August 2011 Book Challenge

[fremontmama]

How is it August already????!!!!

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 for how many books you want to read in 2011 ... or not
5) Have fun with books (This one, unfortunately, is MANDATORY) 

Happy reading everyone!

[NewCrunchyDaddy]

Subbing ... I'm behind in posting ... I'm hoping to get caught up in the next day or two.

[fremontmama]

I'm behind too.  I have half a dozen or so books to post.  My reading is moving slowly this year!

[christianmomof3]

I have been having lots of fun reading this year!  I am currently reading The Seventh Tower series - a youth series by Garth Nix, and several other books. 

[kangamitroo]

finishing Unbowed, a memoir by Wangari Maathai.  She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her work with the Green Belt Movement.  It was an interesting story, highlighting the challenges of working for the rights of ordinary rural people, and being a woman leader with a PhD surrounded by men who thought she should keep quiet.  I learned a lot about the postcolonial history of Kenya, too. 

[kofduke]

Monsters of Templeton, Groff

On the very morning Willie Upton slinks home to Templeton, New York (after a calamitous affair with her archeology professor), the 50-foot-long body of a monster floats from the depths of the town's lake. This unsettling coincidence sets the stage for one of the most original debut novels since The Time Traveler’s Wife. With a clue to the mysterious identity of her father in hand, Willie turns her research skills to unearthing the secrets of the town in letters and pictures (which, "reproduced" in the book along with increasingly complete family trees, lend an air of historical authenticity). Lauren Groff's endearingly feisty characters imbue the story with enough intrigue to keep readers up long past bedtime, and reading groups will find much to discuss in its themes of "monsters," both in our towns and our families.

I felt like I didn't really understand the geneological aspects of the book enough to really enjoy the story. 

[cathe]

Hey everyone--just back from Massachusetts where I was visiting my family. Got a little reading done:

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (Blade Runner) by Philip K. DIck

Listened to this audio book -- loved it!

Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee

Novel about a Korean American woman in New York trying to find herself. Started out really good but kind of lost steam. Enjoyable enough.

In the Name of Honor by Mukhtar Mai

Memoir of a Pakistani woman gang-raped by a men from a local clan seeking revenge on her family. The incident and her courage start a women's rights movement and get a school for girls started. Amazing woman and inspiring story but the book was not that great. Very repetitive. 

Read a couple of other books too but can't remember the titles . . . 

[Igraine]

44) A Storm of Swords by George RR Martin...another great book. I really liked this write up from Amazon. And yes, I have not read my book club book yet. I am reading the next book in the series. 

Is George R.R. Martin for real? Can a fantasy epic actually get better with each new installment? Fans of the genre have glumly come to expect go-nowhere sequels from other authors, so we're entitled to pinch ourselves over Martin's tightly crafted Song of Ice and Fire series. The reports are all true: this series is the real deal, and Martin deserves his crown as the rightful king of the epic. A Game of Thrones got things off to a rock-solid start, A Clash of Kings only exceeded expectations, but it's the Storm of Swords hat trick that cements Martin's rep as the most praiseworthy fantasy author to come along since that other R.R.

Like the first two books, A Storm of Swords could coast on the fundamentals: deftly detailed characters, convincing voices and dialogue, a robust back-story, and a satisfyingly unpredictable plot. But it's Martin's consistently bold choices that set the series apart. Every character is fair game for the headman's axe (sometimes literally), and not only do the good guys regularly lose out to the bad guys, you're never exactly sure who you should be cheering for in the first place.

Storm is full of admirable intricacies. Events that you thought Martin was setting up solidly for the first two books are exposed as complex feints; the field quickly narrows after the Battle of the Blackwater and once again, anything goes. Robb tries desperately to hold the North together, Jon returns from the wildling lands with a torn heart, Bran continues his quest for the three-eyed crow beyond the Wall, Catelyn struggles to save her fragile family, Arya becomes ever more wolflike in her wanderings, Daenerys comes into her own, and Joffrey's cruel rule from King's Landing continues, making even his fellow Lannisters uneasy. Martin tests all the major characters in A Storm of Swords: some fail the trial, while others--like Martin himself--seem to only get stronger. --Paul Hughes --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

 

 

[Bufomander]

99. Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

[kathymuggle]

Recommendation:  The 13th Tale.  British, literal page turned as you want to know what happens. A bit Gothic.  

[fremontmama]

Originally Posted by kathymuggle 

Recommendation:  The 13th Tale.  British, literal page turned as you want to know what happens. A bit Gothic.  

Oh, I Looooooooved that book!

[kaliki_kila]

Here are some that I have enjoyed this summer that I would recommend.

42.  Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff

44.  I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

45.  Blood, Bones, and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton

61.  Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer

If anyone lives in the Bay Area and you don't know about it yet, there is a bookstore in El Cerrito called Bay Area Free Book Exchange.  You can go there and donate any books you no longer want and you can take any books you like for free.  They have a large volume of books coming in and out - don't forget to donate if you are going to take some.  There's not many choices in bookstores left now that the major chains are all closing, so this bookstore is a pretty awesome thing for us to have.  This would be a good thing for other communities to try and start up, too.  They pay their utilities by selling some of the books on eBay and the place is run by volunteers.

[cathe]

Cinder and Ella by Melissa Lemon

Cinder and Ella are two of four sisters. Their older sister is a vain, demanding shrew and their younger sister is a spoiled baby who can do nothing for herself. Since their father's disappearance which seems linked to a visit from the evil prince, their mother has retreated inside herself and does nothing but spin yarn. Cinder takes care of the family, and Ella hides in her room or out at her father's willow tree. But one day, the selfless Cinder gets a job at the castle (seems she has some ambition lurking in her pure goodness) and Ella not wanting to be left with her dysfunctional family, runs off. Unfortunately, the prince has other plans for the sisters . . .

 

While I thought the premise for this book intriguing and loved the title, I unfortunately did not like the book much--felt it needed another rewrite.

[raksmama]

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/susanna-clarke/jonathan-strange-and-mr-norrell.htm

This book was voted number #1 book for the year by Time magazine. The writer  Neil Gaiman calls Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell "the finest English novel of the fantastic written in the last seventy years."  So obviously a lot of people think it is good, but I personally  did not find it THAT good.  I liked it, but certainly did not love it. Parts of it dragged on, and though it did pick up towards the end, it won’t become one of my all time favourites.

[Igraine]

45)  A Feast for Crows by George RR Martin

Now I must wait for book 5. I am 11 on the wait list. I am on a science fiction kick now so off to find something else to keep me busy.

[christianmomof3]

I just read Not Afraid of LIfe: my journey so far by Bristol Palin with Nancy French.

I read it all yesterday.

I liked the book.

I am not into politics and don't watch "Dancing With the Stars".

I found the book to be well written and interesting.

Here is my review of it:

http://becauseisaidsothathswhy.blogspot.com/2011/08/not-afraid-of-life-my-jouirney-so-far.html 

[raksmama]

Then again Maybe  I won’t by Judy Blume

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/judy-blume/then-again-maybe-i-wont.htm

  I got this book for my son but ending up reading it myself so we could talk about it. It is a really good, well written book. MY son is enjoying it a lot too. I wish Judy Blume would write more boy books. My son loved the Fudge books when he was younger but most of her YA books are for girls. Her characters are real and believable.

So many children’s and teen books nowadays are fantasy which is fine, but not all children like it. My son often does not (with the exception of the Percy Jackson series), so it was great to find a book that takes place in the real world that is both humorous and captivating.

  The Antelope Wife by Louise Erdrich.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/e/louise-erdrich/antelope-wife.htm

 I loved this novel which is both magical and realistic. It is the first time I've read anything from Louise Erdrich. I really appreciate her style, they way she combines myth and reality. A very thought provoking read!  I am looking forward to reading more books from her.

The Good Neighbours (Book 1 The Kin) by Holly Black

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/holly-black/kin.htm

This is my first graphic novel. I was never interested in them and ordered Good Neighbours not knowing it was one. I think I might develop a taste for them! For one the drawings are beautiful. And the story was good too. I’ve ordered the other 2 and can’t wait!  This is YA book is a perfect light read.

[cathe]

I love Louise Erdrich . . . and actually I discovered her through this forum :)

[raksmama]

Cathe, what other books of  Erdrich have you read? I can't wait to read more!
 

Originally Posted by cathe 

I love Louise Erdrich . . . and actually I discovered her through this forum :)

Edited by raksmama - 8/16/11 at 6:49am

[NewCrunchyDaddy]

3. True Grit (Kindle)

by Charles Portis

I reviewed it HERE.

4. How to Train Your Dragon (Audio)

by Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III

translated from the Old Norse by Cressida Cowell

read by David Tennant

I reviewed it HERE.

5. A Game of Thrones (Kindle)

by George R.R. Martin

-A Song of Ice and Fire, Book One-

I reviewed it HERE.

1. Moon People: The Age of Aquarius (Kindle), 2. Go the F**k to Sleep (Audio), 3. True Grit (Kindle), 4. How to Train Your Dragon (Audio). 5. A Game of Thrones (Kindle),

Edited by NewCrunchyDaddy - 8/16/11 at 3:17am