#64 A Proper Education for Girls by Elaine Di Rollo. This book contains "Victorian eccentricities" and Victorian double standards, as the back cover relates. And, boy, were the Victorians ever bizarre. The Talbot girls, Lillian and Alice (surviving triplets) are separate by their overpowering father. Lillian is exiled to live with a missionary in India because of her unspeakable behavior. Alice is left to catalog and care for the father's museum of oddities and whims called The Collection and her ancient aunts. The girls try to get back together even though their father has banned all form of communication. Alice is not only a prisoner in her father's home, but is a prisoner to the outrages of misguided male medical theories. Lillian uses her cunning to escape India. Both girls conquer the forces of repression as they use their resources to tame the tiger.

A great book to end the year.

#63 Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls. Did you read The Glass Castle? It was good, but one of the most disturbing books I have read. Jeannette Walls takes the reader back to her Grandmother, Lily's, life. This woman survives tornadoes, droughts, floods, the Great Depression, and personal tragedy. She goes from a dugout and breaking horses to Catholic boarding school in Santa Fe. She rides horseback 500 miles across Arizona to her first teaching job at fifteen, goes to Chicago where she is a maid and is married to a crum-bum, goes back out West to teach, remarries, gets a college degree, and learns to fly an airplane. Not all in that order, but those are some of the highlights. She is straight talking, hardworking, and resourceful. She raises two children with her husband, Big Jim, on a gigantic ranch in Arizona. One of these children is Jeannette Walls' mother, Rose Mary Smith Walls (one half broke horse) who ended up eating out of a New York City dumpster in The Glass Castle.

This story of Jeannette's grandmother had so much humor and adventure and hope, unlike The Glass Castle. It also reminded me of my dear friend, Rebecca, who lives in New Mexico. I couldn't put the book down and spent each spare moment reading. I really liked the spunk and spirit of the story.

#62 La's Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith.

#61 Wicked by Gregory Maguire. This is an amazing book. And not what I thought it was going to be. Let, me back up. I have been listening to the soundtrack from the musical Wicked that my DIL gave me for Christmas. I have learned most of the words to the song and can't get them out of my head. I plan to go to see the musical in Toledo during my spring break. Anyway, I was really wrong about the characters and the plot when I started reading the book.

The book is full of philosophy, religion, politics, and of course, evil. The Wizard is not just a bumbling misplaced person as in WOO, he is a tyrant and really wicked. And, of all things, fathers a green child. Both witches are wicked. Glinda is not really as good as she is billed. And what about the red slippers? I don't want to give it all away.

So, if you don't like fantasy, put the book back. If you want the skinny on Oz and it's surrounding lands, you'll get the details. If you want to know about the Wicked Witch of the West, you'll better understand the reasons why. If you want to find out about the red slippers, read on.

I still love the music and can't wait to see the performance. But, it will never be the same since I have read the book.

#60 One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus. The author's note explains the idea for this story as the title suggests: " in 1854 at a peace conference at Fort Laramie, a prominent Northern Cheyenne chief requested of the U. S. Army authorities the gift of one thousand white women as brides for his young warriors." Of course, this didn't happen, but the author takes the idea and runs with it. And runs with it. And runs with it. Oh, and did I say, runs with it?

I really liked the idea, the character development, and the view of history ( especially since it wasn't the side mentioned in history books). However, somehow, I felt like the language didn't quite make it. I know the Irish girls had an accent and there was smigins of Indian language, but I felt like the characters were going to break into some modern talk. Can't really put my finger on it. Also, the story went on and on. I thought the author over stretched the possibilities. Again, I can't quite pinpoint when it should have stopped. But, hey, it's just my opinion.

I guess this is one you'll have to read to find out for yourself.

#59 Away by Amy Bloom. The back cover says'"Raunchy, funny, and touching. Away is and elegant window into the perils of self-invention and reinvention in New York in the 1930's. Amy Bloom's heroine, Lillian, is an unforgettable young woman on a quest to make her life whole and to belong in an unstable, yet fascinating, new American world," Caryl Phillips.

The story takes Lillian, the main character, from Russia to New York City after her family is destroyed in a Russian pogrom. Word comes that her daughter, Sophie, may still be alive, so the journey continues to Seattle and then to Alaska toward Siberia in an attempt to find her.

This story has interesting twists and turns and colorful characters. I had a hard time putting the book down.

#58 Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. This book is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize and I can understand why. Olive Kitteridge's character is developed from all directions and from many perspectives and relationships. Olive has many sides, as we all do, and is harsh, lovable, misunderstood, insightful, secretive, tragic, and hopeful. The world view comes from a small town in Maine. The lives in this small town could be what happens in any town. The author artfully spins and weaves the story to make a colorful tapestry of the human condition.

Olive could have been my neighbor and friend. I really enjoyed this story.

#57 the witch doctor's wife by Tamar Myers. Another book about Africa but set in the Congo. This was a fast read dealing with human relationships, a diamond, and a murder. The story has romance, racial prejudice, colonialism, religious intolerance, cultural intolerance, and all of the African plight, but it is done with a lighter hand, with humor and warmth. I found myself hurrying to the end to find out "who done it".

The story is based on the author's own experience and misunderstandings. What I thought was going to be a do gooder missionary story turned into a much more fun mystery especially when the witch doctor had more than one wife.

#56 Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder. Tracy Kidder, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, has written "an inspiring account of one man's remarkable journey and of the ordinary people who helped him- a brilliant testament to the power of will and of second chances."

Deo arrives in the US from Burundi with 2oo dollars in his pocket, no English, no one to meet him, and no place to go. He has survived civil war and genocide. He gets a job delivering groceries, ends up living in Central Park, and learns English from dictionaries in bookstores. Then, he begins meeting people who will help him. Kidder travels back to Africa with Deo in search of meaning and forgiveness.

The jacket says," an extraordinary writer, Tracy Kidder one again shows us what it means to be fully human by telling a story about the heroism inherent in ordinary people, a story about a life based on hope." The book was inspiring and, of course, very troubling.

#55 The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood. The ultimate survival book. Atwood creates the world after the plague has hit wiping out most of the population. And, it's pretty believable-maybe not the animal spliced creatures like the Mo'Hairs and the pigs with human brain tissue, but anyway, lots of survival methods, lots of gruesome violence, lots of interesting Saint's Days and traditions that evolve. Two women, Ren and Toby survive, and draw upon the teachings of God's Gardeners- a group devoted to the melding of science and religion. The bad are really bad and the good have to be cautious with no time to ponder the purpose of their existence or the why.

Atwood has done it up big with themes of the Earth after killing off the animals, corporate greed, science out of control, and the breakdown of society. Unfortunately, there are references to characters in her book, Oryx and Crake, which I haven't read. I think I'll wait awhile before I take it on. This was a definite page turner.

#54 The Calligrapher's Daughter by Eugenia Kim. This story is mixed with strong women, Korean tradition, war, and the trials of life moving from one generation to another. Kim has created interesting women characters in a traditional family setting. Sheridan Hay, on the back cover, says,"....Kim beautifully chronicles both the lost world of a traditional Korea and the lost childhood of her remarkable heroine."

This book made me consider a family's subtle ways of showing love, fear, encouragement, disgust, anger, and hope. Culture, place, and time would all play an important part. The difficulties of family life and tradition became strengths that helped this family survive war, separation, and all kinds of loss. I'm glad it had a happy ending.

#53 Notes from the Underwire- Adventures from my awkward and lovely life by Quinn Cummings. This book is described as "charming, hilarious, and just snarky enough to be ultimately satisfying" Jon Lancaster, author. I found it very funny. It's the Hollywood life of a former child star who finally is the grown-up. I laughed at her parenting skills, her homemaking skills, and her pet training skills. I chuckled at her do good attitude and its pitfalls. I shook my head at her descriptions of being fashionable and her obsession with scarves. Anyway, it was fast, funny, and a downright good time. Amanda, you will like this one.

#52 Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan. OMG, if you read this book, get ready for heavy-duty stuff. This is a collection of five stories set in Africa. The events are viewed through the eyes of children. The stories are sad with violent, racial and religious intolerance, and total breakdown of community and family. Akpan has captured the hell of war. This book is an Oprah Book Club pick and I can see why. With that, read it!

#51 The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson. With a setting of England in 1766, Tom, the main character, witnesses the arrival of two elephants at the Bristol ship docks. The elephants are in bad condition and are purchased by a wealthy sugar merchant who puts Tom in charge of caring for them. Tom's whole life revolves around the two elephants. Tom is persuaded to write a history of the elephant which he does through his own experiences. The story moves from lush countryside to London, where the elephant and Tom are part of a Menagerie with less than perfect conditions for any animal including humans. This is the story of love an loyalty between Tom and the elephants. Somehow it reminded me of Black Beauty. It was great to read something different.

#50 Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan. Yes! I got another book done. Will I reach 100, NO.

Anyway, this story can best be described in the jacket: "... an engrossing fable that chronicles three generations of women under one family tree over a period of thirty years- their galvanic love and passion, their shifting alliances, their superstitions and complex domestic politics-and places them in a mythical town where spirits and spells, witchcraft and demons, and prophets and clairvoyance are an everyday reality." With that said, I sometimes found it hard to understand because of the shifts between reality and myth. I often felt that I had missed something. I liked the authors strange sense of story and descriptions and the ending. I think it is one of those books that you have to read to see if it suits you or not.

#49 hypocrite in a pouffy white dress by susan jane gilman. The subtitle reads: tales of growing up groovy and clueless. Gilman tells a funny, sad, bizarre, story of her life growing up an uncool white kid in a tough Puerto Rican neigborhood. Susan makes her own rules for behavior and hasn't a clue as to the consequences. As she struggles to get a life, she exhibits some very demented behaviors along the way. The book is shocking, frantic, and chronicles disfunction. I did enjoy the book and the somewhat happier ever after ending. Gilman definitely has an angel sitting on her shoulder. I''m surprised that she reached adulthood.

#48 Inkheart by Cornelia Funke was a fun read. It was a great fantasy intended for youth. I was ask to read the story for a library program. It has very compelling characters and a neat setting with distinct good and evil themes. The story revolves around a main character who can read a story to life. The bad characters are read into the world. The young daughter of the main character helps fight the evil, nasty, will do anything, bad guys. I thought the story went on a little too long, but maybe a young adult would find it interesting and exciting. The fun conclusion is that the book sale at school gave me a free book- Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke. How were they to know? I can't wait to read this new book.

# 47 A Guide to Quality, Taste, and Style by Tim Gunn. I love this kind of book. The book tells about finding one's own style, taste, and then buying the best quality possible. I always chuckle at myself since I love black. Now, according to Gunn, I should stick with it instead of fighting the urge to buy clothing other than black. The answer, accessorize with color. Gee, I knew that. And buying the best quality? Well, being an art teacher doesn't require clothing of top quality, just clothing that doesn't show paint and can be cleaned easily. Maybe that's another reason I favor black. Gunn also recommends buying cheap trendy accessories. That makes sense to me. But, I have one up on Gunn, I don't need trendy accessories. I don't need four or five purses. I do like jewelry and have been trying to upgrade with less but nicer earrings. I don't wear many necklaces, so I tend toward bracelets.

I love texture and fabrics, I love cashmere, and I think it would be great to have my hair cut and styled in New York City. Actually, in the end, I have really cut back on buying clothing. That is except for shoes. I have followed Gunn's advice for several years and my closet is pretty bear. It just means I can start over again. Really, the book had some good advice. And, it was a great diversion.

#46 What I thought I Knew by Alice Eve Cohen. After a nasty divorce, Alice is happy. She is raising her adopted daughter, living with a guy she will soon marry, and her career is taking off. Then at forty-four, after experiencing unusual symptoms, she is run through a number of tests, x-rays, prescribed hormone treatments, she is diagnosed with a tumor, but when she has a CAT scan, she finds she is six months pregnant.

This book is full of emotion, indecision, despair, misinformation from the medical world, and understandable depression. With no prenatal care and no insurance coverage, Alice goes back and forth between abortion and adoption. She is confronted with problems concerning the baby's gender and when delivered, the child is diagnosed with Russell-Silver Syndrome. This diagnosis presents a whole new set of problems. Can Alice love this child?

The story is very compelling and I cold clearly understand the moral dilemma Alice faced. Amazingly, it never made me cry. I guess that is because it isn't sentimental or sappy. Man, what an ordeal!

Book # 45 The Red Convertible by Louise Erdrich. Erdrich is one of my favorite authors. If you wish the mood and drama of an Indian reservation, she can produce vivid descriptions. I enjoy her humor and mix of old ways with modern. I have read every book she has written. If you want a snippet of one of her books, read this book. There are new stories and bits of former stories (I knew that when I got the book). But, OMG, this was long and I thought I would never finish. I still love Erdrich and her writing, but I will need to remind myself NOT to read collections or remakes. Didn't I just say this about Jane and Mr. Darcy? At least I didn't count this as two or three books- I'm so far behind in my read 100 books this year!!!