2013 BOOK CHALLENGE! Are you in?

[CaliBear]

Goal - 50 books

Book #17 - "Life is So Good" by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman

George Dawson was born in 1898. As the grandson of slaves, he grew up his whole life hearing the stories, and learning how to deal with white people. His amazing life is chronicled in this book. By the time he was 16 there was finally a colored school in his hometown, but by then he was needed to work to help bring money to the family. So, he figured his opportunity to learn to read had passed him by. He tells us his views of the world as it progressed, decade by decade, throughout the twentieth century. The year he turned 98, he was invited to join some adult education classes, and so began his biggest thrill yet... learning to read. By the time the book ends, George is 101 and is reading on a 4th grade level. He's still attending school, and tells us that even though life isn't perfect, it is still so good!

I loved this book! I don't enjoy non-fiction much, but this was one compelling story! It was amazing to see major world events through his eyes. For example, World War I didn't really mean anything to the colored people. It was a white man's war. His people were simply trying to make a living. This was fascinating! I read it for book club, and now I can't wait to meet so we can discuss it!

This sounds great. Thanks! I wish the Kindle version wasn't so expensive.

 

[zippitydoo]

Book 11 of 30

Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

 

[CaliBear]

Goal: 40

Book 3: The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan

This non-fiction bestseller looks at food and how it is produced. He follows three food chains- industrial, pastoral, and personal- from beginning to end, resulting in four different meals: one from McDonalds, one big organic (Whole Foods and the like), one from a self-sustaining farm in Virginia, and one that he hunted and gathered himself.

I don't think I should give a rating for this book. It's on many Best Book lists and is obviously very well-written. I found parts of it very interesting, especially the section on organic food and learning how a sustainable farm like Polyface differs from large organic farms that create most of the organic food we see on the shelves at places like Whole Foods. But for the most part, the book just wasn't for me. I was bored for a lot of it and all the reviews that said it would change how I look at food were wrong, perhaps because the book is 6 years old and by now the cat's out of the bag about many of the issues it covers so I've already contemplated and made choices regarding, for example, corn-fed beef and high fructose corn syrup. If I rated it just for comparison's sake, I guess I'd at least give it 3 stars for the writing, or maybe 2.5 for too many pages devoted to mushroom foraging. But I know people who'd rate it a 5/5 stars, and sans mushrooms, I can see why it would appeal to non-fiction fans.

I'm reading Snodgrass Vacation now, and it hits the spot after a heavy non-fiction book. Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[Glynis]

Goal - 50 books

Book #22 - "The Splendor of Silence" by Indu Sundaresan

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. This is the story of Olivia, a half Indian, half American girl. The story of her life. At times the story is turbulent and violent for it takes place during World War 2.

It was interesting to see the views of the British and the Indians, as the British regime was "losing" India, the jewel in their crown. I also really enjoyed the lush imagery the author used in describing India and the lifestyle.

Next up: "Oracle Bones."

 

[dizluvah]

Book 13 of 100


Breathe by Sarah Crossen

I gave this book 4 stars. Breathe is a YA Dystopian book. Not sure why, but I love this type of story. In Breathe, all the trees are gone, and society has killed the ocean, leaving Earth with only 6% oxygen. A corporation named Breathe found a way to make oxygen, and has created a pod for the survivors to live in while the planet recovers and produces enough oxygen to sustain life again. The resistance thinks that Breathe doesn't want the planet to recover, and is growing their own grove of trees to survive.
Quinn and Bea set out on a camping trip outside if the pod, when Alina begs for their help. Bea has loved her best friend Quinn for some time, but like most 16 yr old boys, he is oblivious. He is facinated by Alina and agrees to help her escape the pod. Quinn and Bea learn that life is not what they thought on their trip while Alina learns from them about caring for others.

I was hooked from the first chapter and really enjoyed this book.

Thanks for the review - I am adding this to my list

 

[dismom301930]

Goal = 40

Book #11 - Divergent by Veronica Roth http://www.amazon.com/Divergent-Boo...51&sr=8-1&keywords=divergent+by+veronica+roth
I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be a quick read, and I look forward to reading the second book in this series. I'm not sure I like it as much as Hunger Games (a similar series) but I definitely liked it.

Next up:
The Round House by Louise Erdrich http://www.amazon.com/Round-House-L...id=1362790159&sr=1-1&keywords=the+round+house
Insurgent by Veronica Roth (next book in Divergent series)

 

[WowLookAtThat]

Book #20 Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet

Review: A lonely little girl named Jane has a best friend, Michael who is always there when she needs him and doesn't neglect her like so many others. The only problem is he is imaginary. After a horrible birthday, Michael comforts the little girl but also tells her that he has to go away as she is too old for an imaginary friend. He leaves and expects her to forget about him.

Years later, Jane is working with her overbearing mother and is producing a movie based on the play she created on her childhood with Michael. She is constantly under her mom's thumb and is in a bad relationship with a total &%$ named Hugh who is using her to be in her movie. Not only that but Jane is really insecure and at an all time low. That is when Michael walks back in her life and a romance starts.

This book is pretty simple and sweet. Michael does exists as an imaginary friend, immortal and able to get whatever he wants with a snap of the fingers but he is able to become visible whenever he wants to. The story doesn't go any more into his imaginary friend life but it is well-explained. The relationship that starts between Jane and Michael is pretty fast and even though it is sweet, it felt a little forced.
I would suggest it for just a quick beach read.

 

[Swimnoid]

Goal = 75

#26 Wild Fire--Nelson DeMille

Political intrigue...A very rich oil magnate convinces several of his highly place political friends that he has the answer to world peace and they organize an event to bring this about. That's a very cryptic description but to be more specific would give it away. I really liked it. The fiction is out there but at the same time very plausible which makes it a bit scary.

#27 The Christmas List--Richard Paul Evans

Sappy story about a man who has become rich by being ruthless in business. The story tells how his actions have hurt people and how he discovers he is hated and what he does about it. Overtones of the Christmas Carol in modern times. Even though it was sappy I liked it. I have been reading a lot of suspense thrillers and this was the total opposite and just what I needed for a change of pace.. It was a very quick read.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Intrerview with a jewish vampire
Actully pretty funny, especally after her mom is turned!!
a 4 star

This makes 30 for me

 

[tinkerbellfan6880]

Have read 15 out of 80 books so far for my goal this year. I am currently reading a biography on Carl Sagan the astronomer.

 

[nemofans]

Finished book #14: The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

I read this b/c I read her book, The Forgotten Garden, & really enjoyed it. This book seemed to drag on some, but the ending was a great twist that I didn't see coming. I would recommend it.

Next books: A Reliable Wife (for book club) & Divergent (this was recommended to me by a fellow book club member & I see it's mentioned here as well)

 

[BearcatsFan]

9/30 finished

A Mother's Trial by Nancy Wright (non-fiction)

It's about a mother who is put on trial for the death of one child and the near-death of another. Also deals with Munchausen-by-Proxy.

Lots of medical jargon, and the book kind of drug on and on. I wouldn't re-read it.

3/5 stars

 

[Christine]

9/30 finished

A Mother's Trial by Nancy Wright (non-fiction)

It's about a mother who is put on trial for the death of one child and the near-death of another. Also deals with Munchausen-by-Proxy.

Lots of medical jargon, and the book kind of drug on and on. I wouldn't re-read it.

3/5 stars

I'm about halfway through this book. The story is compelling but, I do agree that there's a ton of stuff in there that was/is just rambling. This was a "free" Kindle download for me and I rarely do free books for that very reason. They aren't all that well written and I just don't want to deal with that.

I will say, though, that is one of the better free books I've read. I had to give up on a few of them because the dialogue and sentence structure were just atrocious.

 

[BearcatsFan]

I'm about halfway through this book. The story is compelling but, I do agree that there's a ton of stuff in there that was/is just rambling. This was a "free" Kindle download for me and I rarely do free books for that very reason. They aren't all that well written and I just don't want to deal with that.

I will say, though, that is one of the better free books I've read. I had to give up on a few of them because the dialogue and sentence structure were just atrocious.

I did the free Kindle download, also. Apparently it's a book that was written years ago and recently re-released.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts when you finish about the mother's guilt or innocence.

 

[KrazyPete]

Goal - 24 books

Book #3 - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - I love this kind of highly imaginative and sort of morbid storytelling. Movies by Tim Burton never let me down and neither do books by Neil Gaiman.

Next up - Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis - This book had a profound influence on me 20 years ago. I just found it in the Nook store for $1.99. I'm interested to find out if it still rings true.

 

[Christine]

I did the free Kindle download, also. Apparently it's a book that was written years ago and recently re-released.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts when you finish about the mother's guilt or innocence.

Okay, so I finished the book (#8 for me: A Mother's Trial) and I'd have to say I'm about 90% sure the mother was guilty. That said, I believe that the author of the book believed she was guilty so the story was slanted in that direction; however, even without catching her in the act, to me the evidence was pretty compelling that she did it. To further convince me was her apparently health with the older foster lady. I then felt that when the baby went to her new adoptive parents, the new pediatrician really screwed up and caused some of the health issues.

I don't know if I am 100% *sure* of it but I don't really think there was anything in her favor.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Just started book #17-"Death by Pantyhose" by Laura Levine. This is my second book by her, and I can tell already that I love it, just like her last. Her books make me laugh almost, but not quite, as hard as the books by Sophie Kinsella.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Okay, so I finished the book (#8 for me: A Mother's Trial) and I'd have to say I'm about 90% sure the mother was guilty. That said, I believe that the author of the book believed she was guilty so the story was slanted in that direction; however, even without catching her in the act, to me the evidence was pretty compelling that she did it. To further convince me was her apparently health with the older foster lady. I then felt that when the baby went to her new adoptive parents, the new pediatrician really screwed up and caused some of the health issues.

I don't know if I am 100% *sure* of it but I don't really think there was anything in her favor.

We came to the same conclusion. I thought the author of the book must have been one of the doctors, maybe Sara (I can't remember the last name). The medical speak was so fluent.

I would have loved a follow-up of some kind - like a where-are-they-now, etc.

 

[3smithboys]

Finished book #8... Looking for Alaska by John Green.

This was his first book, and I thought it was pretty good. Not as good as The Fault in Our Stars, but I loved that book! Still, this kept me interested, and I wanted to keep reading - finished it quickly.

 

[Glynis]

Goal - 24 books

Book #3 - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - I love this kind of highly imaginative and sort of morbid storytelling. Movies by Tim Burton never let me down and neither do books by Neil Gaiman.

Next up - Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis - This book had a profound influence on me 20 years ago. I just found it in the Nook store for $1.99. I'm interested to find out if it still rings true.

I loved "The Graveyard Book"! I loved the re-telling of "The Jungle Book". It was so clever!!!