Helensq's first attempt

This is my first foray into the 75 books challenge - and to posting in a group. Although it's a bit late to be starting and I know I won't make it to 75, I've been keeping track of the books I've read this year so can catch up. I've written a few comments on each book I've read in 2011 in my library catalogue here.

I'll do my best on the formatting stuff so bear with me if I don't quite get it right! I'll start with January and see if it works.

So here goes:

January
1. The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
2. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell
3. Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
4. The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
5. The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng
6. Human Love by Andrei Makine
7. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

A fabulous start to the year. The English Patient is my all-time favourite book and so was the first I wanted to read on my new kindle. I loved both The Gift of Rain and The Book Thief in particular. The only disappointment in the month was Brooklyn which I thought was shallow and completely failed to live up to the many good reviews I had read.

Welcome to the group, Helen!

Well, that seems to have worked so I'll carry on with the next few months. And thanks for the welcome ronincats!

January
1. The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
2. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell
3. Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
4. The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
5. The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng
6. Human Love by Andrei Makine
7. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

February
8. The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
9. The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha
10. Never Let Me Go by Kazuro Ishiguro
11. On Chesil Beach by Ian McKeown
12. Room by Emma Donoghue
13. Anna Karenina by Tolstoy

March
14. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
15. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
16. Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey

I didn't go to see the film but took the opportunity to read Never Let Me Go, probably prompted by the adverts in the Tube. Probably the most thought-provoking book I've read this year.

Reading slowed down in March because I read Mme Bovary in French. I do this sometimes to keep my language skills brushed up but it does take longer to finish so isn't a good choice with a target to achieve!

April
17. The Hare with the Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal
18. The Slap by Chris Tsolkias
19. Psmith in the City by PG Wodehouse
20. Mudbound by Hilary Jordan
21. The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell

May
22. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
23. The History of England from the Norman Conquest to the Death of John by GB Adams (1851 - 1925)
24. The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman

Hated The Slap, so needed some light relief to follow! Probably my favourite of these two months was the Maggie O'Farrell. May was slow going because A Fine Balance took some time, and I also chose to read a very old history book (free on kindle!) about the Norman invasion of England, to complement a history of Normandy I read last year.

That's it for now as it is bedtime here! I'll finish off catching up tomorrow evening (so much for reading!)

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Welcome! I'm fairly new myself (joined in August). I've found the 75'ers to be a very friendly bunch!
Hope you enjoy!

Here you are. You're on your way now Helen. Welcome to the group. And lookee here, I too hated The Slap (with a passion). See if you agree with me right here.

I see you read The Cookbook Collector. I have that one on my shelf so I'm wondering how you liked it.

Hello, Helen! I've got you "starred" and look forward to learning what else you've read this year. We've read a few of the same books!

Karen O.

My current thread is here http://www.librarything.com/topic/122919
if you'd like to visit me--my thread is very low-volume so you won't be swamped!

Welcome! That's a great list for the year.

By the way, we have a group wiki where we keep links to all our important threads here

http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Groups:75booksin2011

It's always found by a link from the group page.

Welcome Helen, I'd also like to know what you thought of The Cookbook Collector, as I downloaded it to my Kindle when it was briefly available at a bargain price.

Another welcome! And well done for reading Madame Bovary in French. In theory I try to read something in French every once in a while, but it has been several years...

As for the numbers, late joiners or not we don't really worry too much about actually reaching 75 books - some people in this group manage to read twice or three times that in a year, others only half. It's not about the numbers but the conversations and connections and discovering loads more interesting books to read!

Welcome! I'm also fairly new to the group (August) and have no chance of reaching 75 this year. I've starred your thread. I also found Never Let Me Go to be quite thought-provoking. It was one of my favorites this year.

Welcome!!

Brenzi, I think your review of The Slap is spot on. I agree with all your points. There was no sense of the characters developing as individuals as a result of their experiences and the question of whether there is a distinction between child abuse and corporal punishment was not explored - an opportunity missed I think. I haven't read many (any?) other novels set in contemporary Australia and wondered whether someone brought up in that culture would see it differently?

I found The Cookbook Collector an enjoyable light read. Always good to read about people who love books! I won't spoil the story for you but it is set in a very particular time and place and again, I wanted more about how the effect that had on the characters.

I'll finish off my catching up later on.

So, to finish off the "back-catalogue"

January
1. The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
2. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell
3. Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
4. The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
5. The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng
6. Human Love by Andrei Makine
7. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

February
8. The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
9. The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha
10. Never Let Me Go by Kazuro Ishiguro
11. On Chesil Beach by Ian McKeown
12. Room by Emma Donoghue
13. Anna Karenina by Tolstoy

March
14. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
15. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
16. Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey

April
17. The Hare with the Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal
18. The Slap by Chris Tsolkias
19. Psmith in the City by PG Wodehouse
20. Mudbound by Hilary Jordan
21. The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell

May
22. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
23. The History of England from the Norman Conquest to the Death of John by GB Adams (1851 - 1925)
24. The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman

June
25. Mosquito by Roma Tearne
26. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
27. The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
28. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

July
29. The Swimmer by Roma Tearne
30. A Brief History of France by Cecil Jenkins
31. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Wells
32. Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje
33. I have a Dream (collection of speeches)

Some more great reads, Mosquito, The Help, The Cellist and The Glass Castle in particular.

Mosquito has been one of the highlights of my year's reading - I gave it a rare 5 stars. I rapidly decided to read other books by Roma Tearne so turned to The Swimmer but I was disappointed, not because it wasn't well-written and engrossing, but because there were too many overlaps in subject matter (even though the setting was completely different).

Divisadero was another case where, for me at least, a favourite author failed to live up to previous promise. Much as I love The English Patient, I just couldn't find my way to enjoy Divisadero - so much so that, very unusually, I failed to finish it.

August
34. Holes by Louis Sachar
35. Annie Dunne by Sebastian Barry
36. Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery
37. This Thing of Darkness by Harry Thompson

September
38. The Long Song by Andrea Levy
39. La Mare au Diable by George Sand
40. Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna
41. The Glass Room by Simon Mawer

Some summer reading - I enjoyed re-reading Anne of Green Gables after about 40 years! A different perspective now as a parent. This Thing of Darkness, about Charles Darwin and the captain of the Beagle was fascinating - theoretically a novel but very factually-based. Another French read - La Mare au Diable - though I only skim read the second half which is essentially a sociological account of marriage practices in la France profonde in the early 19th century. But the best of all was The Glass Room -I would have never expected to enjoy a book about a modernist house but I just couldn't put it down.

So that almost brings me up to date, just another couple for October so far but I will put those in an October post. Just want to say thanks for all the welcomes - it's lovely to find people who are interested in what I have read! But it could get very expensive - I have already bought Mr Pip based on klobrien's reply to my previous post, and fear there will be many more!

October
42. Fludd by Hilary Mantel
43. Fred and Edie by Jill Dawson
44. Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones

More to follow as I read them through the month.

Hi, Helen, just adding my welcome, from another London area person. I've read quite a few of the books on your list, and looking forward to hearing your comments on the next batch as they come along.

Welcome Helen! Interesting library you have - we have lots in common. I have The Slap on my Shelves of Shame (along with all the other books I have yet to read). Being here in Australia, I have always felt a bit guilty that I haven't read it - but now I am almost guilt-free (not many people seem to have liked it here on LT) The tv version has just started to air here, and I am told the performances are wonderful. Still not tempted. The Glass Room intrigues me...will have to be off to Book Depository and find out more.

October
42. Fludd by Hilary Mantel
43. Fred and Edie by Jill Dawson
44. Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
45. Amsterdam by Ian McKewan

An interesting mix so far this month. All have been good, none outstanding. Perhaps the most thought provoking has been Amsterdam but that, and Mr Pip were both let down by their endings. Amsterdam was just too neat and implausible, Mr Pip seemed to tail off: new characters, new setting that didn't gel with the rest.

I've now started Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie - first impressions are very good.

#18 I really enjoyed Burnt Shadows last year - a book group read for me. Hope you continue to find it good.

46. My first impressions of Burnt Shadows held good for the entire book. The characters are appealing and varied, the narrative is well-paced and it has left me with much to think about - the meaning of nationality and cultures, nature versus nurture. Certainly a book I will recommend to others. Perhaps a little far fetched for one family to be directly affected by so many of the momentous events of the 20th century and so it is probably not coincidental that I have turned to the simple pleasures of Three Men in a Boat for my 47th book of the year.

I know what you mean about the connections with so many key events - but I agree that it gives much to reflect on re nationality, culture - and for me it was about where home and identity are to be found, for people who have moved around a lot as these characters have.

Just found your thread Helen - welcome to the group! I can tell you are going to do bad things to my piles of unread books... we have quite a few in common. I really enjoyed Burnt Shadows too, except for the last little bit. And I really enjoyed The Glass Room too.

October's final tally
42. Fludd by Hilary Mantel
43. Fred and Edie by Jill Dawson
44. Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
45. Amsterdam by Ian McKewan
46. Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie
47. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome
48. In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar

Three Men in a Boat disappointed a little - I had memories of it being so funny but it didn't quite live up to them. But as someone who lives very near the River Thames, and who is gradually walking the length of the Thames Path (all 184 miles of it - but not all at once!), it's good to read a 19th century description of villages and pubs that we are visiting and enjoying on our 21st century weekend walks (many remarkably unchanged).

Of all the books this month, Burnt Shadows was my favourite, followed by Amsterdam and Mr Pip. But then the month isn't quite over - I have just started In the Country of Men and it promises much. I am about to take it to rainy Normandy to complete but by the time I'm back it will be November and time to start the next list.

November's selection part 1

49.The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
50. When we were Bad by Charlotte Mendelson

A slow start to the month because I loaned my kindle to my husband so he could read The Help before we go to see it in the cinema. I soon realised that I really don't like reverting to tree books now, especially on the commute!

Anyway, back to the books. Two LT inspired reads so far this month - books I would never have thought to read if it hadn't been for seeing ratings and reviews here.

The Age of Innocence is a portrayal of upper class New York society in the 1870s, the stultifying manners and social niceties and its contrast with the bohemian, exciting but feared ideas and behaviours of foreigners from Europea. Written with wry humour, women are the force to be reckoned with. The lead male character ultimately confirms his inability to break free from the pressures and constraints of social duty, despite the glimpses he has of another, better life. The last chapter, or rather the last few pages, suddenly brought it all together for me.

I really enjoyed this book even though it was a bit slow going in the middle. I realise I know very little of American literature and have decided to make this a project for 2012. I plan to start with Uncle Tom's Cabin, Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, none of which I have ever read. All suggestions for other books I should line up gratefully received!

Now reading When We Were Bad. Too early for a final view and certainly not a challenging read, but 30% in (I said I was a kindle reader didn't I?!) I am thoroughly enjoying it.

Have you see the Deals of the Day going on this week, as a UK kindle user? They're offering some great books very cheaply for 24 hours (midnight to midnight) very cheaply.

Hi Helen, I read and liked very much Burnt Shadows a couple of months ago; would have loved it if not for the ending. Now Age of Innocence I loved. As a matter of fact I'll be binging on Wharton next year.

Welcome welcome Helen, so happy to have you here! Like brenzi I am a nut for Edith. Many of her books are more 'dramatic' than The Age of Innocence -- also a great deal more contemporary in feeling. (Contemporary at any rate, to her own time and milieu!).

Catching up
It's been a while since I last updated my progress. That's partly because for various reasons, I've been reading a bit less, and the books I've read have perhaps not gripped me as much as some others I have read this year.

So, to complete the November listing and bring me up to date half-way through December:

49.The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
50. When we were Bad by Charlotte Mendelson
51. The Passion by Jeanette Winterson
52. Snow falling on Cedars by David Guterson
53. An Account of Egypt by Herodotus
54. The Song before it is sung by Justin Cartwright

When We were Bad remained an enjoyable read, but as others have said, I found none of the characters particularly likeable (which I realise does matter to me). Claudia was insufferable and most of the other characters needed a good shaking! Are any families really like that?!

I mostly enjoyed The Passion but am not a great fan of magic realism. That also meant that I have not in all honesty been able to add to my list of books read a 54th book that I've tried during the last month - The Girl with Glass Feet by Ali Shaw. I read the first two chapters but just couldn't cope with the style and so gave up on it. I plan to go and look at some others' reviews, to see what I'm missing.

Snow falling on Cedars was much better - very well written, with two or even three inter-twined stories, over a thirty year time period. An interesting exploration of cultural differences, small-island prejudices and the impact of WWII on American-Japanese. My only criticism is that because of the struture of the book, none of the stories really captured my interest as much as they would have done if they had been the sole focus. The story is not exactly a 'glorious whodunnit' as splashed on the cover, but overall I really enjoyed it and would recommend it.

In between times I've been reading up on ancient Egypt, having decided to celebrate our silver wedding anniversary next year on a Nile cruise. It was the first Herodotus I've ever read - and also helped enhance still further my enjoyment of my all-time favourite, The English Patient, in which Herodotus plays a not-insignificant part.

I'm looking forward to trying more Wharton next year so thanks to all for the encouragment! If I'm not back on LT in the next week, Happy Christmas to all

Helen

Final tally

So, as anticipated I didn't make it to 75 but I enjoyed the journey and certainly read more oops in 2011 than ever before. The last two completed books in 2011 were:

55. Death comes to Pemberley by PD James
56. Egypt: How a Lost Civilisation was Rediscovered by Joyce Tyldesley

The former was an enjoyable holiday read by an author that clearly knows her Austen. The latter was a fascinating part of the preparation for our Egyptian holiday in February - shocking to see how little value and respect was given to ancient antiquities in centuries past.

So now I am mulling over whether to join the 2012 challenge. I have found that the 2011 challenge has deterred me from reading longer books, and I know I want to read some more French novels next year, which will slow down my progress. But I have valued and appreciated the comments and reactions from fellow 75ers and think that this will outweigh my instinctive competitiveness! So onwards and upwards.

Happy new year all.

Helen

Helen, I didn't make my goal of 75 either and I haven't in the 3 previous years I have been in. I personally love the 75ers group and think you would be a fun addition to our group as you have been this past year. Good luck and Happy New Year!

I hope you will join in with the fun again. Don't be put off reading the long novels.