39. Robert Ludlum, The Bourne Identity: Novel of international espionage with a protagonist who has amnesia and can't even remember his own name. As he searches for clues to his past, he discovers a lot more than he bargains for. My review is here.
40. Francesca Lia Block, Psyche in a Dress: Weird but compelling verse novel that tells some of the ancient Greek myths with a modern twist. My review is here.
41. Gwen Bristow, Celia Garth: Sweet, nostalgic narrative of a young woman living in Charleston, SC during the American Revolution. As Celia matures, the war comes to affect her in very personal ways. My review is here.
42. Jennifer Crusie, ed., Flirting with Pride and Prejudice: Fresh Perspectives on the Original Chick-Lit Masterpiece: Superficial collection of essays in which various well-known chick lit and romance authors talk about the enduring appeal of Jane Austen. My review is here.
43. Alan Bradley, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie: Charming novel narrated by a precocious 11-year-old who decides to use her obsession with chemistry to solve a murder. My review is here.
44. George MacDonald Fraser, The Pyrates: Hilarious parody of every pirate novel and movie ever made. My review is here.
45. George Orwell, Animal Farm: Classic allegory of Soviet Communism, portrayed through the lives of a group of farm animals who overthrow their human master and set up a new government. My review is here.
46. Alison Sinclair, Darkborn: Fantasy novel in which representatives from two races, Darkborn and Lightborn, must unite against a common threat. The world is intriguing and the characters complex, but the plot never really goes anywhere. My review is here.
47. Molière, Tartuffe: Play featuring an odious religious hypocrite who completely fools the master of the house, despite attracting the contempt and disdain of all the other characters. My review is here.
48. Elizabeth C. Bunce, A Curse Dark as Gold: Dark, atmospheric retelling of the story of "Rumpelstiltskin" set on the eve of the Industrial Revolution. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys fairy tale retellings. My review is here.
49. Vera Caspary, Laura: Quintessential "noir" novel about a detective who's investigating the widely publicized murder of Laura Hunt, but a shocking twist opens up a whole new aspect of the mystery. I love the movie (starring Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney) and would recommend the book to other fans. My review is here.
50. Jeffrey Overstreet, Auralia's Colors: Dull fantasy novel about a girl with the unique -- and illegal -- talent of creating garments made of beautiful colors. The premise is a lot more interesting than the book. My review is here.
51. Sándor Márai, Embers: Beautifully written novel about an old man who meets with his former best friend after 41 years of not speaking. It's suspenseful and absorbing and I highly recommend it. My review is here.
52. Bryan M. Litfin, The Sword: Christian fantasy novel set in a post-apocalyptic, medieval-esque world, where the main character suddenly stumbles upon a Bible and is converted to Christianity. Decently written and fairly interesting, although it's quite preachy in parts. My review is here.
53. Victoria Holt, Lord of the Far Island: Romantic suspense novel about an orphaned young woman who visits her enigmatic relatives on an island off the coast of Cornwall, where she uncovers a disturbing secret about her family. A fun comfort read, though it was strangely paced. My review is here.
54. Sarah Dessen, Lock and Key: YA chick lit about a girl who must adjust to a new life when she is sent to live with her sister and brother-in-law after her mother abandons her. Fans of Dessen's novels, and of this genre, will enjoy it. My review is here.
(Cross-posted to
books and 100ormorebooks.) 