Cerievans1's 75 book challenge

1. In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant hmmmm not too sure about this book, great descriptions of Venice but think it is too long at 400 pages....

I've had that one in my TBR stacks for awhile . . . I think I've been putting it off because I wasn't too enamoured of Birth of Venus.

I liked them both:-) I read an arc of In the Company of the Courtesan on the return plane trip from Venice (I read the Jonathan Harr book about Caravaggio on the way to Italy). Well, I thought them quite good fiction, I would have to think about how I would rate them as historical fiction. I don't know much about that period in Italy.

2. The Way I found her by Rose Tremain

The way I found her started really slowly but was a really good book... though a little creepy at the end....

3. Tales from the torrid zone by Alexander Frater

Tales from the Torrid Zone chronicles Alexander frater's travels around the tropics, from Vanuatu, Burma, Mozambique and many in between. Thus far, I have found the writing to be a little disjointed - it seems that the travels took place over many years and at time the book really loses its way. Despite this, the stories are on the whole very interesting and descriptions vivid. For example, the trip up the Irrawaddy in a steamer from Mandalay to Rangoon brought the tropics to life.

4. Skin Lane by Neil Bartlett 20 pages in and the book has captivated me........

Finished Skin Lane brilliant book... see my review!

5. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

Oh, I loved The Namesake. Lahiri has a new short story collection coming out soon.

I have just finished The Namesake it was excellent. Will keep an eye out for her new short story collection, but I am going to dig out The Interpreter of Maladies which is somewhere in my TBR pile.

6. Notes from the underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

I believe her upcoming book is titled Unequalled Earth.

Dearie me, Notes from the Underground is very hard to read...

Have lost interest and I have started reading

Replacement Number 6. Suite Francaise by Irene Némirovsky

7. On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan

8. If on a winter's night a traveller by Italo Calvino

Yet another frustrating book... I really hate how Calvino writes, think I'm too preoccupied with work to concentrate on it...

9. Agent Zigzag by Ben Macintyre

On Chesil Beach was one of my favorites for 2007. From what I read in advance, I didn't expect to like it, but it haunted me for weeks after I finished it.

Please, please give Notes from Underground and If on a Winter's night a traveler another chance!!

They are both very important books to the post modernism movement. Notes challenges they way we view the narrator (as he is slowly going insane throughout the story) and If on a winter's night, the writer and his reliability (what book is he really trying to write?).

I know - I am really annoyed with myself but I will try them again when my concentration span is longer. Unfortunately, when I am spending long hours at work it adversely effects my reading i.e. at the moment I have the concentration span of a gnat and I am very impatient! I am therefore reading what I consider easier books, lazy I know. Nevertheless, the importance of both Notes from the Underground and If on a winter's night a traveler is noted and I will not relinquish them.

On Chesil Beach was moving, beautifully written and in my experience, I think still relevant today i.e. people still don't talk to each other about their problems as much as they should. The book definitely stays with you long after the last tear sodden page is turned over.

I am about 30 pages through Agent Zigzag I am relieved to say it is holding my attention. I thought it would be quite a boys own book but it is fascinating... I can hardly believe that Eddie Chapman's life story is true.

10. The way of the women by Marlene van Niekerk...bitterwseet, epic, beautiful... read it now!!

11. Tanglewreck by Jeanette Winterson

12. Selected poems by Rudyard Kipling

Excellent in parts... reminded me how much I love poetry................................

It's like a book, I think, this bloomin' world,
Which you can read and care for just so long,
But presently you feel that you will die
Unless you get the page you're readin' done,
An' turn another - likely not so good;
But what you're after is to turn 'em all.

Extract from Sestina of the Tramp Royal, Rudyard Kilping.

13. Wales by Jan Morris

200 pages in and really enjoying this look at my country.... and talking about loving poetry again... he is an extact from a poem written in 1282 by Gruffudd ab yr Ynad Goch (Gruffudd son of the red judge) on the death of Llywelyn the "last prince of Wales"... quoted in the book....

Do you not see the path of the wind and the rain?
Do you not see the oaks beating together?
Do you not see the sea scouring the land?
Do you not see the truth preparing itself?
Do you not see the sun sailing the heavens?
Do you not see the stars fallen?
Do you not believe in God, simple men?
Do you not see that the world has ended?

Tanglewreck was an easy read and a bit too simplistic to get more than 2 1/2 stars though some of the characters were very true to life e.g. Mrs Rokabye who lives on a diet of microwaveable fish and chips and chocolate!

14. In search of a distant voice by Taichi Yamada

15. The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon

Hello cerievans1! I just finished listening to The Yiddish Policemen's Union and absolutely adored it. You'll have to let me know what you think.

I'm actually reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay right now and enjoying it too - only 75 pages or so in.

Yeah, I loved The Yiddish Policemen's Union as well. Gentlemen of the Road was really good too.

Hello Karenmarie and drneutron!I am loving the Yiddish Policemen's union -I am about 130 pages in and really enjoying the story. A couple of years ago I read The amazing adventures of Kavalier and Clay and thought it was a classic. Am going to put Wonder boys on my TBR pile. What is Gentlemen of the Road about? I have never heard of it.

It's Chabon's latest. My review was suitably short for posting, so here it is...

A short, fun, colorful tale of two adventurers as they knock about the Caucasus region around 1000 AD. The language is suitably flowery and poetic, the descriptions are delightful, and the characters feel real. Besides, how could anybody miss a book with the working title "Jews with Swords"?

Hey drneutron and cerievans1. I'm still working on Kavalier & Clay. It's so nice that there are several other books by Michael Chabon that I have to look forward to.

It sounds like Gentlemen of the Road might be next - I love the working title! It (the title) reminds me of a favorite CD called Jews with Horns by the Klezmatics. Might pull that to listen to on the way home from work tomorrow!

16. Blood River: A journey to Africa's Broken Heart by Tim Butcher

A bit late reading your postings, Cerievans1, but what did you think of Agent Zigzag. My hubbie read it and really enjoyed it, but would like another opinion. It is on my TBRs - should I move it up??

17. Boy A by Jonathan Trigell

Hmmm not sure about that last one (Boy A by Jonathan Trigell I mean)

18: Not Quite World's end: A Traveller's Tales by John Simpson

19. Snow Flower and the Secret fan by Lisa See

20. The Drowned Book by Sean O'Brien

21. The Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies

22. The Nature of Monsters by Clare Clark
23. The Book of Dave by Will Self

24. Selected stories by Anton Chekhov

Chekov's short stories were recommended in a book I read about reading; they were described as great for character and story development. I have a copy of this book but haven't cracked it. What'd you think?

Blackdogbooks - So far I have read about 1/2 the stories, I would agree that Chekhov is very good at developing characters and his description of place/landscape is excellent. I really enjoyed The Trousseau, At Home and the Night before Easter. I think it is best to dip into a short story now and again rather than read the whole book in one sitting.

25. Daughter of the Desert: The Remarkable life of Gertrude Bell by Georgina Howell

Thanks for the comments.....I may pull mine out and read a few as you suggest.

Good idea! I have just given up on The Nature of Monsters because it was too lurid/cringeworthy for me... I could see the direction the book was heading in. Given that The Great Stink is one of my all time favourite novels I was disappointed....

Glad you didn't insist on finishing a book you didn't enjoy. I have a 50 page rule. It doesn't weed out all the books that I am ultimately disappointed by but it keeps me from doggedly finishing something just because I started it, a failing I used to fall prey often. I checked these two titles you mentioned here because they are new to me. The do seem rather dark but interesting, nonetheless. Hope your next pick is a keeper.

It is! Daughter of the Desert: The Remarkable life of Gertrude Bell is fascinating...

26. Les Fleurs du mal by Charles Baudelaire
27. Becoming Abigail by Chris Abani

28. Away by Amy Bloom - what a fantastic book....

29. Lost City Radio by Daniel Alarcon

30. A life elsewhere by Segun Afolabi

31. A Town called Immaculate by Peter Anthony

32. Adrian Mole and the weapons of mass destruction by Sue Townsend

33. Red Dust by Ma Jian
Winner of Thomas Cook Travel Book Award 2002
This is a fascinating account of travels across China in 1983-6 by the journalist Ma Jian. Tired of his job working for the Propaganda department of the Communist Party in Beijing and disillusioned with his personal life, Ma Jian spends over 3 years travelling across China. I found the book initially hard to get into, but I was won over by the tales of ordinary, very poor people's kindness towards Ma Jian, his numerous brushes with death and the law,and his portrayal of a China amidst change i.e. the development of places like Shenzhen and Guangzhou as economic hotspots against the campaign of the Communist Government against Spritual Pollution and the contrast between the relatively affluent lifestyles of the Beijing set alongside the subsistence lifestyle of country people. I was particularly touched by the story of a festival celebrating regional way of life where a number of people were invited from country villages to demonstrate their culture, but they were duped into buying cassette players (remember this is 1983!) which had bricks in the middle, having spent a year's savings on the item. I am really looking forward to Ma Jian's new book about the events leading up to the Tianmen massacre.

****

34. The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene

Must know what you think about this one. I have exchanged messages with others here in the 75'ers about it. I was recommended to the book by a friend and I tried it. I still don't really know how I feel about it. As I said to another 75'er, I felt like I missed something very important along the way and the book ended with a resounding thud. I sort of enjoyed it but I sort of didn't enjoy it.

Hi Blackdog
So far so good really, it reads well though seems a little dated, am hoping to finish it by Friday, watch this space!
Ceri

35. Pirate's daughter by Margaret Cezair Thompson
36. Blood of flowers by Anita Amirrezvani
37. A thousand splendid suns by Khaled Hosseini

38. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

39. 1599: a year in the life of William Shakespeare by James Shapiro

40. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

Hey Cerievans,
What was your take on The Reluctant Fundamentalist?

Hi TrishNYC
I enjoyed The Reluctant Fundamentalist for its story but it is not as good as all the hype would have you believe!

41. A short walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby

42. Wizard of the Crow by Ngugi wa Thiongo

43. Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Food Critic by Ruth Reichl

44. Mosquito by Roma Tearne

Garlic and Sapphires sounds interesting. Did you enjoy it?

It was fascinating and enjoyable- Ruth Reichl is a real character. Garlic and Sapphires is a combination of restaurant reviews, and insights into how Ruth Reichl undertakes her "research" including her many different disguises. The book was funny too and contains a number of recipes which I really want to try! The descriptions of the food Ruth has tried are salivating. It is the perfect companion to Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain.. all I want to do now is visit New York and try out all of the restaurants!

I picked Garlic and Sapphires up at my local library today. I am anxious to try it based on your recommendation. I really hope it does not make me hungry - I am trying to lose weight!

I do really hope you like the book, and I hope you don't find Ruth Reichl pretentious!

Arghhhhhh The Wizard of the Crow is taking me forever to read!! 4 weeks and counting

Whoopee finished the Wizard of the Crow
45. The year of eating dangerously by Tom Parker Bowles I am trying to get over my crippling fear of eels,the first chapter is dedicated to the fishing of baby eells (Elvers) eugh

#45 was excellent

46. The Model by Lars Saabye Christensen

47. Ruby in the smoke by Phillip Pullman

48. The Shadow in the North by Phillip Pullman

49. Paris: The Secret History by Andrew Hussey

#72: Did you like the book on Paris? It sounds interesting.

It is really good so far, it is a history of the underbelly of Paris, definitely the bit I am more interested in!

Cool beans! I am going to have to look for that one.

aaah About time for some holiday reading! 2 weeks in Morocco and I will be more than back on target for 75 this year! So far:

50. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
Fantastic clever book

51. The Girl With the dragon tattoo by Stieg Larsson. 150 pages in this is excellent so far..

I have a large bundle of books to keep up with including Jane Eyre which my mum could not believe I have never read! I have also picked up a book of stories about Morocco by renowned writers....

cerievans1. Jane Eyre is one of my top three all-time favorite books. I'm curious to hear what you think about it when you are finished.

And, I need to move The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie further up on my tbr pile.

52. The Suspicions of Mr Whicher by Kate Summerscale

53. A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson

54. A study in scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

55. Morocco: The Traveller's companion edited by Margaret and Robin Bidwell

#78: Did you like A Short History of Nearly Everything? I have it at home from the library and would be interested in your thoughts on it.

BTW - I very much enjoyed Garlic and Sapphires. Thanks for the recommendation.

#80 Hi Alcottacre I'm really glad you enjoyed Garlic and Sapphires. If you like books about food you should try The Year of Eating Dangerously by Tom Parker Bowles (the son of the eponymous Camilla Parker Bowles - married to Prince Charles!!) he is a very down to earth writer, and his chapter on Laos is fantastic.

I did enjoy A short history of nearly everything, I managed to read it in two days whilst on holiday. The remarkable achievement for Bill Bryson is that he manages to hold your attention even if you are not at all scientific. For me, the real interest lay in his pen pictures of scientists through the ages and their eccentricities. If anything, I finished the book wanting to learn more. It would probably be a good book to dip into now and again rather than reading it all at once.. I am not sure how much information I have retained by reading it so quickly.

56. Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones. Short review here... *****
57. Innocents in Africa by Drury Pfifer Just starting this one, noy sure what to expect.

I will be on the lookout for the Tom Parker Bowles book. I checked my local library and they do not have it, so I will have to hunt around for it. Thanks for the recommendation.

another one for my wishlist, I saw there is a Dutch translation: Een kleine geschiedenis van bijna alles by Bill Bryson, thanks!

Hi. I'll be interested in your post regarding your impressions of Innocents in Africa when you are finished.

So far the Innocents in Africa book is a little depressing but i'm sticking with it..

58. When will there be good news? by Kate Atkinson

Hi cerievans - first time posting on your thread so hello! - what did you think of the Kate Atkinson? I've read all the other Brodie books this year and have When Will There be Good News? on request from the library (but I'm about 10th in the queue...).

Lots of interesting stuff on your list too! I've been meaning to buy Garlic and Sapphires for my husband for years... he is very much into cooking and eating out. Also wondering what's the interest in Morocco? Had something in mind to recommend to you but if you're just going there/have been there on holiday it might not be so interesting :-)

Hi Flossie T thanks for posting!
I was reading about Morocco because I went on holiday there in September and wanted to learn a bit more about the culture etc.
Garlic and Sapphires was a great read as was the year of eating dangerously.. one of my favourite things is cooking so reading about food is about as good as it gets!
I have about 100 pages of When will there be good news? left.. it is definitely up to the standard of Kate Atkinson's previous novels involving Jackson Brodie Case Histories and One good turn.. I really love the way she builds up the characters...

59. The Ministry of Special Cases by Nathan Englander

#90 cerievans: The Ministry of Special Cases looks interesting. What did you think of it?

Ministry of Special Cases is quite possibly on one the most depressing books I have ever read, definitely glad that experience is over. Family of three in Buenos Aires (Lillian, Kaddish and Pato), young man goes missing. Rest of the book comprises the parents futile and ever more desperate attempts to get him back. The book has value in that it is clearly a vivid portrait of a terrible time in Argentine history. Very sad.

60. The Northern Clemency by Philip Hensher

Oh, what did you think of The Northern Clemency, cerievans? Really interested to hear - quite different opinions amongst those I know who've read it (different to mine and to each other, that is).

Reckon it is in with a chance of winning tonight?

I would hope so!

Flossie T, I am going to post a review when I get round to it, due to the length of the book I need a little time to mull it over!

I looked at the reviews of The Northern Clemency and they are impressive. Something I am definitely going to have to take a look at.

On the other hand, given the depressing nature of Ministry of Special Cases, I think I am going to give that one a pass. I do not expect all my books to be sweetness and light, but given that I struggle with depression, why bother with something so unrelenting?

Exactly, perhaps I can be too tough on books I don't take a shine too but there was very little hope left in this book... or perhaps that was the point. Very rarely do I come away from a book without having gained something positive! I would not recommend The Ministry for Special Cases although there have been some good reviews..

As for The Northern Clemency I am a devotee of very long, family saga-like novels.. for instance A Suitable Boy is one of my favourites and I had enough time on my hands to devote to The Northern Clemency as I am off sick!

61. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
62/ The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall

I am so behind!!! I have had really poort eyesight in my left eye for the last 10 days and this is slowing my reading right down...

hi cerievans1
It is not about the numbers, but about the joy reading!
What is wrong with your eye?

cerievans, when your eyesight returns it would be great to hear what you thought of the Steven Hall - another one I have a physical copy of on my TBR shelves.

cerevians, I'm reading your thread for the first time -- many interesting books, and I too am a big fan of A Suitable Boy, one of my all-time favorites.

so sorry to hear about your poor eyesight. Certainly, I hope this problem corrects itself very soon.

Thank you everyone for the lovely messages.

My left eye is starting to correct itself with the help of lots of tablets. I know it is about the joy of reading but it is no fun when you want to read but can't see the writing :@( Anyway, it looks like my eyesight is getting better though I musn't overdo it!

I'm really not too sure about Steven Hall and am quite bemused by the novel The Raw Shark Texts at the moment; I think it is intentionally written in a disjointed way.

63. The Attack by Yasmina Khadra

#104 cerievans1: Hope the eyes are doing better! I cannot imagine not being able to read for any length of time.

Regarding The Raw Shark Texts, I pretty much had the same reaction as you. Some of the book I was just going Huh? Overall though, I think it is worth the read.

How did you like The Attack? It looks like something I would probably read.

Hey Alcottacre
I was bemused by the Raw Shark Texts it made very little sense to me, but I think it was worth the read just for the relief I felt at about page 350 when I got to skip 30 pages because of the drawing of the approaching "Conceptual Shark"!. On reflection, a positive point would be that the Raw Shark Texts left me with a reminder of the power of love and was quite a sweet story in that respect.... I just don't like to be lead round the houses to get to this epiphany.

Now, I have been meaning to review The Attack since I finished it yesterday. This is the story of Amin, a naturalised Israeli citizen and successful surgeon who is confronted with the twofold horror of the death of his wife and the real possibility that she was a suicide bomber. The story is about how Amin comes to terms with his wife's actions. I was very impressed by this story, by its humanity, its lightness of touch which delivers a devastating truth. This is not a moral story, I don't think Khadra intends the reader to take sides at all but it left me with an insight into the situation in Israel/Palestine and a real need to read everything else by this author. Excellent. *****

64. Shalimar the Clown by Salman Rushdie

Please tell me your thoughts on the Rushdie book. I have picked up Satanic Verses several times and couldn't bring myself to buy it, even though it's on one of my 100 best lists. I will try it someday but the synopsis on the book jacket jsut doesn't appeal. What's his writing like?

Me too--on the Rushdie book. I can't manage to get more than about 10 pages into any of his books, although I did work (and it was work!) my way through Grimus this year so I could say I finished at least one of his works. I find his interviews and other written commentaries fascinating, but I'm having serious issues getting into his novels.

Rushdie's writing is very dense but I love its richness and lyricism..It takes me a lot longer to read a Salman Rushdie book! I have read Midnight's Children and The Ground beneath her feet. The books are an acquired taste and I have to admit I have never finished the Satanic Verses. Midnight's Children is quite fantastical book and you do have to let yourself go with the story, but it is probably a good book to start with..

Thanks for the Rushdie advice......I think Midnight's Children is also on the list, so I'll start there!

65. The Road Home by Rose Tremain

My local library does not have any of Tremain's books unfortunately. They did have a copy of Restoration, which has been on Continent TBR for a while now, but when I put it on hold, I was told that they could not locate their copy of the book. Looks like I am going to have to go elsewhere to get Tremain's books, and The Road Home looks like a dandy. Thanks for the reminder.

Stasia, the more I see messages like #114 on this group, the more I think we need some sort of 'book exchange scheme' to give these hard-to-find (apparently!) Brit books a wee trip overseas.... Lots of Tremain around here! The Road Home won the Orange Broadband prize in the UK, although I'm told by my friend who is a big Tremain fan that it's quite different to her others.

Why don't we start a thread where we each list a few books we would really really like to get our hands on? Each of us would probably be willing to mail at least one book out to a deserving soul (and we are all deserving!).

I'll be happy to ship books to those of you outside of the US.
Heck, I only have a few hundred to spare ..... I'm smiling of course.
Seriously, please let me know if I can help any one.

Count me in! I will ship anywhere to anyone!

If I have it, and I don't want it, you can have it!

- TT

I can't believe you can't get The Road Home it is everywhere in the UK! I would be more than happy to send it onwards in a week or two... but my Mum is reading it first! Please leave me a message with your address alcottacre and I will pass it on in due course.

#120 cerievans: I will gladly accept. I have left a message for you with the pertinent details. Let me know if I can reciprocate - I will gladly ship something from the US to you that perhaps is difficult to find over on the other side of the sea.

66. The Marsh Arabs by Wilfred Thesiger

cerievans1, How was The Marsh Arabs? I read a fascinating article a year or two ago about the ecological rebirth of the area.

#122 ceri: Looks like another great read! I will definitely look for that one.

Hello rebeccanyc and stasia, I loved The Marsh Arabs. Wilfred Thesiger is an excellent writer. His descriptions of the Iraqi marshlands are beautiful but what is more beautiful is his photography. I have an ancient Penguin edition of this book and the photos look really vivid even though they are in black and white. Thesiger's photography collection is available to access online for free.. this is a great resource...http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/ThesigerWeb/index.htm
I have on my list to read the recent biography of Wilfred Thesiger which I started a few years ago but didn't finish...

I forgot to mention in the Iraq section of this archive there are some examples of the houses the Marsh Arabs lived in.

#125 ceri: Thanks for posting the website info. I will take a look!

67. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. Horrible, disturbing. The story of Patrick Bateman, yuppie, serial killer, not a very nice man.

I'll stay away from this book. I really don't like horrible, creepy characters.

Then you'd also dislike Less Than Zero by the same author. And yet--both on the 1001 Must Read lists. Some editors are nuts!

Prop
I agree!

>128 cerievans1: cerie, no creepies for me thanks! It would send me scuttling under a bush with my head inside my shell! I'll stick to P.G.Wodehouse!

- TT

#130 Prop: You just illustrated why I am staying away from the 1001 Must Read list. Too many books on there I simply would not enjoy, so why waste my time reading them?

#133--Yes, but....that's true with all lists and recommendations.

Some of the 1001 choices are not right for me, but I have found many more fabulous writers and works than ones I don't like. And, frankly, some of the writers I don't care for I had tried to read long before this list came out. Out of the nearly 50 books or authors I've read from the list this year, I can literally count on one hand the ones which I did not enjoy. I was happily surprised with The Vicar of Wakefield and Rasselas and The Golden Ass, none of which I would pulled from a shelf before finding them on the list. And I certainly still have the option of closing a book as "unreadable" and moving on to the next (done that several times!). It's only a guide, and only one of three or four such lists that I regularly use when I just want something different.

In defense of American Psyscho (the movie). My defense is only as to the movie version because I haven't yet read the book. What I enjoyed about the movie is the ambiguous narrative, leaving the viewer to wonder if the story is playing out what is going on in the characters head as opposed to what is happening in reality. I am curious if the book follows that same track? Anyone who likes that kind of thing would also like a movie called The Machinist, also staring Christian Bale.

#134 Prop: True. Just about every great books list has The Great Gatsby on it, and I still do not like it. Same with Wuthering Heights. It just seemed to me that the 1001 Must Read list had a lot more on it that I would not like just because of the size of the list.

#134 and 136, I'm with Prop on this one, miss acre. There were a lot of books on my 100best lists that I thought would be 50 pages and out and they turned out to be very enjoyable, even turning me on to authors who I went back to for more. I would never have picked them up just looking at titles and synopses. So, with much arm twisting and coercion, Prop has convinced me to finish up my 100best lists and start on on the 1001 list. I only use them as suggestions and then give up if they don't appeal once I begin, much the same way you use our 75'er recommendaitons. Besides, don't you want your continent to expand?

#137 BDB: don't you want your continent to expand? No!! It would then be bigger than Continent TBR - it would be Universe TBR!! Yikes, it does not bear thinking of . . .

Besides, Prop is vetting the books for me. Then I can just read the ones that sound like I might actually enjoy them :)

hello everyone! I have the 1001 books to read before you die book... it recommends some books i'm really inspired to try but is not so strong on late 20th century stuff, in my opinion. American Psycho, the book, did not leave me under theimpression that the main character wasn't a psychopathic murderer and I did not come away with the impression that this was all happening in his mind.. except! it just occurred to me that Pat Bateman goes back to the flat where he has brutally murdered a colleague only to find that it is on the market, perfectly clean and that his victim has been seen in London!.. perhaps I didn't question what was happening enough..... whilst I am not squeamish, this was far too vivid for me.. just thinking about it makes me feel ill. anyway, I might consider watching the film, if you say it is good..... I must be a glutton for punishment.

68. Dear Fatty by Dawn French Aaah, an autobiography written in letters by one of my favourite people (albeit that I don't know her!) really funny...

Cerievans1, If you made it through the book, you'll probably make it through the movie. Be prepared, though, as it is quite graphic. It did present the narrative as ambiguous on the issue of reality vs. hallucination and Bale is a master at these angst filled, about to twist off characters. You've made me want to read the book now!!

And I'm vetting for you? Well, I guess it's simply quid pro quo for me reading everyone else's thread and getting suggestions as well. :-)

Isn't that how we all figure out what to read next!? I don' have an original bone in my body, as much as I wish I did! Sometimes I just want to walk into a bookshop, any bookshop, close my eyes and pick the closest book........ that is my plan for tomorrow. Stay posted, I will list what my random blind book search throws up :@)

cerievans
I'm looking forward to hearing what you picked.

>141 Prop2gether: Prop, don't mention the vet to BDB - he's never been the same since his last visit!

>142 cerievans1: Ceri, I am sure BDB can dig up a few original bones for you!

- TT

That would be cool. I chose....

69. The Ginger Man by J.P. Donleavy... looks good so far...

70. Song for night by Chris Abani

71. Before we were free by Julia Alvarez.. a teenage fiction book set in the Dominican Republic around 1960 to 1961 when the country was ruled by a dictatorship. Excellent story told from the point of view of 12 year old Anita de la Torres about her family's struggle for freedom.

72. A white veil for tomorrow by Sonia Edwards.. finally catching up on my reading, 75 is in sight!

I've enjoyed your thread this year! Go, Ceri, go!!

I agree with akeela. I enjoyed your thread as well!
Hang in there and even if you don't make 75 this year, you certainly read some very interesting books and shared lots of information!

I'm with akeela - Go, Ceri, go!

73. The translator by Leila Aboulela

#72 Was an excellent read it is a collection of interlinked short stories about Gwyneth and her brother, Dafydd and how they cope with life's losses and loves. Beautiful, sparse writing. I would recommend this although I don't think it is widely available outside of Wales. Mine is a library copy and I think the book has been translated from welsh. Five stars.

74. Poem for the day one
75. Poem for the day two I have been reading these two books every day, all year so I guess they count!
Wa hey I made it to 75!

congratulations cerievans1, see you in next years group!

Yay!! Congratulations! :)

>154 cerievans1: Whew! Just made it! Congrats.

- TT

I know, funny how that happened! I did the same in 2007! Maybe i'll get 76 or 74 this year.

Congratulations!

Woo Hoo!