Book List (2011 and before)

Back in 2008 I made it a New Year's Resolution to keep track of the book I read.  I have been doing so on WeRead on Facebook since then. However, WeRead isn't quite as easy to use as it used to be ~ so I thought I'd make a more permanent place here as a blog page.  So to recap:

In 2008 I read 40 books.

In 2009 I read 32 books.

Through the first 10 months of 2010 I've read 21 books. 

All of these book are listed on my facebook page in case anyone is really so inclined to look them up.


#22 Here Today by Ann Martin

 #22  I read this one to Jacob (over a very long period of time).  We both enjoyed the book ~ about a mom who didn't want to be a mom and how the eldest daughter grew to accept and deal with the problems of growing up and losing a mom.  It led to some conversation about our mom/kid relationship ~ and how I'd never leave him.  Good read, especially for middle school kids dealing with bullies and problems at home.

fl ~ In 1963, Ellie's mother, Doris Day Dingman, was crowned the Bosetti Beauty at Mr. Bosetti's supermarket.
lp ~  Ellie looked again at the Witch Tree at one end of the street, then at the kids at the other.  In the space between was her whole life.


In the Company of Others by Jan Karon


#23 fl ~ The beams of their hired car scarcely penetrated a summer twilight grown dark as pitch in the downpour. ll ~ He handed his wife the other handkerchief, and though they were watering Ireland to beat the band, he realized he was happy in some oddly excruciating way.

Delightful, joyful, uplifting, hopeful, full of Love, Grace, Forgiveness.  Full of life and how it should be lived.  Reading Jan Karon is visiting with old friends and meeting new ones. How I wish I collected people in my life like in the world she creates.

Best laugh: an email from Emma "...Thanx for worrying me to death with 'medical reasons,' whatever that means.  I am exhausted from hours spent hanging on the phone listening to elevator music while Snickers pooped on my best rug because I did not let him out on time.  Thank the Lord it was firm."



To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee


#24 a Read-with-Patrick book.  I believe I read it the first time in high school and again in college, and it still was a good read.  I think I got a lot more out of it this go around ~ noticed more details for sure.  I'm glad we don't live during this racist time, but I have to wonder, how much has really changed?

fl: When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.
ll: He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.





The Help by Kathryn Stockett

  

#25 ~ THE BEST BOOK I'VE READ IN A LONG WHILE ~ I was emotionally drained when I finished it.  I had know idea what to expect from the title ~ and all my guesses were wrong ~ Stockett made the characters come to life.  What an exceptionally written account of a world I knew nothing of except what I'd seen in Gone With the Wind.  It makes me wonder what preconceived notions I live by, that I've never even considered the consequences of. 

fl ~ Mae Mobley was born on a early Sunday morning in August, 1960.

ll ~ Cause just last night I thought I was finished with everthing new.


best quote ~ "Don't cry yet, cause maybe things is happening just the way they should" ~ Minny



Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks



#26 ~ I would not have read a Sparks by my own choosing, but it was a book club book.  There were times that I felt like I was reading an 8th grade stab at romance, but overall it was a good read.  I have trouble reading about abusers ~ and at times, despite myself, I actually felt sorry for Kevin ~ I can not understand the personality that would harm others and be able to rationalize it.  It's frightening because it's more common that I want to believe. The whole fantasy/angel was unexpected...at first I had trouble buying it, but it added to the story and allowed for my beloved Happily Ever After... 

 fl ~ As Katie wound her way among the tables, a breeze from the Atlantic rippled through her hair.  ll ~ She knew what she believed.





Hotel on the Corner of Biter and Sweet
by Jamie Ford





#27 ~ Another book club book.  It took me awhile to get into it ~ but around page 70, I couldn't put it down.  I loved the unfolding of the father/son relationships and the unfolding of lifetimes.  I also never really gave much thought to the internment camps the Japanese had to endure during WWII ~ interesting how we never really learn from our prejudice past ~  I cried at the bitter-sweetness of the story ~ But it was a good cry (so much for my vow not to read books that make me cry.)

fl: Old Henry Lee stood transfixed by all the commotion at the Panama Hotel.  lls: They stood there, smiling at each other, like they had done all those years ago, standing on either side of that fence.  "Oai deki te..." She paused.  "Ureshii desu," Henry said, softly.





27 books in 2010.  I'd have to say The Help was my favorite.  Seems I've been reading less and less each year since I've started keeing track ~ 27 is still more than 2 a month.  How did I ever read 40 books in a year?  That must have been before the boys were in sports and before DVR~  I don't set goals, I just keep track.  It'll be interesting to see if I read a book better than The Help in 2011!

2011

 

#1 ~ A book club book ~ When I started it, I didn't realize it was a collection of short stories.  When I turned to the first page of "chapter 2", I couldn't figure out were all these new characters came from...  I was not a big fan of most of the stories.  I'm sure they had some deep meaning if I were to understand the Indian culture (India-Indian) at all.  (I am fancinated with the henna paintings and the red dye on the feet.)  In fact, I almost didn't finish the collection.  But I'm glad I did.  The final story, "The Third and Final Continent", was poignant.  Usually I quote the first and last line of my books, but I'm just recording the last paragraph of that story ~ As I am in my 40's looking back over how I got here and have a almost 16-year-old preparing to spread his wings, I'm sure you can see why this story spoke to me.



Interpreter of Maladies
by Jhumpa Lahiri

lp ~ Whenever we make that drive, I always make it a point to take Massachusetts Avenue, in spite of the traffic.  I barely recognize the buildings now, but each time I am there I return instantly to those six weeks as if they were only the other day, and I slow down and point to Mrs. Croft's street, saying to my son, here was my first home in America, where I lived with a woman who was 103.  "Remember?" Mala says, and smiles, amazed, as I am, that there was ever a time that we were strangers.  My son always expresses his astonishment, not at Mrs. Croft's age, but at how little I paid in rent, a fact nearly as inconceivable to him as a flag on the moon was to a woman born in 1866.  In my son's eyes I see the ambition that had first hurled me across the world.  In a few years he will graduate and pave his way, alone and unprotected.  But I remind my self that he has a father who is still living, a mother who is happy and strong.  Whenever he is discouraged, I tell him that if I can survive on three continents, then there is no obstacle he cannot conquer.  While the astronauts, heroes forever, spent mere hours on the moon, I have remained in this new world for nearly thirty years.  I know that my achievement is quite ordinary.  I am not the only man to seek his fortune far from home, and certainly I am not the first.  Still, there are times I am bewildered by each mile I have traveled, each meal I have eaten, each person I have known, each room in which I have slept.  As ordinary as it all appears, there are times when it is beyond my imagination.


All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg



#2 ~ A YA from the MMS library.  Great Great read, written in prose, about a kid airlifted out of Vietnam during the war. ~ Touches on how we deal with ourselves and the crummy hand life often deals us.  Brought tears more than once, so touching.

fl ~ My name is Matt Pin and her name, I remember, is Phang My. lp ~ His name is Huu Hein.  He followed me everywhere.  He follows me still, and one day, we're going to find him.



Storky How I Lost My
 Nickname and
Won the Girl
by D. L. Garfinkle





#3 ~ One Helen (MMS librarian) handed me.  Title sounded cute, so I read it.  Quite an insight into the mind of a "dorky" high schooler with divorced parents and a cool sister.  I liked the character interactions and the good lessons taught.  fl ~ HOPES FOR HIGH SCHOOL 1. Gina confesses she's madly in love with me. ll ~ 10. If people call you a stupid nickname or treat you bad, know that you deserve better.  If they keep doing it, send in your big brother.

 


The Guernsey Literary
and Potato Peel Pie Society
by Shaffer and Barrows

 

#4 ~ Another joy of a book club book.  Three adjectives: Charming, Delightful, Thoughtful.  Another WWII story, this time from Guernsey Island in the aftermath of German Occupation.  A hopeful story of bravery, courage, and character.                    

fl: Dear Sidney, Susan Scott is a wonder.  ll: P.S. I ran into Adelaide Addison in St. Peter Port today.  By way of congratulation, she said, "I hear you and that pig farmer are going to regularize your connection.  Praise the Lord!"





  


The Girl with the Dragon
Tattoo by Steig Larsson

#5 ~  The story sucked me in and wouldn't let me go.  The pieces of the mystery woven with twists and turns and unique characters.  Interesting point-of-views to think about.  Was Harriet a victim (Blomkvist's view) or was she responsible for the torture and deaths of all the women to follow because she ran and didn't bring the crime to life (Salander's view)?  And what exactly are the questions Salander can't get answers for since her mother died?  How can it be that she can know all sorts of information about everyone else, but can't research her own family?  Great Great Story.   fl: It happened every hear, was almost a ritual.  ll: She tossed Elvis into a dumpster.










Heroes for my Son
by Brad Meltzer



# 6 ~ I read this one with Patrick (two heroes a night).  A great collection of people who have changed the world.  Some made me cry, some made me smile, most made me wonder if I am making a difference in this world.  Patrick's favorite was Jesse Owens showing up Hitler.  Great book!  fl: (The Wright Brothers) Every day, they knew they'd fail.  ll: (Ben Rubin ~ grandfather) He sounds nice.  Jonas Benjamin Meltzer, age six. 





 

The Girl Who Played
With Fire
by Stieg Larsson

#7 ~ I couldn't wait to read this...and it was a book I couldn't put down.  Mr. Larsson, rest his soul, could weave a thriller.  It was a little hard to "buy" the ending ~ as it were.  I don't think you can be shot in the head and buried alive and live to tell about it... but I'm glad there's a book three!

fl: She lay on her back fastened by leather straps to a narrow bed with a steel frame.  ll: She was going to need it, or she would die.



 



Incantation
by Alice Hoffman

#8 ~ fp: If every life is a river then it's little wonder that we do not even notice the changes taht occur until we are far out inthe darkest sea. One day you look around and nothing is familiar, not even you own face.  lp: I'd sit down and make my sons and daughters listen, though we were thousands of miles away and far on another shore. Remember what I've told you. Remember me.




Alice Hoffman writes strange books ~ this one was more historical than fantasy/strange.  It was scary, to tell the truth, about the Spanish Inquistition and the killing of non-Christians.  Friend turned against friend.  Evil winning out.  Scary that hatred in the name of God has done so much evil in this world ~ and it continues today with the Kansas church telling the families of fallen soldiers through signs at the funerals that "God hates you" and "Thank God for Dead Soldiers".  Hate is evil and Hate in the name of God is the worst evil there is.  I don't have all the religious answers in the world, but I believe that God wants us to love one another.  He can be the judge in the end.



Zombie Butts from Uranus
by Andy Griffiths



#9 ~ a read with Jacob, the second in a series of three (oh joy, we get to start the third one now.)  It's a highly enjoyable tale ~ if you are 12 years old.  Full of farting and poop and mutant zombie blowflies.
fl: Zach Freeman skied down a steep snow-covered slope on a crisp winter morning, completely unaware that he was about to be engulfed by a deadly crapalanche.
ll: "Lay a finger on me and I'll blast you from here to Uranus!" said Zack's butt. "Language!" said Zack, smiling.






Manhunting
by Jennifer Crusie



#10 ~ There is nothing more relaxing to read than a trashy romance novel.  They all turn out happy in the end with no thought or major emotional drain.  Light, fluffy, slightly trashy.  That's just what I needed to end the month of March!

fl: Planning on jumping?  ll: "What was I thinking?" she said, and relaxed back into the warm arms of the best plan she'd ever made, planing to stay there forever.

One False Move
by Harlan Coben

#11 ~ The fifth Myron Bolitar book.  Love his wit and snappy comments.  Great page turner ~ and I didn't figure out who done it until I read it...and then it all made sense.  As always Win is a character that intrigues me.  How can he be so cold and evil, yet such a loyal and almost good person?  Do we all have that evil in us and is it ever right to use it?  Interesting.

fl: The cemetery overlooked a schoolyard.  ll: The translucent specter grew smaller and smaller.  But it never totally disappeared.

The Final Detail
by Harlan Coben

#12 ~ The sixth Myron Bolitar book ~ Questions about good and evil and the long reaching consequences of the choices we make. 
fl: Myron lay sprawled next to a knee-knockingly gorgeous brunette clad only in a Class-B-felony bikini, a tropical drink sans umbrella in one hand, the aqua clear Caribbean water lapping at his feet, the sand a dazzling white powder, the sky a pure blue that could only be God's blank canvas, the sun as soothing and rich as a Swedish masseur with a snifter of congnac, and he was intensely miserable.  ll: Friends and lovers were great, he thought, but sometimes a boy just wanted his mom and dad.

home safe
by E. Berg

#13 ~ I love Elizabeth Berg.  I love her characters and I love her deep thoughtful style.  This book is no exception.  How to grow up, how to let go, how to become you.  Such hard lessons we have to learn in this life and how much harder they are to learn when we're all grown up (and already know everything). 

fl: One Saturday when she was nine years old, Helen Ames went into the basement, sat at the card table her mother used for folding laundry, and began writing. ll: It is this image that will shape the way the woman will come into the bookstore,the way she will unknot her scarf and slide out of er coat, then begin walking the aisles, searching for something she is bound to find.



Splitting Harriet by Tamara Leigh

 #14 ~ I'd give it 2 of 4 stars.  It did get exciting about the last quarter...but it was hard to truly understand the characters and the plot was not so exciting.  Who really would  be that upset about church expansion and change? 

fl: Don't want to think about anything.  ll: And the future--whatever that may be.









Minding Frankie
by Maeve Binchy



#15 ~ I walked into the library needing a great read and what's on the Express Check-out rack?  A new

Maeve Binchy.  Love Love Love her books and her characters.  She weaves their lives together in such wonderful ways.  I think I need a character reminder list as she pulls stories from books I read oh so long ago ~ but it's like going back to a friendly vacation spot when you read one of her books.  Great story that makes me love people ~ even some of the unlovable ones.

fl: Katie Finglas was coming to the end of a tiring day in the salon.  ll: Remember your mother loved you with all her heart. ~ Stella.



.


The Girl Who
Kicked the
Hornet's Nest
by Stieg Larsson



#16 ~ Took a while to get this one from the library and even longer to get into it.  So much drawn-out background about Swedish politics and such that I kept falling asleep.  Only when I got a reminder that it was due in two days, and I was unable to renew it, did I read in earnest.  And it was a good story ~ I was very into the last 400 pages!  Books two and three are really the same story ~ but book one was the best, in my opinion.

fl: Dr. Jonasson was woken by a nurse five minutes before the helicopter was expected to land.  ll: She opened the door wide and let him into her life again.

#17 ~ Janet Evanovich Smokin' Seventeen ~ review

#18 ~ Laura Hillenbrand Unbroken ~ review

#19 ~ Elizabeth Berg Durable Goods ~ review

#20 ~ Elizabeth Berg Joy School ~ review

#21 ~ Barbara Kingsolver The Bean Trees ~ review

#22 ~ Harlan Coben Darkest Fear ~ review

#23 ~ Elizabeth Berg True to Form ~ review

#24 ~ Harlan Coben Promise Me ~ review

#25 ~ Kristin Hannah firefly lane ~ review

#26 ~ stephen chbosky ~ the perks of being a wallflower ~ review

#27 ~ Laurence Yep ~ The Magic Paintbrush ~ review

#28 ~ Pearl Cleage ~ What Looks Like Crazy on an ordinary day... ~ review

#29 ~ Harlen Coben ~ Long Lost ~ review

#30 ~ Alice Ozma ~ The Reading Promise ~ review

#31 ~ Michael Northrop ~ Trapped ~ review

#32 ~ Sandra Dallas ~ Prayers for Sale ~ review

#33 ~ Sandra Dallas ~ Alice's Tulips ~ review

#34 ~ Stephen Manes ~ Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days! ~ review