans
Nov 3, 2010, 1:00 pm

V. European Countries I have visited
6. Austria
Die Arbeit der Nacht (Night Work)
Thomas Glavinic

This book took me a good month to finish, not because it was so bad, but because it was so good and it freaked me out!

It's the story of Jonas who wakes one day to discover that there is no one around. Everyone has disappeared. Thus begins his adventure of discovering the town without traffic and people and rules. And finding out if he is on the person left in the world.

Then strange things start to happen when he's sleeping, and it got really spooky from there. I'd really recommend this book, especially if you like psychological thrillers.

For the sense of place, this book gives a great picture of Vienna, albeit, somewhat empty and lonely. He ventures out into the Austrian countryside too, so I felt it fulfilled my requirements for this challenge.

95nans
Nov 3, 2010, 1:11 pm

VI. Reading Globally's Theme reads
8. We Have Always lived in the Castle
Shirley Jackson

I made a slight mistake when chosing this book. In hindsight, I should have chosen her novel The Haunting of Hill House as I was looking for something spooky, with ghosts for Halloween. This one was more of a murder mystery. Two sisters and an Uncle remain after the rest of their family has been poisoned. One sister was accused of the murder but was able to get the charges dropped. Since then, they are hermits in their home. Only one sister goes out to do the weekly shopping and gets mercilessly taunted by the townspeople.

I enjoyed the sister's and the way they view their very narrow world. However, I was so agitated with their passiveness that by the end of the book I was groaning at them.

Next year in October, I'll read the other book, and give the author another chance.

96nans
Nov 15, 2010, 1:28 pm

I. Books that I moved overseas and still haven't touched
6. The Map of Love: A Novel
Ahdaf Soueif

From now until the end of the year, I'm going hard core to try and finish my categories. No more reading things that don't fit this plan!

This book has been sitting on my TBR shelf for a couple of years on two different continents.

The story started out so slow with a lot of details about Egyptian history and politics that I didn't care for. When it finally got into the love story, that's where my interest perked up.

And after the book caught my interest, the back and forth between Egyptian history and the love story didn't irk me anymore. I should go back now and re-read the history that I skimmed over, but to tell you the truth, the book didn't interest me that much for me to re-read it.

All in all, it was an interesting read, but not one to gush over.

97nans
Nov 22, 2010, 10:23 am

III. US States I have visited
8. The Midwife's Tale
Gretchen Moran Laskas

A really good, short novel about a Midwife in West Virginia starting around WWI and moving through the Depression. I was fascinated by the relationship between women and Midwife's, the natural remedies they used.

98nans
Nov 22, 2010, 10:24 am

Well, I'm trucking along and figure that I have 22 books to read in the 6 weeks left in 2010. I have an aggressive reading schedule set up, have requested all of my missing novels from the library, and will give it my best shot. How typical of me to wait for the last minute and then try to cram it all in!

99lkernagh
Nov 22, 2010, 4:23 pm

Good luck nans..... anything is possible in 6 weeks!

100nans
Nov 23, 2010, 12:33 pm

Thanks Ikernagh. I'm trying!

101nans
Nov 23, 2010, 12:44 pm

II. Vacation Destinations Past & Present
4. The Dig Tree by Sarah Murgatroyd

The secondary title to this book is 'A true story of bravery, insanity, and the race to discover Australia's wild frontier.' That sums up the book. It's a non-fiction telling of the race between Adelaide and Melbourne to cross from the South to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the North.

Burke was appointed from Melbourne, and was clearly not equiped for the job. My favorite quote at the end of it all, to paraphrase, is something like: the surprising thing is not that they didn't complete the task, but that they came close to succeeding.

I tried reading this book before traveling to Australia, but it didn't keep my attention. I dreaded taking it back up, but I hate having DNF, so gave it another shot, and it really improved after traveling to Melbourne, Adalaide, the Outback, and riding a camel in Alice Springs. It gave me more of a starting point to the story and an interest in the proceedings.

102nans
Nov 29, 2010, 11:48 am

III. US States I have visited
9. So Long, See you Tomorrow by William Maxwell
Illinois

I had forgotten to post this one from the beginning of November. It's told from the perspective of a boy in a town where a man is murdered. It was an OK read that is fairly forgetable.

103nans
Nov 29, 2010, 11:57 am

I. Books that I moved overseas and still haven't touched
7. Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs

This week I did well with staying on track for my reading. I hope it will continue!

Break No Bones was the last book in the series that I had read, and one that has been sitting on my shelf for quite awile. It was a good book in the series, and I'm looking forward to now having a backlog of 3-4 of the newest books in the series to catch up with as audio books while driving around this winter.

104nans
Nov 29, 2010, 12:05 pm

Vacation Destinations - Past & Present 2010
Laos: Mother's Beloved by Bnounyavong Outhine
Myanmar: Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin

Two great books that make me want to travel again! When I travel to a new place, I like to read fiction books set in the country. When traveling to Laos though, I couldn't find any from a Laotian author, and most books listed were non fiction written by westerners. This book is apparantly the first translated to English in the 90's. It's a group of short stories with the Laotian text on the left hand side of the book. The stories were all meant to convey something (be nice to the elderly, to the pregnant, don't steal, etc). So they seemed a little coerced. But still, they reminded me of my time in Laos, so I still enjoyed it.

Finding George Orwell in Burma is a non fiction book written under a pseudonym. Emma travels to Burma to trace the steps of George Orwell. Again, I loved this book because it took me back to my travels in Myanmar. Also really enjoyed her theory, and the theory of a lot of Burmese, that Orwell actually wrote 3 books about Burma, not just Burmese Days. Animal Farm and 1984 are scarily similar to today's Burma.

105nans
Editado: Nov 29, 2010, 12:17 pm

V. European Countries I have visited
7. Netherlands: The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

Years and years ago I visited Haarlem in the Netherlands and toured the Corrie ten Boom house. I've been wanting to read this book ever since, but was leary, because I feared it would contain too much religious talk.

In the tour, you're taken through the family watch shop, and up the stairs to a sitting room where the tour guide talked a lot about the family and their religion, and on and on and on. It was noted even in my tour guidebook that the lecture is a bit much, but something to be endured in order to view the house.

The book of course, talked about the family's religion and beliefs, but I was relieved that it wasn't too overpowering at all and fits in nicely with the story of Corrie and her family, their life leading up to the occupation of Holland, how they helped numerous Jews and ultimately in their capture and time served in German concentration camps.

I especially enjoyed remembering the set up of the house and watchshop, and reading about their everday lives in this space at that time. The book maybe wasn't so much a good book to read to get a sense of Holland, but more of the timeperiod it was written.

106RidgewayGirl
Nov 30, 2010, 9:37 am

I went the other way, having loved the book, I toured the house, which until you see just how mashed-together and confused it is, is difficult to picture how a secret room could be so well hidden.

Religion does form a central part of The Hiding Place, but because it wasn't pushed on anyone and was primarily just the way they lived, wasn't offensive. I liked the image of the father happily debating theology with some of the people they hid in the evenings after dinner.

107nans
Dez 1, 2010, 11:55 am

I'd love to go back to the house after reading the book. I remember a narrow staircase and crowding around to have a chance see the secret room, but don't remember the closeness of the other rooms.

108nans
Editado: Dez 10, 2010, 4:53 pm

II. Vacation Destinations - Past & Present
7. Everything is Broken by Emma Larkin - 12/6/10

Another great book about Myanmar from Emma Larkin. This one talks about 2008's Hurricane Nargis' many affects on Burma and the Burmese people. It sickens me what these Generals have done to this country and its people and that we are unable or unwilling to help them. Surprising considering the country is rich in oil and other natural resources.

and

X. Books borrowed or gifted from others
7. Klaras Haus by Sabine Kornbichler - 12/5/10

A book about a selfish woman who's marriage has ended, and she luckily is able to recoperate for months and months at a house on an island in the North Sea for free. Not worth wasting time on.

109nans
Editado: Dez 10, 2010, 4:53 pm

I. Books that I moved overseas and still haven't touched

8. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl - 12/09/10

I've had this book for awhile and could never bring myself to read it, partially because I've heard from other readers who were disappointed in the novel. In the end, I borrowed the audiobook from the library and believe I could have never got through the book in any other form.

It's pretentious - lots of name dropping. But there are parts of the story that are engaging. The ending was disappointing... way too far fetched, though I love the idea of it all.

So in the end, I'm very glad I finally read this novel, as it got a lot of buzz when it first came out. But it's not one I would recommend unless you really love coming of age novels.

110nans
Dez 21, 2010, 2:19 pm

III. US States I have visited
10. New Jersey: Rococo by Adriana Trigiani

Last in this category!

Wish I saw the world through the main character's eyes. I'm in awe of interior decorators, because I just don't have that knack.

This is a book set in the 70's in an Italian American community in New Jersey. The main character, B, is an interior decorator with colorful friends and family that surround him.

While I didn't like this book as much as Lucia, Lucia which dealt with dress designs, I did still enjoy it and felt like I could picture the rooms and buildings he decorated.

111nans
Editado: Dez 21, 2010, 2:27 pm

II. Vacation Destinations - Past & Present
8. Children of Cambodia's Killing Fields collected by Pran Dith

A collection of short essays from children that lived through the Khymer Rouge in the 70's. Most emigrated to the US in the 80's. Would have liked to have read more from those still in Cambodia. I think there was only one in the book.

Many things were echoed again and again. The memories that stuck with me are those describing being so cold they shook like a baby chick, being afraid of the ghosts of those that have been killed, and not wanting to fall asleep for fear that they would not wake up.

I've read a couple of non fiction accounts of this time period, have been to Cambodia and saw the piles of skulls and bones, and am just amazed and bewildered that this took place.

112nans
Dez 21, 2010, 2:31 pm

V. European Countries I have visited
8. Slovenia: Northern Lights by Drago Jancar

Ugh, I really trudged through this book. Seems I wasn't the only one. Somehow I missed in my research for a book from Slovenia, that others did not enjoy this novel.

It takes place in the 30's. A man from Austria takes up residence in a hotel in Slovenia. He meets a slew of people. All I can say is that the chapters were short, which made it easier to get through.