October Reads
Finally - my October reading list! Only 6 books, but one of them is the longest book I've ever read. And I've been working my way through another of Diana Gabaldon's books on audio, though I didn't finish that yet. Read on....
No Need for Speed: A beginner's guide to the joy of running by John Bingham - 10/12/09
Excellent - Non-fiction [999 Category - Serendipity 1 (revised category)]
This couch potato turned back-of-the-pack athlete has uncovered the path to joy, contentment, self-discovery, and life-changing success, all by putting one foot in front of the other.
As you may know, I have started jogging this year and I'm certainly not fast. This book was very helpful in setting goals and realizing a healthy approach to one of my new activities.
Edmund Bertram's Diary by Amanda Grange - 10/17/09
Good - Romance [999 Category - Becoming Jane]
Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, told through the eyes of Edmund Bertram
I adore Amanda Grange's diaries of the Austen heroes. Mansfield Park is my least favorite of Austen's six novels, but reading this made me like both Edmund and Fanny more.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas - 10/24/09
Excellent - Classic [999 Category - Vintage Volumes]
Edmond Dantes is wrongfully imprisoned, but escapes and spends the next 10 years plotting and executing his revenge.
Wow, this was the longest book I've ever read - about 1400 pages. It probably deserves a whole blog post of its own, but as I've been neglecting poor Mirkwood for a while now, that likely isn't going to happen. If, like me, you'd only ever seen movie adaptations of the Count of Monte Cristo, this will be an eye-opener for you, and no mistake. The abridged version of the novel (usually around 4o0 pages) is no comparison, according to our book club discussion. The movie with Jim Caviezel is NOTHING like the book - at least not the second half of the movie. What a richly layered book - a masterpiece truly. But a test of my reading endurance!
Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange - 10/25/09
Good - Romance [999 Category - Becoming Jane]
Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy are on their wedding journey, but Lizzy soon comes to realize that Darcy guards a terrible secret.
When I first heard of this, I was rather shocked actually. But the more I thought of smouldering reticent Darcy, the more I realized this was an intriguing prospect for a Jane Austen adaptation. And it was quite amusing! If you know Pride and Prejudice (book or movie) and like vampire books, give this a try!
The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald - 10/25/09
Fair - Childrens [999 Category - Nostalgia]
JD's brother Tom always is out to make a buck in their small Utah town of 100 years ago.
I liked this a lot better having it read to me back in the day. It has lost some of its relevance in the intervening years, I think. My kids liked it better than I thought they would, but it isn't going to make any of my top reading lists.
Mr. Darcy's Daughters by Elizabeth Aston - 10/31/09
Good - Romance [999 Category - Becoming Jane]
The five spirited daughters of Lizzy and Darcy come to London for the Season under the care of a cousin.
This one was amusing, but not as good as Mr. Darcy, Vampyre or any of the Amanda Grange diaries. If you need an Austen fan fiction fix, though, it will do. Quite creative in its premise, though Lizzy and Darcy are not in the story at all.
What are you reading?
No Need for Speed: A beginner's guide to the joy of running by John Bingham - 10/12/09
Excellent - Non-fiction [999 Category - Serendipity 1 (revised category)]
This couch potato turned back-of-the-pack athlete has uncovered the path to joy, contentment, self-discovery, and life-changing success, all by putting one foot in front of the other.
As you may know, I have started jogging this year and I'm certainly not fast. This book was very helpful in setting goals and realizing a healthy approach to one of my new activities.
Edmund Bertram's Diary by Amanda Grange - 10/17/09
Good - Romance [999 Category - Becoming Jane]
Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, told through the eyes of Edmund Bertram
I adore Amanda Grange's diaries of the Austen heroes. Mansfield Park is my least favorite of Austen's six novels, but reading this made me like both Edmund and Fanny more.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas - 10/24/09
Excellent - Classic [999 Category - Vintage Volumes]
Edmond Dantes is wrongfully imprisoned, but escapes and spends the next 10 years plotting and executing his revenge.
Wow, this was the longest book I've ever read - about 1400 pages. It probably deserves a whole blog post of its own, but as I've been neglecting poor Mirkwood for a while now, that likely isn't going to happen. If, like me, you'd only ever seen movie adaptations of the Count of Monte Cristo, this will be an eye-opener for you, and no mistake. The abridged version of the novel (usually around 4o0 pages) is no comparison, according to our book club discussion. The movie with Jim Caviezel is NOTHING like the book - at least not the second half of the movie. What a richly layered book - a masterpiece truly. But a test of my reading endurance!
Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange - 10/25/09
Good - Romance [999 Category - Becoming Jane]
Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy are on their wedding journey, but Lizzy soon comes to realize that Darcy guards a terrible secret.
When I first heard of this, I was rather shocked actually. But the more I thought of smouldering reticent Darcy, the more I realized this was an intriguing prospect for a Jane Austen adaptation. And it was quite amusing! If you know Pride and Prejudice (book or movie) and like vampire books, give this a try!
The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald - 10/25/09
Fair - Childrens [999 Category - Nostalgia]
JD's brother Tom always is out to make a buck in their small Utah town of 100 years ago.
I liked this a lot better having it read to me back in the day. It has lost some of its relevance in the intervening years, I think. My kids liked it better than I thought they would, but it isn't going to make any of my top reading lists.
Mr. Darcy's Daughters by Elizabeth Aston - 10/31/09
Good - Romance [999 Category - Becoming Jane]
The five spirited daughters of Lizzy and Darcy come to London for the Season under the care of a cousin.
This one was amusing, but not as good as Mr. Darcy, Vampyre or any of the Amanda Grange diaries. If you need an Austen fan fiction fix, though, it will do. Quite creative in its premise, though Lizzy and Darcy are not in the story at all.
What are you reading?
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