Books Read In 2011

Fiction:

1. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (3 Stars)
2. Caribou Island by David Vann (2 Stars)
3. Left Neglected by Lisa Genova (3.5 Stars) 
4. The Emancipator's Wife by Barbara Hambly  (3 Stars)
5. The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern (2.5 Stars) 
6. Prophecy of the Sisters (Prophecy of the Sisters #1) by Michelle Zink (3 Stars)
7. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (3.5 Stars)
8. Matched (Matched #1) by Ally Condie (4 Stars)
9. Oxygen by Carol Cassella (3 Stars)
10. Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt (2 Stars)
11. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks (2 Stars)
12. Christmas, Present by Jacquelyn Mitchard (0.5 Stars)
13. A World I Never Made by James LePore (3 Stars) 
14. The Silver Metal Lover by Tanith Lee (2.5 Stars) 
15. Still Life by Joy Fielding (3 Stars)
16. The Shepherd by Ethan Cross (3.5 Stars)
17. The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (4 Stars)
18. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce #1) by Alan Bradley (3.5 Stars)
19. The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen (2.5 Stars)
20. Where She Went (If I Stay #2) by Gayle Forman (3 Stars)
21. The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry (3.5 Stars)
22. The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown (2 Stars)
23. Addition by Toni Jordan (3 Stars)
24. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (3 Stars)
25. The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (2.5 Stars)
26. Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale by Carolyn Turgeon (2.5 Stars)
27. Don't Breathe A Word by Jennifer McMahon (2.5 Stars)
28. Night Road by Kristin Hannah (2 Stars)
29. Odd Jobs by Ben Lieberman (2 Stars)
30. The End of Everything by Megan Abbott (1 Star)
31. Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante (2 Stars)
32. I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells (3 Stars)
33. The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen (3 Stars)
34. Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens (3 Stars)
35. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett  (3 Stars)
36. Revelations by Laurel Dewey (4 Stars)
37. Before I Go to Sleep: A Novel by S. J. Watson (3.5 Stars)
38. These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf (3 Stars)
39. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty (2.5 Stars)
40. Creep by Jennifer Hillier (3 Stars)
41. Tomato Girl by Jayne Pupek (3.5 Stars)
42. Megan's Way by Melissa Foster (3 Stars)
43. The Family Fang: A Novel by Kevin Wilson (1 Star)
44. The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees (3 Stars)
45. The Wednesday Letters by Jason Wright (2 Stars)
46. Iron House: A Novel by John Hart (3.5 Stars)
47. The Human Bobby by Gabe Rotter (4.5 Stars)
48. Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down: A Novel by Irene Schram (1 Star)
49. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (3.5 Stars)
50. The Blade Itself by Marcus Sakey (2 Stars)
51. Letters for Emily by Camron Wright (3.5 Stars)
52. Hot Lights, Cold Steel by D. P. Lyle (2 Stars)
53. Domestic Violets by Matthew Norman (3.5 Stars)
54. Children of Paranoia (Children of Paranoia #1) by Trevor Shane  (4.5 Stars)
55. Henry's Sisters by Cathy Lamb  (1 Star)
56. No Time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay   (3.5 Stars)
57. Battle Royale Ultimate Edition Volume 1 (of 5) by Koushun Takami and Masayuki Taguchi (3.5 Stars)
58. Battle Royale Ultimate Edition Volume 2 (of 5) by Koushun Takami and Masayuki Taguchi (3.5 Stars)
59. Battle Royale Ultimate Edition Volume 3 (of 5) by Koushun Takami and Masayuki Taguchi (3.5 Stars)
60. Divergent by Veronica Roth (4 Stars)
61. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick  (2 Stars)
62. Little Bee: A Novel by Chris Cleave (3 Stars)
63. Retribution: A Novel by Jilliane Hoffman  (3.5 Stars)
64. The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures by Caroline Preston (3 Stars)
65. I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder (3 Stars)
66. Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross (3.5 Stars)
67. Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach  (2 Stars)
68. Q: A Novel by Evan Mandery  (3.5 Stars)
69. Paper Angels by Jimmy Wayne and Travis Thrasher (3.5 Stars) 
70. The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar  (3.25 Stars)
71. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys  (4.75 Stars)

Non-Fiction:

1. It's a Jungle in There: Inspiring Lessons, Hard-Won Insights, and Other Acts of Entrepreneurial Daring by Steven Schussler (3.5 Stars) 
2. Call of the Mall: The Geography of Shopping by the Author of Why We Buy by Paco Underhill (3.5 Stars) 
3. Late for Tea at the Deer Palace: The Lost Dreams of My Iraqi Family by Tamara Chalabi (4 Stars) 
4. Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture by Peggy Orenstein (3 Stars)
5. Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan (4.5 Stars) 
6. Big in China: My Unlikely Adventure in Raising a Family, Playing the Blues, and Reinventing Myself in Beijing by Alan Paul (3.5 Stars) 
7. Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls Are Not for Sale, an Activist Finds Her Calling and Heals Herself by Rachel Lloyd (3.5 Stars) 
8. The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir by Kao Kalia Yang (4 Stars) 
9. This Life Is in Your Hands: One Family, Sixty Acres, and a Family Undone by Melissa Coleman (3 Stars)
10. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua (4 Stars)
11. Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II by Mitchell Zuckoff (4 Stars)
12. The Man with the Beautiful Voice: And More Stories from the Other Side of the Couch by Lillian Rubin  (4 Stars)
13. Two Kisses for Maddy by Matthew Logelin (3.5 Stars)
14. Unbearable Lightness by Portia de Rossi (3.5 Stars)
15. Feed Your Brain, Lose Your Belly by Larry McCleary MD (3 Stars)
16. Totto-Chan: The Little Girl At The Window by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi (5 Stars)
17. Life, on the Line: A Chef's Story of Chasing Greatness, Facing Death, and Redefining the Way We Eat by Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas (4.5 Stars)
18. A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Lee Dugard (4 Stars)
19. On the Mend: Revolutionizing Healthcare to Save Lives and Transform the Industry by John Toussaint and Roger Gerard (3.5 Stars)
20. Buy-In: Saving Your Good Idea from Getting Shot Down by John P. Kotter (3.5 Stars)
21. Maman's Homesick Pie by Donia Bijan  (4 Stars)
22. Many Lives, Many Masters: The True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Young Patient, and the Past-Life Therapy That Changed Both Their Lives by Brian Weiss (3 Stars) 
23. Missed Connections: Love, Lost & Found by Sophie Blackhall (3.5 Stars) 
24. The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch): Lessons from a Life in Feathers by Caroll Spinney and J. Milligan  (3.5 Stars)

Did Not Finish

1. The Lens and the Looker (The Verona Trilogy #1) by Lory S. Kaufman [Did Not Finish] 
2. A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby [Did Not Finish] 
3. In with the Devil: A Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption by James Keene and Hillel Levin
4. Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year by Anne Lamott 
5. So Much Pretty: A Novel by Cara Hoffman
6. The Good Patient: A Novel by Kristin Waterfield Duisberg 
7. Heads You Lose by Lisa Lutz and David Hayward
8. Middlesex: A Novel by Jeffrey Eugenides
9. Joy For Beginners by Erica Bauermeister 
10. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
11. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline  
12. Mirror Image (Daniel Rinaldi Mystery) by Dennis Palumbo 
13. The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta 
14. Best Kept Secret: A Novel by Amy Hatvany  
15. Jane Was Here by Sarah Kernochan 

Chinese Books:

1. Bu Yi Shen Xiang (The Commoner Fortune Teller) 布衣神相 Book 1 - Qu Nuan (aka Ming Feng Xue Miao) 取暖（又名风雪庙）by 溫瑞安 (1 Star) - too many characters, did not bother to read Book 2-6. 
2. Kai qi qian shi mi ma (CH 133.8 Y83K) 开启前世密码 by 游乾桂 
3. Medicine for Lovers Only  愛情白皮書 (Vol 1) by Fumi Saimon 柴門ふみ
4. Medicine for Lovers Only  愛情白皮書 (Vol 2) by Fumi Saimon 柴門ふみ
5. Medicine for Lovers Only  Part II 愛情白皮書 II (Vol 1) by Fumi Saimon 柴門ふみ
6. Medicine for Lovers Only  Part II 愛情白皮書 II (Vol 2) by Fumi Saimon 柴門ふみ
7. Medicine for Lovers Only  Part II 愛情白皮書 II (Vol 3) by Fumi Saimon 柴門ふみ
8. Peter Pans and Wendies (Vol 1)  by Fumi Saimon 柴門ふみ
9. Peter Pans and Wendies (Vol 2)  by Fumi Saimon 柴門ふみ
10. Family Affairs (Vol 1) by Fumi Saimon 柴門ふみ
11. Family Affairs (Vol 2) by Fumi Saimon 柴門ふみ
12. 童火 by 查靈生 
13. Black Jack 怪醫秦博士/ 怪醫黑傑克 (Vol 1) by Tezuka Osamu 手塚治虫 
14. Black Jack 怪醫秦博士/ 怪醫黑傑克 (Vol 2) by Tezuka Osamu 手塚治虫
15. Black Jack 怪醫秦博士/ 怪醫黑傑克 (Vol 3) by Tezuka Osamu 手塚治虫
16. Black Jack 怪醫秦博士/ 怪醫黑傑克 (Vol 4) by Tezuka Osamu 手塚治虫 
17. Black Jack 怪醫秦博士/ 怪醫黑傑克 (Vol 5) by Tezuka Osamu 手塚治虫 

Book Review - Caribou Island by David Vann

Title: Caribou Island
Author: David Vann
Year: 2011
Page: 304
Genre: Fiction - Literary

FTC Disclosure: Received ARC from HarpersCollins

Summary (from goodreads.com):
The prize-winning author of Legend of a Suicide delivers his highly anticipated debut novel.

On a small island in a glacier-fed lake on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula, a marriage is unraveling. Gary, driven by thirty years of diverted plans, and Irene, haunted by a tragedy in her past, are trying to rebuild their life together. Following the outline of Gary's old dream, they're hauling logs to Caribou Island in good weather and in terrible storms, in sickness and in health, to build the kind of cabin that drew them to Alaska in the first place.

But this island is not right for Irene. They are building without plans or advice, and when winter comes early, the overwhelming isolation of the prehistoric wilderness threatens their bond to the core. Caught in the emotional maelstrom is their adult daughter, Rhoda, who is wrestling with the hopes and disappointments of her own life. Devoted to her parents, she watches helplessly as they drift further apart.

Brilliantly drawn and fiercely honest, Caribou Island captures the drama and pathos of a husband and wife whose bitter love, failed dreams, and tragic past push them to the edge of destruction. A portrait of desolation, violence, and the darkness of the soul, it is an explosive and unforgettable novel from a writer of limitless possibility.

First Sentence:
My mother was not real.

My Thoughts:

Why this book?

• When HarperCollins asked if I wanted to review any January release (this book will be released on 1/18/11), I debated whether to get this one or not. This book is not usually my genre, but I liked this description - "brilliantly drawn and fiercely honest"- I like honest novels, and I like that this story seems a bit dark (I don't usually prefer happy ending books). Sometimes when I don't like a particular genre, I always wonder if I just hadn't read the right book yet... so every so often, I'd give it a try again, especially since my reading taste have changed a bit in the past few years

First thought:

• Where are all the quotation marks? 

Cover Art:

• Very pretty, I love the colors. Something I'd hang a print of at home. After I read the book, it captures the mood the story very well.

Title:

• Indifferent. Title alone doesn't capture my interest, but well, the story is set on "Caribou Island" so can't say it doesn't relate to the story. I guess I just like books with clever, witty titles better

Writing:

• I guess others would describe Vann's writing as beautiful, poetic... but it's not really for me. It's too flowery and descriptive for my taste. I guess that's why I usually am not interested in this genre...

• The positive of such writing though, is that I can "play the movie" in my head as I read the book. But it's a slow moving movie...

• Vann also did not use quotation marks in his dialog! This bugged me, as it made the story much harder to read - who is saying what, what is being said, what are actual thoughts but not said out loud... I had the same problem with The Road by Cormac McCarthy 

Plot:

• Actual plot itself can be summarized in a few sentences (but I won't, don't want to give spoilers). For someone who likes more action driven story, this isn't it

• This is definitely a character driven story - it is more about their relationships to each other, but it just wasn't satisfying to me. Didn't have any ah-ha moments.

Characters:

• There were basically 8 characters in the book - Irene and her husband Gary, their children Rhoda and Mark, and their significant others (Jim and Karen, respectively), and Mark's friends, Carl and Monique

• I don't like any of them. I don't like their personalities, and don't know why their signification others stay with them. They are realistic, but I feel that while the characters are described well "in the present", it didn't have a lot of development to tell us why they turned out they way the are

• While it did tell a little bit of Irene's past, it was a bit too superficial to explain her actions

• If I really had to choose a favorite character, it was probably the daughter Rhoda. I felt bad for her but there wasn't anything about her personality that made her stood out

Ending:

• I could definitely see the ending coming - while I wasn't 100% certain, but there was no surprise 

Emotion:

• Some said it is a depressing book - it wasn't a happy story, but didn't make me depressed or too sad... I am not cold-hearted, but the characters chose their paths and I guess sometimes I just didn't have a lot of sympathies for those who won't help themselves and just blamed others for what happened to them 

PS:

• I think for those who like The Road by Cormac McCarthy (writing style wise) would enjoy this author's style. The story actually reminded me a bit of Shadow Tag by Lousie Erdrich (my review here) - so if you like that book, you'll probably like this too. I liked Shadow Tag a bit more because I liked the children in the book

Read this Author again?

• Probably not... I just prefer non-character driven novels and don't like anything too descriptive

Quote:

Irene followed because once she had endured she could punish. Her turn would come. And this is what they had done to each other for decades now, irresistibly. Fine, she would think. Fine. And that meant, just wait. (p5)

Because you can choose who you'll be with, but you can't choose who they'll become. (p101)

Overall Rating: 2 Stars - Not Really For Me... But Others May Like It

 



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Title: Before I Fall
Author: Lauren Oliver 
Year: 2010
Page: 470
Genre: Fiction - Young Adult

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all—looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12th should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it’s her last. The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. In fact, she re-lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she had ever imagined.

First Sentence:
They say that just before you die your whole life flashes before your eyes, but that's not how it happened for me.

My Thoughts:

Why this book?

• Read lots of good reviews. So Many Books, So Little Time's review persuaded me to put it on my TBR list. While YA is not my favorite genre, I like reading them every so often if I want a fast, light read. And this book seems to be one of the Top 10 of many bloggers' favorite reads in 2010.
   

• I actually borrowed this book before, started reading a few pages, then returned to the library because I couldn't get into it. I didn't mark it as Did Not Finish then because I felt like I just wasn't in the mood for it, but may give it a try later. Usually if I make it as DNF, I probably won't give it a second chance. But when I saw there were still so many positive reviews, I decided to pick it up again

First thought:

• I can see why others like it, but it's just okay for me

Cover Art:

• Before I read the book - looks fine, indifferent. After I read the book - can understand better why the cover was chosen, but I think it'd make more sense if it was set at night with snow, as opposed to sunlight and grass

Title:

• Not bad. Guess described the story without giving too much away. The title itself doesn't intrigue me though

Writing:

• Pretty easy to read, like most YA. Straight forward. I don't know many teenagers though so I can't tell you if that's how teens speak these days

Plot:

• Many said it's like Groundhog Day (the movie) - I have never watched it so can't comment on that. Interesting concept, but got a bit repetitive after a while, especially since it is 470 pages long... Also a bit predictable for me, even when some past events were revealed

Characters:

• Can't really say I can relate to any of the characters - I was not one of the popular girls and really had no desire to hang around girls like the main protagonist and her friends in the book, even if everyone else wanted to be them
  

• None of the characters really stood out to me - they aren't prefect and have their faults which I guess make them realistic. Just that nobody made me go "wow, I wish I have a friend like that!" or "I wish I am like that!" If I really have to choose, probably Kent, Sam's childhood friend who she ditched as she became popular.

Ending:

• Predictable for me. But I guess at least it DOES have an ending, as I feared it would continue on and on and on...

Emotion:

• Didn't get too emotional... probably because I really didn't care too much about any of the characters

PS:

• I think I would enjoy this book more had I read it as a teenager. While this book does have a message, it didn't really tell me more than what I already know

Read this Author again?

• Depends on the topic

Overall Rating: 3 Stars - It's Okay... Didn't Waste My Time (Too Much)

 

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

BTT - Any New Year’s reading resolutions?

Any New Year’s reading resolutions? 

1. Quality over quantity. If I can reach 100 books again for the 4th year in a row - fine. If not, I won't stress out much about it.
   
2. Read approximately half fiction and half non-fiction
   
3. Continue to blog every book, hopefully within a week
   
4. Let's see if I can stick to doing BTT every week!
   
5. Keep recommending books to others and encourage non-readers to discover the magic of books!
   
6. As much as I love my local library, I should at least read 10 of my own books... there are 170+ waiting...
   
7. Give audio books a try, while trying to exercise (bought an elliptical and have hardly used it... because I'd rather use the time to read instead... and I can't read it and use it at the same time. Perhaps audio books will help lower the opportunity cost)
   
8. Read 5 books with husband - he prefers audio books and I prefer reading. So to spend more quality time together, maybe we'll pick a book and I'll read to him instead. We did one book together last year and it seemed to work quite well. Since English is not my first language, he can correct my pronunciation too. Kill multiple birds with one stone :)
   
9. Read 5 books I won't normally choose. Even if I can't finish, at least give it a try.
   
10. Just enjoy reading... it shouldn't be a chore
    
    
    Have to remember to check back 1/1/12 to see how many goals I meet!

"HOLD PICKUP NOTICE" from the library...

Left neglected by Lisa Genova is ready for me to pick up in the library! YAY!!!

My most anticipated book in 2011!

Just want to share the excitement :) Doesn't take much lol :) But I'm sure you book lovers know exactly how it is!

PS - She wrote Still Alice, one of my favorite books.

Book Musing - 2010 and What Will Happen in 2011?

• All the books I read in 2010 are linked here.
  

• I think I had a pretty good reading in 2010. I read over 100 books, even though I did not read a lot in March when I went on vacation, and then in July when I read about cat articles online instead when we adopted the kitties...

• I found that I don't quite like character-driven novels... I need some good plots + characters I like! Character-driven novels are typically too slow or boring to me... 

• I discovered that I quite like dystopian fiction (YA or adults)! I can't read too many of them. I think I read about 14? Young Adult is also another surprise category - haven't read too many YA before 2010. Since I'm in my early 30's though, I found that some YA are too YA-ish for me... I think I prefer those with a message that appeals to all, rather than just aiming for YA

• My main goal of staring a blog on 1/1/10 (Yeah! 1 year anniversary!) was to write a review of all the books I'd read, so that I can remember what I have read (I like recommending books to others! But can't recommend something if I don't remember them!). I am glad to say I achieved this goal (though the last 10 reviews of so were a day late, written in 2011 instead :)

• An added bonus of blogging was getting to know some of my blog followers! I enjoy reading you reviews on your blogs and the comments you left on my posts (though I am doing a bad job of replying comments in a timely manner, sorry! Will try to do better in 2011) - so THANK YOU! 

• I had definitely expanded the genre I read - I used to read mostly murder/mystery fiction. I don't think I'd have read so many new genre had it not be reading your blogs! Granted, I don't like everything I read, but it's a good learning experience

• Also joined in-person book club in 2010 and I enjoyed going there. I admit I haven't finished a few books, but I still like listening to the conversation. Will continue to go in 2011

• I don't think I will do any challenges in 2011. I think I'd just choose what I want to read instead. I know it takes a lot of time and effort for the hosts to host the challenges and I don't want to not finish the challenges... 2011 definitely will be a "quality over quantity" year for me

• I missed reading Non-Fiction - 24 is not bad, but considerable less than what I read in 2008 and 2009. I found that when I am busy at work, I tended to read fiction to escape, and it had been a busy work year. But I guess learning new things from reading non-fiction

• I had 11 Did-Not-Finish books. I will continue to discard books in 2011... too many books, too little time. It is by no means the authors' fault when I can't finish though. 

• I like my review format, but may do some slight changes. I like writing in bullet points :)

• Because I borrowed most of my books from the library, I saved over $1155 :)

• Yes I will continue to blog in 2011!
  
  
  

 The Good And The Bad of 2010

Best Non-Fiction

1. Not by Chance Alone: My Life as a Social Psychologist by Elliot Aronson - you know how you lose something sometime, then you forgot about it... then out of the blue you found it? That's how I felt about this book. I "found" my love for psychology again.
   
   
2. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - The title and blurb bored me. Almost didn't read it. SO GLAD I did!
   
   
3. Algernon, Charlie, and I: A Writer's Journey by Daniel Keyes - While I enjoyed reading Flowers for Algernon, I enjoyed reading this memoir more. I love reading about Keyes' inspiration and writing process.
   
   
4. Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath - relevant for my work, or anyone who has to deal with change management! I prefer the authors' first book Made To Stick a little more though.
   
   
5. Genetic Rounds: A Doctor's Encounters in the Field that Revolutionized Medicine by Robert Marion MD - learned about what medical geneticists do

Best Fiction

1. The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - I really like Book 1 and Book 2 of this series, but Book 3, Mocking Jay really disappointed me. I like the premise and the characters. I think what I liked Catniss the most is her protectiveness over her little sister, Primrose. I have 2 younger sisters and I'd do almost anything for them
   
   
2. Unwind by Neal Shusterman - what an intriguing concept (dystopian again)! In a way, I may even like this book better than The Hunger Games / Catching Fire. But the characters aren't quite as memorable for me
   
   
3. The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist - a "quiet" dystopian. Doesn't quite have as much action as the ones mentioned above, but the story stays with me. Almost seems like a grown up version of Unwind.
   
   
4. Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn - I like that it's a clever little tale! Typically I don't like symbolic books, but I think this one is quite well done
   
   
5. Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls - I didn't expect to like this book as I have no interest in horses (or cowboys or ranches), but am surprised that I do. Walls' writing has a lot to do with it. Still like The Glass Castle better though. Since I don't usually re-read books, it's saying something that this book made me want to re-read The Glass Castle.
   
   
6. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper and Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes- there are some similarities between these 2 books, and I think they both made me think more about how lucky I am, and how I should treat others who aren't quite as lucky

Most disappointing

• Mockingjay by Suznne Collins - just wasn't the same as Book 1 (Hunger Games) and Book 2 (Catching Fire). Catniss wasn't quite herself... and the pace and plot was just a bit off. Almost forgot about Pete and Gale after reading it...

• Liar by Justine Larbalestier - this book has SUCH POTENTIAL to be a great book. But the ambiguous ending just left it hanging. The ending could have been like Shutter Island or The Sixth Sense.
  
  

Best Discovery!

• Shaun Tan! I used to like some comic books in Chinese, but just haven't really found any authors I like in English. While Tan's books aren't really graphic books or comic books, as they are more like picture books, he is definitely talented. It is almost like discovering Shel Silverstein for the first time.

2010 Book Challenges Update

These were the challenges I participated in in 2010:

Challenges:
100+ Reading
Bibliophilic Books
Global
Marple, Poirot, Holmes
Memorable Memoir
Read Your Own Books
Science Books 
Take Another Chance
War Through the Generations
Young Adult
Non-Fiction Five 

Let's see how I did!

• 100+ Reading - YAY! 24 Non-Fiction, 74 Fiction, 6 Graphic Novels, 4 Books in Chinese and 11 Did Not Finish. Well, if you count only Non-Fiction and Fiction, then it's 98 books altogether. But It's over 100 if you count the books I read in Chinese, and graphic novels.. so do they count or not?! Interesting, the past couple of years prior to 2010, I read about 75% Non-Fiction, but this year it's the other way round. I think I'd try 50-50 next year, especially since there were some fiction I didn't quite like this year... Would I aim for 100 books again? I don't know (I did read 100 books in 2008 and 104 books in 2009). I think I'd just read what I enjoy and see where I am. Quality over quantity...
  
  
• Bibliophilic Books - Oops! 1 out of 3. There were some Non-Fiction I wanted to read for this challenge, but didn't end up reading them
  
  
• Global - Oops! 3 out of 6. Read Asia, Europe and North America. Missed Africa, Australasia and South America
  
  
• Marple, Poirot, Holmes - Oops! 1 out of 6. Though I did read another Agatha Christie book, just not a Marple or Poirot one...
  
  
• Memorable Memoir - YAY! 12 out of 4. Do I get bonus points? :) Definitely enjoy memoir
  
  
• Read Your Own Books - Oops! 6 out of 10. Need to read more of my own books... but I love my library!
  
  
• Science Books - YAY! 3 out of 3. Thought I'd read more...
  
  
• Take Another Chance - Oops! 3 out of 6. Guess didn't take that many chances...
  
  
• War Through the Generations - Oops! 1 out of 5. I am disappointed I didn't finish this one, this is one I want to finish... alas just wasn't in the mood...
  
  
• Young Adult - YAY! 23 out of 12. Surprised that I read that many YA! Some great ones, some misses...
  
  
• Non-Fiction Five - YAY! 6 out of 5 in 4 months.

So, finished 5 challenges, and didn't finish 6...

I am glad I tried the challenges in 2010. First year blogging, and first year doing challenges. I think it helps me decide what to do for 2011... stay tuned.

THANK YOU to everyone who hosted the challenges in 2010! I know it's a lot of work, and it's much appreciated!