read 100 books in 2005

by Roald Dahl 9/10 stars August 17

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2524269

I loved this one! Roald Dahl has such a knack for writing to kids in such a hilarious and respectful way. I have always enjoyed his books! He is one of the best writers for championing the oppressed child through humour!

by Joyce Carol Oates 8/10 stars August 14

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3073870

I really enjoyed Missing Mom. It is the story of the transition time between being the age of a grown-up and actually feeling like one. Part of that process involves learning who your parents are as real people, not just “Mom and Dad.” Nikki’s journey to recover from her mother’s tragic death ultimately leads her to find out who she really is.

by Louis Sachar 9/10 stars August 8

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2537356

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Journal entry 2 by Ri(327/148) from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Monday, August 08, 2005

Awesome book! There are so many layers to it – just like Sam’s onions! I especially enjoyed that this copy had been previously owned by “Jim Johnston.” His name is in the book, and he clearly read it for school as there are one line summaries at the end of each chapter. I felt like I was not ony reading the book through my eyes, butthrough his as well. Thanks, mystery Jim, for adding even another layer to this book for me!

by Alice Hoffman 9/10 stars August 7

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2452764

I loved this one! This book reads like a 1950s “Desperate Housewives.” As n her other novels, Alice Hoffman creates characters who are believable and enjoyable because they are truly human, faults and all.

by Joanna Briscoe 8/10 stars August 5

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3073885

My body feels a little sticky after reading this book, like I need a long hot shower. While the book creeped me out somewhat, I felt compelled to keep reading. It is hard to imagine the level of manipulation and deceit that some people live every day, how easily they lure others in.

I hesitate to say this was a “good” read, but I did enjoy it. It was a decadent savoring initially that increased to maddening page turning, mimicking the passionate intensity of the affair.

by Amy Cameron 9/10 stars August 4

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2952441

I loved this one! I read these delicious stories here and there – on the train, in bed, lounging in the afternoon. Some made me cringe and be glad that wasn’t me. Others were truly laugh out loud funny! I just had to read some of them aloud to my husband. We had such good times laughing and cringing about them! We even shared our own worst date stories. Turns out they both involved the movie “There’s Something About Mary”!

This book isn’t going to change your life, but it may make you feel better about it!

PS. I really want to send an anniversary card to Amy’s parents! I can’t believe their wedding story!!

by Alan Brown 8/10 stars August 2

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3068181

I finished this one on the train today. Great book! I’ve never yet been to Japan, but my husband had lived there several years. This story had all the little details that my hubby talks about – vending machines with hot cans of coffee, funny names of restaurants, etc. More than that, I enjoyed Toshi, a man straddling two cultures. He is mystified by yet attracted to American women. I also was drawn in by his search to understand his parents. It is such a good reminder of how deep emotions and experiences go beneath a seemingly serene surface.

Great read! Many thanks to SandDanz for recommending it!

by Ayelet Waldman 7/10 stars July 31

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2969364

OK, so can a loose mystery that hangs on to a sketchy genetic hinge entertain me on a lazy Sunday afternoon? You bet! I needed something lighter than the heavy history books I’ve been reading for Harper Collins First Look Reviews and this was just right!

by Louise Erdrich 7/10 stars July 30

I am reviewing this advanced Reader copy both for Harper Collins First Look Reviews and for ELLE Magazine’s Readers’ Jury for the November issue.

Erdrich’s style of prose flows like a lyrical ambling river. During the sections about Faye, I found myself reading more slowly, seeped in the thickness of the writing, as if I was floating on the surface but ever aware of the depth beneath me. The sections of the drum’s history, however, moved with a swiftness, a steady current carrying me through generations. I found myself unable to put the book down, as if the beating drum was propelling me forward. The book closes with a calmness, as if the river flow is emptying into a giant pool where one can find all the answers if left long enough.

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3073879

by John Searles 7/10 stars July 26 (library book)

I couldn’t decide if I liked this one or not, but someting in me compelled me to keep reading. In the end I swayed more toward the liking it side, but not sure I would want to read more by this author.