Movies of December 2007:

Pride and Prejudice-5/5
Raising Helen-4/5
The Condemned-3/5
The Heartbreak Kid-3.5/5
The Nanny Diaries-4/5
The Simpsons Movie-4/5
Zoolander-4/5

Books on CD of 2007:

Books on CD of 2007:

(Favorites in red:)

(Least favorites in blue:)

A History of Ancient Rome--Frances Tichener 4/5
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn--Betty Smith 5/5
Adored--Tilly Bagshawe 3.5/5
Animal Farm--George Orwell4/5
Autumn Bridge--Takashi Matsuoka 4/5
Black Order--James Rollins 4/5
Body Surfing--Anita Shreve 3/5
Breaker--Minette Walters 3.5/5
Chistine Falls--Benjamin Black 3.5/5
Coal Run--Tawni O'dell 3.5/5
Dead Witch Walking--Kim Harrison 4/5
Divining Women--Kaye Gibbons 4.5/5
Divorced From the Mob--Andrea Giovino 4/5
Full Moon Rising--Keri Arthur 2.5/5

Heart of Darkness--Joseph Conrad 2/5
Magic Hour--Kristen Hannah 3.5/5
Moll Flanders--Daniel Defoe 4.5/5
Oh My Stars--Lorna Landvik 3/5
Pride and Prejudice--Jane Austen 3.5/5
Saturday--Ian McEwan--4.5/5
Saving Fish From Drowning--3/5
Sense and Sensibility--Jane Austen 3/5
Slaughterhouse Five-Kurt Vonnegut 2/5
Some Enchanted Evening--Christina Dodd 3/5
Swapping Lives-Jane Green 3.5/5
Sweetwater Creek--Anne River Siddons 3/5
The Abortionist's Daughter--Elisabeth Hyde 3/5
The Bell Jar--Sylvia Plath 4/5
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time-Mark Haddon 4/5
The Girls of Riyadh-Rajaa Alsanea 3.5/5
The Guy Not Taken--Jennifer Weiner 3/5
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter--Carson McCullers 4/5
The Thirteenth Tale--Diane Setterfield 4.5/5
Two Little Girls in Blue--Mary Higgins Clark 3.5/5

Books of 2007

Books that I read:

(Favorites in red:)

(Least favorites in blue:)

A Dangerous Love-Bertrice Small 4/5
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius-David Eggers 2/5
A Prayer for Owen Meany--John Irving 4.5/5
A Private Hotel For Gentle Ladies-Ellen Cooney 2/5
Al Capone Does My Shirts-Gennifer Choldenko 4/5
Candle in the Window--Christina Dodd 4/5
Castles in the Air-Christina Dodd 4/5
Cat Women-4/5
Death Match--Lincold Child 4/5
Field Guide to Germs-Wayne Biddle 3/5
Go Tell it on the Mountain--James Baldwin 4/5
Life of Pi-Yann Martel 5/5
Lost-Gregory Maguire 3/5
Loves Music, Loves to Dance-Mary Higgins Clark 4/5
Mistral's Kiss-Laurell K. Hamilton 3.5/5
Naked in Death-J.D. Robb 4/5
Nineteen Minutes-Jodi Picoult 4/5
O'Pioneers--Willa cather 4/5
Pimps, Whores and Welfare Brats- 3.5/5
Posh--Lucy Jackson 2.5/5
Rant-Chuck Palahniuk 3/5
The 6th Target--James Patterson 4/5
The Awakening--Kate Chopin 3/5
The Beautiful and the Damned--F. Scott Fitzgerald 4/5
The Boleyn Inheritance-Philippa Gregory 5/5
The Dogs Who Found Me:What I've Learned From Pets Who Have Been Left Behind-Ken Foster 1.5/5
The End-Lemony Snickett 4/5
The Family-Mario Puzo 4/5
The Grapes of Wrath-John Steinbeck 5/5
The Hiding Place-Corrie ten Boom 5/5
The Monks of New Skete: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend-Monks of New Skete-2/5
The Return of the Native-Thomas Hardy 4.5/5
The Shipping News- E. Annie Proulx 3/5
The Twilight Lord-Bertrice Small 4/5
The World's 20 Worst Crimes-Katy Kray 3.5/5
Things Fall Apart-Chinua Achebe 5/5
To Love Again-Bertrice Small 4/5

What Wendell Wants-Jenny Lee 3.5/5

By the Decade Reading Challenge 2007

Didn't finish this year. I am about halfway finished with "The Woman in White" by Wilkie collins and I am LOVING it! I got "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad on Book on CD for Christmas and I listened to it. It was not really my cup of tea, but I finished it. The only book that I didn't get to at all was "She" by H. Rider Haggard. Maybe I can read it next year.

Completed titles are in blue italics:

1860’s- “The Woman in White” Wilkie Collins--currently reading

1870’s- “Return of the Native” Thomas Hardy

1880’s- “She” by H. Rider Haggard

1890’s- “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin

1900’s- “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad

1910’s- “O’Pioneers” by Willa Cather

1920’s- “The Beautiful and Damned” by F. Scott Fitzgerald

1930’s- “Grapes of Wrath” by James Steinbeck

1940’s- “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” by Carson McCullers

1950’s- “Go Tell it on the Mountain” by James Baldwin

1960’s- “Slaughterhouse Five” by Kurt Vonnegut

1970’s- “The Hiding Place” by Corrie ten Boom

1980’s- “A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving

1990’s- “The Shipping News” by E. Annie Proulx

2000’s- “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel

Update on By the Decades Reading Challenge 2007

Well, I still have three books to go, so I don't think that I am going to finish this year. I am very sad, but I will start much earlier next year. I am very happy that I read the books that I did this year. I have definately "expanded my horizons" and read a few authors that I never would have read on my own.

Completed titles are in blue italics:
1860’s- “The Woman in White” Wilkie Collins
1870’s- “Return of the Native” Thomas Hardy
1880’s- “She” by H. Rider Haggard
1890’s- “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin
1900’s- “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad
1910’s- “O’Pioneers” by Willa Cather
1920’s- “The Beautiful and Damned” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
1930’s- “Grapes of Wrath” by James Steinbeck
1940’s- “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” by Carson McCullers
1950’s- “Go Tell it on the Mountain” by James Baldwin
1960’s- “Slaughterhouse Five” by Kurt Vonnegut
1970’s- “The Hiding Place” by Corrie ten Boom
1980’s- “A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving
1990’s- “The Shipping News” by E. Annie Proulx
2000’s- “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel

Books I've Read December 2007

Books on CD:

"Swapping Lives" by Jane Green 3.5/5

"Two Little Girls in Blue" by Mary Higgins Clark 3.5/5

"Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad 2.5/5

Books I've Read:

"The Return of the Native" by Thomas Hardy 4.5/5

"The Beautiful and the Damned" by F. Scott Fitzgerald 4/5

"Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin 4/5

Update on By the Decade Reading Challenge 2007

I'm starting a little late, but I thought that I would give it a go!
Completed titles are in blue italics
1860’s- “The Woman in White” Wilkie Collins
1870’s- “Return of the Native” Thomas Hardy
1880’s- “She” by H. Rider Haggard
1890’s- “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin
1900’s- “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad
1910’s- “O’Pioneers” by Willa Cather
1920’s- “The Beautiful and Damned” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
1930’s- “Grapes of Wrath” by James Steinbeck
1940’s- “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” by Carson McCullers
1950’s- “Go Tell it on the Mountain” by James Baldwin
1960’s- “Slaughterhouse Five” by Kurt Vonnegut
1970’s- “The Hiding Place” by Corrie ten Boom
1980’s- “A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving
1990’s- “The Shipping News” by E. Annie Proulx
2000’s- “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel

Movies of November 2007

28 Weeks Later-4/5
Blades of Glory-3.5/5
I Now Pronouce You Chuck and Larry-4/5
The Contract-4/5
The Reaping-3/5

Update on By the Decade Reading Challenge 2007

I'm starting a little late, but I thought that I would give it a go!
Completed titles are in blue italics
1860’s- “The Woman in White” Wilkie Collins
1870’s- “Return of the Native” Thomas Hardy
1880’s- “She” by H. Rider Haggard
1890’s- “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin
1900’s- “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad
1910’s- “O’Pioneers” by Willa Cather
1920’s- “The Beautiful and Damned” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
1930’s- “Grapes of Wrath” by James Steinbeck
1940’s- “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” by Carson McCullers
1950’s- “Go Tell it on the Mountain” by James Baldwin
1960’s- “Slaughterhouse Five” by Kurt Vonnegut
1970’s- “The Hiding Place” by Corrie ten Boom
1980’s- “A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving
1990’s- “The Shipping News” by E. Annie Proulx
2000’s- “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel

Update on By the Decade Reading Challenge 2007

I'm starting a little late, but I thought that I would give it a go!

Completed titles are in blue italics

1860’s- “The Woman in White” Wilkie Collins

1870’s- “Return of the Native” Thomas Hardy

1880’s- “She” by H. Rider Haggard

1890’s- “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin

1900’s- “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad

1910’s- “O’Pioneers” by Willa Cather

1920’s- “The Beautiful and Damned” by F. Scott Fitzgerald

1930’s- “Grapes of Wrath” by James Steinbeck

1940’s- “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” by Carson McCullers

1950’s- “Go Tell it on the Mountain” by James Baldwin

1960’s- “Slaughterhouse Five” by Kurt Vonnegut

1970’s- “The Hiding Place” by Corrie ten Boom

1980’s- “A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving

1990’s- “The Shipping News” by E. Annie Proulx

2000’s- “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel

Decades Reading Challenge 2008

I participated in the Decades Reading Challenge 2007 but I started late so this time I am going to start alot earlier.

1990's-"The Deep End of the Ocean" by Jacquelyn Mitchard

1980's- "The Cider House Rules" by John Irving

1970's- "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison

1960's- "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

1950's- "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury

1940's- "1984" by George Orwell

1930's- "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie

1920's- "A Farewell to Arms" by Ernest Hemingway

1910's- "Dubliners" by James Joyce

1900's- "Hound of the Baskervilles" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

1890's- "Tess of the Dubervilles" by Thomas Hardy

1880's- "King Solomon's Mines" by H. Rider Haggard

1870's- "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy

1860's- Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

1850's- "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville

1840's- "Vanity Fair" by William Thackery

1830's- "Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens

Reading Full Circle

I am really excited about this upcoming challenge! It took me awhile to link together 12 books, but I did it and I am really proud of my list. I am also glad that some of the books on my listare also Oprah's Book Club books. I have been working on reading her entire list for several years now. So here is my list: (Complete Rules here: http://thoughtsofjoyblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/just-for-fun.html )

River God by Wilbur Smith

Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson

Crazy in Alabama by Mark Childress

What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day by Pearl Cleage

Songs in Ordinary Time by Mary McGarry Morris

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard

The Secret's of a Fire King by Kim Edwards

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson

Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier

Dark Angels by Karleen Koen

Dark Rivers of the Heart by Dean Koontz

November 2007

Books on CD:

"The Firefly Cloak" by Sherri Reynolds

"Saturday" by Ian McEwan

"Dead Witch Walking" by Kim Harrison

Books I've Read:

"The Awakening" Kate Chopin

"O'Pioneers" by Willa Cather

Movies of October 2007

Movies of October 2007

Evan Almighty-4/5
Knocked Up-4/5
Saw IV-4.5/5

October 2007

Books on CD:

"Christine Falls" by Benjamin Black, John Banville 3.5/5

"Some Enchanted Evening" by Christina Dodd 3/5

"Moll Flanders" by Daniel Defoe 4.5/5

Books I've Read:

"A Knight to Remember" by Christina Dodd 3.5/5

"The 6th Target" by James Patterson 4/5

Movies of September 2007

Ahhhh. . .back to school no time to read or watch movies anymore!

She's the Man-3/5
Stephanie Daley-3.5/5

Movies of August 2007

Movies August 2007

Disturbia-3.5/5
First Born-2.5/5
Flushed Away-4/5
Fracture-4.5/5
Idiocracy-2.5/5
Mistress of Spices-4/5
Pan's Labryinth-4.5/5
Premonition-4/5
Sense and Sensibility-4.5/5
The Corpse Bride-3.5/5
The Hitcher-2.5/5

September 2007

Books I've Read:

"To Love Again" by Bertrice Small 4/5

"A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving 4.5/5

"Pimps, Whores and Welfare Brats" by 3.5/5

Books on CD:

"The Abortionist's Daughter" by Elisabeth Hyde 3/5

"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" by Mark Haddon 4/5

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen 3.5/5

"Divining Women" by Kaye Gibbons 4.5/5

Books of August 2007

Books that I've Read:

"A Dangerous Love" by Bertrice Small 4/5

"The World's 20 Worst Crimes" by Katie Kray 3/5

Books on CD:

"The Girls of Riyadh" by Rajaa Alsanea 3.5/5

"The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers 4.5/5

Movies of July 2007

American Pyscho-3/5
Among Brothers-1.5/5
Bowling For Columbine-2.5/5
Breaking and Entering-4/5
Children of Men-4/5
Elizabethtown-4/5
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire-4/5
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix-5/5
Love Comes Softly-4/5
Miss Potter 4.5/5
Reno 911: Miami-4/5
Standing Still-2/5
Stranger Than Fiction-4/5
The Messangers 1.5/5
The Number 23-4/5
The Queen-4.5/5
The Shipping News-4.5/5
Turistas-2/5

Books of July 2007

Books I've Read:

"Rant" by Chuck Palahniuk 3/5

"The Family" by Mario Puzo 4/5

"Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult 4/5

"Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe 5/5

"The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck 5/5

Books I've Listened to:

"Body Surfing" by Anita Shreve 3/5

"Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen 3/5

"Slaughterhouse Five" ny Kurt Vonnegut 2/5

Movies of June 2007

Alpha Dog-2.5/5
Blessed-3/5
Deep Blue Sea-3.5/5
Devil's Playground 3.5/5
Hannibal Rising 4/5
John Tucker Must Die-2.5/5
Mr. Brooks- 4/5
Robinson Crusoe-3.5/5
The Holiday 4/5

Movies of May 2007

Epic Movie-3/5
Fast Food Nation--3.5/5
Lemony Snickett's A Series of Unfortunate Events-4/5
Little Children 5/5
Night at the Museum-4/5
Prey 3.5/5
Savage Messiah-3/5
Sliver 2/5
The Breed 1.5/5
The Ringer--2/5
The Woodlanders 2/5
Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj 4/5
Wyatt Earp-3/5

June 2007

Books I've Read:

"Naked in Death" by J.D. Robb 4/5
"Castles in the Air" by Christina Dodd 4 /5
"Life of Pi" by Yann Martel 5/5
"The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom 5/5
"Loves Music, Loves to Dance" by Mary Higgins Clark 4/5
"The Shipping News" by E. Annie Proulx 3.5/5
"The Twilight Lord: Third book in the World of Hetar" by Bertrice Small 4/5

Books on CD:

"The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield 4.5/5

Books by the Decade Reading Challenge 2007

I'm starting a little late, but I thought that I would give it a go!

Completed titles are in blue italics

1860’s- “The Woman in White” Wilkie Collins

1870’s- “Return of the Native” Thomas Hardy

1880’s- “She” by H. Rider Haggard

1890’s- “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin

1900’s- “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad

1910’s- “O’Pioneers” by Willa Cather

1920’s- “The Beautiful and Damned” by F. Scott Fitzgerald

1930’s- “Grapes of Wrath” by James Steinbeck

1940’s- “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” by Carson McCullers

1950’s- “Go Tell it on the Mountain” by James Baldwin

1960’s- “Slaughterhouse Five” by Kurt Vonnegut

1970’s- “The Hiding Place” by Corrie ten Boom

1980’s- “A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving

1990’s- “The Shipping News” by E. Annie Proulx

2000’s- “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel

May 2007

Books I've Read:

"Candle in the Window" by Christina Dodd
"Cat Women:Feline Writers on their Feline Friends" by Megan McMorris
"Death Match" by Lincoln Child
"A Private Hotel for Gentle Ladies" by Ellen Cooney

Books on CD:

"Breaker" by Minette Walters
"Black Order" by James Rollins
"The Guy Not Taken" by Jennifer Weiner

Movies of April 2007

8 1/2 Women 2/5 Clerks II 4.5/5 Dark Harbor 1/5 Eye See You 3/5 Jesus Camp 4/5 Red Dragon 3.5/5 School for Scoundrels 3.5/5 Stick It 2/5

April 2007

Books Read:
"The Boleyn Inheritance" by Philippa Gregory
"Al Capone Does My Shirts" by Gennifer Choldenko
Listened to on Book on CD:
"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
"Divorced From the Mob" by Andrea Giovino
"Coal Run" by Tawni Odell

March 2007

Books Read:

"Lost" by Gregory Maguire

Listened to on Book on CD:

"Breaker" by Minette Walters

"The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath

February 2007

Books Read:

"The Dogs Who Found Me: What I've Learned From Pets Who Were Left Behind" by Ken Foster

"The Monks of New Skete: How to be Your Dog's Best Friend"

"The End" by Lemony Snickett

"Field Guide to Germs" by Wayne Biddle

Listened to on Book on CD:

Autumn Bridge" by Takashi Matsuoka

"Oh My Stars" by Lorna Landvik

"A History of Ancient Rome" by Frances B. Tichener

"Saving Fish From Drowning" by Amy Tan

January 2007

Books Read:

"A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by David Eggers
"What Wendell Wants" by Jenny Lee
"Mistral's Kiss" by Laurell K. Hamilton

Books on CD:

"Adored" by Tilly Bagshawe

"Full Moon Rising" by Keri Arthur

"Sweetwater Creek" by Anne River Siddons

"Animal Farm" George Orwell

"Magic Hour" by Kristen Hannah