May 2009 Book Challenge

[NewCrunchyDaddy]

Spring has sprung

The grass has ris

I wonder where

All the readers is?

Welcome to May's Challenge. Time to do a little spring cleaning and clear all the books you've been wanting to read off the shelves of the library or bookstore or your own shelves. I know that's what I will be doing, now that finals are over and I finally have my bachelor's degree, I will spend the summer reading what I want to read, instead of what is assigned to me to read.

Anyway...

Now, repeat after me...

So, just by way of clarification (for comers both new and old), new and improved guidelines for the Book Challenge Thread are as follows:

1) Post the books you read ... or not
2) Post a recommendation ... or not
3) Number your book ... or not
4) Make a goal ... or not
5) Have fun with books (This one, unfortunately, is MANDATORY)


So, with that, avante and a happy reading May to everyone!


2008's Threads can be found HERE
January's Thread can be found HERE
February's Thread can be found HERE
March's Thread can be found HERE
April's Thread can be found HERE

[cathe]

Thanks NCD.

[Alyantavid]

I'm starting the Time Traveller's Wife today.

April Books:
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
The Red Scarf
Water for Elephants
Handle With Care
Picture Perfect
The Road
A Thousand Splendid Suns
The Red Tent

[fremontmama]

I like your May poem NCD

I'm just about to finish A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg. I've really been enjoying it. I also just got a bunch of poetry books from the library, not sure why they struck my fancy all of a sudden, but can't wait to start flipping through them.

I'm also reading The Hemingses of Monticello; it's interesting but a little scholarly for my mood right now.

[kangamitroo]

Rope Burns by FX Toole
this book of 6 short stories about boxing includes "million dollar baby", which was made into a film with Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood. they are not for everyone, for sure.
i am a bit embarassed and confused by the allure of boxing for me. eventually i will write an eloquent collection of literary essays about how a granola-eating, peace-loving, meditation-practicing mama like myself can get immense pleasure out of slamming a heavy bag.
meanwhile, please PM me if you know other good boxing books

[Keeta]

I just had to register my disappointment: where is this month's misspelled title, NCD?!? Your poem does make up for its absence a little, I guess.

[fremontmama]

Originally Posted by Keeta

I just had to register my disappointment: where is this month's misspelled title, NCD?!? Your poem does make up for its absence a little, I guess.

[greeny]

This is my first time participating in one of these threads, but I love to read!

1. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (currently reading) - liking it a lot so far. Very readable and interesting.

[fremontmama]

Welcome Greeny! :

[NewCrunchyDaddy]

Originally Posted by Keeta

I just had to register my disappointment: where is this month's misspelled title, NCD?!? Your poem does make up for its absence a little, I guess.

I guess it's kind of hard to misspell May, unless we want to do the Yam 2009 Book Challenge. Sorry to disappoint

[Bufomander]

#48 Julia's Kitchen by Brenda A. Ferber
Short middle grades book -- Cara is 11 years old. While she staying overnight with a friend, her house burns to the ground and her mother and younger sister die. Her father doesn't want to talk about what happened, her best friend gets tired of her sadness. She takes over her mom's baking business secretly. I liked this. Oh, and her family is Jewish and she talks/thinks a lot about where God is in all this.

#49 Graceling by Kristin Cashore

I remember there was divided opinion about this one, but I don't remember specifically what people thought. I liked it -- I thought the idea of having a Grace was interesting.

[KaraBoo]

kangamitroo, psst, another boxing book you might like is The Power of One. Don't be ashamed LOL

[candipooh]

First book for May is

A Kiss of a Shadows by Laurell K. Hamilton, This is the first book in a series 'Meredith Gentry' She is a princess of the high court of Faerie. I will post more about it when I am finished. (but so far I love it)

[kofduke]

Lady Killer, Scottline

Philadelphia attorney Mary DiNunzio, last seen in Killer Smile (2004), agrees to help her high school nemesis, Trish Gambone... Trish, whom Mary used to regard as the quintessential Mean Girl, has turned in desperation to the lawyer, the all-around Most Likely to Achieve Sainthood at St. Maria Goretti High School, because she wants to escape from her abusive, and possibly Mafia-connected boyfriend, Bobby Mancuso. Trish rejects Mary's practical suggestions for dealing with Bobby, but once Trish disappears, Mary finds herself under pressure from other high school classmates as well as people from her old neighborhood who blame her for not doing enough.

I love Lisa Scottoline for her mysteries, typically centering around one of the attorneys at the firm "rosato and associates." Lady Killer doesn't disappoint, either. It's a fast paced mystery, and the characterizations of Philadelphia are spot on and super-enjoyable.


#1 Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker, #2 Moosewood Restaurant New Classics, #3 Autobiography of God, #4 The Ghost Orchid, #5 The Poe Shadow, #6 Knit One Kill Two, #7 Citizen Girl, #8 The Fourth Bear, #9 The Third Secret, #10 Change of Heart, #11 Guardian Angels, #12 The Gore, #13 The Undomestic Goddess, #14 From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil T. Frankweiler, #15 Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, #16 Blood Memory, #17 A Thousand Splendid Suns, #18 Then we Came to the End, #19 - Feed, #20 - Paper Towns, #21 - The Sparrow, #22 - Swim, Bike, Run, #23 Field Notes from a Catastrophe, #24 Pillars of the Earth, #25 The Geographer's Library, #26 Lady Killer

[katmann]

Haunted Ground by Erin Hart

this was mentioned on a previous thread. It's a mystery, actually two mysteries, that begins with a decapitated head found in a peat bog in Ireland, so it's incredibly well preserved. I enjoyed it, and I'm no usually a mystery buff. I though the love story aspect was a little too Nora Roberts-y, but the forensic/archealogical stuff made it a rather unusual mystery. I'd give it maybe 3 out of 5 stars.

[Jenifer76]

3 Willows by Ann Brashares

A continuation of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series that focuses on three new characters. Follows the basic formula of her Sisterhood series which makes it seem a little repetitive. Its not a bad read and I do like the idea of a continuing series. Still, the book seemed a little stale.

[Jenifer76]

Around the World in 80 Dates: Confessions of a Christian Serial Dater by Christa Ann Banister

A Christian chick lit book about a girl who is waiting to find Mr. Right while going through a string of bad dates. A quick read that while not earth-shattering, still provides some light entertainment.

[kangamitroo]

Originally Posted by KaraBoo

kangamitroo, psst, another boxing book you might like is The Power of One. Don't be ashamed LOL

thanks for the tip, karaboo--and the support

[greeny]

2. A Ship Made of Paper by Scott Spencer - Really good. Easy to read, and good pacing, very interesting characters. Pretty intense.

[fremontmama]

#16 A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg

I loved this book. A series of short stories about her life punctuated by meaningful recipes related to the stories. I can't wait to try a few of these recipes, and I'm going to her blog to find a recipe she described but left out. Super fun read.