Better late than whatever....
My book list for November and December:
28. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
29. Defenders of the Faith in Word and Deed by Fr. Charles P. Connor
30. Body of Evidence: A CSI Novel by Max Allan Collins
31. Face Down in the Marrow-Bone Pie by Kathy Lynn Emerson
32. Amazing Grace by Jonathan Kozol
33. Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks
Books for November and December
28. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Humorous and clever but not ultimately satisfying. I tried really hard to like this book but failed. Many of the concepts were ingenious but maybe it was the overall bleakness of tone that put me off. I hesitated about giving it to the kids but finally relented and asked for my daughter’s opinion. She blazed through it, gave it an indifferent “OK” and didn’t ask about the sequels. Doubt I will either.
29. Defenders of the Faith in Word and Deed by Fr. Charles P. Connor
A classic! Well, it will be when enough time goes by. Tightly but entertainingly written, Fr. Connor shows the depth of his historical knowledge in describing the lives of some famous and not so famous saints and pointing out their relevance for today. The book presents the saints in chronological order but each chapter stands alone so they could be read in any order. I lent my copy to a friend and she loved it too. I just hope I get it back!
30. Body of Evidence: A CSI Novel by Max Allan Collins
I love CSI even though I don’t get to watch it that often so I thought I’d give this a try. The cover of this book proclaimed “by the New York Times best-selling author”. You’re kidding me, right? I’ve read fanfiction better than this. He overdescribes, uses the main characters full names over and over and over and leaves in weird little non-sentences. Like this. If you can get on the NYT list with stuff like this, I may have a new career. That being said, the plot was interesting but I found the writing amateurish/sloppy.
31. Face Down in the Marrow-Bone Pie by Kathy Lynn Emerson
The first in a historical mystery series that was new to me. Again, I wanted to like it a lot but just couldn’t do it. The plot was too convoluted and, with the exception of the heroine, the characters were all quite flat and uninteresting. And, as much as I like strong female characters, our heroine sounded a little too much like a modern feminist (even though I agreed with her goals). It detracted from the story and I think the same plot points could have been achieved more subtly. Doubt I’ll read the sequels.
32. Amazing Grace by Jonathan Kozol
I read this book quite a few years ago but was glad to revisit it. Mr. Kozol did a lengthy study/interview with people he met in the South Bronx. The hellish conditions he describes there are almost unbelievable. It a sobering thing to realize what we human beings can do- or allow to happen- to our fellow men. I will probably never make it to the South Bronx but this book made me remember- again- my responsibility to continually look for ways to ‘love my neighbor’.
33. Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks
A true story of what can happen when you make bets while drinking. Tony is challenged to hitchhike around the perimeter of Ireland toting a portable refrigerator. Much hilarity ensues as the bet is accomplished. Silly, but also some nice character sketches of the folks who lend him assistance.
weeks 36/52= 69%
books 33/50= 66%
28. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
29. Defenders of the Faith in Word and Deed by Fr. Charles P. Connor
30. Body of Evidence: A CSI Novel by Max Allan Collins
31. Face Down in the Marrow-Bone Pie by Kathy Lynn Emerson
32. Amazing Grace by Jonathan Kozol
33. Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks
Books for November and December
28. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Humorous and clever but not ultimately satisfying. I tried really hard to like this book but failed. Many of the concepts were ingenious but maybe it was the overall bleakness of tone that put me off. I hesitated about giving it to the kids but finally relented and asked for my daughter’s opinion. She blazed through it, gave it an indifferent “OK” and didn’t ask about the sequels. Doubt I will either.
29. Defenders of the Faith in Word and Deed by Fr. Charles P. Connor
A classic! Well, it will be when enough time goes by. Tightly but entertainingly written, Fr. Connor shows the depth of his historical knowledge in describing the lives of some famous and not so famous saints and pointing out their relevance for today. The book presents the saints in chronological order but each chapter stands alone so they could be read in any order. I lent my copy to a friend and she loved it too. I just hope I get it back!
30. Body of Evidence: A CSI Novel by Max Allan Collins
I love CSI even though I don’t get to watch it that often so I thought I’d give this a try. The cover of this book proclaimed “by the New York Times best-selling author”. You’re kidding me, right? I’ve read fanfiction better than this. He overdescribes, uses the main characters full names over and over and over and leaves in weird little non-sentences. Like this. If you can get on the NYT list with stuff like this, I may have a new career. That being said, the plot was interesting but I found the writing amateurish/sloppy.
31. Face Down in the Marrow-Bone Pie by Kathy Lynn Emerson
The first in a historical mystery series that was new to me. Again, I wanted to like it a lot but just couldn’t do it. The plot was too convoluted and, with the exception of the heroine, the characters were all quite flat and uninteresting. And, as much as I like strong female characters, our heroine sounded a little too much like a modern feminist (even though I agreed with her goals). It detracted from the story and I think the same plot points could have been achieved more subtly. Doubt I’ll read the sequels.
32. Amazing Grace by Jonathan Kozol
I read this book quite a few years ago but was glad to revisit it. Mr. Kozol did a lengthy study/interview with people he met in the South Bronx. The hellish conditions he describes there are almost unbelievable. It a sobering thing to realize what we human beings can do- or allow to happen- to our fellow men. I will probably never make it to the South Bronx but this book made me remember- again- my responsibility to continually look for ways to ‘love my neighbor’.
33. Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks
A true story of what can happen when you make bets while drinking. Tony is challenged to hitchhike around the perimeter of Ireland toting a portable refrigerator. Much hilarity ensues as the bet is accomplished. Silly, but also some nice character sketches of the folks who lend him assistance.
weeks 36/52= 69%
books 33/50= 66%