# 60 - Read 50 books

Mark 2 more off the list.

The first is The Thirteenth Tale about a famous writer revealing the secret story of her life to an unknown biographer. I won't ruin the plot or the twists by giving anything away. Let's just say that as you read the book, the mystery of her haunted past is slowly revealed. Incest, murder, mental disabilities abound.

I enjoyed this book, although I have to say it isn't one of my favorites. I wish I could have made the book club. Then maybe I'd have more insights into the title, but as it is, I'll just say its a good story.

The second is The Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives. As the title would suggest, I'd place this in the chic lit category. But as I find most chic lit slightly annoying, I have to say this book was highly entertaining. It centers around the very privileged world of bored housewives with too much money and too few scruples. As soon as I read about $150 face cream made from cloned baby foreskin, I was hooked. Highly entertaining and shockingly appalling at the same time, I finished this book at 2 a.m. last night. Highly recommended for a brief foray into an alternate reality.

8 down, 42 to go.

Both of the above books went on at some lengths about Jane Eyre, a book I never read in high school. I'm taking that as a sign so its next on my list.

Then on to A Thousand Splendid Suns for my next book club meeting.

#60 - 5 down, 45 to go

So I can cross three more books off my list.

The first was The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. Its an amazing memoir about the author's childhood, growing up in extreme poverty with eccentric parents who shun all semblance of conventional life. The stories are incredible and would be hilarious if you didn't know they were true. Very good read - I highly recommend it.



The second was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (finally!). I somehow managed to avoid hearing anything about the last book of the saga for all these months and read on in great anticipation. I've loved these books throughout the whole series so its with a mixture of sadness and relief that I've finally finished them. I won't say anything about the plot so I can't spoil it for anyone else, but though it wasn't my favorite, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Harry Potter.


The last was Stardust by Neil Gaiman. I just happened across this title while I was in the library and recognized it from a recent movie. I picked it up to see if it was the same and, what do you know, it was. I have actually read another Neil Gaiman book (Good Omens) before and liked so I picked it up. This could easily be another one for the kids' genre with the exception of a few bits of gore and sex. What can I say, its no masterpiece, but its entertaining and a quick ride.


Now I've started The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield for a book club meeting I'm hoping to attend. I'll let you know how that goes.

#60 (again)

2 down, 48 to go.
I didn't realize it until just now, but the book I finished last night, Black and Blue, is yet another Oprah Book Club selection. That wasn't intentional, I swear!

Its a very real and poignant story about an abused wife and mother who has finally had enough and disappears with her 12-year-old son. They live in hiding from her NYC cop husband as they both learn to live as a normal family again. Its heart-rending and emotional, and I couldn't put it down. Two thumbs up.

I've now started a memoir called The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls for my second book club that meets in a few weeks. And at this rate, 50 books should be no problem.

#60 Read 50 books

One down, 49 to go.
A few weeks ago, I begrudgingly started this book. I say begrudgingly because when I first scanned the short write-up on amazon.com, I thought Oh God. A book about some bitter divorcee's journey to self-discovery and enlightenment.

I tend to find books like this too self-indulgent and flowery for my tastes. I'm sure it's cathartic for the writer to dive headfirst into their own little world and wallow in it for a good while - I'm guilty of the same thing every now and then, as I'm sure most people are. But I don't necessarily care to wade my way through someone else's fluff. There was also obviously going to be a strong religious element to the book, which I automatically (and prejudicially, I'll admit) equate with being preach-y. (Confession: I have a bit of emotional baggage where preach-y religious types are concerned.) No, thank you.

When my book club selected it for our next discussion, however, I was forced to pick it up. And, honestly, I'm so thankful that I did. I absolutely love it! What's funny is that I was on the phone with my sister last week, and she interupted herself to tell me Oh my God. I'm reading this great book. You have got to check it out. So my sister and I (...and Oprah ...and half of the U.S.) can whole-heartedly recommend it.

There is no preaching or holier-than-thou undertones to this book. There is some self-indulgence, but always tempered with an honest, self-depricating sense of humor. The best word I can think of for this work is 'inspiring'. I won't give away the entire book, but it follows the author as she splits up one year of her life amongst 3 different countries as she's trying to find balance. She basically rides out a premature mid-life crisis in the most amazing, adventurous way possible. I'm more than a little jealous...

Read it! You won't be sorry.

Now I'm on to Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen. I'm actually already halfway through the book because I had started it while waiting my turn to check out Eat, Pray, Love. This one's a goody too, and surprisingly, along the same lines.