Torontoc reads from her TBR tower in 2015

I will set the same goal as last year- 30 books that have been living in the TBR tower for over 6 months. I have a number of books that I read about half and put down for one reason or another- I will try to finally finish them in 2015

Welcome and good luck!

Welcome back! Good idea to pick up some of the unfinished books.

Sometimes those half read books are the hardest to finish.

boy and how. those half read books have their claws in the dirt the deepest! good luck!

Welcome back and Good Luck in 2015!

Good luck!

Thanks- I have one book that is about 6-700 pages and I have 150 pages left to go- but it is a slog! I started reading it about 3 years ago and put it down.

good luck!

Good luck, Torontoc!

I decided to follow you here because I want to eventually get up to Toronto to meet you and jessiebud2. Fortunately, I already know Zoe (and Mark). :)

Good luck with your challenge!

That would be great- hope to see you in Toronto!

1. Dvorak in Love by Joseph Skvorecky I picked this novel from my very big TBR pile and just finished it today. The story centers on Dvorak's time in the United States when he had a post as the Director of the National Conservatory in New York City. Each chapter is narrated by a different person- so the reader learns about his family and how he married his wife, Anna, as well as the histories of the many people that Dvorak met and worked with in America. In fact at one point in the novel, there seemed to be too many characters to follow as Skvorecky writes about Dvorak's many musical friends and his appreciation and later use of Black music. The many stories that make up the narrative give the reader an appreciation of the many influences that Dvorak used in his music as well as the people who were influenced by him in their musical careers in the United States as well as in Europe. In this biographical novel I made the acquaintance of some formidable women who figured in this development of music- Jeannette Thurber, a patron who used her husband's money to set up both the Conservatory and an earlier opera company and Adele Margulies - a pianist who bridged the gaps between classical and popular music. And there are the many stories of unrequited love from Dvorak's first infatuation with his wife Anna's sister Josephine to Otylia, Dvorak's daughter who had to choose between the Old and New World. The book ended and I felt a little sad in leaving all the remarkable characters in the story. A very good read to start the New year.

>12 torontoc: Sounds like a great read, added to my list!

Good luck with your 2015 challenge toro. Happy New Year!

Thank you!

2. The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri This novel is certainly about alienation and destroyed relationships. Subhash and Udayan are brothers living in Calcutta in the 1960's. Udayan is the most passionate about politics and joins a revolutionary group-The Naxilites. His brother, Subhash disapproves of his brother's actions and moves to the United States to continue his education. Udayan marries Gauri and continues his undercover activities,. A crisis occurs when Udayan is killed by the Indian police. Subhash comes home, and marries Gauri, in order to protect her and the unborn child of his brother. The relationship of Gaudi and Subhash and the child, Bela is examined in this story. The relationship of the two brothers is probably the warmest in the novel. I found the Gauri is portrayed as a very withdrawn person, perhaps crippled by her life in India. Her actions seem very coldhearted as she pursues her own education and life in the United States. There are revelations about Gauri as all the characters age and create new lives. I found this book to be well written but I thought that there was a " coldness" and withdrawn feeling in the writing and created characters.

3. Blood, Bones and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton.This book is a well written memoir, by the owner and chef at the New York City restaurant, Prune. Hamilton had a very unusual upbringing.She remembers being taught about food, taste and work ethic by her French mother. Her father built stage scenery in his own shop. Her parents divorced and left a young teenager on her own. Hamilton is very careful to give the reader an edited version of her life, emphasizing her food education and her work in the catering industry for many years. She also has a MFA in Fiction writing and her descriptions of food and what drives her is the main attraction of this book to me. Hamilton writes about both her strained marriage and the wonderful experiences in Italy with her husband's family. So the book is both revealing and hidden about features in her life at the same time. A good read for those interested in food and taste.

Oo I've been wondering about that one .. sounds very interesting! Perhaps another TBR add..... (sigh ;))

4. a reread for my book club

Your Sad Eyes and Unforgettable Mouth by Edeet Ravel. I try to follow all of this author's works- her themes are very interesting. I read this book a few years ago and had to refresh my memory for my book club meeting next week. Maya is the child of Holocaust survivors as are her close friends Rosie, Tony and Patrick. The lives of the children are definitely impacted by the histories of their parents. I liked the book when I first read it and the reread reemphasized the trials of the parents.

5. Reading Pictures A History of Love and Hate by Alberto Manguel Manguel has selected twelve artists and architects and one of each of their works to talk about in this very good book. The discussions cover philosophy, politics, personalities and more as he deciphers the meaning and importance of each composition. I did like his take on Peter Eisenman's Holocaust Remembrance structure in Berlin- he hated it and I liked it. Manguel's subtitles give away some of his thoughts- The Image as Story, The Image as Witness The Image as Violence to name a few. I found that Manguel's ideas on these artworks were thought provoking and gave me another reason to view these art pieces.

6. The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer. I finally finished this novel last night. I had started it two years ago and put it down after finishing the first half of the story. I found the pace and writing style " slow". Last year I picked up the book again for one reason. A member of my book club said that she found the novel difficult for read because it was similar to the story of her in-laws and how they survived in Hungary during World War Two. This statement made me curious and I resolved to finish the book. The story follows the history of a young Hungarian Jewish man, Andras Levi and his life as he studies for his architecture degree in Paris in 1937. He struggles with balancing work and studies and meets with Klara Morgenstern, a young woman with secrets of her own relationships. Andras, his friends' and brothers' lives are related in great detail in the first half of the book. The complicated story of Klara and her family and why she is in Paris make this first part of the story more of a saga that moves very slowly. The second half of the novel takes place mainly in Budapest. Andras has to leave Paris because of the political situation. He and Klara marry and take up residence in Hungary where the war in Europe changes lives for Hungarian Jews. Orringer writes about the labour groups that Jews have to join- these companies are to support the Hungarian Army. The details of the work , anti-Semitism, and survival take the reader through the changing politics of Hungary as an ally of Germany and later a puppet state controlled by the Nazis. The writing seems more authentic as the author describes the horrors of the work and conditions of the labor camps. I found the ending touching as the fate of Andras's family and friends is revealed. In fact, I am glad that I did return to this novel.

>5 majkia:, what did Manguel have to say about Eisenman? When we went to Berlin, I found the structure intriguing and rather thought-provoking - but my husband just absolutely hated it. I'd be intrigued as to why Manguel hates it to compare :)

I'll have to go back to the book- he was not impressed! ( I was when I saw the monument or really area of remembrance)

7.Imagining Toronto by Amy Lavender Harris. The author has written a really interesting account of the literature ( essays, fiction, poetry and articles) that feature the city of Toronto. This book not only identifies the neighbourhoods that play an important role in specific books. Amy Lavender Harris thoroughly examines early history and major themes of multiculturalism and diversity, sexuality and the specific urban geography. I learned about many authors and their works that I would not have associated with Toronto. I loved the use of language in this book and am glad that I read it.

So nice to find a book that both has great language & is interesting and entertaining!
Congrats on all of your ROOTs!

Thank you!

8. My October by Claire Holden Rothman Rothman writes about a dysfunctional family living in Montreal in the early 2000's. The father , Luc Levesque is a famous Quebec writer who has separatist views and a big following in literary circles. His wife, Hannah expertly translates his books into English and has won awards for doing so. Hannah comes from an Anglo background but has embraced her husband's culture. She has had little contact with her parents in Toronto.Their son, Hugo, is a fourteen year old who is alienated from his parents and in trouble at school. Luc and Hannah have little personal communication as they try to help their son. Hugo discovers his grandfather's background as a prosecutor after the 1967 October crisis in Quebec. The family crisis does eventually get settled at the conclusion of the novel. I found that the extremes of behaviour on the part of the main characters and the changes that occur, happens a little too fast. The tensions set up throughout the story did draw me into the drama.This is a very interesting book.

9. I Always Loved You by Robin Oliveira I read this novel about four Impressionist painters for my book club. I do think that the author " invented" some of the relationships as real evidence doesn't not seem to exist. Did Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt become lovers as well as friends? Was there a love story with Edouard Manet and his sister-in-law Berthe Morisot? The story is mainly about Mary Cassatt. The information about her family and their lives in Paris seems faithful to the facts. I did find the prose to be overly dramatic at times. I began to think about historical fiction and how the author might change or alter facts in order to create a story. One example is the treatment of Thomas More- a saint in A Man for All Seasons and not so admirable in Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall. But there is still a question-how much leeway can an author take and still be faithful to the person in question? The material about the tensions surrounding the Impressionist shows was interesting. I found the love plots to be a little overdone

10. A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor The author is the director of the British Museum and this book is a record of a series of broadcasts on BBC. I found the choices from the British Museum's collections interesting although I noticed that there were none from the "northern" North American continent ( i.e. Canada - o.k. I am Canadian and took an interest in seeing whether there were any notable artifacts). MacGregor covers not only major civilizations but also world religions as well. Each chapter has a photo of the objects and some comments by the author and selected experts. It is an interesting book not only for the scope of the collection but also for the choices made.

>26 torontoc: I remember the actual radio series, it was absolutely fascinating. I'd like to get hold of the book - he made them come alive even though we couldn't actually see the object, so reading his words along with a picture would be even better, I would think.

The photos in the book are wonderful-

11. Transit by Anna Seghers I did like this novel but sometimes felt as if I was in a Kafka-esque place. A young man has escaped from a German and later a French concentration camp in the early days of World War Two. He reaches Paris and is asked by an acquaintance to leave a letter at a Paris hotel. The young man, calling himself Seidler, finds out that the recipient of the letter, the writer Weidel, has committed suicide. Seidler, takes the writer's papers and belongings and makes his way to Marseille. The city is filled with refugees trying to get out of France. Here, the author , who apparently was able to escape to Mexico herself. uses the narrative to show how impossible the barriers were to the refugees. ( a timely read considering what is happening in the Mediterranean now) People needed an exit visa, a transit visa and a ticket on a ship. Complicating matters were the other papers needed and correct timing for all these documents. Seidler uses Weidel's papers and support to get a ticket to leave although he really did not want to leave the country. In fact his nonchalant attitude towards the situation contrasts with the desperation of others who were trying to leave. Seidler actually revives the hopes of Weidel's wife who appears in Marseille and hears about her husband's attempts to leave although she never sees him. Marie has a complicated history with her husband and really wants to leave with a doctor who helped leave Paris. Seidler meets all these people as he alternatively helps and sabotages the escapes of other refugees. A very interesting novel concerned with escape and exile.

>29 torontoc: sounds interesting... I like Kafka'esque ;)

Congrats on your progress!

<29, sounds very interesting! This is going on my TBR list! Great progress!

12. Honeydew by Edith Pearlman It is such a pleasure to read finely crafted short stories. I think that I am more aware of the right word and phrase when I read short stories. I found out about this author thanks to LT readers-thank you! The stories for the most part take place near or in a small town in Massachusetts. The characters are quirky or put into unusual situations. I must read more of this author's work.

>32 torontoc: feels like a BB..... ;)

13. The Girl Who Was Saturday Night by Heather O"Neill. This book was shortlisted for the Giller Prize and I understand why. O'Neill is a great storyteller. She has created nineteen year old twins, Nicolas and Nouschka Trembly who live in Montreal with their grandfather, Loulou. Their father, Etienne, was a famous Quebecois singer who had his children perform with him when they were young. He was now out of the picture , having been to prison three times. The mother had abandoned the twins when they were born. Narrated by Nouschka, the lives of the twins and their friends are incredibly dysfunctional. In fact, although Nouschka seems to be the one one in the family who has a sense of planning for the future, she will go along with the bizarre plans of her brother. The story takes plan during the time of the second referendum on Quebec independence. Nouschka and her family represent the French Canadians who see themselves as having the chance to assert their differences from the rest of Canada. Beautifully written, the story has both tragedy and hope. An excellent read.

14. The Rise & Fall of Great Powers by Tom Rachman. This is a very accomplished piece of writing. The story of Tooly Zylberberg is told in three time periods- 1988, 1999 and 2011. In a way the reader is looking not at Tooly's future but at deciphering her past. Tooly in the present owns a bookstore in an isolated part of Wales. She is called to New York as her father, Humphey is dying. However , Humphrey is not her real father although they travelled throughout the world when she was growing up. Tooly was raised by tricksters and a trio of mysterious characters. In each time period the reader wonders how she became the wanderer. Tooly believes that her childhood was an adventure although as the reader finds ( spoiler) out that Tooly's assumptions about her life are false. Great characters and comments about society of the beginning of the 21st century. I did find the " reveal" a little disappointing.

Almost halfway there!

15. A Complicated Marriage My Life with Clement Greenberg by Janice Van Horne Janice Van Horne was an inexperienced young woman who had just come to New York City in the 1950's. She met the older and famous art essayist Clement Greenberg and they married. This memoir really tells the story of Janice as she recounts her own growth. The story of Clement Greenberg is not really told as Janice was not part of the conversations in art. She did meet famous artists who were part of the American Expressionist group and provides several chapters with stories of their social involvement. The marriage of Clement and Janice was an " open" one so they each had lovers although Clement always considered their marriage important- even when Janice moved out and lived on the West coast with her boyfriend and later divorced. Janice Van Horne became an actress and a writer. These accomplishments are detailed in the book- the reader only learns that Clement Greenberg was writing his books. I found some of this memoir really interesting -especially in the material on Jackson Pollock and his wife Lee. I wish that there was more on the actual work of Clement Greenberg.

Halfway! Congrats!!

16. Scattered Among The Peoples The Jewish Diaspora in Ten Portraits by Allan Levine This history was written as a series of biographies of key people in Jewish history. Each person is from a specific city. The author does use this format to give the reader a sense of other key personalities as well. So we follow the Abravanel family from Spain and Portugal to Italy and then Constantinople. I found the early chapters on the histories in Spain, Italy, and Turkey to be very informative. The style of writing is strait forward and I would give this book to a young adult as the stories are easy to follow. The histories are about cities as well- the story of the Jewish community in Vilna is particularly heartbreaking as Levine outlines the destruction of this vibrant secular culture.

>39 torontoc: is a BB I can't dodge!

Halfway! Yes, good work.

17. Longbourn by Jo Baker- This is reread for my book club. One of our members will be comparing this book to Pride and Prejudice- I still think that the story is compelling and really gives the reader a view of "below stairs' and the plight of the servants. Baker has imagined some very interesting situations that could have taken place in a remote country house. Her description of the chores -the cleaning and above all the laundry- is very realistic. I think that the story of the servants, Sarah and James works within the confines of the Pride and Prejudice plot.

>42 torontoc: that is one of my TBR books, I hope that the Jar of Fate (when I start using that system) pulls it out earlier rather than later! I also agree that the Allan Levine book sounds fascinating, there's yet another to go onto the wish list!

Longbourn is in my opinion the best of the takes on the Pride and Prejudice -what happens later stories. I did read Death Comes to Pemberley and didn't like it- although I really liked the TV adaptation on PBS!

18. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. This is a reread for my book club- I still reread this after I read a really bad book- it restores my faith in writing

Glad you enjoyed it...Austen is not my cup o tea.

>42 torontoc: >43 Jackie_K: also one of mine... Glad to hear that on your re-read, it still held up!

19. Paris 1919 by Margaret MacMillan I thoroughly enjoyed reading this blow by blow account of the negotiations and politics behind the creation of the treaty that ended the first world war. MacMillan charts the attitudes of the major powers- France, Britain and the United States- as their leaders worked towards what they thought was a just peace. The U.S. president,Woodrow Wilson brought to the table his Fourteen Points- a document that was meant to create a better world for all nations and establish a League of Nations. How the various powers compromised and changed boundaries of countries and indeed established new ones makes for great reading. Some of the decisions would have repercussions for later events. MacMillan also shows what really happened to the enforcement of the treaty. This was a very evenhanded analysis of the events and forces that led to the final document. A must read for those interested in the history of the 20th century.

20. Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie I stopped reading this book a few months ago- I found that I didn't like the plot after the first section ( although I really liked the story of Hiroko and her life in Nagasaki. ) I picked up the book today and continued to read about Hiroko's life with her husband in Pakistan and later the story of her son Raza. I did find the conclusion somewhat melodramatic. That's all I don't want to write any more - I think that some readers here have liked this novel.

21. The Boat by Nam Le.The author has written a number of powerful short stories. They are all very different- from a harrowing account of a teenager's time aboard a boat fleeing Vietnam to a confused women visiting her friend in Iran. Nam Le does use a technique in some of the work that is very unsettling- the plot reaches a point at the end of the story where there is no resolving of the given situation. The characters are left in an untenable position- the reader wonders where the story can go next. The makes the work strong but sometimes leaves the reader wondering.An interesting book to read. The author does not seem to have publish anything ( although I don't read periodicals) since 2008- hopefully this will change.

22. The Matter with Morris by David Bergen. Morris Schutt wrote a column that was printed in many newspapers and used his family as the source for many of his stories. In this novel, Morris is asked to take a brake from writing by his agent as his work has become too dark and personal. The reader learns that Morris's son Martin, a soldier in the Canadian army had been killed by friendly fire. Although as the narrator, Morris seems to be a rational man, he has separated from his wife and has taken all his money out of the bank and put it a safe in his condo. In addition, Lucille, Morris's wife found out that he had had a relationship of sorts ( all in writing) with a married woman from the United States. The story of how Morris tries to mend the relationship with his older daughter and later Lucille as well how he exhibits some trying and irrational behaviours is interesting. I think that the writing style is excellent . As the lead protagonist, Morris is not quite the unreliable narrator but gets dangerous close to becoming one. I did like the book but in comparison to his earlier novel, I liked that one better.

23. Maps and Legends Reading and Writing Along the Borderlands by Michael Chabon Chabon has written a group of essays on popular culture and a series of short memoirs on his influences and snippets of his life. He also gives the reader a sense of what led him to write some of his books. I really liked his writing in the chapter " Imaginary Homelands where his essay on the travel book "Say it in Yiddish" led to " The Yiddish Policemen's Union".Chabon covers history, his own life as a writer and appreciations of various writers and graphic novelists. A great read.

Good job!!

Yeah, way to go! 23 of 30 already!

Thanks- I did explore my TBR piles ( and found below)

24. Granta 66 Truth and Lies edited by Ian Jack. I used to read Granta before I discovered LT. Granta was more of a book than a magazine. I discovered new authors and upcoming books that I was interested in reading. But after a number of years I somehow lost interest in the publication. I was looking at my TBR piles ( some encased in big plastic bins ) and found this issue. I might have started it and put it down as some of the stories seems familiar. Bur rereading issue 66 ( from 1999) showed me how wonderful I found this magazine of new writing. I read chapters from books by Jayne Anne Phillips, Claire Messud and Javier Marias. The lead story by Elena Lappin was about a man who may have falsified a Holocaust past. Fascinating reading

>55 torontoc: so... short stories? sounds interesting

yes, as well as memoirs and reports and sometimes photography.

Last ROOT for July

25. The Way We Are by Margaret Visser. I loved the author's book Much Depends on Dinner and found this book in my oldest TBR pile( or bin). I was a little disappointed as the pieces were all very short. I know that they originated as columns for a magazine. Visser writes about the origins of the Easter Rabbit and Santa Claus as well as wedding cakes and the process of taking a shower. Her subjects are varied and I guess that I wanted more. Still, a very readable book that was published 20 years ago.

26. Tales for an Unknown City Stories from 1001 Friday Nights of Storytelling collected by Dan Yashinsky I was looking through my TBR pile and found this collection of stories told by a group of storytellers every Friday night in Toronto. They first met in a cafe in Kensington Market and moved to other places over the years-there is still a storytelling festival held every year in Toronto. The works are from different cultures from Canadian Aboriginal, Ukrainian, Jewish,American, German, Russian and Icelandic to name a few. Each storyteller relates the history of the story as well. A great book for very different stories.

>57 torontoc: interesting... I'd never heard of it :)

It is one of her earlier books.

27. Touch by Alexi Zentner I have had this novel in my TBR pile for a number of years. I am glad that I decided to read it. Zentner has given the reader a multi-generation story about a family that pioneered living and working in the far Canadian north in a fictional town named Sawgamet. The story depicts the hardships of surviving through killing snow storms that lasted for months, riding logs down a treacherous river to the sawmill, and the hazards of ice on that same river. The narrator is a minister,Stephen, newly arrived in Sawgamet. He will take over the job that has been held by his stepfather. The stories of Stephen's grandfather, his father and his own early life in the town are told with a reverence for the strength of this family and the tragedies that they faced. This is a really beautifully written novel.

You are almost there, Yeahhhhh!

3 more ROOTs!! :D

28. The Confabulist by Steven Galloway Galloway had written The Cellist of Sarajevo a few years ago. I found this current book to be not as engrossing. In fact, it took a while to get into the story- I found the first few chapter somewhat confusing. The novel alternates between the stories of Harry Houdini and the man who set off the incident that killed him- Martin Strauss. We see Strauss at various points in his life as well as that of Houdini. There are elements of conspiracies with spiritualists, spies, false memories, hidden stories, and more., In fact, the main themes of debunking the world of spiritualism and the stories of Houdini's life are obscured by the escapes and plots of the government spies-both British and American. An interesting read for the subject matter.

29. Troubles by J.G. Farrell This novel is about the conflicts in Ireland just after the First World War. However the format is interesting as Farrell writes from the point of view of a man who has come back from the battlefields of the war. Major Brendan Archer goes to visit a woman who he thinks he is engaged to-Angela Spencer. Angela lives in a hotel that her father, Edmund, runs in Kilnalough , Ireland. The Majestic Hotle has seen better days- it is falling apart slowly having very few guests- mainly very old ladies who are there permanently. The story is very humorous- as the Major never sees Angela or seems to talk to her. He becomes involved with the many eccentric people who visit and live in the area. Edmund represents the Anglo- Irish who have strong ties to both the land and British rule.The stories of the hapless Major's encounters with women, and other characters contrast with the descriptions of the fighting and conflicts that happen in Ireland. Yet, with the humour of the antics of the inhabitants of the village and the guests at the Majestic, the narrative gives the reader a good sense of the problems of British rule in Ireland.

almost... almost...

30. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce This was a re-read for my book club- I appreciated the themes this read- still a lovely and touching story.

Yee-haw! Congrats!!

You have reached your goal! Congratulations!

Well done on reaching your goal!

Hurray congratulations! :)

wOot! Congrats!

Congratulations on reaching your goal!

Thank you!

31. The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva This is the last of my " summer reading"- spies and deception. In fact this plot was more convoluted than most of the Silva novels. It is an earlier book in the series about restorer and master spy Gabriel Allon. In fact I had stopped reading it a month ago and decided that today was a good time to finish and pass the book on.( I give books that I won't read again to a number of sources)

32. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante Count me as one of the readers entranced by the first book by Ferrante in a four part series. The story of two friends-Elena and Lila- is set in a very poor neighbourhood of Naples and begins in the 1950's. Elena and her friend Lila negotiate the complex relationship of their family and friends. There are feuds and fights with the families and their children in their part of Naples. One interesting theme that runs through the book is the complete insularity of this very tight knit group of storekeepers. Lila doesn't know what high school is or the recent history of Italian Fascists. Elena learns that she should be reading newspapers to find out what is happening around her. The reader follows Elena and her complete fascination with her childhood friend Lila. Elena considers Lila to be the brilliant friend and constantly measures her own considerable success in learning against her friend's accomplishments. Elena is lucky enough to be kept in school and go on to high school. She is supported by her teachers. Lila has to leave school before middle school but she has the amazing ability to learn on her own. Elena's insecurity is compared to the worth of Lila as she achieves what the neighbourhood considers to be success. I hung on every word and can hardly wait to read the second book. Great reading!

Congrats, T!

Way to go!

Thank you!

33. The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England edited by Antonia Fraser This is a re-read of a good reference book on the lives of the Kings and Queens of England. There are some basic family trees that are helpful in sorting out who is related to whom. Also the capsule biographies serve to give an overview of the various families and especially in the early group, all the feuds. I read it because I was reading The Hollow Crown and wanted some more background information.

34. Mr. Mani by A.B. Yehoshua This is a reread for my book club. I found that the story- a series of five conversations working backward from 1983- 1848 about the Mani family- has so many layers to it. The interesting theme that was new to me was the idea that Yehoshua was creating a reverse on the biblical Abraham/Isaac sacrifice story. In this book the father seems to sacrifice for the son. I was still fascinated and enjoyed the reread. There are unreliable narrators and not very admirable main characters.

35. Women Without Men :a Novel of Modern Iran by Shahrnush Parsipur. This novel was translated by Kamran Talatoff and Jocelyn Sharlet with a very interesting afterward by Persis M. Karim on a brief history of the revolution in Iran in the last half century. The author was imprisoned for her writings and she now lives in the U.S. This brief story describe the lives of five women and how they come to live in a garden near Tehran. The author uses allegory to describe how the women lived previously and how they changed their lives. Parsipur writes about topics that the government in Iran didn't want anyone to talk about- virginity, sexuality,and the role of women and their subservience to men. The brief histories remind me of some of Italo Calvino's work- a woman turns herself into a tree, and a another woman dies and revives herself twice. I liked the historical background and biography of the author that was part of the afterward.

36. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe This slim book is really fascinating as the author tells the story of one man- Okonkwo- and his family and their life in an Ibo village just before contact with white men. The reader learns of the customs and religion as well as daily life in a small village. Achebe works in most rituals in the times of birth, marriage and death in this story. Tragedy occurs when missionaries build a church in one of these villages. The life of Okonkwo mirrors the events that would affect most of the African people who lived in this area. This novel is both dramatically and historically interesting to me.

I saw a very smart movie yesterday that I recommend highly
The Big Short- it really explains some of the financial corruption regarding mortgages ( I know- is this a topic for a film?) a few years ago in the US.

37. Behind the Beautiful Forevers Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo The journalist/ author writes about the lives of a group of people living in a slum just near the airport in Mumbai. Boo details the lives of a number of families involved in processing garbage for resale, and the incredible ( to my eyes) corruption in the political and municipal systems in India. One family is targeted by another and there is a murder charge and subsequent trial. There are a number of unsolved murders and suicides as well. The details of life in this slum are horrifying. The wholesale mismanagement of funds for development so that too much money lands in the hands of politicians and developers is astounding. A very thoughtful study of the underclass in India society and their struggles.

38. Granta 84 Over There: How America Sees the World. I have said the following too many times - but here I go again. I used to read Granta all the time. The book or magazine that is published about four times a year was my introduction to new authors and great themes. I read this issue from my TBR pile and was disappointed. Although the issue was published in 2003- it did not stand up to the "test of time". Various authors wrote brief pieces on their experiences as American in other countries.This was the time of the Iraq war and there was a lot of debate on the US position in the world. The fiction was not to my liking. The best pieces in my opinion were written by Gary Shteyngart and by Paul Theroux. I don't look to this magazine for new writing any more. And my used book store won't take any of these issues as no one will buy them any more. Sad.

>82 torontoc: put on my wish list!

>81 torontoc: I was very impressed w/ that book! Pleasantly surprised too... as a "character study" of sorts, it's not generally my favorite type of book.... but I thought it was so well done!

Both books were good reads for me!

39. The Painted Kiss by Elizabeth Hickey You know, sometimes I read a book and then go to google to see what is true and what was made up. I know that historical fiction that follows the life of a famed artist will sometimes take liberties. Still, this novel about the relationship between Emilie Flogie and Gustave Klimt doesn't quite satisfy. I want more about her career as a dress designer and his work as an artist. There was too much about Emilie's youth and not enough about her life as a grownup. There were scenes with notable people that that Klimt and Flogie knew. I found what information there was in the story interesting but wanted more.

>87 torontoc: I know the feeling...
I generally consider the author successful if I want to know more about the subject matter... but not because the author left too many holes! More like, because it was so intriguing.... Bel Canto was an example :)

I have Bel Canto in my TBR pile- will have to get to it in 2016!
and my last book of 2015
40. The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville Grenville writes a beautiful story about a young lieutenant assigned to record a comet in Australia in 1788. He is assigned, as an astronomer to a company that is setting a colony in an isolated part of this new territory with a group of convicts. Daniel Rookie manages to convince his superior officer that he needs to live on a high spot overlooking the settlement so that he can record the stars. He finds that the native people visit and in particular , one young girl befriend him. He starts to learn their language. The treatment of the native people lead Daniel to realize that the values of the conquering the British army are not his. A very sensitive view of how the British settled in Australia.

>89 torontoc: hope you do! I'll look forward to your thoughts if you do :)