Tad's Books in 2009, Part 6 and Final

Time to break up the thread again.

Part 1 can be found here.

Part 2 can be found here.

Part 3 can be found here.

Part 4 can be found here.

Part 5 can be found here.

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Ratings refer to my experience reading the book in regard to its type, not to any judgment about literary merit.

= I can't believe anyone liked this.
to = Disliked, ranging from "didn't finish" to "may have skimmed some"
to = Neutral, ranging from "just fair" to "passed an afternoon"
to = Recommended, ranging from "mildly" to "strongly"
to = Favorites, new and old

Work is insane. Kids' activities more insane. Getting ready for Christmas (hah! as if!) is just another reason I went mad.

I've barely picked up a book in a month and, literally, haven't read anything for two weeks. I've barely even opened LibraryThing (over 1000 unread posts).

Here are two I read few weeks ago but didn't have time to post. I've started Assia Djebar's Children of the New World because...well, I agreed to read it. WHAT WAS I THINKING!?! :-) It's probably all I'll be able to manage before Christmas, and maybe not even that. I have the week off in between the two holidays, so I hope to catch up a bit then.

: Sharpe's Gold by Bernard Cornwell

256 pages in paperback
read by Frederick Davidson ( for his reading)



Another good episode in the series—this was one of the better ones, imo.

: Margherita Dolce Vita by Stefano Benni, translated from Italian by Antony Shugaar

208 pages



This is a rather strange book. I really enjoyed the first 90% or so...a very satirical look at consumerism, admixed with a nice dose of conformity, and a dollop of Fascism...all written in a very amusing style from the perspective of an intelligent young girl watching it all happen in her neighborhood.

It lost me a bit in the final 10%. The book's arc is a gentle curve from light-hearted and funny toward somber and funny. However, just before the end, that gentle curve became a screechingly hard turn toward a dark story from which all humor disappeared. I found it jolting and it lessened my enjoyment of the book.

I suspect this is just personal taste rather than a flaw in the writing. I've had this reaction before, often in a certain style of European novel, and I've come to the conclusion that it's just a literary manner I haven't learned to appreciate...kind of like liver or sweet potatoes. If you read the blurb and it sounds interesting, give it a try. Benni and Shugaar certainly had me smiling through most of it.

Tad! Glad to see you back. Whisper and I were just wondering the other day what happened to you.

I hope work settles down some so that you can check in on us every now and again, and possibly take a breath.

I also enjoyed Sharpe's Gold. The Television series made a mess of this book's plot, however.

Glad to see you back, Tad. I was hoping you hadn't abandoned us. You're right, it's a rough time of year to be trying to get any reading done. And yet, most of the time, that's what I need to regroup! Stay calm!

Tad
Stasia beat me to telling you that she and I were on the phone Sunday evening and wondering how you were and what the heck happened to you. It is very good to hear from you again. You are such an integral part of our group and you are missed.

It does sound like your priorities are right where they need to be. Books can wait -- children cannot.

Happy Holidays to you!

It's not as if you aren't ahead of the game! Happy holidays.

Tad - I have bought that Benni book home from a library a few times but it manages to go back unread each time. Looks like it might be worth a look at.

I am the same wrt time on LT recently - this time of the year is crazy, wildly busy. Plus I seem to need more sleep with the short days.

Best for the season and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I finally got hold of Sharpe's Tiger and can't put it down! Thanks for recommending the series! :D

Well, I'm not sure I'll get any more read in 2009, so I'll wrap it up here.

I ended up with 165 read—about 15 more than I targeted but not as misanthropic as 2008 was. I'm going to hold to the 150 target for this year, also.

A couple of my not-so-obsessive goals got met; others didn't...no big deal:

* Tried authors from 15 new countries...a reasonable pace to try something from every country at some point in my life.

* Read two more of Austen's novels...will try the last two, Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey, this year.

* Not so hot on the Shakespeare...only added one in 2009.

It was a pretty good year for reading. There were a few dogs but—largely thanks to a better pool of recommendations from LTers—much more that I enjoyed. I gave my sister 50 books for her 50th birthday and this year's reading made it a lot easier than it might have been to find ones I thought she'd like.

Picking my Final Four for Fiction of last year was tough, but I guess I give the nod to:



In nonfiction:



I'm starting a pair of Assia Djebar books that I need to get finished in the next couple weeks and then will get to tackle some of what I got for Christmas. Comments will be found here in the 2010 thread.

Great reads in 2009 Tad!

All good wishes for a wonderful New Year, filled with many interesting books.

Thanks again for all your computer help and tips!

Wow, 50 books?!! What a wonderful brother you are!

Hey, Tad, need another sister? I am available - I do not have any brothers! lol

:-)

She's a reader, also.

50! Wow!

What did you give her?