December 2013 Reads

I finished Breaking Lorca by Giles Blunt. Very grim, graphic writing. I mistakenly thought this was one in Blunt's John Cardinal detective series, but quickly figured out it wasn't. A bit of a disappointment.

I've finished The Social Worker by Michael Ungar and am about to start The Truth About Trudeau by Bob Plamondon. I've always admired Trudeau, but think it's important to listen to those I don't necessarily agree with.

i am reading dear life and the ecco book of christmas stories right now.

I should be starting one my a Canadian author tonight:
Walls: Travels Along the Barricades by Marcello di Cintio

Cindy, I loved that book! The chapter on Belfast nearly made me cry. And I leared about parts of the world (Western Sarah, Spanish cities in Morocco) that I knew nothing about. Enjoy.

I'm re-reading after 20+ years Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins. I picked it up at a United Way book sale.

I finished Claudine en ménage and am tackling The Afternoon of a Writer, both for my 1001 books before I die Challenge.

Lynn, I finished it today, so Ill be posting my review shortly. I think the chapter on Belfast was the most interesting to me. Scary stuff, really! I've "been" there once, but it was only for one day on a cruise, and really, my tour took me outside of Belfast to the Antrim Coast, and I didn't see much of the city itself. I was thinking I'd like to go back, but it's kind of scary to read about it like this (thought I would hope if one stuck to the touristy areas, it wouldn't be so bad...?).

Oh, it just occurred to me that the audio I finished today is also a Canadian author: I am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley. I'll have to post that review, as well!

Just finished the latest by Ruth Rendell No Man's Nightingale. Not bad, just not very exciting or suspenseful at all.

Just finished Kit Pearson's And nothing but the truth. It continues straight on from the first book. Very well done. Lots of big issues in depression era BC.

I'm reading Strange Red Cow: and other Curious Classified Ads from the Past by Sara Bader.

I received my first Early Reviewer book yesterday and am looking forward to reading it. I have just finished I am Malala . We take education so much for granted in the West

>12 19anne44:. Oooh, I'm interested in reading that one!

Me, probably tomorrow, I'll be starting another Canadian one:
What the Body Remembers by Shauna Singh Baldwin

An enjoyable, suspenseful read today: A Tap On The Window by Linwood Barclay

I'm reading Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

I finished Blood List by Patrick and Philip Freivald for early reviewers - I really liked the beginning with the prey hunting down the predator, but the story takes this crazy turn which disengaged me from the plot.

I'm reading February by Lisa Moore. I really like the way the story seemingly jumps in time, a mix of story and memories.

A non fiction read today, for a change: Five Days in November by Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin. Written by the Secret Service agent who was assigned to protect Jacquie Kennedy and also was the agent who jumped onto the back of the presidential limousine in a failed attempt to protect JFK when the shooting started. Very moving account by a man who obviously still carries an immense amount of sorrow and guilt about that day.

A Tale for the time Being was a great read! and now I'm on to Dave Eggar's The Circle and finding it quite predictable so far.

I'm reading Thousand Pieces of Gold by Ruthanne Lum McCunn

I finished Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda this morning. What a great book!! The author was born and raised in Toronto. I didn't pick up this book for months because I thought it was going to be a heavy read, but it wasn't.

Going to start Peter Mansbridge One on One: Favourite Conversations and the Stories Behind Them by Peter Mansbridge. This ought to be good.

Ooh! The Peter Mansbridge book should be good. I noticed that the library has it, so it goes on my list.

Only on page 32, but really enjoying it. It should have been on my list too.

I'm reading Mauve by Simon Garfield

>23 LynnB:: I think that book is mentioned in Stuart: A Life Backwards! The titular Stuart is astounded that there's a whole book dedicated to a single colour ;) What do you think of it? I liked his book about fonts (Just My Type).

Managed to finish Dying Light, by Stuart MacBride, on the bus home today, and tomorrow I will start One Day, by David Nicholls.

Read an inspiring book today-a recommended read for dog lovers: Following Atticus: Forty-Eight Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship by Tom Ryan

I"m reading The Round House by Louise Erdrich

I'm reading Tout est illuminé by Jonathan Safran Foer. This was probably a poor choice to read in translation since so much of the book is about language. The translators did a pretty good job, but I can read the English through the French so I'm divided about the translation's efficiency. I know that this was probably a careful choice, but without the English, I don't know how judicious that choice was...

Just finished Speaking from Among the Bones number 5 in the Flavia de Luce series.

I just finished The Silent Wife by Harrison and then read that she died this year. Great book - and now no more. How very sad.

Just started Light Between the Oceans by ML Stedman. I guess I'll take an armchair trip to Australia for Christmas.

Third non fiction read in a row-a record for me. Just finished Call The Midwife: Farewell to the East End by Jennifer Worth

I'm enjoying a novel by Louis Hamelin: October 1970

I'm reading and thoroughly enjoying Chris Hadfield's An Astronaut's Guide to Live on Earth. What an incredible man and such a good read.

I'm reading Les racines du ciel, a book about ecology at a time when the word didn't mean much to anyone. It's also an interesting look at why humans might choose to defend animal rights when so many other humans still suffer (especially since this book was written shortly after WWII) and so it's also a parable about man and in his place in world, colonialism and human relationships.

Finished Peter Mansbridge One on One: Favourite Conversations and the Stories Behind Them by Peter Mansbridge. I knew I would enjoy reading this book, but am pleased that I ended up loving this book. It was very informative and a pleasure to read.

Going to read Secret Santa by Fern Michaels. It was a Christmas gift.

I'm reading The Moldavian Pimp by Edgardo Cozarinsky which was on my wish list for years!

And, I'm reading (well, so far looking at the pictures) of Winnie the Bear by M.A. Appleby

I finished up 2013 with Losing Kei by Suzanne Kamata and The Tiny Wife by Andrew Kaufman

i finished up 2013 with #3 in louise penny's 'inspector ganache' series, the cruellest month. it's weird to say a murder-mystery series is charming...but it really is. i enjoy the time i spend in three pines, and getting to know the characters more with each new story! i am glad i have so many left to go in this series...but will pace myself. i will be said when they are done. i wonder how many penny plans write??