Books 52-63
They are definitely not in the correct order, and although I’m fairly sure that I’ve forgotten some since it has been so long since my last post, here is my updated list:
52. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
When I got upset that Dan Brown does not seem to know anything about chemistry, physics, Catholicism, faith, or religion in general, my husband pointed out that it is easier to write like that. That is usually how market comes up with specifications that make engineers cry. I started out early in the book frustrated with his lack of knowledge of how matter and anti-matter would work and be stored (oddly, enough my husband with his degrees in physics and math agreed but did not get upset) and ended up upset with his confusion about faith and Catholicism.
I was more disappointed in this than in the Da Vinci Code. At least in that book, there was enough controversy that people knew to took what he wrote with a grain of salt. This novel flowed well and the story line (however completely impossible) moved along a good pace. Nevertheless, I am at a loss to understand how people could like this better of the two. I’m one of those readers that feels compelled to eventually finish every book or this would have been tossed half way through.
53. Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson
This was my first James Patterson and I will most likely read more. I liked Alex Cross and the novel is fast and entertaining. I felt like it was lacking a little depth, but this could be because I’ve obviously missed some of the back story established by previous books in the series.
54. Be Cool by Elmore Leonard
This was my first Elmore Leonard book…or rather my first Elmore Leonard book on CD. There wasn’t anything really noticeably great but it was enjoyable and I will likely see the movie.
55. Raising Hope by Katie Willard
This was a sweet, light read that is good when you don’t want to think too much. It is about family and giving unconditional love. I’ll be passing this one on to my mom.
56. Beach Music by Pat Conroy
I love the way Pat Conroy writes. The only other novel I’ve read by him was The Prince of Tides and although it was well over a decade ago, I remember enjoying his writing then too. He weaves a story in a way that keeps me completely enthralled regardless of his plot. The story isn’t great and the character motivation is sometimes hard to follow, but I loved it anyway.
57. What to Expect When You’re Expecting Eisenberg, Markoff, and Hathaway
This is a fairly complete and professional reference. It is fairly cut and dry.
I can see how it is considered to be the definitive volume on pregnancy. It addresses almost every aspect of pregnancy that you can think of from having cats to choosing and OB/GYN.
However, I found it to be pretty judgmental and extremist. If you are one to focus on worst case scenarios, I would avoid this book like the plague. The author doesn’t just tell you what to eat and how to act, but explains how every little thing you do wrong will be detrimental to your future child’s health and well-being.
58. What to Eat When You’re Expecting by Eisenberg, Markoff, and Hathaway
Same as the book above. It's a compendium and reads like one - with recipes.
59. No Plot, No Problem by Chris Baty
Okay, this was way sillier than I expected. It is about forcing yourself to hit the 50,000 words in November and ways to do so. It even has hints for how to fill in more words without adding substance (though he did miss the obvious tactic of having a character speaking another language and translating everything). It was enjoyable but don’t expect to get anything real out of reading it.
60. Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
I am disappointed by a number of Picoult’s endings and this one was no exception. I enjoyed the book and am glad I read it. I find her trying to relate unusual scenarios gratifying to read even when they still leave me feeling like I need something more.
61. Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult
It is probably fairly obvious that I am a fan of Picoult’s books, and this is probably my favorite of the ones I’ve read so far. I’m fairly religious and I was skeptical, as I was with Lamb by Christopher Moore, that I would be offended. I was not however offended and enjoyed it immensely. It deals with the nature of God and faith, the impact of the media, and the meaning of family.
62. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
My mom reads the last chapter of every book just in case she dies before she finishes the book that she will know what happened. I read once when I was very young that Margaret Mitchell started with the last line of ‘Gone with the Wind’ and worked her way back. I watched ‘Love Story’ without hearing anything about it. I have never quite gotten over how it ends. I’m mad to this day. Somehow these influences started me reading the last paragraph before I start a book.
I’m afraid that even though I’ve read enough Picoult at this point to not be surprised by her books endings, reading the last paragraph gave it away for me. I enjoyed the book, but I did not feel the drive to read through to get to the end the way I have been doing for her other books. I am glad though that I read the ending first because I would likely be as pissed about this ending as I am about ‘Love Story’.
It’s a good read. Maybe not her best, but still quite enjoyable. It deals with a moral dilemma that has no right answer, but the story does not end with frustration at the gray of the two sides.
63. The Pact: A Love Story by Jodi Picoult
This is the most depressing of the books that I have read by Picoult so far. The story deals with two families after the murder/suicide (depending on how you look at it) of one the families teenage girl. This isn’t a spoiler - it is the first paragraph of the novel. It is as well written or better written that some of her other novels, but it doesn’t leave you with any hope in the way that most of her novels do. I was especially disappointed in the ending. I think she either carried it too far and needed a different sort of final chapter.
52. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
When I got upset that Dan Brown does not seem to know anything about chemistry, physics, Catholicism, faith, or religion in general, my husband pointed out that it is easier to write like that. That is usually how market comes up with specifications that make engineers cry. I started out early in the book frustrated with his lack of knowledge of how matter and anti-matter would work and be stored (oddly, enough my husband with his degrees in physics and math agreed but did not get upset) and ended up upset with his confusion about faith and Catholicism.
I was more disappointed in this than in the Da Vinci Code. At least in that book, there was enough controversy that people knew to took what he wrote with a grain of salt. This novel flowed well and the story line (however completely impossible) moved along a good pace. Nevertheless, I am at a loss to understand how people could like this better of the two. I’m one of those readers that feels compelled to eventually finish every book or this would have been tossed half way through.
53. Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson
This was my first James Patterson and I will most likely read more. I liked Alex Cross and the novel is fast and entertaining. I felt like it was lacking a little depth, but this could be because I’ve obviously missed some of the back story established by previous books in the series.
54. Be Cool by Elmore Leonard
This was my first Elmore Leonard book…or rather my first Elmore Leonard book on CD. There wasn’t anything really noticeably great but it was enjoyable and I will likely see the movie.
55. Raising Hope by Katie Willard
This was a sweet, light read that is good when you don’t want to think too much. It is about family and giving unconditional love. I’ll be passing this one on to my mom.
56. Beach Music by Pat Conroy
I love the way Pat Conroy writes. The only other novel I’ve read by him was The Prince of Tides and although it was well over a decade ago, I remember enjoying his writing then too. He weaves a story in a way that keeps me completely enthralled regardless of his plot. The story isn’t great and the character motivation is sometimes hard to follow, but I loved it anyway.
57. What to Expect When You’re Expecting Eisenberg, Markoff, and Hathaway
This is a fairly complete and professional reference. It is fairly cut and dry.
I can see how it is considered to be the definitive volume on pregnancy. It addresses almost every aspect of pregnancy that you can think of from having cats to choosing and OB/GYN.
However, I found it to be pretty judgmental and extremist. If you are one to focus on worst case scenarios, I would avoid this book like the plague. The author doesn’t just tell you what to eat and how to act, but explains how every little thing you do wrong will be detrimental to your future child’s health and well-being.
58. What to Eat When You’re Expecting by Eisenberg, Markoff, and Hathaway
Same as the book above. It's a compendium and reads like one - with recipes.
59. No Plot, No Problem by Chris Baty
Okay, this was way sillier than I expected. It is about forcing yourself to hit the 50,000 words in November and ways to do so. It even has hints for how to fill in more words without adding substance (though he did miss the obvious tactic of having a character speaking another language and translating everything). It was enjoyable but don’t expect to get anything real out of reading it.
60. Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
I am disappointed by a number of Picoult’s endings and this one was no exception. I enjoyed the book and am glad I read it. I find her trying to relate unusual scenarios gratifying to read even when they still leave me feeling like I need something more.
61. Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult
It is probably fairly obvious that I am a fan of Picoult’s books, and this is probably my favorite of the ones I’ve read so far. I’m fairly religious and I was skeptical, as I was with Lamb by Christopher Moore, that I would be offended. I was not however offended and enjoyed it immensely. It deals with the nature of God and faith, the impact of the media, and the meaning of family.
62. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
My mom reads the last chapter of every book just in case she dies before she finishes the book that she will know what happened. I read once when I was very young that Margaret Mitchell started with the last line of ‘Gone with the Wind’ and worked her way back. I watched ‘Love Story’ without hearing anything about it. I have never quite gotten over how it ends. I’m mad to this day. Somehow these influences started me reading the last paragraph before I start a book.
I’m afraid that even though I’ve read enough Picoult at this point to not be surprised by her books endings, reading the last paragraph gave it away for me. I enjoyed the book, but I did not feel the drive to read through to get to the end the way I have been doing for her other books. I am glad though that I read the ending first because I would likely be as pissed about this ending as I am about ‘Love Story’.
It’s a good read. Maybe not her best, but still quite enjoyable. It deals with a moral dilemma that has no right answer, but the story does not end with frustration at the gray of the two sides.
63. The Pact: A Love Story by Jodi Picoult
This is the most depressing of the books that I have read by Picoult so far. The story deals with two families after the murder/suicide (depending on how you look at it) of one the families teenage girl. This isn’t a spoiler - it is the first paragraph of the novel. It is as well written or better written that some of her other novels, but it doesn’t leave you with any hope in the way that most of her novels do. I was especially disappointed in the ending. I think she either carried it too far and needed a different sort of final chapter.