craso's 1010 Category Challenge

I am excited about finding this group! I know I will not be able to read 10 books in each category, I'm having enough trouble completing my 50 book challenge for 2009 as it is, so I'm challenging myself two read no less than 2 books in each genre. My categories are very straight forward:

Fantasy (Finished 11/10)
Science Fiction (Finished 10/10)
Mystery (Finished 07/10)
Autobiography/Biography (Finished 12/10)
Sociology/Culural Studies (Finished 08/10)
Historical Novels (Finished 08/10)
Graphic Novels (Finished 10/10)
Classic Literature (Finished 11/10)
Ghost Stories (Finished 12/10)
Young Adult/All Ages (Finished 09/10)

I already have a few books in mind. I will enter them in 10 different posts below. These posts will evolve over the next year.

Fantasy

1. Soulless by Gail Carriger (read 02-08-2010)
2. Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett (read 07-05-2010)
3. Peter & Max: A Fable Novel by Bill Wilingham (read 09-14-2010)
4. Divine Misfortune by A. Lee Martinez (read 11-10-2010)

Science Fiction

1. Way Station by Clifford Simak (read 01-06-2010)
2. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (read 01-16-10)
3. Shades of Gray: A Novel by Jasper Fforde (read 03-15-2010)
4. Desolation Road by Ian McDonald (read 10-31-2010)

Mystery

1. In a Dry Season by Peter Robinson (02-22-2010)
2. Alone: A Valentino Mystery by Loren Estleman (read 12-30-2009)
3. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (read 07-14-2010)
4. Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman (read 03-28-2010)

Autobiography/Biography

1. Hellraisers: The Life and Inebriated Times of Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O' toole and Oliver Reed by Robert Sellers (read 04-22-2010)
2. Vincent Price: A Daughter's Biography by Victoria Price

Sociology/Cultural Studies

1 American Nerd: The Story of My People by Benjamin Nugent (read 03-21-2010)
2. The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and The History of Comic Book Heroines by Mike Madrid (read 05-23-2010)
3. Occult America: The Secret History of How Mysticism Shaped Our Nation by Mitch Horowitz (read 08-29-2010)

Historical Novels

1. The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott (Read 12-14-2009)
2. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (Read 05-09-2010)
3. Percival's Planet by Michael Byers (read 07-31-2010)
4. The Little Book: A Novel by Selden Edwards (read 08-15-2010)

Graphic Novels

1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Volume 6: Retreat by Joss Whedon (read 03-17-2010)
2. Power Girl: A New Beginning by Justin Gray (read 04-15-2010)
3. Justice Society of American: The Bad Seed by Bill Willingham (read 06-07-2010)
4. Discworld Graphic Novels by Terry Pratchett (read 07-05-2010)
5. Fables: The Deluxe Edition Book One by Bill Willingham (read 09-05-2010)
6. Superman/Batman: Night and Day by Michael Green (read 10-09-2010)

Classic Literature

1. Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh (read 05-14-2010)
2. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte (read 06-22-2010)
3. Frankenstein by Mary Shelly (read 10-13-2010)
4. The Collector by John Fowles (read 10-18-2010)
5. Three Men In a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome (read 11-23-2010)

Ghost Stories

1. Her Fearful Symmetry: A Novel by Audrey Niffenegger (read 03-04-2010)
2. The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker Leanna Renee Hieber (read 04-07-2010)
3. The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber (read 09-29-2010)
4. The Woman In Black by Susan Hill (read 10-03-2010)
5. The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters (read 12-11-2010)

Young Adult/All Ages

1. The Gates: A Novel by John Connolly (read 04-23-2010)
2. Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey (read 06-01-2010)
3. Dragondrums by Anne McCaffrey (read 09-06-2010)
4. Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman (read 09-16-2010)
5. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (read 09-20-2010)

Nice categories. The sociology/cultural one looks particularly interesting.

I was just thinking that - looking forward to seeing what you make of them!

Thank you mathgirl40 and elliepotten for your messages. The Cultural Studies books are on my wishlist of my birthday and Christmas.

Great categories, I look forward to seeing you fill them, especially the YA and the fantasy ones.

Whoops, forgot to mention my personal favorite category - Mystery!

Thank you DeltaQueen50. I'm having fun coming up with books to fit the categories.

I am officially beginning my catagory challenge with my October ER book The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott.

The story is told by Daniel Connor a young medical student from Edinburgh traveling to Paris to work for Dr. Cuvier, a famous naturalist. It is 1815 and Napoleon, after losing at Waterloo, is on his way to St. Helena. Connor brings with him letters of introduction and coral specimens. While on the coach entering the city he meets a woman carrying a small child. The woman is fascinating and beautiful. He falls a sleep and awakes to find the specimens are gone. When he reaches the city he searches for the woman and becomes entangled in the coral thief's world of crime and philosophy.

The book is well written and the historical elements are well researched. The character of Lucienne the philosopher thief and the setting of post Napoleonic era Paris are well developed. I enjoyed reading about the scientific community in Paris and would have liked the author to have focused more on the natural science and theories of evolution being studied and discussed at that time. The most interesting part of the story is when Dr. Cuvier is giving a tour of the museum at the Jardin des Plantes.

My second book of this challenge is also an ER book, Alone (Valentino Mysteries) by Loren D. Estleman.

Valentino is a film preservationist who is restoring a movie palace. He is invited to a Garbo costume party hosted by Rankin, a rich businessman. His wife was a close friend of Garbo and they corresponded frequently. Rankin has killed his secretary in self defense. He was black mailing Rankin with a love letter from Garbo to his wife.

Valentino's life gets even more complicated when a building inspector tries to stop the renovation of his movie theater. He is evicted from the theater, where he happens to be living, and moves in with his mentor Broadbent, an elderly insomniac film historian who is dating a twenty year old.

This novel is the second in the Valentino mystery series. It is a fun read. Valentino's experience is full of odd characters and situations. His work as a film preservationist lends interesting cinema history to the narrative. Valentino's personal life and the bits of film history out shine the actual mystery. Although, there is a twist at the end that I did not see coming.

My first read of the year is from the science fiction catagory, Way Station by Clifford Simak.

This is the story of Enoch Wallace, a lonely Civil War veteran who becomes the caretaker of a galactic way station. No one on Earth knows about the way station or the aliens that pass through it. Everyone thinks it is an old farm house and that Enoch is an eccentric loner.

Enoch Wallace is a fascinating character. He lives a very unique life. To keep in touch with the outside world he orders books and subscribes to magazines, which are delivered by his only friend; the local postman. He does not age while in the station which makes him practically immortal. The only time he grows older is when he takes his daily hour long walk to the mailbox.

Enoch meets many different aliens who give him gifts and talk with him. He learns about other worlds and philosophies and makes friends with these creatures. A practical man, he takes people as they come. This makes him the perfect custodian for the way station.

Clifford Simak, along with Ray Bradbury and Jack Finney, are known as pastoral science fiction writers. Their works take place in rural America. This type of setting makes even fantastic stories seem more believable. Who knows what could be going on in that old farm house on the outskirts of town?

This novel was a quick and enjoyable read. It's not just a science fiction novel, Simak uses the story to express his belief in the human intellect and spirit. Enoch is a developed individual who is an equal to any alien who comes through the way station. He is proof that Earth belongs with the other civilizations in the galactic federation. That is, once the race matures and outgrows the stupidity of greed and war.

Sounds great! I've only read a handful of fantasy and sci-fi novels, but one of my aims for this year's reading is to go foraging in unknown territory, push my boundaries a little, and hopefully discover some great new books in the process. Onto the list it goes...

I'm trying to push my boundaries as well with the Young Adult and Autobiography catagories, which look a little bare at the moment. I read mostly fantasy and sci-fi so if you need any recommendations let me know.

I'll be interested to see what you think of Martian Chronicles, as that one sounds like one I might pick up. For Young Adult, one of my top reads for 2009 was Unwind by Neal Shusterman. I think it will be one that will stay with me forever. It's a dystopian book set in the not very distant future.

Thank you cmbohn, that book sounds very interesting. I've seen most of the stories from The Martian Chronicles on television so I thought it would be a good idea to read it.

Hi, Caroline!
Loved your review of Way Station. Seems like I have heard of it somewhere before. Your review definitely makes me want to read it.
--BJ

Thank you BJ! It is a great book. It won a Hugo award in 1964, but it is not dated.

The Clifford Simak book looks very interesting. I've heard of him, but have never read anything by him.

I have added three new books to this challenge, which means I now have at least two books to read in each catagory. This was my criteria for this challenge and I feel good about it.

Here is my reveiw of The Martian Chronicles.

This is the story of the human colonization of Mars. It begins with the Martian's reaction to the first three expeditions. In the beginning, they just sense the Earth men's approach but they deny it, and finally they use the only tool at their disposal to stop the invasion; telepathy. By the time of the fourth expedition, the Martians are gone and presumed to be a dead race. Earth men are free to colonize the planet. In the following stories we see how humans forsake the Martian's way of life and build what is familiar and comfortable to them. Mars becomes a cheap version of the American Midwest. It seems mankind has very little respect for the ancient Martian's legacy and maintain the human capacity of destroying what they don't understand. The last few stories involve a looming atomic war on Earth and how the colonists react to it.

At the time this book was published in 1950, Bradbury had not yet written a full novel. His agent suggested he compile his short stories about Mars and add smaller vignettes as links to create a narrative flow.

Bradbury has said that the ancient Egyptians, and the discovery of King Tut, were his inspiration for the Martian civilization. Their writing is a form of hieroglyphics. Empty Martian cities are scattered over the planet. The colonists use Martian highways and canals as a kind of infrastructure for the colonists to build on.

I wish I had read this book before any of Bradbury's other works. It is definitely my favorite. This beautiful edition has added stories and the fascinating art of Joseph Mugnaini.

My latest read is Soulless by Gail Carriger. I read it for the vampires, werewolves, and Victorian setting, but was disappointed with the plot stopping romantic scenes.

Alexia Tarabotti is soulless; a condition called preternatural. This is opposed to supernatural, such as vampires, werewolves and ghosts, who have an overabundance of soul. Alexia is a spinster lady trying to navigate Victorian London society. At a fashionable party she is accosted in the library by a vampire. This is a very curious event since vampires have a strict code of conduct which excludes eating spinster ladies at society functions. She accidentally kills the vampire, which brings her to the attention of the handsome Lord Maccon. He is a werewolf and head of BUR, a government agency that over looks vampire hive and werewolf pack activities. As they investigate the attack they discover that rouge vampires, those without a hive, are disappearing and new vampires are manifesting.

I enjoyed the well drawn characters and the Victorian London setting. Miss Tarabotti is an atypical Victorian spinster lady and is not afraid to speak her mind. She is however, very devoted to fashion, etiquette and protocol. Lord Maccon is a wolf in human clothing. As the alpha male werewolf, he exudes strength and sexuality. Putting the two together in amorous situations is funny but the multiple love scenes stop the action of the story cold. I understand their love affair is an important subplot, especially at the end of the book, but I found myself skimming through these passages. I wanted the action to move faster to the resolution of the mystery.

I just finished reading In a Dry Season by Peter Robinson.

The small village of Hobb's End in England was turned into a reservoir a few years after World War II. A dry spell has caused the water level to recede and the town has reappeared. When a young boy is playing in the abandoned village, he falls through an out building roof and discovers a woman's skeleton. Chief Inspector Banks is called in by a superior, who has a grudge against him, to investigate the fifty year old crime. With the help of DC Annie Cabot, Banks delves into the past to discover who this woman was and why anyone would want to kill her.

I enjoy reading novels that teach me something about the past. This mystery brings back to life the people who lived in a small British village during World War II. There are details about rationing, traveling, blackouts, and the destruction of the blitz. The story switches between the modern day and the 1940's, and does so seamlessly. I was never confused about where I was or when. This is a straightforward procedural mystery with a historical twist. It was a great read.

In A Dry Season is my favorite (so far) of Peter Robinson's. I think the Inspector Banks is a great series and actually improves as it goes along.

Hello DeltaQueen50. This is the first Inspector Banks mystery I've read. I'll have to keep a lookout for the newer ones in the series.

This is a review of Her Fearful Symmetry: A Novel by Audrey Niffenegger.

A mysterious aunt dies and leaves her London apartment to her twin nieces. When the girls move in they find two very eccentric neighbors. They also find their aunt who is now haunting the apartment.

This is a character driven novel. They are well developed and you feel for them. Each is trapped either physically or emotionally; Valentina can't get away from Julia, Robert can't get away from Elspeth, and Martin can't get out of his flat. The twins, Julie and Valentina, are mirror twins. Mirror twins look like reflections of one another; a mole on the right cheek of one is on the left cheek of the other. They dress alike and do everything together which stifles Valentina. Robert, their aunt's lover, is obsessed with Highgate cemetery and with Elspeth, the girls aunt. Elspeth is lingering in her former apartment and can't fine a way out. Martin, a crossword genius with OCD, is trying to get better so he can leave the apartment and go to his estranged wife in Amsterdam. They all take drastic measures to escape. This is such a well written novel that when one of the characters does something despicable I was very upset and thought about it for a long time.

The setting of Highgate Cemetery is intriguing and lovely. The apartment house over looks the cemetery. Robert is obsessed with the stories of the people entoured there. The chapter where he conducts a tour of the tombs and monuments is very interesting. The author does such a good job of describing the cemetery that if I ever get to London I would like to take a tour of it.

This story evoked a lot of emotion in me so I have to recognize it as an excellent novel even though I was upset about the outcome of one of the plotlines. I refuse to compare it to "The Time Travelers Wife" because they are two separate books and should be judged on their own merits. Therefore I am giving it a five star rating even though I enjoyed the storyline of the author's first novel more than this one.

Sounds great! I still haven't read The Time Traveler's Wife - surprise, surprise, it's on the shelves - but as soon as I have, this one's going on the pile too! Consider your review well and truly thumbed...

Thanks Ellie!

My latest read is Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde. Fforde is my favorite author so I had high hopes for this novel. He took longer to write this one than his others. It's very different from the Tuesday Next and Nursery Crime series. I enjoyed it eventhough it is darker than his other novels.

Eddie Russet made the Prefect's son blow milk out his nose. This social infraction has sent him to East Carmine, a small town on the Outer Fringes of the Collective, where he is to learn humility by doing a pointless task, a chair count. While living in this village he meets many power hungry and devious people. He also begins to learn the truth of how cruel his world can be.

Fforde has created a Colortocracy, a very complicated and detailed society based on the amount of color a person can see. People are color blind accept for a certain percentage of primary colors. When you are twenty-one your color sight is tested. The higher amount of color you can see, the more power you have in society. The lowest are the Greys who see no color at all. They do all of the grunt work and live apart from those who see color.

This is a dystopic novel. People refer to the "Something That Happened" and the "Previous." There is very little technology and any advancement is frowned upon. People live by a set of rules written by a person named Munsell. They are general rules of civility. By following the rules you earn merits. No one wants to have negative merits because that will lead to the Night Train to Reboot.

This story is the darkest Fforde novel I have read. The Reboot threat reminds me of Carousel in "Logan's Run." The strict society structure and the treatment of the Grey's is much like "Brave New World." Even with the dark undertone, the novel does have some of Fforde's trademark humor. The rules can be very silly; before the misprint was discovered all children were given at eleven every morning a glass of milk and a smack.

Picked up a copy of Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 8 Vol. 6: Retreat and devoured it this evening.

This story arch holds together as a graphic novel better than some of the others in the series. I just wish it didn't have a cliff hanger ending.

Buffy and the slayers are in hiding from Twilight. They discover that Twilight can trace them through their use of magic. They retreat to Tibet where Oz is living. He has learned how not to become a werewolf and the girls ask him to teach them how to not use magic.

Still working on American Nerd: The Story of My People.

This is a review of American Nerd: The Story of My People.

This book is an interesting cultural history of the nerd. The definition of nerd is a socially awkward intellectual who remind people of a machine. They tend to be passionate about technology, speak in standard English, avoid emotional confrontation, and communicate logically instead of nonverbally.

More than just a definition is covered in this book. The author discusses where the term "nerd" originated and where the classic look of the nerd comes from. Media is shown to have influenced the rise of the nerd in pop cultural through Saturday Night Live sketches and movies such as "Revenge of the Nerds" and "Weird Science." He also delves into the social history of why athletic males or jocks are revered. There are interviews with people labeled as nerds and an interesting chapter on Asperger's syndrome.

The author pulls from his own childhood experiences and those of his friends to flesh out the nerd. The young men in his social group had problems at home that contribute to their personalities. They escaped into the world of Dungeons & Dragons with it's rules for characters and stories; a structured existence they do not get from their family life.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was informative and a quick read. I learned a lot about myself. I'm still not sure if I am truly a nerd or a nerd by association, but either way I don't believe there is anything wrong with being a nerd.

My next book is one I was lucky enough to win from Eary Reviewer, Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman.

This is a reveiw of Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman.

Meg Rosenthal is grieving over the death of her husband. His death was unexpected and he left her with many debts. She takes a job at a boarding school in upstate New York, sells their home, and moves to Arcadia Falls with their daughter Sally. The school has a long rich history. It was started as an artist's colony by Vera Beecher and Lily Eberhardt. Lily tragically died falling into the cove at the falls. Only a few days after arriving, a young student falls to her death very much like Lily did. Are the two deaths connected?

I thought this story would have a literal ghost or haunting. There is nothing paranormal about this novel. Instead, the characters are haunted by past memories. There is a story about a woman in white that is said to materialize in the woods surrounding the falls. The tale does play an important part in the plot, but the apparition that plagues the school is Lily's death and its consequences.

Folklore plays a big part in the plot. Vera and Lily, the founders of the school, wrote and illustrated an original fairytale. Meg and Sally start to recite the story as they get near the boarding school. Meg is a folklore teacher who is researching the history of the school. The fairytale was very important to her when she was growing up. The tale holds many clues to Lily's death
.
This mystery was a compulsive read. It was fun to decipher the clues and figure out the ending before the main character. Unfortunately, the number of people and the circumstances that cause them to fall to their deaths becomes comical. I also didn't like how Meg and Sally turn out to be a part of Arcadia Falls history. I thought that was a bit far fetched.

My latest read is from my ghost category, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber.

Miss Percy Parker is a gentle young woman with ghostly pale features who has grown up locked away in a convent to protect her from unwanted scrutiny. Percy hides her pallid complexion with scarves and is extremely self conscious. The head mother of her convent secures her a place at Athens Academy, a boarding school in London. She is very good at languages and most academic subjects, but has a dreadful time with math and alchemy. Professor Alexi Rychman, a mysterious brooding man, can see she is having difficulty in his class and decides to tutor her. These sessions will change there lives, because each has a secret. Percy can see and hear ghosts, in fact they have been her closest and dearest friends. Alexi has a similar secret, he is the leader of The Guard, a group of six individuals who are entrusted with keeping the portal between our world and the spirit world closed and he is looking for a prophesized seventh member who is his long lost love.

This is a thrilling gothic romance novel. The story was hard to get into, but once I did I had a hard time putting it down. I enjoyed the use of greek mythology and the romantic idea of the reincarnation of lost loves. The setting is Victorian London so the Ripper has to be part of the story, but in this tale he is a completely different creature from other novel interpretations. If you enjoy stories with ghosts, mythical beasts, and timid young girls who fall in love with tall dark and handsome men this is the book for you.

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker sounds intriguing. I will have to be on the lookout for this one. Thumbs up for your great review.

Thank you! I don't read a lot of gothic romance novels, but the fantasy elements in this one caught my eye.

A comic book store moved in next door to the bookstore I work in so I am in big trouble. They've been there for three weeks and I have already bought six comics and one graphic novel.

Power Girl: A New Beginning was a fun read. Power Girl is smart, sassy and a one woman wrecking ball. The artwork was great and the storyline was good. Unlike Wonder Woman, she is no diplomat and tends to hit first and ask questions later.

Still reading Hellraisers: The Life and Inebriated Times of Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O'Toole, and Oliver Reed, and The Gates: A Novel.

Percy Parker sounds rather intriguing... and I'll be interested to see what you think of Hellraisers since despite the actors' heyday being well before my time, I've been THIS CLOSE to buying it more than once (damn you, Waterstones Tables of Doom!)...

Okay Ellie, here is my review of Hellraisers by Robert Sellers.

Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O'Toole, and Oliver Reed are all very talented British actors who drank to extreme. Like all actors they craved attention and they found it at the local pub. There they could tell stories and challenge other drinkers to arm wrestle or head bang. They drank to have fun, but like anything done to excess, they caused others harm. They had failed marriages and their careers suffered. Some may say there lives were wasted, they would say their lives were full.

This book is organized into chronological order starting with the actors formative years then moving into each decade of their careers and then the last chapter is devoted to the last remaining hellraiser. The author chronicles their antics at work and in their private lives. I am amazed that no one sued them and they were never in jail for long. If an actor in this decade did half the things these guys did it would be all over the internet in a minute and I don't think fans would consider it cute or funny. Actors now in days end up in jail and vilified in the press.

I bought this book because Peter O'Toole and Oliver Reed are among my favorite actors. They have enormous screen presence, probably due to their bad boy personalities. I never really paid much attention to Richard Burton or Richard Harris. Burton was more famous for being Elizabeth Taylor's husband than for his acting. I was very surprised at the hellraising she did. According to this book she was a bigger drinker than he was.

The author has a "boys-will-be-boys" attitude about these gentlemen. I can't help but think that they all had psychological needs that drinking and carousing filled. They wanted to feel accepted or noticed or were just lonely. I still enjoy watching them on screen even after reading this book. The book doesn't cast them in a bad light. It's more like a loving tribute to four sad silly men.

This is a review of The Gates: A Novel by John Connolly.

Samuel Johnson and his dachshund Boswell decide to get a jump on Halloween by going trick or treating three days early. When they get to the Abernathy's house they can sense something is wrong. The Abernathy's and another couple from the neighborhood are having a black mass; just for larks. At the same time in Switzerland, the Large Hadron Collider has lost a particle. Samuel and Boswell watch in horror as a flash of blue light opens a portal to Hell in the Abernathy's basement.

This is a fun young adult novel from an author who usually writes dark adult mysteries. I enjoyed the references to horror icons such as the portal to Hell being located in a house at 666 Crowley Lane. The demons are hilarious and very easy to subdue. Two demons get drunk in a pub and one gets beaten to death by an irate hortoculturist after trampling his roses. The use of the LHC was a great twist. The only problem with the book is the foot notes. There aren't many, but they do interupt the pace of the narrative. I suggest being picky about which foot notes you read. Some are cute, but overall they do nothing to enhance the novel.

Loved the review of Hellraisers.
--BJ

Thank you BJ. I am a fan of all things British especially their actors.

I agree with BJ - great review! I don't think I'll buy it brand new, but if I come across it second hand or at a charity shop I'll definitely pick it up... I've only seen bits and pieces by each of these gents - Oliver! and Gladiator for Oliver Reed; Harry Potter, Camelot and The Count of Monte Cristo for Richard Harris, you get the picture - but I think I'd really enjoy a bit of a taste of their hellraising golden days, as it were...

Peter O'Toole is my favorite. If I see one of his movies is playing on TV I usually watch it. I like Oliver Reed because he got his start in Hammer Studios horror films. They are both over the top actors who are just as crazy on screen as off.

My latest read is Fingersmith by Sarah Waters.

This is the story of two women leading two very different lives who meet and realize they are linked by greed and lies. Susan is a fingersmith or thief. She has been brought up by Mrs. Sucksby a woman who raises infants to sell. The only life Susan knows is a very simple one; either you are a thief or a pigeon. A con-man, nick named Gentleman, brings her into a plot to swindle money from a young lady, Maud, who lives with her uncle in a country mansion called Briar. Susan becomes Maud's maid and pushes her to marry Gentleman. Then everything is turned on it's head and the question becomes who is swindling whom?

The narrative is told from the point of view of Susan's first, then Maud, then Susan again. Susan's life reads like a Dicken's novel. There is even a reference to "Olive Twist" in the first chapter. Maud's life is like a gothic tale; the young heiress forced to live her life in a huge old mansion with her excentric uncle. In the end it is not who the women are, but how their lives were forever shaped by the people who raised them.

This novel is full of twists and turns. It was a thrilling read. Characters would get into dire situations and I couldn't stop reading until I knew they were safe.

I still haven't read any Sarah Waters! I have at least three, maybe four, of her novels waiting to be read - I really think 2010 should be the year... Thanks for giving them a little extra boost up towards daylight!

I too have Sarah Waters on my bookshelves and never seem to get to her. Fingersmith sounds very good, and yes, that is one of the ones on my shelves. I must pull it out and put it in the "Read Soon" pile!

Ellie and DQ, thank you for your comments. I read Affinity by Sarah Waters last year because of a LT recommendation. It's good, but I think I liked Fingersmith better.

I finally read something from my Classic Literature category. My latest read is Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh. I decided to read this book after seeing the movie "Bright Young Things" on television. I actually liked the movie better than the book.

This novel is a humorous satire on life in England between the world wars. The story follows a group of "Bright Young People" as they go from party to party, live off money borrowed from friends and relatives, and generally waste their lives. Father Rothschild sums up the theme of the novel while speaking with Mr. Outrage about the young people; "My private schoolmaster used to say, 'If a thing's worth doing at all, it's worth doing well.' ... but these young people have got hold of another end of the stick, and for all we know it may be the right one. They say, 'If a thing's not worth doing well, it's not worth doing at all.'"

The funniest sections involve the generation gap. The older characters are portrayed as "doty." There are a great deal of misunderstandings especially when the main character has dealings with an elderly major and the father of one of the young ladies.

The story is tragic as well a farcical. Life is so boring for these young people that they can't deal with it. It's as if they have nothing to believe in anymore. The faster the pace of the party life the faster their lives burn out.

The novel was a very quick read and a very interesting look at society in England before World War Two. Unfortunately, the ending was a bit abrupt and unsatisfying.

My latest read is The Supergirls by Mike Madrid.

This was a short fun read. The author starts each chapter with a plot description from a super heroines comic book. Then he discusses how the heroic ladies were depicted in a specific decade and how their depiction depended on what was going on in society and sales of comic books. Female super heroes were usually written and drawn to be non-threatening to young men because they are the ones who purchased the comics. After publishers decided to only sell their comics at comic book shops, instead of magazine racks at convenience stores, female characters became more like women and less like young girls because more adults were buying the books. The way they are drawn depends on how society views women. For example; in the 1940's women were working in factories on the home front while men were at war so the lady superheroes were drawn as strong all-American gals battling the Nazi threat.

The women and girls discussed in this book range from iconic characters like Wonder Woman and lesser know characters like the Phantom Lady. I read comics with strong female characters and enjoyed learning about the societal influences on the plot lines that shaped their characters.

Sounds interesting - if I knew anything about comics I'd definitely be reading it. Actually, you know what... ah sod it, it's going on the list anyway. Sounds right up my street in every other respect so why not, right?!

ETA: Oh, and I gave you a thumbs up too, just for being so darn persuasive...

This is a review of Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey.

Menolly is a talented young woman who has just arrived at the Harper Hall; a boarding school for future Harpers. She is insecure about her musical skills and isn't sure if she will fit in. The adults doubt her because there has never been a girl Harper. She is bullied by the other girls at the school who are rich paying students and are jealous of her talents. It doesn't help that Menolly has impressed nine fire lizard's that cause havoc where ever she goes.

I first read this book back when I was in seventh grade. The whole Harper Hall Trilogy was important to me because as a music student I could relate to the main character. I enjoyed rereading the story. The plot line is very simple; the trials of a teenager trying to fit in, yet it is well written and engaging. The school setting reminded me of the Harry Potter stories. This is a great tale about a young woman coming into her own.

57> The first Pern novel I read was Dragonflight, which seemed more densely written than many of the books that came later. The books about Menolly are slighter than the rest in terms of length, but are probably my favorites of the entire series.

I do, though, like Dragonsinger and Dragonsong better than Dragon Drums. Just like I liked Dragonflight and Dragonquest better than The White Dragon. So maybe I just don't like that the focus/POV character changes in the 3rd book in both these trilogies.

I'm a bit behind with the series (Masterharper of Pern). Have you read the other Pern books?

Hello ReneeMarie, No I haven't read any other Pern books. I am a bit dubious of Masterharper of Pern. I saw it in a bookstore last week and read the blurb on the back cover. It is about Robinton which is great, but they claim he can talk to dragons. In the Harper Trilogy Robinton depends on Menolly to help him take care of his new fire lizard. If he could talk to dragons, he should be able to talk to fire lizards. I'm afraid it may be a case of to long between novels in the series. Sometimes authors forget plot points in a long series.

I remember trying to read The White Dragon after I first read Dragondrum and not being able to finish it. I am thinking about read more of these books so your recommendation of Dragonflight and Dragonquest is duely noted.

Yesterday I picked up a copy of Justice Society of America: The Bad Seed by Bill Willingham. This was a five comic story arch so it didn't take long to read.

The JSA is all about recruiting young heroes who have ties to heroes of the past; usually family members. The ranks have been growing and have frankly gotten over crowded. In this story they decide to split up, one team working as a military group and one team working to train new heroes.

The break up happens in the wake of the attempted murder of Mr. Terrific by one of the new recruits. I love the character of All-American Kid, because he reminds me of Terra from the Teen Titans. He seems so sweet and innocent with his blonde hair and big smile, but he is really a cold blooded killer.

Still working on The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Well written book, I just wish something would happen.

When I was a bit younger I read Dolphins of Pern and Dragonsinger - and I still remember how much I loved them. I adored Menolly, I thought she was a wonderful character. I recently bought Dragonflight to start the whole series from scratch - in buying and reading - so that'll be a fairly lengthy process!

I finally finished The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte.

There is a new tenant at Wildfell Hall; a lone woman with a small child. She keeps to herself and won't tell her neighbors about her past life, which causes them to become suspicious and to start rumors. The gentleman farmer living closest to the lady falls in love with her and tries to defend her. When he starts to believe the gossip, she gives him her journal and her sorted past life is revealed.

This was a disappointing book. The writing was excellent, but it just wasn't the book for me. I understand that standards of morality were different in Victorian times and I am sure the book was scandalous when it was first printed, but it didn't seem too terrible to me. Helen's husband was a sadistic, self indulgent idiot and he made their life together unbearable, but she endured it for the sake of propriety until his actions threatened their small child. The story was very slow paced and had no excitement, it was just a soap opera about a bad marriage.

Well, how am I doing on this challenge?

If I read one more book in Fantasy and one more in Autobiography/Biography I will meet my challenge of reading at least 2 books in each category. It looks like I will be reading at least 4 books in each category except for Autobiography/Biography. I guess there aren't many people who interest me enough to want to read about there lives.

Here are my favorite books so far this year:

Way Station by Clifford Simak (5 Stars)
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (5 Stars)
In a Dry Season by Peter Robinson (4 1/2 Stars)
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger (5 Stars)
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde (4 1/2 Stars)
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (5 Stars)

I'm living on Discworld with Terry Pratchett at the momment and enjoying every minute of it. I'll be reviewing Unseen Academicals and Discworld Graphic Novels: The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic very soon.

Here is my review of Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett.

The wizards at Unseen University, an old and venerable institution steeped in tradition, realize that there is one tradition they have not been following, playing football. Football in Ankh-Morpork is also an old institution to the lower classes who proudly wear their teams colors and fight other fans in the "shove." The city's tyrant Ventinari wants to regulate the game to make it less violent. He sees the wizards predicament as an opportunity. The wizards must reinvent the game with less hitting and more strategy. They are assisted by Mr. Nutt, a goblin seeking worth, and Trevor Likely, a man who promised his old mum he would never play the game.

This is a satire of so many things in society; stogy academicals, struggling lower classes, violent football fans, and the fashion industry. My favorite metaphor comes from a seedy fashion designer who calls the poverty stricken neighborhood he came from a "crab bucket." Glenda, the night kitchen cook, realizes what he means when she sees one crab being pulled from a bucket with two other crabs holding on.

I read Discworld Graphic Novels: The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic along with Unseen Academicals. Here is my review of the graphic novels.

These two graphic novels were created from the first two novels in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. In the first story, "The Colour of Magic", we are introduced to Discworld, a disc on the back of four elephants who are on the back of a giant turtle floating through space. Twoflowers, the first tourist on this world, and the cowardly wizard Rincewind travel around Discworld meeting heroes, villains, dragons and beautiful scantily clad women. They bounce around from one misadventure to the next.

Just when you think they will never get out of the mess they are in, the next story "The Light Fantastic" begins. In this tale, the better of the two, Discworld is heading towards a red star. The wizards at Unseen University believe that if the eight spells in the "octavo", a glowing octavo size book, are read the world will be saved. They can't read the spells until they find Rincewind, because one of the spells is stuck in his head. So back the travelers go to Ankh-Morpork as they meet more high fantasy types, with humorous consequences.

I enjoyed these graphic novels. The artwork was good and the tales were fun. These stories satirize "Conan the barbarian" type fantasy novels with a stupid loin cloth clad hunk in the first story and a toothless elderly hero in the second. Having a bespeckled asian tourist in a Hawaiian shirt guide the reader through this high fantasy landscape, with a wizard that can't cast spells and luggage with feet, is hilarious.

This is the first time I have read an Agatha Christie novel. I picked The Murder of Roger Ackroyd because of all the wonderful reviews I have seen on LibraryThing.

Roger Ackroyd has been murdered. Fortunately, the famous Belgium detective Hercule Poirot has retired to grow vegetable marrows in the small town where the murder has taken place. He is pulled into the case by Flora, the fiancee of the number one suspect, the dead mans adopted son Ralph Paton; who is no where to be found. Poirot uses his little gray cells to discover the killer and it is a total revelation.

I had never read a Hercule Poirot mystery before, although I had seen David Suchet play Poirot on PBS. I heard his voice throughout the story.

Agatha Christie is easy to read and I enjoyed following along as the great detective unraveled the mystery. Everyone has commented on the twist ending and I have to say it is great. I wish I could say more but I don't want to ruin the surprise.

My next read will be a book I received from the ER program Percivals Planet by Michael Byers

Congrats on your first Agatha Christie. I find her an easy, relaxing read and I really enjoy the "Englishness" of her books. You would probably enjoy one of the Jane Marple mysteries as well, she's a great character.

Thanks DeltaQueen. I bought a Tommy and Tupence mystery yesterday. I'd love to hear which Miss Marple you like the best.

Oh Tommy and Tuppence were a lot of fun. I always wished there were more of those.

The first Jane Marple that I read for this Challenge was A Murder Is Announced and I just loved it. It has an English village setting that I so enjoy.

I read some Tommy and Tupence mysteries years ago, I must track some of them, I remember really liking them as well.

Thank you for the recommendation. I will put it on my want list.

Here is a review of Percival's Planet by Michael Byers. I received this book through the LTER program.

Percival Lowell dreamed of finding the ninth planet in our solar system, Planet X. After his death, and a lengthy court battle with his widow, Lowell Observatory continued the search. This is the story of four people whose lives come together at the observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. Clyde Tombaugh, a Kansas farm boy and amateur astronomer. Alan Barber a mathematician and astronomer from Harvard. Felix DuPre a rich dinosaur hunter. Mary Hempstead a beautiful mentally unstable young woman. Each one finds their destiny intertwined with this elusive planet.

Finding Planet X is only a subplot to the novel. The character's lives take prominence. We learn about their backround; family members, social class, lovers. In the "Author's Note" Byers acknowledges that most of the story is fictitious except for the actual recorded events in the lives of those working at Lowell Observatory. The exaggerations in the story help to make it a more enjoyable read. I cared about what happened to the characters and that kept me reading the story. This is an engaging, well written novel.

I will not be finishing In The Valley of the Kings: Howard Carter and the Mystery of King Tutankhamun's Tomb by Daniel Meyerson. The author has no idea how to organize the information in this book. He moves back in forth in time from one incident to another and it is very confusing. I will have to find another book to complete this category.

Here is a review of The Little Book by Seldon Edwards.

Wheeler Burden is an eccentric individual from a long line of exceptional ancestors. His grandfather was an athlete in the first modern olympic games, his father was an athlete and war hero and his mother and grandmother were strong willed women. Wheeler is a chip of the old block, he is a hero on the pitching mound, a rock idol in concert halls and the editor of an influential book. He also time travels to Vienna and meets all the artists and great thinkers in the city at that time. The most important person Wheeler meets is the beautiful Emily James, the love of his life. He tells himself that he can not interact to much with these people, especially Sigmund Freud, but he can't help himself.

This novel was written as an historical fiction about a modern man traveling through time to 1897 Vienna, but the time travel aspect lends the novel a spiritual element. All of our lives are inter-connected and we meet one another many times.

I enjoyed reading this novel. I learned a lot about Vienna and how the political and social conditions influences europe during World War I and II. The only problem I had with the story was the excessive use of foreshadowing. I always saw the twists and turns coming from a mile away.

This is the last book in my Sociology/Cultural History category, Occult America by Mitch Horowitz

I found this book to be is a great introduction to the history of spiritual and metaphysical philosophies in America. Don't let the word "occult" in the title, or the freemason symbols on the dust jacket, turn you off. It is not a book on satanism or conspiracy theories involving freemasonry.

"Occult" is defined in this book as "a science which confers on man powers apparently superhuman." Occultists in other countries created secret ritualistic societies to practice their beliefs. In America, spirtualists based there doctrine in Christianity and sought to use mystical ideas for self-help and to help others in a Chrisian revivalist fashion. Everything in occult America was done in the open through lectures, pamphlets, books, and mail order courses.

The book covers religions such as Shakers and Mormons and then moves to philosophies like Mesmerism, Transendentalism, Theosophy, New Thought, and New Age. Some of the important figures mentioned are; Madam Blavatsky, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Manly P. Hall, and Edgar Cayce. The book also mentions a few people that sound like sharlatons or eccentrics, but the author never shows a bias; he lets the reader decide for themselves what to believe or disbelieve.

Horowitz seems to know his subject well and writes in an easy to read style. There is a large notes and sources section at the end of the book. I found the subject matter interesting and the book was a very quick read. I recommend it to anyone who is curious about the occult, but is not ready to read an indepth study.

The Fables comics are terrific. Fables: The Deluxe Edition Book One collects the first ten comics.

The first story arch is a murder mystery and introduction to Fabletown and it's inhabitants. Jack of the Tales finds his girlfriend Rose Red's apartment covered in blood with Rose missing. He goes to Bigby Wolf for help. Through Bigby's investigation we learn about Fabletown, a refuge for Fables who have been forced from their homeland by the Adversary.

The next storyline is a take off on Geroge Orwell's Animal Farm. Fables that can not live in Fabletown because of their strange appearance live at The Farm. They have grown tired of living in hiding from the Mundys (us humans) and are arming themselves for a revolt against Fabletown. They want to go back to their homeland to over throw the Adversay. The uprising is lead by the three little pigs and Goldilocks.

The fun of the Fables comics is being reintroduced to the characters from fairytales and fables you read as a child with a decidedly adult twist. What would Snow White, The Big Bad Wolf, Prince Charming, and Goldilocks do if they had to live with us in the real world? They would have jobs, marital problems, romantic intanglements, criminal records, etc. These characters no longer live in a fairyland so the storylines contain adult material like sex, cursing and violence.

I'm still reading Dragondrum by Anne McCaffrey and hope to finish and write a review soon.

I've been intrigued by the Fables books with a few people giving them glowing reviews. Now knowing that they've been released in a collected format helps in tipping the balance for wanting to go out and buy it. Thanks for your review.

They've also been releasing paperback (non-deluxe) Fables collections, six issues at a time. I think they're up to 12. And a remarkable number of public libraries carry them.

You're welcome AHS-Wolfy.

I first discovered Fables in the TPB format, but decided to buy them in the deluxe format because they are nice looking dust jacketed hardbacks. They are published once a year. Book two of the deluxe collection should be coming out this year sometime before December.

The novel Dragondrums is volume three in the Harper Hall Trilogy. The first two novels revolve around Menolly, a young woman with a gift for music who can not persue her dream of becoming a harper because women are not aloud to become harpers. This story is about Piemur, a friend of Menollys who lives with her at the Harper Hall. He has a beautiful singing voice, but when it starts to change he has to find a new life for himself. The Master Harper sends him to the drum heights to learn drum language, which the halls use to communicate. He also becomes a spy to help findout why the Oldtimers, who were banished to the south, are trading with northern holds.

This is a great adventure story with Piemur getting in and out of trouble. It's nothing like the first two novels where the story was about Menolly finding her place in life. Menolly is in this story, but only as a minor character. The novel was a fun action filled read.

Last night I finished reading Peter & Max: A Fables Novel by Bill Willingham. This was a fun read.

Peter and Max Piper are brothers. Peter hasn't seen Max since he and his wife Bo left the Homeland and moved to Fabletown. Bigby Wolf warns Peter that he better take care of Max or he will. We then learn about the brothers life together in the Homeland. Peter was the good son and was the best piper in the family. Max became jealous of his brother and a deadly rivalry began when their father gave Peter his magic flute, Frost. After the Piper family and the Peep family were driven into the Black Forest by an invading army, Max went crazy and started to prey on the families. He grew more and more evil until he found his own magical pipe and became the Pied Piper of Hamlin.

Fables is a comic book series by Bill Willingham. He uses characters from the comics in this novel. There is an eight page black and white comic at the end of the book and many illustrations scattered throughout. I forgot how much fun it is to read an illustrated story. The book is well written. I like how the author takes children's rhymes and fairytales and fleshes them out. Why did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled pepers? How did Bo Peep loose her sheep?

I just finished reading Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman. This is a sweet little fairytale about a crippled boy who helps the norse gods regain Asgard from a frost giant. It is short and well written and has very nice illustrations.

My next book is Artemis Fowl.

I am posting this review as fast as I can before the site goes down.

This is a review of Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.

Artemis Fowl is a twelve year old child prodigy who comes from a long line of criminal masterminds. He has turned his considerable mental talents to fairies; it turns out they do exist. He wants gold and everyone knows that where there is a leprechaun there is gold. Only "leprechaun" is actually LEPrecon, an elite branch of the Lower Elemements Police that retrieves renegade fairies who have escaped above ground. Artemis captures a LEP agent named Captain Holly Short, the first female fairy on the force. He holds her for ransom prompting a clash between humans, known to the fairies as Mud People, and the advanced technology of the fairy police force.

The fairy characters in this novel reminded me of Terry Pratchett's Disc World. They are fanciful and silly, yet they are human in many ways. They are stubborn, sarcastic, greedy, ambitious as well as caring.

Artemis is very smart but he is a lost little boy with a missing father and a mother who spends all her time pining for her husband. The only person in his life that he feels close to is his butler named Butler who is part bodyguard and friend. In the end he gets what he really wanted all along and it isn't gold.

This is a review of The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker.

Our story starts with the aftermath of events from the previous novel, "The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker." Percy and Alexi can't deny their love any longer so they have a romantic whirlwind marriage ceremony, but not everything is happy. The buildings at the Athens Academy are starting to change with new doors appearing out of nowhere. These doors link our world with the Whisper-World; a place where spirits dwell. A spirit named Beatrice appears with foreboding news; Athens Academy is to be the battle ground for a war between the worlds.

In this second installment in the Strangely Beautiful series we learn more about the members of the Guard's lives and loves. At the start of the novel I could feel the tension between the members of the group as Percy is brought into the fold. Their personal secrets cause much jealousy and mistrust. Percy and Alexi struggle as well with the changes in there relationship. Percy is still trying to find her place. Is it as Alexi's wife, as a member of The Guard, or is she a divine goddess in mortal flesh?

This novel wasn't as exciting as the first but I enjoyed it just the same. We learn more about the history of the Guard and what they do, which was a bit vague in the first book. The first novel regarded the Guard's attempt to realize who Percy was before it's was too late. This novel is about Percy's personal life and the lives of each member of the Guard.

My next two reads will be for the Halloween season; The Woman in Black and Frankenstein. I am looking forward to reading these books.

Today I just finished reading my first Halloween book The Woman in Black by Susan Hill.

Arthur Kripps is a retired country gentleman who decides to put pen to paper and write down the frightening and tragic events of his youth. When he was twenty-three he was sent by his law firm to attend to funeral and settle the affairs of a client, a strange lady who lived alone in a mansion on the moors. The people living in the town close to the estate are stoic and refuse to talk about the lady or the house. At the funeral he sees a lady in black standing in the grave yard. No one wants to talk about her. Once he reaches the mansion he starts to hear strange and unexplainable things and becomes very uneasy.

This is a great gothic novel, but the setting is not Victorian. It is hard to tell what time period it is set in. There are telephones, motorcars, and electricity even though the characters still use candles and some of the towns people drive horse and trap. Like all great gothic novels there is an almost constant fog or mist and the house sits in the middle of the English moors.

The novel is very short and my copy has nice pen and ink illustrations. I recommend this story for a dark and dreary night.

My next Haloween read is actually a reread. I will be reading Frankenstein.

Oh, both the last two books are going on my wish list. I already have The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker on my list so must add this next one. The Woman In Black sounds like a good October read.

Picked up a copy of Superman/Batman: Night and Day at Borders yesterday. This graphic novel actually fit in with my Halloween reads. Each story was about either nightmares, altered realities, crazy criminals, or monstrous superheroes. My favorite was the first story "Mash-up" where Superman and Batman find themselves in an alternate world where two superheroes are combined into one; Black Canary and Starfire become Star Canary, Wonder Woman and Donna Troy become Donna Wonder. The last story is the most Halloween like with Man-Bat and Bizarro fighting Solomon Grundy with the help of Frankenstein and the Bride.

I love the Superman/Batman hardcovers because I can pick one up at the bookstore without opening the plastic and know I will enjoy it.

Still reading Frankenstein.

I decided not to write a review of my latest read Frankenstein because elliepotten just recently wrote such a lovely review that captures the essence of the novel. Instead, I will just be jotting down some of my thoughts on the story.

The book I read was illustrated by Lynd Ward. The original edition is very collectable. It was the first illustrated edition of Frankenstein and was originally published in 1934. I read a reprint of this edition. The illustrations are woodblock engravings. They are not pretty, but they are very striking and dramatic.

Now to the story...I can not stand Victor Frankenstein. I have been trying to give him the benefit of a doubt. Maybe he was insane when he created the creature. He does seem to suffer from manic moments and feverish depression like states. Still, I think he's a jerk. The ultimate absentee father. Victor creates a large, ugly man and when he comes to life he runs away. Obviously this is a person who has problems with taking responsibility for his actions. His creation turns out to be an intelligent sensitive being who is frustrated because his ugliness keeps him from any kind of human companionship. If he had stayed with his "son" and taught him and nurtured him like a father, would he have become a killer? You can see I am on the side of the creature.

My next read will be The Collector by John Fowles

This is a review of The Collector by John Fowles.

A shy, disturbed young man stalks and then kidnaps a beautiful young woman. He doesn't keep her bound and gagged all the time. She is imprisoned in a cellar and he brings her everything she asks for. They start to talk and he realizes keeping her is going to be harder than he thought.

This is one of the most British novels I have ever read. John Fowles lived in southeast England and taught school before writing this novel in 1963. It is very much of it's time. It is a commentary on British class system and society in the 1960's. The female character writes to keep her sanity. She writes about the things she is interested in; art, beauty, the threat of the H-bomb, and the man she idolizes. She mentions "Teddy Boys", another name for juvenile delinquents, and how older people can't understand how the younger generation talks and dresses; a complaint of British youth or "Mods" in the 1960's.

The theme of the novel is the contrast between the middle class intellectuals and the lower class "New People" that were acquiring money, but not the sophistication to go with it. The kidnapper represents that new class. He is a lowly clerk until is wins the pools. This gives him the money to bring his sick daydreams into the real world. He buys a house with a basement that he renovates into a prison for the young woman. He could have done anything with his money; given it to charity, gone back to school, collected works of art. He speaks in a lower class dialect, is overly concerned with morality, and incapable of understanding the beauty of life. The kidnapped woman is a well educated and thoughtful person who tries to teach him about art, literature, and social causes but it is beyond him.

The social commentary takes away from the flow of the story. The first half of the novel is told by the kidnapper in a very sparse matter-of-fact way. This is very much like the characters personality; logical and unemotional. The middle of the novel is told by the victim who goes on and on about art and social issues and absolutely bogs down the story. Writing about these subjects is true to the character, but after awhile I started to skip through these long passages.

This novel is considered by some to be a horror story. The horror of the tale is that a vibrant, beautiful, intelligent young woman can be so easily erased from the world. The kidnapper collects butterflies and then her and expects her to stay in her place and be happy. Keeping a person like her away from the world is like suffocating her with a killing jar. The truly chilling section of the novel is the last few paragraphs which foreshadow what will happen in the future.

Great review of The Collector. I read this book when I was quite young, way back in the sixties and it left quite an impression on me, I remember it in detail and often think about it. I think it is remarkable that it stands up so well today.

Hi Judy, thank you for the kind words. I recently spoke with a friend who remembers reading this book years ago and how it stuck with her.

For me the idea that you could be living your life and then a total stranger can pull you into their fantasy world and you are never heard from again. This must be doublely frightening for those who are in the spot light. I am sure there are many people that live in a fantasy world in which they are having a relationship with a movie or television star. And then the ending...will he do it again? Will he do more to his next victim than just take pictures?

Here is a review of my latest read Desolation Road by Ian McDonald.

An exiled scientist travels across an expansive red desert in pursuit of the green man. He stops at a small oasis created by a depressed orph, a terra-forming machine. The orph asks him to destroy it and use his parts any way he wishes. He uses the parts to found the town of Desolation Road. The town becomes a refuge for outcasts, wanderers, dreamers, and those seeking sanctuary. The younger generation leaves to seek their fortunes with all roads eventually leading back to Desolation Road.

The novel starts with short vignettes about each of the inhabitants of Desolation Road. These small stories are magical with mystical characters and events. A traveling carnival train visits with an angelic being on display. A man in a motion picture suit uses is red guitar to bring the first rain storm.

The world building is fascinating. You are never told the name of the planet, but you learn that the planet has been colonized and that the atmosphere is carefully monitored and manipulated. The people of the planet have created their own religion based on technology and Christianity.

When the children of Desolation Road come of age, ten years old, they leave to find their destinies. Other characters leave for other reasons. That's when the story twists and becomes dark. Some of the characters become idolized and some become reviled. The stories become violent and desperate. If the novel had stayed more fantastic and less violent I would have liked it better.

Here is a review of Divine Misfortune by A. Lee Martinez.

Phil notices that people get promoted at work when they have a deity to worship. He convinces his wife Teri to look for one on the Internet. They decide on Luka, a raccoon in a Hawaiian shirt who is a prosperity god. What they didn't realize was that Luca, his friends call him Lucky, is going to be living with them along with his buddy Quetzacpatl. Throw in Syph, a former love deity turned goddess of misery, and Gorgoz, a savage primordial god. All Phil and Teri wanted was for things to start going their way, instead they find themselves in the middle of feuding gods.

Martinez has created a world full of every god and goddess from every culture. Mortals enter into agreements where they make offerings and the deity provides a service. There is a regulatory agency called Divine Affairs that a mortal can go to when they want to renounce their god without the deity smiting them.

This story is funny and very imaginative. The thought of Quetzacpatl, a giant winged serpent, sleeping on someone's couch and make eggs for breakfast is hilarious. I also liked Bonnie a poor mortal who sits on a bus stop bench next to a bag lady who turns out to be Syph the goddess of misery. Bonnie goes to work at a book store with Syph in tow and she changes the bridal magazines so they have articles like "Top 10 Reasons You'll End Up Dying Alone."

Here is a review of Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome.

A humorous series of anecdotes on human nature strung together within the framework of a story about three men, to say nothing of the dog, taking a boating trip.

This novel wasn't what I expected. I thought it would have the normal dialog and narrative structure of a modern novel. Instead, the author interrupts the story to tell hilarious tales about each situation. This threw me off in the beginning but I became used to it as I read. The book was written in 1889, but since the humor is about human foibles we can relate to it even today.

Still reading Vincent Price: A Daughter's Biography.

This is a review of The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters.

The Ayres family has been living in Hundreds Hall for generations. In its day it had been a jewel of Georgian architecture, adorned in rich tapestries and furnishings. Now, a few years after World War Two, it has fallen into disrepair. The Ayres family, mother, daughter and son, still live in the mansion, even though they no longer can afford the upkeep. A local country doctor, Dr. Faraday, is called to the house to look in on an ill servant. When the doctor was a small boy his mother had worked at Hundreds and he vividly remembers the house's glory days. Dr. Faraday becomes involved in the day-to-day life of the family, a life of tragedy and maddness. Is there an evil presence in the house or is it just the decline of a way of life?

This story is not just a gothic ghost story, it is a commentary on the changes in society in England after World War II. The farmland around the old crumbling mansion is being sold piece by piece to the city council to provide low income housing. The new rich are buying the old estates because their families no longer have the money to keep them. This story reminded me of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher." It's not just the house that is falling apart, but the family is as well.

>95 craso: I'm glad to read your comments on the book. I have eyed it a few times in the library and thought about reading it. It sounds like it is very worthwhile reading.

I've read three of Sarah Waters books. My favorite is Fingersmith, but this comes in a close second. I hope you check it out and that you enjoy it as much as I did. :-)

I have finally finished the Biography/Autobiography section. This was a tough category for me, but I read two great books and the second one Vincent Price: A Daughter's Biography by Victoria Price is a real winner.

Vincent Price was an intelligent, talented, and charismatic individual. He wasn't just a horror film star, he was a cultured man. Vincent's acting career began on the London stage and then he moved into serious film rolls in movies like "Laura" and Dragonwyke." His love for art started in his teens and he studied art in college. He championed the visual arts in America with talks, television appearances, art donations to a community college in East LA and the Vincent Price Collection at Sears. The most important thing to Vincent was that people liked him, so he charmed them with his intellect and wit. Maybe that is why his horror film rolls are so appealing, his characters may be vile and evil, but his charm always showed through.

I have always enjoyed watching Vincent Price in movies and on television so I wanted to read a book about him that I knew was honest and sincere. What better author for a book about a persons life than that persons own daughter? Victoria Price researched her father's past through letters, interviews with family and friends, and Vincent's own writing. This book is a loving tribute to a sweet, smart, talented man.

I've decided to declare this challenge finished. I have meet all of my goals and I feel pretty good about it. Here is a list of my favorite books from the challenge.

Way Station by Clifford Simak (Science Fiction)
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (Science Fiction)
Shades of Gray: A Novel by Jasper Fforde (Science Fiction)
In a Dry Season by Peter Robinson (Mystery)
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (Historical Fiction)
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters (Ghost Stories)

This was a great year for reading and I enjoyed more books than what I have listed, but these are the best of the best.

Thank you to everyone who dropped by to see my progress. I'll see you at my 11 in 11 challenge.

Congratulations on meeting your goals!

I need to add Fingesmith to my wishlist. It just keeps popping up on "best" lists...

Well done craso!

I still have Way Station to look forward to, it's on my tbr pile but no idea when I'll get to it yet.

Congratulations!

Thank you ivyd and AHS-Wolfy.

Fingersmith seems to be a favorite of many librarythingers. I have enjoyed reading many of Sarah Waters books.

I think Way Station is a must read for science fiction fans. Clifford D. Simak is a writer that is not being reprinted for the newer generation. I still have to read City which most fans say is his best novel.