Sarams's challenge

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Sarams's challenge

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1sarams
Modifié : Avr 20, 2009, 4:55 am

I'll put each category in a different post. When I have had time to think about it, I will add books to the categories.
This might make my reading a bit more systemathical. I never ever had a system before, I usually don't plan my reading AT ALL.

OK, so it might be a good idea to name the categories here,too.
1. Classics
2. Authors new to me
3. Romance
4. Mystery, crime, detective
5. Fantasy
6. Authors from the Nordic countries
7. Non-fiction
8. Historical fiction
9. Books that didn't fit anywhere else
10. Extra fantasy and romance




2sarams
Modifié : Nov 20, 2009, 7:35 am

CLASSICS

1.Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (read)
2. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (read)
3. Det skvallrande hjärtat by Edgar Allan Poe (read)
4. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (read)
5. Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy (read)
6. The war of the worlds by H G Wells (read)
7. Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (read)
8. The Time Machine by H.G Wells (read)
9. Moby Dick by Herman Melville (read)

3sarams
Modifié : Juil 11, 2009, 3:32 pm

AUTHORS NEW TO ME

1. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (read)
2. 19 minutes by Jodi Picoult (read)
3. The knife of never letting go by Patrick Ness (read)
4. The book thief by Marcus Zusak (read)
5. The sinner by Tess Gerritsen (read)
6. Dead Until dark by Charlaine Harris (read)
7. The Eyre Affaire by Jasper Fforde (read)
8. Emotional Geology by Linda Gillard (read)
9. In the cities of coin and spice by Catherynne M Valente (read)

4sarams
Modifié : Avr 20, 2009, 5:12 am

ROMANCE

1. The Maiden and The Unicorn by Isolde Martyn (read)
2. By Arrangement by Madeline Hunter (read)
3. Hard Day's Knight by Katie MacAlister (read)
4. Hidden fires by Betina Krahn (read)
5. How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks (read)
6. Full house by Janet Evanovich (read)
7. The Marriage Test by Betina Krahn (read)
8. The Wife Test by Betina Krahn (read)
9. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris (read)

5sarams
Modifié : Oct 5, 2009, 2:27 am

MYSTERY, CRIME, DETECTIVE

1. Fleshmarket Close by Ian Rankin (read)
2. A question of blood by Ian Rankin (read)
3. Vanish by Tess Gerritsen (read)
4. Män som hatar kvinnor by Stieg Larsson (read)
5. Pardonable Lies by Jaqueline Winspear (read)
6. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson (read)
7. Luftslottet som sprängdes by Stieg Larsson (read)
8. The Hanging Garden by Ian Rankin (read)
9. Kinesen by Henning Mankell (read)

6sarams
Modifié : Avr 20, 2009, 5:12 am

FANTASY
1. Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett (read)
2. The night watch by Sergei Lukyanenko (read)
3. Maneater by Thomas Emson (read)
4. Mort by Terry Pratchett (read)
5. Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett (read)
6. The blade of Fortriu by Juliet Marrillier (read)
7. Thud! by Terry Pratchett (read)
8. Dreams made flesh by Anne Bishop (read)
9. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (read)

7sarams
Modifié : Août 2, 2009, 5:37 am

AUTHORS FROM THE NORDIC COUNTRIES
(Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland)

1. Fakta om Finland by Erlend Loe (read)
2. Let the right one in by John Ajvide Lindqvist (read)
3. Anna är online, by Stefan Nyman (read)
4. Katarina by Kaari Utrio (read)
5. Iceland's bell by Halldór Laxness (read)
6. Skumtimmen by Johan Theorin (read)
7. Not before sundown by Johanna Sinisalo (read)
8. SS General by Sven Hassel (read)
9. Kom och hälsa på mig om tusen år by Bodil Malmsten (read)

8sarams
Modifié : Déc 2, 2009, 2:53 pm

NON-FICTION

1. The year 1000 by Robert Lacey (read)
2. Sveriges Österland by Kari Tarkiainen (read)
3. Den hemlige kocken by Mats-Eric Nilsson (read)
4. Allt dina vänner trodde de visste men som faktiskt är alldeles fel! by Ulf Ivar Nilsson (read)
5. True stories of pirates by Lucy Lethbridge (read)
6. Evas döttrar by Kaari Utrio (read)
7. Putin's Russia by Anna Politkovskaya (read)
8. Cities then and now by Jim Antoniou (read)
9. Banditer by Maud Webster (read)

9sarams
Modifié : Sep 26, 2009, 12:16 pm

HISTORICAL FICTION

1. Katherine by Anya Seton (read)
2. Vanajan Joanna by Kaari Utrio (read)
3. Hope by Lesley Pearse (read)
4. The Water Devil by Judith Merkle Riley (read)
5. Brideshead revisited by Evelyn Waugh (read)
6. The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly (read)
7. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer (read)
8. Written on the wind by Judith Pella
9. The Tainted Relic by The Medieval Murderers (read)

10sarams
Modifié : Juil 1, 2009, 3:39 pm

BOOKS THAT DIDN'T FIT ANYWHERE ELSE

1. Dragon Lovers, several authors (read)
2. Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich (read)
3. Anybody Out There? by Marian Keyes (read)
4. Twelve sharp by Janet Evanovich (read)
5. Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich (read)
6. Getting the Girl by Markus Zusak (read)
7. I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak (read)
8. Star Gazing by Linda Gillard
9. Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King

11sarams
Déc 2, 2008, 4:23 am

Oh, now I was being smart. I put Bitten by Kelley Armstrong in the "Authors new to me"- category, and if I like it, I add more of her books to the "Romance"-category.

12mrspenny
Modifié : Déc 2, 2008, 7:46 am

Have you read any books by Halldor Laxness, the Icelandic writer. The Atom Station and Independent People are two of his works. I can recommed The Atom Station.

13sarams
Déc 2, 2008, 10:33 am

I have heard of Halldor Laxness and was actually considering him for this challenge. I am still only deciding which books to read for this, and Iwill probably change my books as I go along.

14sarams
Déc 2, 2008, 10:33 am

Ce message a été supprimé par son auteur

15cmbohn
Déc 2, 2008, 3:21 pm

I loved Wyrd Sisters. So fun.

16sarams
Déc 3, 2008, 6:40 am

#15:I've heard it's fun, but I'll give my comments when I've read the book. It is new to me.

Actually, I will try not to put any re-reads in my challenge. I do read some books again and again, so I thought this challenge would be a good way of reading new things.

17sanddancer
Déc 4, 2008, 12:54 pm

I like the Nordic category. Have you read Naive Super by Erlend Loe? That would fit in this category (the author is from Norway) and is a sweet short read.

I'm also doing a Crime & Detectives category but am going to attempt to read books from different countries and quite a lot of these will probably be from the Nordic countries too as those places seem to produce some good dark detectives.

18sarams
Déc 4, 2008, 1:07 pm

Oh, thank you Sanddancer- it sounds like a book I might enjoy.

You are so full of ideas, all of you. Thank you for sharing them.

19tututhefirst
Déc 4, 2008, 2:31 pm

Hi Sarams....I too thought maybe re-reads would be cheating, but I put that category in my challenge and listed books I either didn't finish, or didn't like. I find sometimes a re-read several years later gives me an entirely new perspective. But, we'll see.....

20sarams
Déc 8, 2008, 6:34 am

A friend of mine also thought I would enjoy Naive.Super by Erlend Loe. So I added it, even if I haven't bought it, or found it in the library or elsewhere yet. Speaking of the library, the librarian suggested I'd read John Ajvide Lindqvist Let the Right One In, I added it to the Nordic category, but I might transfer it to the mystery-section later on.

21sarams
Déc 17, 2008, 12:59 pm

OK, new additions after another visit to the library. Jodi Picoult was recommended to me a while ago, but I never got around to reading anything by her. I chose 19 Minutes because there was a shooting incident in a school quite close to the place I live in this autumn.

The Year 1000 in the non-fiction category. I have a feeling most books in that category will be about history.. but I still didn't want to narrow that category down.

22cyderry
Déc 17, 2008, 7:38 pm

I have Madame Bovary on my list too. Let me know when you think you might start it and maybe we can read it at the same time.
Cheli

23Ambrosia4
Déc 17, 2008, 7:44 pm

Picoult is one of my mother and I's favorite authors (one of my few favorite contemporary authors). Some say she's over the top, but I really like the ideas in her novels. I hope you enjoy!

24sarams
Déc 18, 2008, 4:18 am

Cyderry: I think I will start very soon with Madame Bovary. I have it on my shelf already, have had for several years, and never quite gotten around to reading it. I will take it with me to my inlaws December 23rd.

25ReneeMarie
Déc 18, 2008, 12:13 pm

If you're looking for an overlap, you may want to try Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness. Not only does it fit your Nordic category, but it's about 17th century Iceland so it would fit your historic fiction category, too. I haven't read it, yet, but it's in my personal library.

Another book that would overlap is the Kristin Lavransdatter books by Sigrid Undset. The first book is The Bridal Wreath. It's medieval Norway. We read the first book for my historical fiction book group. There's a new edition of the trilogy in one volume translated by Tina Nunnally. I believe Penguin publishes it.

Laxness and Undset have both won the Nobel prize, too.

26sarams
Déc 18, 2008, 12:21 pm

Oh ReneeMarie, I would love to include Kristin Lavransdatter, but since I decided to not have any re-reads in this challenge, I can't.
Ambrosia4: I hope I will like it.

27sarams
Modifié : Jan 4, 2009, 10:49 am

OK, I have now officially started the challenge. So to make it a real challenge I have to finish before December 24th 2009.. I started reading Hard Days Knight, and finished it, and I also started Madame Bovary. Number 1 and 2, that is.

28sarams
Modifié : Jan 4, 2009, 10:49 am

#3 I read Dragon Lovers. Since it was a collection of shorter stories, I decided to put it in my catch-all category rather than in the romance category. I have also not reviewed this one. I liked three of the stories just fine, and then I didn't like the last one at all. Since it was the last one I read, it kind of stayed in my memory, so I fear it would affect my total review. Interesting reading also of the non-fiction kind in The Year 1000.

29sarams
Déc 31, 2008, 2:16 am

The Knife of Never Letting Go is next. I started it last night, and it was good. I kept on reading this morning so I was almost late for work. It's early days, but this seems like a really good book.

30sarams
Modifié : Jan 4, 2009, 10:50 am

# 4 The Knife of Never Letting Go is a very good book. I recommend it to almost anyone. It is classified as young adult, but it has a lot to give to a not-so-young adult as myself. It is absolutely thrilling, and sometimes it felt like I just couldn't read fast enough. What can one say- looking forward to the next book I guess

31sarams
Modifié : Jan 4, 2009, 10:50 am

I read # 5, By Arrangement, Madeline Hunter. It was no more than OK, although medieval romances usually are a favourite of mine.

32sarams
Jan 4, 2009, 10:55 am

#6 was to be Bitten by Kelley Armstrong. A nice aquaintance, I will read more by this writer. Also it had one of my favourite setups for hero&heroine, a strong independent heroine and a hero who is very clear of just how much he loves her.

33avatiakh
Jan 5, 2009, 4:39 am

I read Knife of never letting go last year and also really enjoyed it. I love reading a book that you can't put down!

34sarams
Jan 5, 2009, 3:06 pm

Yes, avatiakh- and when it is THAT exciting until the last sentence on the last page- and it ends with a cliffhanger! Patrick Ness sure does have his work cut out for him, there will be a lot of readers just dying to know what happens next- what if the next book isn't as good? What if something doesn't feel right when I read the next book? I'm not one to continue with a series just because I've read ONE of the books in it.

35sarams
Jan 10, 2009, 2:57 pm

#7 is read, Ian Rankin- Fleshmarket close. And the I quickly moved along to 19 minutes- Jodi Picoult. Don't you just love weekends when life doesn't interrupt your reading time so much!

36sarams
Jan 11, 2009, 11:50 am

#8 19 minutes, Jodi Picoult. An interesting story, well written, very disturbing.

37sarams
Jan 13, 2009, 2:15 pm

#9 Mort by Terry Pratchett. This was actually the first I've read by him, other than Good Omens where he was cowriter. And my first Discworld novel, but surely not my last.

38sarams
Jan 18, 2009, 5:23 am

#10 A romance novel, Hidden Fires by Betina Krahn. I liked some aspects of this book, but not all, the hero was a bit too full of himself, and somehow there was one too many twists in the story in the end. It'll be a three on my rating system I think, and some of the things about this book I liked very much, like the fact that there is some humor involved also.

39sarams
Jan 24, 2009, 12:45 pm

#11, Katherine by Anya Seton, a lovely story. I still agree with my original thought, that it is more historical fiction than romance. It certainly is romantic, too, but I like it that she stays true to her first husband even if he isn't the love of her life.

40sarams
Jan 27, 2009, 3:36 pm

#12, Wyrd sisters, Terry Pratchett. I liked it all in all, but I thought Mort was slightly better. The reason might be my mental image of Death as a chef. Anyway, a visit to the library today has brought a number of additions to my categories.

41sarams
Jan 29, 2009, 2:26 pm

#13, The book thief by Markus Zusak. I had heard the praise for this book, but I must confess I felt a bit sceptical, there are thousands of books related to world war 2. All I can say is that this one is not like any of them, this book is truly unique.

42sarams
Fév 1, 2009, 7:50 am

#14, Fakta om Finland, Erlend Loe. I found this to be a difficult read, and I did not enjoy it as a whole. In places it was funny, but the overlong sentences made it tiresome to read.

43sarams
Fév 1, 2009, 8:01 am

#15, The year 1000- but I did finish this a long time ago back with the Dragon Lovers,I just somehow forgot to mention it here. Oh well, I have never been very organized.

44sarams
Fév 4, 2009, 2:01 pm

#16 in this challenge is The night watch by Sergei Lukyanenko. Well worth a read for anyone who likes fantasy.

45VictoriaPL
Fév 4, 2009, 3:13 pm

Are you planning on reading the sequels? I enjoyed Twilight Watch the best, but I have not yet been able to read The Last Watch.

46sarams
Fév 5, 2009, 2:01 am

Yes, I think I will. I'm in no hurry with them, but judging from The Night Watch they will be at least decent fantasies.

47sarams
Fév 9, 2009, 2:52 am

#17 and #18. First the nonfiction Sveriges Österland (by Kari Tarkiainen), is about the history of Finland beginning from the Iron Age and until the 1520's. Finland was a part of Sweden from the late 1100's, that's why the title mentions Sweden. I'm always on the lookout for books about the Middle Age, and especially when it's about Finland. Unfortunately, this book didn't give me a lot of new insights, except for a few places where the Baltic countries were mentioned. I realize I have a big gap in my knowledge of the Baltic countries before- well- the year 1900 really. This would be a topic for other nonfiction reads.
And then John Ajvide Lindqvist- Let the right one in. This was scary, and also unsettling. Recently I have gotten used to the paranormal romance vampires, who quite frankly seem to look for love a lot more than they look for blood. In this book, the vampire clearly uses other people's need for love for its own purpose. It's also about parents with problems (drinking problems and other problems) and children that don't do too well. Well written but very unsettling.

48sarams
Fév 12, 2009, 3:15 am

#19, Tess Gerritsen, The Sinner. A decent police novel. I will read more by this author when I'm in the mood for detective and police work.

49sarams
Fév 16, 2009, 3:01 am

The fantasy category is almost (but not entirely) a Terry Pratchett- category. It's just that I hadn't discovered him until recently, and now I have a lot of very funny fantasy books to read. So, # 20 read for this challenge is Men at Arms, by Terry Pratchett.

50sarams
Fév 20, 2009, 8:00 am

#21, Ian Rankin, A Queston of Blood. I wasn't really in the mood for any kind of novels about police work right now, and that's probably why I didn't enjoy this book as much as the ones I've read before by the same author. It was due back to the library, that's why I read it now.

51sarams
Mar 4, 2009, 2:42 am

I was on a week's holiday, and I did some reading. (Surprise?) # 22, The Maiden and the Unicorn by Isolde Martyn. It had been some time since I had read any romance (romance belongs to my standard reading), so it was lovely to be back in that, but the book itself was a bit obvious. A decent standard historical romance, with a little extra thanks to the dog involved.
# 23 was anything but romance, Maneater by Thomas Emson. Very well written book, a little too violent for my taste. # 24 was Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich. I decided to put that in the "Didn't fit anywhere else"- category, but I could have put it in "Authors new to me" too. Only time will tell where it ends up finally. I am a bit annoyed that the first book I read about Stephanie Plum is number 11, but when you're on holiday and that's available in the bookstore in a language you can read, then that's what you read. And it was a light funny read, I will definately read more about Stephanie Plum, if for nothing else then for the dialogue.
#25 was Blade of Fortriu by Juliet Marrillier. The reason to start with book number 2 in a series is the same as above. From what I had heard, Juliet Marrillier's writing should be something I like, and it was spot-on. This was the one of my holiday reading I enjoyed most. I put this book in the "Fantasy" category, again, it could have been "Authors new to me", but I thought that there can be something else besides Terry Pratchett there.

52sarams
Mar 8, 2009, 1:52 pm

#26 is Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. In places the language was brilliant, but on the whole I found the book a bit boring.

53sarams
Mar 9, 2009, 4:29 am

#27. Vanajan Joanna by Kaari Utrio. Lovely story about a woman from "the deep Finnish forests" and the man that comes to love her. Not so much a romantic love story (even if there is that) as a realistic portrait of the middle ages in Finland. Plus a bit of action (murders and intrigues) that may or may not have been realistic to expect in medieval Finland, but does make up for a good read.

54sarams
Mar 12, 2009, 8:47 am

#28. Anybody Out There by Marian Keyes. I usually like her books, but in this I was a bit overwhelmed with all the deep emotions and had no chance to really digest anything. As for category.. hmm.. doesn't fit anywhere really- OK so that category it is!

55avatiakh
Mar 15, 2009, 2:48 am

Have to agree with you about Mrs Dalloway, I'm currently reading about 2/3 through the book and am definitely not finding it riveting in any way. Probably too sophisticated for my current reading mood, I have too many distractions to give it my full attention.

56sarams
Mar 15, 2009, 6:18 am

That's probably it, too sophisticated. But I will probably write down a few quotes from the book in my notebook. Sometime later.

In the meantime, I've finished #29, Tess Gerritsen- Vanish. Now this one I liked. It's the same appeal as in romance books, you know it'll be all right in the end. No way would I read about a pregnant woman held hostage if I wasn't pretty sure she'd make it.. and it was nice the way that the hostage situation wasn't all there was to it.

57sarams
Mar 23, 2009, 3:58 am

Busy busy reading weekend. #30 Thud! by Terry Pratchett, #31 How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks, #32 and 33 Twelve Sharp and Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich, and finally #34 Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris, that I finished really late yesterday night.

.. so far this challenge really hasn't made me expand my horizons that much.. except that I read a lot more fantasy than I used to, but that was going to happen anyway.

58sarams
Mar 25, 2009, 4:45 am

#35, Stefan Nyman, "Anna är online".
A thrilling read, as this is the author's first book I wonder if he will keep writing and what he will write next..

I didn't have high expectations for this one, but it is a good read (even if it isn't the best I've read). Do read it if you read books in Swedish.

59ReneeMarie
Mar 25, 2009, 9:36 pm

Du kommer fra Sverige? (Nei, jeg snakker ikke svensk.) Well, that explains the Scandinavian authors category!

I've heard crime fiction/mysteries are really popular in your neck of the woods, especially around Easter. Any insight into why? (Asks the bookseller.)

Mange tak, Renee
(who knows only one or two words of Norwegian, and those thanks to working at a museum of immigration to Wisconsin)

60sarams
Mar 26, 2009, 3:40 am

Nope, ReneeMarie, I'm more exotic than that: I belong to the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland. (So does the author Stefan Nyman actually..)

61ReneeMarie
Mar 28, 2009, 4:07 pm

60> Interesting! Geographically, are you primarily located near the border with Sweden, and does your inclusion in Finland/Suomi result from border changes? The only minority I was familiar with, at least to some extent, was the Sami.

One of the reasons for Finnish immigration to the US in the late 19th century, we're told, was to avoid mandatory service in the Russian army. Has Russia left much mark on Finnish culture?

Nosily, curiously, Renee

62sarams
Mar 29, 2009, 10:05 am

In short: Once upon a time the Swedish king decided that his neighbors in Finland should be Christian (1100's), there were crusades etc. and then Finland became a part of Sweden until 1809, when it became a part of Russia. And in the turmoil after World War One Finland became independent in 1917. The Swedish speaking people live mainly on the coasts of Finland.

There is some dispute about if there were people speaking Swedish before that in Finland, some archeological findings might suggest that. Also, in those days it was far easier to travel over water than in the forests. But, hard to tell.

In the northern parts of Sweden there's a language spoken, Meänkieli, which is closely related to Finnish.

Now, about Russia- influences can be seen in food culture for example. And we have two state churchs, the Lutheran/Protestant and the Orthodox. But due to the Second World War you might not see a lot of people in Finland admit that there are any Russian influences here..

63sarams
Mar 29, 2009, 10:09 am

And I've read some too. #36 Janet Evanovich, Full House and #37 The Marriage Test, Betina Krahn.

64ReneeMarie
Mar 29, 2009, 2:11 pm

62> Thanks for answering my questions. I'm learning how much I don't know: I knew Sweden/Norway/Denmark had wrestled back and forth for control of Scandinavia, but, maybe because of the language differences, I assumed Finland wasn't part of that.

And except for Patrick, never thought a great deal about efforts to impose new religions on Europe. Crusade isn't a term I ever applied to northern Europe, with the exception of "departing from." Other nastiness, like inquisitions and burning heretics, yes.

I think for my next museum book group pick, I may see if I can find a basic, one volume history of Scandinavia through at least the turn of the 20th century.

Thanks again, Renee

65sarams
Avr 2, 2009, 11:48 am

#38 The Wife Test, Betina Krahn. Thank you Bookmoochers, if it wasn't for you I wouldn't have been able to read the whole series.
#39 Hope by Lesley Pearse.

66sarams
Modifié : Avr 9, 2009, 5:10 pm

#40 Charlaine Harris, Living dead in Dallas, #41, Broken by Kelley Armstrong, #42, No Humans Involved by Kelley Armstrong.

Lovely to see a book where the pregnant heroine isn't all helpless (that would be Broken). Now, my romance category is owerflowing. I AM going to put these in that category, though with Women of the Otherworld, I'm not so sure anymore that's where they belong. They are more of a mystery with a touch of romance. And they would certainly be fantasy books too. I'll think about that for a while.

67sarams
Avr 13, 2009, 10:31 am

#43 Katarina by Kaari Utrio. Generally, I enjoy reading Kaari Utrios historical books. But I just thought there was so much sadness and unhappiness in this book that I didn't enjoy it, however well-written and well-researched as it was- and probably realistic, too. I just have a hard time with domestic violence and married people having affairs. Though I don't doubt that's what many women were facing in the middle ages, just as they are today.

#44 Dreams Made Flesh by Anne Bishop. As unnerving as Anne Bishop's stories sometimes are, good is rewarded and evil punished. I liked the first story best, Weaver of Dreams.

68sarams
Modifié : Juin 16, 2009, 6:21 am

EXTRA FANTASY AND ROMANCE

1. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
2. Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris
3. Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens
4. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
5. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
6. All together dead by Charlaine Harris
7. The Book of Seven Delights by Betina Krahn
8. Stolen by Kelley Armstrong
9. Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong
10. Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong
11. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
12. Daughter of the forest by Juliet Marrillier

69sarams
Avr 20, 2009, 5:09 am

So, I've added a new category. I have been thinking about what to do about the romance books I've been reading, and the fantasy books I will soon read that didn't have any more room.. This is the answer, an extra catergory.

# 45 Club Dead and # 46 Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris.
#47 Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens
#48 Getting the Girl by Markus Zusak
#49 The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
#50 Den Hemlige kocken by Mats-Eric Nilsson

70sarams
Avr 23, 2009, 3:04 pm

Now, for my classics category, a collection of short stories by Edgar Allan Poe (translated to Swedish) called "Det Skvallrande Hjärtat". This was #51.

71sarams
Avr 26, 2009, 2:45 pm

#52, The Water Devil by Judith Merkle Riley. I've read the other books about Margaret of Ashbury, I enjoyed A Vision of Light very much, not so fond of In Pursuit of the Green Lion, the third one was again better than number 2. I especially enjoy all the side characters.

72sarams
Avr 26, 2009, 2:46 pm

#53, Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. It added to the extra category. Highly entertaining.

73avatiakh
Mai 1, 2009, 5:21 pm

Lots of your reading is already on my tbr pile, but unfortunately not part of this challenge. I'm currently reading Gaiman's Fragile Things, a short story collection that is not anywhere near as entertaining as I remember Neverwhere was.
I'm already adding bonus books to some of my categories but neglecting others so I understand the need for an extra category or two.

74sarams
Mai 4, 2009, 3:27 am

#54, The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. There were a few elements in this book that are just to my taste. The "what if" -part, and the time travelling, to be precise. But I must admit that I struggled a bit to get into this book. I did start to enjoy it about halfway through. 3/5.

75sarams
Mai 4, 2009, 3:41 am

I thought this challenge would be a way to read things I wouldn't otherwise. So far it's not working so well. I could have done like you, avatiakh, and just added bonus books of course.

76avatiakh
Mai 4, 2009, 5:03 pm

I ended up enjoying Fragile Things. I'm doing the challenge in an attempt to read some of the many books I own but haven't got round to reading - sorting them into categories was fun, but I'm still reading heaps of other non-challenge books. I joined the 75 book & 100 book challenge so all my reading is at least recorded this year.

77cmbohn
Mai 15, 2009, 2:28 pm

I love Terry Pratchett.

The only Juliet Marillier I have read is Wildwood Dancing. Where is a good place to start with her other books? Are they similar?

78sarams
Mai 24, 2009, 3:44 pm

Well, the only one I read was "The Blade of Fortriu". I have book three of The Bridei Chronicles, but I haven't started it yet. I'd say that one I read is basic, traditional fantasy. Good, yes, but if you're not a fan of fantasy you probably won't like it.

79sarams
Mai 25, 2009, 3:23 am

Update on my reading:
#55 I An the Messenger. Markus Zusak
#56 Dead As A Doornail, Charlaine Harris
#57 All Together Dead, Charlaine Harris
#58 The book of the Seven Delights, Betina Krahn
#59 Män som hatar kvinnor (in English, The Girl With the Dragon tattoo), Stieg Larsson
#60 Stolen, Kelley Armstrong
#61 Dime Store Magic, Kelley Armstrong

I have a new favourite author, Markus Zusak. The Sookia Stackhouse and Women of the Otherworld series I'm enjoying much so far. I decided to put Stieg Larsson in my crime etc. category, it looked a bit anemic compared to the "Authors from the Nordic Countries" or "Authors new to me" categories which both could have been alternatives. Besides, I have another Swedish murder mystery on the shelf, I can make another choice with that one if I need to. I also started Frankenstein by Mary Shelley for my classics category- I'm making progress, but slowly. I keep getting tempted into reading other books..
The size of World Without End keeps putting me off reading that one. I put my hope to my summer vacation.

80sarams
Mai 25, 2009, 3:34 am

#62 Allt dina vänner trodde du visste men som faktiskt är helt fel! by Ulf Ivar Nilsson (translates to Everything your friends thought they knew but they're actually quite wrong about).

A little book about random misconceptions. Like how short Napoleon really was, for example. I got this as a birthday present from my brother.

81sarams
Juin 2, 2009, 3:35 am

#63 Skumtimmen by Johan Theorin (Echoes from the dead in English apparently). Not a great criminal story, barely 3/5. An OK read, but I failed to be interested in the characters, and was only mildly surprised when the criminal was revealed.

#64 Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong. A good read, but I must say I liked Dime Store Magic much better.

82sarams
Juin 7, 2009, 1:36 pm

#65 Pardonable Lies by Jaqueline Winspear. I was delighted to find a Maisie Dobbs Novel I hadn't read in the library.
#66 From Dead To Worse by Charlaine Harris. I just might have had my fill of Sookie Stackhouse for a while. just as well, since the latest one is only available in hardback here, and that puts my budget in disorder.
#67 Emotional Geology by Linda Gillard, there was a lot of discussion about Linda Gillard on a forum I frequent, and I decided to check for myself, and boy am I glad I did. I seem to enjoy books with lyrical use of words, which makes me think that I would maybe enjoy reading poetry too. I'll have to try on of these days.

83sarams
Juin 16, 2009, 6:16 am

# 68 Star Gazing by Linda Gillard. I liked Emotional Geology better, but this was still an excellent read. I'd recommend it to anyone, or at least to someone who likes unusual love stories, and beautiful use of language.
#69 The Girl Who Played With Fire and #70 Luftslottet som sprängdes by Stieg Larsson, numbers two and three in the Millennium-trilogy. Everybody kept talking about these books, even people who don't read much normally, and I even saw the movie, so I thought I'd read them. The story in book number 1 is more separate than in these two, I felt it was just one story randomly chopped into two books. It's not that they're bad books, but they're certainly not as excellent as everyone says- a basic criminal story with a bit of government corruption thrown in.

84sarams
Juin 16, 2009, 6:43 am

And #71 Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier. I actually read this one before the two Stieg Larsson ones.

85sarams
Juin 18, 2009, 3:06 am

#72 Frankenstein, or the modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley. It's not the worst I've read, but I can't say I really enjoyed it. Still, a much needed addition to the "classics"- category. I had no sympathy at all for dr Frankenstein, that may be why I didn't enjoy the book so much.

86sarams
Modifié : Juin 26, 2009, 1:47 am

#73 Brideshead revisited by Evelyn Waugh. This is not the kind of book I normally enjoy, it is definately slow reading. But slowly I got hooked, and towards the end I couldn't put this books down. Normally I don't like books where someone is unfaithful to their wife or husband, but in this book I didn't look at it with the same eye as I usually do.

87sarams
Juil 1, 2009, 3:50 pm

#74 Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King. Once upon a time I read everything Stephen King wrote. Now I don't, but occasionally one finds its way to me.
#75 SS General by Sven Hassel. I found this book in a fleamarket and thought it would make an excellent addition to my Nordic authors, since he's Danish. Now I have at least one from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland- I'm satisfied.

88sarams
Juil 11, 2009, 3:41 pm

#76 True stories of pirates by Lucy Lethbridge. I read it to see if it's suitable for my boys to read. It will be in a few years I think.
#77 In the cities of coin and spice by Catherynne M Valente. A new author, good use of language, and a nice fantasy world. And isn't it good she fit in the authors new to me- category, or else it would just have added to the extra fantasy..

89sarams
Juil 12, 2009, 10:54 am

More non-fiction: A book about European history from the women, children and families' point of view. "Evas döttrar" by Finnish author Kaari Utrio, an interesting read.

90sarams
Juil 28, 2009, 11:27 am

Books read thet fit into these categories: Ian Rankin The Hanging Garden and The Guernsey Literary and Potato peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer.

91sarams
Août 2, 2009, 5:47 am

Two books read that fit into my categories: I finally finished Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy- well done me, I've had the book for ages and tried to read it every now and then. The funny thing is that it's not a bad book either, but I could only read it in small sections.
The other one is a book by Swedish author Bodil Malmsten, Kom och hälsa på mig om tusen år. This was a Christmas present from a good friend, who always manages to find me strange books. They're never bad, they're just not the kind of books I'd think to buy for myself. She said that the title caught her attention, we see each other very infrequently, but always if we happen to be in the same area. So she said I'd be welcome to visit even if it was a thousand years since I saw her the last time. Which is the title in English- Visit me in a thousand years.

92sarams
Août 24, 2009, 1:07 am

I've read a classic: The War Of The Worlds by H G Well, only 3 more to go in that category- yay!

93sarams
Oct 9, 2009, 3:24 am

3 non-fiction books and 2 classics still to read before christmas. It can be done!

94sarams
Nov 9, 2009, 4:20 am

One classic and one non-fiction still to go! I'm sensing the end here. I also found the book by Anna Politkovskaya (Putin's Russia) well written and interesting, if a little outdated by now.

95sarams
Déc 2, 2009, 2:55 pm

And my last book in this challenge is a book about bandits in Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily. Non-fiction. A pretty shallow book nonetheless.

96cmbohn
Déc 3, 2009, 6:43 pm

Congrats on finishing!