Challenge Wrap-Up: What’s In a Name

I actually finished the last book for this challenge more than two weeks ago, but neglected to post the wrap-up!

What’s in a Name

Host: Beth F

URL: http://whatsinname3.blogspot.com/

Goal: Read books with titles that contain a word in each of the following categories: food, body of water, title, plant, place name and a music term.

Books:

1. (Food) The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy [review]

– This ended up being one of my favorite books I read this year, a great romp in France with the irresponsible but irrepressible Sally Jay Gorce.

2. (Body of Water) River Secrets by Shannon Hale [review]

I was a little nervous of Hale writing a male protagonist, as all I’d read of her books prior to River Secrets had female protagonists.  However, this book ended up being my favorite so far of the Books of Bayern.

3. (Title) Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George [review]

I enjoyed this while I was reading it, but it’s not an especially memorable book now.

4. (Plant) You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up by Annabelle Gurwitch and Jeff Kahn [review]

I remember this book reminded me a lot of Ayelet Waldman’s Bad Mother, which I also read this year.  Unfortunately for Gurwitch and Kahn’s book, I liked Waldman’s book much better.

5. (Place Name) Stasiland: Stories From Behind the Berlin Wall by Anna Funder [review]

Another favorite read of the year!  It features excellent accounts from citizens of the former German Democratic Republic.

6. (Musical Term) La’s Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith [review]

My first book by the prolific McCall Smith k and it was rather underwhelming.