These are books I have read in 2009.C. S. Lewis: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair
"I think it is the best book ever." --Matthew
Gary Ezzo: On Becoming Babywise: Giving Your Infant The Gift of Nighttime Sleep
Not bad. Some good advice, and some not. Will use some tips, will discard others.
C. S. Lewis: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Mary Ann Shaffer: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Ralph Ellison: Invisible Man
Leo Tolstoy: War and Peace
So, is this pretty much the "greatest book of all time" because it's the longest book of all time? Because honestly, of the 1456 pages, I enjoyed maybe 350 of them. Tolstoy needed an editor. At least I can now say I've read War and Peace.
C. S. Lewis: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
This was our favorite of the Narnia series so far.
Jodi Picoult: My Sister's Keeper
Other than that the ending was a total cop out and the mother was just a little too over the top, I quite enjoyed this one.
C. S. Lewis: The Horse and His Boy
Not bad. Took a while to get going, and Matthew didn't follow it as well as he usually follows books. But not bad.
C. S. Lewis: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Fun to revisit this one. Matthew really liked it.
C.S. Lewis: The Magician's Nephew
Matthew liked this one.
Cormac McCarthy: The Road
And now I think I'll go out and buy some ammo...
Jeffrey Eugenides: Middlesex
Meh.
Richard Atwater: Mr. Popper's Penguins
Almost too silly for me, even for a kids book, but Matthew really liked it.
Zadie Smith: On Beauty
Well written, but full of loathsome men. Did not love.
Iris Murdoch: The Sea, The Sea
This was slow, weird, and the main character was kindof a creeper. Did not love.
Dan Brown: Angels & Demons
There were things I really liked about this book and things I really didn't. Dan Brown's books are always engaging. Some very interesting things on the battle between science and religion. Some very interesting symbology. Pretty dark and disturbing, though, and I wasn't convinced by the ending. Don't know if I will see the movie (no longer a Tom Hanks fan).
Antoine de Saint-Exupery: The Little Prince
Great book. Can see why it's a classic. Matthew loved the artwork.
Zora Neale Hurston: Their Eyes Were Watching God
Wonderful book. Loved the story.
Patrick White: Voss
Wow, I'm so torn on this one. There were so many interesting things about this book (love and destruction in the Australian outback--how do you top that, right?), and yet the main character really got on my nerves. Such an arrogant, egomaniac that you almost hoped for his end... Really can't decide what I think about this book.
Cornelia Funke: Inkheart
We really enjoyed about the first two-thirds of this book, but the ending was sortof anticlimactic. Kindof a letdown. The movie was surprisingly good, though.
Margaret Atwood: Cat's Eye
Beautifully written book. Could really relate to this story about how women deal with other women.
Sir Walter Scott: Ivanhoe
Took me forever to get through (not the best narrator), but a great story. Turns out that one of the villains is from the same family clan that I'm from!
Thomas Hardy: Far from the Madding Crowd
Great story. Was wondering why all of these guys bothered with this girl, but was glad things turned out well for farmer Oak after his very sad sheep incident.
Nina Garcia: The One Hundred
Silly, but fun.
Bernhard Schlink: The Reader
A little spicy for my taste (couldn't wrap my head around a fifteen-year-old having an affair with a thirty-six-year-old!), but very interesting to read how Schlink portrays the feeling of numbness that swept over Germany after WWII.
William Makepeace Thackeray: Vanity Fair
On one hand, I spent a lot of this book thinking "Wow, this guy was definitely getting paid by the word!" I realize it was a serial novel, but have to wonder if there were just some weeks that Thackery didn't know what to write. But, as a whole, I was entertained by the story. I've never read a male author with such a great understanding of women.
Kate DiCamillo: The Tale of Desperaux
Really sweet story. Matthew says this is his favorite book that we've ever read.
Nina Garcia: The Little Black Book of Style
Fun little book. Very cute illustrations and lots of practical advice.
Richard Peck: A Long Way from Chicago
Awww, I love Grandma... Read this with Matthew and we both really enjoyed it. It was a little bit over his head in parts, but I was completely entertained! Very cute story. (Thanks Jen!)
TOO CUTE!
Posted by: margene | May 10, 2006 at 12:28 PM
Those are cute!!! I like them a lot. Hmmm ... wish I had seen this sooner - that would have been a cute mother's day present for some grandmas!
Posted by: Brandie | May 10, 2006 at 01:30 PM
Those are so wonderfully cute! And it looks like a great way to spend quality time. ;)
Posted by: Kit | May 10, 2006 at 01:53 PM
Those are really adorable!!
Posted by: Isela | May 10, 2006 at 04:58 PM
i have posted photos of the sort of which they are stuck onto the icebox. Very colorful and nifty kitchen ornament.
Posted by: Chef Bertha | November 27, 2008 at 09:32 AM