# 50 Book Challenge – January wrap-up **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 31, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954 "2003-01-31T20:54:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jadis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@Jadis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jadis)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/1 "2003-01-31T20:54:46Z")
So, we’re a month into the new year and I thought I’d post here and see how my friends who decided to join me in my [**50 Book Challenge**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=152853) are making out! I know that some of you elected not to bother with the Live Journal Community that I set up (see [here](http://www.livejournal.com/community/50bookchallenge/)), but if anyone’s still interested in doing so, you can email me and I’ll give you one of the generously donated codes I have to create a journal for yourself. I must say, the LJ community took off faster than I could possibly have imagined. There are currently 194 members, since I made it public to all, not just to Dopers who were interested. Anyway…on to the good stuff! I’ve finished 3 books and I’m simultaneously reading two more. My completions are as follows: **I Capture The Castle** , Dodie Smith – this was recommended to me by my friend **delphica** , and I can’t thank her enough. It’s the story of a several month period of a young girl’s life as told through three diaries she kept. It was charming, and I found the relatively modern attitudes amidst the 1930’s or so setting very interesting. I must also laud the author for not tying up the protagonist’s life with a neat little bow, leaving me to wonder about and hope for Cassandra’s future. **A Widow For One Year** , John Irving – this was a re-read for me (I know, my goal was to read 50 new books, but I was already into it from the holidays and it was too long not to count!), and I liked it just as well the second time around. I think that JI wrote from the female perspective fairly well, and I’m always entertained by his unusual family units. **The Grass Harp** , Truman Capote – I received this book for my birthday at the end of September, but I never got around to reading it. In retrospect, I’m glad, because if I’m not going to re-read anything else this year, this will be the only TC I get all year! I can’t articulate how much I love TC’s work, and TGH was no exception. I can’t stop thinking about the title story as well as **Miriam**. Fantastic stuff. The two books I’m reading right now: **Wicked: The Life And Times Of The Wicked Witch Of The West** , Gregory Maguire – I’m loving this so far (thanks again to **delphica** for loaning it to me!). The premise is that it tracks the life of the WWotW prior to the events of The Wizard of Oz. Extremely interesting and quirky sort of story, more serious than I expected, but still engaging. **Everything’s Eventual** , Stephen King – This is his latest compilation of short stories. I admit it. Even though I’ve been trying to read brainier stuff of late, I still have a weakness for SK. I have no complaints so far, I’m about 6 stories in (out of 14). So…how’s everyone else doing? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/2 "2003-01-31T21:51:36Z")
I ended up reading: **Book 1- Left Behind** Thoughts: It made me pray that I might run myself off the road into a great abyss. Suffice to say it’s as subtle as a sledgehammer to the skull and about as enjoyable. I think I’ll pass on the rest of the series. I wish I’d left this one far, far behind. Blarg. \*\*Book 2- \*\* And Words Can Hurt Forever: How to Protect Adolescents from Bullying, Harassment, and Emotional Violence James Garbarino, Ph. D., and Ellen deLara, Ph. D. [http://www.cayfo.ca/bullying/wordshurt.html](http://www.cayfo.ca/bullying/wordshurt.html) Good book- written for an audience of concerned parents and professionals. The book gives good stratagies on how to deal with violence in schools, what bullying really is, and coping strategies for kids. Lots of first hand quotes right from the kids IN the schools, which I found enlightening. **Book 3- Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein** That really is a great book- I’d forgotten how well I enjoyed it when I read it years ago. A great re-read if you’re looking for something quick. Book 4- **The Strange Tale of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde Robert Louis Stevenson** An excellent story, although it’s hard to get too caught up in the suspense since you know the whole plot already. Enjoyable read, though! If you have a weird sense of humor, rent “Jekyl and Hyde, Together Again”. Just a tip. Book 5 **Carrie, by Stephen King** Classic King horror- if you’ve only seen the movie, do yourself a favor and read the book. It’s a really quick read and just really good and freaky as hell. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/3 "2003-01-31T22:05:30Z")
Book 1: Jackdaws by Ken Follett. A quick read, not much else to say. Book 2: The Crimson Petal and The White by Michel Faber. Excellent, a fabulous story. Book 3: The Covenant by Beverly Lewis. About the Amish. Book 4: I Don’t Know How She Does It by some British Author whose name escapes me. Loved it, it was so true to the life of working moms. Book 5: It’s a race, as I have several going right now. It will probably be One For the Money by Janet Evanovich ---
**Author:** ![Winnowill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4491bb/32.png) [@Winnowill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnowill)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/4 "2003-01-31T23:46:20Z")
I have only finished one book thus far. ☹ However, three others are In the Works, and should be finished soon. The one I finished was _The View From Pluto_ by Terry Pluto. It’s a collection of columns about the Northeast Ohio sports scene. I love Terry Pluto’s work, and this was a great distillation of the last decade of Cleveland sports. Currently working on _The Hobbit_, _The October Horse_, and _Six of Swords_. ---
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/5 "2003-02-01T00:35:43Z")
Books **Mephisto** , the Doper too dumb to figure out the Live Journal thing, has finished this year: _The Gun-Slinger_ Stephen King–One day, years and years ago, while stuck at home because of some illness and stoned on various medications, I read and disliked this book. It seemed to me that Stephen King left too much unexplained. Who was this gun-slinger, who was the man in black, why was the gun-slinger chasing this poor man in black, and so forth. It also seemed to me that the characters in this story were trudging along toward a preordained ending. I didn’t know how the story was going to end, but I knew that it could only end in one way, and that preordination detracted from my enjoyment of the book. Am I making sense–today, probably like the day when I first read this book, I’m taking, among other things, codeine. Anyway, early this year, curious about how the evolving milieu of King books fits together and perhaps in some small way a victim of peer pressure, I reread _The Gun-Slinger_. This time I wasn’t sick, I wasn’t stoned, and I wasn’t a little kid. And this time I enjoyed the book. Yet the problems I originally had with the book still bothered me a little. That said, I enjoyed the book enough that I finished it quickly and then went out and bought its sequel which I will probably read sometime in February. I look forward to discovering how this whole thing is resolved. _News Writing and Reporting For Today’s Media_ Bruce D. Itule and Douglas A. Anderson–Text book, boring, and probably useless for anybody who isn’t going into the media when they grow up. I read it for school. I can now write obituaries and scripts for the evening news. Hooray, I guess. _Son of Rosemary_ Ira Levin–Lucifer persuades author Ira Levin to pen a book composed of sentence fragments. And it has the very worst ending ever. I guess this book was good enough to keep me reading until the last page, but it was a painful process at times. I believe I persevered because _Son of Rosemary_ was an easy book and I’m reading some other very heavy stuff right now, because I already had it, because I hate to quit on something, and because I was vaguely interested in how the whole so-called plot would be resolved. Don’t buy this book, people. Really. I found this book very disappointing. The Norton Anthology version of _The Iliad_ Homer–Wow. You all should get _The Iliad_. Everybody should get _The Iliad_. I had no idea how great this story was. I mean, I knew it was great, but . . . wow. It’s heavy reading and long, but no where near as hard to understand as I had feared. And the story is just great. Amazing. My classmates think I’m crazy because I went out and got the long version of _The Iliad_, which I’m in the process of reading now. I am completely captivated by it all. It’s been a long time since I’ve actually fallen in love with a piece of literature; the fact that I’ve fallen in love with this in school makes it even better–now I’m going to class to study stuff I would read on my own. Really, go buy _The Iliad_. If it’s hard for you to make heads or tails of this story, buy yourself an _Iliad_ companion or a Cliff’s Notes or something–I think it’s worth it. _Sappho: A New Translation_ Sappho of Lesbos, translated by Mary Barnard, with an introduction by Dudley Fitts–Fragments of ancient poetry. I thought this collection was somewhat interesting, but I’m on a big ancient Greece kick right now. I’m reading some of the Greek classics, studying books about these classics, and going through a lot of books about ancient Greek culture, religion, and society. Reading Sappho’s poetry is just part of this Greek thing I’m going through. I doubt most people would be interested in reading fragments of ancient poetry. I am currently reading _Violence of Action_, by Richard Marcinko. It’s the latest in a series of entertaining (to me) Navy SEAL fantasies. Marcinko’s books are to American special ops what James Bond is to the British Secret Service–fun, but not to be taken too seriously. On the advice of some Dopers, I am reading Margaret Atwood’s _A Handmaid’s Tale_–interesting book so far–I think I will enjoy it a great deal. I’m in the middle of a couple short story collections, including _Everything’s Eventual_, by Stephen King. My wrong-handed family got me the surprisingly good _Lefties: The Origins & Consequences of Being Left-Handed_, by Jack Fincher–I tend to peruse this book while waiting on slow-loading websites. Finally, as a college student I’m reading various text books and I’m frequently in the library reading sections of certain books that pertain to my various classes. ---
**Author:** ![Jadis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@Jadis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jadis)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/6 "2003-02-01T00:45:33Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **Mephisto** _ > …the Doper too dumb to figure out the Live Journal thing… Awww…it’s not that hard, honest! If you want assistance, you can either email me or hail me on one of the many instant messenger services if you’re so inclined: ICQ: 196415 AOL Instant Messenger: ysabel431 Yahoo Messenger: ysabel431 I’m inspired to try the Iliad now, btw…if I get ahead of my 4 book per month pace, I might try it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/7 "2003-02-01T04:39:01Z")
1. _Prince of Fire and Ashes_, by Katya Reimann - last book in a fantasy trilogy I quite enjoyed. 2. _The Dragonbone Chair_, by Tad Williams - first book in one of the best fantasy series out there, really. 3. _Holy War: The Crusades and their Impact on Today’s World_, by Karen Armstrong - VERY interesting. I am on a little Crusades kick right now, but this was really about the mentality of the holy war at various times throughout history. 4. _The Stone of Farewell_, by Tad Williams - second book in _Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn_. 5. _Abraham Lincoln’s DNA and Other Adventures in Genetics_, by Philip R. Reilly - the Ann Arbor Reads book, so I am now totally hip. I’m all set to head to GD and argue about bioethics with y’all now. Really, it was a fascinating book and understable even to little ol’ me. Am currently working on _The Crusades Through Arab Eyes_ by Amin Maalouf and _To Green Angel Tower_ by Tad Williams, which is the last book in the trilogy. It’s such a huge book that it’s published in paperback in two parts, and I was originally going to count them seperately, but I decided this was the chicken thing to do. So I won’t count it til I am really done (I’ve finished the first part already). ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/8 "2003-02-01T05:15:11Z")
So far this year, I’ve read: [Affluenza](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1576751996/ref=pd_ir_imp/002-1364198-5535231) byJohn DeGraff, et al. It’s based on the PBS series that ran a few years back, and I enjoyed it. Volumes I and II of[Eleanor Roosevelt.](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0670844985/ref=pd_ir_imp/002-1364198-5535231) It’s well-written, and a ver interesting look at this great woman. [The Twillight of American Culture,](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/039332169X/ref=pd_ir_imp/002-1364198-5535231) which is probably one of the most depressing things I’ve read in a while. [Rereading Sex.](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/037540192X/ref=pd_ir_imp/002-1364198-5535231) A very interesting look at suppression of contraceptive and sexual knowledege over the years. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/9 "2003-02-01T05:18:13Z")
HEY! How can I get in on this? Is it too late? ---
**Author:** ![Banger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@Banger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banger)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/10 "2003-02-01T06:54:55Z")
I read one book!!! 😃 I’m a slow reader ☹ Here’s the excerpt from my Live Journal entry (handle is banger7) concerning the one book I read, **Return of the King** : > [@](#): > > So, my thoughts on reading Tolkien for the first time in about 8 years… > > I first read Tolkien in high school, and enjoyed The Hobbit and LOTR very much. I even managed to get through The Silmarillion back then. > > My plan this time around was to read The Silmarillion, then The Hobbit, then LOTR. In doing so, I had a fresh memory of the history of Middle Earth when reading the latter two books. As a result, I appreciated how in even the “children’s” book The Hobbit Tolkien was providing references to the rich history he created. > > Of course, having seen the first two films of LOTR by Peter Jackson (including the Extended Edition DVD), I was also noticing all the differences between the books and the films. Of course, I already was aware of most of the differences from my earlier readings, but I was also noticing the smaller differences, such as the same lines spoken by different characters or minor scenes cut when making the films (not major things like Tom Bombadil but smaller things like the wolves near the Misty Mountains). > > I think my reading tastes have become a bit more refined over the years, as I was more critical of Tolkien’s writing style. One thing that irked me more and more with Tolkien was how he would often end a dialog with an exclamatory conclusion before segueing back into narrative. For instance (not an excerpt): > > Frodo: It’s getting dark; perhaps we should stop for the night. > Aragorn: It’s not safe here. We will journey until we reach Lothlorien and the safety of the Elven woods. Let’s move on! > > There was a lot of “Let’s move on!” “We journey forward!” “Follow me!” I suppose Tolkien was hearkening back to the language of epic sagas or something, but after awhile I found it rather annoying. > > Another thing that bothered me on this subsequent reading were the roles of Merry and Pippin in Return of the King. It seemed as if Tolkien ran out of ideas on what their roles would be in the end of the story, so he decided to make them suddenly become knights of Rohan and Gondor. It was like “Nice to meet you Theoden/Denethor. I pledge my allegiance to you sire!” (note the exclamation point ;)) > > Reading Return of the King makes me wonder about how the movie will depict it. Supposedly the scouring of the Shire will not be in the film, and that’s a shame, as my re-read of that part was better than I remembered it. I fear that the movie will end rather abruptly with the ring being destroyed and Aragorn becoming king and roll the credits. How much time will Jackson devote to the denouement? > > In conclusion, it was fun reading the books again for the first time in years, and I look forward to the final film in the trilogy. However, I’m guessing it will be several more years before I read the books again. I joined the 50bookchallenge community, but I can’t figure out how to post on it. Help! ---
**Author:** ![Jadis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@Jadis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jadis)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/11 "2003-02-01T13:59:33Z")
**LifeOnWry** , nope, it is certainly not too late for you to join. I’ll be posting periodic threads here on the SDMB, and there’s also the Live Journal community I mentioned in my OP, which is more of a day to day thing. If you don’t have a Live Journal and you’d like to create one, let me know, as I have a bunch of codes handy for people who want to join. **Banger** , in order to post to the community, all that you need to do is before you compose an entry like you normally do, make sure you’re on the page with the expanded posting options (there’s a link at the bottom of the standard page that says “You’re looking at the simple page. For more options, click here.”). Once you’re on the expanded page, compose your entry and then before hitting the “Update Journal” button, change your selection in the “Journal to post in” drop-down box to the 50bookchallenge journal. If anyone needs help with LiveJournal, see my response above to **Mephisto** where I listed my IM handles. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/12 "2003-02-02T04:31:15Z")
A slightly quicker way to get to the full update page is to click the three-dots link next to the ‘Update Journal’ one. I’m at 8 new and 1 reread, BTW, with several ahead of me. ---
**Author:** ![DarkWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@DarkWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkWriter)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/13 "2003-02-02T04:56:00Z")
I’m behind most of you, but hopefully I’ll catch up. Book #1: **Sex and Violence in Hollywood** by Ray Garton. - Lots of fun to read, reminded me of Richard Laymon. It’s a wild ride from start to finish. Book #2: **Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister** by Gregory Maguire. - A different take on the Cinderella story. This was a very enchanting story. While I liked **Wicked** by the same author, **Confessions** was much more enjoyable. I’m now reading **Swan Song** by Robert McCammon. This is a re-read for me, but I haven’t read it in probably 15 years, so I’m counting it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/14 "2003-02-02T06:01:20Z")
So far, I’ve completed five books: _Assassin’s Apprentice_ and _Royal Assassin_, Robin Hobb. One of the few fantasy series that lives up to the cover blurbs. Both of these books have more surprises and more suspense than you usually expect to find in fantasy novels that are twice as long. The main character, FitzChivalry Farseer, is a welcome relief from the typical ‘noble young boy who becomes world-saving superhero’ character. On the other hand, some of the other people in the series suffer a bit from the author’s desire for brevity, most notably the archvillain. _The Warrior’s Tale_, by Allan Cole and Chris Bunch. A different sort of fantasy novel, with lots of swordfights, magic, and lesbian sex. A fun read, but not one that I’d recommend too highly. _A Storm of Swords_, by George R. R. Martin. The best novel in the Song of Fire and Ice series so far. In both of the first two, the plot moved pretty slowly for most of the book and then picked up during the last two-hundred pages. This one takes off from the start. While parts of it did grow a bit ridiculous, at least I can now join the internet-wide discussion about what Martin will do next. _Henry IV, part 1_, by Shakespeare. I liked it better this time than when I first read it in high school, mostly because I understood what was going on in the tavern scenes a bit better. The sudden change in behavior by Prince Henry still seems a little bit exaggerated, though. Currently working on: _Speaker for the Dead_, _Henry IV part 2_. ---
**Author:** ![NotWithoutRage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NotWithoutRage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotWithoutRage)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/15 "2003-02-02T06:43:59Z")
Book One: **Family Pictures** by Sue Miller – decent. Book Two: **The Magician’s Assistant** by An Patchett – beautiful, haunting; couldn’t put it down. Book Three **The Yokota Officer’s Club** by Sarah Bird – good. Reminded me a lot of **The Great Santini** by Pat Conroy, though without the depth of the latter. Book Four: **Irreperable Damange** by Joseph T. Klempner – legal drama – good for what it is. Book Five: **Taft** by Ann Patchett – lord I wish this woman had more than four books! Currently working on **The Beauty of Men** by Andrew Holleran. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/16 "2003-02-02T17:28:18Z")
I tried not to re-read books, but…I am re-reading \*\* Insomnia\*\* by Stephen King. I may or may not count that when I finally finish it again. Anyway, I read six books in January: two YA and four novels. The Ya books were **A series of unfortunate events: Bad Beginning** by Lemony Snicket and **Gathering Blue** by Lois Lowry. Of the two I much prefered Gathering Blue. It’s a companion to The Giver, and shows another vision of the future. The Lemony Snicket one was ok, I guess. The novels were: **Blue Moon** by Laurel Hamilton, which I really enjoyed. I discovered the Anita Blake series back in the spring, and have been reading my way through them, though I’ve slowed my pace since there aren’t a lot left. This was the eighth book in the series, and I stand by my assertion that these novels are the paper equivilent of crack- not really good for you, but they make you really happy unless there isn’t more to follow. **Black House** by Stephen King and Peter Straub. On a whole this one was by far the most disappointing thing I’ve read by either author. (unlike many of the book’sreaders, perhaps, I’ve read most of Straub’s books, too, not just King’s). The only really interesting things about the book had to do with the territories connections to the Dark Tower. I wonder if they actually thought that readers would enjoy the bizarre naration style, since I’ve yet to hear anyone say anything positive about it. And why change it so drastically from the Talisman’s style? I don’t get it. \*\* The Prayer of The Bone\*\* by Paul Byers. Your basic murder in the middle of nowhere that somehow gets tangled up in similar murders 300 years before and involves a a reservation, bears, a disturbed kid, a distraught woman, and a policeman with issues sort of story. **Jurassic Park** by Michael Crichton. I liked this one pretty well, and found the differences between it and the movie to be interesting. I think I liked the movie better, though. Well, here’s to hoping this month’s books will be more to my liking… I’ve started six or seven more books(and ordered one I’m impatiently waiting for), maybe I’ll like some of those 😃 ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/17 "2003-02-02T17:32:39Z")
**elfkin** - when you say Gathering Blue is a companion to The Giver, do you mean it has the same character base, or setting, or is it just along the same lines theme-wise? I loved The Giver, and would like to read more Lowry, but wresting her books away from my daughter takes a lot of energy! ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/18 "2003-02-02T18:04:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LifeOnWry \* > \*\ ***elfkin** - when you say Gathering Blue is a companion to The Giver, do you mean it has the same character base, or setting, or is it just along the same lines theme-wise? I loved The Giver, and would like to read more Lowry, but wresting her books away from my daughter takes a lot of energy! \*\* I mean the interview with Lowry at the back of the book and the book’s cover say it’s a companion 🙂 It’s the same “when” in a different settlement, and there is a very vague reference to Jonas, which Lowry says " it can be him if you want it to be" but other than that there are no real connections between the books(however, she plans to use a Gathering Blue character in the third and last book). Thematically they’re somewhat alike as they both feature children who do not fit into their society. ---
**Author:** ![aaaaaarrgg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@aaaaaarrgg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaaaaarrgg)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/19 "2003-02-02T18:09:45Z")
gathering blue doesn’t carry over any characters/places/anything, it is just another future communit lowry created. very different from each other, and yet in many ways the same. i liked it a lot. i read the original ‘read 50 books this year’ post and decided that it was a great idea but i dont have the time for it, so i made my own list of about 35 to read in conjuncture with the books i have to read for school. so far i’ve re-read all three of the lord of the rings books and am in the middle of ‘of mice and men’ ‘the communist manifesto’ and ‘alice in wonderland’ but i have to read ‘a tale of two cities’ for school so i had to put the other three on the back-burner well anyway good luck to everyone on your reading endeavors! ---
**Author:** ![Politzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Politzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Politzania)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954/20 "2003-02-02T23:11:37Z")
so please don’t feel disheartened… 😃 1. **Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire** - J.K. Rowling - the books are getting darker & darker… not quite children’s books anymore. 2. **Myth-ion Improbable** Robert Asprin. I’d read all the previous Myth books and I do get a kick out of Aahz. 3. **Star Trek: I’m Working on That** - William Shatner & Chip Walter. a fun, self-deprecating look at cutting-edge technology foreshadowed by Star Trek. 4. **The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay** - Michael Chabon. Quite enjoyable - a touch of (for lack of a better term) magical realism and intertwining historical & fictional characters. 5.? **Girls Lean Back Everywhere** by Edward de Grazia. I got thru Chapter 15 (page 294) by strength of will. It just didn’t work for me - I’m not that interested in law – and it goes into what I considered extruciating detail about the cases. So back to the library it went. This may be cheating, but I’m still counting it (for now). 1. **The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes** - Neil Gaiman. Graphic novels count, right? 🙂 Intriguing concept & gorgeous artwork. Unfortunately the library only had this volume – may need to add the others to my wish list! 2. **The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Vol II A** - editor Ben Bova. Contains the following novellas/novelettes: [ul] “Call Me Joe” - Poul Anderson. An artificial creature on the surface of Jupiter is psychically linked to a cripple in an orbiting spacestation. But who is controlling whom? Quite an enjoyable read. “Who Goes There?” John W. Campbell Jr (as Don A. Stuart). A polar expedition discovers an alien - what happens when it is thawed? Meh - interesting concept, I guess - but the writing didn’t really move me. “Nerves” - Lester del Rey - A crisis at a nuclear power plant as seen through the eyes of the on-site doctor. I may be struck down for this - but another stoy that didn’t do a lot for me. Perfect example of hard SF where the characters are subordinate to the technology. “Universe” - Robert Heinlein. A multi-generational spaceship where the residents have “regressed” to primitive technology - the protagonist is captured by the Muties and learns (some of) the truth. I’m a Heinlein fan, and I think this is a good, representational sample of his work. “The Marching Morons” - C.M. Kornbluth – a man from our time is awakens in the far future where the lowest common denominator of society has overwhelmed the MENSA minority. Can the time-traveller help? A frighteningly prescient story , perhaps … “Vintage Season” - Henry Kuttner & C.L. Moore (as Lawrence O’Donnell) … three strange travellers rent a San Francisco home for the month of May. The owner observes more than he should. Another enjoyable read - also a good sample of their work. “. . . And Then There Were None” - Eric Frank Russell. An ambassadorial/military ship from Terra visits an abandoned colony - to find the colonists are doing just fine without them. I remember reading this some years ago & would have SWORN it was Heinlein - the sentiment fits. “The Ballad of Lost C’Mell” - Cordwainer Smith. A judge teams up with a catgirl to grant the underpeople freedom. One of several stories set in the same universe and very descriptive. “Baby is Three” - Theodore Sturgeon. An almost creepy story - how psi powers could be used to create a new type of human - told through the eyes of a young man at a psychiatrist’s office. " The Time Machine" - H.G. Wells - if you saw the most recent movie incarnation of this story (as I must admit I have :rolleyes: – go back & read the book. It’s a bit heavy-handed at times, but required reading for any SF fan. “With Folded Hands” - Jack Williamson. An inventor creates robots designed to take care of our every need… and realizes how terribly wrong he was to do so. [/ul] 3. **Convergent Series** by Larry Niven. It’s a collection of short stories, some of which I’d read in other collections. I’d like to find more of his Draco’s Tavern stories. “The Deadlier Weapon” isn’t even SF at all - but thought-provoking just the same. 4. **The Museum of Hoaxes** by Alex Boese. Originally (and still) a website, Boese has collected examples of hoaxes through the ages and placed them in their historical & sociological context. He includes a “Further Reading” bibliography and both a subject and alphabetical index. A good addition to a skeptic’s library. 5. **Night Watch** - Terry Pratchett’s latest in the Discword series. Wow. It’s a very different book from his early Discworld novels… hardly a light comedy. There are funny bits - but I think he’s taken the opportunity to be more serious with the Night Watch series. I give this book a pretty strong recommendation. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-book-challenge-january-wrap-up/151954.md?page=2)