Books Read in 2009

1. The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom
2. Juno: The Shooting Script, Diablo Cody
3. To Own a Dragon, Donald Miller
4. Girl on the Couch, Lorna Martin
5. Reason for Hope, Jane Goodall
6. Find Me, Rosie O'Donnell
7. Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment, Deepak Chopra
8. Breakthrough: Discovering the Kingdom, Derek Morphew
9. Love the One You're With, Emily Giffin
10. Will Work From Home, Tory Johnson
11. Stepping Up, Beth Moore
12. Leaving Microsoft to Change the World, John Wood
13. The Undomestic Goddess, Sophie Kinsella
14. Matilda, Roald Dahl
15. Born Standing Up, Steve Martin
16. The Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women, Dawn Dais
17. A Thousand Acres, Jane Smiley
18. Confessions from an Honest Wife, Sarah Zacharias Davis
19. Unspoken, Francine Rivers
20. Finding Stefanie, Susan May Warren
21. Unafraid, Francine Rivers
22. Telegraph Days, Larry McMurtry
23. Redeeming Love, Francine Rivers
24. The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing, Melissa Bank
25. On Becoming Baby Wise, Gary Ezzo
26. Devil in the Details, Jennifer Traig
27. The Time Machine, H. G. Wells
28. So Many Books So Little Time, Sara Nelson
29. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, Gregory Maguire
30. Good Faith, Jane Smiley
31. An Anthropologist on Mars, Oliver Sacks

75. An Anthropologist on Mars

Neurologist Oliver Sacks has a talent for telling an entertaining anecdote based on neurological disorders. I liked this book, and each of the "paradoxical tales" was interesting. However, at times, Sacks was a bit too detailed in his descriptions of the disorders. It was good information, just something more like what you might read in a textbook. Other parts of the book were very entertaining, though. Some of the stories were really sad--the artist whose recent stroke led to brain damage that caused him to see only in black and white--others were more enjoyable. It is amazing all the human brain is capable of, even when seemingly "damaged." I would encourage others to read this book, but be prepared to wade through some information that might leave your brain hurting.

15. Good Faith

Another Jane Smiley novel, and one I enjoyed immensely. Although I had started this book last winter, I only made it to page 145. Even after having to skim those pages again to remember the somewhat complex plot, I sailed through the rest of the novel in no time. The story is about 1980s real estate, love, and friendship--all of which balance on a concept called trust (i.e., good faith). Without giving away too much of the plot, it was predictable that the main character, Joe, would be undone by trusting too much in his new friend and real estate partner. However I think the overall concept of liking a flawed character resonates even within Joe himself, who is definitely not perfect in his own right (drugs, adultery), yet maintains the status of "average, okay guy" and even gains sympathy from the reader.

6. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister

I have just a few thoughts on this book. It was more enjoyable than I expected it to be, and it was less complex than I expected it to be. (That is not to say it didn't get me thinking!) I know the reason for these expectations--a dark, complicated, depressing novel--are due solely to my reading of other Maguire works--Wicked, Son of a Witch, and A Lion Among Men. This trilogy, dubbed The Wicked Years, is nothing if not dark, twisted, and endlessly labyrinthine. I did enjoy reading those books. It is just that after reading them, one expects the author to be ruthless, leaving no chance for a satisfying, traditionally "happy" ending.

There was enough of a twist at the end of Confessions that I was surprised, but overall this retelling of the classic fairy tale remained true to what a fairy tale must be--the pretty girl marries the prince, the mean stepmother is thwarted in the end. However, the themes throughout the book were compelling and thought-provoking: What IS beauty? Does physical beauty always translate to spiritual beauty? Does physical imperfection always translate to an evil heart--jealousy, rage, and scorn? When a work of art is perfect, does the artist regret creating it?

The Modern Library's 100 Best Novels List (and Counter-List)

http://www.randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/100bestnovels.html

This link will take you to the site for The Modern Library, whose board has chosen the 100 Best Novels of all time. The list includes such greats as Ulysses (which I've never read) and The Great Gatsby (which I've read about 15 times). It is an ambitious list, and SocrMom78 over at 100 Books in 100 Weeks has decided to undertake the reading of all 100 in just 100 weeks. Good luck and good reading to her!

The parallel Reader's List of 100 books on the Modern Library site is just as good, and includes some great works forgotten on the Board's List. (Ahem, To Kill a Mockingbird!) Anyway, check out the site if you are in need of a good book recommendation.

63. The Time Machine

What I liked the most about this book--what makes any dystopian view of society in science fiction good in my opinion--is that it was slightly crazy yet completely correct. The basic sociological idea behind the story is that if humans continue to separate themselves from all work and strive only for peace, prosperity and luxury in the personal realm, then we will quickly be divided into two groups-- (1)those who must work for (2)those who don't have to. It is the basic proletariat-bourgeoisie argument. However, it doesn't seem that Wells follows Marxism to the letter, as his futuristic realm involves much socialism, which he depicts as dumbing down the species considerably. It is as if he is saying to achieve our goals of social justice will make us lazy and stupid.
I sure felt stupid when I first started reading this book. It is a short novel, and I knew it was some type of science fiction--the title tipped me off there-- but I didn't bargain for having to look up two words in the dictionary before even finishing the first page! (If you're curious, the words are fecundity and recondite.) I also didn't imagine I would have a feminist qualm with Wells when it was all said and done. It is true I had been thinking about feminism during the first few days of reading this book, but I didn't think the two should meet. However one of the first thoughts I had when finishing the novel was about the awful portrayal of women therein. There are only two mentions of women at all: one a servant; one a diminuitive twit, who follows the main character like a lap dog, is treated likewise, and eventually dies as a sacrifice for our hero's escape. Bad form, Wells.
On the whole, though, I did enjoy the book and the thoughts provoked since reading it.

Updated List

I've only read nine of the 100 so far! Time to kick this reading thing into high gear...

1. God is the Gospel
2. American Gods
3. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
4. Atlas Shrugged
5. Life of Pi
6. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister
7. Confessions from an Honest Wife
8. Telegraph Days
9. The Courage to Start
10. Mirror Mirror
11. The Sirens of Titan
12. Gates of Fire
13. Something Happened
14. A Thousand Acres
15. Good Faith
16. Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Novel
17. No Need for Speed
18. Anna Karenina
19. Get Out of That Pit
20. Jesus, the one and only
21. The Bluest Eye
22. Prodigal Summer
23. The Know-It-All
24. The Witches
25. Fantastic Mr. Fox
26. The Myth of a Christian Nation
27. For Whom the Bell Tolls
28. Out of the Silent Planet
29. The Four Loves
30. The Complete Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde
31. Unspoken
32. Unafraid
33. Finding Stefanie
34. Lies My Teacher Told Me
35. The Executioner's Song
36. Love Beyond Reason
37. Middlesex
38. The Shack
39. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
40. The Joy Luck Club
41. Hinds' Feet on High Places
42. Mountains of Spices
43. A Walk in the Woods
44. Fast Food Nation
45. The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing
46. The Maltese Falcon
47. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth
48. The Poisonwood Bible (re-read)
49. Two Rivers
50. It's Not News, It's Fark
51. The Road
52. Persuasion (re-read)
53. The Silver Chair (re-read)
54. Lucky Man
55. Matilda
56. The Adventures of Augie March
57. Possession
58. Everything's Eventual
59. Written By Herself
60. Perelandra
61. That Hideous Strength
62. Memoirs of a Geisha
63. The Time Machine
64. Peculiar Treasures (re-read)
65. On a Whim (re-read)
66. Coming Attractions
67. Last Light
68. Night Light
69. True Light
70. Your Money or Your Life
71. The Perfect Thing
72. Moneyball
73. The Fifth Book of Peace
74. Early Bird
75. An Anthropologist on Mars
76. Exclusion & Embrace
77. A Short History of Nearly Everything
78. Sex, Drugs & Cocoa Puffs
79. Predictably Irrational
80. Finding Battlestar Gallactica
81. Hopes and Impediments
82. The Love Dare
83. Redeeming Love
84. Sappho's Leap
85. High Fidelity
86. Pilgrim's Progress
87. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (re-read)
88. The Pillars of the Earth
89. The Confessions of Nat Turner
90. A Christmas Carol
91. Gulliver's Travels and Other Writings
92. The 158-Pound Marriage
93. The Winged Seed
94. Driving Mr. Albert
95. Notes to Myself (re-read)
96. The Emotions
97. Mel Gibson's Passion and Philosophy
98. How to Win Every Argument
99. The World As I See It
100. Twelve Steps for the Recovering Pharisee

45. The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing

I have been wanting to read this Melissa Bank novel--really a series of interconnected short stories--for years now. I had read snippets before and a particular phrase always struck me as both interesting and romantic:

"'Well,' he said. 'Get over here.'
And so I went."

It may have been where I was in my life at the time versus where I am now. Or perhaps it was just that reading that in context of the rest of the novel gives it a new meaning. Either way, I now see that this small paragraph is simply descriptive of the narrator's tendency toward co-dependence. It is not romantic, but sad.

I liked the book as a whole, although individually I can see the stories being poignant as well. I love a happy ending though (spoiler alert) so for me it was satisfying for things to eventually turn out well for the narrator.

8. Telegraph Days

This is a Larry McMurtry book which was recommended to me by my husband. I have not historically been a McMurtry fan, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this 1800s Western told from the point of view of a young female telegraph operator. She had run-ins and/or relationships with all the famous historical figures of the day: Wild Bill Hickock, Jesse James, even George Custer ("Georgie"). Overall very entertaining and a good read.

83. Redeeming Love

I would recommend this book to anyone! It is an amazing story of GRACE. I like Francine Rivers anyway, but even if you are not a fan of hers, you should read this book.

32. Unafraid

I finally finished the Lineage of Grace series by Francine Rivers. This was a good book about the life of Mary (and Jesus, of course). Although it was about the life and death of Jesus, mostly, it was told from a mother's perspective. I can't really say much else. I liked the book!

33. Finding Stefanie

This is the third book in a series of novels by Susan May Warren set in southeast Montana--really closer to Sheridan, Wyoming than anything in Montana. Still, it has been fun to read about this ranchin' family, their struggles and victories, and spiritual growth. And their romances, of course. This was the last book in the series and focused on the only daughter in the family, Stefanie. I liked seeing things from her point of view since she was the "good girl" who had stayed home to take care of the ranch while her brothers were off "finding themselves." See the title? Now it's Stefanie's turn to find herself. She manages to do so without leaving the ranch at all. I enjoyed this book because I liked the entire series and got to know each of the characters. There was also a sub-plot about foster kids that was well-written and poignant.

31. Unspoken

This is the fourth book in Francine Rivers' Lineage of Grace series. I love this series, because Rivers takes a Biblical story--sometimes no more than a paragraph long--and makes an entire novella out of it. This one is the story of Bathsheba. In a weird way, it reminded me of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise. Stay with me here. Remember when they first got together, and Katie kept saying things to the press about how she dreamed of being Mrs. Tom Cruise ever since she was a little girl? Well, that is how Rivers chooses to depict this story. We start with Bathsheba as an eight-year-old, swooning over the not-yet-king David. Even after she gets married, she pines for David, and well, if you are familiar with the Bible at all, you probably know "the rest of the story."

What I really like about Rivers expanding on these stories is how relate-able she makes the characters. I mean, no offense to the Bible, God, etc. but sometimes when you're reading through it's like, "Well, that was a stupid move, David. Anyway, back to my life..." It is hard to connect with the motivations of all involved and all the intricacies of what went on. However, I'm not suggesting that each Bible story should be a novel. The Bible is already massive. Can you imagine? 'These next few chapters will become a 500-page book.' Heaven forbid. That's probably one of the reasons we're warned not to "add anything" to the Scripture. It would just be way too long!

Anyway, this story is all about how God redeems and restores us even when we've messed up big time. It's pretty awesome. 'Cause HE is pretty much awesomeness itself.

14. A Thousand Acres

After reading Moo and part of Good Faith, I find Jane Smiley's writing to be so distinct. The only way I can explain it is that her narrative voice comes across as a friend telling me the story, yet with a subtle sarcasm underneath, as if she doesn't believe what she's telling me. It's actually really cool! I don't know anyone else that writes like that, except maybe Charles Dickens, a little bit. Also, Smiley tends to paint characters in a flawed yet likable way, which I think is a difficult thing to do. This makes her characters seem real.

Spoiler Alert! A Thousand Acres is very depressing. What do I mean by that? Well, to steal a line from Phoebe of Friends: "It should have been called 'It's a Sucky Sucky Life and just when you think it can't suck anymore, it does!'" Yep, from the opening line on, things just keep getting worse. I am really glad the main character survives--in the literal sense. People kept dying and being blinded and having to get jobs at Perkins... you just never knew what disaster was going to strike next. In a sense, this novel was all about possession. Of land, but also of another person's space. It was interesting how many of the themes overlapped. (This, by the way, is the key to writing a Pulitzer-prize winner!) Discord in marriage, horrible parenting, incestual rape, farming. It's all one and the same.

Even though it was REALLY DEPRESSING, I enjoyed this book. Because of Smiley's writing style itself (as aforementioned), but also because I finished reading the novel with a sense that the present is all about the past. Instead of trying to cover things up and go with the flow, confronting one's past is the way to move on. It was interesting to me that I felt good after reading this. It is one of those books that you keep thinking about days and weeks after reading. (It helps that my friend Bekah read it too, and I get to discuss it with her in a few days!) In some ways, I feel like everything I read in the book was a backwards lesson. In other words, DON'T handle things how these people did. Those are some of the best life lessons.

Audiobooks We Listened To (Driving To and From Montana)

1. To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, read by Sissy Spacek


2. 48 Days to the Work You Love, written and read by Dan Miller (partial)

3. Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life, written and read by Steve Martin

4. Mirth of a Nation [comedy sketches], written and read by many authors (partial)




5. Pure Drivel, written and read by Steve Martin (partial)



6. The Screwtape Letters, written by C. S. Lewis, read by Ralph Cosham (partial)

A List-in-Progress + Very Ambitious Goal-Setter

I stumbled across this in-progess list of 101 books to read when I was looking for info on a 10k I will be running in August. The author of this blog seems to me to be both inspiring and tiring. I wish I could be like her, but I would never be able to do what she's doing currently. Her overall goal is to complete 101 goals in 1001 days. Yet her 101 goals often contain goals-within-goals that resemble so many wooden dolls hidden inside other wooden dolls. I can't keep track, and I have no idea how she is updating so frequently and keeping everything straight. She even admits when she's missed a goal for the week. Why bother? Is anyone really going to call her on a failure? Who else can keep track of what she's supposed to be doing? If it were me, I'd be spending so much time keeping track of what I was supposed to be attempting, I'd have no time to do it.

Kudos to you, taraSG. You make the blog world much more interesting!

The NonRunner's Marathon Guide for Women

Yet another not-on-the-list book that I simply had to read. We found this book in a small, quaint, enviable bookstore in Missoula, Montana--the kind of place that makes me want to live in the bookstore itself. I love little shops like that, but I always want to buy everything I see that is of interest. Sometimes I fool myself into thinking I will actually remember the names of all the books I've seen that I want to buy. Yet I know this never happens. When I'm looking for the book weeks or months later, I become that silly book-lover who wonders what the title of "that book that has stripes on the cover" was, again. So when I picked up the NonRunner's Marathon Guide, I knew I didn't want to forget it. It was perfect for me.

I rationalized buying this new book--I could have found it used somewhere or borrowed it from the library--with these thoughts:

1. I'm making a contribution to a LOCAL, small, privately-owned bookshop.

2. It was perfect for me.

3. I'm so going to run that marathon someday.

4. No sales tax in Montana!

5. The cover is shiny.

6. The book feels good in my hands.

7. I barely bought any souvenirs on this trip.

8. The trip was almost over, and I still had cash on hand (or my husband did--same thing).

9. If I don't buy this book now, I'll never remember the name of it to look up later.

10. If I don't buy this book now, I'll buy a different running book later on that will not appeal to me as much.

All that to say, this is a funny yet inspiring look at the marathon for people who never thought they could run a marathon! I loved it. I let my neighbor+running partner Joanna borrow and read it. She loved it. Read it if you're a runner, or if you want to maybe, sort of, kind of, be a runner. Someday.

7. Confessions from an Honest Wife

I finished another book from the list! And started two others not on the list... again, structure is so not my thing...

Anyway, this was a pretty good book. I think I'm giving it a 3.5 out of 5. I read it along with my small group (four other married ladies), and we discussed it as we went along. That was the best part of this book for me. I love reading and discussing a book WITH someone because then it is not just about me and my own thoughts. It was great for me because I tend to be rather cynical and negative.

Overall I liked the idea of this book more than the book itself. I think vulnerability and honesty are two of the best traits someone can have. When they are absent, the world surrounding the individual is superficial at best. This book consists of 20 short essays, narratives from the "trenches" of marriage. There were some that I thought were annoying and some that made sense to me and that I could relate with.

As with reading anything, I tried to take in the good (things that spoke to me and/or challenged me to be a better person) while forgetting the bad. The bad, in this case, was what I can only refer to as meaningless complaining. I know that the point of the book was to complain, in a way. But sometimes I felt the problem could have been solved with a little more communication in the actual marriage. Like I said, though, overall a great read (and a quick read, always a plus).

Anyone who (a) is married, (b) is going to be married, (c) might be thinking about someday ever getting married, or (d) just wants to understand women or married people a little better, might consider reading this book.

100 Books You Can Read Online for Free

...and apparently you should!

Click below for the list of 100, and links to read them FREE online:

http://www.bestcollegesonline.com/blog/2009/03/31/100-free-online-books-everyone-should-read/

From The Canterbury Tales to The Kama Sutra, this is an extensive list that will cover many of the "should-reads" in life... for those of us who are interested in that sort of thing!

I'm jealous of this list. It's much more organized than mine.

55. Matilda

My first book from the list of 100 that I have finished is Roald Dahl's classic, Matilda. After reading it, I think I may have read it before. Either way, I knew how it was going to end. I may have seen the movie at some point as well.

I love Dahl's satiric remarks, especially near the beginning of the book. Examples:

"It's a funny thing about mothers and fathers. Even when their own child is the most disgusting little blister you could ever imagine, they still think that he or she is wonderful."

"If I were a teacher I would cook up some real scorchers for the children of doting parents. 'Your son Maximilian,' I would write, 'is a total wash-out. I hope you have a family business you can push him into when he leaves school because he sure as heck won't get a job anywhere else.'"

Dahl is awesome.

I also love Quentin Blake's illustrations. They are as classic as Dahl's writing.

The Undomestic Goddess

Leave it to me to start off by reading a book that I didn't even put on my list. My need to rebel against structure--even structure I myself set up--is obviously taking over here. I have started about four of the books on THE LIST, but last weekend we were at a garage sale, and I found Chick Lit books for 50 cents! Of course, I had to have them. I hadn't read these particular ones before, and come on! 50 cents.

So we start off the blog with the great Sophie Kinsella. I have read the entire Shopaholic series, and loved it. I have also read a few of Madeline Wickham's books. (This is Kinsella's pseudonym. Or, Kinsella is Wickham's pseudonym. Anyway, they're the same person!) I enjoy her books a lot because of the always too-quirky-to-be-believed main character (female), and the always too-understanding-and-handsome-to-be-believed main character (male) who inevitably interact. I have realized that her books are VERY formulaic. Okay, ALL Chick Lit is the same. Heck, a lot of fiction is practically carbon copies of itself, just change a few names.

Still, I like it. I don't need the plot to be a complete mystery. I enjoy the fact that the minute details are different, and revealed slowly over the course of 350 pages. And it feels good to be able to read that 350 pages in less than two days. The first book has been read.

Now, to start on my actual list of 100. Next time!

Have you read The Undomestic Goddess? What did you think of it? Spoilers are allowed in comments section, so feel free to discuss.

What ARE my next 100 books?

My List of the next 100 Books I'm going to read* (or finish reading, or read again):
*probably not in this particular order!

1. God is the Gospel
2. American Gods
3. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
4. Atlas Shrugged
5. Life of Pi
6. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister
7. Confessions from an Honest Wife
8. Telegraph Days
9. The Courage to Start
10. Mirror Mirror
11. The Sirens of Titan
12. Gates of Fire
13. Something Happened
14. A Thousand Acres
15. Good Faith
16. Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Novel
17. No Need for Speed
18. Anna Karenina
19. Get Out of That Pit
20. Jesus, the one and only
21. The Bluest Eye
22. Prodigal Summer
23. The Know-It-All
24. The Witches
25. Fantastic Mr. Fox
26. The Myth of a Christian Nation
27. For Whom the Bell Tolls
28. Out of the Silent Planet
29. The Four Loves
30. The Complete Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde
31. Unspoken
32. Unafraid
33. Finding Stefanie
34. Lies My Teacher Told Me
35. The Executioner's Song
36. Love Beyond Reason
37. Middlesex
38. The Shack
39. The Amazing Adventure of Kavalier & Clay
40. The Joy Luck Club
41. Hinds' Feet on High Places
42. Mountains of Spices
43. A Walk in the Woods
44. Fast Food Nation
45. The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing
46. The Maltese Falcon
47. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth
48. The Poisonwood Bible (re-read)
49. Two Rivers
50. It's Not News, It's Fark
51. The Road
52. Persuasion (re-read)
53. The Silver Chair (re-read)
54. Lucky Man
55. Matilda
56. The Adventures of Augie March
57. Possession
58. Everything's Eventual
59. Written By Herself
60. Perelandra
61. That Hideous Strength
62. Memoirs of a Geisha
63. The Time Machine
64. Peculiar Treasures (re-read)
65. On a Whim (re-read)
66. Coming Attractions
67. Last Light
68. Night Light
69. True Light
70. Your Money or Your Life
71. The Perfect Thing
72. Moneyball
73. The Fifth Book of Peace
74. Early Bird
75. An Anthropologist on Mars
76. Exclusion & Embrace
77. A Short History of Nearly Everything
78. Sex, Drugs & Cocoa Puffs
79. Predictably Irrational
80. Finding Battlestar Gallactica
81. Hopes and Impediments
82. The Love Dare
83. Redeeming Love
84. Sappho's Leap
85. High Fidelity
86. Pilgrim's Progress
87. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (re-read)
88. The Pillars of the Earth
89. The Confessions of Nat Turner
90. A Christmas Carol
91. Gulliver's Travels and Other Writings
92. The 158-Pound Marriage
93. The Winged Seed
94. Driving Mr. Albert
95. Notes to Myself (re-read)
96. The Emotions
97. Mel Gibson's Passion and Philosophy
98. How to Win Every Argument
99. The World As I See It
100. Twelve Steps for the Recovering Pharisee