Chaliepud's 2012 Reading Log

[chaliepud]

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society - Mary Ann Shafer, Annie Barrows

I recall liking this one, but can't remember that much.

 

Into the Darkest Corner - Elizabeth Haynes

I got about half way through my audio version, then gave up - but it has had really good reviews from others.

 

Eats, Shoots and Leaves - Lynne Truss

This was pretty good.

 

Hollow Pike - James Dawson

As you know, I love this one

 

Mortal Chaos - Matt Dickinson

A quick read - interesting idea.

 

Cuckoo - Julia Crouch

I really like Julia's books, I think this one got good reviews from those who read it here.

 

A Street Cat Named Bob - James Bowen

A nice book, not too taxing.

 

Good luck with getting through your TBR pile!

 

Thanks Michelle, I did try Darkest Corner already and didn't get very far but I wasn't in the mood at the time so I will try agin at some point.. Cuckoo came very highly recommended from a friend so I feel a little under pressure to like it!

 

Good luck with your reading of these books; there are quite a few of these that I'd like to read as well.

 

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid - Bill Bryson

 

Loved this one, but then again anything Bill Bryson writes is awesome, in my opinion.

 

A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson

 

Another brilliant one, funny and educational and interesting - you can't beat that! If you have an interest in science and the world around you, then you will love it. And unlike some science books, it's not too heavy going.

 

Into the Darkest Corner - Elizabeth Haynes

 

Loved this one, very powerful story. A lot of people have given this great reviews.

 

The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga

 

Thanks BB, its great to hear you've enjoyed so many of them as we've shared book likes in the past! :)

 

I was very pleasantly surprised by this one. It was different to what I expected, and much more enjoyable. The story sucks you in right from the start, which is always good.

 

I've read about 10 of the books on your list, and I think you're in for a treat in your future reading. After I loved One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson - a gift from my OH for Christmas - I insisted he read it as well, and he said it was one of the best children's books he's read for years, so that two hearty recommendations from our house at least!

 

I'm waiting for my daughter to finish her current book so we can read this one together!

[julie]

Chalie

 

Thunderbolt Kid was SO good ,especially if you are in my age range. I'd guess you are younger,but I think you'd still enjoy it. It was very interesting to me because so many things

Bryson mentioned in the book were around when I was a kid,so it brought back lots of good memories.

 

 

House of the Spirits was also excellent .

 

You have a few others that I've read and also liked,and a few I have but havent read yet.

Looks to me like you have some good books ahead of you .

Edited July 9, 2012 by julie

[chaliepud]

You know this is already on my wishlist, and one of the books I'd like to acquire asap, but I'm just so happy to hear you loved the book (well you've mentioned it before, but I'm happy to hear it again )!

It was wonderful!! A quick read and my copy was very small, my plan as to just read it when out and about as it fit in my bag so perfectly but once I started I couldn't stop!!

[chaliepud]

I've noticed you haven't been around that much lately and I've been wondering how you've been! I don't know about the school holiday schedules in the UK, I hope the summer holidays are right around the corner and you'll get more time to read. Although, if you have all the kids at home, I don't know if you'll have more time to read, they must keep you quite busy!

 

I've been fine thanks frankie, just busy busy busy, there is so much going on at the school at the end of term that I sometimes feel I'm never home, and when I am home I barely have time to walk the dogs, do the housework and keep the garden tidy, let alone read! I do nip on here quite a bit I just don't post as much at the mo... I'll have to wait and see how much reading I get done in the holidays, see how many clubs the kids feel like doing, and it also depends whether this rain will ever stop!!!

 

 

 

I

 

 

 

I'm sure you can do it! We'll be rooting for you and keeping tabs on how you are doing.

 

Thank you!

 

 

Wow, I almost want to suggest we swap our TBR piles

 

Hmm I'll have to check out your pile....................

 

I already commented on your TBR pile, but I can't help but go into more detail.

 

I particularly look forward to your opinions on these books, which I have on my TBR pile or wish list:

I Capture The Castle - Dodie Smith

The Angel's Game - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

Nights at the Circus - Angela Carter

The Hare With Amber Eyes - Edmund De Waal

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid - Bill Bryson

Generation Dead - Daniel Waters

 

I'll get to them as soon as I can..

 

 

I have read and really enjoyed: (* enjoyed quite a lot, ** enjoyed immensely, *** one of my all-time favourites):

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society - Mary Ann Shafer, Annie Barrows *

Everything is Illuminated - Jonathan Safron Foer ***

A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson **

Emma - Jane Austen **-***

Eats, Shoots and Leaves - Lynne Truss **

Mr Rosenblum's List - Natasha Solomons *

Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut **

The Phantom Tollbooth - Norton Juster ***

 

The least I say about this one, the better: (Poppyshake liked it though)

How I Live Now - Meg Rosoff

 

Thanks for your input Kylie, I'm particularly looking forward to Everything Is Illuminated, I've had it ages, I'm not sure why I haven't read it yet!! Hopefully buying less books will mean I'll get around to it this year!

[chaliepud]

Chalie

 

Thunderbolt Kid was SO good ,especially if you are in my age range. I'd guess you are younger,but I think you'd still enjoy it. It was very interesting to me because so many things

Bryson mentioned in the book were around when I was a kid,so it brought back lots of good memories.

 

 

House of the Spirits was also excellent .

 

You have a few others that I've read and also liked,and a few I have but havent read yet.

Looks to me like you have some good books ahead of you .

 

Thanks Julie, I think it's the small print in the House of Spirits that has put me off so far, I'll definitely need my reading glasses on for that one!! My Dad raves about Bill Bryson but I'm worried I won't enjoy it as I'm not a big fan of non fiction?...

[poppyshake]

I Capture The Castle - Dodie Smith Ooh ooh *hand in the air* read this one .. it's brilliant

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society - Mary Ann Shafer, Annie Barrows loved this as well

The Angel's Game - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier Classic and brilliant

Nights at the Circus - Angela Carter It's on my shelf too

Everything is Illuminated - Jonathan Safron Foer Fantastic book .. a bit of a challenge but worth it

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid - Bill Bryson Yep, another one on the shelf

A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson Read this .. good but quite involved .. all about neutrons and stuff .. hurt my head (but I'm thick )

Generation Dead - Daniel Waters

Half of a Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Read it and liked it but didn't love it, though many people do

The House of the Spirits - Isabel Allende

At Home with the Templetons - Monica McInerney This rings a bell somehow and yet nothing is coming to mind

The Pain Merchants - Janice Hardy

Into the Darkest Corner - Elizabeth Haynes

Ordinary Dogs, a story of two lives - Eileen Battersby

Emma - Jane Austen One of my least favourite Austen's but you know it's still an Austen .. ergo brilliant

The Hare With Amber Eyes - Edmund De Waal On the shelf

The Man Who Broke Into Auschwitz - Denis Avey Want to read this

The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer

The Shadow Wife - Diane Chamberlain

Eats, Shoots and Leaves - Lynne Truss It's on the shelf and I really should read it

The Blue Door - Lise Kristensen

A Dog 's Purpose - W. Bruce Cameron

When Nights Were Cold - Susanna Jones

The Good Father - Noah Hawley

The Light Between Oceans - M.L Steadman

Hollow Pike - James Dawson

15 Seconds - Andrew Gross

One Dog and His Boy - Eva Ibbotson I see her books everywhere but have never read one

The Weird Sisters - Eleanor Brown

You Came Back - Christopher Coake

The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga Again good, quite thought provoking and I don't normally have thoughts

Divine Evil - Nora Roberts

The Legacy - Katherine Webb

Letters from Home - Kristina McMorris

The Pact - Jodi Piccoult

Message in a Bottle - Nicholas Sparks

We Had It So Good - Linda Grant

Brass Ring - Diane Chamberlain

Mortal Chaos - Matt Dickinson

Hollow Earth - John and Carole E Barrowman

How I LIve Now - Meg Rosoff Oh dear .. I loved it .. Kylie hated it .. you may well have the deciding vote

My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece - Annabel Pitcher

Mr Rosenblum's List - Natasha Solomons Very sweet book but sad too

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith

The Last Family in England - Matt Haig Frankie loves this one .. it's on my shelf too

Every Last One - Anna Quindlen

The Rescue Man - Anthony Quinn

Cuckoo - Julia Crouch

All These Things I've Done - Gabrielle Zevin

Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut Another one I need to read

A Street Cat Named Bob - James Bowen

The Sign of the Sugared Plum - Mary Hooper

The Phantom Tollbooth - Norton Juster Kylie loves this one .. it's on my wishlist

The Horse Dancer - Jojo Moyes

 

Here goes, wish me luck!!!

The VERY best of luck chalie .. some great books there and others that I'm going to look up. You can do it!!

[Kylie]

My Dad raves about Bill Bryson but I'm worried I won't enjoy it as I'm not a big fan of non fiction?...

 

In that case, Bill Bryson will probably be perfect for you. He writes wonderfully well; reading his books is like having a very funny friend tell you stories. In A Short History of Nearly Everything, he uses great, easy-to-understand analogies so non-scientific folks like me can understand scary scientific concepts.

[chaliepud]

The VERY best of luck chalie .. some great books there and others that I'm going to look up. You can do it!!

 

Thanks Poppy!!!

 

In that case, Bill Bryson will probably be perfect for you. He writes wonderfully well; reading his books is like having a very funny friend tell you stories. In A Short History of Nearly Everything, he uses great, easy-to-understand analogies so non-scientific folks like me can understand scary scientific concepts.

 

I really must get around to it soon then! I am so sadly unscientific, I dread the kids having Science (and Maths) homework, poor Steve often ends up lending a virtual hand via Skype as I am just soooooo useless!! Luckily my eldest is a Maths whizz so he can help the younger two with that... if they'll let him, invariably it ends up with someone in tears... and it could be me!

[lauraloves]

I Capture The Castle - Dodie Smith This is my favourite book that i have read this year

 

Everything is Illuminated - Jonathan Safron Foer i read this last year and thought it was ok

 

Hollow Pike - James Dawson I have this too

 

The Pact - Jodi Piccoult I love this when i read it

 

Hollow Earth - John and Carole E Barrowman I want to read this purely because its John Barrowman <3

 

Cuckoo - Julia Crouch I enjoyed this too

 

 

Good Luck

[chaliepud]

I Capture The Castle - Dodie Smith This is my favourite book that i have read this year

 

Everything is Illuminated - Jonathan Safron Foer i read this last year and thought it was ok

 

Hollow Pike - James Dawson I have this too

 

The Pact - Jodi Piccoult I love this when i read it

 

Hollow Earth - John and Carole E Barrowman I want to read this purely because its John Barrowman <3

 

Cuckoo - Julia Crouch I enjoyed this too

 

 

Good Luck

 

Thanks Laura, it's great to get different opinions from different people, it's giving me lots of ideas as to what to put at the top of the pile!!

[lauraloves]

Thanks Laura, it's great to get different opinions from different people, it's giving me lots of ideas as to what to put at the top of the pile!!

 

i love reading different peoples opinions on books, dont be put off though by my opinion, most of the books that i didnt like everyone else loved

[chaliepud]

On the contrary Laura, I need to listen to you, I just checked on Goodreads and our tastes are 79% similar!

[lauraloves]

On the contrary Laura, I need to listen to you, I just checked on Goodreads and our tastes are 79% similar!

 

Ohh thats spooky hehe will have to look on there and see which books we like the same

[chaliepud]

Well we're back from our holiday, we had a fantastic time but I only managed one book, The Rescue Man by Anthony Quinn, one of my new favourite authors, this is the second book of his that I have thoroughly enjoyed... His descriptions of characters and their feelings and emotions are wonderful..

 

I really must try and catch up with my reviews sometime soon but the school holidays seems to evaporate any free time I think I have!! In the meantime I'm going to continue with A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, I didn't take it on holiday as it just didn't "feel" like a holiday book.

 

There were two new books waiting for me when I got home (yes I know I said no more books!) the first is Home Front by Kristin Hannah, I gave her "Night Road" 5/5 last year so I have high hopes for this, it was pre ordered months ago so doesn't count.. . The second book is Sleep Toward Heaven by Amanda Eyre Ward which is my local book clubs next read so an unavoidable purchase... it has an interesting premise so I'm hoping it lives up to its blurb!

Edited August 18, 2012 by chaliepud

[chesilbeach]

Glad you had a good holiday chaliepud. Family has to come first on holiday though, and during the kids school holidays too, but I'm sure your reading will pick up come autumn!

[julie]

Chalie

so glad you had a nice vacation with the family. You sound very rested . I bet the scenery was beautiful .

As for the books listed above, everyone has commented on a lot that I would also agree with .

 

The Bryson books, I can't give them enough praise. Wonderful writer,and not boring at all. Very good sense of humor .

 

Rebecca is on my top 10 all time favorites .

 

The House of the Spirits is an absolutely beautiful book .

 

You have a couple others that I have heard of but not read. I'm sure you'll have lots of good reading ahead .

[chaliepud]

OK, I'm officially useless!!! I stated on the 7th July (post 163) that I was going to make a serious effort to get my TBR pile down...Two and a half months later and it has increased by 8, not including the (very) few books I have read in that time AND the ones I have evicted from the house as I had lost interest in them!!!!

 

I have now updated by TBR list (on page 1 of this blog if you're interested, I'll understand if not!!) and I am going to make a concerted effort to not buy any more books until I have made a serious serious dent in the pile, I hate clutter and mess and my shelves aren't looking as neat as they could

 

I only have one book on pre order so have no excuses for buying any more (other than that I am a comfort buyer, some people comfort eat, I comfort shop!! ) I have decided that if I have an shopping urge that cannot be ignored I will either buy a book for the children or a friend, or I will indulge in a cookery book or two..

 

Hopefully I will have the willpower this time, it is officially Autumn here so perfect reading conditions!!!

[poppyshake]

You are NOT officially useless It's very difficult to get your TBR down during the Summer months .. but, as you say, Autumn (and Winter .. if you don't count Christmas which gets in the way of all sorts .. except eating ) is a perfect time for reading. Look forward to cosying up with a book .. I know I'm going to .. and maybe a cuppa and the odd snack You've got some great books on your TBR .. it'll be all pleasure and those you don't enjoy can go off to the charity shops etc .. giving you more space

 

PS: You can never have too many cookbooks

[Janet]

OK, I'm officially useless!!! I stated on the 7th July (post 163) that I was going to make a serious effort to get my TBR pile down...Two and a half months later and it has increased by 8, not including the (very) few books I have read in that time AND the ones I have evicted from the house as I had lost interest in them!!!!

 

I have now updated by TBR list (on page 1 of this blog if you're interested, I'll understand if not!!) and I am going to make a concerted effort to not buy any more books until I have made a serious serious dent in the pile, I hate clutter and mess and my shelves aren't looking as neat as they could

Hopefully I will have the willpower this time, it is officially Autumn here so perfect reading conditions!!!

It's hard, isn't it. I really want to buy The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. I spotted it in Bath months and months ago and loved the sound of it and had been patiently waiting for the paperback... and now I can't acquire it!

 

I resolved to reduce my pile and the promptly added three new books (although one was for Book Club, which is an exception to my resolution - and another was a gift...). I finally feel strong enough to try to reduce my pile significantly but it is so difficult. Good luck.

 

*tootles off to look at your 'TR' pile...*

[Michelle]

I love the idea of being a comfort buyer, as that's true of me.

[Janet]

My TBR pile, in no particular order, updated 25th September...

 

I Capture The Castle - Dodie Smith - I’m sorry to say I hated this. I am in a minority though – I don’t know anyone else who felt this way.

 

However, I have read and simply *loved* these titles…

 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society - Mary Ann Shafer, Annie Barrows - I read this for Book Club a few years ago - very enjoyable

Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier - one of my favourite books *ever*

Mr Rosenblum's List - Natasha Solomons - this was awesome – I loved The Novel in the Viola by the same author too and I hope she writes more soon

The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price Purveyor of Superior Funerals - Wendy Jones – I’ve just finished this one – it was simply gorgeous!

 

And these are on my own ‘to read’ pile…

 

A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson - I really like Bryson but this is my stumbling block of his!

The House of the Spirits - Isabel Allende - a World Challenge book - I keep putting this one off too!

Emma - Jane Austen - we tried this for Book Club in 2007 but abandoned it. I've since read and loved Pride and Prejudice, so I'd determined to give it another go

A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness - I bought this when I met Michelle in the summer. It's a lovely illustrated version so I don't want to read it in case I damage it!

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest - Stieg Larsson - I've enjoyed the other two very much

 

The following are on my ‘wish list’ too.

At The Sign of the Sugared Plum - Mary Hooper - this is on my ‘wish list’ – I have Fallen Grace by the same author that Michelle sent me – I think I might start that one soon.

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid - Bill Bryson - I love the sound of this

My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece - Annabel Pitcher - I'm pretty certain someone on here mentioned this - possibly Michelle

 

 

How I LIve Now - Meg Rosoff - I had this one – I’ve no idea what became of it though as I definitely don’t have it now. There is a chance I passed it on when I was having a clear out as my Mum wasn’t keen and we have similar tastes.

[bobblybear]

I have now updated by TBR list

...

 

From your list, I highly recommend Into The Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes. I read it earlier this year and it just blew me away.

[vodkafan]

Hi Chaliepud I think we are all comfort book buyers to some extent...I am sure you will be able to catch up over autumn....a few rainy afternoons in the armchair with a good book .

[vodkafan]

Hi again I just checked out your updated TBR. It's not excessively huge by some standards. I have only read 6 from it though. So I must be in the 29% of dissimilarity you have with Lauraloves as I have read quite a lot of hers I think.

[chaliepud]

You are NOT officially useless It's very difficult to get your TBR down during the Summer months .. but, as you say, Autumn (and Winter .. if you don't count Christmas which gets in the way of all sorts .. except eating ) is a perfect time for reading. Look forward to cosying up with a book .. I know I'm going to .. and maybe a cuppa and the odd snack You've got some great books on your TBR .. it'll be all pleasure and those you don't enjoy can go off to the charity shops etc .. giving you more space

 

PS: You can never have too many cookbooks

 

Thanks for the encouragement poppy, I need it! I do hope to spend more time reading now though time seems to be at a premium lately, even with the kids at school all day I barely have time to stop, 2 separate dog walks a day isn't helping, especially as I always seem to be able to predict when it is going to rain.. . Still, onward and upward, off to bed to get on with some reading!!!