#1. Harper Lee: A Twentieth Century Life by Kerry Madden Very boring. See entre #20 for a far better version.
#2. The Boy who Harnessed the Wind by William Kankwamba Sort of scatter-y organization, too much talk about subjects better left untouched like witchcraft and stuff which had nothing to do with the plot and did not improve the characters. I knew that they exist, but it hardly made pleasant reading.
#3. The Sea Wolf by Jack London Dramatic, very easy read despite its “classic” label which discourages so many. Great characters, great problems, great literary devices, but the devices don’t leave non-English major readers going, “So, why is this in there?” You either notice that it’s in there and doing a literary job, or you take as a story detail.
#4. Home Ground: Language for an American Landscape by Barry Lopez Not recommend for those who don’t like dictionaries. I adored it.
#5. Heartbeat by Sharon Creech Easy, delightful read for all ages. Unusual writing style.
#6. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett Too preachy for some, but has good insight into human nature.
#7. Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech Very funny, original ideas. Fast read—because you won’t put it down.
#8. Why Gender Matters by Leonard Sax Great, politically incorrect book on the differences between guys and gals and learning styles. Lots of interesting studies presented in a easy-to-read fashion.
#9. No Plot? No Problem by Chris Baty Hilarious how-to book for the writers among us. #10. Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station by Dorothy Gilman Great story of espionage with an adorable main character and luminescent (may I say that?) prose.
#11. The Fellowship of the Ring by Tolkien Awesome writing, but may require a dictionary. If you don’t like the songs, skip them; it doesn’t really make a difference. Great plot.
#12. The Two Towers by Tolkien See above. A bit darker, though.
#13. Jane Eyre by Bronte A cross between The Sound of Music, A Little Princess, Mansfield Park, and Nine Coaches Waiting (which I doubt anyone besides Lillian and I have heard of, much less read. But that’s an awesome book too.) Plucky heroine, romantic plot that ought to put Danielle Steel out of a job, great characters. Did I say suspense? Wow, is there suspense
#14. Calico Captive by Jean Craighead Speare Historical fiction set during the French Indian War. Good plot, nice prose.
#15. The Bronze Bow by Speare Set approximately 30 A.D. with interesting plot and drama.
#16. Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Riley Giff Nice prose and plot, about a girl shuffled through the foster care system, has a chance to have a family, and blows it—or did she? Or did she blow it for something better?
#17. Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt I’d call it a romance, but not about guys and gals. It’s a romance in the way that To Kill a Mockingbird is a romance: a character in love with an era and a place and a set of people. Great prose and complicated characters, but plot might be too slow for some. (Some might say it is absent.) Short book, though.
#18. Calamity Jack by Shannon Hale Look! A graphic novel! Great vocab, adventure, and non-anime-style art. Jack and the Beanstalk meets Star Wars meets Rapeunzel meets your basic western movie.
#19. Boys Adrift by Leonard Sax See entre 8 only about boys.
#20. Mockingbird: A Portrait by Charles Shields The best biography of Harper Lee ever! Tons of details that make it read like a novel, not an encyclopedia article, great perspective on events, and all the hypothetical mumbo-jumbo (the look, see how smart I [the author] am part) left out. Really brings Lee to light without making her into cardboard. [Edit: met the author, too. He’s a gentleman and knows his stuff!]
#21. The Keeper of the Bees by Gene Stratton-Porter A refreshingly honest, straight-talking, politically incorrect story about an ex-soldier from WWI rediscovering the good in people and himself via nature. Really, you gotta read this.
#22. Immediate Fiction by Jerry Cleaver Good for the writing addicts who lurk, reading a 100 books a year in the meantime.
#23. The Mousetrap, The Hollow: Two Plays by Agatha Christie Funny and a good break from prose after prose. The book is actually called The Mousetrap and Other Plays, but I didn’t read all of the “other plays.” BTW, The Mousetrap is the longest-running play in history (1950 about to present) so you’d better believe that there is something to it. One of these days I’ll pop over the pond to London to see it myself.
#24. Austenland by Shannon Hale Jane Austen inspired book, of course, but so much more than that. Chick lit meets—dunno. It’s a really unusual book. I can’t say it’s brilliant; I don’t like the ending.
#25. History of the American People by Paul Johnson. Okay, I didn’t finish it, but because it’s a history book I don’t think I need to. I did, however, read 400+ pages, so I think it should totally count as an entire book read. Johnson is great at making historical figures seem real, (harder in a text-book-like-nf than a historical fiction or bio) but also has an overwhelming way of sticking 3 facts into every sentence, which makes everything hard to keep track of.
#26. A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn Do you want to read a liberal rant? Pick up this, then. Zinn does, however, formulate concise arguments with lots of primary source evidence. Any dunce can tell what he’s arguing. The trouble is he takes one incident and then claims that this was usual. Bad stuff happened because of Nasty White Men, but Indians weren’t exactly... dunno... Nobel Peace Prize winners? Oh, wait, maybe they were, if you consider that the last Nobel Peace Prize was won by Obama. Didn’t finish this either but read 100+ pages, so I count it as well.
#27. The Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck Woe, tragedy, futility. It’s Depression-era, so be prepared to be depressed.
#28. The Wanderer by Sharon Creech A fun read about the unsuspected dimensions of all the characters in the book. Good sense of humor, and all plot threads are interwoven for a cohesive tale.
#29. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell The epic tale of the Civil War. It may be a thick book covering 10 years or so, but it is fast-paced! You never know what Scarlett or anyone else will do next. This book is all about characters, setting, and conflict. Alas, Mitchell is a liar about some things and romanticizes others.
#30. Indian Captive by Lois Lenski A sympathetic look at the Indians. Lenski does emphasize main character’s Molly Jemison’s homesickness, though. It’s enjoyable since it is not over-the-top “Indians are perfect.”
#31. The Moon is Down by Steinbeck. A psychological story about a “harmless” village reacting to takeover by the Nazis, (presumably, though we never learn the villagers’ or conquerors’ nationalities.)
#32. To Sir, With Love True story of a black teacher’s impact on his slum students’ lives. A bit gritty, but not over-the-top; touching without being too sappy.
#33. The Mitchells: Five for Victory by Hilda Van Stockum One of the 4 or so favorite authors of my childhood. Celebrates family life in WWII America
#34. The Caine Mutiny by ___ Wouk Wow! This so deserved the Pulitzer. Sailors in the Navy mutiny (duh) against their captain, and then have to prove themselves justified.
#35. Strong Poison by Dorothy Sayers. One of Sayers’ better books—less yakky. Humorous, but so much talking may drive some readers bonkers.
#36. Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis. So much philosophy. Kind of baffling.
#37. The Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L’Amour. If you think that Inkheart has a lot of books mentioned, you clearly haven’t read this. Inkheart is far less nerdy as well.
#38. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
#39. Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster. Funny, unusual, unique
#40. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli. A tall-tale kind of book. Better than Stargirl.
#41. The Last Crusader by Louis DeWohl. A realistic crusade story about Juan of Austria
#42. Hate that Cat by Sharon Creech. A unusual story in poetry format.
#43. Love that Dog. Sequel of the above.
#44. Great Expectations. Not riveting, but funny with good character sketches.
#45. Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley. Very good. Retold Beauty & the Beast. Better prose than #48
#46. Pollyanna by Eleanor Porter. Funny, and not too sappy. Skip Pollyanna Grows Up.
#47. When Sirens Wailed by Noel Streatfield. Clunky, without flow or passion.
#48. Beauty by Robin McKinley. Yes, Beauty & the Beast by the same person! Different. Better Beast than #45
#49. The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays
#50. A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute. Unusual combo: first half about female POWs in Malaya, and second half about the Outback, and yet it all makes sense.
#51. The Quiet Light by Louis DeWohl. Featuring, but not about, St. Thomas A. Lively!
#52. Hit and Run by __ Phipson. Hit-and-run driver finds courage. Realistic, touching.
#53. City Boy by Herman Wouk. Tom Sawyer ish. Obscure book, FYI.
#54. Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson. Chick-lit? A bit dull. Good prose.
#55. The Beacon at Alexandria by Bradshaw. Bad prose, some obsessions about a few things, and trite situations pretty frequently. So why did I enjoy it so much?
#56. Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech. Funny, but a bit startling.
#57. Enemy Brothers by ____. Original plot, great writing filled with the ability to stir emotion. Warning: pretty much only available from Bethlehem books: it’s out-of- print.
#58. Mary Emma & Company by Ralph Moody. True story of a widow raising her family. Lots of faith without preachiness, realistic family, amazing adventures, and great feel for the setting and era. Can I say—12 star rating?
#59. The Silent People by Walter Macken. Historical, haunting, full of conflict.
#60. Dicey’s Song by Cynthia Voigt. Realistic portrayal of families. Sensitive.
#61. The Citadel by Louis DeWohl
#62. The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie. Topsy-turvy!
#63. Alex O’Donnell and the 40 Cyberthieves by Regina Doman
#64. The Assination Bureau by Jack London. Too creepy. Its theories are confusing.
#65. Black as Night by Regina Doman
#66. Chinese Cinderella by Adaline Mah. True & very, very depressing. Somehow I devored it.
#67. The Invisible Gorilla. Crazy, man. Not too riveting, but now I doubt my brain!
#68. Contested Will by J. Shapiro. Puts Shakespeare conspiracy theorists in the nut house.
#69. The Princess Bride. Hilarious as always.
#70. The Grass Widow's Tale by Ellis Peters. Could not put it down. Thanks, Stephen!
#71. Small Steps: The Year I got Polio by Peg Kehret. Amazing.
#72. Five Pages a Day by Peg Kehret. Not so amazing, but still good.
#73. I'm an English Major—Now What? By Tim Lemire. Informative, thorough, detailed. This guy has done everything an English major may do, so he can give you the scoop.
#74. The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley. Lyrical, original, yet traditional
#75. Death and the Joyful Woman by Ellis Peters. Very complex
#76. Shaking the Nickle Bush by Ralph Moody. Heartwarming and amazing
#77. The Soldier’s Secret by ___ Really poorly written, crams too much information in too short of order with too many information dumps and trite statements. Ruined the biography!
#78. As You Like It by Billy Shakespeare. Funny, but had almost too many parallels.
#79. The Chosen by Chaim Potek. Sensitive story about real friendship in good times and bad. Really sad sometimes with really complex characters. So complex, in fact, that I don’t understand one of them even though I am sure that the character MUST make sense.
#80. These Happy Golden Years by L. Wilder
#81. Little Town on the Prarie by L. Wilder
#82. The Long Winter by L. Wilder
#83. Plain Girl by ___Sorensen Sweet, not particularly original, but good prose.
#84. Parallel Play by Tim Page. Memoir of a man with undiagnosed aspergers. It’s interesting how he can figure out what makes him different and seeing his struggles. The prose is excellent. There are a lot of drug/sex references, but somehow it seems appropriate because it’s true and he can put perspective on it as an adult.
#85. Priceless: by Bob Wittman. Pretty good read about a FBI agent going undercover to rescue art.
#86. Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale. Fantastic! Original! Great prose! Tightly woven story! Worthy of five exclamation points!
#87. The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Bailey. Beautiful prose, unusual story, fast read.
#88. Falling Leaves by Adeline Mah The adult +expanded version of #66. Even more depressing if this is possible. I think it is awful how we hold onto our families even when they are nothing but misery for us. I guess it shows that family is an institution from God, so it’s hardwired in us to cling to it.
#89. The English Patient by Ondaatje. Postmodern garbage for class, but he has talent. #90. Have His Carcase by Dorothy Sayers. Witty, complicated, a tad confusing, very clever
#91. Flight of a Witch by Ellis Peters. Pretty good, yet didn’t like it all that well somehow. I think the suspect I couldn’t really like.
#92. Steve and Me by Terri Irwin. Fun and lively. Without the apparent use of a ghostwriter, it’s pretty well written too for someone who is clearly not in the trade.
#93. The Dry Divide by Ralph Moody. Amazing, fun, heartwarming, true. A totally different era.
#94. Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie. Not my favorite.
#95. Persuasion by Jane Austen. Somewhat amusing, but Austen repeats characters and scenerios. She should have challenged herself for some variety.
#96. The Drover’s Road Collection by Joyce West. Technically 3-books-in-1. Delightful, great characters. Reads like collection of stories, yet it all has interweaving plot threads. Starts in early teens and ends in romance. There are things in here that I don’t know how West pulled off; they sound hokey and yet somehow she makes it work! One of my favorites.
#97. A Christmas Carol by Dickens. Charming, funny, imaginative, and CHRISTIAN!!! No warm fuzzies about peace and love with no Reason for the Season.
#98. The Promise by Potek. Sequel to #79. Explores: what role does tradition play in religion? How does one balance tradition and progress? What’s a threat, and what is not? How does one juggle religion in a secular world?And how does one deal with loving people who think you are destroying orthodoxy and truth?
#100. Rapunzel’s Revenge by three Hales. Entertaining graphic novel, very funny. If all graphic novels had this hefty vocab, I wouldn’t complain about them ruining literacy.
#101. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand. Thrilling, detailed, and intense. I still don’t give a twit about racing, but as a story, it’s superb. Hillenbrand made the characters come alive. She included A LOT of authentic detail and research. It’s creative nonfiction!
Books I didn’t Finish
#1. Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of a Dog.) No plot, just a lot of anecdotes. #2. The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald. Not only there was no conflict or storyline, I couldn’t follow the train of thought of this guy. So why is this person talking about this? Who’s married to whom? Huh? What’s going on? #3. The Pixar Touch I was hoping for a drama, & I got a got a cross between a tech-and-finance manual & Who’s Who in Animation. I wanted the behind-the-scenes of Pixar, &I got the insides of computers & ledgers. I skimmed. I was hoping for a secular Me, Myself, and Bob, & all I got was “The Love of Disney is the Root of all evil."
#4. King of Shadows by Susan Cooper. I’ve read this before & skimmed it too much to count it as 1 of the 100. It is a fairly good book. It does not equal The Boggart, though.
#5. The Secret Notebooks of Agatha Christie. Too nerdy, even for a die-hard Agatha fan.
#6. The Magnificent Obsession by ___Douglas. I just didn’t like it. Dunno why.
#7. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. It had to be returned.
#8. The Omnivore's Dilemma. Too sciency, I skimmed it. Still, it had some very interesting stuff, especially Polyface Farms, which I'm sure you can google. It is farming the way no one has made it before, but in Project Mulberry, that sort of farming is given some note.
#9. Do You Speak American? Waaaaay to involved. I'm something of a prescriptionist, (hey, now I can label myself!) but I have too much of descriptionist in me to take sides. Also, I'm really not interested in word origins and flexibility. For the most part, language IS; who cares why. You can't control it; just face it.
#10. The Oxbow Incident I tried it once, ditched it, watched the movie (with Henry Fonda!) and then got pumped enough to try it again. Same result as first.
#11. How Green was My Valley by Llewellyn I read 4 pages, just 4 pages, and I quit. Sure, it had a sense of place, but I had the feeling that this was a textbook. It had too many details and no characters up and doing anything. I tried this years ago and hated it, but I hoped I just needed to mature. Nope.
#12. Documents in the Case by Dorothy Sayers. Ran out of time! I wasn’t too keen on it...maybe this year? It kind of pokes along. Sayers has a problem with that sometimes. Murder Must Advertise, Strong Poison, Have His Carcase—all superb. Nine Tailors? Boring. Same with this one.
Analysis of My Reading.
First of all, I know the amount of NF I did this year was unusual. It is because I have started reading NPR book reviews, and that’s how I find most of them. Otherwise, I think this is a good sample.
NF: 26! I can hardly believe it. Did not count #4 Home Ground or #5 No Plot? No Problem! Though the Laura Ingalls Wilder books beefed up the count.
Most read authors: Creech: 5, Ingalls-Wilder: 4 Hale: 3, DeWohl: 3, Moody: 3.
Most boring books I finished: Harper Lee: A Twentieth Century Life and Education of a Wandering Man. I’m not counting Home Ground even though it IS a dictionary. I found some great words in it. (Monadock! Desire path! Ephemeral stream! Plunge pool!) I wish I could trash #26 by Howard Zinn, but I can’t say it was boring, just a pack of revisionist lies.
# of re-reads: 57. Let’s just admit I have trouble finding new books that are clean.
Best new finds: Why Gender Matters, Jane Eyre, A Town Like Alice, and Seabiscuit. I am not counting Alex O’Donnel and the 40 Cyberthieves since I waited at least a year for it to come out. It was not a find. It was a harvested gem.
Genres I never read: Horror, thriller, Sci-Fi, steampunk, or any other weird non-trad or niche genres.
# Classics: 12. I have a rather strict definition of classic. My list has a ton of "enduring" books.
Books that unfairly gets the most suspecious looks: Gone with the Wind or Jane Eyre. Both have lots of humor, drama, and action!
Most funny: Anything by Creech, No Plot? No Problem! The Princess Bride, and Daddy-Long-Legs.
Most depressing: Chinese Cinderella/Falling Leaves, hands down.
Best book: no way I could choose.
And that is what made this reading adventure so wonderful.
No comments:
Post a Comment