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This is the thread for you to list your books read in December 2011.

It would be helpful to others if you would:

- provide a GR link for the book title & author
- A few sentences telling how you feel about the book
- Give a rating

Thanks.

I won't be finishing any more books in 2011.

I had a good year. I read 96 books. 35 fiction and 61 non fiction.

My December reads were:

Cutting for Stone~Abraham Verghese
Fiction
Rate: 4 minus
I liked this book about twin boys. However, it was way too long.

An Amish Christmas~Cynthia Keller
Fiction
Rate: 3 +
I enjoyed this simple tale of what Christmas should really be about.

Losing Mum and Pup~Christopher Buckley
non-fiction
Rate: 3 minus
Memoir by Christopher Buckley about his famous mom and dad. It was a sad to read of William F. Buckley's decline. The writing is full of black humor.

A Reckoning: A Novel~May Sarton
Fiction
Rate: 5
I've read a lot of Sarton's non fiction but this is the first fiction book by Sarton that I've read. It was a Buddy Read here at BNC. Thank you, Deborah, for sharing this wonderful book with me. Even if I had to read the last 10 pages through my tears ! Well written and thought provoking.

Wishin' and Hopin'~Wally Lamb
Fiction
Rate 2
If you grew up in the 60's you will probably enjoy all the references. I thought the plot was just fair. I was expecting more from Wally Lamb.

EcoMind: Changing the Way We Think, to Create the World We Want~Frances Moore Lappe
Non fiction
Rate: 3
Well done book on ecology. It was a joy to see Lappe on Book TV. She gives one hope for the future.

Gretel's Story~Gretel Wachtel
non fiction
rate: 3
I came upon this book by browsing my libraries new book shelf. It was an interesting look at WWII from the perspective of a young German women.


All in all a good reading month. I hope next year will be as good to me as 2011 was.

I look forward to reading about your December reads.

Alias Reader wrote: "A Reckoning: A Novel~May Sarton
Fiction
Rate: 5
I've read a lot of Sarton's non fiction but this is the first fiction book by Sarton that I've read. It was a Buddy Read here at BNC. Thank you, Deborah, for sharing this wonderful book with me. Even if I had to read the last 10 pages through my tears ! Well written and thought provoking. ..."

I was a bit stunned to realize this is the sole book i read this month. It was a winner, though, so i'm satisfied with it being my only reading accomplishment. And i'm pleased to have shared it with you, Alias.

deborah, having trouble with the year's best & worst, though

Deborah, do you keep your books listed online here at GR?

I am finding it very easy to compose my list, since I just go to MY BOOKS (you know, the link no one wants to bother reading when I post it monthly!)

LOL, JoAnn. Yes, i know the one you mean. I keep my list on a spreadsheet on my computer (stored many places, of course--you know me!). My problem is boiling the titles down. Deciding what makes something "worst" is the problem, rather than the "best" list. I've learned some great info from some of my "worst" contenders. Somehow it seems wrong to file them under worst.

deb

I will be reading Cutting for Stone and A Reckoning: A Novel this year.

Here are my reads for December;

A Year in My Garden: Flowers, Food, Family & Friends terrific food ideas, lovely photos.. a grear coffee table book. 4 stars
As I Lay Dying I struggled with this at first, could not make out characters and the goings on but checked out the title on wikipedia which helped greatly. Went onto enjoy and found it rather comical. 4 stars
Mrs. Dalloway I liked the writing style and phrasing but found the subject matter ( a day in the life of a London socialite in the 20's (?)) dull and boring. 2 stars
Joan Makes History Nice idea of 'different' Joans living at the time of important events in Australia's history. This required jumping between different characters and eras all the time. 3 stars.
The Scent of Oranges Somehow I finished this, with the descriptions of Sth African farms, countryside and local people sustaining me. An expat Sth African returns home to solve the murder of her brother based on her reading of crime novels. I found it unbelievable and I didn't like the writing style either. 1 star
To The Island by Meaghan Delahunt. An easy read, as an Australian woman goes to Greece to find her father and learns a little of her heritage. Some of the dialogue I found unrealistic. 2 stars
House of Sand and Fog Iranian migrants to USA come up against a troubled local woman over a bungled house sale, with awful consequences for the former. A depressing but realistic story in classic Oprah Book Club style. 3 stars
Desertions by Abdulrazak Gurnah. Set in early 20th century in Kenya and Tanzania, an Englishman falls in love with a local Mombasan woman with repercussions for generations. I enjoyed it at first but became lost as the storyline jumped back and forth. 2 stars

I have yet to compile my best and worst for 2011. Happy New Year everyone! We get an early start here in Aust of course.

Not as impressive a month for page count. Christmas home with the family plus being sick equals a lot of movie watching, being drunk, and eating (not in that order) It doesn't allow much time for reading

Next month (and year!) will be better

December 2011
Snows of Kilimanjaro -Ernest Hemingway (160 pages)
Great short stories by Hemingway. Most of them have his standard journalistic style focusing heavily on hunting and masculinity, but there are a few great moments of beautiful prose.

Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook -Anthony Bourdain (281 pages)
Bourdain's memoire followup to Kitchen Confidential. It shows not so much an evolution in his style, but more that he's just getting old. His style seems tired and forced by this point. Right now, I think he's better for TV.

after the quake: Stories -Haruki Murakami (192 pages)
Nothing makes sense in the world of Murakami, and that's exactly how I want it.

How Italian Food Conquered the World -John F. Mariani (288 pages)
Really haphazard look at Italian American food and the Godfather, but ignoring the most prevalent Italian restaurant of all (Olive Garden)

A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories -Flannery O'Conner (265 pages)

Lucky Peach food magazine: issue 2 -David Chang (160 pages)
For those who love food, this is an amazing quarterly magazine. It's published my McSweeny's and is full of articles, recipes, great photos and McSweeny's characteristic indie style. This issue was about "The Sweet Spot" (which includes memories of certain foods from that special period in your life; the perfect level of rot/fermentation in an aged steak, kimchee and ikejime fish; as well as the literal sweet spot of cakes and pies).

The Physics of Superheroes -James Kakalios (365 pages)
Mediocre look at both physics and comic books. I feel like it would have been more interesting if I did not remember Newtonian physics from high school. But since I do, it felt more than a little redundant.

December 2011 total pages: 1711
Total 2011 pages: 23529
Total all time pages: 32670

Madrano wrote: "LOL, JoAnn. Yes, i know the one you mean. I keep my list on a spreadsheet on my computer (stored many places, of course--you know me!). My problem is boiling the titles down. Deciding what makes so..."
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It's really not a lot of work to keep your a bookshelf on GR. I keep two. One on GR and one in a hardcover jnl.

If you keep one on GR, others can see the type of books you like. They can easily add them to their own GR TBR list.

Stephanie wrote: "Not as impressive a month for page count. Christmas home with the family plus being sick equals a lot of movie watching, being drunk, and eating (not in that order) It doesn't allow much time for r..."
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I enjoyed reading your reviews, Stephanie. Thank for sharing. I think you had a fine month considering all that goes on in December,.

I read A Good Man is Hard To Find and liked it. I am reading the new Murakami now and so far I am ahead in the understanding department. I laughed at what you said about his world. Hemingway has always been a bit too "look at what a manly man" I am. Don't always like his things but I should revisit him someday. Thanks for your reviews.

Alias Reader wrote: "If you keep one on GR, others can see the type of books you like..."

Only if they are not afraid to click on the link to your books or if they can be bothered to click on it. It's a LOT of work, you know (tongue planted firmly in cheek).

I found Murakami's The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle just too odd for my liking I'm afraid. That's the only one I have tried

I only read 4 books this past month, half of them barely worth reading. I started quite a few that were even more worthless!

Link to my books: http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

The much-touted The Kitchen House was just plain awful. Unfortunately, I got about 80 pages into this before realizing that it was pretty bad --- poorly written and a totally unengaging style -- and that there was a terrible thing that happened in every chapter (and there were a lot of chapters!). Slavery, for sure, but then there was death of parents, brother disappearing, indentured servitude, rape, incest, more rape, mental illness, drug use, drunkenness....you name it. Incredible stereotyping and melodrama�..I got numb to the awfulness. I actually lost track of what terrible things had happened to which characters! It needed a photo of a woman with a heaving bosom on the front! As another reviewer said “an exhaustive beating over the head of the utter subjugation of women and slaves in general, culminating in a Tara-esque ending and a two paragraph wrap-up of the final outcome.�

I did quickly finish it (so it automatically gets 2 stars) but I sure would not recommend it.

When the Emperor Was Divine was just so-so...I gave it 4 stars, but it was more like 3.5. It was too short and provided just a cursory glimpse into what internment camps were really like.

Madame Bovary's Daughter: A Novel was pure trash. I cannot figure out why I finished it.

The best of the lot was Exposure even though it was a bit too Jodi Picoult-ish for my taste.

Sorry you weren't happy with your December reads, JoAnn. Here's wishing that 2012 is your best reading year ever !

I have When the Emperor Was Divine on my TBR list. I think I'll still read it as it is a slender read.

And that reminds me I want to re-read
Snow Falling on Cedars

I decided I wanted to re-read it because I thought Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet was poorly done. Though most in my book club thought it was okay.

Alias, I was shocked that our county's "one book" is Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. It was chosen by the reference librarians. Don't they know their history? Do the people in your book club?

I thought that Hotel was a mediocre book at best, nothing really there I thought......but I did like Kitchen House. Makes you wonder what it is publishers look for.....

Happy 2012 everyone!

Marialyce wrote: "I read A Good Man is Hard To Find and liked it. I am reading the new Murakami now and so far I am ahead in the understanding department. I laughed at what you said about his world. Hemingway has al..."

I normally don't like Hemingway either. I feel I can never really get his stuff because I've never been hunting, never been ocean fishing, never been in a war, etc. However, Kilimanjaro is definitely the best of his works I've read.

Alias Reader wrote: "Sorry you weren't happy with your December reads, JoAnn. Here's wishing that 2012 is your best reading year ever !

I have When the Emperor Was Divine on my TBR list. I think I'll still read it ..."

Was Snow Falling on Cedars any good? I saw the movie and thought it so so

I found Snow Falling on Cedars to be sluggish, with weak characters and plot. I did not really care about any of the people in the book. I thought the author could have done much more to give depth to the characters and done FAR LESS description.

Just MHO

Here are some other books about the Japanese internment...I have not read any of them, but would like to....

Desert Exile: The Uprooting of a Japanese-American Family (non-fiction)

The Climate Of The Country (novel)

Obasan (novel, Canadian camp)

Farewell to Manzanar: A True Story of Japanese American Experience During and After the World War II Internment (non-fiction)

I never knew about internment camps in Canada. Am going to have to brush up on my history.

Lesley wrote: "I found Murakami's The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle just too odd for my liking I'm afraid. That's the only one I have tried"

I think the oddness was what appealed to me so much. I just loved his imagination in this book.

Mikela wrote: "Lesley wrote: "I found Murakami's The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle just too odd for my liking I'm afraid. That's the only one I have tried"

I think the oddness was what appealed to me so much. I just loved his imagination in this book...."

Same here, Mikela. It is that imagination which, in turn, captures mine. He isn't always easy to follow and i like it.

deb

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "Alias, I was shocked that our county's "one book" is Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. It was chosen by the reference librarians. Don't they know their history? Do the people in your book club?"
---------------

Sadly, I have to think there were quite a few in my book group who don't. People said they had no idea about the Japanese internment camps. When we read The Help, it seemed people were surprised at how the maids were treated.

Perhaps that is why I found the books lacking. I'm no great history buff, yet this wasn't new to me. I found the nonfiction accounts much more gripping than either of these two water downed versions.

Stephanie wrote: Was Snow Falling on Cedars any good? I saw the movie and thought it so so
----------------

I read it so many years ago, I don't recall my exact thoughts on it. However, I do recall liking it. That's why I need to re-read it. My memory is just horrid. I haven't seen the movie. Maybe I'll rent it if my library has it.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "Here are some other books about the Japanese internment...I have not read any of them, but would like to....

Desert Exile: The Uprooting of a Japanese-American Family (non-fiction)
..."
----------------

Thanks for the titles, JoAnn. I'll put them on my TBR list.

Alias Reader wrote: "Stephanie wrote: Was Snow Falling on Cedars any good? I saw the movie and thought it so so
----------------

I read it so many years ago, I don't recall my exact thoughts on it. However, I do re..."

There is one scene in the book which is still clear in my mind. It was a quiet one, fishing at night while using a lantern on the boat. As a result, my memory of the book is positive. However, i remember little about it but recall that i didn't like the book at the time when i finished. Indeed, i haven't even been tempted to try his subsequent book(s?).

Alias wrote something above which somewhat explains my lack of enthusiasm for much contemporary literature. If i can remember the events, reading about them in a novel is not appealing to me. There have been exceptions but generally, if i lived it, i don't want to read about it.

deb

by Rick Riordan. 304 pages. So hard to find books that boys like. But, I find this series kind of mediocre, middle of the road. Not as inventive as it could be- like he's trying to appeal to everyone.
by Diana Rowland. 310 pages. This book came up in my GR Recommendations. I liked it. It was funny, not excessively gross (for a zombie book).
by Michael Moore. 429 pages. You either like Moore or loathe him. I think he's usually funny. I remember the first time I saw his first movie, Roger and Me, and thought it was sad, touching, and funny. This book kind of shows you how he gradually became the Michael Moore of "Roger and Me".
by Lauren DeStefano. 358 pages. It took me forever to get through this book because I found the first half of it very boring. I don't know if I'll read the next in the series.
by Ally Carter. 298 pages. Not horrible, just not as good as the first book in the series.
by Molly Birnbaum. 320 pages. I thought it was going to be a cooking memoir, but it was mostly about the author losing her sense of smell. But, it was fascinating- she included a lot of the science behind losing your sense of smell, but in an entertaining way. Not disappointing even though it wasn't what I was expecting.
by Livia J. Washburn. 290 pages. This is one of those series that I don't read in any particular order- most/all of them are seasonal or related to a holiday. So, I tend to read them, as I find them at the library, according to holiday and not series order. That being said, this is the most recent and doesn't seem to be as good as the earlier ones I've read. Just seemed a little blah and going through the motions.
by N.M. Kelby. 334 pages. A 3 1/2 star read. I'm going to round it up and give it 4 stars, because the book's overall GR rating is a little low. It's a book that, in general, is probably not meant for the avearage American. There is no real plot, nothing "happens". It's a series of memories of a dying husband and wife- the wife and the famous chef Escoffier. There is no real resolution, it's just slices of life. Wonderfully descriptive and beautiful. Just not the type of book that appeals to most, I guess.
by Rick Riordan
by David Sedaris. 176 pages. I'm trying to get rid of my "I hate Christmas" mood. I enjoy Sedaris when I'm in the mood for him, but this book is one of his weakest.
by Ernest Cline. 374 pages. I normally read 8-10 books- or more. Going back and forth between books depending on my mood. Once I started this book, this was the only book I read. Amazing book.
by Marie Lu. 305 pages. Since The Hunger Games, quite a few YA dystopian books have been released. Many of them bad- blatant kind of ripoff/copycat books. So, I wasn't expecting much from this book. So, I was surprised how compelling it was- not original, but very good.
by Stephen King. 497 pages. Even creepier than the movie. One of King's best.
by Rick Riordan. 381 pages. I think the author was planning all along to create another series related to this one. This is the last book in the Percy Jackson series, but it's not a very good ending to a series.
by Pete Sampras. 306 pages. My favorite tennis player from that "generation" of players. Not very interesting in the way that Agassi's memoir is, but he had a section that details how he played and analyzed other players of his era.
by Tamar Myers. 304 pages. The worst mystery I've finished all year. Wow the ending was just horrible. I hope this is the end of the series.
by Chad Harbach. 512 pages. One of the best books published in 2011. Read it! Don't tell yourself you don't want to because you hate baseball. (Or find baseball boring. I do, too.) Yes, it has baseball in it, but it's not really about baseball.
by Douglas Preston. 435 pages. The previous book in this series, , was the worst I had read in the series. So, I put off reading this book because I feared that the series was going downhill. So, I'm happy and relieved that this book was good. Not as great as some of the best in the series, but back to normal level of good.
by Sarah Vowell. 258 pages. Extremely easy to read non-fiction. Non-fiction for people who don't normally like it. That being said, it's not like Vowell promised an in depth detailing of the people and events of this book. It's more like a fun tour through the various places associated with the assasinations of three US Presidents. Fun in the sense that it's not weighty and Vowell throws in off beat, yet interesting facts- like the contents of Lincoln and Booth's pockets.
by Bill Maher. 256 pages. I miss my cable. Oh well, SpongeBob is so much better anyway.

by Rick Riordan. 513 pages.
by Bret Easton Ellis. 256 pages. I could hate this book because of the really graphic sex and violence. I must admit, I don't like it. But that's not why I gave this book a 1 star. The reason I did it was because he wasted an amazing premise. The set up for this sequel to his novel is that LTZ was a true story told by the main character Clay to a writer. The writer then sells the story, mostly true, and the movie becomes a pale copy/bad imitation of the book. Where does he go with this? Nowhere. No existential type angst about reality vs. perception. The whole of Imperial Bedrooms is like that- just setting you up to go nowhere in a very Hollywood, predictable way. And, no, it's not some wry, ironic twist, just bad writing.
by Douglas Preston. 400 pages. We get a little more of Pendergast's backstory in this book. This is still one of the best mystery series I've read.
by Kathy Griffin. 348 pages. I've never seen her show, Life on the D-List, but I do enjoy ringing in the New Year with her and Anderson Cooper. I love how she makes him giggle like a school girl. It was a funny, fluffy book, overall. Good for the holiday blues.
by Sarah Beth Durst. 385 pages. Not going to rate this one for a while. Don't know how I feel about it. Looking at the cover, I thought it was going to be a fairly light book- it wasn't. Much darker than I thought in ways that disturbed me. Plus, when I read YA books at least part of my ratings involve thinking, "Would I let my teenager read it? Would they like it? Is there anything objectionable?, etc."
by Sara Shepard. 336 pages. The author should really put this series out of its misery.
by Elizabeth Chadwick. 568 pages. Chadwick has become one of my favorite HF writers. I love books set in the Middle Ages.
by Denise Swanson. 252 pages. This series had a particularly annoying love triange going on forever. That seems to be (mostly) settled. So, the book was okay- the series is better than it's been in quite a while.
by Elaine Viets. 279 pages. Of the author's two mystery series, this one is much better. I always look forward to the next book in this series.
by Dave Mustaine. 346 pages.
by Douglas Preston. 356 pages. The series, now at book #11, is getting really good again.
by James M. Tabor. 286 pages. The author really lacks the ability to describe things well. Caving should offer wonderful opportunities to bring to life underground waterfalls, huge cathedral like rooms, etc. Also, just the danger and excitement. But, the book is really flat because of the author's inability to bring this world to life. Disappointing.
by Delia Rosen. 313 pages. A 2 star book. I broke my Nook, so I borrowed this out of desperation even though I couldn't finish the first book in the series. I guess the author's "improved" because I was able to finish this one. I just wasn't impressed with it. Don't like the characters, mostly. If you like mysteries, save your money and don't buy this series. Try it out at the library first.
by Lila Dare
by Peter Ackroyd. 208 pages. Not substantial enough to feel like a "real" book- there's really only a cursory amount of info brushing over the subject. It feels like the author should have added about 100 more pictures and just made it into a coffee table book. Don't buy this book- if you must read it get it from the library. Very disappointing.
by Emily Brightwell. 272 pages. I guess it's technically a historical mystery as it's set in Victorian England. It's more of a "period" type piece rather than historical fiction. But, it's just a light, enjoyable read.
by Neil Gaiman. 656 pages. So far, my favorite of Gaiman's books.
by Douglas Adams. 256 pages. Only started reading this series because the first book is on the 1001 Books list. It's a series I had no desire to read, but I am really enjoying it.
by Kate Collins. 336 pages. This is one of my favorite mystery series- wish GR would let us give half stars.
by Laini Taylor. 418 pages. I thought it was an above average YA read- a 3 1/2 star read. Maybe because of the hype, I was expecting more and just couldn't give it 4 stars.
by Jillian Madison. 277 pages. If you have a husband who only reads "potty books", put this on the list.
by Kevin Wilson. 309 pages. This novel made a few "Best of 2011" type lists. So, expectations were high. Ugh, read like a writer's workshop piece on "Dysfunctional Families". More a writer's book than a reader's book- in the sense of it doesn't make an emotional connection to the reader. Instead, it feels like a writer trying to be clever book. Not horrible or unreadable, but not great.

I love the Pendergast books, Shay. Preston and Childs seem to always come up with winners IMHO.

I, too, liked American Gods and just got his Anansi Boys from Betterworldbooks.

As always, I so admire your ability to read so many books! You are amazing....:)

My December reads were:

The Alchemist. 3 stars.
This was definitely a different type of read for me. I usually do not enjoy religious books or those in which a person embarks on a quest to find him or her self. In this novel, our protagonist, Santiago, travels on a journey because of a dream in which he sees himself going to the Egyptian pyramids and finding a treasure. Along the way, he encounters many people including the girl he falls in love with, in his attempt to capture the treasure. The story, more a parable, is written in an easy manner but holds many of life's supposedly learned lessons. .

The Color Purple. 4 stars
Vivid as the color in its title, this was a wonderfully written story of the closeness and trials of black women In Georgia in the 1930's. Written in thie epistolary style, this book amazes the reader with its portrayal of the treatment of women by their male counterparts, a treatment that was oftentimes brutal, but one that they were seldom able to escape.

Cannery Row. 4 stars
Another Steinbeck winner for me!. This man seemed to be able to write of people and friendships better than any that I have ever read. His books always compel me to think deeply about the true meaning of human relationships and how men relate to one another in most different and touching ways.

Tortilla Flat 4 stars
Steinbeck again explores the meaning of friendship among a not so affluent society of men affected by the end of the war. Their way of life although seeming shiftless provides the setting for what Steinbeck thought was the best qualities of men, that ability in a small way to show care, concern, and friendship for other men. These were the men whose focus seemed to be drinking (wine in particular), hooking up with loose women, but mostly learning how to show and demonstrate their feelings toward one another.

Bleak House. 5 stars
I loved the real life so depicted in Charles Dickens' books and this certainly was no exception. Told through the intertwining of two narrators, the story takes the reader through the devious and confusing nature of the Chancery and its effect on the lives of the protagonists. There are a bevy of major and minor characters and like life itself there are some who will infuriate you, some who will scare you, and some you will come to admire, love, and appreciate.

Summer. 4 stars
Edith Wharton was certainly a lady who could put words to a page that could definitely propel a reader quickly through a book. It was certainly true with this novel. Simply stated and told, it is a novel of the awakening of a young, unsure, woman, Charity, who seems held back in attitude by her questionable roots. Born to an unwed mother in a mountain community of dirt and squalor, she is rescued by the Royall family after her father is convicted of manslaughter. Raised within this household, Charity is eventually propositioned by her step father whom she refuses. Gaining work at the local library, she meets Lucius Harney, the man she ultimately falls in love with.

Our Mutual Friend. 4 stars
Although not at all liked by the critics of the time, I thought this book to be a powerful story of love, hate, mystery, pathos and a large amount of the psychological thrown in to make it ever so engaging. Money makes the world go round and certainly in this novel that old adage is true. Dickens has passed his judgement on the social aspects of his society and we come away after reading this novel with a great insight into Victorian ways.

The Winter Sea. 3 stars
A nice interesting tale of love found now and in the distant past. This books delves into the concept that our ancestors memories are imprinted onto our genes and therefore in some we can relive a former time. Having the heroine of the story channelling the characters as she wrote of them, kept the book going in a way that was predictable but delightful. The characters were engaging and there was the required deeds of deeding do and intrigue.

A Christmas Carol. 5 stars
I do believe that this is Charles Dickens at his best. We are all so enamoured by this tale that was able to revitalize the Christmas spirit in Victorian England more or less single handedly. Following Scrooge as he progresses from miser to a happy, resolute man, is always a joy. No matter how many times you have read it, seen it, or been part of the experience, A Christmas Carol never fails to fill one with wonder and happiness. It gives us all a look into the prospect of getting a second chance to get it right.

The Death of Ivan Ilych. 3 stars
This book follows a man who while facing death, thinks about what life really is and whether he has truly lived a life. Ivan Illych is a successful lawyer who has worked hard to achieve a certain status in life. He lives with his wife, a semi detached, emotionless woman and his spoiled children who are used to the privileges of life and seldom think of others. While confronted with his impending death, Ivan goes through terrible pain and suffering both physically and emotionally. A true Russian novel in all its hit you in the face reality.

Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back 1 star

My mother, a deeply religious woman, urged me to read this so I did and as you can probably guess it is not my type of book. I certainly was quite turned off by it being so Christian directed, especially when the young son said, Iif you do not have Jesus in your heart you will not get into heaven." All I could think about was what happens to all those good people who do not follow Jesus? Would they be denied the joy of heaven because they do not believe? It bothered me as a child to hear this, and as an adult it really drives me crazy.

I have to believe that all good people no matter what or who they believe in will attain heaven. I can not begin to fathom a god who loves his children and in that I mean all of them to segregate among them.

So, in essence this book fell apart at that point. I do think the young man had some kind of experience brought on by a horrendous medical emergency. Whether it was a trip to heaven...well I just don't think so. My heaven is one where ALL people are accepted with open arms into the joy of everlasting life.

Kind of an overkill with Dickens this month! .....and the last book mentioned really bothered me a lot!

I read the Winter Sea in November. I thought the parts in the past were excellent. The present day stuff... dragged a bit for me. Couldn't wait for it to go back in time again. I think I'll skip Heaven is for Real for a while. People keep telling me to read it, though.

Shay wrote: " by Rick Riordan. 513 pages.
by Bret Easton Ellis. 256 pages. I could hate this book because..."
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Shay, you are a reading machine ! That is a very impressive for one month.

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.

I enjoyed Michael Moore's book a great deal.

Marialyce wrote: "My December reads were:

The Alchemist. 3 stars.
This was definitely a different type of read for me. I usually do not enjoy religious books or those in which a person embarks on a qu..."
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Excellent reading month, Marialyce. You really went on a classics kick. I'm happy to see you liked Bleak House. I thought it was very good, too.

I also agree with your assessment of Heaven is for Real. I thought it was poorly written and for me not very believable. But if it gives comfort to some, that great.

I thought I would treat myself in December and indulge in more than a few guilty pleasure type books. I find the holidays kind of stressful at times. I enjoyed Moore's book too. I think it's really shameful that people on the opposite side of the political spectrum have basically called for his death.

Alias Reader wrote: "Marialyce wrote: "My December reads were:

The Alchemist. 3 stars.
This was definitely a different type of read for me. I usually do not enjoy religious books or those in which a pers..."

I am glad you felt that way too, Alias. There is too much trouble caused by the exclusivity of religions claiming they are the only way to a heavenly afterlife, or that they are the one, true religion. Organized religion = something made up by and directed by man =a very fallible existence.IMHO

Shay wrote: "I thought I would treat myself in December and indulge in more than a few guilty pleasure type books. I find the holidays kind of stressful at times. I enjoyed Moore's book too. I think it's really..."
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Ugh, I just made a long post in reply to you and GR lost it. GRRRR. I have to remember to copy my long posts before I hit send.

Anyway, what I was saying was that we seem to be in a situation where people only want to hear their own views reflected back at them. We go to websites that cater to our own views, we watch TV stations and listen to radio programs that also reflect out views back at us. And some of these venues egg people on to violence.

At least when people read a major daily newspaper they got the news without this partisan filter. Personally that is why I like to listen to NPR, BBC and read the NY Times. I also can't take the yelling on TV and the obvious talking points regurgitated without thought.

That is for people who even bother to follow the news.

As Thomas Jefferson said, "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.

I'll get off my soapbox now. :)

No, I totally agree....I do not watch any TV...have not for over a year and do not miss it a bit....

What relevant news there is, I go to the places you do....the rest is just "newsworthy trivia" repeated ad infinitum. It makes one have that sense of powerlessness and I think that is where many of our frustrations take root and swell.

......and wise words of many Never discuss politics and religion!!!!:)

I heard the other day that Kim Jong Il had died, so I went to cnn.com- I think news about the fate of North Korea got dropped of the front page because Katie Perry (?) is getting divorced. Plus stuff about the Kardashians, I think. None of this is real news to most people, I hope.

I only finished Apex Hides the Hurt by Colson Whitehead though I'm still reading some books I started in December.

This was a thought-provoking book, which touched on race and reconciling the perspectives we have on our past and future but also satirized American corporate culture, e.g, "nomenclature consultants", team-building, branding, etc. The writing style of book was a mix of distance and intimacy that took some getting used to but I also found it funny. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the protagonist's relationship and experience of words, names and naming. I gave it 4 stars.

Lesley wrote: "I found Murakami's The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle just too odd for my liking I'm afraid. That's the only one I have tried"

I think that is going to be the first one I try. But I think odd can be good sometimes.

I would recommend his current book, Julie. I think it is somewhat more straight forward. (at least the 170 pages I have read). It is masterfully written, intriguing, stunning, and hard to put down or read slowly because you are mesmerized by the story.

Wind Up Bird Chronicle is a lot more "out there" in a world that you are very unnerved in because you are never sure exactly what is going on.

This is my third Murakami book and either I am getting better in understanding him or this book is not (yet) so esoteric. Just a thought though as any of his books seemed destined for prominence.

Shay wrote: "I heard the other day that Kim Jong Il had died, so I went to cnn.com- I think news about the fate of North Korea got dropped of the front page because Katie Perry (?) is getting divorced. Plus stu..."
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Perry and the Kardashians should be under the entertainment tab, not on the front page. What a shame.

The BBC has a good website that you might want to save to your favorites.


Here is the link to NPR news.

Nothing quite gets under my skin like hearing about "celebrities" in the news. I only watch/listen to ABC and SBS over here.

Marialyce wrote: "I would recommend his current book, Julie. I think it is somewhat more straight forward. (at least the 170 pages I have read). It is masterfully written, intriguing, stunning, and hard to put down ..."

I'm on page 400. It's now at the point where things are beginning to get very mysterious and strange

So many books and me with a mouthful of comments! I'll compress.

Shay, you've helped me decide to make Ready Player One by Ernest Cline my first contemporary novel of the year. IF i can get it from the library, on iPad would be perfect. All i've heard/read about it has been positive.

Also, Shay, did you read Peter Ackroyd's London - The Biography? DH did & i'm wondering if the one you mentioned is a sort of follow-up or a stand alone? Could you tell? And, of course, i'm always tickled when i see that someone else is enjoying my beloved Douglas Adams.

Shay's post reminds me to ask mystery readers (actually, others, too) about mysteries with a cook/chef/baker as the main character/detecting person. I've read a couple & find myself liking the sound of the recipes, almost to the point of distraction. Ultimately i decided to stop reading them because i found myself (no laughing!) feeling "behind" because i haven't tried the recipes. Sounds odd but there are so many & i have tried so few. Do other readers even try any of the recipes? Does the food, recipe &/or description distract others? Or am i the weird-o here?

My, my. I will continue all my comments to another post. So many books, so many random ideas....

deb

Marialyce wrote: "My December reads were:
..."

I always smile at your monthly list, Marialyce, because many titles ring bells with this classics lover. Dickens and Steinbeck are two regulars on my Books Read list. I most appreciate their observations on regular people--their lives, loves and aspirations.

The Tolstoy title was new-to-me but sounds tempting. Thanks for sharing it. And it's always a pleasure to know others like Wharton. Her writing has been a joy to me for over a decade now.

deb

I haven't read Ackroyd's London, yet. But it's on my TBR list. I think even looking at London Under as a companion book, it wouldn't stand up well. I borrowed Underground London: Travels Beneath the City Streets hoping for something more.

I've read a few mysteries with recipes. Most seem to come out okay. The exception would be that a lot of the baking ones seem to be off. I bake a lot and some of the instructions are odd or incomplete in a few of them. After a few bad baking issues, I don't try those recipes.

Sumofparts wrote: "I only finished Apex Hides the Hurt by Colson Whitehead though I'm still reading some books I started in December. ..."

The sole Whitehead book i've read fascinated me. It was The Intuitionist, about elevator inspectors. Why i haven't read more by him surprises me. It may be...let me look...yes. I read the book before he'd had any others published. What a stroke of luck for me that you mentioned it. Thank you.

deb

I found an old copy of To a God Unknownat Mum's over the holidays. Has anyone read this one?