bostonian71 tries for 75 in 2013

I had fun with last year's 75 books challenge and can't wait to have another go at it, starting with this month's books:

January - 10 books

Fish Wish by Bob Barner: cute kids' book, though the toddlers I read it to were more interested in identifying the sea creatures (often incorrectly) than hearing the story.

My First Biography: Martin Luther King, Jr. by Marion Dane Bauer: very good biography of King for preschool age (easy to understand, positive, no mention of assassinations).

The Box: An Oral History of Television, 1929-1961 by Jeff Kisseloff: well-written with lots of good anecdotes, though I do wish the book covered more ground ... (review)

Beyond Reason: Using Emotions as You Negotiate by Roger Fisher and Daniel Shapiro: clearly written and engaging, with advice that's useful for daily relationships ... (review)

A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire: beautifully styled prose, though the title character is not the best company ... (review)

I Wish I Could Fly by Ron Maris: very funny; the toddlers I read it to had no problem understanding the story and had fun repeating the onomatopoetic words.

Quiches, Kugels, and Couscous: My Search for Jewish Cooking in France by Joan Nathan: excellent compendium of recipes ... (review)

Where's My Cow? by Terry Pratchett: short and very silly (in a good way) ... (review))

The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss: not sure how Rothfuss will make his plot work out ... (review)

Let's Go Home, Little Bear by Martin Waddell: another amusing kid's book with good onomatopoetic words.

Glad to see you back!

Welcome back!

Thanks! :)

February - 10 books (20 total for 2013)

The Sisters Grimm Book 1: The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley: Interesting premise which didn't turn out as compelling as I expected ... (review)

Matzoh Ball Gumbo: Culinary Tales of the Jewish South by Marcie Cohen Ferris: This had some good stories and insights, though it seems like the author really wanted to make sure readers understood her central ideas ... (review)

Jewish Jocks: An Unorthodox Hall of Fame, edited by Franklin Foer and Marc Tracy: An idiosyncratic collection of essays, most rather short, and several don't fit the classic definition of either Jew or Jock ... (review)

Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire: Sometimes overly philosophical or depressing, but still compelling ... (review)

Baxter, The Pig Who Wanted to be Kosher by Laurel Snyder: A fun bedtime read ... (review)

The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey: engrossing take on the story of Richard III ... This was a page-turner, though not always in the right direction ... (review)

Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers: Very odd -- there is some of the whimsy I remember from the movie, but Mary Poppins is rather self-absorbed ... (review)

Mary Poppins Comes Back by P.L. Travers: More magical adventures with the British nanny without peer (that is, if you ask her...) (review)

Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin by Calvin Trillin - The title is a misnomer, because I can never get enough of one of my favorite humorists ... (review)

The Billionaire's Vinegar by Benjamin Wallace - Engrossing reading about the old-wine trade in general and the intricacies of one controversial bottle in particular ... (review)

I do think the movie is more delightful than the book for Mary Poppins.

Me too!

March - 11 books (31 total for 2013)

The Toynbee Convector by Ray Bradbury: Not among Bradbury's best, but this still has some interesting stories ... (review)

Swimming in the Sea of Talmud by Rabbi Michael Katz and Rabbi Gershon Schwartz: Intelligent and clearly written, this is a great introduction to some of the ideas and methods of the Talmud ... (review)

The Book of Words by Lawrence Kushner: A rather idiosyncratic collection of definitions for some of the most common terms in Judaism ... (review)

Blanche on the Lam by Barbara Neely: The story goes overboard with the depiction of the main villain ... (review)

Once Upon a Time in the North by Philip Pullman: Competently written but not terribly complicated or deep story set in the Dark Materials universe ... (review)

Miriam's Tambourine by Howard Schwartz: Solid collection of stories ... (review)

Mary Poppins Opens the Door by P.L. Travers: Another charming entry in the Mary Poppins series ... (review).

Searching for Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede: Entertaining variation on the typical fantasy tale, featuring a princess who does her own share of rescuing ... (review)

Talking to Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede: The last and weakest book of the series, this was a pleasant enough read but was definitely not as original as the first ... (review)

A Tale of Time City by Diana Wynne Jones: Slight but entertaining time-travel tale from one of my favorite fantasy authors ... (review)

Fireman Small Fire Down Below by Wong Herbert Yee: Pretty cute, even if the length made a couple of the toddlers I read it to lose interest.

April - 9 books (40 total for 2013)

Conversations with Rabbi Small by Harry Kemelman: As a discussion of Judaism, this book is interesting; as a narrative, it barely qualifies as fiction ... (review)

Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia McKilip: The prose was a little hard to get through at first, but I eventually found this a very absorbing story ... (review)

The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman: Engrossing and vivid, with strong characters and a plot full of intrigue and action ... (review)

The NPR Interviews 1994, edited by Robert Siegel: Solid collection of interviews in a variety of subjects ... (review)

The Spectator by Studs Terkel: As usual, a well-arranged and interesting collection of interviews, this time from actors, directors and writers for stage and screen ... (review)

Mary Poppins in the Park by P.L. Travers: Thoroughly enjoyable entry in the Mary Poppins series ... (review)

Calling on Dragons: The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Book Three by Patricia C. Wrede: A quick and pleasant read, though this seems to have more characters than the plot really needs ... (review)

Year of the Griffin by Diana Wynne Jones: Great fun for fantasy fans ... (review)

Pay the Piper by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple: Slim but likable fantasy from a master of newfangled fairy tales and her musician son ... (review)

May - 5 books (45 total for 2013)

My Lunches with Orson by Peter Biskind: If you like mean-spirited gossip and vituperative score-settling, then this is the book for you. Otherwise, steer clear ... (review)

Raggedy Ann and the Golden Ring: by Johnny Gruelle: A little preachy just like the other Raggedy Ann/Andy books we're read, but thankfully has a little more variety than the others ... (review)

The Whole Fromage by Kathie Lison: A delicious read, nicely balanced between facts about cheesemaking, a history of cheese in France, and anecdotes from the author's visits to various fromagers ... (review)

The Shadow in the North by Philip Pullman: Full of drama and intrigue, if not quite as immediately compelling as the first book ... (review)

Pioneer Jews by Harriet Rochlin and Fred Rochlin: Well-researched and -organized survey of Jews' experiences in the Old West ... (review)

June - 11 books (56 total for 2013)

My Very Own Fairy Stories by Johnny Gruelle: Very odd collection of tales from the author best known for Raggedy Ann and Andy stories ... (review)

Searching for Meaning in Midrash by Rabbi Michael Katz and Rabbi Gershon Schwartz: A lucid and intelligent introduction to midrash ... (review)

The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting: Racist and not that well-written ... (review)

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan: Entertaining and fast-paced ... (review)

The Jews of Boston, edited by Jonathan Sarna and Ellen Smith: Illuminating essays about the Jewish community of Boston ... (review)

Rachel the Clever by Josepha Sherman: Short collection of competently told tales, but somewhat generic ... (review)

The Mysterious Benedict Society: Mr. Benedict's Book of Perplexing Puzzles, Elusive Enigmas, and Curious Conundrums by Trenton Lee Stewart: Cute little book of puzzles, plus some additional material for fans of the Mysterious Benedict Society trilogy ... (review)

Conrad's Fate by Diana Wynne Jones: Full of interesting ideas as usual, though the story wasn't quite as well-paced as I'd like ... (review)

Earwig and the Witch by Diana Wynne Jones: A light, fun read best used as a chaser in between more serious or longer books .. (review)

The Pinhoe Egg by Diana Wynne Jones: Another fun page-turner with interesting plots and multiple perspectives ... (review)

Harry and the Lady Next Door, Harry by the Sea, and No Roses for Harry by Gene Zion: Excellent books, with simple but very evocative illustrations (the characters' faces are so expressive) and gentle humor.

July - 16 books (72 total for 2013)

Taste: The Story of Britain through its Cooking by Kate Colquhoun: Comprehensive look at British history through its food ... (review)

Strega Nona and Strega Nona Takes a Vacation by Tomie dePaola: The preschoolers ask for these over and over because of the wonderful illustrations and very funny stories.

The Woman Who Died a Lot by Jasper Fforde: Fforde has done it again ... (review)

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming: A truly charming adventure ... (review)

Best Food Writing 2010, edited by Holly Hughes: Generally solid collection of food-related pieces, though after having read several of these I've started borrowing them from the library rather than buying ... (review)

The Sands of Time: A Hermux Tantamoq Adventure by Michael Hoeye: A nice straightforward adventure ... (review)

Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella: Quite lyrical, sometimes to the point of overindulgence ... review)

Fat Magic by Steven Kroll: I remember reading this as a kid and thinking, "Wow, getting eat sweets all the time ... but that boy is really spoiled!" Rereading this only confirmed that impression, though I do love Tomie dePaola's drawings and the food does look yummy.

Harrowing the Dragon by Patricia McKillip: An imaginative and intense collection of stories ... (review)

Jimmy's Boa and the Big Splash Birthday Bash and The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash by Trinka Hakes Noble: Very cute and silly, with funny illustrations.

Is It Big or Is It Little? by Claudine Rueda: This looked promising but was ultimately disappointing ... (review)

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don Wood and Audrey Wood: A favorite with the preschoolers. The picture of a strawberry wearing Groucho Marx glasses gets tons of giggles every time.

Reflections: On the Magic of Writing by Diana Wynne Jones: Fascinating collection of essays from one of my favorite fantasy authors... (review)

Westmark by Lloyd Alexander: Very quick read, with a story that launches right away ... (review)

August - 11 books (83 total for 2013)

The Beggar Queen by Lloyd Alexander: A dramatic finish to the Westmark series, and a mostly satisfying conclusion ... (review)

The Kestrel by Lloyd Alexander: Quite a bit darker and bloodier than the first book in this series ... (review)

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum: A fascinating book to read, mostly to compare it with the movie and Gregory Maguire's "Wicked" ... (review)

Feasting on Asphalt by Alton Brown: Witty, informative and eminently enjoyable ... (review)

Palm for Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman: Light but satisfying, with a good mix of action and character development ... (review)

The Moon in the Cloud by Rosemary Harris: Very creative midrash for the story of Noah's Ark ... (review)

The Art of William Steig edited by Claudia J. Nahson: Absolutely enchanting ... (review)

The Raphael Affair by Iain Pears: Takes a little while to get going (especially for those conditioned by Dan Brown thrillers) ... (review)

Ice Cream: The Delicious History by Marilyn Powell: Entertaining mix of information and fables about ice cream ... (review)

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart: Excellent prequel to the Mysterious Benedict Society trilogy ... (review)

Detective LaRue: Letters from the Investigation by Mark Teague: Borrowed this from the library for our Detective Days week, but this turned out to have too much text for preschoolers. No worries, though -- I read it to the wife at home so we could enjoy the story and the pictures (especially the humorous contrasts between the fantasies Ike portrays in his letters and what's really happening).

September - 12 books (95 total for 2013)

The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum: Very strange, and it has some atrocious puns (or wonderful puns if you like that sort of thing). Perfectly fine for non-scary bedtime reading to grownups, though.

The Invisible Thread: A Portrait of Jewish American Women by Diana Bletter: Fascinating anthology of stories of the Jewish woman's experience ... (review)

Good Eats: The Early Years by Alton Brown: Just like one of Alton's shows -- witty, creative and stuffed with all sorts of information ... (review)

The Final Solution by Michael Chabon: An interesting tribute with lots of atmosphere, but a bit lacking in terms of action ... (review)

Goodnight iPad: a Parody for the next generation by Ann Droyd and Goodnight Goon: A Petrifying Parody by Michael Rex: Very silly spoofs, with Rex's being a little better. Read on We Give Books.

Raising My Rainbow: Adventures in Raising a Fabulous, Gender Creative Son by Lori Duron: Witty, warm and honest through and through ... (review)

You Gotta Have Heart: A History of Washington Baseball from 1859 to the 2012 National League East Champions by Frederic J. Frommer: Like a player who needs more seasoning in the minors, this book is a little rough around the edges ... (review)

Mrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist by Dorothy Gilman: Enjoyable and a quick read, though I am starting to recognize (and be a little bored with) the basic formula of these stories ... (review)

Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman: Great fun, with fast-paced action and memorable characters ... ( review)

The Table Comes First: Family, France, and the Meaning of Food by Adam Gopnik: Intelligent and thoughtful essays on the big and little questions surrounding food ... (review)

Big Max and the Mystery of the Missing Giraffe by Kin Platt: Basically a retread of Platt's original Big Max story, only sillier (and not in a funny way), so it's headed to the donation pile.

October - 11 books (106 total for 2013)

Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum: Fantastical if not entirely logical, and interesting if you happen to have read Gregory Maguire's "Out of Oz" recently and can get all the allusions in the latter.

Anything That Moves: Renegade Chefs, Fearless Eaters, and the Making of a New American Food Culture: by Dana Goodyear: Engrossing, if often gross, book about pushing the culinary boundaries ... (review)

No Time Like Showtime by Michael Hoeye: Cute characters and fast-paced action make this a fun light read ... (review)

Old-School Comfort Food: The Way I Learned to Cook by Alex Guarnaschelli: More entertaining than useful, though I'm not the best judge of the utility of recipes ... (review)

The New Kid at School (Dragon Slayers' Academy, No. 1) by Kate McMullan: Short and silly, perfectly fine for bedtime reading but not a series I'd put a lot of effort into following.

The Blessing of a B Minus: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Resilient Teenagers by Wendy Mogel: I am really, really glad I don't have a teenager. But if I did, I'd want this book by my side ... (review)

Ni D'eve Ni D'adam (French Edition): by Amelie Nothomb: Fascinating and often funny, but the immaturity of the main character knocks a star off my rating ... (review)

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan: Great fun, especially if you know a little about Greek mythology... (review)

American Jews and America's Game: Voices of a Growing Legacy in Baseball by Larry Ruttman: Worth reading for the breadth of interviews ... My one big complaint is with Ruttman ... (review)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.: Read these aloud to some toddlers, who seemed to enjoy Carle's colorful illustrations a lot.

November - 8 books (114 total for 2013)

The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander: Still a classic ... (review)

Maxwell Street: Survival in a Bazaar by Ira Berkow: Colorful collection of accounts ... (review)

Tobie Lolness : Tome 1; La Vie suspendue; Tome 2; Les Yeux d'Elisha (French edition) by Timothée de Fombelle: Simply terrific ... (review)

Sisters At Sinai: New Tales Of Biblical Women by Jill Hammer: Fascinating and thought-provoking collection of midrashim ... (review)

The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3): by Rick Riordan: I continue to be impressed with this series ... (review

Starting Small: Teaching Tolerance in Preschool and the Early Grades by Teaching Tolerance Project: Excellent collection of case studies, tips and resources for teaching young children how to accept and embrace diversity in all its forms ... (review)

Read to kids at school: The Biggest Leaf Pile by Steve Metzger and The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Iza Trapani.

December - 9 books (123 total for 2013)

Le Jour de tous les mensonges by Hubert Ben Kemoun: A fun little amuse-bouche for French speakers ... (review)

The 72 Names of God for Kids: A Treasury of Timeless Wisdom (Technology for the Soul) by Yehuda Berg: Thought this would be a little helpful in explaining some very basic kabbalah and at worst just cute and innocuous, but was sorely disappointed ... (review)

Maybe (Maybe Not) and Uh-Oh: Some Observations from Both Sides of the Refrigerator Door by Robert Fulghum: Humorous, down-to-earth and engaging essays on the little surprises and joys of life. Most of the pieces are good to read out loud right before going to sleep, and are also a nice counterbalance to some of the more serious books in my pile right now.

Mad as Hell: The Making of Network and the Fateful Vision of the Angriest Man in Movies by Dave Itzkoff: Entertaining, but at times a little lacking in substance ... (review)

Plum Pudding for Christmas by Virginia Kahl: A holiday favorite I read out loud every year to my wife.

The Art of Maurice Sendak by Selma Lanes: Just stunning ... (review)

The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan: A little darker than the earlier books ... (review)

American Work-Sports: A History of Competitions for Cornhuskers, Lumberjacks, Firemen and Others by Frank Zarnowski: Too little material, too much theorizing and criticizing ... (review)