54 posts tagged “50 in 365”
Well, I didn't make my goal. Not even by 50% - but that's okay - I did make it by 36% :)
This year I started & completed a total of 18 books - though I can say I started countless others that I just haven't finished. I refuse to count those because if I counted every book that I picked up and decided I didn't like I'm sure I would have made it to 50 a long time ago. The goal was finishing 50 books so that's what I was striving for.
I know that some out there made it to 50 quickly & easily, and to you out there I say congratulations but next time try to a challenge, eh?! :P Next year I think I'm going to try a similar challenge, but it's not going to be count based but content based. There are a lot of classics I'd like to read and enjoy - and some not so "classic" books that I'd just like to be able to say I've read.
Here's my final list, in the order I started not necessarily in the order of completion though:
- Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
- Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach
- The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
- The Electric Church by Jeff Somers
- The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
- A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
- A Great & Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
- Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
- The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
- The Host by Stephanie Meyers
- Sabriel by Garth Nix
- Lirael by Garth Nix
- Abhorsen by Garth Nix
- The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
- The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
- Honours Splendor by Julie Garwood
- Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyers
- She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb
Book Count: 19
Title: She's Come Undone
Author: Wally Lamb
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 480
Synopsis: "Mine is a story of craving: an unreliable account of lusts and troubles that began, somehow, in 1956 on the day our free television was delivered...."
Meet Dolores Price. She's 13, wise-mouthed but wounded, having bid her childhood goodbye. Beached like a whale in front of her bedroom TV, she spends the next few years nourishing herself with the Mallmomars, potato chips, and Pepsi her anxious mother supplies. When she finally rolls into young womanhood at 257 pounds, Dolores is no stronger and life is no kinder. But this time she's determined to rise to the occasion and give herself one more chance before really going belly up.
In this extraordinary coming-of-age odyssey, Wally Lamb invites us to hitch a wild ride on a journey of love, pain, and renewal with the most heartbreakingly comical heroine to come along in years. At once a fragile girl and a hard-edged cynic, so tough to love yet so inimitably lovable, Dolores is as poignantly real as our own imperfections. She's Come Undone includes a promise: you will never forget Dolores Price.
Thoughts: This book is actually a re-read for me, but I didn't skim through it as I might have other books I've reread. I was given this book as a gift, and to top it off there was a large "Oprah's Book Club" logo on the cover, so I was never really intending on reading it. The only other Oprah book I'd read was White Oleander and I did that because I wanted to know the difference between the book and movie. However, I gave this one I gave a shot - mainly out of boredom. It started slow, but eventually I was captivated by the main character and it stuck with me once I was done which is why I got a craving to read it again. I don't know if I'm just hormonal, or maybe it's because I knew what would happen as a result of the events, but I found myself crying pretty often during this book.
I would suggest this book to anyone who can enjoy the ups and downs of life - as it's not generally a "happy" book. It travels with the main character from early childhood to 30-something adulthood so it really is a story about life. Its stuck with me though, so I have to commend Oprah's selection on this one.
What book are you reading right now?
Nothing, and it's bothering me. I'm hardly a quarter of the way through the third and final book in the Golden Compass series (also known as His Dark Materials trilogy) - but I've lost all interest. I'm thinking of just abandoning it - and the count in my 50 books in 365 Days - (hell, I'm already too far behind to finish - but at least I've read more this year than last so THAT is an accomplishment!) as I don't believe that partially read books should count.
I need something fresh and different, something short too though so I can jump start my momentum again. Any suggestions?
Title: The Amber Spyglass
Author: Philip Pullman
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 544
Synopsis: I'm going to stick with just linking to the synopsis - as I don't want to give away anything about the other books. If you're really interested to know what the third book is about, you can visit the Amazon page here and read multiple synopsis' and reviews.
Thoughts so far: I've read about 50 pages so far, and its fragmented story line leaves much to be desired when it comes to pacing. I'm not saying its uninteresting - not in the least - its just too much jumping from one storyline to another. Sure, they all tie together but I've never been a fan of these kinds of back & forth story telling techniques before. I feel I can put it down easily which is likely why it took me so long to finish with the last one. Since this book is approximately twice as long as the second one, I'm guessing it'll likely take me twice as long to finish it.
What was your favorite summer read?
My favorite was the Abhorsen Series - which I started at the beginning of June and finished in the beginning of July. It was a break away from my usual reading and it was such a great surprise as I wasn't expecting very much. I have every intention of re-reading this series - hopefully its just as good the second time around.
The book on a whole wasn't bad. I liked getting more background on a lot of the characters, and brushing away some of the innuendos of the story line to reveal the author's true intent. I don't think the presentation in this book was very good though, if anything it was all more confusing than ever since the character alignment as to which side they are on often flipped. Plus it seems the author was trying to beat around the bush so much, I'm not sure if to stretch out the story or to mask what some people call his anti-religion propaganda, that I grew bored on top of my confusion. I'm sure some parents are wild about this series, but I wouldn't recommend it for my young adult reader.
I bought the third one last night, though I haven't picked it up yet. I'm not sure if I want to take a break and maybe try another genre for a bit or continue on.
Book Count: 17
Title: Breaking Dawn
Author: Stephanie Meyer
Genre: YA Fiction
Pages: 768
Synopsis: Everyone knows what this book is about, so I'm not going to waste time trying to write a synopsis and the only one I can find online to copy & paste is a rather harsh one from Publishers Weekly. However, if you're interested in that scathing review you can catch it here :P
Thoughts so far: I've been behind, terribly behind, on posting about my reading. It may just appear I haven't been reading at all? Quite the opposite, I've actually been reading a lot just haven't been finishing too much :P But I finished this about a week after starting it and I have to say that while I didn't love everything - it was a good ending to the story.
**SPOILERS**
Some thoughts I had while reading the book:
- Where did that story about the Immortal Children fit in? My answer? No where. And because it didn't fit in anywhere, it tipped me off to what was going to happen so I really wasn't the least be surprised and a bit bored to find out that Bella was pregnant. Not surprised, and bored as I said, because I caught on the moment Meyer's started hinting about Bella being hungry and really tired. Perhaps its because I'm adult and I know that whenever someone wants to hint to pregnancy they choose specific clues, but all the same I felt it was messy story telling.
- Never again will I root for Jacob - simply because I had to be in the head of that immature jealously mean character. I really didn't enjoy reading from his point of view and found myself having to re-read paragraphs because of my boredom. HOWEVER! I am immensely glad that Bella's pregnancy was not narrated by any of the Cullen clan because THAT would have been even more boring and annoying.
- I very much enjoyed Nessie as a character, I felt that Meyer's did a good job rounding her out.
- I liked the ending, as I didn't want to read about a war, and I am a sucker for happy endings.
- I felt Meyers did a great job with the "delivery" scene, as I was very much on the edge of my seat and could visualize everything she was trying to show me.
- If I have to hear one more person say, "Oh Bella having a baby is SO original!" I think I'm going to kill myself. Has no one read The Last Vampire series by Christopher Pike? Particularity Evil Thirst?! Get with the times you fake vampire lovers!!! Hehehe...
Book Count: 16
Title: Honor's Splendour
Author: Julie Garwood
Genre: Romance
Pages: 384
Synopsis: In the feuding English court, gentle Lady Madelyne suffered the cruel whims of her ruthless brother, Baron Louddon. Then, in vengeance for a bitter crime, Baron Duncan of Wexton—the Wolf—unleashed his warriors against Louddon's main. Exquisite Madelyne was the prize he catured...but when he gazed upon the proud beauty, he pledged to protect her with his life. In his rough-hewn castle, Duncan proved true to his honor. But when at last their noble passion conquered them both, she surrendered with all her soul. Now, for love, Madelyne would stand fast...as bravely as her Lord, the powerful Wolf who fought for...Honor's Splendour.
Thoughts so far: I read this book years & years ago and loved it then and am a bit surprised that I love it so much now. I figured, because I'd stopped reading "romance" once I started dating Paul, that it would all be different for me now that I'd been in a serious, loving relationship. I thought I'd scoff at it all and put it down as just unbelievable and petty. But, I'm enjoying it immensely and have decided to start building a collection of my favorite romance books again.
Book Count: 15
Title: The Subtle Knife
Author: Philip Pullman
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 326
Synopsis: I'm going to stick with just linking to the synopsis - as I don't want to give away anything about the other books. If you're really interested to know what the second book is about, you can visit the Amazon page here and read multiple synopsis' and reviews.
Thoughts so far: I'm only 31 pages into this next book, and already I'm relating to it better due to the location change. However, reading about Lyra from someone else's point of view makes my familiarity with her fly out the window. I can't seem to shake that fantasy world - so even though I'm relating better I'm also a little more confused. Oh, well - I'm only 31 pages in :)
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