March 2011 - what are you reading?

Oh! I begun this thread and all of a sudden it disappered on me!

In the midst of The Good Man of Nanking :The Diaries of John Rabeby John Rabe. Fascinating piece of history!

I picked up a new book - which is up next to read - Canadian author debut - Bride of New France by Suzanne Desrochers. Historical fiction , that takes place in the 17th centuary , about how arranged marriages carry unfortunate young ladies from Paris to what is now Montreal. Looks to be very interesting!

I have a bunch of books going right now (too many), but the Canadian ones are a short story collection,The Devil You Know, by BC writer Jenn Farrell, and a small book on poetry, Morning in the Burned House, by Margaret Atwood.

I am most of the way through Anne of Green Gables and then am going to start The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields as a group read in the 11 in 11 group.

I recently finished The Maquinna Line: A Family Saga by Norma Macmillan. I loved this one. It's, IMO, a great historical fiction period piece set on Vancouver Island (1910-1945). I posted a review on the book page.

Next up will be two books on the go at once, a rarity for me. One is Limassol by Yishai Sarid - the touchstones are not cooperating with this one - and the other one is The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields for a group read.

I'm reading Evening Snow Will Bring Such Peace by David Adams Richards as a Canadian Read. Also reading Tipperary by Frank Delaney.

You will have to let me know how you like Evening Snow will Bring Such Peace. I read it last year and enjoyed it once I was able to keep the names straight :P

When is the last time you finished a book and then immediately looked up the author's e-mail address and sent her a message? I have to admit, I've done that once before, but it's not a common occurrence around here. But I did just that after reading the last page of The Devil You Know, by Jenn Farrell (no touchstone available!).

This is a slim collection (126 p) of 9 short stories. In their review,The Georgia Straight called Farrell a "bad-ass version of Alice Munro" ( http://www.straight.com/article-339856/vancouver/devil-you-know-jenn-farrell), and I can see the comparison. While I appreciate Munro, I'm not actually a huge fan--I find her characters and situations rather unsavory. And Farrell has Munro beat on "unsavory"! Yet, I found her stories engrossing and compelling, and terrifically real. Lots of sex and drinking and ambiguous morality, which I often find quite boring in fiction, but Farrell just handles it so well. I don't want to say too much more, because I'll be writing about this book for an upcoming issue of www.Belletrista.com, but even if you aren't a fan of short stories, I encourage readers to support this new Canadian writer and get her book.

And since I'm talking to a roomful of Canadians here, I just want to mention the two page story, "Pen Pal." This is the only piece from a male viewpoint, and this particular male has the hots for the someone who is unnamed, but is indisputably Kelly Ellard. Eew and ick! Talk about unsavory! This is just one of the examples of writing that made me think: "where does Jenn Farrell get this from?" She seems like a nice person, but her mind obviously goes some very dark places!

Anyway, recommended, but not for everyone.

Earlier today I finished The Good Man of Nanking. It was a non fiction diary written by a German National, who lived in China from 1910 til the late 1930's. He was a member of Hitler's Party -but because of his many years living in Nanking , China - he is totallly out of touch with who and what Hitler was. He feels it is his duty to stay on in Nanking China to protect the city that he has lived in to so long, even when the Japanese soldiers roll into China. He houses up to 650 people or more and saves many lives. The so called Rape of Nanking was a pretty gruesome time. John Rabe eventually has to return to Germany -and you can imagine his surpries and horror to find out what Hitler has stood for ahd has been doing in Europe.

Anyway, I've now started a new book written by a Canadian author, and it is her debut novel.
Touchstones do not seem appear to be working, but the title is Bride of New France by Suzanne Desrochers. It's an historical novel that takes place in the late 1600's . The protaganist has been kept in a dormitory in Paris for the poor, insane, etc - and her only way out of the situation is to agree to an arranged marriage to unknown man in Ville Marie, now known as Montreal. It seems like a promising read.

Bride of New France and Evening Snow will Bring Such Peace sound good!

I finished Limassol by Yishai Sarid earlier today. Overall, not a bad story but I would have to say it is more geared towards readers that want an introspective sleeper of an espionage story and not a fast action thriller. I posted a review, of sorts, on the book page here: http://www.librarything.com/work/10720058/reviews/70756590

Next up is Left Neglected by Lisa Genova along with The Stone Diaries for an 11 in 11 group read.

You lot are going to have me reading The Stone Diaries before I know it - simply due to peer pressure! :)

I am reading an early reviewer, Invisible River by Helena McEwen. Somewhat of a disappointment so far.

Deb -- have you read Carol Shields? I went on a huge Carol Shields kick around 9 years ago and read almost everything of hers. But I haven't read The Stone Diaries either, and I've had a copy forever. One of these days . . . I'd join the group read but I have a lot of review books to get through first.

10: Oh do join us reading The Stone Diaries, we would love to have you! :)

I'm currently reading Zero Gravity, another collection of short stories by a Canadian author (Sharon English).

I just finished Bride of New France by Suzanne Desrocher's. Several people have asked me to let me know what I thought of the book - so I will have to think that over -but I will say I would give it 4 stars and as I read it within a about a day of starting the book - you can tell that I ripped eagerly through the pages!

>15 vancouverdeb: - 4 stars and a page turner.... it sounds promising!

I still have not come up with a proper review of Bride of France - but here I can tell you it's a gorgeous, beautiful read!!! I have not read such a wonderful book in a while. It begins in the dormitories of the Salpetrie Hospital - Paris France - where our young protagnist lives in one of many dormitories filled with women who are insane, handicapped, prostitutes, or poor orphans - which is what Laure, the protaganist is. The life there is one of a starvation diet, ritual, catholicism, and basically imprisonment. Laure is a strong spirited young teen and gets herself into trouble. From there she is banished to go by ship to Ville - Marie - now Montreal , in the 1660's. The portion of the situation in Paris is intriguing in itself! Then she boards the boat across the Atlantic -and that's another story in itself. From there she travels with the group into Ville -Marie -and she and the other women are essentially property. They are shipped to what is now Montreal and French Canada for the purpose of being married off to rough, unpleasant stinking French men to bear children to increase the population in the area. Poor old Laure is married off to a short , pig faced man who is not attractive in the least - and lives in a tiny wooden hut with him. There is also much sorrow and death -but happily for me - the author does not dwell too heavily on that . Laure makes no friends and is more or less imprisoned in her tiny hut for the winter as her husband goes out to look for furs over the winter. Laure takes up with an Iroquis man in secret. To say more would spoil the novel.

Reading Suzanne Desrochers' afterwords , it's very clear that she has done a lot of research into her novel, and while her characters - which by the way - are wonderfully fleshed out - and while the book is fictional, it is based on historical fact.

I love how Desrocher's novel gave a real feel for the hard life in Ville de Marie, and the heartbreak of all of the things that Laure endures - but does not dwell on them such that one thinks - move along -which is often a criciticim of Can Lit on my part. The story is very accesible and readable and I very much hope it become more well read. It left me wanting more! This is the first history of French Canada that I have read -and now my interest in reading non -fiction history about the beginnings of French Canada is piqued!

Jospeph Boyden says on the book jacket - " Brides of New France is a gorgeous historical debut, in no small part because Suzanne Desrocher's superb imagination brings this period of Canada's story to vivid, vivid life" -and I would have to concur.

I'm so glad I took a chance and purchased the book! I'll be recommeding it to everyone I know!

Okay - just to get the review thing off my chest - it is essentially this -and here is the link - http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=vancouverdeb

I've just begun a new book- Look Me in the Eye:My Life with Asperger's by John Elder Robinson. Looks to be fascinating.

Bride of France goes on to the wishlist! Thanks.

My TBR list too - sounds great.

I just finished Cool Water by Dianne Warren which I absolutely loved. A wonderful reflection on life, with simple but well-developed characters that weave in and out of the story and a dash of heroism and exoticism to keep things interested. Brilliant.

I just finished Your Sad Eyes and Unforgettable Mouth by Edeet Ravel. Excellent story of the children of Holocaust survivors set in Montreal.

Hi all! I'm new, it's late, and I'm trying to figure out what I'm doing with creating a link to a book and loading a cover.

Last month, I read Where White Horses Gallop by Beatrice MacNeil. Fabulous! It joined my favourites list! I'm not from our maritimes, but I LOVE our maritime storytellers; they have a gift that is all their own.



Highly recommended!

Hey Lit Chick - your book looks wonderful!! Onto my wishlist!!! Welcome here! Please feel at home!

Ladies - I picked up a copy of the Stone Diaries by Carol Shields today. As soon as I finish my current book, I'm pretty sure I will read Stone Diaries. Thanks for peer pressure! :) It actually looks to be a good read.

Quickly bouncing through while I have my morning coffee and see some great reading going on! I loved both Cool Water and Your Sad Eyes and Unforgettable Mouth. Bride of France has gone on the TBR pile and Where White Horses Gallop looks interesting.

Welcome lit_chick!

Hi Deb - Great to see you joining us in reading The Stone Diaries! I haven't made much progress this week and am looking forward to really sinking into the book this evening.

Second the great to see you joining us! I am only about 100 pages in, but the language of the book is just lovely :)

Thank you for warm welcomes : ). The Stone Diaries now has a spot on the ever-expanding list which is my "to read."

I'm reading, and enjoying Good Boss, Bad Boss by Robert I. Sutton

I finished Look Me in the Eye : My Life with Aspberger's by John Elder Robinson. It's not by a Canadian author, but what a wonderful read! John Elder Robinson actually has very high functioning aspbergers, and he has quite story to tell of his life - it both humourous and sad. What also really enjoyed was reading a book by someone with aspbergers, and his insight into the condition - how he thinks in pictures, his logical thinking, his inability to look people in the eye, and his attempts to fit into regualar society. I was so intrigued I watched a bit of him on you - tube. It was hard to believe that man I saw on you -tube was the same adventourous, funny man as the fairly unemotional man that appeared briefly on you tube. Amazing!
4 Stars!.

I plan to read The Stone Diaries next, unless it proves to be too onerous. ;)

Touchstone angst. sorry!

Gasp!! Loving Stone Diaries so far! :)

I've started Invisible River by Helen McEwan which I received through the Early Reviewer Program. A slow start, but her description of colours is magnificent and keeps me going.

I finished The Stone Diaries this afternoon. I quite enjoyed this fictionalized account of the life of Daisy Goodwill.

Deb - Glad to hear you are enjoying The Stone Diaries as well! Feel free to join the spoiler discussion thread over on the 11 in 11 Challenge: http://www.librarything.com/topic/111837

Next up is Snowmen by Mark Sedore, the winner of the 32nd Annual International 3-Day Novel contest.

I just finished An Enchantment of Birds which was wonderful and have started What I meant to say: The private lives of men a so called 'Dropped Threads' about men. I have read about 5 of them so far and they are very varied but enjoyable.

Well, I finished The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields and very much enjoyed it! I was planning to give it 4.5 stars -but the ending was somehow disapointing to me. I'm not sure what I expected - but not the ending that it had. Other than that, it was a wonderful read -and truly, I give it 4.25 stars. Recommended! Still pondering my next read......

In between a bunch of other books, I'm almost finished the very short Good Bones and Simple Murders by Margaret Atwood, and finding it great fun! It's commonly described as short stories, but as an LT reviewer pointed out, they don't really have enough narrative to be stories. Whatever, the whole thing is delightful. One of the highlights is Gertrude's side of Hamlet, but there's lots of good stuff here, and several true laugh out loud moments.

@38 - Hi Deb - I agree. The ending of The Stone Diaries was not on par with the rest of the story. I am happy to see that you did enjoy it overall! I will probably pick up Larry's Party in time for Orange July here on LT as I understand it won the 1998 Orange Broadband prize for fiction, but I will be taking a short break from Shield's works until then. Other books are calling.....

As for my current reading, I finished Snowmen by Mark Sedore, winner of the 2009 International 3-Day Novel Contest, and posted a review on the book page here: http://www.librarything.com/work/11062286/reviews/71129971. Summary: Loved it!

I am now reading, and have to admit fighting my way through Steampunk Prime a collection of Victorian and Edwardian steampunk stories. I know these were written prior to the advent of rocket ships, atomic power, computers, etc but really, some of the stories are really, really bad, whether or not they are merely reflective of the known genre at the time.

#40 - I find steampunk so intriguing, but I'm still not sure. Can you recommend something? (I recently bought Boy With the Cuckoo Clock Heart and I'm looking forward to it, but not sure when I'll fit it in)

Hi Joyce - Steampunk is a genre I am delving into this year with my 11 in 11 Challenge. As a lover of murder mysteries set in the Victorian era, my steampunk favorites to-date have been New Amsterdam by Elizabeth Bear and The Iron Duke by Meljean Brooks. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld has great reviews and I will be reading it next month - good grief! April is coming up fast! - for a group read over in the 11 in 11 Challenge. I am sure I will have more recommendations as the year progresses.......

Boy With the Cuckoo Clock Heart looks fascinating! Adding it to my list.

I'm reading Pursuasion by Jane Austen. It's almost part of the Stephen Harper Challenge - I chose it instead of the unfinished The Watsons as I already had it in a Jane Austen compendium. Seems okay so far - typical Jane Austen story.

I am still currently reading The Stone Diaries! Some teaching came up (yay!) so I am reading even slower than usual. :P I am enjoying the language very much. I will have to see what I think of the ending.

I'm reading The Value of Nothing by Raj Patel for a book club.

Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell is a MUST read.

It is a moving, powerful story about life on the prairies during the thirties. I could not put it down....it is depressing at times but very insightful. Being a child of immigrant parents I TOTALLY related to this story. READ it!

I am really enjoying the biography of Canadian poet Gwendolyn MacEwen by Rosemary Sullivan.
Shadow Maker the Life of Gwendolyn MacEwen

I enjoyed Under this Unbroken Sky too. It was a very powerful story.

I started Under this Unbroken Sky but lost interest (but, to be honest, I was reading it at the doctor's office and it was noisy). I guess I should try again?

I found Under this Unbroken Sky to be a very powerful, compelling read -but I have to say @49, I find it did so depressing that I did find it a slog at times . So - I do understand how you feel.

I'm nearly finished The Bookshop - about 10of pages to go -and then - as usual - not quite decided on my next book. The Bookshop has been a pretty sluggish read - maybe it will get 3 stars. Penelope Fitzgerald is supposedly an award winning writer, but this small book - 130 pages -is proving to be quite dry.

Bouncing through to add my two thumbs up for Under this Unbroken Sky. Danielle, I found it to be emotional story from a reader perspective - mine anyways - and I would recommend giving it another try. Once you get past the introduction to the characters and the setting it really became a page-turning spellbinding read!

..... but that is just my thoughts, you may not agree with me ;-)

I have abandoned Steampunk Prime at page 89 - after reading 4 of the vintage stories I just lost all interest. To get me back in the 'reading frame of mind' I have decided to pick up The Bohemian Girl, book two in the Victorian murder mystery series by Kenneth Cameron.

Just started on my next Icelandic Crime fiction - Hypothermia by Arnaldur Indriadason. It's my 5th in the series -and I understand that he has another in the series translated into English. I think it's called Outrage, but I'm not certain.

Allrighty... back on the list it goes!

I read The Bookshop by Fitzgerald not that long ago and I must say, I was bored, bored, bored by it. I was really hoping for another Charing Cross Rd type book but this wasn't it.

Picked up Atonement a couple of days ago and hope to finish it tonight. Very satisfying read; recommended!

I'm reading the The Silver Boat by Luanne Rice picked up as an Early Reviewer. This is my second "chick lit" book in a row and I'm a little tired of overwrought emotions (I think I'll go for a nice lean thriller after this).
I've also started Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella - I had tired a little of the series, but I'm back to loving it... Kinsella has an incredible style that just makes the dumbest situations hilarious!

LOL!! Cecilturtle!! I can't read chicklit either!!! Good on you!!!! Overwrought emotions!!! :) I know just what you mean!!!!

I'm reading Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda for a book club.

After my foray in 'chicklit', I'm reading The Death of Bunny Munro by punk rocker, Nick Cave - nice and raunchy after all the gushing. It reminds me a bit of Lullabies for little criminals with its dysfunctional adults and lost children.

I haven't read a lot of French lately, so I added Ces impossibles français by Louis-Bernard Robitaille, which should provide some humour, especially since I've just come home from a week in Paris.

@55 and 56 crack me up with "overwrought emotions" ... you ladies are coffee spillers!

Well, just finished my 5th book in the Dectective Erlendur Series - Hypothermia By Arnaldur Indriason. 4 stars! I really enjoy that Icelandic series! I'm just beginning After River by Donna Milner, as per many people's advice on LT. I loved her other book, The Promise of Rain so I expect to enjoy this book too.

Touchstone angst - it's not The Promise of Rain that it show with the touchstones -it's also by Donna Milner, and concerns the story of a Canadian soldier who goes to war in Hong Kong during WW2 and it's effect on his family.

Vancouver Deb: When you get the wrong book with the touchstone, click on "other" that comes up just below the book and you can change the selection to another with the same name.

Thanks Arcona! Believe me I've tried with The Promise of Rain but the touchstones sometimes seem to have a mind of their own!!! Thanks anyway! Maybe this time I'll strike it lucky.

Double post - but hey -arcona - this time I got the right book to match the title!:)

Thanks, Deb, for The Promise of Rain ... it's on the wishlist!

I’ve just finished Far to Go by Canadian author, Alison Pick.

Set in Czechoslovakia in the late 1930's, the story is told by Marta, the nanny in a small household. She observes the motivations behind the family’s decision to stay or leave as the alarm bells ring louder and louder.
The book is well crafted and a page turner.

Reminded me of recent read The Glass Room by Simon Mawer.

I loved Far to Go so I will have to check out The Glass Room. Thanks!

Oh thanks Danielle and Casaloma for that info on Far to Go by Alison Pick. I recently purchased it from amazon ca and it is sitting in my TBR pile. I'll move it up a notch!;) I'm still reading After River by Donna Milner, and very much enjoying it.

Far to Go looks good - hold placed at my local library. Thanks!

I recently finished The Bohemian Girl, book two in a Victorian murder mystery series by Kenneth Cameron. Loved the first book in the series, pretty much 'meh' about book two. Off to now browse the books I have on hand for something enticing, if that is possible ;-)

I just had to post this here. After my concern that Canadian books seldom catch on in other countries -well - the fabulous psychological thriller Still Missing by Chevy Stevens - a book which I read last summer and loved - well it's become an international bestseller. It's popular in the US, the UK, and is being translated into Dutch and German from what I can read. She has another book in the works - so if you like a psychological thriller - I can really say that Chevy Stevens - a Vancouver Island writer - does a great job!

Here is a link - http://www.chevystevens.com/news.htm

If you read the link - in fact the rights to translate to French, to Portugal, Norway etc - are all there.

Yay Canada! That's some nice positive news about Canadian authors :)

I quite enjoyed After River by Milner as well. I think I picked that up in a bargain bin somewhere and was most surprised to find out I liked it!

And on to the list Still Missing goes... it just never ends does it?

Ha! I was waiting on my library to open this morning; picked up the ONE copy of Still Missing which was checked in. It is widely requested.

Finished February last night. 4.5/5 Another beautiful read from our East Coast.

I'm reading an Early Reviewers book that took forever to get here...The Silver Boat by Luanne Rice

Hi, I'm baaack. Just catching up on posts and feeling very comfortable here. I'd like to add my recommendations for After River, Still Missing, and February also. CanLit is really great.
I just finished the latest Flavia de Luce mystery, A Red Herring Without Mustard. What a life of freedom that girl leads, no worries ever about school or parental supervision or rules...she can just sneak about any time of day solving crimes.

Well, I'm just starting a new author - Icelandic mystery - My Soul to Take by Yrsa Sigurdardottir. What luck! I had her on my wish list -and last time I was at the bookstore, they had the book on sale for $4.50!!!

My great great grandparents came to Canada from Iceland - but even so - my mom is stil pure Icelandic. My grandparents spoke Icelandic and got the Icelandic newspaper - so I have a particular attachment to the Icelandic writers. I am very accustomed to names of both the people and places because I am used to them.

Vancouverdeb: Thanks for the recommendation for the Sigurdardottir book. It's added to my TBR list - hope it's as good as the Indriason series. I too like Iceland - lived a few years in the Canadian Icelandic capital, Gimli, Manitoba, and had a few hours stopover in Reykjavik (sp?) last year that made me want to go for a visit.

Ooh, My Soul to Take sounds REALLY good. Added to the list. I love Indridason's work too.

Currently I'm on a bit of a Western kick, or rather one Western: True Grit. I saw the Coen Brothers remake earlier this year, LOVED it, saw the John Wayne version on TV a couple times, loved it too (for different reasons), and have just started the book and am loving it as well. Gush gush gush.

I am also reading London, by Edward Rutherfurd. I like his work a lot but for some reason I'm nitpicking at this one more. Maybe because I started this after finishing up the miniseries of Pillars of the Earth, and I did not have Pillars at hand. This was supposed to be a substitute. Still, I like it, but it probably won't be my most favourite (that's probably The Rebels of Ireland).

Devoured Still Missing and quite enjoyed. Back to some lit now for a bit ...

Listening to a LibriVox recording of Virginia Woolf's Night and Day which is very good. Also rereading Pride and Prejudice for the Austenathon.

don't have much time for reading these days, but when I do I've been meandering through the Bishop's Man, which was the Giller winner in 2009. It's a solid "meh" so far.

I finished The Stone Angel this month and really enjoyed it. There is a group reads thread in the 11 in 11 challenge for those interested. So many themes running through it, loneliness, authenticity, transience...

@ 79 - Janice, do you mean The Stone Diaries? I have to admit The Stone Angel looks interesting and appears to have a similar theme of following the life of one woman. Just like you to inadvertently add another book to my TBR pile....LOL ;-)

I'm reading, and enjoying, an Early Reviewers Book, The Good Daughter: A Memoir of my Mother's Hidden Life by Jasmin Darznik.

@78 - The Bishop's Man was a bit of slog, but I gave it 4 stars in the end -and I am not sure if enjoy is exactly the word I am looking for -but I felt I learned a lot from The Bishop's Man. Of course, your mileage may vary! :)

Ohhh I think I may have run across a gem of a book today. It's called the Beggar's Garden by Michael Christie. I'm only the second person so far on LT to have the book - so touchstones are not working. I've not read the book yet, but I looked for reviews on it , and posted them on LT. It's made up of short stories about living in poverty/ with mental illness etc on the Downtown Eastside. Heather O'Neill, Steven Galloway, Lee Henderson and Zoe Whittall all have good things to say about the book. I'm in the midst of my Icelandic mystery - but the minute I'm finished it - I'll read this next. It sounds fabulous to me.

@83 - I haven't had time to read Beggar's Garden yet, but I did a reading with Christie in the Eastside a few months back and he had some interesting stories to tell. Nice guy too. Looking forward to this one.

I just finished The Girl who Kicked the Hornets Nest last night. It was an audio book. There is something fun about reading with your eyes closed. That is until you fall asleep and have trouble figuring out where you are up to the next day.

I've started The Trade Mission by Canadian thriller writer, Andrew Pyper. This one was a bit of a surprise because Pyper usually sets his books in Ontario (he lives in Toronto), but this happens in the heart of the Brazilian jungle. It's grittier and less spooky than others that I have read by him, but it's definitely keeping me on the edge of my seat.

@85 LOL, exactly my experience with audiobooks! I'm new to the audio format, but I love it! Have been enjoying long walks and listening to Night and Day. And have been enjoying a chapter each night before sleep ... however, just last night I woke up with the reader still reading and I with no idea what she was reading about!

I just finished up Haunted by Kelley Armstrong - not my favourite of the series I have to say.

Hope to finish the Cost of Honor by the end of the month which I'm reading now.
Also reading Evening Class and thinking about starting The Scarlet Pimpernel and/or Fifth Business tonight.

For families coping with the burden of Alzheimer's, Canadian author, Caterina Edwards has written of her experience in Finding Rosa. Edwards included her mother's 'back-story' as an Italian child in Tito's Yugoslavia and her life as a war bride in England before moving to Calgary.

I am reading Kiss of the Fur Queen by Highway. I am liking it but it's a rather strange book.

I'm reading Goodness by Michael Redhill

@90 - Kiss of the Fur Queen gave me a lot of insight into the plight of the First Nations people, and I think it also helped that I know downtown Main Street in Winnipeg, because I lived there when I was young. But, yes , it is a bit strange. I so loved Sweetgrass and Motorcycles do consider that book!! I just loved it!!!Wrote a review for it..here, with 4 others. I tell you it is a fresh breath of air! - http://www.librarything.com/work/9334184

@75 - I've even been to the Gimli Icelandic yearly celebrations - where they crown the Maid of the Mist and eat rolled up cold pancakes, dried white fish - ugh - and other Icelandic delicacies! My grandparents were Icelandic, but born in Lundar MB and somewhere else in Manitoba. I'm sure my Icelandic background piques my interst in my Icelandic mysteries!;

@ peterderbyshire - thanks for the info! Once I get to reading the book - I'll try to post a review.

My Mom gave me Sing to me of Dreams by Kathryn Lynn Davis, which is surprisingly good.

92 - I got Sweetgrass and Motorcycles out of the library a few months ago but had to return it before I had a chance to even open it. It looked good so I have been meaning to check it out again. Maybe once exams are done on the 9th. Thanks for the recommendation!

I read it and enjoyed it. Seems very simple when you start it, plotting is simple, etc. but it is written in a very pleasant style, and the underlying premise is excellent. The further into it I read, the more I liked it and then suddenly found I was rooting for it for Canada Reads. I didn't expect it to win - it's not "literature" but it is a good read. I was thrilled that it won.

jfThing: Yes, I read it last year and loved it. If you're interested in it I hope you enjoy it. The only mistake I made was reading it on the bus because it prevented me from laughing out loud as I sometimes wanted to do! The sequel was also very enjoyable.

My current bus book is Bury Your Dead, by Louise Penny. Got it for Christmas and am liking it so far. The writing style feels a bit unusual to me in places, but I like the protagonist and the story itself is interesting. She also has a great way with atmosphere, especially when food is involved. On Monday, for example, this book gave me a wicked craving for almond croissants.

I've also gone back to The Defence of the Realm, by Christopher Andrew... it's a great huge book with small print so you really have to slog your way through it a chapter at a time. My co-worker and I are actually swapping it back and forth, one reading it for a month or two then the other getting a turn. I'm into the 70s now and it's quite fascinating.

I also enjoyed The Best Laid Plans, although it was a bit predictable. But funny!

Stick with Owen Meany...I think it's one of John Irving's best.

I'm reading a non-fiction book about seahorses called Poseidon's Steed by Helen Scales.

I loved A Prayer for Owen Meany too - I agree with LynnB that it's one of his best.

I've started Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson - what a charming, delightful read - I'm having a wonderful time!

@99 oh! I so loved Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - and I also very much enjoyed A Prayer for Owen Meany but it's been years since I read A Prayer for Owen Meany. Enjoy!

Just realized I haven't posted here in quite some time so here is the update (better late than never):

I finished A Dead Man's Memoir by Mikhail Bulgakov - I found it at my local library and thought it would be a good introduction to Bulgakov's works. I did enjoy this dark comedy but have to admit that if it hadn't been for the introduction, I would have missed a lot of the subtle references the story contains. Next up was an LTER book Building the Pauson House edited and introduced by Allan Wright Green. Loved this one and have posted my review on the book page.

As for my current reading: it is The Alchemy of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia, which started out as a bit of a sleeper but now, 3/4 through, has my full attention.

Cecilturtle -
I love Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - delightful and an excellent read.

A moving, unique, suspenseful, emotional novel..... The Room by Emma Donoghue. Please read it, I would love to know your thoughts and feelings on this one!

103 - I quite liked it. It was a very different topic for her and I think she handled it really well.