The 104 Book Challenge - 2011 discussion

Hi everyone! I'm excited to see what you all read this year. We had a blast last year, and since we have more members this year, that means more fun, right? :)

I am as excited as you Jen... I had so much fun this past year and I can't wait to see what books we are going to devour this next year! But wait, I still have to read 8 books by Dec 31st... yikes!

I'm soooo glad you're back! I got great ideas from your reading list last year and look forward to seeing your 2011 list, too!

#1 This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson

This was interesting, though it got a little dry by the time I was done. I love the idea of someone really putting forth a published thesis on why libraries and librarians are still necessary, but a lot of the book I was thinking 'this is interesting, but how is it making a relevant point?'

#2 A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

I know its a classic novel, but this is actually my first time reading it. I loved it, I really enjoy stories about everyday people and their lives. I love how you really care about the Nolans and what happens to them. I find it so fascinating when an author is able to make a story really progress and be alive, when there isn't a true antagonist. Life is the antagonist for the Nolans, and I can really appreciate that. I wish I had read this as a little girl, I can see how it could have really affected me, and shaped me the way books can to a child that they rarely do to adults.

Did you find it depressing? I've never read this book, but when I checked out other people's reviews on goodreads, many people seemed to think it incredibly sad.

Sad, maybe. Realistically and heartbreakingly honest, yes. But not depressing. But some people have a hard time reading about poverty and lower class living. I've lived in similar, albeit more modern, situations. I know what its like to be poor, and lonely, and so its easier for me to see the hope and take the good parts without letting the harsh details get me down. If you weren't as accustomed to that lifestyle, I can see how someone would be depressed by it.

Well, I definitely keep that one at the back of my mind. You've sold me on it!

#3 The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

The second in the Maze Runner series. This was pretty good, about on par with the first one. I'm looking forward to "The Death Cure" when it is released, I'm seriously baffled as to how Dashner is going to resolve and explain what in the WORLD is going on.

#4 The Giver by Lois Lowry

I'm going to attempt to read all of the Newbery Medal winners this year, which is an excellent excuse to re-read this book!

The Giver looks interesting. It's always so comforting to re-read books that you've enjoyed.

#5 The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

I really enjoy reading re-written or fractured fairy tales, and this is a really good one. Its based on the Grimm "goose girl" story, which is one of the lesser known and stranger of the tales the brothers Grimm compiled. But its always been a favorite of mine, and so I really liked this rendition.

The Giver has been one of my personal favs since I first read it!

Me too. Its a fantastic book. I think the first time I read it I was in 5th grade, and now I'm 27 and STILL love it. Now that's a keeper.

Jen wrote: "#1 This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson

This was interesting, though it got a little dry by the time I was done. I..."

There seems to be a whole library genre now. Makes me wonder if authors figure they have a built in audience since what librarian can resist buying a book about librarians for his/her library? I haven't read this one yet, but I did enjoy Don Borchert's Free for All: Oddballs, Geeks and Gangstas in the Public Library. Quiet Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian by Scott Douglas was cute, too.

Jen wrote: "#2 A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

I know its a classic novel, but this is actually my first time reading it. I loved it, I really enjoy stories about everyd..."
I've had this on my TBR pile for years. Thanks for the review, I'm moving it to the top of my list!

Nicole wrote: "Jen wrote: "#1 This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson

This was interesting, though it got a little dry by the time I ..."

Oh, I haven't heard of that one! Its now on my list.

If you like books about librarians, have you read Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians? This young adult series beginning with the above is sarcastic, irreverent and very funny.

#6 Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Another WIN for Lois Lowry, and her second Newbery.
I have always loved this book, the copy I had in elementary school finally fell apart. In like, 3 or 4 pieces. But I haven't read it in at least 10 years, and I was glad for a chance to revisit it. The story of Annemarie and Ellen is so wonderful, and the background story of how Denmark and her people reacted to WWII is fascinating. The edition I borrowed this time, from the public library, was a "paperback plus" edition, and it had an additional afterword from Lois Lowry about her inspiration for the novel, the story of Oskar Schindler, and basic backstory on WWII. I really enjoyed those additions, it really helps drive home the gravity of what happened. Must read this book. Do it. Now.

Jen~ do you have a game plan on reading the Newberry books? I just copied the winner list and I have read many of them but I am still trying to figure out how to tackle the 89 books!

Goose Girl was one of my favorite finds last year... Shannon Hale is a fantastic writer!

I do plan to try. I'm just going to go down the list starting with the newest ones. But I'm not worrying much about the order. I think I'm going to blog about it, though. :)

UPDATE.
So I am blogging about the Newberys. I don't claim it to be fascinating or hilarious, but I'm gonna try. www.breckensmama.com

#7 The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

This was excellent, I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy. The author manages to keep a very good "Alice" feel to everything, and the way he integrates Earth life with events in Wonderland is very interesting.

LOVE your blog, Jen!

LoL, thanks!!

#8 Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz

Another of my Newberys. I blogged about it, and I'm too lazy to review it here as well, so go there. :) I actually liked this, I didn't expect to. Its super short and quick to read, once you actually bother to open the cover....lol

#9 The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Newbery Number 5. I wanted to love it. But I didn't. It was kinda dull for the first 3/4, and then the interesting parts are all rushed. I was hoping there was a sequel, but I can't find one. :(

I really loved it, but I listened to it instead of reading it in book form. Gaiman is one of the best narrators around. I think I liked it once I knew it was a twist on The Jungle Book

See, and I've never read the Jungle Book. Maybe I should, and try again.

Jen wrote: "#8 Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz

Another of my Newberys. I blogged about it, and I'm too lazy to review it here as ..."

On your recommend I decided to read Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!... I also really enjoyed it. Alot of info about the time period presented in a very interesting way. I remember loving Canterbury Tales back in high school and this has the flavor of that put more simply for younger readers. Thanks!

Oh, I'm so glad you like it! It is kinda Canterbury-ish, huh?

#10 Beowulf: A New Verse Translation

I don't know if this actually counts as a book, since the translation I read is only like 75 pages long. But it took me FOR-E-VER (you gotta say that word in the "Sandlot" kid voice) to read it, so I'm adding it to the list.

I have no idea why this was so hard for me, but it really was. I was just not interested in reading it at all, but its required for my Brit Lit class.

#11 Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata

This was pretty good. Its about Katie and Lynn, two Japanese American sisters growing up in the mid-1950s in the South. Lynn gets very sick, and Katie has to learn how to grow up. I liked it, I got goosebumps on the last two pages, which is always a good sign.

#12 The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

This was another Newbery, I think the 2006 winner maybe? It was a very cute little story about Lucky Trimble, a 10 year old girl in Hard Pan, CA (Pop. 43). Its kinda a coming of age story in a way, and Lucky manages to miscontrue things that a overly smart and imaginative 10 year old usually does. It reminded me of Ramona Quimby a little. And I totally expect a movie, its very "cute" like that, ABC Family or Hallmark would be all over it.

Ok, so I'm the lamest person ever and haven't updated in 4 months. But I've been really busy with classes and kids and work and things (excuses, excuses...) SO I'm not sure if I've missed some of the stuff I've read in the last few months, and I'm reall behind on the challenges and not likely to get to 104 at this rate. But I decided to suck it up and post anyway. I've been so embarrased about not posting that I've waited even longer! Ugh...

#13 The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
The first book in the Kane Chronicles. Kinda like Percy Jackson, just Egyptian gods instead of Greek/Roman. Which I like, so it's all good. I love how detailed his research of the gods/religions really is, its excellent.

#14 The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
The first book in the Heroes of Olympus series, the sequel series to Percy Jackson. Roman v. Greek, I can't wait for the next ones.

#15 The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan
Second book in the Kane Chronicles. Enjoyable, I really like Rick Riordan more and more each book.

#16 The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Jackson, MS in the early 1960s. This was really good, its about civil rights and the fight for equality on a smaller scale, among black maids and the women they work for every day. The movie is coming out soon, I hope it does the book justice.

#17 Meditations of a Holocaust Traveler by Gerald, E. Markle
I had to read this as part of my history class last semester. It is a sociological study of the Holocaust. Very dry, not ever something I'd pick up on my own. That said, there were some very interesting and moving anecdotes throughout the book used to illustrate the points being made by the author.

#18 Tortall and Other Lands: A Collection of Tales by Tamora Pierce
A collection of short stories set in Tamora Pierce's realm of Tortall. Some of the stories have been previously published in fantasy compliations, some are new. I love Pierce, I'm anxiously awaiting the next Beka Cooper book, so this was a good nibble to keep me satisfied until that releases.

#19 Delirium by Lauren Oliver
I liked this book quite a bit more than Oliver's first novel, Before I Fall. I had really high hopes for that one and it didn't quite hit the mark. This book was better for me, I felt like the characters were less stuttered. Dystopian society where everyone has a surgerical procedure to stop the ability to love.

#20 Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
I LOVED this book. Out of all the ones I'm posting today, this is the one I enjoyed the most. Its so wonderfully detailed, I was continually impressed by the level of research the author put into the book. Its about a high school girl who is dragged to Paris (oh, the tragedy) by her father where she gets involved in a mystery of the Lost Dauphin. The ending seemed a little lost, like the author didn't know how to end it once she had finished with the big plot lines. I was disappointed by that, but the rest of the book was worth it.

#21 Matched by Ally Condie
Another dystopian novel in a world about love and relationships being defined by the government. Cassia lives in the Society, where she is Matched with her perfect mate based on a lifetime of tracked and collected data. But her Match may not be correct. The first in a series, and Disney already bought the rights for the movie. We'll see how it goes.

#22 Heart on a Chain by Cindy C. Bennett
This was a free nook book on bn.com. I needed a book. Eh. It was okay. Very Nick Sparks for the younger teen set. Young girl, mistreated and lonely. Perfect guy, patient and cute and rich. Big drama, big scare. Pure love. It was cute, nothing ground breaking or fantastic, but readable.


Ok that's it for now. If I remember any more I'll put them up, and hopefully I won't be so lame as to forget to post again.

#23 Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
This got added to my list after seeing it on so many lists last year. I really liked it, the details were great. Kinda reminded me of Memoirs of a Geisha, how it was the story of a girl throughout her life. But this was rural China in the late 18th century. The footbinding process was detailed, and really disturbing. I can't believe women really did that to themselves! Or that men found it sexy. ::shudder::

#24 Where She Went by Gayle Forman

I read "If I Stay" last year, and when I heard about a sequel I was excited and kinda scared. How in the world do you write a follow up to that book? But it was great. The choice to write it from Adam's perspective, the flipping back and forth in his memories, everything was awesome. Love love love.

#25 Zombies vs. Unicorns by Holly Black

Are you Team Unicorn or Team Zombie? This is a collection of short stories by various YA authors, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier. And its hilarious. I've been waiting for this ever since Jen @ readingrants.org blogged about it months ago. Its really funny and tongue-in-cheek. While the story itself wasn't my favorite (my fave story was a tie between Naomi Novik's "Purity Test" and Alaya Dawn Johnson's "Love will tear us apart"), my favorite character by far was Princess Prettypants, a white and lavender unicorn that farts rainbows and yawns the scent of jasmine. bwa hahahahaa. awesomesauce.

Jen wrote: "#25 Zombies vs. Unicorns by Holly Black"

I can totally picture the Princess Prettypants action figure (think My Little Pony with random rainbow expulsion) and it would have a place of honor on my desk at work. Oooh, if you made the rainbows candy, it would be even more hilarious! Must ponder, and leave the room because cackling to myself always makes the family suspicious. And I have to try and find this book.... :)

omg Lyssa. Best. Idea. EVER! Have to market that!

#26 The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

The third book in "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" trilogy(?). I liked this series a lot, I thought that Carrie Ryan's imagery is fantastic. She really does paint pictures with words and those pictures are usually terrifying. I loved how the characters throughout the series all connect as well.

I also think that, as far as the romantic love and feelings of impossibility for that love in this book between Catcher and Annah, Carrie Ryan managed to portray that really well. I think it is what Stephanie Meyer wanted to accomplish in Twilight, but Carrie Ryan did it better.

#27 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Sigh. Love Mr. Darcy. He's such a bumbling fool the first time he approaches Lizzy. Its my favorite scene.

Jen wrote: "#27 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Sigh. Love Mr. Darcy. He's such a bumbling fool the first time he approaches Lizzy. Its my favorite scene."

This is one of my favorite books ever. I love this scene too - though I admit I always picture Colin Firth now when I read it!

#28 Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

I liked this, and I plan on reading the rest. This is my first Westerfeld, and I'm pleasantly surprised!

#29 Stardust by Neil Gaiman

I like Gaiman's prose, he writes beautifully. The words and descriptions and flow of the ideas, its all lovely. And I like the idea of this story. But I have an issue with the passivity of it. The characters make very few active decisions, the majority of what happens is reactionary to events around them. And a lot of what happens seems to be "happenstance" or "destiny". Which is neat sometimes, and when I recognized what it was it made me smile and go "aww, cute". But I still feel like the story was a little flat because of that.

I also had similar issues with "The Graveyard Book", so maybe I just don't get Gaiman.

#30 The Sweetheart of Prosper County by Jill S. Alexander

Cutesy little book about a teen in Texas trying to figure out who she is.

#31 Cloaked by Alex Flinn

I love fairy tales, and it was wonderful to see references to lesser known tales in this book. Some of my favorite stories made it into this, which I really appreciate. And all of the shoe quotes are fantastic, especially for a shoe-fiend like me!

The story was fun, I liked this one more than Beastly.

#32 Every Soul A Star by Wendy Mass

This book was beautiful. The stories and the characters are just fantastic. And Wendy Mass obviously takes a lot of time and care on her research, the details about astronomy and solar eclipses was really interesting.

I read another one of her books last year, A Mango-Shaped Space, and it was also very well written, and the character is really east to relate to.

#33 Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman

This book was interesting. It is an alt-reality fiction YA. Basically, its the world if blacks had been the dominant race instead of whites. It's set in England, what seems to be modern day based on technology and things. But the attitudes and behaviors are very much like those in the early 50s-60's. Schools are attempting integration for the first time, and mixed relationships are illegal. Its about the relationship of Sephy, a wealthy Cross (black) politicians daughter, and Callum, a poor naught (white) boy whose mother once worked for Sephy's mother.

I liked this book, its definitely a great way to make you think. When I first started reading it, my mental picture automatically set the picture with Sephy and her family as white, and Callum as black. I had to stop, multiple times, and consciously change the mental picture. That alone showed me how hard wired we are, even if we think we aren't.

The book wasn't fantastically written, Blackman seemed a little immature and unpolished a lot of the time in her prose (way to many exclamation marks, even keeping in mind the idea that the narrator was 13-17). But I loved what she wanted to do with it, and I feel that she really managed to hit it by the last page.

#34 The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

This is set in 1940/1941, and follows 3 women. Emma Fitch, the new young wife of the doctor in Franklin, Mass, a tiny town at the end of the Cape. Iris James, the postmaster of Franklin. And Frankie Bard, a news reporter we meet in London and follow through Europe into Franklin. The US hasn't joined the war yet, but its on everyone's mind and is the catalyst for the action.

I liked this book, none of the characters are active in the war, but all are strongly affected by it. I appreciate how the author made you see the civilian side of the Blitz in London, and how senseless war is. At one point Frankie is trying to figure out how to explain the Blitz to the listeners, and all she can say is that yesterday the grocer was here, and today he's not. That the woman with the pram you see every morning on the corner didn't show up today. Or tomorrow. It was heartbreaking, some of the pictures conjured up about the war. But while these exact people aren't real, people just like them lived and died just like that. Sigh. I'm grateful for the chance to stop and take note of this, and really comprehend it even for just a few minutes. We see stories in the news about families and people who die in war or acts of war, and we don't always let them touch us because its too much. And we don't want to feel that all the time, selfishly. We don't want to hurt for people we don't know, we have enough of our own hurt. But we need to remember and understand these things, otherwise we'll only end up with more pain and violence.

Ugh. Sorry for the melancholy ramble. The book is good. It'll make you think for a few minutes, and be grateful.