Danielle's 250 Challenge - 2013

I know I won't make it this year as my focus is on quality not quantity but we will see how close we get (and have fun trying!)

1) Purple Hibiscus by Adichie. Loved it! The father really reminded me of my grandfather and so I felt somewhat connected to the book because of that. It was rather difficult to read at times (partly because the resemblence was a little too close sometimes) but overall, I was totally drawn in. This one was more story driven than Half of a Yellow Sun and I did like it better. It's one that I will be thinking about for a bit.

2) A Gate at the Stairs by Moore. I liked it more than I thought. The story meandered a bit and I was confused at times about what the main plot was (there were a few threads throughout) but at the end, it came together nicely. I loved the last few sentences! And the sarcastic wit.

3) Smilla's Sense of Snow by Hoeg. I am rather mixed on this one. On the one hand, it is rich in description (I would love to visit Greenland and Denmark) and the plot is interesting but on the other, it is needlessly long. I am wondering if a lot got lost in translation because it seemed rather distorted to me.

4) A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xialou. Beautiful writing and a really neat premise but man, what a dysfunctional relationship. I loved watching Zhuang discover the english language with all its weird and wonderful idiosyncrasies. But her sexual journey made me cringe.

5) A Little Friend by Tartt. Can't say I was all that impressed (weird because I loved Secret History). It started off strong but dragged on forever. And the ending kind of ticked me off ("oops? was I wrong? oh well, no harm done right?").

6) Lolita by Nabokov - brilliant and disturbing all in one

7) Fixer-Upper by Elliott - short and cute. It made me laugh out loud on a few occasions.

8) Bel Canto by Patchett - I must admit, this is one that I tried numerous times to get into and hated it. But I pushed on and it wasn't all that bad in the end. I think my problem is that I just didn't buy it. This whole thing occurred over five months and no one tried to escape? No one tried to break in and save everyone? And the terrorists just waited? I found this one to be just plain weird.

9) Small Island by Levy. This one surprised me a little. The premise sounded good and it got great reviews so I was expecting to be wowed from the start. But I found that it is a story that you need to slowly immerse yourself in. It's told from the point-of-view of four characters who are connected in some way and it alternates between past and present. I really liked how you would meet a character, form an opinion of them and only then get to see who they really are and how they got to that point. I loved how my views changed as I progressed.

10) Cloud Atlas by Mitchell. While I can appreciate his writing, this one was not my cup of tea. I loved all the connections but it's a little too random for me

Go for it! I think it is a way to help you remember a book months past the entry date and the opportunity to quickly say ah or nay to the book.

11) Fasting, Feasting by Desai. I love Desai's writing. Her novels are so subtle but yet they leave you thinking afterwards. This is one takes place in Indian and Boston and it chronicles the paths that the children in an Indian family take. Arun, the son, is allowed to go to America to attend school while the daughters are groomed for marriage (despite most being just as smart). There is no central story here but instead a few different stories weaven together.

12) Fingersmith by Waters. What a romp! Mystery, suspense, twists and turns and a little romance thrown in for good measure. I spoiled myself as I saw the movie beforehand and it followed the book to the letter (although the book explained a lot more of the backstory) so I knew what was coming. But it still sucked me in. Loved it!

13) On Beauty by Smith. I liked this one more than White Teeth but I must admit, I really didn't see the point of it. It's the Montagues and Capulets modernised but without any characters to cheer for. Dad is in idiot who can't keep it in his pants. Daughter is one of those annoying people who always thinks they are right and never lets anything go. One son is a moron who jumps on the flavour-of-the-month bandwagon depending on who he is friends with at that time. The other son flits around life never knowing who he is or what he wants. Even mom, who I guess I am supposed to feel sorry for, seems more doormat than anything else. And that is just the Montagues! Smith writes very well but I just can't engage with any of her characters.

14) The Lacuna by Kingsolver. Loved it and hated it. The beginning sucked me in. I loved reading about Harrison's childhood in Mexico and about his friendship with Frida Kahlo. Once he came back to the US, the book meandered and got bogged down with too many details. I found it a bit of a chore to get through that part but then FBI showed up and I found myself sucked back in again (mostly just because of the absurdity of the whole thing). Overall I enjoyed it. Kingsolver is a brilliantly prolific writer.

15) Hundred Secret Senses by Tan. Wonderful book! It starts off slow but once it gets going, it is a great read. Libby-ah (Olivia) and Kwan are sisters born worlds apart but raised together in the US. The novel chronicles their childhood and adulthood as they slowly grow to understand each other. I love Kwan - she is so full of passion and fire and definitely someone who marches to their own drummer. She sees Yin people (ghosts) and thinks she can communicate with the spirit world although her sister is often sceptical.

16) Hobbit by Tolkien - saw the movie and felt the urge to re-read this one.

17) Case Histories by Atkinson. I just couldn't get into Inheritance of Loss (good book but just the wrong time to try) so I did a last minute sub. I enjoyed this one although I think there is just a little too much going on and I was hoping that all the threads would tie together nicely in the end. They were interesting on their own but it was a lot to remember - I had to keep going back and reviewing who was who.

18) Faceless Killers by Mankell. This is the first of the series (and my first time reading him as well). Good story but I must say, I really didn't like Wallander (the main character) and I found that it really coloured the story for me. I will continue on (as my hubby has now bought all the books in this series) but I really hope this git learns to control his temper and stop being a whiny ass.

19) About a Boy by Hornby. Loved it. I seriously laughed myself silly. I would never, ever date someone like Will (completely self-absorbed and oblivious) but at the same time, I could totally relate to him. He said things out loud that I have often thought in my head. Hugh Grant was cast perfectly in this role. In fact, I come hear his voice throughout the story and it fit beautifully. The ending was a little weak and perhaps a little too perfect but overall, I enjoyed this one tremendously.

20) The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonasson. Frickin' hilarious. I am not sure which was more ridiculous, his life before he climbed out the window or his life after. Either way, I have been thoroughly entertained for the last two days. I think I need some drama to balance things out.

21) The Beach by Garland. Much better than the movie.

22) Still Life with Chickens by Goldhammer - a cute little tale about starting over after divorce

23) Talented Mr Ripley by Highsmith. I totally got sucked into this one. Highsmith created an awesome tale with lots of twists and turns. It reminded me a lot of Rebecca by duMaurier and I quite enjoyed that one too. I was a little apprehensive about it because I loathed the movie but the book is a million times better. I think I will check out Strangers on a Train next (liked that movie!)

24) Like Water for Chocolate by Esquivel - odd but really neat as well. I like magical realism so I enjoyed that part of this novel. The storyline was more than a little strange (just tell your mother where to go already) but yet it was rather compelling as well. It's just such a hard novel to define! I saw the movie years ago and liked it so I always wondered about the book.

25) Sweet Hereafter by Banks - good book but I think I like the movie better. It's rare that I can say that but the movie really captured the mood of a small town experiencing the tragic loss. Of course, I watched the movie first so who knows how I would feel if I read the book first.

26) All Quiet on the Western Front by Remarque - what an amazingly powerful novel. I am still reeling from it.

27) Cold Mountain by Frazier. The book is a love story between two unlikely characters. First you have Inman, a soldier who one day while convalescing, decides that war isn't all it's cracked up to be so he leaves and sets out on foot to return to the love of his life. Then there is pampered Ada who loses her father and finds herself penniless. To survive, she goes looking for a servant but instead finds a close friend in Ruby and together they build up the farm. I really loved the strong female characters in this novel. Ada, Ruby and a few others who Inman meets along the way are all more than compable of taking care of themselves. Very well done.

28) Jamaica Inn by du Maurier. Lots of murder and intrigue - a good way to spend a lazy afternoon (day two of my 4-day weekend - yippee!). I saw the end coming a mile away but other than that, a fast enjoyable read. Now I am curious about the movie.

29) Seabiscuit by Hillenbrand - I bought this one to give to my mom (she loves horses and racing) but somehow I started reading it which is weird because I have little interest in horse racing. But I found myself cheering for Seabiscuit and Smith and Pollard and Iceman. It's an interesting look at racing in the 30's. I would never want to be a jockey back then!

30) The Book of Colour by Blackburn (really? Pride and Prejudice comes up for this touchstone?). I have no idea how to even describe this one. It's a rather surreal book about zombies, curses, pigs and racism. Intrigued yet? I liked it. Blackburn is a gifted writer and I quite enjoyed her descriptions of dreams and nightmares. But I can't say I truly understood it all. I think there is a great deal of symbolism in this one and some of it went right over my head.

31) Divergent by Roth - interesting Hunger Games like YA novel

32) Mammoth Cheese by Holman. I started this one back in January and found it rather tedious so it sat on my nightstand for weeks. But this weekend, I decided to plug away and finish it but to my surprise, I enjoyed the second half much more than the first. The ending confused me a bit and felt more than a little rushed (after 450+ pages, why sum things up in a page?) but it was an interesting look at small town life and the things that bring people together.

33) French Lieutenant's Woman by Fowles. Finished this one just under the wire (it was my February read for the 13/13/13 challenge). It was good but I must say, I enjoyed the author's asides and footnotes more than I enjoyed the actual story. I loved how he managed to step outside the story to chat about whatever (sexuality in the late 1800's for one thing) and then rejoin the story later on. Sometimes this technique can be jarring but he managed to make it rather seamless. Now to watch the movie this weekend and see if it compares.

34) Under the Table by Darling. The author decided to give up her career and pursue her dream to be a chef and this memoir chronicles her year-long course at culinary school. It was quite an interesting read but at times, she had some rather harsh words to say about her fellow students and instructors. I'd be curious to see what their reactions were when this was published. She included recipes at the end of most chapters and it was cool to see how they went from fairly simple to more complex as her knowledge grew.

35) Invisible by Auster. I think I am an Auster fan. This was my first but now I want to read more. It reminded me of Talented Mr Ripley but it wasn't really the story that was similar, it was more that the character Born reminded me of Ripley; charismatic and charming but with a very dark side. It's a story told in different voices but it's not told by the usual suspects. Adam is the main character and it is his life (or at least, his life as he sees or wants it to be) but the missing parts are filled in by bit characters who he encounters along the way. I really liked that detail because they were somewhat detached from him so their version of events seemed more honest.

Sigh... the horror of finding a new fave author and realising that your TBR pile is never going down... :)

36) The Sea by Banville. I loved his writing style, especially his descriptions of everything, but I was really confused by the story. He jumps back and forth a lot and I found it rather challenging to keep up. I was reading the Wikipedia blurb afterwards and only then realised that that part with the Graces was in the past (I lost a close family member this week so I will admit that my brain wasn't working at full capacity). I might need to give this one another whirl later on because I think knowing what I know now, I would approach the book differently (and not think the main character was a creepy old man lusting after a young teenager).

37) Elizabeth and After by Cohen. I can't say I was impressed with this one. It was an interesting story but it was one of those books that you put down afterwards and wonder what it was even really about. There were two streams going; before Elizabeth died and then after. It basically chronicles life in a smalltown and highlights how much fun it is to live in a fish bowl so maybe that is why I didn't connect (city mouse that I am).

38) Farming of the Bones by Danticat. Now this one was great. Disturbing and horrific but great. It looks at a massacre that occurred in the Dominican in the 30's. Haitians were brought over to work the fields but they were never accepted and eventually tensions escalated into violence. It never ceases to amaze me how horrible we can treat each other.

39) Virgin Suicides by Eugenides. I was rather surprised at how different this one was from Middlesex. I love finding authors who can write about many different things and do justice to them all. This one looks at the decline of a rather ordinary family. At first, they were that mysterious family on the street who kept to themselves but did enough odd things to make them a constant topic of gossip. Then, as the family began to interact with society more, the family dynamic began to decline and slowly the daughters committed suicide. It is a rather complex novel that asks more questions than it answers.

40) Ringmaster's Daughter by Gaarder. I just love the fantastical stories that this man writes. Sophie's World has got to be one of my favourite books (just because it is such an inventive, magical story). This one was not the same calibre but enjoyable nonetheless. The main character was a rather narcissistic individual but he could spin a good yarn so I could forgive him for his arrogance. He reminded me of Big Bang Theory's Sheldon except his gift was stories (and I loves me some Sheldon). He starts a black market of story ideas and makes a rather successful living at it. But people soon realise that having this fount of ideas readily available means that you don't have to do much in the way of thinking yourself and soon his little project turns into a dangerous game. It also leaves a lot unanswered but I think that adds to the story.

41) To Live By Hua. Thank you Secret Santa for bringing me this gem! Fugui starts off as a rich, spoiled brat who feels the world is his playground and all the people in it his puppets (this is a guy who is married with a kid on the way who would make a prostitute piggyback him home after sex). One day, he shames his family by gambling away the family fortune and he spends the rest of the novel trying to repent for his sins. He slowly learns what life is really about and how fragile it all is. I laughed and cried and then laughed and cried some more.

42) I read How Should a Person Be? today and I am mixed. It is definitely not my type of book - I am not a fan of the whole stream-of-consciousness thing and while I am certainly not a prude, I found this one to be a little over the top (having a Nazi crap on you in a dumpster? Seriously.. who thinks that kind of thing up?) But I will admit, I was vaguely compelled to finish it and in the end, I found it to be an okay read. The characters irritated me with all their 'who am I?' and 'why do we exist?' ramblings but there was a small thread in there that I found I could relate too. It's kind of like seeing a child's finger painting hanging in an art gallery and alternating between laughing at the absurdity of it all and not being able to take your eyes off it because it continually draws you in.

43) I also finished The Wars by Findley and really liked it. It's been a rather hard month as I now have a second funeral to go to this week (a friend of the family) so I am in a rather odd mood. I was going to read Fforde for my F title but just don't think that I am in the right frame of mind to really enjoy it so my tastes are running more towards the darker side of things. And there isn't much darker than war. This one is a war story told from a Canadian soldier's point-of-view (interesting contrast to All Quiet on the Western Front which I read earlier this year). It is my first Findley (which is a horrifying thing for a Canadian to admit!) but not my last.

44) Lamb by Nadzam. After reading Lolita, this one really paled in comparison. It is perhaps unfair to compare the two but since the stories were so similar, it was hard not to. This one was Lolita Light but without the brilliance (and without the sexual abuse). I think Nadzam has talent but perhaps a different type of book would have highlighted that more. Overall I found the whole thing to be rather unsettling but not in a 'let's read more' kind of way. I just wanted it to be finished so I could move on to something else.

45) Red Book by Kogan. Dumb. A slightly more literary Real Housewives of Boston.

46) The Ha-Ha by King. Somehow this one sat unread on my shelf since 2005 and now I am regretting that decision because it was great! Howard is a vet who suffered a blow to the head in Vietnam and now cannot talk or write (but has cards that state he is of normal intelligence!). As he bumbles through life in a house with some rather odd-ball characters, his old girlfriend drops off her young son to stay for the summer while she is in rehab. After years of calling it in, Howie now gets a new lease on life and re-discovers what it is like to really live.

47) February by Moore. Another awesome book. This is a fictionalised account of an oil rig that went down in Newfoundland in the 80's. It looks at a young mother who lost her husband and it flips back and forth from life before the accident and life afterwards as she tries to rebuild. Very well done.

48) Insurgent by Roth. This one was okay but I liked the first one better.

49) The Forrests by Perkins. I am counting it as I made it through 200 pages but man, what a chore. Not impressed at all and really didn't care what happened to any of the characters.

50) When We Were Orphans by Ishiguro - started off slowly but picked up as it went along. I swear, this man could write a phone book and I'd read it and enjoy. He is anyone author who can write about so many different topics and do them justice.

51) Scent of Sake by Lebra. I needed a light read today and this one fit the bill. This one takes place in the early 1800's and is about a sake brewery in Japan. Rie is a head-strong female who is married off to someone the family sees fit to take over the business. Turns out she has more business acumen than her rather useless husband so she spends her time running the business while he runs around getting geisha pregnant. It was rather fluffy at times and it lacked some of the historical information that would have made it a great book but for a lazy Friday morning, it was enjoyable.

52) The People of Forever Are Not Afraid by Boianjiu - I am really surprised by this one because when I read the summary I thought I would hate this book. But somehow, despite the depressing subject matter, I quite enjoyed it. It's about a group of three young women growing up in Israel as they leave high school and get conscripted into the army. At times they are gossiping about boys and sneaking off to the mall and then other times they are conducting drills with assault rifles and searching for suicide bombers. The whole thing was highly disturbing but yet the author did a good job at presenting it.

53) Gone Girl by Flynn. It's about a woman who disappears on her 5-year anniversary and of course, her husband becomes the prime suspect. But things are not what they seem and then the roller coaster ride begins. I must say, the ending was a little odd but the twists and turns kept me frantically reading page after page.

54) Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Semple. This was another odd book and one I never would have read had it not been nominated. It's also about the disappearance of someone; in this case, Bernadette, stressed out mother and wife. It's told in the form of emails, letters, transcripts with excerpts from other characters injected. Her gifted daughter is set to go to boarding school and as a reward for her good grades, she wants to go to Antarctica with her parents. Bernadette is trying to deal with nosy neighbours, her increasing anxiety (as well as a concerned husband who wants her committed) and an internet scam that she innocently wandered into so needless to say, the last thing she wants to do is go on a trip. So she does want anyone would do... she disappears. At times both fun and sad, this is a novel about sorting through the crap in life and figuring out what it is really all about.

55) The Real Toy Story by Clark - if I had kids, I'd be feeling rather duped right about now. This is a rather high-level look at the toy industry, what it takes to discover the next big thing and the lengths companies will go to market their wares. Fascinating and scary at the same time.

56) Suburban Nation by Duany - and then if the first book didn't make me want to check out of the human race, I read this one and learn all about how city design, in large part, isolates people from each other. Things are a little different here in Canada because we all tend to congregate around the border so you don't find a lot of gated communities and sprawling lots (no space unless you are rich). Personally, I can't think of a worse place to live then a gated community an hour away from work but I can see the appeal for some. The book does a really good job at deconstructing the arguments for living in the 'burbs and showing how they just don't work. Very well done.

57) Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Lee - this reads like a series of vignettes about Chinese food, fortune cookies and all things in between. Some of the chapters were a little odd and didn't seem to fit the flow but overall, it was an interesting look at where fortune cookies actually came from (not China) and which country has the best Chinese food (again, not China).

58) Paths of Desire by Browning - I am so not a gardener but long to have a green thumb so sometimes I live vicariously through others. This is a memoir about a woman who loses her garden (thanks to her unthinking neighbours and a weak retaining wall) and decides to re-build not only the garden but her life as well. An enjoyable way to spend a rainy afternoon.

59) Flight Behaviour by Kingsolver - now here is an Orange nominee that I can fully endorse. I really, really liked this one. Dellarobia had plans for her life that didn't include living paycheque to paycheque in the rural south with two kids and husband she may or may not love. One day she has enough and runs away. But as she runs, she stumbles upon a site that stops her cold. Thanks to changing weather patterns, Monarch butterflies are blown off course and end up wintering on her land. Soon, people from all around the world are travelling to this small town to either witness the miracle or study the bugs to see whether they will make it, Dellarobia soon finds herself changed in ways that she never imagined.

60) Heaven is for Real by Burpo - this was highly recommended to me by a co-worker and to be perfectly honest, it was awful. First of all, heathen that I am, this is not something I ever would have read on my own. But I tried to go in with an open mind and give it a chance. It just seems like this family is desperate to believe that there is something special about their kid. It's not hard to believe that a child who goes to sunday school and has a pastor for a father knows a little something about the bible. There were a few 'wait a minute' moments but lets face it, 4 year olds are little sponges and they pick stuff up everywhere.

61) The Smart Woman's Guide to Eating Right with Diabetes. I am not diabetic yet but have other issues that could lead to it (and a history of it in my family) so I was curious about this one. It's a nice mix of helpful tips and personal experiences.

62) Wordstruck by MacNeil. This is a wonderful memoir of a boy and his books. I loved the way he talked about how words affected him.

63) May We Be Forgiven by Homes - if you asked me why I liked this book, I honestly wouldn't be able to tell you. It is long and odd and it got stranger as it went on but yet I laughed and cried and loved it.

64) How To Tell If Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You by The Oatmeal - cute but not as funny as I thought it would be

65) God's Doodle by Hickman - heh, all the things I never knew about the penis

66) NW by Smith - turned out better than I expected. I liked the circular flow of the book and how things all became interconnected. I didn't like how I got invested in one set of characters and then had to move on. I am still not a huge fan but this is my fave Smith so far.

67) Yokohama Yankee by Helm - part history and part memoir but written with the excitement of a good fictional family saga. This is a look at five generations of a mixed race family and all their ups and downs as they try to fit in in Japan and the US. Very well done.

68) Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Dick. I don't normally read sci-fi so I am thinking that something passed right over my head with this one. I liked it but I feel like there is something profound that alluded me; something that connects all the weird randomness. I will have to google and see what I missed.

69) Calculated in Death by Robb - my brain candy for the month

70) Howards End is on the Landing by Hill - I really don't need to read another book full of interesting suggestions for new books to read. :)

71) Do Americans Shop too Much? by Schor - this is an odd collection of essays about consumerism. The first part is Juliet Schnor's brief essay about the dangers of spending, part two is rebuttal essays from others (although they do sometimes agree) and then part three is her response to the criticism.

72) Burgess Boys by Strout. This reminded me of a Jodi Picoult novel for some reason. It was good but everyone annoyed me. I generally like her stuff but this wasn't my fave.

73) Witches, Midwives & Nurses by Ehrenreich & English. One of the first things published by Ehrenereich - it's a brief history of women healers. She continues it in another book I am in the middle of called For Her Own Good. Interesting stuff.

74) Six Years by Coben. I think I might be done with this author. I like brain candy but this was a little too out there.

Yes, much better. I never knew a severe infection could cause hallucinations!

75) Lead Us Into Temptation by Twitchell. A little dated (written in 1999) but fascinating nonetheless. This is a look at consumerism/materialism. It's interesting to compare what is happening with what he thought would happen.

76) The Painter of Battles by Perez-Reverte. First of all, I loved PR's writing. He is so descriptive with his prose (and the translator is wonderful if there is one). I was going to start the Captain Alatriste series now that I have the first one but something made me choose this stand-alone one instead. It started slowly but once it got going, it was quite good. The painter of battles is a man who spent his life travelling to war-torn countries photographing all kinds of horrors. He tells himself that he is documenting these things for good reason but later on, after he retires and takes up painting, someone who once photographed comes into his life and they both start to question everything they have done.

77) High Fidelity by Hornby. This is a story about a bumbling moron who slides through life and never really appreciates what he has. He feels like a failure because instead of a 'real' job, he owns a fledgling record shop (one that has been around for many years and seems to be doing okay but he doesn't see this). His girlfriend gets tired of all his whinging and leaves him for someone else. This then becomes a tipping point in his life. He starts to question, in his own hilariously bumbling way, why he does the things that he does and he starts to change a little. This one reminded me of The Ha-Ha by King.

78) Wasp Factory by Banks. Where to start? Frank is a 17-year-old boy growing up in rural Scotland. He loves to behead animals (and blow up rabbits), kill his relatives (but that was when he was younger and going through a phase) and when he needs advice, he turns to his wasp factory, a device he created to tortures wasps in various ways and apparently divine the future by the method of their death. His brother has escaped from a mental hospital (he is considered the crazy one) and is slowly making his way home much to the dismay of the town folk who are finally able to have pets again. The whole thing culminates with one of the strangest endings I have ever read in a book. But yet, despite its weirdness, I actually liked it. And found myself mildly amused by Frank and his antics. I think Banks is a lot like Nabokov in that way. Both have an amazing ability to write about vile people and then make you almost like them.

79) The Camel Bookmobile by Hamilton. Had this not been a Harper Perennial book, I wouldn't have purchased it because it's not my type of novel. It is a fictionalised account of an actual service called the Camel Bookmobile. This is a roaming library that brings books to rural areas. It's an okay book but to be honest, I found the characters flat and one-dimensional. The story was rather predictable yet somewhat interesting.

My beef: I get rather irritated with books about people who travel around to so-called third world countries 'educating' others. Don't get me wrong, some people do important work and definitely strive to make a difference so I am not against help in general. But in this case, the aim is to bring westernised books to rural parts of Kenya and I fail to see how reading The Cat in the Hat is going to help people with growing crops and obtaining clean water. Yes, it will help them learn English but what does that do? It encourages people to have dreams beyond the community they live in and I am not sure that enticing young kids away is the best way to deal with the issues they have. It gives people a choice I suppose but it is a choice with a high cost attached.

80) Then We Came to the End by Ferris. I was expecting Office Space but instead I got a story that made me laugh and cry and cringe. It was good but it felt like the author was trying to be too many things at the same time. It's basically a story about office life and all the different personalities that must find a way to mesh together. It started off funny but then moved into deeper subjects. It's enjoyable to anyone who has found themselves a cubicle-dweller at one point in their life - when you start assigning real life names to characters, you know you are in trouble!

81) The Paris Enigma by de Santis. Similar to The Alienist in flavour. It's a murder-mystery set around the 1889 Paris World Fair and the building of the Eiffel Tower. A group of world-class detectives gather together and soon find themselves investigating a murder of one of their own. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon in bed with a cold.

82) Miss Garnet's Angel by Vickers. I must say, I loved all the descriptions about Venice but the main character rather annoyed me. I get that this was supposed to be somewhat of a rebirth for her, but she really didn't seem to learn much along the way. And she didn't treat her new friends well either. Enjoyable but I am glad to move on to the next one.

83) The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Chabon. Finally finished and quite enjoyed it. I had no idea what it was about before starting so really didn't know what to expect. But who can find fault with a book that combines history, comics and magic?

84) The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Durrow. I really liked this one. It is about a young girl who loses her family and comes to live with her grandma. She is biracial and struggling to figure out where she belongs in a world that is still not quite ready to accept her. The story flips back to her mothers diary and highlights the struggles that her mom felt with prejudice as well.

85) A Marriage Made in Heaven or Too Tired for an Affair by Bombeck. Even though I am in the middle of a few books, I needed a light-hearted tub read and this one seemed to call out for me. I read all her stuff years ago and it made me giggle then. And now that I have been married for a number of years, I related a little more to this one.

86) Story of O by Reage. I was rather mixed with my reaction so I went on-line to see what others thought. I do understand how risqué this was coming out in 1950. It really was miles ahead of its time because really, who wrote about BDSM then? Fifty Shades (as horrible as it is) is just bringing that subject out of the closet now! The writing style was great and the language used was actually rather subdued comparatively speaking so it really is less porn and more erotic literature.

Just a warning... while the overall nature of the book is well known, my comments to follow are spoilers....

My problem with it, and I guess my problem with BDSM in general, is about consent. I get that the premise is that submissive actually has the power in the relationship because they ultimately choose if and when they wish to stop. I suppose for the garden-variety part-time BDSM participant, this works. But in this case, this was an overall, all-consuming lifestyle choice. O, while being told she could say no at any time, was completely infatuated with Rene and went along with everything because she felt that that was the only way to keep him. Sure she has a choice but really, what kind of choice is it? My boss gives me projects all the time and I have the choice of whether to do them or not. But if I don't, I won't have a job much longer. Rene asks her if she is okay with things but since he has tremendous power over her to begin with, she goes along with it all for fear of losing him.

I also had a big problem with Rene. He continually says that he loves her but the whole time he seems to view her as a psychological experiment. He sells her to the highest bidder (Sir Stephen) because he claims that he isn't strong enough to handle her conversion but I think it was more that he wanted to be a passive observer. He was prominent in the beginning but by the end, he almost becomes part of the furniture as he watches from the sidelines.

O starts off the novel with no name and by the end, she doesn't even have a personality. It is presented as if she is okay with everything that occurs but really, does someone being brainwashed know that they are being brainwashed? How does one really know what she wanted until after she is removed from the situation and can verify things for herself? Apparently the author wrote this as a love story for her boyfriend and that makes me really sad.

87) All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Fulghum. Light and fun and just the right thing to read at 2am when you are wide awake for the second night in a row and desperately craving sleep. I read this one years ago and liked it. And found that it still holds true.

88) Uh-Oh by Fulghum. Another little, quick read.

89) Silver Linings Playbook by Quick. To be honest, I am not sure which I like better; the movie or the book. That never happens! I think Jennifer Lawrence made the movie and the producers added an edge to it that wasn't in the book (my morose, sarcastic side related well to this part). But the book was great as well. They were just presented differently but both were believable and enjoyable.

90) Life After Life by Atkinson. Really interesting premise but the birth/death thing really started to bug me after awhile.

91) Wolf Hall by Mantel. I am sure 50% of this one went right over my head but it was fascinating nonetheless. I made full use of the handy-dandy tutored read from last year (75 books thread) to give myself a crash course in Tudor history (thanks for that!). I will now start the next one...

92) Wedding Night by Kinsella. Light, fluffy read. Enjoyable but I must say, not my favourite one from her. This one seemed to have more fluff and less substance.

93) Strait is the Gate by Gide. A short yet powerful read to finish the day. This is a sad little tale of unfulfilled love.

94) Portnoy's Complaint by Roth. What did you get when you take a man obsessed with his penis, add in some residual Jewish guilt leftover from overbearing parents and a profound fear of sexually transmitted diseases? One of the more interesting books I have read this read. Not sure whether to laugh at the poor schmuck or be very, very happy that I never dated him!

95) Americanah by Adichie. This is my third one by her and she just keeps getting better and better. This one parts place both in Nigeria and the US. It is in part a love story but really, it's much more than that. She really looks at the concept of oppression and what is means to different people. She made me rather uncomfortable at times, especially when I recognised myself in there (I have been know to say 'I am not (fill in blank), some of my best friends are...) but she doesn't do it in a condescending, accusing kind of way. I can see this one going on to win an award or two.

96) Only Time Will Tell by Archer. Now that he has all three out, I am happily in the middle of #2. My brain candy for the month.

97) Sins of the Father by Archer. More brain candy... now to finish it up.

98) Best Kept Secret by Archer. I thought it was a trilogy but apparently not... sigh...

99) Godfather was a Girl by Evans. What a neat book! It's a look at the real inspirations for famous characters both past and present.

100) The Search Angel by Cohen. Not her best one. It's about a woman who is rather obsessed about adopting a child. Just as she is about to put up her new daughter, her husband decides that he isn't okay with the decision and ends up leaving her. Tere were a few WTF moments... she goes to the airport to pick up her newly adopted daughter and the guy delivering her, who has never meet her before I might add, just hands her over to anyone answering to the name Eleanor Sweet. It was like a UPS delivery instead of an adoption. Sign here and take your package. And then, because she is told that she needs family to help her raise her daughter, she finds her own biological family (in like a week) and decides instantly that they all must accept her right away. Of course, they don't help matters much by inviting her to a family wedding, insisting that she call them mom etc and then shunning her the whole night. This was a weird, disjointed book. A fluffy enjoyable read if you don't think about things too hard.

101) Empty Room by Davis. Read only because I loved Our Daily Bread and wanted to read more of this author - loved it! I think had I have known the topic beforehand, I would have passed on it (just lost an aunt to alcoholism) but I am so glad that I didn't. This is basically a day-in-the-life of someone who is just starting to realise that they have a problem. The chapters jump back and forth between what is happening today and key events that occurred before that lead to today. Very well done (and sad... I have lost way too many people to this disease).

102) Confederacy of Dunces by Toole. I have finally finished this one. Interesting but exhausting! I gotta admit, as horrible as Ignatius was, I actually felt bad for him at times. Mr Levy reminded me of that boss that George had on Seinfeld. I totally pictured him the whole time I was reading. And now that I think about it, Mrs Reilly could be Estelle...

103) Interpreter of Maladies by Lahiri. I am not generally one for short stories, as I like a more fleshed out story, but these ones were really good. After each one, I felt satisfied with the story and didn't feel like there were any loose ends.

104) Moon Palace by Auster. I am fast becoming an Auster fan. It was weird at times and over-the-top but I couldn't stop reading.

105) The Namesake by Lahiri. Proof that she can write a good full-length story as well! I think overall, I liked her short stories a bit better - they seemed more complex with greater depth. But this story made me angry, happy and sad. Will have to get her other one out of the library now...

I liked the first couple of Louise Penny but then had given up on her as they all started to sound the same. Then a friend persuaded me to read her most recent titles. She said she leaves Three Pines behind and moves on. Give her a try.

106) A Kestrel for a Knave by Hines. A 1001 book and quite enjoyable. It's about a young boy growing in a Yorkshire mining town who finds and trains a hawk.

107) The Fox by Lawrence. This short novella had me until the end - I thought this one would end much differently.

108) Here is New York by White. Short but strong enough to make me want to visit NY real soon.

109) Imperfect Harmony by Horn. Loved it! It's about a young woman and her experiences in a choir. Its the perfect mix of musical history and memoir.

110) Summer Daydreams by Matthews. I can usually count on Matthews to deliver a light, fluffy summer read but this one was definitely not her best. Annoyingly stupid characters, unlikely situations and tons of loose ends flying all over the place.

111) Life and Times of Michael K by Coetzee. I just love this author! He has the ability to so completely immerse the reader in the novel. I only came up for air when I turned the last page and realised the ride was over. I will move Disgrace up the list.

112) Boys in the Trees by Swan. Meh. Can't say I was impressed. It jumped around way too much.

113) Disgrace by Coetzee. Very well done. It's a very disturbing book overall but well written. I didn't get the ending I was hoping for but it was a satisfying one.

114) Sisterland by Sittenfeld. This was more Picoult than Sittenfeld and I was a little disappointed. Enjoyable nonetheless but missing something.

115) Just Gone by Kowalski. An ER rapid reads book - interesting. The last one I read was like a full length story condensed down to basic words and I didn't like it much. But this one had an interesting story and the plot worked in the 100 or so pages alloted. I read Eddie's Bastard years ago and quite liked it so I am glad to see that he is still writing.

I have read a number of the Rapid Reads and enjoyed most of them. The authors have to stick to writing a novella and not as you said "a full length story condensed down to basic words."

Let me know if you want this one and I can send it over. I rather liked it. :)

Yes, I would like to read it but how can you send it over?

You can send a private message with your address if you want. Or if you are on Bookmooch, I can send it that way.

116) Little Stranger by Waters. What spooky fun! Who doesn't like a book about haunted houses and ghosts? My only criticism is that it was quite long.

117) Caught by Moore. Not my favourite of hers but enjoyable. It's about a man who escapes from jail in Nova Scotia and then races across Canada to meet up with his old buddy and revive their drug smuggling business.

118) Zombie by Oates. Okay then... that was a strange and disturbing trip.

119) The Ophelia Cut by Lescroart - not my fave but not the worst. An average read

120) The Book Thief by Zusak. This was another Secret Santa gift and I am ashamed of how long it took for me to read this gem! It's a rather unique look at World War II and very well done.

121) The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Diaz

122) Light Between Oceans by Stedman - very well done

123) Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Sloan. Another odd and unique book. The ending was a little disappointing (I thought it was building up to something a little more... well, uhm, bigger) but overall, it was enjoyable. It rather reminded me of Ready Player One by Cline.

124) Long Way Down by Hornby. I love this author. 'Nuf said.

125) Peony in Love by See. Not her best but enjoyable all the same. Love, tradition, ghosts... what more do you need?

126) Small Ceremonies by Shields. This was her first book about a new author trying to find herself. Well done.

127) The Box Garden by Shields. This is a sorta sequel (or parallel novel) to Small Ceremonies. They are each written from the point-of-view of a McNinn sister but cover different events. This one was about a divorced woman who is trying to find the strength to love again while she attends her mother's second wedding. Very well done. I have read a lot of Shields' latter stuff but these first two novels are just as good.

128) A High and Hidden Place by Lucas. Fascinating story but awful execution. It's about a woman living in 1963, who after witnessing the shooting of Oswald on TV, starts to remember a French massacre that took her family in 1944. She comes back to France to find out what happened and try to make peace with it. The story was really interesting and based on real events but the writing/editing was horrible. It is a first novel so I would hope if she decides to write more, a better publisher could be found.

129) The Bull is Not Killed by Dearing. Part history and part love story (with a little fraud thrown in for good measure).

130) Into the Beautiful North by Urrea. A rather odd story about a young woman from a small Mexican town who decides to head north to the US so she can wrangle up some Mexican men (seven to be exact) and bring them back so they can defend her town. The actual male citizens of the town headed north for work and never came back and the womenfolk are tired of being hassled by banditos. She also decides to find her own father who left years ago and aside from a postcard, has never been heard from since. Per the blurb on the back, this was supposed to be a hilarious story but I didn't find much humour in it. The writing was good but the story was a little too weird.

131) The Condition by Haigh. I like this one but I will admit, I am confused about the title. If you went by the blurb on the back, you would think that this is a story about how a family deals with the newly diagnosed illness of a child (and therefore the title makes sense). But the actual story jumps all over the place from character to character and chronicles the life of one highly dysfunctional family and all the 'conditions' they each have. Good story overall (reminds me a lot of Beach Music) but I feel rather mislead on the purpose it.

132) A Spot of Bother by Haddon. Sorry, no... THIS is a dysfunctional family. Dad is slowly going nuts and thinks he has cancer, mom is lonely and finds comfort in the arms of dads old co-worker, daughter is marrying someone who may or may not be right for her (not even she knows) and one son is gay and even he can't admit it. Everyone else is varying degrees of normal/crazy. Overall, it rather makes you laugh and cringe.

133) Enchanted April by Von Arnim. This book rather annoyed me. I hated just about everyone - these women were all either doormats or snobs. The description of Italy was nice but no one on this trip really seemed to truly appreciate where they were.

134) A Celibate Season by Shields/Howard. What a neat book! These two great authors decided to collaborate and write a book of letters between a husband and wife separated by her job. It was written a few years ago in a time before email and cheap cross-Canada phone rates. It chronicles the six-month separation of a stay-at-home dad, who is taking writing classes and trying to find challenging work as an architect, and a career-minded lawyer who gets a temp gig in Ottawa.

135) Hijacked: How Your Brain Is Fooled by Food by Kessler. An ER book aimed at teens about food and weight gain. Interesting premise but really repetitive.

136) Three Men in a Boat by Jerome. Abso-frickin'-hilarious! Well, except the part with the woman in the water. But everything else made me giggle like a little kid.

> 134 I really liked it. I enjoyed the exchange of letters, I think people say more to each other in writing than in conversation.

Exactly! I think that is why I enjoyed it so much. Their letters included a lot of the mundane things going on in their lives (as well as the more serious stuff ) and that made them much more human to me. I got a deeper sense of who these characters were.

137) Turtle Valley by Anderson-Dargatz. I got this book six years ago as an ARC and I know over the years I have tried a few times to read it but with no success. I love this author but for whatever reason, this one never grabbed me. This year I am trying to read the stuff that has been on my shelves the longest so I pressed on and finished this one finally. And loved it! Part of my earlier reluctance could be that this is a much darker story than her others.

The story takes place in BC and there a forest fire bearing down on Turtle Valley where Katrine has returned home to help her parents pack and evacuate. In the middle of the preparations, she realises that her past was not exactly what she thought and she starts to uncover family secrets that her family thought had been buried forever. The story has just about everything in it - mystery, drama, romance....

138) Orange is the New Black by Kerman. I quite enjoyed this one although I did feel like she sanitised it quite a bit. And I never really got the sense that she was all that unhappy there - she described the relationships she had with other inmates well but wasn't all that great at expressing her own feelings.

I might need to check out the TV show.

139) Falling Angels by Gowdy. And continuing my run of dysfunctional family novels.... this one tops the list so far. Just when you think you have everyone figured out, they turn out to be more horrible than you thought.

140) Bring Up the Bodies by Mantel. Finally finished... not sure why it took so long as it was a great book but I could only handle so much history in a single seating I suppose. I didn't particularly like Anne Boleyn but she got royally screwed (snerk).

141) How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Hamid. This is an awesome book! Part tongue-in-cheek 'self-help book', part love story and overall a look at the reality that is the new India.

142) Sea Change by White. Decent story but a little too many coincidences for my liking. Still, not a bad way to spend an afternoon. I think if I had of read this 20 years ago, it would have been the greatest thing ever. But, my tastes have changed and the whole supernatural twist thing doesn't appeal anymore.

143) We So Seldom Look On Love by Gowdy. I am becoming more and more a fan of short stories and these were especially good. They were a little odd at times though - not one but two stories about Siamese twins.

144) Going Home Again by Bock. I seem to have all of Bock's previous books on my TBR shelf but for whatever reason, never read any of them. He is one the many authors that I am convinced I will enjoy but have never actually read until now. Fortunately, I did enjoy this one so now maybe I will get to the rest!

This one has a lot going on in it but it is basically about a man who is separating from his wife and struggling to figure things out. His estranged brother comes back into his life and he seems to have finally grown up a little bit. His daughter is living in Madrid with mom and her new boyfriend, which is a bitter pill to swallow since his business takes him back to Toronto. And an ex-girlfriend walks back into his life and brings back memories of a tragic event that occurred many years before.

The transitioning from present to past was a little jarring at times but other than that, I enjoyed it.

145) The Hunger: A Story of Food, Desire and Ambition by DeLucie. Part interesting look at how to climb the restaurant ladder as a chef and part self-important chef bragging about his climb up the corporate ladder. I think all the parts about cheating, drinking and drugs kept my attention away from the story and didn't really do much to endear me to this guy.

146) Transatlantic by McCann. I love books where seemingly unrelated things all come together in a neat little package by the end. Very well done.

147) A Bird's Eye by Fagan. Good book but way too short. It rather reminded me of a super condensed version of Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay.

148) Minister Without Portfolio by Winter. Awesome writer but meh story. I'm afraid I lost interest half way through and had to force myself to finish.

149) Throwaway Daughter by Ye. Not something I would have normally picked up but I needed a 'Y' author for a challenge and found this YA book. Not a bad story - interesting and enjoyable.

150) Tap on the Window by Barclay. I enjoy his books but they are becoming quite predictable.

151) Kicking the Sky by De Sa. Awesome book! I was curious after reading Barnacle Love - the writing was good but the story was rather odd and disjointed. This one came together nicely.

152) Hunger Games by Collins. Reread in prep for the next movie.

153) Catching Fire by Collins

154) Emancipation Day by Grady. I really liked this one. I think it struck a cord as my first marriage was interracial and I always joked with my ex-husband that he was the whitest Trinny I knew. The book is about a black family who give birth to a very light-skinned baby and it looks at how they each react to this.

155) Son of a Certain Woman by Johnston. This was quite the weird and wonderful trip! Religion, homosexuality, scandal.... everything one wants in a book all rolled into one. Now to finally read some of his stuff...

156) 1982 by Ghomeshi. What a cool blast from the past! I grew up not far from him so his ramblings about Thornhill, ON were quite familiar. And of course New Wave is the BEST kind of music so loved hearing about all the bands I grew up listening to.

157) iDisorder by Rosen. The psych major in me loved this book while the '40-something throwback to the 80s' was horrified by these tech-obsessed people. Social media is fun but I certainly don't need to update my Facebook status every 15 minutes or sleep with my cell phone (already I do quite like my book-related sites). This is a great book for people who have friends/loved ones who are more than a little obsessed with the internet and electronic gadgets as it offers suggestions on how to deal with them and on what underlying factors could be influencing this behaviour.

158) With All My Love by Scanlan. Average chick lit. Nothing great, nothing awful either.

159) Thankless in Death by Robb. My twice-a-year brain candy.

160) W is for Wasted by Grafton. More brain candy.

161) Extraordinary by Gilmour. Wow... awesome book. Short but oh so powerful.

162) Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World by Veness. In pre for my trip next spring... an interesting look at the parks

163) The Honey Queen by Kelly. Meh... I generally like her stuff (more brain candy) but this one had way too many characters to keep track of and was rather boring at times.

164) A by Alexis - short but really neat (no touchstone)

165) Bridget Jones: Mad About a Boy by Fielding - Bridget goes high-tech and I go home (boring)

166) This Book is Overdue! by Johnson. Interesting look at libraries and the people who make or break them.

167) Hellgoing by Coady. I am slowly becoming a short story fan - who knew! These were really well done. I can see why she took the Giller this year.

168) Cuckoo's Calling by Galbraith. This was probably a good book but I'm afraid with everything going on recently, I really didn't have the concentration to give it a fair go. I might re-read it later on

169) Cataract City by Davidson - loved this one. I had this author mixed up with another and will admit, I wasn't looking forward to reading it (but I try to make a point to read ones nominated for Canadian awards so I wanted to at least try). Now I am wondering why it sat in the pile for so long. It's about two old friends who take different paths in life. They meet up later on and realise that they haven't become all that different.

170) Enough by Nash. This was a Secret Santa book that looked really interesting (and turned out to be rather interesting) but for whatever reason, sat on the shelf for a long time. It's a non-fiction book about why we crave so much stuff and how we can wean ourselves off.

171) Slam by Hornby. Gotta be my least favourite Hornby novel. Rather disappointing to be honest.

172) October List by Deaver. Meh... if I hadn't seen the backwards Seinfeld episode, I would have thought the premise was really cool. The twists and turns were interesting at first but then just got weird. I want more Lincoln...

173) Takedown Twenty by Evanovich. This is still my brain candy but I am getting increasingly ashamed of admitting it. Giraffes? Slow cookers? Dumpster grannies? It's getting more than a little weird...

Do you think it will work and we will end up with less stuff? I find the best way to wean myself away from buying things is to move into smaller spaces...

What book stands out the most in your mind, for whatever reason, good, bad or indifferent? I asked Zero and myself the same question.

174) White Fire by Preston & Childs. December is the month of brain candy and this one delivered...

175) Supreme Macaroni Company by Trigani. Meh.

Hmmm... best of the bunch? I started out strong with Purple Hibiscus (she is one my all-time fave authors now). Fingersmith was quite good - loved the movie too. I discovered Paul Auster & J. M. Coetzee this year and will definitely read more of their books. The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared was the funniest thing I read this year. Talented Mr Ripley was great too.

Crap? Heaven is Real was recommended by a co-worker and just awful. I was quite disappointed with Slam because I love Hornby. The third Bridget Jones one wasn't that great. Elizabeth and After by Cohen & Boys in the Trees by Swan were Canlit duds. Summer Daydreams by Matthews - fluff that didn't deliver.

I didn't come close to the 200 books I was aiming for but we decided to move back in September so its been a whirlwind of getting the house ready, sold and finding something new. But we move Jan 15th so once I settle in, I will start up again. All the best to everyone over Christmas and in 2014 :)

176) The Silent Wife by Harrison. The ultimate in dysfunctional relationships. I hated both characters but loved the book.

177) Worst. Person. Ever. by Coupland. Started off absolutely frickin' hilarious... and then got weird (weird even for Coupland) and then dumb.

> 164. I was intrigued by the title "The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared" and your comment so read it and I think it is a hoot! Thanks.

> 166. I hate dumb...