"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

Children's Books - Kelli

Lately, if you find me at a bar, you'll find me reading a young adult novel.  I'm starting a book club at my new middle school and am geeking out on all the YA fiction I left behind at age 12.

The Westing Game: A (it's our first book for book club this year)
The Hunger Games and Catching Fire: A (every 10-14 year old has read these though, so this was just for my own enjoyment again)
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: A (second book club book of the year)
Half Magic: B (a little too young for 6th-8th graders)

Up next: And Then There Were None

I'm still struggling through Grapes of Wrath - it's enjoyable, but the pacing is a little slow.  I've also started War of the Worlds, which I think I'll get through more quickly.

A Separate Peace - Caitlin's Thoughts

So I also read this when I was feeling guilty about the challenge.  Took two days worth of metro rides.  I love short books.

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS: I had high expectations.  They weren't dashed.  Aside from the heavy hints of homosexuality, I found the main character EXTREMELY relatable.  Probably because he's a 17 year old boy who doesn't know what the hell is going on in the world and just studies hard instead.  Overall, the story was crafted very tightly.  Like no wasted space on annoying things I don't care about like irrelevant backstories; you just jump right in to the action and it's over as quick as it started.  Loves it!  I also think it was SUPER interesting to read about these kids basically isolated from the war but with it looming right there because they were totally going to get drafted in 1942 America.  I mean, I'm all for patriotism and serving for your country and stuff but hooray for those kids staying kids and then missing battle.  In some ways the book was about the horrors of war/battle/violent competition but (refreshingly) without the battle sequences/everyone dying you find in most books about boys in WWII.

MUSINGS: This is why I don't do reckless things like jump into shallow water or run on slippery paths or join infantry units on a whim.

SPOILER ALERTS: I won't spoil it but the foreshadowing is EPIC.

GRADESHEET:
Readability: A
Pace: A+++
Pacifism: A
Satisfying Ending: B
Main Character's Likeability: A+++
Advertisement for Boarding School: C-

Game of Thrones - A happy interlude

So the real reason I've been moving so slowly challenge-wise is that I've started reading the Song of Fire and Ice series.  And those books are epic.

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS: So I've seen Game of Thrones so I pretty much knew plotwise how this was going to shake down.  Getting through the first two books was actually somewhat annoying because I knew what was going to happen and just wanted to get there.  But still enjoyable reads.  Plus I figured out how to spell all of the characters' names.  Sort of.  Pretty typical epic fantasy type stuff with a little incest and political intrigue thrown in for kicks.  Well-written, creative, lots of interesting characters, a positive dwarf role model, heavy on the action, light on the self-reflection- what's not to love?  The good news is, there isn't a third season of GoT so now I WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AND WILL READ THE BOOKS SO FAST!!!!!!! The bad news is, this means I'm not about to tackle Grapes of Wrath anytime soon......

MUSINGS: How strong do you have to be to chop a dude's head off in one sword swipe?  Seriously?  Like how much would you need to be able to lift?

SPOILER ALERTS: If you are honorable, then you will die.

GRADESHEET:
Readability: A
Pace: A (BUT THESE BOOKS ARE LONG!)
Violence: A
Satisfying Ending: WHO KNOWS SO MANY MORE TO READ!
Narrator's Likeability: B?
Sweet Fake Religions: A