June 2008 Book Challenge

[NewCrunchyDaddy]

Summer is upon us, and so it is time to dust off your favorite deck chair, iron your bathing suit and beach towel, clean your sunglasses and head to the beach with your a stack of your favorite beach books. Ahhhh... summer reading.

Here's our new month's thread, up and running. The rules are simple. Post the books you read throughout the month with a quick whether or not you liked it and/or you'd recommend it.

Some of us are number our books because we've set goals for the year, but that's by no means a requirement for jumping into the thread. Its mostly about sharing the good books we've read and steering away from the bad ones.

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



January's thread is HERE
February's thread is HERE
March's thread is HERE
April's thread is HERE
May's thread is HERE

[chellemarie]

Sticking an arrow on this one. Hopefully I'll have something to report shortly.

[kangamitroo]

subbing

& thanks bryan for keeping us going, as well as for your prolific reviews

[Jenifer76]

1.) Show me the way : a memoir in stories by Jennifer Lauck
Stories of Lauck's life post-kids interspersed with childhood stories. Lauck wrote two other memoirs about her dysfunctional (and abusive) childhood. This picks up when she is in her mid-30s and having her first child. You can see how her childhood plays into her doubts as a first time Mom. It was a quick read for me -- finished it in one day.

[kaliki_kila]

Just finished The Abstinence Teacher by Tom Perrotta and am in the middle of The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert.

[nancy926]

#28: The Nine, by Jeffrey Toobin

About the Supreme Court - Toobin gets into the lives of all the current (and recent) justices, reviews major decisions of the 1990s and 2000s, and talks about nominations and confirmations (Clarence Thomas being the most famous, but the others are interesting too).

The last time I thought much about the Supreme Court was 11th grade, so I enjoyed this. It clarified a lot of the politics for me (if that's possible!). The focus is mainly on the Clinton and GWB administrations, but he does talk a bit about the Court before that time.

[heatherweh]

I just picked up some Janet Evanovich books from the library today- have to se what Ms. Plum is up to these days....

[eco_mama]

ok so i didn't finish one book last month but the one i was working on was about 500 pages, plus i started school. plus! my goal for the year was 20 books and i just finally finished my 19th. so i give myself credit.

#19 man's eternal quest by paramahansa yogananda

An inspiring guide for all who wonder what lies behind the seeming realities of life, this book offers compelling evidence that it is possible for each one of us to find that elusive joy that is in fact right within us. Paramahansa Yogananda takes the reader on a profound journey that explores the little-known and seldom-explained aspects of meditation, life after death, healing, and the powers of the mind. A wealth of inspiring, in-depth, practical guidance for self-development.

[NewCrunchyDaddy]

THE HARRY POTTER SERIES

#54: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Audio)
#55 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Audio)
#56 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Audio)
#57 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Audio)
#58 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Audio)
#59 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Audio)
#60 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Audio)
by J.K. Rowling
read by Jim Dale
-Harry Potter, Years 1-7-

My review of The Harry Potter Series can be found here.

#1 The Time Machine, #2 The Shining (Audio): Redux, #3 Curious George, #4 Animal Farm: A Fairy Story, #5 The Tragedy of Othello, Moor of Venice (Bantam Anthology), #6 A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four, #7 "A Study in Emerald", #8 The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead, #9 Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them, #10 Quidditch Through the Ages, #11 On the Day You Were Born, #12 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (Bantam Anthology), #13 The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare, #14 Rubyfruit Jungle, #15 John, Paul, George & Ben, #16 The Merchant of Venice (Bantam Anthology): Redux, #17 Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time, #18 Trent's Last Case, #19 Cyrano de Bergerac: A Heroic Comedy in Five Acts, #20 Animal Dads, #21 Faggots, #22 A Day with Wilbur Robinson, #23 And Then There Were None, #24 Eating Between the Lines: The Supermarket Shopper's Guide to the Truth Behind Food Labels, #25 Henry IV, Part One, #26 Zami, A New Spelling of My Name: A Biomythography, #27 Twelfth Night, or What You Will (Bantam Anthology), #28 Murder Must Advertise, #29 Stagestruck: Theater, AIDS, and the Marketing of Gay America, #30 Angels in America, A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, Part One: Millennium Approaches, #31 The Tragedy of Macbeth (Bantam Anthology), #32 Stone of Destiny: The Story of Lady Macbeth, #33 Ian Pollack's Illustrated King Lear #34 Celtic Folklore Cooking, #35 Angels in America, A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, Part Two: Perestroika Revised Edition), #36 The Winter's Tale (Bantam Anthology), #37 Tolkien's Art: A Mythology for England, #38 The Body (Audio), #39 Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption (Audio), #40 Four Past Midnight: The Sun Dog (Audio), #41 The Tempest (Bantam Anthology): Redux, #42 World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, #43 Science Verse, #44 Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich and Other Stories You’re Sure to Like Because They’re All About Monsters and Some of Them are Also About Food. You Like Food, Don’t You? Well, All Right Then, #45 Case Histories, #46 Time Bandit: Two Brothers, the Bering Sea, and One of the World's Deadliest Jobs, #47 Why Pandas Do Handstands and Other Curious Truths About Animals, #48 Rolling the R's, #49 Spooky ABC, #50 A is for Arches: A Utah Alphabet, #51 Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest, #52 E is for Evergreen: A Washington Alphabet, #53 Beowulf (Longman Anthology), #54-60 The Harry Potter Series (Audio)

[spiderdust]

I'm in the middle of reading The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan... will probably finish it up in a day or two. What should I read next?

ETA: Finished it this morning!

[NewCrunchyDaddy]

#60 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Audio)
by J.K. Rowling
read by Jim Dale
-Harry Potter, Year 7-

My review of Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows (Audio) can be found here.

#1 The Time Machine, #2 The Shining (Audio): Redux, #3 Curious George, #4 Animal Farm: A Fairy Story, #5 The Tragedy of Othello, Moor of Venice (Bantam Anthology), #6 A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four, #7 "A Study in Emerald", #8 The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead, #9 Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them, #10 Quidditch Through the Ages, #11 On the Day You Were Born, #12 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (Bantam Anthology), #13 The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare, #14 Rubyfruit Jungle, #15 John, Paul, George & Ben, #16 The Merchant of Venice (Bantam Anthology): Redux, #17 Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time, #18 Trent's Last Case, #19 Cyrano de Bergerac: A Heroic Comedy in Five Acts, #20 Animal Dads, #21 Faggots, #22 A Day with Wilbur Robinson, #23 And Then There Were None, #24 Eating Between the Lines: The Supermarket Shopper's Guide to the Truth Behind Food Labels, #25 Henry IV, Part One, #26 Zami, A New Spelling of My Name: A Biomythography, #27 Twelfth Night, or What You Will (Bantam Anthology), #28 Murder Must Advertise, #29 Stagestruck: Theater, AIDS, and the Marketing of Gay America, #30 Angels in America, A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, Part One: Millennium Approaches, #31 The Tragedy of Macbeth (Bantam Anthology), #32 Stone of Destiny: The Story of Lady Macbeth, #33 Ian Pollack's Illustrated King Lear #34 Celtic Folklore Cooking, #35 Angels in America, A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, Part Two: Perestroika Revised Edition), #36 The Winter's Tale (Bantam Anthology), #37 Tolkien's Art: A Mythology for England, #38 The Body (Audio), #39 Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption (Audio), #40 Four Past Midnight: The Sun Dog (Audio), #41 The Tempest (Bantam Anthology): Redux, #42 World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, #43 Science Verse, #44 Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich and Other Stories You’re Sure to Like Because They’re All About Monsters and Some of Them are Also About Food. You Like Food, Don’t You? Well, All Right Then, #45 Case Histories, #46 Time Bandit: Two Brothers, the Bering Sea, and One of the World's Deadliest Jobs, #47 Why Pandas Do Handstands and Other Curious Truths About Animals, #48 Rolling the R's, #49 Spooky ABC, #50 A is for Arches: A Utah Alphabet, #51 Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest, #52 E is for Evergreen: A Washington Alphabet, #53 Beowulf (Longman Anthology), #54-60 The Harry Potter Series (Audio), #60 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Audio)

[Bufomander]

#70 Deadly Appearances by Gail Bowen

mystery series set in Saskatchewan. I enjoyed it -- read it in 24 hours. sadly, our library doesn't have the second one -- i scandalized myself by putting the third one on hold without having read the 2nd!

[BookGoddess]

10. Children with Starving Brains by Dr. Jacqueline McCandless is a wonderful book that explains the whole DAN! (Defeat Autism Now) biomedical approach in very user-friendly language. I've had the privilege to attend a workshop she presented and she's amazing.

11. Thinking In Pictures by Temple Grandin. Temple, an autistic professor of animal science, gives wonderful insight into what it's like to be autistic. Even if you don't have a loved one on the autism spectrum this is a great book to read.

[kangamitroo]

#18 While I Was Gone by Sue Miller
i am bleary-eyed and tired from sitting up reading until my eyeballs hurt. this was the right book at the right time for me. i enjoyed the suspense and sue miller has a way of describing those under-the-surface feelings in family relationships, the ones that might make me feel ashamed if i were to say them out loud.

[friendtoall]

Originally Posted by NewCrunchyDaddy

#60 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Audio)
by J.K. Rowling
read by Jim Dale
-Harry Potter, Year 7-

Jim Dale didn't wear on you at all after all that? I listened to four or five in a row last fall and he drove me crazy by the end.

[NewCrunchyDaddy]

Originally Posted by friendtoall

Jim Dale didn't wear on you at all after all that? I listened to four or five in a row last fall and he drove me crazy by the end.

Not at all, I actually rather like him and his style and think he is one of the better audiobook readers I have had the pleasure of coming across.

[cathe]

Okay - here is an excellent summer read - I really, really liked it.

"Case Histories" by Kate Atkinson

It starts out as a bunch of unrelated stories (mostly related to murders or disappearances) but somehow they all become intertwined. Lots of clues and hints that finally come together in the end. Very satisfying book.

[NewCrunchyDaddy]

Originally Posted by cathe

Okay - here is an excellent summer read - I really, really liked it.

"Case Histories" by Kate Atkinson

It starts out as a bunch of unrelated stories (mostly related to murders or disappearances) but somehow they all become intertwined. Lots of clues and hints that finally come together in the end. Very satisfying book.

It was, wasn't it? I read it in a British Detective Fiction class, and on the last day of our discussion of it, one of the women in the class hijacked the whole discussion into an argument of whether or not the book was pornographic , an argument which (to me) is (1) futile because porn is in the eye of the beholder (2) useless because "who cares"? and (3) was counterproductive because that is not what the class was about.

Unfortunately, the professor (who is great in all other respects), is a meek scholar of British lit, and does not have as brassy a personality as this student did/does, so it took him a long time to get things back on subject.

[nancy926]

#29: Never Enough, by Joe McGinniss

I haven't read any "true crime" in awhile, so I picked this up at the library. It made me feel like I needed a shower. Oog. Basically a tale of the super-rich who want to be richer, one has an affair, kills the spouse to try to be with the lover forever....yeauch.

All I could think about was the poor kids stuck in the middle of this.

[NewCrunchyDaddy]

#61 The Gingerbread Girl (Audio)
by Stephen King
read by Mare Winningham

My review of The Gingerbread Girl (Audio) can be found here.

#1 The Time Machine, #2 The Shining (Audio): Redux, #3 Curious George, #4 Animal Farm: A Fairy Story, #5 The Tragedy of Othello, Moor of Venice (Bantam Anthology), #6 A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four, #7 "A Study in Emerald", #8 The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead, #9 Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them, #10 Quidditch Through the Ages, #11 On the Day You Were Born, #12 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (Bantam Anthology), #13 The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare, #14 Rubyfruit Jungle, #15 John, Paul, George & Ben, #16 The Merchant of Venice (Bantam Anthology): Redux, #17 Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time, #18 Trent's Last Case, #19 Cyrano de Bergerac: A Heroic Comedy in Five Acts, #20 Animal Dads, #21 Faggots, #22 A Day with Wilbur Robinson, #23 And Then There Were None, #24 Eating Between the Lines: The Supermarket Shopper's Guide to the Truth Behind Food Labels, #25 Henry IV, Part One, #26 Zami, A New Spelling of My Name: A Biomythography, #27 Twelfth Night, or What You Will (Bantam Anthology), #28 Murder Must Advertise, #29 Stagestruck: Theater, AIDS, and the Marketing of Gay America, #30 Angels in America, A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, Part One: Millennium Approaches, #31 The Tragedy of Macbeth (Bantam Anthology), #32 Stone of Destiny: The Story of Lady Macbeth, #33 Ian Pollack's Illustrated King Lear #34 Celtic Folklore Cooking, #35 Angels in America, A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, Part Two: Perestroika Revised Edition), #36 The Winter's Tale (Bantam Anthology), #37 Tolkien's Art: A Mythology for England, #38 The Body (Audio), #39 Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption (Audio), #40 Four Past Midnight: The Sun Dog (Audio), #41 The Tempest (Bantam Anthology): Redux, #42 World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, #43 Science Verse, #44 Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich and Other Stories You’re Sure to Like Because They’re All About Monsters and Some of Them are Also About Food. You Like Food, Don’t You? Well, All Right Then, #45 Case Histories, #46 Time Bandit: Two Brothers, the Bering Sea, and One of the World's Deadliest Jobs, #47 Why Pandas Do Handstands and Other Curious Truths About Animals, #48 Rolling the R's, #49 Spooky ABC, #50 A is for Arches: A Utah Alphabet, #51 Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest, #52 E is for Evergreen: A Washington Alphabet, #53 Beowulf (Longman Anthology), #54-60 The Harry Potter Series (Audio), #60 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Audio), #61 The Gingerbread Girl (Audio)