amckie's 999 challenge take 2

I only have one book yet to read for the 999 challenge so, being the optimist that I am, I decided to try to complete a second one! We shall see how it goes. I would say that I will be lenient with my categories, but who am I kidding - I changed my original challenge categories more times than I can ever remember!

*I plan on only adding books to the lists as I complete them.

DONE!!

1. Children / YA
1.1. Clifton Fadiman – Wally the Wordworm ***.*
1.2. Libba Bray – A Great and Terrible Beauty ****.*
1.3. Libba Bray – Rebel Angels ****.*
1.4. Libba Bray – The Sweet Far Thing ****.*
1.5. Elizabeth Eulberg - The Lonely Hearts Club ****
1.6. Suzanne Collins - The Hunger Games*****
1.7. Suzanne Collins - Catching Fire*****
1.8. Carrie Ryan - The Forest of Hands and Teeth ****.*
1.9. Richelle Mead - Vampire Academy ****

2. Global Fiction
2.1. Mohammed Hanif – A Case of Exploding Mangoes (Pakistan) ****
2.2. Jamaica Kincaid – Mr. Potter (Antigua)***
2.3. Uwem Akpan – Say You’re One of Them (Various Countries, Africa) **
2.4. Pai Kit Fai - The Concubine's Daughter (Japan / China) **.*
2.5. Maureen Lindley - The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel (Japan / China) ***
2.6. Chinua Achebe - No Longer At Ease (Nigeria) *****
2.7. Betsy Tobin - Ice Land (Iceland, around 1000AD)*****
2.8. Elizabeth Kostova - The Historian (Romania)*****
2.9. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - The Thing Around your Neck *****

3. Re: Women
3.1. Rana Husseini – Murder in the name of Honor (Non-Fiction) ****.*
3.2. Maureen Dowd - Are Men Necessary? (Non-Fiction) .*
3.3. Anna Horsbrugh-Porter - Created Equal: Voices on Women's Rights (Non-Fiction) ****
3.4. Assia Djebar - Women of Algiers in their Apartments (Global Fiction - Algeria) ****.*
3.5. Assia Djebar – So Vast the Prison (Global Fiction - Algeria) *****
3.6. Sarah Dunant – Sacred Hearts (Global Fiction - Italy) ****
3.7. Kerry Cohen - Loose Girl (Memoir / Biography) ****
3.8. Nicholas D Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn - Half the Sky: Turning Opression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide (Non-Fiction) *****
3.9. Sarah Dunant - The Birth of Venus ***.*

4. Memoir / Biography
4.1. Daoud Hari – The Translator (Daoud Hari, Sudan) ***
4.2. Belle De Jour – The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl (Belle, UK) ****
4.3. Maya Angelou - Wouldn't Take Nothing for my Journey Now (Maya Angelou, USA) ***
4.4. Jennifer Finney Boylan - She's Not There (Jennifer Boylan, USA) ***.*
4.5. Anderson Cooper - Dispatches from the Edge (Anderson Cooper, Various) ****
4.6. Beryl Markham - West with the Night (Beryl Markham, Kenya) ****
4.7. Aminatta Forna - The Devil that Danced on the Water (Aminatta Forna, Sierra Leone) ****
4.8. Justin Marozzi - South from Barbary (Justin Marozzi, Libya) ****
4.9. John Berendt - Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil **.*

5. General Fiction
5.1. Katherine Howe – The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane (USA) ****
5.2. Margaret Atwood – The Handmaid’s Tale (What was formerly USA) ****
5.3. Alice Hoffman - The Ice Queen (USA) ****
5.4. Dan Brown - The Lost Symbol (Washington, USA) ***
5.5. Audrey Niffenegger - Her Fearful Symmetry (London) *****
5.6. Jose Saramago - Death With Interruptions (Unnamed Country) *****
5.7. Heather Gudenkauf - The Weight of Silence (USA) ****.*
5.8. Betsy Tobin - Bone House (UK) ***.*
5.9. Betsy - Tobin - The Bounce (London) ***

6. General Non-Fiction
6.1. Marion Starkey - The Devil in Massachusetts ****.*
6.2. Robert Glennon - Unquenchable: America's water crisis and what to do about it ****
6.3. Azim Jamal - The Power of Giving ****.*
6.4. Sarah Vowell - The Wordy Shipmates ****
6.5. Celia Rivenbark - Stop Dressing your Six Year-Old Like a Skank *.*
6.6. Lucy Jago - Northern Lights ****
6.7. Ariel Levy - Female Chauvinist Pigs *****
6.8. Jonathan Garfinkel - Ambivalence: Crossing the Israel / Palestine Divide *****
6.9. Dee Dee Myers - Why Women Should Rule the World ****

7. From the tbr Shelves
7.1. Stephens Gerard Malone - Miss Elva (Fiction, Nova Scotia, Canada)**
7.2. Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows – The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Fiction, UK) *****
7.3. Lois Lowry - The Giver ***
7.4. Lois Lowry - Gathering Blue ***
7.5. L.J. Smith - The Awakening **.*
7.6. L.J. Smith - The Struggle **.*
7.7. L.J. Smith - The Fury **.*
7.8. L.J. Smith - Dark Reunion **.*
7.9. L.J. Smith - The Return: Nightfall **.*

*Well... I didn't stick with reading tbr's so I renamed the category to finish it off. Oops.

8. Southern Vampire Series
8.1. Charlaine Harris – Dead Until Dark **.*
8.2. Charlaine Harris – Living Dead in Dallas **.*
8.3. Charlaine Harris – Club Dead **.*
8.4. Charlaine Harris – Dead to the World **.*
8.5. Charlaine Harris – Dead as a Doornail **.*
8.6. Charlaine Harris – Definitely Dead **.*
8.7. Charlaine Harris – All Together Dead **.*
8.8. Charlaine Harris – From Dead to Worse **.*
8.9. Charlaine Harris – Dead and Gone **.*

9. Overflow
9.1. Richelle Mead - Frostbite ****
9.2. Richelle Mead - Shadow Kiss ****
9.3. Richelle Mead - Blood Promise ****
9.4. Xiaolu Guo - A Concice Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers ***
9.5. Kathleen Kent - The Heretic's Daughter ****
9.6. Kate Jacobs - Knit Two ***.*
9.7. Charlaine Harris - A Touch of Dead **.*
9.8. Alice Walker - The Color Purple ****
9.9. Paulo Coelho - Brida **.*

Wally the Wordworm - Clifton Fadiman ***.*
Definitely a kid's book, but so hilarious. I love words, so how could I not love a book about words!

A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, The Sweet Far Thing - Libba Bray ****.*
I have to admit a secret love for teen fantasy. I loved these books. They seemed semi- historical fiction like (in as much sense as Twilight, for example, could be seen as historical fiction for anyone looking back on our times!), and the concept was a lot of fun. I liked how they tried to defy the stereotypes of their times.

A Case of Exploding Mangoes - Mohammed Hanif(Pakistan) ****
This book was based in Pakistan around the time of the plane crash that killed General Zia. I loved the way the story was told and the different plots that all converged.

Mr. Potter - Jamaica Kincad (Antigua)***
While I enjoyed the description of Antigua, I found the book to be a bit dry. At times it was hard to read (i.e. boring), but in all it was a good story.

So Vast the Prison - Assia Djebar (Algeria) *****
I absolutely loved this book, set in Algeria. It explores the issues women face, the differences in recent generations, and also talks about the historical issues faced by women. So many great ideas and quotes. I read it a few months ago but one quote has stayed with me. It reads:
"I really thought that death in Islam is experienced as masculine; because our proudest women in the end die as men so that they only bow before the greatness and the magnanimity of Allah."

Sacred Hearts - Sarah Dunant (Italy) ****
A historical fiction novel, based in Italy, which tells the story of women in a convent. At that period of time the cost to marry daughters (dowry) was so high that often times one daughter in a wealthy family would be married and the other(s) sent to a convent. It was interesting in that it protrayed many different types of women and the different ways in which they adjusted (or didn't) to convent life. I was disappointed in the ending though...

Murder in the name of Honor - Rana Husseini ****.*
Written by a journalist from Jordan, this book presents a look at so called 'honor' killings. It gives an in-depth look at the situation in Jordan, while at the same time explaining how she started becoming so immersed in the issue. It then talks about the issues in other countries around the world, including Europe, the UK, USA, and Canada. Hard to read, but very informative.

The Translator - Daoud Hari ***
This was an account of a man from Sudan working as a translator for reporters in a Chad. I found it dryer and not as interesting as Tears of the Desert - I found it more honest, compelling, and shocking. This book did not move me as much, nor did I find it as informative.

The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl - Belle De Jour ****
Not sure what to say... shocking, witty, and hilarious all at once! A great read.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane - Katherine Howe ****
A novel based half during the time of the Salem trials and half in modern day New England. The two stories were tied together very well. Great book.

The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood ****
I had heard a lot about this book so picked it up, and was happy that I did. It is crazy how much, while reading it, I caught myself thinking "wow, this could actually happen"! Saying that though, I do hope that it does not, obviously. Well written, but dying to know more - the end definitely left me wanting.

Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris **.*
I found the writing to be sub-par, but enjoyed it enough to consider reading the rest of the series (hence the category). It seemed more romance / chick lit than real literary fiction, but a nice break.

For global reading, Cry, the Beloved Country was one of my 5 star reads this year. I also enjoyed Wife of the Gods. The first is mainstream fiction; the second is a mystery.

I read Cry, the Beloved Country for my first challenge and loved it. Easily one of my favorite reads of the year.

Are Men Necessary - Maureen Dowd .*
No, it is not a mistake, I would give this book half a star out of five. It creates and promotes false stereotypes about other cultures (how about the line where she says "those inbred Saudis"), and seems to be anti-equality, peppered with lines about how men and women are different and shouldn't try to be equal, to those who dreamed of equality were "vain and misguided". Additionally, reading it I kept thinking that I had read that paragraph before... and I had. The introduction is merely a collage of paragraphs from the rest of the book. And it is hard not to notice the political ideals spouting from each section. Worst book I have read in a long time.

Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead, Dead to the World, Dead as a Doornail, Definitely Dead, All Together Dead, From Dead to Worse, Dead and Gone - Charlaine Harris **.*
As I said in my review for Dead Until Dark, these books are amusing and a nice distraction... but not the best books ever. I am finding them almost like a mix between a mystery and a romance (neither of which genres I read much of), but am enjoying them anyway. I was feeling the need for some fluff as a break, and these are definitely doing the trick. They are entertaining, and very quick to read. I noticed though that each book closely follows the preceding book, but in Definitely Dead that it mentions some actions that were not in the previous books... anyone know why and/ or where those events happen?

#16
From what I understand, there's a short story ("One Word Answer") that precedes Definitely Dead.

Wouldn't Take Nothing for my Journey Now - Maya Angelou ***
A short collection of essays each containing some bit of wisdom collected through the years of the author's life. None are very new or shocking, but good reminders of common sense points.

She's Not There - Jennifer Finney Boylan ***.*
This was a very interesting memoir by a man who became the woman that he always knew he was. It was great to get a first person perspective on the issue and hear about how it was for one person to go through the process. Very good, and very brave!

Dispatches from the Edge - Anderson Cooper ****
Growing up for awhile I wanted to be a war correspondent or a foreign correspondent of some kind, but hearing how hard it is to get such a job, and a general indecision caused me to get a business degree instead. Reading this book made me think back and I definitely still think it would be a super cool job to have.

Cooper talks about a few huge assignments but the sections are also filled with reminiscing about his past: growing up and past assignments. It was a very interesting read.

Stephens Gerard Malone - Miss Elva**
I found this story depressing and bleak, especially near the end. The writing is good, fits the story and the location, but I found the racism and discrimination hard to read about. I found myself wishing for something good to happen to Miss Elva, but it didn't seem that much good ever did come to her - at least while she was alive.

Beryl Markham - West with the Night****
Fascinating memoir by a pioneer woman in her field. I found her tales of growing up in British East Africa / Kenya so interesting. There is some of the prejudices of the time very evident, but given the age of the book it is expected to see. Overall a very interesting read.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows *****
I purchased this book back when it first came out, because it was one of Heather's picks at Indigo, and I am usually a fan of her picks. When I opened it to start reading, however, I was turned off by the letter format. I put it back on the shelf without even reading a page, and have been putting it off ever since. Obviously, I'm not the smartest!

Once I finally starting it yesterday, I found that I couldn't put it down. I thought that the letter format would make it choppy and hard to read, but it was quite the opposite. I felt like I really got to know the characters, and they seemed so real and full just from the letters. They were a great way of giving information about a number of characters, and the story was so believable. Isola was my favorite, such a nut but so lovable.

Definitely one of my favorite books of the year. I really want to know what happens next though! So many loose ends, though one can assume what happens and that all would most likely end very well.

Edited to add that: After thinking about it further, I appreciated how the book made the occupying soldiers into humans. That isn't done very often. Some were bad, but some could be good, despite the circumstances. Just as some of the locals were good, but some were also bad. It was a different perspective that was nice.

The Lonely Hearts Club - Elizabeth Eulberg ****
This was an advance reader edition I read while visiting my cousins in Sonora who own a bookstore there. It is a teen fiction novel based on Penny Lane, whose parents are, as you could probably guess by the name, obsessed with the Beatles. When the guy she has had a crush on her whole life treats her badly she decides to swear off guys and start 'The Lonely Hearts Club'. The book tells the story of the club as it grows, and how the girls' friendships grow with it. Trouble comes when Penny finds herself falling for a guy - clearly against the rules of the club! It is a story about sticking together, and not abandoning your friends for boyfriends. Great book.

The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel - Maureen Lindley ***
Another (obviously old, the book is already available for sale) advance reader edition from the cousins. This is a fictional account of Eastern Jewel, a Chinese princess who spied for Japan during WWII. That much is true, the account of her life is mostly fictional. It tells the story of a girl who wanted to make her own life, and partly succeeded - she defied stereotypes, ran away from her arranged marriage, but also suffered quite a lot and had trouble with commitment. The account of her life was depressing as she constantly chose the route of more pain and difficulty. It was a good book, but depressing in many ways.

It was interesting to read about life in China and Japan during the years leading up to WWII and the happenings.

The Devil in Massachusetts - Marion Starkey ****.*
In this book Starkey uses various resources to recount the entire proceedings in an interesting depiction. With actual conversations and trial happenings, she recounts the trial in relation to earlier witch trials in Europe, and further witch hunts to come. It was interesting to read this after reading Salem Possessed, as they both contain much of the same information, but with differing perspectives. Salem Possessed places most of the blame on the atmosphere and feuds in the village. This book mentions that but places more blame on the girls and the way they were received and pandered to, as well as attitudes on witchcraft at the time, and the Puritan lifestyle as a whole. I think they complement each other nicely and together start giving a more complete picture of what happened.

Created Equal: Voices on Women's Rights - Anna Horsbrugh-Porter ****
This book was created in association with Amnesty International. It was a collection of facts and figures. While it is good to get the information together, I found the collection lacking. It gives no solutions or ideas for change, and is in no way comprehensive. It only gives bits of information, and in no way gives the whole picture in any case. So while it was informative, I expected a lot more.

The Ice Queen - Alice Hoffman ****
This was my first book by Alice Hoffman, but I am definitely adding others by her to my wishlist. The Ice Queen tells the story of a girl to whom wishes can come true... but not the good kind. It tells of her life and how she blames herself for things that happen and what happens after she is struck by lightning.I loved the story, it had a hint of fantasy about it that captured my interest, though I have to admit that the ending left me wanting more... Not sure what though! I was just left feeling slightly disappointed.

The Devil that Danced on the Water - Aminatta Forna ****
This memoir tells the authors story of growing up in Sierra Leone (and many other places, as they moved very frequently in her youth). Her father was Mohammed Forna who was minister of Finance under Siaka Stevens during the first years of his government, and was later executed by his government on trumped up charges of treason. While I found the story very slow, it was very well written. Aminatta Forna researched extensively to find the truth of those years and her fathers trial, and this book is the sum of that effort. It was, in a way, a scary look at how power and patronage play out and ruin a young country, and how the citizens in the country suffer from it. A great and masterful telling of a sad story.

South from Barbary - Justin Marozzi ****
The more books I read - fiction and non-fiction alike - about North Africa, the more I want to go. The dessert, the medinas, the mosques, the people, it all sounds so wonderful! South from Barbary combines history, current events, travel writting, and biogrophy into a great book. I highly recommend it. And want to go ride a camel through the Libyan desert... though maybe not as far or for as long!

No Longer at Ease - Chinua Achebe *****
Earlier this year I read another Achebe book, Things Fall Apart. While I enjoyed both, I liked this one even more. He focuses on issues found in Nigerian life during the colonial times with religion, corruption, and education all being addressed. This story tells of Obi, a young man who has just returned home from England to a government job and his troubles with money and responsibility. Great book, very well written.

The Concubine's Daughter - Pai Kit Fai (China) **.*
This novel was another Advance Reader Copy courtesy of my cousins.

While I enjoyed some parts of it, I found the story didn't draw me in. The writing was slow and slightly choppy, and the story just seemed too unbelievable. It follows the story of a young Chinese girl growing up, and her daughter growing up after her, but the chain of events seemed unbelievable and obviously made up. I prefer a story that, outlandish and unbelievable as it is, pulls you in and makes you feel like it is true, or could happen. This story just didn't do that for me. It remained flat.

The parts that I did enjoy were the parts about China, and customs and the culture of the country during that period of time. I really enjoyed the parts based in Macao also, as I have family there :)

The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown ***
I was excited to read this as I loved both Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code. After reading it, I have to admit that I am a little disappointed. I felt the plot was the same as Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code, with but a few changes. Helped by a relative of the guy in trouble, chased by police, lots of national monuments, etc. I did really like the premise though, and how it highlighted the importance of belief and of honoring other peoples beliefs... the idea that we should go beyond religion and respect other religions is one that really needs to get out. For that reason, I loved the book. On the basis of the plot alone, I felt it was too repetitive. Still a fun read though.

Re my quick review of The Concubine's Daughter above. This book has a lot of unbelievable stuff in it, but it is one of those books that draws you in and makes you so engrossed in the story. Definitely what was missing in the book above!

Edited to add: I have to say. The longer I go after reading this book, the more dissapointed I am in how preachy it was, and how formulaic. I know his books are formulaic, but I was still expecting more!

Ambivalence: Crossing the Israel / Palestine Divide - Jonathan Garfinkel *****
This memoir tells of growing up Jewish and attending a Jewish school in Toronto, Ontario, and then traveling to Israel and visiting Palestine and the West Bank. Some parts of it were a little odd (his conversations with people long dead, talking to a house, etc.), but it was a great look at the situation, and how people actually live in these places. He questions his faith, and looks at what it means to adhere to faith as well as what is being done and can be done to try to solve the issues. It was a great read, I would recommend it to anyone interested in the Middle East, if only to get a different perspective.

Unquenchable: America's water crisis and what to do about it - Robert Glennon ****
This book talks about the water crisis in America - how rivers are running dry, and cities are running out and talks about what is being done. He highlights numerous creative and common sense solutions that are being enacted in different places, and promotes that we become more active citizens in getting these measures in places across the country.

This was lent to me by a friend in Georgia. Although not an American, it was still a good book. The issues discussed definitely translate across the border to Canada as well. Every country needs to look at providing clean, safe water to its citizens and also protecting and ensuring that we don't run out.

Say You’re One of Them - Uwem Akpan (Various Countries, Africa) **
This was a very well written novel by a Nigerian author. I did enjoy parts of it, but I found the overall collection too depressing and negative to fully enjoy it. Even one good thing happening would have made me enjoy it much more, but I felt like every single action and event in the collection of short stories was depressing and bad, making it hard to stomach. Because every previous story was negative I would hope for something positive but all the while knowing from the tone of the collection that something bad was going to happen...

What can I say, I need my daily dose of positivity! If you like unhappy endings (and lots of them), then I highly recommend this collection.

My reading has slowed significantly being home and trying to get caught up on cleaning and visiting and the like over the past two weeks, but I was fortunate in that both books I have read were amazing!

Women of Algiers in Their Apartments - Assia Djebar ****.*
This is my second book by Assia Djebar, and I loved the first book by her as well. She is definitely an author I will be looking out for from now on. I love the way that she writes, and am interested in the way she portrays her stories to be about the women and what the women deal with. Loved it and highly recommend it, and any other of her books!

Her Fearful Symmetry - Audrey Niffenegger *****
I loved The Time Traveller's Wife and have been seeing lots of positive reviews for this second novel by the same author so I was very excited to start it. I am very happy to say that it did not dissapoint! I loved it! The characters were quirky but seemed believable, as did the actions. I wasn't a huge fan of the ending, some of the things that happened near the end seemed a bit less believable, but overall I still loved the book.

Ice Land - Betsy Tobin *****
I loved this book! I love books that have the mix of fantasy with real life - urban fantasy, it has been called. I also love mythology. This book had both. It is set in Iceland around 1000AD, and weaves myths, legend, and historical facts together to create this story of love, family, and how we interact with others through those ties. I highly recommend it and can't wait to find other books by this author.

>36 amckie: Glad to hear that you liked Her Fearful Symmetry, amckie! I've been looking forward to it, but with some trepidation... afraid it might not measure up to The Time Traveler's Wife and a little bit worried about yet another book about twins.

>38 ivyd: It wasn't as good, but I did still love it. What else have you read lately on twins? When I think of books about twins only one immediately comes to mind... The Thirteenth Tale.

The Hunger Games ***** and Catching Fire ***** - Suzanne Collins
I had heard a lot about The Hunger Games since it first came out but never got around to reading it. For some reason I thought it sounded like a silly premise or something, I am not sure what. Something kept me from it though. I borrowed these two books from my sister Saturday and ended up reading both of them while traveling yesterday. I could not put them down at all! When I had to change flights I was annoyed that the flight hadn't taken longer so that I could have finished the book (I only had one chapter left). I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Death With Interruptions - Jose Saramago *****
I found this book absolutely hilarious. I loved all the twists and turns, and conversations. At first I found the writing style a little bit difficult to get in to, especially the conversations, but I soon picked it up. This book is about death (with a little d of course) and what happens when she makes a few experiments, takes a break from killing, and what happens with the people of the country. The whole book was perfect.

The Weight of Silence - Heather Gudenkauf ****.*
This was a novel about two young girls who go missing one morning. The book is sad and scary, but it was also very well written. It had a lot of twists and turns. A great read.

Bone House ***.* and The Bounce*** - Betsy Tobin
I loved Ice Land so much that I immediately had to look up the two previous books written by Betsy Tobin. Lucky for me they were both available on BookMooch and arrived very quickly :) I did not enjoy them as much as Ice Land, but they were based on different premises as well. Bone House is a mystery of sorts that caught me very quick and kept me enthralled and wondering until the end. The Bounce I found slower and less engaging, I also found it more dark and depressing. I still enjoyed them though and hope the next book by the author is more along the lines of Ice Land. I think it was the mythology aspect of it that I loved so much and that was missing from these two books.

The Power of Giving - Azim Jamal ****.*
This was a small but powerful book about how giving to ourselves, our families, our communities, and globally enriches us. I already give in various ways to various charities, and did even while in university, but it is still good to read about how it helps us. I highly recommend it to anyone thinking about giving, who gives already, or even who thinks it is a waste to give to others. This book might just change your mind :)

Loose Girl - Kerry Cohen ****
An honest look at growing up promiscuous. The author talks about her experiences and her life and any one reading closely can see what contributes to and causes girls to act in these ways. I hope that people reading this book will get that lesson out of it and learn to treat each other nicer, though I know many will simply condemn the author as a 'bad example'.

While I have a feeling that I won't hit my goal of 200 books this year, I do think (knock on wood!) that I will be able to finish this challenge. I hope I can stick to the categories enough as the year ends to complete it anyway :)

Looking at the list I think I need to take a break from the memoirs and the general fiction (i.e. bookstore trips where I cave and buy random books that look good!) and focus more on non-fiction and the tbr shelves for awhile... though something tells me I might yet end up filling the non-fiction category with more biographies!

The other thing that I noticed is how most of the general fiction that I have read is based in the US. I suppose that comes from always stopping at airport bookshops while on my way down or back. Most of the rest is London and England. Seeing that makes me realize again the importance of searching out international authors and books to broaden the reading as just randomly stopping by bookstores yields almost all American and British books / authors!

Amckie, Amchkie, Amckie! I can't believe you've been posting all these months without me ever catching a posting even once. I'm shocked! I guess I was gone when you made the transition to this new thread. I'm glad you finally added a link because you've read lots of great books since mid-August. Do you want comments? Or would you rather keep this thread more purely your thoughts?

Why hello Bonnie! I always love comments :) I did kind of sneak this in here, I kept meaning to read that last book to finish the first challenge so I kept putting off linking them. Now I have FINALLY finished the first one. I haven't been as good as keeping my library or posting up to date on LibraryThing but I am getting there. Hopefully this weekend I will add in a stack more or so. And catch up on threads!

My bookstore had a buy 3 get one free sale on young adult books. How can you really say no to something like that??? Result of course is that I filled my weekend with lots of guilty pleasure reading. While it was a great way to spend a travel day, I have to admit that I got a little concerned in the airport trying to track down the fourth book in the Vampire Academy series. Luckily I found it in the 3rd store.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth - Carrie Ryan ****.*
This novel is the story of a time in the future when the human race has become infected and there are the Unconsecrated (zombies). A bite from one will infect you, so the remaining humans live in a town surrounded by fences. It is an interesting look at challenging yourself and what you know, and, of course, a great read.

Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise - Richelle Mead ****
Ahhh another teen vampire series. I love them. Definitely my guilty pleasure. This series has some neat differences in that it has different types of vampires. The Moroi who are good, the Strigoi who are bad, and then the half-human half-Moroi Dhampirs that protect the Moroi. The series revolves around Lissa (Moroi) and Rose (Dhampir). I was quickly hooked and couldn't put the books down.

A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers - Xiaolu Guo ***
This book tells the story of a young Chinese lady who moves to London to learn English. It starts with her trip to London and ends when her year is up. The writing and grammar is such that it is supposed to mirror how she talked at that point, and throughout the book it keeps improving. At first I found it irritating, but I ended up appreciating it. I found the story line only meh, however, and it seemed a bit unlikely all around. It was an alright read though.

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide - Nicholas D Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn *****
This book examines some of the problems and oppression faced by women around the world and examines what can be done about it and what SHOULD be done about it. It focuses on the facts and statistics but also on many individual stories of trial and suffering and triumph. It is a great read and I highly recommend it.

That was my reaction to Guo's book too. I really want to read Half the Sky!

Unfortunately I already had the book before reading your review ;) lol.

The Wordy Shipmates - Sarah Vowell ****
This examination of the Puritans and their comparison to modern day America was really interesting. Some parts were a bit too partisan, but still, it was really interesting. The author keeps it light and interesting.

Knit Two - Kate Jacobs ***.*
This is the sequel to Friday Night Knitting Club which is a great story of friendship and growth. This novel continues the same tradition. It was light, and not as good as the first, but it was nice to see the characters grow.

A Touch of Dead - Charlaine Harris **.*
I love Sookie! I was looking forward to this collection of short stories because, as mentioned above in my reviews of the series, some of these short stories are referenced in the main books. It was great to read them. More light reading for the plane :)

Brida - Paulo Coelho **.*
This is my second book by this author (and I picked it up on a whim without realizing that) but I can say that I will definitely be avoiding the author from now on. I find the novels preachy. Plus I couldn't care less about the main character so it was hard to get in to.

The Color Purple - Alice Walker ****
At first I had a hard time getting in to the way the story was told - diary / letter format - but once I got in to it I was hooked. The story of the two sisters and how one ends up in an abusive relationship and one in Africa as a missionary was really interesting. It looks at a variety of topics including religion, missions, treatment of Africans in Africa and in the USA, slavery, and more. Really good book.

I agree with you on Wordy Shipmates. Even though I may agree with her politics, sometimes it got a little much. She's pretty darn funny, but as I said to Mark, I think I prefer her in smaller doses.

Re: A Color Purple, I think it's important to take into consideration when this book was written too; there were a lot fewer books back then covering the range of topics that she did. For example, when this book was written, a husband beating his wife wouldn't have been a punishable offense in many states. I wonder if I read this book again whether it will/could have the same emotional impact it had on me when I first read it.

That is very true about A Color Purple, It was so hard to read at times how she just accepted it as normal. I know some people still do currently, but in the USA and Canada I think women now are more likely to hide it and to know that it shouldn't be allowed.

On a side note, I can't believe how much I read last week! I am very proud of my 12 book total, but unfortunately most of those were impulse buys that filled up the overflow category. Oops ;)

So far my 'From the tbr Shelves' is only books from before Jan 1st, I might change that deadline a bit to give me more room, I don't feel that is cheating as I did originally say that I would do this. Or I might be good and focus on the tbr shelves and Non-Fiction for a few weeks.

Dang! You just had to go and say it! ;-) I've been very successful at totally ignoring my box of tbr's that I've bought this year. I don't even think about them unless someone mentions a title I have. I think you should concentrate on staying proud. I, myself, am very proud of how many books I'm getting from the library now.

I am impressed with how many books you are getting from the library too! I think I am going to have to make more of an effort to get there next year. This year maybe I'll focus on the tbr pile. Maybe ;) (But we all know that really means probably not!).

The Thing Around your Neck - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie *****
I want to immediately go out and pick up Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun now! I am not usually a fan of short story collections, I find it hard to get in to the stories or the characters in so few pages. This collection was different from any that I had read before, though. I loved almost every story in it. The boy is Nigerian so I found myself noticing similarities with some of the experiences he has had or has complained about, and asking him about certain cultural things. It was a great collection and I would highly recommend it to everyone.

Some of the stories are based in the US, and some in Nigeria, but all feature Nigerian characters and in some way talk about the effects and circumstances of immigration and troubles faced.

Here is a talk given by the author called 'The Dangers of a Single Story' that I really liked as well where she talks about the perils of only hearing one side or a story, or only getting one view of a situation. It was very interesting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - John Berendt **.*
I actually read this book months ago but just found out that I forgot to list it! Shocking I know. This is a memoir of a man who moved to and lived in Savannah, Georgia for years and some of the crazier things that he encountered there. It was interesting to read as I was in Savannah while reading, but I wasn't hooked. While the stories are shocking and true the second part of the book especially just seemed to drag on for me. Overall, interesting but definitely not a favorite.

Thanks for the link; I loved listening to her speak! I, too, much prefer a novel, but now I'm going to have to request this collection. I've already read Half of a Yellow Sun and would highly recommend it.

amckie, do you own all the books in your "to read" category? I chuckled when I perused it, because you have a lot of the kind of socio-politico books that I, too, love to buy, but don't always read. Do you have books already chosen from there to complete your 999 category above? If not, I would highly recommend these fiction books: Burger's Daughter, Palace Walk, Persuasion (though P&P is my favorite), and Yiddish Policemen's Union. There's a lot of nonfiction in there that's good too, some of which I need to read as well. Happy choosing! :-)

Yes, I do actually own them all *blushes*. I have a bad habit of buying more than I can read. But they look so good! I find with work being busy I tend to gravitate to the fiction ones though. I haven't chosen which ones to read yet so will definitely try those ones out! Thanks for the recommendations, this time I don't even feel compelled to run to the bookstore... except of course for Half of a Yellow Sun ;)

Why Women Should Rule the World - Dee Dee Myers ****
In this book Dee Dee Myers uses scientific facts and studies as well as personal anecdotes and the stories of other women to talk about a variety of issues. She discusses why and how men and women are different, the importance of role models, how the world would be different if more women were in charge, and how we can get there. While there wasn't a lot new in terms of the studies and facts, it was an interesting look at the issue. I would have enjoyed it more if it was less on why she wasn't as great as she could have been and more about women in general. She does do a good job though, I think, of talking about women on both sides of the political divide in the US though she makes no secret of her political leanings. (I can't help but think of Sarah Vowell's Wordy Shipmates and how she did not do as good of a job at this!)

Stop Dressing your Six Year-Old Like a Skank- Celia Rivenbark *.*
I actually read this book months ago but apparently forgot to count it. This isn't the first time I've come across this either so I think I am going to have to try to remember to mark it down right away once I read something.

I requested this book from Bookmooch because I thought it looked hilarious. I was very disappointed in it, to say the least. The book is a collection of short essays about various things the author has run in to living in California and being from the South. I found she tried way too hard to be funny, and thought she was a lot funnier than she actually was. That translates to - the book was quite annoying to read. If she hadn't tried so hard, it would have been better.

Female Chauvinist Pigs - Ariel Levy *****
This book talks about feminism and how many people these days claim that the raunch culture (and things like stripping, objectification of women in movies and on TV, porn, etc) is all about liberation and that it is feminism. Ariel Levy argues that there is a big difference between true equality and the feeling that you have to show some skin and act sexy in order to be appreciated as a women. Or, alternatively, that you have to enjoy strip clubs and sex and be manly in order to succeed. Definitely a top ten book, I highly recommend it to everyone.

Northern Lights - Lucy Jago ****
Another book I read months ago and then forgot about... this is a great account of Kristian Birkeland, a great scientist who was way ahead of his time with his findings and theories. He has been proven correct in most of them, though at the time they were doubted by many. The account of his studies in Norway on the Northern Lights were fascinating. I found the writing somewhat dry and boring, but the story still hooked me enough to want to finish it.

The Birth of Venus - Sarah Dunant ***.*
Another read from months ago. This novel is based in renaissance Italy and tells about a young woman who wants to learn to paint. It follows her through her life of being married young, her obsession of painting, her interest in an artist, and follows through her life. It is an interesting look at how it would have been to live as a woman in those times.

The Giver - Lois Lowry ***
I had heard a lot about this book so eventually had to cave and pick it up. It is a look at a possible world where everything is exactly the same. Humans gave up choice so that everything is dictated to them, they don't have any real feelings or memories of the past. The main character in the story has been given the job of Receiver of Memories.

Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry ***
I am glad I gave this author another try. I hadn't liked Number the Stars but I did like both The Giver and Gathering Blue. This is another look at a possible future world. In this story the main character is a young girl who was born with a bad leg. The village she lives in is a small surviving village from the days after a huge catastrophe. She has to fight to be allowed to stay in the village after her mother dies, and then she begins to unravel the secrets of the village.

The Awakening, The Struggle, The Fury, Dark Reunion, and The Return: Nightfall by L.J. Smith **.*
I am going through a 'guilty pleasure' phase, which for me means teen urban fantasy. This series has all the necessities - good vampires, bad vampires, unsuspecting humans, other magic creatures, high school troubles, romance, good vs. evil struggles, and etc. Needless to say, I enjoyed! It didn't draw me in as much as some other series have, but it was still a good mindless read. I then saw half of an episode of the new Vampire Diaries TV show and ugh, almost turned me off. Further reinforces my belief that the books are ALWAYS better!

I can't believe I've finished it! I did cheat a little bit by renaming a category which I swore I wouldn't on this one, but I just want to read whatever I want for the rest of the year. In addition to what is listed in my challenges I have also read the six House of Night books. I might make it to the 200 mark yet, though I have read a whole lot more YA books than I was planning to.

I definitely think you should spend the rest of the year reading whatever you want, Amy! At the rate you're going, that will be about 25+ books? The Giver is one of those children's books that transcends its genre. I loved that book! Female Chauvinist Pig sounds like a good book, though it would be preaching to the choir when it comes to this reader. I'll take a look at it anyway. I love it when someone smarter than I am says what I'm thinking--only so much better.

Bonnie, I just read The Yiddish Policeman's Union and you are right, it was really good. Thanks for the recommendation! I am considering Palace Walk after I finish the non-fiction one I'm reading (Factory Girls).

>66 bonniebooks:: Oh, glad you liked it! Thanks for reminding me about Palace Walk. I think I'm going to read it again next year before I read the rest of the trilogy. I also want to read his autobiography.

What a coincidence I am reading Factory Girls too.

How are you enjoying it? I am only a chapter in, but interesting so far!

I like it a lot. I've read about five chapters and it really shows what it's actually like to work in a factory in China.

Makes you feel really grateful, doesn't it?

Yes, it does.

Very grateful! I have to admit that I took a bit of a break. Thank you for not Reading showed up in my mailbox and I thought I would just read a few pages to see what it was all about... And I was hooked! Back to Factory Girls next though :)

Due to another work trip this week, I received an early Christmas present from the man on Saturday - a Kindle!! I am excited, but also still on the fence. I love books, it just doesn't seem the same to hold a piece of metal! I plan on playing around with it this week and picking up my first book. I want it to be a great one - anyone have any specific recommendations?

Well, for the Kindle I decided to start with some YA books. They are light, easy reads so a good way to get hooked on it I think. Last night I read Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. It was really good - I found the Kindle somewhat annoying to hold compared to a book, but it was nice being able to set it down and read without holding pages! Tonight I might start Meridian by Amber Kizer. I saw a few good reviews of it as well.

I was looking at The Case for Books but just couldn't bring myself to buy an eBook of it! I need the real book so that I don't feel guilty while reading ;)

Here is a link to my 1010 challenge, which I don't plan on starting until Jan 1st.

Wow, long day... here is the link: http://www.librarything.com/topic/77634

I did it! Last night I finished my 200th book. For the sake of initial counting it would be 204, but a few books were 2 in 1 type deals, so 200 actual books.

I have to say that I read more fiction and Young Adult / Children than usual (about 65 percent), and I also counted 8 books which were re-reads. 22 were eBooks on the new Kindle (which I am L.O.V.I.N.G!).

For next year my goal is 200, but with more non-fiction :)

ETA: My page count was just under 64,000 pages, not counting all of the books I got partway through and then abandoned. Hopefully next year I can finish some of them!

My favorites of the year:
Fiction:
1. Abraham Verghese - Cutting for Stone
2. Betsy Tobin - Ice Land
3. Assia Djebar - So Vast the Prison
4. Jose Saramago - Death with Interruptions
5. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - The Thing Around your Neck
6. Peter Hoeg - Smilla's Sense of Snow
7. Elsa Osorio - My Name is Light

Non-Fiction:
1. Jessica Valenti - The Purity Myth
2. Ariel Levy - Female Chauvinist Pigs
3. Benazir Bhutto - Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the West
4. Paul Farmer - Pathologies of Power
5. Dubravka Ugresic - Thank you for Not Reading
6. Liz Funk - Supergirls Speak Out
7. Elizabeth Pisani - The Wisdom of Whores