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Hoping for another year of great reading.

2021 Reading Challenge
Read a Decade of Books - 1960’s
1. 1960-A Fine and Private Place by Peter S. Beagle 4/5 stars 1/13/2021
2. 1961- Service With a Smile by P.G. Wodehouse 3/5 stars 1/21/2021
3. 1962 �The Lilies of the Field by William Edmund Barrett 4/5 stars 1/7/2021
4. 1963 - Joy in the Morning by Betty Smith 3.5/5 stars 2/11/2021
5. 1964 - Martian Time-Slip by Philip K. Dick 3/5 stars 2/28/2021
6. 1965- Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart 4/5 stars 3/21/2021
7. 1966- When Eight Bells Toll by Alistair MacLean 4/5 stars 3/31/2021
8. 1967-Diary of a Mad Housewife by Sue Kaufman 4/5 stars 3/12/2021
9. 1968- The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough 5/5 stars 4/11/2021
10.1969-The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood 4/5 stars 4/25/2021
11. Best Selling Book of the Year You Were Born �Advise and Consent by Allen Drury 4/5 stars 7/13/2021
12. A book with a Number In the Title - Pistols For Two by Georgette Heyer 3/5 stars 1/16/2021
13. Book by Mark Kurlansky- Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky 4/5 stars 2/16/2021
14. Science Fiction Book - A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers 2.5/5 stars 5/5/2021
15. A Short Story Book- Skin and Other Stories by Roald Dahl 4/5 stars 1/8/2021
16. Book by Peter Heller- The Painter by Peter Heller 4/5 stars 5/24/2021
17. Book by Mary Roach- My Planet: Finding Humor in the Oddest Places by Mary Roach 4/5 stars 6/9/2021
18. A book related to the Arts -I'll Have What She's Having: How Nora Ephron's Three Iconic Films Saved the Romantic Comedy by Erin Carlson 3.5/5 stars 2/6/2021
19. Anything by Richard Matheson- The Best of Richard Matheson by Richard Matheson 5/5 stars 1/5/2021
20. True Crime-]I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara 4/5 stars 8/16/2021
21. A book about an Male Entrepreneur - Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight 4/5 stars 75/2021
22. A Book Set in Russia- A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles 4/5 stars 8/22/2021
23. A tragedy -The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride by Daniel James Brown 3.5/5 stars 7/20/2021
24. Presidential biography or autobiography - Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama 4/5 stars 5/19/2021
25. A Book With a Color in the Title - The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison 3.5/5 stars 7/16/2021
26. Female Entrepreneurs - War Paint: Madame Helena Rubinstein and Miss Elizabeth Arden: Their Lives, Their Times, Their Rivalry by Lindy Woodhead 4/5 stars 2/5/2021
27. John Steinbeck Book - Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck 4/5 stars 8/8/2021
28. Book Published in 2021 - Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by
Suleika Jaouad 4/5 stars 6/21/2021
29. Ian McEwen Book- Saturday by Ian McEwan 4/5 stars 2/25/2021
30. Mystery - Strange but True by John Searles 4/5 stars 3/10/2021
31. Underrated or Lesser Known Authors -
Men and Cartoons by Jonathan Lethem 3.5/5 stars 8/5/2021
32. Frederick Backman Book-Anxious People by Fredrik Backman 4/5 stars 5/10/2021
33. Medicine/Health -Bellevue: Three Centuries of Medicine and Mayhem at America's Most Storied Hospital by David M. Oshinsky 5/5 stars 9/3/2021
34. A book that was nominated for one of the 10 Most Coveted Literary Prizes in the World - Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 4.5/5 stars 9/17/2021
35. Political Book Non Fiction - We Were Feminists Once: From Riot Grrrl to CoverGirl®, the Buying and Selling of a Political Movement by Andi Zeisler 3/5 stars 9/25/2021
Opposites-
36. Cats- The Secrets of Lost Cats: One Woman, Twenty Posters, and a New Understanding of Love by Nancy Davidson 3.5/5 stars 1/17/2021
37. Dogs - The Dog Who Could Fly: The Incredible True Story of a WWII Airman and the Four-Legged Hero Who Flew At His Side by Damien Lewis 4/5 stars 2/20/2021
38. Book by Barbara Ehrenreich- Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy by Barbara Ehrenreich 3/5 stars 10/8/2021
39. Medical Topics- The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History by John M. Barry 4/5 stars 3/21/2021
40. A book about business- The Great Beanie Baby Bubble: Mass Delusion and the Dark Side of Cute by Zac Bissonnette 4/5 stars 7/22/2021
41. Kate Atkinson Book- One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson 3/5 stars 9/13/2021
42. Women Worker’s Rights- The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore 5/5 stars 10/2/2021
43. Drugs - Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell 4/5 stars 7/30/2021
44. Religion
45. Magical Realism Book - The Ninth Life of Louis Drax by Liz Jensen 4/5 stars 8/2/2021
46. Biography of an Author - The Search for Anne Perry by Joanne Drayton 3/5 stars
6/28/2021
47. Romance - Attachments by Rainbow Rowell 3.5/5 stars 8/26/2021
48. Bill Bryson book- The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson 5/5 stars 9/9/2021
Chronicles of Narnia
49.- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis 4/5 stars 6/1/2021
50.-Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis 3/5 stars 6/9/2021
51.-The Voyage of the Dawn Trader by C.S. Lewis 4/5 stars 6/12/2021
52. The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis 4/5 stars 6/16/2021
53. The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis 3/5 stars 6/6/2021
54. The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis 4/5 stars 5/28/2021
55. The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis 4/5 stars 6/19/2021
Pick out books from the initials of a favorite movie-
56. G - Goldwyn by A. Scott Berg 4.5/5 stars 10/23/2021
57. O - Orphans Preferred: The Twisted Truth and Lasting Legend of the Pony Express by Christopher Corbett 3.5/5 stars 8/14/2021
58. N- Nobody's Perfect: Billy Wilder, a Personal Biography by Charlotte Chandler 4/5 stars 5/13/2021
59. E - Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott 4/5 stars 4/5/2021
60.W Winchell: Gossip, Power, and the Culture of Celebrity by Neal Gabler 4/5 stars 9/28/2021
61.I - In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd 5/5 stars 3/28/2021
62.T - Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters 4/5 stars 8/29/2021
63.H- Homo Mysterious: Evolutionary Puzzles of Human Nature by David Philip Barash 3.5/5 stars 4/23/2021
64. T - Tippi: A Memoir by Tippi Hedren 4/5 stars 8/10/2021
65.H- Hugh Martin: The Boy Next Door by Hugh Martin 4/5 stars 5/31/2021
66. E - The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni 5/5 stars 11/7/2021
67.W Where the Crawdads Singby
Delia Owens 4/5 stars 11/2/2021
68.I- Infinite Tuesday: An Autobiographical Riff by Michael Nesmith 3.5/5 stars 1/27/2021
69.N - Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson 4/5 stars 10/26/2021
70. D Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell 3.5/5 stars 3.5/5 stars

70/70

The only Mary Roach book I've read was Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife, which was great! Paranormal themes are I suppose a guilty pleasure of mine.

I'm not as keen a fan of Bryson's travel books, but I found At Home: A Short History of Private Life outstanding.

Excellent challenge, Julie !

Is the decade of books, a book published in that year ?

Alias Reader wrote: "Excellent challenge, Julie !

Is the decade of books, a book published in that year ?"

Yes, I did the 1950's this year and so I thought I would do the 1960's this year. It is kinda of fun researching what books to read from those years. I got the idea from another book group where they read a book a year from the last 100 years but I thought a decade was more doable for me.

John wrote: "The only Mary Roach book I've read was Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife, which was great! Paranormal themes are I suppose a guilty pleasure of mine.

I'm not as keen a fan of Bryso..."

I added a lot of my favorite authors this year to read since they have been on my to read lists.

Julie, your DLs are fascinating to see because the variety is vast. Like John, i'm not a big fan of Bryson's but know there are some interesting information in his books.

I've had Roach's Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers on my TBR since it was published it, still unread. The very idea of writing such a book appealed to me. I didn't realize she'd explored other areas of science.

Best of luck with your 2021 list, Julie!

The Best of Richard Matheson
Richard Matheson
5/5 stars
This is a collection of Matheson's short stories, a few of them I recognized as being made into TV episodes and films. Matheson's imagination never disappoints as you wonder where this story is going to end up, from the church organ who doesn't want to be replaced and the man who woke up only speaking French which he never studied in his life. Highly recommended! Anything By Richard Matheson

He wrote some of the best "Twilight Zone" episodes! I've heard about the French story but thought it was from someone like Oliver Sacks. LOL! This sounds like a great book, Julie--something to pick up and nibble at, on occasion.

The Lilies of the Field
William Edmund Barrett
4/5 stars
A sweet novel about a young African American, Homer Smith, who on his travels ends up working for a convent of nuns and helps them build a church. This was made into a film with Sidney Poiter and I thought the film was very faithful to the book. 1962

You are starting the year out strong, Julie! I always meant to read that book. We appreciate the reminder.

Julie wrote: "
The Lilies of the Field
William Edmund Barrett
4/5 stars
A sweet novel about a young African American, Homer Smith, who on h..."

Yes. A good movie.

Skin and Other Stories
Roald Dahl
4/5 stars
Dahl has a vivid imagination and does not disappoint in this collection of odd short stories. One of my favorites was Skin, a tale about a man whose back was tattooed by a famous artist and lengths people will go to have it. I enjoyed it. A Short Story Book

He was such an imaginative writer. Skin sounds ominous.

A Fine and Private Place
Peter S. Beagle
4/5 stars
This story revolves around Jonathon Rebeck, former druggist, who came to the cemetery 19 years ago and never left. Rebeck talks to the dead people who appear to him and tries to avoid the cemetery workers so he won’t get kicked out. All this changes when the spirits of two dead people appear to Rebeck. Laura and Michael both died separately but met and fell in love in the cemetery. When circumstances appear that cause Michael to have to be removed from the cemetery, Jonathon and his new friend, Mrs. Klapper conspire to find a way to keep the dead lovers together. I thought it was a most charming story. 1960

What a concept for a novel. That you found it charming encourages me. Thanks, Julie.

Pistols For Two
Georgette Heyer
3/5 stars
Author Heyer is known for her historical romance novels and mysteries. This book contains several of her historical romance short stories and has a couple of excerpts from 2 of her novels. This is definitely for romance fans. I read some of her novels years ago and it was fun to re-visit her writings and to read her short stories. A Book With A Number In the Title

I've tried a couple of Heyer's mystery over the last 2-3 years but decided, cute as they were, they just didn't please me as much as i thought they would. That written, i will say i can see how delightfully refreshing they must have been when first published.

I like the idea of the short stories and appreciate you sharing their existence, Julie. You are reading right along this year.

The Secrets of Lost Cats: One Woman, Twenty Posters, and a New Understanding of Love
Nancy Davidson
3.5/5 stars
Nancy Davidson explores the unusual topic of missing cats and the posters that people make when their cats go missing. Her exploration of this topic came up when her own orange tabby went missing. She made posters to help find him and discovered a myriad of other missing cat posters in her area. She has a degree in clinical psychology and wanted to know the stories of the people who lost their cats. So whenever she found a lost cat poster, she would try to contact the owners. Some were open to her and some were not. This was such an interesting and usual topic that I sped through this book! Opposites -Cats

Fascinating to see how some writers come up with topics. What a good idea for exploration.

madrano wrote: "Fascinating to see how some writers come up with topics. What a good idea for exploration."

I found this book on the free shelf at work and thought this would be good for my cat challenge. I was pleasantly surprised to find it interesting.

How wonderfully random!

Service With a Smile
P.G. Wodehouse
3/5 stars
This is the first Wodehouse novel I have read but it is the 5th in the series that concentrates on Uncle Fred, 5th Earl of Ickenham. He is visiting his friend Lord Emsworth who has to deal with his lost prize pig, a new secretary and a group of church lads camping on his property. This was quite a romp especially with several plot lines for a book that is only 190 pages long. 1961

I've read a couple of Jeeves books (My Man Jeeves) but was surprised to see that you read this for the year 1961. I guess i didn't realize he wrote much after WWII, where his sympathies were questioned.

madrano wrote: "I've read a couple of Jeeves books (My Man Jeeves) but was surprised to see that you read this for the year 1961. I guess i didn't realize he wrote much after WWII, where his sympathi..."

That's interesting. Was he pro Hitler?

Here is Wiki chart of all his books.
He died in 1975 at the age of 93 and it looked like he was still writing up to the end.

I also found this article which told of Wodehouse's history during that period and that he was innocent of being a Nazi sympathizer.

Yes, ultimately people realized he wasn't a Nazi sympathizer but he went through a rough time, even with members of the government supporting him. Things haven't changed much today, which is why we need to be so careful when we hear media reports of traitorous behavior. The angst and prejudice he experience is a sad part of his history.

Thank you for the list of his books. I was trying to find one when i read your post today but couldn't manage it. I had no idea he wrote so many plays.

Infinite Tuesday: An Autobiographical Riff
Michael Nesmith
3.5/5 stars
Probably best known to older generations as one of The Monkees, Nesmith writes about his life which included his stint on The Monkees. After the show ended, he continued to work in the TV and movie industry but he also fought to find meaning in his life. There is also a CD that has some of Nesmith’s music on it called Infinite Tuesday: Autobiographical Riffs The Music but it doesn’t come with the book. I

Julie wrote: "
Infinite Tuesday: An Autobiographical Riff
Michael Nesmith
3.5/5 stars
Probably best known to older g..."

"Richardson, Texas, U.S. Bette Nesmith Graham (March 23, 1924 � May 12, 1980) was an American typist, commercial artist, and the inventor of the correction fluid Liquid Paper (not to be confused with competitor Wite-Out). She was the mother of musician and producer Michael Nesmith of The Monkees."

My daughter got to know Nesmith because in NYC he financed an online blog (i've forgotten the title) for writers and journalists to share their ideas. She contributed a time or two. He'd also show up at fundraisers for other things & was quite popular. He seems like a neat guy.

I must say i looked him up on Wiki after seeing your post, Julie, and was surprised that he wrote a number of songs i like. My favorite from the list is "Different Drum". Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Ponies recorded the best version, imo.

ANYway, a quick trot through Memory Lane with your book, Julie. Thanks.

Alias, thanks for the info re. Richardson, where we live presently.

madrano wrote: "My daughter got to know Nesmith because in NYC he financed an online blog (i've forgotten the title) for writers and journalists to share their ideas. She contributed a time or two. He'd also show ..."

I nearly wore out that Linda Ronstadt album!

I'm curious Julie, what held you back from a solid four stars? You steered me to Ready for a Brand New Beat: How Dancing in the Street Became the Anthem for a Changing America, so considering this one for my TBR as well.

John wrote: "madrano wrote: "My daughter got to know Nesmith because in NYC he financed an online blog (i've forgotten the title) for writers and journalists to share their ideas. She contributed a time or two...."

This book is not all about his musical/TV career which I found very interesting. Parts of the book dragged for me as he lengthily talked about his quest to find a set of principles to live by and discussed his exploration of religion. But overall, I enjoyed it! This was nothing like the Kurlansky book which I loved.

War Paint: Madame Helena Rubinstein and Miss Elizabeth Arden: Their Lives, Their Times, Their Rivalry
Lindy Woodhead
4/5 stars
I have had this on my reading list for a long time and though it was a long book, it was filled with wonderful details about the lives of these two women rivals in the cosmetics/beauty industry. Author Lindy Woodhead meticulously researched Rubenstein and Arden’s histories which included the beginnings of the beauty industry and their effects on it, their friendships with the rich and the famous and their rivals including Charles Revson. But she also she discussed the 20th century history’s effect on their businesses during the two world wars, Prohibition and the new trends that redefined the industry in the 50’s. The book ends with what happened to the industry in the early 60’s after their deaths. I found it fascinating. Female Entrepreneurs

After updating my reading list, I realized I had 3 topics related to business. I might change that up.

Noticed you have True Crime as a category. Thought I'd mention my mom has a couple of friends with connections to the story Safe Harbor: A Murder in Nantucket.

Thanks for the recommendation!

Julie, a friend & i were talking about make-up of the mid 50s just this week. It's our thought that mascara really took off at that time. We both recalled our moms buying those (Really Dating Myself Here) little red boxes of mascara in a cake & a separate drawer for the brush. Users would wetten the cake, dip the brush into it, then apply to their lashes. While we both remember those, we also know that our mothers only used mascara when going "on the town".

Thanks for the title. Reading about two business entrepreneurs must have been neat.

This is a interesting article on mascara which was thought to be the first makeup to exist.

I'll Have What She's Having: How Nora Ephron's Three Iconic Films Saved the Romantic Comedy
Erin Carlson
3.5/5 stars
This is a very interesting look at Nora Ephron’s life and career, in particularly focusing on her three most famous film romances - When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail. I have always loved film and this book does a nice job in discussing Ephron’s films and has plenty of juicy facts about each of them and how they came about! A Book Related to the Arts

Julie, what a neat article! I didn't realize where the company name Maybelline derived--how nice. And that mascara had a use is surprising, frankly.

Today we get so many warnings about not using old mascara or using saliva in the product, that it's amazing to see what they did in the past. I guess caution isn't new for this product.

Fun book about romantic comedies. The subtitle may be overstating facts but i do think Ephron & team brought them into the modern day by using email, radio and such. Thanks for the title.

Julie wrote: Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail. ."

Two of my favorites.

Julie wrote: "%..."

Interesting article. I would never have thought of using mascara for keeping the sun out of eyes.

Joy in the Morning
Betty Smith
3.5/5 stars
Set in 1927 in the Depression era, Annie and her boyfriend Carl Brown marry. Their parents are not too happy but they take off to the University where Carl will try to earn his degree with little money and much hardship as they settle down building a life for themselves in difficult times. Written by the author of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, this is a semi-autobiographical novel of her life with her husband in their first few years of marriage. Enjoyable! 1963

Julie wrote: "
Joy in the Morning
Betty Smith
3.5/5 stars
Set in 1927 in the Depression era, Annie and her boyfriend Carl Brown marry. Their ..."

I owned this book at one point. I can't recall if I read it. I don't see it my GR list. I didn't realize it was semi-autobiographical.

I remember the film they made of this book but at the time i had no idea who Smith was, nor of her earlier book. Richard Chamberlain and Yvette Mimieux played the couple. I appreciate the link you made between the two books, Julie.

madrano wrote: "I remember the film they made of this book but at the time i had no idea who Smith was, nor of her earlier book. Richard Chamberlain and Yvette Mimieux played the c..."

I was hoping to get the film but our library system doesn't have it.

Where is Blockbuster when you need it?

I don't watch movies on my computer but if you are interested, i see Youtube offers it. I cannot say what the quality or commercial input is.

madrano wrote: "Where is Blockbuster when you need it?

I don't watch movies on my computer but if you are interested, i see Youtube offers it. I cannot say what the quality or commercial input is.
..."

Thanks for the link!

My pleasure, Julie.

Salt: A World History
Mark Kurlansky
4/5 stars
Kurlansky has always been one of my favorite non-fiction writers who makes reading a pleasure with the interesting accounts of the subject he is delving into. This book is no different and is broken up into three parts, 1) A Discourse on Salt, Cadavers and Pungent Sauces, 2) The Glow of Herring and the Scent of Conquest and 3) Sodium’s Perfect Marriage. There is some repetition of material in the different sections but overall it wasn’t a bother. Some fun facts about salt included that salary actually came from the word salt because soldiers were paid in salt, salt was also needed to make gun powder, Tabasco sauce was invented in 1869 and the Morton Salt company patented the metal pouring spout. I definitely recommend this book. Book by Mark Kurlansky

Julie, i'm glad you liked that as much as i did. I read it with an online nonfiction fan/friend & we both marveled at all we learned. The following year we visited Europe & saw some of those huge saltworks. Remarkable.