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April 2009 Book Challenge - Page 10

post #181 of 216
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jenifer76 View Post
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

Lee Fiora is a Midwestern girl thrust into the life of super rich at a fictional boarding school in Massachussets. This story is labeled a coming-of-age story, though I didn't see much evidence of Lee evolving. She seemed a little less uncomfortable but very minutely. I will start this by saying I never felt sympathy for Lee. While I can see some of my own insecurities in her at that age, by the end I wanted her to just get over it. Move on. This does not mean I didn't like the book, I really did. Sittenfeld does a great job at character studies. I think that's why I was so irritated with Lee.
Interesting! I may look for this one as I've heard good things about it.

#22 - A Shilling for Candles by Josephine Tey

Some fine bits of writing in this 1930s British mystery. I think I read it years ago, but I didn't remember the details, just that I liked the author. The casual racism and characterizations of the "Jewish race" are uncomfortable, though, if about par for the course with British thinking at the time. I'd like to read some of her later, more developed books again, particularly The Daughter of Time.
post #182 of 216
#19 Daemons are Forever by Simon R. Green

The second book in a series, and it wasn't that good. It was entertaining but not engaging, and not nearly as good as the first book. I hope the next one is better.
post #183 of 216
Subbing for now...
post #184 of 216
Quote:
Originally Posted by NewCrunchyDaddy View Post
Just wanted to say that I haven't forgotten y'all, and that I've got a couple reviews coming, but I've been busy with conferences and finals the last couple of weeks and we now have to plan a move to Bellingham, WA ( ... we've decided on Western Washington University for my M.A. because they're excited about me coming and quite willing to fund me with a teaching assistantship, so hopefully, I'll get to posting about books here soon.
Yippee!!!: Keep keeping us updated! I'd love to live in Washington. Congratulations on your funding! That's a big deal! DH is finishing coursework for his PhD and will start dissertation work this summer.

#45 Blindness by Jose Saramago
#46 Seeing by Jose Saramago

I'm really struggling through the second one -- I thought Blindness was brilliant. Anyone else read both?
post #185 of 216
Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins

A coming of age story for a young Indian girl forced to grow up quickly when her father moves to the U.S. to find a job. Her family moves in with her paternal uncle and grandmother as they wait to travel to the U.S. and reunite with her father. The back drop of the story is a tumultuous India in the 1970s where modern politics and traditons are clashing.

The ending was surprising for a young adult novel -- it leaves the reader with alot to think about. It seems such a far cry from what Western teens have to deal with in their lives. I think it would make for a good study of cultural norms.

Edited to add: I am not feeling well so forgive me if I lack coherence in my review. I am crawling back into bed momentarily.
post #186 of 216
30. In the Time of Butterflies-Julia Alvarez

Read these for a book club I just joined. I got so into it, I stayed up til the wee hours to finish it! Takes place in the Dominican Republic, during the tail end of Trujillo's regime. Based on the true story of the Mirabel sisters (Mariposas...butterflies) but highly fictionalized.
post #187 of 216
#23 - Got Him Back by Jane Fallon

Good British chick lit read, quick and entertaining. A wife finds out about her husband's affair and joins forces with the mistress to take revenge, then has second thoughts when she finds it doesn't make her feel that good - but the mistress takes it further than she imagined.
post #188 of 216
31. Pontypool Changes Everything-Tony Burgess

Without a doubt, the weirdest book I have ever read. And not because it's about a zombie-creating virus. The writing is so very odd. I couldn't let myself enjoy it because I was trying so hard to figure out what the author was trying to tell me. And to defend myself, I'm an intelligent person. I can figure things out. But this book...it is one strange piece of work. I would not want to be inside this man's head for too long.
post #189 of 216
Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules (Audio CD)

I'm not generally a fan of short stories, but I did enjoy these. Sedaris' goal was to peak readers interest in the authors showcased in this anthology and it worked: I must get some more Tobias Wolff - his short story was hilarious. I was very distracted by the reader of the first story - why was Laura Ingalls Wilder telling that story? (Cherry Jones will forever be embedded in my mind as the voice of Laura in the Little House books.)

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2008 by Bob Sehlinger

I haven't had much time to read the past month, but I managed to squeeze this one in. I thought we could just show up at the park and wing it, but it sounds like we will have much better luck with a plan. I'm willing to give it a try - the authors are very convincing.
post #190 of 216
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

I've actually read this before when it first came out but I just reread it for my Adolescent Lit class. It's about a teen girl who has committed suicide and sends cassettes tables containing the '13 reasons why' she did it to the 12 people who contributed to it. Great book and the author leaves in my area.
post #191 of 216
Quote:
Originally Posted by KaraBoo View Post
30. In the Time of Butterflies-Julia Alvarez

Read these for a book club I just joined. I got so into it, I stayed up til the wee hours to finish it! Takes place in the Dominican Republic, during the tail end of Trujillo's regime. Based on the true story of the Mirabel sisters (Mariposas...butterflies) but highly fictionalized.
I love that book.
post #192 of 216
Quote:
Originally Posted by KaraBoo View Post
30. In the Time of Butterflies-Julia Alvarez

Read these for a book club I just joined. I got so into it, I stayed up til the wee hours to finish it! Takes place in the Dominican Republic, during the tail end of Trujillo's regime. Based on the true story of the Mirabel sisters (Mariposas...butterflies) but highly fictionalized.
We read that for my book club too I thought it was pretty good.

Quote:
Originally Posted by NewCrunchyDaddy View Post
For all you PPZ junkies out there:

Hopefully he'll hit Seattle after we move to B'ham! If so, you know where I'll be!
What's PPZ?


#15 Lessons in Taxidermy by Bee Lavender

Short quick read, sucked me in immediately. Autobiography. The author has led a life that has been infiltrated by cancer and other illnesses, and has incredibly come out okay and despite the morbid tone at the beginning of the book, ends on a somewhat positive note. I like the metamorphosis she went through as a person, so amazing.
post #193 of 216
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fremontmama View Post
What's PPZ?
Sorry. PPZ = Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
post #194 of 216
Quote:
Originally Posted by NewCrunchyDaddy View Post
Sorry. PPZ = Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Oh wow, I didn't realize we were at the acronym level with that book already!
post #195 of 216
If you like zombies, NewCrunchyDaddy, read Pontypool Changes Everything! And tell me what you think. It sure is staying with me but I think the author is a bit in love with himself and likes to "hear himself talk." LOL Which plays right into the plot of the book so maybe that's where it came from! I also think the author is a bit nuts.
post #196 of 216
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by KaraBoo View Post
If you like zombies, NewCrunchyDaddy, read Pontypool Changes Everything! And tell me what you think. It sure is staying with me but I think the author is a bit in love with himself and likes to "hear himself talk." LOL Which plays right into the plot of the book so maybe that's where it came from! I also think the author is a bit nuts.
Yeah, I saw your review, and I do want to read it, but unfortunately my local libraries don't have it, and my book purchasing funds are currently frozen () so it'll have to wait
post #197 of 216
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

I saw this and since I had liked Prep and I thought I'd check it out. It wasn't until I was on the last 100 pages of this book (of 550 pages) that I realized that this book was based on the life of Laura Bush. I'm really enjoyed this book up until the last section -- I don't know if it was because once I knew it was supposed to be the Bushes that I didn't like it as much or if the last section just wasn't as interesting. It felt like in that section she (and of course this is not written by Laura Bush) just kept saying that she loved her husband but didn't agree with any of his policies, almost like she was trying to distance herself from the war and all of Bush's stands on issues and be like well I had nothing to do with that and whatever happened wasn't anything to do with me.

Anyway, great writing and a good read.
post #198 of 216
#47 Giving up the Ghost by Sheri Sinykin
I'd say this is just a normal ghost story-ish book for 9-12 year olds except for the excellent way it handles death (like gradual age or sickness death). The author was present at her mother's death and clearly has a lot of experience with hospice stuff. Her descriptions were real enough that it brought back concrete memories from my grandparents' deaths. I appreciate an honest treatment of death. This book was classed as YA in my library, but I'm guessing that's simply because death was dealt with -- silly American culture.
post #199 of 216
#16 JPod by Douglas Coupland

Eh. I suppose this book was intended to be humorous, however, I just found it tedious. I read to about 300 pages or something then skimmed through the rest. It's a strange story about a group of people working in the same cubicle area at a video game company in Vancouver BC.
post #200 of 216
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Ali has put her life at risk by writing this memoir about her Muslim upbringing. As an adult, she comes to question her religion and the meager role it gives to women. Ultimately she denounces the religion and begins speaking out against it. Because of her actions, she has to have armed protection at all times. An eye-opening and disturbing book, the descriptions of female circumsion were particularly hard to read.
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