VivienneR's Reading Record 2014 - Part 2

Time for a new thread. Despite all my reading, there are more unread books on my shelves than what I started with in January.

I am also over at the 2014 Category challenge

These are the books that are up next:

    Descent by Tim Johnston
    Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
    Murder Most Foul

January
   1. The Absent One by Jussi Adler Olsen
   2. Runaway by Alice Munro
   3. The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton
   4. Only Fools and Horses by Graham McCann
   5. Border Songs by Jim Lynch
   6. Rumplestiltskin retold by Edith H. Tarcov illustrated by Edward Gorey
   7. The Haunted Tea Cosy : a Dispirited and Distasteful Diversion for Christmas by Edward Gorey
   8. The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne
   9. The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
   10. Mindfull : Over 100 Delicious Recipes for Better Brain Health by Carol Greenwood
   11. Something Fresh by P. G. Wodehouse
   12. Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
   13. Kitchener's Last Volunteer : the life of Henry Allingham the oldest surviving veteran of the Great War by Henry Allingham
   14. The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde
   15. Old songs in a new café by Robert James Waller

February
   16. Oh Tama! by Mieko Kanai
   17. Love Among the Chickens by P.G. Wodehouse
   18. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
   19. Cats in the Belfry by Doreen Tovey
   20. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
   21. Green-eyed Monster by Carolyn Keene
   22. Ellery Queen's Japanese Dozen by Ellery Queen
   23. One Good Turn : a jolly murder mystery by Kate Atkinson
   24. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters
   25. The Perfect Summer : England 1911, just before the storm by Juliet Nicolson
   26. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
   27. A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie
   28. The Matisse Stories by A.S. Byatt
   29. The Dead in their Vaulted Arches by C. Alan Bradley

March
   30. The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis
   31. Oscar Wilde and the Death of No Importance by Gyles Brandreth
   32. Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage by Alice Munro
   33. Grave Secrets by Kathy Reichs
   34. Montmorency : Thief, Liar, Gentleman? by Eleanor Updale
   35. Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende
   36. The Flying Troutmans by Miriam Toews
   37. The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri
   38. A Woman of My Age by Nina Bawden
   39. Raffles : The Amateur Cracksman by E.W. Hornung
   40. Miskeen the Dancing Horse by Judy Andrekson
   41. All Shall be Well by Deborah Crombie
   42. The Heartless Stone : A Journey Through the World of Diamonds, Deceit, and Desire by Tom Zoellner
   43. The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
   44. Still Midnight by Denise Mina

April
   45. Last Friends by Jane Gardam
   46. Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot
   47. Under a Cruel Star : A Life in Prague 1941-1968 by Heda Margolius Kovaly
   48. Cats in May by Doreen Tovey
   49. The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth
   50. A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch
   51. Death of a Witch by M. C. Beaton
   52. Knole and the Sackvilles by Vita Sackville-West
   53. The Fire Engine that Disappeared by Maj Sjowall
   54. Memento Mori by Muriel Spark
   55. Mrs Ames by E. F. Benson

May
   56. Fer de Lance by Rex Stout
   57. A Painter's Year in the Forests of Bhutan by A. K. Hellum
   58. Outposts : Journeys to the Surviving Relics of the British Empire by Simon Winchester
   59. The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence
   60. The Transcriptionist by Amy Rowland
   61. The Other Story by Tatiana de Rosnay
   62. Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin
   63. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
   64. Stone Diaries by Carol Shields
   65. The Peacock Spring by Rumer Godden
   66. Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple
   67. The China Study by T. Colin Campbell

June
   68. No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod
   69. And Justice there is None by Deborah Crombie
   70. The Hundred Dollar Special : the antics of a rescue cat by M. Kathryn Bourdon, illustrated by Sandra Donohue
   71. Girl with a pearl earring by Tracy Chevalier
   72. The Staircase Letters : an extraordinary friendship at the end of life by Arthur Motyer
   73. The Norfolk Mystery by Ian Sansom
   74. The China Study cookbook by LeAnne Campbell
   75. The Cheshire Cheese Cat : A Dickens of a tale by Carmen Agra Deedy
   76. The Disappeared by Kim Echlin
   77. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
   78. Why Orwell Matters by Christopher Hitchens
   79. Loitering with Intent by Muriel Spark

July
   80. A Discovery of Strangers by Rudy Wiebe
   81. Lost Classics : Writers on books loved and lost edited by Michael Ondaatje
   82. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
   83. Started early, took my dog by Kate Atkinson
   84. The Agony Column by Earl Derr Biggers
   85. Mystery Man by Colin Bateman
   86. One-dish Vegan by Robin Robertson
   87. The Cold, Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty
   88. Mozart : a life by Paul Johnson
   89. Goodbye to all that by Robert Graves

August
   90. Mrs Pringle of Fairacre by Miss Read
   91. The Red Road by Denise Mina
   92. As I walked out one midsummer morning by Laurie Lee
   93. An Astronaut's Guide to Life by Chris Hadfield
   94. Paperboy by Tony Macaulay
   95. Regeneration by Pat Barker
   96. Persuasion by Jane Austen
   97. Dangerous Women edited by Otto Penzler
   98. Alms for Oblivion by Philip Gooden
   99. Fresh : new vegetarian and vegan recipes from Fresh restaurants by Jennifer Houston

September
   100. Of All the Gin Joints : stumbling through Hollywood history by Mark Bailey
   101. Murder in Montparnasse: a mystery of literary Paris by Howard Engel
   102. Tempest Tost by Robertson Davies
   103. Only time will tell by Jeffrey Archer
   104. The Blue Sky by Galsan Tchinag
   105. Watchman by Ian Rankin
   106. The Oh She Glows Cookbook : vegan recipes to glow from the inside out by Angela Liddon
   107. Enigma by Robert Harris
   108. The Anatomist's Apprentice by Tessa Harris
   109. Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer
   110. Olive Odyssey by Julie Angus
   111. Mr Dixon Disappears : a mobile library mystery by Ian Sansom
   112. Blood, toil, tears and sweat : the dire warning by John Lukacs
   113. Carry On, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

October
   114. The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
   115. Hidden Moon by James Church
   116. In the Shadow of the Glacier by Vicki Delany
   117. Flirting with French by William Alexander
   118. The Calling by Inger Ash Wolfe
   119. Seven Pleasures : essays on ordinary happiness by Willard Spiegelman
   120. James Garner's Motoring Life by Matt Stone
   121. The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill
   122. Silas Marner by George Eliot
   123. Little Tiny Teeth by Aaron Elkins

November
   124. The Murders of Richard III by Elizabeth Peters
   125. Classic Railway Murders
   126. Death of a Gentle Lady by M. C. Beaton
   127. Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin
   128. Get Real by Donald Westlake
   129. The Fine Colour of Rust by P. A. O'Reilly
   130. My Antonia by Willa Cather
   131. A Fortunate Life by A. B. Facey
   132. High Crime Area by Joyce Carol Oates
   133. Still Missing by Chevy Stevens
   134. Dog on It by Spencer Quinn
   135. Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper
   136. The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg

December
   137. As the Pig Turns by M.C. Beaton
   138. Comfort and Joy by India Knight
   139. Break a leg, darlings by Marian Babson
   140. We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
   141. The Fat Man by Ken Harmon
   142. One Woman's Arctic by Sheila Burnford
   143. Gideon's Night by J. J. Marric
   144. A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
   145. Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb
   146. A Christmas Secret by Anne Perry
   147. Thereby Hangs a Tail by Spencer Quinn
   148. Mrs Jeffries and the Merry Gentlemen by Emily Brightwell
   149. The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier

Happy new thread! You are a much faster reader than I. Although I don't really set goals, my mental goal is 75. You are almost there. :)

I'm reading Life After Life now. We'll have to compare notes. Ideally, one of us will love it and the other will hate it and we can argue vociferously.

>3 NanaCC: I don't really set goals either but got the number from the books I expect to fit into my 2014 Category Challenge. So far, some of this year's books have been slim volumes or quick reads.

>4 RidgewayGirl: I borrowed Life After Life from the library and have had it so long I had to renew it. Maybe I'll be able to start it today or tomorrow. I recommended it to my husband but he abandoned it about a quarter read and said it was awful.

I'm still waiting to hear your opinion of the Jussi Adler-Olsen's The Absent One; a strong contender for argument.

Life After Life was awesome! Probably my fav book so far this year. We had a fabulous discussion at book club.

Oh I hope you both like Life After Life. I thought it was fabulous.

>6 Nickelini: & >7 NanaCC: I love Atkinson's writing so I imagine I will really enjoy Life After Life. I don't think my husband gave it a chance. I have always found Atkinson's stories are taken right to the last page.

Margaret Laurence sounds like an interesting author. I had never heard of her.

>9 edwinbcn: I hope you give her a try sometime. She will give you a fine introduction to small-town Canada.

Thanks, Vivienne. It is a pity Canadian literature is somehow less visible and less represented in bookstores.

In March, I read The uncharted heart by Melissa Hardy, which I found interesting, especially since it seemed as if the fiction in the book seemed inspired by Atwood's Strange things. The malevolent north in Canadian literature. (Although publication history suggests that Atwood's essays were inspired by Melissa Hardy's short stories.

I hope to review it soon on my thread.

>11 edwinbcn: I have to admit I've never found it difficult to find Canadian books :)

The Melissa Hardy/Margaret Atwood mutual motivation theory is new to me. Something to investigate. I like Atwood's poetry.

Making sure I don't lose your new thread.

Thanks for dropping by Merrikay.

The Other Story by Tatiana de Rosnay

What a disappointment! I don't know if it was the sexting scenes that put me off but I was unable to develop an interest or liking for either the characters or the story. This was my first book by this author about whom I had heard so many good reports, none of which came to light in this book.

This was an Early Review "win".

>15 VivienneR: I read de Rosnay's Sarah's Key. I liked it, but can't say it was great. It fell apart in a few places, but it still made me cry.

Hi Colleen, it was the reputation for Sarah's Key that prompted me to request The Other Story. It just occurred to me that the title is apt :)

Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin

Emma Larkin first went to Burma in 1995 in search of George Orwell. Not just a literary detective, Larkin writes about totalitarianism in Burma with an insight appropriate to an Orwell scholar. The analogy of three of Orwell's novels with the history of Burma is uncannily prophetic: Burmese Days tells of the country under British rule; in Animal Farm the pigs take over the running of the farm just as the military took over the running of Burma; and 1984 describes the current tyrannical regime. Although Larkin writes extensively about Burma and its people, she does not lose focus of the main topic, that of Orwell in Burma. The result is excellent.

For anyone interested in Orwell and his life this is essential reading. That it is fascinating and well-written is a bonus. Larkin accepts no credit for the bravery required in such an undertaking, but reflects all respect and admiration on the gentle Burmese people.

Like Larkin, I will reject the name Myanmar, a name made up by the current military oppressors.

I love George Orwell and I'll be looking for this book. For two years, I drove daily through Sutton Courtenay, only to discover soon after moving that he's buried there.

How disappointing! Not so long ago I read about an author (sorry, I can't remember the name or where I read it) who went in search of the grave. The minister of the church was puzzled, no, the name George Orwell wasn't familiar. In the end he discovered the name on the grave is Eric Blair.

I too love Orwell's writing. Larkin was very respectful of his memory without glossing over anything. You will enjoy this book.

Enjoyed your excellent review of Finding George Orwell in Burma. I will keep the book in mind if ever I get to re-read Burmese Days

>21 baswood: Thanks. I intend to re-read Burmese Days too. It was fascinating that Emma Larkin was able to visit the place where Orwell lived, and the site of the house that was said to be John Flory's house.

I've been meaning to read Burmese Days for years.

#23 - Me too. Are you an Orwell fan, or do you have another reason?

>23 rebeccanyc: I've read everything I could ever lay my hands on by or about Orwell. I hope to re-read much of his work. He will always be my favourite author, I love his crystal clear writing style, his ability to write intelligently about absolutely anything. While reading Larkin's book I planned to read Burmese Days next, but as she sort of jogged my memory of it, I will probably read Coming Up for Air next instead.

>24 Nickelini: I've actually only read 1984, but I've been looking at an old copy of Burmese Days on a bookshelf at my family's house upstate since I was a teenager and it always seemed intriguing. (It's sitting next to a copy of Down and Out in Paris and London, which also seemed intriguing. Plus, I've read a few books over the years about Burma/Myanmar.

>25 VivienneR: his ability to write intelligently about absolutely anything That appeals to me too.

There are a lot of his essays available on The Orwell Prize website. I was surprised to learn (or had forgotten) that he wrote an essay about P.G. Wodehouse, who was interned in Germany during WWII. The site is worth checking out for the essays alone, and there are enough to keep you reading for a long time.

>27 VivienneR: I've marked this post as a favorite so that I don't forget to check out that website.

Glad to help Colleen. There are so many volumes of essays, all of which have passed through my hands at one time or another, that it's good to have so many in one spot.

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

This was excellent. Atkinson is a favourite author and seems to keep getting better. Clever, inventive, creative, inspired - I can recommend this one highly.

>30 VivienneR: It was a 5 star read for me too. I loved it.

>31 NanaCC: Yes, this one kept me up late on a couple of nights :)

I loved it, too, despite worrying that the premise wasn't enough to support an entire book and with the outrageously high expectations with which I approach every book by Atkinson.

>33 RidgewayGirl: With so many readers raving about Life After Life it's difficult to subdue high expectations of Atkinson. I didn't read many reviews, but after a few I expected that it would be about a series of mistakes and repeated attempts to do better - done with Atkinson style of course! I was so wrong!

Stone Diaries by Carol Shields

Daisy Goodwill's life story, from birth to death. It's a wonderfully frank account of what Daisy thought, what she experienced, much of which she kept to herself. This beautiful story, winner of a Pulitzer prize in 1995 and Governor General's Literary Award 1993, has been on my shelf for far too long. Now I'm anxious to read more by Carol Shields.

I may need to borrow Stone Diaries from Chris.

>36 NanaCC: Colleen, I am sure you would like Carol Shields. Stone Diaries is described as a fictional autobiography which I always thought sounded sort of dull. It's not. I was grabbed from the first page.

Now I'm anxious to read more by Carol Shields

Does this mean you've not read her before? If that's the case, you have a pile of great books in front of you! I went through a Shields reading phase around 2001. I loved every thing I read by her. Lucky me--I think there are a few left that I didn't get around to.

>38 Nickelini: Strangely, I haven't read Carol Shields before despite owning several of her books. My husband has often recommended her to me. My only excuse is that the books were on the shelf waiting, no need to hurry. I know for a fact, as a sort of weeding system, I will choose the least desirable book off the shelf, leaving the best for last.

>38 Nickelini: I haven't read her either, Joyce. But you and Vivienne make me want to.

as a sort of weeding system, I will choose the least desirable book off the shelf, leaving the best for last.

I do that too, and once in a while I shake myself and realize it's a silly practice -- what if I get hit by a bus tomorrow? What if I have a stroke that leaves me functioning but have lost the ability to read? Ack! Must read the best books first, and if I never get around to the others . . . . but then I go back to my old ways.

Carol Shields is wonderful! I liked Larry's Party so much.

I am working on reading the most attractive books first. They change from day to day, so I'm hoping each of the books on my TBR with eventually become the most attractive one.

Glad my crazy reading/weeding plan is not limited to me. I have a fear of being left with the dross if I read all the good books first.

I have Larry's Party so I will push that one up higher on the reading pile. And thanks to a recommendation from lkernagh on another thread, I just picked up The Staircase Letters : an extraordinary friendship at the end of life at the library, which is a series of letters between Carol Shields and her friend Elma Gerwin when they were both dying of cancer. They were published by Arthur Motyer another friend who also participated in the correspondence.

The Peacock Spring by Rumer Godden

A coming-of-age story about two sisters, removed from boarding school in England and sent to be with their father in India. Not all is as it seems for these two impressionable girls. Unfortunately few of the characters were likeable, and the story about family squabbles and battles was unappealing although true to life. The images of India were particularly vivid as the cultures of East and West met head-on.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple

Seattle satire, private school satire, people-with-too-much-money satire. It's clever in a wacky sort of way, striking a balance between annoying and amusing: there is a funny side to the first-world problems that pretty well constitutes the entire story, however, this is also where it gets annoying. Only two characters were likeable, Bernadette and Bee. Of those characters who underwent a big personality change, I just didn't buy it. Almost lost in the text was an interesting note about penguins: those who didn't have chicks to care for, spent their spare time picking fights with each other. A possible analogy with the vacuous lives of Semple's characters?

The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health by T. Colin Campbell

This book explains the results and the research behind the author's study of health and nutrition. With so much information available, most of it conflicting, it's difficult for the average person to decide what the right choice is exactly. Campbell describes how the information came about, what is important and why it is important. The recommendation: a plant-based diet: not a new idea, but more convincing with the necessary detail. I have to admit that I did not read this scientifically dense book cover-to-cover, but read a number of chapters that interested me most. Not everyone wants this level of detail, but I found it interesting and informative.

Wow, you got through the China Study much quicker than I did--and I didn't read every word either. You really managed to capture the most important points about the book in one paragraph--why can't I do that?

>47 Nickelini: Thanks Joyce. It's been my daytime reading for a week or so. It helped that it was familiar ground.

No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod

This is a haunting story of a family from the MacDonald clan who moved from Scotland to Cape Breton in the 18th century. The new world was just as difficult as the old one requiring hard work and perserverance, bolstered by an unbreakable family loyalty. The story goes back and forward, describing how later and present circumstances came about. Ultimately it represents a social history many immigrants on Canada's east coast. MacLeod's beautiful flowing prose portray characters we get to know so well we might recognise them if we met.

Alistair MacLeod died on April 20, 2014. No Great Mischief won the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award among other accolades. Highly recommended.

No Great Mischief sounds good. I will look for it.

Argh - you reminded me that I've haven't read MacLeod yet. Another Canadian "great" I haven't found time for. I've had another of his on my TBR for too long .No Great Mischief sounds like a must read--what am I saying? It's so acclaimed, of course it's a must read. Thanks for reminding me.

I haven't read MacLeod either, despite having two of his books on my TBR. My Dad has borrowed both, and thought they were fantastic.

>49 VivienneR: One of my all time favourite books. My comments without spoilers would be:
1. the explanation of the title was quite a revelation although coming from James Wolfe it was not a surprise
2. the story of the young boy is taken from real life and documented in the museum in Inverness CB
3. as the brothers took their journey, especially the last part, I could picture every bit of it through MacLeod's description, as it is a road I have driven many times

I first read MacLeod through his short stories, published well before No Great Mischief and I would say they are among the best I have read. I will also miss MacLeod's actual voice; I loved listening to him on the radio with his wonderful soft Cape Breton accent.

>51 Nickelini: No Great Mischief was on my tbr list for a long time too. Alistair MacLeod's death in April reminded me to get going.

>52 RidgewayGirl: I'm sure you will love MacLeod when the books come back to you.

>53 SassyLassy: How interesting. There are so many excellent reviews already posted, better than I could write, so I didn't go into details like the origin of the title. I expected it to be something quite different. It is obvious that there is a great deal of fact in the story as it has that feeling of reality. Sounded like MacLeod travelled that road often too. I will have to search for a recording of his voice. I'd like to hear it.

And Justice there is None by Deborah Crombie

A very good mystery with excellent characters. Crombie combines the plot with the personal lives of the characters very neatly. I enjoyed the snippets of information about Portobello Road that precede each chapter. The setting of London in the sixties is very effective, providing some social history of the area.

>55 VivienneR: You have definitely added Deborah Crombie to my wishlist.

>56 NanaCC: Colleen, I'm sure you would enjoy Crombie. The series is best read in order. I skipped a few that were not available locally and evidently missed a lot that had happened in the detectives' personal lives. I kind of enjoyed a mystery that didn't rely on cell phones and modern technology for communications!

Girl with a pearl earring by Tracy Chevalier

Griet's impoverished family allow her to become a maid in the home of the artist Vermeer. Although fictional, Chevalier refers to many of the techniques used by the artist. I found it useful to refer often to an internet catalogue of his paintings that helped me visualize many points in the story. I enjoyed the details of a 17th century household and description of a maid's duties. Unfortunately character development was weak and they came across quite flat in an insipid, sometimes repellant story. Chevalier used several metaphors that are oddly discordant: when Griet arrived at the Vermeer house she was told to throw her belongings down into the cellar where she would sleep "I felt like an apple tree losing its fruit"; and her blind father struggling to voice his thoughts "like a beetle that has fallen on its back and cannot turn itself over". I expected more from this book, it was okay but not significant.

Girl with the Pearl Earring That's a shame you didn't think more of the book, as Vermeer's paintings cry out for a good story.

I have started Girl with a Pearl Earring a couple of times but couldn't get into it. Maybe it will just remain unread . . .

>59 baswood: and >60 Poquette: The part I enjoyed best was the interactive catalogue of Vermeer's paintings - not part of the book. I would have preferred a biography of the artist. I like to know what is fact and what is fiction.

The Staircase Letters : an extraordinary friendship at the end of life by Arthur Motyer

Motyer published the correspondence shared with his friend Elma Gerwin and her friend Carol Shields, written while they were both dying of cancer. I was apprehensive about reading what appeared to be the sad account of the end of life for two people. I need not have worried, it is moving, sad without being despairing and in many ways inspirational.

Thanks to lkernagh for recommending this book.

>1 VivienneR: That picture is absolutely gorgeous!

Enjoyed catching up here. I'm just about to finish Life After Life. About to .... because I really don't want it to end.

>63 avidmom: Thank you, I'm not sure how I managed to get such vivid colours and healthy plants in a little stony strip beside the fence.

I know how you feel about not wanting Life After Life to end. It's one of those books that I will read again sometime.

The Norfolk Mystery by Ian Sansom

Stephen Sefton, a traumatized Spanish Civil War veteran is broke and in search of a job. He responded to an advertisement for a job where "intelligence is essential", which begins his association with Swanton Morley, an autodidactic columnist with a rapid-fire mind and a penchant for Latin. Morley is planning a series of books on the counties of England, beginning with Norfolk. Soon after they begin the journey they are drawn into the mysterious death of the vicar of Blakeney.

This most recent book of Sansom's is a charming trip into the past. The writing style, characters and even the layout of the book, with old black and white photos from Norfolk, set the tone perfectly for 1937. Funny and imaginative, I enjoyed this mild mystery.

The China Study cookbook by LeAnne Campbell

Written by the daughter of the author of The China Study. The recipes I tried worked well but there is not much that is different in this book compared with many others of the same type.

The Cheshire Cheese Cat : A Dickens of a tale by Carmen Agra Deedy

This audiobook was a wonderful surprise. It is not only laugh-out-loud funny, but a very inventive, creative story about a cat who becomes a friend to a mouse named Pip. Both live in The Cheshire Cheese, an inn Dickens frequented. The story is interspersed with thoughts and notes of Dickens.

from the notebook of C. Dickens:
      Those were dire days, indeed
      The times were cruel
      ghastly
      appalling
      It was the worst of all the days the world has seen -

"Oh, why can't I write an opening for my new novel that stands out from all the rest?"

There were lots of clever references to Dickens' characters. Although intended for juvenile readers, the writing is enough to keep a grown-up charmed, and in fact may be a challenge for most young readers. Full of surprises, history, and fabulously entertaining!

Randall Wright's narration earned a good portion of the five stars I've awarded. I had a "look inside" the book at Amazon and it would be a toss up between Randall Wright's narration and Barry Moser's drawings. I might have to have both.

      

Sounds like a lot of fun. :)
Yes. Have both! How could you not with art like that?!?!

I've been looking at The China Study cookbook. I heard that the recipes are dishes you can make from normal ingredients, which I like, but I guess then it moves over to the not so original category.

Cheshire Cheese! We went there last summer. I highly recommend it for any tourist in London. I need (need!) that book.

When I lived in Warwick, there was a restaurant there (or in the neighboring Leamington Spa) called The Angry Cheese. That name made me happy every time I saw it -- so much more imaginative than Applebees or Chili's.

>68 avidmom: Yes, a lot of fun! Did you notice Pip's little overbite? The detail is wonderful.

>69 Nickelini: I'm already sold on a plant-based diet so The China Study Cookbook was almost familiar. I've been vegetarian for over 30 years, not vegan, but not far off. Naturally the same dishes come up regularly. Campbell uses Sucanat instead of sugar and I'm not familiar with the product. I'm more inclined to leave sugar out or use unsweetened dried fruit if absolutely necessary. So don't be put off by my comments. I was maybe a bit stingy (cheese-paring??).

The Cheshire Cheese - you were so fortunate to go there! Did you see any mice?? Yes, you really must get that book. As I said, I loved the audiobook but the print version looks very enticing.

I didn't see mice, but it would have been charming if we had. It was actually very clean feeling, considering it's been open since 1667.

>70 RidgewayGirl: Sorry, I just noticed your post. I wonder where they got the name of The Angry Cheese. Maybe the boss was bad-tempered (you know, the Big Cheese).

>72 Nickelini: Those old buildings were made to last! I'm glad you didn't see any mice though.

>67 VivienneR:, I love the art!

>74 fannyprice: It perfectly matches the characters.

The Disappeared by Kim Echlin
An unforgettable story of love, loyalty and dedication. Sixteen-year-old Anne Greves fell in love with a Cambodian student in Quebec. When the borders closed during the Pol Pot genocide, Serey was unable to contact his family. When he was eventually able to return to search for them Anne waited for years without news before going to Cambodia herself.

Through books, news, and movies we heard a lot about the Cambodian genocide in the 1970s when two million people died, and of the Vietnam occupation lasting until 1989. Echlin takes this catastrophic event and condenses it into a story about one couple without diminishing the impact on the millions who suffered and continue to suffer. This is a remarkable, vivid and haunting story.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

A great story encompassing humour, emotion, fun, sadness, prejudice, love, avarice, families in conflict, all tied together with wonderful characters. An excellent tale! Highly recommended.

>77 VivienneR: I enjoyed that one too. I know that a lot of people thought it was a bit much, but I thought that added to the fun.

>77 VivienneR: Yes, the story could have gone over the top and yet it worked out so well. I hope Simonson writes more.

Why Orwell Matters by Christopher Hitchens

A short book, but one that requires attention while reading. On a number of occasions I found it necessary to refer to other material to help understand issues or to refresh my memory. Hitchens makes complex arguments in a sophisticated, intelligent way, providing rebuttals to detractors whose only aim apparently was to deny Orwell's insight and his uncanny ability to understand issues. This is an excellent book and one I can recommend for anyone interested in political issues, particularly of the Left.

Why Orwell Matters, That sounds good

It was very interesting. The book was published in Britain with the title Orwell's Victory, a better title in my opinion, as it has a distinct flavour of victory over critics.

I'm on the fence about Why Orwell Matters. I have read most of his stuff, some several times. Do you think it's worthwhile? I've never come across an Orwell detractor. Do they actually exist?

ve never come across an Orwell detractor. Do they actually exist?

I've never thought of that. You're right. I've even seen crazy right wing extremists claim him (moronically, as they are known to be). I don't remember details, but I know I cited that work in an essay I wrote at uni.

I've been away for a couple of days and so many posts have been made in that short time that it will take me weeks to catch up - again!

>83 RidgewayGirl: and >84 Nickelini: According to Hitchens, Orwell had plenty of detractors of the "intellectual" variety. Those mentioned most often were Raymond Williams and Edward Said. Hitchens wrote that they "attributed such immense potency to Orwell, that they make the common mistake of blaming him for his supposed 'effect' that they fail to ensure that their criticisms are founded".

Said made unfair personal criticisms about Orwell, like him "dropping" people he had met during his research. Even I know this to be untrue just from reading Orwell's diaries and letters. He kept in touch will a number of the friends he made on the Road to Wigan Pier.

In one instance when Said reviewed a book about Orwell, he suggested that Orwell's writing was an affirmation of bourgeois values because he had a comfortable life and could afford to write, unlike George Garret - then he went on to describe Garret's poverty. In fact the exact words describing that poverty was lifted directly from Orwell's 1936 diary when Orwell was offering encouragement and sympathy to Garrett. In effect, Said managed to criticize him and plagiarize him simultaneously!

Williams was particularly critical of Orwell. Hitchens notes that Williams attributes the views of Winston Smith (1984) to his creator and writes "One trembles for Williams' students at Cambridge if they were not taught to avoid this first year howler".

Hitchens was such a great writer and there are many razor-edged passages I'd like to quote. There are some where Hitchens' prolific use of exclamation marks and italics make the level of his outrage apparent. Wonderful stuff!

In looking through the book for these passages I realized I could start this book all over again right now and enjoy it just as much. I recommend it highly.

Loitering with Intent by Muriel Spark

Published when Spark was 64, the story draws on the author's experience as a young woman in post-war London. It is written in the first person and styled as a memoir, giving an element of authenticity in mirroring Spark's own youth as an aspiring writer. The characters are a diverse group of oddballs presented with Spark's typical acerbic humour in a neat plot. A short read, but very entertaining.

A Discovery of Strangers by Rudy Wiebe

The beautiful cover is a detail from a painting by Toni Onley, one of my favourite Canadian artists.

John Franklin led an expedition to chart the northern coast of Canada from Hudson Bay to the Coppermine River in 1819-22. He gained a lot of admiration for this feat of endurance, but this story tells of arrogant explorers, unwilling to adapt to conditions, or learn from natives. Wiebe's account is sensitive to the native people and is filled with their poetic dreamlike stories and imagery. The narrative revolves around the relationship of Robert Hood, seaman, and a fifteen-year-old Yellowknife girl known as Greenstockings. Wiebe has done an outstanding job of relating the events from the viewpoints of various people so that we can comprehend the whole. This tender, yet tragic story is hard to put down. It won Wiebe the Governor General's Award in 1994.

RL has been keeping me from posting.

Lost Classics : Writers on books loved and lost edited by Michael Ondaatje

It's interesting to read what writers think of books by other authors. This is a collection of short essays about books that had meaning for the readers, who are themselves well-known authors. I started by reading the essays on books that I am familiar with, then those by authors that I have read, and so on. Naturally, with such variety, some were better or more interesting than others.

and

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I couldn't make up my mind whether to read this book or not, I've had a lot of WWII and the Holocaust in recent reading. But my name eventually came up for the hold I had placed ages ago at the library, I decided to read it. I'm so glad I did. The story is memorable in any case but the fact that it was about ordinary Germans made it different. Excellent choice to classify it as a YA book.

Oh, I've been dipping into Lost Classics off and on for quite a while. Thanks for reminding me to get back to it.

Each of your last three books sound intriguing. I am adding Lost Classics to my wish list. I have been resisting The Book Thief, but I shall probably succumb in the end.

>90 Poquette: Of the three, A Discovery of Strangers was the best.

A Discovery of Strangers sounds interesting. I'll look for a copy.

Started early, took my dog by Kate Atkinson

Another fabulous complex story from Atkinson. About 100 pages in I got very sick and spent a week in hospital. I made the mistake of picking it up where I left off and lost some of the continuity and impact. Still, I gave it and Atkinson remains high on my favourite authors list.

Now further behind than ever, I'm still trying to catch up with everyone else's threads...

Oh my goodness--a week in the hospital! I hope you're all well now.

I hope that you are you are ok now. Take care of yourself, and catch up when you can.

Echoing Joyce and Colleen -- hope your are feeling better now. Sometimes the only way to catch up is just to start from now!

Thanks everyone. I'm much better now. I was in denial and let the problem go too long. And too much of a reading backlog is never a bad thing :)

The Agony Column by Earl Derr Biggers

What a wonderful story! Biggers, the creator of Charlie Chan, set this short novel in London just as The Great War is being declared. The protagonist uses the "agony column", a newspaper personal column, to communicate with a young woman he'd like to know better. This is a page turner with an amazing twist at the end. Highly recommended.

For the life of me I can't trace the source of the book bullet that inspired me to read this book. Wholehearted thanks goes out to you, whoever you are.

>98 VivienneR: wish listed!

Mystery Man by Colin Bateman

This is a humourous yarn about a mystery bookshop owner in Belfast who took on some private detective jobs when the PI next door went missing. An occasional lost dog, or lampshade was one thing but murder was another. The sleuth, who remains unnamed, is a neurotic, paranoid, hypochondriac whose mother - or does he even have a mother? He is besotted with the girl from the jeweller's shop across the road who pushes in as his sidekick. The ribald humour is typical of Belfast, a city that can still laugh even through their "Troubles" - which, by the way, do not figure in this story. An unrealistic bit of fun that is hugely entertaining.

The Cold, Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty

A hard-boiled mystery from Northern Ireland that takes place during the "troubles". This audio version was ruined by a very poor narrator, Gerard Doyle. He may be of Irish origins, but tried so very hard to do a Belfast accent that it ended up monotone. The tough cop sounded feminine. Ridiculous analogies such as "Belfast was spread out before me like a great slab of meat in a butcher's yard" stood out with magnified importance. I may borrow the print version from the library some day, which I know will be better, but for now I'm done with McKinty.

Too bad about the McKinty. A poor narrator can ruin a book.

There were some passages in the story that made me raise my eyebrows, so to speak. Not sure if that was the writer or the narrator, but as I didn't like the narrator, he got the blame. :)

Goodbye to all that by Robert Graves

Better known for his works on Greek mythology and history, this is a literate and frank chronicle of Graves' experience in WWI, concluding with a short account of post-war life until 1929 when he went to Spain. Very interesting, highly recommended.

Goodbye to all that another one on my list to read; thanks for the reminder Vivienne

>105 baswood: It's a reminder to me too - to read more of Graves' work.

The only Graves I've read is Goodbye to All That, which I had to read for a history class at university. I really enjoyed it too, and it's stuck with me.

>104 VivienneR: that sounds like an author I should try.

>107 Nickelini: I'm sure it will stick in my mind too.

>108 NanaCC: I'm sure you would enjoy Graves. Since reading it, I'm now looking for books by his friend Siegfried Sassoon.

For the "Back to school" August RandomCat in the 2014 Category Challenge:

Mrs Pringle of Fairacre by Miss Read

A lovely visit back in time to a village school in the 1950s. Mrs Pringle is the efficient school cleaner who scolds everyone including Miss Read, the head teacher. Nothing much happens, just a very pleasant, gentle story of the ebb and flow of village life.

The Red Road by Denise Mina

Another terrific mystery from Mina featuring Alex Morrow, a complex Glasgow detective whose cases take her from titled aristocrats, money-launderers, to abused children. If she takes the wrong course, her career could be in jeopardy.

Mina is another author I have yet to read, but already have at the top of my TBR.

I have The War Poems of Siegfried Sassoon on my kindle. I bought it after reading the Regeneration trilogy, and hope to read it this year.

I'll probably start with the Regeneration trilogy which is available our library system. But I also want to read Sassoon's The Complete Memoirs of George Sherston. Looks like I'll have to buy that one.

As I walked out one midsummer morning by Laurie Lee

Following Cider with Rosie, Lee continues his memoir with typically expressive descriptions of the English countryside. His journey takes him to Southampton and on to London. Eventually his travels take him to Spain, in time to experience the beginning of the Civil war there. This is a beautifully written account that transports the reader from halcyon days of summer to the beginnings of political conflict. One hundred years have passed since Lee's birth in June of 1914 yet his writing is as fresh as ever. Highly recommended.

An Astronaut's Guide to Life by Chris Hadfield

A truly nice guy, Hadfield answered all the questions about how to get where you want to be. The story is inspirational without intending to be. It would make a perfect manual for anyone interested in topics such as team-building or disaster-avoidance among others. In a number of fascinating stories he was able to recreate for the reader the excitement of the moment, such as his first space walk. And, for a high flying astronaut, he's surprisingly down-to-earth. An excellent, captivating book.

I've had a good run of great books recently. My current reads are shaping up well too.

>115 VivienneR: I've had a good run of great books recently. My current reads are shaping up well too. hmm just coincidence? or have you changed from saving the best books for later?

>114 VivienneR: I just noticed this on Polaris’s thread and wow, you did get to it soon. Sounds wonderful.

>90 Poquette: stop resisting The Book Thief!

>116 detailmuse: Haha! I was just looking at some low-rated books on my shelves and wondering if I should just get rid of them unread. I hate doing that, I might miss something.

Some, like Chris Hadfield's book, I had planned to read, just had to wait for it to become available at the library. But I just had to run out and grab Laurie Lee's book because I love the way he writes. Just perfect for summer too!

>90 Poquette: I too resisted The Book Thief. I thought it sounded like an "endearing" version of The Diary of Anne Frank but it was actually quite different.

I've been considering the Chris Hadfield book for a while. I think you've convinced me to put it on my list. Surely anyone who performs Space Oddity while actually in space has got to have some interesting stories anyway!

I was impressed by that performance too! Hadfield was really surprised that anyone even viewed it. Yes, you must read his book that is packed with all kinds of interesting details. I recommend it highly.

>117 VivienneR: — That's what I've heard as well re The Book Thief.

>120 Poquette: I'll look forward to reading your opinion of it.

#94 : Paperboy by Tony Macaulay

A memoir of growing up in Belfast in the seventies from an eleven-year-old boy's perspective. It is filled with the pop culture of the time from fashion to music. He calls himself "the only pacifist paperboy" and he was determined that nothing would prevent him from delivering his newspapers on time. It is a story that might be more of local interest as it is filled with Belfast idiom and references, but the experiences of this likeable boy will generate many smiles. His thoughts on the concept of "goodies" and "baddies" is particularly poignant: Americans are mostly goodies because of Disney and the Osmonds but on the other hand there were goodies and baddies on Starsky & Hutch, while Russians, provos and Daleks were the worst baddies. His rationale has a childlike innocence and is clearly influenced by television. The events happen around the time when the two opposing religious groups started to consider integration in their combined quest for peace, which at that time was still a long way off. This is cheerful, funny, and optimistic, written in the unaffected frank words of a pre-teen.

I hardly ever see books by Laurie Lee in the bookstores. I guess the author is "out of fashion". Still, your review makes me want to read those books.

You're right Edwin, I haven't seen Laurie Lee books in stores for decades. I read a well-worn copy from the library. I was quite surprised - and happy - to find it there. Lee was such an innocent when he left home.

Regeneration by Pat Barker

There are lots of reviews posted so I'll keep my comment short. I read this because I was interested in Robert Graves and Siegfried Sassoon especially the events following Sassoon's letter "Finished with the War: A Soldier's Declaration" that he wrote in 1917. Although this is a novel on the topic, it's based on facts. It is a well-written, forthright portrayal of the soldiers who returned from battle "shell-shocked" to receive treatment by Dr. Rivers at Craiglockhart War Hospital. Impressive.

Glad to see another positive review of Regeneration. It's on my future reads list, but I'm also going to see a stage play of it in November. I can't decide whether I want to read the book before or after.

That would be a tough call but I think I'd rather read the book first to get an idea of what the author intended, first-hand so to speak. I'll watch for your opinions.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

It's been many years since I first read Persuasion and I enjoyed it just as much, maybe more, this time around. I have the Belknap Press illustrated and annotated edition that not only has beautiful illustrations but annotations that provide interesting reading on their own merit. An appendix provides the original two concluding chapters that her nephew said she thought "tame and flat". In any case, it was interesting to read and compare both, which provided some insight of her writing and revision style. Austen died soon after finishing Persuasion. The book was published posthumously together with Northanger Abbey. Also included as an appendix is a short biography written by her favourite brother Henry Austen.

A first for me, I read this while simultaneously listening to Nadia May's audiobook narration, a pairing that was particularly enjoyable. However it is Austen's captivating story in combination with this beautiful volume edited by Robert Morrison gets a solid five stars.

edited to correct touchstone

Rereading Austen's books is a little like visiting a dear old friend.

I think Persuasion is my favourite Jane Austin

>129 NanaCC: Isn't that the truth!

>130 baswood: I always believed mine to be Emma but now I'm not so sure. I think my favourite is the one I read last!

My recent read of Pride & Prejudice changed my mind about Austen. I see so many positive comments about Persuasion and Emma & the only other one I have here is Sense and Sensibility!

I thought I had Emma too but "she's" not on my designated classics part of the bookcase. *grrr*

I have a couple of editions each of Austen's books but I think I will ask Santa for another Belknap annotated edition, probably Emma.

I wish I had my books organized with classics in a designated spot. My books are all over the place and in no order at all. When I try some re-organization it takes weeks before I get used to it.

>133 VivienneR: Easy for me; I really only started my own personal library over the last few years. :)

I am with Barry, Persuasion is also my favorite Austin. Enjoyed your comments and hearing about your reading and listening simultaneously. That is a wonderful way to enjoy a classic!

>135 Poquette: It's difficult to say why reading/listening simultaneously worked so well. I was able to pause the recording to read the the annotations. When I started up again, I found my place easily. Also, if time is at a premium, my eye is more inclined to speed along the text without fully appreciating it. The recording prevented that. It was like reading a performance, if you can make sense of that.

>136 VivienneR: A few years ago, my son was having a problem getting my granddaughter to read. She was very much into Harry Potter, so I suggested that she listen to the audiobook and read along. It seemed to be the incentive that she needed, because now that she has figured out how enjoyable reading really is, she is constantly with her nose in a book.

Colleen, what a great story! To someone who doesn't read I imagine books can look kind of boring. But it just takes one book to find out how wonderful reading is.

I don't think I'll listen/read together much, I usually read faster than a narrator, and some narrators are just plain annoying. Does your granddaughter still listen to them? Or has she gone over completely to print?

>137 NanaCC: listen to the audiobook and read along.
Your method sounds very much like the LeapFrog "toy" my son had when he was little. (Kind of sad he outgrew it; I still wanna play with it. I thought it was neat.)

LeapFrog was a great aid to learning to read. I remember attending a display of them at a library event. Another librarian said "I wouldn't have one in the house". Fortunately she was the one with no children.

>138 VivienneR: Does your granddaughter still listen to them? Or has she gone over completely to print?

She doesn't listen anymore, unless we are in the car. She seems to prefer her Kindle over print books, but I'm watching her this week, and she and her sister have requested a trip to the book store. :) That is money I don't mind spending.

Sounds like she's enjoying the best of all worlds.

Dangerous Women edited by Otto Penzler

As usual in collections of short stories, the quality varied. Some were perfectly chilling, some creepy, some clever, and a few not to my taste. My favourite was Soft Spot by Ian Rankin followed closely by stories by Ed McBain, Joyce Carol Oates and Nelson Demille. The book rating is an average of the ratings given to each story.

>143 VivienneR: Have you read Troubled Daughters, Twisted Wives? It's an anthology of mostly noir mystery stories by women.

Rebecca, Troubled Daughters, Twisted Wives has been on my wishlist since you and RidgewayGirl reviewed it earlier this year (thumbed). I expect it to be better than Dangerous Women, which had a fair share of dangerous men. Penzler was stretching it a bit when he chose the title :)

Alms for Oblivion : a Shakespearean Murder Mystery by Philip Gooden

It's been a few years since I bought this book that has been sitting on the shelf ever since. What a mistake! It turned out to be a very entertaining mystery, filled with twists and turns, but also fun. It was peopled with an interesting collection of characters who portrayed the times very nicely. There were many references to Shakespeare's words and works, some I probably missed, some I had to look up, but I think I recognized most of them. The good news is that I have another one in the series also waiting to be read.

>128 VivienneR: Sometimes I borrow audio from the library for a print book I already own, and occasionally move from one to the other format depending where I am. But listening and reading simultaneously ... that intrigues. I'm thinking of it right now for Mrs. Dalloway. I think its stream-of-consciousness would be a good fit for audio, and the print would prevent my own wandering consciousness.

>146 VivienneR: Alms for Oblivion : a Shakespearean Murder Mystery sounds pretty good, and a recommendation from you is a plus. :)

>147 detailmuse: Mrs. Dalloway would be a perfect fit for a simultaneous audio/print combination. There are some books where a momentary lapse of attention is of no consequence, but when you don't want to miss any moments, this is the solution. I've only tried it once though.

>148 NanaCC: Thank you Colleen.

Fresh : new vegetarian and vegan recipes from Fresh restaurants by Jennifer Houston

Nice idea, but there were so many recipes using faux cheese that it made me wonder why bother? The couple of (non-cheese) recipes that I tried were disappointing. Many of the ingredients listed are only available from specialty shops. I'd prefer to be able to shop at the local grocery store.

What on earth is faux cheese made with?

It's a bad vegetarian book that depends on faux cheese! If you're interested in good ones, I can recommend some. And no, no specialty shops required!

>151 RidgewayGirl: Daiya is one of the big brands, in the US anyway, and it's made from cassava and arrowroot (which is a solidifying thing with no flavor, can be used as a veg friendly sub for gelatin). Most people seem to find most fake cheese a rather vile substance, so I've never been able to bring myself to try it, especially given their price!

>151 RidgewayGirl: I've come across many recipes for faux cheese, none of them ever fooled anyone! Texture and melting quality are the big goals but I don't believe either has been achieved to date. Jennifer Houston's recipes use Daiya often.

>152 .Monkey.: Thanks pmm, I have a fair-sized collection of vegan and vegetarian books, all of them a far sight better than Houston's. Among my favourites are from The Moosewood, and some local books. And you are right, fake cheese is vile.

I can almost forgive the specialty items required because after all, they are restaurant recipes, and we know restaurants don't necessarily rely on the neighbourhood grocery store. In some cases a substitute was suggested, but some of those didn't make sense: "If persimmons are not available, use lemon juice" ???

Huh. Well then. I...somehow think I'd rather find my own alternatives... >_>

And yeah, I mean an occasional specialty is fine, but still, it doesn't do to make a whole book full of them. Who do you expect to actually make your recipes then?? Any cookbook editor needs to pay attention to that, and not allow more than a certain low percentage to include things not found in a typical store. Unless it's a total specialty book, like, making your own cheese or, you know, whatever, where it's par for the course to be made with non-typical stuff. But otherwise? That's just sloppy work on the part of the author and editor both. If you expect good reviews and people to actually make your recipes, your recipes have to be accessible!

>154 .Monkey.: You said it better than I did!

Of All the Gin Joints : stumbling through Hollywood history by Mark Bailey

What is nice about this book is that the reader can dip into it at random, checking out the big names of Hollywood and their favourite alcoholic drinks - a lot of drinks. Some stories were legend during the lifetime of the subject, most are outrageous. The histories of the hotels and hostelries were quite interesting, probably because there is less known about them to begin with. Not a bad read, but too boozy to consume in one sitting.

There is a vast number of mistakes even for an Advance Reading Copy, creating a mammoth task to be accomplished before the final publication.

Murder in Montparnasse: a mystery of literary Paris by Howard Engel

The crimes that Jack de Paris has been committing, similar to London's Jack the Ripper, form the background of this story set in 1925 Paris among the literary and artistic elite of the day. When Canadian journalist Mike Ward arrived in Paris he met Jason Waddington, the character based on the unnamed but recognizable Hemingway. Wilson and Georgia O'Donnell, based on F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, also feature in the story. Appearing under their real names are lesser characters such as James Joyce, Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, Alice Toklas and others. The reader can make a safe assumption that none of these famous names end up as suspects. Naturally, Hemingway's lost suitcase of manuscripts features strongly in the story. Engel portrays an evocative and captivating Paris, just as it might have been. The idea is a bit dated, and although not a brilliant mystery, it is reasonably entertaining.

Tempest Tost by Robertson Davies

A perfectly entertaining story liberally sprinkled with the gentle humour typical of Davies. Amateur theatre groups appear to be a common target for humour but Davies brings us a very believable group for whom the reader wishes success. But let's not forget the keywords: amateur theatre. The characters, filled with personality, elicit sympathy, pity, scorn or admiration as warranted. Davies has a particular way with words that can accurately pinpoint the meaning with a simple turn of phrase. I can't believe I missed the Salterton Trilogy when I was going through a Robertson Davies phase. I thoroughly enjoyed this, the first in the series, and look forward to the others. And then, on to reading or re-reading everything else. This was his first novel, and I know he gets even better.

Enjoyed your review of Tempest Tost. I have it in mind to read some Robertson Davies soon.

Some more good reviews, Vivienne. You've put Tempest Tost on my wishlist.

I enjoyed Tempest-Tost and the entire Salterton Trilogy but I'm glad I read Davies's other trilogies first because you're right, he "gets even better." You're making me want to reread Davies.

Thank you everyone. I'm glad I was able to put Davies on your reading lists!

I got about one third of the way through A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd and found it wasn't to my liking. It has joined the very short list of books I've abandoned.

Two finished yesterday:

Only time will tell by Jeffrey Archer

This is the first book of three in the Clifton Chronicles. This part of the epic tale follows Harry Clifton from his birth in 1920 to university days. Archer is a great storyteller and the story if filled with lots of twists and turns. Hugely entertaining! It ends with a cliffhanger, which is fine for me because I intend to continue with the series.

This was an audiobook read by Roger Allam, possibly better known as Inspector Thursday, Endeavour's boss (the young Morse). He is the best narrator I've heard. I'd listen to him read a telephone directory. I may decide on the print version for the second in the series because Hallam only did this one. There was also an interesting interview with the author at the end when he said the novel is autobiographical.


The Blue Sky by Galsan Tchinag

The author grew up in Mongolia, later was educated in Germany and chose the German language for his writing. This autobiography, the first in a trilogy, details his life until age eight. It has a touching innocence that is captured in the translation and which pairs well with the child's account of nomadic herders in Mongolia.

Two more good reviews! You are killing my TBR. :)

Thanks Colleen. Isn't that why we are all here :))

I heard about The Blue Sky on LT before, and bought it; now I'll have to look for it, thanks to your review.

I know you would like it Rebecca. I borrowed it from the library and as they don't have the other two in the trilogy I will have to search them out sometime. I'm interested now in his experiences at the University of Leipzig.

Watchman by Ian Rankin

One of Rankin's early books, it's not a bad spy novel that is set mostly in London and Belfast during the height of the action there. It is obvious that this is a writer with promise.

I really love Rankin. Someone here in Club Read recommended him to me. I'm so glad they did.

I believe this one is a standalone, and one of his first books, but I felt I had to read early material to get an idea of how Rankin has progressed. I've read some of his books out of order and would like to get to them all eventually.

The Oh She Glows Cookbook : vegan recipes to glow from the inside out by Angela Liddon

At first glance the recipes looked a bit complicated, but once started, turned out to be simpler than first thought. The recipes I have tried so far have been successful. What I like best is that most of the ingredients are items I already have in my cupboard. Liddon suggests options for readers who need to avoid certain types of food. One minor grumble is that I didn't find the index to be of much use. However, after initially borrowing the book from the library I liked it so much that I bought my own copy.

I don't often abandon books, but these two didn't last long:

The Heretic's Apprentice by Ellis Peters
When a heavy discussion came up about an unborn child being "rotten with Adam's sin" I decided I'd rather spend my time reading something else.

A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd
The first few pages made me wonder how this got such good ratings. Another one by the same author also went out the door too.

Enigma by Robert Harris

Some parts about coding may have gone Swooosh! right over my head, but it didn't matter, I caught the gist of it and it didn't lessen my understanding or enjoyment. Turing has always held a fascination for me and although he didn't actually make an appearance in this story, he got many mentions. I especially liked the way the suspense mounted in the second half. Although I suspected some characters of not being what they claimed to be, I was still caught off-guard. Harris painted a perfect portrait of Great Britain as the war progressed and shortages became more difficult. As well as a captivating story, the details were very interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The Anatomist's Apprentice by Tessa Harris

What a melodrama! The American anatomist Silkstone has been hired to investigate Lord Crick's untimely death - although some might wonder why he wasn't bumped off sooner. The story started with some promise but quickly went downhill as it filled with eye-rolling errors of both the factual and literary type. 18th century post mortem and forensic methods are gruesome, but if the reader is willing to put up with a few richly noisome descriptions, there is the reward of a mystery, leaning heavily toward the romantic as all melodramas should.

If I'd been reading the print version this would have been abandoned in pretty short order but Simon Vance's perfect narration of the audiobook kept me with it to the end.

>174 VivienneR: intrigued by Enigma and would like to know more about Turing. The book makes me think of Cryptonomicon, which also touches on Turing.

>176 dchaikin: Alan Turing was a brilliant mathematician and is credited with inventing the computer. There is a play titled Breaking the Code written by Hugh Whitemore that I saw years ago. It deals mostly with Turing's private life. He was gay, at a time when same-sex relationships were against the law. When a casual encounter ended in theft, he called the police, which ended disastrously for Turing. I have Alan Turing : the Enigma Centenary Edition by Andrew Hodges on my wishlist, but there are plenty of books about him. Regarding the Enigma code, Robert Harris's book Enigma was excellent, I strongly recommend it. And BTW, I'm reconsidering my measly 4.5 stars, I should have given it 5.

>177 VivienneR: thanks! I'll keep those in mind. It seems that Breaking the Code is a play.

>178 dchaikin: I seem to remember Breaking the Code was also made into a movie with David Jacobi playing Turing.

Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer

An excellent, well-researched story about George Mallory. In 1999 Conrad Anker, one of a team in search of Mallory and team member Andrew Irvine, found Mallory's body at an altitude of 26,760 feet. Mallory had taken a photo of his wife Ruth to place on the summit. Because the photo was not on his person when the remains were found, it has been widely assumed, although not proven, that he had successfully reached the summit. This was a fascinating, well-written novel based on fact. A section at the end of the book described what happened to each of the individuals involved. The arrogance and snobbery of some, such as Brigadier General C.G. Bruce, president of the Alpine Club, was as annoying as I suspect Archer intended. This is a page-turner, especially if the reader is interested in climbing.

Paths of Glory sounds fascinating. Mallory's contribution to the lore of Everest is particularly poignant.

>181 Poquette: "Poignant" says it precisely.

>180 VivienneR: Paths of Glory sounds like something for my wishlist. I enjoy true life adventures, and one that comes with a recommendation from you needs to be on the list. I haven't found a good one since last year's Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World.

>183 NanaCC: Jeffrey Archer can sure tell a good story. I'm sure you'll like this one. I gave my copy of the book to my son, as a climber, he'll enjoy it too.

Olive Odyssey by Julie Angus

Angus went on a journey accompanied by her husband and infant son to find the origins of the olive tree. As a molecular biologist her goal was to examine the DNA of trees from different locations to discover their history through genetic markers. They purchased a sailboat and travelled around the Mediterranean to accomplish the task - nice work if you can get it. Probably unintended but for this reader the entire book screamed "I just got funding for an extended family holiday in the Mediterranean!"

There is no shortage of interesting information in the book but mostly it is in snippets, often repetitive, lost amid the the scientific story and the personal story. The sailing adventure, the Mediterranean locale, the family involvement did not make the book more engrossing, in fact it detracted from the point; made the story neither fish nor fowl, neither academic nor general interest. After claiming that there is so much fraudulent olive oil around, tests to determine if your extra virgin olive oil is the real deal were inconclusive. Apparently only the taste test is of any use. However, she did include a good section on how to perform a taste test, what to look for, what to avoid. An appendix provides a handful of fairly ordinary recipes using olives or oil that seem like an afterthought. A planned a visit to her father's family in Syria is where the book ended abruptly because of the current violence there.

It should have been an interesting account and yet I found it disappointing.

Mr Dixon Disappears : a mobile library mystery by Ian Sansom

Another fun yarn about Israel Armstrong, the Jewish vegetarian librarian transplanted from London to Northern Ireland to run the mobile library. Will the hapless, insecure Israel ever be able to live a normal life in Northern Ireland? I doubt it. This time he is arrested when the department store owner disappears with the contents of the safe. Even Israel's dithering protestations make him appear guilty. Maybe it's my mothering instinct, but I adore him.

Blood, toil, tears and sweat : the dire warning by John Lukacs

This is a short audiobook about Churchill and the effect his early speeches had on a nation at war. In most cases they rallied the people and, after a rough beginning, brought him the eventual support of parliament. It is interesting to hear his opinions in relationship with international events. Much is fairly well-known, but this provides more detail of the narrower topic. Not included here, but mentioned are the excellent speeches he continued to make after his party was voted out of office and after the war.

If any of his speeches are familiar to us it is only through reading them, not hearing them, as few were recorded. The title speech, his first as Prime Minister, was only recorded in Hansard, the parliamentary transcript. This is an interesting look at a specific of history and one of the great orators.

Carry On, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

The appeal of Jeeves and Wooster never declines. Plots vary little, yet fans - myself included - continue to read every book they can lay hands on. I immersed myself in Wodehouse when I was a teenager, then eagerly followed the television series with Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry. Again, my recent collection is growing by leaps and bounds.

Obviously Wodehouse re-used material in his prolific writings. In one story of this collection, Wooster's friend Bickerstaff (Bicky) had the same idea of starting a chicken farm, using the exact accounting rationale as Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge in Among the Chickens. Evidently Bicky was successful as I seem to recall a story titled Bicky's Chickens.

My favourite line is a description of Honoria Glossop: "She was one of those robust dynamic girls with muscles like a welterweight and a laugh like a squadron of cavalry charging over a tin bridge".

My sentiments for Wodehouse match Wooster's for Jeeves "You never let a chap down".

Wodehouse is always good for a laugh. I have a few of them in an audio version, and they can make a long car ride quite enjoyable. I also have the "Works of" on my Kindle. They are fun to dip into once in a while. And, a reread seems to be just as funny as the first time.

Audio or e-books is a good way to read Wodehouse. One of my short story collections is nearly 800 pages, a paperback that is too big to hold comfortably.

The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry

It is heart-wrenching and infuriating that the church should have such control over the lives of those it purports to nurture. I find it hard to rate this book because I have such mixed feelings. Beautiful writing, but the heartache for a life wasted to meet a priest's twisted motivaton is overwhelming. Yes, it's only a story, but I've no doubt that the control was frequently real. As far as the ending is concerned, I saw it coming from a long way off. There was really no other way to wrap it up.

Hidden Moon by James Church

Excellent illustration of the N.K. paranoia where everything is political. Inspector O must decide if he is supposed to investigate or solve the case. Some cases are expected to be investigated and solved if possible, some should look like they are being investigated but are not to be solved. The third category are those cases to be avoided, every stone left unturned, no records, no files. Church's writing style is not much to my liking. I didn't quite get the analogies used, such as the investigation being like bookshelves - not with books, just the shelves. Nor did I see the relevance of the many descriptions of wood: "there's a certain smugness to walnut"; mulberry "a wood with too much of a mind of its own". The depiction of North Korea and methods of investigation (even though I've no way of verifying the details) earned this book three stars.

In the Shadow of the Glacier by Vicki Delany

The plots are not exactly memorable, but I enjoy reading this series because they are set in the area where I live. Delany portrays the culture and atmosphere of the Kootenay region of British Columbia perfectly. There was even a plug for AC/BC, British Columbia's AC/DC tribute band.

This was an Early Reviewer book that I enjoyed.

Flirting with French by William Alexander

Apart from the health issues, Alexander's struggle with learning French is similar to my own - an ongoing, not too successful project. I enjoyed this humourous, entertaining look at the challenges in learning a language as an adult.

The Calling by Inger Ash Wolfe

Gruesome, bloody, creepy, disturbing, and yet I was transfixed. If real life hadn't got in the way, I would have finished this in one sitting.

Only one spot made me laugh out loud. That was when I came the bit about a weird group who were described two, maybe three times, as being vegan! Yes, we are a weird bunch.

Flirting with French sounds really interesting! I have been engaged in trying to learn French on my own over the past 15 years or so. It has been slower going than I would have liked, but I am still plugging away at it. I will look for this book.

Seven Pleasures : essays on ordinary happiness by Willard Spiegelman

My husband picked up this charming collection of essays at the library. What a treasure. My favourite essay was Reading almost a parallel of my own reading experience, followed closely by Writing. Spiegelman could have included reading his book as another pleasure.

James Garner's Motoring Life by Matt Stone

An Early Reviewer book that I was delighted to snag, and even happier to read. Although the audience will be mainly car enthusiasts, there is plenty of information that Garner and Rockford fans will enjoy. Stone presents James Garner as the genial gentleman that he was.

The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill

Communist since 1975, Laos, the setting of Cotterill's book, is a country of which I know little but hope to learn more through this series. I loved the beautifully developed characters, especially the kind, tender, considerate Dr Sirl Palboun and his gentle humour. I look forward to reading more of his "cases". This was an interesting mystery with characters, methods and even the crime, so different from the usual fare. Highly recommended.

>198 VivienneR: I've read the first five of the Dr Siri Palboun series, and enjoyed each one. I'm glad you liked it.

>199 NanaCC: That's wonderful. I'll add Colin Cotterill to my favourite authors list and watch for the rest of the series. I loved Dr Siri, he's a real sweetie.

"Flirting with the French" sounds a much more interesting title and it's probably the best way to learn the language.

>201 baswood: Yes, that sounds much more interesting - and fun!

Silas Marner by George Eliot

Set in the early 19th century, Eliot's narrative accurately features the lifestyle, values and traditions of the period. Ethics, religion and the industrial revolution all play a part in this beautiful story. I realize it is not to everyone's taste but I find the old-fashioned language is a delight, describing the actions and feelings of the characters so beautifully.

Small but perfectly formed might describe Silas Marner. I think it is a great novel and would be a great place to start for anyone wanting to dip into George Eliot.

I read Silas Marner earlier this year and was surprised at how much I loved it as well.

>204 baswood: A perfect description: "small but perfectly formed".

>205 japaul22: I don't know how I managed to miss it in all my reading years, but glad it came to my attention at last.

Little Tiny Teeth by Aaron Elkins

The action takes place on a small cruise ship sailing the Amazon and its tributaries. There is academic strife, drug smuggling and the tiny teeth of piranhas involved. Not an outstanding tale but quite enjoyable.

This was chosen for the Geography category: Amazon in the Category Challenge group.

I too was very much taken with Silas Marner. Your brief comment captures its essence nicely!

>208 Poquette: Thank you, because there are so many reviews, I kept my comments to what I want to personally remember about the book. Glad you enjoy Eliot too.

>203 VivienneR: Silas Marner is another book I have on my Kindle, and mean to get to sooner rather than later.

ETA: Middlemarch too.

>203 VivienneR: You've captured the book wonderfully. I think all her books are a delight, but since Silas Marner is one of the shorter one, perhaps people may be tempted to read it after the comments.

>210 NanaCC: I hope to re-read the other George Eliot books at some time. Trouble is, the unread books always demand attention. :)

>211 SassyLassy: Thank you. It would be gratifying to think I might inspire someone to read Silas Marner.

A couple of audiobooks:

The Murders of Richard III by Elizabeth Peters

This story uses Richard III's legendary history in a variation of the closed-room mystery coupled with an English country house setting. Keeping track of the characters and their corresponding historical roles was quite a job. I listened to an audio version that was spoiled by a narrator that I disliked. I may try the print version sometime, and then again, maybe not.

and

Classic Railway Murders

As might be expected with the nature of the stories, it is necessary to pay close attention to the timing and sequence of events to appreciate the intricacies of the plots. This was an audiobook narrated by Patrick Malahide whose outstanding reading improved the stories significantly. He captured the characters and all the melodrama to perfection.

The Fine Colour of Rust by P. A. O'Reilly

Epigraph: The Japanese have a word, sabi, which connotes the simple beauty of worn and imperfect and impermanent things: a weathered fence; an old cracking bough in a tree; a silver bowl mottled with tarnish; the fine color of rust.

Loretta Boskovic has been abandoned by her husband and left in a small dusty Australian town with her two children. Her imaginary life, where she leaves her children at an orphanage and meets Mr Beemer, or Mr Harley, competes with the realism of small town life with kids she loves even though they are not perfect, and good friends, including Norm Stevens, father figure and adopted grandfather to her kids. O'Reilly has not only painted an excellent picture of the small Australian town but created wonderful characters who come alive. The topics that spur Loretta's activism are common enough: single parenting, injustice, political intrigue, told with humour but without turning it into a comedy. I enjoyed this book enormously.

And another audiobook:

Get Real by Donald Westlake

Dortmunder and the boys are to appear in a reality television program as themselves, pulling off a heist and trying to make sure there isn't a catch. In this audiobook the narrator, William Dufris, did an excellent job of portraying the characters, their personalities and accents. Entertaining and humourous, in fact, laugh-out-loud funny in some places.

My Antonia by Willa Cather

What I loved most about this book was Cather's prose, which is crystal clear and beautiful. And although I admire strong women, somehow even the strength and spirit of Antonia did not have the same impact on me as she had on other readers. This was my first book by Cather.

A Fortunate Life by A. B. Facey

This is the autobiography of Western Australian Albert Facey. It is embellished throughout with maps, photos and illlustrations, all of which are fun or relevant in some way. It looks like a doorstop but reading went surprisingly fast, not only because it is so interesting but Facey is a captivating storyteller.

Born in 1894 he was brought up by his grandmother and out of necessity started work at aged eight. One of the most dramatic chapters describes the time he spend on a cattle drive. The events following a stampede caused Facey to become lost in the outback for days, an event that was almost fatal. Fortunately, he was rescued and cared for by Aboriginals.

He survived the atrocity of Gallipoli after suffering wounds that he speaks of matter of factly although they affected him all his life. It was only when I reached this section that I realized the details were familiar, and previously seen on a television production. In fact his life story inspired a television series and at least one book.

In the post-war years he was re-established in Western Australia only to lose everything in the Depression. Facey's life was as tough as a life can be, yet there is not one word of self-pity or complaint. He taught himself to read and write. This book, written in a down-to-earth style is all the more moving because of the plain, simple language. As an example, in only a few sentences he was able to create a vivid picture of the horror of a bayonet charge and of hand-to-hand fighting. It must have been particularly horrifying for this amiable guy who held no grudges against anyone.

A Fortunate Life was published when Albert Facey was 87 years old just months before he died. I have to wonder if he took the title from his unique bit of good fortune when he discovered the woman who would become his wife, Evelyn Mary Gibson, through a parcel of socks received in Gallipoli. This national celebrity is, in my opinion, an outstanding person and hero.

Thanks to polaris for recommending this excellent book.

High Crime Area by Joyce Carol Oates

This was my first book by Oates and although it's just been released this year I believe the stories have been published previously in magazines. I'm not a fan of short stories and in this book I found them just too dark, grim even, for my taste.

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

Annie, a realtor who was abducted at an open house, describes events to her therapist, so we know up front that at some point she escaped or was rescued. Even with that knowledge this chilling story is filled with non-stop suspense. An excellent read but not for the faint of heart.

>218 VivienneR: Heh. I went to put it on my TBR...it's already there. Must consider culling my TBR list.

>219 lesmel: Don't cull this one from your tbr list!

The story was inspired by a real life abduction of a realtor on Vancouver Island (also the setting of the book). It crossed my mind several times: I hope the real-life realtor's family don't read this.

>220 VivienneR: It's been on my list since 2011! I'm not even sure how I got it on there. That's before I was tracking where I found titles of interest. It won't be leaving the list any time soon. Not if I found it interesting twice in 3 years. lol

Yeah, JCO doesn't really do "uplifting" does she? I like her short stories, but I don't read more than one at a time, lest I sink into despair.

And I hated Still Missing so much! I guess this is proof that we all have different tastes, even people whose reading is similar to my own. I just found so many of the situations she put herself in didn't make sense given her experience and just general common sense.

>222 RidgewayGirl: I seem to remember that it was one of your comments that made me think JCO would be of interest. There is no doubt that she is an excellent writer - maybe in small doses.

I was torn about Still Missing. Throughout the book I felt like a rubbernecker at a car crash and yet the suspense grabbed me. It was a distinct love/hate experience. There is no doubt that being based on a fairly recent, unsolved true crime in the same location is disturbing to say the least. And you are right, there were a number of times when she either didn't make the right choice or didn't take an opportunity but then I thought of the blubbering mess that my brain would become in a similar situation.

Dog on It by Spencer Quinn

Possibly the most entertaining mystery I've ever read. The story is narrated by a dog, Chet, whose attention span is, well, canine. As he relays the details of a conversation he may drift off into a daydream... Quinn got the dog personality perfect. This is the first in a series that I intend to complete. Highly recommended especially to dog lovers.

Thanks to rocketjk for the book bullet.

Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper

Unlike most reporters, Cooper doesn't write from a detached position that provides a dry generic account. By blending in his personal story the entire book becomes more interesting and the reader gets to know the writer, his motivation. The result is an engrossing book written from the heart by someone who can empathize with those facing disaster.

The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg

I really enjoyed this audiobook narrated by the author herself. It was a wonderful mixture of humour, women's WWII aviation history, and of course, Alabama. Lovely.

As the Pig Turns by M.C. Beaton

This was my choice of cosy mystery for December's MysteryCAT in the 2014 Category Challenge. Although I have enjoyed them, none of the Agatha Raisin books have been outstanding for me. This was my least favourite, posssibly because it was an audiobook (although narrated well by Penelope Keith) or maybe I'm just over Agatha. I suspect the latter.

Comfort and Joy by India Knight

A novel about modern relationships and blended families using the traditional Christmas family get-together as the setting. While Knight can be quite ribald - she does not hesitate to call a spade a spade - some situations are dark, some laugh-out-loud funny, others poignant. As entertaining as this novel is, it's a larger-than-life look at the complexities of family relationships and not for anyone looking for a cosy seasonal story even though it has a few warm fuzzy spots too.

We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo

Unlike most works that involve political change in a country, Bulawayo sees the upheaval in Zimbabwe through the eyes of children. Yes, a lot has changed in their short lives, but children carry on, persevere, the past is an almost forgotten world and now they are living in a new one. There are no political stories in a child's world, no historical insight. This presents a poignant story where the reader must supply the background, a refreshing and thought-provoking exercise. In the second part of her novel, when Darling and moved to live with her aunt in the US, Bulawayo shows an empathy for the immense impact of alien surroundings following immigration, especially as it affects the young, who are again living in and trying to understand yet another world, even further removed from what they have known. It is recognized too that not all change is for the better, something that only those who have moved to a new country may understand. Bulawayo presents Darling's story with a flowing style that is at once uncomplicated yet without reservation.

Terrific review of We Need New Names.

Thanks Dan.

>229 VivienneR: you have reminded me that I want to read We Need New Names. I think I'll get to it in January.

>232 NanaCC: I hope you enjoy it Colleen.

I've been looking at We Need New Names in the bookstore, but haven't quite made the leap to buying it. Now maybe I will.

>232 NanaCC: & >234 rebeccanyc: It certainly made me want to read more about 20th and 21st century events in Zimbabwe.

One Woman's Arctic by Sheila Burnford

I can't believe this excellent book has been on my shelf unread for so long. Burnford's writing style is very pleasant to read while providing information and insight on a wide range of topics. It is somewhat dated in that it was published in 1973, and there have been big changes in the Arctic since then. However, I enjoyed the account of her stay in the "idyllic" community of Pond Inlet in the summers of the early 1970s when she accompanied artist Susan Ross, whose art is depicted on the endpapers. As a snapshot of those halcyon days Burnford's story makes very interesting and enjoyable reading. Highly recommended.

A couple of Christmas books:

A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
A sentimental feel-good story with a loose Christmas connection.

Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb
A nostalgic enjoyable look at growing up in the sixties. The narrator, Felix Funicello, is Annette Funicello's cousin. His parochial school is preparing for the Christmas concert. Very entertaining.

Another couple of pre-Christmas books:

A Christmas Secret by Anne Perry was a typical Perry story. I realized I had read it a year or two ago but went ahead with it anyway because it is a short read. It was OK, but I don't think I'll be trying any more.

Thereby Hangs a Tail by Spencer Quinn was wonderful. This is a series I will do my best to complete. I am seriously and deeply in love with Chet (Bernie is a bit of OK too). A full 5 stars because I enjoyed it so much.

Only two days left in 2014 so my November ER win may be my last book of the year and it truly is a winner!



The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier

I can't tell you how happy I was to receive the 30th anniversary edition of The Hockey Sweater, a favourite book and a fabulous animated film. This edition not only contains the story with the superb illustrations by Sheldon Cohen but also describes how it all came to be, and explains just why this book is so revered in Canada. To include a DVD of the film was a much appreciated bonus.

Its importance in Canadian culture is portrayed in the commendations by luminaries from politicians, writers, illustrators, athletes, to journalists. And, in a very Canadian way, from 2001 to 2012, when an illustration and the first few lines of the story were reproduced on the five-dollar bill. Note too that the ubiquitous Eaton's catalogue, now sadly extinct, was not only used as a source of sweaters but when stuffed inside socks became excellent shin protectors.

I always wanted my own copy of this book, and this edition is a real jewel.

Nice to end the year with a 5 star read!

>239 VivienneR: Wow! I haven't checked the ER lists for the last few months, feeling guilty about unfinished books that need reviewing. You really did score! I heard Roch Carrier on the radio just this week talking about this anniversary. I love hearing him read this book.

Happy New Year, Vivienne!

>241 SassyLassy: Yes, I did score, didn't I? However, I'm so sorry I missed Roch Carrier on the radio. Everything came together for this book making it unforgettable, a national treasure. Happy New Year!

>242 NanaCC: Thanks Colleen, Happy New Year to you too. 2015 is going to be a great year!