Elizabeth's World of Books 2008

[eschulenburg]

My goal for each year is always to read at least 100 books each year. Since I'm starting halfway through the year, I won't list what I've already finished, but will start keeping track from here. I'm also going to keep track of the challenges I've entered, both officially and unofficially. I rate each book I read based on the following scale:

 

10 - Among the best books I've ever read. This book spoke to me, changed me, and, if it isn't already in my personal collection, I dearly wish it were.

 

9 - I couldn't put this book down. I carved out extra reading time just so I could finish it. This book got carted into the bathroom with me, read over meals, read at work, or kept me up late at night. If this author has more work, I will certainly read it.

 

8 - Excellent. This is a book I will be recommending to all my friends.

 

7 - It didn't break my heart to return it to the library, but it was still pretty darn good.

 

6 - Pretty good, but had some serious flaws that distracted me from enjoyment.

 

5 - So-so. Some parts of this book were enjoyable, but other parts were a real yawner.

 

4 - Ok. But whatever redeemable aspects there were to this book, they were not fleshed out enough for me to truly enjoy it.

 

3 - There was little to nothing enjoyable about this book. Certainly not one I would recommend to anyone.

 

2 - Don't waste your time. I only finished this one for the pleasure of a good roast in my review.

 

1 - It is a sad commentary on the state of publishing today that a tree actually died to produce this drivel.

 

0 - Among the worst books I've ever laid eyes on. I couldn't even finish it, it was so bad.

[eschulenburg]

I am currently participating in 9 challenges. I should qualify that by saying that I have actually only signed up for 4 of those - the others are challenges that looked interesting, but I didn't get around to signing up for on time, or things I'm challenging myself to do personally.

 

I am officially signed up for:

 

The Book Awards Challenge - this challenge runs from August 1, 2008 to June 1, 2009. The challenge is to read 10 books which have won a book award during that time. There must be at least 5 different awards in the selection you choose.

 

The Daring Book Challenge - this challenge runs until June 15, 2009 and is based on the book The Daring Book for Girls. At the end of the book, the authors give several recommended reading lists. This challenge is to read 9 books taken from any of the different reading lists supplied by the book.

 

The 42 Science Fiction Challenge - runs until December, 2009. This challenge is to experience 42 science fiction tales, in the form of books, short stories, movies, television episodes, etc. Each story, episode, movie counts as 1 experience.

 

The Fantasy Challenge - this is a perpetual challenge, and is just to read a whole bunch of fantasy. Woo hoo!

 

 

I have also unofficially been participating in the following:

 

The Monthly Challenge - runs through 2008. Each month has a different category of book to read.

 

The A-Z Reading Challenge - runs through 2008. Try to read a book starting with each letter of the alphabet.

 

Books Around the World - perpetual challenge. Try to read a book about as many different countries in the world as you can find.

 

Poet Laureate Challenge - my own personal challenge. Read a book of poetry by each of the poet laureates of the US.

 

Newberry Challenge - another personal challenge. I know there is a challenge out there to read all the Newberry award winners, but I am reading all the winners as well as the honor books.

[eschulenburg]

This is the list of books I am planning to read for this challenge.

 

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale (Samuel Johnson prize - finished 8/5/08, 5/10)

 

Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson (Arthur C. Clarke award)

 

Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie (Man Booker award)

 

An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro (Costa and Whitbread)

 

Mercy Among the Children by David Adams Richards (Giller prize)

 

The Tin Flute by Gabrielle Roy (Governor General's award)

 

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke (Hugo)

 

This Blinding Absence of Light by Taher Ben Jelloun (IMPAC Dublin)

 

The Known World by Edward P. Jones (IMPAC Dublin)

 

Sacred Country by Rose Tremain (James Tart Black award)

 

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai (National Book Critics Choice)

 

Atonement by Ian McEwan (National Book Critics Choice)

 

Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (Hugo and Nebula)

Edited August 13, 2008 by eschulenburg

[eschulenburg]

Here is my list for this challenge:

 

1 - I, robot by Howard S. Smith (finished 6/15/08, rating 7/10)

 

2 - Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi (6/21/08, 9/10)

 

3 - Foundation by Isaac Asimov (7/19/08, 6/10)

 

4 - In Her Name by Michael Hicks (9/15/08, 9/10)

 

5 - Til Human Voices Wake Us by Mark Budz (10/18/08, 7/10)

 

6 - All the Windwracked Stars by Elizabeth Bear (10/19/08, 6/10)

 

7 - The Host by Stephenie Meyer (11/4/08, 8/10)

 

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Edited December 8, 2008 by eschulenburg

[eschulenburg]

Here is the list of books I plan to read for this challenge:

 

Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk

 

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

 

The Giver by Lois Lowry

 

Earthsea Trilogy by Ursula K. LeGuin

 

National Velvet by Enid Bagnold

 

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

 

The Illyrian Adventure series by Lloyd Alexander

 

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

 

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

[eschulenburg]

Here is a list of books I plan to read for this challenge - it will get bigger, as this is a perpetual challenge, and there are no real rules.

Midnight Never Come by Marie Brennan (7/10/08, 7/10)

 

Farworld: Water Keep by J. Scott Savage (6/9/08, 8/10)

 

The Bartimaeus Trilogy by J. Stroud

 

The Hollow Kingdom by C. Dunkle

 

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by S. Clarke

 

Solstice Wood by P. McKillip

 

Ombria in Shadow by P. McKillip

 

The Curse of Chalion by L.M. Bujold

 

Waking the Moon by E. Hand

 

The Earthsea Trilogy by U. LeGuin

Edited August 2, 2008 by eschulenburg

[eschulenburg]

January - Young Adult

The Subtle Knife by Phillip Pullman (completed 1/10/08, rating 7/10)

 

February - Historical Fiction

A Rose for the Crown by Anne Easter Smith (completed 2/24/08, rating 8/10)

 

March - Short Stories

Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman (6/27/08, 8/10)

 

April - Classic Sci-Fi

Foundation by Isaac Asimov (7/19/08, 6/10)

 

May - Biography

Living to Tell the Tale by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

 

June - Western

Zeke and Ned by Larry McMurtry

 

July - Pick yer Poison

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (8/29/08, 6/10)

 

August - New Author

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

 

September - Historical NonFiction

Devil in the Shape of a Woman by C. Karlsen

 

October - Scary

Death from the Woods by Bridgette Aubert

 

November - Retry a DNF

The Way the Crow Flies by Ann-Marie McDonald

 

December - Travel

Skating to Antarctica by Jenny Diski

Edited September 22, 2008 by eschulenburg

[eschulenburg]

A - The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman (2/9/08, 8/10)

 

B - The Borrowers by Mary Norton (1/2/08, 7/10)

 

C - Coraline by Neil Gaiman (2/24/08, 7/10)

 

D - Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay (2/28/08, 7/10)

 

E - Escape by Carolyn Jessop (1/13/08, 6/10)

 

F - Face the Fire by Nora Roberts (3/21/08, 6/10)

 

G - Good Dog. Stay. by Anna Quindlen (3/21/08, 8/10)

 

H - The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star by Nikki Sixx (2/12/08, 7/10)

 

I - I, robot by Howard S. Smith (6/16/08, 7/10)

 

J -

 

K -

 

L - The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch (9/5/08, 6/10)

 

M - The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig (4/17/08, 7/10)

 

N - The New Victorians: A Young Woman's Challenge to the Old Feminist Order by Rene Denfield (4/30/08, 8/10)

 

O - Obernewtyn by Isobelle Carmody (4/20/08, 8/10)

 

P - Popular Music from Vittula by Mikael Niemi (7/4/08, 7/10)

 

Q - Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life by Tony Dungy (2/9/08, 8/10)

 

R - Run by Ann Patchett (2/3/08, 9/10)

 

S - Sundays at Tiffany's by J. Patterson & G. Charbonnet (5/25/08, 6/10)

 

T - Tan Lines by J.J. Salem (7/17/08, 7/10)

 

U -

 

V -

 

W - The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly (1/4/08, 7/10)

 

X -

 

Y - The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs (1/27/08, 7/10)

 

Z - Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi (6/21/08, 9/10)

Edited October 19, 2008 by eschulenburg

[eschulenburg]

Afghanistan - A Thousand Splendid Suns by K. Hosseini

 

Andorra - Andorra by P. Cameron

 

Antarctica - Decipher by S. Pavlou

 

Australia - I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

Without a Backward Glance by Kate Veitch (8/2/08, 9/10)

 

Austria - Homestead by R. Lippi

 

Belgium - The Sorrow of Belgium by H. Claus

 

Bosnia/Herzegovina - People of the Book by G. Brooks

 

Canada - Barometer Rising by H. MacLennen

 

China - Apologies Forthcoming by Xujun Eberlein (9/21/08, 8/10)

 

Cuba - The Old Man and the Sea by E. Hemmingway

 

Denmark - The Royal Physician's Visit by P.O. Enquist

 

England - The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue

 

Egypt - Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell

 

Faroe Islands - Far Afield by S. Kaysen

 

Finland - Cast a Long Shadow by Leena Lander

Lang by Kjell Westo

 

France - The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

 

Gibraltar - Gibraltar by C. Tepley

 

Greece - Apartment in Athens by G. Wescott

 

Hong Kong - The Language of Threads by Gail Tsukiyama

 

Hungary - Embers by S. Marai

 

Iceland - Under the Glacier by H. Laxness

 

India - Beneath a Marble Sky by J. Shors

The Forbidden Daughter by Shobhan Bantwal (9/4/08, 7/10)

 

Iran - The September of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer

 

Ireland - The Gathering by Anne Enright

 

Israel - We Just Want to Live Here by Rifa'i and Ainbinder

 

Italy - The Anatomist by F. Andahari

 

Japan - The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama

 

Lichtenstein - Ludmilla by P. Gallico

 

Malta - Jukebox Queen of Malta by N. Rinaldi

 

Nigeria - You Must Set Out at Dawn by W. Soyinke

 

Norway - Naive.Super by Erlend Loe

 

Pakistan - The Reluctant Fundamentalist by M. Hamid

 

Papua New Guinea - The White Mary by Kira Salak (7/9/08, 9/10)

 

Portugal - Alentejo Blue by Monica Ali

 

Russia - The Madonnas of Lenningrad by D. Dean

 

Rwanda - We Wish to Inform You....by P. Gourevitch

 

Scotland - The Translator by L. Aboulela

 

Sierra Leone - A Long Way Gone by I. Beah

 

Spain - Shadow of the Wind by C. R. Zafon

 

Sri Lanka - Reef by R. Gunesekera

 

Sweden - Popular Music from Vittula by Mikael Niemi (7/4/08, 7/10)

 

Turkey - The Sultan's Seal by Jenny White

Edited September 22, 2008 by eschulenburg

[eschulenburg]

Joseph Auslander (completed)

 

Allen Tate (completed)

 

Robert Penn Warren (completed)

 

Louise Bogan (completed)

 

Karl Shapiro (completed)

 

Leonie Adams (completed)

 

Elizabeth Bishop (completed)

 

Conrad Aiken (completed)

 

William Carlos Williams (completed)

 

Randall Jarrell (completed)

 

Robert Frost (completed)

 

Richard Eberhart (completed)

 

Louis Untermeyer (completed)

 

Howard Nemerov (completed 7/19/08)

 

Reed Whittemore (completed 9/19/08)

 

Stephen Spender

 

James Dickey

 

William Jay Smith

 

William Stafford

 

Josephine Jacobsen

 

Daniel Hoffman

 

Stanley Kunitz

 

Robert Hayden

 

William Meredith

 

Maxine Kumin

 

Anthony Hecht

 

Robert Fitzgerald

 

Gwendolyn Brooks

 

Richard Wilbur

 

Mark Strand

 

Joseph Brodsky

 

Mona Van Duyn

 

Rita Dove

 

Robert Haas

 

Robert Pinsky

 

Billy Collins

 

Louise Gluck

 

Ted Kooser

 

Donald Hall

 

Charles Simic

Edited October 19, 2008 by eschulenburg

[eschulenburg]

Just Finished:

 

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

Honk, the Moose by Phil Strong

The Good Master by Kate Seredy (6/27/08, 7/10)

Dobry by Monica Shannon (9/16/08, 7/10)

 

Current:

Invincible Louisa by Cornelia Meigs

 

 

 

Next:

 

Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze by Elizabeth Rivers

Swift Rivers by Cornelia Meigs

Edited October 19, 2008 by eschulenburg

[Kylie]

The 42 Science Fiction Challenge - runs until December, 2009. This challenge is to experience 42 science fiction tales, in the form of books, short stories, movies, television episodes, etc. Each story, episode, movie counts as 1 experience.

 

I read about this one the other day and am thinking of joining it myself. I like that it incorporates other forms of sci-fi besides reading.

 

Your other challenges sound great as well. Good luck with them! I also have 9 challenges going, including a sci-fi/fantasy one.

[Guest ii]

Your challenges sound interesting and the books you've chosen seem fashinating. Although, I can't help but wonder what your logic is for the "around the world" challenge? Why would you read Joanne Harris for France?? I'm actually rather insulted by that!

 

Also, the book you've got for Finland? Why would you read a Norwegian author for Finland? As for Norway then, is Patterson Norwegian? There's brilliant authors to be discovered in both Finland and Norway, as well as Sweden (which is missing, by the way), and I'd be happy to give recomendations.

Edited June 9, 2008 by ii

[Janet]

I see you are currently reading The girl who stopped swimming by Joshilyn Jackson.

 

I read gods in Alabama a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I'd be interested to hear what you think of this one.

Edited June 9, 2008 by Janet

[eschulenburg]

Your challenges sound interesting and the books you've chosen seem fashinating. Although, I can't help but wonder what your logic is for the "around the world" challenge? Why would you read Joanne Harris for France?? I'm actually rather insulted by that!

 

Also, the book you've got for Finland? Why would you read a Norwegian author for Finland? As for Norway then, is Patterson Norwegian? There's brilliant authors to be discovered in both Finland and Norway, as well as Sweden (which is missing, by the way), and I'd be happy to give recomendations.

I will take recommendations from you on any of the countries! The challenge is supposed to be reading books set in those countries, and the person who set up the challenge listed these as good choices. I honestly just copied out her list - apparently needing to do a bit more research! Feel free to set me straight on anything I have that's messed up! =)

[eschulenburg]

I see you are currently reading The girl who stopped swimming by Joshilyn Jackson.

 

I read gods in Alabama a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I'd be interested to hear what you think of this one.

I'm getting ready to do a review of it - the short answer is I didn't like it as well as her others. I want a book to keep me guessing, and unfortunately I figured out a bunch of the plot before I got there. It wasn't bad, just not up to the standard of her first two.

[Guest ii]

I will take recommendations from you on any of the countries! The challenge is supposed to be reading books set in those countries, and the person who set up the challenge listed these as good choices. I honestly just copied out her list - apparently needing to do a bit more research! Feel free to set me straight on anything I have that's messed up! =)

 

It's not so much a mess up, as for example Chocolat does take place in France. But these books don't really represent the culture, country and/or people very well, that's all. I'll whip up something once I'm home again this evening. If I don't, remind me.

[Michelle]

You might find some suggestions in this section, as it's a similar idea.

[eschulenburg]

It's not so much a mess up, as for example Chocolat does take place in France. But these books don't really represent the culture, country and/or people very well, that's all. I'll whip up something once I'm home again this evening. If I don't, remind me.

I would love that - thanks a lot! I'll remind you in a few days in case you get busy. =)

[eschulenburg]

You might find some suggestions in this section, as it's a similar idea.

This looks like a great resource - also lots more countries for me to add. Thanks!

[eschulenburg]

Review - The Girl who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson

 

Laurel can see ghosts. At least, she had always seen them, until she married her husband, David. Then they stopped. So when the ghost of her daughter's friend, Molly, appears to her just minutes before she finds Molly's dead body in her swimming pool, Laurel knows something is bad wrong. As she tries to find out what happened to Molly, she uncovers ghosts from her own childhood, and secrets her daughter is keeping from her as well.

 

Having read and enjoyed Jackson's previous two novels, I was really, really excited for this one. I was expecting another complex, layered novel about buried family secrets and the possibilities of redemption. I expected a fascinating heroine, and well-developed supporting characters. I don't think I quite got either of those. About halfway through the novel, I had the sinking feeling that I knew where it was headed - unfortunately, I was almost 100% correct. I also found myself irritated with Laurel, the main character, throughout much of the novel. Her sister, Thalia, was much more interesting and complex. There were a couple of characters who could have been equally interesting, but just didn't ever get completely fleshed out. I think maybe I just had my expectations up too high, since I had loved both of her previous novels so much. I still enjoyed this one, but it didn't quite hit the highs I was expecting.

 

Finished: 6/9/09

Source: Franklin Avenue public library

Rating: 6/10

[Guest ii]

I did not forget! Yay!

 

Okay... let's see, of the top of my head...

 

Norway: Naive.Super by Erlend Loe is brilliant! I've recommended that book on several occasions, it's great.

 

Finland: Anything by Leena Lander, especially the House of Dark Butterflies, or however it's translated. That's really good. For historical view, Väinö Linna is excellent. Unknown Soldier and Under the Northern Star both give a good look on the cultural heritage of the Finnish culture. I do believe they've all been translated. Kjell Westö, although originally writing in Swedish (Finland's bilingual), displays a more modern view of the Finnish living.

 

Sweden: Mikael Niemi's book, translated to something with popular music, most likely, is really good! It's a growing-up story in a very special part of Sweden. Sweden also has really good detective stories, by Marklund or Mankell, to name a few.

 

France: are you looking for classics or contemporary? One French author I recently discovered is Marc Levy. His stories (I enjoyed both Où es-tu? and Si c'était vrai...) don't take place in France, but the style is very very French. I recently got Francois Berléand's Le Fils de l'Homme invisible for myself after hearing good things about it. I haven't gotten around to reading it yet, though, so I cannot say anything for certain. For classics, you cannot go wrong with Victor Hugo. Let me know what you like and I'll see if I can give more precise recommendations here.

 

The problem with Swedish/Norwegian/Finnish literature is that not much of it is translated. But if you let me know what you enjoy, I'll see if there's a book that is available in English. (I assume you don't speak fluent Norwegian?)

[eschulenburg]

 

Norway: Naive.Super by Erlend Loe is brilliant! I've recommended that book on several occasions, it's great.

 

Finland: Anything by Leena Lander, especially the House of Dark Butterflies, or however it's translated. That's really good. For historical view, V

[Guest ii]

Oh, I'm happy I can help! As I've said somewhere, I've lived in Finalnd for 8 years only, but those include high school. And as we read a ton on literature at school, we also read a lot of Finnish authors. And as Swedish is the second official language, there's a lot of books from Swedish authors, as translating is a breeze. As for Norway, well, I came across Loe after a Norwegian friend recommended him to me. So...

 

About Lander: I'm sorry you couldn't find The Home of The Dark Butterflies (I checked the traslation) as it's really really good. It's her most popular book, so by all logic it shoud be on Amazon.

[eschulenburg]

 

About Lander: I'm sorry you couldn't find The Home of The Dark Butterflies (I checked the traslation) as it's really really good. It's her most popular book, so by all logic it shoud be on Amazon.

 

I'm still looking - I might get lucky at some point.