Day 231 – The book you will read tonight (pg 451)

I was concerned when I began An Equal Music by Vikram Seth. In the opening chapters, the descriptions are vivid and striking. When I thought I was going to have to fight my way through this for the entire book, I was worried that it would take me forever. After the first few chapters however, I was in and hooked. It is a large novel, however it was quicker to read (most likely as it was more enjoyable) than a lot of the smaller novels I have read.

The protagonist was interesting, at times I found him to be a strong character, intelligent, caring, generous and interesting. He would then switch to a creepy, oppressive stalker who was despondent and entirely dependant on another for his happiness. It felt like I was reading two stories and I found I enjoyed the love affair he had with music, more than the love affair he had with a woman.

It is a beautifully written story, I had classical music playing in the background as I read much of this and it really added to the atmosphere. As the main character is a violinist, I felt quite guilty about not having played my violin for some time.

I am also feeling quite guilty about the rate I am (or am not) getting through these books. I just don’t know how I am going to do it. Three and a half days to read each book that is left... it is possible, but looking at it from where I am now, it hardly seems probable.

50 days remaining, 14 books to go.

Day 226 – It was a tooled copy of Shakespeare’s Comedies, which Ross had picked up cheap because it had a page missing (pg 67)

One Pair of Feet by Monica Dickens was a book I picked up at a Rotary book sale. When I discovered it was the second in a series I looked for the first in, One Pair of Hands, which I have read. I have since discovered I could’ve read the second without reading the first, and I did enjoy the first more than the second.

Just as I suspected, Nurse Dickens wasn’t much better than Cook General Dickens. However there were once again an abundance of colourful characters for Dickens to watch and study, from other nurses to patients. I am quite certain I would not like to have found myself in hospital in those days, as just about every nurse seemed to be as inefficient as the writer.

One small problem, the last page or pages are missing from this copy. I therefore have no idea if Dickens actually passed her nursing exams and decided to pack it in anyway, or failed and was sent packing. A mystery that will never be solved, unless I happen to come across another copy of the book somewhere and can read the remaining pages.

55 days remaining, 15 books to go.

Day 224 –What a happy day for booksellers (pg 93)

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Austen and Ben H. Winters, started out to be more promising than Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Although I did actually become quite bored with it, and also irritated by the apparent stupidness of the characters.

The Dashwood Sisters (who are, in the original, an intelligent trio) are entirely self absorbed and ignore very important goings on around them. Why doesn’t anyone question the youngest Dashwood, Miss Margaret, who starts hearing and seeing strange things on the island where they live? Why doesn’t Elinor Dashwood tell someone a swordfish has been making small cracks in the glass dome of the underwater city? I can’t stand when things are made obvious to the reader and should be obvious to the characters but are ignored, that is my major issue with this book.

I was however, more willing to believe that sea creatures had mutated and were plotting to eradicate human civilisation, than believe that the Bennet sisters could receive private marshal arts training in China in order to take on armies of the living dead. Perhaps that has a deeper reflection on my psyche... One best not delve too deep.

57 days remaining, 16 books to go.

Day 209 – How could I go anywhere with my throat threatening everyone? (pg 68)

Savannah Grey by Cliff McNish comes from my winnings from the Book Depository and is another woeful teenage ‘horror’ story in the vein of Twilight garbage.

I completely fail to understand how anyone could be swept away by this story. See the quote above for a lovely example; ‘My throat threatening everyone?’ oh give me a break, parts of the story that were evidently supposed to be horrifying made me laugh in disbelief at the ridiculous manner in which they were written.

I did not care about the stupid characters, their ‘plight’, nor the ‘mysteries’ they faced. I found it very easy not to turn the page, fell asleep while trying to read it and would often put it down to go and do more exciting things like clean the toilet. I will not even bother providing you with a general overview of plot, as it may in fact put you to sleep.

Harsh? Possibly, however if I was not sworn to finishing the books on the list, I would’ve given this away to the op shop by page 2.

I do find it quite interesting to note however, the amazing reviews it has been given. Apparently wishy washy Twilight rubbish is what teenagers want these days. I can only hope there aren't anymore in my list of books yet to read.

72 days remaining, 17 books to go.

Day 207 – I went to look at one of the books, but I’m scared to. I’m scared to do anything (pg 140)

I did happen to finish One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest about 4 weeks ago, I have just been terribly hopeless at blogging. Thankfully I did write down all of my thoughts soon after I finished the book so my review is quite ‘fresh’ I assure you!

One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey is quite a disturbing book. I had previously seen a short scene from the film while at film school so my experience of the book was a little tainted. The story takes place in a mental asylum in the 1960s (which is when it was written and am assuming when it is set).

The tone of the story reminded me a little of Catcher in the Rye. Interesting side note, during his life J. D. Salinger would not allow Catcher in the Rye to be made into a film. Now that he has passed away, apparently Hollywood directors are falling all over themselves to try and secure the rights... a shame really I think. I am however quite interested to see One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest on screen now.

The descriptions Kesey provides from the point of view of the main character the ‘Chief’ about the life in the asylum and the forest of his childhood are magical.

The way the ward is described creates an atmosphere, although oppressive and confined, that is accepted without question by the reader.

A confronting but also beautiful book, if I was to give out stars... 4 stars from me!

74 days remaining, 18 books to go.

Day 207 - I fancied a look at some pregnancy and child-care books, but I discovered most of them are absolutely shocking (pg 136)

Oh holy whoops. I am very very very behind in my reading and it’s now going to be an epic effort to find myself at the finish line victorious.

Two books have been added and completed in this time; What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel and Up The Duff by Kaz Cooke.

Why have these books been added? Well surely that is quite obvious?! I am both up the duff and expecting a small thing at the beginning of February next year. I am also currently planning my wedding for October this year and will be on my honeymoon in Tasmania when the deadline comes to pass...

Now while I have also borrowed other books from the library on the topic of pregnancy, I have found it best just to stick to the two mentioned above. They are brilliant books.
What to Expect when You’re Expecting is a good reference book, you can quickly look up what is going on if your hair suddenly turns blue or you start doing the nut bush uncontrollably (these are not official symptoms of pregnancy , I am merely saving those who are reading a blog about books and not one about pregnancy from the ups and downs and ins and outs of it all.)

Up The Duff is also extremely informative with multitudes of humour thrown in for good measure. This helps a lot when one finds oneself in such a condition as this. It is very easy to read and my future husband has even been found to be perusing the pages week by week keeping tabs on our baby’s development. The quote above is taken from Up The Duff. I would highly recommend both if you in fact require such books as these.

74 days remaining, 19 books to go (oh my)

Day 166 – You mean your great novel with all your choice comments about my mother? (Pg 88)

Katy Carter Want's a Hero by Ruth Saberton, was actually better than I had expected. It's the story of a 29 year old woman who decides to pack in her job and take off to the seaside to write a novel... oh glorious escapism!

The story did become a little tedious. I got rather sick of the hopeless and ridiculous situations Katy got herself into that she really should’ve seen coming, however it was not to be taken too seriously.

I loved the beginning of the novel were when Katy was writing her romance novel and lines from her writing would slip into the story, I laughed out loud at some of them; ‘The voice contained a potent masculinity that made the small golden hairs on Millandra’s slim arms ripple deliciously’. Towards the end of the book these lovely lines disappeared and I didn't find the story quite as enjoyable. Funny that, I never thought of myself as a Mills and Boon girl.

This book comes from the pile of 'winnings' from the book depository and I’m quite happy that I’ve actually enjoyed one of these. I’m now much more hopeful that there may be a hidden gem in the pile.

119 days remaining, 19 books to go.