torontoc's ROOT Reading for 2013

Just setting up and deciding what book to start with!

I will be ROOting for you.

1. Wild Swans Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang. This memoir is also a history of the revolutionary times in China as seen through the stories of the author, her mother and grandmother. Chang's father was a distinguished revolutionary who was an important official in Sichuan province. Her grandmother was originally a concubine to a general, and her mother was a communist leader. The story tells about the life of the author's very " purist" father who followed the Communist way in a very stringent manner and his downfall, her mother and her own history as a Red Guard, worker on a commune and the family's " rehabilitation" after the Cultural Revolution. A very history of life under Communism in China from 1909-1978.

Did you enjoy Wild Swans? I really enjoyed it and felt the format was more illuminating than a book just on the cultural revolution or just on the early years.

I did like the book- the stories of the three women of the different generations really gave me a sense of the cultural history.

2. Dance of the Happy Shades by Alice Munro. For years I wouldn't read Alice Munro. I think I did this because of my work as a teacher in a small town ( soon to become a suburb of Toronto) and Munro's stories had resonance with the lives that I observed . Now I am reading this wonderful author's work and enjoying her descriptions of small town Ontario and the lives of women and children there. She captures the sense of rural towns in the 1950's. Excellent short stories

3. The Flea Palace by Elif Shafak. I have mixed feelings about this book- the idea is intriguing. Shafak writes about the people who live in an apartment building in Istanbul named Bonbon Palace. After introducing the history of how that building was constructed on the supposed site of the grave of one saint with two graves and the story of the first owner, the lives of the people who live in various flats and their problems are featured in the chapters. There is one narrator and the rest- the Blue Mistress who waits for her olive oil merchant, the grandfather who tells outrageous tall stories to his young grandchildren, the twin hairdressers, and the lady who collects garbage live in small constructed dramas. The one main theme is the mystery of the garbage smell. Sometimes the author digresses with details that detract from the stories and seem to go on and on. I wonder about the translation with one descriptive phrase that is offensive but may have another meaning in Turkish. The end has a twist that is not expected and might have been featured a little more in the main text. Still an interesting read. I did like the author's later book , The Bastard of Istanbul more.

4. Winterton Blue by Trezza Azzopardi. The author has skillfully worked two narratives together in her novel. The personalities of Anna-trying to deal with her elderly but exuberant mother, Rita- and Lewis -a somewhat haunted man looking for a childhood friend who might have had something to do with his twin brother's death-are well described. Anna, messy and awkward, travels to Yarmouth to deal with her mother who has had an accident and is getting very frail. Anna does not like her mother's boyfriend- Vernon an old actor living at her guest house. After twenty years, Lewis starts looking for his mother and then Carl, a friend who he believes was responsible for an accident thatr claimed his brother's life. Both key figures in this novel suffered traumatic events in their childhood. Their meeting and the working together of the two plots are very interesting and make for a successful novel.

That sounds intriguing!

I must stop adding books to my mental wishlist! My TBR is growing every time I visit these threads.

I know! too many books to read!

5. Sepulchre by Kate Mosse I don't do book reading challenges but decided that I would try to finish one book a month that I had previous started and put down. Sometimes I just got bored or my latest pet peeve- the main character did something. stupid in order to advance the plot. This novel is about the supernatural and relates two stories. In 1891, Leonie and her brother Anatole leave Paris in order to visit a relative near Carcassonne. Anatole has not told his sister all reasons to leave or flee Paris- sinister enemies and a loved one draw him to a haunted estate. In 2007 a young woman, Meredith travels to France to conduct research on a book and try to solve a mystery about her relatives. Supernatutal forces, tarot cards and their power lead both women into danger and adventure. Some of the writing is interesting and some is not. But I did finish it.

Well I really loved this book. But I might be biased, because I've been in Carcassonne with my family and you do feel all this historical vibrations when you visit the sites.





It's such a lovely place to be. And when you read the book and it has been a holiday destination for a couple of years it just speaks to you more.

Uhh, sorry if you don't want these pics to be in your thread! Please tell me and i wil remove them.

Great photos!

6. The Brontes Went to Woolworths by Rachel Ferguson. I have been reading this book and the works of Katherine Mansfield- both writing during the time in between the two world wars. Both authors describe situations that do not exist anymore and people with concerns that readers do not sympathize with. This book in particular, with the phrases that we no longer use and the lifestyles that are now obsolete, seems to read like a museum piece of the times. Narrated mainly by the elder daughter, Dierdre, the story of three young women and their mother living in London, the story is about fantasy and make believe. This family creates imaginary relationships with real people. They talk about their lives and how they interact with them. From Charlotte and Emliy Bronte to a real life judge, this family entertains themselves with the stories of how their made up friends behave.When Deirdre decides to meet the real Judge and Lady Toddington, real life meets fantasy in a satisfactory way. This story is a fairy tale that ends happily. Today we might use the term stalking to describe what happens. However today we can look at this book as a relic of the lost world of the 1920's and early thirties.After reading both authors, I think about the issues of the roles that women play in that society and the massive change that took place later in the century.

7. Silver Return to Treasure Island by Andrew Motion I liked the beginning of this novel that takes up the story of Treasure Island. Jim is the son of Jim Hawkins and works for his father in his inn near the Thames River. Young Jim meets the mysterious Natty, daughter of Long John Silver, is persuaded to steal the original treasure map from his father and sail with Natty on a voyage to recover the rest of the silver. This section does not ring as true even if Jim is a young man dissatisfied with his present circumstances. When the ship reaches Treasure Island, the crew discovers the original three men left there years before as well as slaves and more men marooned there. The story of the slaves, and the actions that take place as a result of bad decisions are action packed but lack a certain truthfulness to me.At this point the story reads as if it were written for a very young audience- whitewashing what real capture and fighting would result in for the characters. I like the idea and thought that the beginning description of life near the Thames was excellent. The story of the journey and the relationship between Jim and Natty was not developed enough to result in Jim's actions.

8. How It All Began by Penelope Lively. I would have to characterize some books as " comfort reads". This one of them. The author sets her story as progressing from the mugging of Charlotte on a London street. All the actions in this story are set off by this event. Charlotte stays with her daughter, Rose while she recuperates. Rose in turn can't keep an appointment with her employer, Henry, a retired academic. Henry then takes his niece, Marion with him to his lecture in Manchester. Marion leaves a message for his lover, Jeremy.This message is interecepted by Jeremy's wife, Stella. Anton is a struugling immigrant who takes reading lessons from Charlotte but enriches the life of Rose. The plot is about the how one random act changes the lives of all the characters. Lively is very perceptive as she creates the different personalities and shows how they react to changing circumstances. A very nice read or me.

9. The Theory of Clouds by Stephane Audeguy I should have liked this book more- but I didn't. The idea is really interesting. A survivor of Hiroshima, Akira Kumo is a renowned couturier living in Paris. He has a significant collection of books on clouds and has engaged a young woman, Virginie Latour to catalogue his library. Kumo tells Virginie stories about early scientists who studied clouds and attempted to classify them and use them in weather predictions. These stories about real and fictional explorers are quite engrossing-from the first man to name and classify clouds, the Quaker Luke Howard to the painter Carmicheal ( a stand for Constable perhaps) and lastly to Richard Abercrombie. The histories or stories within the story are really good reading. However the links- the lives of Virginie, Kumo and later Abercrombie, are too abrupt and not very believable to me. The last story about the voyage of Richard Abercrombie and his original quest that changed into a bizarre obsession seems out of character with the rest of the novel but it does link to the description of various sexual practices that really don't shock but take away from the seemingly original theme.

Thanks for the reviews. Having just read Treasure Island, I shall definitely look out for Silver. And The Theory of Clouds sounds fascinating; who on LT can resist novels with libraries in them?

10. Stories by Anton Chekhov translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky This collection certainly reminds the reader of the impressive skill of this author.Skillfully translated, the stories range from the idleness of a bored middle class to the very hard lives of the peasant class in 19th century Russia. Chekhov's description of the landscape of the small villages and towns as well as the villas set the scene for the stories of lives that are for the most part unfulfilled. The tragedies of bad marriages and the wrong choices are heartbreaking in some of the stories. I am glad that I read this book but sometimes it was very grim going.

11. After Midnight by Irmgard Keun This novelist's life was as dramatic as her story about life in 1930's Germany. Sanna is a nineteen year old living in Frankfurt with her half-brother and his wife. Sanna tries not to consider the role of politics but events lead her to consider how her life is changing. The narriative follows a number of people who have books banned, suspicious friends and relatives who betray them. Keun describes a society where the Nazis and their ideas have taken hold of the German people. Everyday activities are governed by what can and cannot be said or actions that must be hidden. Sanna acts as the guardian of her friends' actions- worrying whether they will get into trouble with the Nazis. The novel is brief but extremely well written.
Keun's books were banned by the Nazis in the 1930's.

12. The Language of Threads by Gail Tsukiyama This novel follows the characters fron earlier book Women of the Silk Pei has brought an orphan , Ji Shen, with her as she travels to Hong Kong in the late 1930's. from China- escaping the Japanese. Pei is lucky that she is linked to other former silkworkers who have come to Hong Kong to work as maids. The novel tells the story of Pei as she works in two households. Her last job before the invasion of Hong Kong by the Japanese is for an Englishwoman who befriends her and Ji Shen. Tsukiyama is a good storyteller-the reader learns about the life of Chinese workers, the fate of those interned at Stanley beach and the aftermath of the war. We also learn the fate of Pei's sister in China and the other "Sisters of the Silk" a good historical fiction read.

13. Amsterdam by Ian McEwan. I had mixed feelings about this book. It is expertly written. Two friends, a newspaper editor, Vernon and Clive, a composer, both meet at the funeral of Molly, a lover to both of them at different times. They both go their separate ways but get entangled in choices that change their lives. Vernon is given a chance to publish a career damaging photo of the foreign minister- another former lover of Molly. Clive is finishing an important symphony and might have observed an assault taking place. How both men react to their situations and the relationships that are poisoned because of their decisions lead to a dramatic ending. I am not sure if I buy this final plot step. The animosity that leads to the end seems out of proportion. The final denouement seems not that plausible for both Vernon and Clive. But this is an interesting book and some good writing on inspiration.

I'm going to investigate how that involves Amsterdam ;-)

I won't give you any spoilers!

14. Empress Orchid by Anchee Min As far as rating this historical fiction novel about the early life of the last Empress of China, I would say that it is interesting but not the best that I have read. The author concentrates on Orchid's family background, her selection as a royal concubine to the Emperor, her relationships and role as mother to the heir and the intrigues that she manages. I was gald that I read it but..I have read better books.

I found the connection, but I think it is a bit forced. Just like the idea that everyone in The Netherlands walks on wooden shoes, uses drugs and has lots of tulips in their houses.

Yes- it was a strange title as most of the action takes place in England.

15. Chocolat by Joanne Harris I did see the film based on this book a number of years ago. However, this author is a master of storytelling. Alternate chapters are narrated by the priest in the small French town and Vianne- the new owner of a chocolate shop just opposite the church. Vianne and her daughter, Anouk, proceed to enchant and enrich the lives of the townspeople in this very small provincial town. Vianne's background of travelling all over the world with her own mother and perhaps her powers of maybe witchcraft and the evil deeds of the priest are revealed slowly in this novel of redemption and change. A very good read. Lovely book.

That one is on my-soon-to-read pile!

I love 'Chocolat'. It's an amazing story. it was a great reading.

I really like the work of author Joanne Harris!

16. Kensington by Jean Cochrane I have had this book in my library for a while. I never read it through. I did this time for some research. The author writes a decent history of Kensington Market in Toronto. She covers the early days under the Denisons, the Jewish Market, the later Portuguese community and the activist group that prevented the demise of the area by hospital, university and expressway. The photographs by Vincenzo Pietropaolo are very evocative of the area. Cochrane also uses some great archival photos to document the area. Her interviews with people who lived in the market at various times add to the historic account.

Wonderful! As a fellow Torontoite and shopper in Kensington this looks like something I should check out.

My former dentist, now deceased and much missed, used to tell me stories of her childhood on Markham in her parents' rooming house, and how she used to shop after school in Kensington for food to feed all the boarders when she was still only 11 or so --carrying home 10 lbs of potatoes is a lot!

wow! there are some great stories-
17 State of Wonder by Ann Patchett For some reason I was never interested in reading this author. I only picked up this novel because my book club had it on their list for June. I am glad that I did. Patchett creates- like Rutu Modan- some wonderful imperfect characters whose actions are not always the best. The writing is superb and the story carried me anxiously from the beginning to the end. Marina Singh is a doctor working in research in Minnesota. The news of the death of her colleague, Anders Eckman in Brazil, leads her employer to ask Marina to investigate the situation. Anders had been sent to find the elusive Dr. Annick Swenson, employed by the company to conduct research on a new drug in Brazil. Dr. Swenson is unavailable for years on end for any reports. The company does not know where her research station on the Amazon is located except for an apartment address in Manaus. Marina travels to the isolated town, makes friends with the protectors of Dr. Swenson and awaits her arrival. The reader learns of Marina's background and previous encounter with Dr. Swenson. Marina's subsequent actions- following Dr. Swenson to her station and learning of her research- lead her to discover her own strengths and convictions. A remarkable novel.

18. Night of Many Dreams by Gail Tsukiyama I usually enjoy this author's work but I could have sworn that I had read this book before. It seemed so familiar. After I checked my LT library , I found out that, no, this was not a reread. The story of two sisters living in Hong Kong just before and after the second world war is certainly well crafted. Joan dreams of becoming an actress and had to deal with her mother's ambitions for a suitable marriage for her. The younger sister, Emma, is tied to her family but has dreams of an education that take her to San Francisco. The lives of these young women as well as their independent aunt form the basis of this novel. I found that the themes have been covered in the author's other books in a more successful way for me

19. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. What a lovely book! I thought that the story of lonely, retired Harold Fry walking from the south of England to Berwick-upon-Tweed to see a woman who was dying was wonderful. The author slowly reveals the tension between Harold and his wife Maureen, and unravels the mystery of their son David. Harold's decision to walk to see a former fellow employee, Queenie Hennesy seemed to happen on a whim. I admired the development and growth of understanding in Harold and Maureen as they worked out their feelings toward each other and their situation during Harold's long trek. A great book to read on a too cold summer's day.

That sounds very interesting! I will try to find if there is a translation of this book.

Yes, found it. And the ebook is in my collection and now finding its way to my reader.

Saw on the progress thread that you had read Harold Fry and jumped over here to see what you thought. I got it as an ER book last year and also thought it was well done. Rather understated and hard to describe but a good read. Glad to see you liked it.

Thank you-
20. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards Sometimes I am curious about books that get a lot of press. I try to put them in my reading list to see what the fuss is about and make my own judgements. In this story, a doctor delivers his own children in a snow storm. The time is the early 1960's and women are still put under with gas during childbirth. David Henry, with the assistance of his office nurse at his office. delivers a healthy boy and a girl with Down's Syndrome. Norah , the mother is not awake during the birth. David tells the nurse, Caroline to take the girl to an institution and he then tells his wife that the second baby died. Norah never sees this child. Caroline makes the decision to raise this child as her own and she leaves quckily for another town and state. The drama in this novel revolves around the increasing conflict faced by David- his guilt and reasons for his actions, and the tension surrounding the marriage of Norah and David. The son, Paul is also affected by the actions of his parents. I thought that the last quarter of the book resolved issues too easily. So- was I satisfied that this book got much attention? Not really- I thought that the plot slid too near soap opera style.

21. Gotz and Meyer by David Albahari and expertly translated by Ellen Elias-Bursac This novel could be compared to a piece of music where the main theme is repeated many times. The style of prose is similar to that of W.G. Sebald. An obsessed teacher in Belgrade muses on the story of Gotz and Meyer- two soldiers in the German army who gassed the Serbian Jews who had been living in the camp established by the Nazis at the site of the former fairground. Over and over again, the nameless teacher talks about the truck that was used to transport and kill Jews who thought that they were being taken to a better location. The teacher is Jewish but was saved when he was hidden with his mother in a small village. He tries to create a family tree with the names of those who had been killed. In this novel, the instructor tries to teach his students about the events that destroyed the Jews of Belgrade. Some of the teaching choices were wrong and chilling. ( I am a former teacher and think that his obsession made him insensitive to right and wrong). However, I knew a little about the camp in the fairground from a film that I saw last year. This novel is certainly is an important addition to any list of Holocaust based literature. It is not easy to read but I could appreciate the structure and theme.

22. Our Lady of Alice Bhatti by Mohammed Hanif Hanif wrote both a satire and a tragedy about life in Pakistan. His main character, Alice Bhatti is a nurse at the Sacred Heart Hospital for All Ailments. Her father is a part time healer and Alice herself has an interesting background. She won't put up with any wrong doing and ends up in prison for while. The hospital has doctors longing to be elsewhere, and a number of people who have some non- official dealings with the institution. Teddy Butt assists the police in their " Gentlemen's Squad"- a sort of torture and disposal unit commanded by Inspector Malangi. The stories connecting Alice and Teddy are both funny and terrible. Hanif uses attacks on women in Pakistan in many situations and relates them in a matter fo fact way. The reader cheers for Alice when she averts one such sexual assault with a devastating solution. The end is unexpected since Alice seems to be able to master almost every problem.Hanif has created a novel that has significant contemporary themes for the reader's understanding of life in Pakistan and perhaps more places as well.

23. In a Strange Room by Damon Galgut. I find Galgut's writing very expressionistic. The book is divided into three parts- each about a journey taken by the narrator. The urge to travel and constantly be on the move is more pronounced in the first two sections. In the first part of the book a man travels in Greece and meets a person who he seems to like in an unspecified way. When he returns to his home in South Africa , the new companion, Reiner makes arrangements to join him for a hike through Lesotho. The story of their conflicts and the narrator reactions make up the body of the chapter. The second section has the narrator travelling and meeting a trio in Malawi. He follows them in their travels and has a strong attraction to one of the men. The story is about an obsession and the emotions of the narrator. I liked the third part of his novel the best. The narrator takes a damaged and disturbed friend, Anna, to India for a holiday. The story is about Anna's self destruction and how the narrator copes as well as his emotions and thoughts about his role. An interesting book to think about.

24. Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel This is an unusual book. In fact it is a story within a story. At first gentle in nature, the plot takes the reader to some unimaginable horrors by the end. The narrator, Henry is a successful author, who had a new book rejected by his publishers. He wanted to tell a fiction and non-fiction story about the Holocaust. Henry and his wife relocate to a new country for a break and obtain jobs. Henry is contacted by a man who is having trouble with his play about a donkey and monkey- Beatrice and Virgil. Henry finds the man- a taxidermist by trade- and slowly tries to begin a mentorship with him. In fact, Martel does creates a play within a story that more and more draws a parallel with the Holocaust. The premise does seem a little far-fetched to both Henry, inside the story, and to us, the readers. But it does work powerfully.

25. The Tale of the 1002nd Night by Joseph Roth. This book was one of Roth's last novels to be translated into English ( expertly by Michael Hofmann and was written before the Nazi annexation of Austria-according to the backpage of the publication. Perhaps the story does not have the impact on then current events, but is does chronicle the end of an era. The story revolves around an incicent when the Shah of Persia comes to visit Vienna in the mid 1870's. This ruler is taken with a Viennese Countess and demands to meet and make love to her. The officials in charge of the visit try to find a solution by finding a stand-in look alike for the Countess- a prostitute named Mizzi, a former lover of the Baron Taittinger. The later fates of both Taittinger and Mizzi form the basis of the novel. In a way, the manipulations, and the characters of the spies, the newspaper editors, and the madam show how the world was changing. The Mizzi and the Baron are no match for those who have ulterior motives. Lives are destroyed because old ways are no longer followed. An interesting and sad book.

I don't think I've come across this book by Joseph Roth before, but it sounds very interesting. Thank you for adding another title to my "ought to look out for this" list.

26. Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham This was an unusual read for me as I remember the author from his book, The Hours- This story is very different. The narrative is divided into three parts. The first section takes place in late 19th century New York. A very young teenager with a habit of reciting sections of Walk Whitman's poetry at odd times takes the place of his deceased older brother in a factory and becomes the breadwinner for his family. Lucas is concerned with visions and the fate of his brother's fiancee., Catherine. How Lucas saves her from death but at the cost of his own health leaves the reader with a sense of unease. The second story take place in modern day New York where an employee of the police , Cat listened to the threats of those who want to create havoc in the city. She has to evaluate what is real and what is delusion. Cat discovers three young children who are blowing up random citizens with pipe bombs . What she discovers and how she tries to change the situation. An artifiact from the first story turns up in this second as well as references to Whitman again. The third section is set in an apocalyptic future with ruined cities, aliens working on earth and intelligent robots- in this case one that is programmed to recite Walt Whitman. An interesting story about fate, and maybe hope for the future.

27. The Magic of Saida by M.G. Vassanji. This is such a good book from a master storyteller. I am surprised that this novel was not nominated for last year's Giller Prize. Kamal is a wealthy doctor from Edmonton returning to his birthplace in Kilwa, a small town on the coast of Tanzania. He is searching for a childhood friend, Saida, who he has not seen for many years. The novel relates not only Kamal's story about growing up the son of an African mother and an Indian father who abandoned his family but also the history of the area. The reader learns of the German conquest, the revolts and the poets who helped define the culture. The story of the poet Mzee Omari takes an important role in the narrative. Saida, the lost friend from Kamal's childhood, was the grand daughter of the poet. Kamal tells his story as he searches for Saida. Past and present are blended in the stories and both the reader and Kamal learn of the secrets that lead to the climax. ( which is a little overly dramatic for my taste but does work) A great story.

28. The Secret Servant by Daniel Silva. I don't know what element of hot weather makes me want to read mysteries. But in the very hot spell that just passed, I read another of Daniel Silva's adventures starring the art restorer and spy Gabriel Allon. I must admit that the number of bodies is much higher in this story than in other spy series and I follow and like better. Ah well, I am on to other types of reading now that the temperature has moderated.

29. The Air We Breathe by Andrea Barrett. I have been reading the work of Barrett for a number of years. There are relationships established between a number of the characters in her novels and short stories. I like her writing style- in this case the tone is somewhat elegaic. The narration is done by an unnamed group of people or person living at a public sanitorium-Tamarack Lake- for tuberculosis patients in the Adirondack Mountain area. Barrett introduces a number of people. Leo is a new patient coming from New York- a recent immigrant trying to work in his field of chemistry but not successful. Miles is a wealthy man living at one of the private homes for patients- he tries to improve the lives of the people living at Tamarack through intelletual seminars. Eudora is a nurse working the the sanitorium and Naomi is the daughter of the woman who runs Miles's residence. Naomi drives Miles to the sanitorium for his Wednesday sessions.Irene is runs the x-ray machines and was a former patient. The story involves the study of science and the new inventions of the beginning of the 20th century, the coming and fighting of the First World War, and most importantly, the misreading of affections. The wrong assumptions of Miles and Naomi drive the plot with terrible consequences. The treatment of tuberculosis during this time is described and leads to the life proscribed to the patients. A really interesting book to read and think about.

30. Locked Rooms by Laurie R. King. I really felt the need to read a mystery after my last book so I selected this mystery that used the husband and wife team of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. I know that I started in the middle of this series ( I should read the rest) and found it a pleasant read about the mystery of Mary's family's death in a so-called accident. Mary and Sherlock are in San Francisco wrapping up business involving her family's estate. They eventually team up with private and crime writer Dashiel Hammett to learn the source of Mary's nightmares about her past and to find the killers of her family. A good mystery read.

I love this series!

I have to read more of them- my brother loves them!

31. Love and Louis XIV The Women in the Life of the SunKing by Antonia Fraser. This biography really focuses on the women in the life of the King of France. The reader learns about the mother of Louis, Anne of Austria and her influence on her son as she was regent for a number of years. The stories of the three main mistresses of Louis-Louise de La Valliere, the Marquise de Montespan , and Francoise de Maintenon - reveal some of the roles that upper class women were allowed to have in that society. Thank goodness the author had family trees showing the relationships of all the nieces, nephews and children , illegitimate and not, in the extended family. Young royal women were really political pawns, married off to consolidate power with various countries. The role of a woman in their society was to have many male and female offspring. There was some description of the various wars that entangled France during Louis's time as King as well as the plight of the ordinary people. The Catholic church had a prominent place in the life of the nobility as well. The book was informative and interesting.

32. O Jerusalem- by Laurie R. King I sometimes like to look for a series to follow- one with mystery and set in an interesting time period. This series features Sherlock Holmes and his new assistant Mary Russell. I had read another volume in this series. This story was set in Palestine just after World War 1 and the detectives were hunting down an unknown plotter for General Allenby. A lot of the book was spent trudging in desert and the plot line only got interesting in the last thrid of the book. Hmm- too many books to read- I don't know if I will follow this series.

33. Must You Go? My Life with Harold Pinter by Antonia Fraser. This is a beautiful memoir by Fraser about her relationship with Harold Pinter- taken from her diaries. They met at a dinner party and Pinter used the phrase "Must you go" as Fraser was leaving. She stayed, they talked and formed an immediate bond. The fact that they were married to other people was a major obstacle but eventually both separated from their respective partners. Antonia Fraser and Harold Pinter lived together and were married fro over 30 years. The story of their life included Pinter's wonderful love poems that he wrote for Fraser and the history of their literary accomplishments. A really nice memoir to read!

I did google Pinter to see what he wrote in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech- he was indeed a radical in his politics. Fraser doesn't ignore this but certainly, her memoir is more about their relationship than his political views.

34. The Monuments Men Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel with Bret Witter. I think that the title says it all-there is a good story here but I personally think not in this book. The authors tend to sensationalize their material in the style of writing and structure. They take an intriguing story about the search for the art treasures stolen by the Nazis, give the readers some really interesting material and clutter it up with unnecessary stories about the private lives of the " Monuments Men". i kept on waiting to hear about the search for the art. The authors of the book try to build suspense by giving out answers in the last section. The research and bibliography is good. I didn't like the style of writing and wanted more on the actual tracing and hunt for the art

Good to know about The Monuments Men -- it's supposed to be adapted into a movie soon and I was curious about the source material. Maybe the bibliography will prove more interesting.

Thanks for the heads-up about The Monuments Men. Ever since the movie cropped up in newspapers etc., a vague memory has been niggling me: isn't that the outfit where the hero of Trevanian's The Eiger Sanction started his career? Until he sidelined into black market art and assassination?

>48 torontoc: The Rape of Europa by Lynn Davies looks like it might be a better treatment of the same topic. I've had it on my shelves for years, just never got around to reading it. It has good reviews.

Yes- I did read it and think that it is time for a reread.

35. Born to Kvetch Yiddish Language and Culture in all Its Moods by Michael Wex. I usually don't read linguistics books but this one was interesting. Wex looks at Yiddish phrases and words thematically. The chapters cover food, life cycle events , religion and history. He is very thorough. Some of his writing is very funny and certainly the reader will learn what phrases and words to use and not to use. Recommended for those interested in Yiddish culture and language

36. Airborn by Kenneth Oppel. Oppel writes Young Adult novels but this adventure in an altered maybe Victorian society is a good read for all ages. The story follows 15 year old Matt Cruse, a cabin boy on a airship that runs from North America to Australia. Air ships use a specific kind of gas that allows a big structure to fly over large oceans. The passengers are treated as if they are on a large cruise ship. Matt and the crew overcome pirates and are ship wrecked on an unknown island. While they make repairs, Matt and a passenger, Kate de Vries, look for a new mysterious creature. Kate has her grandfather's diary that describes the creature. He died after being injured in his hot air balloon a year earlier. How Matt and Kate discover the whereabouts of the new animal and battle the pirates for the return of the airship make for exciting reading. In fact this book is just the first in a series. Recommended for readers of dystopian worlds.

37. Defending Jacob by William Landay I read this mystery because a very good friend with similar taste really liked it. I found that while the story held my interest, I found the ending ( no spoiler here) was like a sucker punch really coming out of nowhere. Well, there were some hints perhaps but - no- I didn't expect the end. Andrew Barber is an assistant district attorney until his son, Jacob, is charged with murdering a fellow student. The novel traces the investigation and subsequent actions in the trial. Throughout the story with all the revelations about motive, the reader is torn between believing in the innocence or guilt of Jacob. That is all I have to say other than being shocked at the ending.

38. The Golem as told by Elie Wiesel and illustrated by Mark Podwal This story is beautifully illustrated. Wiesel really retells the story of how Rabbi Yehuda Loew of medieval Prague creates a golem or protector of the Jewish residents. He turns the Golem into a silent man who can search for missing children and women and foil the plots of those who want to harm the Jewish community. Well written and the many images combine mystery and mystic qualities.

39. Reunion by Alan Lightman Well, this book was in my TBR pile- as i was reading it , I wondered what attracted me to the book in the first place? The author does tell a skillful story about a university professor, Charles, going back to his college reunion. The place leads to a memory of his first love, a dancer from New York City. The story of their affair and the aftermath are very intense and perhaps the reader sees how much the events have wounded Charles over the past thirty years. The writing is good but I am still puzzled why I selected this book - it has been in my TBR pile for over a year.

40. Nelson's Purse by Martyn Downer. Downer was employed by Sotheby's in 2002 when he discovered a collection of letters and material ( jewels, a purse containing gold coins and more memorabilia) relating to Horatio Nelson. This important collection was owned by the descendants of Alexander Davison, a good friend and business agent of Nelson. This account traces the life of Davison, his business dealings, and how he knew Nelson, Nelson's estranged wife, Fanny and mistress, Emma Hamilton. Davison was connected to many in England's establishment circles although he was put in jail twice for illegal business dealings with the supply of goods to the British army. The letters from Fanny do place her in a new light and lead to a different view of her relationships. Martyn was involved in the sale of the memorabilia at an auction at Sotheby's. It is ironic that he could not have written this book if the letters had been sold to a private dealer- national archives in England did buy them. The purse, last worn by Nelson when he died, and the jewels were sold and and have disappeared from public view. Still an interesting book.

41. When Eve Was Naked Stories of a Life's Journey by Josef Skvorecky These short stories are considered a "semi-autobiographical account of the author's life. They range from a young boy's account of life under the Nazis, a young man's loves and life under Czech communist rule and finally a professor living in Canada. The author uses his fictional " alter ego"-Danny Smiricky- in some of the work. I enjoyed the tone and the humour of this work. Skvorecky is a master of this medium.