LittleTaiko's 1010 Challenge

Okay, fresh off of the 999 challenge, it's time to start the 1010 challenge. Up front, I should state that I do not anticipate actually reading 10 books in each category. The goal is to do at least five in each category though I'm sure there will be more in some of the categories. With that said, here are the categories for 2010.

1. Fiction
2. Non-fiction
3. Favorite authors
4. Non-American authors
5. Classics
6. Food/wine
7. Plays
8. Mysteries
9. Presidential biographies
10. Time Travel

Fiction

1. Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery 01/02/10 - 01/28/10 (4 stars)
2. 10009530::Death with Interruptions by Jose Saramago 02/14/10 - 03/20/10 (4 stars)
3. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield 02/27/10 - 03/08/10 (4.5 stars)
4. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein 03/10/10 - 03/16/10 (4.5 stars)
5. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford 03/13/10 - 05/23/10 (4.5 stars)

Bonus

6. Still Alice by Lisa Genova 04/21/10 - 04/22/10 (5 stars)
7. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz 04/17/10 - 05/04/10 (2.5 stars)
8. The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly 06/13/10 - 06/16/10 (3 stars)
9. Fool by Christopher Moore 06/13/10 - 06/29/10 (4 stars)
10. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay 08/15/10 (3 stars)
11. A Reliable Wife by goolrickrobert::Robert Goolrick 08/22/10 (2 stars)
12. Crescent by Diana Abu-Jaber 08/29/10 (3 stars)
13. You Remind Me of Me by Dan Chaon 09/03/10 (3 stars)
14. Lamb by Christopher Moore 09/10/10 (4 stars)
15. The Postmistress by Sarah Blake 09/25/10 (4 stars)
16. Wit's End by Karen Joy Fowler October (3 stars)
17. Little Bee by Chris Cleave October (4 stars)
18. Homer & Langley:A Novel by eldoctrow::E. L. Doctrow November (3 stars)
19. 5247086::Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan November (4 stars)
20. 8354400::Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon November (3 stars)
21. 9779500::Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by sedarisdavidsedarisa::David Sedaris November (2 stars)
22. 4979986::Hunger Games by 971359885::Suzanne Collins November (4 stars)
23. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins December (4 stars)

Non-fiction

1. Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof 01/04/10 - 01/31/10 (4.5 stars)
2. When You are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris 02/06/10 - 02/11/10 (4 stars)
3. My Racing Heart by Nan Mooney 02/07/10 - 02/28/10 (3 stars)
4. Read My Pins by Madeleine Albright 04/09/10 - 04/14/10 (4 stars)
5. Paul and Me by A. E. Hotchner 04/15/10 - 04/16/10 (4 stars)

Bonus

6. The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allsion Hoover Bartlett 04/15/10 - 04/23/10 (4 stars)
7. The May Queen by Andrea N. Richesin 04/23/10 - 05/12/10 (3.5 stars)
8. Jane's Fame by Claire Harman 06/13/10 - 06/22/19 (3 stars)
9. Game Change by johnheilemannmarkhal::John Heilemann 08/08/10 (4 stars)

Favorite Authors

1. Merry Wives of Maggody by Joan Hess 01/19/10 - 01/22/10 (3.5 stars)
2. U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton 01/29/10 - 01/31/10 (4.5 stars)
3. From the Grounds Up by Sandra Balzo 03/11/10 - 03/12/10 (4 stars)
4. Caught by Harlan Coben 03/23/10 (4 stars)
5. The Girl Who Played with Fire by larssonbystieg::Stieg Larsson 04/01/10 - 05/22/10 (4.5 stars)

Bonus

6. Mrs. Jeffries Speaks Her Mind by Emily Brightwell 06/04/10 (4.5 stars)
7. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by larssonbystieg::Stieg Larsson 06/08/10 - 06/26/10 (4.5 stars)
8. Play Dead by Harlan Coben October (3 stars)
9. Dangerous to Know by Tasha Alexander December (4 stars)

Non-American authors

1. Much Obliged, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse 01/09/10 - 01/15/09 (3.5 stars)
2. Last Bus to Woodstock by Colin Dexter 01/31/10 - 02/12/10 (4 stars)
3. Still Life by Louise Penny August 2010 (4 stars)
4. Fatal Grace by Louise Penny August 2010 (4 stars)
5. The Cruellest Month by Louise Penny 09/04/10 (4 stars)

Bonus:
6. A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny 09/08/10 (4 stars)
7. Jar City by Arnaldur Indriadson 09/13/10 (4 stars)
8. The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny 09/17/10 (4 stars)
9. Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny October (5 stars)

Classics

1. Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens 2009 - 06/11/10 (4 stars)
2. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert 02/04/10 - 02/27/10 (3 stars)
3. Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger 05/09/10 - 05/16/10 (3.5 stars)
4. Catcher in the Rye y J. D. Salinger 05/16/10 - 05/29/10 (3.5 stars)
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain November (3 stars)

Food/wine

1. The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan 02/07/10 - 03/29/10 (3.5 stars)
2. In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan 03/30/10 - 04/08/10 (3.5 stars)
3. Red, White, and Drunk All Over by Natlie MacLean 04/17/10 - 08/15/10 (4 stars)
4. The Language of Baklava: A Memoir by Diana Abu-Jaber 08/14/10 - 08/21/10 (4 stars)
5.

Plays

1. Tartuffe by Moliere 02/07/10 - 02/15/10 (4 stars)
2. The Misanthrope by Moliere 03/19/10 (4 stars)
3. A Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare 07/07/10 (4 stars)
4. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde December (5 stars)
5.

Mysteries

1. Written in Blood by Sheila Lowe 01/05/10 - 01/07/10 (3 stars)
2. Dexter by Design by Jeff Lindsay 02/14/10 - 02/21/10 (3 stars)
3. Dusted to Death by Barbara Colley 02/22/10 - 02/24/10 (3 stars)
4. Who Killed the Curate by Joan Coggin 04/09/10 - 04/14/10 (2.5 stars)
5. Deception Point by Dan Brown 03/12/10 - 04/24/10 (3 stars)

Bonus:

6. Spun Tales by Felicia Donovan 04/30/10 - 05/01/10 (3.5 stars)
7. The Case of the Ill-Gotten Goat by Claudia Bishop 06/25/10 - 06/27/10 (3 stars)
8. Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow 07/04/10 - 07/10/10 (4 stars)
9. Grace Under Pressure by Julie Hyzy 07/15/10 (3.5 stars)
10. Innocent by Scott Turow August 2010 (4 stars)
11. A Cup of Jo by Sandra Balzo October 2010 (3.5 stars)
12. The Fifth Woman by Henning Mankell (3.5 stars)
13. Dexter is Delicious by Jeff Lindsay (3 stars)
14. Royal Blood by Rhys Bowen (4 stars)
15. A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd (4 stars)

Presidential biographies

1. Martin Van Buren by Ted Widmer 12/30/09 - 01/03/10 (4 stars)
2. Old Tippecanoe by Freeman Cleaves 02/14/10 -
3.
4.
5.

Time Travel

1. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle 01/03/09 - (3.5 stars)
2. From Time to Time by Jack Finney 02/14/10 - 03/26/10 (3.5 stars)
3. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger 04/01/10 - 04/06/10 (3 stars)
4. To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis 05/16/10 - 06/18/10 (5 stars)
5.

#1 - And the 1010 challenge is off to a good start. I finished Martin Van Buren by Ted Widmer and this book shows just how much my reading tastes have changed since starting the 999 challenge last year. I was actually excited to read this book since I had recently finished a book on Jackson and was wanting to see how the next president turned out. Reading these biographies in order is like having a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of each one - you just have to read the next to see what happens next. In this case, poor Martin was a victim of really bad timing. The first major economic collapse of our nation, the slavery issue, and other things colliding during his presidency. It is fascinating to see the similarities between the collapse of 1837 and our recent economic woes. We never really learn from history do we?

I'm looking forward to the Martin Van Buren book, too. I got bogged down around Madison but just now, finished the American Presidents series book on Monroe.

I suspect that I'll spend quite a bit of time on JQA and Andrew Jackson and then rapidly go through the American Presidents books for awhile, starting with this Widmer book.

I am really enjoying reading the presidential bios in order as each builds on everything I read before.

Taiko,
I too felt that VB had a rotten piece of luck for timing of his presidency and the economic issues of the day but I think that could probably be said about all of them with some situation that arose during their term in office - war, illness, etc.

You're right cyderry - all of them do get hit with something unexpected don't they? It was just fascinating though to see the parallels between then and now.

#2 - How on earth did I manage to never read A Wrinkle in Time while growing up? It was listed as a recommendation in Bookmarks magazine as one of the top time travel books so I had to give it a shot. Such fun to read. It made me wish I had read it when I was younger and could really relate to Meg's awkwardness. Someday I'll have to check out more of Madeleine L'Engle's other books.

#3. I liked the first half to two thirds of Written in Blood by Sheila Lowe, but the last part of the book became way too melodramatic for me and in a way too predictable. Anybody who reads mysteries on a regular basis would see where it was going. It's too bad because there was a lot of potential there for something better.

#4 - P.G. Wodehouse comes through again with Much Obliged, Jeeves. This one was a full length novel instead of the short stories I had read previously. I liked the longer book because I felt I got a better sense of Jeeves as a person which is odd since really Bertie dominates the book. It just seemed that you got more glimpses into Jeeves personality or thoughts. As usual, it was a funny and entertaining read.

#5 - Ahh, the wacky group of people from Maggody return in Merry Wives of Maggody. I must say this group has really grown on me. Yes, they are ridiculous but yet they are oddly entertaining. This time the town has decided to host a charity golf tournament with the beneficiaries being the poor suffering golf widows in the world. Of course this wouldn't be Maggody without a dead body or two and thus usual shenanigans. Particularly delightful was the downfall of Mrs. Jim Bob.

It's been a while since I've read any Maggody books, but I would love to hear about Mrs. Jim Bob's fate. What did you think of Barnaby Rudge?

Unfortunately, I still haven't finished Barnaby Rudge. I started it last year and have let it drag on. What I have read I really enjoyed since the characters were all amusing and it was a bit different than other Dickens books. (Though don't get me wrong, I really have enjoyed a lot of his other books.) Have you read it? What did you think?

Okay, Mrs. Jim Bob - it's not an awful fate but she finally gives in to the temptations of alcohol and becomes the most entertaining drunk person for a bit. She actually becomes nice for about a page or two.

#6 - The Elegance of the Hedgehog. I really don't know what to say about this book as this book took me all over the place. For most of the book I felt entirely too dumb to be reading it. Or is it that the author wants to pretend to be smart and is really saying a whole of nothing. Somehow I have a feeling that my intellect just wasn't up to the challenge. However, that withstanding, it was a remarkable story of two oddballs who are surprised to learn that life isn't always what you think it's going to be. For a while the only thing keeping me going was the knowledge that my mother in law really enjoyed the book and I wanted to see why. Halfway through I started to see a glimmer and really enjoyed the last half of hte book. I think it was at that point that things that didn't make sense to me about the characters started to make sense.

#7 - Everyone should be required to read Half the Sky. It is a powerful book that opened my eyes to the world outside my own little bubble. Sad at times it is actually a very uplifting book about the strong will and spirit of women throughout the world.

#8 - I absolutely love the days where I allow myself to goof off and just read. Especially when I get to read a good mystery novel. U is for Undertow is the latest in Sue Grafton's series and I am impressed with how well this series as aged. This book was a well told story that had Kinsey looking into a young girl's death from the 60's. The characters all seemed realistic to me, neither too perfect or too flawed. I'm really going to miss Kinsey when we finally reach Z. Fortunately that's a few books away.

#9 - Oh my, I had forgotten how enjoyable David Sedaris could be. Just finished reading When you are Engulfed in Flames and enjoyed almost every story. He has such a unique way of looking at ordinary events. Such a way that makes you think, but of course. It helps that I'm hearing his voice as I read the book since you really do need that voice to get the full effect.

#10 - I love lazy days where you don't want to go outside due to the weather. You get so much reading done! Finished Last Bus to Woodstock by Colin Dexter and am trying to understand how I have never read anything by him before. Loved Inspector Morse. The reader has a fighting chance at figuring out who did it (though I was not successful). The clues were all there though. Definitely need to read more by Mr. Dexter.

I'm the same regarding Colin Dexter. I read the first two Inspector Morse quite some time ago, I remember really liking them, but for some reason didn't get back to him. I have just last week ordered the next three in the series and am looking forward to getting to know Inspector Morse again.

#11 - I picked Tartuffe because I have vague recollections of having seen it performed when I was in high school as part of one act play competition. I loved it then and thought it was hysterical and I enjoyed it now. However, the only thing that seemed familiar to me was the part with the guy hiding under the table. I'm also wondering how they condensed it down from five acts to one for the high school performance but it probably wasn't too hard. Anyway, loved the story and the characters.

#12 - Back to everyone's favorite serial killer in Dexter by Design. At this point I think I like the TV show better but it's always enjoyable to see or read about Dexter struggling to keep his two worlds from colliding. It's also interesting to see Dexter become more human whether he thinks he is or not.

Did you read the other Dexter books before watching the tv show? Or was it the other way round? Interested to see if perceptions are skewed to which medium you encounter first.

I started with the books and was very excited when I found out it was being made into a TV show. It's been nice to have both as I can now picture all the characters more vividly. The reason I'm leaning more towards liking the TV show is simply because I feel like I know the characters better. They are more well rounded I suppose.

There is one thing about the book that I really miss from the TV show and it's the fact that the children have their own Dark Passenger. Granted that probably would be hard to do on TV but it's an interesting part of the story to me as Dexter guides them the way Harry guided him.

Which one do you prefer? Did you start with the TV show or books?

#13 - Dusted to Death by Barbara Colley is the latest in the series about Charlotte LaRue, a New Orleans maid. This really shouldn't be a series I enjoy but for some reason I do keep reading it. I think it's because Charlotte seems rather real as does her family. She is flawed but only in the way most of are flawed. The mystery wasn't particularly strong in this one but it was still an enjoyable read.

>32 LittleTaiko: I have had Wiped Out in my to be read pile for years. Maybe I'll get it out and try it.

31 My first encounter with Dexter was the TV show and despite hearing bad things about the books I thought I'd check them out anyway. I'm glad I did but, like you, prefer the TV show. Will be interesting to see where they take season 5 after the shocker of an ending to season 4.

@34 - I'm so ready to see season 4 (we don't have Showtime so I have to wait until they come out on DVD - agony!) but had heard there was a shocker at the end. My imagination has come up with all sorts of options.

#14 - Madame Bovary. Ugh. What a vain, silly woman. She seemed to be permanently stuck with the fantasies of an adolescent girl. Someone who read way too many romance novels and didn't have a clue as to what real live or love should be like.

#15 - My Racing Heart was an interesting and educational read about the world of Thoroughbred racing. A little too educational perhaps in the breeding chapter but overall a good read. The author did a nice job of relating family stories in between more modern information.

#16 - The Thirteenth Tale made me feel so different things. It helped that I didn't know what to expect with this story. The first few chapters made me so happy and I felt such a connection to the narrator and her love of books. She had a way of describing books that made me feel happy. Once she started work on the biography my feelings changed. However, the beauty of the book is that it kept pulling me back. Even when I found myself annoyed with the narrator, the characters, the words, the story itself kept me reading.

#17 - So happy to see that the Sandra Balzo series is still enjoyable. From the Grounds Up deals with the aftermath of the previous book and finds changes in everyone's lives. I love how the supporting characters continue to evolve and are fairly realistic. The murder was almost a side story here but was still enjoyable though maybe not without as many clues as there could have been.

#18 - Okay, now that I have stopped crying...The Art of Racing in the Rain was such a good book. Granted it was a bit predictable at time but oh, how can you not love a book about a dog and Formula 1 racing? Enzo will forever be a part of of my soul.

#19 - What a fun, easy read while sitting on the back porch enjoying the sunshine. The Misanthrope was fun and still relevant. Granted, I'm reading the English translation but I love how well the characters were portrayed.

#20 - Finished Death with Interruptions and absolutely loved it. It was a bit slow in the beginning but once death made herself known the book became really interesting. I just love the premise of what happens whenever death decides to take break so people stop dying. Sounds wonderful at first but soon everyone realized the problems that this could create. Fortunately, death comes back and had a new twist to the process. The writing style was a bit difficult but once I got into the rhythm I was able to follow along okay.

#21 - So glad I'm not working right now. I was able to go purchase the latest Harlan Coben novel, Caught and spend the afternoon on my back porch reading it and enjoying the sunshine. You really can't go wrong with a Coben novel. I've been a fan since the first Myron Bolitar books and have enjoyed his stand alone books as well. Once of the fun parts of reading the books is that so many of the supporting characters carry over from book to book. As usual, there are lots of twists and turns that keep you reading. It also makes you think about the premise of innocent until proven guilty and how quickly that can go wrong.

#22 - Finished From Time to Time the sequel to Time and Again. It was fun to catch up with Si and see him living happily with Julia. Overall the book was enjoyable as once again Si is called upon to travel to another point of time. I learned a bit about life in 1912 which was interesting. I was a little disappointed in the book description though as it made it seem that the majority of the book would be about Si on the Titanic when in reality that was only about two chapters. Still enjoyable though.

#23 - I finally finished The Omnivore's Dilemma and actually enjoyed it. For some reason I had a hard time getting into it but something clicked partway through the first section. I know it's a few years old but it was still a fascinating look at the business of producing our food.

#24 - There are parts I liked and parts I disliked about The Time Traveler's Wife. Overall, I liked it since it's an interesting concept and I am a sucker for romance. However, the scenes with Gomez were incredibly annoying - why exactly were they still friends with him? The book also veered too much into bodice ripper territory for my tastes. Not sure if I liked the ending either. Hmm, what did I like? I guess despite myself I liked the Henry and Clare though neither one is particularly realistic. I know, I know - it's time travel, but still.

#25 - In Defense of Food was a nice follow up to The Omnivore's Dilemma. Full of good tips that break down what eating should really be about. It sounds simple to say you are going to eat food. What does it really mean? What constitutes a food?

#26 - I really enjoyed Read My Pins by Madeleine Albright. It combined a lot of interesting stories from her life with her amazing collection of pins. She seems like such an interesting person - now I just need to read her memoirs.

#27 - Ugh, I really wanted to like Who Killed the Curate? better but the main character just drove me crazy. She was a little too loopy for me - surely nobody is that flighty. The overall screwball mystery set in the 40's was appealing and it improved once there were more characters involved. However it wasn't enough to overcome the easy to solve mystery and the overly annoying Luipin.

#28 - Paul and Me was an entertaining and I felt honest look at parts of Paul Newman's life as told by his friend A. E. Hotchner. The book focuses a little on movies, but primarily on their friendship and how they built the Newman's Own brand. Paul Newman was a flawed and caring person who wasn't afraid to go after what he wanted.

#29 - Still Alice is probably the best book I've read this year, though The Art of Racing in the Rain is a close second. This story told through the eyes of an early onset Alzheimer's patient is so moving. I have a whole new sense of compassion for what sufferers must go through and a whole new fear that this could be my life someday. Good characters with no simple solutions. A very good book.

#30 - Fascinating look at the world of book collecting in The Man Who Loved Books Too Much. It tells the story of a thief obsessed with collecting books and the detective who helped stop him. It was a nice balance between their stories and general information about the book collecting world.

#31 - Deception Point by Dan Brown was fairly typical of his books - lots of action, incredibly violent and unusual ways of killing people, over the top story, but it's still fun to read. Granted, I don't feel compelled to read every word - I tend to skim and pick up the high points. It seemed to work.

#32 - Read Spun Tales, the second book in the Black Widow Agency series and really enjoyed it. Maybe it's just because it was a fun, light read when I was exhausted that helped me enjoy it. They mystery isn't the sort of one that you can figure out on your own, but the characters are what kept me reading. Four completely different women who have their own issues have joined together to help women who have been wronged. What's not to like?

#33 - Ugh, finally finished The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. What a beating. Actually, parts of it were enjoyable and I did find myself strangely compelled to keep turning pages. It's just that I fail to see what was wondrous about poor Oscar's life. His family also was something I couldn't understand very well. Possibly that's due to cultural differences, but it just seemed strange that they were all that dysfunctional. Now my biggest problem is how to tell the person who loaned it to me that I didn't like it that much.

#34 - I was reluctant to read The May Queen since I assumed it would be another round of useless essays about life in your 30's. However it was recommended by someone I respected so I gave it a shot - and ended up really enjoying it. Maybe it's because I discovered I might be more together in my 30's than I thought - at least compared to some of their stories. Not all stories related to me, but they all showed the various issues that women face as they age.

#35 - I know I read Franny and Zooey at some point when I was in high school. Not an assigned reading, but for fun. I remember liking it quite a bit at the time. However, it turns out I don't remember a single thing about the book. Reading it again was like reading it for the first time. I probably liked it so much because it was the tale of two social outcasts - doomed by their intelligence. In high school I remember feeling much the same way, though my intelligence was quite dim compared to theirs. As an adult, they strike me as a slightly whiny, pompous young adults but there is still that connection.

#36 - Wow! Just finished reading The Girl Who Played With Fire and loved it! I think I might have liked it better than his first book. The first part seemed unnecessary to me as it seemed to accomplish little. Maybe it was to show how Salander had changed a bit, but overall I'm still not sure what the point was. However, once she returned to Sweden, the action really took off. I can't wait for the next book to come out on Tuesday so I can find out what happens next!

#37 - I am on a roll with good books. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet was so wonderful and heartbreaking. I found it interesting since it dealt with a time that I'm not too familiar with, WWII and the hatred of the Japanese. It also educated me a bit on Chinese/Japanese relations. However, all of that was a backdrop for a very touching love story as well as showing the difficulties of father/son relationships.

Just read your comment about The Time-Traveler's Wife and I totally agree with you about Gomez. He was so annoying!

#38 - Catcher in the Rye was much better than I remembered it. While you can't help but want to smack Holden around sometimes, it makes sense. He is a teenage boy and really, who hasn't wanted to tell them to grow up and get over themselves before? I thought it was interesting that for someone who doesn't seem to like people he spends so much time trying to contact them.

#39 - I really love the Emily Brightwell Mrs. Jeffries series. The latest book, Mrs. Jeffires Speaks Her Mind, didn't disappoint either. Once again, it finds the household staff assisting the Inspector on the latest murder. While the formula never really changes, I love the characters and the fact that the reader always has a chance to figure out who did it. It's a nice old-fashioned murder mystery.

#40 - Finally! After a year I finished Barnaby Rudge. Not sure why it took so long since I really liked the book. This book has everything - murder, romance, riots, humor, drama. I didn't know much about this book before reading it, so my expectations were low. I really enjoyed the characters and will remember some if them fondly. Am I the only one who liked Hugh, in spite if myself?

#41 - The Tea Rose - It was a very enjoyable read but overall very predictable too. It did manage to have a few moments that took me by surprise and set the story on a more interesting journey. However, like most romantic based novels it depends so much on the idea that there is only one person out there for everyone. Romantic thought sure, practical and realistic, no. However, I am a sucker for a strong female protagonist who defies all odds

#42 - So glad that I found the recommendation for To Say Nothing of the Dog. I loved it! It had everything that I want in a book - time travel, a mystery, humor, a Victorian setting. Such a fun and clever book.

@64, I'm going to have to give in and add that one to my wishlist I think. Not seen anyone have a bad word for it yet.

#43 - Jane's Fame wasn't as good as I had hoped but I think I was expecting a different kind of book. Rather than being a full on biography it was more of a summary of how Jane became popular throughout time. It also seems that there is no such thing as a good biography on Jane Austen since not much is known about her. It was interesting to see how her books used to be something that both men and women used to read and now it seems that she is perceived as chick-lit. Overall a solid and informative read.

#44 - How sad that the trilogy is now over. Finished The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest last night and really enjoyed it. I know the author intended to write several more in the series but I thought this book did a nice job of wrapping things up.

#45 - The Case of the Ill-Gotten Goat is an overall enjoyable mystery - a nice easy read. My two favorite things about the book is that the main character enjoys his daily glass of scotch and that the story is set on a goat farm. Some of the descriptions made me smile as I remembered growing up on a dairy.

#46 - I had never read anything by Christopher Moore until a former high school teacher recommended that I read Fool. Now, I can't wait to read more by him - hysterical! It is the story of King Lear told through the rather hilarious perspective of the fool. Now, I feel compelled to read King Lear.

#47 - Comedy of Errors was a fun read for our book club. I'm looking forward to seeing it performed at our local Shakespeare in the Park. So many coincidences but all in all good fun.

#48 - My mother-in-law sent me two Scott Turow books and said I needed to read them. Just finished Presumed Innocent and I can see why. Very interesting story about a prosecutor who has been charged with murder. While it's told from his point of view you never get a good feel for whether he's guilty or not. Lots of good twists and storytelling. Can't wait to read the second book since it's sequel written 20 years later.

#49 - I'm a bit behind in posting this - I kept forgetting that I had finished one since it was a Kindle read. Anyway, Grace Under Pressure by Julie Hyzy was a nice fun read. I just wish mysteries today actually gave you more clues instead of just letting it all come together. That being said, the characters were entertaining and I'd like to read more in the series.

>72 LittleTaiko: I just wish mysteries today actually gave you more clues instead of just letting it all come together.

So do I. As much as I enjoy the characters and the continuing stories, I always feel a bit cheated when the solution just happens rather than having to be figured out.

#50 & #51 - Started reading the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny and have really enjoyed them. The characters are interesting and somehow different than what you typically see. The storytelling is a bit different too as the author can jump from topic to topic but somehow make it all make sense. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.

Still Life and Fatal Grace

#52 - Loved, loved, loved Game Change. I didn't give it 5 stars though since it seemed a bit rushed at the end and could have covered more territory. I'm a sucker for behind the scenes political stories. Though after reading this book, it confirms that politicians are some of the strangest and saddest people.

#53 - Finished Innocent by Scott Turow and really enjoyed the sequel to Presumed Innocent. It's an interesting study of how people don't really change at their core and how sometimes what you believe to be true is quite different from reality. I enjoyed the fact that this book was told from multiple points of view instead of just Rusty's this time. It was nice to learn more about Tommy, Nat, and Anna.

#54 - For some reason it has taken me months to finish Red, White, and Drunk All Over. In fact this was my second attempt at the book as a previous attempt a few years ago ended when I became distracted by other books. The thing is, I really enjoyed the book and found the information very interesting. She presented the material in a way that isn't too intimidating. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys wine.

#55 - Flew through Sarah's Key in one day. The story is about Sarah and Julia and how their lives are connected. Absolutely loved the first half of the book. Unfortunately the second half was ridiculous and predictable. The basis of Sarah's story is heartbreaking and moving. It's just too bad the book couldn't have been more about her and less about Julia who I found to be annoying and a bit stupid.

#56 - The Language of Baklava was an interesting look at the author's life growing up with a Jordanian father and American mother. At the core of her life is the wonderful food from her father's heritage. As an added bonus, the recipes for the various dishes are included in each chapter. Can't wait to make some of them!

#57 - Ugh, A Reliable Wife was overall a waste of time. The writing style was interesting but the plot itself was ridiculous and stretched the imagination. If it were supposed to be just a romance novel then it would be okay, but as a work of literature it just doesn't work.

>80 LittleTaiko: Oops! I just yesterday picked this one up from the remainder shelf at the bookstore. I know I've seen mixed reviews of it, and wasn't sure I wanted to read it, but then when I looked at it the premise seemed interesting...

>81 ivyd: - Hopefully you like it more than I did. It was an easy read but maybe I just found it overhyped. It just wasn't as good as I was hoping.

#58 - I really wanted to like Crescent by Diana Abu-Jaber more than I did. After reading The Language of Baklava I was expecting something more I guess. It's the story of an exiled Iraqi and an American-Iraqi who fall in love. Of course there is a mysterious, tragic background for one of them and lots of confusion for the other one. The characters never seemed real to me. Interspersed with the story is a rambling fairy tale which was amusing, but ended up being a distraction from the story. Overall it was a bit too disjointed. However, it was interesting to get more insight into how the Arab community views Americans and why.

#59 - You Remind Me of Me was an overall enjoyable read. It's the story of three different peoples lives and how they are intertwined. Overall I found the characters to be believable though a little bid sad. The ending seemed a bit rushed to me and left some things unanswered, but then again I guess that's how life can be.

#60 - Once again I have found myself enjoying a mystery from Louise Penny. This time it was The Cruellest Month, the third in the series. The characters continue to develop and remain interesting. The story as always moves along and gives you plenty of clues along the way. I can't wait to read the next one in the series.

#61 - I'm on a roll with Louise Penny. Finished A Rule Against Murder and loved it! I really appreciate how she plants seeds in other books and slowly brings a story to fruition a couple of books later. Once again, the characters all seem so real, nobody is completely good or bad which is how most of us really are.

69, 70> Since after reading Fool you wanted to read King Lear, after reading Comedy of Errors you should try The Menaechmi by Plautus. (If you haven't read it already.}

#62 - Lamb had me laughing. It is Christopher Moore's very irreverent take on the early years of Jesus as told through his best friend Biff, aka - Levi. A very entertaining book, but overall I would say it's best taken in small doses. After awhile it was too much of - oh look how clever I am. That said, I would definitely recommend the book.

#63 - Jar City was fascinating. A very interesting and unexpected mystery set in Iceland. The story went down a path that I wasn't expecting which is always a nice surprise. I'm looking forward to meeting more in this series.

#64 - I'm finally caught up on the Louise Penny books, at least until her next one is released on the 28th. After reading The Brutal Telling, I'm eagerly awaiting her latest book. As always, she has created an interesting story that ends up going places I never expect. She manages to pull off the tricky feat of having what is considered a "cozy" mystery but with completely unique characters and situations.

#65 - The Postmistress was an enlightening look at a small American town and Europe prior to America entering into World War II. The author successfully brings the characters and the horrific situation to life. This book made me think which is really what a good book should do.

#66 - A Cup of Jo is the latest in the Sandra Balzo series. Overall it was good but like most series books, the introduction of new characters basically ensures that one of them is guilty and the others all have secrets but won't be heard of again after the current book.

#67 - The Fifth Woman was an interesting mystery set in Sweden. It starts with a couple of really violent murders and follows the investigation. The characters are interesting though I have found his books to be a bit depressing somehow. It's hard to pinpoint why, maybe it's the dreary weather, the pessimistic look at life in Sweden, or just the characters themselves.

#68 - Dexter is Delicious was a bit more gruesome than I wanted. I couldn't help but feel that the author was trying to capitalize on the latest vampire trends but then tried to one up it by throwing in cannibalism. Isn't the fact that we're dealing with a serial killer enough? Overall, I think the TV series has spoiled me for the book series.

#69 - Wit's End was an interesting and yet frustrating read. I wanted to like the book more than I ended up liking it. That being said, it's still a decent read about a woman coming to live with her eccentric godmother who also happens to be a mystery author. The ending felt a bit off for some reason, maybe it was too rushed?

#70 - Anyone who has never read Harlan Coben before needs to stay far, far away from this book. Please follow the disclaimer he has at the front of the book to please start with one of his other books. The reason being that Play Dead is the first book he ever wrote and has been recently re-released. There are parts of the book where you can see the write to come but oh boy, parts of this are really bad. It reads like something a young male would write for his first book. As a big fan of his, I found it amusing to read and to admire how far he's come.

#71 - I had no plans to read Little Bee until my book club selected it for our next read. The back of the book with it's top secret description just rubbed me the wrong way. Thankfully, the book ended up being a very good story; moving, thought provoking, horrifying, and yet slightly amusing at times. The character of Little Bee is really remarkable and I loved looking at life through her eyes. It reminded me of how lucky I am with the life I was handed.

#72 - Louise Penny can do no wrong. Her latest book Bury Your Dead was wonderful. It picks up shortly after her last book ends and successfully weaves three different mysteries together. Her characters continue to be some of the most real in any mystery series. If you haven't read any of her books, I encourage you to start with her first book, Still Life, and work your way through the series.

#73 - Royal Blood was a nice light diversion. I gave it a higher ranking than it probably deserved, but I just can't help but like the main character. Overall, she's entertaining and smarter than what the author made her seem this time. Who really believes in vampires? Anyway - a fun series to read.

I totally agree with you about Louise Penny! I just finished Bury Your Dead also, and I thought it was her best yet.

#74 - Homer & Langley: A Novel ended up being different than what I expected. I knew it was based on the true story of two reclusive brothers in New York who were hoarders. For some reason I was expecting more about the hoarding and the aftermath of after they died. Instead, it was an interesting story told from the perspective of Homer, the blind brother. This isn't told in general story format with chapters, but instead reads more like diary entries. It is interesting to get an idea of what type of person could become a hoarder and how it all seems so natural to them.

re A Reliable Wife

I totally agree with you on this one. I wish I'd seen your comment before I bought the book, because it definitely wasn't worth the few dollars I paid for it.

Yes, I really didn't see what all the hype was about. I kept reading because I couldn't believe how ridiculous it was getting. Oh well, you win some, you lose some, right?

#75 - I have had Songs for the Missing on my Kindle for quite some time now but finally got around to reading it and am so glad that I did. It tales the tell of a high school girl who is missing and the impact it has on her family and friends left behind to find her. It was different in the fact that it wasn't your traditional thriller where the focus is on finding out who took her. Instead it's sole focus is on how those who remain cope. I felt that the family was portrayed very realistically, flaws and all. It shows the challenge of trying to deal with the day to day life that still goes on while continuing to search for the missing person as well as keeping the faith that it will all end well. Very good book.

#76 - A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd was a very enjoyable read. I've had this author on my to be read list for a while and finally got the first book in the Bess Crawford series. For anyone who loves a historical mystery with a strong female lead then this book is for you. It's set in WWI and the main character is a nurse who has been entrusted to deliver a message back to the family of a dying soldier. Her visit to the family ends up reopening painful family secrets and of course leads to a few dead bodies.

#77 - Await Your Reply was a bit frustrating to read. The characters were borderline annoying but the storyline was just interesting enough to keep me reading. I was hoping for a great ending but instead got something that was completely predictable and obvious about two thirds of the way into the book.

#78 - Oh how I wanted to like Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk more. I was lucky enough to attend an arts & letters lecture where he did various readings including a couple of the stories from this book. Unfortunately, listening to him read them is infinitely better than just reading them. These fables were just a little darker than I would prefer though a couple of them were entertaining and enjoyable. Overall it was just too uneven for me.

#79 - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was a bit uneven as sometimes it was entertaining and at other times it became a bit silly. The story of Huck and Jim gets off to a slow start and picks up steam once they are partway though their trip. The book works best when it allows one of their adventures to develop for more than a chapter.

#80 - Absolutely loved The Hunger Games! I know it's technically a young adult book but I couldn't help but enjoy it. The story is set in the distant future in which the US has been broken into 12 districts. To discourage rebellion, the Capitol holds an annual competition in which one boy and one girl from each district are required to compete in a fight to the death on live TV. The parallels between the future and today's world are fascinating. The heroine is a great role model for all young girls. Can't wait to read the next book in the trilogy.

#81 - The latest Tasha Alexander book, Dangerous to Know did not disappoint. Fans of the the Lady Emily series should enjoy this latest outing. It's much improved from the last book.

#82 - Catching Fire picked up right where the Hunger Games left off and maintained the same excellent story telling. Just when you think you know where the book is going, the author takes you in a completely different direction. All you can do is just sit back and enjoy the ride.

#83 - My favorite play of all time is The Importance of Being Earnest. It's one that I reread from time to time, especially when I'm in need of a laugh. The dialogue and humor are wonderful!