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1Her_Royal_Orangeness
"Bessie" - the bronze sculpture awarded to the Orange Prize winner
I will be using this thread to track the Orange books I read in 2012.
What my ratings mean: 5=Loved it! 4=Really liked it 3=Liked it 2=It was ok 1=Didn't like it (DNF=Did Not Finish). A half star means it didn't quite make it to the next full star.
And some helpful abbreviations: W = Winner SL = Shortlist LL = Longlist NW = New Writer Award
2Her_Royal_Orangeness
JANUARY (My thread for Orange January, with reviews, comments, etc. can be read HERE.)
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (2006 SL) - 5 Stars
Great House by Nicole Krauss (2011 SL) - 4.5 Stars
The Seas by Samantha Hunt (2011 LL) - 4 Stars
The Accidental by Ali Smith (2006 SL) - 3.5 Stars
The Leper’s Companions by Julia Blackburn (1999 SL) - 3.5 Stars
The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff (2008 NW/SL) - 3 Stars
The Invention of Everything Else by Samantha Hunt (2009 SL) - 3 Stars
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (2011 LL) - 2 Stars
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (2002 Winner) - 2 Stars
The Russian Dreambook of Color and Flight (2009 LL) - DNF
by Orange authors
Arcadia by Lauren Groff - 4.5 Stars
Orange New Writers Book of the Month
22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson (Feb. 2012) - 4.5 Stars
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (2006 SL) - 5 Stars
Great House by Nicole Krauss (2011 SL) - 4.5 Stars
The Seas by Samantha Hunt (2011 LL) - 4 Stars
The Accidental by Ali Smith (2006 SL) - 3.5 Stars
The Leper’s Companions by Julia Blackburn (1999 SL) - 3.5 Stars
The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff (2008 NW/SL) - 3 Stars
The Invention of Everything Else by Samantha Hunt (2009 SL) - 3 Stars
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (2011 LL) - 2 Stars
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (2002 Winner) - 2 Stars
The Russian Dreambook of Color and Flight (2009 LL) - DNF
by Orange authors
Arcadia by Lauren Groff - 4.5 Stars
Orange New Writers Book of the Month
22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson (Feb. 2012) - 4.5 Stars
3Her_Royal_Orangeness
FEBRUARY
The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam
Lauren Liebenberg
2008 LL and NW/SL
Rating: 3 Stars
“The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam” is the story of Nyree and Cia O'Callohan who live on a remote farm in Rhodesia in the late 1970s. Told from the viewpoint of eight-year-old Nyree, the story is an evocation of a childhood filled with African folklore, family legends, fairy tales, and politics. As their country is being torn apart by war, so are the sister’s lives being shattered by their sinister older cousin.
Before reading this book, I probably could not have found Rhodesia on a map and knew nothing of the country’s history and relationship with Britain. However, sometimes it felt like information overload, with facts taking precedence over plot. And I frequently found it difficult to believe that an eight year old would be so knowledgeable about the history and politics of the country where she lives.
For the most part, I enjoyed “The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam” but it was definitely not a book that wowed me. This is the author’s debut novel, for which she was nominated for the Orange Prize for New Writers Award, and I’m curious to read more by her in the future.
by Orange authors
The Passion by Jeanette Winterson (4 Stars)
An Honourable Man by Gillian Slovo (2 Stars)
Next to Love by Ellen Feldman (2 Stars)
The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam
Lauren Liebenberg
2008 LL and NW/SL
Rating: 3 Stars
“The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam” is the story of Nyree and Cia O'Callohan who live on a remote farm in Rhodesia in the late 1970s. Told from the viewpoint of eight-year-old Nyree, the story is an evocation of a childhood filled with African folklore, family legends, fairy tales, and politics. As their country is being torn apart by war, so are the sister’s lives being shattered by their sinister older cousin.
Before reading this book, I probably could not have found Rhodesia on a map and knew nothing of the country’s history and relationship with Britain. However, sometimes it felt like information overload, with facts taking precedence over plot. And I frequently found it difficult to believe that an eight year old would be so knowledgeable about the history and politics of the country where she lives.
For the most part, I enjoyed “The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam” but it was definitely not a book that wowed me. This is the author’s debut novel, for which she was nominated for the Orange Prize for New Writers Award, and I’m curious to read more by her in the future.
by Orange authors
The Passion by Jeanette Winterson (4 Stars)
An Honourable Man by Gillian Slovo (2 Stars)
Next to Love by Ellen Feldman (2 Stars)
4Her_Royal_Orangeness
MARCH
The Translation of the Bones
Francesca Kay
2012 LL
Rating: 2.5 Stars
In “The Translation of the Bones,” Mary-Margaret, a mentally challenged woman, purportedly sees a statue of Jesus begin to bleed. The book explores the affect this supposed miracle has on several different people - the parish priest who is struggling with his faith, Mary-Margaret’s mother who is morbidly obese and agoraphobic, Stella who is unhappy as the wife of a politician, and Alice who desperately misses her son who is serving in the military in Afghanistan. The author explores themes of belief and motherhood, and the story slowly builds to a tragic and sad conclusion.
The book is well written and well structured. I was about 2/3 done and thought, “I’ll just read to the end of this chapter” and flipped ahead to see how far that would be. It was only then that I realized there were no chapters; it was so seamlessly done that I hadn’t even noticed. The characters and plot were well developed and the prose is quietly lovely.
But there is a lot about this book that didn’t work for me. It is very British, with passages like this: “It had been difficult to choose the right material for the task. Flash was far too harsh and so was Mr. Muscle. Fairy liquid, maybe? No, she felt this called for something special and, having rejected Boots as ordinary, she decided on the Body Shop at the top of King’s Road.” Eventually I was able to puzzle out that these are apparently product names in England, and for the most part, the Britishness comes through in inconsequential things like that. But these were like speed bumps in the road that kept slowing me down.
The Catholicness also felt foreign to me, and the author never quite managed to pull me into any kind of empathy or understanding. I also was unable to relate to any of the characters. There are many books in which I make some kind of connection to the characters despite the fact that they are in many ways vastly different from me. But in this case, the author did not succeed in bridging that gap for me.
In summary, I would say that “The Translation of the Bones” is a good book, and for the right person, may even be a wonderful book. For me, though, it was mostly frustrating and forgettable.
The Hunter
Julia Leigh
2000 LL
Rating: 4 Stars
In “The Hunter” by Julia Leigh, a man goes into the wilderness to hunt the elusive Tasmanian tiger, the thylacine. Doesn’t sound very interesting, does it? I only picked up this book for two reasons: it was longlisted for the Orange Prize in 2000, and I could use the location for a global reading challenge. I was quite surprised at how very good this book is.
The writing style is impeccable and I was completely mesmerized. Even when Leigh is just describing a plant or detailing the traps the man constructs, she held my attention. Interspersed with the man’s trek for the creature is the story of his interactions with the family with whom he stays when he goes back to civilization for supplies. The family - a mother and her two young children - are struggling to cope after their husband/father went missing a year earlier. The characterizations of these family members are very well done and their grief is tangible and real.
“The Hunter” is a profound allegory about seeking and yearning and an insightful meditation about the essence of humanity. It’s a quick read (less than 200 pages) and I definitely recommend it for those who appreciate thought provoking tales.
from the 2012 Longlist
Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan (5 Stars) - read in February
Gillespie and I by Jane Harris (5 Stars) - read in February
There but for the by Ali Smith (4.5 Stars) - read in February
Orange New Writers Book of the Month
When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman (Dec. 2011) - 3 Stars
by Orange authors
The West Rand Jive Cats Boxing Club by Lauren Liebenberg (4 Stars)
The Translation of the Bones
Francesca Kay
2012 LL
Rating: 2.5 Stars
In “The Translation of the Bones,” Mary-Margaret, a mentally challenged woman, purportedly sees a statue of Jesus begin to bleed. The book explores the affect this supposed miracle has on several different people - the parish priest who is struggling with his faith, Mary-Margaret’s mother who is morbidly obese and agoraphobic, Stella who is unhappy as the wife of a politician, and Alice who desperately misses her son who is serving in the military in Afghanistan. The author explores themes of belief and motherhood, and the story slowly builds to a tragic and sad conclusion.
The book is well written and well structured. I was about 2/3 done and thought, “I’ll just read to the end of this chapter” and flipped ahead to see how far that would be. It was only then that I realized there were no chapters; it was so seamlessly done that I hadn’t even noticed. The characters and plot were well developed and the prose is quietly lovely.
But there is a lot about this book that didn’t work for me. It is very British, with passages like this: “It had been difficult to choose the right material for the task. Flash was far too harsh and so was Mr. Muscle. Fairy liquid, maybe? No, she felt this called for something special and, having rejected Boots as ordinary, she decided on the Body Shop at the top of King’s Road.” Eventually I was able to puzzle out that these are apparently product names in England, and for the most part, the Britishness comes through in inconsequential things like that. But these were like speed bumps in the road that kept slowing me down.
The Catholicness also felt foreign to me, and the author never quite managed to pull me into any kind of empathy or understanding. I also was unable to relate to any of the characters. There are many books in which I make some kind of connection to the characters despite the fact that they are in many ways vastly different from me. But in this case, the author did not succeed in bridging that gap for me.
In summary, I would say that “The Translation of the Bones” is a good book, and for the right person, may even be a wonderful book. For me, though, it was mostly frustrating and forgettable.
The Hunter
Julia Leigh
2000 LL
Rating: 4 Stars
In “The Hunter” by Julia Leigh, a man goes into the wilderness to hunt the elusive Tasmanian tiger, the thylacine. Doesn’t sound very interesting, does it? I only picked up this book for two reasons: it was longlisted for the Orange Prize in 2000, and I could use the location for a global reading challenge. I was quite surprised at how very good this book is.
The writing style is impeccable and I was completely mesmerized. Even when Leigh is just describing a plant or detailing the traps the man constructs, she held my attention. Interspersed with the man’s trek for the creature is the story of his interactions with the family with whom he stays when he goes back to civilization for supplies. The family - a mother and her two young children - are struggling to cope after their husband/father went missing a year earlier. The characterizations of these family members are very well done and their grief is tangible and real.
“The Hunter” is a profound allegory about seeking and yearning and an insightful meditation about the essence of humanity. It’s a quick read (less than 200 pages) and I definitely recommend it for those who appreciate thought provoking tales.
from the 2012 Longlist
Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan (5 Stars) - read in February
Gillespie and I by Jane Harris (5 Stars) - read in February
There but for the by Ali Smith (4.5 Stars) - read in February
Orange New Writers Book of the Month
When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman (Dec. 2011) - 3 Stars
by Orange authors
The West Rand Jive Cats Boxing Club by Lauren Liebenberg (4 Stars)
5Her_Royal_Orangeness
APRIL
I Was Amelia Earhart
Jane Mendelsohn
1997 SL
Rating: 4 Stars
When I was in the fifth grade, we did a unit on heroes and heroines in American history and we had to select someone to do a presentation on. The teacher gave us a list of names and I looked up several of them in the encyclopaedia. (Yes, encyclopaedia. Remember those? My parents had two sets that filled the bookshelves lining the hallway. They were such an important part of my childhood.)
One of the names I looked up was Amelia Earhart, the pioneering aviatrix who mysteriously vanished while attempting to fly around the world. I knew without a doubt that this was the heroine I wanted to research for my presentation. And from that moment on, I was smitten. Over the years, I’ve read her journals and almost every biography about her. And when the movie “Amelia” starring Hilary Swank was released several years ago, I watched it three times, with barely a break in between viewings.
So I was more than a little excited to read Jane Mendelsohn’s “I Was Amelia Earhart” in which she speculates about what may have happened when Amelia and her navigator, Fred Noonan, vanished. Mendolsohn did not disappoint me with this creative and well-crafted book. The Amelia she depicts is a bit different than how I’ve come to understand her - more moody than stubborn, more despairing than driven - but the author makes it believable. All of Amelia’s notorious spunk is evident, however, when she and Noonan attempt to survive on a deserted island somewhere in the vicinity of New Guinea.
“I Was Amelia Earhart” is an intriguing psychological study about the will to survive and how people react and interact in a crisis. The writing is rich with imagery and emotion yet is also spare and unaffected, a combination that works perfectly. The viewpoint switches constantly between first and third person to create a marked contrast between the inner world of Amelia’s thoughts and the outer world of what Amelia experiences. Though this could be clunky, Mendelsohn handles it adeptly and it adds an important depth to the story.
Imaginative and insightful, “I Was Amelia Earhart” is a very enjoyable read. I recommend this book to those who are looking for something a little different about Amelia Earhart.
Island of Wings
Karin Altenberg
2012 LL
Rating: 2.5 Stars
What I liked: Vivid descriptions. Well researched. Interesting plot.
What I didn't like: It's poorly written. The construction is clunky, from sentence styling to story arc. The dialogue is not believable. Definitely breaks the "show don't tell" rule.
The Submission
Amy Waldman
2012 LL
Rating: 3 Stars
What I liked: Interesting plot. The author did well capturing different viewpoints of a very controversial topic.
What I didn't like: The tone seemed very removed. I never felt drawn in and I never felt like I really knew/understood the characters. The author is a journalist and I thought that reflected in her writing style.
I Was Amelia Earhart
Jane Mendelsohn
1997 SL
Rating: 4 Stars
When I was in the fifth grade, we did a unit on heroes and heroines in American history and we had to select someone to do a presentation on. The teacher gave us a list of names and I looked up several of them in the encyclopaedia. (Yes, encyclopaedia. Remember those? My parents had two sets that filled the bookshelves lining the hallway. They were such an important part of my childhood.)
One of the names I looked up was Amelia Earhart, the pioneering aviatrix who mysteriously vanished while attempting to fly around the world. I knew without a doubt that this was the heroine I wanted to research for my presentation. And from that moment on, I was smitten. Over the years, I’ve read her journals and almost every biography about her. And when the movie “Amelia” starring Hilary Swank was released several years ago, I watched it three times, with barely a break in between viewings.
So I was more than a little excited to read Jane Mendelsohn’s “I Was Amelia Earhart” in which she speculates about what may have happened when Amelia and her navigator, Fred Noonan, vanished. Mendolsohn did not disappoint me with this creative and well-crafted book. The Amelia she depicts is a bit different than how I’ve come to understand her - more moody than stubborn, more despairing than driven - but the author makes it believable. All of Amelia’s notorious spunk is evident, however, when she and Noonan attempt to survive on a deserted island somewhere in the vicinity of New Guinea.
“I Was Amelia Earhart” is an intriguing psychological study about the will to survive and how people react and interact in a crisis. The writing is rich with imagery and emotion yet is also spare and unaffected, a combination that works perfectly. The viewpoint switches constantly between first and third person to create a marked contrast between the inner world of Amelia’s thoughts and the outer world of what Amelia experiences. Though this could be clunky, Mendelsohn handles it adeptly and it adds an important depth to the story.
Imaginative and insightful, “I Was Amelia Earhart” is a very enjoyable read. I recommend this book to those who are looking for something a little different about Amelia Earhart.
Island of Wings
Karin Altenberg
2012 LL
Rating: 2.5 Stars
What I liked: Vivid descriptions. Well researched. Interesting plot.
What I didn't like: It's poorly written. The construction is clunky, from sentence styling to story arc. The dialogue is not believable. Definitely breaks the "show don't tell" rule.
The Submission
Amy Waldman
2012 LL
Rating: 3 Stars
What I liked: Interesting plot. The author did well capturing different viewpoints of a very controversial topic.
What I didn't like: The tone seemed very removed. I never felt drawn in and I never felt like I really knew/understood the characters. The author is a journalist and I thought that reflected in her writing style.
6Her_Royal_Orangeness
MAY
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (2012 Winner) - 4.5 Stars
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (2010 SL) - 4.5 Stars
Fred and Edie by Jill Dawson (2001 SL) - 3 Stars
Evening is the Whole Day by Preeta Samarasan (2009 LL) - 3 Stars
by Orange authors
Emerald City by Jennifer Egan - 2 Stars
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (2012 Winner) - 4.5 Stars
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (2010 SL) - 4.5 Stars
Fred and Edie by Jill Dawson (2001 SL) - 3 Stars
Evening is the Whole Day by Preeta Samarasan (2009 LL) - 3 Stars
by Orange authors
Emerald City by Jennifer Egan - 2 Stars
7Her_Royal_Orangeness
JUNE
Mother of Pearl by Mary Morrissy (1996 LL) - 3.5 Stars
White Ghost Girls by Alice Greenway (2006 LL) - 3.5 Stars
The Road to Wanting by Wendy Law-Yone (2011 LL) - 2 Stars
Fox Girl by Nora Okja Keller (2003 LL) - 2 Stars
The Great Fire by Shirley Hazard (2004 SL) - 2 Stars
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan (2001 LL) 2 Stars
Mother of Pearl by Mary Morrissy (1996 LL) - 3.5 Stars
White Ghost Girls by Alice Greenway (2006 LL) - 3.5 Stars
The Road to Wanting by Wendy Law-Yone (2011 LL) - 2 Stars
Fox Girl by Nora Okja Keller (2003 LL) - 2 Stars
The Great Fire by Shirley Hazard (2004 SL) - 2 Stars
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan (2001 LL) 2 Stars
9Her_Royal_Orangeness
AUGUST
The Night Watch by Sarah Waters (2006 SL) - 3.5 Stars
by Orange authors
Archipelago by Monique Roffey (4.5 Stars)
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel (4 Stars)
August Frost by Monique Roffey (3 Stars)
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters (2.5 Stars)
The Night Watch by Sarah Waters (2006 SL) - 3.5 Stars
by Orange authors
Archipelago by Monique Roffey (4.5 Stars)
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel (4 Stars)
August Frost by Monique Roffey (3 Stars)
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters (2.5 Stars)
10Her_Royal_Orangeness
SEPTEMBER
A Spell of Winter
Helen Dunmore
1996 Winner
Rating: 3 Stars
“The Spell of Winter” is Cathy’s story. Her mother abandoned the family, her father went crazy, she has a creepy governess, her best friend is one of the family’s servants, and the relationship she has with her brother definitely crosses the boundaries of ‘normal.’ Cathy is lonely and lost and more than a little muddled about things.
Cathy’s confusion is reflected in the writing style, with names being mentioned with no explanation of who the people are and with time being very fluid, drifting constantly from past to present. I found the first half of the book very difficult to read because nothing seemed to be connected to anything. This wasn’t bad writing, though. It was something the author did deliberately to allow the reader to actually be in Cathy’s head.
The cumulative affect of the story, as Cathy’s grows from a young girl to a woman, is grim and horrific. Although I can’t say that I enjoyed the book, I must admit that Dunmore’s skill as an author is quite evident. She brilliantly captures a spirit of gothicness in this work, and her prose is exquisite and lyrical. I can appreciate why the author was awarded the Orange Prize for Fiction for the novel, but I doubt I will be recommending the book to anyone.
A Spell of Winter
Helen Dunmore
1996 Winner
Rating: 3 Stars
“The Spell of Winter” is Cathy’s story. Her mother abandoned the family, her father went crazy, she has a creepy governess, her best friend is one of the family’s servants, and the relationship she has with her brother definitely crosses the boundaries of ‘normal.’ Cathy is lonely and lost and more than a little muddled about things.
Cathy’s confusion is reflected in the writing style, with names being mentioned with no explanation of who the people are and with time being very fluid, drifting constantly from past to present. I found the first half of the book very difficult to read because nothing seemed to be connected to anything. This wasn’t bad writing, though. It was something the author did deliberately to allow the reader to actually be in Cathy’s head.
The cumulative affect of the story, as Cathy’s grows from a young girl to a woman, is grim and horrific. Although I can’t say that I enjoyed the book, I must admit that Dunmore’s skill as an author is quite evident. She brilliantly captures a spirit of gothicness in this work, and her prose is exquisite and lyrical. I can appreciate why the author was awarded the Orange Prize for Fiction for the novel, but I doubt I will be recommending the book to anyone.
11Her_Royal_Orangeness
OCTOBER
12Her_Royal_Orangeness
NOVEMBER
13Her_Royal_Orangeness
DECEMBER
14Samantha_kathy
Starred!
17Her_Royal_Orangeness
Oooooh, I've got fans! lol
18Her_Royal_Orangeness
Read my first Orange for February - The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam. Review above.
20Her_Royal_Orangeness
Thanks Tina. :) The group has been very quiet this month, hasn't it?
21Her_Royal_Orangeness
Confession: my name is HRO and I am an Orange Addict. I've spent most of today organizing my boxes and bookshelves. To get through all the Oranges I own, I would have to read one Orange book every week for one year (and not buy anymore). Um, and I have almost that many on the shelf of books I'm planning to read for a Global Challenge. Oh dear, I had no idea it was that crazy. Help! lol
22mrstreme
If you're looking for a sponsor for your addiction, I am definitely NOT it! LOL! Oy, I am just as bad.
24lauralkeet
You're in good company here, HRO. I'm barely holding a major TBR freak-out at bay right now. I received some books and a gift card for my birthday last weekend and this, coupled with the fact that I haven't finished as many books as I hoped this month, put me in one of those "how will I ever read all these books" phases. I'm even considering NOT going to a major used book sale this weekend. I love it, but then sometimes I feel overwhelmed!
25Yells
I guess I am in good company because I have somehow managed to accumulate over a thousand unread books. And that somehow doesn't stop hubby and I from going on book buying jaunts and bringing home more. I read fast but not that fast!
26Nickelini
#25 - Okay, Danielle, I'm hanging out with you. I only have 600 or so books, so when I stand next to you I definitely don't have a problem. I'll buy the refreshments.
27mrstreme
One way to look at it: Acquiring books as collector items - something to look at and extra bonus if you get to read them! =)
28Nickelini
Another way to look at it: if you store your books along your walls, it's an added layer of insulation to your home, helping you save heating costs.
29Neverwithoutabook
I don't want to count how many unread books I have. :(
30Her_Royal_Orangeness
We're all crazy! I love it! There's just something so comforting about a roomful of books, isn't there? Even if they're unread books that sit on the shelf and taunt you about their unreadness. :)
31Yells
I never knew the number until I came here. Now I just try to seek out people with similar TBR numbers so I can blend in. It's always nice to say "ha, I am not as bad as THAT person!". :)
32Neverwithoutabook
My dream room - walls lined with bookshelves full of books leaving only enough room for a fireplace and a window with a nice view. In the middle, an comfy chair and sofa on a luxurious carpet, a couple of side tables, some good lighting (very important) and a cozy throw. Heaven.
34Neverwithoutabook
Yup, or on the lap or curled up behind your knees. One of my cat's favorite spots.
35Her_Royal_Orangeness
A blankie, a good book, and a mug of tea......ah, that's bliss. About cats, though....in my experience, they're usually jealous of the book you're trying to read and do all they can to distract you. Walking on the pages, sticking their head (or butt...lol) in your face, nudging the book out of the way, etc. :)
36Yells
You do have to be willing to give up part of your scone to have a settled cat but they do a good job warming your feet so it's a bit of a trade off!
37Her_Royal_Orangeness
Amazing the bribery power that is inherent in a good scone!
38TinaV95
I *heart* this group and this feed!!!!! :)
I'm not about to count my TBR and I have bookshelves LINED with unreads in both my office and my living room.... Only a fraction of which I've read (and I still keep buying!).
I finally feel like I have found kindred spirits here as everyone in my RL thinks I'm a bit bonkers about books!
I'm not about to count my TBR and I have bookshelves LINED with unreads in both my office and my living room.... Only a fraction of which I've read (and I still keep buying!).
I finally feel like I have found kindred spirits here as everyone in my RL thinks I'm a bit bonkers about books!
39Neverwithoutabook
@38 - Me too. People keep trying to tell me I have to many books. I love that so many people on this site feel the same way I do....there's never too many books! I have boxes of books, most of which I've read, but they're not listed here because I haven't opening the boxes in about 10 yrs. I also have stacks and stacks of books at home just waiting to be read. Problem is that there's never enough time to read as much as I would like. Sometimes RL just gets in the way to much. :(
40Her_Royal_Orangeness
I keep quite a few of my books boxed up and hidden away so I'm not totally embarrassed when I have friends over. :)
41Yells
Hide ones books? The horror! :)
I am a ginormous geek with anal retentive tendencies. Mine are all on shelves, all categorised and alphabetised. It works great when someone asks to borrow a specific book and I know where it is down to the shelf but not so great when people look at you incredulously and say "seriously? You did what???"
I am a ginormous geek with anal retentive tendencies. Mine are all on shelves, all categorised and alphabetised. It works great when someone asks to borrow a specific book and I know where it is down to the shelf but not so great when people look at you incredulously and say "seriously? You did what???"
42TinaV95
>41 Yells: - LOL! I have mine vaguely categorized, but that's it... I wish I were as organized to have mine alphabetized!
43Her_Royal_Orangeness
I only read one Orange book in February, but I did read several by Orange authors. Two were phenomenal (Gillespie and I, There but for the), one was very good (The Passion), and two I really didn't like (An Honourable Man, Next to Love).
44LovingLit
Hello HRO,
Love your name btw- its the reason I am visiting as it grabbed by attention, and now that I'm here, I may as well read :)
Just to chime in, my books are arranged as closely as possible in author groups and size. I dont have that many compared to LT folk, but more than anyone else I know in real life.
The Orange Prize isnt that well known here in New Zealand, but I am learning and liking.
Love your name btw- its the reason I am visiting as it grabbed by attention, and now that I'm here, I may as well read :)
Just to chime in, my books are arranged as closely as possible in author groups and size. I dont have that many compared to LT folk, but more than anyone else I know in real life.
The Orange Prize isnt that well known here in New Zealand, but I am learning and liking.
45Her_Royal_Orangeness
Hi Ireadthereforeiam! Welcome to Orange Land. :)
46Her_Royal_Orangeness
I finally got some reviews written and have updated this thread. In March I read The Translation of the Bones and The Hunter, and so far in April I have read I Was Amelia Earhart. See above for reviews and such.
47Her_Royal_Orangeness
I posted a few quick thoughts above about Island of Wings and The Submission. I might get around to writing full reviews later this week!
48vancouverdeb
I listed my " wild horses " won't get me to read certain long listed Oranges - you can read them on my thread. So, what are yours? :)
49Her_Royal_Orangeness
My only Orange read in August was The Night Watch by Sarah Waters (2006 SL). I still haven't written a review, but I did quite enjoy it and rated it 3.5 Stars. (It was infinitely better than Tipping the Velvet which I also read in August and rated 2.5 Stars.)
I also read Monique Roffey's newest book Archipelago (which I LOVED) as well as Roffey's first novel August Frost (which was good but not great.) (Roffey was shortlisted in 2010 for The White Woman on the Green Bicycle.)
And finally I read Hilary Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies, the sequel to Wolf Hall which was shortlisted in 2010.
I also read Monique Roffey's newest book Archipelago (which I LOVED) as well as Roffey's first novel August Frost (which was good but not great.) (Roffey was shortlisted in 2010 for The White Woman on the Green Bicycle.)
And finally I read Hilary Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies, the sequel to Wolf Hall which was shortlisted in 2010.
50lauralkeet
>49 Her_Royal_Orangeness:: HRO, I just finished Bring up the Bodies myself and loved it. How about you?
51Her_Royal_Orangeness
I enjoyed both Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies though I must say that I found them very challenging, both in style and content. I honestly would like to read them again, because I think they would be even more remarkable the second time around.
52Her_Royal_Orangeness
I read A Spell of Winter the 1996 Orange winner. My thoughts are above (in message 9).
