Friday, July 24, 2015

Pages From the Past: My 2000 Reading Journal


As we get ready to head out of town on vacation, I'll leave you with another installment of my Pages From the Past Series. We're moving into the 21st century now...

MY 2000 READING JOURNAL

Memorable Fiction:

Fortune's Rocks by Anita Shreve 
My favorite of her novels



Even better than Stones From the River



A Widow For One Year by John Irving
Irving was my most read author of 2000



Our "fun" summer book club selection



Tara Road by Maeve Binchy
Binchy was a favorite back then



The Saving Graces by Patricia Gaffney 
Beachy covers have always appealed to me



Read with an on-line book club... vivid Newfoundland setting



Memorable Nonfiction:

Home Town by Tracy Kidder 
a book club selection



Eleanor Roosevelt, Vol 1, 1884-1933 by Blanche Weisen Cook
It took some time, but I also made it through volume 2


Should Have Skipped:

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks 
Sappy is the adjective which comes to mind



The End of the Affair by Graham Greene 
Who knew it would be a favorite on audio just over a decade later?



Incubus by Ann Arensberg
Don't even remember reading this, but my journal notations not favorable


Have you read any of these books? What were you reading in 2000?

34 comments:

  1. How interesting! I have read four of these - including the two nonfiction.

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    1. Actually, take that back - it was The Quiet American that I read by Graham Greene.
      Did you ever read Vol 2 of the Eleanor bio? I haven't - in fact, I didn't realize it had been published! ooops

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    2. Care - I thought I read the second volume, but just found a bookmark about 50 pages in. Hmm...

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  2. Thanks for sharing your reads of the past! I haven't read any of these books, but I have heard of some of them. I hope that you have a great vacation!

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    1. Monica - Thanks. I'm so excited about our trip. Overall, 2000 was not an especially memorable reading year.

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  3. I read a couple of these, but remember several more of them. I read Tara Road - Maeve Binchy - used to read everything she published. Loved her Irish small town stories. And I loved Patricia Gaffney. I remember reading one of hers on a vacation to San Diego. Can't think which one right now. Anyway, I did read Saving Graces. I certainly read a bunch of Anita Shreve's book, but I can't recall if I read that one. Maybe. Love this feature, JoAnn!!

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    1. Kay - Thanks again inspiring for this feature! Funny how so many of us were reading the same books back then :)

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  4. I wish I could say I've read these but I can only say I have one on my TBR list, and that is Hometown. I would love to read John Irving and there are a couple others on your list that I can see on my shelves in my mind. I'm going to bookmark this post for later reference. I love your visits to and then sharing your reading journal. :)

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    1. Kathy - It's funny to think that these books are all at least 15 years old now... and a few even more.

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  5. Wow! Can't believe I haven't read any of the books on your list of favorites from 2000. I have read, however, quite a bit of early John Irving. A trio of my favorites from 2000 would be: Georgiana: The Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman; Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods; and Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver.
    Have a SAFE and GREAT vacation and bring back some good pictures and stories. We will all be looking forward to your return.

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    1. JudyMac - I read so much John Irving back then. He lost me with Until I Find You, which I bought the day it was released and could never finish. I enjoyed A Walk in the Woods (maybe not in 2000) and Prodigal Summer is still my favorite Kingsolver novel. I'm very excited about the vacation. We're flying to Denver, renting a car, and embarking on the "great western expedition". I'll be posting again in early August.

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  6. I'm not sure if I ever read A Walk to Remember but I read a couple of Sparks' books around this time. Emotionally manipulative and formulaic was what I ended up labeling them. I had forgotten all about The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing! That was everywhere!

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    1. Katherine - That book was where Sparks and I parted ways... guess I'd had enough. The Girls Guide was everywhere that year and we always chose a fun summer read in those days. After that we tried to find foodie memoirs with recipes and all made one for a pot luck dinner.

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  7. I haven't read any of them, but A Widow for One Year caught my eye. I'd love to read more Maeve Binchy too. So many books I've missed!

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    1. Diana - I read everything Maeve Binchy wrote back then... just loved her books!

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  8. So funny to look back -- we were reading similar things back then too!

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    1. Diane - Seems like our reading tastes have evoked along the same lines :-)

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  9. Interesting. I need to go back and look at my reading journals from back then. Thinking several on your list were on mine as well as I recall them. Never read any of the Sparks books though. Glad I don't have those hanging on my head. Ha!

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    1. Midlife Roadtripper - It seemed like all my friends were reading Sparks back then. Those sappy stories were probably better suited to movies.

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  10. I love this feature! And - I feel like I was reading some of the same books! Irving, Binchy, Shreve, Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing...

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    1. Sarah - It seems like I didn't have the overwhelming choice of what to read next back then. I wonder if more books are being published now or if I'm just more aware of them because of blogging...

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  11. It's amazing what books reveal...right? I had some of those same books!

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    1. Patty - It is! I love knowing what other people are reading :)

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  12. I love the idea of going back and reading reviewing things one had read years ago.

    It is interesting that you did not remember reading Incubus. As I get older i have the same experience with some books. I find it a little disconcerting.

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    1. Brian - I'm so glad I kept that reading journal, but a little worried when I don't remember reading some of the books!

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  13. I think everyone in my summer house one year read Saving Graces - I never got to that one but read Fortune's Rocks, Tara Road and Widow for One Year. Great post!

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  14. I think everyone in my summer house one year read Saving Graces - I never got to that one but read Fortune's Rocks, Tara Road and Widow for One Year. Great post!

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  15. I so wish I had thought of keeping a reading journal earlier in life. But alas, I can't change the past; only move forward in the present.

    I started a reading journal this year, promising myself I would write brief impressions of the books I read immediately after finishing them. So far, I have remained true to that goal.

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  16. Is Fortune's Rocks better than The Weight of Water? Hmm. I think that Melissa Bank book looks fun. Never got to that one. thanks!

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  17. I consider myself a fan of Graham Greene but truth be told I've set aside almost as many of his books as I've finished. Though I typically love the ones I've finished.

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  18. Great post-- I love your look back features! I read most of Anita Shreve's but not that one it seems when I checked it out further, didn't sound familiar. Of course 15 years later I might be having a senior moment :)
    I did read The Saving Graces though, way back when. Thanks for sharing!

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  19. This is an interesting mix of books! I've only read Walk to Remember, which I loved in both print and movie formats! I recently bought an Ursula Hegi book and am looking forward to reading it!

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  20. I remember sort of liking Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing--I remember one of the characters really irritating me though.

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  21. I see several books I've read, and ones I wished I skipped too...ha ha. Love your look back!

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