Monthly Archives: December 2009

2009 in Books

Posted on December 31, 2009 by Thistle

It’s been a good year for books. I read far more than I’ve ever read in a single year – before 2009, I thought 100 books in a year was nearly impossible – and a great deal of them were … Continue reading →

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Wake, by Lisa McMann

Posted on December 30, 2009 by Thistle

Short summary: Ever since she was young, Janie has suffered from a condition that forces her to experience other peoples’ dreams. When she moves from observer to participant, however, her life spins drastically out of control. I’m in two minds … Continue reading →

Posted in 2009, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Thistle

There’s no need to tell you the plot to this. First, it’s famous enough. Second, there isn’t really a plot. In fact, that’s one of the things that bothered me so much. I don’t understand this book at all. Maybe … Continue reading →

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The Painted Veil, by William Somerset Maugham

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Thistle

I’m reviewing this book together with my good friend Karen of Books and Chocolate. Amanda: Hi Karen! Thanks for buddy-reviewing with me! I think I want to start out by talking about William Somerset Maugham. I first read one of … Continue reading →

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The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Thistle

Renee is a concierge in her mid-50s. She’s spent most of her life maintaining her invisibility, hiding her intelligence under a mask of stereotypical peasant ignorance. Paloma is a super-smart twelve year old girl who lives in the building where … Continue reading →

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A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith

Posted on December 12, 2009 by Thistle

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a classic coming of age story set around the turn of the century in immigrant-heavy Brooklyn. It’s so much more than a coming of age story, though. This is the third time I’ve read … Continue reading →

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Asleep, by Banana Yoshimoto

Posted on December 9, 2009 by Thistle

Included in Asleep are three longer short stories by Banana Yoshimoto, translated from the Japanese by Michael Emmerich. Each in some way deal with sleep (whether physical or metaphorical). This is my first read by Yoshimoto, and I’m delighted to … Continue reading →

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A Step From Heaven, by An Na

Posted on December 6, 2009 by Thistle

I am in a reading slump. A terrible one. I keep picking up books and saying never mind. After doing this with about 4 in a row, I decided I needed to do the old book roulette from the Random … Continue reading →

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Born on a Blue Day, by Daniel Tammet

Posted on December 4, 2009 by Thistle

I was born on 31 January 1979 – a Wednesday. I know it was a Wednesday, because the date is blue in my mind and Wednesdays are always blue. Daniel Tammet has savant syndrome. He can recite the numbers of … Continue reading →

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Amphigorey Too, by Edward Gorey

Posted on December 3, 2009 by Thistle

Amphigorey Too is the second collection of Edward Gorey graphic novel shorts. It includes 20 stories. While I didn’t enjoy Amphigorey Too as much as Amphigorey (the first collection), it did have some memorable stories in it. I’m going to … Continue reading →

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