Book Awards Reading Challenge Completed

I have completed my first challenge of 2008. I enjoyed most of the books I read for this challenge. I am not sure if I will sign up for the Book Awards challenge Part II as I am not reading a lot right now.

Well I held off for as long as I could in signing up for the Book Awards Reading Challenge however finally cracked yesterday and decided to join after taking a look at different book award lists and realizing that I owned many books that have won awards but hadn't gotten around to reading yet.

The rules are to read any 12 award-winning books from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. Examples of book awards are the Pulitzer Prize, Orange Prize, Booker Prize, Newbery Award, etc. The challenge also allows the participants to read any book from an author who has won the Nobel Prize for Literature. However, at least SIX of the twelve books must be actual book prize winners. Books may also be cross-posted with other challenges.

There is a blog set up for this challenge at Book Awards Challenge that allows participants to post to or participants can choose instead to post on their own blog.

My tenative list for the challenge is:

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt - 1997 Pulitzer (Biography/Autobiography)
[completed April 18th, 2008]

B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton - 1986 Anthony
[completed October 20th, 2007]

The Black Echo by Michael Connelly - 1992 Edgar Award (First Novel)
[completed August 13th, 2007]

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak - 2007 Book Sense (Children's Lit)
[completed March 12th, 2008]

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen - 2001 National Book Award
[completed June 2nd, 2008]

Eldest by Christopher Paolini - 2006 Quill Awards (Young Adult/Teen)
[completed March 31st, 2008]

Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald - 1997 Commonwealth Writers (First Book)
[completed May 14th, 2008]

The Road by Cormac McCarthy - 2007 Pulitzer (Fiction)
[completed July 4th, 2007]

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry - 1990 Newbery Award
[completed April 23rd, 2008]

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck - 1962 Nobel Prize
[completed September 22nd, 2007]

Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky - 2004 Prix Renaudot
[completed April 10th, 2008]

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen - 2007 Alex Award
[completed February 26th, 2008]

The Corrections

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

Finished June 2nd, 2008

Rating: 3/10

Book Awards Reading Challenge Book #12



Barnes & Noble Synopsis

The narrative focuses on three critical months in the history of the Lambert family, longtime residents of the fictional midwestern city of St. Jude. Albert, the patriarch, is a once-formidable figure whose frequent rages and implacable rectitude have dominated life in the Lambert household for nearly 50 years. As the novel begins, Albert had just been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Against the perfectly articulated background of his physical and mental deterioration, Enid -- Albert's long-suffering, perpetually dissatisfied wife -- develops a single, overriding obsession: to see her scattered family return to St. Jude for one last Christmas together.

The bulk of the story depicts the disordered lives of the three departed Lambert children: Gary, a grasping, increasingly unhappy investment banker with family troubles of his own; Chip, a former professor and failed screenwriter who drifts into a dangerous, highly illegal investment scam in economically depressed Lithuania; and Denise, a gifted chef lost in a maze of sexual confusion and "moral chaos." In time, and by various circuitous routes, all three will find their way to that climactic Christmas in St. Jude, and to a final confrontation with the ghosts of the past, a confrontation that is painful, tragic, and liberating, all at once.


I found that this book was all over the place. The story jumps between characters and from past to present but with very little fluency. I didn't see the point of most of the storyline and didn't like the characters or plot. I didn't take anything away from the book after finishing it, I would suggest skipping this one.

Fall on Your Knees

Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald

Finished May 14th, 2008

Rating: 7/10

Book Awards Reading Challenge Book #11



Synopsis
The Piper family is steeped in secrets, lies, and unspoken truths. At the eye of the storm is one secret that threatens to shake their lives -- even destroy them.

Set on stormy Cape Breton Island off Nova Scotia, Fall on Your Knees is an internationally acclaimed multigenerational saga that chronicles the lives of four unforgettable sisters. Theirs is a world filled with driving ambition, inescapable family bonds, and forbidden love.

Compellingly written, by turns menacingly dark and hilariously funny, this is an epic tale of five generations of sin, guilt, and redemption.


I had my ups and downs with this book. At times I really liked it and other times, not so much. I am not sure about the writing style as I felt confused at times reading the book. I had to re-read certain parts to make sure I understood what the author was trying to say. In the end the book did come together for me but the journey there had too many downs for me to rate it higher than a 7.

Number the Stars

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Finished April 23rd, 2008

Rating: 9/10

Book Awards Reading Challenge Book #10




Barnes & Noble Synopsis
Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think of life before the war. It's now 1943 and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching through town. When the Jews of Denmark are "relocated," Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be one of the family. Soon Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission to save Ellen's life.


I read "The Giver" by Lowry last year for the Dystopian Challenge and loved it, so thought I would give this book a try for the Book Awards Challenge.

This is the 3rd book in the last 2 months that I have read that is set during World War II and was my favourite that I read. Lowry manages to take a very complex subject and write it in an elegant and simplistic nature which makes the message she is trying to convery all the more powerful. I really enjoy Lowry's writing style and am looking forward to reading more.

Angela's Ashes

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

Finished April 18th, 2008

Rating: 6/10

Book Awards Reading Challenge Book #9



This book started out fast and furious as the author jumped right into it telling his life story. I wasn't too keen on the writing style at first however as I started to get further into the book I did enjoy it a little more.

I found myself comparing the book to a similar Memoir "The Glass Castle" where the family also struggles to make ends meet and whose father also has a drinking problem and spends his earnings (when he does have a job) on alcohol. I didn't enjoy this book as much as The Glass Castle due to the writing style.

The book ends when Frank is 19 so I guess there must be a sequel to continue his story however I don't think I will be picking it up anytime soon.

Suite Francaise

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky

Finished April 10, 2008

Rating: 8/10

Book Awards Reading Challenge Book #8



It is very difficult to rate this book given it is unfinished as the author only finished 2 out of the 5 parts of the book. The author wrote the book during World War II and never had a chance to finish it as she was sent to one of the concentration camps and died shortly after arriving. From what I did read I enjoyed and based on this would have to assume that if the author had a chance to finish the book I would have liked the subsequent parts and ending.

Eldest

Eldest by Christopher Paolini

Finished March 31st, 2008

Rating: 8/10

Book Awards Reading Challenge Book #7




I was going to rate this book lower then the first book in the series however the last 50 pages made me change my mind and I decided to rate it the same. Most of the storyline is about Eragon's training with the elves however I didn't feel like I was learning anything new about the characters or the storyline until about the last 50 pages when a major battle takes place and some secrets are revealed. I liked that there was a second storyline going on besides Eragon's training with the elves which was about Eragon's cousin Roran which added to the plot and made me like the book better.

The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Finished March 12th, 2008

Rating: 6/10

Book Awards Reading Challenge Book #6

Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants

Finished February 26th, 2008

Rating: 7/10

Book Awards Reading Challenge Book #5


Synopsis

As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.


An entertaining book however I was not blown away by it. I did find it difficult at times to read about some of the animal cruelty that takes place in the book. It was a good solid book but not a page turner for me.

B is for Burglar

B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton

Finished October 20th, 2007

Rating: 6/10

Book Awards Reading Challenge Book #4


From the Publisher
Elaine Boldt is missing, and her sister wants Kinsey Millhone to find her.
Seems like a routine job. Boldt was last seen lavishly draped in a $12,000 lynx coat heading for Boca Raton. She never got there. But someone else had, and was camping out illegally in Mrs. Boldt's abode. Now, things were beginning to seem a bit less routine - particularly when Kinsey is ordered to drop the investigation just as she discovers that days before Elaine Boldt "bolted", her next-door neighbor and bridge partner had been murdered. Unfortunately, the killer is still at large . . . and looking for Kinsey!

The last 60 pages redeemed this book for me as the beginning and middle part of the part was so slow. If it weren't for the last 60 pages I would have rated this book much lower than a 6 out of 10.

I would like to see some more development of the character Kinsey as I feel like I don't know her yet and this is the 2nd book in the series that I have read. I know there are many more books in the series so I am hoping the author does a better job in future books of providing greater insight to Kinsey and what makes her tick.

Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Finished September 22nd, 2007

Rating: 7/10

Decades Challenge Book #8 (1930s)
Book Awards Reading Challenge Book #3

From the Editors
When feeble-minded Lenny Small and his protector George Milton arrive to work on a ranch in the Salinas Valley of California, they dream of the day when they can own their own farm. But when Lenny accidentially kills the ranch owner's daughter-in-law, their lives are changed forever.

The writing flows easily in this well written book. It is a very short book and I didn't want it to end as I wanted to read more about the characters. East of Eden is still my favourite Steinbeck book but this is a close second.

The Black Echo

The Black Echo by Michael Connelly

Finished August 13th, 2007

Rating: 8/10

2007 Summer Mystery Reading Challenge Book #6
Book Awards Reading Challenge Book #2


This was the first book I have read of Michael Connelly and I very much enjoyed it. The writing reminded me of David Baldacci who is one of my favourite suspense writers.

The story is about an LAPD detective (Harry Bosch) that finds one of his former Vietnam army colleagues dead. It appears to be a drug overdose however after further investigation Bosch believes otherwise. The story is fairly fast paced as it involves bank robberies, the FBI, Internal Affairs, etc.

I was a little disappointed with the Bosch character as he seeems to be the typical loner tortured detective. I hope his character develops over the next few books in the series.

The Road

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Finished July 4th, 2007

Rating: 9/10

Dystopian Challenge Book #3

Book Awards Reading Challenge Book #1



I wasn't sure what to expect from this book as I have heard you either love it or hate it. It was hard for me to get into this book at the beginning however after about 75 pages into the book it was hard for me to put it down.

The book describes the journey of a Father and Son through postapocalyptic America and is bleak and haunting.

I was very curious about what happened to make America this way and whether it was restricted to the US or whether it happened to the whole world? You never do find out what happened and perhaps that is the point. I also found it interesting that the characters were not given names.

After finishing the book I was a little disappointed about certain aspects about the book such as the ending and no real plot however I now realize that these are the things that made the book. It was more about the journey rather than the destination and not about finding out how certain things came to be but about how the Father and Son dealt with them.

It is a book that lingers with you after you have finished reading it.

Book Awards Reading Challenge

Well I held off for as long as I could in signing up for the Book Awards Reading Challenge however finally cracked yesterday and decided to join after taking a look at different book award lists and realizing that I owned many books that have won awards but hadn't gotten around to reading yet.

The rules are to read any 12 award-winning books from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. Examples of book awards are the Pulitzer Prize, Orange Prize, Booker Prize, Newbery Award, etc. The challenge also allows the participants to read any book from an author who has won the Nobel Prize for Literature. However, at least SIX of the twelve books must be actual book prize winners. Books may also be cross-posted with other challenges.

There is a blog set up for this challenge at Book Awards Challenge that allows participants to post to or participants can choose instead to post on their own blog.

My tenative list for the challenge is:

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt - 1997 Pulitzer (Biography/Autobiography)

B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton - 1986 Anthony

The Black Echo by Michael Connelly - 1992 Edgar Award (First Novel)

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak - 2007 Book Sense (Children's Lit)

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen - 2001 National Book Award

Eldest by Christopher Paolini - 2006 Quill Awards (Young Adult/Teen)

Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald - 1997 Commonwealth Writers (First Book)

The Road by Cormac McCarthy - 2007 Pulitzer (Fiction)

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry - 1990 Newbery Award

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck - 1962 Nobel Prize

Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky - 2004 Prix Renaudot

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen - 2007 Alex Award