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The goal for 2011 is technically sixty books, but I'd be more than happy with fifty!

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Etiquette: the blue book of social usage, 1945 edition - Emily Post

Very entertaining, if you enjoy this sort of minutiae. (It also encouraged me to use the word 'vulgarian,' but that's another story.)

Read to compare my 1960 edition. There was little difference between the two-- probably owing to the fact that the 1945 had been 'completely rewritten' from the original, in order to accommodate post-war society. Now, I just need to get my hands on a 1922 copy...

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A bit apart from the year's reading goal-- I'm reworking my way through the entire Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold.

*Cordelia's Honor - 1/9
*Young Miles - 1/22
*Cetaganda - 3/30

*Memory - 6/5
*Komarr - 4/17
*A Civil Campaign - 4/17
*Diplomatic Immunity - 5/30

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Fairest - Gail Carson Levine

I forgot my traveling book today, and ended up with this as a stopgap. Major departure from my regular reading-- I seldom read fantasy and have never (I'm quite serious here, never) read a young adult novel. While this book did not encourage me to branch out from my go-to genres, it did keep me from mind numbing boredom and provided a few laughs.

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The Story of a Hundred Operas - Felix Mendelsohn

Before there was Wikipedia, there was Felix Mendelsohn. (Note, Mendelsohn with one 's.')

Written in 1919, this little guide stays true to the title: Act by act synopses of one hundred operas. I read the 1940 printing (first edition?), which really is pocket sized-- or, as the publishers state in their note, small enough 'to be tucked into milady's purse.'
Fun.

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The Dream King - Wilfrid Blunt

Glossy biography of Ludwig II of Bavaria. Interesting, though I don't know if I could handle reading a more in-depth study of the man—not the most sympathetic character I've ever come across!

(As a side note, there was one fascinating person to crop up: Baron Sigmund von Peufer, the Munich Chief of Police. Sadly, he was only mentioned twice in the book: one paragraph and one sentence, respectively.)

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The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette - Carolly Erickson

Far from the best book I've ever read about Marie Antoinette. Mindless bordering on mind-numbing, with some of the flattest characterizations I've encountered recently. On the up side, very quick read.

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Fatherland – Robert Harris

Awesome. Relatively plausible alternate history with the classic 'what if Nazi Germany had survived the Second World War' premise. Well written, well paced, great characters. Will be reading more of Harris's work.

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Enigma -- Robert Harris

Good, though not quite up to Fatherland. Liked the main character right off-- indifferent to the supporting cast. The plot wasn't as interesting as the portrayal of the plot.

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8. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress - Rhoda Jazen

Gossipy personal memoirs like this aren't really my taste, but given the rather large Mennonite branch of my family, I thought I might find something relate to. I didn't. Not very enjoyable, alas.

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Bird by Bird -- Anne Lamott

Eh... I guess I'm not damaged enough to 'get' this book. While there were a few interesting and informative bits, they were buried in a mire of self-loathing and neuroses. Or something.

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Hour of Gold, Hour of Lead: Diaries And Letters of Anne Morrow Lindbergh - Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Letters sent from Anne Lindbergh from 1929 to 1932. Fascinating on about ten different levels, though I personally most enjoyed a) Anne's very visible transformation from being more than a little naive to mature and quite world-weary; b) The neat little insights into early aviation.

If nothing else, the introductions to the two sections of the book (written in the 70s) are worth reading. The way she neatly sums up years of her life within paragraphs is astounding.

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Thief of Time -- Terry Pratchett

This is the first and only Pratchett book I've read. I wasn't quite sure about what to expect-- I've heard so much hype about this gentleman's work, I was pretty much doomed to disappointment. Verdict: very clever, would read his work again, but not necessarily the final word in fiction for me.

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Going Postal -- Terry Pratchett

I hadn't much intention of seeking out another Discworld book, but I ended up stumbling across this one. It had been recommended to me, er, last year, maybe? Over all, I rank it about the same as Thief of Time: clever and fun, very fast read, not earth-shattering. I did very much enjoy the protagonist in this one.

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Murder on the Orient Express -- Agatha Christie

Much more engaging than I had anticipated. The conclusion was a bit abrupt, but still surprisingly satisfying.

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14. An Elegant Madness - Venetia Murray

Concerning high society in during the Regency period.
I think it may suffer from a few inaccuracies, but overall a fun overview of a seriously decadent era. Chapters include 'Bucks, Beaux, and "Pinks of the Ton"' and '"A Mistress Had a Better Deal Than a Wife."'

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The Thin Man -- Dashiell Hammett

Given that I've been a fan of the William Powell movies for years and years, I though it was time to finally read the source material.

Fun. It was nice to know that everything I loved from the movies actually came from the book. I always loved Nick and Nora's interactions, and if anything, there was more 'zing' on the printed page.

Unrelated side note: If I'm not mistaken, in the first two or three chapters alone, Nick had over twenty drinks. After that, I lost count.

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Hondo - Louis L'Amour

My first Western! I hesitate to call it a novel. It was very short-- less than 180 pages.
There's a good deal of action and a surprisingly large cast of characters for such a small book. The two primary characters, Hondo and Angie, were a little stiffly draw, but still interesting. I was most surprised by the characterization of the army officers-- red shirts there for a scene and dead the in the next. They were drawn with a lot of sensitivity and given unexpected depth.

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Telegram!: Modern History as Told Through More than 400 Witty, Poignant, and Revealing Telegrams - Linda Rosenkrantz

Fun book, lightly covering the use of the telegram in history. Technical detail takes a far second place to various telegrams sent, as well as advertisements, and little factoids.

Examples include Victor Hugo's iconic exchange with his publisher about book sales ("?" "!"), lengthy reports from the front lines of the American Civil War, and witty one-liners from Wilde, Coward, etc.

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That's too bad, because the title is extremely catchy!

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Guards! Guards! - Terry Pratchett

A friend of mine convinced me to read the Vimes-centric Discworld books.

...I'm not quite sold yet. I'll just have to read more to see where I stand!

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