miss_chievous' 2008 challenge

I started out the year with the final book in the Gemma Doyle Trilogy, (1) The Sweet Far Thing.
(2) The Morning Gift, (3) Tortilla Flat, (4) Wolf Queen, (5) Wolf Wing, (6) The Diary of Anne Frank, (7) IceFire, (8) The Lightning Thief, (9) The Sea of Monsters, (10) The Titans Curse, (11) Fire Star, (12) Innocent Traitor, and (13) A Song for Summer.
This all I have so far. I am sure I read more books, I think I'm forgetting a few.

welcome, miss_chievous (neat user name also).

I forgot two books, here they are, (14) Speak and (15) Viking Warrior. Last night I finished (16) East. Now I reading Christy, it's from my Grandmother and I've been putting off reading it for a while, so I'm going to try and read it. I feel bad since I didn't read the last book she got me, The Screwtape Letters.

Screwtape Letters is lovely. You should (have) read it. :P

Really? I couldn't quite get into it.

I loved it as well. It's an occasional re-read for me.

Wow, Christy is still in print? I must have read that in the late 70s or very early 80s. . .

I just finished (17) Twilight and I can't wait to get New Moon tomorrow when I go into town. I'm still working on Christy though. I had to put it down because I couldn't resist to not read Twilight.

Borders didn't have New Moon in stock, so now I'm reading Tracks by Robyn Davidson for English class and Eleanor of Aquitaine in my free time.

I just finished (18) New Moon. I got it yesterday and finished it at 1:00 in the morning. I'm still reading Tracks for school, and I'm not sure if I should read The Historian or Once Upon a Time In the North.
Eleanor of Aquitaine was a little dry, I'm just too obsessed with fiction. Non-fiction seems boring compared to the magical and unreasonable fiction stories.

I couldn't hack Eleanor of Aquitaine either! And I'm a HUGE biography reader. Maybe it's not just us...maybe it's Alison Weir the author. ;)

I have this book too (TBR)...now I am wondering...I didn't enjoy her book about the little princes in the tower that much - and that story has always intrigued me a lot, so I was disappointed.

#11 & 13: I read The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir recently and felt the same way about it - long and dry. So I am wondering, who do I blame - her for writing it or him for marrying all those women?

I read David Starkey's histories of Elizabeth and Henry's wives. He is quite entertaining.

#15 torontoc: Looks like my local library has a couple of Starkey's books, so I will check them out. Thanks for the recommendation!

I finished (19) Tracks, and I read (20) Eclipse. Eclipse is SO good.

I'm STILL reading The Historian, it's kind of slowing down, so my reading's slowing down too.

I just finished (21) The Historian. I don't know if I liked it or not, I guess I did, but the end seemed a little rushed. The book was so long, and the story so complex, that it seemed like not everything was addressed at the end.
Now I'm going to read Katherine and/or Dragonwyck.

This year I have given up on two books: Christy and Eleanor of Aquitaine. I NEVER do that. I don't remember the last time I put a book down, I think the last time I did that was with East in 6th grade. I read it again and it was REALLY good. I'm glad I reread it, I think I'll try and read the rest of Christy in a few years.

I have to agree with your assessment on the ending of The Historian. But, on balance, I did like the book a great deal. I think I liked it more because i had read none of the reviews of it and had very little idea about the story when I read it. But it did seem to rush to a conclusion. The characters were able to jump through a few hoops so quickly that shouldn't have been so easy.

Exactly . . . . my friend didn't agree with my opinion of the ending.

I just finished (22) Katherine. It was really good, now I'm going to read Seton's other book, Dragonwyck.

Hi miss_chievous - I just finished the Historian last weekend: and ugh - with such magnificence and greatness Dracula was described - you're right - after 800-page build-up, it was over with a few words.

princess, I really wasn't expecting Dracula to have Rossi catalog books for him. . . . I mean, where did that come from??? I don't know what I was expecting, but not that.

I finished (23) Dragonwyck, it was good, but I like Katherine better. Dragonwyck was kind of cliche, but, Seton made it interesting and fun. Everyone wants a "happy ending", but in Dragonwyck, the happy ending is not the "obvious"(for lack of a better word) one.
Now I'm reading A Wrinkle in Time.

What was that again? Catalog books???????? What's that about? I gave up on The Historian about 3/4 of the way through - I couldn't stand a book, ostensibly about vampires, but with no vampires having appeared up to that point. I would have been really, really, really mad if I'd finished it for that kind of an ending.

Yeah, I guess, over all the years, Dracula has been collecting his favorite books. Most of them are about torture and war methods. So, he wanted someone smart to catalog the books for him since they're in many different languages, and they're old.
Oh yeah, you know how a lot of vampires were in libraries, that's because they were trying to find cool books for Dracula. Odd.

Last night I finished (24) A Wrinkle in Time, it was an easy, one day, read. Very interesting how the author describes "wrinkling"(traveling) in(through) time.

Tough crowd!!!

I'm sorry, but that ending to The Historian has got to be about the lamest one I've ever heard of. How did she ever get that published?!

I heard it was her first book . . . . . .

Now I'm reading The Queen's Bastard.

The Queens Bastard is interesting, there's this country called Aulun (sp?) and it's just like England. They have a queen called Lorraine, but she's described exactly like Elizabeth. And . . also, Queen Lorraine had an affair with a guy named Robert, like Queen Elizabeth who had an affair with Robin Dudley. So I think it's some kind of parallel world. Oh, and the queen of another coutry (I think it's Spain in our world) has Queen Irina as it's ruler, parallel: Queen Isabella of Spain. And . . . the two main religions are at war during this period, like Catholicism and Christianity. Very, very interesting . . . . .

I finished (25)The Queen's Bastard yesterday, it was good, but Belinda was a little too manipulative with other people's feelings for me.

I just finished (26)The House of the Scorpion. My Aunt gave it to me in February, and I thought I might give it a try. It was a lot better than I expected. I thought it would be some cheesy sci-fi book (it won three awards, so I thought it would be what adults "think" young adults would like). All in all, it exceeded my expectations.

i loved the reveal of the 'true' sci-fi world at the end of the book, and how everything was wrapped up. A very entertaining book.

I read the twilight saga too, eclipse being my favorite of the three.

Hi
I note quite a few historical fiction novels in your reading list. I highly recommend the site historicalfiction.org if you haven't visited this yet.

I am currently in the middle of Eleanor of Aquitane: A Life by Alison Weir and as several of you mentioned, am finding it VERY dry. I usually have one non-fiction or more scholarly book on my nightstand to read when I don't want to be up half the night reading fiction, that I read a chapter or two at a time, and this is it at the moment. I've read the Percy Jackson books, too, but am waiting for the fourth book to come out in paperback before I get it. They are fun. I second the Screwtape Letters as a fun read--especially if you then read Good Omens to compare and contrast the relationships of the supernatural beings!

Now I'm reading The Warrior Heir, by Cinda Williams Chima, pretty good so far, kind of losing me, but not quite.

>ajm: I have to say, i like Twilight the best out of the three, eclipse close behind, and then (of course) New Moon.

>Whisper: thanks for the site!!

>ronincats: yes, very very dry.
the Screwtape letters ( i only read the beginning, so correct me if i'm wrong) seemed to be placing the blame on "demons", rather than ourselves if we do something wrong. i don't know, it seemed more like a "it's okay, it wasn't your fault" type of book.

My own humble opinion on Screwtape Letters was not that Lewis was placing the blame on demons but more that he was examining the other side of the coin. Very few authors take on what a demon or the devil might be thinking about or how they might go about doing their duty. It seemed to me that Lewis was just describing that process as a cautionary tale.

>blackdogbooks: Thank you for your opinion, I never really thought of it that way.

Yesterday I finished (27)Warrior Heir, it was really good. Now I'm reading Avalon by Anya Seton.

If you don't know, Warrior Heir is the first in a series. Wizard Heir is the second, and I believe the third is out as well.

Thanks for the tip!

I finished (28) Avalon a few days ago, I finished (29) Dragons From the Sea a few minutes ago, and now I'm reading Witch Child. I can't wait to get the following book in the Strongbow Saga!!!!

I finished (30) Witch Child, (31) Vampire Academy, and (32) Ranger's Apprentice: Book 1.
All very good books, I enjoyed them all.

(33) Breaking Dawn is SO good!!! I finished (34) Ranger's Apprentice: Book 2 and (35) Ranger's Apprentice: Book 3. Now I'm reading Ranger's Apprentice: Book 4.

I am going to have to check out the Ranger's Apprentice books. They look like fun!

hi..I'm chiming in on message #37 and agreeing with Blackdogbooks observation re. The Screwtape Letters.

Also, if you haven't read Mark Twain's Letters From the Earth you might want to give it a try. As I remember, Satan(from earth) is writing to Gabriel (in heaven) expounding upon and sarcastically listing the many very interesting paradoxes of the human being.

That's one I hadn't heard about......thanks Whisper1!

# 45 Definitely read Ranger's Apprentice. They are really good.
# 46 Okay, Mark Twain is officially on my to-be-read list.

I finished (36) Ranger's Apprentice: Book 4, and (37) Vampire Academy: Frostbite. Both very good. I'm reading Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury for school. It's a strange, but I find it interesting.

Next I'm going to read Ranger's Apprentice: Book 7. The series is a little out of order, because book 7 was written after 5 and 6, but it takes place between 4 and 5.

I borrowed (38) The Year of Secret Assignments from my friend. It was pretty funny. Now I am really going to read Ranger's Apprentice: Book 7.

Okay, I finished (39) Ranger's Apprentice: Book 7. Now I'm going to read The Phantom of the Opera which I have finally got from the library. I had to get it shipped from another island.

I read (40) The Queen's Fool, it was good. Except it was a little slow at some parts. All around, pretty good. I just couldn't get past the beginning in The Phantom of the Opera, I guess I just wasn't feeling it. :)

I also liked in The Queens Fool, that it was more about Queen Mary, I never really cared for her that much before I read this book, I had always thought of her as "Bloody Mary".

Oh, and I finished (41) The Illustrated Man.

Did you like Ray Bradbury's The Illustrated Man
Personally, I think Bradbury is an incredible writer who can capture such vivid images within one sentence.
If you haven't read Something Wicked This Way Comes, I recommend this one.

Also, there are a number of books that look upon Mary favorably, or in a less harsh light. I'll check my library and send the titles to you.

> Whisper1, Yes, I did like The Illustrated Man, but in some editions the last short story "The Illustrated Man" is sometimes edited out, and the same with the story "The Fire Balloons". So, I had to get two different editions from the library to get all of the stories. But, if you can only get one edition, I recommend the edition with "The Fire Balloons", "The Illustrated Man" is a little creepy.
Did you read his book, From the Dust Returned? I have that and Something Wicked This Way Comes on my to-be-read list.

I would love to have more book recommends, well, looks like my tbr pile is going to get bigger. Inevitable I guess. :)

miss_chievous

Regarding book recommends, my list has grown ever so much as a result of reading the posts here on the 75 book challenge.

I have not read or heard of From The Dust Returned so I appreciate your mentioned this one.

If you would like to learn more about history, and in particular the Tudor period, there is a wonderful site called historicalfiction.org.
You might want to check this.

Here are some books you might want to read regarding Mary Tudor:

The First Queen of England:The Myth of Bloody Mary by Linda Porter

Bloody Mary Carolly Erickson

Henry VIII The King and His Court by Alison Weir

I've learned a lot about this time period from many authors. If you haven't already, you might want to read Jean Plaidy. I think she has a very interesting way of weaving facts within the framework of historical novel/fiction.

I've already read Bloody Mary, but I look up the others. Thanks for the site, but, you have recommeded it to me before :)
Jean Plaidy? Hmmmm. . . . sounds familiar, but I don't think I have read any of her books.

I finished (42) The Phantom of the Opera, it was very good, even if it did lose me a little bit in the beginning.

#58..
Hello and I'm sorry for the brain fog and forgetting that I previously recommended historicalfiction.org to you. Honestly, my mind isn't what it used to be!

Whisper 1, no need to apologize, I recently forgot about it, so since you recommended it again I've gone back to the site. :)

I finished (43) Kristin Lavransdatter: The Wreath with the Group Read. Now I'm onto the second in this trilogy.

I just got The Queens Secret by Jean Plaidy
Still reading Kristin Lavransdatter: The Wife

Please let me know your impressions of The Queens Secret when you are finished with this book.

Still reading Kristin Lavransdatter: The Wife

Finally finished (44)Kristin Lavransdatter: The Wife. It was a little too preachy in the beginning, but it was altogether "okay". Near the end, I didn't really understand some of Simon and Erling's conversations. I'm going to take a break from this series and read The Queen's Secret.

(45) The Queen's Secret was very good. Expertly written and I loved how Jean Plaidy portrayed the characters. Too bad it had a tragic ending.

Edited to fix touchstones

Thanks for your response to my inquiry. I haven't read this book, but have read others of hers. I'll see if my local library has this one.

I finished (46) A Wind in the Door.

Hi miss_chievous, I really like the works of Madeleine L'Engle What did you think of A Wind in the Door?

> Whisper1: A Wind in the Door was very good. I love L'Engle's imagination! It's a very fun story.

Right now I'm reading Here Be Dragons, Into the Wild, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I have to read Into the Wild and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide for school, so it's hard to find time for Here Be Dragons, which I was just getting into. *sigh*

my friends were talking in school the other day about Here Be Dragons because of it's ridiculous title. I heard it was actually a pretty good book.

Please post your thoughts on both Into the Wild and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I am about to read Under the Banner of Heaven, another Krakauer, and I just wathed the movie version of Into the Wild. Be interested in your thoughts on Krakauer. Stevenson's classic tale was one of my favorite reads this year, so I'd like to see what you thought and get a different perspective.

While your at it, Here Be Dragons does sound kinda interesting, so put down your thoughts on that one when you get around to it!

So far Here Be Dragons is SO good! I love the writing and how the story shifts smoothly from one characters perspective to the next.
The writing in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is beautiful. I haven't finished it yet, since I have to read at the pace of the class. It's a very intriguing mystery.
I also have to read at a slower pace with Into the Wild, but that's fine with me. It is . . . interesting, I guess, but easily put down and cast away.

Finished (47) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde a few days ago. I really liked this story, and Stevenson's play on human nature and the dark sides of our soul. The tale was a little dark at times, but over all, it was very good.

>57 Whisper1: Miss_chievous - Glad you liked Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Having seen the film with Spencer Tracy in the title role, in which he was really good, I found the book a little dreary. I suppose once the secret is known there is not much left to reveal. The splitting of good and evil into two entities was an interesting concept in its time but seems old hat now. However, kudos to Stevenson for thinking of it first!

I'm with you Miss....I liked the original a great deal. It seemed so much more focused and vital than all of the re-tellings and re-workings that have followed.

I haven't seen any of the movies yet, but I'm looking forward to receiving it from Netfllix.

Yesterday I finished (48) Here Be Dragons and it was very very good. Beautiful writing and lovable characters. !!!! :) Five Stars

And look at all the versions of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde if you can, because there are some amazing changes made to the story when it does to the screen!

>> Prop2gether, I'll be sure to do that.

I finished (49) Into the Wild last night. It was not a very interesting book, by I hear Krakauer's other book Into Thin Air is much better, so I think I'll give him another chance. Into the Wild is an easily forgotten book.

Into the Wild drove me crazy. I read it after Into Thin Air and something else by Krakauer and I like his work. But the young man was just so out of touch with reality that it really irritated me. At the time, my son was also finishing his Eagle requirements (and as the daughter of an Eagle), I knew full well that there was no reason for this kid to die, except for his own "vision." **shudder**

On the other hand, Into Thin Air has people who are almost as unprepared, but in that case, it seemed more to be an ego trip than a deliberate attempt to see how far they could go. I'd also recommend Under the Banner of Heaven for reading.

If you like Into Thin Air, you might give The Climb by Anatoli Boukreev a try. Boukreev is a professional mountain climber and was one of those involved in the rescue attempt of the people trapped on Everest detailed by Karakauer in Into Thin Air.

Thanks, Alcottacre, I knew there was another book about the Everest disaster that was recommended, but could not find it. It goes into my TBR.

No problem. Glad I could help.

I also read The Climb and enjoyed it. I have read Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven and listened to Into the Wild on tape. My reactions to the last two were outrage and mystification, respectively. One day I'll get to Into Thin Air.

A survival book I found hard to put down is Alive! by Piers Paul Read about the soccer players who crashed into the Andes, and some survived. What a story that was.

I read Alive! years ago and remember it as a very compelling story, but as I recall the version I read was in one of the Reader's Digest Condensed books. I will have to go back and read the full story.

Alive I just heard about a new documentary, with new interviews of the survivors, that is just now coming out. Sounds good. Heard about it on NPR, so you could probably find the reference to it on their website, if you like that sort of thing.

#87: Thanks for letting me know, Mac. I will check out the website and see if I can find any of the details about the documentary.

I've been reading Hadassah and The Lady Elizabeth for a while and now I started Gulliver's Travels.

Now that I am on break, I have had time to read. I finished (51)The Lady Elizabeth a few nights ago and I finished (52)Hadassah this morning. Both very good books. I don't think I'm going to be reading any more books about the Tudors for a while. Elizabeth's story was so familiar that I was more than a little bored during some parts in the book. Hadassah was very interesting because I had never read about that time period before. I haven't gotten any farther in Gulliver's Travels.

I'm not sure which book to read next.

Here ends my 75 book challenge of 2008. I only reached 52 books, but I must say I'm not at all disappointed, really. For they were all very enjoyable (well, most of them). Happy New Year!