If you are participating in the 50 Book Challenge at Bernardsville Public Library, you may have read one or two by now. The Challenge, which asks you to read 50 books in one year, has now begun. Participants have been given reading logs and instructions, but there's still room and time for others to join the group. Please access our information about the 50 Book Challenge on this blog or on the library's Web site and become a member, too!
Back to the initial question: What are you reading this year as part of the 50 Book Challenge? The comments link at the bottom of this posting offers you the opportunity to list some good (or bad) books you've read and to express your opinions about them. You may also write a more extended review which I will post on this blog at a future date. Please consult Karen Vaias, 50 Book Challenge leader, for details.
16 comments:
I just finished reading Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee. Unhappy subject, but the writing was lovely.
Adrienne says:
I just read Stones into Schools, the sequel to 3 Cups of Tea and I liked it even more than 3 Cups of Tea. Mortenson's latest schools are in Afghanistan's very remotest areas; he addresses the history of the country for the last 25 years along with stories of the people who work with him, the villages, and their schools.
Adrienne says:
At 92, Harry Bernstein wrote his memoir of growing up Jewish and poor in a northern English mill town. The invisible wall divided his narrow, cobbled street and separated the Jewish homes on one side from the Christian homes on the other, creating a line that was not to be crossed. Bernstein’s The Invisible Wall is an engaging read in which necessity, friendship, love, and war changed mores during the first half of the 20th century.
I have finished Love Over Scotland, by Alexander McCall Smith--this is the third in his series of connected vignettes about a group living in an Edinburgh apartment building. I love the series--this one was particularly funny and touching. It might be a hard series to start in the middle of, so I recommend going in order: 44 Scotland Street, Espresso Tales and then Love Over Scotland.
--Mia
I am currently listening to The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova. I am enjoying the dialogue, and the mysterious main character Robert Oliver who attacks "The Leda" a French Impressionist painting at the National Art gallery. Andrew Marlow is the psychiatrist trying to decipher Robert's passions through his wife and family, girlfriends and his painting.
Hi, I have read 2 books so far. I am jumping around and reading different things that I don't typically read. I have read ("Crazy Ladies" - pretty good), ("The Last Juror" Grisham - it was okay). I am currently reading ("Murder on the Orient Express"). I picked up these titles from other TOP book lists on the internet.
Sounds like everyone is reading away. I just finished reading "Making Rounds with Oscar" about a cat who lives in a nursing home with dementia patients. He has the uncanny ability to sense when a patient is dying and stays with them until they pass on. I thought it was very good as it details what life is like for families dealing with all types of dementia.
Hi there....Just joined, since I have loads of reading time! Retired and looking for something worthy to do. But got hooked on a Scifi page-turner. "Pandora's Star" by Peter Hamilton, a Brit. Its a 700pg scifi-opera with a good dozen characters, and several parallel plots, along with his unbelievable ability to end each chapter with an unexpected twist. Can't wait to pick up the sequel "Judas Unchained". He's got a website where you can see what he's up to with all his scifi fiction. Lots to choose from!
M.F.K.Fisher-The Art of Eating (50th anniv edition) I have this on my nightstand, to grab when the urge hits. W.H.Auden wrote that he couldn't think of anyone in the States that wrote better prose. Thru an artist's eye, a marriage of wonderful words, love of food, and great relationships. Her love of the land and local culture and peoples was the driving force behind her being and talents; talents all geared to share the 'love of eating' with her readers, thru her insights, voice and pen. She was the inspiration behind Julia Child, Alice Waters and countless others. "There is almost a wicked thrill in following her uninhibited track through the glories of the good life"-James Beard
I'm in the middle of my third Ariana Franklin historical mystery--it is called Grave Goods. This is another one where you have to start at the beginning to get all the details. The first is Mistress of the Art of Death. Takes place in Henry II's time, with a woman forensic scientist and her cadre of helpers. These are so rich in historical detail, and really good page turners.
--Mia
I'm in the middle of The Help. Wonderful! Can't put it down.
Adrienne says:
I've just finished "Admission" by Jean Hanff Korelitz and highly recommend it. Although this book is fiction, it is an interesting read about the college admission process, particularly what it takes to get accepted to an Ivy League. Some of the events in the protagonist's life were predictable and possibly forced but they were required to move the plot forward.
"The Apothecary's Daughter" by Julie Klassen is simply a lovely read. A story in late 1800s exemplifies women's rights at the time and the onset of the western medical culture opposite the traditional apothecary's role in the community (think herbs, plant based medical remedies, etc).
Well I decided to get back to an author from yester-year....Dashiell Hammett, one of the kings of 'film-noir' crime stories (L of A collection of stories). And I have to say, that his writing still holds up, all of these years later. Not sure if I will want to read every story....will see. But its refreshing to again read 'journalistic style' prose.
"Out of the Flames" by the Goldstones was a page-turner. If you liked "Brunelleschi's Dome" and diving into a period piece (Calvin/Gutenberg's time) you may enjoy this.
McIwans' "Amsterdam" was ok. But I don't understand what the fuss is about.... ??
Got through 2 more books...."the Laughing Policeman" and "the Man from Beijing". Both by swedish authors, but decades apart. The first one is very cleverly done, and I can understand why its on the -top list- for best in crime novels. (written by a duo team) Interesting story with twists; you want to learn who DID IT and why.
Mankell's standalone pshychological thriller -not a Kurt Wallander series- could've used better editing on sections where Mankell felt the need to provide a primer on China's history and China today. I skimmed through dozens of pages because he repeats himself. But the story keeps your interest to the end.
If you enjoy Stieg Larsson books, you may like this too.
btw/for SL fans...see the movie "the girl with the dragon tattoo". well done.
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