Book Challenge: July 2005 - Page 4

[broodymama]

#58 for LB

"Crush Depth" by Joe Buff

not all that.

[kofduke]

#21 - Dreams from my Father, Barack Obama


from amazon.com:

In this lyrical, unsentimental, and compelling memoir, the son of a black African father and a white American mother searches for a workable meaning to his life as a black American. It begins in New York, where Barack Obama learns that his father—a figure he knows more as a myth than as a man—has been killed in a car accident. This sudden death inspires an emotional odyssey—first to a small town in Kansas, from which he retraces the migration of his mother’s family to Hawaii, and then to Kenya, where he meets the African side of his family, confronts the bitter truth of his father’s life, and at last reconciles his divided inheritance.

I really enjoyed the writing and the story of this book, and his description of his coming-of-age. The full text of his 2004 convention speech was also included, which moved me to tears.

#1 - Living History, #2 - Law of Invisible Things, #3 - TIme Traveler's Wife, #4 - Street Dreams, #5 - Digital Fortress, #6 - Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell, #7 - Rosemary's Baby, #8 - Shadow of the Wind, #9 - Stepford Wives, #10 - Knitting for Dummies, #11 - The Man in my Basement, #12 - My Sister's Keeper, #13 - The Eyre Affair, #14 - Ruby in the Smoke, #15 - Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn, #16 - The Birth Partner, #17 - Birthing from Within, #18 - Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, #19 - Secret Life of Bees, #20 - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, #21 - Dreams from my Father

[isosmom]

#27 Eat to Live - Joel Fuhrman, MD
Found out about this book via the weight loss forum and it really looked interesting. I'm actually starting his six week program tommorow. A good look at nutrition, what it takes to stay healthy, and another sad look at how most Americans eat.

[broodymama]

#59 for LB

"The Shark Mutiny" by Patrick Robinson

from Amazon:

Veteran techno-thriller writer Robinson's fifth novel pairs Arnold Morgan, the aging but still powerful national security adviser who stars in the author's previous titles (Nimitz Class, Kilo Class) with a new young naval intelligence officer named Ramshawe--one of the few characters with more personality than the military hardware on which Robinson lavishes most of his attention in this somewhat pedestrian tale.

Ramshawe's commanding officer ignores his warnings about a Russian airplane carrying a lethal cargo of sea mines to a Chinese naval base and the subsequent movement of Chinese warships flying the flag of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, even when an American oil tanker explodes in the Persian Gulf. Unable to convince his Admiral that the events are connected, the junior hotshot ignores the chain of command and takes his suspicions to Morgan. When more oil tankers blow up and it becomes clear that the Chinese have mined the strait in order to drive oil prices up and destabilize the economy, Morgan deploys the U.S. Navy to the Gulf. Included in the force are a couple of SEAL teams on a submarine--but the sub is commanded by a deranged captain who believes he's the reincarnated spirit of the French naval officer defeated by Nelson at Trafalgar, so the SEALs are forced to stage a mutiny in order to carry out their mission. Meanwhile, it turns out China has another target in its sights, halfway around the world: its neighbor Taiwan. So the Taiwanese air force must fight off the attack on its territory with no help from the U.S. Navy, which is committed in the Gulf.

[cathe]

#88 Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller

Excellent book! This was a memoir of a women (white, english) who grew up with her family in Africa. Humourously written and really interesting. What a life!

[Astrid]

#64 The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

This has been reviewed before so I am just adding my I really enjoyed it and now must search the library for the next book. Funny, I thought it was written by a woman until I just typed out his name, for some reason I kept seeing Alexander as Alexandra... oops!

[cathe]

Yay! I'm glad someone else read the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency - it's such a great book. But I agree, it's weird to see that it's written by a man.

#89 Changing Habits Changing Lives by Cyndi O'Meara

A friend of mine just got back from Australia and brought this book back. It's a health and diet lifestyle book - I agree with mostly all of it and it's a lot the way I live. No new info for me though.

[Astrid]

Whew, glad I wasn't the only one! I'm on a hold list for the next book in the series, I can't wait!


#65 Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

Another book recommended on this thread that I enjoyed! I'm definitely going to read more of his books

[grumo]

#25 HP and the Half-Blood Prince

Halfway to my goal!

[cathe]

#90 Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Rechl

Another great memoir by Rechl. This one is about her job as the New York Times restaurant critic. So she wouldn't be recognized, she dressed up in different disguises. I love her writing style - funny, down to earth, and her love and knowledge of food is mezmerizing to me.

[Astrid]

#66 Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton

:LOL Cheese-y mystery/suspense type book that has a lot of knitting in it. The story doesn't have a romance that develops, but the main characters passion for knitting grows stronger with every chapter as she searches for her aunts killer.

[Alkenny]

Originally Posted by cathe

#90 Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Rechl

Another great memoir by Rechl. This one is about her job as the New York Times restaurant critic. So she wouldn't be recognized, she dressed up in different disguises. I love her writing style - funny, down to earth, and her love and knowledge of food is mezmerizing to me.

Thanks for this one! I'd read her Tender at the Bone and wouldn't have thought to look for a new one.

[Kylix]

# 16 for Kylix
The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier

Wonderful! I read it rather quickly (for me anyway) in three days. I was engrossed in it. It was an easy read, I felt but at the same time very interesting and thought-provoking.

It tells the story of two women living centuries apart. Ella sets out to find out about her French ancestors after she and her husband move to France. Meanwhile, the story of Isabelle du Moulin is unraveled piece by piece. Intricately and poetically. Just a wonderful read!

The Virgin Blue was Tracy Chevalier's first book but wasn't released in the U.S. until recently. She is the author that wrote Girl With A Pearl Earring. I have yet to read that book but I just HAVE TO now.

Kylix




1) How I Stole Her Husband by Liz Ireland 2) A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving 3) P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern 4) Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn 5) The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble 6) Freedom Challenge: African American Homeschoolers 7) The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares 8) Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult 9) Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult 10) The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler 11) Wicked by Gregory Maguire 12) The Yoga Mamas by Katherine Stewart 13) Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult 14) The Pact by Jodi Picoult 15) Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling 16) The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier

[cathe]

Originally Posted by Alkenny

Thanks for this one! I'd read her Tender at the Bone and wouldn't have thought to look for a new one.

Actually, there is another one after Tender at the Bone too (before this new one) - it's something with apples in it.

[Alkenny]

Originally Posted by cathe

Actually, there is another one after Tender at the Bone too (before this new one) - it's something with apples in it.

Thanks!

Side note...I've been in a reading slump the past week. I'm reading Faulkner (yes, the Oprah suggestions : ) and just last night finally got into it. So hard!

[grumo]

#26 Me & Emma

Already reviewed here. I enjoyed a quick compelling read. Descriptions of abuse were brutal and depressing, however. When I read something like this, I am interested in my own reflections about how it impacts me differently than before I had a child.

[cathe]

#91 Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince


#92 Letters to a Young Artist by Julia Cameron

Quick book with letters from an older, experienced writer to a beginning writer. Slightly inspiring - not too much there.

[broodymama]

#60 for LB

I have been out of town visiting my family for the last few days so I haven't had much time for reading.

"The Dirty Girls Social Club" by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez

This has been reviewed before so I won't post another one. A quick, enjoyable read.

[MamaBug]

Thanks again Girls for a great month though I hardly read at all, just some really short YA books that I didn't bother to even post here. I am off to start the new thread for August! Can it BE August already?