Brooklyn: The Novel

This was the first time I have read anything by Colm Toibin and I will certainly look for more. This lovely, quiet book had no explosions (literally or figuratively). Nothing jumped off the page to grab my attention or shake me. Yet, it was completely enjoyable, beautifull written and delightful.

Ms/ Toibin explores the immigrant experience and the concept of home through a shy, but ambitious Irish girl. Eilis is sent to America by her mother and older sister in hopes that she will find the bright future that eludes her in her small Irish town. Upon her arrival in New York she begins to change and grow. Her new experiences allow her to discover who she is seperate from her home and small town. When she is unexpectedly called home she has to choose between her new life and her old one.

This book is so much more then the plot suggests. Though the surprise ending keeps you interested, it is the beautiful, lyrical language that will have you savoring each line. Toibin brings to life the the sea voyage in third class cabins, the parish dances, and the stuffy boarding house. She does a great job of evoking the homesickness and loneliness of a young girl on her own for the first time.

2010 Chgallenges -- Keeping Track

This is the post I will keep track of the books read in 2010 and the challenges completed. I think I've signed up for more reading challenges. It's just a matter of looking back in the archives and finding them.


100+ Reading Challenge (2010)
(Ends December 31, 2010)

1. – The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer (I found it boring)
2. – One For The Money by Janet Evanovich (Fun, but I like those books from later in the serics better)
3. – Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
4. – Ladies of Liberty by Cokie Roberts
5. – Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich (funny and witty; thumbs up)
6. – Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich (two better than three)
7. – Brooklyn: The Novel by Colm Toibin (LOVED it)
8. – Four to Score by Janet Evanovich (funny)
9. – A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton (liked the heroine)
10. – Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracey Chevalier
11. – B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton
12. – Winds of War by Herman Wouk (one of my all time favorite books!)
13. – High Five by Janet Evanovich
14. – Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
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Wish I'd Read That:

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18th/19th Century Women Authors:

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Awesome Authors:

1. - Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracey Chevalier
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1% Well - Read Challenge:

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Mystery/Thriller:

1. - The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer
2. - One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
3. - Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich
4. - Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich
5. - Four to Score by Janet Evanovich
6. - A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
7. - B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton
8. - High Five by Janet Evanovich
9. - Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
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Chunksters:
1. - Winds of War by Herman Wouk
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Completed Reading Challenges in 2010

First Reads of the New Year!

One For The Money by Janet Evanovich FINISHED

This book is a reread for me. I have missed several of the latest and decided to start over from the first book in the serics. These books are in my category "Junk Food For the Brain", and they are rollicking fun. I love Grandma Mazur who can make me laugh out loud. Ranger makes me hot. Morelli too, though not quite as much as Ranger. :) Stephanie Plum is surrounded by interesting characters and lives a hilarious life.

Having said that, the first book was disappointing this time. I don't know if it because we are just meeting each character (as is Stephanie in some cases), but they didnt make me laugh as often as they do in later books.

Oh well, onto number Two!

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Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder FINISHED

Cora is reading this book and falling in love with it. So, now I am reading it too. I don't recall ever reading the whole series, so I am looking forward to doing it with her. I had also forgotten how wonderful the books are. I loved this read!

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The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer FINISHED

I found this book boring. It was a quick read, and reasonablg entertaining but a bit boring and elementary. I am glad that I didn't purchase it.

My Total Commitment

100 + books including:

12 mysteries
10 books from the book 1001 books to read before you die
3 books from 3 different authors which have been recommended to me
3 books I wish I had read
2 books from women authors of the 18th and 19th centuries
3 chunksters of 750 pages or more

Thriller & Suspense Challenge

Thriller & Suspense Challenge 2010!

http://www.bookchickcity.com/2009/05/thriller-suspense-challenge-2010_01.html


I was asked by J. Kaye (of J. Kaye's Book Blog) if I would take over and host the Thriller & Suspense Challenge. Well, I love this genre so I jumped at the chance. The rules are basically the same but there is a new button! I hope you will join me in the Thriller & Suspense Reading Challenge 2010!


Timeline: 01 Jan 2010 - 31 Dec 2010
Rules: To read TWELVE (12) thrillers in 2010

Details:

• You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront then you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

• If you decide to participate in this challenge please use the links I have set up below with the buttons to post on your sidebar, this way others can find their way back to this post and join in the fun.

• If you decide to join this challenge be sure to create a post telling others, please make sure you add a link back to this post so others can join in.

• You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

• There will be a place for you to link your reviews, but this is optional.

Now, there are many different sub-genres of thriller, so don't go thinking that you don't actually read these kinds of books because I bet you read more than you think. As I mentioned above you can choose from the numerous sub-genres, from cosy mysteries such as Agatha Christie to the more hard-boiled kind like V I Warshawski by Sara Paretsky, or even supernatural/paranormal suspense written by the likes of Laurell K Hamilton (Anita Blake) and Kelley Armstrong. So, there you have it, this challenge will have something for everyone I'm sure! :)


To help you figure out and decide, J. Kaye has kindly given me the sub-genre list that she compiled when hosting the challenge. To view this list go HERE.

1% Well-Read Reading Challenge

(Another) 1% Well-Read Challenge

http://athomewithbooks.blogspot.com/2009/10/awesome-author-challenge-2010.html


I hope everyone had fun with the last 1% Well Read Challenge. Even if you didn’t complete the challenge, if you read any books at all from the list, you are at least a little more ‘well-read’ than you were before!

The editors of the book 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die threw a kink into our challenge when they updated the books with new titles last year. So, I’ve got three options for you on this next challenge:

1.Read 10 titles from the original list from March 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009.

2.Read 10 titles from the new list from March 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009.

3.Read 13 titles from the combined list (of almost 1300 titles) from March 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010. In other words, “What were they thinking dropping titles from Dostoevsky and Jane Austen?”
For all options, overlaps with other challenges are allowed, and you may change your list at any time.

I have begun to update the 1001 list HERE. Please note that the unnumbered books are from the new titles added. Unfortunately, I do not have all the new titles added yet but will be working on it in the next week or two. Asterixed titles are ones that were dropped from the new list.

Alternatively, you can go HERE for an Excel spreadsheet of the old list, and HERE for an Excel spreadsheet of the new list.

Awesome Authors 2010 Reading Challenge

Awesome Author Challenge 2010

http://athomewithbooks.blogspot.com/2009/10/awesome-author-challenge-2010.html


Welcome to the Awesome Author Challenge!

The idea behind this challenge is to read works by authors who have been recommended to you time and again, but you haven't gotten around to reading them yet. These are the authors that everyone else tells you are awesome, thus the "Awesome Author Challenge" title.


The Rules:

The challenge starts January 1, 2010 and ends December 31, 2010.

Crossover from other challenges is allowed.

Choose the level at which you would like to participate, post about it and come back and leave a link to your post in Mister Linky.

Titles and authors do not have to be predetermined, and can change at any time.

Books can come from any genre or reading level, the only requirement is that you have heard great things about the author, but haven't yet read any of their works.


The Levels:

Easy: Choose three authors and read at least one title from each author.

Moderate: Choose six authors and read at least one title from each author.

Challenging: Choose ten authors and read at least one title from each author.

Over-Achieving: Anything over ten authors.