50 x 40

Jun. 8th, 2009 02:25 pm
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I set a goal to read 50 books this year before I turn 40. I started this list last November, forgot to update it for quite a few months, and have spent the past few minutes wracking my brain to remember what I've been reading lately! I'm sure I've forgotten one or two. Maybe they'll come to me later.

Books I've read since November 2008


§ North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Twilight by Elie Weisel
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
§ The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Gothic Classics Volume 14


Fables Volume 1

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn
Silent in the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn
The Silent Cry by Anne Perry
A Breach of Promise by Anne Perry
The 39 Steps by John Buchan
Night by Elie Wesiel
Double Indenmity by James M. Cain
§ An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear
* Peyton Place by Grace Metalious


Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear

§ The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordian
§ The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordian
Jane Austen: Her Life and Letters
Infidel by Aayan Hirisi Ali
§ Rose by Martin Cruz Smith
§ The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordian
§ The Battle of the Labirynth by Rick Riordian
The Last Olympian by Rick Riordian
The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie
Murder in the Mews by Agatha Christie
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith


Double Indemnity by James M. Cain

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
Fables: Animal Farm by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham & Steve Leialoha
† § Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Before Amelia by Eileen Lebos


An Incomplete History of World War I by Edwin Kiester, Jr.

The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
Jane Austen: A Life by Clair Tomalin
The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle


*Not finished
† In progress
§ Re-read


If asked before I made this list, I would have told you that I don't read more than one book at a time. That's mostly true. Four of the in progress books are non-fiction, which I find much easier to put down and pick up at random. One is a re-read, one I have on my iPhone and read when I'm out and bookless and one (The Postman Always Rings Twice) I know the story because of the classic movie. These are all books I plan to continue to read. Peyton Place has a different designation because I'm not sure I'll pick that one back up in the future.
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Is there any actor in Hollywood with a better redemption story than Robert Downey, Jr.? I don't think so. Iron Man was awesome last year and it looks likes his next project, Sherlock Holmes will be another hit.

I'm sure Holmes purists think differently, but I think this movie looks pretty freaking awesome. (I do wonder what Holmes purists think of the 1940's era Holmes that was fighting Nazis in WWII London. What that okay because it's 'classic' or does that make them fume, also?) After many specious adaptations of Jane Austen's novel (and her life) I've had to come to grips with the fact that Hollywood adaptations of the classics will never be completely faithful. I've decided to settle for the benefit of these movies bringing new readers to the source material. With that in mind, you should expect to see a review or two of Sherlock Holmes mysteries here in the coming months.

Until then, I'll leave you with the trailer for Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law (who could use his own redemption story, or maybe just a career rejuvenation) and Rachel McAdams and directed by Guy Richie.


Forty Books

May. 9th, 2009 05:44 pm
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What better way to start this blog than by posting up a list of recommendations? A friend of mine had her 40th birthday a few weeks ago and, for her present, I created a list of 40 Books, 40 Movies, 40 Songs and 40 Websites. Just so you don't think I'm a total tight wad, along with the list I gave her a copy of Gone With the Wind. I posted the list of books to [profile] great_reader, which I'm going to copy here. Since this journal is broader than that one, I'll also post the movie and website list.

I had no idea that my friend would like this present as much as she did. It was rather a last minute idea because I couldn't think of anything clever to get her to mark her birthday.

Behind the cut is the list of 40 books and the reasons why I chose each.



Forty Books for Camey )

Click Here to purchase the books on Amazon.

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