List of Books Read in 2010 - By Rating

Unrated for varying reasons
A Treatise of Witchcraft by Alexander Roberts. 5.18.10
Working IX to V by Vicki Leon. 6.10.10.

*******
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. 5.13.10.

******
Still Life by Louise Penny. 7.28.10.

*****
Pig Tale by Verlyn Flieger. 1.15.10.
Cockatiels at Seven by Donna Andrews. 1.30.10
Six Geese A-Slaying by Donna Andrews. 2.1.10
Oedipus the King by Sophocles and Dudley Fitts. 2.14.10.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. 3.7.10.
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare. 4.8.10.
Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs. 4.11.10.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. 4.22.10.
Changeless by Gail Carrige. 5.2.10.
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. 5.4.10.
Boy: Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl. 5.7.10.
I am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells. 6.13.10.
Mine-Haha, or On the Bodily Education of Young Girls by Frank Wedekind. 7.6.10.
The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. 8.6.10.
A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny. 8.12.10.
Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks by Ethan Gilsdorf. 9.13.10.
A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny. 9.27.10.
Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac. 11.21.20.
I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett. 11.21.10.
Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson. 12.6.10.
Raising Demons by Shirley Jackson. 12.11.10.
The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson. 12.19.10.

****1/2
One for the Money by Janet Evanovich. 3.27.10.
Shit My Dad Says by Justin Halpern. 5.7.10.
Built of Books by Thomas Wright. 6.10.10.
The Trouble with Magic by Madlyn Alt. 7.5.10.
Stork Raving Mad by Donna Andrews. 7.18.10.
Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science by John Fleischman. 9.2.10.
The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny. 9.3.10.
Blameless by Gail Carriger. 9.17.10.
The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny. 10.14.10.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. 12.2.10
Packing for Mars by Mary Roach. 12.13.10.
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs. 12.12.10.
Pale Demon by Kim Harrison. 12.29.10.

****
Poetic Lives: Coleridge by Daniel Hahn. 1.13.10.
Naptime is the New Happy Hour by Stefanie Wilder-Taylor. 1.25.10.
Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett. 2.10.10.
Soulless by Gail Carriger. 2.13.10.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. 2.16.10.
Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips. 3.17.10.
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong. 3.18.10.
A History of the Wife by Marilyn Yalom. 4.17.10.
Two for the Dought by Janet Evanovich. 5.12.10.
Poison by Sara Poole. 5.29.10.
Bedlam: London and Its Damned by Catharine Arnold. 7.2.10.
Swan for the Money by Donna Andrews. 7.17.10.
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman. 8.1.10.
Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong. 8.8.10.
The Critic as Artist by Oscar Wilde. 8.21.10.
The Unknowns: A Mystery by Benedict Carey. 9.10.10.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. 9.29.10.
After the Holocaust by Howard Greenfeld. 10.07.10.
The Damned by Algernon Blackwood. 10.23.10.

***1/2
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. 1.13.10.
'D' is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton. 1.18.10.
'E' is for Evidence by Sue Grafton. 1.20.10.
Revelations by Melissa De La Cruz. 3.28.10.
Shades of Midnight by Lara Adrian. 4.24.10.
Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong. 4.28.10.
The Unadulterated Cat by Terry Pratchett. 7.19.10.
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey. 8.23.10.
Taken by Midnight by Lara Adrian. 9.30.10.
Magyk by Angie Sage. 12.5.10.
Where There's a Witch by Madelyn Alt. 12.18.10.
A Witch in Time by Madelyn Alt. 12.19.10.
Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell. 12.23.10.

***
'C' is for Corpse by Sue Grafton. 1.3.10.
The Penguin Who Knew Too Much by Donna Andrews. 1.4.10.
Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett. 2.28.10.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke. 3.11.10.
How to Wash a Cat by Rebecca M. Hale. 3.25.10.
One Silent Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon. 3.31.10.
Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison. 5.22.10.
Bullet by Laurell K. Hamilton. 6.4.10.
Embraced by Darkness by Keri Arthur. 6.8.10.
The Book of the Courtesans: A Catalogue of Their Virtues by Susan Griffin. 6.19.10.
The Elfish Gene: Dungeons, Dragons and Growing Up Strange by Mark Barrowcliffe. 7.15.10.
A Charmed Death by Madelyn Alt. 7.22.10.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. 8.16.10.
Governess by Ruth Brandon. 9.13.10.
Swan Lake by Patrick Kill. 10.1.10.
Hex Marks the Spot by Madelyn Alt. 11.8.10.

**1/2
Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan. 1.16.10.
Flirt by Laurell K. Hamilton. 2.5.10.
Medea by Euripides. 10.16.10.
No Rest for the Wiccan by Madelyn Alt. 12.16.10.

**
Once Bitten by Kalayna Price. 1.27.10.
Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris. 2.17.10.
Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris. 5.14.10.
Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman. 7.9.10.
Mad Kings & Queens: History's Most Famous Raving Royals by Alison Rattle and Allison Vale. 8.21.10
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins. 11.13.10.

*
Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb. 6.22.10.

List of Books Read in 2010 - By Date

1. 'C' is for Corpse by Sue Grafton. 1.3.10. ***
2. The Penguin Who Knew Too Much by Donna Andrews. 1.4.10. ***
3. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. 1.13.10. ***1/2
4. Poetic Lives: Coleridge by Daniel Hahn. 1.13.10. ****
5. Pig Tale by Verlyn Flieger. 1.15.10. *****
6. Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan. 1.16.10. **1/2
7. 'D' is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton. 1.18.10. ***1/3
8. 'E' is for Evidence by Sue Grafton. 1.20.10. ***1/2
9. Naptime is the New Happy Hour by Stefanie Wilder-Taylor. 1.25.10. ****
10. Once Bitten by Kalayna Price. 1.27.10. **
11. Cockatiels at Seven by Donna Andrews. 1.30.10 *****

12. Six Geese A-Slaying by Donna Andrews. 2.1.10 *****
13. Flirt by Laurell K. Hamilton. 2.5.10. **1/2
14. Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett. 2.10.10. ****
15. Soulless by Gail Carriger. 2.13.10. ****
16. Oedipus the King by Sophocles and Dudley Fitts. 2.14.10. *****
17. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. 2.16.10. ****
18. Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris. 2.17.10. **
19. Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett. 2.28.10. ***

20. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. 3.7.10. *****
21. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke. 3.11.10. ***
22. Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips. 3.17.10. ****
23.The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong. 3.18.10. ****
24. How to Wash a Cat by Rebecca M. Hale. 3.25.10. ***
25. One for the Money by Janet Evanovich. 3.27.10. ****1/2
26. Revelations by Melissa De La Cruz. 3.28.10. ***1/2
27. One Silent Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon. 3.31.10. ***

28. The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare. 4.8.10. *****
29. Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs. 4.11.10. *****
30. A History of the Wife by Marilyn Yalom. 4.17.10. ****
31. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. 4.22.10. *****
32. Shades of Midnight by Lara Adrian. 4.24.10. ***1/2
33. Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong. 4.28.10. ***1/2

34. Changeless by Gail Carrige. 5.2.10. *****
35. Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. 5.4.10. *****
36. Shit My Dad Says by Justin Halpern. 5.7.10. ****1/2
37. Boy: Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl. 5.7.10. *****
38. Two for the Dought by Janet Evanovich. 5.12.10. ****
39. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. 5.13.10. *******
40. Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris. 5.14.10. **
41. A Treatise of Witchcraft by Alexander Roberts. 5.18.10
42. Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison. 5.22.10. ***
43. Poison by Sara Poole. 5.29.10. ****

44. Bullet by Laurell K. Hamilton. 6.4.10. ***
45. Embraced by Darkness by Keri Arthur. 6.8.10. ***
46. Built of Books by Thomas Wright. 6.10.10. ****1/2
47. Working IX to V by Vicki Leon. 6.10.10.
48. I am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells. 6.13.10. *****
49. The Book of the Courtesans: A Catalogue of Their Virtues by Susan Griffin. 6.19.10. ***
50. Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb. 6.22.10. *

51. Bedlam: London and Its Damned by Catharine Arnold. 7.2.10. ****
52. The Trouble with Magic by Madlyn Alt. 7.5.10. ****1/2
53. Mine-Haha, or On the Bodily Education of Young Girls by Frank Wedekind. 7.6.10. *****
54. Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman. 7.9.10. **
55. The Elfish Gene: Dungeons, Dragons and Growing Up Strange by Mark Barrowcliffe. 7.15.10. ***
56. Swan for the Money by Donna Andrews. 7.17.10. ****
57. Stork Raving Mad by Donna Andrews. 7.18.10. ****1/2
58. The Unadulterated Cat by Terry Pratchett. 7.19.10. ***1/2
59. A Charmed Death by Madelyn Alt. 7.22.10. ***
60. Still Life by Louise Penny. 7.28.10. ******

61. Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman. 8.1.10. ****
62. The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. 8.6.10. *****
63. Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong. 8.8.10. ****
64. A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny. 8.12.10. *****
65. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. 8.16.10. ***
66. The Critic as Artist by Oscar Wilde. 8.21.10. ****
67. Mad Kings & Queens: History's Most Famous Raving Royals by Alison Rattle and Allison Vale. 8.21.10. **
68. Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey. 8.23.10. ***1/2

69. Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science by John Fleischman. 9.2.10. ****1/2
70. The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny. 9.3.10. ****1/2
71. The Unknowns: A Mystery by Benedict Carey. 9.10.10. ****
72. Oedipus the King by Sophocles and Dudley Fitts. 9.11.10. *****
73. Governess by Ruth Brandon. 9.13.10. ***
74. Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks by Ethan Gilsdorf. 9.13.10. *****
75. Blameless by Gail Carriger. 9.17.10. ****1/2
76. A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny. 9.27.10. *****
77. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. 9.29.10. ****
78. Taken by Midnight by Lara Adrian. 9.30.10. ***1/2

79. Swan Lake by Patrick Kill. 10.1.10. ***
80. After the Holocaust by Howard Greenfeld. 10.07.10. ****
81. The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny. 10.14.10. ****1/2
82. Medea by Euripides. 10.16.10. **1/2
83. The Damned by Algernon Blackwood. 10.23.10. ****
84. Othello by William Shakespeare. 10.28.10. *****

85. Hex Marks the Spot by Madelyn Alt. 11.8.10. ***
86. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins. 11.13.10. **
87. Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac. 11.21.20. *****
88. I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett. 11.21.10. *****

89. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. 12.2.10. ****1/2
90. Magyk by Angie Sage. 12.5.10. ***1/2
91. Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson. 12.6.10. *****
92. Raising Demons by Shirley Jackson. 12.11.10. *****
93. Packing for Mars by Mary Roach. 12.13.10. ****1/2
94. No Rest for the Wiccan by Madelyn Alt. 12.16.10. **1/2
95. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs. 12.12.10. ****1/2
96. Where There's a Witch by Madelyn Alt. 12.18.10. ***1/2
97. A Witch in Time by Madelyn Alt. 12.19.10. ***1/2
98. The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson. 12.19.10. *****
99. Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell. 12.23.10. ***1/2
100. Pale Demon by Kim Harrison. 12.29.10. ****1/2

100.
Author: Kim Harrison
Title: Pale Demon
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 439 pages
Genre: horror
Acquisition: Early Review Copy
Date Completed: December 29, 2010
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Action, progress, character development, and resolution; Kim Harrison's Pale Demon, due out on February 22 2011, has everything that Black Magic Sanction is lacking, and has redeemed the Hollows series for me. I found the last few books in the series to be stagnant; there was no development or resolution offered, and it seemed to me like Harrison was recycling the same plot and wringing it for all it was worth. However, Pale Demon delivers on the promises of the past couple books, and settles several things once and for all, while still leaving room for future progress.

I would not have purchased Pale Demon after previous disappointments, but I enjoyed it immensely, and feel quite satisfied with where Harrison is heading. Pale Demon is entertaining and satisfying, and proved to be a great comeback.

99.
Author: Juliet Blackwell
Title: Secondhand Spirits
Publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: mystery
Acquisition:
Date Completed: December 22, 2010
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

My response to Juliet Blackwell's Secondhand Spritis varied chapter by chapter, and was overall far more positive towards the end than it was in the beginning. Early in the novel the writing is a bit wooden, and seems focused more on explaining contemporary religious practice - with a BIG dollop of the fantastic - than on developing characters or plot. Blackwell claims that she received this information from extensive interviews with active practitioners, and perhaps it may be interesting to some who are not as familiar, but I found her to be a bit contradictory; early in the novel the main character scoffs at anyone who isn't a "natural" witch, favoring a supernatural representation, and therefore passing judgment on the very people who apparently supplied the information.

However, as the novel progressed the story itself took center stage over the lectures, and the narrative became far more interesting. Certain elements of the mystery itself actually took me by surprise, which I appreciated. I think the bumps and bruises I found along the way may smooth out as the series progresses, and I may very well seek out the next installment.

97.
Author: Madelyn Alt
Title: A Witch in Time
Publication: Kindle E-book
Pages:
Genre: cozy mystery
Acquisition:
Date Completed: December 19, 2010
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

To really call A Witch in Time a mystery would be a joke; the "mystery" itself is once again a very minor detail; so much so that Alt and her reader lose track of it for long stretches of time. Instead, the novel focuses on the personal lives of the characters involved, and shows family ties being rewritten and strengthened in some unexpected ways. Honestly, I enjoy the personal relationships of Alt's Bewitching Mysteries far more than the "mystery" elements, so I enjoyed the developments the latest edition presented.

98.
Author: Hans Christian Anderson
Title: The Snow Queen
Publication: Hardback, Everyman publication
Pages: 92
Genre: fairytale
Acquisition: Work Text
Date Completed: December 19, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Hans Christian Anderson's The Snow Queen is a beautiful fairy tale intended for young children, presenting a number of adventures in seven parts and just 92 brief pages. The story itself is enchanting, and the Everyman publication includes gorgeous classic illustrations that really set the tone of the work and transport the reader to the correct time and mental space to enjoy the work as it should be. I gifted a copy of this text to a student as part of a unit on holiday folktales, and she (a high school Junior) likewise found the book endearing, and gushed about the illustrations of the book. Recommended for all fans of traditional fairy tales.

96.
Author: Madelyn Alt
Title: Where There's a Witch
Publication: Kindle E-book
Pages:
Genre: cozy mystery
Acquisition:
Date Completed: December 18, 2010
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Ah, redemption. That's a bit better.

95.
Author: Harriet Jacobs
Title: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 320
Genre: Slave narrative
Acquisition: college text, work text
Date Completed: December 12, 2010
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

I first read Harriet Jacobs' charged narrative as part of an undergraduate course on African American literature. Reading Jacobs' account alongside that of Frederick Douglas was a wonderful experience, and happened to produce a strong bias on my part; after discussing the publication (and editing) history of Douglas' works I came to appreciate Jacobs' novel even more. Her account is unique at the time of its publication because it tells the story of a female slave from her own point of view - with no author or editor in the way. Jacobs, educated in her own right and therefore completely capable of producing such an eloquent text, is an extremely effective rhetor. She clearly identifies her audience - white Northern women who may be sympathetic to the abolitionist movements - and uses rhetorical techniques to produce the maximum impact. Jacobs' narrative focuses on many prominent issues, most notably the desire of the slave to remain morally pure and righteous (in a Christian sense) despite the sinful and heathenish demands of their masters, and the heartbreaking plight of the slave mother who must face the uncertainty and sorrow that comes with every auction and sale.

I was very pleased to have the chance to introduce Jacobs' story to my AP English student this semester, and was equally pleased with the charged responses that the text inspired. Jacobs' story - and skillful writing - is always sure to make an impact.

94.
Author: Madelyn Alt
Title: No Rest for the Wiccan
Publication: Kindle Edition
Pages:
Genre: cozy mystery
Acquisition: gift from hubster
Date Completed: December 16, 2010
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

What started out as another cute read from Madelyn Alt quickly became boring rote conflicts and a highly undeveloped "mystery." Maggie O'Neill faces the same issues she's faced through all four novels - an overbearing mother, no backbone in her family, small town prejudices, a jerk of a half-boyfriend and a potentially hot boyfriend to be. Of course, like all of the previous novels, there is absolutely no resolution for any of these issues. Well, that's not entirely true - Maggie gets into a tiff with her mother over her job. And that's about it.

The mystery itself is more than just a subplot - it's relatively nonexistent, and is used only to gather Marcus, Tom, and Maggie in the same place. Oh, with a dangerous scene thrown in for good measure.

I'll continue the series for at least one more book - largely because I keep hoping Maggie will dump the bigot for the witch - but if the next book doesn't deliver some resolution on some level then I think I'll be done.

93.
Author: Mary Roach
Title: Packing for Mars
Publication: Hardback
Pages: 321 pages
Genre: Nonfiction, science, travel writing
Acquisition: gift from hubster
Date Completed: December 13, 2010
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

In Packing for Mars, reporter Mary Roach sets out to do what she does best: combine the genres of travel writing and popular science to produce a text that both lightens and entertains without going over the heads of the general populous. Her latest text takes readers through the history and science that might, someday, lead mankind to set foot on Mars.

Despite the suggestion of the title, the subject of a manned spacecraft traveling to Mars is more of a flourish than a meaty part of her writing. I surmise that the reason for this could simply be that Roach is working with the subject matter she knows best - people - and no one has yet set foot on the distant planet.

Roach is no scientists, but she is a wonderfully intuitive reporter who doesn't shy away from any topic - even sh*t burgers. Her gift for narration is entertaining, and is more than enough for me to overlook my quibbles about the title of the book itself.

Packing for Mars would be a great read for fans of Roach, as well as those who may have been turned off by her selection of subject in the past (but really, who doesn't love reading about cadavers and corpses, sex, and the soul?).

92.
Author: Shirley Jackson
Title: Raising Demons
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 310 pages
Genre: Nonfiction
Acquisition:
Date Completed: December 11, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Shirley Jackson's Raising Demons is just as delightful and entertaining as her previous memoir, Life Among the Savages. Picking up not long after the first one ends, Raising Demons introduces young Barry as a toddler, and chronicles the family's move to a new house, growing children, magic, baseball games, and endless parade of house repairs, animals, and picking up after people, and the general chaos that inevitably follows a family of six. The blurb on the front of the book proclaims, "It's a very pleasant form of pandemonium and hugely entertaining," and I'm inclined to agree. The insanity of raising a sizable family is a joy, and Jackson's slight-frazzled voice sweeps the reader along for the ride.

91.
Author: Shirley Jackson
Title: Life Among the Savages
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 235 pages
Genre: Nonfiction
Acquisition:
Date Completed: December 6, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

In Shirley Jackson's obituary, a friend from the NY Times writes of the authors, "the fact was that she used a typewriter {and not the broomstick of legend}--and then only after she had completed her household chores." This image of the house-proud and "well prioritized" novelist has apparently cast a long shadow on the perception of Shirley Jackson, painting her as a rather eccentric "Angel of the house."

Her own writing, however, tells a different story. Of her family life, Jackson herself says, "Our major exports are books and children, both of which we produce in abundance. The children are Laurence, Joanne, Sarah and Barry: my books include three novels, The Road Through The Wall, Hangsaman, The Bird’s Nest, and a collection of short stories, The Lottery. Life Among the Savages is a disrespectful memoir of my children” (Twentieth Century Authors). The first page of Life Among the Savages echoes this view of her life: "When we moved into {our house} we had two children and about five thousand books; I expect that when we finally overflow and move out again we will have perhaps twenty children and easily half a million books ... This is the way of life my husband and I have fallen into, inadvertently..."

I found Jackson's "disrespectful memoir" to be truly delightful. Here she writes a collection of family stories and anecdotes that perfectly emphasize the minor frustrations and confusion of parenthood while maintaining a great sense of humor. Children are loud. And dirty. And have a tendency to say very inappropriate things - but then again, adults can be nervous and bumbling and completely inept when thrown into alien territory like parent-teacher conferences. For all the "disrespect" that Jackson claims, the book itself is simply grounded, and portrays a wonderfully contemporary attitude towards parenthood that I was able to relate to and enjoy.

Successfully raising a horde of children must require a good sense of humor, and Shirley Jackson has it in spades. I cannot wait to get to the sequel, Raising Demons.

90.
Author: Angie Sage
Title: Magyk: Septimus Heap Book One
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 564 pages
Genre: YA Fantasy
Acquisition: Work text, 5th Grade
Date Completed: December 5, 2010
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Magyk is a young adult fantasy novel that begins with two births and a death, and ends with the promise of an eventful future. Sage's novel is nothing truly new, but her character development and frequent use of allusions makes the novel interesting for adult readers, and I believe the intended audience would find the story quite charming and enthralling. Although I identified the mystery early on, I was pleased with the development of the story itself. I am currently using the novel for my 5th-grade student, and we have used the text to discuss literary allusions and techniques, as well as the roles and choices of illustrators and typographers. Magyk is a nice meaty hunk of a book for 4th and 5th graders, and would be a lovely way to introduce young readers to genre fiction.

31, 89.
Author: Shirley Jackson
Title: We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Publication: Paperback
Pages:
Genre: Gothic
Acquisition: Work text
Date Completed: December 2, 2010
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

I finished my first reading of Jackson's final completed novel around the same time I was considering texts for the fall semester, and I thought for sure that my students would enjoy the creepy tale a bit more than The Picture of Dorian Gray (which remains my favorite novel, despite their opinions). Reading the novel for analysis versus personal pleasure - and both in the same year - has been an interesting experience, and one I've really enjoyed. I am not as blown away as I was with my first reading (perhaps because I know the mystery), but I am nonetheless charmed and delighted by the satirical Gothic. The opinions of my students are split, but I still recommend it.

88.
Author: Terry Pratchett
Title: I Shall Wear Midnight
Publication: Hardback
Pages: 355
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Acquisition:
Date Completed: November 21, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Tiffany Aching of the Chalk is no longer wielding iron pans against mythical creature, but she is still driven by the same fire that has always existed in her soul. She is now The Witch, and the Hag of the Hills, and she's damn good at it. Too good at it, at times, as her past actions bring her to the attention of a demonic soul intent on seeking revenge on a memory.

While I have enjoyed all of the Tiffany Aching books, I Shall Wear Midnight is undoubtedly my favorite. Pratchett's wit and keen eye for social criticism and satire are on full display, and the story itself will take readers on a wild and magical ride.

87.
Author: Joseph Bruchac
Title: Code Talker
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 231
Genre: YA, ALA Best Book for Young Readers
Acquisition: Teaching text for 8th grade
Date Completed: November 21, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

In the early days of World War II the American military is starving for a way to protect transmitted intelligence - an Unbreakable Code. One man, the son of a trader who sells goods to Native Americans, provides the answer the military is looking for, and before long Marines are found on Navajo reservation to find native speakers. As a language with no alphabet, and a language almost impossible to master unless one learns it from birth, the Navajo tongue provides a code that finally defeats Japanese intelligence. Once their worth is proven, the Code Talkers are in high demand, and their importance in WWII cannot be exaggerated.

In Code Talker, Joseph Bruchac tackles a story that is suppressed for the government for over three decades. Having produced a treasured government secret, the Navajos who develop the Unbreakable Code are forbidden to share their important role in the war, and for years remain unrecognized by anyone other than their fellow Marines.

Ned Begay is one such Marine. Having attended missionary schools from a young age, he is an ideal candidate for the role the Marines seek to fill, and once he is sixteen he convinces his family to allow him to lie about his age and join the military. Once shamed by bilagaanaa for his culture, Ned finds that that very culture is what allows him to serve his homeland.

Bruchac's narrative is haunting; Ned's quiet grade highlights both the horrors of war and the horrors of racism in the land he helps to protect without delving into alienating anger. His dignity moves the reader, and allows anyone with a soul and a conscience to relate to Ned, regardless of race or culture.

With no intimate knowledge of the cultural and historical events, I was quickly drawn in to Ned's story, and found myself mesmerized by his voice and moved by his experiences. I highly recommend this book to all readers.

86.
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Title: Hex Hall
Publication: Kindle E-book
Pages:
Genre: YA Fantasy
Acquisition:
Date Completed: November 13, 2010
Rating: 2 stars out of 5

Hex Hall is the story that every young teenage girl scrawls in her history notebook to escape reality. Rachel Hawkins' novel adds nothing to the genre that hasn't been developed a hundred times before. The characters are underdeveloped and inconsistent, and, while the conclusion presents an interesting twist, the pacing is so terrible that all entertainment is lost in the rush to the end of the chapter. Not recommended.

85.
Author: Madlyn Alt
Title: [Hex Marks the Spot]
Publication: Kindle E-book
Pages:
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Acquisition:
Date Completed: November 8, 2010
Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Hex Marks the Spot is the third installment in Madlyn Alt's Bewitching Mysteries series, which follows Maggie O'Neill as she works in a marvelous antiques shop, explores faith and spirituality, and helps figure out a dead body or two. Alt's series is light and fluffy, and just what I was looking for in the midst of my semester-crunch.

However.

I have always had two small problems with Alt's series, and the second is severely highlighted by the subject of the third book. My first problem is Liss' "accent," and the second problem is ...Eli. I am perfectly willing to believe that my own ignorance is getting the best of me at the moment, but Alt's representation of the Amish seems so far out of my own understanding that I have a difficult time concentrating on the story itself. The accents (and frequency of Ja) are bad enough, but ... Amish men using gas-powered saws? Working in modern factories? Carrying cell phones? Ah ha! My faith in Ms. Alt is restored! It looks like she does do her research (as I hoped), and my problem is really my own making. Here's an article from Wired on the Amish and their use of technology, specifically cell phones. Excellent work, Ms. Alt.

This season my grandmother and I subscribed to the Washington Ballet, and yesterday we attended the opening show - Septime Weber's translation of Romeo and Juliet.

My response to the ballet is, as usually, fractured. Weber himself left a sour taste in my mouth when he introduced the play and proclaimed that the story of Romeo and Juliet had nothing to do with fate (ok), and that they were instead "young people who were very much in love" yet faced a number of opposing forces.

And my usual problem with the play kicked in: Very much in love. After meeting once. Real love, between a thirteen-year-old girl and a twenty-year-old young man.

The ballet itself was amazing. Weber's choreography was breathtaking, and Sergei Prokofiev’s score is perfectly haunting. As usually, Mercutio and Tybalt were my favorite roles (Tybalt was performed by the man pictured above with Juliet), but Romeo himself (Brooklyn Mack) was powerful and honest, and mesmerizing. Initially, I was not pleased with the seemingly-shallow and emotionally-devoid performance by Juliet, but as the ballet continued my opinion changed, and I think the ballerina perfectly captured the emotions of each scene, while reflecting on the youth and circumstances that lead there.

In the end, I have to say that the Washington Ballet's production of Romeo and Juliet is highly successful, and I can't wait to return for "The Nutcracker."

84.
Author: William Shakespeare
Title: Othello
Publication: Paperback
Pages:
Genre: Drama
Acquisition: Work text
Date Completed: October 28, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

The second of my paired yearly readings. A perfectly sinister and despicable villain, lies, manipulation, and a protagonist that is redefined on every page. I love this play.

83.
Author: Algernon Blackwood
Title: The Damned
Publication: Kindle E-Book
Pages: 116 pages
Genre: Gothic
Acquisition: Can't remember for the life of me
Date Completed: October 23, 2010
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

I have no recollection of why I downloaded Algernon Blackwood's The Damned onto my Kindle, but I have a feeling I found it during one of my batch-downloads of free gothic texts. I'm sure the title caught my eye, and I know the author sparked my interest, because the name Algernon Blackwood is simply perfect for an author of horror and gothic literature.

According to Wikipedia, that fount of immeasurable wisdom, Blackwood is an English fiction author who is born in Kent in 1869, and dies in 1951. The Damned is a haunted house tale published in 1914, and it explores not only the classic elements of haunting tales, but also the implications and consequences of specific religious beliefs.

The Damned is very satisfying for fans of the Gothic; the tale is creepy yet subtle, and the narrator's voice is perfectly suited to the material. The religious overtones of the story are intriguing, and the criticism gives the reader much more to consider than a "simple" haunting.

Thanks to such a positive introduction, I will certainly seek out more Algernon Blackwood in the future.

82.
Author: Euripides
Title: Medea
Publication: Kindle E-Book
Pages:
Genre: Classical Drama
Acquisition: Intended to read it for years and years
Date Completed: October 16, 2010
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

While my experience with Greek theatre is far from extensive, I feel comfortable proclaiming a general interest in and enjoyment of the genre. I find the level of bawdiness in the satyr plays and comedies extremely entertaining, and I find myself moved and repulsed by the tragedies in such a way that I would never deny their literary superiority.

That is, until reading "Medea." Rarely do I come across a protagonist so static and repulsive in her inability to invoke emotion; Medea's actions, rather than her words or character, propel the plot, and the presentation of those actions is wooden at best. As a reader I felt myself moved only for the fate of her sons, and for that I credit my own maternal state over the development of the text.

As always, I am willing to shift some blame to the particular translation, because no translator can help but influence the text in his work. My desire to read Euripides has been sated. I'll return to Sophocles and Aristophanes with pleasure.

81.
Author: Louise Penny
Title: The Brutal Telling
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 400 pages
Genre: Mystery
Acquisition: Michael bought it for me. He insisted.
Date Completed: October 14, 2010
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

I am having a very difficult time reviewing this book without spoiling the plot for future readers. All I really feel I can say is that I never really expected Penny to go where she does. I kept waiting for a different conclusion to arise, and so in a way I feel both delighted and disappointed.

80.
Author: Howard Greenfeld
Title: After the Holocaust
Publication: Hardback
Pages: 141 pages
Genre: Nonfiction
Acquisition: reviewed by Whisper1
Date Completed: October 7, 2010
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Howard Greenfeld's project is an engrossing and heartbreaking look at the lives of young people who survived the Nazi regime, only to be forced to endure countless further hardships as they try to gain some sort of "normal" existence. After the Holocaust carefully balances research with first-person accounts, so the history itself becomes personal, and the book is all the more moving for the stories and photos shared by the participating survivors. I appreciate Greenfeld's attempts to move beyond the initial horror of the war and concentration camps to show contemporary readers the continued plight of an abused people. Likewise, I appreciate Greenfeld's attempts to widen the scope of victims; while the personal accounts are all related by Jewish survivors, Greenfeld's analysis frequently refers to the other ostracized and victimized peoples who fall victim to the same prejudice and horror. Recommended for everyone.

79.
Author: Patrick Kill
Title: Swan Lake
Publication: Ebook
Pages:
Genre: horror
Acquisition: reviewed by HugeHorrorFan
Date Completed: October 1, 2010
Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Swan Lake is my first introduction to Patrick Kill, and to the materials available at the Horror Mall. I enjoy the subversive and the taboo, so HugeHorrorFan's review caught my interest. My first impression of Swan Lake was a comparison to Henry Miller's [Under the Roofs of Paris] or perhaps a work by the Marquis de Sade. While one could argue that the intent of the work is to provide a commentary on contemporary beauty, my own reading left me with the impression that Patrick Kill is using a shallow reference to contemporary criticism to provide a forum for exploring alternative sexuality. My personal preference would direct me to deSade or Henry Miller over another Patrick Kill, but I'm glad I gave it a try.

78.
/P/0143105027.01._SX140_SY225_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg">
Author: Lara Adrian
Title: Taken by Midnight
Publication: Kindle Edition
Pages: 400 pages
Genre: horror/romance
Acquisition: impulse buy
Date Completed: September 30, 2010
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

What do I do when I've spent weeks studying vampire mythology academically? Read a contemporary vampire romance novel, of course.

Standard for Lara Adrian.


77.
Author: Ken Kesey
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Publication:
Pages: 320 pages
Genre: Fiction
Acquisition: Teaching Text
Date Completed: September 29, 2010
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Another twice-yearly work read.

76.
Author: Louise Penny
Title: A Rule Against Murder
Publication: Hardback, 2008
Pages: 322 pages
Genre: Mystery
Acquisition:
Date Completed: September 27, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Louise Penny does not need another glowing review for the Chief Inspector Gamache series; those who have made it this far into the series already know full well what to expect from Madame Author, and she still does not disappoint. Instead, I would like to share a personal response that has been building as I make my way through the series:

I loathe Beauvoir.

Gamache's second-in-command makes my skin crawl. Even when other unappealing officers are involved in the narrative*, Beauvoir seems like the real monster on the team. And yet, it is her ability to present such a detestable individual as one of the "good guys" that makes the series so compelling.

Penny's characters are people, with all the flaws ad undesirable characteristics that the term can imply. In Three Pines there is no true good and evil, because the town is made of life, and not fantasy.


* I would also like to say that I was very pleased with the resolution involving this particular team member in the last book. I won't say anything more, for fear of spoiling another reader's enjoyment.

76a.
Author: Garth Nix
Title: Abhorsen
Publication: Paperback, 2003.
Pages: 102 pages out of 512 completed
Genre: YA Fantasy
Acquisition: Intended as a teaching text for 8th grade
Date Completed: never
Rating: 1 star out of 5

It is rare that I abandon a book, but after 102 pages I am putting down Abhorsen for good. It is in no small way my own fault; I did not realize that it is a later novel in a series, and I picked it up because I had heard wonderful things about this volume in particular.

After 102 pages I still had very little idea what was going on, and absolutely no emotional or intellectual attachment to any of the characters. Making it through a handful of pages felt like a chore, and just looking a the cover leaves me feeling annoyed.

My rating of the book is based purely on my present experience, and is in no way indicative of whether or not I feel others should pursue Nix's series. Reading time is too precious to waste on unappealing books, so I will be moving on to other things.

I've officially met my goal of 75 books in 2010!

75.
Author: Gail Carriger
Title: Blameless
Publication: Paperback, 2010.
Pages: 355 pages
Genre: Steampunk
Acquisition:
Date Completed: September 17, 2010
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

The Parasol Protectorate series is delightfully silly and entertaining in every way, and Blameless is no different. The most recent book picks up where the previous narrative ends, and the reader is treated to the story of consequences that arise from Alexia's singular predicament.

74.
Author: Ethan Gilsdorf
Title: Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An epic quest for reality among role players, online gamers, and other dwellers of imaginary realms
Publication: Hardback, 2009.
Pages: 295 pages
Genre: Nonfiction
Acquisition: Teaching Text - English 101
Date Completed: September 13, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks is everything that [The Elfish Gene] is not: Gilsdorf's travel narrative is endearing, open-minded, warm, and welcoming. Like Mark Barrowcliffe, Ethan Gilsdorf spent his youth buried in the fantasy world of Dungeons and Dragons. And, like Barrowcliffe, Gilsdorf eventually left the realm of fantasy, only to return as an adult to explore the ghost of an interest that remained.

Here the differences end. Ethan Gilsdorf's narrative is accepting of geek culture, even as he expresses adult reservations, and he seeks to explore the world of geekdom with an open mind. Fantasy Freaks sets out to understand just what draws certain individuals to a particular set of interests, and how their experiences influence their personal development. Gilsdorf shares a number of stories as he travels to cons, gaming events, and even joins in for a weekend of LARPing. Unlike Barrowcliffe with his scathing comments and sense of superiority, Gilsdorf allows his research material to speak for itself, and presents his findings with an air of sympathy that will not necessarily impact the reader's own interpretation of the cultural events.

Fantasy Freaks is a celebration of geekdom for those who are (or perhaps simply adore) geeks, and an interesting exploration of fantasy worlds for those who have no experience with the subculture. Gilsdorf's travel narrative will appeal to all readers, and I dare say there's at least one chuckle for everyone somewhere in the pages.

73.
Author: Ruth Brandon
Title: Governess: The Lives and Times of the Real Jane Eyres
Publication: Hardback, 2008.
Pages: 257 pages
Genre: Nonfiction
Acquisition: LT 75er suggestion
Date Completed: September 13, 2010
Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Ruth Brandon's Governess treats a subject well-known to anyone who has any level of experience with nineteenth-century British novels. Historically, the governess is a sad figure, isolated from all societies by the strange social distinctions her occupation creates. Brandon's presentation of a few selected women seeks to enlighten readers as to the true experiences of this fictional trope, but as a reader I question her proclaimed intentions versus the material she actually presents. Indeed, Brandon presents brief biographies of selected governesses, based on careful research and primary documentation such as letters and journals. However, my own reading suggests that Brandon's true goal is to champion the rights of women - socially and intellectually - as opposed to exploring the occupation and the effects of that occupation on the individuals. Much of Brandon's text is concerned with presenting the shameful realities of women's lives (kept purposefully ignorant, losing rights to their children, and specific maltreatment at the hands of various men), while the material itself is selected based on the fact that the women were at some time or another a governess.

This is not to say that Brandon's text is unsuccessful - rather, it is an interesting examination of individual lives that illustrate larger social problems - but I found the subject of governessing to be, at times, secondary to questions of gender analysis.

If a reader is at all familiar with the lives of the Brontes or Mary Shelly, or even if they've read a novel such as The Tenant of Wildfell Hall or Jane Eyre, Governess will provide no enlightenment. However, if a reader has only a brief understanding of Victorian culture, Governess will provide an interesting introduction to the roles of women in society.

71.
Author: Benedict Carey
Title: The Unknowns: A Mystery
Publication: Hardback, 2009.
Pages: 259 pages
Genre: Mystery, Young Adult
Acquisition: Teaching Text - 5-8 grades
Date Completed: September 10, 2010
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Adjacent is a place to hide the unwanted but necessary. The little island is home to a large nuclear plant, the hard-working families that keep the plant running, and the garbage that is generated by the communities around them. The children of Adjacent spend their time running between trailers, hiding is broken down buses, and watching the garbage come in on large barges.

When the narrator begins on the first page, "[p]eople were praying for something twisted to happen last summer. ... We wanted a problem, and a hairy one, just for something to do," the reader really isn't surprised.

The surprise, though, is that they get what they ask for.

People start disappearing from Adjacent; ordinary people that live on the island, and no one seems to care what is happening to them. But when a local math tutor disappears two of her students are determined to find out what is going on, and work their way through a series of mathematical clues they're sure Mrs. Clarke left behind.

The mystery goes far deeper than they ever expected, and Di and Tom gather together an unlikely group of conspirators to help stop the disaster that is looming.

I purchased Carey's book to kick off my 5th and 8th grade language arts classes at a math and science academy. The mathematical theme of the book flows naturally with the narrative, and the reader is able to develop and theorize along with the protagonists. I believe that The Unknowns will be very appealing both for young readers who have an interest in reading, and those who proclaim that math is just plain boring.

70.
Author: Louise Penny
Title: The Cruelest Month
Publication: Paperback, 2007.
Pages: 401 pages
Genre: Mystery
Acquisition: Resistance is futile
Date Completed: September 3, 2010
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache novels are deeply satisfying; as I reached the resolution I experienced that wonderful, comfortable full-belly feeling that only exceptional novels can inspire.

The primary plot of The Cruelest Month focuses on the now-infamous Arnot case which helped to define Gamache; though the case itself was long ago "resolved," the repercussions of Gamache's decisions have never fully dissipated. Now, Gamache and his team must face uncomfortable truths and a world of confrontations in order to support decisions that were honorable.

The secondary plot is the murder of a newer resident of Three Pines; unlike previous novels, the victim is not thoroughly detestable, yet there is no shortage of suspects.

The Cruelest Month is a character-driven narrative, in which quite a bit of development is presented. I enjoyed learning more about some of the principle characters, and was thoroughly pleased when my hopes for certain characters were fulfilled.

69.
Author: John Fleischman
Title: Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science
Publication: Paperback, 202.
Pages: 75 pages
Genre: nonfiction, medicine
Acquisition: Purchased for classroom use
Date Completed: September 2, 2010
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Phineas Gage: A popular science book that doesn't underestimate children, and presents a fascinating medical oddity for their enrichment and entertainment.

In Phineas Gage John Fleischman chronicles the adult life of a man who has the extreme misfortune to experience an iron rod fly through his head and out the top of his skull ... and live to tell the tale. Literally, in fact, as he sat chatting with his landlord about the accident while he waited the half hour for the nearest doctor to arrive. Despite the extreme improbability given the state of medical treatment in 1848, Phineas recovers from the incident and goes on to live an additional eleven years. However, the true subject of Fleischman's narrative is not really Phineas Gage as an individual, but rather how he helped inspire the medical community. In life, aspiring surgeons look at Gage's recovery as proof of a number of neurological theories. After his death his doctor finally reveals that his patient's recovery was not as "complete" as first suggested, and Phineas' medical history and remains go on to inspire and enlighten medical minds for decades to come.

Phineas Gage is remarkable all on his own, and Fleischman makes his story available to young readers. I personally intend to use the volume to teach elements of nonfiction in a fifth-grade English class at a math and science academy, and I am looking forward to the feedback my students provide.

Courtesy of Wikipedia, here is Phineas with the tamping iron that caused the damage - and remained at his side even in death - as well as an illustration of the iron as it passed through his skull:

The soul of Oscar Wilde's scandalous and captivating novel is alive and well in 2010. The latest film version of "The Picture of Dorian Gray" took my breath away. It is a different beast from Wilde's original novel, but it is no less majestic for its transgressions. The decadence is captivating, and the artistic expression is superb. Oliver Parker has shaped a masterpiece, manipulating an unforgettable tale and perfectly adapting it to film. What is important about Parker's film is that it projects the sensationalism and sensibility of the 1890 gothic story into the contemporary world, while remaining faithful to the culture that inspired the original manuscript. Yes, many aspects are unfaithful to the narrative as it is published under Wilde's name, but Dorian is not frequently known for his loyalty.

I truly cannot praise this film enough. As a faithful Wilde devotee, I highly recommend all others with even a passing interest seek out this visual, musical, and narrative masterpiece.

68.
Author: Beth Fantaskey
Title: Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
Publication: Kindle Edition
Pages: 384 pages
Genre: young adult, horror, vampires
Acquisition: Suggested by LT user elliepotten
Date Completed: August 23, 2010
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is a light and frothy young adult novel that follows the current trend of vampire romance. Ellie Potten compared the book to the Disney "Princess Diaries" films, and she calls it spot-on. What I enjoyed most about Fantaskey's take on the popular Cinderella variation is her portrayal of Jessica's emotions; Jessica reads like a typical teenager (albeit in a supernatural position), and her evolution throughout the book seems natural and believable. Lucius is not nearly as interesting as the protagonist. As the love interest, he fulfills all the requirements that readers will expect from the genre. However, I felt his epistolary endeavors to be less than sincere, and I felt that his letters flattened Lucius as a character, rather than developing the character for the audience. His inner monologue is shallow and contrived, and his use of "quotations" is more than a little ridiculous. Still, the book was good fun, and I'd probably seek out Fantaskey in the future.

67.
Author: Alison Rattle and Allison Vale
Title: Mad Kings & Queens: History's Most Famous Raving Royals
Publication: Hardback
Pages: 152 pages
Genre: nonfiction, history
Acquisition: Purchased August 21, 2010
Date Completed: August 21, 2010
Rating: 2 stars out of 5

Mad Kings & Queens is exactly what one would expect from a Barnes and Noble bargain history book, but I am nonetheless disappointed. I was prepared for the lackluster writing and the lack of development, but I was not prepared for the prejudice and judgment that guided the choices made by Rattle and Vale. It is no secret that royal lines have long been plagued with mental instability, and the "inbreeding" of European royal families has lead to a long list of unfortunate offspring. This progeny makes up a strong portion of the book, which is seasoned with famous figures such as Vlad the Impaler and Elizabeth Bathory (named as Erzsebet Bathory, accent marks missing).

What I found distressing was the long list of monarchs who were dubbed insane for, well, enjoying sex. Some of these royal figures are even included for simply enjoying sex with their lawful partners. Others, of course, include queens who had a number of affairs, and rulers who indulged in homosexual desires of varying degrees. While I understand that contemporary politics, religion, and cultural stigmas would likely influence the subjects of these royals to recoil in horror, does a strong libido really mark a historical figure for entrance into a collection of Mad Kings & Queens? I would argue that a king who engaged in sexual congress with his wife late into his seventies deserves a little more indulgence than the tsar who ran naked through the streets stabbing citizens.

Interested in naughty kings and queens? Eleanor Herman is a lot more fun - and a lot less judgmental.

66.
Author: Oscar Wilde
Title: The Critic as Artist
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 113 pages
Genre: Classics, dialog
Acquisition: Work text
Date Completed: August 21, 2010
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

My own response to this text is long, and likely tedious, so I will save my "review" for the classroom. In place of a personal response I would like to share the response of Ernest from page 112:
You have told me many strange things to-night, Gilbert. You have told me that it is more difficult to talk about a thing than to do it, and that to do nothing at all is the most difficult thing in the world; you have told me that all Art is immoral, and all thought dangerous; that criticism is more creative than creation, and that the highest criticism is that which reveals in the work of Art what the artist had not put there; that it is exactly because a man cannot do a thing that he is the proper judge of it; and that the true critic is unfair, insincere, and not rational. My friend, you are a dreamer.

65.
Author: Mark Twain
Title: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Publication: Hardcover
Pages: 300 pages
Genre: Classics, bedtime stories
Acquisition: Max's book
Date Completed: August 16, 2010
Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Whew! Another tongue-twister of a bedtime story for my monsters. I feel out of breath just thinking of Jim's dialog, and my head is still reeling a little bit. I suppose Huck Finn is a classic for a reason, but I personally did not enjoy it nearly as much as I enjoyed reading the boys Tom Sawyer. Now I'll have to wait a few years to hear what they think.

64.
Author: Louise Penny
Title: A Fatal Grace
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 334 pages
Genre: Fiction, mystery
Acquisition: Purchased August 6, 2010
Date Completed: August 12, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

The second novel in the Inspector Gamache Three Pines series is just as elegant and breathtaking as the first. Penny's writing style defines traditional genre stereotypes, and the second in the series matches the first in careful construction and execution. For Penny, it seems the conclusion is not the point of the narrative. Rather, it's the journey through life,and the language that carries the reader there.

63.
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Title: Waking the Witch
Publication: Hardback
Pages: 309 pages
Genre: Fiction, horror
Acquisition: Purchased August 6, 2010
Date Completed: August 8, 2010
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Armstrong had me until page 278. The novel that had the potential to be the most satisfying in a summer of genre-flops suffers from a rather unfortunate series of concluding twists. Prior to a rather jarring shift in the narrative, Waking the Witch is an entertaining look at Savannah Levine, all grown up and "on her own" as she tackles a case without supervision. The twists are numerous, and the mystery involved is enthralling ... right up to the Great Revelation. Still, fans of the series are likely to enjoy it, and I'm looking forward to the next one, which is apparently due out this November.

62.
Author: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Title: The Palace of Illusions
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 360 pages
Genre: Fiction, mythology
Acquisition: Recommended by richardderus of LibraryThing
Date Completed: August 6, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

In a time of rich spices, jeweled saris, and everyday magic - a time of curses, vengeance, and the power of the heart - a girl stumbles out of the flames that have already produced her twin brother, carrying with her the thread and promise of change. In Divakaruni's masterful hands the myth of Panchaali takes shape, and the reader leaves behind the contemporary world for a society that carries far too many parallels to our own.

On its own, the narrative is majestic, but it is Divakaruni's character development that truly brings The Palace of Illusions to life. Panchaali herself is capable of invoking a sea of emotional responses, and the power to invoke sympathy, hatred, admiration and condemnation within the space of 360 pages speaks volumes of her author's narrative capabilities. The inhabitants of The Palace of Illusions are far from two-dimensional characters moving through a storyline: they breathe through the pages and welcome the reader into their mysterious world. In short, the novel is simply magical.

61.
Author: Neil Gaiman
Title: Odd and the Frost Giants
Publication: Hardback
Pages: 117 pages
Genre: Young adult, mythology, bedtime stories
Acquisition: Purchased for Brooks
Date Completed: August 1, 2010
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

The little Norse boy named Odd does everything with a smile on his face. Odd smiles when he's scolded, and doesn't lose the smile when he hears of his father's death. Odd smiles when he cripples his right leg and foot, and he smiles when he meets a trio of talking animals claiming to be gods. Odd even smiles when he comes face to face with a Frost Giant, and the giant threatens to crush him.

Odd and the Frost Giants is a delightful mock-epic in which Gaiman writes a crippled young boy into the world of the Norse gods. With little more than his (not so) simple understanding of human/god nature Odd conquers feats that leave the more-powerful themselves crippled, and with quiet perseverance he pursues a life more welcoming than the one in which he lives.

Despite Gaiman's never-ending love affair with comma splices, his young adult novel is quite charming. I would recommend it to young readers and parents alike.

60.
Author: Louise Penny
Title: Still Life
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 293 pages
Genre: Mystery
Acquisition: Beach read #5
Date Completed: July 28, 2010
Rating: 6 stars out of 5

Still Life by Louise Penny contains a simple grace that was entirely unexpected. The first in the Inspector Gamache series, the mystery breathes with a calm intelligence that can be attributed not only to the Inspector himself, but also to Penny and the characters she brings to life. The residents of Three Pines are real people, with all their flaws and eccentricities, and the ease with which they accept the reader allows for a great amount of comfort. I won't cheapen the novel by describing the plot, but I will express my admiration of Penny and my everlasting gratitude to the many readers of LibraryThing who are constantly recommending the series.

Still Life moves beyond the confines of traditional genre fiction, and becomes a Novel in every valuable sense of the word. I will certainly be pursuing the series in the future, with much delight and anticipation.

59.
Author: Madelyn Alt
Title: A Charmed Death
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 289 pages
Genre: Mystery
Acquisition: Beach read #4
Date Completed: July 22, 2010
Rating: 3 stars out of 5

A Charmed Death, the second bewitching mystery in the series, finds Maggie settling into the new life that fate has thrown her way. As a character, she has grown in terms of confidence and comfort, and her narrative reflects the positive changes in her life. When tragedy once again strikes her small town Maggie keeps her wits about her, and is ready to help in any way she's asked.

I was not as enthralled with A Charmed Death as I was the previous novel, and I found myself constantly bothered by Alt's use of dialects. The teenagers are wooden and forced, Felicity sounds a bit ridiculous, and the Amish member of N.I.G.H.T.S. had me rolling my eyes. I enjoyed the development of Maggie's character (and Marcus' character) much more than the two-dimensional "sidekicks" of the novel, and I'm hoping the third in the series will continue to flesh out the characters that really "matter."

58.
Author: Terry Pratchett
Title: The Unadulterated Cat
Publication: Hardback
Pages: 156 pages
Genre: Humor
Acquisition: Beach read #3
Date Completed: July 19, 2010
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Somewhere in the limitless possibilities of reality and consciousness there is a young man named Schrodinger in a box with a vial of radioactive material and a device which may - or may not - break the vial and immediately end the consciousness of the young man. He is both alive and dead, and is doubtless bleeding from the back of his heels, because somewhere in his future he had (purposeful shift in tense) proposed a thought experiment that begins with the extremely hazardous suggestion that an individual place a cat in a box.

And cats hold grudges, even if you haven't angered them yet.

In The Unadulterated Cat, Pratchett endeavors to define a Real cat (as opposed to those fluffy, squished-faced monstrosities that can apparently eat their food out of crystal dishes without tipping them over). Punctuated with telling cartoons by Gray Jolliffe, Pratchett provides a 150+ page description of those horrible beasts, and even provides some analysis as to why we (cats and their roommates) tolerate each other. I have long been under the impression that my own cats are just horribly uncatlike beasts, especially when forced to consider such adorable and friendly examples in literature and the Facebook photo albums of (childless) friends, but Pratchett has shown me otherwise. My cats are undeniably Real cats.

While I certainly enjoy Pratchett's writing style, I believe my partner enjoyed The Unadulterated Cat far more than I. But that's really to be expected, because my partner is the true cat lover in our household. After reading what my Real cats are truly capable of I think I'll stay loyal to my ridiculous cat-sized dog.

56.
Author: Donna Andrews
Title: Swan for the Money
Publication: Hardback
Pages: 306 pages
Genre: Mystery
Acquisition: Beach read #1
Date Completed: July 17, 2010
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Swan for the Money is pretty typical for Donna Andrews and Meg Langlsow, although this is the first book of the series that left me without some way to relate personally.

Unfortunately, the publishers yanked all copies of this book from stores in preparation for the paperback publication in August ... and the latest Langslow mystery was published a month before. I eventually gave in and located a used copy of the title, but I would have much preferred that the publisher either a) left the hardcopies in stores or b) published the paperback before the latest edition. Not Ms. Andrews' fault, but a minor disappointment.

57.
Author: Donna Andrews
Title: Stork Raving Mad
Publication: Hardback
Pages: 309 pages
Genre: Mystery
Acquisition: Beach read #2
Date Completed: July 18, 2010
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Stork Raving Mad is the latest book in the Meg Langslow series, and it picks up approximately thirty-four weeks after the previous novel. I appreciate Andrews' sense of timing for the novels; instead of detailing every months or week bit by bit, Andrews hops and skips through a timeline that allows her to remain current, and gloss over major events without drawing them out unnecessarily. The hijinks are in full swing, the familiar cast of characters are accounted for, and the reader will be happy to meet the characteristically miserable victim and the even less likable guilty party.

I do have this to say about the last page: No fair.

55.
Author: Mark Barrowcliffe
Title: The Elfish Gene: Dungeons, Dragons, and Growing Up Strange
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 277 pages
Genre: Memoir
Acquisition: Purchased for work
Date Completed: July 5, 2010
Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Mark Barrowcliffe's memoir caught my eye in the bookstore several months ago, and again during each subsequent visit. I have never been a gamer (of any kind - I don't even like social board games), but my social circle has always been peppered with gamers of all sorts, so I feel a connection to the subject. I went into the book knowing next to nothing about the game, but knowing a bit about gamers, so I was looking forward to a sneak-peak of what my friends were really up to.

Barrowcliffe's memoir delivers just that; he moves through a description of the kind of people attracted to role playing games, how he himself was introduced to the phenomenon, and what really goes on during those 6-10 hour marathons.

I really enjoyed Barrowcliffe's descriptions of other players, and found myself longing to meet some of his awkward and fantastic boyhood friends. I loved the description of the mania that D&D can create, and laughed along with the author as he presented some of the "mainstream" views of D&D (you know, gateway to the occult, Satan's game, that sort of thing).

But here's why can't rate this book higher than 3 stars out of 5: I can't stand the adult Barrowcliffe. Spaz? He's an overly-enthusiastic, mildly obnoxious, and completely obsessed teenage boy who discovers the world he's always dreamed of in a role playing game. He has the same personality flaws as 75% of all teenagers, and while I may not seek his company in real life, he's a perfectly enjoyable character in the memoir. However, Barrowcliffe? He's a bit of a prick when it comes to gamers. His criticism and observations are frequently true, and often add to the narrative itself, but every other chapter or two he takes it a bit far and is just unnecessarily nasty.

This shift from teenage-gamer to adult author has left Barrowcliffe feeling exposed. While he desperately wants to write about his boyhood obsession, he's afraid of the labels and classifications that come with it. In an attempt to distance himself from such a distinctive label he mercilessly condemns all gamers.

But let's be honest: who is going to pick up a book with "Dungeons and Dragons" in the title? Gamers, ex-gamers, or individuals like myself who feel very kindly towards gamers. The kind of bashing that slips in and out of the narrative just doesn't suit the actual audience.

So, it all comes down to this: 4.5 out of five stars for entertainment, but minus 1.5 stars for insulting the audience.

Still, if you have any kind of relationship to D&D - even a very distant one - I would recommend this book.

54.
Author: Neil Gaiman
Title: Smoke and Mirrors
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 365 pages
Genre: Short Fiction
Acquisition: LT Recommendation
Date Completed: July 15, 2010
Rating: 2 stars out of 5

Smoke and Mirrors was not to my taste. I found a few gems in the book, for for the most part I found the collection to be a bit much to swallow. Many of the stories simply fell flat, and the, er, poetry, was simply painful. As a whole, the collection made me feel like I was back in Freshman Creative Writing (which, coincidentally, is where I first heard of Neil Gaiman, as so many of my classmates cooed over the brilliance of American Gods).

Gaiman is typically hit-or-miss for me, and this volume just happens to be a strong "miss."

And I have to say, I disagree with Miami New Times, which calls Gaiman "Literature's rock star ... Among the most daring of writers around ..." I can't help but think the author of the quote isn't very well read.

53.
Author: Frank Wedekind
Title: Mine-Haha or On the Bodily Education of Young Girls
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 88 pages
Genre: Fiction
Acquisition: Early Review Copy
Date Completed: July 6, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Mine-Haha is a mildly disturbing and completely enthralling novella about a mysterious boarding institution. The girls who attend the school care for each other almost from infancy, and they know little of their future. They are instructed in dance and music by a handful of instructors, and spend their prepubescence completely isolated. In the end they are thrust out into society, with nary a question about their future.

The narration is superb; it's told from the point of view of a woman looking back at her youth, and the story itself focuses on all the superficial details that are sure to make an impression on a young girl (clothing, jewelry, an accidental death, friendships, fear). The style gives the reader a sense of natural perception is an alien institution, and confirms the unspoken realities of this peculiar life. Mine-Haha presents a quiet exploration of sexuality and bodily consciousness, while developing a progressive technique of education, performance, and gender roles.