75 Books...More or Less! discussion
Archive (2010 Completed)
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Penny's 2010 Challenge
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Penny
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Jan 02, 2010 03:34PM
I'm looking forward to another great year of reading!
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1. The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox: We listened to this while driving downtown for music lessons. It's a YA level, but very stirring and well-written. The images conjured by the author and the reader will not be forgotten!
2. The Second Opinion by Michael Palmer: Palmer does an excellent job telling a murderous tale through the eyes of a doctor with Asperger Syndrome.
3. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: For a short book, this one packs a punch! I was intrigued by the characters and the individual plights that brought them together. I'm looking forward to discussing this one with my book club on Sunday.
I always look forward to our Sunday meetings! :)
4. Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary: I laugh and laugh when I read these with the kids. Such great childhood memories, too!
5. Ramona and Her Mother by Beverly Cleary: I forgot about the bluing escapade! :)
6. Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary: We are listening to some of these when we are driving downtown or for quiet time in the afternoon. Stockard Channing is the best reader for this series! My favorite part about this book is the Owl. Those horribly embarrassing moments of childhood. Why do they make me smile now?!
7. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: This is one of those books you read hoping the people are real! It's written mostly in letter form, an art we've moved so far from in our technically savvy society. (Texting and emails just aren't the same thing.) The setting is soon after the German Occupation of Guernsey. These characters will be etched in your mind for life!
I might just have to read this one...
Penny wrote: "7. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: This is one of those books you read hoping the people are real! It's written mostly in letter form, an ar..."This is on my TBR for this year!
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Penny wrote: "8. The Resurrection File by Craig Parshall: This book is a lawyer-mystery-Christian novel rolled into one. The basic plot is an agnostic lawyer defends a fundamentalist Scottish preacher who is acc..."Penny, I really enjoy legal/courtroom kinds of books. I'm adding this to my "To Read" list!
8. The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall: A modern day Little Women! You will adore Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty and their comical, coming-of-age adventure at Arundel. Birdsall has written a treasure!
Penny wrote: "6. Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary: We are listening to some of these when we are driving downtown or for quiet time in the afternoon. Stockard Channing is the best reader for this series! My fa..."The Ramona Books were some of my favorites as a child!! I think I may have to go back and visit my old friends, The Quimby's.
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I agree! But, I think I'd have to feign illness--or watch fruit flies eat blue oatmeal--so my family didn't think I'd gone insane. ;)
9. Ramona Quimby Age 8, by Beverly Cleary: I think this one is my favorite, probably because my mom read it to me when I was eight. (In fact, I think she read it when we were on the way home from my first camp experience when I cried the whole week from homesickness. It was either this one or Beezus and Ramona.) And now that my youngest is almost 8, I understand Ramona's cognitive thoughts, which of course she would not be comforted to hear. :)
10. The River of Grace: a story of John Calvin by Joyce McPherson: While my oldest was working on a paper about the Reformation, I read this book to my younger two for our biography unit and to prepare them for a book report paper. I've studied Calvin before, but learning more about his early life and ministry was fascinating. This is a great book for upper elementary kids. But, adults shouldn't miss out either! I learned so much!
11. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens: The boys enjoyed this book. Abridged or unabridged, Oliver is an intriguing book with unforgettable characters. Must read! Can't wait to see it performed at our local amateur theater this weekend!
12. Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary: Okay, maybe this one is my favorite. When I visited Oregon a few years ago, I can understand why Ramona loved her red boots!
13. Ramona's World by Beverly Cleary: I had never read this one, so what a treat to hear it on audio for the first time! We listened to it while recovering from the sniffles. Extra special to be cuddled on the couch enjoying it together.
14. The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall: We love the Penderwicks! I don't want to give any of it away, but I promise it's a good read!
15. Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis: I was surprised by this book. I learned so much about Lewis and his early life. I gained new appreciation for his faith story and how God can redeem anyone out of any situation.
16. The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald: In my opinion, this novel is better than The Great Gatsby. I've read The Great Gatsby three or four times, and I still don't find it memorable. Because this novel gives a slice of life (and most likely a shadow of Scott and Zelda's as well), I have no doubt I will remember this one clearly!
Penny, I never could get through The Great Gatsby, even when I had to read it for school. (I think I just scanned a few paragraphs here and there . . .) Frustrated me enough I never tried anything by Fitzgerald again. I'll have to give The Beautiful and Damned a shot . . .
Definitely give it a try, Kay! I am hoping to read Tender Is the Night at some point, too.
17. A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers: This is a re-read for me and well-worth it! I love the way she weaves a story. May re-read the rest in the Mark of the Lion series. But, I am eager to read her newest series. It's been a while since she came out with one!
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18. Dear John by Nicholas Sparks: This requires Kleenex and about two days!
19. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe: I really enjoyed reading this classic with my boys and discussing it together. The Classic Starts version has questions in the back that are great for sparking answers in young people. They were also glad the discussion allowed them to get out of filling in worksheets. :)
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20. Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers: I love reading Francine Rivers! This book is no exception. It is based loosely on her own family, which is the kind of writing I hope to do in the future. I can't wait for the sequel to come out!
21. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson: What a great audio reading! With all the pirate jargon, it was pleasureable listening.
22. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by Elaine Lobl Konigsburg: I'm not a huge fan of books when kids runaway from home. But, the boys enjoyed this one, and it was entertaining. We did have some good discussions with it, so for that I'll say I liked it. :)
23. Spiritual Intimacy by Women of Faith: I thought this study was a little light, but it was still good.
I've been wanting to read this one, especially since my rereading of Swiss Family Robinson last year...would the girls like it?
Yes, I think they would. Remind me, and I will loan you the abridged version. I think they will like it better at their age since there are chapter divisions. The unabridged is a lot of journal entries that may be hard for them to follow. But, I have that one, too, if you want to borrow it.
Penny wrote: "Yes, I think they would. Remind me, and I will loan you the abridged version. I think they will like it better at their age since there are chapter divisions. The unabridged is a lot of journal ent..."Maybe I will borrow the abridged version. I have one copy but I am not sure what it is. I will take a look and let you know.
Thanks.
Melissa
Penny wrote: "18. Dear John by Nicholas Sparks: This requires Kleenex and about two days!"Try reading it while your husband is at war...that's what I did...I took a lot of kleenex and more than 2 days becuz it is so hard to read when you're crying!lol...I don't think that reading whilest the hubs was overseas was a great idea...:P Still a pretty ok read.
24. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart: We took a long time reading this one because it added to the suspense. Very good mystery series! I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series with the boys.
25. Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling: I adore this book! A new favorite!
26. The World According to Garp by John Irving: I am going to go with character Jillsy Sloper's assessment of The World According to Bensenhaver by T.S. Garp: "Nobody sane ever wrote a book like this....this book's so sick you know somethin's gonna happen, but you can't imagine what....It feels so true...A book's true when you can say 'Yeah, That's just how **** people behave all the time.' Then you know it's true." And like her, you may just buy or borrow a copy to pass on to someone else or admit "I guess there's parts of it I wouldn't mind reading again."
27. This Side of Heaven by Karen Kingsbury: I have to say this is one of the better of Kingsbury's books I've read. I wasn't far into the book when I thought "I wonder how she's going to resolve THAT?!" It's a quick read, but an unforgettable one!
28. Heat by Mike Lupica: My baseball-loving son and I enjoyed this one.
29. The Stranger at Green Knowe by L.M. Boston: My gorilla-loving son and I enjoyed this one. Interesting that number 28 and this one both included characters that lied to protect something. Great books to read if you need to discuss lying with your kids! I highly recommend listening to these on audio CD and following along with a copy of the book.
