Archive for 2004

Archive of Finished Books for 2004
(136 books total)

A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott [BookCrossing]
This book is a relatively recent discovery of a book never published in Alcott's lifetime. I probably would not have given it a second look if Alcott's name had not been attached. This fast-paced thriller was a fun ride, but I was quite disappointed by the ending. [1/3/04]

Christina's Ghost by Betty Ren Wright [BookCrossing]
I had read this book as a child, probably several times, but I'd forgotten exactly what happened. This was a great little ghost story, pretty spooky, I must say. I'm just happy that it's still as good of a book as I remember. [1/3/04]

Literature and the Gods by Roberto Calasso [BookCrossing]
I'm not sure what to make of this book, or to be more specific, I'm not sure what I got out of this book. It was not what the back cover promised: "Literature and the Gods traces the return of pagan divinities to Western literature, from their first reappearance at the beginning of the modern era to their place in the literature of our own time, and whilst doing so profoundly deepens our understanding of our literary tradition." Yes, the first chapter did start out that way, which I would have liked, but the book progressed to a different place, one that I truly wasn't very interested in and that I find difficult to describe. [1/3/04]

The Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket [audio book] [BookCrossing]
Well, this was an interesting experience, hearing the book instead of reading it, but this is one experience that I don't think I want to repeat. A couple of the voices were shrieky and really grated on my nerves. As for the story, much the same thoughts as I've had before, but this one was a little nicer as the orphans actually found some friends. It made them become a little more rounded instead of the flat characters that I keep seeing them as. [1/8/04]

The Brontë Myth by Lucasta Miller [BookCrossing]
This book is not so much a biography of the lives of the Bronte's, but is really more about their afterlife. Miller focuses on the characters that were built up by biographers, especially Elizabeth Gaskell's Life of Charlotte Bronte and Charlotte's own biographical note of Emily. I found this to be a very interesting read that helped to push aside some of the eroneous images I have of the Brontes. My only complaint is that Miller does not really say anything about Anne, whom I would like to hear more about. This book reminded me of Janet Malcomb's The Silent Woman, about the afterlife of Sylvia Plath (which I also greatly enjoyed reading). This turned out to be quite a fitting connection as Miller does talk about Plath in connection to Emily in the very last chapter of the book. [1/12/04]

Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George [BookCrossing]
This very long book took me quite a while to read, but it was worth it. Although fiction, the author was very painstaking in her research and presented the story as close to the truth as she could (also presenting an excellent historical note at the end). [1/13/04]

The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde [BookRing]
Fantastic! I already can't wait for the next book. You know, I think it's the little details that I especially love. Like Beatrice and Benedict. Flatland as the last original idea. Subtext lessons with Ibb and Obb. The solution for the letter u coming close to running out. The 8-plot system. The rage counseling meeting in Wuthering Heights. I could go on and on. [1/16/04]

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold [BookCrossing]
My God. I was not prepared for this book. I didn't know. Didn't know what reading it would be like. Didn't know how it would make me feel. I stayed up until 4 AM reading this. It left me raw. I don't think I've cried like that for a really long time. For at least the last 100 pages of this book, tears streamed out. Only part of it was reaction to the story (the plot) itself. The ideas behind it. Thinking about my own life. I don't know how this will affect me tomorrow or the days and years to come. But I've had a profound reading experience. I've been changed just a little bit. I'm starting to come to terms with my father's death (not murder - he had lung cancer - died last March). We were not close (he was an alcoholic). I'm getting too personal. This should be in my private journal. Sorry. I'm still reeling from reading this book. [1/16/04]

Her Infinite Variety by Pamela Rafael Berkman [BookCrossing]
I didn't at first realize that this book was historical fiction. I thought it was more along the lines of biography/literary criticism. But I discovered right away that it was historical fiction, with a lot of liberty taken. So I don't know if it was because my expectations for the book were not met that I didn't like it or if I didn't like it for another reason. One thing I disliked was the mix of Shakespeare's life and those of his characters. It might have been a more streamlined book if she had gone simply one way or the other instead of both. [1/20/04]

The Phantom of Pine Hill by Carolyn Keene [BookCrossing]
Ah, this brought back a lot of memories. I used to read Nancy Drew books all the time when I was growing up. I can't remember if I had read this specific one or not. [1/22/04]

Roswell High: The Outsider by Melinda Metz [BookCrossing]
I loved the TV show. The books were written before the TV show. I really enjoyed the book (and want to read the rest), but it was a little strange every times Max was described with blond hair. And Isabel was almost too bitchy. But what I loved was there - that powerful magnetic attraction between Max and Liz. [1/22/04]

The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett [BookCrossing]
I'm very glad that this wasn't my first Discworld book (that was Mort, which I loved). I don't know how eager I would now be to read others had it been. It took me quite a while to get through this relatively short book because I just didn't feel like picking it up or reading large chunks of it. None of this is to say that it was a bad book. It just didn't live up to my Discworld expectations. [1/29/04]

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas [BookCrossing]
I saw and enjoyed the recent movie version before I read this book. They could not be more different, especially with the plot. I do think, however, that they share the same theme (something like revenge is not the only or the best way to live). At every turn of the page, I expected something that happened in the movie to be revealed but it would not be. So each page was new. The misled anticipation made the book somewhat less enjoyable to me. But I did still like it. [2/1/04]

Falling into Theory edited by David H. Richter
This book is divided into three sections: why we read, what we read, and how we read -- some pretty big questions to answer. Then each section contained essays pertaining to these subjects. As with most essay collections, I found some more helpful than others, but nothing really jumped out at me as I was reading. [2/8/04]

The Catswold Portal by Shirley Rousseau Murphy [BookRay]
I wasn't sure exactly what to expect from this book. What I got was a pleasantly surprising, well-told tale of two worlds and a main character caught between both world and two selves, learning among other things how to reconcile those two selves. I also loved getting to see inside a cat's mind (it seemed so right). So I really enjoyed the experience of reading this book. [2/13/04]

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood [BookRay]
Rereading this book was perhaps even more powerful than my first read of it. I found so many quotes to underline and so much to think about. It was a good choice for my class; although some parts were confusing to the students, it brought a lot of good discussion. This will definitely remain on my list of books to teach again. [2/15/04]

Roswell: Loose Ends by Greg Cox [BookCrossing]
Gosh, I've really missed these characters. It was great to see them in a new adventure. And the chase scene at the end was really intense. I'm not sure, however, about this author. His style of writing really bothered me at times. The dialogue sometimes felt a bit fake and forced (for example, the prologue seemed so cliche) and I sometimes felt like telling him that adjectives are not the only way to describe something. Also, he doesn't need to explain the allusions as much as he does. They're allusions; we're supposed to figure them out ourselves (perhaps that's the literature student in me speaking). [2/15/04]

Roswell High: The Wild One by Melinda Metz [BookCrossing]
I'm going on a crazy Roswell spree - I just can't get enough of it. Loved the book - except I did feel the ending was a bit rushed. And I don't know what to make of Maria's Bilbo moment with the gold ring right at the very end. I guess it will come back in later books. [2/17/04]

Shadowmancer by G.P. Taylor [BookRing]
I was very disappointed with this book (though of course with the previous comments, I shouldn't have been too surprised). I almost stopped reading it several times, but I hate giving up on a book, so I kept reading. Perhaps a large part of my feelings for this book comes from the fact that I am not a Christian and this was a very Christian book. But I also (like others) felt that the storytelling wasn't up to par. For example, the ending felt completely rushed and anticlimatic. Also, what was the point of mentioning that Thomas was a sin-eater? It was mentioned twice, but it had no tie to the story and seemed completely unnecessary. And the part about Thomas and Kate playing the parts of Adam and Eve? That could have been interesting, but again it was completely dropped. If I want Christian allegory, I'll read C.S. Lewis. If I want the war against God, I'll take Philip Pullman. [2/25/04]

Roswell: No Good Deed by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch [BookCrossing]
Although I was unhappy that Tess was a part of this book, I really liked the story. It was good to see Michael finally really be able to feel good about something he did. [2/28/04]

Roswell: Little Green Men by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch [BookCrossing]
Another fun Roswell book. I like the way the authors (as they did in the previous book) took something that happened in an episode from the TV show and wrote a book about the aftereffects of the event. Of course, it's made me realize how fuzzy some things in the TV show are in my memory. Again, I was a bit upset with all the Tess/Max interaction, but I do have to admit that they never could have gotten through the situation without Tess's "special powers." [3/1/04]

Which Lie Did I Tell? by William Goldman [BookRay]
One thing I learned from this book -- I could never be a screenwriter. But really, I enjoyed this book and had a lot of fun looking around "behind the scenes." Goldman's writing is very easy to read. I liked the sample script (about Climber) that he provides and discusses in the end -- I'd like to know if anything ever came out of it or if it was just an exercise for the book. [3/3/04]

Roswell High: The Seeker by Melinda Metz [BookCrossing]
What I liked most about this book was the interactions between the three couples - it was quite frustrating at times, but there were some rewarding moments. It is weird to see how different the TV show is. For example, unless the books provide more information later, the reason that Max, Michael, and Isabel are on earth is completely different. [3/7/2004]

Roswell High: The Watcher by Melinda Metz [BookCrossing]
Just one word for this book: intense. [3/8/04]

Roswell High: The Intruder by Melinda Metz [BookCrossing]
Although quite a departure from the TV show (or really vice versa), I am really enjoying these books. Like the last book, this one was pretty intense, and it had one very surprising moment (I don't want to give away spoilers). [3/8/04]

Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland [BookCrossing]
It was a nice book, but wasn't something that kept me reading. I do enjoy books like this, but this one didn't really grab me. [3/17/04]

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman [BookCrossing]
Good book! And perfect reading for London. So many things, especially places, were so much fun to read about because I have just been to most of them. I don't think I would have gotten this much out of the book had I read it before visiting London. [3/21/04]

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier [BookCrossing]
It was very interesting to compare this book with Girl in Hyacinth Blue - both about the fictional story behind a Vermeer painting. For me, this book was far superior to the other. I loved the story and it kept me reading. It also just seemed much more complete than the other book. [3/25/04]

My Love Affair with England by Susan Allen Toth [BookCrossing]
This author is so good with descriptions. She really brought England, especially the countryside, to life. I was very happy to see the title of her last chapter - "You Can Go Back Again." That is something I'm afraid of - that the trip I just took may be the only one. But I can go back again, and I will. I did the touristy thing on this trip. In the future, I'd rather do things a little more like this author. [3/26/04]

The Educated Imagination by Northrop Frye [BookCrossing]
I like Frye's writing because he really explains things clearly (at least most of the time). What I really got out of this book was some help in answer the why is literature important question. [3/27/04]

The Giver by Lois Lowry [BookCrossing]
If I ever teach some type of children's lit class, this would definitely be on the list of texts. I can already hear the discussion it would provoke. It's a bit of a utopian society. It reminds me of "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas," but told from the point of view of the child in the closet and one who walks away. My only dissatisfaction was with the slightly open ending. I would have liked to have actually seen what happened to Jonas and to his community. [3/27/04]

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
I do love this play. The wit and verbal fencing between Beatrice and Benedick is my favorite part. And it's so nice to have a happy ending. [3/28/04]

Roswell High: The Stowaway by Melinda Metz [BookCrossing]
This author really knows how to use plot twists. Lots of surprises in this book. I can't wait to see how everything is eventually resolved. [3/29/04]

Roswell High: The Vanished by Melinda Metz [BookCrossing]
I have to ask it - how did they get the Jeep back? Besides that glaring error, more plot twists in this one - gosh, I never expect these. I'm just flying through these books - I can't seem to stop reading them. I also found it intriguing to compare this trip to Carlsbad Caverns with the one taken in the TV-based book. [3/29/04]

Roswell High: The Rebel by Melinda Metz [BookCrossing]
Sometimes these books can be a little frustrating. So many new people enter the mix and I just want to find out what happens to the main group. I do like Adam, but Trevor was almost a bit much. I wasn't surprised with what happened to him. I am a bit disappointed in Max. I hope he is able to separate himself from the consciousness so he and Liz can be together. I did really like the make-up moment between Liz and her father. [3/30/04]

Roswell High: The Dark One by Melinda Metz [BookCrossing]
I hate it when this happens. A really great plot twist - one I didn't see coming - and one I really really wish hadn't happened. I'm too caught up in these books. I'm not mentioning the plot twist in case it would be a spoiler for anyone. I had to grab the next book to make sure it was really true. I had so hoped that it wasn't. But it was. I cried. [4/1/04]

Roswell High: The Salvation by Melinda Metz [BookCrossing]
Happiness. That's how I feel right now. Yes, there was much sadness along the way, but the ending was near perfect. [4/1/04]

Holes by Louis Sachar [BookRing]
What a cute book. I'd definitely recommend this to children as well as adults. I really liked how the plot lines twisted together at the end, even though I had already figured them out well beforehand. [4/2/04]

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding [BookCrossing]
This one didn't annoy me as much as the first Bridget Jones book. In fact, I quite enjoyed it and had a good time reading it and just marvelling at all of the crazy situations that Bridget manages to get herself into. [4/3/04]

Jane Austen by Carol Shields [BookRing]
A nice blend of biography and literary criticism. I probably learned more about Austen's books that her life (having read other biographies), but I enjoyed Carol Shield's comments and easy-to-read narrative. [4/10/04]

Spirits White as Lightning by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edgehill [BookCrossing]
When I started this book, it felt too developed to be a stand-alone. I knew something must have come before. and I was right. I missed a couple of books before this one. The authors did do a pretty good job of catching me up, though. All in all, this book was okay. Very entertaining, but nothing outstanding. [4/18/04]

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant [BookCrossing]
When I was halfway through this book, I was already thinking of this journal entry, thinking it would go something like this: "Although this is a good book, I'm not sure why so many people praise it as highly as they do." After finishing the book, that journal entry is not appropriate. I discovered how much I have come to care about Dinah and her story, and a few tears wet my cheeks as I finished the book. [4/21/04]

I Sing the Body Electric! stories by Ray Bradbury [BookCrossing]
Most of the stories in this book were just so-so. I didn't really like many of them, especially those that just ended, seemingly without a point. One story, however, was different. The title story was one I discovered I was already familiar with. I saw it as a movie a long while back - The Electric Grandmother. I loved the movie and I really liked the story, so it was definitely worth reading this book to discover that gem. [4/27/04]

The Princess Bride by William Goldman [BookCrossing]
Ahh, I love this book. I am so glad that I assigned it to my class. I loved reading it again, and it sounds like my students are also enjoying it. [4/27/04]

Lily's Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff [BookCrossing]
Oh, what a good book. Such a beautiful heartwarming story of friendship. [4/27/04]

The Burning Times by Jeanne Kalogridis [BookRay]
I was not really expecting a lot out of this book, so I was quite pleasantly surprised to find it quite a good read. I did guess most of the plot twist in advance (except for one part), but it was still quite satisfying. [4/30/04]

84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff [BookRay]
This was a fun little book (and such a quick read!). I only wish more letters had been included - you could tell that quite a few were missing. Although I don't read the same books as Hanff, I enjoyed reading what she said about them. [5/2/04]

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
I guess I just don't get it. I give up on reading the bestsellers. I haven't really found one yet that measures up to the hype. I am always disappointed. So, this book was okay, but nothing special. As a mystery/thriller, I frankly thought it was terrible. "Oh, this is in some strange language. Oh, I can't figure it out." Hours later. "I still can't figure it out." Hello?? I figured it out in all of two seconds. As I did with almost everything else (only one thing surprised me). The clues were extremely elementary. If these clues are to protect the secret of the grail, shouldn't they be a little more difficult?? So very little mystery. I did like what it was saying, well mostly, about goddess religion, but it was so mixed in with other crap (far-fetched ideas) that it probably got lost. [5/5/04]

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff [BookRay]
What a wonderful book, made even more so by having my own experiences in London. I understand completely when she first arrived in London but didn't feel that it was London. I loved reading her experiences while there. And the ending was also exactly as I felt and feel: "The plane lifted - and suddenly it was as if everything had vanished [...] None of it had happened, none of it was real." [5/8/04]

King of Shadows by Susan Cooper [BookRay]
Good book. I loved all the details of Shakespearean London and loved Nat's character. Even better was having my own experience of visiting the recreated Globe Theatre to match the descriptions in the book. [5/9/04]

Shades (Roswell) by Mel Odom [BookCrossing]
Always happy to go on another adventure with these characters. This one was a bit strange, though. A bit Night of the Living Dead meets science fiction. (Also, whoever proofread this book did a crappy job - Max drives two different cars when it should obviously be the same car and the name "Michael" is written in when "Max" is obviously meant.) [5/10/04]

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
After viewing the disappointing TV movie, I decided it was time to reread this book. I am very happy to be able to say that it is still my favorite book (tied with Mists of Avalon). It's a beautiful story filled with important themes about life. If I get to teach an intro to lit class again, I would like to center it around ideas of utopia/dystopia. This book would be perfect to add to the list of texts. You cannot experience happiness without unhappiness (you need to find a happy medium). Like and equal are not the same thing. [5/12/04]

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd [BookRay]
A good book about growing up and realizing that life isn't always how you'd like it to be, but that you can still find happiness. [5/17/04]

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier [BookCrossing]
When was the last time I read a really good fantasy book? It's not because I've been reading bad fantasy books. It's because I've been reading other books and genres. Why have I been doing that so much? Reading this book helped me see just how much I love and miss fantasy. And this book was very much a typical fantasy book. But it wasn't cliche or stereotypical. The characters were well rounded and very likeable. And to make me even happier, there was a very nice love story. [5/22/04]

The Game by A.S. Byatt [BookCrossing]
Hmmm...I don't really know what to make of this book. It felt flat. I think there was supposed to be a lot of depth to it, but I didn't find that depth. I think the problem was with the characters. I didn't like either of them; they didn't seem real. They felt like cardboard cutouts, just used to make a point. [5/25/04]

Enchantment by Orson Scott Card [BookCrossing]
It took me a little while to get into this book, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. I really liked seeing Ivan and Katerina try to adjust to each other's words. [5/29/04]

Armageddon Summer by Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville [BookCrossing]
This was a pretty good book. I would have liked to spend a little more time with the characters, though. Sometimes I felt that narration switched back and forth too quickly between Marina and Jed. [5/30/04]

The Last Legion by Valerio Massimo Manfredi [BookRing]
If you are looking for a book with a lot of action, you should be happy with this book. If you are like me, however, and need more than just action in a book, you will be disappointed in this book. All this book was was a bunch of action and traveling. The characters were completely flat. The author tried to bring them to life (e.g. making two characters fall in love), but it wasn't convincing enough. And the Arthurian ending was actually quite unsatisfying to this Arthurian enthusiast. [6/6/04]

Anne Sexton by Diane Wood Middlebrook [BookCrossing]
This book took me a long time to get through. Halfway through it, I fizzled out a bit. It got to be the same thing over and over again. And I realized something: I do not like or admire Anne Sexton. Nor do I like or understand much of her poetry. Subject aside, however, this is a well-written biography. [6/7/04]

Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling [BookCrossing]
I did not really like many of the stories in this book. After reading quite a few, I would think: "That's it? That's the end? What's the point?" I almost didn't finish reading all of the stories. But because they were all by different authors, I decided to give each story a fair chance. And I am glad that I did. I really liked two of the stories near the end of the book: "The Fox Wife" and "The Printer's Daughter." [6/8/04]

The C.S. Lewis Hoax by Kathryn Lindskoog [BookCrossing]
I do not know enough about C.S. Lewis on my own to know whether or not this book is accurate. Most of it seems to be an attack on Walter Hooper, who, if this book is at all truthful, is a very dishonest scholar. Lindskoog does provide a lot of evidence; however, sometimes her evidence is a bit sketchy. Something like, Lewis could not have written this because he was such an erudite writer and this sentence is such a horrible sentence that it could not have come from his pen. While style is definitely one way to judge whether or not someone did write something, she does not analyze the style beyond "he couldn't have written it." So I'm not sure what to make of this book. Since it has been around for a while, I wonder what the more recent attitudes are toward Lindskoog and Hooper. [6/10/04]

The Flight from the Enchanter by Iris Murdoch [BookCrossing]
What to think of this book? A cast of characters seems to struggle to find their places in the world. Do they? Some perhaps gain a few answers, but no one really seems to completely find it. Most of them just seem to run away from their lives. [6/12/04]

Avalon by Mary J. Jones [BookCrossing]
Another Arthurian story focusing on women. Although not as successful as Mists of Avalon, it is a fairly good book. Some interesting changes from the legends. For example, Morgan and Merlin become one character, a woman. And lots of lesbianism (I noticed a list of titles by the publisher at the back of the book. The publisher claims to be the "oldest and largest lesbian/feminist publishing company in the world.") [6/13/04]

The Ersatz Elevator by Lemony Snicket [BookCrossing]
I haven't really liked the other books in this series, but this one actually wasn't that bad. Perhaps it is because now there is a recurring mystery (what exactly is V.F.D.?) or that some of the annoying parts of the other books weren't as annoying in this one. [6/14/04]

Doomsday Book by Connie Willis [BookCrossing]
Excellent book. Very suspenseful. I loved the characters. Lots of description. Really enjoyed reading this one. [6/17/04]

The Hobbit Companion by David Day [BookCrossing]
Tolkien was fascinated by words and languages (he was, after all, a linguist and philologist). This book does a pretty good job at showing how Tolkien used words in his creation of Middle Earth. A few times, I found the author's connections to be a bit tenuous (I've studied Anglo-Saxon), but other times, I found him to be spot on. Also, this is a very cute book. A fun size and lots of wonderful drawings. My only complaint with the design is that the text was extremely small and was sometimes difficult to read. [6/21/04]

Sister of Wisdom by Barbara Newman
This book was probably not the best for me to use as an introduction to Hildgegard of Bingen. I had a hard time fully understanding some of it, and I'm not sure how much has actually made it into my head. [6/22/04]

The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton [BookCrossing]
Although all of the stories in this book were well written, I felt very little suspense or anything bonechilling. And I think that I should have; I think that is the effect these stories should have. What is the problem? I know that they were supposed to be ghost stories, so I always expected what happened (even the one that turned out not to be a ghost). Had I read these stories in a different setting (say, just the collected stories of Wharton), they might have had a different effect upon me. [6/23/04]

How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster [Bookray]
I read this book for two reasons. First, even though I am on my way to becoming a professor myself, I thought I might pick up some pointers. And I did. Second, I hoped it might help me as I figure out how to teach literature to students. And it definitely did that. In fact, I just might use this actual book (or section of it) in introduction to literature classes. I will definitely be picking up a copy of this book for my personal collection. [7/8/04]

Malory by Eugene Vinaver
Although Vinaver retracts much of the book in his new introduction, I found this book to be very informative about Malory. It was also very easy to read and understand. I only wish that I could read Old French - it's on my list of things to learn (after Latin). [7/10/04]

Glastonbury by Donna Fletcher Crow [BookCrossing]
I should have paid more attention to the subtitle on the front cover - "The Novel of Christian England." This massive tome spanned the history of Christianity, centered on Glastonbury, from the time of Joseph of Arimathea to the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII. Although I usually enjoy books like this which span generations, this book was at many times way too heavy-handed in trying to spread the Christian message, which greatly detracted from my enjoyment of the story. [7/12/04]

Ronia, The Robber's Daugher by Astrid Lindgren
What a fun book! It's like a Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending (and more of a friendship instead of love). [7/14/04]

Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco [BookCrossing]
This book is very heavy. Not by weight but by what is in it. So many details and bits of history and bits of fiction interwoven together. It would take a couple more readings before even beginning to pick up on the details. That said, it was a pretty good book. Some of the parts in the beginning seem a little slow and I wondered what they really had to do with the rest of the book, but the ending makes that more clear (even though the ending is a little open-ended with Casaubon). The climax of the book had me on the edge of my seat. The character development of Casaubon and Belbo was wonderful - we really get a lot of details on the journeys of these characters (Belbo more so even though Casaubon seems to be the main protagonist). The subject matter (seeming to be almost background although a very important part of the book) deals with the Templars and other secret societies and the secret(s) that are being withheld. And the Plan - is it actually real, did the three stumble onto something in their creation or is it another falsehood? That's never completely made clear either (and I'm glad of it - I like be left with wondering). [7/21/04]

The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks [Bookray]
I'm not much for science fiction (I prefer fantasy), but the description of this book sounded intriguing and a friend had recommended this author, so I thought I would give it a try. I am glad that I did. Very well-told story. The world-building was exquisite. The plot had me on the edge of my seat (even though I more or less knew the basic outcome). Character could have been a little more developed (always an important point when I'm reading), but it was enough for me to be satisfied. And I know this book has a lot to say about human nature and society. It's more than just the story it tells. The Empire Azad resembles our own society in many ways. It got me thinking a lot about us, what makes us tick, what we enjoy watching on TV, how we function. And many of the thoughts, unfortunately, were quite negative. [7/23/04]

A College of Magics by Caroline Stevermer
It took me a while to get into this book (it was probably due to my being busy moving, not with any fault of the book), but once I did, I enjoyed the book. I wish I hadn't read it while I was busy with other stuff because I do think that took away some of the enjoyment of the book from me. [8/2/04]

So You Want to Be a Wizard by Diane Duane [BookCrossing]
This was a fun book and a very quick read. I enjoyed the way the characters were presented and magic was presented. And I really loved Fred! I'd like to read the rest of the books in this series. [8/3/04]

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke [BookCrossing]
At first, I didn't really think too much of this book. The Theif Lord's secret was too easy to figure out. But that secret is actually revealed early on in the book, and the plot really picks up and becomes exciting. And I always love a happy ending. [8/6/04]

Roswell: Skeletons in the Closet by Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin [BookCrossing]
Looks like I'm back on another Roswell kick. I enjoyed this book, but it made me realize how much I don't remember about the last two seasons of the TV show. [8/6/04]

Roswell: Dreamwalk by Paul Ruditis [BookCrossing]
From the description on the back cover, I wasn't sure that I would really like this one, but I actually did. There were a lot of Alex moments that made me tear up a little (this book is post-Alex's death), and things with Liz and Max were a lot smoother. I am a bit puzzled as to what to make of the last thing Isabel says to "Alex." What is that supposed to mean, if anything? [8/7/04]

Roswell: Quarantine by Laura J. Burns [BookCrossing]
This book was only so-so. There's already been a book about a quarantine (this book does acknowledge that), so it felt a little repetitive. [8/8/04]

Diary of a Witch by Sybil Leek [BookCrossing]
I had heard, briefly, of Sybil Leek before reading this book, but I really knew very little about her. What an amazing life she led. It was enjoyable to read this book because of the information in it as well as the easy-going writing style. I didn't believe everything she wrote (like about astrology), but she had a lot of good things to say about life in general. [8/9/04]

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire [BookRing]
I quite enjoyed this book. It was different than what I had expected (even after having read Wicked), but I really liked Iris (even if she didn't like herself) and really wanted everything to work out for her. And lots of good thoughts throughout the book on how we perceive things and how they actually are. [8/12/04]

To the Glory of Her Sex by Joan M. Ferrante
All in all, this was a very good book to read, containing a lot of important information about writing for and by women. I was especially intrigued by the chapter on Courtly Literature and now have some new titles of primary sources to read. I was disappointed to find no concluding chapter to this book; I would have liked to see Ferrante draw everything back together at the end. [8/13/04]

The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields [BookCrossing]
The story (plot) itself in this book is only mildly interesting. What really makes this book work is what it says about life and about biography. What makes up a life/ The events that happen to us? Our club memberships? The books we read? Placed we've lived? Our children? How do you get a complete picture of someone's life? Can you ever? I also found the pictures in the middle of the book quite intriguing, especially since Daisy herself is not in a single one. I also enjoyed reading each person's theory about Daisy's depression. So many different perspectives. Who was right? Does it matter? Each theory seemed to say a lot more about that person making the theory than about Daisy. [8/17/04]

Lucky by Alice Sebold [BookRing]
This was a very hard book to read, especially the first half and one major part near the end. I had to put it down several times. So raw, but unflinching. I have so many thoughts about this book going around in my head; I don't really know how to write them down right now. [8/19/04]

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut [BookCrossing]
I don't really know what to make of this book yet. So much is going on in it that I think I need to take more time to think about it and probably to read it again at some point in the future. Lots of ideas: appearance vs. reality, truth, religion, science, war, and perhaps even the meaning (or not meaning) of life. [8/21/04]

Holy Smoke by Anna Campion and Jane Campion [BookCrossing]
Did I like this book? Yes and no. Much of the sex was a little too graphic for my tastes. But seeing the changes in these characters' minds was interesting. I liked being able to switch back and forth between their thoughts. What started out as a cult deprogramming turns into ideas of dominance through sex. I knew PJ (the deprogrammer) was completely lost when he said: "This is not a good question, how I answer this could seriously disrupt my changes of making love to her again." He no longer though about his job but only about sex. [8/23/04]

Deep Wizardry by Diane Duane
The second book is just as much fun as the first, though Nita and Kit have a much harder task, especially Nita. The story was a wonderful trip under the ocean, and I enjoyed watching Nita and Kit grow more into their wizard powers. [8/25/04]

High Wizardry by Diane Duane
In this book, Nita's little sister Dairine becomes a wizard and must go out on her Ordeal. In the previous book, we went to the ocean depths and here we go into outer space. Although I like Dairine, I missed time with Nita and Kit. They felt a little too much like background in this book. But I still really enjoyed the book and can't wait to read more. [8/26/04]

Clockwork by Philip Pullman
This was a very quick read, but also very very enjoyable. A bit of a fairy tale. I don't really know what else to say about it except that I just really liked it. [8/27/04]

Anvil of the Sun by Anne Lesley Groell [BookCrossing]
This book was okay. In many senses it was a very cliche fantasy book, but I still mostly enjoyed reading it. It just didn't keep me on the edge of my seat or make me not want to put it down. I do like Thibault, but Jen is a little too flat (the headstrong young woman who goes after what she wants without always thinking it through). [9/2/04]

A Wizard Abroad by Diane Duane [BookCrossing]
I think this one has been the best so far in this series. The Irish mythology really added a whole depth to the story, especially as it is something that I am interested in. It was very hard to put this book down, especially starting about halfway through it. [9/4/04]

The Second Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares [BookRing]
I stayed up until 3am last night finishing this book because I couldn't put it down. I had forgotten many of the details of the first book, so it would have been helpful to have a little recap. I liked this one better than the first book. The girls are maturing and growing up and although some things are heartbreaking, I like the direction they are going. Are there any other books planned? I'd like to find out more of what happens to them. [9/4/04]

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Although book and movie differ greatly and I really loved the movie, I also really loved the book. It just made me feel happy and put a bounce in my step after I finished reading it. [9/6/04]

Roswell: A New Beginning by Kevin Ryan [BookCrossing]
This book picks up where the TV series ended. I really liked seeing what happened after the six drove out of Roswell. The book really could have used a good proofreader though. [9/10/04]

Roswell: Nightscape by Kevin Ryan [BookCrossing]
Wow. This one was really good. It kept me hanging on the edge of my seat and wouldn't let me put it down. Much better than Ryan's previous Roswell book. [9/11/04]

Roswell: Pursuit by Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin [BookCrossing]
Things are really heating up (not like they weren't hot before). The Special Unit is extremely close to both the Roswell Royal Four (er, Three) as well as the Dupes. At the end of the book, the six on the run decide it is time to fight back. We'll see what happens in the final book. [9/14/04]

Gender and the Chivalric Community in Malory's Morte D'Arthur by Dorsey Armstrong
This book was very approachable and easy to understand. It gave me some new ways to look at the relationship between the sexes in Malory. I was, however, disheartened for myself because I saw many of my own ideas in this book, even including the name "quest maiden." I had though I was so clever in coming up with that term. [9/17/04]

The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood [BookRay]
There are so many layers in this book, most of which I have yet to unpack. It would take at least another reading or two to do so. What a bland existence women had to chose from. I found it rather disturbing to see how completely women were consumed by men (thus the food metaphors, especially the woman cake, were quite apt). [9/18/04]

Kissing the Witch by Emma Donoghue [BookRing]
As a whole, I liked how all of the stories were connected to one another, but as individual stories, I thought they were only okay. Nothing was especially exciting about these retellings - yes, the stories became more "real," but I haven't figured out exactly what I feel is gained from doing so. I did like the author's descriptions, though I was sometimes so caught up in looking at the use of the language that I missed what was actually being said. [9/25/04]

Writing Without Teachers by Peter Elbow
I both liked this book and really did not like it at all. The first chapter on freewriting is fantastic. I also really learned a lot from the next two chapters on the process of writing (growing and cooking). After that, the discussion of the teacherless classroom was not helpful to me at all. And the final essay on the believing game was pointless to me. I should have stopped reading after Chapter 3; I would have been much happier with this book. [9/29/04]

Sorcery & Cecelia by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
I wanted to reread this book before I read the sequel. I love this book! It's just a lot of fun to read (and also sounds like it was a lot of fun to write) and has some really great characters. I am so happy that there is a sequel. I can't wait to read more about Kate and Cecy. [10/1/04]

Claudine in Paris by Colette [BookRing]
Although shocked by some of Claudine's behavior (just a little) and finding that I didn't always like Claudine, I enjoyed watching her venture into the world between childhood and adulthood. How successful she will be is a question answered in future books, I am sure. I also was right along side her when she kept thinking about home and how homesick she was. I'm off in another state (when I'd always lived in the same one previously) and away from everything that is familiar, so I can definitely understand a little of what she was going through. [10/4/04]

Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde
Another Thursday Next book! I love these books! I would have liked to see a little more of the BookWorld in this book, though. I missed that a little. And then a revelation at the end of this book makes me want to go back and reread the previous book to see if there were any clues that I missed. All in all, I really enjoyed this adventure. [10/11/04]

The Knowledge Factory by Stanley Aronowitz
Since my students were reading sections of this book, I decided I wanted the bigger picture and thus read the entire book. I agreed with much of what Aronowitz claims, and I wonder if his idea for a core curriculum would work. [10/13/04]

Eragon by Christopher Paolini
I'm very impressed. This was truly a fantastic book. It brings together many of the best elements of fantasy and is very smoothly written. In my handwritten journal, I've made a prediction about something that will be revealed in the next book (or the third). I won't write it here in case it's a spoiler, but I'm very eager to find out if I'm accurate. [10/19/04]

A Scholar of Magics by Caroline Stevermer [BookRing]
I did really enjoy this book, but I liked the first one better (probably because I liked Faris a lot and would have liked to see much more of her here). And although I liked Lambert, I would have liked to see more from Jane's point of view. I did like seeing the intermingling of Milton's Comus. [10/23/04]

Coyote Blue by Christopher Moore [BookCrossing]
Although I have high hopes for any Christopher Moore book, I was really not expecting to like this one very much. Thus, I was pleasantly surprised to have really enjoyed this book. Not only was it really funny, I liked the characters a lot. [10/27/04]

Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss [BookRing]
This book was at turns very humorous and very serious. I enjoyed comparing the differences between British and American usage. I didn't agree with one of the comma rules, but I did see the point about when to put periods and commas inside quotation marks and when outside. That actually makes a lot of sense compared to the American usage of always putting them inside (about which I am a stickler - I may loosen up on that a bit). [10/29/04]

Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot [BookRing]
This book was really fun. Great characters and the situations they gets themselves into! Lots of craziness! [10/30/04]

Roswell: Turnabout by Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin [BookCrossing]
The final Roswell book. And what a finale! This book really kept me on the edge of my seat and was hard to put down. I laughed and I cried - tears of sadness and happiness and some bittersweet. Finally, finally they can perhaps live more "normal" lives. And to "see" Alex again was wonderful. I am so happy to have had this wrap-up to the TV show. [11/4/04]

Lost by Gregory Maguire [BookRay]
Although this book was not quite what I was expecting, I enjoyed most of it. The beginning was a little slow, but it really picks up further into the book. I'm not sure how I feel about Winnie though - she's not an extremely likeable character, but the more you learn about her the more understandable she is. And I'm also not sure about the end - it was left a little too ambiguous for my tastes. Which "he" is she referring to in the second to last paragraph. I guess the answer there is found in the paragraph: "It matters and it doesn't matter." Maybe so, but I like books that wrap up their endings a bit more. [11/8/04]

Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes [BookRay]
I really enjoyed this book. It is not one really meant to be read quickly but to be savored. Because I have a dream of doing the same thing (only in the Cotswolds in England) I really loved reading about the experiences that went along with buying a house, renovating it, and then actually living and belonging in a community in another country. In a way, it gives me hope that maybe my dream could become a reality (hey, I am on my way to being a professor, so I have that in common already). I only wish that I really knew how to cook so that I could try some of the recipes in this book. [11/9/04]

The Grand Tour by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
Delightful! I love all four of these characters and was happy to share another adventure with them. And what an adventure! I can only hope that there will be yet another book. [11/13/04]

The Wish by Gail Carson Levine [BookCrossing]
If you were in junior high and were granted one wish, what would it be? Like Wilma, I'm sure many would wish to be popular. But always be careful of what you wish for, especially how you phrase it. But Wilma does get her wish and learns some valuable lessons about herself and other people. [11/14/04]

The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury [BookCrossing]
These short stories started out being connected by the illustrated man, but that connection was soon lost until the very end. I would have liked to see it carried throughout. Most of the stories were pretty good though very few had "happy" endings. My favorites were "The Veldt" (which I had read before), "Marionettes, Inc.," and "The Rocket." [11/15/04]

Goddesses in Everywoman by Jean Shinoda Bolen [BookCrossing]
From the descriptions of the goddesses, I appear to be most like Hestia, with some Athena and Artemis qualities -- all virgin goddesses, which does explain a bit. I'm not sure if this book will be immediately helpful but I will keep it in mind. One problem with it, though, was that women are too often defined by their relationship to men than anything else. [11/18/04]

The Bridge by Iain Banks [BookCrossing]
"Let's get one thing absolutely straight: it's all a dream. Either way, whatever. We both know that" (271). It's not whether or not it's a dream that is the important thing but which dream he will choose (the last name he is given is Orr after all) - even real life can be seen as a dream. I know this book is much more complex than the thought and time I have given it. I haven't even begun to explore its depths. What do all of the dreams mean? Especially the barbarian with the very difficult to read dialect? This book needs to be thought about more. [11/20/04]

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore [BookCrossing]
I don't think I've laughed so hard reading a book since Good Omens. This book was incredibly funny (especially if you recognize the biblical allusions), but it was also a really great story about friendship. [11/22/04]

The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore
Maybe it was because I had just finished reading Lamb which I really enjoyed, but this book didn't completely resonate with me. I was still a very good book (and a bit crazy!) but not quite as good as I had hoped. Still much better than many other books I've read this year though. I think I would have actually liked to see more of the angel. Those were the parts that I enjoyed the most. [11/22/04]

Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman [BookCrossing]
Although this book is almost 20 years old, it still has a lot of importance to our current society as the key issues are still very much in play, perhaps even more so. I would like to see an update to this book, and also perhaps include looking at how the Internet is shaping society (though that should probably be a book by itself). I think that I will share the final two chapters with my students next semester. [11/24/04]

The World of Science Fiction by Lester Del Rey [BookCrossing]
An extremely impressive survey of science fiction for the fifty-year period that it covers (1926-1976). I learned quite a bit and have a few new titles to add to my list of books to read. [11/28/04]

Medieval Britain: A Very Short Introduction by John Gillingham and Ralph Alan Griffiths
As promised, this is a very short introduction to Medieval Britain, focusing mostly on political/economic concerns. I found it to be a good overview and quite full of information, just what I was looking for in this book. [11/28/04]

Through the Narrow Gate: A Memoir of Spiritual Discovery by Karen Armstrong
This book was very compelling and I found it hard to put down. I was very interested to find out the reasons why someone would want to become a nun and then later change her mind. I found the author to be very honest about these years and her decisions. [11/30/04]

Persuasion by Jane Austen [BookCrossing]
I read this book a few years ago and thought all but the ending (which I adored) to be so-so. This time around, I really enjoyed the entire book, perhaps in part because I knew what was coming up. Even so the ending left me practically breathless and with a racing heart. I just love it. One thing I found quite interesting was the inclusion of a suppressed chapter (the second-to-last chapter) which was replaced with a revision of two new chapters. Thank goodness for revision! Although the original was okay, it lacked the power of the revised version. So much would have been lost (including my favorite scene of the conversation between Anne and Harville about the constancy of love in men vs. women and then that letter!). [12/3/04]

Blue Moon Rising by Simon R. Green [BookRay]
I felt like the Sword of Compulsion had me in its power as I read this book. Once I started reading, it was very hard to stop. Although the book was a fairly typical fantasy it was very enjoyable and quite funny at times. [12/4/04]

DAW Fantasy Anthology edited by Elizabeth R. Wollheim and Sheila E. Gilbert [BookCrossing]
There were some really great stories in this book along with a couple of not-so-great ones. I particularly enjoyed the Mercedes Lackey story, of many of her characters coming to visit the author to complain. Comments for each story can be found in the BookCrossing journal. [12/10/04]

Sandry's Book by Tamora Pierce [BookCrossing]
This book opens what I expect will be a really great fantasy quartet. The book really takes its time setting up the characters and creating the world. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. [12/11/04]

Tris's Book by Tamora Pierce [BookCrossing]
This book was certainly full of action as Tris and her friends had to help fight off a pirate attack. Pierce really has a way with words and making descriptions - everything just flows so easily and naturally as the story goes along. [12/12/04]

Daja's Book by Tamora Pierce [BookCrossing]
In the first two books, Daja was my least favorite character, so I must admit that I didn't expect to like this book very much, but I was wrong, and I also have a new liking and respect for Daja. [12/12/04]

Briar's Book by Tamora Pierce [BookCrossing]
The circle does it again. And everything comes full circle as it ends exactly one year after the four of them had been brought together. And what a year! Earthquake, pirates, drought/fires, disease. Fortunately, this is not the last we'll see of these four as there is another quartet that I have to look forward to reading. [12/13/04]

The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier [BookRay]
Although I enjoyed this book, I didn't think that it was outstanding. The story kept me reading, but it was fairly obvious how everything would turn out (I did appreciate having the Epilogue, though). At first I had a different set of unicorn tapestries in my head, but I did a little research online and found the correct ones. It was nice to be able to see them and compare the descriptions and see how the fictional story was woven. [12/15/04]

Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings by Christopher Moore [BookRing]
This book was a mixed bag. At times I really liked it and other times I didn't like it so much. It contained humor, science, mystery, suspense, action, romance. The ending few chapters were very good - suspenseful definitely. [12/21/04]

The Woman With the Alabaster Jar by Margaret Starbird [BookRing]
Although I don't necessarily disagree with Starbird's claim, I did not feel that she always supported her evidence very well and her sources aren't always credible. [12/26/04]

Heartlight by T.A. Barron [BookCrossing]
I didn't really like this book very much. The first half of the book felt way too much like it had been copied from A Wrinkle in Time. And then I just couldn't get into the book after that. I must admit to skimming some of it. [12/29/04]

Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue [BookRay]
A good book to end the year with. As much as I didn't want to, I liked Mary and pitied her and wanted everything to turn out well for her. But would her life really have been any better had she not longed for that peddlar's ribbon? [12/31/04]

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updated: 12/30/07