Book Challenge

[MamaBug]

sohj (sp?) made me think of starting this thread here. I go to another site and on there I have given myself a 100 book challenge for the next year. I am up to #34. So I thought that maybe she and some other might like to join me in this challenge. What I do is list the book I have read, the # it is and a brief synopsis. There are other women on the site doing the same and is a great way to also find out about what other great books are out there. Also included on occassion are the parenting books that we have read.

Anyone interested?

[cathe]

I'm not sure I understand what you are proposing. Is there a list of 100 books and we pick the ones we want to read and review them or do we all just try to read books and add them to the list . . .

[sohj]

These days, with the baby and my job schedule, I think I could only get to 100 if I was allowed to include such riveting masterpieces like "Engineering Geology: Rock in Engineering Construction" or the classic (REALLY!!!!) Soil Mechanics in Practice by Terzaghi & Peck (The founders of modern soil mechanics!!!)

I second cathe's question.

[kama'aina mama]

Dr Suess DOES NOT count!

[toepea]

I'm not sure I could get to 100. I think I have only got through about 8 books so far this year. But the idea of the brief synopis sounds wonderful as does the challenge! I am always seeking the next 'great' read.

[Dragonfly]

Originally posted by kama'aina mama
Dr Suess DOES NOT count!

That's soooooooooooooo unfair!

[ja mama]

[MamaBug]

First let me just say I am so happy that all of you are even interested. What we do on the other board is read any book that we want ( and sorry Dr. Suess does not count there or I would be past 100 by now :LOL ) We read the book, post the title and author and a brief synopsis and then what we thought of it and if we would recommened it to others.

I just gave 100 as a starting point, you can make a personal goal all your own, I just really wanted to challenge myself to read at least one book a week. Some weeks that happens some weeks it doesn't but I am not giving up. I figure once the weather warms up and I am at the park and lake more I will have more time. The list is great because I often see things on other ppls lists and go Hey I'd like to read that!!

So how does that sound? Did I explain it ok? The other board is very small so we each have our own 100 Book List thread but we could just have one here and just keep adding to it? Let me know what you think?

[toepea]

I'm in.

Let the reading begin!

Ja mama-- I reserve my books in advance (online) from the library and they put them on hold for me, I think for 7 days. I love it.

[pammysue]

Me too, I'm game!

[Achelois72]

Me too!

[Viola]

OK, today I finished A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson after reading about it in another thread. It was fascinating, frightening and fun to read. I'd definitely recommend it as long as you don't believe the universe is less than 6,000 years old and that dinosaur fossils were put there by God to test our faith. In that case, you might find the book aggravating.

[CaliMommie]

Count me in. I just finished While I Was Gone by Susan Miller. About a young woman who runs away from her life b/c she's unhappy with it. She moves in with a group of people, they all become friends, have a laid back lifestyle (never lock the doors, etc). Anyways, it's a mystery type book.

Also finished Wild Swans a true story of three generations of women in China. Wonderful, fascinating book. Very well written. It really helped me to understand more of China's history.

AmiBeth

[mariposita]

AmiBeth--
I loved Wild Swans, it was absolutely fascinating. A friend of mine sent it to me while I was living in the Dominican Republic and I have sent it on to about 5 others while they were living abroad. That book has made it to the DR, Finland, China, Slovakia, Ecuador, and Ghana. I found it to be very interesting and helpful when I was in China for a month a few years ago.

[CaliMommie]

mariposita~ I ended up reading it b/c the guy we bought our house from left all of his books behind. A friend of mine actually had to read it for one of her college casses. I even recommended it to the teacher of my Socio-Cultural Psychological Development class! (Say that three times fast! :LOL )

AmiBeth

[cathe]

The books I just finished in the last couple of weeks were:

"Reading Lolita in Tehran". This was the true story of a literature professor in Iran who was trying to teach western literature. First in the university and, after she was kicked out, in a private workshop for women. It was so interesting to learn a little about life in Iran and how they related to western classics. The book was divided into 4 sections: Lolita, Gatsby, Henry James, Austen. It was excellently written and I recommend it.

"Lolita" by Nabakov: so after reading the above book, I realized I had never actually read the book "Lolita" so I got it out. It was an amazing book. Very well written and not at all sensationalized like I'm sure a book on this subject would be written now. Lolita was not some innocent flower but still she was seduced and raped by a older man. It was written from the man's point of view which gave things an intriguing twist. My dh is reading it now and he very rarely reads fiction.

"Travels With Charley" by John Steinbeck: This was such a fun, easy book to read. It is a true account of Steinbecks 3 month travels around the US with his poodle Charley (In 1960). He makes really interesting observations and many are relavant as to what is happening in the US today. There are a lot of funny stories about things that happened to him. I really liked his writing style - it made me feel like he would be a really cool guy to hang out with.

ps - I loved Wild Swans too.
pps - I was going to make the same recommendation to jamama. Reserving books in advance is the ONLY way to go - Now I just have to pick them up at the desk.

[brookely ash]

I want to join in on the book fun! I just finished reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck . Great book. Although the story is somewhat about the author's life and people his grandparents knew, it is really about the intense relationship between brothers and between sons and fathers. I gained a new perspective on my two ds while reading this book and of course it was as wonderfully written as most Steinbeck is.

I am reading Lies (And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them) written by Al Franken. I think it'll be a quick read, but I am really enjoying the humor of it.

And now I really want to read Wild Swans. Sounds really interesting.

Thanks for the idea, soccermom, although I don't know if I can get to 100 (I have only read one book so far this year) but I think I will set my goal a little lower and still join in on the fun.

[MamaBug]

Very cool!!! This just made my day! I am in the middle of two books right now and will post ASAP! Thanks for the wonderful new ideas!

[Mere]

I'm in! I don't know if I'd get to 100, but I might (I've never counted!). I read all the time, but of course 'all the time' means after dd has gone to bed or is napping. And that's when I don't feel obligated to do housework or other tasks...sigh.

I'm in the middle of a very loooong book right now (This Much I know Is True by Wally Lamb)...it's very good, and I'll submit a synopsis when I finish.

I loved Wild Swans too!

[Indigo73]

I read a ton of junk. I have probably already read over 30 books this year - a nice mix of romances, mysteries and sci-fi with a sprinkling of gardening and other non-fiction books. I am currently reading Salt: A World History - very cool.

Sounds like I have to look into Wild Swan.