VictoriaPL's 2010CC... 2nd Thread!

Previous Thread:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/70714#1433464

Thread Bling:

1. Party At My Place (tandem reads)

I ran out of room, so more group reads can be found slipped into my other nine categories. I love to read with a group! If you see I'm reading something you might enjoy, drop me a line and let's pick a date!



1. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro w/jonesli (5.19.2010)
2. In a Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes w/jonesli and mstrust. (1.17.2010)
3. The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson w/jonesli (2.21.2010)
4. Serenade by James Cain w/jonesli (1.4.2010)
5. Storm Front w/group by Jim Butcher (1.1.2010)
6. Betrayal of the Blood Lily by Lauren Willig w/ christina_reads (2.17.2010)
7. All Other Nights by Dara Horn w/ christina_reads (5.15.2010)
8. One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson w/ RidgewayGirl (2.6.2010)
9. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - 1010 group, Atwood in APRIL (4.14.2010)
10. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende (7.18.2010)

2. Extra Credit for Mr. Woertendyke's Class
(named for a favorite creative writing teacher)



1. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy (7.17.2010)
2. A Moveable Feast by Hemingway (4.9.2010)
3. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (6.20.2010)
4. The Horseman on the Roof by Jean Giono (9.12.2010)
5. The Prince by Machiavelli (9.23.2010)
6. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz* by L. Frank Baum (10.6.2010)
7. Walden* by Henry David dthoreauhenry::Thoreau (10.11.2010)
8. Dragonwyck by Anya Seton (10.27.2010)
9 2996256::Hour of the Dragon by Robert E. Howard* (11/11/2010)
10. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall* by Anne Bronte (12.7.2010)

* audiobook

3. Misfits (spontaneous reads)



1. Amelia's War by Ann Rinaldi (8.21.2010)
2. Undone by Karin Slaughter (7.26.2010)
3. Out of the Shadows by Sigmund Brouwer (7.18.2010)
4. Julie and Julia by Julie Powell (4.22.2010)
5. Clockwork by Philip Pullman (4.1.2010)
6. Everwild by Neal Shusterman (3.28.2010)
7. The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb (3.23.2010)
8. Virtual Light by William Gibson (2.3.2010)
9. Paradise by Koji Suzuki (1.23.2010)
10. Elsewhere by Will Shetterly (1.23.10)

4. The Loner
(books by David Goodis)



1. The Wounded and the Slain with jonesli (8.4.2010)
2.Dark Passage w/ jonesli (1.20.2010)
3. Street of No Return (9.20.2010)
4. Black Friday (11.20.2010)
5. The Moon in the Gutter (5.28.2010)
6. Nightfall (1.7.2010)
7. Retreat from Oblivion (9.3.2010)
8. Behold this Woman (9.6.2010)
9. Cassidy's Girl (5.31.2010)
10. The Burglar (10.16.2010)

5. The Clique (Bronte, Alcott, Austen or Montgomery)

spillover Austen books in my Goths category



1. Return to Wuthering Heights by Anna L'Estrange (5.25.2010)
2. Coldwater by Mardi McConnochie (3.18.2010)
3. Daphne: A Novel by Justine Picardie (1.7.2010)
4. The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte by Laura Joh Rowland (9.25.2010)
5. Jenna Starborn by Sharon Shinn (2.9.2010)
6. Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott (10.1.2010)
7. Here on Earth by Alice Hoffman (6.25.2010)
8. Changing Heaven: A Novel by Jane Urquhart (10.08.2010)
9. Anne's House of Dreams* by Lucy Maud Montgomery (10.13.2010)
10. Emma Brown by Clare Boylan and Charlotte Bronte (10.19.2010)

*audiobook

6. Team Tryouts (new authors)



1. Broken by Karin Slaughter 7.3.2010
2. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris (1.9.2010)
3. Heat Wave by Richard Castle (8.8.2010)
4. What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris (7.30.2010)
5. The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans (5.26.2010)
6. Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay (4.3.2010)
7. Suspect by Michael Robotham (4.25.2010)
8. Queenpin by Megan Abbott w/ RidgewayGirl (2.28.2010)
9. Independence by Kate Kasserman (1.16.2010)
10. The Chill by Ross MacDonald (2.2.2010)

7. STUDY HALL



1. Frostbite: A Werewolf Tale by David Wellington (3.29.2010)
2. The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan (3.21.2010)
3. Moonshine by Alaya Johnson (6.12.2010)
4. Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist (7.19.2010)
5. Dead and Alive by Dean Koontz (9.18.2010)
6. Come Closer by Sara Gran (9.18.2010)
7. Dracula: the Un-Dead by Dacre Stoker (10.3.2010)
8. Handling the Undead by John Ajvide Lindqvist (10.5.2010)
9. The Shape-Changer's Wife by Sharon Shinn (10.13.2010)
10. Ill Wind (Weather Warden book 1) by Rachel Caine (11.21.2010)

8. THE RETURN OF THE MONSTER MASH

THE GOTHS



1. Mr Darcy, Vampyre by amandagrange::Amanda Grange (2.12.2010)
2. Vampire Darcy's Desire by Regina Jeffers (6.7.2010)
3. Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford (4.25.2010)
4. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Ben H. Winters and Jane Austen (8.25.2010)
5.Android Karenina by Ben H. Winters and Leo Tolstoy (8.18.2010)
6. Emma and the Werewolves: Jane Austen's Classic with Blood-curdling Lycanthropy by Jane Austen and Adam Rann (10.3.2010)
7.Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter by A.E. Moorat (5.8.2010)
8. Little Women and Werewolves by Louisa May Alcott and Porter Grand (5.22.2010)
9. Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith (5.23.2010)
10. Mansfield Park and Mummies: Monster Mayhem, Matrimony, Ancient Curses, True Love and Other Dire Delights by Jane Austen and Vera Nazarian (12.2.2010)

9. Upper Classmen (books by authors already in my library)



1. The Law of Nines by Terry Goodkind (3.4.2010)
2. The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry (5.16.2010)
3. Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell (9.1.2010)
4. Lost Symbol by Dan Brown (9.27.2010)
5. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger - w/ cyderry, kristenn, morninggray & Belladonna1975. (5.5.2010)
6. The Devil's Punchbowl by Greg Iles (9.14.2010)
7. Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton w/elbakerone (7.10.2010)
8. House Rules by Jodi Picoult (3.13.2010)
9. The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen (3.22.2010)
10. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Steig larrsonsteig::Larrson (2.25.2010)

10. The Science Geeks (speculative fiction)



1. Jumper by Steven Gould (1.18.2010)
2. End in Fire by Syne Mitchell (1.2.2009)
3. Replay by Ken Grimwood (10.07.2010)
4. Deadstock by jeffreythomas::Jeffrey Thomas (7.2.2010)
5. Simulacron 3 by Dan Galouye (6.6.2010)
6. The Wreck of the Godspeed by James Patrick Kelly (7.26.2010)
7. Dark Cities Underground by Lisa Goldstein (9.5.2010)
8. Morlock Night by K.W. Jeter (10.10.2010)
9. The Minority Report and Other Classic Stories by Philip K Dick (11.12.2010)
10. The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson (11.10.2010)

Yes! I have rejoined the land of the living. I mean, the land of the reading! Real Life through me quite a curve ball in April so I'm getting back on my feet. Hope to have some reviews for you soon, gentle readers...

Glad you're back!

Queen Victoria, Demon Hunter by A E Moorat - 4.5 stars

Devil spawn plotting to overtake her throne and dear Albert abducted by werewolves... no, Victoria certainly was not amused. Lord Melbourne would certainly have a plan of action at the council meeting today but first, she really must do something about those bloody zombies loose in Parliament...

I've read a handful of these classics-meets-supernatural novels and I have to say, this one is my favorite so far. Victoria may be the title character but it is Lord Quimby and his manservant, Perkins, who reign here. Their deadpan British humor plays beautifully against the camp. I hope we'll see a sequel.

eta... trying to get the picture down to size

There you are.

I will try this one I think--I've added it to my wishlist.

This one sounds GREAT.

Good to see you back. I read Jumper this month after seeing your review of it.

Hey guys! I've missed you.

I just read that A.E. Moorat has a new novel coming out later this year.... Henry VIII: Wolfman. I kid you not.

Just this evening I picked up Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter from my library. I feel guilty about starting it because I have not yet completed Little Women and Werewolves and done my ER review!

Needless to say, after these three I'll be taking a break from the genre for a little while!

2 more finished. They have tons of reviews so I'm not going to bother posting formal comments.

All Other Nights by Dara Horn. 4.5 stars
Loved it. Truly. I would recommend this to anyone who loves civil war or historical fiction, especially intrigues, and also Jewish history.
I will being reading more of Horn.
Thanks for reading with me Christina!

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro 2 stars
This is strike 2 for Ishiguro. I don't think we're meant to be. I found some parts to be humorous, but overall I felt very sad for Stevens. Oddly, while I was reading I heard John Hillerman's voice in my head!
Thanks for reading with me Lisa!

Up next:
Little Women and Werewolves
Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter
Return to Wuthering Heights

Found ya again!

You made me giggle a bit with your stern index finger waved at Ishiguro. As a dystopia buff I'm pondering Never let me go, do I recall correctly if I say that didn't go down too well with you either? Was that strike one?

Hi GingerbreadMan!
Yes, you're correct. I am one of the few who didn't love Never Let Me Go. Though I do consider myself a fan of the genre too. What's your favorite Dystopian book?

Hm, naming just one would be too hard. Here's an even ten, in no particular order (and not making a distinction between dystopia and post-apocalypse).

1984 by George Orwell
The slynx by Tatiana Tolstaya
Far away by Caryl Churchill
A scanner darkly by Philip K. Dick
Efter floden by PC Jersild
The road by Cormac McCarthy
CivilWarLand in bad decline by George Saunders
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Metro 2033 by Dmitrij Gluchovskij
A clockwork orange by Anthony Burgess

A few of these are recent love stories and may not pass the test of time. Ah heck, I might write a completely different list tomorrow! What's yours?

I should have known you would ask. Some of these aren't tagged dystopia and yet I think of them that way.

Children of Men by P.D. James
The Stand by Stephen King
Glimmering by Elizabeth Hand
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
I am Legend by Richard Matheson
Spares by Michael Marshall Smith
Hopscotch by Kevin J Anderson
Noir by K W Jeter
Ubik by Philip K Dick
Demolished Man by Alfred Bester

finished Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith 4 stars

Though the vampires had robbed Young Abe of much of his family, after his voyage down the Mississippi, he realized he had gotten off easy. They were completely out of control in the South. Why risk discovery hunting down prey when it could be bought down at the slave market? The depravities suffered on their plantations brought him to tears. Abe had dispatched a handful of vampires on his own but now he knew he had to take the fight up a notch. He would not let them take over this new country like they had Europe. He would strike at them any way he could, even if he had to become President, even if he had to drag the country through the ravishes of war... America would be free of tyranny.

"America is thataway, Mr. Lincoln," laughed Davis, pointing north. "You're in Mississippi now." He stepped forward, to the very edge of where Abe's ax could reach if he chose to swing it. "And let us speak plainly, sir. We're both the servants of vampires. But when these hostilities are at an end, I will be left to enjoy the peace of my remaining years in comfort and wealth, and you will be dead. And there it is."

I know I've been reading a lot of these mashups lately.... I guess we all have our guilty pleasures. Lincoln is my favorite president so I couldn't stay away and I'm glad I didn't! This one is really captivating. Grahame-Smith took a iconic hero and just upped the ante. I gobbled it all down at once, like a huge Thanksgiving dinner. I heartily recommend it.

Lucky for you, they are putting out mash-ups faster than they can be read! I'm glad this one was a good one--it's such an intriguing premise and wasn't it the first one to take on a historical character rather than a classic novel?

So which was better? This one or the Queen Victoria one?

I think I actually liked Lincoln better than Victoria. Oh! I forgot my picture at home. I'll have to upload that later...

finished Little Women and Werewolves by Louise May Alcott and Porter Grand. - 3.5 stars
this book was sent to me by the LTER program

Ah, Little Women. There's gentle Meg, who runs the house when Marmee is gone and Beth who loves dolls and kittens; Jo who stays up all night writing adventure stories and Amy, the artist, who fears marrying poor. And, of course, the werewolves - fearsome beasts who stalk the streets of Concord when the full moon rises. The Marches, a forward-thinking family to be sure, have raised their daughters to be cognizant of the fact that the afflicted ones are just like every one else the other thirty days of the month. In case you fear that this is a genteel taming-of-the-beast story, let me set you at ease. There's plenty of throat-savaging, blood-letting and heart-ripping action to be found here. Oh yes. Some of your favorite characters might be werewolves. Some might become werewolves along the way. But I won't snitch on them here. No, I'll let your curiosity eat away at you.

Sometimes these mashups can feel a little awkward in the beginning as you assimilate the new into the familiar. Kind of like finding your old neighborhood has been gentrified and there's a Starbucks on the corner where you used to catch the school bus. To be honest, I struggled for the first sixty pages but once I made the transition the story really began to take off. Sometimes the werewolf theme was inserted in brilliantly, almost seamless, while other chapters were a clean break from the original material altogether. There's quite a bit added about Mr. March here that, while strange, wasn't completely unwelcome. I enjoy monster tales, myself, but the description of a few of the attacks was a tad too gratuitous for me. I have an imagination, I don't need a blow-by-blow accounting of every wound inflicted. It is enough to say the poor man was devoured and his bones picked clean. But some might say that comes with the territory.

If you fear to have a cherished story of your youth sullied with blood and bone, stay away. But if you pine for a tale the likes of which Jo March herself might have told, by all means have a go at it!

The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans - 3 stars

Connor and Ed have been close ever since they were rookies. Few things will form a bond like jumping into a fire shouting "Hearts of Flame" together. But this fire was different, because they knew Julia was somewhere down in that brush. Connor has harbored feelings for Julia for quite some time and he thinks that she feels the same. The only problem is that she's Ed's girlfriend and neither of them would ever betray Ed. Landing through the smoke Connor manages to locate Julia and Ed, well, Ed finds the fire. All three are pulled from the forest alive but the turmoil continues to burn them through and through.

I generally do not have a problem picking someone to cheer for in a love triangle. Usually the two men will act out against each other, becoming either churlish or weak, and I end up clearly on one side. But not this time. Evans really elicited an emotional response from me. I didn't cry but there was definitely some sniffling action going on. Yes really. It's one of those love stories that just tears at you. This was my first literary encounter with Evans, (although I think I've viewed sections of The Horse Whisperer movie) and I might be up for another round, after I lick these wounds a little bit...

What a good review of Little Women and Werewolves. I liked the gentrification analogy.

Aw, Thank you! I've been trying to work harder at my reviews this year.

Return to Wuthering Heights by Anna L'Estrange - 4.5 stars


"Did you know that Catherine? Did you know that?"
My mistress moaned, but I knew that she apprehended what he said, for she tried to sit up, and her dazed eyes stared up at the frightening aspect of her husband.
"What are you saying Hareton? That Jack..."
"'Aye, he's Heathcliff's bastard. Didn't you ever see the likeness? Of course you did."

Catherine. Hareton. Heathcliff. You'll recognize these as characters from Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, arguably one of our great love stories (I say arguably because I have seen much passionate debate back-and-forth on LT). Unlike H: Heathcliff's Return to Wuthering Heights by Lin Haire-Sargeant, which takes place during Heathcliff's three-year absence, Return to Wuthering Heights by Anna L'Estrange occurs forty years after the original tale. Just like most sequels, this one aims to be bigger and badder than the first... more rendezvous across the moors... more declarations of passion... more... Catherines. Yes. But don't worry, Ms L'Estrange certainly doesn't let you get your generations confused. Passages like this will keep you well informed:

I knew that Colonel Heathcliff had not told her the truth and she knew not that she was wedded to her mother's lover, the father of her own half-brother Anthony, Oh my God, if such wickedness cannot be punished in this world, what hope have we for the next?

Yes, it is tawdry, perhaps a bit like an episode of the Springer show but filmed as a costume drama. It is very entertaining as a gothic romance. I'm not the kind of reader who analyzes and ruminates on whether Edgar was spineless, Cathy selfish or Heathcliff bitter. I let myself be caught up in the maelstrom of it, like I did the first time I read Wuthering Heights. Just like Lockwood junior, I was back in Yorkshire too, feeling the wind coming off the moors. As a guilty pleasure it was a glorious way to pass a few hours curled up on the couch and so I count it as a successful sequel indeed.

23 Pondering a dystopia category for next, and will be sure to note thoses titles. And Oh, Ubik! I forgot about Ubik!

>32 GingerbreadMan: My brother-in-law (who now lives in Sweden, by the way) gave me Ubik as a gift. It took me about three read thrus to enjoy it. Honestly, the first two times I was shaking my head trying to figure out what he was thinking, giving me this book! Have you read Philip K Dick is Dead, Alas by Michael Bishop?

33 No, never even heard of it! Looks pretty interesting. On the other hand though - I have more than enough books by Dick himself (the productive little ferret) left to read to last me a long time...

First - I can't believe I just found this thread! I'm glad I finally caught up with you! :)

Second - Reading All Other Nights with you was a lot of fun! :) I'm enjoying the whole group read experience with this challenge.

Third - 22 and 23 :: What, no Brave New World? That is probably my favorite "dystopian" book...well, that or A Canticle for Leibowitz.

@35 I had - embaressingly - never even heard of A canticle for Leibowitz until I joined LT. It's not available in swedish, I don't think, and must have slipped under my radar. It's on my wishlist now!

As for Brave new world, I never seem to be in the mood. It could be due to something as simple as the edition on my bookshelf being the mother of ugly, I suppose...

I haven't read Brave New World in awhile. Mine's a hideous shade of yellow.

I have a vague memory of trying A Canticle for Leibowitz but Walter Miller doesn't sound familiar. What do you love about it Christina? Inspire me to pick it up again!

36 :: I strongly recommend giving Brave New World another shot! Find a prettier copy at the library if you must. :) (I feel your pain about the ugly covers...they tend to make me avoid books too!)

@37 :: I liked A Canticle for Leibowitz because I think it does the whole post-apocalyptic thing in a really unique way. After the big disaster, the world plunges back into the dark ages, and the excitement of the book is in seeing whether history will play out the same way a second time. There are also some very interesting religious themes and ideas, which I personally enjoyed although they might not be everyone's cup of tea. I do remember that it took me a little while to get into the book, because I think the first section is rather slow, but if you stick with it, it definitely picks up!

Ah, found you! Great reviews of the mash-ups. I haven't read either of those yet, but I just love the picture on the back of Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter. Over-the-top gruesome!

Thanks! Regarding Abe, I liked the cover art but I didn't care for the photos inside. However, I've read other reviews where they loved the pictures, so to each their own.

Broken by Karin Slaughter
4.5 stars

I received this book as a member of LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program.

A murder suspect dies in police custody and Sara Linton sees it as an opportunity to have Lena Adams removed from the Grant County police department for good. Sara's not taking any chances of the locals protecting their own so she uses her personal connections to see that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation gets involved in the case. Arriving in a miasma of simmering tempers and all-around hostility, Agent Will Trent's unconventional methods prove his worth when the body count starts to rise.

This is number eight in Karin Slaughter's Grant County series but it's my first exposure to her material. I felt that I was given enough back story to empathize with the main characters' viewpoints, but I'll admit the book did whet my appetite for more of their shared history. The pacing on this one is great, I flew though it and hardly felt the time pass at all. I'll admit that I did develop quite a character-crush on Will Trent. So much so that I hardly cared once the villain was exposed, all I wanted was to get to the denouement to find out what happened to Will. Speaking of, I felt that the villain came out of the blue. In fact, a few characters mentioned early on just completely disappeared for two-thirds of the book and when they arrived at the climax it almost felt like a cheat. So, not quite a five-star read but still darn good! I'll be getting my hands on the rest of this series before too long. Thanks LT!

Hi Victoria:

Excellent review of Broken ! Now it's making me want to pick up where I left off in the Sara Linton series, A Faint Cold Fear.

Go for it Lisa! I've got Triptych on the way to me and I can't wait to dive in.

Good review. I wasn't thrilled with my last Karin Slaughter, Kisscut which is the second in the series, but I did like the fact that the two main women don't really like each other very well. I am glad to hear this contiues. I will continue with the next book as I did quite like the first book and you make me want to read Broken.

Deadstock by Jeffrey Thomas
3.5 stars

I could say that Deadstock is about one R & D project gone missing and two CEOs battling to find it first. But such a stark description would be like summarizing the first Oz book as 'Dorothy loses her way in a storm and has to find her way back home'.
Jeffrey Thomas' Punktown is a fascinating place. There are born mutants, made mutants, bio-engineered soldiers, interdimensional beings and living, sentient dolls. Needless to say, everybody has issues and those issues give you quite a bit to chomp on when you're not following the main plot. The story frame itself has a nice noirish flavor to it and it meshes well with the futuristic setting. Think Blade Runner. It's the kind of science fiction that makes you think, which is the best kind, really. If you're going through a cyberpunk phase, it's a must-read.

45 After that review, 3,5 stars sounds a little low to me. What held it back?

I've only read short stories (and a few diseases) by Thomas in anthologies, and he's always been sort of drowned out by more interesting writers then. But your short description triggered my interest in delving further into Punktown!

Love the summary of Oz, by the way. A Swedish cartoonist named Henrik Lange has specialised in ripping books apart like that, retelling them in just four frames. He called it Novels for those in hurry and they are often hilarious.

>46 GingerbreadMan: Hey GM!
Yeah, I almost gave it 4 stars and I guess my review reflects my enthusiasm. I'm bad about that, I'm such a sucker for world building. But two things bothered me so I lowered the rating a little. It's hard to explain without spoilers. One was that R&D project I mentioned. It was difficult to believe it did all the things it ultimately did in the book. I wasn't completely on board there. And Two, I wanted more explanation about the interdimensional beings. Maybe he didn't go into it because it would have been another story on its own - and it may be - I'll have to read more Thomas and see!

RE:Novels for those in a Hurry, have you been to SixWordStories.net ?

45 does sound good I am off to track it down. Thanks!

@47 I know exactly what you're saying about world building. I can almost overlook plot, characters and style if the world is interesting (and solid) enough. And I almost get offended when writers decide to move on from my favourite places. I mean, part of me can totally understand why China Miéville would want to move on from Bas-Lag and New Crobuzon. But part of me still yells: Hey, what about the Hopi then? What about the places you've just mentioned in passing? There are even suburbs of New Crobuzon we haven't been to yet! Are you just going to let that go!????

>49 GingerbreadMan: Hey GM!
Yes, exactly! So you like Mieville? I tried one and couldn't get invested in it. Which is your favorite and which do you think is a good starting point?

I'd start with Perdido Street station, one of my most engrossing reads ever! Or, for something a little less like reading a painting by Hieronymus Bosch, perhaps The city and the city. I vote for the former though.

Victoria - haven't visited your thread for a while, so dropping by to say hello. I'm still to tackle Mieville though will probably start with Un Lun Dun, mainly because I already started it a year or so ago. I have it down to read for my 1010.
Going back about 20 posts, I read Canticle for Leibowitz back in April and wasn't that taken with it, though I got lots of feedback over on the 75 challenge thread from fans of the book. I found it a bit dated (which I expected) but overall it was the focus on religion that I didn't care for.

Currently I'm reading Boneshaker which is good but not earthshakingly good.

Hi avatiakh! I'll be interested in your thoughts on Mieville. I've heard a lot of buzz about Boneshaker. I think I'll have to try it at some point.

I finally finished a category - yay!

Congrats on finishing a category!

Congrats! What happens if you come across a book from that category that really appeals to you? Wait til next year?

51 Yep I agree Perdido Street Station is wonderful. Course there is also his latest Kraken which is standalone and I think quite accessible, still in hardback though. Oh and his short stories Looking for Jake are very very good.

I recently ordered The City & The City, which will be the first thing I've read by Mieville.

57 I agree about Looking for Jake too (but the story Jack contains some spoilers, if you haven't been to New Crobuzon before). I'm also a big fan of Iron Council, but that isn't a starting point. Will be reading Kraken later this year, I hope!

finished Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
3.5 stars

I came to the book having seen the original Swedish film, so I knew the characters and the plot. Reading the book I appreciated the way the film makers conveyed the oppressive atmosphere of loneliness and despair. The novel does possess that pervasive sense of dread that good horror books do.
The biggest shock for me from screen to page was Oskar. The little fella creeped. me. out. In the film I thought he was much more innocent and that Eli picked him as a companion because he was opportune. Reading Oskar's thoughts and actions, his reactions to being bullied, helped me to understand that Eli made a well-calculated choice. Both are victims turned violent, who seek kindness where they can find it. Much like, I imagine, street kids or gang members do. I understand, of course, that it's not all altruistic, certainly each brings something to the table. But the way that their relationship unfolds, tender in its own way, was interesting to explore.
Eli was perhaps the one disappointment I had. I wanted more backstory, more history. I wanted to know Eli and I don't feel that I do. Perhaps Lindqvist's intent was more of a social commentary. If not completely satisfying, it was certainly a thought-provoking book.

I'm having a blast reading Karin Slaughter in reverse. I started with an ER copy of her latest (Broken) and now, instead of going all the way to the beginning, I'm working backwards and I'm loving it.
Will Trent is fascinating and he's written so well. He's the coulda-been-bad boy on the right side of the law. He's the tough guy with debilitating wounds. He's edgy and I've completely fallen over the edge for him.
Undone was a read-in-one-session book for me and I thought it was a better story than Broken. Maybe because there was less of Sara in Undone. It's complicated - I want Will and Sara to become closer but sometimes (okay, a lot of times) Sara is too whiney for me. But she's a stable influence (certainly more than the sometimes-Mrs-Trent) and I think Will needs (and wants) that. Maybe I just don't know Sara well enough yet. I also got to spend more time with Faith. She's a good partner for Will, although I understand they haven't always worked smoothly together. I love their banter. I look forward to discovering her as well.
So I stand at the end of the series, really wanting to go forward, but going backwards out of necessity for my fix. I think I'll stick with Will's books right now and save Sara's series for next year. There's not enough wiggle-room in my challenge!

Android Karenina by Ben H. Winters and Leo Tolstoy
4 stars

Last year I finished The Brothers Karamazov - my first exposure to a fat Russian novel. I managed to finish, with the help of my Challenge buddies, but swore off another tome until at least another decade. So, when reading through the Early Reviewer offerings, I was astounded to find myself attracted to Android Karenina. The blurb caught my attention with "steam punk" but upped the ante with phrases like "mechanical butler" and "airborne debutante balls". What? I clicked the Request button and told myself that I had lost my ever-loving mind. Here was a fat Russian novel, expanded(!) with new material and I would have no companions to encourage me through it. What was I in for?

A darn good romp, as it turns out, and no encouragement needed!

This book is a love letter to steampunk. If you enjoy the genre, you will not regret time spent with this book in your hands. I was only able to tear myself away from it when my wrists tired from holding it. Ben Winters is a master and his cleverness seemed to increase as the pages flew by. Did I get an accurate experience of Anna Karenina? Probably not. Do I care? No. It was a delightful journey and to Mr. Winters I say: More! More!

Oh, now you've whetted my appetite! I'm waiting on this one from the library and I absolutely can't wait!

I have now made a mental note to keep Android Karenina in mind for my Steampunk category for next year's challenge. It sounds good!

I'll probably want to read the original first. And that isn't likely to happen anytime real soon...

The Prince by Machiavelli

Why I Read It
This was the only book on my TBR shelf that even approached the chosen theme of Royalty (Reading Through Time's September read).
So, why would a girl who hates politics and nearly failed Western Civ have such a treatise on her shelf? In preparing for this year's NaNoWriMo, I considered writing about a prince (actually two) and thought this book would give me a better perspective on their characters.

Thoughts
The first two-thirds of this book were torture for me (see note on Western Civ above). The names! The names! I cannot process lists of names of long-dead rulers. Snore! And I did... snore. I fell asleep three reading sessions in a row. But then I managed to soldier through to the last third, which is more general instruction instead of illustrative history, and I really got into it!
Being American and having no royalty to ponder over, I substituted 'President' every time I read the word 'Prince' and that helped me to connect with what Machiavelli was saying. The traits he speaks of, the behavior he discusses, are dead on. Machiavelli knew human nature. This book made me feel more cynical about people in general and more positive towards leaders and politicians. What a feat!

* A prince must use troops from an ally sparingly and should absolutely avoid using mercenaries.

All I could think about during this section was the mess overseas. The ill feelings that were fostered between nations, even down to small things like 'freedom-fries' and people pouring bottles of French wine down their toilets. And I considered our modern-day mercenaries, uncontrollable private forces, like Blackwater (who changed their name since things went badly for them).

* A prince will not always be able to keep his word, but a prince should do his best to maintain the illusion that he keeps his word and is reliable.

It must have been so much easier for them back in the 16th century, without every speech and campaign promise transcripted and archived on the internet for everyone to re-read and criticize at the click of a mouse. Leadership was never easy but it must be more difficult now.

* A prince cannot be completely moral and still be effective in an amoral world.

"Men have imagined republics and principalities that never really existed at all. Yet the way men live is so far removed from the way they ought to live that anyone who abandons what is, for what should be, pursues his downfall rather than his preservation; for a man who strives after goodness in all his acts is sure to come to ruin, since there are so many men who are not good."

This one was difficult for me because I see the logic in it, but it disagrees with my religious upbringing. I'm still chewing on it.

Great review! I'll probably have The Prince in my challenge next year as its been on my shelf a good five years now. I haven't pulled it off as of yet for the same reasons you had problems.

>> A prince cannot be completely moral and still be effective in an amoral world.

This is rather disturbing. I see the logic too, but it makes me uncomfortable to see it written so plainly. I wonder the extent to which our leaders struggle with this consciously -- are they good people who then realize that this is true? Or are they not entirely good people who therefore have less to struggle with?

finished The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte by Laura Joh Rowland
4.5 stars

Charlotte Bronte is in London with her sister Anne to rectify a misunderstanding between their respective publishers when Charlotte is slipped a book that draws her into a murderous intrigue. Even with the help of a dashingly handsome operative, Mr John Slade, the situation becomes more dangerous each time Charlotte tries to extricate herself. Service to Queen and country notwithstanding, she just wants to find her way back to Haworth.

This is a fantastic Bronte-inspired romp through Londontown and beyond. Of course, such an adventure is not life-like in the least (that would be boring) and if the liberties taken with historical figures bothers you, you should probably stay away. I, however, am thrilled to see the Bronte girls getting the 'Jane Austen treatment'. There is a sequel and I will be reading it. I recommend this to those who enjoy Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series.
Warning! This novel inspired me to add over a dozen books to my TBR and I will have a Bronte category next year. See you around the moors!

finished The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
3 stars

So it is with trepidation that I report that I finished The Lost Symbol and even further, that I enjoyed reading it. It's clear to anyone who hangs around LT that Mr. Brown doesn't get much respect around here but he fills the niche I need him to. There are days in my literary diet when I don't feel like eating my greens or chewing on a hunk of protein. Sometimes what I want is to rip open a bag of gummi bears... and that's what Mr Brown's work is to me. Sure, it has no nutritional value but it goes down easy and gosh darn it, it's fun!

I figured this would be just like the National Treasure movies (which I love) but honestly, the book treads in its own side of the reflection pool. Washington DC is big city and there are plenty of places for new adventures. I enjoyed discovering new trivia about some of the places I had actually visited and made notes of places to see on my next trip.

I thought after four books I had Mr. Brown all figured out but I must give him kudos for how he surprised me with the ending of this one. I wonder if we'll see another Robert Langdon book and if so, what that will be like.

No criticism from me, Victoria! I've also read and enjoyed all of his previous books, and I've ordered The Lost Symbol.

I haven't read The Lost Symbol yet but read most of his others, and I agree that these sorts of reads are necessary from time to time.

As a fan of the "Pink Carnation" series and of Laura Joh Rowland, I was most interested in your take on The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte. Now I have added it to my wish list and I am really looking forward to getting my hands on a copy!

Looks like we have a spammer.

>73 DeltaQueen50: DeltaQueen,
I hope you enjoy it! I'm planning to read the sequel for my 11-11 challenge.

Emma and the Werewolves by Jane Austen and Adam Rann
1.5 stars

This book is not really the "mashup" it appears to be. It feels about 90% Emma and 10% werewolves and the werewolf additions are not well incorporated. They didn't really impact the plot and they didn't make much sense either. This idea could have been so much better realized than it is.
My copy had one particular chapter near the front that was just riddled with typos, which is very disappointing to come across. The first third of the book felt as if it had a better pace than the rest, which truly was a difficult trudge.
All in all, my advice is to skip this one. If you're in the mood for a "mashup" I recommend one of the Quirk Classic books - they really are the cream-of-the-crop.

I've finished off a few more books (12 more to go!) and while I probably won't write formal reviews, I did want to say something about them here in my thread.

Dracula: the Undead by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt

This is the "official" sequel to Dracula, written by Bram's great-grand-nephew. Reviews for the book fall all over the place. I liked it for the most part. It did turn the original on it's head, so if you hold Dracula sacred, you might not enjoy it. I thought it had a great gothic flavor and it was nice to be back amongst familiar characters again.

Handling the Undead by John Ajvide Lindquist

I read Lindquist's Let the Right One in earlier this year and I thought this book would be just like that one, but with zombies. I was so disappointed in this novel. It's not scary and I could barely get through it. It's more of a social novel then I care for.

Replay by Ken Grimwood
This book was one of the better sci-fi "time travel" books I've read in awhile. It was recommended to me because I liked Flashforward. I like both of these books, they are like two different hiking trails through the same woods. Flashforward is very heavy on the science whereas Replay is not at all.

Morlock Night by K.W. Jeter
Another time travel book and also a sequel. This is a followup to The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. In this novel, the Morlocks have used the machine to come to Earth and are mucking with London. I found it very amusing.

Walden by Henry David Thoreau
I loved Walden. I downloaded an audio version from Librivox.org and the reader was fantastic! He truly made the novel engaging and at times I forgot I wasn't sitting by the fire listening to Thoreau himself. I felt particularly chastised for my "low reading" or "easy reading" when he discussed the importance of books, but all in all, it was a delight.

Twelve to go! And you have plenty of time.

Darn! I got hit by several Book Bullets just now. Thanks for the mini-reviews and for adding to my TBR heap. And 12 more books - for you? Totally do-able!

I've just found this thread, after having the 1st part starred. I'm kinda a doofus like that!

I'm a fan of Karin Slaughter as well, I've really enjoyed her series. I found her after reading some Alafair Burke.

I've loved Nicholas Evans for such a long time, The Horse Whisperer was the first I've read of his. But I loved Smoke Jumper and The Divide.

I always want to move to Montana after reading one of his books, he paints such a beautiful picture of the wilderness, no place is perfect - but it sound pretty damn close there!

>80 LauraBrook: LauraBrook - Thanks for stopping by. Which ones caught your eye?

>81 cataluna: cataluna - Glad you're here! You are right about Montana. I've been trying to convince the other-half that Big Sky would be the perfect place for skiing lessons. Someday.

Maybe you could swing him with pony rides or rock climbing.

finished Anne's House of Dreams by Lucy Maud Montgomery
5 stars

I downloaded a free audio version of Anne's House of Dreams from Librivox.org and have listened to it these last two days. There was such a fine balance of pathos and joy, I think it may be my favorite of the entire series. Or maybe I just relate to "Mistress Blythe" better as a married woman myself. I was sorry to reach the ending but that's the joy of books, you can always re-read!

Yes, but you can never discover it for the first time ever again. Not to depress you, or anything.

>82 VictoriaPL: - I got hit by Dracula: The Undead, Flashforward, Replay, and Morlock Night. I'm always so impressed when an author writes a sequel for a classic book. It's the kind of thing I think about doing all the time, but don't have the balls to actually start it.

And, I've never read an Anne of Green Gables book before - I know, for shame! I do remember watching the TV series growing up in the 80's, but that's about it. Maybe next year I can have an Anne category.

> 86 LauraBrook - I'm a sucker for those types of sequels too, obviously. For my NaNoWriMo project two years ago I wrote a sequel to one of my favorite books as a kid, The Borrowed House by Hilda van Stockum. I had such a wonderful time writing it - even if it never sees the light of day again - it was worth it.

finished The Kindom Keepers: Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson
3.5 stars

It sounded like a sweet gig when five Florida teenagers sell their hologram likenesses to Disney. Who doesn't love a little easy money? But now when they go to sleep at night, they wake up inside the park. And they're not alone. The animatronics - pirates, witches and hundreds of dolls are out to get them. They are part of a plan conceived by Walt Disney himself to rid the park of evil and to prevent Disney's most famous witch from taking over the world.

I have a thing about Disney, I guess most kids born in Orlando do. So even though this is a young adult novel, I had to read it. This was a terrific romp all over the Magic Kingdom. I think any kid and any kid-at-heart can enjoy it. I feel I should mention that if the 'It's a Small World' ride has ever freaked you out just a little - this book won't help with that!

It does sound genuinely creepy.

Six books to go! You'll finish in plenty of time.

88 Nice concept! Also, it reminds me of Dansih Rock band Disneyland after Dark, which I haven't heard in ages :)

finished Hour of the Dragon by Robert E. Howard
4 stars

I just finished one of the most entertaining books of the year. A dethroned king, epic sword battles, dark magic, man-eating apes, pirates, pagans, giant free-roaming snakes, vampires, mummies and women! Did I mention the barbarian? Yes, it's a Conan tale.
It's my husband's fault, really. He took into account my recent predilection for pulp novels and my current attempt at penning a sword-and-sorcery tale for NaNoWriMo and gently suggested that I might try a Conan novel. I had a hard time getting past my remembrances of the '80s films but it just so happened that our library carried an audiobook version that I could listen to in the car. Since it was his idea, I made my husband listen to it with me. What a time we had!
Todd McLaren, the reader, has made a fan out of me. I was astonished at the cast of voices he can do. He really made it come alive with his excitement, inflection and tone. Is that what gathering around the radio for Zorro and The Shadow was like? I never understood the nostalgia before, but now I do.
The material itself was fantastic pulp writing. The character of Conan is so interesting, at times regal and eloquent and then suddenly socially awkward. My interest in the story only weakened in one spot towards the end, when he shifted away from Conan's point-of-view and labored on ad infinum about the geography for the last battle. All-in-all, I am impressed with Howard and I am duly chastised for judging his works by their Schwarzenegger-knockoff-in-a-loincloth covers.

The Disney book is going on my list. I also grew up with a Disney park-5 minutes from Disneyland at the Anaheim/Garden Grove border.

finished The Minority Report and other Classic Stories (Collected Stories, Vol 4) by Philip K. Dick
3 stars

It's been awhile since I've spent some time with PKD. My favorites were Service Call, Captive Market, War Game and Novelty Act. Even though I thought I had read Minority Report before, it still surprised me. I've watched the movie too many times, I guess. I do enjoy PKD movie adaptations.

Well, another category bites the dust. DO-DO-DO another one bites the dust. Sing it with me now! 4 books to go...

AND another one gone, AND another one gone....

The Disney book is now on hold for me at the library, despite the fact that I have 20 other books of theirs that I need to read sometime this month. No problem!

I've never read any PDK - perhaps I'll smoosh him into my TBR schedule for 2011! Actually, at this rate, I need to read every book I own and every book I've added to my TBR this year all in 2011. Delusions - who, Moi?

Only 4 more books - will you hang around here once you're done?

You are cruising! And having some good reads too! I didn't enjoy the Disney book wuite as much as you did, but I think it helps that you have all the memories of the park.

>94 LauraBrook: Laura, of course I'll be here - the 1010 is a great place to be.

>95 cmbohn: Hey Cindy! I'm sorry to hear that. Yes, you're probably correct - lots of memories there.

finished Black Friday by David Goodis
4.5 stars

I've really run the gamut with the ten Goodis books. The pace on this one was fast and he was really in top form. A fantastic book to end the category.

3 books left!

3 books? Congratulations on being nearly there! :)

finished Ill Wind (Weather Warden book 1) by Rachel Caine
3 stars

I didn't know going in that this one was a paranormal romance. It wasn't too bad and I was in the mood for some fluff.

Another category gone.... 2 books to go!

And more than a month to read them in. Relax and enjoy!

>100 RidgewayGirl: Kay, I took your advice and relaxed. I went totally off-challenge for a week and it felt great.

Read The Boys from Brazil by Ira Levin. Nazis and clones... right up my alley! Even though it's dated, it had me on the edge of my seat the whole book. Levin continues to be my 'magic bullet' whenever I get into a reading slump. I've been parceling him out one book a year so I don't blaze through him too quickly.

Also finished Reflex by Steven Gould which is the sequel to Jumper. I should have remembered that Jumper went very dark in tone and when Reflex did the same, well, I wasn't in the mood for that. I didn't quite buy into the premise but it had its moments.

And then there was my ER book Night Road by Kristin Hannah which was decent, but not completely satisfying either. Another reviewer called it mommy-chick-lit and I would agree with that.

Yesterday I started in on The Tower by Gregg Hurwitz, which is a thriller, and should finish it tonight.

Tomorrow it's back on task - 2 books to go!

Yes, and one of them is The Tenant of Wildfell Hall!

101. LOL off challenge for a week?? I figure I spend about two weeks each month off challenge! That's why I am having a hard time reading my last few books, but I'll get them done.

I am reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall for my 11-11. It will interesting to see what you and Kay think of it.

finished The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte 3.5 stars

This was the first of Anne's works that I've read. Her style is so different from her sisters. In fact, sometimes she reminded me of Jane Austen. Her protagonist, Helen, is so rigid with propriety and morality and never gives in to her passions. I'd have to say that Helen is probably the antithesis of Catherine from Wuthering Heights and that Jane Eyre a blend of the two. I wonder if that reveals anything about the Bronte sisters themselves?

And that concludes my 1010 Challenge! I've enjoyed it and also the many conversations had with all of you. I'll be doing a wrap-up post so I'm not gone just yet.

I'm looking forward to starting the 11-11 Challenge in January (here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/96729#2138942) and I have an entire category devoted to Bronte-inspired books!

Congratulations, Victoria!

Yes, congratulations!

Congratulations on finishing. Well done!

Congrats Victoria!

Congratulations, my dear! Do I see a celebratory book purchase in your near future?

Congratulations (here too!) Will you be sticking around for the last few weeks, or are you taking a break?

Thanks!

>109 LauraBrook: How'd you know? Yes, I'm anxiously awaiting a B&N box on my doorstep.

>110 GingerbreadMan: I'll be here! I have no idea what I'll be reading and that's a delightful feeling...

FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE 1010 CHALLENGE

All Other Nights by Dara Horn
One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson
The Hour of the Dragon by Robert E. Howard
Walden by Henry D. Thoreau
Undone by Karin Slaughter
Broken by Karin Slaughter
Everwild by Neal Shusterman
Dark Passage by David Goodis
The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte by Laura Joh Rowland
Heat Wave by Richard Castle
Queenpin by Megan Abbott
Dracula the Undead by Dacre Stoker
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Ben H. Winters and Jane Austen
Android Karenina by Ben H. Winters and Leo Tolstoy
Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter by A.E. Moorat
The Girl Who Played With Fire by larssons::Stieg Larsson
Jumper by Steven Gould
Replay by Ken Grimwood

eta:touchstones are wonky this morning!

Congrats! What a sense of accomplishment!

Congratulations on finishing! And you reminded me that I've *got* to get a copy of Android Karenina!

Congrats, Victoria!

Congratulations, and thanks for the list of "best books"!

Congratulations from me too.