"The Grapes of Wrath" from Kelli

BAM!  With this book, I'm sitting pretty as the school year starts with 40 books read.  I've caught up to where I should be to reach 50 by the end of the year.  Only 2 books per month to coast into 2013.

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS:  Before I started reading Grapes of Wrath, I was dreading it.  Although Steinbeck is my favorite author (tied with Kurt Vonnegut), and I've read at least a third of everything he's published and loved each one, this story-line was spoiled for me in high school when our Steinbeck-loving English teacher had us watch the movie version of GOW rather than reading the lengthy epic in class.  THE JOADS ARE SO WHINEY IN THE MOVIE!  Who wants to watch that?!  Fearing that the book might be the same and would therefore sour my opinion of my beloved John, I've avoided the book like the plague for the past 8 years of my literature-loving life.

All I can say is "phew".  Although The Grapes of Wrath really can't hold a candle to "East of Eden" or "Of Mice and Men" (I don't care what anyone says, they're better books!), it was still enjoyable.  It started out well, dragged a bit in the middle (I mean, I know it's a long drive to California, but seriously), and then picked up again when I was about 2/3 of the way through.  There's so much wrapped up in the story, I'd rather not speculate on the plethora of themes, so I'll just suggest you read it for yourself and skip to my grade sheet.

GRADE SHEET:
Pacing: B-
Readability: B+
Protagonist's Likability: A (who is the real protagonist?  Tom?  Ma?  Rosashorn?)
Satisfying Ending: C+
Realistic Dialogue: A
Not Being Like the Shitty Movie: A

Things Fall Apart - Lynn's Take

Things Fall Apart was a quick, enjoyable read. But to tell you the truth, I think the only reason it is on the list is that it offers a non-European perspective.

Howards End - Lynn's Take

Howards End is the third E.M. Forster I've read during the challenge, and it's by far the most fully realized.  Written in 1910, the plot involves the intertwined lives of the conservative, upper-crust Wilcoxes, the progressive, upper-crust Schlegels, and the working-class Basts.

If I told you the arc of the story (which I won't, because you should read this book), it would sound contrived and precious and deus ex  machina.  But it's not.  As I read, every plot twist seemed like the most natural course of events. And the characters, even the ones that I ended up not liking all that much, were sympathetic.

In my opinion, this is by far the best written book of the three I've read.  It transcended commentary on English society to be a poignant observation of the human condition.

"War of the Worlds" from Kelli

This book should actually be called "Martians Conquer Earthlings, But Through Sheer Luck Bacteria Kills Them".  Where was the war?!  It was more like a chronicle of the human race being completely dominated and then recuperating after the Martians were unfortunate enough to die off - through no effort whatsoever on the part of humans.

I was hoping for an inspiring tale of the indomitable human spirit.  Instead I found a diary-like tale of a man (and sometimes from the perspective of his brother) who hides until it is safe to come out.  Can you say YAWN?  Despite being a short book, it was a long read.

GRADE SHEET:
Pacing: D
Readability: C
Protagonist's Likability: C
Satisfying Ending: D
Ability to Put to Sleep: B+
Later Adaptation to Tom Cruise: A