December Book Challenge - Page 3

[Holland73]

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

The main character, and most beautifully developed character, in this book is Le Cirque des Rêves.  Le Cirque des Rêves was also the only reason why I finished the book.  I felt very little feeling or attachment towards any of the other characters, including Celia & Marco.  I realized that none of them felt fully developed and there was not a lot of depth to any of them. 

[cathe]

The Lake Shore Limited by Sue Miller

The Lake Shore Limited centers around four main characters: Billy -- a playwright whose show, The Lake Shore Limited, has just opened; Leslie -- almost Billy's sister-in-law (at least in her mind) as Billy was with her brother Gus until he was killed in 9-11; Rafe -- the star of the play The Lake Shore Limited and also caring for his invalid wife; and Sam -- Leslie's friend who she is trying to fix up with Billy. 

 

The book starts with opening night of The Lake Shore Limited. At first I was irritated that Miller went into such detail about the play--we didn't just get the plot but the actual lines and descriptions of the actors like we were watching the play along with characters in the book . . . but then I was sucked into the play itself and what happens in the play becomes an integral part of the book itself. Very different and very effective. I enjoyed this book very much.

 

Tales from the Yoga Studio by Rain Mitchell

 

Fun, light story centering on four LA women and a small yoga studio. A perfect cozy holiday book to read curled up with a cup of green tea.

[kofduke]

Border Songs, Lynch

Brandon Vanderkool’s severe dyslexia and six-foot-eight height give him an unusual perspective on his new job with the American Border Patrol, along the Washington/BC border — just a long, grassy ditch, really, barely dividing neighbours who used to be as congenial as those in any small community. Though his curious mind proves surprisingly adept at intercepting Canadian pot smugglers and potentially dangerous illegals, years of security hysteria and cross-border resentment — and a fascinating young Canadian who has turned her green thumb to a more lucrative crop — complicate Brandon’ s world in ways even he might not be able to see past.

[Igraine]

66) The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making is a novel by Catherynne M. Valente, published in May 2011. It follows a 12 year old girl named September as she is spirited away from her average life to Fairyland. This book was very well written, the images the author described were beautiful and clear. I think, after finishing it, that I do prefer science fiction to fantasy. There were some interesting parallels to "Wee Free Men", but the books were still very different and held my attention for different reasons.

We started reading these as a family and my kids are really enjoying them. They are finally old enough to get caught up in the stories.

67) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

68) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

[cathe]

Shadow Tag by Louise Erdrich

Disturbing but compelling story of a woman who wants to leave her sometimes violent, artist husband and uses her diary (that she knows he is reading) to get him to let her go. 

[cathe]

We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates

The Mulvaneys were the ideal family . . . prosperous, well-liked, smart, loving. But everything suddenly everything changed. Though the incident is hushed up . . . the family and everything they had been falls apart.

 

I could not put this book down for the first half . . . I read for 3 hours straight, the story was just so compelling. But the second half seemed to be overwritten and I found myself skimming through parts to get to what was happening. The book seemed to drift as much as the characters. Overall enjoyable, but sad book.

[cathe]

This is probably it for me this month, as I am reading/editing a friend's 400 page manuscript which should take me a few days.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you. See you in a new challenge next year!

[kangamitroo]

Originally Posted by Holland73 

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (audiobook)

I imagine some of you (Cathe perhaps?) have already read this book.  This is my first book by Jay Asher and I am now excited to read others. 

All I have to say is WOW!  It is a powerful, heartbreaking, disturbing and absolutely amazing book.  I imagine hearing it via audiobook made it an even more intense and moving experience, especially since the narrators were great.  This book definitely made my top ten of the year!   

excited that I just got this from the library, where I had been on the waiting list. first thought the premise would be too painful, but the reviews are all so encouraging. it will be the first read of the new year,

ending the year with Sotah by Naomi Ragen, a very interesting book set in the ultra-orthodox community of Jerusalem. I have enjoyed it. from the author's website: "When her first romance is tragically thwarted, she willingly enters into an arranged marriage with a loving but painfully quiet man.  Dina’s deeply repressed passions become impossible to ignore, finding a dangerous outlet in a sudden and intense obsession with a married man, with terrible consequences."

I was thinking of some of you this week, while browsing the graphic novel of Pride & Prejudice & Zombies.

thank you for your companionship & sharing your book journeys this year.  here's to happy reading in 2012!

[zebra15]

I just downloaded a number of books for my NookColor.  Swim team is a hit and DS is happy.  I have 3 afternoons a week to read or crochet.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (audiobook)

I read this sometime this year and remember being moved by the book.  I may need to get the audiobook and try that out too.

See you all in 2012!

[cathe]

Squeezed in one last book:

Here Comes Trouble by Michael Moore

[Igraine]

69) One last one for me too, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by  Stieg Larsson. I am probably one of the last people to read this! It has been so popular, which sometimes forces me to not read books! But I want to see the movie (Christopher Plummer, Daniel Craig....how can it go wrong). I really enjoyed it. I read it in three days. I was totally addicted to the story. I am looking forward to the next ones.

And thank you for this great group! I am so pleased with how many books I read this year. I was inspired by all of you and learned about some amazing books from you all. I will do this again in 2012 and see if I can break this years record.

Happy New Year everyone!

[Holland73]

Originally Posted by Igraine 

69) One last one for me too, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by  Stieg Larsson. I am probably one of the last people to read this! It has been so popular, which sometimes forces me to not read books! But I want to see the movie (Christopher Plummer, Daniel Craig....how can it go wrong). I really enjoyed it. I read it in three days. I was totally addicted to the story. I am looking forward to the next ones.

And thank you for this great group! I am so pleased with how many books I read this year. I was inspired by all of you and learned about some amazing books from you all. I will do this again in 2012 and see if I can break this years record.

Happy New Year everyone!

I also haven't read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but I have seen all of the Swedish films and the latest US version.  I did see the US version with a Stieg Larsson fanatic and she loved it.  I loved it, too.  Perhaps, it's time to start reading the books. 
 

[Holland73]

Happy New Year, All! 

Started the January thread:

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1340514/january-2012-book-challenge

[fremontmama]

One last post for the year!
 

Originally Posted by Igraine 

66) The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making is a novel by Catherynne M. Valente, published in May 2011. It follows a 12 year old girl named September as she is spirited away from her average life to Fairyland. This book was very well written, the images the author described were beautiful and clear. I think, after finishing it, that I do prefer science fiction to fantasy. There were some interesting parallels to "Wee Free Men", but the books were still very different and held my attention for different reasons.

We started reading these as a family and my kids are really enjoying them. They are finally old enough to get caught up in the stories.

67) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

68) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Oh, I'm very taken in by that title!  Adding to my list :)

Originally Posted by cathe 

Shadow Tag by Louise Erdrich

Disturbing but compelling story of a woman who wants to leave her sometimes violent, artist husband and uses her diary (that she knows he is reading) to get him to let her go. 

I love Louis Erdrich. She's so compelling!

Originally Posted by cathe 

We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates

The Mulvaneys were the ideal family . . . prosperous, well-liked, smart, loving. But everything suddenly everything changed. Though the incident is hushed up . . . the family and everything they had been falls apart.

 

I could not put this book down for the first half . . . I read for 3 hours straight, the story was just so compelling. But the second half seemed to be overwritten and I found myself skimming through parts to get to what was happening. The book seemed to drift as much as the characters. Overall enjoyable, but sad book.

I didn't want to read this since it seemed so popular (I'm like that too, avoiding a popular book :)  But that sounds intriguing.
 

Originally Posted by Igraine 

69) One last one for me too, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by  Stieg Larsson. I am probably one of the last people to read this! It has been so popular, which sometimes forces me to not read books! But I want to see the movie (Christopher Plummer, Daniel Craig....how can it go wrong). I really enjoyed it. I read it in three days. I was totally addicted to the story. I am looking forward to the next ones.

And thank you for this great group! I am so pleased with how many books I read this year. I was inspired by all of you and learned about some amazing books from you all. I will do this again in 2012 and see if I can break this years record.

Happy New Year everyone!

Good job on your goal with number of books Igraine!  And I agree, I'm so glad for our book challenge thread, I love hearing what everyone thinks and getting book ideas :)

Originally Posted by Holland73 

Happy New Year, All! 

Started the January thread:

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1340514/january-2012-book-challenge

Thank you!

Squeezing in a last few books for 2011.

#63 The Paris Wife

about Ernest Hemingway's first wife.  While it was interesting and well written, I knew exactly how it was going to end, so had a hard time enjoying it.

#64 Jane Eyre

Reading it again after a false start many years ago.  Approached it with a new appreciation after watching the movie with those lovely people Mia Wasikowski (sp?) and that heartthrob Michael Fassbender.  *sigh*

#65 Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

At first kind of annoying b/c it seemed like she was trying to hard to be funny.  But I liked how she got more personal toward the middle/end.  Finished in a day or two.  Fun.