tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53988169547848544372024-03-12T18:04:10.764-07:00BibliomusingsBooks, books, books! Mostly a collection of reviews and lists for reading challenges.Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.comBlogger205125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-20594611941069849932011-01-02T13:59:00.000-08:002011-01-02T14:02:30.508-08:00Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge 2011<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/TSD1fIVDG1I/AAAAAAAAAa8/9woEUEJ1Mx8/s1600/Sookie.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557711855335709522" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/TSD1fIVDG1I/AAAAAAAAAa8/9woEUEJ1Mx8/s320/Sookie.jpg" /></a> Oh, if only I had known of this challenge last year...I would've actually mastered a challenge! I became addicted to True Blood early in the year, but didn't have cable TV until summer, so in the meantime I started reading the Sookie books. I read the first 8, which means I have yet to read:<br /><div></div><br />9. Dead and Gone<br />10. Dead in the Family<br />11. Dead Reckoning (comes out in May 2011)<br /><br />And if any others come out in the meantime, I'll tackle those as well!<br /><br />The challenge is hosted <a href="http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/sookie-stackhouse-reading-challenge.html">here</a>.Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-52883104832640566432011-01-02T12:54:00.001-08:002011-01-02T12:57:48.071-08:00TwentyEleven Challenge<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/TSDmWiOWvbI/AAAAAAAAAa0/riP-uYAAJto/s1600/twentyeleven.png"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 231px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557695214993718706" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/TSDmWiOWvbI/AAAAAAAAAa0/riP-uYAAJto/s320/twentyeleven.png" /></a><br /><div>Hosted at Bart's Bookshelf, this challenge asks you to pick 20 books to read based on eleven categories. The categories:</div><div></div><div><br />Categories for TwentyEleven:<br /><br />1.To YA or not YA<br />Tend to read more Young Adult than Adult Fiction books then read one or two adult fiction titles, vice-versa if you don’t tend to read much Young Adult.<br />2.With a Twist.<br />This one focuses on sub-genres, read a lot of chick-lit, then try a paranormal romance! Fantasy? Why not give some Steampunk a go, like a bit of Space-Opera in your Sci-Fi then pick up a military Sci-fi book. Like your Contemporary Literature, give a Young Adult Contemporary a chance. </div><br />3.Hot off the Presses.<br />Read a book published (in your country) in 2011? Then it counts for this category.<br />4.It Wasn't Me! (aka Bad Bloggers*)<br />Books in this category, should be ones you've picked up purely on the recommendation of another blogger count for this category (any reviews you post should also link to the post that convinced you give the book ago).<br />* Bad Bloggers: Is hosted by Chris of Stuff as Dreams are Made on.<br />5.Show it Who is Boss!<br />Tackle that overflowing T.B.R. pile! Books for this category must be already residents of your bookshelves as of 1/12/10.<br />6.Bablefish.<br />Read books that are translated from a language that is not your own.<br />7.Will-Power? What Will-Power? (aka: The Henry Ward Beecher Memorial.)<br />Bought a book NEW during 2011? Then it counts for this category. Second-hand books do not count for this one, but, for those on book-buying bans, books bought for you as gifts or won in a giveaway also count.<br />8.Mind the Gap.<br />Need just one more book to compete that duology/trilogy/series then read it for this one! (Obviously as this is for that final book you need to complete it, then you can’t read two books from the same series! And it clearly can’t be your first or penultimate read!)<br />Because not everyone reads a series in order, this is for the last book you need to read, not necessarily the last book in the series…<br />9.Back in the Day.<br />Re-read an old favourite or two for this category.<br />10.Way Back When.<br />Read books that were published before you were born for this one, whether that be the day before or 100 years prior!<br />11.Slim-Pickings<br />Got a novella you want to read? Then this one is the one for you! Any books between 90-150 pages count.Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-84411854607353930212011-01-02T12:45:00.001-08:002011-01-02T12:48:53.111-08:00Book Blogger Recommendation 2011<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/TSDkQoWrEiI/AAAAAAAAAak/vUOJPqRlPh8/s1600/2011bbrc.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557692914536747554" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/TSDkQoWrEiI/AAAAAAAAAak/vUOJPqRlPh8/s320/2011bbrc.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Despite not finishing this one either, I really liked this challenge, hosted <a href="http://www.readingwithtequila.com/2010/12/2011-book-blogger-recommendation.html">here</a>, last year. I'm gonna keep it simple and go for level 1--just 5 books from the <a href="http://www.readingwithtequila.com/2010/12/book-blogger-recommendations-list-2010.html">Book Blogger Recommendation List</a>. </div>Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-27497183503547947662011-01-02T12:41:00.001-08:002011-01-02T12:43:12.363-08:00iChallenge 2011<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/TSDi-3WeWAI/AAAAAAAAAac/M7uNSn0jDIE/s1600/Challenge_Playlist_2010_Icon.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 188px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557691509813172226" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/TSDi-3WeWAI/AAAAAAAAAac/M7uNSn0jDIE/s320/Challenge_Playlist_2010_Icon.jpg" /></a><br /><div>This challenge, hosted <a href="http://booksoulmates.blogspot.com/2010/12/ichallenges-2011.html">here</a>, is to read 10 books about vampires, witches, fairies or werewolves. Sookie Sookie here I come!</div>Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-43105576449018180242011-01-02T12:36:00.000-08:002011-01-02T12:38:31.131-08:002011 Young Adult Challenge<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/TSDh_hlrUvI/AAAAAAAAAaU/oshKGhEFmQ4/s1600/2011YAReading.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557690421639598834" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/TSDh_hlrUvI/AAAAAAAAAaU/oshKGhEFmQ4/s320/2011YAReading.jpg" /></a><br /><div>This year the young adult challenge is being hosted <a href="http://jamielovesya.blogspot.com/2010/12/2011-young-adult-reading-challenge.html">here</a>. This is one of the challenges I usually finish, although this year I missed it by two. I'm going to enter on the lowest level, which is the usual 12 books.</div>Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-89566840674030068252011-01-02T09:07:00.001-08:002011-01-02T09:11:19.264-08:00TBR 2011<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/TSCw7ztGQKI/AAAAAAAAAaM/hSVebTHIl1o/s1600/2011_tbr_3a1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 261px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557636481713324194" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/TSCw7ztGQKI/AAAAAAAAAaM/hSVebTHIl1o/s320/2011_tbr_3a1.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I didn't complete this challenge last year, but I came close. <a href="http://readerchallenges.wordpress.com/2011-original-tbr-to-be-read/">Here</a> is the sign-up page for this year's, and here is my list.</div><div></div><div></div><br /><br />Abarat II--Clive Barker<br />The Alchemist--Paulo Coelho<br />Trainspotting--Irvine Welsh<br />The Crossing--Cormac McCarthy<br />Shantaram--Gregory David Roberts<br />Among the Imposters--Margaret Peterson Haddix<br />Neverwhere--Neil Gaiman<br />No Touch Monkey--Ayun Holliday<br />Just Kids--Patti Smith<br />Foundation and Empire--Issac Asimov<br />Searching For the Sound--Phil Lesh<br />The Eye of Spirit--Ken Wilbur<br /><br />Alternates:<br /><br />Eragon--Chris Paolini<br />Gone With the Wind--Margaret Mitchell<br />Elven Star--Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman<br />Are Men Necessary--Maureen Dowd<br />Danse Macabre--Stephen King<br />A Brief History of Time--Stephen Hawking<br />The Dreaded Comparison--Marjorie Spiegel<br />The Alphabet Versus the Goddess--Leonard Shlain<br />A Spot of Bother--Mark Haddon<br />Breaking Her Fall--Stephen Goodwin<br />The Book of Night Women--Marlon James<br />Twilight of Avalon--Anna ElliottLisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-19175281348336971652011-01-02T09:00:00.001-08:002011-01-02T09:02:19.509-08:00100+ (and Book a Week) Reading Challenge<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/TSCvV85xE1I/AAAAAAAAAaE/IO2cslDKrtw/s1600/RachelReading-2-1-1-1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 207px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557634731835724626" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/TSCvV85xE1I/AAAAAAAAAaE/IO2cslDKrtw/s320/RachelReading-2-1-1-1.jpg" /></a> Last year I read 56. Onward and upward! Find reviews <a href="http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2010/12/100-challenge-post-your-book-reviews.html">here</a>.<br /><br />1.<br /><div></div>Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-82818808374084387782011-01-02T08:52:00.000-08:002011-01-02T09:05:12.608-08:00A - Z Challenge 2011<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/TSCt_Wr_teI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/MZcOvjBeRG0/s1600/smallatozbanner2010.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 231px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557633244108666338" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/TSCt_Wr_teI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/MZcOvjBeRG0/s320/smallatozbanner2010.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Doing it by author didn't work for me last year (I made it about half way) so this year I'm going back to by title. The sign up page is <a href="http://2010atozchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/12/sign-up-for-2011-to-z-challenge.html">here</a>.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>A</div><div>B</div><div>C</div><div>D</div><div>E</div><div>F</div><div>G</div><div>H</div><div>I</div><div>J</div><div>K</div><div>L</div><div>M</div><div>N</div><div>O</div><div>P</div><div>Q</div><div>R</div><div>S</div><div>T</div><div>U</div><div>V</div><div>W</div><div>X</div><div>Y</div><div>Z</div>Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-68997821288234088872010-12-30T20:53:00.001-08:002010-12-30T20:56:29.457-08:00End of the Year....I did a horrible job this year keeping up with my reading challenges/reviews. On the plus side, I did read 55 books as of tonight. And some of them are reviewed on goodreads. On the minus side, almost none of them are reviewed on the blog, and I didn't finish any of my challenges to speak of. Pa.The.Tic.<br /><br /><br /><br />So I'm going to try to catch up with what I've done, and pick some new challenges, and maybe eventually even catch up on reviews. It's a new year, right? I'll at least do a best of 2010 list next week sometime.<br /><br /><br /><br />On to 2011!Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-88882555234671665222010-10-25T17:17:00.000-07:002010-12-30T21:04:38.705-08:00RIP Challenge V<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/TMYelHPV58I/AAAAAAAAAZw/tfwWsQbbY98/s1600/ripvlarge.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532142815218624450" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/TMYelHPV58I/AAAAAAAAAZw/tfwWsQbbY98/s320/ripvlarge.jpg" /></a><br />I have sort of dropped the ball on my reading challenges this year, but if I am going to pick it back up, it's for this one. I love Halloween, and I love reading, so I super-love Carl at Stainless Steel Dropping's <a href="http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.com/r-eaders-i-mbibing-p-eril-challenge-v">RIP Challenge</a>. I have been doing this challenge since RIP II, and I almost missed it this year, but jumped in in the nick of time. Since I am joining late, I am going to do Peril the Second, which only requires the reading of two books sufficiently Halloween-ie. And, coincidentally, they are also written by a father and son.<br /><br />1. <s>Horns--Joe Hill</s>--10/25/10<br />2. <s>Under the Dome--Stephen King</s>--11/6/10 (better late than never)<br /><br />If I have time, I would like to read a book of short stories by each of these authors as well, which would be<br /><br />3. <s>Just After Sunset--Stephen King</s>--12/8/10<br />4. 20th Century Ghosts--Joe Hill<br /><br />but that is unlikely, given that it is already October 25.<br /><br />Boo!Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-44932691167908717242010-01-03T15:09:00.000-08:002010-12-30T21:06:56.974-08:00Decades 2010--1/1/10-12/31/10DID NOT FINISH<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/S0EkyL9bH7I/AAAAAAAAAZM/-bCu9qBsvFo/s1600-h/decades10.png"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 223px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 211px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422655870953267122" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/S0EkyL9bH7I/AAAAAAAAAZM/-bCu9qBsvFo/s320/decades10.png" /></a> <div>One of my favorite challenges is the <a href="http://1morechapter.com/decades/2010/decades-2010/">Decades Challenge</a>. This is the third year that I will be participating. The goal is to read one book from ten consecutive decades, 1990s and earlier. My list follows: </div><div></div><div>1990s: <s>The Robber Bride--Margaret Atwood</s>1/23/10</div><div>1980s: Love in the Time of Cholera--Gabriel Garcia Marquez</div><div>1970s: Song of Solomon--Toni Morrison</div><div>1960s: The Bell Jar--Sylvia Plath</div><div>1950s: A Town Like Alice--Nevil Shute</div><div>1940s: I, Robot--Issac Asimov</div><div>1930s: Gone With the Wind--Margaret Mitchell</div><div>1920s: Women in Love--D.H. Lawrence</div><div>1910s: Of Human Bondage--W. Somerset Maugham</div><div>1900s: The Railway Children--Edith Nesbit</div>Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-42568202111758187142010-01-02T21:11:00.000-08:002010-01-02T21:15:56.405-08:00Gregor the Overlander--Suzanne Collins<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/S0AnRD-VnsI/AAAAAAAAAZE/q51BytT-K3M/s1600-h/gregor.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422377125432106690" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 109px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/S0AnRD-VnsI/AAAAAAAAAZE/q51BytT-K3M/s400/gregor.jpg" border="0" /></a> Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy<br />Year Published: 2003<br />Pages: 320<br />Rating: 3.5/5<br /><br /><i>"Gregor had pressed his face against the screen for so long, he could feel a pattern of tiny checks above his eyebrows." </i><br /><br />I read this book on my son's recommendation, and it was really quite enjoyable. Gregor is an 11 year old boy with much weight on his shoulders--his father has disappeared, and he has to help his mother and grandmother tend to his 2 year old sister so she can try to make enough money to support the struggling family. But he is also a warrior, foretold in a prophecy in the underland. Of course Gregor doesn't know this, until he follows his little sister into an airvent in his basement and falls into the underland, where bugs, bats, and rats are huge, and a tribe of people survive under the ground. Upon learning he might be able to rescue his father, Gregor takes the quest--though he is dubious that he is the fabled warrior.<br /><br />The story moves fast, and Gregor's little sister, Boots, is delightful. I am going to try to read the rest of the series when I get a chance.<br /><br />Book a Week # 1<br />Challenge/s: Young Adult, TBR<br />Date Read: 1/1/10Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-599596267248716812010-01-02T21:06:00.000-08:002010-01-03T15:07:57.762-08:00Queen Bees and Wannabes--Rosalind Wiseman<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/S0Amej5xUVI/AAAAAAAAAY8/ZnmYK_06NkE/s1600-h/queenbees.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422376257829556562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 207px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/S0Amej5xUVI/AAAAAAAAAY8/ZnmYK_06NkE/s320/queenbees.jpg" border="0" /></a> Genre: Non-Fiction/Self-Help<br />Year Published: 2002<br />Pages: 336<br />Rating: 3/5<br /><br />This was a very well-written book about dealing with "Girl World". I like Wiseman's style--she cuts to the chase and calls it like it is. A lot of this is common sense, but stuff we don't really pay much attention to. It did get a little redundant by the end, but I still think it's worth reading. There is a chapter on raising boys that I enjoyed a lot as well, and my son and I already had a talk about our culture's expectations of men and women.<br /><br />Book a week # 64<br />Challenge: A-Z<br />Date Read: 12/31/09Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-84295634254964445862009-12-28T12:06:00.000-08:002009-12-30T11:25:08.284-08:00Best Books of 2009!I read so many great books this year! It was hard to pick ten, so I chose ten honorable mentions as well. I wrote a brief description of each book, but I also linked to my original review, which says a lot more. Toni Morrison was my most-read author this year, and all three of her books that I read this year made the honorable mentions. Read Neil Gaiman for the first time, and plan on reading more in the future.<br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/09/book-thief-markus-zusak.html">T</a><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/09/book-thief-markus-zusak.html">he Boo</a><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/09/book-thief-markus-zusak.html">k Thief by Markus Zusak</a> Told by death itself, this is the story of a brave and thoughtful little girl living in Nazi Germany during WWII. Heartbreaking and beautiful.</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/07/house-of-scorpion-nancy-farmer.html">The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer</a>. A great piece of young adult dystopian fiction, involving cloning, drug lords, and the disappearance of the whales.</div><div></div><div> </div><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/05/once-and-future-king-thwhite.html">The Once and Future King by T.H. White</a>. A whimsical and enjoyable retelling of the King Arthur saga.</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/06/lightning-thief-rick-riordan.html">The Percy Jackson Series</a> by Rick Riordan. I linked to my review of the first book, The Lightning Thief, but all five were excellent. A brilliant way to bring classical mythology to life, and to envision it coexisting with today's modern life.</div><br /><div></div><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/12/as-i-lay-dying-william-faulkner.html">As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner</a>. I'm glad I gave Faulkner another shot, because I loved this bit of dark comedy.</div><br /><div></div><div>H<a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/11/house-of-sand-and-fog-andre-dubus-iii.html">ouse of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III</a>. A tragic and beautiful story about people too caught up in themselves to understand one another.</div><br /><div></div><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/01/animal-farm-george-orwell.html">Animal Farm by George Orwell</a>. Perhaps the perfect allegory, this famous work shows beautifully what happens when socialism goes awry.</div><div></div><div> </div><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/01/into-thin-air-jon-krakauer.html">Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer</a>. A riveting account of an expedition to climb Mount Everest gone horribly wrong.</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/03/cats-eye-margaret-atwood.html">Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood.</a> This book could be the model for today's "Mean Girls" phenomenon. A great story that examines girls'--and womens'--relationships with one another.</div><br /><div></div><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/12/curious-incident-of-dog-in-night-time.html">The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon</a>. Told in one of the most unique voices, this book chronicles a brilliant but autistic teen's attempt to solve a mystery.</div><br /><div></div><div>And the honorable mentions:</div><br /><div></div><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/01/beloved-toni-morrison.html">Beloved by Toni Morrison</a>. </div><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/06/paradise-toni-morrison.html">Paradise by Toni Morrison</a>. </div><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/01/bluest-eye-toni-morrison.html">The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison</a>. </div><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/01/virgin-suicides-jeffrey-eugenides.html">The Virgin Suicides by Jeffery Eugenides</a>. </div><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/09/year-of-living-biblically-one-mans.html">The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs</a>. </div><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/11/memory-keepers-daughter.html">The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards</a>. </div><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/10/jasmine-bharati-mukherjee.html">Jasmine by Bharati Mukherjee</a>. </div><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/10/graveyard-book-neil-gaiman.html">The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman</a>. </div><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/10/heart-shaped-box-joe-hill.html">Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill</a>. </div><div><a href="http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2009/09/duma-key-stephen-king.html">Duma Key by Stephen King</a>. </div><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div></div>Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-18345762251921124402009-12-26T17:19:00.000-08:002010-12-30T21:08:25.287-08:00Finish That Series--1/1/10-12/31/10<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/Sza2chpcN3I/AAAAAAAAAYE/bFNwIrk7e5Q/s1600-h/2010_Finish_That_Series_Challenge.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 272px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419719802771748722" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/Sza2chpcN3I/AAAAAAAAAYE/bFNwIrk7e5Q/s400/2010_Finish_That_Series_Challenge.jpg" /></a> Hosted <a href="http://theroyalreviews.blogspot.com/2009/12/finish-that-series-challenge.html">here</a> at the very alliterative site, Royal Reviews, this challenge provides the opportunity to finish the series you've begun. I am going to sign up on the "fascinated" level, meaning I must complete three series this year. Some of the series I am hoping to finish are:<br /><br /><s>The Twilight Saga</s> 4/19/10<br />The Murdoc Jern series<br />The Foundation series<br />The Border Trilogy<br /><s>The Hunger Games</s> 9/12/10<br /><br />Series I want to reread include:<br /><br />The Chronicles of Narnia<br />Dragonlance: Legends<br />The Prydain Series<br /><s>The Dark Tower series</s> 8/25/10Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-35855361623256316592009-12-26T16:42:00.000-08:002010-12-30T21:09:27.789-08:00Young Adult Through the Decades Challenge (1/1/09-12/31/09)DID NOT FINISH<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/Szatq_la2UI/AAAAAAAAAX8/Pe-ShaO5Ch0/s1600-h/yadecades.png"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 142px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419710155721464130" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/Szatq_la2UI/AAAAAAAAAX8/Pe-ShaO5Ch0/s400/yadecades.png" /></a> Hosted <a href="http://www.youthservicescorner.com/ya-through-the-decades/">here</a> at <a href="http://www.youthservicescorner.com/">Youth Services Corner</a>, this challenge has you read young adult books written in different decades, starting with the 1930s or before and ending with the 2000s. Rereads are allowed (yay!!!).<br /><br />1930s or before: Little Women<br />1940s: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn<br />1950s: Fahrenheit 451 --1/13/10<br />1960s: I Am David --11/19/10<br />1970s: Rumble Fish<br />1980s: Four's Crossing<br />1990s: Push<br />2000s: The Hunger Games--2/9/10Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-91864217974714825592009-12-26T15:34:00.000-08:002009-12-26T15:40:41.093-08:00The Great Fire--Jim Murphy<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/SzaeGH01TfI/AAAAAAAAAXk/ULJGGuc2y8w/s1600-h/greatfire.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419693029604019698" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 254px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/SzaeGH01TfI/AAAAAAAAAXk/ULJGGuc2y8w/s320/greatfire.jpg" border="0" /></a> Genre: Nonfiction<br />Year Published: 1995<br />Pages: 144<br />Rating: 4/5<br /><br />I use this book in my classroom occasionally. It is a really interesting and informative account of the Great Chicago Fire, with drawings, photographs, and true-life accounts written by survivors of the fire. Definately worth reading.<br /><br />Book a week # 60Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-69977066077658086182009-12-26T15:30:00.001-08:002009-12-26T15:41:04.992-08:00Eclipse--Stephanie Meyer<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/Szactpel-AI/AAAAAAAAAXc/aSqALQNzteE/s1600-h/eclipse.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419691509629188098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 211px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/Szactpel-AI/AAAAAAAAAXc/aSqALQNzteE/s320/eclipse.jpg" border="0" /></a> Genre: Young Adult Fantasy<br />Year Published: 2007<br />Pages: 629<br />Rating: 2/5<br /><br />"All our attempts at subterfuge had been in vain."<br /><br />Why oh why do I keep reading these books? It isn't the writing, which is awkward and flowery, and seems to deteriorate even more with each subsequent book. It isn't Bella, the main character, who may very well be the WORST female heroine ever--she's spineless, moronic, and an utter doormat. It isn't Edward or Jacob, both of whom behave very badly when it comes to matters of love. I'm completely over the romance between Edward and Bella, so it isn't that (although I will admit the tension between Bella and Jacob got me a little bit). So what is it that keeps me coming back for more nauseating twaddle?<br /><br />Well, I like the supernatural. I like the mythology behind the vampires and werewolves in the novels--especially the Native American shapeshifting stories. And I feel like I've invested myself in it this far so I sort of have to go all the way. (I thought Eclipse was the last book, however, and was very annoyed that I'm going to have to subject myself to this again). And I guess the story isn't that horrible...although our anti-heroine really truly is.<br /><br />What happens in this book? More of the same, really: Victoria is still after Bella, Jacob is still in love with her, she still feels torn between him and Edward even though she will never even consider life without Edward because without him she would surely die, her father is still a bumbling fool, she still wants to be a vampire but Edward is still holding out for--gasp--marriage, the werewolves and vampires still hate each other, and Bella still manages to do stupid things and get herself into trouble so that her strong and supernatural lovers can save her. New stuff? Bella graduates, we get the whole story behind the tribe of werewolves, the werewolves and vampires come together to save her, and she makes a choice between the boys and a big decision that will affect her future. Oh, and there's a big party at the vampires' house.<br /><br />What really disgusts me about these books is the same as I wrote in my last review--Bella is a horrible example for young women. The message here is that it is OK to act like an idiot because a boy will come and rescue you from danger. And that nothing is more important than your love for said boy. And if the boy leaves you life is no longer worth living and you will walk around like an empty shell. Oh--and Bella's revulsion to marriage hardly fits with her as a character. Ditto for the fact that she's supposed to be an honor's student but she's a complete idiot. I could document all of Bella's "Duh!" moments--you know, when the light bulb goes on and she suddenly realizes what the reader figured out ages ago--but why put anyone through that?<br /><br />Now that I'm done ranting, I must sheepishly admit that I AM going to read the final book in the series.<br /><br />Book a week # 61<br />Date Read: 12/21/09Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-17074125685257920512009-12-16T20:32:00.000-08:002009-12-26T16:12:29.185-08:00Take Another Chance Challenge (1/1/10-12/31/10)<div align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/Sym0pk1XccI/AAAAAAAAAXU/4DXjukh4Sww/s1600-h/Takeanotherchance.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416058653244879298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 125px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/Sym0pk1XccI/AAAAAAAAAXU/4DXjukh4Sww/s200/Takeanotherchance.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Take Another Chance Challenge allows you to find books to read by chance--how fun!! You can find all the guidelines <a href="http://www.findyournextbookhere.com/2009/12/announcing-take-another-chance.html">here</a>. There are twelve categories of participation; I am going to try to participate in all twelve (Gambling it All, as they say on the site!). I will list the categories, and the books I plan on reading, below.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br /><br />1. Read Your Doppelganger: Since no one has the same exact name for me, I am going to read an author with the same initials--Lois Lowry's Number the Stars.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />2. Blogroll Roulette: Twilight Children by Torey Hayden</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />3. 100 Best Book (I chose from the <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/bestbooksya/09bbya.cfm">2009 Best Books for Young Adults List</a>): Debbie Harry Sings in Frency by Meagan Brothers</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />4. Prize Book Winner: 2666 by Roberto Bolano</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />5. Title Word Count: Jazz by Toni Morrison</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />6. Genre Switch Up: Graphic Novel--From Hell by Alan Moore</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />7. Break a Prejudice: Oh boy. Maybe I'll read The Bourne Identity for this one.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />8. Real and Inspired: </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />9. Same Word, Different Book: Breaking Dawn; Breaking Her Fall<br /><br />10. Become a Character: </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />11. All in the Family: 20th Century Ghosts (Joe Hill); Just After Sunset (Stephen King)<br /><br />12. Author Anthology Pick:<br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="center"></div>Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-81498794489902443672009-12-16T20:21:00.000-08:002009-12-26T17:28:06.690-08:00Flashback Challenge (1/1/10-12/31/10)<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/SymyDERIXhI/AAAAAAAAAXM/-i1NX4oR8k4/s1600-h/Flashback2010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416055792644677138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/SymyDERIXhI/AAAAAAAAAXM/-i1NX4oR8k4/s200/Flashback2010.jpg" border="0" /></a> I love re-reading books. I have been keeping track of my re-reads with the ongoing Read it Again Challenge, but this new one--the <a href="http://aartichapati.blogspot.com/2009/11/flashback-challenge.html">Flashback Challenge</a>--caught my eye. It is a little more structured, with categories for how many books you read (I am going for Literati, which means I will reread six books) and the following mini-challenge categories:<br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div>1. Re-read a favorite book from your childhood<br />2. Re-read a book assigned to you in high school<br />3. Re-read a book you loved as an adult</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br />I am going to read two from each category. This challenge crosses over with my Revisit Childhood Favorites as well. <br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Childhood: Ballet Shoes, Four's Crossing</div><div>High School: Catcher in the Rye, The Crucible</div><div>Adult: The Stand, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues</div><div></div>Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-2660633027799763122009-12-16T20:16:00.000-08:002009-12-16T20:19:34.129-08:00Fantasy Reading Challenge (1/1/10-12/31/10)<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/SymwxeysV4I/AAAAAAAAAXE/8QuxYX24KcA/s1600-h/2010_Fantasy.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416054391015495554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 148px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/SymwxeysV4I/AAAAAAAAAXE/8QuxYX24KcA/s200/2010_Fantasy.png" border="0" /></a> I love fantasy, and this challenge crosses over with my Arthurian Reading challenge, so it seemed a waste not to join. Guidelines can be found <a href="http://theroyalreviews.blogspot.com/2009/12/fantasy-reading-challenge.html">here</a>. I think I will opt for the "fascinated" category, meaning I will read six fantasy fiction novels, but I might up that to "addicted" and read twelve. I will post my list soon!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-51926598362487041022009-12-16T19:59:00.001-08:002009-12-16T20:12:38.315-08:002010 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge (1/1/10-12/31/10)<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/Symssn39wCI/AAAAAAAAAW8/_GPckoPOE1U/s1600-h/2010BBRC.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416049909507670050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/Symssn39wCI/AAAAAAAAAW8/_GPckoPOE1U/s200/2010BBRC.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />"<a href="http://readingwithtequila.blogspot.com/2009/11/2010-book-blogger-recommendation.html">Reading With Tequila</a>" has compiled a <a href="http://readingwithtequila.blogspot.com/2009/11/book-blogger-recommendations-list-2009.html">list of books recommended by bloggers</a>. Of the 234 books on this list, I have read 35. For this challenge, I plan on reading another ten. Here is a tentative list of books I might read:<br /><br />1. City of Bones--Cassandra Clare<br />2. The Alchemist--Paulo Coelho<br />3. Eragon-_Christopher Paolini<br />4. The Host--Stephanie Meyer<br />5. Gone With the Wind--Margaret Mitchell<br />6. Push--Sapphire<br />7. A Thousand Splendid Suns--Khaled Hosseini<br />8. The Prisoner's Wife--Asha Bandele<br />9. Artemis Fowl--Eoin Colfer<br />10. The Bell Jar--Sylvia Plath<br />11. Alas Babylon--Pat Frank<br />12. The Looking Glass Wars--Frank Beddor<br />13. Neverwhere--Neil Gaiman<br />14. My Sister's Keeper--Jodi Picoult<br />15. Fight Club--Chris PahlaniakLisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-3231027240994201822009-12-16T19:41:00.000-08:002009-12-16T19:53:21.119-08:00451 Challenge (1/1/10-11/30/10)<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/Symq9qY5X_I/AAAAAAAAAW0/sKHnEgCBAfY/s1600-h/451_Fridays.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416048003217186802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 149px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/Symq9qY5X_I/AAAAAAAAAW0/sKHnEgCBAfY/s200/451_Fridays.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div>This challenge is hard to explain, so I am going to just copy and paste from the <a href="http://451challenge.blogspot.com/">451 Challenge site:</a></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>"451 Fridays is based on an idea from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. In his novel, a group of people (Bradbury calls them Book People) are trying to keep the ideas found in books alive. Instead of actually saving the books, the Book People each "become" a book - memorizing it, word for word, and passing it down to the next generation.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>451 Fridays asks what books you feel passionate about. What book do you think is so important that you would be willing to take on the challenge of "becoming"?</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>We have compiled an amazing list of books this year in our weekly 451 Fridays posts, and it's time to start reading them! So, the 451 Challenge was born."</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>I am going to do the "Blaze" level,which means I will be reading at least seven books from the list. Here is my tentative list of books:</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>A Thousand Splendid Suns--Khaled Hosseini</div><div>A Tree Grows in Brooklyn--Betty Smith</div><div>Gone With the Wind--Margaret Mitchell</div><div>A Solitary Blue--Cynthia Voigt</div><div>Fahrenheit 451--Ray Bradbury</div><div>I Am David--Ann Holm</div><div>Shantaram--Gregory David Roberts</div><div>The Haunting of Hill House--Shirley Jackson</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div></div>Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-56842670568560268142009-12-15T18:57:00.001-08:002009-12-15T19:04:13.659-08:00The Sun Also Rises--Ernest Hemingway<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/SyhMn9ny7JI/AAAAAAAAAWk/dZ-O0LuLOfE/s1600-h/sun.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415662801353108626" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 127px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/SyhMn9ny7JI/AAAAAAAAAWk/dZ-O0LuLOfE/s200/sun.jpg" border="0" /></a> Genre: Fiction (Classic)<br />Year Published: 1926<br />Pages: 251<br />Rating: 3/5<br /><br /> <i>"Robert Cohn was once middleweight boxing champion of Princeton." </i><br /><br />I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, having recently finished On the Road, it was almost torturous to endure another book about a narcissistic, self-centered group of 'friends' getting drunk all the time. On the other, I did find myself caught up in the romance between Lady Ashley and Jake, and almost feel a warmness for them. And I really liked the ending.<br /><br />The story takes place in Europe not long after the first World War. Jake is a writer living in Paris, and he and several of his friends, including his on-again off-again lover, Brett Ashley, decide to go to Spain for the Running of the Bulls. Then they get drunk, do some fishing, get drunk, watch some bullfights, get drunk, get mad at one another, get drunk, fight each other, get drunk, find out Brett has left with a young bullfighter, get drunk again, wake up and leave town. That is pretty much the entire plot. What holds the book together is the characters and their relationships to one another. Robert Cohn is a friend of Jake's who has also had an affair with Brett (pretty much everyone has, actually. Brett was quite the afficionado of men), and who follows her around like a lost puppy even though she is with her fiancee. Her fiancee acts like he's fine with her affairs when he's sober, then gets nasty about it when drunk. Brett seems to feel some sort of remorse about her loving and leaving these guys, but not enough to stop her from continuing to do so. She does seem to love Jake, but again, not enough to stop her from continuing to do so. Jake loves Brett but knows that he can't have her on any other terms, so he accepts this way even though it bothers him.<br /><br />I have to say the anti-semitism weaving through this book bothered me. I have never been bothered by this before when reading a book, so I'm not sure what was different about this one, but every time someone referred to Cohn as "that Jew" or the "kike" it irked me. I did like Lady Ashley--it seemed almost feminist to have a female carry out the "playa" role. Even though she's a real jerk to those poor guys.<br /><br />I get that the book is meant to represent the post-WWI generation, the loss of innocence, etc. But as far as I'm concerned, the best thing about this book is how it ends. It's a lovely ending, and it manages to sum everything up in an almost whimsical moment. But I certainly can't say that this was one of my favorite reads this year. In fact, I can't really say that I like Hemingway much at all. <br /><br />Book a week #: 60<br />Challenge/s: Decades; Modern Library; 1% Well Read<br />Date Read: 12/14/09Lisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398816954784854437.post-57896030606744361802009-12-08T22:00:00.000-08:002009-12-08T20:15:57.220-08:00Riders of the Purple Sage--Zane Grey<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/Sx8hTZi5Z4I/AAAAAAAAAV0/d0sWAmw3qSE/s1600-h/riders.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413081894281111426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 99px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OcXfXtc0UR4/Sx8hTZi5Z4I/AAAAAAAAAV0/d0sWAmw3qSE/s320/riders.jpg" border="0" /></a> Genre: Western/Classic<br />Year Published: 1912<br />Pages: 358<br />Rating: 3.5<br /><br /><br /><br /><i>A sharp clip-clop of iron shod hoofs deadened and died away, and clouds of yellow dust drifted from under the cottonwoods out over the sage. </i><br /><br /><br /><br />I was surprised by this book. It was surprisingly readable, considering it was written in the early 1900s--1912, to be exact--and that westerns have never really been my genre. But really it was a lot of fun to read. Dramatic and romantic, heavily outdated, but fun. The story centers around Jane Withersteen, a Mormon woman who has inherited a ranch and riches from her father. The Mormon men in her small Utah town are unhappy with Jane's independence, and more so with her friendliness to the Gentiles (meaning non-Mormons. This confused me greatly, since it actually means non-Jew, but apparently the Mormons actually regard themselves as Isrealite descendants: <a title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentile#Latter-day_Saints_Church_usage" onclick="(new Image()).src = '/ajax/ct.php?app_id=2415071772&action_type=3&post_form_id=5f262cdd454b0fd6fc4adc0021efc549&position=3&' + Math.random();return true;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentile#Latter-day_Saints_Church_usage" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentile#Latter-day_Saints_Church_usage</a>) who the church members shun. When Jane refuses to marry Elder Tull her real problems begin. Her cattle and horses disappear, her workers quit, disappear, or turn out to be spies. Enter Lassiter, the gun-slinging hero of the range, who has come to take revenge for a loved-one's death but finds himself instead falling in love with Jane and her adopted daughter, Fay. The two of them are forced to make a stand, with only Jane's former employee (and previous love interest?) Benters, who has been holed up in the cliffs with a notorious cattle-rustler's "Masked Rider", who turns out to not be what everyone presumed.<br /><br /><br /><br />There are many reasons I could have disliked this book: it reads like a soap opera, the plot is easy to figure out, the characters are simplistic and stereotypical, the Mormons are over-vilified, it's preachy, and horses die. But I didn't dislike it at all. The story was fun, and even after I knew what was going to happen I still wanted to read it. The female characters are surprisingly strong for the time, especially Jane (although she does faint). The romance is overdramatic and ridiculous, but not anymore so than in the Twilight series, and more enjoyable. This book has left me with visions of the barren wastes of the Utah cliffs, the wind rustling through the sage, and the proud and noble people riding into the sunset.<br /><br /><br />Book-a-week # 59<br />Date Read: 12/8/09<br />Challenge: DecadesLisalithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878047213881845302noreply@blogger.com0