Nickelini tackles Mnt TBR

Moving over here after several fun years at the Books Off the Shelf Group.




And to add even more fun, I'm going to add the Challenge Bingo:



Some of these categories are just ridiculous for me personally, so I'm going to have to be creative (celebrities? baristas?)

B

• A Book You Chose Because of the Cover ~ The Beginning of Spring - I didn't originally chose this because of the cover, but I read it now (in part) because I love the cover
• A Book from the Library ~ How Literature Works
• A Book That's Been on Your Shelf for More than Five Years ~ A Good House - living in my TBR pile since 2002
• A Book with more than 400 pages ~ The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay - over 600 pages, felt longer
• A Book Recommended by a Celebrity Best Laid Plans ~ this book won CBC Canada Reads a few years ago, and so would have been championed by a celebrity (I think in this case it was some guy from CNN).

I

A Book You Saw Someone Reading
A Book Out of Your Comfort Zone ~The Beautiful Room is Empty, Edmund White - an abundance of scenes where the narrator cruises for gay sex and has anonymous sex and orgies in public bathrooms. Too much information.
A Book Someone Recommended to you ~ Wild Swans - my psychologist recommended this in 2003
A Book of Poetry
A Book by a Canadian Author ~ Deep Hollow Creek - CanLit classic

N

A Book That Will Help You with Your Career
An Award Winning Book ~ Moon Tiger - Booker winner 1987
FREE
A Book You Heard About on the Radio ~ Lives of Girls and Women - discussed on the radio after Alice Munro won the Nobel prize
A Book You (should have) read in High School ~ Breathe

G

A Book You Saw on TV
A Book Recommended by Your Bookseller
A Book with a Great First Line ~ The Shooting Party
A Book with Pictures ~ The Bronte Myth
A Book You would have picked up as a teenager ~ The Small Hand

O

A Book with an Animal on the Cover ~ The Children's Book, AS Byatt, dragonfly (even though it's jewelry)
A Young Adult Novel ~ After Hamelin, Bill Richardson
A Book Written by a Celebrity ~ Girlfriend in a Coma - Douglas Coupland may not be a celebrity in your world, but he is in mine.
A Book Recommended to you by your Barista
A Book "Everyone" but you has read ~ The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Good to see you over here, Joyce!

Nice to see you here, Joyce! Looking forward to see your ROOT reading!

welcome to the challenge!

Welcome, Joyce, and good luck.

We're in this together in 2013 Joyce!

Hi Joyce, Good luck with your TBR's.

Hi Joyce, nice to see you here! Good luck!!!

First one for the year:

1. Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China, Jung Chang, 1991


Cover comments: ho hum

Comments: Wild Swans is a memoir of three generations of 20th century Chinese women, written by the granddaughter. The story starts with her grandmother, who undergoes foot binding as a child and is later sent off as one of the concubines of a warlord. After his death, she escapes with her daughter and marries a much older Manchurian doctor. The daughter grows up through the horrific Japanese occupation during WWII and then the following Chinese civil war, and becomes enamored with the communist dream. She marries a communist officer, and they become mid-level party elites. Jung Chang is born in 1952 into the volatile world of Chinese communism. Despite all three women having lives of privilege, all three also suffered very real horrors and hardships. One thing this book taught me is that in 20th century China, no one was exempt from suffering. Whether it was the traditional culture, WWII, or under communism, there is one word that describes this century in China: capricious.

I had mixed feelings about this book. On the positive side, the book's strength is the author's ability to show how the historical events of these periods in China affected people's lives. It was certainly an engaging and interesting read. She showed how communism seemed like a dramatic improvement at first. She also showed how the cult of Mao consumed the culture.

However, Wild Swans was written in a very factual style that left me cold. There was no dialogue at all. The grimness was unrelenting--on every page someone was tortured or just mistreated. For most of the book it appeared that the only kind people in all of China were her relatives. Everyone else was nasty at best.

I suppose some of my disappointment was that I expected the book to be more literary and less mired down in minutia. It is one of the few memoirs on the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list, so I was expecting something more artistic. That said, perhaps the book was better for its lack of passion, as that may have been artifice. Just a thought.

Recommended for: Unless you've read a lot about 20th century China, I recommend this book for everyone. This is an important story that needs to be widely known. I've read about traditional China, and about life under communism, but this book does an excellent job of showing the progression and how one came out of the other.

Rating: Despite my strong recommendation of this book, I can only rate it 3.5 stars, which is lower than most readers give it. I just found myself counting the pages too often, wanting to be done.

Why I Read This Now: it was one of the older books on my TBR pile.

Deep Hollow Creek, Sheila Watson, 1992/1934


Cover comments: on it's own, this is not exactly an exciting cover. However, I really like it as part of the New Canadian Library series. All of the books have a tone-on-tone striped background with one element from story for a picture. I also like the typefaces. So this cover is a win for me.

Comments: This book was published in 1992, although Watson actually wrote it in 1934 when she spent a year teaching in a remote part of the Cariboo region of British Columbia. In this short novel, Stella is a school teacher who arrives in Deep Hollow Creek full of book knowledge, but with a lot to learn from observing the lives of the residents of this small community. There are three glowing reviews of Deep Hollow Creek here on LT, so I expected to love it too. Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me. Although I did appreciate her sly sense of humour, overall I found the writing to be choppy. I have spent time in this area of the world, and that usually raises my enjoyment of a book, but it didn't help me in this case. Pity, as it's such a beautiful area:


Who wouldn't want to jump on a horse and explore this region?

Why I Read This Now: While recently reading The Colour by Rose Tremain, I saw how many similarities there were between the experiences of the settlers in New Zealand and the stories I knew about settling BC around the same time. I guess this was a bit of a compare and contrast exercise. I expected this story to be about the hardships encountered by homesteaders. But that's not what Deep Hollow Creek is about. Part of my disappointment lies here; however, I still didn't like her writing.

Rating: 2.5 stars

Recommended for: This is a CanLit classic, and others rave about it. If you think you might like it, give it a try.

The Colour, Rose Tremain, 2003


Oh, groan. Another headless woman in historical dress. Must be some tepid historical fiction that's making the book club rounds. Well, . . . no. This cover undersells the book. And it did have a really lovely indigo blue spine.

Comments: In the mid-1860s, Joseph Blackstone arrives in New Zealand from England with his recently widowed mother and his new bride, Harriet. They earnestly begin to homestead on the harsh South Island, but after Joseph discovers a small quantity of gold in his creek, he trades in his dream of a simple farm for the grander dream of gold wealth. As we see gold fever changing his behavior, Joseph's past (despicable) behaviour is also revealed. The parallel story is Harriet’s rise to the challenges of finding herself on the other side of the world with a worthless husband and few resources. After twelve years as a governess raising other people’s children in smothering drawing rooms, Harriet looks at her new life in New Zealand as one great adventure.

There is more going on her than you find in a typical historical novel, which is why it was nominated for the Orange prize and also included in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. I really enjoyed Tremain’s writing style, and will definitely look for more of her novels. I’ve never read anything about the colonial period in New Zealand, so I enjoyed exploring a new time and place. I also liked how she wove together threads about the Maoris and both English and Chinese immigrants.

Why I Read This Now: It’s Orange January, and this is the oldest Orange book on my TBR pile. It’s the third time I’ve tried this novel—twice before I couldn’t get past the first paragraph. But this time I was hooked right away.

Recommended for: readers who like their historical fiction on the more literary side, readers who are interested in the time period or NZ setting.

Rating 4 stars.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Michael Chabon, 2000


I don't like this cover because I find this style of art unappealing. However, I do think it's suitable for the book. And the book felt very nice, which was important considering how long it took me to read this $!*# thing. Also, this edition has 40 pages of extra stuff that a fan would probably love, but that I skipped.

Rating: This is a book that is not only widely popular and much beloved, but also won the Pulitzer Prize. It even made a brief appearance on the 1001 books list (2008 edition). That doesn't mean it's for everyone, though. It took me 604 pages to get into this 636 page novel. Final verdict: 2.5 stars.

Comments: It's the late 1930s, and with the help of his family, Joseph Kavalier escapes from Prague and ends up at his cousin Sam's in Brooklyn. Together they decide to write a comic book about a superhero called the Escapist who fights Nazis. A bunch of other stuff happens too.

What I Liked About This Book: Michael Chabon is a gifted writer with a huge vocabulary and a charming way with words. He is also a master of research. This is an intelligent book.

What I Didn't Like: in a word, it was boring. All the stunning detail layered on detail felt bloated and indulgent. I never wanted to pick it up, was easily distracted while reading (his details often brought up questions that I was happy to go off on a tangent and look into), and I was always happy to put this down. This is not a book I would normally have finished, because it was a huge time investment. I read it because I bought it; I bought it because it was my book club selection and I knew I'd never get through a library book in the allowed time. So I was determined to finish it. And actually, from page 604 on, I thought it was great.

I realize that although I thought I had, I have never read a comic book. I devoured piles of Archie, and Casper the Friendly Ghost, but Kavalier and Clay was about Superman, Spiderman, Batman, etc. Anytime one of those sorts of books has ended up in my hands, my eyes glazed over and I was frozen in immediate boredom. I think that was part of the problem with this novel--there is a lot going on, but the love of comics is an overriding theme that I just don't care about.

Recommended for: My book club came to a rare unanimous decision on this one: Kavalier and Clay is a very well-written book, but just doesn't interest us. Which is exactly what I expected going into it. So if everyone is telling you you must read this, but you don't think it's for you, trust yourself. But if you think it sounds interesting, you'll probably love it. I definitely want to read more Michael Chabon, but I don't know what. Any recommendations?

Why I Read This Now: my book club.

Wow. I have this book on my TBR shelves but it does not sound very inviting to go and read it now. Oh well, never mind.

Most people love it--look at all the 4 and 5 star reviews. Just not for me (or my book club).

Well. I did love some of his other books, so might give it a try in some other challenge in some other year.

Which books did you love? I think he's a great writer and I want to try something else by him. I've been warned off The Yiddish Policeman's Union.

I've added a Bingo component to my challenge, compliments of my friend JudyLou. See post #1 of this thread for the Bingo card.

I loved Zomerland (Summerland), that is a young adult book.

Thanks. I'll keep my eye open for it.

Four books already? Great start Joyce.

I liked Chabon's Gentlemen of the Road. It really wasn't my usual type of book, but the adventure buddy story felt very action packed and visual to me. I felt like it could be a great movie.

I've wanted to read Wild Swans for a long time, and even with your reservations, I'm pretty sure I'll still read it. Ditto with The Colour, which is very close to the top of the TBR pile. I think I am that recommended reader.

I've read Chabon's Mysteries of Pittsburgh: A Novel (P.S.) and Manhood for Amateurs: The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father, and… and I enjoyed the reading especially the second one was a great pleasure and a lot of memories came up during the reading.

Oh - I actually have Manhood for Amateurs--picked up an almost free copy last year and threw it on my husband's book pile. That will be the one I read next.

#20 - If you're interested in Wild Swans I encourage you to read it!

I read Mysteries of Pittsburgh and was underawed. I have a private category of books -- "guy books" that I just cannot crack: Catch 22, Infinite Jest, and Mysteries of Pittsburgh all fall within this. There just seems to be a reverence in MoP for certain male behaviors that I cannot fathom.

Great review of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Joyce! The only Chabon I have read so far, and was completely enamoured with was his Gentlemen of the Road, which I understand is not his usual type of story. Darn and double darn, because I think he writes great historical fiction/adventure stories!

Joyce, how are you using the bingo component? Are you tracking it in a group somewhere? It looks very appealing.

Oh wow, "I was always happy to put this down"-- that about says it all! I've had The Yiddish Policeman's Union on my TBR shelves for several years and was thinking that maybe I'd finally get to it this year, but then again... maybe not.

I read Mysteries of Pittsburgh and was underawed. I have a private category of books -- "guy books" that I just cannot crack: Catch 22, Infinite Jest, and Mysteries of Pittsburgh all fall within this. There just seems to be a reverence in MoP for certain male behaviors that I cannot fathom.

I can so relate to this. I've owned Catch 22 since the 1980s and I got about 70 pages in back then and have never been able to pick it up since. Infinite Jest just doesn't interest any cell in my body. I own a whole bunch of these books, actually.

how are you using the bingo component? Are you tracking it in a group somewhere? It looks very appealing.

I will track it here--probably at the end of every month. There is also a thread where a few of us are playing: http://www.librarything.com/topic/148919

You don't need to belong to the group to join. Just come barge in like I did.

Oh, that looks like fun! I've starred the topic.

In the Forest, Edna O’Brien, 2002



I like this cover—the brooding dark green, the sweeping typeface—and the figure: why is she lying there? Is she enchanted? Sleeping? Dead? It makes me want to read the book and find out what happened to her In the Forest.

Comments: In Ireland, Michen O’Kane suffers through a sad childhood of abuse. Returning to County Clare on the west coast after a stint in prison, he is now a psychopath, and begins to menace and terrorize the residents of the area. Even the police are afraid of him. He stalks Ely, a young free spirited mother of four-year-old Maddie, who have taken up residence in a ramshackle remote cottage. When they go missing, Ely’s friends immediately suspect O’Kane (aka “the Kinderschreck,” or “children scarer”) but the authorities are slow to react.

The story is told through the eyes of many characters who witnessed the events. This is the books strength, but also its weakness, as in the beginning it was difficult to figure out what is happening and how it relates to the story. For example, when Ely and Maddie are introduced, I have no idea what gender Ely is, and that Maddie is her son. But after a while everything clicked and then the technique worked well. (I wish authors would do a better job of giving readers some markers, and not be so damn cryptically clever.). Apart from that criticism though, I enjoyed this novel. O’Brien doesn’t spend much time with flowery descriptions or melodrama—for such a dark, creepy story, it’s rather understated.

In the Forest is based on a similar story that actually happened in Ireland in the 1990s, and apparently many in the country were outraged by this novel, as they saw this ex-pat writer as simply cashing in on their local tragedy.The Guardian calls In the Forest one of those “state of the nation” books, and so this book is not just a retelling of horrific murders, but a story about modern Irish society as well. I’m sure that made some people there uncomfortable.

Why I Read This Now: it was my second Orange January read, and the book was also on the 2006 Must Read.... list. And lately I’ve been interested in reading about forests. And lastly, I’m trying to read more Irish literature.

Rating: 4 stars

Recommended for: not sure—I liked it, and it garnered some good reviews, so if it sounds interesting, give it a try.

County Clare looks so bucolic and idyllic--surely nothing bad has happened there? (wrong)

>28 Nickelini: What else is on your personal list? Always curious what to avoid.

#32 - >28 Nickelini: What else is on your personal list? Always curious what to avoid.

It's really not fair to the authors or the books, but sometimes I buy books because I've heard they are good or they're on some sort of recommended list or won some award. But then they go in Mnt TBR and I never want to pick them up again. When I do force myself, sometimes I discover wonderful books--for example, Giovanni's Room, which was an ugly mass market paperback that turned out to be a 5 star read.

Here are some I'm currently ignoring: Catch 22 (been on my book shelf since 1980-something), Hawksmoor by Peter Ackroyd, Money by Martin Amis, Book of Illusions, Paul Aster, Smiley's People, John le Carre, Under the Volcano, Malcolm Lowry, . . . I could go on and on . . .

Eating Dirt: Deep Forests, Big Timber and Life with the Tree-Planting Tribe, Charlotte Gill, 2011


Cover comments: I really like the photo of the female tree planter standing on the slope of the clear cut, and the grey-tones of the picture.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Comments: This is Charlotte Gill's memoir of her twenty-year career as a tree planter. Beginning each February, she replanted forests, following the spring weather as it moved thousands of miles through British Columbia, and ending her work year in October. This is an insider's view of the life of one of the most physically grueling and dirtiest jobs around--so dirty, that she refers to being "earth-stained" with "permadirt," and wears disposable clothes. This is also a job that required her to eat 4,000 calories a day just so she could get up and do it again the next day. I found this look at her life absolutely fascinating. In between her stories of bears, solitude, blistering heat, camaraderie, bruises, bugs, rain, helicopters, lousy motels, and bending over thousands of times a day, she talks about the history of humans and forests, and the importance of forests to our planet. She weaves these pieces together with some beautiful, poetic writing, lush with similes and metaphors that she creates through keen observation.

This will definitely go on the list of my top books of the year. I'm not the only one who enjoyed it--lots of rave reviews around the internet, nominations for literary non-fiction prizes, and it won the British Columbia National Award for Canadian Non-fiction, which awarded the author with $40,000. I think she well-earned it.

Although she worked all across BC (the province is nearly four times the size of Great Britain, two and one-half times larger than Japan and larger than every U.S. state except Alaska), most of her time was spent in the temperate rainforests of Vancouver Island and coast BC. Places that looked like this . . . .

,

. . . and where she worked to change clear cuts like this . . . .

,

into forests that one day may again look like this:

.

One thing I really liked about her story is how she struck a realistic and pragmatic balance between the beauty and necessity of the natural forest and the human need to use the forest. She is not some unrealistic environmentalist with romanticized ideas of trees (aka "a tree-hugger," which around this part of the world is said only with a tone of derision in the voice).

Recommended for: I thought this was so interesting that I can't imagine anyone not agreeing. But I guess if you're not all that interested in our planet, or in people who live a completely different type of life, than this isn't your thing.

Why I Read This Now: I've been wanting to read it since it was published, and I'm on a sort of reading theme about forests, so it was my first choice for that theme.

>28 Nickelini: and 33: Maybe not fair, but life is too short for books that do not speak to us.

I'll give Giovanni's Room a look over, but I'm not willing to try Catch 22 again. I've tried two or three times, and unless I change in some unforeseeable way, I'm ok with missing it. But Hawkesmoor I did quite enjoy. Ackroyd has not been on my 'must read' list for quite some time, but this is a good one if you have patience for clever poststructuralist novels. Even if you don't, this is a good mystery with lots of late 17th century atmospherics. I also liked Smiley's People, but like you, can easily ignore Under the Volcano. I collapsed at least twice in about chapter 3.

Wonderful. I have a step-son and a daughter who have both gone north to find work, pay off student loans, and figure themselves out as adults. Although neither ended up tree-planting (yet), this book speaks to what might have been. I'll track it down. Thanks for the recommendation.

Oooh, hit by a wonderfully interesting-sounding BB! Thanks for the excellent review, and visuals too!

Girlfriend in a Coma, Douglas Coupland, 1998


Cover comments: Douglas Coupland was an artist before he was a writer, and so he gets involved in the art for his book covers. I'm not much of a fan of his artistic style--it doesn't speak to me at all, while his books speak to me strongly. Yes, this cover fits his style, and although at first glance it looks like a lame cover for some YA romance novel, it actually has meaning pertinent to the story. However, it doesn't do much for me. At least the woman has a face. Extra points for that.

Comments: It's the late 1970s, and at a party, teenage Richard's girlfriend Karen (who is dieting for her upcoming Hawaiian vacation) takes a couple of valiums along with a weak cocktail. She slips into a persistent vegetative state (Karen Ann Quinlan, anyone? Even down to the name Karen). Richard and their group of friends, who were already scarred by the death of their friend Jared the year before, muddle into adulthood. One has a brilliant but short career as a supermodel, one becomes a physician, and several of them end up working in the film industry. Despite successes in life, they are really a bunch of losers lost in a fog of ennui. Until 17 years later, when Karen awakens from her coma. This is about half way into the novel, and suddenly there is a major change of direction as an apocalyptic illness breaks out and kills everyone on earth except this group. (This is not a spoiler as it is mentioned on the back cover blurb). The initial story of the apocalypse was very entertaining, but then the book sort of wanders off toward its end, with philosophical musings about the meaning and purpose of life. Oh, and the ghost of Jared returns to guide them.

I really liked the first part, and then when it switched to a sci-fi novel I switched mindsets and liked that too. But then it just kinda . . . got weird and not very interesting. Not Coupland's best (I've seen him interviewed and he said he was in a really bad place when he wrote this one). Still, I'd rather read a "meh" Coupland than a lot of other stuff out there.

As always though, Coupland is sharp with capturing cultural snap shots. He has an amazing ability to capture time and place (the 1970s teenage party spot on perfect--down to the Bob Seger music). This is one of his novels set in Vancouver, and he can write about the city with an accuracy that I haven't come across elsewhere. In one of the opening scenes, Richard and Karen are night skiing on Grouse Mountain, an activity that I've done many times. This is the view they saw:



Why I Read This Now: my daughter read it and wanted to talk with me about it.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Recommended for: people who like books set in Vancouver, or books about the apocalypse. There are readers who just love this book, and probably just as many who hate it. If you haven't read Coupland before, don't start with this one.

I really like your reviews, Joyce. Thank you for that.

Well, thank you. I have fun writing them.

The Wood. John Collis (English Journeys), John Stewart Collis, 1973 (?) (possibly much earlier--1940s perhaps)


Part of the Penguin English Journeys books, I find this cover pleasing when taken as one in a 20-part series.

Comments: During WWII, John Stewart Collis (who was 40 at the time and a WWI veteran) managed a forest in Dorset as his job in the land army. His assignment included thinning the forest and cutting ash trees (an internet search suggests these were used in making airplane wings). This is a short collection of his musings from that time--mostly about the work he did, but also on nature and forests, and also a few on people. Although I enjoyed this in general, I could only read a few pages at a time because there is no narrative whatsoever, and really no characters either. Just a collection of thoughts and observations.

The 108 pages of this book are an excerpt from his book The Worm Forgives the Plough.

Recommended for: most people won't want to read a book so utterly lacking in story. However, if you are a nemophilist (a haunter of woods; one who loves the forest and its beauty and solitude) or are addicted to waldeinsankeit (the feeling of being alone in the woods), you will probably like this book very much indeed. (BTW - I recently learned those two words and jotted them down, and now look--they came in handy!).

Rating: 3.5 stars

Why I Read This Now: Because I'm a nemophilist who enjoys waldeinsankeit.

Collis worked at the Springhead estate, outside of Shaftesbury (which is probably my favourite town in England). I can't find a picture of an ash forest from the area, but I found this lovely photo of Dorset.

I think Dorset is one of the prettiest places I've ever been, and I'm kinda depressed I don't get to live there and ride horses. The only cure for that is to go read some Thomas Hardy . . .

What a gorgeous picture! I want to go there!!!

#42 - I highly recommend it!

Joyce, I love how you write your reviews. It is so easy to get a clear and concise view of the book from them.
And you are doing well on this challenge. Keep it up. You ROCK!~!

edited: to say that there are times when one of my children or grandchildren want me to read a book they have read or are reading so that we can discuss it/them. That is what led me to the Harry Potter series. My then 13 year old grandson wanted me to read them so badly. That is also how I began reading Jodi Picoult. One of my granddaughters this time. I have a daughter who loves Sci Fi/Fantasy so soon we will be reading His Dark Materials by Pullman. Another daughter reads mysteries and courtroom dramas. Same thing. These are books that I normally would not choose to read but encouraged by my loved ones, I do and the experience of sharing the written word with them and the exchanges we have are precious times to me. I am sure also to you Joyce.

hugs,

Just reading your message with a big smile, RP. His dark materials and Jodi Picoult and the Harry Potter books are on my shelves too. I like all of them a lot.

It is so easy to get a clear and concise view of the book from them.

Thanks for your kind words, Belva! I trained as a technical writer, and I'm a corporate writer by profession, so writing clearly and making things easy for the reader is important for me. In my blood, actually.

9. The Bronte Myth, Lucasta Miller


Cover comments: well . . . a bit of a miss for me. The photo, titled "In Haworth Parsonage" is interesting, and I like Branwell Bronte's painting down the spine, but the whole thing is too dark and rather a mishmash in its composition.

Recommended for: this book is a must-read for Bronte scholars and anyone studying the Brontes at school. For mere Bronte fans, there's a lot of academic minutia to wade through to get to the interesting bits.

Why I Read This Now: I was wondering something about Emily Bronte and thought this might answer my question (by the time I got to the bits about Emily I had forgotten my question)

Comments: The blurb on the back cover praises The Bronte Myth as "a brilliant combination of biography, literary criticism, and history." I suppose, but I was expecting it to be a bit more engaging. Most of the book is about Charlotte Bronte, and I studied her at uni, so a lot of it was a repeat for me. Also, there was almost nothing about Ann. Overall though, throughout the book there was enough of interest to keep me reading.

One thing that stood out for me was that Miller never presents her thesis on what she thinks the "Bronte Myth" actually is . . . there is just this sentence in the "Preface & Acknowledgements" section that says "...the two most famous Bronte novels have become established not just as literary classics but as what might be called modern myths . . . " and then rambles off in several directions. (Someone needs to tell the author that the preface & acknowledgement section is often skipped.) So it's up to the reader to identify the Bronte Myth, or as the book progressed, many different myths.

Rating: at this point in my life I give this 3 stars. If I was using it for university, especially if I was interested in the cultural repercussions of the Brontes, I would rate it higher.

10. The Best Laid Plans, Terry Fallis, 2007


I like this cover. It's lively and fun, and what's that in the upper right? Oh no! A headless man . . . . .

Comments: Crusty, intelligent, and opinionated Angus agrees to have his name put on the ballot in an election that he has no chance in winning, and that's just the way he wants it. He lives in a riding that always votes for the other guys, and the incumbent is the most popular finance minister ever, and expected to become Prime Minister of Canada one day. But then scandal hits, and Angus finds himself elected to office. With no desire for re-election, and no desire for a political career, Angus can be that politician who actually does the right thing rather than being a politician.

The Best Laid Plans won the Stephen Leacock Award for Humour and the 2011 CBC Canada Reads competition (the theme that year was the most important book of the past decade).

It took me a while to get into it but once I got to around page 30, I started to enjoy it. I don't find the humour especially funny, and some of the writing makes me cringe, and it's predictable . . . but many parts are clever, and while the humour isn't laugh out loud, it does make me smile. It's not difficult to read, yet I'm learning about how my country ticks. And best of all . . . I kept looking for opportunities to pick it up, and when was reading and needed to put it down, I'd think "one more chapter."

Why I Read This Now: It's my book club's selection for February, and it was on my TBR pile.

Recommended for: Well, as I said, it won CBC Canada Reads, so that means it's a must-read for all Canadians, obviously. I'm trying to think if someone who doesn't live in Canada would get anything out of it, and I'm not sure. Maybe; probably not.

Rating: 3.5 stars

This one is going on my BINGO board as a book recommended by a celebrity. It was championed on Canada Reads by Ali Velshi.

I was equally ambivalent when I read it. It's very readable, and the plot races along, interesting characters, but. The characters are stereotypes, the plot *is* predictable. I can see why people live it but I didn't love it.

The Beginning of Spring, Penelope Fitzgerald, 1988


Cover comments: I love this cover, though I'm not sure why. I find it beautiful--I guess it captures a mood. I was surprised to learn that it is not a painting, but a photograph. This reproduction is a bit dark, but it's an image of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow with what looks like snow falling (although it may just be the graininess of the image)

Comments: It is 1913, and Frank Reid is an Englishman who was born and raised in Moscow, and now runs his family's printing business. His English wife has suddenly up and left him and he is left to raise their three children. He also has to negotiate the capricious business and social world of per-revolutionary Russia.

Fitzgerald is an amazing writer in both her gift at crafting beautiful sentences, capturing bits of humour, and in creating an astounding world. How does an Englishwoman writing in the 1980s know this level of detail about Russian life at the beginning of the century? This is my first encounter with her, but I own a few others and want to read them right away.

The Beginning of Spring is one of those books that require reading between the lines to figure out what is going on, and where it often feels like there is a bit missing that the reader must puzzle out. But for the reader who enjoys that type of reading experience, it's a rewarding novel. And this is what historical fiction should look like.

Why I Read This Now: Because it's late February, which is the beginning of spring here in Vancouver.

Recommended for: readers who love rich detail, gorgeous writing, and nuance in their novels. Not recommended for those who like a straight-forward story with no complexity.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

12. The Forest Lover, Susan Vreeland, 2004

(no cover art comments this time because my book came without the dust jacket. It was green).

Comments: The Forest Lover is a fictionalized biography of painter Emily Carr (1871-1945) that focuses on her life from around 1905 through 1930 (and which covers her two most productive periods). Born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, Carr struggles against her restrictive, repressed, and very English upbringing to become a free-spirited eclectic and lover of both nature and indigenous art. She makes several trips to the remote areas of the BC coast to paint totem poles, which she realizes are quickly disappearing as they rot into the rainforest or are taken to museums.

Susan Vreeland is an author who has fabulous ideas for books, but who fails to deliver. Being a serious fan of Vermeer, I was excited to read The Girl in Hyacinth Blue; however, I was very disappointed with the novel and had to force myself to finish it. My hopes weren’t as high then when I picked up The Passion of Artemisia, but I thought the combination of woman artist and 17th century Italy held promise. The reality was a fairly boring, mundane piece of historical fiction. When she came out with The Forest Lover, her third novel, the subject of Emily Carr and the setting of the West Coast intrigued me, despite being burned by Vreeland before. In the end, The Forest Lover isn’t as bad as I feared it would be. It’s very slow starting, and doesn’t really get going until past the 100 page mark when Carr travels to France to study oils and learn to paint in the Fauvist style. From that point it was an okay read with a few gripping moments and the occasional interesting character.

What I liked: The settings (Victoria, the wilds of BC, Vancouver & France), and I appreciate that the publisher printed a map on the inside cover. The character of New Zealand painter Frances Hodgkins was interesting, wise, and felt natural, although later I was disappointed to learn that there is no evidence the two women met. Also, I see from reviews that many readers weren’t familiar with Emily Carr and were happy for the introduction—so if this novel brings new viewer’s to Carr’s art, well, that’s a good thing.

What I didn’t like: I studied Vreeland’s writing to try and figure out why I dislike it so intensely. On the sentence-by-sentence level, she’s perfectly competent and occasionally turns a pretty phrase. I think her biggest fault is in her storytelling. It’s almost never engaging. Her characters are often stereotypical (Indigenous = spiritual and pure, White people & missionaries = greedy, mean and unsympathetic) and her dialogue sounds unnatural and stilted. Overall, I find that she’s an uptight writer who plays it safe because that’s all she knows. There are a couple of sentences in the novel where a character challenges Carr on misappropriation of First Nations culture, and Carr dismisses them with just a few words—just as Vreeland dismisses any challenging aspects of Carr’s life, or for that matter, any depth, nuance, or complexity at all.

Part way through I was so annoyed by the narrative voice that I pulled out the one book I have that Emily Carr wrote. As I expected, Carr’s own voice was very different—and she’s a much stronger, more interesting writer. I should have just read Carr herself, and forgotten about Vreeland.

Recommended for: Vreeland fans and readers who like her homogeneous style of historical fiction. If you want to learn more about Emily Carr, she’s a far superior writer, so just go read one of her many books instead.

Rating: because I liked the setting and subject, and because there were several enjoyable bits after page 100, I’m going to be very generous and give it 3 stars.

Why I Read This Now: I borrowed it a few years ago, so time to get it back to its owner. Going home with it I will include, unread, another book by the author—Luncheon of the Boating Party—and I will never read Vreeland again.


Susan Vreeland: a very uptight writer


a later Emily Carr painting


One of Carr’s many totem paintings

13. The Book of Small, by Emily Carr, 1942


I love this cover, from its Arts & Crafts typeface for the title (the author's name is her signature on her paintings) to the detail of Carr's painting Beacon Hill 1937. Brava to the designer, Ingrid Paulson, who created a whole series of Carr's books. I've ordered them all and they will look fabulous on the book shelf!

Comments: How is it fair that a renowned painter can also be a gifted writer? Carr wrote this memoir of her early childhood when she was in her early 70s, so historical veracity is not the point of this delightful book. Carr was born in Victoria, BC, into a community that is often called "more English than the English," and many of her vignettes tell of people forging their idea of a civilized life in the western wilderness. The Book of Small is a collection of snapshots of British Colonial life through the eyes of a small girl, in fact, the "Small" of the title is Carr's nickname as the youngest daughter. Some of the stories are told in first person, and some in third, with Small as the main character. My favourite part was when Small dresses up a starfish in doll's clothes and then forgets it in a cupboard.

The Book of Small has been compared to the writings of Lucy Maud Montgomery and Beatrix Potter, although this is not a children's book. She does capture that world of late-Victorian childhood where one minute she's sitting on a stiff chair drinking tea in a dark parlour, and the next she's squeezing through brambles and mud to get to her own Secret Garden.

Victoria is one of my all-time favourite cities, and I know it well, so it was fascinating to read what the city was like before the imposing Empress Hotel, when cows roamed the streets and Cook St was the garbage dump. I enjoyed how the city itself is a character in this novel.

Recommended for: Anyone looking for a amusing yet detailed look at domestic British Colonial life. Also anyone who is interested in the history of Victoria.

Why I Read This Now: I found the voice so very grating in The Forest Lover, and so I went to the source to hear Carr's real voice. Good move!

Rating: 4.5 stars

On one of our recent Victoria trips (last spring) we spent the afternoon at the historical Ross Bay cemetery, which is the most historically-significant graveyard in western Canada.


It took us ages, but we finally tracked down Emily Carr's grave site:


This is the view that Carr would have seen on her spring walks (with different boats, of course). The mountains are the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state:

Lovely pictures!

Great reviews for the Vreeland and the Carr books, Joyce! I love Carr's narrative voice so much I will probably not take well to Vreeland's book. *makes mental note of this*

Lovely photos! They bring back memories of when I lived in the area. My friend lived in the house next door to the Emily Carr House (the one she wrote about in The House of All Sorts) and then moved to a new home right across the street from Emily Carr's grave.

Thanks for the The Book of Small review, I've added it to my list.

Vivienne - That's all very cool! I first got to know about the Ross Bay Cemetery by reading Awake and Dreaming which features it prominently in the storyline. And the characters live right across the street from the cemetery too, just like your friend. It's a kid's book, but one that I enjoyed reading too.

I will look for that one too. We used to drop by a nearby bakery to get goodies for a "picnic" in the cemetery. It's a very peaceful place to spend an hour or two (or an eternity).

We used to drop by a nearby bakery to get goodies for a "picnic" in the cemetery. It's a very peaceful place to spend an hour or two (or an eternity).

Or eternity . . . yes! Some would think a cemetery an odd place to picnic, but I don't (maybe because I know the place). Just last week my aunt was telling me that she used to picnic there when she lived in Victoria because her work was close by.

the Shooting Party, Isabel Colgate, 1980


I love this Penguin Modern Classics cover--I had never heard of this "modern classic" and I kept seeing it at the uni book shop and had to buy it. At the time I didn't realize the book was so new--I thought it was written in the 1920s.

Note: this 2007 edition has an excellent 24 page introduction by Julian Fellowes. He was inspired by the 1980s film version of The Shooting Party to create Gosford Park, which further inspired him to create Downton Abbey.

Comments This short novel takes place in 24 hours in October 1913 before and during a shooting party at the Oxfordshire country house of Sir Randolph Nettlby. From the opening paragraph, you know that something bad is going to happen, but a something that will be forgotten a year later when their world is shattered by the Great War. The reader experiences the events of the day by following many characters, both aristocratic and service class.

Colgate is a fabulous writer--subtle, observant, witty, stylish. And she's writing about my favourite historical period--Edwardian England. Do I have to tell you I loved this book? I held back from giving it a full five stars because for my tastes there was a little too much detail about the actual shooting (or shall I say, needless slaughter of hundreds of pheasants, and yes, that's a metaphor for the war).

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Recommended for: readers who love the Edwardian era, fans of Gosford Park and Downton Abbey, although fans of the later should take note that this is only one day in the life, and there is no Maggie Smith character making hilarious comments. It also has a less fluffy tone than Downton Abbey.

Why I Read This Now: it has been right at the top of my TBR pile since I bought it in 2010, but for some reason I always allowed other books to bully their way into my hands. Time to finally read something I really wanted to read!

And now I'm off to buy the DVD of the film version . . .

The Beautiful Room is Empty, Edmund White, 1988


This is a library discard of a first edition. It's not in good shape, and I think it's very ugly, although I like the art deco typeface.

Why I Read This Now: First, the reason I even own this book is because it is in 1001 books you must read before you die, and I've discovered a lot of great reads off that list. I found this copy at a charity shop for twenty-five cents, so I thought I'd give it a try even though it's not a book I would have sought out otherwise. I read it now because the book isn't very long, but my edition is big and takes up too much shelf space. And it's ugly. So, time to read it or chuck it.

Comments: The semi-autobiographical novel of a young man in Detroit and Chicago in the 1950s and 60s, and who is gay . . . couldn't sound less interesting, unless they made it a baseball or football story. I really didn't think I'd find the interest to finish it until I got to the paragraph on page 19 where the narrator talks about how he wishes he lived in the "lurid decadence of nineteenth-century Europe, with its mauve glasses and moth-eaten velvets . . . " and said "I felt nausea whenever I faced America's frumpy cuteness." Suddenly, the book had promise--he didn't like his world any more than I do.

. . . And this just showed me how good writing can make an otherwise distasteful and boring book come to life. It was a quick, compelling read. For my tastes, there were too many scenes of cruising and sex in public bathrooms, but otherwise it was enjoyable. I'm glad I read it and will definitely read Edmund White again.

Recommended for: Not sure who I think will really like this book, but if you're bothered by lots of graphic gay sex scenes, stay clear of this one.

Rating: 3.5 stars, all of those on the quality of White's writing. Imagine if he wrote something I was actually interested in!

You sold me on The Shooting Party by Isabel Colegate. I love books set in the Edwardian era and just had to order a copy.

# 61 - Great! I hope you enjoy it too, Vivienne

16. The House of Mirth, Edith Wharton, 1905


I love this Virago Modern Classics edition. The cover art is the oil painting "Lady Colin Campbell," by Giovanni Boldini, 1897

My daughter just got back from Europe, and brought me a bookmark from the Louvre of Tizian Vecellio's "Portrait d'homme." I immediately started using it for this book, and I think the two of them make a lovely couple!


Comments: It is the gilded age in New York City, and 29 year old Lily Bart realizes her time as belle of the ball is nearing its end, and she still hasn’t landed that über-rich husband. She has no money of her own, and is the dependent of her stodgy old aunt, but is expected by all to keep up the lifestyle of a wealthy socialite, which includes dressing lavishly and gambling regularly. Before her mother died eight years earlier, she trained Lily to expect and accept only the very best in life. Luckily for her, Lily is unusually beautiful, and knew to cultivate exquisite manners—her beauty and her manners are her currency. Her only training was to become a trophy wife. She had all but landed her mega-rich husband on several occasions, but some last minute event always came along and derailed it. Bad luck, or self-sabotage? Or is it that her worth is set so high that no one is good enough? We gradually see that Lily can’t quite make herself marry for money—she also wants love and an interesting companion.

After adoring Wharton’s The Age of Innocence last summer, I initially found The House of Mirth to be a bit boring—the problems of rich people and their endless conversations just weren’t that interesting to me. But about a third of the way through the book, it really took off as one thing after another goes wrong for Lily, and she is forced to constantly scale back her ambitions. My first impressions of her was of an entitled, snobby, prideful, self-absorbed woman who only cares about those who can do something for her, and is dismissive to anyone she deems below her. But bit by bit I saw how she was born and raised to play this role, and had few options—she is trapped in the proverbial gilded cage. She is a commodity, but not a victim either, as she enjoys displaying herself as an object for others to admire. In between her efforts to maintain her outward appearances and uphold her standing as a great beauty, her intelligence and morality are slowly revealed. The worse things get for her, the better person she seems to become. The novel forces the reader to question whether Lily’s problems were ”her own fault, or destiny?”

As critic Hannah Jordan says, the House of Mirth has all “the external elements of a traditional romance,” yet it is so much more. No true romance is ever this dark. Wharton’s writing is once again a pleasure to explore, and I take delight in her sophisticated layering of symbolism to create social commentary. The reader hopes that Lily will find someone suitable, even if it means settling for the sanctimonious and hypocritical Lawrence Seldon, but it seemed pretty clear to me from the beginning that this wasn’t a satisfying love story. There is so much more going on. And although few readers today can relate to the world of the novel, anyone who has observed how cliques ostracize and manipulate their members, or anyone who has ever watched an episode of “The Real Housewives of—“ will relate to The House of Mirth.

Recommended for: it’s a classic and on many “must read lists,” so I don’t think I need to push this book. I’ll tell you who shouldn’t read it—readers looking for a nice romance, readers who are bored with the problems of rich people—even if written in a nuanced, complex style, and readers who don’t like to have to read each and every sentence and think about what it means in context. Wharton is not a difficult author to read, but one does have to focus.

Why I Read This Now: it was my book club selection for this month (based on my encouragement).

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

17. Wuthering Heights (Norton Critical Editions), Emily Bronte


Not an exciting cover, but the picture is of the path that Emily took from her house to the moors, so that's nice.

In addition to the novel (which was a reread, comments here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/152640#4025039 ) Wuthering Heights (Norton Critical Editions) contains extensive background pieces on the book (including reviews from when it was published), commentary from Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte's poems, a chronological timeline of the novel, and four scholarly essays. In particular, I enjoyed the essays, although they were rather academic, and so not really what I'd call a "fun" read. Still, they gave me some further insights into the singular novel.

There is no other book ever written that is anything like Wuthering Heights, so we are left to read only about it instead. I wonder what Emily would make of what has become of her novel 160 years after its publication? Wouldn't she be astounded at its mark on culture, and probably even more astounded at the reams and reams written about it.

Recommended for: readers who want to understand more about the novel and students. Not for the casual fan.

Rating: I'm not sure how to rate a book like this.

Why I Read This Now: I was "rereading" Wuthering Heights by audiobook, and so thought I'd read the Norton additional materials at the same time.

Note: Wuthering Heights has been one of my favourite novels ever since I read it about 12 years ago, not because it's such a perfect book, but because it's always interesting to talk about it or think about it. I love its dark, messy complexity. This rereading just confirmed how much I enjoy this book.

18. Five Bells, Gail Jones, 2011


I think this cover is absolutely gorgeous. It's also appropriate, as the Sydney Opera House figures prominently in the story.

Comments: Five Bells takes place all on one brilliant summer day in Sydney, as four people pass through the transportation hub of Circular Quay. Ellie is excited to meet up with James, her high school sweetheart, Pei Xing ruminates about her pleasant life in Australia after her brutal imprisonment in Mao's China, and Catherine grieves the loss of her dear brother back home in Ireland. The city of Sydney makes the fifth character.

This is a beautiful novel, in a way reminiscent of Virginia Woolf. I love how Jones overlaps and mirrors actions and motifs, and weaves in references to James Joyce and Doctor Zhivago. I also really enjoyed revisiting Sydney, a city I spent a lot of time in back in the early 1980s.

With it's meandering storyline and frequent flashbacks, this was not always particularly compelling, but in the end, Five Bells was a most worthwhile read.

Recommended for: readers who enjoy layered, literary novels.

Rating: 4 stars

Why I Read This Now: Time to read one of the newer, prettier books on my shelf. You could say I (pre-)judged this book by its cover.

19. The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Muriel Barbery, 2006, translator- Alison Anderson


Cover comments: I don't mind the art on this cover, and it certainly is distinctive. The girl pictured here is different looking than the one in the story. I don't think we're supposed to notice.

Comments: This wildly popular book is one that readers either love or hate. Not much actually happens over its 325 pages and for the most part it is the philosophical ramblings of Renee, a middle aged concierge at a luxury Paris apartment, and the profound thoughts of a precocious 12 year old tenant.

The crux of the story depends on the reader buying the premise that Renee is highly intelligent, but chooses to silence herself because she has an impoverished background. I myself didn't buy it, which made Renee come off as a rather silly woman. I didn't mind the 12 year old--some readers have commented that the two are the same character, and only the different typefaces distinguishes them. I see what they mean, but I found her more interesting as she at least described actual events and actions. However, I've met this character before in other books and she's not original.

Why I Read This Now: A friend--who usually gives me good recommendations--encouraged me to borrow her copy back in 2011. I figured I should get it back to her.

Rating: I'm not sorry I read this, but I can only give it 2 stars. Sometimes it's interesting to read books one doesn't particularly like.

Recommended for: People who like philosophical books.

So many of my bookselling colleagues loved this book when it was published. I could never get into it and gave up trying.

I think you made a wise choice.

I've been considering The Elegance of the Hedgehog, which sounds intriguing. However, your review makes me realize that it isn't for me. Renee would probably just annoy me.

20. A Good House, Bonnie Burnard, 1999


This very boring cover and the very boring title resulted in this book sitting in my TBR pile for over 10 years.

Comments: A Good House tells the story of the Chambers family from 1949 through 1997, and follows the waves of their births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. It is set in a fictional small town northwest of London, Ontario toward Lake Huron, but could really be set in any small town in North America. Just substitute "going off to university," with "going off to college," and "Muskoka chair" with "Adirondack chair," and the book could be set in the US.

What I enjoyed most about this novel was Burnard's unique writing style where she packs a wealth of information in each sentence, and then packs her paragraphs with these full sentences. In doing this, she creates nuanced, rounded characters and tells a story without a lot of action. What she achieves on the page reminds me of the folk art landscape painting where every element is given equal weight and importance:



And like folk art painting, Burnard's book is interesting and worthwhile, but it's not fabulously sophisticated high art either. However, it was good enough to win the 1999 Giller Prize, and that says something.

Why I Read This Now This was a gift in 2002, and so time to read it or pass it on.

Rating: 4 stars

Recommended for: I think this would appeal to the reader who enjoys books by Carol Shields and that sort. I loved Burnard's packed sentences, but others might find them tedious. It is an impressive first novel.

21. The Flight of Gemma Hardy, Margot Livesey, 2012


I'm inexplicably drawn to book covers that depict water, and I also like the watery colours. The girl is interesting (although this scene never appears in the book), but, Ack! she has no head! Also, this cover sort of screams "chick lit" (if it is indeed possible to sort of scream). In years to come, we'll look back on this and be able to identify within seconds that this book was printed around 2012.

Comments: Although the author claims that the Flight of Gemma Hardy is a "homage" to Jane Eyre, in my eyes it's more of a retelling. Set in Scotland and Iceland, the book is supposed to be updated to the 1960s, but there is a distinct lack of time markers (until the last 1/4), and the book feels very 19th century.

I'm ever intrigued by re-imaginings of earlier works. Occasionally they are spectacular, although often they're a mess. I think the key to a successful reworking is to bring something new to the original, and I can't say Gemma Hardy works in this regard. However, I wouldn't call it a mess, either.

I know this book was a flop for many readers, and I can see their points. I didn't mind it though, and there were certain elements I liked a lot, such as the Scottish and Icelandic setting.

Livesey used some nice imagery, especially with birds, ruins and the sea. I also found it interesting how she used horses in a distinctly negative way. Right at the beginning we learn that Gemma's evil aunt didn't mourn her uncle, but "rode to hounds whenever she could." Any snooty girl in the novel was a member of what she called the "equine cult." Her dear friend Marion was crippled by a horse. And then Hugh Sinclair's sister's downfall was all because "all she really cared about was riding." I thought it was all a little heavy-handed and overkill, unless, I suppose, you want to look at Gemma Hardy as a fairytale (which would be a credible reading).

Recommended for: I think this would make a good vacation read. It flows well, doesn't require intense concentration, and can be fun.

Fans of Jane Eyre either really love this one or hate it. From the comments I've read, the people who prefer the romance reading of Jane Eyre tend to dislike this more than the people who don't read Jane Eyre as a romance. If you've never read Jane Eyre, this book is not a replacement!

Why I Read This Now: a friend lent me her copy with rave reviews and I really needed to return it.

Rating: sort of a balance between like and dislike, leaning toward the like, so I'll give it 3.5 stars.

Nice analogy of The Good House to folk art. I read The Good House many years ago, maybe around the time it won the Giller? Anyway, I read it after a few too many Oprah- secret incest- abusive type stories (that Ann Marie MacDonald book) , so was struck by how normal the characters in Burnard's book were. It was just the story of some regular people. Like Carol Shields, as you said. I've always remembered it as a lovely book.

Ha, I love how you hate the headless woman bookcover. I saw the cover of the Gemma Hardy and knew there would be a comment.

so was struck by how normal the characters in Burnard's book were. It was just the story of some regular people. Like Carol Shields, as you said. I've always remembered it as a lovely book.

Yes, it's nice once in a while to meet some regular literary people!

22. A Student of Weather, Elizabeth Hay, 2000


I think this cover is lush, evocative, and unique. Unfortunately, there is no scene remotely like this in the book--no skinny dipping in a forest pond--not even the mention of a fern. Reading the description on the back cover of the dusty prairies of the great depression, I really did wonder how this cover would fit into the story. It doesn't. Yet another case of the cover designer not having read the book? What else?

Comments: 9 year old Norma Joyce lives on a Saskatchewan farm during the great depression with her father and 18 year old sister. A young man appears in a blizzard, and both girls fall in love with him. The book ends several decades later.

The first half of this novel captivated me with its interesting story and gorgeous writing. However, later half of the book covers Norma Joyce's adult years in Ottawa and New York City, and I didn't really get the point.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Why I Read This Now: I went to Saskatchewan for the weekend, so I wanted to read something set there (although I was in quite a different place!). Also, this is one of the oldest books in my closet.

Recommended for: readers who like literary novels or Canlit.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot, 2010


I have no opinion on this cover.

Comments: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is Rebecca Skloot’s memoir of writing this book from when, as a teenager in biology class, she learned about amazing HeLa cells and how they came from the cancerous tumor in a woman named Henrietta Lacks. Skloot set off to learn everything she could about the cells (which have been instrumental to modern medical advances, including the developing of the polio vaccination), the cells’ donor, and the donor’s family. To tell this story, she weaves together the science of the cells, what she could learn about the person Henrietta Lacks, the bioethics surrounding the story, and her own struggle to get information from the family.

What I Liked: First, the book was a quick read that I was always happy to pick up. I didn’t know anything about HeLa cells, so that was interesting. And though I think she bungled the bioethics angle of this story, it’s good that she raised the questions “Is it illegal for doctors to take our cells without our knowledge?,” “don’t they have to tell you?,” and, “if they make a ton of money, don’t they have to share it with you?”No easy answers, but a conversation that needs to take place. Anyway . . .

The best part about the book was the short story of Henrietta Lacks’s shockingly sad life. The descendent of slaves, Her life from birth to dying at age 31 from an aggressive cervical cancer is as sad as any story I’ve ever read. Truly heartbreaking. Her story is a snapshot of the cultural and social life for African-Americans living in dire poverty and dysfunction in mid-twentieth century Virginia. If these two topics—the cells, and Henrietta Lack’s life—had been the book, I would agree with all the 5 star ratings. It would have made a fabulous feature-length magazine article, and that’s what it should have been.

What I Didn’t Like: The most interesting thing I learned at university was how books can be “slippery,” especially when the author isn’t aware of the undercurrents that he or she has submerged in the text. From the first paragraph, I detected a troubling overtone. The story she tries to tell here is worthwhile; my problem is in how she tells the story. First, there is way too much about Rebecca Skloot in this book, which is why I described it as her memoir, rather than the story of the woman named in the title. Henrietta Lacks dies in the first third of the book, and I was left wondering what the rest of the book would be about. It then bogs down with all the incidents of Skloot trying to get Lacks’s descendents to cooperate with her. In her portrayal of them she highlights the family’s dysfunction, lack of education, and luridness, and thus denies them dignity and respect. This may sound like a strange comment for those who know that Lacks’s sons were criminals—drug dealers and a murderer—but she should have mentioned it briefly as a matter of fact and not have sensationalized it--it's not the story. Worse is her focus on Deboarh, Lacks’s daughter who was too young to remember her mother. Skloot plays off Deborah’s manic irrationality to show herself as the level-headed voice of reason in this world she’s created of crazy black people. Whether it’s one of the many “hilarious instances of poor people talking nonsense,”* or Henrietta Lacks as the “Magical Negro,”** she presents all the African-Americans as colourful caricatures for the entertainment of the reader.

Skloot also tries to create tension in her book by attempting to make the family victims of the medical establishment. Yes, it’s sad and ironic that the HeLa cells have done so much to advance medical science while the family suffers without medical insurance. But one did not cause the other, and this does not turn the Lacks descendents into victims.

Finally, throughout the book, the Lacks family makes it clear that they do not want to be exploited. Yet, it appears to me that’s exactly what Skloot has done. I could say a lot more, but I will stop here.

I encourage you to read more at:
An Open Letter to Those Colleges and Universities that have Assigned Rebecca Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks as the Common Freshmen Reading for the Class of 2016

Also, read some of the one- and two-star reviews at the US Amazon site, particularly “Got Me Thinking . . . “ and “Cynical Exploitation.”

* The Troubling Trend of the ‘Hilarious’ Black Neighbor> The Troubling Trend of the ‘Hilarious’ Black Neighbor>

** TV Tropes: the Magical Negro

Rating: There are 640 five star reviews at LT, and this book made countless “best of the year” lists, so who am I to criticize it? I’ve read many glowing reviews, and I can see why people really like this book. Obviously, most readers do not have the problems with it that I do. But from the beginning, Skloot rubbed me the wrong way, and a few days after finishing it, my overall impressions are strongly negative. There was enough good stuff In it though that I will balance out the bad and give it three stars.

Why I Read This Now: It was my book club’s May book (which I was okay with since I had a copy in my TBR pile anyway).

Recommended for: well, most people liked it a lot.

I really like your book reviews / commentary. I think I get a good feel for the book whether I want to read it or not, and I especialy like that you allow yourself to be critical of the "everybody-thinks-this-is-great-so-I-should-too!!" titles.

I really like most of classics I read, and well-reviewed books are usually well-reviewed because they are good, but I firmly believe, that you should read any book with as open a mind as possible and write about what reading it has given you - not what other people have told you it should have given you.

Also - nice progress on the ROOTs!

Hi, congrats on your reviews and commentaries, they give a great idea of the books. I just watched the film of The Shooting Party again and now you sold me on the book as well – as soon as I finish my own first five ROOTs. I'm really looking forward to more discoveries from your pile.

24. First Fruits, Penelope Evans, 2000


This cover drew me to this novel in the first place, but now that I analyze it, I'm not sure what it means.

Comments: Well, this was a find in the bottom of my TBR pile! Set largely in a private girls' school in Scotland, at first it appears that the story is about Kate Carr and her manipulation and the power games she plays with the misfit girls at her school. Told in Kate's very strong first-person narrative voice, it is soon clear that she is an unreliable narrator (my favourite) and is leaving out important information. Some of this is purposeful, but most of it is because she either doesn't know stuff, or doesn't understand what she knows. When Kate goes home, we immediately recognize that she is being manipulated and psychologically abused in a similar way by her father. He is a mesmerizing preacher, and one of the creepiest characters I've met in any book this year. Tension grows as Kate brings home Lydia, the new girl, who is captured under creepy-dad's spell. The publisher has labelled this novel "mystery," but although I would describe it as "mysterious," I would label it "psychological thriller" instead.

The book's weakness is that there were a few too many mean girl scenes, and the scenes were overly detailed, which made them plodding and repetitious. I also would have liked to learn more about her father, and what I think was his break-away Calvinist cult. But other than that, this was a great read. This novel earns solid reviews from critics and readers, but there are only 29 copies in LT, which means a lot of people are missing out on a book they'd probably like. I will definitely look for more books by Penelope Evans in the future.

Recommended for: First Fruits seems like the sort of book that would be nominated for the Orange Prize, so if you like those sorts of books, find yourself a copy.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Why I Read This Now: it was one of the oldest books in my TBR, so time to move it out . . .

That is a really scaring cover.

25. The House I Loved, Tatiana de Rosnay, 2012


I love this cover photo--strolling down an allee, the gravel path, the mansard roof in the distance--this could only be France. And the flowing red dress is perfection. However, there was no scene in the book anything like this, the house in question (although it was a nice house), was on a crowded side street, and that gorgeous dress is obviously 20th century, while the book was set in the mid-19th century. So, yeah, they got the France part right but the rest of it is just silly. And although I like this cover, it does fairly scream "chick lit!"

Rating: one star.

Comments: In high school history I learned about Napoleon III & Baron Haussman's grand project in the 1850s that levelled whole neighbourhoods in order to build the boulevards that helped make Paris a world capital, and I found the story fascinating. When I read the review of The House I Loved, which is set against that historical event, in the Globe & Mail last year, I put it on my wishlist. The story follows Madame Rose Bazelet who is a widow living in her husband's family home, which is slated for demolition. The rest of her neighbourhood has moved out, but she holds on, hiding in the basement and writing letters to her deceased "beloved" husband.

What a disappointment! The main problem is the author's choice to use the epistolary structure. It is entirely artificial and contrived. The entire time I read this, I constantly thought "no one writes letters like this." Halfway through I realized the book reminded me of one of those internet memes that make a statement and follow it with "said no one ever." Here's a meme for you: a picture of me holding up this book and saying "said no one ever." I'll open to any page and give you an example:

". . . she seized my hand, fairly stuttering with emotion as she cried out, 'Oh, but you cannot stay here any longer, Madame Rose!' The house will be pulled down in the next twenty-four hours! It would be madness to stay, you will . . . ' Her eyes met mine, those toffee-colored eyes shining with intelligence, and I looked back at her, calmly, my back straight." Who writes like that in a letter? It's beyond silly.

The House I Loved would have actually made a little sense if it had been written in third person point of view instead. However, even then, it still would have been a boring story. There was a "secret" to be revealed at the end, but due to the heavy foreshadowing, it wasn't even a little surprise.

You may ask why I read such a poorly written, boring book. I really shouldn't have, but it was very short, and I really was fascinated by the preposterous writing. At least it was set in Paris.

Recommended for: creative writing instructors to use as an example of how not to use the epistolary structure.

Why I Read This Now: trying to get through a stack of books that friends have loaned me.

26. Tender is the Night, F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1934


This is one of a four-book set I bought from the Book of the Month Club in 1986. Not very exciting, but a rather nice set of hardcover editions. Here is the original cover, which is lovely:


Comments, summary: In Book 1 of Tender is the Night, 17 year old Hollywood film star Rosemary Hoyt meets Dick and Nicole Driver, and joins their social world. It’s 1925, and this group of wealthy mostly ex-pat Americans are enjoying life on the French Riviera (and then later, Paris). Although this section is narrated from Rosemary’s point of view, it’s really Dick and Nicole’s story.

Book 2 jumps back to 1917 where we learn that Dick Driver is an up and coming bright young doctor, working at an exclusive psychiatric clinic in Switzerland. Here he meets the much younger Nicole, and although he is treating her, they fall in love and eventually marry. Through a combination of Dick’s charming social skill and Nicole’s great wealth, the Drivers are able to live the lifestyles of the rich and famous. This section ends with beach scene that started the novel.

In Book 3 we see the disintegration of ‘Dicole,’ as they called themselves (and here I thought that Branelina, Tomcat construction was as recent development). As Nicole gets stronger, Dick self-destructs through alcoholism and apathy.

Comments, my thoughts: When I read The Great Gatsby back in the 1980s, I was expecting something quite specific, and was monumentally disappointed. I then tried Tender is the Night, hoping it would deliver, but gave up after a chapter. This time when I started reading it, almost 30 years later, I was surprised by how much I remembered from that chapter, and how my feelings about it were almost exactly the same. But it’s supposed to be a great modernist classic, so I thought I should give it a chance. I’m glad I did, because I had a great time reading Tender is the Night. I can see that it is going to be one of those books that sticks with me for a while.

Critics of the book complain about the non-linear structure, but I think it’s clever. Many readers also complain about the unlikeable characters, and I can see their point—especially in Book 1. I really couldn’t relate to any of them through that part of the story, and I strongly dislike Rosemary. By the time I read through Book 2 I did indeed like Nicole, and Dick to some extent. But what I really enjoyed about this novel was its complexity, symbolism, ambiguity, and layers. I know a lot of readers won’t have the patience or interest (or may lack the reading skills) to explore its literary aspects, but for the reader who enjoys that sort of thing, Tender is the Night is a rewarding experience.

Why I Read This Now: I’ve been meaning to give this another chance ever since I put it down back in the 80s, and with all the hoopla over the new Great Gatsby film, I thought now might be the time.

Recommended for: People who like classics or books about the Roaring 20s. Also, if a reader has been curious about modernist literature and isn’t sure where to start, I think Fitzgerald is a reasonable place to explore first (not as challenging as Virginia Woolf or James Joyce).

Rating: 4 stars

eta: Lois Moran was apparently the muse for Rosemary

27. The Witch of Exmoor, Margaret Drabble, 1996



Cover comments: BORING! I really wish I'd read this edition, which I think is not only beautiful, but also fits the story and mood of the book:



Comments: On a beautiful summer evening in Hampshire, esteemed author Frieda Haxby’s three middle-aged children and their spouses meet to decide what to do about her. Although she has always independent and eclectic, her recent move from London to a rotting abandoned hotel on a cliff in Exmoor has convinced them that she has gone mad. When she mysteriously disappears, they are beside themselves, though most of their concern surrounds their inheritance rather than her well-being. Haxby’s children are all a little self-centred, and the narrator makes sure we dislike them. This is a novel of family dynamics, but it’s also a state of the nation novel, complete with scathing satirical commentary on corporate greed and consumerism, human rights issues, the struggling health care system, and toxins in our food and environment.

Drabble is an absolute pleasure for me to read. The Witch of Exmoor is a post-modern fairy tale, told by a strong narrator who makes it clear that she is telling you a story. She does this by playing with layers of storytelling techniques—family stories, historical tales, classical mythology, Nordic mythology, the stories we tell ourselves, nation-building stories, Bible stories, advertising, poetry, Shakespeare, 19th century literature, lies, and so on. She also weaves through this themes of death (by drowning and suicide), dreams, decay, and nature (especially birds and sealife). Some readers will find this narrator overly intrusive and aggressive, and I can see their point. But I thought it cleverly complimented the fairytale structure of the story.

Recommended for: definitely recommended. Margaret Drabble draws extensively on literary allusion, so her books would appeal to the well-read person who enjoys detail. The novels Drabble wrote after about 1980 earned some harsh reviews, but I very much like her writing. The famous critic James Woods wrote a scathing review on the Witch of Exmoor, but I think he missed the point of the novel, or at least completely missed its charm.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars. I almost made this 5 stars, but the ending wasn’t quite satisfying enough.

Why I Read This Now: I read my first Margaret Drabble last year(the Red Queen) and wanted to read more from her. If these two are considered her lesser novels, I have some great reading ahead of me. On to my favourite authors list she goes.

You are an inspiration. How do you read all of these books off your shelf? I start off the year well, but then, new books come along...

>83 alphaorder:: This is another one for my wishlist, which is growing by leaps and bounds this year. Your review of The Witch of Exmoor sounds like it is precisely the kind of book I like.

Nancy - I'm just not all that tempted by new books. I like all the hoopla to die down before I decide whether to read something or not. If I do buy new books, they often go into the TBR pile for a later date. Plus, I'm interested in catching up on all the good books I've missed when I was working on my career or reading childcare or home fix-it stuff! I do read library books, every once in a while though, so they don't count toward my TBR.

Joyce - I think it is the bookseller in me that keeps me excited about the new books.

Yes, I can see that! I'll just let you weed them out and tell me which ones are good. Thanks!

The Last Kingdom, Bernard Cornwell, 2004, audiobook


An aesthetically pleasing cover. This is book one of a series, and taken together, they make an attractive set.

Comments: Uhtred is the son of a 9th century Northumbrian lord, and is orphaned and taken hostage in a Viking attack. He becomes a pawn, and then double-agent, in the wars between the Danes and Alfred, King of Wessex.

I've read a lot of historical fiction, and I've developed strong likes and dislikes in the genre. One of the things I strongly dislike is the endless battle scene, another is tiresome political maneuvering. This book is almost all one long battle. Also, The Last Kingdom is an entirely androcentric world, with a few females mentioned only as chattels or potential rape vessels. What did I expect, considering this novel is about Vikings? I expected more . . . I've read non-fiction about Vikings, and have seen numerous documentaries, and actually, they weren't at war all day, every day. And last I checked, the populations of both medieval England and Scandinavia were 50% female. I really wanted to hear more about their day to day lives, and not endless battles full of war strategy and bloodshed. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointing bore.

Rating: Sorry, can't give it more than one star. I have no problem with the technical aspects of the writing, although there really wasn't much story arc--it starts with a battle, then there are some battles, and then it ends and the reader is supposed to go on to the next book in the series.

Recommended for: Cornwell has an excellent reputation for well-researched novels, and I'm sure this one is no exception. It was just so very boring. I'm sure someone who doesn't notice when half the population is missing from a novel, and who likes reading action scenes will find this a good read. Obviously, I'm not the target audience for this one.

Why I Read This Now: it was an audiobook I had, and was short. I also own a paper copy, which I occasionally read (good thing, as the audio book was missing the last page and a half along with the author's historical notes at the end.)

That's very odd that the audiobook would be missing the last page! Good thing it wasn't a murder mystery! ;)

The summaries of Cornwell's novels always sound so interesting, but I have not yet made it past the third chapter of any of them. The historical detail can be almost suffocating.

That's very odd that the audiobook would be missing the last page

Yes, but unfortunately, it's not the first time I've had something like that happen. A few years ago I listened to the wonderful reading of Lullabies for Little Criminals (Heather O'Neill), and half-way through I decided I loved it so much I needed to buy the paper copy, so I did. I kept listening to the audio, and then the book just . . . ended. No conclusion. Oh, how European, I thought (European films just sort of always end, in my view). Anyway, I went to read the end in the paper version to see if I missed something, and it turns out there was a whole disc worth of material that they didn't include! The book made sense again. And that's why I never pay more than 50 cents for an audio book!

> 90 That is pretty remarkable. Hmm. Wonder what I might have missed?

29. This Common Secret: My Journey as an Abortion Doctor, Susan Wicklund, 2007


I like the isolated farmhouse and the brooding sky--and this setting was important in the book, so it fits.

Comments: This is a compelling memoir of a doctor who travelled between Wisconsin, North Dakota, Montana, and Minneapolis working at abortion clinics. What stood out was the great compassion and care she gave each of her patients--while at the same time fending off dangerous protesters, and hospitals that prioritized billing protocol over patient well-being (and common sense). Her stories of run-ins with anti-choice extremists were scary and deeply disturbing (frequent death threats, home broken into, cornered late at night in a parking lot, frequently held hostage in her home when they blocked off her driveway, and followed everywhere she went), but the stories that really got me were the individual patient stories. I am not a crier, but I had tears in my eyes three or four times while reading the gut-wrenching stories of what some women go through before ending up at an abortion clinic. Other stories showed the head shaking hypocrosy of the anti-choice protesters (several who ended up in her clinic seeking abortions for themselves). The book is written in simple, clear language, and I wouldn't call it literary, but it gripped me from the beginning and I whizzed through it in less than a day. Literary?, no, but some pretty good writing all the same.

Recommended for: I definitely recommend this for anyone who is interested in this, or is interested in human rights.

Why I Read This Now: it just sort of fell open in front of me.

Rating: 4.5 stars

30. Moon Tiger, Penelope Lively, 1987


Cover comments: This is a 1989 edition and reflects the fashion of that time. Looks dated now, but it's really not bad, actually.

Comments: Here is the summary of Moon Tiger: it is a 76 yr old woman’s reflections of her life as she lies on her deathbed.

Even if she had an interesting life (which Claudia did indeed), the premise is still bo-ring! But the catch is that one doesn’t read Moon Tiger for the story. Instead, one reads it for the writing and technique—this is a book for literature lovers. Claudia is a feisty and sometimes abrasive character that some readers won’t warm to, but I rather liked her determination and independence. Mostly though, what I really liked is her narrative voice, whether she’s speaking in the first person or being described in the third. The narrative point of view is what makes this novel special. Many scenes are told two or three times, from different viewpoints, some of which Claudia wasn’t aware of. I also loved how Lively subtly repeats details that seem insignificant yet symbolize the important points of the story—for example, the moon tiger of the title, which is a mosquito coil that burns down while Claudia lies in bed with her lover (and doesn’t protect her from coming down with malaria fever anyway).

I didn’t fully embrace the book, however. About a third of the way through, Claudia shares her memories of her time in Egypt as a journalist during WWII. This is the pivotal point in her life, but after 30 pages of it, I put Moon Tiger aside and read three other books. When I picked it up, I went back to where Lively had lost me and started again. Part of it might be that I’ve read my fill of WWII stories, but even knowing this section was important, I didn’t enjoy the book again until she went back to life in Europe. I also found her WWII lover’s diary at the end pretty boring. I trust this is just my aversion to WWII stories, and won’t have anything to do with other reader’s tastes. Despite finding the book uneven, I still think it was worthy of the Booker Prize in 1987.

Recommended for: fiction writers, who need to study her point of view techniques, literature lovers and people who want to read the Booker Prize winners, and readers who like non-linear, subtle novels.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. I look forward to reading more from Penelope Lively.

Why I Read This Now: I’m reading all the new-to-me authors in my TBR pile who are named “Penelope.” (Penelope Lively, Penelope Fitzgerald, and Penelope Evans—check!) and I’m reading all the Bookers in my TBR pile.

31. the Sky People, Patricia Grace, 1994


Cover comments: I pretty much like any cover done with intense blues, so I like this one too.

Comments: The Sky People is a collection of short stories by Maori writer Patricia Grace. Most of them concern Maoris who live in modern day New Zealand and are at the low side of the socioeconomic ladder.

I was disappointed with most of the stories. Grace writes in a cryptic style with many unexplained point of view changes, changes in voice, and unusual words and sentence structures. I got the feeling the author was saying "if you don't understand me, I'm not going to explain it to you." Of the stories that were a little more straight forward, I still had trouble determining the point of the story. Despite this, a few of the short stories were really excellent. My favourite was "Ngati Kangaru" where a Maori family launches a plan to take back New Zealand using the same methods Europeans used to conquer it themselves. Funny and clever.

Recommended for: someone looking for Maori literature.

Rating: 3 stars

Why I Read This Now: Time for something different. Got to shake it up a little.

50 Popular Beliefs That People Think are True, Guy P. Harrison, 2012


Cover comments: whatever--it works.

Comments: Skeptical journalist Harrison writes fifty short essays on different things that are widely believed but are unsupported by scientific evidence. He covers a range of topics, from Magical Thinking (mostly paranormal ideas), various alien-related topics, science and medicine (global warming, "Biological Races are Real," "No Vaccines for my Baby!"), religion, bizarre beings (ghosts, Bigfoot), weird places (Bermuda Triangle), and the end of the world.

I've enjoyed reading this book over the last six months, picking it up and reading an essay or two at a time. I think reading it all at once would be too much and it would get annoying. The whole book can basically be condensed down to: "using the scientific method, there is no evidence to support ______ belief." That doesn't make this book unnecessary or useless, as it's a good example of using critical thinking skills in a variety of situations. Also, I found specific essays very helpful--the one that stands out the most is "A Psychic Read My Mind," because I have too many friends who have actually paid money to psychics and think they provide a valuable service. This essay shows how psychics are 100% scammers, but now I have information to back up what I felt in my gut.

Overall, I found Harrison's tone kind and respectful, unless he's talking about people who murder children in Africa because they believe them to be witches, or televangelists who fly on private jets while taking money from poor people. And he shows how even intelligent and educated people can be led into believing things that make no sense. So, in the end, a worthwhile read, but not one to take in one big gulp.

Recommended for: I think this might be one of those books that appeals most to the already-skeptical reader, but I hope not. I hope that someone who believes "Astrology is Scientific," will read this too. And I highly recommend it if you're tired of hearing your Uncle Len tell you that the moon landing was faked, or you have a co-worker who tells you that they found Noah's ark (again), or your best friend from grade 8 keeps posting stuff about aliens in Area 51 on your Facebook feed.

Rating 4 stars

33. We are the Weather Makers, Tim Flannery, 2006 (Canadian edition 2007)


Polar bear on a small iceberg-- poster child for climate change

Comments: This is a 250 page summary of the issues of climate change (as of 2006). I've read a lot about on these subjects, so this book was more of a refresher course for me, with some different (and very interesting) stories and illustrations. Flannery takes some pretty dense and complex information and makes it easy to understand and interesting to read about. He is Australian and uses a broad range of examples from around the world--not just the US, which is a refreshing change from the typical US-centric stuff that seems to fall into my hands. My Canadian edition has a forward by David Suzuki and an extensive resource list.

The book is a "concise and revised edition" of the author's the Weather Makers, written for "for readers age 12 and up." There are three sentences in the final chapter directed at non-adults, otherwise there is nothing about the writing that is particularly directed at a young audience, so don't let the "young adult" tags scare you off this book if you're otherwise interested.

Recommended for: anyone looking for a crash course on climate change. I hope that Flannery updates this book, because some of the information and statistics are dated.

Rating: This is a difficult book to rate because the information wasn't new to me, and because some of it is dated. For what I got out of it, I'm giving it 3 stars, but for someone else this could be a 5 star book.

Why I Read This Now: I was in the mood for some non-fiction, and this was physically at the top of the pile.

The Inheritance of Loss, Kiran Desai, 2006


What a terrible cover! I asked my husband what he thought the book was about based on it, and he said "sex," to which I said, "not three people in northern India trying to survive the Nepalese insurgency while a fourth character is struggling to get a foothold in NYC?" There's a faint little Mendhi sort of design at the bottom, but otherwise there is nothing remotely Indian about this. Probably the worst cover I've come across this year.

Comments: It is 1986 and in the foothills of the Himalayas lives a retired Judge, his granddaughter, and his cook. The cook's only son is trying to scratch out a better life in NYC. They get caught up in the unrest as the Nepalese in the area attempt to break away from India.

Desai's writing is absolutely gorgeous. She crafts her story in vignettes, and I found each of these interesting, although together they added up to a somewhat plotless novel. As with every story of India, there is disturbing unfairness and sad events; however, The Inheritance of Loss was not as distressing as some other Indian books I've read. She paints a rather enchanting picture of this corner of the country--full of exotic butterflies, colourful flowers, and oriental spices. Overall I found this a romanticized view of India.



Recommended for: readers who like books set in India have to read this one for sure.

Rating: No doubt this is a quality novel, so I'm giving it 4 stars. I have to admit though that I was never really in the mood to read it and had to make myself pick it up--this, however, is because my mind is elsewhere, and not a fault of the book itself.

Why I Read This Now: It won the Booker, was nominated for the Orange, is on the 1001 Books list, and was loaned to me in 2010.

Joyce, I love how you have organized this thread and I have gotten so many recks from it as well. You have read some really fine books this year.
I enjoy seeing the covers of your reads and the way you review them. You've got the mojo definitely. As someone further up the thread stated, you ARE an inspiration.
hugs,

Thanks, Belva!

35. A Long Way Down, Nick Hornby, 2005

Cover comments: Hardback without a dust jacket--black with "Nick Hornby" written vertically in blue. Nice for a plain black cover ;-)

Comments: Four very different people meet on the rooftop of a building in North London on New Years Eve where they have each had the same idea of committing suicide. They form a sort of dysfunctional support group.

I've never read Hornby before, but I've seen films of his books About a Boy and Fever Pitch, both of which I enjoyed. Hornby has a gift for creating clever, heart-felt, unique, and very funny characters and situations. I particularly enjoyed the use of multiple narrators to tell this story because each of them had a different take on the situation. One character, Jess (an 18 year old girl), is a selfish spoiled brat, but her character is balanced by Maureen--a lovely soul--who has spent the past 20 years caring for her severely disabled son.

Recommended for: humour is subjective, so I'm sure some readers can't stand Hornby. I found him to be a delight to read. It's not often that you find intelligence and humour wrapped up in one book.

Why I Read This Now: I was in the mood for something different, and also something set in London. Perfect choice in that regard.

Rating: 4 stars

Also: There is a film version of A Long Way Down coming out later this year. Toni Collette (who played the hippy trippy mom in About a Boy) will play Maureen, and Pierce Brosnan will play Martin. Pretty good casting, I think. I'm looking forward to this.

Ooh, Pierce Brosnan! I have a friend who will be very interested to hear that. Also thanks for the reminder to pick up Hornby -- several of his books are on my to-read list!

You might want to warn your friend that the Pierce Brosnan character is deeply flawed and not a very nice person.

Good to know!

36. The Small Hand, Susan Hill, 2010


Cover comments: gorgeous cover that suits the book perfectly

Comments: Driving through the violet twilight in Sussex, Adam Snow takes some wrong turns and ends up at an abandoned Edwardian mansion with expansive overgrown gardens. A small hand slips into his, and his dizzying and strange experience begins.

The Small Hand is a ghost story set in current times but it's written with an old-fashioned feeling that I rather like. Snow is an antiquarian book dealer, and the subplot of his finding a Shakespeare First Folio and traveling to a monastery high in the French mountains was actually more interesting to me than the ghost story itself. I have to say I don't scare easily in either books or film, and I didn't find this book scary at all, or even creepy. Still, it was an entertaining and quick read.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Recommended for: if you think you might like it, give it a try.

Why I Read This Now: Wanted to read one of the several Susan Hill books in my TBR.

37. Hawksmoor, Peter Ackroyd, 1985


Cover comments: this is one of the Penguin Decades editions. The five 1980s books have covers by John Squire, and this one is the best. It appears to be a black chalk board, with at least two different scripts written on it, which fits the book perfectly. One of my favourite covers this year.

Comments: Hawksmoor is two parallel stories, told in alternating chapters. It begins with the first-person voice of Nicholas Dyer, an assistant to Christopher Wren in early 18th century London. His story is told in language Ackroyd learned from intense study of documents from that era. The other chapters are set in London of the 1980s and we are eventually introduced to Nicholas Hawksmoor, a police detective trying to solve a string of murders where the victims are found in historical churches--real churches that were designed by the 18th century architect Nicholas Hawksmoor.

I find this book really difficult to describe, and my best advice is to read StevenTX's review on the book's page. I agree with everything he says.

It reminded me a lot of another Ackroyd book, The House of Doctor Dee in that there are two story lines set a few hundred years apart, with common echoes and threads that run between them. Of the two novels, I preferred Hawksmoor. The 18th century dialogue, although still not fun, was better done here.

Hawksmoor is very dark, but it is also a terrifically clever and complex novel, with some interesting intertextuality (and I'm sure a good deal of intertextuality that went right over my head), but for the most part wasn't a particularly fun or enjoyable read.

Why I Read This Now: I collect the Penguin Decades editions, and this one is also on the 1001 books list, so I've had it for a while. I pulled it out at this point through since I was staying in Limehouse, a part of London figured prominently in the novel. I had a good laugh, reading it while I was actually there, and learning about the homeless population, the derelict houses and abandoned warehouses that made up the area in the 1980s. Now the area is full of million pound condos and gastro-pubs owned by Gordon Ramsey and Ian McKellen (Gandalf from the Lord of the Rings movies, among a zillion other roles). How things change.


Nina in front of The Grapes, Ian McKellen's pub and restaurant on Narrow Street, Limehouse.

Rating: I agree with StevenTX 4 star rating, even though I didn't enjoy large parts of the book. I plan to reread this one day, just because I think it has so many interesting things going on. I've read several Peter Ackroyd books, and I like his ideas better than his execution. There's an excellent article on this book at Wikipedia, which helped me understand what's going on, and it includes this quotation:

"Peter Ackroyd himself is a harsh critic of his novel:

"I certainly haven’t looked at Hawksmoor again, I wouldn’t dare; I’m so aware of all the weaknesses in it, it’s an embarrassment. ... The modern sections are weak, not in terms of language, but weak in terms of those old-fashioned characteristics of plot, action, character, story; they are rather sketches, or scenarios, and that rather disappoints me about it. But at the time I didn’t know anything about writing fiction, so I just went ahead and did it. It’s only recently I’ve come to realize you’re meant to have plots and stories and so on. (Nicholas Dyer’s voice is) strong, but in part it is a patchwork of other people’s voices as well as my own. Actually it’s not really strong at all ... but what it is, is an echo from about three hundred different books as well as my own. He doesn’t really exist as a character—he’s just a little patchwork figure, like his author. ... You see, I was very young then and I didn’t realize that people had to have definite characters when they appeared in fiction. I saw it as a sort of linguistic exercise; it never occurred to me that they had to have a life beyond words."


St. Anne's, Limehouse -- a Nicholas Hawksmoor church and setting for one of the murders in the novel.

Recommended for: not sure. Maybe people who like unusual, dark,

38. Case Histories, Kate Atkinson, 2004


Cover comments: Boring! My book also has six pages of reviewer blurbs on the inside and back covers and no description of the novel--hype and no substance (for any publishers out there, those blurbs make my eyes glaze over and do not convince me to read any book).

Rating: 4 stars for the book + .5 star for extra enjoyment factor = four and a half stars

Comments: The book opens with three detailed and unrelated stories: two crimes that have gone cold (a missing 3 year old child and a the slaying of a young woman by a stranger) and a seemingly straightforward murder. These make up the "Case Histories" along with some later introduced crimes. The link between them becomes the ex-cop PI Jackson Brodie.

Case Histories grabbed me right from the first page, and I flew through it in a little over a day. I loved the different stories, and Atkinson's great skill at showing the humanity, tragedy, and comedy of her characters. I also loved how she captured bits of culture in her story telling. But her strong point is definitely in creating interesting, unique characters. I especially appreciated her courage to depict several unhappy mothers--my heart especially ached for Rosemary (the mother of the Land girls). No homage to the cult of motherhood here, thank you very much.

Case Histories is a popular novel here at LT; however, it has also earned a number of negative 2-star reviews. Most of the readers who don't like it point out three different things. First, it's billed as a mystery but doesn't follow the traditional structure of a mystery story (there's not that much detective work for the reader to do), second, it's too disjointed, and three, the characters are unlikeable or uninteresting. These to me were all strong areas of the novel--not much of a mystery reader myself, and I loved the disjointed structure, and I thought the characters were fascinating--warts and all. Some readers complained that the ending was too coincidental, but I see Atkinson creating a story here--not trying to recreate life. In the end I thought this was a smart, terrific read.


My daughter shot this yesterday when I couldn't put Case Histories down but also had to go water my dry garden.

Recommended for: unless you are a traditionalist when it comes to mystery stories, or you're someone who doesn't like multiple storylines and nonlinear stories, I think you should give this a try.

Why I Read This Now: It had been in my TBR pile since 2008.

That is really 'the' picture of a book addict! Good idea by the way.

39. The Amulet of Samarkand, Jonathan Stroud, 2004


Cover comments: Well, the black and teal are pleasing. But the art? It says to me "this is not the book for you." The creature looks like one of those hideous beasts that people get tattooed across their shoulder that make me wonder "really? you want to look at THAT for the rest of your life? Are you sure this makes a statement you really want to convey?"

Comments: Bartimaeus is a 5000 year old djinni who an 11 year old magician's apprentice named Nathaniel summons for help. Nathaniel is potentially a magician genius who is training under a weak and uninspired master. When a more powerful magician insults Nathaniel and his master doesn't defend or protect him, Nathaniel swears to get his revenge. In the process he gets himself involved in events that reach to the highest level of the British government, and are also way beyond his powers. The Amulet of Samarkand is told in alternating chapters--first person narration by the cheeky djinni Bartimaeus, and third person narration focusing on Nathaniel.

What I Liked About the Novel: you may have guessed that this is not the type of book I normally enjoy. However, I did like the alternate London that the story is set in, and I enjoyed the humour and clever use of language.

What I Didn't Like:Bartimaeus is an entertaining enough main character, but as a djinni, there's really no expectation with character growth or revealing information. It's hard to put a lot of depth into a magical being. As for Nathaniel, one of his main motivations is pride, and when he's not faking power, he's sniveling. He wasn't all that easy to cheer for, and not even Bartimaeus liked him. But what I disliked the most is that the book was too long (462 p) and had far too many action scenes--which is to be expected from this genre and is why I don't often read books like The Amulet of Samarkand. It's not a stupid book by any means--just not my sort of thing.

Recommended for: The Amulet of Samarkand combines an alternate England setting like we experienced in the Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman, the young boy learning magic that we found in Harry Potter, and the fun word play that we enjoyed in The Series of Unfortunate Events. If you liked those books, give this one a try too.

Why I Read This Now: I did like all of those books to some degree, and my daughter wanted me to read this. It's good leave your comfort zone once in a while.

Rating 3 stars.

40. An Experiment in Love, Hilary Mantel, 1995


I rather like this cover, and I think it spoke to me the most out of my stack of potential Hilary Mantel reads. It has that swingin' London feel to it. However, it is the cliche "walker away" shot, and also, it doesn't illustrate the main character in the novel, who moves to London and cuts her hair very short (and then dyes it bright red). It could conceivably be Julia, but why would you put Julia on the front cover? Another example of the publisher just slapping any old thing on the cover. They don't get it.

Comments: It's 1970, and Carmel McBain arrives in London from the north to start university. Living in her residence is a Julia, a friend from home, and also Karina, who Carmel has had a rocky relationship with most of her life. An Experiment in Love goes back and forth between life as a poor student, and her early life as a poor Catholic school girl.

I didn't know when I started An Experiment in Love that the main character would struggle with a form of anorexia, and I'm always interested in seeing how different authors treat eating disorders in fiction. So that was a bonus for me. I also didn't know that this novel was a bit of a homage to The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark, so that was sort of fun too.

I have NO idea what the title means, or how it relates to the book.

Why I Read This Now: somehow I came to own 7 Hilary Mantel books without ever having read her. I know this probably wasn't the one to start with, and I should probably read Wolf Hall*, but it's just so long, and I'm still Tudor-ed out, and I've been scared off by the whole pronoun thing I've heard so much about . . . but one day.

*Nice how the touchstone for Wolf Hall gives me To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf and no option to pick the actual book. I know, I know, that Wolf Hall book is just too obscure. Sheesh.

Rating: 4 stars

Recommended for: readers who like well-written novels and think the subject sounds interesting.

41. Offshore, Penelope Fitzgerald, 1979


Cover comments: Okay, but doesn't capture the feel of the book--it reminds me of the sunny and charming Regents Canal instead of the grey, smelly Thames. Also, it doesn't draw me in. But it's not hideous or anything.

Rating: 4 stars

Comments Offshore is Penelope Fitzgerald's Booker-winning short novel about an eclectic group of nice people who live on houseboats, or barges, moored along the Battersea Reach of the Thames in the 1960s. This novel's strongest asset, to me, is all the characters, especially six-year old Tilda, who is probably unrealistically adult, but delightful anyway. I found all the characters and their liminal lives to be well-drawn and interesting.

Offshore is one of those controversial Booker winners, as described in this worth-reading article in the Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2009/mar/13/booker-prize-fitzgerald-o... It may not have been the best book nominated in 1979, but it certainly has depth and shows Fitzgerald's talent at saying something meaningful with only a few words.

Recommended for: readers who like books with strong, unusual characters.

Why I Read This Now: all the talk about Bookers on LT made me want to read one of the winners that I have in my TBR pile.

42.0 Shame, Jasvinder Sanghera, 2007


Cover comments: I really like the shiny ruby-red foil letters. As for the picture . . . it’s okay, I guess, other than it looks like my daughter’s 12 year old English-Greek friend rather than the Indian teenager it’s supposed to be . . . see my cover comments on The Inheritance of Loss, above. What’s up with this white washing of Indian book covers? Anyone who picks up either of these books will know in seconds that the stories are about Indian people. I know that there are Indians who have light skin and eyes and look more European, but I don’t think that’s who the publishers are representing here. Yet another publisher embarrassing themselves by their cultural insensitivity.

Comments Shame is a gripping memoir that I read in under 24 hours. When she is 15, British born and raised Jasvinder, a Sikh girl, is told it is time to marry the man her parents have picked out for her—a stranger from India who she hasn’t met. She only wants to finish school and maybe even go to university. Having watched her older sisters enter miserable forced marriages that they are told to shut up and endure, she refuses to get married, and her parents lock her under house arrest. With the help of a friend’s older brother, she escapes. A month or so later, a police officer convinces her to contact her family. She hopes that she has made her point and that they will let her come home. She is shocked to hear that they consider her dead to them and they hope that she becomes destitute and is forced to live in the gutter.

*warning: spoilers below*

She eventually marries the brother, Jassey, they have a daughter, start several businesses, and buy houses. Unfortunately, because she left home while still very much a child, and because her parents didn’t teach her any life or coping skills, and because she had no healthy relationships on which to model her marriage, Jasvinder screws up and her marriage ends. This is followed by another failed marriage and two more children.

Throughout this, Jasvinder painfully misses her family, and at times reconnects with some of her six sisters and occasionally her parents (but never her one brother, who was raised by his parents to be a spoiled, entitled loser). Most of her contact with her family, however, involves her helping them out without them ever supporting her. One of her sisters tries to leave an abusive relationship but her family and the community leaders tell her she has to stay with her husband. The next week the sister burns to death. Officially it is deemed a suicide, but Jasvinder wonders if it was murder. Spurred by this tragedy, . . . .

*end spoilers*

. . . she vows to help the voiceless women who are suffering in the south Indian community. She starts a charity, http://www.karmanirvana.org.uk/, earns her A levels and then a university degree. Through her charity, she is successful in gaining recognition for honour killings and the problem of forced marriage in the UK—a problem that most people didn’t realize existed at the time. The book ends with some horrific cases of honour killings that she has come across in the UK. This was published in 2007 and followed by two sequels. This year (2013), she was awarded the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).

Jasvinder’s story takes place in the Sikh community in the UK, but similar stories happen in other cultural groups throughout the world. The cultures and religions vary, but hers is an unfortunately too common problem. That said, I’ve had two close Sikh friends, and many Sikh acquaintances, and Jasvinder’s story is extreme. I just wouldn’t want someone to read this book on my recommendation and then walk away thinking that this is the norm for Sikhs (at least it isn’t in my experience).

Recommended for: this is one of those books that I give a broad recommendation as a must read for everyone, especially anyone who is unaware that forced marriage is a problem in Europe and North America (and Australia, and New Zealand). As I write this, teenagers are preparing to return to school. How many won’t be returning to start this new school year? Shame reminds me in many ways of Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s Infidel, although narrower in scope. But both are memoirs written by brave women who chose to stand up for themselves and not agree to be sacrificed for some traditional concept of “family honour.” Both women over came considerable odds to get an education, and now are using their brains and experience to assist others.

Rating: 4.5 stars—one of the more compelling books I’ve read this summer. It’s a memoir, so don’t expect a literary masterpiece. Some readers complain that they don’t like Jasvinder because she makes stupid decisions, mistreats her first husband (who is made to look like a saint), and is sometimes selfish. Just a little lacking in insight. Okay, a lot lacking in insight. I guess if they ran away from an abusive situation while still a child, with no life skills, and made their own way in the world, they would be likeable, cheerful, and perfect at all times. (Was I just being sarcastic?)

Why I Read This Now: . . . not sure. Why DID I pick this up? Anyway, glad I did.

This sounds like a forceful book!

Joyce - you sure are uprooting a lot of books! Quite impressive. So does this mean you aren't buying new ones!

So does this mean you aren't buying new ones!

Ha ha ha ha ha. You're so funny, Nancy!

I still buy more than I can read, so TBR is growing not shrinking. I think growth has slowed compared to last year, but then that was rather outrageous. Also, we'll see if Charlotte's old school will have their book sale this October--last time I stuff my car full of brand new books and paid $20. If that sale happens, . . . well, I don't know where I'll store everything!

43. Conceit, Mary Novik , 2007


Cover comments: I love, love, love this cover. It’s lush and gorgeous. The crackle effect over the painting adds polish, the dash of crimson is just the right shade, and the typeface used for the title is perfect. One of my favourite covers this year. The book designer is CS Richardson, who I could swear I’ve run into recently with another great cover.

Comments: Conceit is an exquisitely detailed historical novel about the great English poet John Donne, seen in the most part through the eyes of Pegge, one of his many daughters. Novik effectively uses Donne’s poetry in the character’s dialogue, which adds a richness to the novel. I particularly enjoyed the colourful and tactile language she used in the sections concerning Pegge’s husband, who was tailor to the king. I also enjoyed the flashbacks to Donne’s romance with his wife Ann More.

Rating: I feel bad giving this novel only 3 stars, but unfortunately it didn’t work for me overall. I attribute this not to any fault of the author, but to my lack of interest in the subject matter. Through my literature and history courses at university, I always found the 17th century to be the least interesting time period (although why should it be? A king is beheaded! London burns! Plague! But still, it just doesn’t appeal to me). Further, when I studied John Donne I found him to be very difficult but not rewarding (as opposed to Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Virginia Woolf who I find also difficult, but ultimately very rewarding).

Recommended for: I highly recommend Conceit for anyone who enjoys intellectual historical fiction and is also interested in the 17 century and John Donne. When published, the novel earned rave reviews, and was nominated for the Giller Prize, among many other accolades.

Why I Read This Now: I saw more 17 century sights on my recent stay in London than I expected to, and it piqued my interest in the time period. Conceit has been in my TBR since 2008 but because my aversion for the era, I hadn’t felt like reading it. Alas, at the end of it, I’m still not a 17th century fan.

44. Nikolski, Nicolas Dickner, 2005/ translator Lazer Lederhendler, 2008


Cover comments: I love this playful quirky cover. The whole book (not just the cover) was designed by CS Richardson, who designed the lovely book I read last (Conceit). The actual images are from The Narrative of the Perry Expedition of Japan, 1858.

Comments: Like its cover, Nikolski is one quirky and playful book. Noah, Joyce, and an unnamed person are connected through their relation to Jonas Doucet, who was last seen in Nikolski in the Aleutian Islands. Through most of the novel they all live in the same neighbourhood of Montreal, but they only know each other tangentially. Nikolski is all about connections and separations.

What I liked: Nikolski is very different from anything I've read before, although there was something in the writing style that reminded me of Douglas Coupland--and then I read in an interview that Dickner is a great admired of Coupland and was inspired by his novels. (one point for me!)

Dickner makes heavy use of some interesting and unusual motifs, including nomads, islands, Moby Dick, fish and floods, garbage and archaeology, indigenous people and pirates, to name just a few. I look forward to rereading the book at some point and spotting more of these.

What I didn't like: This book was a quick and easy read, but I found it too disjointed, which is not something I dislike in books very often. Also, the characters were too static and lacking in development; however, this book has been called a fairy tale, in which case lack of character depth would be expected.

Recommended for: the original French version of this book won slews of awards, and the English translation won Canada Reads. I really can't see everyone in Canada reading this book. If you like very jumbled quirky books though, give it a try.

Rating a marginal 4 out of 5 stars.

Why I Read This Now: not sure.

45. The Children's Book, AS Byatt, 2009


I LOVE this cover--the blue colour is scrumptious, and the art work is beautiful. The main figure is a Rene Lalique broach, and it plays a part in the story. The back cover is also lovely. Well done, Stephen Parker (book designer)

Comments: To summarize this huge book in one sentence, it is the story of the Wellwood family of Kent, and their friends, neighbours, and relatives, from the late Victorian period through to the end of WWI.

I've wanted to read this book every since it was published, but was daunted by its size and suspected density. I have to be in the right place to give these sorts of books justice. And now was the time. I loved the Edwardian setting, the millions of details, and the rich visuals of Byatt's writing. I loved the Bohemian and fairy tale world building. I loved its charm, and its worlds-within-worlds, and its secrets. I preferred this to the author's Booker winning Possession.

While reading, I often went off on research tangents with the author's intriguing details. I found The Children's Book to be such a yummy visual delight that I was compelled to create a Pinterest board to store the images that arose while reading it (note that because of the way Pinterest sorts pictures, the top of the board shows images from the end of the book and they roughly follow chronological order downwards): http://www.pinterest.com/nickelini/the-childrens-book-as-byatt/

In her reviews, a LT friend, Amaryann21, always includes a sentence or two where she compares the book to food. This novel lends itself nicely to a food comparison: If The Children's Book were food, it would be a sumptuous seven course meal, served in an elegant dining room with mahogany furniture, starched white linens, and the best china. There would be summer pea soup to start, and entrees would include roast beast, poached salmon, truffles, partridge, et cetera and so on. Dessert would be Belgian chocolates and layered cream cake. Each dish of course would be served with the appropriate accompanying wine.

Recommended for: Readers who like their historical fiction rich on details. People who didn't like this book complain of "too many": too many historical facts, too many characters, too many descriptions, too, too, too.

Rating: My first 5 star book this year.

Why I Read This Now: I was finally able to devote my time and concentration to it.

I'm glad you enjoyed this book. I absolutely adored it :-D

After Hamelin, Bill Richardson, 2000


Cover comments: I've always liked this cover when I've shuffled this book through my TBR pile. I find the swirly colours to be inviting.

Comments:: This is a retelling of the Pied Piper of Hamelin story written for 10 - ?? year olds. Penelope becomes deaf around the same time that the Piper shows up in Hamelin to take revenge on the town, and so she doesn't dance away with the other children. It falls on her rescue them.

I'm a big fan of Bill Richardson, who I first got to know through his classical music shows on CBC Radio and then CBC Canada Reads. He is also the author of the charming and funny Bachelor Brothers Bed and Breakfast.

There is some enchanting language and nice imagery in After Hamelin, but overall it just didn't work for me. But then I'm probably not the target audience. I do like that he tackled a fairy tale that isn't common, but is well known enough that most people know the basic premise. And I love the idea of fairy tales retold, but so far I'm not sure I've actually found any that I actually like on their own merit. I shall continue to search . . .

Why I Read This Now: Well, it's been in my TBR for years, and after reading The Children's Book and all the talk of adults reading children's books, I thought I'd read one too. (It's also one of my TBR Challenge goals).

Rating: 3 stars

Recommended for: readers in the target audience age range who like fairy tale retellings.

47. Fear and Trembling, Amelie Nothomb, 1999, translated from French by Adriana Hunter


I LOVE this cover--it's one of my favourite from my TBR pile. But I'm not sure what it is that speaks to me. I love the close up of the face, and the artifice of the makeup, but what does that mean? I'll think about this one. BTW--this is a dreaded "movie tie-in" cover that we all usually hate. Not this time.

Comments: It's 1990 and Japanese-born Belgian Amelie takes a job at a Tokyo corporation. Despite speaking Japanese and being aware of the customs, she earns herself continual demotions through her blunders and lapses of Japanese etiquette. This is a short, quick read and one that I found unique and entertaining. The novella is autobiographical, but I wondered how true to life the extreme bullying behaviour of some of her superiors was, and a Canadian friend who has lived in Japan for 20 years told me that it's fairly accurate, though certainly not the rule.

Recommended for: chances are, Fear and Trembling is extremely different from whatever else you're reading, so if you're looking for a quick change of pace, pick it up.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Why I Read This Now: looking for something short and different. It's also on the 1001 books list.

48. The Way We Are, Margaret Visser, 1994


I have no opinion of this cover art

Comments: A collection of essays about a vast range of things, including "Valentines," "Wearing the Colour Blue" and "Parades". Visser looks at the history and cultural significance of the item and what it means in our lives. These essays were previously printed elsewhere.

Rating: 3 stars

Why I Read This Now: I've been picking it up and reading an essay here and there for a few months

Recommended for: people interesting in the meaning of various things in our culture. She provides a biography for each topic for further reading.

49. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle, 1892


Quite a delightful cover and a nice, non-cliche use of the silhouette.

Comments: I've managed to make it through my life paying no attention to Sherlock Holmes. So I didn't really know what to expect going in to this. Of course, a lot of Sherlock Holmes has permeated our culture, so I recognized many sayings and tropes. I guess I had more of an idea than I thought I did.

I was disappointed. I was expecting palpable atmosphere and, I hoped, a little creepiness. That was entirely missing. I thought I'd enjoy Holmes's use of observation and logic, but I have to admit that I found his mystery solving techniques to be almost silly. Overall, I found the stories sort of on the boring side. I frequently checked the page numbers to see how much more I had to endure--never a good sign.

Rating: a wildly generous 3 stars. I guess it wasn't that bad, and it certainly drips with cultural significance.

Recommended for: I seem to be the only one who isn't charmed by the whole Sherlock Holmes thing. I really don't get the love, but it could be a lot worse I guess. (This is my way of saying I don't recommend it but you'll probably love it).

Why I Read This Now: I was looking for something with good October atmosphere (cozy firesides, crisp air, and something vaguely menacing). I guess it sort of maybe did that a little.

I too never cared much for Sherlock Holmes but I have to admit I'm a fan of Jonny Lee Miller in the tv series Elementary. He is just weird enough to carry it off, and yet endearing at the same time. I like to think Arthur Conan Doyle would appreciate the series.

Lives of Girls and Women, Alice Munro, 1971


Love this classic cover. I know they're everywhere, but I don't think I've ever actually read one. And the binding was nice too, so the book felt really good to read.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Comments: Lives of Girls and Women is a bildungsroman of Del, growing up in a small town in Ontario in the 1940s. Her family lives on the outskirts of the town, so she is never really one of them, but not really a country person either. The book is made up of a series of linked stories, that I suppose could stand separately, although it really wouldn't make sense to read them out of order.

This the third Munro book I've read, and although I really like her as a person (she's very well known here in Canada), I haven't loved her books. I've appreciated them, I've seen their merit, but there was something that didn't quite click with me. One reason is that I've had trouble identifying with her characters, and the other is that at times she writes about some very uncomfortable material in a very stark manner. I've been heard to say that I feel like taking a shower after reading some of her stories.

I can confidently say that I've turned a corner her. On the surface I don't have much in common with her characters, but she writes about such very human experiences and emotions that I can't imagine anyone not identifying on some level if they're being honest. There were so many fabulous characters in Lives of Girls and Women--I especially had a soft spot for her odd, hopeful, encyclopedia-selling mother.

Alice Munro seems like such a nice old lady, but she writes some pretty raw stuff! I can also see why she is so admired by other writers--she's definitely a writer's writer.



Why I Read This Now: When she won the Nobel Prize earlier this month, I knew it was time to pull one of her books out of my TBR pile. I don't usually read back-to-back books from the same author, but I'm tempted to just start on the other book of hers that I own.

Recommended for: literature lovers. Not recommended for people who need a single plot line with a strong story arc. In reader reviews there are a lot of comments that Lives of Girls and Women is too much like short stories. However, if you've read a lot of literature, the structure won't make you blink.

51. Breathe: a Ghost Story, by Cliff McNish, 2006


Love this cover

Comments: I'm always on the lookout for a good ghost story--one full of atmosphere and creepyness, and that isn't stupid. Because well-written ghost stories are hard to find, Breathe: a Ghost Story was a pleasant surprise, especially since it's a novel written for children.

Jack and his mother Sarah arrive at an old farmhouse they've leased in the English countryside where they have come to grieve and regroup after the sudden death of Jack's father (side note: I guess because it's a kid's book we don't see Sarah's pain over the loss of her husband? Odd.) In the beginning of the book, Jack reminds me of the little boy in the movie the Sixth Sense because he sees dead people--well, ghosts, actually. And this farmhouse has five--four children who died at different points over a forty year time span, plus a woman from the Victorian era whose daughter died from consumption in the garden. At first the Ghost Mother (as they call her) seems nice, but you soon learn that she is a little on the obsessive crazy side, and terrorizes the other ghosts as a result. She soon begins to terrorize Jack and Sarah too.

There are a lot of things I liked about Breathe: a Ghost Story. First, although it is written for children, it read like a book for any age reader (trust me, this is a rare and wonderful thing). The story was unique from start to finish--I soon got to know Jack and stopped imagining him as Haley Joel Osment. There were several twists that I didn't expect, and it was never predictable. The ghosts weren't the creepiest, but the whole logic and worldbuilding around them was both solid and inventive. Also, Jack has severe asthma, and McNish incorporates that effectively into the story. Finally, the chapter headings had cool illustrations. Overall, this is a terrific book.

Rating: 4 stars. A great Halloween read!

Recommended for: readers who love ghost stories.

Brrrr! That is a very effective cover indeed! Glad to hear you liked the book.

on reaching your goal. Well done!!!

Thanks, Ameise . . . let's see how many more I can list by Dec 31.

52. Strange Things: the Malevolent North in Canadian Literature, Margaret Atwood, 1995


I love this cover with it's vintage illustration and title font. I wonder though what this picture is about . . . why is this group of snowshoers wearing this odd uniform? Who are they? Curious indeed.

Comments Strange Things is based on four lectures that Atwood gave at Oxford University in 1991. Here she looks at four different views of Canadian literature that incorporate themes of the "malevolent north" (that term tickles me): the Franklin Expedition, the 19th century Arctic disaster; Grey Owl Syndrome, where white men go native; the Wendigo, a ice-hearted monster of aboriginal legend (which I only knew from the Ogden Nash poem we used to recite on the playground in elementary school: "The Wendigo / the Wendigo! / Its eyes are ice and indigo! . . . "), and finally, women authors in Canada and their treatment of the north.

Rating: I don't know, I just didn't really click with this one. It's decent reference material I suppose, but I expected more. However, reader reviews are generally much more favourable, so if this sounds interesting don't let my so-so feelings dissuade you. It's short. 3 stars.

Recommended for: anyone studying CanLit or Canadian culture.

Why I Read This Now: was looking for some non-fiction.

53. Night and Day, Virginia Woolf, 1919


Cover comments: this Vintage Classics cover is nice. Not exciting, but nice.

Comments: Night and Day has been called Virginia Woolf's "most neglected novel," and I know why. It's too long, and too boring. This was a disappointment to me because Night and Day has also been called Woolf's novel that is most like Jane Austen (which just says that Woolf is not very much like Jane Austen. Neither is Stephen King, btw). My second disappointment is that the novel is about the Edwardian era--my favourite.

The novel covers the lives of a group of young adults living in London around 1908. They are each figuring out their place in the world, and each has his or her own ideas, but none of the six want to emulate their parent's Victorian world. There are two love triangles--the beautiful Katherine, her fiance William, and her cousin Cassandra; and, Katherine, a lawyer named Ralph, and a suffragette named Mary.

As boring as this book was, there were some truly lovely passages and a few interesting parts. I'd say if you edit this down from the 489 pages of my edition and make it an 80 page novella, it would be a strong book.

Woolf is recorded to have said that with this novel, her second, she aimed at "putting it all in," and that she did. Including two pages about a guy looking at his watch. Too, too much!

I started Night and Day on June 12, and have read 37 other books while chipping away at this one. It was taking me so long that I wrote a mini-review at the half-way point. This is what I said:

Katherine is the dutiful adult daughter who comes from a family of literary aristocracy. She is expected to make a good marriage, but what she really wants is to study mathematics. In the first chapter, she meets Ralph, a young lawyer from a lower class, and doesn’t like him. Hence we know that they will become love interests. Katherine soon gets engaged to William, a boring poet who reminds me of Cecil from A Room with a View. Obviously not the right love interest. And there is also Mary, who works in a suffragette office in Russell Square. Two-hundred-and-sixty-six pages in, that’s all that’s happened so far. Another two-hundred-and-twenty-three pages to go.

Recommended for: Readers who liked overstuffed Victorian-style novels and Virginia Woolf completists only.

Why I Read This Now: I'm a Virginia Woolf completist.

Rating 2.5 stars

54. What Alice Knew: A Most Curious Tale of Henry James & Jack the Ripper, Paula Marantz Cohen, 2010


Cover comments: yawn. A woman's back (a woman who is supposed to be bedridden, I think), and a shadowy figure disappearing into the distance. Not one but two cover cliches for your money.

Comments: The Alice of the title is Alice James, sister of novelist Henry James and William James (the later is one of the fathers of modern psychology). I guess her name is in the title as a play on the Henry James novel What Maisie Knew, because William is actually the main character in this book. Alice is confined to her bed, as she suffered from that Victorian female disease known as "hysteria."

In this alternate history, William James is invited to London by the police to help solve the Jack the Ripper murders in an early form of psychological profiling (a term the author does not use). While in London, William meets up with not only his famous brother, but also Oscar Wilde, and Mark Twain, and painters John Singer Sargent and James Whistler. I'm sure that the author had a ball writing this--she cleverly weaves in quotations and facts about all these people and invents a new story about the Ripper murders.

The story starts out very strongly with the line "Henry James was drunk," and a scene at a formal dinner party. By half way through though, I grew tired of the whole thing and didn't find it very satisfying. They do solve the murders, and the solution is logical, but by that point I didn't really care.

Rating 3 stars

Recommended for: I think it helps to know something about Alice, Henry, and William James in order to see what the author is doing, though I suppose someone who knows nothing about them might appreciate this just for the straight story. I don't really recommend this, but if you think it sounds interesting, give it a try.

Why I Read This Now it just shuffled itself out of my tbr pile into my hands.

"it just shuffled itself out of my tbr pile into my hands."

I like that! It happens now and then.

The Annotated Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen, 1813; annotated and edited by David M. Shapard, 2004


Cover comments: even the cover is annotated! This is a painting by Jane Austen's sister Cassandra, of their niece Fanny Austen Knight. Most fitting.

Comments on Pride and Prejudice in general: This is the second time I've read Pride and Prejudice. If it's not my favourite book, I don't know what is. There are two main reasons for this. The first is Austen's writing--her splendid use of language, her wit and biting social commentary, and the structure she gives the novel. I noticed on this reading (with the aid of the annotations) that there is not one sentence in the novel that doesn't contribute to either a character or to the development of the story as a whole. It is an amazing achievement and it is clear to me why Pride and Prejudice appears on pretty much every list of best novels.

In reading Jane Austen's novels, I saved her masterpiece for last, so when I finally got to it in 2010, I was well-versed in Austen's wit and social commentary. I had also seen numerous filmed versions of P&P, from the ultimately perfect 1995 BBC producition with Colin Firth & Jennifer Ehle, to the embarrassing hot-mess that was the 2005 Kiera Knightly version, to the Bollywood Bride & Prejudice, and my much-loved Bridget Jones's Diary. This brings me to my second reason for adoring this book. I didn't think the book would hold any surprises, but silly me. I did not expect the love story to be so HOT. I still can't figure out how a story with not even a kiss and where half the characters are wearing those hideously unflattering regency dresses is probably the sexiest book I've ever read (and I spent my teens reading Harold Robbins and Jackie Collins). I'm not much on romance stories and usually roll my eyes when people talk about the romance in books like Jane Eyre or the Age of Innocence, but the love story in P&P has utterly grabbed me. I won't apologize.

But really, it's the writing and social commentary.


swoon

Comments on The Annotated Pride and Prejudice: This almost 800 page book includes not only the text and annotations, but also a chronology of the novel, useful maps, and an extensive bibliography of further reading. It is organized with the text of the novel on the left page and the annotations on the right. These annotations include some drawings, word definitions, plot points, and literary interpretations. The word definitons can get tedious--they are intended to point out where a word has changed since the novel was written, but I found many of them to be pretty obvious. Fortunately, I was able to gloss over these without too much interruption. I did enjoy the other annotations very much--it was like reading along with someone who had great insights. They also helped me to study Austen's unique style of writing, which is something that has fascinated me since I read Mansfield Park for university.

Recommened for: lovers of Jane Austen and this novel, students, writers studying technique. I do not recommend any novel this heavily annotated for a first time reader. It would be far too distracting and destroy the cadence of the book.

Rating: Like many readers before me, I liked Pride and Prejudice even better on my second reading. When I read it last I rated it A+++++++++++++++++. If it's even better this time, I guess I have to rate it 6 stars out of 5.

Why I Read This Now: I recently rewatched the 1995 BBC film, and just couldn't not read it. I have hundreds of books waiting in my TBR, but none of them look any good, and now I'm ruined for any other book. I'm closing my thread down now, as I'm only going to read P&P until further notice ;-)

What, only the second time?

Can't rewrite history ;-)

Okay, I'm throwing in the towel with the Book Challenge Bingo in my first thread:

I filled in 18 of the 25 spaces. The ones I missed: A book I saw someone reading, A book of poetry, A book that will help with your career, A book you saw on TV, A bookrecommended by your local bookseller, A book recommended by your barista

Those are some tough categories. Barista? pfft. Although some Dr Suess might count as a book of poetry.

...and I won't finish anymore TBR books this year. My goal was 50 and I read 55 (out of about 90 books), so I'm happy with my results. My goal for 2014 will be 50 again. Is there a group for this, or are we all tired of talking about our TBR piles?

There certainly is a group.

http://www.librarything.nl/groups/root2014readourownto

Thanks Connie! I hadn't seen anyone mention it here. Will join.

I am going to follow you!