Book lovers discussion

Group Challenge 2012

Part 1 - Name Reading Challenge

S: Sarah's Key (BIO) by Tatiana de Rosnay
A: Alias Grace (BIO) by Margaret Atwood
R: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
A: Ahab's Wife, or The Star-Gazer (BIO) by Sena Jeter Naslund
H: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (BIO) by J.K. Rowling

Part 2 - Genre Challenge

Classics: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (BIO) by Anne Bronte
Historical Fiction: The Bronze Horseman (BIO) by Paullina Simmons
YA: Beautiful Creatures (BIO) by Kami Garcia
Nonfiction: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption (BIO) by Laura Hillenbrand
Mystery/Thriller (not my typical genre preference):The Last Child (BIO) by John Hart

Part 3 - Age Challenge: 1930's

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Part 4 - Author Challenge

Garden Spells (BIO) by Sarah Addison Allen

Part 5 - Books I Own

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman (First Reads win) by Robert K. Massie
The World We Found (First Reads win) by Thrity Umrigar
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht


Part 6
Stellar Wind: 2012 by Catherine Barber (May)

My overall goal for 2012 is to read 75 books. I fell short in 2011, but I'm going to give it another try...

1. Dracula by Bram Stoker - 3.75*

I'm glad I read this book since it is the grandaddy of all vampire lore, but it took me quite a while to finish it. The story in itself is tantalizingly creepy, but could have been told in a less verbose manner that would have held my attention for longer stretches of time.

Sarah wrote: "1. Dracula by Bram Stoker - 3.75*

I'm glad I read this book since it is the grandaddy of all vampire lore, but it took me quite a while to finish it. The story in itself is tantaliz..."

I thought it was verbose also!

2. The Secret History by Donna Tartt - 3*

I've been going back and forth about my rating, but I have settled on 3* because, despite the slow pace and despicable characters, I have had a great ongoing discussion with Shelli about this book. This book could have been so much better if the author had talked a lot less about the drinking habits of the characters. The book was way too long and slow IMO, and I never quite understood the characters and their motives.


3. Rules of Civility by Amor Towles - 4*

I enjoyed this book for it's 1930's New York City setting, as well as the main character's self-confident, easy-going, and sometimes sassy attitude. The setting and tone reminded me of The Great Gatsby, but not nearly as depressing. I really liked this book, but I wish that the author had taken the time to build up the growing attraction and tension between Katey and Tinker before the accident in which Eve was hurt. I think their connection might have been more believable if the author had taken the time to further develop that dynamic. On the whole though, I found this book to be very entertaining.

4. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill - 4*

I've had this book on my TBR for some time, and after seeing there was a movie made about it, I just had to read it first. This book was not as scary as I had expected, especially after seeing the previews for the movie. However, it was definitely creepy in some parts, and kept me engaged throughout, so I gave it 4*. The book is only 160 pgs, so it was a quick read. If you're looking for something horrific and terrifying, this is not that kind of book, but it is a well-told, traditional ghost story and well worth the read IMO.

5. The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory - 4.5*

Another beautifully written historical novel by Philippa Gregory! This book was the third installment of the Wars of the Roses series and my favorite of the three. This was the first time I had heard of Jacquetta, the Duchess of Bedford, and her story intrigued me from the very beginning. I would highly reccommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with strong female characters.

6. Belladonna by Mary Finn - 2*

I picked this up on a whim at the library when I was looking for a Playaway to listen to at home. Unfortunately this book was not as interesting as the synopsis led me to believe it might be. :-(

Thanks Sarah! I agree...it was a better book to discuss than actually read at times!!

7. The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar - 4*

I won this book a couple of months ago in a Firstreads giveaway. This is the first book I've read from this author, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Let's just say, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this story.
The World We Found is the story of four college friends who, after having drifted apart over the last thirty years, are reuniting to say goodbye to their friend Armaiti who is dying of cancer. The impending reunion brings back many memories, both nostalgic and painful for each woman and becomes an opportunity for renewal of old friendships and past dreams.
This beautifully written novel swept me away to Bombay, India and completely enveloped me in the lives of these four amazing women as I read about their hopes, dreams, past regrets, and new beginnings. I will definitely read more books by Umrigar after reading and enjoying this one.

8. Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever by Bill O'Reilly - 4*

9. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher - 3.5*

I picked this up on a whim at the library. In this book, Hannah Baker tells the story of the events that led up to her suicide on a series of cassette tapes. The tapes are mailed to the recipients in the order that they appear on the tapes - people who are in some way responsible for Hannah's decision to end her life. I thought the dual-narrative of Hannah and Clay was ingenius, especially because we are hearing Hannah's story posthumously. However, the subject matter itself was a little hard to digest, and for that reason alone I couldn't give it any higher than a 3.5* rating.

10. The Last Child by John Hart - 5*

My first 5* read of the year! I am usually very stingy with my stars, but this book deserves all 5 and then some! This was not your typical "cop drama" or predictable crime novel. It kept me guessing with every twist and turn and did not wrap everything up in a neat little bow at the end. As someone who does not typically enjoy the mystery/thriller genre, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a gripping read!

11. Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution by Michelle Moran - 5*

Moran has done it again - loved this book! I didn't know much about Madame Tussaud before reading this book, so it was very informative yet entertaining. Moran has another book coming out this year - The Second Empress : A Novel of Napoleon's Court - can't wait!

12. Unbroken: A World War II Story Of Survival, Resilience, And Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand - 5*

I just finished this book a few moments ago and I am so emotional that I can hardly get on with my day. This is hands-down the most gut-wrenching, disturbing, yet inspiring book I have ever read. I am truly amazed by the story of Louis Zamperini and shocked that this is the first I've ever heard of him.

13. The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter - 2*

Weird...disturbing.

14. Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie - 5*

I won this from a First Reads giveaway!

Rich with historical details and facts about the life and reign of the woman known as Catherine the Great, this book reads like a novel. Prior to reading this, I knew very little about this prolific Russian empress, so this proved to be a very informative and entertaining read for me. I was initially intimidated by the sheer volume of this book and feared that reading it would be a daunting task. However, Massie's style of narrative historical writing kept me engaged throughout. I especially enjoyed the pictures in the middle of the book - particularly the portrait of Catherine in her grand coronation robes, wearing an immense jeweled crown. This was the first of Robert K. Massie's books that I have read, but it certainly will not be the last.

15. The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama - 4*

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! This was just the type of book I needed after reading Unbroken. It is about a young Chinese man named Stephen, who is sent to his family's summer home in Tamuri, Japan to recuperate from a devastating bout of tuberculosis. As the story of Stephen's journey to recovery of the body, mind, and spirit gently unfolded, I too felt a peace settle over my spirit. Even though the story is fraught with sadness, there is an interwoven thread of hope and renewal that prevails throughout.

16 City Of Ash: A Novel by Megan Chance - 4*

Great book! I love stories that are set in the Victorian era. The only thing that prevented this story from being a 5* read for me was that the ending was just okay for me. It climaxed and then everything was quickly wrapped in a neat little bow and it was over. Overall though, it was a great story and I couldn't put it down.

17. Inamorata by Joseph Gangemi - 4*

This book is set in the 1920's, during the peak of the Spiritualism movement. It is upon this backdrop that Harvard graduate, Martin Finch, gets the unexpected opportunity to assist in the Scientific American investigation into the psychic powers of self-proclaimed mediums and Spiritulists. At first he rises to the challenge and exposes several fraudulent "psychics" using logic and scientific reasoning. However, the investigation into the paranormal powers of "society psychic" Mina Crawley presents a far greater challenge, especially when he develops feelings for her that threaten to cloud his judgement.
I could not put this book down! Finch's determination to disprove psychic ability took the story in some interesting directions, and I admit that I'm not exactly sure what really happened in the end, but I like that there is still some mystery surrounding the story and its characters. Great book!

3- 4 stars in a row.....that's great!

18. The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley - 4.5*

I loved this book! The writing was beautiful, the setting was stunning, and the love stories between the characters - both present and past - left me yearning for more.

19. Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year, Expanded Edition: Diary of a Teacher's First Year, Expanded Edition by Esme Raji Codell - 2*

I had to read this for school and I thought it was pretty stupid. It has no relevance to me whatsoever, and if I ever do half the things that Esme admits to doing, I would be fired in a nanosecond. I appreciate her spunk and her passion for teaching, but when reading a book about teaching, I don't think it's appropriate to use the F word repeatedly or say that a student is being a d**k. I think UC needs to reevaluate their required reading...

20. Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir by Jenny Lawson - 3*

Very funny and quick read! Not for anyone who is easily offended by the f*** word or "lewd" subject matter. I had a couple of lol moments, especially reading about Lawson's life growing up in Wall, TX which is basically out in the middle of nowhere.

21. The Best of Me by Nichloas Sparks - 4*

I love me some Nicholas Sparks! His books are like comfort food for my soul ;)

22. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James - 3*

I enjoyed this book for its value as a mindless, smutty, sizzling hot read - exactly what I needed right now when my mind is on overdrive trying to finish this quarter before I graduate! Am I going to finish the series? Probably not. The writing was a little cheesy. I couldn't help but chuckle every time Ana mentions her inner goddess. Anyway, it is what it is and now I know what all the hype was about - curiosity satisfied.

23. The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones - 3*

I won this book in a First Reads giveaway!

It took me a little longer to read this book than I had anticipated. It never really reached out and grabbed my attention, so I read it in small doses.

What starts out as a typical Victorian tale quickly devolves into chaos and peculiarity. It is the story of a family living in a grand old house called Sterne that is about to go into foreclosure unless the stepfather can get a loan or the eldest daughter, Emerald, agrees to marry the rich neighbor who is clearly smitten with her and the prospect of owning Sterne. The entire story takes place over a twenty-four hour period - the day of Emerald's 20th birthday. As the family prepares for the birthday celebration, and guests begin arriving at Sterne, word comes that there's been a terrible railroad accident nearby and that the passengers will need to come to Sterne for shelter until the railway can arrange other transportation for them. Rather than expressing concern and a willingness to help, the family seems put out by the inconvenience. Upon the passengers arrival, they are are quickly shut into the morning room and promptly forgotten. A short while later, a man arrives at the door - a Mr. Charlie Traversham-Beechers, who was also a passenger on the ill-fated train. It is with his arrival that things at Sterne take a turn for the peculiar...

Overall, I found this book to be amusing at times and entirely unique. It didn't have me on the edge of my seat in anticipation, but I was interested enough to see it through to its end. The characters were odd and self-centered, so I never felt a connection with any of them, which is probably why it took me longer to read this book. The writing itself felt a little disjointed at times because it is told in third-person and frequently switches in describing the actions and feelings of different characters. In the end, I can say I liked the book well enough, but it didn't wow me.

24. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen - 4*

I have been a fan of Allen's since reading The Sugar Queen a couple of years ago. Not sure why it took me so long to get around to this one, but I'm glad I finally made time for it. Once again, Allen's magical realism, southern charm, and delicious descriptions had me hooked from page one.

25. The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted - 3.5*


This was the first book I read on my new Kindle Fire! I bought it because it was only $1.99 and it looked really interesting. I love Victorian-era books, and the fact that this one included a murder mystery involving twins piqued my interest even more. I thought it was a fast and enjoyable read!

26. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys - 4*

I have read several WWII books, but this was the first one that I had read that focused on the Russian persecution of Lithuanians. I don't know much about Stalin, so I had no idea that he commanded people believed to be anti-Soviets to be taken from their homes and put into forced labor camps. Not an easy read because of the subject matter, but it opened my eyes to the greater injustices of WWII.

27. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey - 4*

What a beautiful story! I really enjoyed this one!

28. The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick - 4.5*

I love historical fiction, and this one was right up my alley. William Marshall is my new literary crush! I love that he stands by his word, he is loyal almost to a fault, and he holds women in high esteem. I definitely want to continue on with this series.

29. Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters - 4*

I had previously read all of Waters' books except for this one, and I was hesitant because I knew it contained some very graphic lesbian sex scenes. However, after reading 50 Shades I knew my literary innocence was a thing of the past...lol. I thought it was a great story about a young woman named Nancy becoming aware of her feelings for other women in a time when homosexuality was a thing to be hidden behind closed doors. Her feelings for a certain stage actress leads her to London where she becomes part of the act and engages in a secret relationship with her partner. After having her heart broken, Nancy is adrift in a world where she feels compelled to hide her true self behind a facade. The ending of the story is where I felt that Nancy redeemed herself and opened up to a realm of possibilities that she had previously believed unattainable. I felt that this was a great story about betrayal, loss, and the resilience of the downtrodden human spirit.

30. Divergent by Veronica Roth - 4*

I liked the fast-paced action of this book. The violence and the sense of self-preservation reminded me of The Hunger Games, except of course that Tris chose her path and Katniss only did it to save her sister. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel now.

31. Gold by Chris Cleave - 5* (First Reads win)

Gold: A Novel is the first book I've read by Chris Cleave. I own Little Bee, but have been hesitant to read it due to the mixed reviews it has received. After reading Gold, I have a feeling the reviews for this one will be mostly positive because I couldn't put it down.

Gold is the the story of three friends and world-class cyclists - Kate, Jack, and Zoe - who are all vying for their spot in the upcoming London Olympic games. Kate and Jack are married and have a young daughter, Sophie, who has leukemia and is undergoing chemotherapy. As the story unfolds, the reader discovers the delicate threads that link these athletes together and the intricacies that define their relationships. Gold is about the things that drive these athletes and the difficult decisions and sacrifices that the characters must make in order to achieve the greater goal.

Honestly, when I first picked this book up, I already expected not to like it. I am not at all interested in sports, cycling in particular. However, this story is about so much more than the sport of cycling, even though I found the descriptions of the sport to be breathtaking. I can't begin to imagine the intense amount of training, both physically and mentally, that an athlete must endure to reach Olympic proportions. Besides the descriptions of the cycling, I was also taken in by the dynamics of the relationships between Jack, Kate, and Zoe, and their coach Tom, and the courage and strength of little Sophie as she battled leukemia. I thought this was an excellent book for all readers, not just those who love sports or cycling. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more books by Cleave.