Challenge: 50 Books discussion

Galapagos - January
Fragile Things Short Fictions and Wonders - January
Miserly Moms, Living on One Income in a Two-Income Economy - January
The Book of Lost Things - January
Incident at Hawk's Hill - January
Life Management for Busy Women Living Out God's Plan with Passion and Purpose - January

I think these are all the books I read in January. February is going much slower for a variety of reasons. I haven't actually finished a book yet. Here's to at least two in February!

Amanda R. in Louisville

OK, I finished what was there of Midnight Sun, thanks to a link from another member.

To date, I've read 8 books: the six listed in my original post, Midnight Sun, and The Silver Child (The Silver Child).

I will start listing with numbers after this.

Midnight Sun was wonderful. A great addition and cap to the Twilight series. I can't wait to read it in print.

The Silver Child, by Cliff McNish, was a young adult novel about children who change in response to some unknown threat. Thomas is able to heal and calm people. Helen can read minds. The twins, Emily and Freda, are insect-like and can find other changed children. Walter is a giant. Milo is a golden child. The book has two main focuses: first the children find each other and their new home, then they struggle to help Milo survive.

Amanda R. in Louisville

9. Silver City The Silver City was the second book in the Silver Sequence, by Cliff McNish. I thought it was slightly better than the first, if only because I knew what I to expect. I still have a hard time suspending disbelief for this series, mostly because it seems between magical realism (or urban fantasy) and a fairy-tale. I can't decide which of those two fantasy genres the series really belongs to. Still, good enough books, especially since they are quick, entertaining reads.

Amanda R. in Louisville

10. The Well-Trained Mind A Guide to Classical Education at Home, Revised and Updated Edition

When my husband and I have children, we plan to homeschool them. I wanted to start learning about the different methods, so I picked up this book. It took about three weeks to read, a little at a time, which slowed down my fiction reading. The book was well worth it. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to homeschool or to self-educate. Also look for The Well-Educated Mind, by Jessie Wise.

congrats on your first ten!

Mary Todd wrote: "congrats on your first ten!"

Thank you so much. I slowed down a bit there with the last one. I'm hoping to read some fiction before I delve back into non-fiction. I've got about ten library books sitting here waiting to be read...

Amanda

Oops, just noticed: The Well-Educated Mind is by Susan Wise Bauer, not Jessie Wise, as I first said. My mistake. It was early in the morning, what can I say?

Amanda

11. The Screwtape Letters (which included Screwtape Proposes a Toast).

This book kept me thinking of my own Christianity all the way through. I felt myself quite uncomfortable, wondering what my own personal demon finds delightful in my character. A definite must read for any Christian.

12. Tam Lin

This was a great read, and I'd recommend it to anyone interested at all in fantasy (urban fantasy) or fairy-tales. Pamela Dean did a great job bringing to life the college experience of the 70s. I was drawn in. The book is slightly slow, but so worth the read.

13. Once upon A Time

Great collection of fairy-tales and fairy-tale essays. I practiced my memory skills and my story-telling skills by telling a few of the fairy-tales to my husband before bed. (We both like to be read to.)

Some of these will stick with me for years.

14. Dinner with a Perfect Stranger An Invitation Worth Considering

I won this book on a First Reads contest. It's a great apologetics book. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in Christianity, as well as any Christian.

I read the entire book in an hour or so. It's a very quick read.

Amanda R. in Louisville

15. True Notebooks A Writer's Year at Juvenile Hall

This book moved me to tears several times and I left the book angry and agitated. When I realized these kids were my age, and that some of their crimes were in the town I grew up in, it became more personal. The book changed how I look at juvenile crime, though I don't know what to do with this new way of thinking yet.

I know it took a long time between book 14 and 15; I've been reading several at once. I've also been keeping notes on several, which is slowing down the reading process (but making it more enjoyable).

Amanda R. in Louisville

Yay for 15!

Aprile wrote: "Yay for 15!"

Thank you! I was quite surprised when I typed in the number.

16. The Hunger Games I was so excited to see that my local library finally had this in! It didn't disappoint at all. A great young adult dystopian novel, which I have to say includes my two favorite genres (young adult + dystopian = Amanda drooling over the book). My favorite things about this book: 1. The names (Rue, Prim, Peeta, Katniss). 2. The descriptions of outfits and food. While I don't usually enjoy such things, these struck me as useful to the story, and not just fluff. 3. The relationships Katniss develops with her "staff". Cinna, especially. 4. Rue. My favorite little character. I think I was sold on the name. 5. The emotional climax, which I saw coming, but could not stop. The fact that it came where it did only made me want the next book more.

Amanda R. in Louisville

I really enjoyed The Hunger Games as well. I can't wait for the next book!

Amber (rebmav) wrote: "I really enjoyed The Hunger Games as well. I can't wait for the next book!"

Any idea when it comes out? Or what it will be called? I haven't really looked for information yet.

Amanda R. in Louisville

Amanda wrote: "Amber (rebmav) wrote: "I really enjoyed The Hunger Games as well. I can't wait for the next book!"

Any idea when it comes out? Or what it will be called? I haven't really looked for information y..."

It comes out 9/01/09 -

Catching Fire

I thought Hunger Games was excellent but I always feel manipulated by series books where the ending is such a cliffhanger! Have you read Graceling?

Barbie wrote: "I thought Hunger Games was excellent but I always feel manipulated by series books where the ending is such a cliffhanger! Have you read Graceling? "

Sorry for not responding sooner. No, I haven't read Graceling. Do you recommend it? I understand what you mean about the ending. I actually yelled when the book ended. I wanted more! I suppose I have to wait until September. I'm going to look for Hunger Games in paperback, too, since I had to borrow it from the library.

Amanda R. in Louisville

17. Noisy Outlaws, Unfriendly Blobs, and Some Other Things That Aren't as Scary, Maybe, Depending on How You Feel About Lost Lands, Stray Cellphones, ... Quite Finish, So Maybe You Could Help Us Out

This book had a very long title, and some great short stories. I picked it up because I knew it had a story by Neil Gaiman, and then ended up skipping that story because I had read it before. My favorite gem from this book is hands down "The Contests at Cowlick," by Richard Kennedy. I was laughing most of the way through, and had to tell the story to my husband at lunch that day.

Amanda R. in Louisville

18. The Devil in the White City Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America

Awesome book. I don't normally read non-fiction like this, but my husband was reading it and kept telling me little facts from it. I picked it up once he finished, and was hooked within the first twenty pages.

I think this book is so powerful because it really gets into the motives behind the architects of the fair, but doesn't try to delve too deep into the motives of the murderer. It's a very entertaining read.

Amanda R. in Louisville

Amanda wrote: "18. The Devil in the White City Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America

Awesome book. I don't normally read non-fiction like this, but my husband was reading it a..."

I finally just started this this week, after letting my husband read it first since I was in the middle of something else. I am really enjoying the writing style - I love NF that reads like a story.

I see you also read 2 of my favorites back in January - Galapagos and The Book of Lost Things. Galapagos is an old favorite which I like to re-read. I just read The Book of Lost Things a few months ago myself and it became an instant favorite - I have never read anything quite like it.

19. The Story of the Stone

I'm technically reading The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, which is a compilation of Bridge of Birds, The Story of the Stone, and Eight Skilled Gentlemen. Since I own Bridge of Birds (and it's one of my favorite books), and I got The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox at the library (meaning I only have so long to read it), I decided to start with The Story of the Stone.

While I didn't enjoy The Story of the Stone as much as Bridge of Birds, it was still a good mystery. I'd missed Number Ten Ox especially; it was nice to get to know the characters a little better.

I've just started Eight Skilled Gentlemen, and I think I'll be through it by the end of the week, even while working through some non-fiction, too. I'll update then!

Amanda R. in Louisville

20. A Medieval Home Companion Housekeeping in the Fourteenth Century

Since I love my job as a homemaker, I'm always looking for more reference guides. (One of my favorite books is Home Comforts The Art and Science of Keeping House) I also love the medieval period. While at the main library in downtown Louisville, I spotted this little guide. I picked it up in a hurry, wanting to explore the rest of the library.

The book was not exactly what I expected, which is not entirely a bad thing. It was written by a husband in the late 1300s (I think - it might have been late 1400s) to his fifteen year old wife. He wanted her to be a good wife to whomever she married after he was gone, since he knew he would only be her first husband due to his age.

This book only features some of the original book, translated into English by Tania Bayard. I particularly liked the sections about taking care of a husband, but skimmed a bit of the gardening section.

Amanda R. in Louisville

21. Eight Skilled Gentlemen

This was the third novel in this series. I actually read Eight Skilled Gentlemen out of the book, The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, which is a compilation of the three books.

I found Eight Skilled Gentlemen to be slightly better than The Story of the Stone, but not as good as Bridge of Birds. I would give it four stars.

Amanda R. in Louisville

22. Ella Enchanted

I read this for a challenge on another group and fell in love with this book. If I didn't have more reading piling off my dining room table, I'd re-read this book immediately. I'm tempted to, despite the fact that I started in on the other challenge late, and have a lot of reading to do to catch up.

Ella Enchanted is a re-telling of Cinderella, but the Ella in this book is far from the little Cinderella I grew up with. She's resourceful and rebellious, able to get her way despite a curse that makes her obedient. I love the way the book combines the classic Cinderella elements with a unique idea and cast. Five stars.

Amanda R. in Louisville

23. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

This was another book I read for a challenge held by a group here on Goodreads. This Newbery Medal award winner was definitely worth the read. I read this along with The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents (which is next on my list) to go with a theme.

I think Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a great read for younger teens and tweens while Maurice and his friends would appeal to a slightly older audience. Mrs. Frisby was an old-fashioned action story, holding plenty of action in a plot that seemed to meander along at times. This is its strength.

Amanda R. in Louisville

24. The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents

I loved this book! I would love to follow Maurice and his friends on their new adventures - pretty much anywhere they go, I will follow. I feel as if I've been led by the Piper.

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents follows Maurice, a cat, a young lad and several educated rats as they pull a pied piper scam. Their last big hit turns into a caper that they may have trouble getting out of.

Four stars, but very close to five!

Amanda R. in Louisville

Great review for "The Amazing Maurice", Amanda!

I love how you felt as if you'd been 'led by the Piper'. You put into words what I feel/felt as well.

Every time I re-read this book, I pick up more and more. TAM&HER is a great life-lesson masquerading as a innocuous children's book, I think.

MB wrote: "Great review for "The Amazing Maurice", Amanda!

I love how you felt as if you'd been 'led by the Piper'. You put into words what I feel/felt as well.

Every time I re-read this book, I pick u..."

MB, Thanks for the kind comments. I really did love this book. I think you are right about it being a life-lesson.

Amanda R. in Louisville

25. The Falconer's Knot A Story of Friars, Flirtation and Foul Play

I picked this book out at the library completely by random - I literally closed my eyes and picked a book from the YA section. This was a challenge for another group, and I was not too excited about this selection. It turned out to be a three point book. A young nobleman is accused of murder. He seeks refuge in a friary, which is next door to a nunnery. A young girl has been basically sold to the nunnery against her will by her older brother. The young noblemen and the girl slowly fall for each other, all while being kept strictly apart AND while solving several unexplained murders at the friary. I think the ending should have been easier for the reader to spot, since I didn't feel like there were any clues at all. Other than that, it was a pretty good book.

Amanda R. in Louisville

26. Mira, Mirror

This was a three and a half/four star book. I thought the concept was just OK (the magic mirror from Snow White is the narrator, but this book shows what happens to her after the wicked queen is gone), but what makes this book is the character development.

I thought Mira/Mirror's development was the best, but I also enjoyed watching the two girls change. Since I've already returned the book to the library, I can't look up the character's name, but the merchant's daughter was the only character who read a little "flat" to me. Other than that, the rather bland story and character concepts were really brought to life by strong writing.

Amanda R. in Louisville

27. The Sisters Grimm Book 1 The Fairy-Tale Detectives

This book was a substitution for another book I was planning to read, but which the library did not have. I am so glad I read it! It was a cute little YA book (you'll see a lot of those for the next few months) following two sisters who are related to the brothers Grimm. When their parents disappear, they are taken to live with an old lady claiming to be their grandmother. The problem is, they were told their grandmother was dead.

When weird, fairy-tale things start happening, the sisters should band together, at least according to the eldest. The youngest is enjoying her new family too much to want to escape, though. I loved this little adventure tale, and the character motivations were all done just right. I think my favorite character (as far as the writing goes at least) was Mayor Charming. Of course, Mr. Canis was my very favorite character in the book. A great four star book, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

Amanda R. in Louisville

Congrats on 1/2 way!

Aprile wrote: "Congrats on 1/2 way!"

Thanks so much! It was exciting to make that mark.

Amanda R. in Louisville

28. Bridge to Terabithia

I picked this book up honestly thinking it was a fantasy. I knew nothing about it except that they'd made a movie of it, it is YA, and that my husband liked it as a kid. This is another challenge book, but you can get used to hearing that.

Without giving spoilers, I will say that I cried. It wasn't at all what I was expecting, which made the first few pages a little rough, but what a great story!

Amanda R. in Louisville

29. Then Again, Maybe I Won't, by Judy Blume

I was very upset by this book. I had not read any Judy Blume since I was a kid myself, and didn't realize her messed up morals. Or maybe it was just this book. I'm thinking now that if my kids ever choose to read anything by her, I'll have to have many discussions with them, both as they read and after.

The main character in this book is very upset at his friend's bad behavior, and the author makes it clear that the behavior is unacceptable. The problem I have is, I think the main character is behaving in a way that is just as bad, and neither the MC or the author seem to feel that way. It is never addressed in the book as a bad thing, and the character actually seems self-satisfied with his behavior at the end. As I said, I was disappointed.

I would give this two stars, because it wasn't exactly poorly written. The narrative style annoyed me, too, but I was willing to overlook it for the story. The story was well-told, but upset me on a moral level. I give it two stars because I would NOT recommend it to people, but it wasn't a totally dreadful book.

Amanda R. in Louisville

30. Gabriel's Horses

This great little YA book is set in Kentucky during the Civil War. I don't think I would have enjoyed this nearly as much as a kid as I did as an adult. I give this 3.5 stars, because while I probably won't read it again, I would definitely recommend it to others.

Amanda R. in Louisville

31. Into the Wild, by Sarah Beth Durst

Another YA novel. This was a very well written story about the fairy-tale creatures we all know and the Wild that keeps them captive. The main character, Julie, must rescue her mother, Rapunzel, and her friends from the slavery that is their only option in the Wild.

Four stars.

Amanda R. in Louisville

32. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

I was not as pleased with this classic as I had hoped to be. I remember trying it in grade school and not liking it, but I think my reasons were entirely different then. I certainly didn't dislike the book, it's just not one that I'll return to anytime soon. I probably will re-read it a few years down the line, just not soon.

Maybe it was the science-fiction aspect that turned me off, though I've read some science-fiction. I think in the end I just felt like the story was missing some emotion that I long for in fiction, particularly YA fiction.

Amanda R. in Louisville

33. A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan.

Two boys sneak off to watch a freak show, only to find a secret at the show that will change their lives forever. While a somewhat cliched storyline, the "boy runs off to the circus" ploy works well enough here. The book would probably be genuinely scary to some younger readers. I couldn't suspend disbelief long enough to stop from rolling my eyes at some plot twists. I also found it hard to feel sympathetic for any of the characters, with the possible exception of Mr. Crepsley.

I'm not entirely sure why this is getting such grand reviews, or why it came so highly recommended. A satisfying read, but not great literature.

Amanda R. in Louisville

34. Anne of Green Gables

Sheesh, I thought for sure I had added the last two books I've read. Well, at least this one. What a darling book this was. I thought I would never pick up such a "Pollyanna-ish book". I loved it! Anne was endearing, the supporting characters are lovely, and the plot kept me going. Four stars!

Amanda R. in Louisville

35. The Book Thief

Wow. What a book. I didn't shed many tears over this one, but it will be with me for as long as I have memories. The Holocaust is not something that leaves a person's memory easily in the first place, but to work in characters like Zusak does... It hardly seems fair, ambushing a memory like that.

The fantasy element of this book was so subtle it barely registered, at least until it comes time to describe the narrator. This was a lovely choice by the author, who could have played up his narrator quite a bit.

Definitely a five star book.

Amanda R. in Louisville

36. Christy, by Catherine Marshall.

I honestly wasn't expecting much from this book. The description made it sound interesting, but not my cup of tea. I was so blown away by the depth of character. I adored the amount of love the author poured into each character, even the minor characters.

Amanda R. in Louisville

37. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.

I've been looking for a new series to read for the YA challenge, and this seemed to fit the requirements. I wasn't expecting to like this either, but found it an enjoyable read. It felt a bit like fluff reading to me, but had a strong plot. I think that even without the challenge, I would read on through the series.

Amanda R. in Louisville

38. Artemis Fowl The Arctic Incident, by Eoin Colfer.

I think I liked this book even better than the first one. All of a sudden, my husband is reading these books, too. I'm definitely picking up the next few from the library when I can, even if it gets in the way of my planned summer reading (for the TNBBC Summer Challenge).

Amanda R. in Louisville

39. The London Eye Mystery, by Siobhan Dowd.

This was a cute little mystery I picked up to finish a task for the YA challenge I'm in. The book was charming. It was told from the viewpoint of a child with high-functioning autism. The book follows Ted and his sister, Kat, as they try to find out what happened to their cousin, who went missing on the London Eye (a giant Ferris wheel).

Amanda R. in Louisville

Which brings me to
40. What I Saw And How I Lied, by Judy Blundell

This was an interesting, noir-ish book set right after WWII. The protagonist, Evie, falls in love with Peter on a trip to Florida with her parents. Nothing is as it seems, and soon Peter and Evie are trapped in a series of lies and drama. The family tension was so thick, and so foreign to me.

The book had me riveted. I probably will not re-read it, but the first read will stick with me awhile.

Three stars.

Amanda R. in Louisville