Paghababian's 75 books in 2009
Conversazioni75 Books Challenge for 2009
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1paghababian
I'm so glad to see so many other people aiming for 75 books this year! I've been doing the same for a while now, but keeping track over in the 50 Book Challenge group... glad to migrate over here!
Please feel free to leave comments - I love to hear if people agree or disagree with my opinions on books, or if they have interesting suggestions.
If you're interesting in seeing what I read in the past, here's my 2008 list and my 2007 list, when I started keeping track here on LibraryThing.
Please feel free to leave comments - I love to hear if people agree or disagree with my opinions on books, or if they have interesting suggestions.
If you're interesting in seeing what I read in the past, here's my 2008 list and my 2007 list, when I started keeping track here on LibraryThing.
2FlossieT
Paghababian, as a rule we need no invitation to leave comments ;-) but thanks for asking. Welcome, and I hope you like it here.
3alcottacre
Welcome to the group! As Flossie said, we will leave comments any time and anywhere . . .we are a pretty nosy bunch.
5paghababian
Good, I'm glad! 50 Book Challenge is a little quiet - I chatted with a few people, but it was pretty much just me. Actual books coming soon!
6alcottacre
#5: You will quickly see here that we love to talk, lol.
7paghababian
1) Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris - Book 4 of the Southern Vampire Series. A friend got me into this Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood series just before the HBO show started, and while I enjoyed the first two books, I have read the second two at breakneck speeds. The excitement and adventure (and yes, lust) grows with each book. In this one, Sookie, who has found herself basically at the center of the Supe world, must harbor an amnesiac Eric while the rest of the vampires and werewolves prepare for a war against a group of interlopers. Can't wait to read the next one!
8TadAD
>7 paghababian:: I consider these like candy...I don't care if they're good for me or not, I can't resist them! :-0
I don't have HBO, so I can't see how they're doing with it, but I've read all eight so far.
I don't have HBO, so I can't see how they're doing with it, but I've read all eight so far.
9paghababian
>8 TadAD:: Total candy... but then, I've always had a sweet tooth ;) I don't have HBO either, but I watched the first half of the season when I was at my parents house for Thanksgiving. Pretty good, but not great. The best thing about it was that it gave me a better idea of what Bon Temps might be like - I don't know anything about the rural South, so it helped with atmosphere and accents.
10Whisper1
paghababian
Welcome to our chatty, "chirpy" group.
I look forward to reading your posts and learning your reading habits.
We are VERY communicative and keeping up with the posts is as daunting as the 75 book challenge.
Welcome to our chatty, "chirpy" group.
I look forward to reading your posts and learning your reading habits.
We are VERY communicative and keeping up with the posts is as daunting as the 75 book challenge.
11alcottacre
#7 & 9: I do not have HBO either, but have been reading the Sookie Stackhouse books since they started coming out several years ago. They fall into my "brain candy" (BC) books, too, but I stll love them. Oh, well, a little candy every now and then never hurt anyone . . .
12paghababian
2) Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris - Yep, still terribly good. But could this girl have a few more suitors? She seems so lonely... ;)
13alcottacre
I am a big fan of all Charlaine Harris series! Glad to see another one here.
Have you read any of her other stuff? I am particularly fond of the Shakespeare series, which is nothing at all (at least to me) like the Sookie series.
Have you read any of her other stuff? I am particularly fond of the Shakespeare series, which is nothing at all (at least to me) like the Sookie series.
14allthesedarnbooks
Love the Sookie Stackhouse books! I do get HB0, and of course the TV series is nowhere near as good as the books.They change a lot, especially as the series goes on, and for me the sex is just way too graphic. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a sex scene as much as the next girl (and the ones in the books are always hot) but watching the show I sometimes feel like I'm watching S&M porn, to the point where I fast forward through almost all of the Jason scenes.
15alcottacre
I do not have HBO - primarily for the reason you mention! That and the fact that I flat out refuse to pay for it.
I much prefer my imagination be let loose in books.
I much prefer my imagination be let loose in books.
16allthesedarnbooks
Yes, imagination is always better. I will probably continue to watch True Blood next year, though, if only to see how it's translated from books to screen, something that always fascinates me. One of the things I actually like about the TV show is the way they've made the vampires move, etc., and I'm interested to see how they handle things as Sookie's magical universal expands.
17paghababian
>14 allthesedarnbooks: I'm with you - the sex was a little too graphic in the show, especially since it's following the plot of the first book (there's plenty of sex in the later books).
3) Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris - Book 6 of the Southern Vampire Mysteries. Definitely not as good as the last two. Sookie heads to New Orleans to clean out her cousin's apartment and, of course, gets roped into not one, but two mischievous supernatural plots. This book felt like it was a lot less about Sookie and a lot more about the Supe culture in general (especially the queen and her entourage).
3) Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris - Book 6 of the Southern Vampire Mysteries. Definitely not as good as the last two. Sookie heads to New Orleans to clean out her cousin's apartment and, of course, gets roped into not one, but two mischievous supernatural plots. This book felt like it was a lot less about Sookie and a lot more about the Supe culture in general (especially the queen and her entourage).
18paghababian
4) Girl on Girl, Book 6 of Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan - I'm still loving this series as well. If you haven't read any of the Y:The Last Man books, they follow the story of Yorrick Brown, literally the last man on earth (after all the other men suddenly died of an unexplained disease). This particular volume didn't add much plot, but I really enjoyed the last section, in which Yorrick's girlfriend has a vision that tells her that Yorrick is in fact still alive.
19paghababian
5) The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr - Over Christmas, my aunt and I had an interesting conversation about the analysis of a Tintoretto painting at the Boston MFA, based on this article. As part of our conversation, she recommended this book to me, saying she was sorry that she had lent out her copy. Two days later, her husband came to visit my father, and he had this book for me - my aunt had been to the bookstore in the day between and had bought a copy for me. Got to love a family that reads together!!
Anyway, this is a truly fascinating story about the discovery of a once-lost masterpiece by Caravaggio, The Taking of Christ. More than that, the book is about how the discipline of art history works - how research and scholarship and restoration go hand in hand and how important continued scholarship can be. Harr's writing is very quick-paced and easy to read, making a story that could be dense with names and dates and facts move along easily.
As an archivist- and art librarian-in-training, I found this book tremendously helpful. I had never really understood why so many art libraries devote precious space to auction catalogs, but this story proved their usefulness to me. I will definitely be suggesting it to my friends in my program.
However, for a book about art, there was a distinct lack of illustrations. A small photo of The Taking of Christ on the back cover helped in understanding composition and, to a degree, color and light, but it was too dark and too small to be truly helpful. The book also could have used an appendix that concisely traced the provenance of the painting or maps showing where the painting had gone in its travels.
Anyway, this is a truly fascinating story about the discovery of a once-lost masterpiece by Caravaggio, The Taking of Christ. More than that, the book is about how the discipline of art history works - how research and scholarship and restoration go hand in hand and how important continued scholarship can be. Harr's writing is very quick-paced and easy to read, making a story that could be dense with names and dates and facts move along easily.
As an archivist- and art librarian-in-training, I found this book tremendously helpful. I had never really understood why so many art libraries devote precious space to auction catalogs, but this story proved their usefulness to me. I will definitely be suggesting it to my friends in my program.
However, for a book about art, there was a distinct lack of illustrations. A small photo of The Taking of Christ on the back cover helped in understanding composition and, to a degree, color and light, but it was too dark and too small to be truly helpful. The book also could have used an appendix that concisely traced the provenance of the painting or maps showing where the painting had gone in its travels.
20alcottacre
I will put The Lost Painting on Continent TBR. Thanks for the recommendation.
I understand about the problems of the pictures in the book. I just finished a book by Edward Dolnick, The Forger's Spell which would have benefitted from colored copies of the paintings, IMHO.
I understand about the problems of the pictures in the book. I just finished a book by Edward Dolnick, The Forger's Spell which would have benefitted from colored copies of the paintings, IMHO.
21paghababian
>20 alcottacre: Hope you like it, alcottacre! It's a fast read - should take you no time. The Forger's Spell sounds interesting too; I'll have to keep my eye out for it :)
6) Paper Dolls, Book 7 of Y:The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan - In which we find out about Yorrick & Beth's past and why the monkey's name is Ampersand.
6) Paper Dolls, Book 7 of Y:The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan - In which we find out about Yorrick & Beth's past and why the monkey's name is Ampersand.
22paghababian
7) From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris - Sookie goes with the Louisiana vampires to a vampire summit, where her talents prove their usefulness more than once. The plot lines were a bit more convoluted than previous books, maybe because the convention lent itself to having so many more characters in play at any given time.
23paghababian
8) Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris - Well, I'm caught up now. Book 9 of the Southern Vampire series felt like it could have been an ending (except for the fact that Sookie doesn't actually end up with everyone - I won't be happy until she's settled for Eric). Sookie is involved with all the different Supe communities in the book, like she was wrapping up loose ends. I was especially happy to see the addition of her cousin's son at the end, like Harris was adding another generation of Supes to carry on the story. I'll definitely be looking forward to the next book when it's released, but I kind of feel freed to read whatever else I want now ;)
24paghababian
9) Kimono Dragons by Brian K. Vaughan
10) Motherland by Brian K. Vaughan
11) Whys and Wherefores by Brian K. Vaughan - I requested the last three Y:The Last Man books from the library at once, because I was tired of having to wait between each book. I'm really glad I did, too, because as soon as I finished one, I was compelled to move on to the next. The plot moved along more quickly in these last few books, and it also wrapped up very well. I was left caring about everyone, even the characters I didn't really like. In fact, the last book left me in tears, something I did NOT expect from a comic.
I'm looking forward to seeing who they cast in the movie (which is only listed as "In Development" on IMDb and, thus, has no cast listing...). Hell, I'd be happy to see the comic-within-the-comic, featuring an opposite world where all the women died, leaving a society of only men (and the one last woman, of course)...
12) People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks - I picked this one up for my mother's birthday, and she read it in two days and couldn't stop talking about it. It follows Hanna, a book conservator, as she works on the Sarajevo Haggadah. While she works, she finds many interesting things in the pages - a wine stain, some sea salt, a dyed hair. The reader is then treated to the portion of the book's history from which that stain or debris came from, unraveling the history of the book.
As much as I enjoyed the story and the characters and the writing, what struck me the most was that, although this is fiction, similar stories can be told about any number of manuscripts. Books tell more stories than just the words written on the pages - where (and when) they've been, whose hands have touched them, the dangers they've escaped, all add to the history of the book as artifact.
10) Motherland by Brian K. Vaughan
11) Whys and Wherefores by Brian K. Vaughan - I requested the last three Y:The Last Man books from the library at once, because I was tired of having to wait between each book. I'm really glad I did, too, because as soon as I finished one, I was compelled to move on to the next. The plot moved along more quickly in these last few books, and it also wrapped up very well. I was left caring about everyone, even the characters I didn't really like. In fact, the last book left me in tears, something I did NOT expect from a comic.
I'm looking forward to seeing who they cast in the movie (which is only listed as "In Development" on IMDb and, thus, has no cast listing...). Hell, I'd be happy to see the comic-within-the-comic, featuring an opposite world where all the women died, leaving a society of only men (and the one last woman, of course)...
12) People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks - I picked this one up for my mother's birthday, and she read it in two days and couldn't stop talking about it. It follows Hanna, a book conservator, as she works on the Sarajevo Haggadah. While she works, she finds many interesting things in the pages - a wine stain, some sea salt, a dyed hair. The reader is then treated to the portion of the book's history from which that stain or debris came from, unraveling the history of the book.
As much as I enjoyed the story and the characters and the writing, what struck me the most was that, although this is fiction, similar stories can be told about any number of manuscripts. Books tell more stories than just the words written on the pages - where (and when) they've been, whose hands have touched them, the dangers they've escaped, all add to the history of the book as artifact.
25paghababian
Alright, it seems as if I've banked a good amount of books as padding for this coming semester. I'm taking a rough course-load, and while I read every day on the train and when I go to the gym, I doubt I'll be reading this fast again until May.
13) Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn - I saw this mentioned on a few different threads on the site and, from the description, knew it would be right up my alley - I love epistolary novels, and I can be a bit of a word geek. And I wasn't disappointed. It was a bit heartbreaking to watch how the island of Nollop changed so drastically as the governing body took drastic measures based on their beliefs.
13) Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn - I saw this mentioned on a few different threads on the site and, from the description, knew it would be right up my alley - I love epistolary novels, and I can be a bit of a word geek. And I wasn't disappointed. It was a bit heartbreaking to watch how the island of Nollop changed so drastically as the governing body took drastic measures based on their beliefs.
26girlunderglass
>25 paghababian: my God, books spread around here like epidemics! You must all have access to cool local libraries that probably stock most of the books mentioned on here - I'm jealous!
27paghababian
>26 girlunderglass: Ha, it is a little epidemic around here ;) Luckily, I live just outside Boston, and we have a great system with about 30 towns' libraries networked together - you can get pretty much anything you want inside a week.
28girlunderglass
You are only exacerbating my feeling of jealousy. Say no mooooore! *dramatically*
29paghababian
Ugh, I'm already tired of school reading - not a good thing! I keep picking up "fun" books, reading a few chapters, putting them down, and then forgetting where I put them. In other words, February netted me two books finished.
14) The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly - It starts off like a fairytale - David's mother dies, and his father marries another woman and they have a child. David is forced to move into this other woman's house, where he lives in a small attic-like room filled with books. This isn't all bad, though, because David loves books - so much so that he manages to get pulled into a world of books, filled with characters and situations out of a multitude of fairy tales.
This story was a fast and fun read, and it felt like a cross between The Chronicles of Narnia, numerous fairy tales and myths, and the quest-journey setup of countless fantasy novels.
15) Watchmen by Alan Moore - Yep, I jumped on the boat, feeling like I had to read this one before the movie came out.
The things that struck me about this graphic novel were how small a story it is and how dense it is. I expected a story about superheroes, but I ended up with the story of some has-been masked vigilantes, dealing with the death of one of their "friends." I was also surprised that it took me almost 2 weeks to read (on the train, a little before bed, etc). It's a very dense book, including lots of sections of full text.
Overall, I can't say if I enjoyed it, but I'm definitely glad I read it.
14) The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly - It starts off like a fairytale - David's mother dies, and his father marries another woman and they have a child. David is forced to move into this other woman's house, where he lives in a small attic-like room filled with books. This isn't all bad, though, because David loves books - so much so that he manages to get pulled into a world of books, filled with characters and situations out of a multitude of fairy tales.
This story was a fast and fun read, and it felt like a cross between The Chronicles of Narnia, numerous fairy tales and myths, and the quest-journey setup of countless fantasy novels.
15) Watchmen by Alan Moore - Yep, I jumped on the boat, feeling like I had to read this one before the movie came out.
The things that struck me about this graphic novel were how small a story it is and how dense it is. I expected a story about superheroes, but I ended up with the story of some has-been masked vigilantes, dealing with the death of one of their "friends." I was also surprised that it took me almost 2 weeks to read (on the train, a little before bed, etc). It's a very dense book, including lots of sections of full text.
Overall, I can't say if I enjoyed it, but I'm definitely glad I read it.
30avatiakh
Hi - glad I read your thread finally. I'm going to have to read the Sookie Stackhouse books - the tv series has just started here. Also added Ella Minnow Pea to my tbr list.
31paghababian
Glad to hear it, avatiakh! Let me know what you think!
32paghababian
16) Deja Demon by Julie Kenner - The 4th book in the "Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom" series, this book continues the story of what Buffy the Vampire Slayer would be like with two kids and a husband at home. I found this to be the most heart-felt of the books - Kate Connor is dealing with the secret of her previously-dead husband and is torn between telling her current husband all about her past and just keeping things quiet. If you're a fan of Buffy or light vampire stories, give this series a try.
17) Foop! by Chris Genoa - A friend had a huge bag of books that was headed to the local used bookshop, and I helped myself to whatever sounded good from the pile. When I picked this one up, she said "Good luck, I couldn't get into it." And man am I glad I didn't listen to her.
Imagine a world where you can choose when to go on vacation, not just where. One company has the means to do just that, and Joe is one of the tour guides. Or was, until his boss gets threatening pictures of himself from the past. The story itself was interesting, but what really pulled me in was the writing - quick and witty and laugh-out-loud funny. Completely absurd, but completely compelling. Genoa writes in a similar style to how I write, which may be another reason why I enjoyed the book.
18) Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life (Volume One of Scott Pilgrim) by Bryan Lee O'Malley – I've been hearing so much about the Scott Pilgrim movie that's currently being filmed, I figured I should give the books a try. It's the most manga-like comic I've read, and I really enjoyed it. It took me all of an hour to read the whole thing, and I've already ordered the next book from the library, so I'm sure I'll have no problem getting this read soon.
19) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith - Yeah, I bought into all the hype about a month ago when the news of this book was released. I've actually never read any Austen (although I've seen many of the adaptations), and I thought the addition of zombies and ninjas would bring it more to my speed. It is a fun and fast read, and the zombie/ninja parts blend into the original story (85% of the original text is intact) very well. And yes, I'll definitely see the movie when it gets made.
17) Foop! by Chris Genoa - A friend had a huge bag of books that was headed to the local used bookshop, and I helped myself to whatever sounded good from the pile. When I picked this one up, she said "Good luck, I couldn't get into it." And man am I glad I didn't listen to her.
Imagine a world where you can choose when to go on vacation, not just where. One company has the means to do just that, and Joe is one of the tour guides. Or was, until his boss gets threatening pictures of himself from the past. The story itself was interesting, but what really pulled me in was the writing - quick and witty and laugh-out-loud funny. Completely absurd, but completely compelling. Genoa writes in a similar style to how I write, which may be another reason why I enjoyed the book.
18) Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life (Volume One of Scott Pilgrim) by Bryan Lee O'Malley – I've been hearing so much about the Scott Pilgrim movie that's currently being filmed, I figured I should give the books a try. It's the most manga-like comic I've read, and I really enjoyed it. It took me all of an hour to read the whole thing, and I've already ordered the next book from the library, so I'm sure I'll have no problem getting this read soon.
19) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith - Yeah, I bought into all the hype about a month ago when the news of this book was released. I've actually never read any Austen (although I've seen many of the adaptations), and I thought the addition of zombies and ninjas would bring it more to my speed. It is a fun and fast read, and the zombie/ninja parts blend into the original story (85% of the original text is intact) very well. And yes, I'll definitely see the movie when it gets made.
33dk_phoenix
I've never read any Austen either... but I would read a version infused with zombies. I should probably pick that one up just so I can join the conversation when people talk about her books. "Yes, I've read Pride and Prejudice as well... I especially liked when so-and-so had their BRAINS EATEN!" *mua-hahahah*
34loriephillips
I've read all of Jane Austen's books, but I've never even heard of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I'm very intrigued and will have to check it out. Thanks for the rec!
35sussabmax
Lots of good books here. I have been eyeing the Y: The Last Man books for a while, but have not been able to commit to the cost. Yeah, I know I could check it out from the library, but it looks like the kind of thing I want to own. Of course, most books look like that to me...
I have been looking at The Book of Lost Things for a while, too, and was waiting for this kind of personal recommendation. It looks like it could be really good or really hokey. I am moving this up in my list, I think.
I have been looking at The Book of Lost Things for a while, too, and was waiting for this kind of personal recommendation. It looks like it could be really good or really hokey. I am moving this up in my list, I think.
36paghababian
#33 and #34 - Pride and Prejudice and Zombies really is a fun read, and I think the Austen fans and the first-time readers will all find something good.
#35 - So glad you found this helpful! I really loved Y: The Last Man - hope you do too!
20) When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris - I think this is Sedaris' funniest book since Me Talk Pretty One Day. It's been a little while since I finished this one, so I'm short on details here, but this one had me laughing out loud.
21) The Plague by Joanne Dahme - When her parents died from the Black Plague, Nell didn't know what was going to happen to her or her younger brother. But a chance meeting with the king proves that Nell is practically an identical twin of the princess, and she joins the princess' entourage.
This book certainly doesn't stand out from all the historical fiction out there, but it's a quick read and well-written. The story didn't really get interesting until a few chapters in when (and I'm probably not really giving anything away, but stop reading here if you don't want SPOILERS) the princess dies on her way to marry a Spanish prince, and Nell must pretend to be her.
22) The Food of a Younger Land - Everyone knows about how the US government supported artists during the Great Depression through the New Deal, although most people only know about the photographers who worked with the WPA (and photographs such as the Migrant Mother -although that's not actually the photo's name, but that's another story). A lesser known organization within the WPA was the Federal Writers' Project, which employed over 6000 new and established writers during those hard times.
The first major project of the FWP was to write travel guides for all the states (as well as DC and some territories). Some of these are apparently still in print. The second major project was a book titled "America Eats." Unfortunately, work on the book was slowed and eventually abandoned as the situation with WWII made the economy turn. The files for "America Eats" (at least, the bits that were collected and basically dumped into a box in the Library of Congress) were forgotten for years. Author Mark Kurlansky came across the file while researching another book at LC. In this book, he has compiled what was in that LC file (whether the pieces are good or bad), but most importantly, he puts in some context for the pieces, describing the FWP, the WPA, and pre-war America.
I was really struck with how different this country has become in such a short time. This entire book revolves around home-cooking. Very few restaurants are mentioned, and these pieces were written before convenience foods were available like they are today. The country is also divided into regions that seem a little strange today (New York paired off with New England? California split, so Los Angeles and south goes with the Southwest, while San Francisco and the north go with the Far West?) The book shows an absolutely fascinating slice of life - I don't know if I would use the term "a simpler time," but definitely a different time.
There a few famous names in here too (Eudora Welty, Zora Neale Hurston, Nelson Algren) and it's interesting to get a little background on how writers (whether they were already famous or became so later) were part of the FWP.
#35 - So glad you found this helpful! I really loved Y: The Last Man - hope you do too!
20) When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris - I think this is Sedaris' funniest book since Me Talk Pretty One Day. It's been a little while since I finished this one, so I'm short on details here, but this one had me laughing out loud.
21) The Plague by Joanne Dahme - When her parents died from the Black Plague, Nell didn't know what was going to happen to her or her younger brother. But a chance meeting with the king proves that Nell is practically an identical twin of the princess, and she joins the princess' entourage.
This book certainly doesn't stand out from all the historical fiction out there, but it's a quick read and well-written. The story didn't really get interesting until a few chapters in when (and I'm probably not really giving anything away, but stop reading here if you don't want SPOILERS) the princess dies on her way to marry a Spanish prince, and Nell must pretend to be her.
22) The Food of a Younger Land - Everyone knows about how the US government supported artists during the Great Depression through the New Deal, although most people only know about the photographers who worked with the WPA (and photographs such as the Migrant Mother -although that's not actually the photo's name, but that's another story). A lesser known organization within the WPA was the Federal Writers' Project, which employed over 6000 new and established writers during those hard times.
The first major project of the FWP was to write travel guides for all the states (as well as DC and some territories). Some of these are apparently still in print. The second major project was a book titled "America Eats." Unfortunately, work on the book was slowed and eventually abandoned as the situation with WWII made the economy turn. The files for "America Eats" (at least, the bits that were collected and basically dumped into a box in the Library of Congress) were forgotten for years. Author Mark Kurlansky came across the file while researching another book at LC. In this book, he has compiled what was in that LC file (whether the pieces are good or bad), but most importantly, he puts in some context for the pieces, describing the FWP, the WPA, and pre-war America.
I was really struck with how different this country has become in such a short time. This entire book revolves around home-cooking. Very few restaurants are mentioned, and these pieces were written before convenience foods were available like they are today. The country is also divided into regions that seem a little strange today (New York paired off with New England? California split, so Los Angeles and south goes with the Southwest, while San Francisco and the north go with the Far West?) The book shows an absolutely fascinating slice of life - I don't know if I would use the term "a simpler time," but definitely a different time.
There a few famous names in here too (Eudora Welty, Zora Neale Hurston, Nelson Algren) and it's interesting to get a little background on how writers (whether they were already famous or became so later) were part of the FWP.
37paghababian
Oh, forgot to add -
23) Book of the Bizarre by Varla Ventura - I've been reading this one in drips and drabs for a while. It's a highly entertaining book of short "facts" and stories about weird goings-on and the occult. Nothing ground breaking, but if you have some time to waste, the stories in this book (all presented in under 4 pages, most just part of one page) are a good way to while away the time.
23) Book of the Bizarre by Varla Ventura - I've been reading this one in drips and drabs for a while. It's a highly entertaining book of short "facts" and stories about weird goings-on and the occult. Nothing ground breaking, but if you have some time to waste, the stories in this book (all presented in under 4 pages, most just part of one page) are a good way to while away the time.
39alcottacre
#36: I am a big fan of Mark Kurlansky's books, so I am definitely adding The Food of a Younger Land to the Continent. Thanks for the recommendation!
40paghababian
Aaaand I'm back!
24) Ratio by Michael Ruhlman - I like to improvise when I cook and bake, and this book shows you the basic ratios of ingredients that make up classic recipes. Ruhlman's writing is easy to follow and instructive without being pedantic.
25) The Strain by Guillermo del Toro - I expected a lot more from this book and was let down. From everything I heard, it was a new and modern take on vampires that was scary, not cheesy. Instead, it came across as a typical medical thriller - oh, and that virus that people are getting? It makes them want to drink blood. I won't be standing in line when the second book comes out.
26) Take Your Shirt Off and Cry by Nancy Balbirer - Meh. Balbirer was writing about her experiences trying to be an actress, but her stories often came across as trying to gain another 15 minutes of fame by talking about other famous people.
27) Dreams of Terror and Death by H.P. Lovecraft - This was my first Lovecraft, and I loved it. This group of short stories deals with dreams and the concept of other worlds. Some of the stories didn't do it for me, but the majority were pretty amazing, and I can't wait to read more. Pickman's Model, about an artist who paints scary pictures not from his imagination but from real life, was by far my favorite.
28) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
29) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling - I reread 6 before the movie came out, and felt compelled to read 7 after. I had forgotten just how funny the beginning of 7 is (especially Ron).
30) Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris - The latest in the Sookie Stackhouse books. This one wasn't so solid for me, centering around Sookie's fairy relatives.
31) Hand of Isis by Jo Graham - I loved loved this one. Charmian is half-sister and best friend to Cleopatra, and with their third sister, the three grow from small children to rulers of a nation. Graham has an amazing way of making the ancient world come to life (see Black Ships, her first book, for more). I can't wait to see what else she tackles.
32) To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis - Willis' Bellweather is one of my favorite books, but this one didn't win me over. It focuses on two time-traveling historians who go back to Victorian times to patch up a potential tear in the space-time continuum. This took me forever to get through, mostly I think because the plot is somewhat disjointed.
33) Confections of a Closet Master Baker by Gesine Bullock-Prado - Bullock-Prado used to work in Hollywood, where she lived a life that she hated. So she quit and moved to Vermont to open a bakery, and found a life that was much more her pace. She packs this book full of stories of her childhood, Hollywood, country life, and recipes for her delicious baked goods. A must read if you like cooking memoirs. My full review is here: http://cavecibum.blogspot.com/2009/09/edible-word-confections-of-closet.html
34) Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey - I first read this how-to book years ago and have been following some of the guidelines since (this was a refresher read). I get compliments on my curls all the time thanks to this book.
35) Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian by Rick Riordan - A great ending to this fabulous series. Can't wait for the movies now!
36) Bloody Good by Georgia Evans
37) Bloody Awful by Georgia Evans
38) Bloody Right by Georgia Evans - It's World War II in the countryside of England, and the Nazis have just parachuted in some vampires to cause trouble. These books are cheesy and fun, filled with vampires, weres, dragons, and fairies. The last book gets a little repetitive, but it's such a fast read that it almost doesn't matter.
39) Disquiet by Julia Leigh - A quiet upper class story that is haunting thanks to the world it creates. I think this might be a love-it-or-hate-it book, but at barely over 100 pages, why not give it a try yourself?
40) Scott Pilgrim vs. the World by Bryan Lee O'Malley
41) Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness by Bryan Lee O'Malley
42) Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together by Bryan Lee O'Malley
43) Scott Pilgrim vs. the Universe by Bryan Lee O'Malley - This is a hilarious series about a boy (Scott Pilgrim) who has to fight his new girlfriend's evil ex-boyfriends. One more book to go... and it's not out until next year. It pains me to have to wait for the end.
44) Pygmy by Chuck Palahniuk - No. I love Palahniuk, but this was a piece of crap (I thought that about his last one too, so maybe he's just losing it).
45) The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen - I've been wanting to read this since I heard about it - a young boy you is a cartography genius is selected for a prestigious award and must travel cross-country to receive it. I loved T.S.' voice, and the book is peppered with his illustrations, but the story got a little lost at the end. I think Larsen could have made it another 100 pages or so to flesh out the end of the story.
24) Ratio by Michael Ruhlman - I like to improvise when I cook and bake, and this book shows you the basic ratios of ingredients that make up classic recipes. Ruhlman's writing is easy to follow and instructive without being pedantic.
25) The Strain by Guillermo del Toro - I expected a lot more from this book and was let down. From everything I heard, it was a new and modern take on vampires that was scary, not cheesy. Instead, it came across as a typical medical thriller - oh, and that virus that people are getting? It makes them want to drink blood. I won't be standing in line when the second book comes out.
26) Take Your Shirt Off and Cry by Nancy Balbirer - Meh. Balbirer was writing about her experiences trying to be an actress, but her stories often came across as trying to gain another 15 minutes of fame by talking about other famous people.
27) Dreams of Terror and Death by H.P. Lovecraft - This was my first Lovecraft, and I loved it. This group of short stories deals with dreams and the concept of other worlds. Some of the stories didn't do it for me, but the majority were pretty amazing, and I can't wait to read more. Pickman's Model, about an artist who paints scary pictures not from his imagination but from real life, was by far my favorite.
28) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
29) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling - I reread 6 before the movie came out, and felt compelled to read 7 after. I had forgotten just how funny the beginning of 7 is (especially Ron).
30) Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris - The latest in the Sookie Stackhouse books. This one wasn't so solid for me, centering around Sookie's fairy relatives.
31) Hand of Isis by Jo Graham - I loved loved this one. Charmian is half-sister and best friend to Cleopatra, and with their third sister, the three grow from small children to rulers of a nation. Graham has an amazing way of making the ancient world come to life (see Black Ships, her first book, for more). I can't wait to see what else she tackles.
32) To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis - Willis' Bellweather is one of my favorite books, but this one didn't win me over. It focuses on two time-traveling historians who go back to Victorian times to patch up a potential tear in the space-time continuum. This took me forever to get through, mostly I think because the plot is somewhat disjointed.
33) Confections of a Closet Master Baker by Gesine Bullock-Prado - Bullock-Prado used to work in Hollywood, where she lived a life that she hated. So she quit and moved to Vermont to open a bakery, and found a life that was much more her pace. She packs this book full of stories of her childhood, Hollywood, country life, and recipes for her delicious baked goods. A must read if you like cooking memoirs. My full review is here: http://cavecibum.blogspot.com/2009/09/edible-word-confections-of-closet.html
34) Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey - I first read this how-to book years ago and have been following some of the guidelines since (this was a refresher read). I get compliments on my curls all the time thanks to this book.
35) Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian by Rick Riordan - A great ending to this fabulous series. Can't wait for the movies now!
36) Bloody Good by Georgia Evans
37) Bloody Awful by Georgia Evans
38) Bloody Right by Georgia Evans - It's World War II in the countryside of England, and the Nazis have just parachuted in some vampires to cause trouble. These books are cheesy and fun, filled with vampires, weres, dragons, and fairies. The last book gets a little repetitive, but it's such a fast read that it almost doesn't matter.
39) Disquiet by Julia Leigh - A quiet upper class story that is haunting thanks to the world it creates. I think this might be a love-it-or-hate-it book, but at barely over 100 pages, why not give it a try yourself?
40) Scott Pilgrim vs. the World by Bryan Lee O'Malley
41) Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness by Bryan Lee O'Malley
42) Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together by Bryan Lee O'Malley
43) Scott Pilgrim vs. the Universe by Bryan Lee O'Malley - This is a hilarious series about a boy (Scott Pilgrim) who has to fight his new girlfriend's evil ex-boyfriends. One more book to go... and it's not out until next year. It pains me to have to wait for the end.
44) Pygmy by Chuck Palahniuk - No. I love Palahniuk, but this was a piece of crap (I thought that about his last one too, so maybe he's just losing it).
45) The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen - I've been wanting to read this since I heard about it - a young boy you is a cartography genius is selected for a prestigious award and must travel cross-country to receive it. I loved T.S.' voice, and the book is peppered with his illustrations, but the story got a little lost at the end. I think Larsen could have made it another 100 pages or so to flesh out the end of the story.
41alcottacre
Welcome back!
The Scott Pilgrim series look fun! I will look for those. Thanks for the recommendations.
The Scott Pilgrim series look fun! I will look for those. Thanks for the recommendations.
42clfisha
I am glad I wasn't the only one who was not that impressed with The Strain, I kept thinking I had the wrong book!
I have never read Jo Graham, but she sounds interesting so I am going to have to check out Black Ships! thanks.
I have never read Jo Graham, but she sounds interesting so I am going to have to check out Black Ships! thanks.
43paghababian
Thanks guys!
Alcottacre, I should include in my statement that they're graphic novels. I know those aren't some people's cup of tea, so I should add that.
Clfisha, it did feel like the wrong book!
Alcottacre, I should include in my statement that they're graphic novels. I know those aren't some people's cup of tea, so I should add that.
Clfisha, it did feel like the wrong book!
44alcottacre
I have discovered graphic novels here on LT and enjoyed the few I have read, so I am game! Thanks for the heads up.
45paghababian
46) Big in Japan by M. Thomas Gammarino - To quote from the book, it's "not half bad - which is to say, it's not half good either." The story starts off about a band who has a bigger following in Japan than the US, so they go to Japan for a short tour. It quickly (and yet slowly?) becomes more of a coming-of-age for one of the band members, Brain. I can't say I was terribly interested by this book, but I felt compelled to see where it was going. Maybe it wasn't worth the journey...
46alcottacre
#45: I think I will skip that one. Thanks for the heads up!
47paghababian
Alright, missed my goal this year, but I at least made it to fifty. I'm still going to try for 75 next year - I won't have school to get in the way like I did in the first half of this year.
47) Cairo: a graphic novel by G. Willow Wilson - An engaging graphic novel set in modern-day Cairo, following a number of connected storylines.
48) Feed by M.T. Anderson - I really loved this book. In a society that's not all that different from our own, people rely on their Feeds - basically, internet hookups directly to the brain that are the main connection to the rest of the world. A group of teens get a look at the world without their Feeds after a hacker attack on a trip to the moon, and narrator Titus walks the line between his friends, who slip right back into using the Feed like nothing happened, and his new girlfriend, who is much more harmed by the hacker attack. A disturbing sci-fi look at where society could be headed.
49) Ithaka by Adele Geras - Geras writes enjoyable but not terribly captivating ancient historical fiction, and Ithaka retells the story of Penelope waiting on Ithaka for Odysseus to return from the Trojan War. I enjoyed the story, told from the perspective of Klymene, a handmaiden of Penelope and good friend of Telemachus. If you enjoy ancient Greek stories, this is a fun read, but definitely not earth shattering.
50) 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill - It's not often that a book of short stories grabs me so firmly, but from the very beginning, 20th Century Ghosts had me captivated. While there were a few stories that I didn't much enjoy, there were others that kept me guessing until the last paragraph. Some stories, like Abraham's Boys, The Cape, and Voluntary Committal, are going to stay with me for quite a while.
Quite a few times while reading 20th Century Ghosts, I found myself saying "Joe Hill writes like his father (Stephen King), but in his own way." Hill does more than hold his ground with these short stories and proves that he is a great writer in his own right.
51) To Hellholes and Back: Bribes, Lies, and the Art of Extreme Tourism by Chuck Thompson - Chuck Thompson is no Chuck Klosterman, although he seems to think he is the travel-writing equivalent. For the sake of journalism, Thompson decided to take a year and travel to some of the most dangerous locations in the world - the Congo, India, Mexico City, and... Disney World. I accepted the first three sections, because frankly, I have no desire to visit these locations, but I had a hard time stomaching the Disney chapter. I tend to think of dangerous locales as places where a generous portion of the population walks around with guns, or where you will be 100% assured of coming down with intestinal distress during your visit. But Thompson's scorn over the idea of Disney was just too much to handle. Frankly, there's better travel writing out there - don't bother with this one.
I received this book through the Early Reviewers program and felt a bit obligated to get through it.
47) Cairo: a graphic novel by G. Willow Wilson - An engaging graphic novel set in modern-day Cairo, following a number of connected storylines.
48) Feed by M.T. Anderson - I really loved this book. In a society that's not all that different from our own, people rely on their Feeds - basically, internet hookups directly to the brain that are the main connection to the rest of the world. A group of teens get a look at the world without their Feeds after a hacker attack on a trip to the moon, and narrator Titus walks the line between his friends, who slip right back into using the Feed like nothing happened, and his new girlfriend, who is much more harmed by the hacker attack. A disturbing sci-fi look at where society could be headed.
49) Ithaka by Adele Geras - Geras writes enjoyable but not terribly captivating ancient historical fiction, and Ithaka retells the story of Penelope waiting on Ithaka for Odysseus to return from the Trojan War. I enjoyed the story, told from the perspective of Klymene, a handmaiden of Penelope and good friend of Telemachus. If you enjoy ancient Greek stories, this is a fun read, but definitely not earth shattering.
50) 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill - It's not often that a book of short stories grabs me so firmly, but from the very beginning, 20th Century Ghosts had me captivated. While there were a few stories that I didn't much enjoy, there were others that kept me guessing until the last paragraph. Some stories, like Abraham's Boys, The Cape, and Voluntary Committal, are going to stay with me for quite a while.
Quite a few times while reading 20th Century Ghosts, I found myself saying "Joe Hill writes like his father (Stephen King), but in his own way." Hill does more than hold his ground with these short stories and proves that he is a great writer in his own right.
51) To Hellholes and Back: Bribes, Lies, and the Art of Extreme Tourism by Chuck Thompson - Chuck Thompson is no Chuck Klosterman, although he seems to think he is the travel-writing equivalent. For the sake of journalism, Thompson decided to take a year and travel to some of the most dangerous locations in the world - the Congo, India, Mexico City, and... Disney World. I accepted the first three sections, because frankly, I have no desire to visit these locations, but I had a hard time stomaching the Disney chapter. I tend to think of dangerous locales as places where a generous portion of the population walks around with guns, or where you will be 100% assured of coming down with intestinal distress during your visit. But Thompson's scorn over the idea of Disney was just too much to handle. Frankly, there's better travel writing out there - don't bother with this one.
I received this book through the Early Reviewers program and felt a bit obligated to get through it.
48alcottacre
Happy New Year, Pam!
I do hope you will be joining us in the 2010 group.
I do hope you will be joining us in the 2010 group.
