Athena's Reading List 2013

[Athena]

I've often wanted to do this but somehow not quite got around to it. Are you organising them in any specific way Athena? .. like alphabetically or anything? It's a bit difficult to do that with a notebook that you're adding to all the time though I guess. I like the idea of it because I'm sure it would make things feel tidier .. if I had some sort of catalogue. I have one on-line of course but nothing otherwise. It's all in my head along with all the other fluff and stuff  

x

I've only written in the wishlist one so far, I haven't yet decided how to organise the one with all my books in it. The wishlist one is going by time, so the books that have been on there the longest will go in first (on average, at least.). I've written a few pages in it so far. I write the author's name, title of the book (+ series if it's part of a series) and the date of when I added it to the wishlist. I'm not sure yet how to organise the list of my books, I could do it chronologically but I'd have to go to two different sources since I switched system (I'm now using Book Collector but before then was using MS Access). I think that would be the nicest, though, so I can see it chronologically. Alphabetically would be okay for now but then when I add something to it it'll have to come last. I'm glad to hear you like the idea .

 

Your head sounds like a nice place to be! I like fluff and soft things .

[julie]

Athena

 That sounds like a nice way to keep things organized . I'd have the good intentions of trying it ,but wouldn't keep it updated ,if I know ME very well. I like being organized ,and think I am for the most part, but could stand improvement in some areas .

The wish list does sound like a good thing to have, so you have an idea of what to search for if you are at a bookstore, but I do about 95 % of my book buying on amazon for my kindle, so I just kinda keep track in there of what sounds good ,what new books are coming out, etc and put them in my wish list .

 

I admire people who CAN keep such organized book lists . It's a very good quality to have .

[Athena]

Robert Jordan - Wheel of Time 0: New Spring

 

 

Genre: Fantasy

Format: Paperback

Pages: 423

Synopsis (GoodReads): (in spoiler tags since it might be spoiling if you haven't read the first book in the series)

 

The city of Canluum lies close to the scarred and desolate wastes of the Blight, a walled haven from the dangers away to the north, and a refuge from the ill works of those who serve the Dark One. Or so it is said.

 

The city that greets Al’Lan Mandragoran, exiled king of Malkier and the finest swordsman of his generation, is instead one that is rife with rumour and the whisperings of Shadowspawn. Proof, should he have required it, that the Dark One grows powerful once more and that his minions are at work throughout the lands.

 

And yet it is within Canluum’s walls that Lan will meet a woman who will shape his destiny. Moiraine is a young and powerful Aes Sedai who has journeyed to the city in search of a bondsman. She requires aid in a desperate quest to prove the truth of a vague and largely discredited prophecy—one that speaks of a means to turn back the shadow, and of a child who may be the dragon reborn.

 

My thoughts: I'm eagerly anticipating the release of the final book in this series, in paperback. I realised I hadn't yet read the prequel book, so thought why not do so? The past few books I read weren't fantasy and I do like to read some fantasy now and then.

 

I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved to read about the two main characters that feature in this book. It has some ties to the first book in the series. This book illustrated for me again the things I love about this series of books. I loved to read about the world and the people in it, I loved the attention to detail Robert Jordan gives. I can't talk too much about the plot or it would be spoiling. I really enjoyed this book, though I wish it had been longer. It's not a short book by any means! It has 423 pages. I just loved the story so much I'd want to see more of it. In fact, maybe sometime, once I've read the last book in the series I might go back and read the whole series over again (including this book). The book isn't as epic as some of the other books in the series (not that that's necssarily a bad thing). I wanted to read on what would happen, and it didn't take me a lot of time to read it. I had some mojo issues a few days ago but managed to get into the book and read quite a bit in the end.

 

I don't recommend reading this book if you haven't read any of the Wheel of Time series, because you might be a bit confused if you haven't. The other books have a glossary at the back where you can look things up, this one doesn't so some of the terms used in this world, such as the 'magic' in the world, might be a bit foreign to you if you don't know how it works (or, you could use Google or a Wiki). That said, in many other ways it is a good introduction as a lot of things are explained, but not everything. It can easily be read once you've read the first or the first two books from the series. If you have read those and liked them, I heartily recommend this book.

 

Rating: ***** (9/10)

[Athena]

It would appear I've now read 100 books this year! GoodReads says 99, but the list on here is 100 long. I think it doesn't count the book I read from 31 December 2012 to 1 January 2013. It might count it as 2012, maybe?

 

This is the target I was hoping to get this year, so I've reached it before the year is over! I'm quite proud of it. Hopefully I should be able to do lots more reading the rest of the year (since it's so much fun), maybe I'll get to 120 or 125. If not, 100+ is still very good imo. I only started to record my reading dates since ~ Jun 2012 so it's great to see how far I've come so far. Last year, from Jun - Dec 2012 I read 43 books. Pages wise though the gap is less big, which means I read more shorter books this year (which makes sense, I try to read shorter books for the read-a-thon).

[Timstar]

Glad you enjoyed it, I am slowly making my way through the series, when would you suggest the best time to read the prequel is? I believe it was published around the time of the 9th or 10th book?

[Athena]

It was published after book 10 came out. If you want to be safe, after book 10 (publishing order) should be fine . You could read it sooner but it might contain a few tidbits about things that happen before book 10.

Edited September 16, 2013 by Athena

[Little Pixie]

It would appear I've now read 100 books this year! GoodReads says 99, but the list on here is 100 long. I think it doesn't count the book I read from 31 December 2012 to 1 January 2013. It might count it as 2012, maybe?

 

This is the target I was hoping to get this year, so I've reached it before the year is over! I'm quite proud of it. Hopefully I should be able to do lots more reading the rest of the year (since it's so much fun), maybe I'll get to 120 or 125. If not, 100+ is still very good imo. I only started to record my reading dates since ~ Jun 2012 so it's great to see how far I've come so far. Last year, from Jun - Dec 2012 I read 43 books. Pages wise though the gap is less big, which means I read more shorter books this year (which makes sense, I try to read shorter books for the read-a-thon).

 

Ooh, congrats on reaching 100 ! 

[Little Pixie]

Athena

 That sounds like a nice way to keep things organized . I'd have the good intentions of trying it ,but wouldn't keep it updated ,if I know ME very well. I like being organized ,and think I am for the most part, but could stand improvement in some areas .

The wish list does sound like a good thing to have, so you have an idea of what to search for if you are at a bookstore, but I do about 95 % of my book buying on amazon for my kindle, so I just kinda keep track in there of what sounds good ,what new books are coming out, etc and put them in my wish list .

 

I use Amazon as my wish list as well, though I put everything in my basket and save it, and then Amazon tells me when things have dropped in price - that tends to spur me into buying something, if it`s suddenly a great deal.

[dex]

Well done on reading 100 books, Athena. I think I'll try for 75. Dibdin and Cleeves would be 15 and I'm not sure how many Nesser I've got left.

[Devi]

Congrats on reading 100 books!

[Athena]

Thanks for all the congratulations !! I'm quite surprised myself.

 

New books:

Helen Fielding - Bridget Jones 1: Bridget Jones' Diary (I think I'll read this very soon)

Jamie Oliver - Save with Jamie

 

I also bought:

Jane Mallison - Book Smart: Your Essential Reading List for Becoming a Literary Genius in 365 Days

but it'll take a bit longer to get here since it wasn't available new so I bought a used copy.

[julie]

Good job reading 100 books and the year isn't over yet ! You have a good 3 months, even if you take off some days here and there for holidays and such .

 

The last book you reviewed looked like a whopper so maybe some of the big ones make up for the short ones  you mentioned .

[Athena]

Thanks julie . That's true, there's still a quarter and a bit more left of the year so there should be quite a bit more time for reading (minus holidays etc.)

 

Yes, I suppose that's true. I try to read a mixture of longer and shorter books, so what you're saying makes sense .

[pontalba]

That is wonderful Athena!  100 books read already!  Good show.

[poppyshake]

Well done Athena .. that is fantastic  

[Athena]

Thanks to you both !

[Athena]

Anne Mreijen & Marco Pauw - Unlimited: Chronisch Boek Zonder Beperkingen (Dutch)

 

 

Genre: Biography

Format: Paperback

Pages: 151

Synopsis (back of the book): Ze zijn positief, sterk, ambitieus en vooral bezig met wat ze wél kunnen. Want de twaalf jongvolwassenen die in Unlimited, chronisch boek zonder beperkingen aan het woord komen hebben allemaal een chronische ziekte of een lichamelijke beperking. Toch willen ze niet dat hun ziekte of beperking hun level bepaalt en voelen ze de drankg naar een zo normaal mogelijk leven zonder medelijden.

 

Maar hoe kun je fatsoenlijk daten als je een een rolstoel zit? En heb je de kans op een goed seksleven als één kant van je lichaam verlamd is? Wat doe je de hele dag als je niet langer dan zestig seconden rechtop kunt zitten of staan, omdat de druk op je hoofd anders te groot wordt? In Unlimited worden taboes doorbroken, grenzen verlegd en verhalen verteld zonder dat er een blad voor de mond genomen wordt. De twaalf jongens en meisjes vertellen over seks, reizen, relaties, opleidingen en bijbaantjes, maar ook over hun verdriet, angst en onmacht omdat ze nooit een normaal leven zullen leiden.

 

My thoughts: I bought this book because I thought it would be interesting to read about young adults or teenagers with a chronic illness or physical disability. I thought I would maybe find some recognition in it, even if my disability isn't the same as theirs. It's not a long book so I thought I'd read it now, I wanted something short to read so that I could, after this book, start on Bridget Jones 1: Bridget Jones's Diary which I bought recently.

 

Anyway, first off, this is a Dutch book. I doubt it's been translated, so presumably this review might not be of much interest to most of you. Reading Dutch again wasn't very difficult, the book reads quite easily. The book contains 12 stories, and an introduction. The stories are written in a kind of interview style, where the person that it's about answers questions and tells a story (so they talk more than the interviewer). I think the interviewer is Marco Pauw, but I'm not quite sure. At the first story, this style and who's who, confused me. I had a headache at the time so that might not've helped either, though. The people who the book is about, all work for Unlimited Magazine, which is (or was?) a magazine for and about young adults with chronic illnesses and disabilities. The stories aren't articles of the magazine, but the young adults are worked for this magazine at some point.

 

What I noticed about the Introduction, written by the mother of Anne Mreijen, is that a lot of the parents of these young adults are divorced, I thought this was kind of weird. Maybe it makes sense as well, and it's quite difficult for the parents too, to deal with a child with limitations and in pain. It could also be a coincidence, the author of the Introduction wasn't sure.

 

Below follow the stories' names, the condition of the person (printed at the top of each right page) and some thoughts.

 

Kopstuk

This piece is about Anne Mreijen. She has a 'waterhead'. I liked the piece but I didn't totally understand exactly what 'waterhead' means. It's explained about 'drains' etc. and what they did to her head, but I didn't fully get what limitations she has with it and how it affects her brain. I felt this could've been explained a bit better. I did have a headache at the time though so perhaps it was explained but my head just wasn't picking it up.

Rating: **** (7/10)

 

'Zing vecht huil bid lach werk en bewonder

This piece is about Annemieke Tack. She has diabetes insipidus, which means her body can't handle fluids very well. It sounded like something difficult to live with. It was very interesting to read, and I recognised some things, ie. not being able to go out, do certain things you'd want to do. I liked to read how she enjoys the little things. I'm not able to do that as well, I think.

Rating: ***** (9/10)

 

Pijl en bogen

This piece is about Daan Xandr Keiner. He has 'hypophostimatic rachitus', a disturbance in the bone-structure. He has O-legs. I liked the piece but I didn't really care for the character of the person. He smokes and hides his disability / illness, I didn't really like the way he dealt with it. Of course, that's up to each person and I won't say that it's wrong in any way! I just couldn't really imagine it as well, didn't feel as closely connected as with some of the people of the other pieces.

Rating: *** (6/10)

 

Teek 1, lyme 2, music on 3

This piece is about Dillian Sondervan. He had Lyme's disease and suffers from its neurological consequences. It sounded difficult (that's the case with all of these diseases or disabilities, btw). I thought it was interesting to read. Walking is difficult for him. He found there were few good professionals who could properly help him.

Rating: **** (7/10)

 

Toetje, met donshaar

This piece is about Emma Rijs. She had anorexia nervosa. I thought this was interesting to read. It's great that she's doing well.

Rating: **** (8/10)

 

Een-Tweetje

This piece is about Jan Willem Buijs. When he was a baby, he had an intracranial hemorrhage which caused him to be partially paralysed. I thought it was quite brave, how he told the interviewer about it.

Rating: ***** (9/10)

 

Trillingsarm

This piece is about Jelmar Hekker. Half of his body is paralysed (the left) and he has epilepsy. This was interesting, he told about it bravely.

Rating: ***** (9/10)

 

Toets met andere noten

This piece is about Jochem Boom. His kidneys aren't working the way they should. Six days a week, 10 hours a day (while he is in bed, during the night mostly), he has to be hooked up to a dialysing machine which filters his fluids. It sounds pretty difficult and scary. I thought this was interesting to read. I liked that his age was closer to my age and less that of a teenager (most of the others are younger).

Rating: ***** (9/10)

 

Evenwichtsbalk

This piece is about Jolijn Swager. She has anorexia nervosa and is still struggling with it a lot. It was interesting to read but I also found it a bit sad. I can imagine that if it wasn't for my medication, but if I'd feel not much hunger like I did when I was a child, I could've gotten this too. I'm thinking that because people with anorexia are often perfectionistic and they want to have control, and I have both those things. It wasn't that hard for me to understand what she was talking about, though it's very sad that she's still struggling, in my opinion. I hope she gets better someday.

Rating: **** (8/10)

 

'Still would stand all time'

This piece is about Kimberley Johanna Jautze. She has a rheumatic condition, the worst one. I could connect with her because my mum has rheumatism, though not the worst one gladly. It sounded difficult. Kimberley very much believes in positive thinking, which I admire. I'm not like that, and I'm often more likely to think negatively, but I do admire that she thinks so positively.

Rating: **** (8/10)

 

Bandolero

This piece is about Maria Georgina Victoria Urquina Molina Baarslag. When she was young, she spent 15 minutes not breathing. This burned off parts of her brain. She has spasticity. She also has uncontrolled muscle movements. She was adopted by Dutch parents when she was a baby, she was born in Columbia. I thought this was an interesting piece. She didn't let her disability get in the way of what she wants. She wants to travel a lot, which she does.

Rating: ***** (9/10)

 

Bluswerk

This piece is about Melissa van der Laan-Blauwendraat. She has several diseases, one being waterallergy. She also has several other diseases, including ones that make it difficult for her to process food (a bacteria lives in her stomach). Her brain doesn't know how to properly control her stomach and bowels. It sounded like she has a difficult life, with all her diseases and allergies. It was an interesting piece. I would've liked more detail on how she lives her life (some of the others provided more of a daily schedule, which I found interesting). The only thing I didn't like was that she smoked, that seemed a bit out of place to me, though of course she should do what she likes.

Rating: **** (8/10)

 

Overall I enjoyed all the stories, though some more than others. A few of the stories I liked less, but that's mainly because I didn't really warm up to the person themselves or their way of dealing with things. Some were more interestingly told than others and some people I liked better than others. Sometimes I could connect with and understand the person better, when they were closer to me, in terms of limitations and way of thinking. The book made me think about life. Some of their conditions sounded pretty difficult to live with. But then again, I'm living with something difficult too. I guess we all have our difficulties, though perhaps some more so than others.

 

Overall Rating: **** (8/10)

Edited September 18, 2013 by Athena

[Signor Finzione]

Thanks for all the congratulations !! I'm quite surprised myself.

 

New books:

Helen Fielding - Bridget Jones 1: Bridget Jones' Diary (I think I'll read this very soon)

Jamie Oliver - Save with Jamie

 

 

100 books in 9 months - you deserve a medal!

 

I saw the Jamie Oliver the other day and was very tempted to buy it. I have 3 of his others and they're great! I also thought it was funny how goofy he looks on the front cover.

[vodkafan]

That disabilty book does sound it might be difficult to get through Athena.  It would probably make me feel sad. I would read it one story at a time in between other things. Just reading your review made me count my blessings! 

[Athena]

100 books in 9 months - you deserve a medal!

 

I saw the Jamie Oliver the other day and was very tempted to buy it. I have 3 of his others and they're great! I also thought it was funny how goofy he looks on the front cover.

x

Thanks ! I agree, he does look a bit goofy

x 

That disabilty book does sound it might be difficult to get through Athena.  It would probably make me feel sad. I would read it one story at a time in between other things. Just reading your review made me count my blessings!

x

That makes sense. I think, because I deal with my disability on a daily basis (and know some others who have various disabilities), maybe it was easier for me to read. Or maybe I was in the right mood, I'm not sure. I can see why it'd make you feel sad, though most of the stories were somewhat uplifting though. But yeah, it does make one realise how happy you are that you can do some of these things that are difficult for some of these people.

[Devi]

Here you go Athena, this is the reading guide I have been using for R.E.Fs series. Some of the sagas he co-wrote with other authors, for example, the empire trilogy was written with Janny Wurts. This is the order in which it is recommended you read the lot, you can leave the not essentials till after the main stories, but I rather enjoyed reading them in this order. I found it broke up the main story and kept the series fresh. They are all related with some of the main characters from the essential books popping in and out, but you read from a different characters point of view.

 

I hope that makes sense.

 

 

Riftwar Saga

- read first

 

Magician

Silverthorn

A Darkness at Sethanon

 

Empire Trilogy

- prerequisite to have read the riftwar saga, not essential to the main story

 

Daughter of the Empire

Servant of the Empire

Mistress of the Empire

 

Krondors Sons

- prerequisite to have read the riftwar Saga.

 

Prince of the Blood

The Kings Buccaneer

 

Serpentwar Saga

- prerequisite to have read the Krondors Sons

 

Shadow of a Dark Queen

Rise of a Merchant Prince

Rage of a Demon King

Shards of a Broken Crown

 

Riftwar Legacy

- prerequisite to have read the Riftwar Saga, Not essential to the main story

 

Krondor the Betrayal

Krondor the Assassins

Krondor Tear of the Gods

 

Legends of the Riftwar

- prerequisite to have read the Riftwar Saga, not essential to the main story

 

Honoured Enemy

Murder in LaMut

Jimmy the Hand

 

Conclave of the Shadows

- prerequisite to have read the serpentwar saga

 

Talon of the Silver Hawk

King of Foxes

Exiles Return

 

The Darkwar Saga

- prerequisite to have read the Conclave of the Shadows

 

Flight of the Nighthawks

Into a Dark Realm

Wrath of a Mad God

 

The Demonwar Saga

- prerequisite to have read the Darkwar Saga

 

Rides a dread Legion

At the Gates of Darkness

 

The Chaoswar Saga

- prerequisite to have read the Demonwar Saga

 

A kingdom Besieged

A Crown Imperiled

Magicians End.

[Athena]

Thanks, Devi ! I've saved your post in a document so I can consult it for easy reference.

[Athena]

Helen Fielding - Bridget Jones 1: Bridget Jones's Diary

 

 

Genre: Chick-lit

Format: Paperback

Pages: 310

Synopsis (back of the book): "139 lbs. (how is it possible to put on 4 pounds in the middle of the night? Could flesh somehow have solidified becoming denser and heavier? Repulsive, horrifying notion), alcohol units 4 (excellent) cigarettes 21 (poor but will give up totally tomorrow), number of correct lottery numbers 2 (better, but nevertheless useless)..."

 

Bridget Jones's Diary is the devastatingly self-aware, laugh-out-loud daily chronicle of Bridget's permanent, doomed quest for self-improvement--a y ear in which she resolves to: reduce the circumference of each thigh by 1.5 inches, visit the gym three times a week not just to buy a sandwich, form a functional relationship with a responsible adult--and learn to program the VCR.

 

Over the course of the year, Bridget loses a total of 72 pounds but gains a total of 74. She remains, however, optimistic...

 

My thoughts: I love the Bridget Jones film, so I thought it's finally time to buy and read the book!

 

I really liked this book. Of course I already knew a lot about the story. The book is written as a sort of diary, with at the beginning of each entry/day a list of how many calories Bridget consumed, how many drinks, and other stats. I really liked this addition, it brought the story more alive for me (in the film it's mentioned as well).

 

The style of writing is that sometimes, certain elements of the sentences are missing. What I mean is, as it's a diary, it's written in a "Can't go there tomorrow. Must do this" type of style, when she talks about things that involve her. So the "I" is missing. Overall this didn't make a big difference but every now and then I noticed it (particularly after I just started to read it, after reading it for a while I was so into the story I didn't really notice it much anymore). Most of the time, with the other sentences, they don't have any missing bits.

 

I really love the story. It's kind of nice to hear what Bridget struggles with, ie. her weight, her addictions, her family, men.. I found some things, how she feels about them, quite recognisable. She is around thirty, and with me approaching that age in a few years, I can kind of see how she feels sometimes. So it wasn't that hard to imagine, also because the story is written very well. The characters were interesting. I particularly like Bridget, but I thought some of the other characters were really nice too.

 

I've classified this book as chick-lit but it could also be classed as contemporary fiction. I'm not quite sure, to be honest. At any rate, it's a very enjoyable read, one I recommend.

 

Rating: ***** (9/10)

[Athena]

I downloaded a free book for the Kindle:

 

Helmut Sachs - Remember Everything You Want and Manage the Rest: Improve your Memory and Learning, Organize Your Brain, and Effectively Manage Your Knowledge

[dex]

Having read a most of  R.E. Feist, The ones I didn't like were the Serpent War Saga, I don't know if it's necessary to read Murder In LaMut or Honoured enemy as I only Read Jimmy The Hand, from The Legends of the Riftwar set.

 From the Conclave of Shadows onwards the books are presented as trilogies, but they do have a continuing plot featuring some characters from Magician and their families. They also introduce new characters who serve The Conclave of shadows to fight their enemies.

I'm currently waiting for The Chaoswar Saga to be available cheaply.