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2015 reading list! My goal is 75 reads. My intent is to post a comment for each read and try to review and add my link.

1. Necessary Doubt - 1/3 ****


Link to my Review

2. Ordinary People - 1/4 ***

Connection to previous book read � habit and routine; suicide. Interesting…not what I was going for for 2015.

I enjoyed the book; I enjoyed the movie film adaptation more.

Next read: The Virgin Suicides {stealing my daughter's copy}

Srange book that one Cathie

LauraT wrote: "Srange book that one Cathie"

Yes, hauntingly bizarre so far. Suicide, X5

;)

Hi Cathie,

just curious, what do the numbers mean before the stars? for example the "1/4" after Ordinary People?

Greg wrote: "Hi Cathie,

just curious, what do the numbers mean before the stars? for example the "1/4" after Ordinary People?"

Hi Greg! Date read! :)

LOL, don't know why I couldn't put that together. Thanks!

It's okay. I may be starting strong, but I may not keep up to post once I finish a read.

3. The Virgin Suicides - 1/6 ***

Link to my Review

Next read: Orange Is the New Black

Didn't get to read much - was at Blackhawks game last night.

Two chapters in though. Chapter 3 begins with her surrendering herself to federal corrections facility. What a hot mess.

Nice review Cathie - macabre and atmospheric eh? Sounds right up my street - I'll have to move it up the list a bit.
Also....I now have that song stuck in my head!

Laurel wrote: "Nice review Cathie - macabre and atmospheric eh? Sounds right up my street - I'll have to move it up the list a bit.
Also....I now have that song stuck in my head!"

Yes, bizarre and depressing.

I have to warn you that when you reach two-thirds into the novel it gets a bit slow (or dense) due to the dialogue as it is a narrative of recollections. But definitely don't give up.

Cathie wrote: "Laurel wrote: "Nice review Cathie - macabre and atmospheric eh? Sounds right up my street - I'll have to move it up the list a bit.
Also....I now have that song stuck in my head!"

Yes, bizarre and..."

Ok thanks, I will remember that when I get round to it :)

4. Orange Is the New Black - 1/10 ***

Well-written account, just a lot of characters, as is always the challenge. Link to My Review

Planned next read: The Third Plate: Field Notes on the Future of Food for real life book club meetup!

Started The Third Plate: Field Notes on the Future of Food last night after I dropped off my baby in Indy, and got through the Introduction - interesting perspectives.

5. The Third Plate: Field Notes on the Future of Food - 1/17 ****

So my current read has elements of suicide - must be the theme for the month.

The connections I caught from my back-to-back reads: The Dust Bowl, Bluefin tuna extinction, the year 2009.

6. Mr. Mercedes - 1/18 ***


Quick read. Review to follow... pondering on this one.

Link to my Review

Cathie is the suicide theme on purpose, or a coincidence or are you looking for such books? IF you are looking for them, maybe check out The Hours

Chrissie, I expected Virgin Suicides & Ordinary People, but not Mr. Mercedes & Necessary Doubt. Coincidence, mention of a character contemplating suicide.

Thanks for the rec!

Got'cha.

Thought I would read another mystery crime Detective novel after Mr. Mercedes. Picked up Bone Dust White: A Novel at my local library last night.

Author's debut novel, this has been long listed for the Mann Book Prize (noted by a GR reviewer, so I didn't even know of this)...

Hi, Jean. (I am joking of course.) It is so hard to joke on the internet.

LOL! I hear ya ~ of course it's also hard to "hear" on the internet!

Ha ha. We need to laugh. :0)

7. Bone Dust White: A Novel - 1/20 ***

Deciding on next read: Vertigo or 1984 ...hmmm

I have decided and actually goes well with the Kurt Vonnegut short story read I have tagged currently reading.

Whew!

8. 1984 - 1/24 ***

I must confess I wasn't of the mindset, thus my rating. This is masterful piece of hopelessness. I will say I will be reading the trilogy - Brave New World Revisited and We - this year.

So after a sad miserable read, thought I'd start on another speculative dystopian read: High-Rise.

Not too sure it'll be sad, but miserable yep. The first sentence alone...

Cathie wrote: "8. 1984 - 1/24 ***

I must confess I wasn't of the mindset, thus my rating. This is masterful piece of hopelessness."

I think the pervasive hopeless feeling in 1984 is the main reason I like Animal Farm better. Not that Animal Farm is cheery; it just doesn't have that same feel. 1984 is good book, I think, but it's not one I can read too frequently. I have to be in the right mood for it.

I think after the dystopias and the accidental suicide motif, maybe you should treat yourself to something light and comic :)

Yes, comic relief! Very interesting in keeping this thread to notice similarities and themes that arise from classics to contemporary writers.

9. 2BR02B - 1/24

Short and bittersweet from Kurt Vonnegut. To Be or Not To Be. The End.

10. High-Rise - 1/25 ***

Link to My Review

Started Station Eleven this morning. Although yes it is another apocalyptic dystopia read, it actually is very interesting! No wonder there are a gazillion holds!

11. Station Eleven - 1/28 ****

Rereading the last chapter...Review to post shortly...

12. Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table, with Recipes - 1/31 ***

Lovely essays and recipes...hadn't known she lives in Chicago. Christian faith theme.

13. Near to the Wild Heart - 2/4 ****


I felt this was sort of along the lines of The House on Mango Street. This is not meant to be a comparison, just academically along the same lines of my thought process as students read her work in Brazil as students read Mango Street in the States.

Link to my Review

So it seems I am now on the theme of a woman's love.

[still have to think of a better way to phrase, but in the mean time, it's out there]

14. Pitch Dark - 2/7 ****

Link to my Review

Great women writers, tough reads to begin February's March Women's History Month!

Cathie wrote: "Great women writers, tough reads to begin February's Women's History Month!"

Didn't know!

Cathie, I didn't know that! I think in my area March is slated for Women's History Month in order to coincide with International Women's Day on March 8.

February is Black History Month over by me; so I'm going to try to read something along those lines this month (maybe I'll finally read Cane!), but I'll read something new by one of my favorite women writers next month! :)

Greg, you are correct as it is next month in March. I thought I read that it was February.

Wow feel stupid now.

Not at all Cathie! I am usually the one to be wrong ha ha, and all of those months are about reading books by underrepresented authors anyway - the exact month isn't that important! :)

I happen to remember Women's History Month because some friends of mine in college used to give each other small gifts of flower baskets on International Women's Day.

:)