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

Just finished
It was well written and inspired me to use my treadmill more. I have been on a True adventure kick as of late, I also read where they discovered a German U-Boat off the coast of Jersey. Fascinating that history is being made and remade as we speak!

Lynn, I also thought Into Thin Air was well done.

I've enjoyed all of Jon Krakauer's books. I think I read them all except his last one about Tillman.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. My first Neil Gaiman book, and it was interesting. I like his new concepts. My Review

Hourglass by Myra McEntire. A young book about time travel. Good science behind it. My Review

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. I hope everyone knows what I think of this already. :) My Review

If I Stay by Gail Forman. This was good but not great. A lot of people were greatly touched by this, but I saw a bunch of teenagers running around doing dumb things in the name of grief. I didn't buy it. My Review

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. It's interesting to try to describe this one. My review does it better than a couple sentences can. My Review

Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline by Becky Bailey. I thought this was amazing. Exactly how I want to raise my kids. My Review

Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba. Great concept and great art. Love this series. My Review

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray. A lovely, old-fashioned story with a mystical element. I'll read the next one. My Review

What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell. Amazing book. I loved all of it. Great buildup, great ending, etc. My Review

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly. I did like this book, but it was a little bland in its adventure. But it has a good heart. My Review

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake. Ehh. YA.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockheart. This was a fun one. Very self-powering, but in that sense, lonely. My Review

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting. I liked the concept and the romance, though I can see where others won't. My Review

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. Amazing book. Everyone should read it. Very touching, about the mistreatment of Lithuanians by the Soviets. I want to research more about the history behind it. My Review

Excellent month, Maree !

I am going to try and see if I can fit one more in this month, so I will wait to post.

Maree, I have this Neil Gaiman on my bookshelf for ages. I just haven't gotten around to reading it.

American Gods~~Neil Gaiman

Oh, I think I just got that one on my eReader, Alias. Maybe this calls for a buddy read?

Maree, what a list! You are my idol; that would be 4 months of reading for me.

What I read in September:

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
I liked it better than Angels & Demons but not nearly as much as The Da Vinci Code. It felt too drawn out to me.

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
I never read a Sherlock Holmes book/story before, and I expected more. It was a bit too bland for me, I didn't really care about the characters, and I didn't get that nice creepy feeling that a good mystery usually gives me.

Hunted by PC Cast & Kristin Cast
I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I'm a grown woman and I love this series, though it seems to be getting weird with each subsequent book.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
I liked it because I like the subject matter, but it was slow-moving and predictable in places.

Maree � Light's Shadow � wrote: "Oh, I think I just got that one on my eReader, Alias. Maybe this calls for a buddy read?"
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Right now I am totally backed up with my books to be read.

I have heard very good things about the novel.

I read 8 books in September. I am now only 1 book away from my 2008 total of 77 books. That was my all time number of books read in one year. I know that it's quality and not quantity that is important, yet it still is fun to top my personal best.

The Solitude of Prime Numbers~Paolo Giordano
Fiction
This book is beautifully written. The story is a quiet tale of desperation, love and loneliness of two people that will never fit in with society. It's quite moving and one that I think will stay with the reader a long time.
My favorite line was "Choices are made in brief seconds and paid for in the time that remains."
I rated the novel 4/5

This is amazingly the 27 year old authors debut novel. It's won Italy's most prestigious award, the Premio Strega. Oh, and he just happens to be gorgeous and a physicist, too !

The Science of Evil: On Empathy and the Origins of Cruelty~Simon Baron-Cohen
Non-fiction
The author is a Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at the University of Cambridge and the cousin of the actor/comedian Sasha Baron-Cohen.

The aim of the book is to stimulate discussion on the causes of "evil" by moving the debate into the scientific arena. He focuses on a brain-based theory of human cruelty. At the heart of his thesis is empathy.
I found the book to be very thought provoking.
Rate 4/5

A House in Sicily~~Daphne Phelps
Nonfiction
rate: 3 minus./5
It's memoir about a British woman who inherited a large villa called Casa Cuseni in Sicily after WWII. It's an interesting look at Sicily and the people who lived there at the time. The little vignettes she tells of the famous and local people are somewhat interesting. Though I never really felt like I got to know anyone really well.

The City of Falling Angels~~John Berendt
Non fiction
rate 3/5
I found the book on the whole enjoyable. Though parts were a bit too inside baseball if you know what I mean.

The book on one level is about the fire at the Fenice opera company. However, the bulk of the book is the author introducing the reader to a variety of people that he meets in Venice.

One such person was the poet Mario Stefani. This was such a sad and poignant section.

One of my favorite quotes from the book was something from Stefani. "Loneliness is not being alone; it's loving others to no avail."

Another quote that caught my eye was,
"Telling the truth is the most anti-conformist act I know. Hypocrisy is the constitutional basis and foundation of society.

All in all, a well written book.

Death at La Fenice~~Donna Leon
Fiction
This literate mystery is set in Venice, Italy.
It's the first in the Commissario Guido Brunetti series. I would categorize this novel as a cerebral mystery. It's not a page turner or gore fest. What it is, is subtle and well done. You'll want to read this one while sipping wine and listening to Verdi in the background.
Rate 3/5

Every Day in Tuscany: Seasons of an Italian LifeFrances Mayes
Nonfictin
This book reads like the pretentious, self centered, ramblings of a diary or blog. The author is clearly in love with her own poetic style of writing.

There is way too much about the food they ate and not nearly enough on the people of Italy. I had no feeling for the place or the people of Tuscany from reading this book.

I quickly became bored as the author droned on and on about the artist Luca Signorelli. She managed to make it all quite dull.

When she started to write about her precious grandson, I would have quit reading if I wasn't so near the end.

Also someone who clearly is well off complaining about their investment portfolio didn't sit well with me.
I rated the book a 2 minus /5

Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us~~Robert D. Hare
Nonfiction
Rate 3 plus /5
Fascinating, informative and a quick read. The author developed the Psychopathy Checklist which is used worldwide. The book however was published in 1993 so the material may be dated with the advances of MRI's and such. Still, I think it's a valuable read. The author lists a dozen symptoms of a psychopath and then explains each one in depth with examples from real life psychopaths. At the end he gives advice for people who are dealing with people like this in their lives. The author notes, at least at the time of publication, there is no effective treatment for people with this condition.

Room~~Emma Donoghue
Fiction
Rate 3/5
I read this novel for my f2f book group. I found the voice of the 5 year old narrator to be off putting. And this made it hard for me to connect with the book. Parts of it were interesting. Though if it weren't a F2F group read, I would have quit. The majority in my book group found it interesting.

Because of last months group read of The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America I went on a psychopath reading binge. I still have a book or two waiting for me at the library on this topic. I find the study of psychology fascinating.

I also continued on my latest kick of books set in Italy.

All in all an interesting reading month for me.

Good for you Alias. You are clearly having a good year in your reading.

Here is what I've read/attempted to read:

The Mango Orchard - Robin Bayley

Dear Vampa - Ross Collins

Fallen - Karin Slaughter

Chasing Windmills - Catherine Ryan Hyde

After School Club - Alison Davies

A Dark Touch Novel: Shadows - Amy Meredith

A Dark Touch Novel: The Hunt - Amy Meredith

A Dark Touch Novel: Fever - Amy Meredith

A Dark Touch Novel: Betrayal - Amy Meredith

Still Life - Louise Penny

Complete Surrender - Dave Sharp

All reviews can be seen on my books of what I've read

Bobbie57 wrote: "Good for you Alias. You are clearly having a good year in your reading."
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Thanks, Barbara. I wish I was doing as well with my DL (determination List).

Alias Reader wrote: "I read 8 books in September. I am now only 1 book away from my 2008 total of 77 books. That was my all time number of books read in one year. I know that it's quality and not quantity that is imp..."

Interesting bunch of books, Alias. I'm going to look for The Solitude of Prime Numbers when I go to the library.

Alias, I am also no fan of Frances Mayes's books. She is so pretentious and phony.

I had a "light" reading month, both in number and kinds of books. I know I read one more book that I liked but for the life of me, cannot remember its title.

Look here for my measly four September books:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

Here are my thoughts on the 10 books I read this month.

Picnic at Hanging Rock 4 stars, was a classic on the reading lists for secondary school back in my day.

The Kite Runner 4 stars, another great read

The Red Tent 4 stars, interesting read, but I would have enjoyed it more with a basic knowledge of the bible.

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer 2 stars, strange story, which I enjoyed at the beginning but my interest waned with its silly ending.

The Hungry Tide 2 stars, interesting setting (I love India!) but storyline felt hollow.

A Woman Of Seville 1 star, way too cute for me.

The Great Gatsby 2 stars, missed something with this classic.

Calligraphy of the Witch: A Novel 4 stars, I really enjoyed this.

Bad Dirt 3 stars, short stories based in rural Wyoming, some great, some just OK.

The Power of One 2 stars, way too long and not what I expected.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "Alias, I am also no fan of Frances Mayes's books. She is so pretentious and phony."
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I wasn't a fan of her first book. It was a big hit, but her whining when she had months off from her teaching job, the money to travel to a foreign country and buy and remodel a home ticked me off to no end. It was as if she had no sense of how lucky she was.

In this latest book, some of the locals seemed to have enough of her, too. She started a petition against a community pool as it would spoil her view. Her petition wasn't met with much enthusiasm. If fact, someone but a grenade (non operational) at the end of her driveway. Actually, this was the most exciting thing to happen in the whole book !

I only picked this latest one by her because it was on my libraries shelf where the Italy books were and I was on a Italy reading kick. It will be my last book I read by her.

Lesley wrote:
The Power of One 2 stars, way too long and not what I expected.
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Say it ain't so, Lesley ! I loved The Power of One.
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Lesley wrote: The Kite Runner 4 stars, another great read

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I totally agree with you on this one. I gave it 5 stars.
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Lesley wrote:
The Red Tent 4 stars, interesting read, but I would have enjoyed it more with a basic knowledge of the bible.
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I read this for a f2f group. While I wasn't a big fan of the book, I totally agree with you that knowledge of the Bible would add to the enjoyment of the novel.

That is why I also read
Collegeville Bible Commentary when I read The Red Tent. They have one for each book of the Bible. They sell for about $5. I have a few of them, but I think for this book the one I read was #2 Genesis in the Old Testament series.

I enjoyed reading your monthly reads. Thanks for sharing. :)

I read Under the Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany by Frances Mayes years ago when they first came out and liked them, but reread both recently and had second thoughts. I found her writing irritating for the same reasons already mentioned. I had a similar feeling listening to A Thousand Days in Venice.

Lesley wrote: I had a similar feeling listening to A Thousand Days in Venice.
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Thanks for the heads-up. De Blasi is on the list I have of Italian books. I'll move her way down the list.

In September I read those books:

1."A Perfect Proposal" by Katie Fforde.
- This is story about Sophie Apperly who's been supporting herself since she left school, but as far as her academic family are concerned, but she's never had a proper job and between her work she's must to look after Uncle Eric while his housekeeper was away. One day when her best friend Milly invites her over to New York she's took this chance to enjoy every minut of her big adventure in Manhattan. In New York Sophie met one old english lady who's later introduce to Sophie her grandson Luke. When Luke arrives in England a few weeks later, Sophie hardly expects him to seek her out.
I can recommended to read this book because is little be romance, great fun and I enjoyed to read this book.

2."The Wedding Girl" by Madeleine Wickham.
- This is story about english women Milly who's now after 10 years later a very different person and she's engaged to Simon who's good looking and adores her. She's about to have the biggest moment in her life her wedding, but nobody didn't know that Mily when she was 18 year's old she was married to Allan who's want to stay in England. Before four days to go to her wedding with Simon, Mily realised that she must stop her fairytale wedding with Simon and find Allan, but she has worry How can she tell Simon? and her mother that she was previously married with somebody else.
It was nice reading and I enjoyed read this book.

3."The Flying Carpet to Baghdad: One Woman's Fight for Two Orphans of War" by Hala Jaber.
- Last year I read this book and I choose to re-read again this book because is nice story about one lebanon women Hala Jaber who's a journalist and live at the moment in Britain and she went to Baghdad in 2003 to find a child for her story. She's met 3 years old Zahra, lying badly burned in a hospital and later she found her baby sister Hawra who's only survived. Her both parents and another 5 siblings was killed in Baghadad in bomb attack.

Maria, I just read in your profile you lived in Sydney for 8 years. I live in Queensland. Glad to hear you enjoyed your time in Aus.

Maree � Light's Shadow � wrote: "If I Stay by Gail Forman. This was good but not great. A lot of people were greatly touched by this, but I saw a bunch of teenagers running around doing dumb things in the name of grief. I didn't buy it. My Review
..."

Gayle Forman is a graduate of the Univ. of Oregon and really helped my daughter learn the ropes when she moved to NYC. When i learned she quite magazines to write YA fiction, i read If I Stay. I liked it better than you did, Maree, but i didn't think it was great. I think some teens do dumb things, so that didn't bother me. While i was in NYC i hoped to find another novel by Forman but they were always checked out, so they must touch some. Hopefully their target audience if not adults. :-)

deborah

The Following is coppied from my 1 Million Pages per lifetime challenge. You can find the link to that here http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/6...

September 2011
2666 -Roberto Bolano (1123 pages)
It always takes me an exceptionally long time to read any Roberto Bolano books. They're amazing and beautifully written, but there is just something about them that is so emotionally draining and time consuming. With so much sex, murder, women and literary criticism, you need to take this one slowly.

Twinkie, Deconstructed: My Journey to Discover How the Ingredients Found in Processed Foods Are Grown, Mined (Yes, Mined), and Manipulated Into What America Eats-Steve Ettlinger (304 pages)
In general, it was a fluff read after 2666. I wanted more from a food nonfiction book, but this provided at best a surface look at a few ingredients that might need their own history and treatment.

Kashimashi Omnibus vol. 1-Satoru Akahori (496 pages)
Manga purchased for 25 cents at Borders final day.

The Unwritten Vol. 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity-Mike Carey (144 pages)
100 Bullets, Vol. 2: Split Second Chance-Brian Azzarello (224 pages)

September 2011 total pages: 2291
Total 2011 pages: 17119
Total all time pages: 26260

Lesley wrote: "Here are my thoughts on the 10 books I read this month.

Picnic at Hanging Rock 4 stars, was a classic on the reading lists for secondary school back in my day...."

I saw the film but didn't realize it was a novel, a sort of historical fiction, i guess. When i saw the movie it was my intention to find the "true story" but i didn't. Just now i looked and learned there was a "sequel" of sorts. It is actually the last chapter, which Joan Lindsay wrote when she wrote the book but decided, with her publisher, not to release until 3 years after her death. Odd, that. The book is
The Secret of Hanging Rock

This web site shares more info & really seems to debunk the entire story. I guess we're left to decide. WARNING: this web site gives away the story of "the secret".

deb

I read quite a few this month having traveled a lot and only had one clunker among the bunch.

To Kill a Mockingbird 5 stars (how could it not be?)
What an outstanding book! Is it any wonder that this novel has and will stand up against any other in the annals of great literature? Having read this book a number of times, it never ceases to amaze how utterly beautiful and wondrous it makes the reader feel when they have finished. The book enhances understanding of a time in America where race was an insurmountable obstacle, where humanity seemed to look at things based on the color of one's skin, and where children learned a lesson that life while easy and fun, bears harsh realities and terrible choices.

Agnes Grey 4 stars
I was truly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story about the ills of society. It was a simple tale told of a young woman who takes on the role of governess to what nicely could be called a bunch of brats. Agnes, our dignified protagonist, decides to become a governess to young children. Unfortunately, those entrusted to her care are spoiled, unmanageable little curs who delight in the most appalling behavior including torturing animals, as well as one another and poor Agnes. Poor Agnes is stuck in these situations where the monied show how awful they were.

The Scarlet Pimpernel 4 stars
I thought this to be a wonderful book of cunning, deering do, and of course handsome men and beautiful woman. I love these books of times before when people did such brave and noble things. Our hero, who else but the Scarlet Pimpernel, is a righteous man who goes about rescuing the nobility of France who have been condemned to the guillotine. Unmindful of dangers to himself, he skillfully masterminds and outwits the mean and nasty Chauvelin who is sent like a bloodhound to scour out the Pimpernel's true identity, arrest him, and ultimately have him killed.

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration 4 stars
I thought this book to be a fine and discerning look at the way the blacks were treated as seen through the eyes of three main people going through the turmoil and utter discrimination of that time. Sad and poignant, the lives of these people were impacted by the events of the time. Growing up in the sixties, I was aware of the goings on in the South. Appalled and upset to witness the beatings, the rubber hosings, the fires, the National Guard needed when young children tried to go to school, I always thought that we in the North were much better in relating to our fellow man. Apparently, I was quite wrong in that assumption and the blacks were treated unfairly here in the North as well. This book covering the fifty-five year migration of the black population of the South to the North included all of the events that one has witnessed or been taught of.

Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History 4 stars
After suffering the effects of hurricane Irene, I thought this would be a good book to really find out how devastating a hurricane could be. I so enjoyed reading of the way in which the weather bureau of 1900 and earlier was filled with corruption and a sense that what they thought was the only right thought. I guess not much politically has changed and yet with all out modern advances, we still have such a time getting the weather right.

The Imperfectionists 4 stars
It was a bit hard for me initially to get into this story but eventually I was able to enjoy the various characters that were together in the newspaper world that Rachman created. This was the author's first book, and he did a fine job writing of an Italian newspaper that is having a hard time staying afloat.

Mary Barton 3 stars
Actually, I do so wish there were half star ratings as I feel this one is definitely a 3.5 novel. Being that this was Elizabeth Gaskell's first novel, and being that a few people told me they couldn't get through it, imagine my surprise when I found I truly liked this book? It was a fine example of the saga of the the Victorian world where feelings are so hidden, and cues so missed that oftentimes, feelings are overlooked and poor judgements are made.

The Language of Flowers 5 stars
Absolutely loved this book! It was super. Another first time author has captured a wonderful story about a young women battling a childhood of insecurities and hardship. Victoria, the main character, has been shuttled about and has formed a very tough outer core. She however, is not tough on the inside but lives in a world of insecurities and loneliness. She is bad, but not so bad that you dislike her, but rather feel empathy for her as she struggles to find just a bit of love.

A Trick of the Light 3 stars
I know that I am definitely in a minority here with rating this book only a three. I have read all the other Chief Inspector Gamache and loved each and every one. This one however, just did not give me that "wow" feeling I usually have as I read through the pages and the lives of the beloved Three Pines' characters.

Auschwitz: A Doctor's Eyewitness Account 3 stars
I really felt that this was an important book to read. However, I just could not get over the lack of emotion I felt running through the story. I don't know if it was a defense mechanism against the horrors that this doctor saw, or if it was a somewhat hardened outlook on what transpired in the camp. I realize that one probably needed to develop a shell or cocoon around oneself in order to not go insane, but I wanted some emotion to bubble to the surface which unfortunately I did not find. I really hated rating a book such as this. Do you rate the writing style or do you rate the event was my dilemma? I guess I wanted the author to make me feel something, but too often felt this was a clinical study and for that I was ever so sad.

The Secret Holocaust Diaries 3 stars
This would make a fine YA read.

This book was comprised of the diary entries of Noona Bannister while she was a young child and then grown into young adulthood. It traced her family, their background from the frontiers of Russia through World War 2 and the perils she and her mother experienced while being prisoners of war.

Pigeon EnglishPigeon English 1 star
.....and the reason this has been nominated for the Mann Booker award is??????

A good concept gone totally wrong.....

I have to say that I have never been a fan of a child narrator. I think it takes an especially gifted author to speak authentically as a child unless that author is a child himself.

Jamrach's Menagerie 4 stars
This was a book of substance. It was not an easy book for me to read, certainly not a book that was flighty and irrelevant. The characters were very read and the scences depicted while at times being totally awful were authentic. The descriptions of being on the boat made me feel the rolling waves, the crushing sea, and the sickness which I feel when I am on a boat. Perhaps this sense of sickness made it a difficult read for me.


Carmilla 3 stars
This short little novel, written twenty five years before the famous Bram Stoker novel, is an easy read about a female vampire who attacks young females. Interesting and providing perhaps a stepping stone to Dracula, the novel has overtones certainly of a lesbian nature.

Uncle Silas 4 stars
I thought it was just the perfect read for those nights when it is dark and gloomy. I loved the easy flow and direction that this story took. The writing kept me engaged for the entire time and really did keep me guessing about Uncle Silas until the end. Was he a good guy or was he something sinister? was the inevitable question and depending on where you were in this book, your opinion could change. I like being "kept on one's toes" while reading a novel

A Stolen Life: A Memoir 3 stars
One can never say they liked a book such as this. How could anyone other than a predator get any enjoyment from reading about what a beast did to a young child. As a mother of four daughters, I was appalled, sickened, and oftentimes had shivers run down my spine. I happened to listen to this book and the narrator was Ms Dugard which made it all the more chilling . There were times as she read that you could hear her voice cracking as she related her living hell. Hard to believe yet ever so true, this story is truly one of a childhood stolen, of a child longing for her mother, of a girl forced to grow up within the snares of true evil.

The Time Machine 3 stars
Interesting and a book that has held up quite well for over one hundred years. Wells was able to establish a hidden dictum on the ills of Victorian society concealed within the pages of this book. It is a foretelling of what will happen as the haves overlord the have nots in a class system.

For the rest of my reviews...
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

Stephanie wrote: 2666 -Roberto Bolano (1123 pages)
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You must have a lot of patience to read a 1000 + page book.

Marialyce wrote: "I read quite a few this month having traveled a lot and only had one clunker among the bunch.
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Wow ! What a terrific reading month you had, Marialyce.

I really enjoyed reading your reviews.

House Rules - Rachel Sontag. Sontag grew up in a home with an overly critical, emotionally abusive father, plus a mother who was so passive she never did anything about anything, all of which makes for a painful but fascinating read. There was no great satisfying "aha" moment in this book except that Sontag did learn to accept what she could not change and she did remove her father from her life. B

A Thousand Lives - Julia Scheeres. A well-researched book about Jim Jones and the tragedy he wrought at Jonestown. I hadn't realize how often he had spoken about mass suicide/murder in the past but apparently it was something he'd had in mind for decades before he made it happen. This book also made me understand how truly trapped and helpless the people were in Guyana, especially sad since so many of them moved there with such idealistic hopes and dreams. A-

Losing Mum and Pup - Christopher Buckley. The son of William and Patricia Buckley writes about dealing with his parents' failing health and eventual deaths with a mixture of compassion and humor that made me laugh out loud and cry real tears, sometimes on the same page. His parents were not your typical next door neighbors, but the situations and emotions he writes about are the same ones that we've all dealt with, or will in the future. A-

Close Your Eyes - Amanda Eyre Ward. I know for a fact that I read every word in this book but I don't remember much about it now. I think it was about a woman whose father was accused of killing her mother and how her friendship with a wacky off-beat school friend helped her find out the truth about what really happened. Or maybe not. I think I liked it, but I honestly don't remember much about it.

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake - Jenny Wingfield. This book was a very pleasant surprise......I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. The story is about the Lake family living in rural Arkansas during the 1950's, complete with all the wacky characters and wacky character names you'd expect from that time and place. But these characters also had heart and seemed genuine to me. There's plenty of drama and some troubling cruelty, but I truly enjoyed this book and I was really sorry to see it end. A-

Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and the Marriage of the Century. Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger. I absolutely loved this book. Of course I remember knowing about the scandal that surrounded the Burton-Taylor marriage, but this is the story of what it was like being inside that marriage. The authors had access to letters and journals that Burton kept which were incredibly passionate and touching. They pointed out the difference between the "Liz and Dick" from the gossip magazines and "Elizabeth and Richard" the two real people. And even though I knew how the story was going to end, there were times during the book when I was really hoping they would be able to work things out. In the end their addictions were what ended their marriage and, in Burton's case, his life. Tragic and passionate and fascinating. Did I mention that I absolutely loved this book. A


House Rules

A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Hope, Deception, and Survival at Jonestown

Losing Mum and Pup: A Memoir

Close Your Eyes

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake

Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century

I have to say I really enjoy everyone's reviews at the end of the month, with some very interesting books being read. So many more titles to seek out...

I love everyone's lists and reviews. Marialyce, I think we have similar tastes. To Kill a Mockingbird is perhaps my favorite book of all time, and I've read it and watched the Gregory Peck movie several times. I loved the new The Language of Flowers. Connie, I also thought that The Homecoming of Samuel Lake was surprisingly good. I expected a good read, but didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did.

I didn't have much reading time in September (and won't in October) so read a whopping total of three books, one of them a short play.

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America, which I've discussed on our monthly read thread, and the similar
Death in the City of Light: The Serial Killer of Nazi-Occupied Paris, also discussed there a bit. The play was Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona, as I slowly make my way through my volumes of Shakespeare. A minor bit of headway on my sadly ignored 2011 determination list!

Susan wrote: "I love everyone's lists and reviews. Marialyce, I think we have similar tastes. To Kill a Mockingbird is perhaps my favorite book of all time, and I've read it and watched the Gregory..."

Susan, I have to buy that DVD. I have seen it a few times and think Gregory Peck played Atticus brilliantly. He said that was the role he was most proud of in his whole movie career and perhaps that is what he will continue to be best known for. I have added Connie's book as well since it sounds fascinating.

My time like yours will be limited in October, busy month for sure. Hope to read The Woman in White, The Stand, and Exit the Actress this month.

Connie wrote: Close Your Eyes - Amanda Eyre Ward. I know for a fact that I read every word in this book but I don't remember much about it now.
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LOL. I know how that feels. Sometimes when I look over my book journal I say, I read that book ? I have no recollection of it at all. Sad.

I have to put Mum and Pup on my TBR list. I was hesitating, but your review sealed the deal for me.

As always, I enjoyed reading your reviews, Connie.

Deb, I did end up picking up the second book in the If I Stay series, and I think I'm going to try for it. We'll see if I get around to it.

Stephanie wrote: "2666 -Roberto Bolano (1123 pages)
It always takes me an exceptionally long time to read any Roberto Bolano books. They're amazing and beautifully written, but there is just something about them that is so emotionally draining and time consuming. With so much sex, murder, women and literary criticism, you need to take this one slowly.
..."

The GR link is only in Spanish, i couldn't find an English one, so here is the Amazon link about the book. I wish i were young enough to invest the time in the this one, as it sounds as though it could be outstanding. However, this is a honkin' 912 page book and i'm too old for a mystery that length. ;-)

2666

Marialyce wrote: "I read quite a few this month having traveled a lot and only had one clunker among the bunch...."

You had some good classics mixed in with your other books, Marialyce. Mary Barton was my first Elizabeth Gaskell novel. It was darker than i expected but i still found myself very interested in the characters and all i learned about their lives. Agnes Grey was a good one, too. (Actually, i came to Gaskell via the Brontes, thanks to the former's bio of Charlotte.)

You've been reading quite a bit, so i'm impressed there was only one you didn't like. Good selecting!

deborah

Connie wrote: "Close Your Eyes - Amanda Eyre Ward. I know for a fact that I read every word in this book but I don't remember much about it now. ..."

Connie, this is so funny! What amazes me when i forget what a book was about (particularly that soon), is how often it's a book i liked. Why the blind memory, then?

Your comment on the Taylor/Burton book makes it sound as though i'd like it. I'm not prone toward such books but you made it sound good. I'm glad you shared your thoughts on it (and, of course, the others).

deborah

Maree � Light's Shadow � wrote: "Deb, I did end up picking up the second book in the If I Stay series, and I think I'm going to try for it. We'll see if I get around to it."

I hope you'll let us know what you think of it, Maree.

deb

I spent my reading time in September reading two books i still haven't finished, both over 500 pages. One is nonfic, the other a james fennimore cooper novel. Let's hope they are on my October list.

The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman. I liked it well enough but now feel more like shrugging. Go figure. The connecting of short stories which featured different characters was nice but i think it needed more umph. And Rome wasn't featured nearly enough for my taste.


Palo Alto by James Franco. The first half was good, full of different voices and stories. However, by the last half i was hoping for more than teens in search of sex & drugs. If i excuse the excesses of that, i liked how he wrote and felt that most stories, while loosely connected, had some good aspects.

A Corpse in the Koryo by James Church was a title culled from out monthly lists of Books Read. However, i forgot to note who liked it. Set in South Korea, the detective reminded me of a sardonic P.I. from a 40s movie. I liked it but doubt i'll read more in this Inspector O series.


The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino. Again, someone here read & listed it but i've forgotten the source. I liked this mystery, set in Japan. Two characters, one of whom committed a crime, work to solve/hide (depending on the character) the puzzle. One is a physicist, the other a mathematician. I felt the story was a good one.

Thanks to the unknown poster. I hope to do better with taking my own notes next time.

deborah

Madrano wrote: The GR link is only in Spanish, i couldn't find an English one, so here is the Amazon link about the book.
-----------------
the link didn't work for me.

Stephanie, if you still have the book, could you provide the ISBN?

The book you read was written in English, correct ?

I did not read much but I liked what I read Its all about quality. Work is very busy again...

Water for Elephants 3/5 I enjoyed it. The book was simple and interesting. Nothing riveting but a good story.

Journal of a Solitude 3/5 I loved her, but towards the end of the book I died. I enjoyed the buddyread disscussion. Thank you everyone for that!

Wrestling with Moses 3/5 Great information but the writing was not great. It did stimulate me to read more on Jane Jacobs and Robert Moses alike. I knew how much both influenced NYC but I did not know to the extent until I read this book.

September's books:

Don't Tempt Me I picked this up for a quick read. Thought it was chick lit, but it turned out to be a romance. I finished it because it was quick and not terrible, not as formulaic as many. 2/5

THE RETURN by Hakan Nesser, an Inspector Van Veeteren mystery. I couldn't find a GoodReads link for this. It was excellent. These stories are a little different in that you are shown the thoughts and feelings of the policemen, not so much action and clues. Van Veeteren is the master, and the others know it. He makes me think of the British Inspector Morse a bit. 4/5


Fahrenheit 451 I've never read this before. Took me a while to get into it. I think the author was very prophetic about sixty years ago, with some of his views of society. 3/5

Saving Faith Not a bad thriller. A CIA man feels that he is the one to determine who may live or should die, if he thinks they pose a threat, all in the name of patriotism. 3/5

The Lamorna Wink A Richard Jury/Melrose Plant mystery, primarily featuring Plant. This is a series that I have enjoyed for years, and it was nice to be back in their company. 4/5

Carolyn (in SC) C234D wrote: "September's books:


Fahrenheit 451 I've never read this before. Took me a while to get into it. I think the author was very prophetic about sixty years ago, with some of his views of society. 3/5
----------------------

I read this book as an adult for the first time. I absolutely loved it. I gave it a 5/5 rating.

Alias Reader wrote: "Madrano wrote: The GR link is only in Spanish, i couldn't find an English one, so here is the Amazon link about the book.
-----------------
the link didn't work for me.

Stephanie, if you still ha..."

~~~~~

I just realized I reviewed the wrong edition of the book. Here's a link to the english edition of 2666 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31...

Thanks, Stephanie. The part about Santa Teresa sounds similar to murder rate in Juarez, Mexico, which borders El Paso. Someone on this board read a book about it--i think it was this one. The Daughters of Juarez: A True Story of Serial Murder South of the Border by Teresa Rodriguez. I mentioned to her that i saw a movie about it, Backyard.

This website on Wiki shares more info about the incredible numbers.

ANYway, you can tell it has stayed with me. The novel interests me too, even though that is only one part of it. Thanks for the title.

deborah