Saturday, January 05, 2013

BOOKS - "a uniquely portable magic” (Stephen King).


My longtime blog buddy, Wisewebwoman, posted a list of 77 books she read during 2012. (See post dated 1 January 2013 at her blog HERE). Wow! I stood back in amazement. I've made a note of a few titles for my own future reference; passing readers, who are also book readers, might be interested in her recommendations too.

My own 2012 list of books read is dismally puny, and not very interesting, in comparison to WWW's, even after adding a couple read in 2011. Here it is:






General

The Summons - John Grisham: Good, quick read.

The King of Torts - John Grisham: Likewise.

The Bridges of Madison County- Robert James Waller : (a re-read) Likewise and Excellent!

A Thousand Country Roads (Sequel to above: by Waller:) : Very good!

Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend (yet another by Robert James Waller): Good - his novels are all quick, easy reads.

I also have yet another of Waller's: High Plains Tango, have started reading, but so far it hasn't grabbed me.


Dystopian/Sci-Fi

A Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood: Excellent!

Dune - Frank Herbert : difficult, too long... still snacking at it piecemeal.

The Lathe of Heaven - Ursula Le Guin: Excellent!

Blackout - Connie Willis : Nope - not an enjoyable writing style for me couldn't get past first chapters, book gone to Goodwill.

A Canticle for Leibowitz - Walter M. Miller Jr.: 1/3 Excellent 1/3 Poor 1/3 Good. Roman Catholic references became tiresome.

Childhood's End - Arthur C. Clarke : Very good indeed.

The Herald - Michael Shaara: Excellent read. Couldn't put it down! Finished it in 2 sittings, could've done it in one but dinner called. Husband read it after me, his verdict: "erm...just okay". (Note: He reads stuff I wouldn't touch with a barge pole!)

Conquest Over Time - Michael Shaara: a long short story/45-page novella, interesting for it's use of astrology in the storyline.

Waiting to be read:

Small Gods - Terry Pratchett

Route 66 ( non-fiction) - Billy Connolly. We saw 3 of the 4 episodes of the TV show on PBS, enjoyed them a lot.

The Anubis Gates - Tim Powers: Part of Christmas prez from husband. I have peeked inside and have grave doubts - but if I don't read it, he will - he is a very disciplined reader - even if he doesn't like a book he will soldier on and finish it. Not me - life's way too short!

On order
The Giver - Lois Lowry. It's mainly aimed at a young adult readership, but as there's a movie adaptation in the works starring Jeff Bridges I might, for once in my life, get to the book before the movie!

Les Miserables - Victor Hugo : The dreaded 1,400 page I have resolved to read in 2013 - no chickening out!

2 comments:

Wisewebwoman said...

Thanks so much for the mention T and you still did awfully well, sometimes it's just a matter of igniting the flame with a great book and the rest can be history.

I, like you, toss a book that doesn't grip me or make me care about the characters.

I`ve resolved to read all of Jane again this year. And A Moveable Feast which never fails to get me.

XO
WWW

Twilight said...

Wisewebwoman ~ I had to Google A Moveable Feast - ah yes - Hemingway!

I wish I could warm to Hemingway. we watched Hemingway and Gellhorn( on HBO one evening this week. I enjoyed it, mainly for the historical context. I realise that Hemingway is considered to be one of the greats, of great writers, but something about him repels me. A lot of people feel the same way about Sinatra (in the sphere of vocalists rather than writers) but in his case I'm not repelled. Strange, I guess. Maybe it's astrological.
:-)