I just updated my Excel spreadsheet with my recent reads and it looks like my 2006 total is 37 and my super total is 38 (possibly more as I haven't been through all the additions to see if I have read any others). That still sounds really low, so I guess I will double check to make sure I have everything.
I just started Frankenstein as a nod to the Halloween season, so we shall see how that goes. Need to get these numbers up! Too bad I have so many non-list books that keep me distracted.
Happy Reading!
Monday, October 22, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
The Great Gatsby
This was the latest pick for the on-line Goodreads group doing this challenge. I gave it 2 out of 5 stars. This book unsettled me and I also felt that the story was hidden somehow. I felt like I almost got to know the characters, that I almost thought I know where the author was going. Definitely an odd book that I didn't know what to make of or what the resolutions for the characters really were. Did Daisy and Tom carry on with their marriage? What happened to the narrator? What did the narrator ultimately feel about Gatsby since it seemed that his opinion changed in the end, but it was hard to tell. I felt like I was reading an Oprah book. So, I don't know if the unsettling was challenging thought patterns or just not getting a grasp of the story and the why behind it. Not sure what I am reading next. Hubby has suggested Count of Monte Cristo, as I am not sure that I can easily get hold of the next on-line pick. As Halloween is approaching though, I might pick up Frankenstein. We'll see!
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Out of Africa, the latest 1001 conquest!
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I found this book hard to get into as the stream of consciousness narration combined with my complete lack of knowledge of life in Africa in the 1900s made it a bit hard to follow. But, I did find that I was glad that I kept with it, as the people and the stories were endearing. I am looking forward to seeing the movie, as I have not as yet seen that either and comparing it to my experience of the book. It was an interesting glimpse into the juxtaposition and assimilation of European and African culture, which I did, ultimately find enjoyable once I got over the seeming disjointedness at parts. One thing that I did wish was that there were translations for some of the poems and phrases that were left in other languages.
Not sure which one is next, as I have a couple of non-list books that I am committed to reading. The adventure continues!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
TInker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I really wanted to like this book, as it sounded like one I could enjoy. What mystery lover doesn't love a good spy novel? However, I found it very difficult to keep up with all the characters, I never knew whether the narration was current or flashback. I found it all very confusing. So, while there were elements of the story that I enjoyed. I am sure that I missed the point of the story as I got bogged down in the minutiae. The only thing I am certain of is that I know who the mole was, but how the rest of the puzzle fits together, I am entirely unclear. I hold at hope for the next one!
I really wanted to like this book, as it sounded like one I could enjoy. What mystery lover doesn't love a good spy novel? However, I found it very difficult to keep up with all the characters, I never knew whether the narration was current or flashback. I found it all very confusing. So, while there were elements of the story that I enjoyed. I am sure that I missed the point of the story as I got bogged down in the minutiae. The only thing I am certain of is that I know who the mole was, but how the rest of the puzzle fits together, I am entirely unclear. I hold at hope for the next one!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
Another one down.... For some reason the copy paste from Goodreads to Blog is not formatting right (see last entry). So, I apologize that I have been reduced to text only until I can figure it out.
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I read this as it is one of the 1001 Books to Read before you die, and it was this months selection from the 1001 Books group here on Goodreads. I did not care for the fact that it was one big long stream of consciousness telling of her life with no chapter breaks, which made it hard to pick up and put down as I need to being a mother. The story itself was not uninteresting, but the end was probably my favorite part as opposed to all of the tales regarding her thieving exploits as they got repetitive, in my opinion. It's another one off the list, but I hope I enjoy the next one more.
Next up - Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre which sounds much more agreeable to my tastes, so here's hoping!
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I read this as it is one of the 1001 Books to Read before you die, and it was this months selection from the 1001 Books group here on Goodreads. I did not care for the fact that it was one big long stream of consciousness telling of her life with no chapter breaks, which made it hard to pick up and put down as I need to being a mother. The story itself was not uninteresting, but the end was probably my favorite part as opposed to all of the tales regarding her thieving exploits as they got repetitive, in my opinion. It's another one off the list, but I hope I enjoy the next one more.
Next up - Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre which sounds much more agreeable to my tastes, so here's hoping!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Another one hard fought
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11061779-the-tenant-of-wildfell-hall" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1329473356m/11061779.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11061779-the-tenant-of-wildfell-hall">The Tenant of Wildfell Hall</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8249.Anne_Bront_">Anne Brontë</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/327208326">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I liked the second half of this book much more than the first half, but I don't know that it saved the experience as a whole for me. I found the beginning to be tedious both in topic and trying to track the various characters. However, once the story picked up and got beyond the various gatherings of people, I did enjoy it. I usually don't like flashbacks, but I felt that the flashback to look at Helen's development was very well handled and that was the point where I started to believe that I could make it through this book. I am glad I read it, as it is another one off the 1001 Book List, but I don't believe that I would choose to read it again.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1074676-kelly">View all my reviews</a>
Not sure why the formatting provided by Goodreads isn't working anymore, so I apologize for the gobbledy gook. I will do some research and hope to straighten it out.
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/327208326">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I liked the second half of this book much more than the first half, but I don't know that it saved the experience as a whole for me. I found the beginning to be tedious both in topic and trying to track the various characters. However, once the story picked up and got beyond the various gatherings of people, I did enjoy it. I usually don't like flashbacks, but I felt that the flashback to look at Helen's development was very well handled and that was the point where I started to believe that I could make it through this book. I am glad I read it, as it is another one off the 1001 Book List, but I don't believe that I would choose to read it again.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1074676-kelly">View all my reviews</a>
Not sure why the formatting provided by Goodreads isn't working anymore, so I apologize for the gobbledy gook. I will do some research and hope to straighten it out.
Playing Catch up
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7066256-crime-and-punishment" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Crime and Punishment " border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1267043037m/7066256.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7066256-crime-and-punishment">Crime and Punishment</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3137322.Fyodor_Dostoyevsky">Fyodor Dostoyevsky</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/197127533">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I really enjoyed this book as I am used to Russian Literature, having minored in it in college, and as a psychological study of sorts (as that was my major). I took it in small doses, but as a whole really enjoyed it. As is common in Russian Literature (and probably not exclusively so) I had a hard time keeping track of all the characters especially as the pet names are used interchangeably with the formal names, but overall I found that I did enjoy this book and I am glad that I read it.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1074676-kelly">View all my reviews</a>
P.S. - I actually finished this book back in January, lol. Where has 2012 gone?!?
Monday, January 2, 2012
A Secret History
While I definitely enjoyed the story, I wish the author had organized it differently. 500 pages and only 8 chapters is a rough read. However, the story was very interesting, and I did not feel that I was slogging through the 120 page chapters too much. Definitely interesting character study that keeps you guessing. I am happy to see so many mysteries on the 1001 Books to Read list!
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