Books Read in 2009 & 2010
Daniel and I read a lot of books. We don’t read as many as 52 in a year (like a certain friend I know), but we get to read a few. We are going to list them out as we go along and give the book a grade based on how we liked the book. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you would like it, because we did. This is just our opinion.
Amanda’s List
The end of 2009
1.What Difference Do It Make? by Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent – This is a sequel to “Same Kind of Different as Me.” This is more of a How To guide to reaching the homeless. Worth the read, but definitely a little more raw than the first book. B
2. Julie and Julia by Julie Powell – I did not find the main character endearing at all. I also had a problem with all the cussing in the book and her attitude towards marriage, Republicans, and Jimmy Fallon. The parts about Julia Childs and Julie’s cooking were interesting and it ended decently. Although, I couldn’t wait for the book to end so I could be done with it. I would probably hate the book more if the characters were fiction and not real people. C
3. A Christmas Passage by David Saperstein, George Samerjan -A fun and cheesy Christmas story about a group of strangers traveling together. It is like watching a Hallmark movie that you are glad you watched. I nice story for Christmas. B-
4. Home in Time for Christmas by Heather Graham – While driving home for Christmas Melody accidentally hits a man dressed in Revolutionary War clothes. The story unfolds when she decides to bring him home. A far-fetched romance story with some dumb underlying themes. Light read for those who like a simple love story. B-
~~~ Books in 2010 ~~~
1. Shopaholic & Baby by Sophia Kinsella – A fun finish to a 5 book series following Becky. I stayed up until 4 a.m. finishing the book. The whole series is predictable and light, but I enjoy the clean mindlessness of the books. B+
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – A young adult dystopian novel about teenagers that are forced to compete in a gladiator-like game called, “The Hunger Games.” America is now a country called Panem and is divided into 12 districts. The story follows Katniss a 16 year old girl who hunts to keep her family fed in the poorest district, District 12. The book is violent and tense, but wonderfully told. Katniss is a very likeable character. It is a real page tuner. A
3. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury - Written in the 1950s this book is a series of stories that follows the story of humans invading Mars and a what happens to earth. Each story was told from a different perspective, but they still told a cohesive story. Some of the book is a social commentary on science, racism, censorship, and war. Once you got into the book it is an easy and entertaining read. A good companion book to watching Avatar. I really liked it. B+
4. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley – Set in 1950 England the story follows a spunky 12 year old named Flavia who loves Chemistry. She finds a dead man in the garden and works on solving the mystery. It’s a fun mystery book and really picks up about halfway through the book. This is the first of a new series following Flavia De Luce. B
5. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins – In this sequel to “The Hunger Games” we continue to follow of Katniss and life in Panem after winning the Games. It was a little slow at the start and the end felt rushed, but I loved every minute of the book. A great series. I can’t wait for the third book of this trilogy in August! A
6. Very, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani – Really fun story following a young thirty something in an Italian family in New York City. Loved the setting and descriptions of the cities visited. B+
7. The Help by Kathryn Stockett – Skeptical because of the hype. Written well and a good story. I would recommend this book to anyone! B+
8. Brava, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani – Sequel to “Very, Valentine.” This time part of the story is in Buenos Airies and progresses the story well. More enjoyable than than the first book! B+
9. The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova – Lengthy story following a psychiatrist figuring out why a man attacked a painting at the National Gallery. Also, parallels another story set in the 1800s. Some of the story seemed irrelevant to the main story and could have been edited down a little more. B-
10. Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger – Classic. Enjoyable. The book consists of the ramblings and events that take place to Holden Caufield after he gets kicked out of school. A must read if you are interested in classics. I am not really into precocious 16 year boys, so I didn’t love the book. However, I did enjoy reading it. B+
11. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – Amazing classic. I couldn’t put it down during the second half. It was great to have the refresher. The story follows Jean Louise (Scout) and her family – Jem, Atticus and Calpurnia in a small Alabama town during a trial of a black man. Really well written and so many themes were touched on in the story (racism, coming of age, feminism, small town, relationships with the poor, prejudice, etc.) A+
12. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly – The coming of age story of a young lady growing up on a cotton farm in the 1890s in South Texas. She falls in love with Science. A nice story, but a little boring in some parts. B-
13. The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag by Alan Bradley – Second book in the Flavia de Luce series. I normally don’t like murder mysteries, but I love these books. Super fast read with a good mystery. B
14. The Maze Runner by James Dashner – The first book in another YA trilogy set in a dysotopian future. Once you get past the first 30 – 50 pages it is a good read. The grammar and writing in the book aren’t bad, but the way the story is being told can be annoying. A boy, Thomas, wakes up in “the Glade” which is part of a maze with monster/creature things hiding in the maze. No one knows why they are there and how to get out. It finishes well and I want to read the second book. B
15. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. The premise seemed interesting, but I didn’t love the wax poetic style of story telling. I just wanted the author to get to the point. An okay story and the epilogue was sort of dumb. C+
16. The Testament by John Grisham. The story grabs you from the beginning. Christianity is pretty well accurately portrayed. Overall, a satisfying read. B
17. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. A good fun read. You get to solve the mysteries and puzzles along with the protagonists of the book. B+
18. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. Loved the format of the book and the paralleling stories. Well written. A nice book to get cozy with. A long read. A
19. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. I picked it up from a random library shelf and I was curious. Kept me on the edge of my seat. Reminded me of the movie, National Treasure. The descriptions of Washington D.C. were interesting. B+
20. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. The cover says it will take about an hour to read. I read it in one sitting during my kids’ nap time. Delightful and Lovely. A
21. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
22. Life of Pi
23. Mockingjay
24. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister
25. Mini Shopaholic
26. On Strike for Christmas
27. Lucia, Lucia
28. Galations
29. Ephesians
Daniel’s List
1. The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferris – I didn’t ‘get’ the book the first time I read it, and it took two more readings to really understand what he was proposing. It made much more sense after I had already quit my corporate job and started my own company. I enjoy the thoughts and explanations on lifestyle design more than I do the “outsource your life” stuff. Life’s too short to live the 9-5 rat race and Tim gives some unique and usable tools along with motivation for those that are looking for a way to strike out on their own. First reading – C. Third reading – A.
2. How to Break a Terrorist: The U.S. Interrogators Who Used Brains, Not Brutality, to Take Down the Deadliest Man in Iraq by Matthew Alexander and John Bruning – This is a great story that I couldn’t stop reading. It follows Alexander (pseudonym), a military interrogator, through an assignment in Iraq in 2006. The assets that come through his base are low and high level operatives. He uses “new” techniques of rapport and respect (as opposed to control and fear) to get the detainees to release information. That information is then released to an operations unit of Special Forces that go out and do the hands on work. The story holds your interest as detainees are brought in and more and more of the puzzle is solved which ultimately points toward the “Most Wanted Man” in Iraq. July 2010 B+
