Book Nook Cafe discussion

Another year to challenge my reading skills!

2019 Book Challenge

1. Book published in 2019
Kid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos by
Lucy Knisley 3.5/5 stars 3/24/2019

2. Author you’ve never heard of
Bowlaway by Elizabeth McCracken 3/5 stars 5/3/2019

3. Anything by Shirley Jackson
The Bird's Nest by Shirley Jackson 3.5/5 stars 5/23/2019

4. Book with a strong female lead
The Final Confession of Mabel Stark
Robert Hough 3/5 stars 3/23/2019

5. A play
All My Sons by Arthur Miller 4/5 stars 2/8/2019

6. A book set in Southern USA
Grief Cottage by Gail Godwin 5/5 stars 5/30/2019

7. A memoir on someone you admire
Love, Ellen: A Mother/Daughter Journey by Betty DeGeneres 4/5 stars 6/5/2019

8. Set in the Victorian Era
Unmentionable: The Victorian Lady's Guide to Sex, Marriage, and Manners by Therese Oneill 3/5 stars 6/14/2019

9. Character with career you wish you had
The Lost Queen of Crocker County by Elizabeth Leiknes 2.5/5 stars 6/24/2019

10. A plant on the cover
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren 4/5 stars 6/10/2019

11. Published the year you graduated school
A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick 3/5 stars 7/10/2019

12. A graphic novel
Giraffes on Horseback Salad: Salvador Dali, the Marx Brothers, and the Strangest Movie Never Made by Josh Frank 3.5/5 stars 5/6/2019

13. Featuring music
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom 3.5/5 stars 7/3/2019

14. An ugly cover
Transcription by Kate Atkinson 3/5 stars 6/29/2019

15. A teen as the main character
Summer Hours at the Robbers Library by Sue Halpern 3.5/5 stars 5/12/2019

16. The re-telling of a well-known story
Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin 4/5 stars 7/20/2019

17. Set during a holiday
Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva 4.5/5 stars 7/30/2019

18. Book picked out by a stranger
Robin by Dave Itzkoff 4.5/5 stars 11/18/2019

19. Gothic Fiction Novel -
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters 4.5/5 stars 6/22/2019

20. A book about time-travel-
Time and Again by Jack Finney 3/5 stars 7/26/2019

21. A title starting with the letter “J” -
Jell-O Girls: A Family History by Allie Rowbottom 4/5 stars

22. Fantasy novel -
The Drowning Girl by Caitlín R. Kiernan 3/5 stars 8/4/2019

23. True crime
Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep 5/5 stars 7/14/2019

24. Trilogy-
Lisa's Legacy Trilogy: Slip-Cased Lisa's Legacy Trilogy Containing All Three Cloth Editions by Tom Batiuk 4/5 stars 3/2/2019

25. The name of a color in the title
The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick by Mallory O'Meara 5/5 stars 5/26/2019

26. A one word title
Calypso by David Sedaris 4.5/5 stars 5/17/2019

27. Horror
The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing 5/5 stars

28. A book that discusses mental health
The Phantom of Fifth Avenue: The Mysterious Life and Scandalous Death of Heiress Huguette Clark by Meryl Gordon 4/5 stars

29. A book published by HarperCollins
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn 3/23/2019 4/5 star

30. An author who uses initials
The Wild Bunch: Sam Peckinpah, a Revolution in Hollywood, and the Making of a Legendary Film by W.K. Stratton 4/10/2019 3.5/5 stars

31. A book that everyone’s talking about
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid 5/5 stars 8/23/2019

32. A western
News of the World by Paulette Jiles 4/5 stars - 8/15/2019

33. A book about a cult
Girl at the End of the World: My Escape from Fundamentalism in Search of Faith with a Future by Elizabeth Esther 4/5 stars - 1/29/2019

34. Nominated for an award
The Keepers of the House by Shirley Ann Grau 5/5 stars 6/4/2019

35. A sports related book
Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin 4/5 stars 8/31/2019

36. A humorous novel
Less by Andrew Sean Greer 3.5/5 stars 9/21/2019

37. Set in South America
Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail by Rusty Young 3.5/5 stars

38. An allegorical book
Alice in Quantumland: An Allegory of Quantum Physics by Robert Gilmore
2.5/5 stars 9/14/2019

39. Military Related: fiction or non-fiction
Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill by Candice Millard 4.5/5 stars 8/12/2019

40. A character that is an immigrant
The Annotated Little Women by Louisa May Alcott 3/5 stars 4/27/2019

41. A Non-fiction Science book-
Milk!: A 10,000-Year Food Fracas by Mark Kurlansky 4/5 stars 2/2/2019

42. A family member’s favorite book-
The Clockmaker's Daughter byKate Morton 3.5/5 stars 10/12/2019

43. A children’s book-
The Flying Classroom by Erich Kästner 3/5 stars 5/15/2019

44. An author who uses a pseudonym-
The Rose and the Yew Tree by Mary Westmacott 5/5 stars 9/6/2019

45. A “beach read” -
The Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine Lowell 3.5/5 stars 10/19/2019

46. The first book you see in a bookstore / library -
The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King 4/5 stars 10/31/2019

47. Set in a country you’ve visited - Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood 5/5 stars 9/28/2019

48. Set in a post-apocalyptic world - The Dog Stars by Peter Heller 4/5 stars 9/10/2019

49. Celeb Bio- Born with Teeth by Kate Mulgrew 4/5 stars 7/17/2019

50. A fairy tale-Part of Your World by
Liz Braswell 4/5 stars 2/23/2019

51. A book about organized crime / the mob -
Al Capone and the 1933 Worlds Fair by William Hazelgrove 4/5 stars 4/26/2019

52. Set in China -
For All the Tea in China: Espionage, Empire and the Secret Formula for the World's Favourite Drink by Sarah Rose 5/5 stars 10/23/2019

53. A book about magic -
The Midas Box by G.P. Taylor 3.5/5 stars 1/26/2019

54. A book on the top of my reading list
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman 5/5 stars 4/14/2019

55. A book on the bottom of my reading list
Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault: Essays from the Grown-Up Years by Cathy Guisewite 3.5/5 stars 8/20/2019

56. Mystery written by a female
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty 4/5 stars 2/7/2019

57. A book that is a sequel
The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley 4/5 stars 3/31/2019

58. Political non-fiction book
Notorious Victoria: The Life of Victoria Woodhull, Uncensored by Mary Gabriel 4/5 stars
3/1/2019

59. Book set in Germany
The Innocent by Ian McEwan 4/5 stars 4/20/2019

60. A romance
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer 4/5 stars 1/21/2019

61. Book about film
Five Came Back: A Story of Hollywood and the Second World War by Mark Harris
5/5 stars 1/9/2019

62. Book with a month in the title
October Sky by Homer Hickam
5/5 stars 2/13/2019

63. A Western Romance
Cowboy Charm School by Margaret Brownley 3/5 stars 1/12/2019

64. Poetry
The Beautiful Poetry of Donald Trump by Rob Sears 3/5 stars 4/26/2019

Wade in the Water: Poems by Tracy K. Smith 3.5/5 stars 5/8/2019

The Princess Saves Herself in This One by Amanda Lovelace 3.5/5 star 5/9/20219

The Witch Doesn't Burn in This One by
Amanda Lovelace 3/5 stars 5/12/2019

The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One
Amanda Lovelace 4/5 stars 5/15/2019

Picture Books
65. Alma and How She Got Her Name by
Juana Martinez-Neal 5/5 stars 1/23/2019

66. Elmore by Holly Hobbie 4/5 stars 1/23/2019

67. A House That Once Was
By Julie Fogliano 5/5 stars 1/25/2019

68. We Don't Eat Our Classmates
Ryan T Higgins 3.5/5 stars 1/25/2019

Wow ! Since you had such success with your challenge in 2018, I have no doubt you will do will with this 65 book challenge.

Five Came Back: A Story of Hollywood and the Second World War
Mark Harris
5/5 stars
This is the amazing true life story of some of the greatest Hollywood film directors who were asked to film events during WWII and produce training films for the soldiers while putting aside their careers. John Ford, George Steven, John Huston, William Wyler and Frank Capra were the ones asked to give up their Hollywood jobs to work with the government. A few stayed to make instructional films to train soldiers; others accompanied troops to war torn regions putting their lives in danger while filming. This was a page turner for me from the beginning to the end! Book About Film

Julie wrote: "
Five Came Back: A Story of Hollywood and the Second World War
Mark Harris
5/5 sta..."

Wow ! 5 stars. It's terrific when a book totally draws you in.

Cowboy Charm School
Margaret Brownley
3/5 stars
Kate Denver is about to be married to long time beau Frank when Texas Ranger Brett Tucker storms the wedding to arrest Frank. Unfortunately, it is all a mistake. Frank is no criminal but it sets into motion in Kate’s mind about whether she and Frank should get married and it doesn’t help that the handsome Brett Tucker is hanging around the town looking for the real criminal Frank Foster. Typical romance novel but sweet. Western Romance

Well you can scratch off #32 on your list. Well done!

Jell-O Girls: A Family History
Allie Rowbottom
4/5 stars
Jell-O was invented prior to 1899 and Rowbottom’s great-great-great uncle bought the patent and manufactured it. The book details her family’s lives living in privilege and how the so called “Jell-O” curse affected their lives. The book also details the history of Jell-O over the years and touches on the story of a group of girls from LeRoy, New York, who came down with a Tourette-like syndrome which was blamed on the manufacture of the product in the area. Interesting! A Title That Starts With J

Julie wrote: "A Title That Starts With J."

That is a terrific, thinking outside the box, selection. Well done, Julie. I'm enjoying seeing how you tackle your list.

Alias Reader wrote: "Julie wrote: "A Title That Starts With J."

That is a terrific, thinking outside the box, selection. Well done, Julie. I'm enjoying seeing how you tackle your list."

Thanks!

Julie, it's a neat list you've created there! It's clear it will be fun, as the "J" book illustrates. This is the sort of book which is a pleasure to read, a look inside something you've not previously given much thought. Best of luck with this pleasure!

The Grand Sophy
Georgette Heyer
4/5 stars
This is the classic 1950 story from the romance writer Georgette Heyer. Set in 1816, Sophy’s father, the diplomat is traveling so she is sent to stay with relatives with whom she barely knows and vice–a-versa. During her time there she manages to upend all of their lives for the better with all her schemes and finds love herself. Romance

I read a mystery by Heyer, Why Shoot a Butler?, a year or so ago and liked it quite a bit. These older authors sometimes seem lost in the wilderness of "the latest". It's neat to read them for a rediscovery of sorts.

madrano wrote: "I read a mystery by Heyer, Why Shoot a Butler?, a year or so ago and liked it quite a bit. These older authors sometimes seem lost in the wilderness of "the latest". It's neat to read..."
I agree. I used to read Heyer in my romance period but reading a lot of romance is tiring to me. I do like to read a lot of different genres.

I think your DL reflects this too, which i like. I realized last night that it's been awhile since i read any nonfiction science books. I used to OD on those. Changing phases, i guess.

Alma and How She Got Her Name
Juana Martinez-Neal
5/5 stars
Sweet picture book with wonderful drawings about a young girl who’s name will be a reminder of her family and their stories. Picture Book


Elmore
Holly Hobbie
4/5 stars
This is a wonderful picture book about making friends when it is hard to make friends. Great drawings! Picture Book
I wasn't planning on reading 2 picture books but I couldn't resist these two books.

They sound adorable. There is a lot of talent in the children's book publishing world.

Wow, how Holly Hobbie has grown. In the '70s she was the rage but over the years i stopped paying attention. Clearly she's been busy. Thanks for sharing about this, as well as the Anna book, Julie.

A House That Once Was
By Julie Fogliano
5/5 stars
This is a lovely picture book about children exploring an abandoned house and imagining what had happened there. Wonderful writing and illustrations. Picture Book


We Don't Eat Our Classmates
Ryan T Higgins
3.5/5 stars
Penelope is a dinosaur, who is starting to go to school with a class full of humans. Unfortunately, she likes to eat humans but an incident with the school fish turns her attitude around and she learns how to make friends. Picture Book


The Midas Box
by G.P. Taylor
3.5/5 stars
Mariah Mundi is sent away from home to work in The Prince Regent, a hotel. His job is to assist the magician in the magic show. Unfortunately, the previous assistants have all disappeared and it takes Mariah and Sacha, a co-worker to find out what happened in this sinister and magical tale. Magic

Julie wrote:We Don't Eat Our Classmates "

Love that title. :)

These sound as though would be fun books for all of us to read.

Julie wrote: "
A House That Once Was
By Julie Fogliano
5/5 stars
This is a lovely picture book about children exploring an abandoned hou..."

Thanks for the reviews. I'm going to pick this up for my grandchildren.

Girl at the End of the World: My Escape from Fundamentalism in Search of Faith with a Future
Elizabeth Esther
4/5 stars
This is the true story of Elizabeth Esther who grew up in a very physically and mentally punishing religious cult and the efforts she took to try and remove herself from their influence. Very compelling! Book on a Cult

The subtitle is a good one, "Faith with a Future". It must be awful to be raised believing in the approaching doom.

Milk!: A 10,000-Year Food Fracas
Mark Kurlansky
4/5 stars
Kurlansky noted for his non-fiction writing doesn’t disappoint in this book on the history and science of milk. Never boring, he makes the topic of milk extremely interesting from its very beginnings up until today. The studies they did on homogenized milk before allowing the public to drink it were interesting and I learned that the yogurt I thought I was eating is actually a cheese product. There are recipes scattered throughout the book and the older ones are quite shocking, making me feel happy I was not born several centuries ago. Highly recommended! Science

I really liked his Salt: A World History, which i was dragged into. Who would have suspected such seemingly ordinary subjects could be so fascinating? Thanks for sharing about this one, Julie.

madrano wrote: "I really liked his Salt: A World History, which i was dragged into. Who would have suspected such seemingly ordinary subjects could be so fascinating? Thanks for sharing about this one,..."

I like his books - I want to read all of them but too many books not enough time!

You are preaching to the choir in this group! :-)

Big Little Lies
Liane Moriarty
4/5 stars
A young, single woman with a child comes to a new town to rebuild her life but things go awry from day one. Her child is accused of hurting a girl in class and the school becomes divided with those on her side and those against her. Did he do it? It was compelling till the very end. I had seen the mini-series previous to reading this and thought that they did a great job in staying within the story line of this book. Mystery

Julie wrote: "
Big Little Lies
Liane Moriarty
4/5 stars
A young, single woman with a child comes to a new town to rebuild her life but things g..."

I really enjoyed the book, too !

All My Sons
Arthur Miller
4/5 stars
Based on a true story, this Miller play relates the tale of a manufacturer of plane parts who knowingly sent defective plane parts to be used in the WWII which resulted in pilots dying, his partner being sent to jail and the effects of that action on his family. Well-written and compelling! Play

I recently read and enjoyed All My Sons.

The Roundabout theater in NYC is putting on the play this spring.

Julie, you are reading up a storm this year. It's neat to read about them in your posts.

Alias Reader wrote: "I recently read and enjoyed All My Sons.

The Roundabout theater in NYC is putting on the play this spring."

This was made into a film with Burt Lancaster-luckily one of the libraries in our system has a copy so I ordered it.

I imagine this enhances what you've read, as it was destined to be acted. Enjoy!

October Sky
Homer Hickam
5/5 stars
This was a wonderful book on the early life of Homer Hickman, living in a coal town along with the stress of that, while he and his friends were being inspired by the space race and wanting to be a part of it. He did eventually become a NASA engineer but not without the help of his friends and the town that supported him. Book With a Month in the Title

Julie, is this a re-titling of Hickam's Rocket Boys, given the movie's title, or are there two different books. I'm on my iPad which makes looking this up myself difficult, so i hope you don't mind. I read and liked Rocket Boys very much.

Julie, the book sounds interesting.

When I looked on Amazon it lists Rocket boys as part of a series.

Rocket Boys: A Memoir (The Coalwood Series #1)
The Coalwood Way (The Coalwood Series #2)

Deb, the cover to Rocket boys say - Inspired the film October Sky.

Thanks, Alias. After i read your post i remembered that at the end of RB I learned there was another book. I suppose i decided not to read it, as it isn't on my list.

Madrano wrote: "Julie, is this a re-titling of Hickam's Rocket Boys, given the movie's title, or are there two different books. I'm on my iPad which makes looking this up myself difficult, so i hope you don't mind..."
The book came out as Rocket Boys but they thought women would not come out to see a film with that title so they re-named it October Sky which is a anagram of Rocket Boys. Then they must of re-titled the book after the film came out. This is according to Wikipedia. I had always wanted to read this book so this was a good time to read it.

I had no idea. Neat that it's an anagram too.

I didn't know that either.

Hmm... I've been meaning to read that book at some point. The movie is fantastic. Didn't realize it was an anagram.

The Phantom of Fifth Avenue: The Mysterious Life and Scandalous Death of Heiress Huguette Clark
Meryl Gordon
4/5 stars
This is a very interesting look at the reclusive Huguette Clark, a wealthy heiress, introvert and hoarder who secluded herself in a hospital room for over 20 years relying on some people who did not always have her best interests in mind and cut off from her relatives whom she did not want to see or contact. On her death, she left a huge estate and a huge problem for the lawyers and the courts to sort out pitting her family against the friends and staff she had given money to. A Book That Discusses Mental Health

I liked that book very much, Julie. There is another I'd like to read someday, Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman & Paul Clark Newell, which also chronicles her life. Sad and curious end of life.

Madrano wrote: "I liked that book very much, Julie. There is another I'd like to read someday, Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman & Paul Clark Newell, which also chronicles her life. Sad and curious end of life."

I did not realize there was 2 books on the subject when I started reading it. I had gotten this book on the free shelf at work. I wonder if anyone has read both- it would be interesting to compare but I don't feel like reading another on her since I have so many books on my to read list. I would be interested in a documentary on her-I wonder if one has been done.

I felt the same way about reading the second bio on her life. It's still on my list, though. And Yes!, a documentary about her would be great.

Part of Your World
Liz Braswell
4/5 stars
This book was inspired by the Walt Disney animated fairy tale film, The Little Mermaid but with a twist. What if Ursula, the evil sea creature/octopus, defeated Ariel, the mermaid; married Ariel’s love Prince Eric and captured her father? Brazwell explores this idea in this wonderfully written tale of underwater intrigue about how Ariel grows up and reclaims her life. Geared to teens but I think adult fans of the movie would appreciate this too. Fairy Tale

I never realized there was a sub genre in fairy tales about what would happen if .... There are a few out there. This did not get many good reviews on GR but I liked it. I must have watched this film many times with my daughter - I think it was one of the first films we took her to see at the movies and then of course we had to buy the tape and watched it a lot on the VHS.

We missed out on children movies right around the time Mermaid was released, so have little clue what they cover. It's neat to read author's ideas of what "coulda" happened. Fun!

Notorious Victoria: The Life of Victoria Woodhull, Uncensored
Mary Gabriel
4/5 stars
This is the interesting story of the life and times of Victoria Woodhull who attempted in 1870 to run for President of the United States. Victoria was a quite a character. Growing up poor but highly intelligent, she went on to do many things that women of that time period were not allowed to do. Married twice, she also worked in many areas-from being a clairvoyant and a prostitute to running a newspaper and a brokerage firm. She was also the first woman to address Congress. Gabriel did a nice job researching Woodhull and her life. Political Non-fiction Book