Laura (lindsacl)'s 2011 Reading Record - Episode 4

A group of sculptures depicting angels playing musical instruments, by Swedish artist Carl Milles.
They can be found at Kenyon College, where my daughter is a first-year student.




My 2011 Reading Resolutions

Previous 2011 threads:
Episode 1 * Episode 2 * Episode 3 *

Books completed ("details" jumps to location in this thread where review & links can be found)
77. The Land of Little Rain - details
76. The Crowded Street - details
75. Sweet Death, Kind Death - details
74. Started Early, Took My Dog - details
73. The Seduction of Mrs Pendlebury - details
72. We Have Always Lived in the Castle - details
71. Miss Hargreaves - details
70. I Shall Not Want - details
69. An Unsuitable Attachment - details
68. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - details
67. The Eyre Affair - details
66. A Book of Secrets: Illegitimate Daughters, Absent Fathers - details
65. The Sense of an Ending - details
64. All Quiet on the Western Front - details
63. Scottsboro - details
62. When We Were Bad - details
61. The Book and the Brotherhood - details
60. Hunt the Slipper - details
59. On Chesil Beach - details
58. Before you Suffocate Your Own Fool Self - details
57. The God Delusion - details
56. The Story of Forgetting - details
55. The Good Apprentice - details
54. Annabel - details
53. The Little Stranger - details
52. Two Days in Aragon - details
51. The Pearl - details
50. Tortilla Flat - details
49. The Bird Sisters - details
48. Crampton Hodnet - details
47. The Black Prince - details

47. The Black Prince ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: I'm working my way through all 5 of Murdoch's Booker-nominated works.

Bradley Pearson is a marginally successful author well past his professional prime, who fancies himself much more talented and good-looking than he is. At the beginning of the novel Bradley is preparing to leave on holiday, sure that a change of scene will inspire him to write his greatest work. But barriers arise in rapid succession, as he learns of his ex-wife's arrival in London, his friend Arnold Baffin calls asking for help resolving a quarrel with his wife Rachel, and his sister Priscilla breaks down after trouble with her husband. Bradley immediately falls into "fix-it" mode, but every act has consequences. Watching Bradley is like watching a row of dominoes fall. And then Bradley becomes positively delusional, falling head over heels for a much younger woman and being just arrogant enough to think the relationship will work.

Iris Murdoch's characterizations are brilliant. Bradley is a bumbling fool but doesn't know it. Rachel and Priscilla are women of a certain age, each with her own set of neuroses. Rachel and Arnold's relationship is typical of many long marriages, but Bradley fails to understand how two people are angry or frustrated with one another without fracturing the strong bond between them. I also love Murdoch's ability to describe the ordinary in such extraordinary ways:

The division of one day from the next must be one of the most profound peculiarities on this planet. It is, on the whole, a merciful arrangement. We are not condemned to sustained flights of being, but are constantly refreshed by little holidays from ourselves. We are intermittent creatures, always falling to little ends and rising to little new beginnings. Our soon-tired consciousness is meted out in chapters, and that the world will look quite different tomorrow is, both for our comfort and our discomfort, usually true. How marvellously too night matches sleep, sweet image of it, so neatly apportioned to our need. (p. 232)

The Black Prince has a very interesting structure. Bradley's story is written in the first person, as if he is telling it to the book's editor, who wrote a "foreword" to this book. A second foreword, written by Bradley, provides the reader with his personal history. After Bradley's story is complete, four important characters offer postscripts. These not only supply a denouement, they also shed entirely new light on everything that was written before. It turns out Bradley is one of the most unreliable narrators I've ever experienced. The plot twists at the end sent me off in search of earlier passages, to re-read in a new light. I'm still puzzling through the intricacies of this book, which is why Iris Murdoch is one of my favorite authors.

Hello to your new thread! Lovely to have a photo from Kenyon at the top as a link to your daughter too.

I haven't read any Murdoch for years. I like 'unreliable narrator' books though, so I should really try this one.

I am intrigued by this review, Laura. I have yet to read Murdoch, because I foundered on the first one I tried, a few years back. I believe it was Under the Net. Couldn't seem to
"get" the narrator's voice, as I recall. I must try another since she impresses you so much.

I have to say, it took a few books for me to "get" Murdoch. I'm not sure why I persisted, but I did, and now I really look forward to reading her books!

Those angels have been a source of much controversy on campus since they arrived, apparently. Some people love them, while others think they're atrocious. I always kinda liked them.

>6 scaifea:: put me in the "love" camp, Amber! I could have looked at them all day. My photo doesn't really do them justice.
I also took this one, where the lighting created an interesting shadow. This was totally accidental, I'm not a photographer!

Ah, you're making me a bit homesick for Gambier! Sigh.

Very nice review of The Black Prince, Laura. I have yet to read anything by Iris Murdoch; which of her novels is/are your favorite(s)?

I love the angel sculptures. We have a huge sculpture of a bear (the mascot) on the campus of Missouri State. I suppose he "fits" in, but it's not very artistically satisfying.

I'm waiting for your answer to Darryl's question because (Like Linda3) I haven't been able to break through he Murdoch barrier yet either.

Pinned a star on you!

>8 scaifea:: sorry Amber!

>4 laytonwoman3rd:, 9,10: Murdoch really clicked for me with A Severed Head (read my review). This was when I first noticed a theme in her novels:
Murdoch seems to enjoy giving the arrogant male his comeuppance, and playing with him as a cat plays with a mouse.

She does the same thing in The Black Prince.

Excellent review of The Black Prince Laura. I have The Sea, The Sea on my shelf and would like to get to it this year. Have you read that one?

Murdoch is one of those authors I keep meaning to get to . . .one of these days.

>13 brenzi:: yes I have, Bonnie! According to my LT ratings I liked it just slightly less than others I've read. But still liked it.

Thanks, Laura. I'll probably read The Sea, the Sea later this year.

Your review of The Black Prince made me want to rush over to my bookcase, where it's been languishing for years, grab it, and start reading! I don't know why it's taking me so long to get to since I loved The Sea, The Sea.

Hello all ... I appreciate the visits, as always
>17 arubabookwoman:: oh I hope you enjoy it!!

I also wanted to let everyone know that we have fared reasonably well during Hurricane Irene. LOTS of rain, but thankfully have found no damage yet. I think it's mostly past us now (we are 50 miles SW of Philadelphia).

However, we have had no power since 10pm and I can't even get through to the power company. So I am going to conserve my iPad power and go read.

I am glad to know that you and Chris are OK, Laura. I hope you get your power back soon!

You know those angels are also up in East Fairmount Park, along Kelly drive -- I used to run to them back when I was very fit! HERE

>20 sibylline:: oh my goodness, I had no idea! Thanks Lucy!

We are still without power, but power has been restored in homes near ours, so I am trying to be optimistic.

21: Sorry about the power outage. I hope no more than annoying. The power company doesn't have a method of conveying information to the public? Here in Lancaster, power must've gone out briefly overnight because I awoke to blinking clocks, but damage within my range of view was minimal, worst was broken branches on a maple tree across the street, but a city crew was attending to it by noon on Sunday, and a roaming truck was picking up the worst of the debris.

BTW, I began reading Unbroken over the weekend. I'm hooked, but appreciative of your review because I'll probably share your reservations. As of this morning, when I had to stop reading and get to work (you can see how well that's going...), they'd just reached land.

Glad to hear you've survived Irene fairly unscathed, but I hope you get your power back soon.

Our power came back at 9:45 last night, so we did without for nearly 24 hours. It was indeed annoying, but in the grand scheme of things, it could have been so much worse!

>22 qebo:: The power company doesn't have a method of conveying information to the public? Yes, there's an outage reporting/status system (phone and/or online) which has been useful in the past. But this time 1) I couldn't get through to report the outage by phone, 2) once I'd reported it online they didn't provide any useful status updates. Normally there's at least an estimated time to restore. But then they were dealing with an extreme situation.

qebo, I'm really looking forward to your thoughts on Unbroken.
Genny, thanks for thinking of me!

Great that you have power back Laura.

48. Crampton Hodnet ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: I was in desperate need of a light read.

Crampton Hodnet is a delightful comedy of manners set in Oxford's academic community. The plot is straightforward and in some ways predictable, but it's simply the backdrop for some memorable characters and situations that are laugh-out-loud funny.

The elderly spinster Miss Doggett and her paid companion, Miss Morrow, serve to connect all the characters. Miss Doggett's nephew, Francis Cleveland, is an Oxford don infatuated with Barbara, one of his students. As their relationship evolves, they are increasingly observed by others (except, of course, Francis' wife Margaret), and become the subject of village gossip. Miss Doggett wants so badly to be in control, both of the relationship and the way it is revealed to Margaret, and her controlling nature is very funny, indeed. As Miss Doggett meddles in everyone's affairs, Miss Morrow quietly and patiently observes, sharing her innermost thoughts only with the reader.

Meanwhile Miss Morrow has ideas of her own, as she unleashes her wiles on a new curate, Mr. Latimer. Miss Doggett does not approve:

They were still laughing when Miss Doggett came in. The sound of their laughter was the first thing that she heard before the shameful sight met her eyes: the sight of Miss Morrow -- painted like a harlot -- sitting laughing on the bed with a handsome clergyman whom she had just met for the first time, the new curate whose welcome Miss Doggett had planned so carefully. It was too bad. Miss Doggett cast about in her mind for words strong enough to describe Miss Morrow's perfidy and deceit, but could find none. (p. 24)

To fully appreciate this quote one has to conjure up an image of the biggest busybody you've ever seen, decked out in a ridiculous hat, bursting in on the mousey Miss Morrow and the unsuspecting curate. Crampton Hodnet is full such little moments, where words and imagination come together to marvelous effect. Like when the persnickety, effeminate Edward Killigrew reflects on living with his mother:

'Oh, Mother is very well, thank you,' said Edward. 'Full of beans, as usual,' he added, his tone losing a little of its joviality. He knew that it was wicked and unfilial of him, but he sometimes wished that Mother was not quite so full of beans. (p. 74)

Or this, as Latimer prepares to go on holiday with another clergyman:

His friend, the Reverend Theodore James, was rather too serious a companion for a holiday. He couldn't think now why he had suggested that he should join him. It wasn't as if they had ever liked each other. Still, it was too late to do anything about it now, and at least they would be able to have a good talk about old times, rejoicing over those of their contemporaries who had not fulfilled their early promise and belittling those who had. (p. 158)

My only complaint about this book is that I would have liked for Margaret to show a bit more emotion -- anger, even -- at Francis' indiscretions. But Pym wasn't trying to make a statement; his infidelity was simply a mechanism to unleash a variety of characters and put them in awkward or humorous situations for the reader's enjoyment. And enjoy it, I did!

#26: I have not yet gotten to that one by Pym. Thanks for the reminder, Laura!

I am glad to hear that your power has been restored.

I have got to get to Pym....soon. I have two of hers on my shelf The Sweet Dove Died and Jane and Prudence so that's where I'll start but you certainly make a good case for Crampton Hodnett.

I can appreciate your situation w/o power Laura. A few years ago, during a March windstorm, we lost power and it wasn't restored for three days. Our marriage almost didn't survive that test. Shortly after that, we bought a whole-house generator.

Glad you didn't have to wait any longer for your power to come back, Laura. There are still homes within a relatively short distance of us who don't expect to be restored until some time tomorrow. We just can't believe that ours never went out for more than a split second during all this. I think perhaps when supplies have been restored, we might be shopping for a small generator too. Whole house probably isn't in the picture, but being able to run the water pump, microwave and a few lights would certainly make such an outage more bearable.

Crampton Hodnet---yes, I think it's time for me to read more Pym. That one could be up soon.

I'm glad you have your power back, Laura and that things have calmed down in general.

Crampton Hodnet sounds wonderful but of course, Barbara Pym is wonderful!

I don't have a copy but am waiting eagerly for the Virago re-issue which is due (in the UK anyway) next year.

Bonnie, I recommend Jane and Prudence to start with as you have it on your shelf. It was my introduction to Pym and made me a fan!

Hello Stasia, Bonnie, Linda and Dee! Thanks for stopping by today.

I do wonder whether we should shop for a small generator. We tend to lose power during blizzards too. The first few years in this house brought few weather events but the past couple of years have been different.

I think I need to buy those Virago Pym editions. I don't own a single Virago Pym, in any incarnation.

Bonnie, I started with Excellent Women and really enjoyed it. But then I've enjoyed all the ones I've read.

Morning Laura, you've reminded me I really must read more Pym too!

49. The Bird Sisters ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: I recently received it as a gift.

Now in their 70s, Milly and Twiss live in their family home, on a gravel road near the small town of Spring Green, Wisconsin. They are known for miles around as the "bird sisters," for their ability to treat and rehabilitate injured birds, but fewer and fewer people visit them these days. Their days are filled with light chores, walks through the meadow, and sometimes, for Milly, a bit of baking. Mostly they reflect back on lives well lived, but touched by significant events when Milly was 16 and Twiss, 14.

Their parents' relationship was already strained when their father had a car accident that prevented him from returning to his job as the local golf pro. Robbed of the one thing that gave him pride and a sense of identity, he isolated himself in the barn, eating meals left for him by one of the girls. Their mother came from a wealthy family, but left those comforts behind when she married. Filled with bitterness, she was unable to comfort her husband. Enter 18-year-old cousin Bett, who comes to stay for the summer, allegedly to improve her health. Her visit leaves an indelible mark on the family and even touches the surrounding community.

The central conflict in this debut novel was easy to predict, and there were some plot elements which seemed superfluous, especially the story of a local priest. The book moves fluidly between present and past, which can be confusing at times. The novel succeeds because of Milly and Twiss, richly-developed characters who are always front and center. Milly was considered a beauty in her youth, and gained local recognition for her creative cakes. Twiss was a rebel, fiercely devoted to Milly and her father, but not at all to her mother. Their father, mother, and Bett stand just slightly in the background, very influential but somewhat less tangible. I would have liked to know more about these characters: what were the father and mother like in their early years? How did the father get started with golf, and how did it come to be his life force? And what about Bett's health issues? I also hoped to read more about Twiss and Milly's bird rescue efforts. I realize my interest is greater from having been a bird rescue volunteer, but the title implies this will be given more emphasis than it was.

Despite the novel's flaws, I really enjoyed this book. I found myself caught up in the domestic drama, and moved by the relationship between the aging sisters. Rebecca Rasmussen made effective use of foreshadowing, and even so there were some particularly fine "aha moments." The final chapters tugged at my heartstrings, and I was sad to say good-bye to Milly and Twiss.

Nice review, Laura. I recently picked up a copy of The Bird Sisters at a secondhand bookstore - the lovely cover caught my eye!

#33: The Bird Sisters has been on my radar for a while now. Thanks for the reminder that I need to get to it!

I hadn't heard of The Bird Sisters or Rebecca Rasmussen before but I like the sound of it. According to Amazon, it isn't out in the UK until November.

I want to know how Brenzi did that green thumb on your last thread!

tiffin - if you go to a thumbed review - right click on the image and copy the image address and then insert it in the normal image code

{img src="http://static.librarything.com/pics/voteup-y.gif"}

replacing the curly brackets with the pointy brackets so you get

Isn't that clever?!

Thanks, calm...and yes it is clever!

50. Tortilla Flat (did not finish)
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: Some time ago, in a fit of Steinbeck-related enthusiasm, I stumbled upon two of his shorter works in a used book sale. Having loved The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden, I thought, why not? They're cheap! I'll read them right away! Three years later ... well, you know how it goes.

Tortilla Flat is an impoverished area near Monterey, California, inhabited by ne'er-do-wells described on the back cover of my edition as "a colorful gang whose revels recall the exploits of King Arthur's knights ... gutsy denizens ... curiously childlike natives." The group's leader is Danny, a man whose social status is instantly raised when he inherits his family property. The rest of the gang moves in, expressing intent to pay rent but never actually doing so. The group increases in size, and each day their sole aim is to find a way to get one or more gallons of wine and spend the evenings making it disappear. They are very loyal to one another, but swindle other people and treat women poorly.

I read just over half of this book's 207 pages, but found the group's escapades repetitive and boring and was unable -- unwilling -- to continue.

51. The Pearl ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: Same reason as book #50.

Kino makes his living searching for pearls in the sea. He is a poor laborer, with a wife and new baby to care for. One day he finds a huge pearl, and begins imagining how it will change their lives. He and Juana will be able to have a proper wedding. His son, Coyotito, will be baptised and go to school. They will join a new social class.

The poor villagers envy Kino's new status, and Kino becomes protective and suspicious. But when he has the pearl appraised, he finds it may not be as valuable as he hoped. He decides to travel to the city with his family, and have the pearl appraised there. Fueled by greed, Kino is willing to do just about anything to keep the pearl. And that's when his life begins to unravel.

This book was vaguely familiar; I think I may have read it in school. Steinbeck does a fine job showing how greed can make someone irrational. The style and tone were probably spot on when this was first published in 1945. For contemporary readers, the theme is a familiar one, and doesn't have the same impact.

Sorry to hear that Tortilla Flat fell flat for you! and that the Pearl was not a better read. I think I read that one many years ago too - it does sound vaguely familiar.

52. Two Days in Aragon ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: I like to read one Virago Modern Classic each month. This is an author I've been meaning to read for some time.

Set in 1920 during the Troubles, Two Days in Aragon is a dramatic portrayal of the Irish at this point in history. Anglo-Irish families were part of the privileged social class, loyal to the British crown and living in stately homes like Aragon. They were set apart from their Irish Catholic servants, who had very different political views and a markedly different way of life.

The Foxes were one such Anglo-Irish family. Mrs. Fox, a widow, lived at Aragon with her two daughters. Sylvia's life was caught up in tea parties, tennis, and pursuit of military men. Her younger sister, Grania, "was a fat little blonde with pretty bones under her flesh; rather a slut, and inclined to wear party shoes with old tweeds." There was a fierce rivalry between the sisters, and seemingly little warmth in the family.

But the force behind Aragon's greatness was its housekeeper, Nan O'Neill. Strong, controlling, and sometimes cruel, she is fiercely devoted to Aragon. But hers is more than a servant's basic devotion to her master, and Nan has spent a lifetime trying to set herself apart from the rest of the Irish servant class. Yet she's not really part of the family, nor is she accepted by the Irish. And she is appalled to discover a liaison between Grania and her son Foley. Nan understands the social boundaries, perhaps more than anyone else.

Nan runs a tight ship and exudes professional decorum, but her dark side emerges when she cares for Miss Pidgie, a batty old aunt living with the Fox family. Pidgie is a simple soul, comic and tremendously sad at the same time. Her world is confined to Aragon. She has an odd habit of collecting bird eggs from their nests, to give to imaginary figures she calls her "Diblins." She is poorly dressed, with painful shoes, but no one pays attention to her needs. In fact, Nan derives sadistic pleasure from Pidgie's hardships, and from meting out small "privileges" -- a walk outdoors, or a bit of sweet with tea -- on her own terms.

The central conflict in this novel involves the capture of a pair of British soldiers by some Irish mercenaries. Sylvia is in love with one of the soldiers, but masks her fear by pressing on with her social commitments. When Foley is implicated in the capture, Grania worries herself sick while Nan takes matters into her own hands. Once again Nan's inner strength prevails, and she takes a tremendous personal risk to do what she believes is right.

I loved Molly Keane's writing, especially her ability to capture the essence of a character in just a few words. Even a minor character like Frazer, the butler, came to life through phrases like this: "Frazer hunched his shoulders like a sick crow, and stooped again to dirty tea-cups and crummy plates." As the conflict built, Keane deftly wove each character's thread together in a way that showed their essence, even giving the heretofore shallow Sylvia a critical heroic role at the story's climax. This was my first Molly Keane novel, and I have many more on my shelves to look forward to.

Great review, Laura. I'm also looking forward to reading more Molly Keane having read and enjoyed my first one (Good Behaviour) last month.

I haven't yet got hold of any of Molly Keane's. Nice review...

That one has been sitting on the shelf for yonks. Must haul it out. Love your reviews!

Lovely review, Laura. I recently found Two Days in Aragon at a used bookstore and snapped it up. I look forward to reading it!

Thank you Dee, Genny, Tui & Katie. Two Days in Aragon had that understated elegance to common to VMCs. And I loved how I would be reading along and then suddenly say, "wait, what was that?!" and have to go back and re-read because Molly Keane had just quietly dropped a little bombshell.

(Oh, and nice job with the thumb there, Tui!)

And I loved how I would be reading along and then suddenly say, "wait, what was that?!" and have to go back and re-read because Molly Keane had just quietly dropped a little bombshell.

Oh, oh I love the sounds of that Laura. Thumb!

44: I looked up Virago Modern Classics today because I keep seeing them mentioned on LT. I think for now I'll be reading vicariously by reading reviews, but with a bit more attention now that they're an identified thing on my radar.

>50 brenzi:: thanks Bonnie!

>51 qebo:: that's where it starts, qebo! I would never have discovered VMCs if it weren't for LT. I'm not one for collecting things, but once I began acquiring them, I was hooked. I like scouring used bookshops for their telltale green spines (and some US editions are black). I've read 42 of the 178 I currently own! They are all by women authors, and while some of those authors are familiar (Atwood, Oates, Cather, Wharton) most are not. And yet I've enjoyed every one I've read so far!

...yet I've enjoyed every one I've read so far! High praise indeed. I'm going to begin looking for those green (or black) spines on my book haunts. I can't say as I've ever owned a Virago Modern Classic. It must be because of all the collectors out there!

Another excellent review of the Aragon book, Laura. You are pretty good at that "understated elegance" yourself. Thumb from me.

ETA: You have the No. 1 Hot Review, Laura. That was quick!

53. The Little Stranger ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: It was nominated for the Booker Prize and the Orange Prize, so it's one to check of my "literary prize TBR" list.

The Little Stranger is a good old-fashioned gothic mystery set in the 1940s, in an old and stately English house which is just as much a character as the Ayers family who inhabits it. We first "meet" Hundreds Hall through Robert Faraday, a local doctor whose mother worked in service at Hundreds when he was young. Some thirty years later, he is called out to care for one of the maids, who has fallen ill. There he also meets Mrs. Ayers and her adult children, Roderick and Caroline. The family has come on hard times since Mrs. Ayers became a widow. Roderick is struggling to cope with the estate he inherited. Money is scarce, and the family has been faced with difficult decisions to make ends meet.

Dr. Faraday offers to treat Roderick's war injury with an experimental procedure, free of charge. And thus he inserts himself into the life of Hundreds Hall, and gets all up in their business. He worries endlessly about Mrs. Ayers, and begins to fancy Caroline. At least that's what he tells us, because Robert is the story's narrator. He spends more and more time at Hundreds Hall. When Mrs. Ayers decides to give a party, the first in years, he finds himself on the guest list -- unusual due to their different social classes. Things begin to unravel at the party, when the family dog Gyp bites a young guest and leaves her severely disfigured. Progressively weirder things happen, with progressively greater impact on the emotional well-being of the Ayers family members. And Hundreds Hall falls into an even greater state of disrepair. It appears some sort of ghost is terrorizing the household, and it's very creepy indeed.

I was constantly torn while reading this book. My literary mind wanted to believe there was a ghost because after all, this is a gothic mystery/ghost story. My rational, analytical side dismissed that as nonsense and looked for a rational, analytical cause for all these mishaps. When I finished the book, I still wasn't sure. The ending is such that Waters might have given me the rational answer, which gave the story a chilling psychological thriller angle. Or she didn't, and there was just a lot of inexplicable weird and creepy stuff going on.

If I could rewrite the ending, I know what I'd do. But I can't tell you; you'll have to read this book and form your own conclusions. I ended up docking my rating 1/2 star because it all left me rather frustrated.

And naturally this one just landed in my mailbox from PBS. Wouldn't you know it. After I read Fingersmith I hoped all her books would be in that startlingly good vein. Oh well.

I am a huge Molly Keane fan, glad you loved Aragon!

Just waving hello! I want to read some Steinbeck before the end of the year, but shall steer clear of those two...

>56 sibylline:: Lucy, I have several of her books and am not sure which one to read next. Do you have a favorite?
>57 Chatterbox:: Suz, have you read either Grapes of Wrath or East of Eden? Both are excellent.

I think Good Behaviour was the first one I read -- I had to immediately track down more of them -- I don't remember thinking, 'Oh that one wasn't as good as the others' -- but I suppose it might make sense to read them chronologically as often that does reveal things about how the author's outlook matures and changes? (I have no idea, of course, what order they were written in!). I also see I haven't listed all of the ones I've read, only the ones I own. I'll have to fix that. Not much help, am I!

54. Annabel ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: It was shortlisted for the 2011 Orange Prize.

In 1968, a baby was born to Jacinta and Treadway Blake, in a small Labrador trapping village. The birth was attended by a few village women, all close friends. One woman, Thomasina, noticed something unusual right away: the baby had both male and female genitalia. She was the only one outside the family who knew, and supported Jacinta as she struggled to accept what this would mean to them, and to the baby. Treadway decided the baby would be raised as a boy, and while Jacinta felt otherwise, she would not go against her husband. From that moment on the baby was known as Wayne, although Thomasina often called him "Annabel" in private.

Jacinta wished she could raise Wayne as both son and daughter, and only vaguely understood the challenges this could pose for Wayne as he grew up. Treadway desperately wanted a traditional, masculine son, and despaired at Wayne's more feminine interests. As a boy, Wayne was ignorant of the medical details, and knew only that he has to take special vitamins. He felt vaguely different from the other boys he knew, and his closest friend was a girl. While Wayne's medical treatment was costly, the more devastating impact was emotional. Jacinta and Treadway are unable to share their feelings with each other, and gradually this takes a toll. Wayne found it increasingly difficult to relate to either of them, and life only became more difficult as he matured and struggled to find his true self.

Kathleen Winter drew me into this story gradually, and skillfully. It wasn't a page-turner, but I was surprised to find myself emotionally caught up in this book. I despaired at Jacinta and Treadway's broken relationship, and each response to the family tension. My heart wrenched over the conflict between Treadway and Wayne, especially when Treadway's fears led him to destroy something very dear to Wayne. I also felt very sad for Wayne, who had a secret no one could understand, and coped with so much emotional trauma. As he approached adulthood, Wayne began to understand and accept himself, and I closed the book knowing his life would never be easy, but there were glimmers of hope for his future.

er, "geniality"? ;)

oh crap. spellchecker. fixed. I'm REALLY glad you mentioned it, because I know I looked up the correct spelling, typed the word, and then it must have "auto-corrected" itself!

Annabel does sound interesting. I heard bits of it serialised on the radio a few months back.

Oh I really want to read this one and thanks to your excellent review Laura, I now have an inkling what it's about.

I don't know how I lost you, Laura, but I did. Catching up, I see that I'm going to have to reread The Black Prince, Crampton Hodnet, and Two Days in Aragon. Your good reviews were enough to titillate without bringing the whole book back. I must say that this bodes ill. Have I forgotten everything I read in the 70's and early 80's? That might be the case.
You wrote, "They are all by women authors," about VMC's. In fact, I have a classic green by Bernard Shaw, An Unsocial Socialist. Go figure.

There's also Ann Veronica, by H. G. Wells and Diana of the Crossways by George Meredith.

>63 gennyt:, 64: Genny & Bonnie, I think you would both enjoy it.

>65 LizzieD:, 66: Peggy & Linda, thanks for correcting my mis-statement re: VMCs! Seems counter to their stated aim to "demonstrate the existence of a female tradition in literature," but I suppose it's possible for that tradition to be demonstrated by a male author.

55. The Good Apprentice (did not finish)
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: I'm working my way through Iris Murdoch's Booker Prize-nominated books.

Iris, you let me down on this one. Having read nine of your novels, I've come to expect three elements in perfect balance: strong characterizations, especially of hapless or arrogant male protagonists, moral dilemmas, and a certain "talkiness" in the prose. The Good Apprentice had all these elements, but they were out of balance and failed to deliver an enjoyable reading experience.

Murdoch's protagonist is Edward Baltram, a young man who played a prank that went horribly wrong and resulted in a friend's death (this is not a spoiler; it happens in the first few pages). Edward is fortunate not to be charged with a crime, but he is devastated and knows his life is permanently changed. His family throws a dinner party to help him "get over it," which is mostly a way for Murdoch to introduce a broad cast of characters. We meet his stepfather Harry, Harry's son Stuart, Edward's aunt Midge and uncle Tom, and Ursula, the family physician. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, the dinner party fails to lift Edward's spirits. He decides he'll escape to the country and reunite with his biological father Jesse, and Jesse's wife and adult daughters.

Flip ahead about 100 pages, and you'll find Edward settled in Jesse's house, surrounded by quirky relatives and still wandering around morose and confused. And you'll also find Stuart, a religious fanatic, in endless philosophical dialogue with Tom, and Midge thinking way too much about how to shorten a dress and insert a new panel of fabric.

Amazon calls this book, "Funny and compelling, ... at once a supremely sophisticated entertainment and an inquiry into the spiritual crises that afflict the modern world." Sorry, but I found it repetitive and boring. I'm sure Murdoch's symbolism and ideas become clearer by the end of the book, but I just didn't have the patience to struggle through more than 550 pages.

#68 Thanks for the review. I LOVE Iris Murdoch, but I'll probably leave this one for a while. I'm thinking my next will be The Black Prince. The Sea, The Sea is my favorite and I also love The Bell and A Severed Head.

Hi Laura

Your photography is lovely! All good wishes to your daughter for a successful freshman year. What? Are you old enough to be the mother of a college aged student?

DNF!!! Wow, haven't seen you with one of those in awhile. Better luck with your next read Laura.

>69 DorsVenabili:: Kerri, I love Iris too! I really liked The Black Prince (first review on this thread) and A Severed Head. Well, I've pretty much liked all of her books up to now.

>70 Whisper1:: Thank you Linda! And no, I'm absolutely NOT old enough to be the mother of a college-aged student. I have no idea how that happened! :)

>71 brenzi:: You're right Bonnie, it doesn't happen often. It took me forever to get through the first 150 pages and I still had 370 to go. I just couldn't face it.

My next read is The Story of Forgetting which I've heard lots of good things about. I'm busy today & tonight so it will probably be Saturday before I start reading it.

Well, giving THAT one a wide berth!

Oh dear. I remember liking The Good Apprentice. That would have been 30 years ago, so I wonder what I'd make of it now. Getting back to Murdoch should be higher on my to-read list. I'm always glad when I do; it's a lot the same with Patrick White. Now there's a fine couple!

I've like the little Murdoch I've read The Severed Head I think.....

I've just read the one Murdoch (The sea, the sea) and intend to read more- but don't think my second will be The Good Apprentice!

I read Annabel this month too and had mixed feelings about it. I hope to write a review once I've worked out exactly what I wasn't so keen about! I think it felt more like a poetic study of gender than the story of real people, to me.

>76 Soupdragon:: I think it felt more like a poetic study of gender than the story of real people, to me.
That's an interesting comment, Dee. It certainly felt poetic to me also. I can't wait to read your thoughts on it.

Hi Laura. Re: Wookies thread - maybe we should all starting addressing Mark -as Mark -whoever you are? ;)

Oh yes, I"ve read Annabel last year. Such a different cover that you got in the US vs what we got in Canada. Our cover is a Christmas card like picture of deer. Have a look at the different covers. I enjoyed Annabel very much - I gave it either 4 or 4.5 stars. Great review!

I'll probably read East of Eden this year. Also need to read more Murdoch; I have several that I picked up in Penguin sales, but have yet to read. Must locate and read...

My copy of Annabel was a Canadian edition received through a swap. The cover features a very graceful looking deer with obvious masculine antlers. I thought it suited the book well but of course with the snow and the deer, you can't help thinking of christmas cards!

>78 vancouverdeb:: LOL, Deb!
>79 vancouverdeb:, 81: Deb & Dee, you're right about the difference in covers. I'm always intrigued by that, I'm curious why the publishers make such different choices for different book-buying markets.
>80 Chatterbox:: Suz, I think you'll enjoy East of Eden. And since you have all those dusty Murdochs on your shelves, I say get started!!

Laura- I enjoyed your quip over on Wookie's thread, so I thought I would stop by and visit. I read Tortilla Flat a few months ago and really enjoyed it. I thought it had a different tone than his other books. BTW- Ilana (smiler69) and I were thinking of having a Steinbeck marathon, throughout next year. There is still a few of his, I haven't read, plus it's nice to re-visit some of the classics.
I have not read The Little Stranger but it's funny how opinion is so divided on this one. Interesting.
Have a nice Sunday!

Oh Laura, just had to pop back and tell you how much I enjoyed your review of Crampton's Hodnet. I've not read that one yet, but I have read Excellent Women by Barbara Pym, which I reviewed and very much enjoyed. I've got Barbara Pym's Quartet in Autumn in my TBR pile - and I'm looking very forward to it.

I did enjoy your review on The Bird Sisters. Hmm I may have to put that on my wishlist. If you enjoyed The Bird Sisters you might enjoy Emily, Alone by Stewart O'Nan. Mark put me onto that one, and I found it to be the most wonderful and gentle read about the elderly. I've reviewed here on LT too. Not that my reviews in any way compare to yours.

>83 msf59:: Hello Mark, thanks so much for visiting! I couldn't resist the quip over there. I'll keep watch for the Steinbeck marathon; I think there are still some of his books I would enjoy reading.
>84 vancouverdeb:: Deb, thank you so much! I've read several of Pym's books now; Quartet in Autumn is more poignant than some of her others but has stuck with me so that's saying something. And thanks for the rec of Emily, Alone!

I've gone through a 3-day period with no reading whatsoever, most unusual for me. I gave up on the Murdoch on Wednesday, on Thursday I only had time to write the review, no reading time. Friday evening we had friends over, so no reading, and Saturday was another busy day. By evening I was plum tuckered out so I just watched this week's Glee on the DVR.

This morning I finally dove into The Story of Forgetting and raced through 60 pages ... making up for lost time, I guess!

Glad you've got back into the reading after a busy few days.

56. The Story of Forgetting ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: It's been sitting on my stacks for 3 years. It was time.

When 15-year-old Seth Waller's mother shows undeniable signs of early onset Alzheimer's disease, he realizes how little he knows of his family history. His mother never talked about her childhood, not even her maiden name or the town she lived in. Seth never knew his grandparents, and never met any other relatives. He begins researching the disease, manages to get his hands on information identifying other patients near his Texas hometown, and tries to discover genetic links between these patients and his mother.

Meanwhile, Abel Haggard lives a quiet, solitary life on a farm he has gradually sold off for new real estate development. Now in his 70s, Abel has lost everyone dear to him, including his twin brother and his brother's wife. Abel's family has also been touched by early onset Alzheimer's. Both Seth and Abel bring the reader into their world, to share the pain of living and dealing with Alzheimer's. Through Seth, you helplessly watch a parent's condition deteriorate, and you share Seth's fear of inheriting the condition. Abel knows he was spared, but like Seth he loved someone who left him far too young.

The link between Seth and Abel is revealed to the reader before the characters discover it themselves. This adds an element of suspense or anticipation to the story, and an extra layer of depth and complexity. Stefan Block developed rich, memorable characters and showed particular sensitivity in his portrayal of older people and Alzheimer's sufferers, making for an impressive debut novel.

87: It's been sitting on my stacks for 3 years. It was time.
Only 3 years? Your standards are higher than mine. :-)

Laura, I enjoyed The Story of Forgetting too and was particularly impressed, as I think you were, by how such a young author could develop such complex older characters. Not something one finds often.

You've made me want to read that one, Laura....and it's a subject matter (Alzheimer's) that I avoid as a general rule because I find it so terribly terribly frightening.

>89 rebeccanyc:: Rebecca, you mentioned this early on and I'm sure that made me more attuned to it as I read.
>90 laytonwoman3rd:: Linda, it was definitely frightening. My mother is showing some signs of dementia. She's too old for it to be "early onset" Alzheimer's and it may not even be Alzheimer's at all, but it still made the book difficult to read. I didn't mention any of that in my review b/c it's also on my blog and my mom reads that from time to time ...

I've seen this disease totally eliminate one person I knew and loved, leaving behind an almost unresponsive shell who seems to have no connection to the world anymore other than through food, which she still appears to enjoy. And there is just no "normal" to be found in that situation for the family who cares for her.

>87 lauralkeet:: Laura, I had forgotten that I wanted to read The Story of Forgetting. I wonder if I should be worried about myself, although I think I'm past the age where I can have early-onset Alzheimer's Disease. I think the title is buried in my dream book somewhere. Must update and put my WL on my iPad where it might be more accessible.

That does sound like a good one - but such a tough subject.

Harrowing subject indeed. Good review, though.

Early onset Alzheimer's is much worse than the version that starts later in life only because the person has to live with it longer. But either version results in the insidious disease stealing the person from family and leaving them to care for, basically, an infant. Terrible, terrible disease. I read Still Alice which was excellent but I don't think I'm up for another book on the subject. It's just too depressing. Excellent review though Laura.

We're living it right now with my m-in-l so I don't think I could read that one. It's pretty grim.

I read The Wilderness last year, which was also about Alzheimer's, and for reasons I can't quite remember, more painful reading than The Story of Forgetting. I don't think I could read Still Alice, although I know it's a very good book.

Laura - I posted a link on my thread, but I found the film of A Month in the Country on YouTube, broken into several parts. I've already watched a bit and while it's not ideal, it's not terrible either. If you have a Roku, I think you can stream YouTube through your television.

>99 katiekrug:: Hurray! Thanks so much Katie. I watched something that way before, the parts are a bit awkward but it's doable. We have a DVD player that can stream YouTube thru the TV so I'm all set. Thanks again!

My 5-year Thingaversary is coming up this week (Thursday, the 13th), which means I'm "allowed" to acquire 5 new books. Plus, I "won" two $50 Barnes & Noble gift cards in a charity auction and simply had to spend one of them. Here's what's on the way:

Thanks to my B&N Gift Card:
- Started Early, Took my Dog: the latest Jackson Brodie, and a bit of an impulse buy
- The Sense of an Ending: I hope this wins the Booker Prize
- So Long, See you Tomorrow: a new-to-me author (William Maxwell), this book has been on my wishlist since reading a very fine review a few months ago
- The Other Elizabeth Taylor: a biography of one of my favorite authors. Her centenary is in 2012 so I intend to read several of her books plus this bio

Used from Amazon: because hubby and I both love this series, thanks to Peggy/LizzieD!
- Dance to the Music of Time: Third Movement
- Dance to the Music of Time: Fourth Movement

I realize this is one more than the allowable Thingaversary quota. Forgive me :)

You're quite welcome, Laura! I rarely think of YouTube so it was rather serendipitous :)

One to grow on. I am missing Book 2 of dance -- my mother had them 'all' and I kept waiting for #2 to turn up, but I think I have to give in and buy it!

Happy Thinga!

#103 "One to grow on." You and I had the same thought! Nice haul, Laura. I have a ton of William Maxwell's stuff, and haven't read any of it yet.

I like "one to grow on"! Do you really think I'll grow?! I've been 5' tall since I was 12.
* acting hopeful *

Mental growth, maybe. I've been wishing for the vertical kind for a long time, too, and it just isn't happening!

Happy Thinga when it arrives, Laura! I'm glad that you are preparing for it so carefully!
I own some Maxwell too and have read none. Thanks for the reminder, says the not-so-incredible shrinking woman (from 5'8'' to 5'5'' and a bit).

>105 lauralkeet: and 106 Actually I've found that as you age you don't grow but rather shrink:(

Happy Thingaversary Laura. I have the first and second movement of Dance to the Music of Time and like to think I'll get started early next year.

57. The God Delusion ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: I was inspired by Cushla's review in April, bought it for my Kindle, and have been slowly working my way through it ever since.

In my early teens we studied Greek and Roman mythology in school. I vividly remember the point when I first thought, "so why are these stories 'myths,' and the Bible is 'truth'?" That was my first step on a path of theological inquiry, which sounds more advanced than it was. For most of my adult life, I've been involved in some form of "organized religion," but have not blindly followed the doctrine laid before me. Instead I've gravitated toward faith communities that appreciate and encourage continuous revelation and discovery.

And so I found myself reading The God Delusion, which takes the "Bible as myth" argument one step further, seeking to prove that there is, in fact, no God. If we have labelled ancient Greek & Roman stories as mythology, and discarded those gods, why do so many of us believe in God?

Dawkins also used scientific arguments to uphold Darwin's theory of evolution and refute intelligent design and the concept of a "designer." I had no trouble with this; I tend to come out in favor of science in most situations. Then how is it that I have professed belief in God, when there is no scientific basis for this belief?

Dawkins then discussed how religion has been used in ways that harm others:

Even if religion did no other harm in itself, its wanton and carefully nurtured divisiveness -- its deliberate and cultivated pandering to humanity's natural tendency to favour in-groups and shun out-groups -- would be enough to make it a significant force for evil in the world.

It's in the history books, and it's happening today: Christians against Muslims, Muslims against Christians, some Christians against other types of Christians, you name it. In what way is this good for society? And why does religion play such a super-ordinate role in so many people's lives?

Dawkins articulated his points well and his analysis was quite thorough. He made sense to me in many places and was a bit "out there" in others. And he completely lost me in the last chapter when he discussed quantum mechanics. Early in this book, Dawkins described a spectrum of belief from 1 ("strong theist") to 7 ("strong atheist"). Your place on this continuum will greatly influence what you take away from this book. In my case, I found it very thought-provoking and enjoyed the mental and spiritual challenges presented by Dawkins' ideas.

And by the way, all this talk of shrinking women is very disturbing ... *la la la I can't hear you! *

Excellent review of the Dawkins, Laura. I've heard him speak, and he is incredibly articulate, but a bit inclined toward arrogance. I've been meaning to read this book for a long time, and will get to it one of these days.

I'm really glad you enjoyed it. And yes, the quantum stuff... I think I followed it while I was reading it, but 6 months later I have no clue.

I've just picked up a copy of Dawkins' book in my local charity shop, so I'll be hoping to read it soon (have already read the preface, but I don't think i'll be taking this one on holiday with me as it will be too much like work!). Thanks for the review.

>111 laytonwoman3rd:: I agree with you about the arrogance, Linda. At times I found his tone amusing, but it wore on me after a while.
>112 cushlareads:: Cushla, I think by the time I got to Chapter 10 (and the quantum stuff), I was also just ready to move on to other reading. I had a short attention span! But I do want to thank you for bringing this book to my attention -- so much to ponder there, I know it will continue to rattle around in my brain for some time!
>113 gennyt:: no kidding Genny, talk about a busman's holiday! I'm glad you've packed other books in your suitcase. :)

Superb review, Laura! Really excellent. Yours always are, but somehow this one seemed extra lucid. It's almost ironic that Dawkins is so vehement about how religions create all these troubles, I think that his own argumentativeness and need to be 'right' and prove others 'wrong' is not unrelated and is a feature of our culture. I've read his book on evolution and I'm sure I will drag myself through this one too, since he is such a smarty-pants dude after all is said and done.

109,115: I'm inclined toward thinking that rigidity of ideology is a more significant problem than "religion", whatever it is; the term is rather less clearly defined than one might hope, in what purports to be a scientific argument against it.

>115 sibylline:: extra lucid? woo hoo! Seriously, thanks Lucy. I appreciate it.
>116 qebo:: I agree with you about the rigidity of ideology, too. That gets us into all kinds of trouble whether it's religious ideology or other kinds.

58. Before you Suffocate your Own Fool Self ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: I like having short fiction on hand to read during my lunch break. This served that purpose!

This book is a collection of eight short stories with the unifying element of young, African-American or mixed race characters trying to find their way in modern American culture. When I read short stories, inevitably some affect me more than others; this book was no exception. The best of this bunch were:

• Virgins: two 16-year-old girls, tired of small-town life, go clubbing in New York City and find themselves growing up a little too fast.


• Snakes: Tara, a mixed race girl, spends a summer with her white grandmother and cousin. She finds herself in the middle of long-standing family tension, and one small but dramatic act results in years of emotional pain.


• Someone Ought to Tell Her: Georgie, recently returned from Iraq, offers to babysit his ex-girlfriend's daughter when her regular childcare arrangements fall through. The arrangement fills an emotional void for both Georgie and the daughter, but ultimately results in a difficult conflict.

Unfortunately, in a couple of stories I found glaring factual inaccuracies which detracted from the author's credibility. Sometimes this completely ruins my reading experience. In this case, I loved Evans' voice, and her ability to quickly create pictures of her characters in my imagination. I'm sure we will see more from this promising young author.

Fabulous review of The God Delusion, Laura; I'll get to it one of these days. I'm sorry that Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self wasn't more to your liking. I'm on the fence about reading it, and I think I'll stay there for now.

>119 kidzdoc:: thank you Darryl! I was surprised to see it at the top of the Hot Reviews this morning. It was somewhere around #8 at first but something happened to generate thumbs in the past couple days.

59. On Chesil Beach ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: I enjoy reading Booker Prize nominees, and I've had this one lying around for a while.

Ian McEwan has a unique ability to make me love his books, despite making me feel so terribly sad. On Chesil Beach is the story of one young couple's ill-fated wedding night. The book opens as Florence and Edward are enjoying a private dinner in their honeymoon suite:

They were young, educated, and both virgins on this, their wedding night, and they lived in a time when conversation about sexual difficulties was plainly impossible. But it is never easy. They were sitting down to supper in a tiny sitting room on the first floor of a Georgian inn. In the next room, visible through the open door, was a four-poster bed, rather narrow, whose bedcover was pure white and stretched startlingly smooth, as though by no human hand. (p. 1)

Florence was scared to death, ill-informed, and disgusted by the few facts she knew about impending events. Edward was filled with desire, but also with intense fear of failure. The first chapter (33 pages) builds tension up to the point that Florence and Edward make their way towards that four-poster.

McEwan then leaves Edward and Florence in a state of suspended animation, and takes the reader back in time to understand how they met, their family histories, and their relationship. Florence is a violinist in a string quartet, and the daughter of a wealthy businessman. Edward was from more humble stock, but well-educated, and while he did not particularly appreciate classical music, he was very supportive of Florence. He also dutifully accepted employment with Florence's father, even though it was far removed from his field of expertise.

Back to the bedroom, where you can cut the tension with a knife. You just know things aren't going to go well for this couple, and their complete inability to communicate just takes things from bad to worse. It's not just that they can't talk about sex, it seems they can't talk about anything important. Their responses are all too human, but as McEwan shows, small acts of anger have lasting consequences.

At just over 150 pages, On Chesil Beach was a very quick read, but Ian McEwan is such a master at both characterization and drama that the book had enormous emotional impact.

Make that two Hot Reviews! As I mentioned on your Booker Prize thread, I enjoyed your review of On Chesil Beach, a book I also loved.

Excellent review, Laura. I have On Chesil Beach on the TBR shelves. Sounds like I need to bump it up a little.

Wow, you are HOT, Laura. Lol.

I hate to say this, but your description of the awkward wedding night of this couple almost makes a case for premarital sex and/or cohabitation! I have been avoiding this McEwen book for some reason but now I think I'll have to pick it up for the psychological development.

Thank you for another thoughtful review.

I must confess Atonement really annoyed me, and the excerpt I read from On Chesil Beach in the New Yorker didn't entice me into getting the book. You have almost convinced me I should try, but I think I'm just not an Ian McEwen fan.

A couple of the stories in The Doll by Daphne DuMaurier reminded me of On Chesil Beach, in the way her characters totally failed to get their feelings across to one another. (My review)

Des read the Dawkins but I haven't done more than glance at it. Chesil Beach has been sitting there for yonks as well. I always feel like I'm going to get depressed with McEwen so don't ever get around to them.

>124 Donna828:: I know what you mean Donna! Taking the mystery out of sex would, I think, have made the night so much easier for them. Also, attitudes in general have changed. The story was set in the early 60s, before itnwas ok to talk about sex or admit feelings of desire. They were so repressed.

Re:McEwan, I agree his books aren't uplifting ...
Thanks for the link Linda, I will have to check that out.

When the Pill came out in '62, that changed everything.

When the Pill came out in '62, that changed everything.

Well, yes and no. One thing I have learned from literature is that even if characters/authors didn't talk about sex as much as people do in contemporary western novels, they still were having plenty of it, inside and outside marriage.

Oh absolutely - Chaucer and his Wife of Bath, Shakespeare and his double entendres cases in point. But studies and books about sex/sexuality itself suddenly began to flood the market in the mid sixties, the like of which hadn't been seen before.

Who was it that said about sex at the turn of the last century, Mrs. Jack, maybe?, "It doesn't matter what you do as long as you don't do it in the streets and scare the horses"?

I was born in 1962 so I can't really comment from experience here ... But I'm enjoying the conversation!

Laura- Good review of On Chesil Beach. Believe it or not, I have not read McEwan. Shameful, I know, but I do have a couple of his titles in the stacks, including this one. Time to move these up.

Thank you, Mark! This would be a good book to start with.

Just reporting by to say that I put Invitation to the Dance on my Kindle with some of my B-day $. This may not be the best format. In fact, I've just been looking at it for a little; it's a lousy format. I would have paid extra for somebody to make an index of the entries with Kindle line numbers (I have a 2nd generation). On the other hand, I'm glad to have it, and I will be rereading one of these first years. I also bought The Valley of Bones for Kindle. Somehow, I feel as though I won't realize how expensive it is to have all 12 if I stretch out the purchases.

Hi Laura, On Chesil Beach is a book that kept me thinking about it long after I finished reading it. I like McEwan a lot and although his books are never uplifting I am always drawn in.

>136 LizzieD:: too bad the format is lousy ... Hadn't thought about that possibility. Meanwhile, we just received via Amazon the third and fourth movements. Used, of course. Hubby finished the second and was chomping at the bit to read more. I will get to them, but probably not til next year.

>137 brenzi:: once again, Bonnie, we are in total agreement!

60. Hunt the Slipper ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: I like to read at least one Virago Modern Classic each month. I chose this particular book because the author, Violet Trefusis, is the subject of a nonfiction book I'm planning to read in November.

Nigel Benson enjoys life's luxuries: fine food & wine, antiquities, books, and of course women. 49 and still single, he lives with his sister in a beautiful country home. One day he meets the much-younger Caroline Crome, wife of his good friend Anthony. She treats him rudely, but sparks fly when they meet again in Paris a short time later. Caroline is bored by her marriage, and she has already been unfaithful to Anthony, so an affair with Nigel seems a fait accompli. Their travel itineraries conspire against them at first, and communicating by post leaves them both mopey and dissatisfied. When they are together, Nigel is seized by jealousy of the younger men in Caroline's life. Even though she repeatedly professes her love for him, true happiness seems to always be just out of reach. But Anthony is clearly none the wiser:

Everyone had noticed the improvement in Caroline. It was amazing how she had changed, and in such a short time, too! All the things she used to set about with such ill grace, such as going to church, calling on the vicar's wife, etc., she now accomplished with zeal and alacrity, Margaret was no longer scolded. Slaps were a thing of the past. She was charming to Anthony's mother and had actually been seen studying a seed catalogue. Though he didn't entirely ascribe this happy change to Nigel, Anthony was sure that his influence had counted for something. (p.119)

Eventually Nigel and Caroline tire of the constant deception and sneaking around, and decide they will break the news of their affair to Anthony. Certain events require them to postpone this dramatic act, and it seems Nigel & Caroline will just learn to live with the situation.

But Violet Trefusis has other ideas, and in the novel's last 30 pages takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride. Up to this point I found Hunt the Slipper a pleasant read, but nothing really stood out. The final twists and turns left me breathless: will they stay together or won't they? The ending was emotional and cleverly done, packing an unexpected punch.

61. The Book and the Brotherhood ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: I had a personal project in 2011, to read all five of Murdoch's novels nominated for the Booker Prize. This was my last one!

When a group of middle-aged Oxford school friends reconnects at a gala summer ball, they set in motion a series of events that forever change their relationships with one another. When Jean Cambus dances with David Crimond an old flame is rekindled, Jean's husband Duncan gets into an argument with Crimond, and Jean ends up leaving Duncan for Crimond (for the second time, in fact).

The rest of the group is stunned. Their personal and collective responses offer a way for Murdoch to explore various archetypes and relationships. The cast is rich and varied. Gerard Hernshaw views himself as somewhat in charge, but is tormented by childhood loss and a general sense of emptiness. His sister and brother-in-law have moved into his house and are increasingly putting down roots, but Gerard is unable to confront them. Rose Curtland has always loved Gerard but never acted on her feelings. Jenkin Riderhood is a quiet, unattached schoolmaster; Lily Boyne attends the ball as Crimond's date. Gulliver Ashe is a younger man who has been unable to find a job, and Tamar Hernshaw, Gerard's niece, is younger still.

Several years earlier, the group formed a "brotherhood" to finance Crimond's effort to write a political book, but the book has yet to be published. Each member of the brotherhood pays their annual dues, but demands nothing from Crimond; they are reluctant even to approach him about his progress. Even Jean cannot speak to him about it. And while this drama is in progress, several other subplots unfold involving the other characters. Tamar's youthful naiveté and conflicted relationship with her mother lead her into a situation with significant personal consequences. Gerard takes steps towards a relationship he never thought possible. Rose faces her spinsterhood with a stiff upper lip.

And then there's Crimond, the only character consistently referred to only by his surname. Arrogant and detached, when he finally finishes his book he loses his sense of purpose. He tries to engage Jean in some shocking behavior that culminates in one of the novel's most harrowing scenes. And there's still more dramatic tension as Crimond goes a bit off his rocker. Tragic events follow, made even more so as each member of the "brotherhood" feels somewhat at fault. One by one, Murdoch gets into their heads as they examine their role, dwelling on small actions that led to other actions that ultimately led to the tragedy.

The Book and the Brotherhood also serves as a forum for Murdoch's own ideology, which I admit often goes over my head. I enjoyed the character-driven nature of this book much more. I also felt it went on a bit long, and some of the subplots could have been resolved more quickly. Taken as a whole, this was fairly representative of Murdoch's work, even if it wasn't my favorite.

#140 - Great review! Thanks!

Thanks Kerri!

I've purchased a few Murdochs since you started your great reviews of her books. I look forward to getting to them soon :)

Two excellent reviews here -- I've been surprised by liking Murdoch more than I thought I would - but I have only read a couple so far.

>143 katiekrug:: oh good, Katie!
>144 sibylline:: me too, Lucy

For both of you, and I think I've said this before: I think she's somewhat of an acquired taste, takes some getting used to. Her books are just different somehow, but that's exactly what I enjoy about them.

I do too, Laura, but I haven't been able to make myself get back to her although I always take out the one you've just reviewed and look through it with longing. Someday!
It's about time for me to read another Virago, and it might be Hunt the Slipper.

62. When we Were Bad ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: I've taken up Darryl (kidzdoc's) challenge to read one Orange nominee per month between July & January. This was my October read (and yes, I did finish it in October, just under the wire).

I love it when I have an unexpectedly delightful reading experience like When we Were Bad. This unobtrusive little novel about a family of English Jews took me completely by surprise. Things start with a bang when the Rubins' eldest son Leo runs away with another woman just one minute before his wedding. Our first impression of Leo's family, then, is seen through their reactions to this scandalous event.

Leo's mother Claudia is a well-known rabbi, one of the first women in her field and highly respected by everyone. She's worked hard all her life, but she's good at what she does, and knows it. Claudia is also intensely committed to maintaining the Rubins' image as the family that has it all. This is all the more important since her book is about to be published. When Leo runs off, her greatest concern is not for him or his relationship, but on keeping up appearances as a family.

Claudia's husband Norman has supported her career all these years, keeping his own ambitions largely to himself. Daughter Frances is married with an infant and two older stepchildren. Two younger adult children, Simeon and Emily, are still trying to establish their independence. All are intensely loyal to one another, and especially to Claudia. She's formidable, and such a strong force in their lives that not one of them will make a move without considering the impact on her. But this also causes a lot of sneaking around. Norman, for example, is working on a book of his own but can't find the right time to tell Claudia. Frances feels trapped by marriage and parenthood, but feels completely alone and unable to ask her family for support. And even Claudia, so cool and collected on the outside, has her own secret problems to deal with.

So much family drama makes When we Were Bad sound like an intense read, but it's served with a generous helping of humor. Just as I was getting all teary over developments in one character's life, something else would happen to make me laugh. Each of the characters are tremendously flawed, and yet completely likeable. On the one hand, I felt I should despise Claudia for controlling everything around her and stifling others. But I loved her for what she had achieved, and for her fierce devotion to her family. As each character's story line moved towards its conclusion, I felt both happy and sad about this family that I'd come to know so well. We went through a lot together over 321 pages, and I won't soon forget it.

What a good review! And I'm your first star.

This is definitely going on my wishlist!

Not only your third star, but I ordered the book from PBS!

I just ordered it too!

Definitely want to read that. Have another star!

Great review, Laura, and your fifth star is from me. And thanks, Peggy, for that idea about ordering it from PBS. I've had a credit forever from them and couldn't find anything to order. Now I've got When We Were Bad on its way to me!

Oh my, I looove you people! You all made my day. Of course now I'm really hoping you all enjoy this as much as I did or I'll feel bad for leading you astray!

Never heard of When We were Bad, but it sounds great and it's going on my WL right now! (Plus, it is not 400 pages. Do I sound shallow?) Edited to add that there's a copy in Wellington library, yaaaay.

I'd never heard of it either, Cushla. A book blogger recommended it ages ago, in a comment on a post about the Orange Prize (it was shortlisted in 2008). I was surprised how much I liked it, since it's not one that's had much LT buzz.

Your latest book sounds great, Laura. I have enough trouble keeping up with Orange books in January and July so I probably won't be reading them (on purpose anyway) in the other months. I'll be sure to look for this one, though. January is lurking around the corner!!!

Hot Review Ms lindsacl, currently holding down the #2 spot. You go, girl!

Oh Laura this book sounds terrific. Thumb! And now I'll head over to PBS to see if any copies are left...

Another thumb from me, which makes 11. Excellent review, Laura!

Oh how fun, I haven't had such a thumby day in a long time! You guys are the best.

And yet another thumb from me - I hadn't heard of that one at all before.

63. Scottsboro ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: It's my Orange Prize read for November (it was nominated in 2008).

Inside the courtroom, rows of long windows ran along two walls. They were closed against the noise of the square, and the yellow shades were drawn, but midday light filtered through, cooking the air. An American flag and another for the state of Alabama hung limp on either side of the judge's bench. ... Instead of a jury box, two rows of chairs that swiveled and tipped to allow the jurors to make themselves comfortable were bolted to the floor. In front of each row, a brass pipe, also attached to the floor, served as a footrest. Spittoons stood at regular intervals, each surrounded by the familiar corona of hardened tobacco juice and saliva. (p. 208)

As the title implies, this novel is about the Scottsboro boys, a famous US civil rights case from the 1930s. A group of black men -- boys, really -- were accused of raping two white women on a train. The case was fraught with racism and questionable legal processes that denied the boys a fair trial. Appeals continued for several years. Author Ellen Feldman describes these events through Alice Whittier, a fictional news reporter, and Ruby Bates, one of the two white women. She paints a vivid picture of Alabama in the 1930s: the climate, the people, and the extreme racism.

Readers unfamiliar with the case will enjoy Feldman's ability to bring history to life. As historical fiction, however, it doesn't quite pass muster. The best of this genre (or, at least, the ones I've most enjoyed) go beyond the basic facts and delve deep into the historic characters, embellishing where facts are scarce. Scottsboro provides factual information comparable to Wikipedia's article on the Scottsboro boys. But Alice Whittier is one-dimensional; a vehicle to advance the plot and fill the time between trials. Her storyline was like a superfluous wrapper around the heart of the book. I wasn't interested in her romantic relationships, or the skeletons in her family's closet, because I knew them to be complete fiction. This would have been a better book had Feldman used an actual journalist in the story. Instead the result is something not quite history, and not quite historical fiction.

That's too bad, Laura. I may take Scottsboro off my PBS wish list!

163: Her storyline was like a superfluous wrapper around the heart of the book.
A nicely succinct criticism. Historical fiction is best when it doesn't mess with the facts, and integrates the fiction to illuminate.

I've had When we were Bad near the bottom of my teetering tbr pile for ages. Your review has definitely moved it up, Laura.

I'm quite relieved you didn't love Scottsboro as it makes me feel better about missing Ellen Feldman at a local literary festival recently! Apparently she has a new book out, set in Massachusetts during the second world war.

I don't know if you know this, Laura, but the Alice Whittier character is supposed to be loosely based on Martha Gellhorn (who did NOT cover the Scottsboro boys case, btw). I think that made it even less appealing to me, because I find Gellhorn fascinating, and Alice was just flat. Terrific review.

Thanks, Katherine, Genny, Dee, & Linda! Peggy, it's not an awful book, but it sure didn't grab me like I hoped it would.

>167 laytonwoman3rd:: Gellhorn is mentioned at one point in the book, which is when the thought struck me, why didn't she choose a REAL journalist? Maybe nobody as "interesting" as Gellhorn actually covered the case, and she felt she had to invent someone? If so, she needed to do much more with the character as she always seemed just outside the real story.

Peggy stole the words out of my mouth. Or I stole the words from her post.

>169 brenzi:: plagiarism, tsk tsk!

It's very hard to walk the line between reality and realism in historical fiction, IMO -- and I've been reading it for 40 years, pretty much. I can see why she didn't choose a real journalist to center the narrative around -- she then would have had to research an incredible amount about that person and she'd be vulnerable to people saying she had misunderstood that person's character, or criticizing her for putting her real character in a plausible but invented conversation, etc. etc. The problem with basing a historical novel solely around recorded facts and individuals is that you risk ending up with a novel that sound like little more than a chronicle with dialog, something I dislike intensely. You know, the kind where people sit down and talk about things that are going on and it sounds very unnatural because it's being done for the reader's benefit. It sounds to me as if the author just couldn't make the reader forget that her particular character was a fictional invention. A good author would have left you scurrying off to Wikipedia looking (in vain) for more information about this fictional character and surprised when you found out she was invented, not disappointed by how limp and ineffective she felt as a personality while you were reading. The best HF, I think, is written around the gaps in the record -- when we can't know what actually happened, or what people actually did, and so it's up to the writer to come with something that fits plausibly in between the pieces that are known, that doesn't do violence to history or to the realities of the era. If I am going to read something that sticks only to historical personalities and historical events, I'll read non-fiction history. If I'm reading fiction, I ask that it meet those standards of credibility, and that it be a thumping good story. Sounds like this novel fell short on the latter...

>171 Chatterbox:: It sounds to me as if the author just couldn't make the reader forget that her particular character was a fictional invention. THAT'S IT!!!

The best HF, I think, is written around the gaps in the record YES to that, too.

You've described, better than I did, the gaps in this novel. Thanks Suz!

A good author would have left you scurrying off to Wikipedia looking (in vain) for more information about this fictional character and surprised when you found out she was invented Yes. I've had that happen, and it's wonderful. I'd love to be able to tell you WHERE I've seen it done, but that's one of those "gaps in the record", I'm afraid!

Amen. Amen. and Amen to Suz, and Laura and Linda!

>173 laytonwoman3rd:: I felt that happened in Wolf Hall. Even though I knew about Cromwell historically, I felt that Mantel filled in all those gaps with him and fleshed him out in a way I couldn't have imagined possible...which is slightly different from what Suz is saying, where a character was just made up.

Tui, exactly -- but it's taking the "known" and "knowable" Cromwell as a starting point -- honoring it, but not being bound by it when Mantel (and the rest of us) couldn't know. He didn't leave a memoir about what he was thinking or describing his motivations; what is left to us are his actions.

That's why I object so violently to authors like Carolly Erickson, who write "historical entertainments" that are patently absurd (Mary Queen of Scots escaping, visiting Rome, raising an army in Flanders, living on a farm in Normandy with her daughter by Bothwell, and returning voluntarily to be beheaded???) There are readers of that book who BELIEVED THAT HAPPENED! On the other hand, I'm interested in books that try to delve into the "whys" of her life. Was she complicit in the murder of her second husband? Did she promote or simply accede to assassination plots against Elizabeth? Was she a fool? driven by religious zeal? Did she have poor judgment or just very bad luck? All these are areas that are wide open to interpretation, I think. Even biographers can't judge infallibly, and a novelist's responsibility is to entertain within the bounds of the "knowns".

I've been working off and on on a historical novel revolving around the character of Eleanor Butler, where this is particularly important. Any history buffs may know that she is indirectly responsible for the arrival of the Tudors -- at least, she was used for that purpose. Allegedly, Edward IV had agreed to some kind of betrothal or marriage with her before he married Elizabeth Woodville; she died around 1465/66, after he formally married Elizabeth but long before the king's two sons were born. After Edward's death in 1483, leaving the throne to his 13 year old son (one of the Princes in the Tower) this alleged precontract was used as a reason to declare all Edward's children bastards and raise his brother Richard to the throne as Richard III. Which of course prompted all kinds of opposition, including a big rebellion and the Tudor invasion. But Eleanor, the catalyst of all this is relatively unknown. What intrigue me is that she had incredibly powerful connections. She was the widow of an obscure knight, but her uncle or cousin was Warwick, the king's cousin and the chief powerbroker of the time. Her father had been the 1st earl of Shrewsbury, a war hero and the very model of chivalry for decades -- the Churchill of his day. Her sister married the last Mowbray duke of Norfolk; her niece, Anne Mowbray, married the younger of the princes in the tower, the king's son, while they were both still little children. So did she or didn't she have some kind of precontract with the king that would have invalidated a later marriage in the eyes of the church? We don't know for sure. I'm taking a few more liberties, in the sense that there is a bastard daughter of Edward's that is known to exist, although there is now knowledge about her parentage. What if she was Eleanor's daughter? I'm trying to find a way to weave together the stories of Eleanor, her sister, as well as Anne and the hypothetical daughter.

>175 tiffin:: Tui, I was thinking of Wolf Hall as I was writing my review! Both books were nominated for the Orange Prize, too: Scottsboro in 2009, and Wolf Hall in 2010.

Suz - Let's have more on than off vis a vis working on your novel!

Laura and Tui - I also was thinking of Wolf Hall.

Put me down for a copy, Suz! And I always thought Mary Queen of Scots thought with the wrong part of her anatomy and didn't think enough with the part that should have been thinking. In fact, when I visited her grave at Westminster Abbey, thinking I was the only one in the room, I asked her out loud "what on earth were you thinking?". A very Scottish voice spoke up from the other side of her tomb, saying "Not much, judging from the results".

Tui, you made me laugh so hard that I've still got hiccups...

Lucy, yes, I'd better get on with it before someone else decides it's a great subject. The HF arena is littered with very mediocre authors all in search of subjects

That's twice I've had that kind of thing happen, Suz. I thanked Chopin out loud for his nocturnes, at Pere Lachaise when I thought no one was there and a very French voice said "you're welcome" from somewhere back of his headstone. I went weak with laughter.

You need to start peeking BEHIND gravestones and monuments before trying to commune the dead!

And miss all this fun?

181 That is very funny!!!

#179, 181 Oh, those are such perfectly wonderful moments...
makes me want to spend more time in graveyards!

And I thought of Wolf Hall as well (wasn't that a smashing read...when's the next one coming?), but as a perfect example of "filling in the gaps", not one that made me feel I had met a real person who did not actually exist in the historical context. There's no comparison in my mind between Mantel and Feldman when it comes to drawing the reader in and making us believe every word.

Oh, amen again!
And giggles, Tui! Once was not enough????
Suzanne, what a treat! I wonder how much research you've done.....silly question. Sounds like my kind of book! Please write it.

64. All Quiet on the Western Front ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: Last year I decided to start a tradition of reading a book about war on or around Remembrance Day.

Erich Maria Remarque's classic anti-war novel shows the realities of armed conflict through the eyes of Paul, a young German who served at the front along with several of his classmates. When the book opens, the men have been in service long enough to adapt to the food and living conditions, to see action, and to come together as a unit. And they began to understand that those in authority weren't any better off than themselves:

For us lads of eighteen they ought to have been mediators and guides to the world of maturity, the world of work, of duty, of culture, of progress -- to the future. We often made fun of them and played jokes on them, but in our hearts we trusted them. The idea of authority, which they represented, was associated in our minds with a greater insight and a more humane wisdom. But the first death we saw shattered this belief. (p. 12)

It doesn't take long for the war to take over a man's entire being, and turn him into someone very different than he was before:

We are not youth any longer. We don't want to take the world by storm. We are fleeing. We fly from ourselves. From our life. We were eighteen and had begun to love life and the world; and we had to shoot it to pieces. The first bomb, the first explosion, burst in our hearts. We are cut off from activity, from striving, from progress. We believe in such things no longer, we believe in the war. (p. 87)

When Paul is finally granted leave, he finds it difficult to adjust to daily life at home. Some want to hear about his experience, but he prefers not to share it. Some want to glorify the war, and he is also unwilling to take part in those conversations. Some, like his mother, would rather remain ignorant, which is just as difficult for Paul. He returns to the front and sees even more intense action than before, including killing a man in hand-to-hand combat. Remarque served in World War I himself, and doesn't shy away from the details. He also brilliantly depicts the emotional impact of battle, from remorse to complete mental breakdown. The book follows Paul and his comrades through staggering loss, all the way to the end of the war.

Many books about war are a "play-by-play" of battle scenes told from the victor's point of view. By definition, they seek to show why the war was necessary, and the good it brought to humankind. All Quiet on the Western Front is something altogether different, asking readers to consider whether any good at all can come from war. As far as I'm concerned, the answer is "no."

Great review of All Quiet on the Western Front, Laura. This one went on my wishlist when Bonnie gave it 5 stars but I keep on seeing good reviews of it from others (Katie, I think) and now you that make me want to read it sooner rather than later.

Very nice review of All Quiet on the Western Front, which remains on my list of top reads for this year.

ETA: Pat and I cross-posted!

Yup, All Quiet on the Western Front is firmly inscribed on my wish list. Thanks for your review, Laura. I think it's safe for me to buy this one based on all the LT love.

>188 phebj:-190: so powerful, isn't it? Donna, I am 150% certain you will like it.

Not at all surprised that you liked it Laura. Well, really why would I be?? It remains on my re-read shelf.

>192 brenzi:: me too, Bonnie. And one of those I will foist upon my children ...

Just stopped by to say hi. I read All Quiet on the Western Front a few months back. What a powerful book, and all the more so because we could understand how the German's were more or less brainwashed or forced into war - at least the younger people. I feel strongly about not glorifying war, so I really loved the book.

I read All Quiet in high school -- blew me away. Probably should reread it, but I'm not sure I need to, the message came through so loud and clear.

Back to add -- didn't have to read it -- just picked it off the shelf at the library and read it right there.

Hi, enjoying the chat on the rights and wrongs of historical fiction - and loved the Westminster Abbey anecdote! I suppose, as you suggest, that the impossibility of understanding motives and actions of Mary, Queen of Scots makes her a prime target for the more ridiculous interpretations. It's a genre with a long history: in the late 18th and early 19th centuries there was a whole clutch of novels written featuring absurd versions of the life of Mary, usually focusing on secret marriages and children. The difference seems to be that contemporary readers understood that these were merely "historical entertainments" and were in no danger of mistaking them for an account of the facts. Sad that in these "advanced" days, people are so much more ignorant - or perhaps just more gullible. :)

de-lurking to say hello!

#187 that is a wonderful tradition you have started. I should follow your lead next Remembrance Day

>194 vancouverdeb:: I have the same feelings, Deb.
>195 sibylline:: Lucy, that makes me think this is a book that would be good for my daughter to read.
>196 lyzard:: re Mary and absurdity, I can't help but think of Monty Python ...
>197 ChelleBearss:: thanks Chelle and welcome! Now that I've made it a tradition, I can't believe how many books I'm finding that I want to read. I could spend a year reading war books, but that sure would be a downer...

Enjoying all the historical fiction discussion too - and making a note to read All Quiet before too long...

65. The Sense of an Ending ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: It won the 2011 Booker Prize!

Now in his 60s, Tony Webster is retired, divorced, and taking stock of his life. He begins by recounting his youth and young adulthood, and his social circle, which revolved around Adrian, the aloof ringleader. These relationships falter on leaving school, and when Adrian begins dating Tony's former girlfriend Veronica. Years later, Veronica's mother passes away. Tony is quite surprised to learn she left him a bequest. He gets back in touch with Veronica, and makes a nuisance of himself in attempts to understand the bequest. The reader learns a lot about Tony's true self, even as Tony remains oblivious. As Veronica says repeatedly, "You just don't get it."

Julian Barnes packed so much into this novella, and yet I'm hard pressed to explain just how he did it. The plot appears straightforward, as everyday events unfold through Tony's eyes. But it is actually layered with complexity, requiring the reader to flip back and forth to see what they missed on a first reading. Little by little, you realize how much memories are influenced by what you want -- and don't want -- to remember. Small but important details can escape notice, leaving two people with completely different impressions of events. And sometimes these different points of view have tragic consequences. So it came as a complete shock when Tony finally "got it," and I understood what was actually going on all those years. Or at least I think I understand. I may need to read it yet again.

With a series of haunting images that set the stage, an unreliable narrator, and an overall sense of loss, this book will stay with you long after turning the last page. As Tony says:

What you end up remembering isn't always the same as what you have witnessed. (p. 1)

Wow! Five stars from you! This must have knocked your socks off.

Oh, I can't wait for your review!

I need to reread and review The Sense of an Ending. I'm glad that you loved it, too.

Laura, about 60 pages into When We Were Bad and really enjoying it so far.

And I'm another inspired to read When We Were Bad by your great review! Really enjoying it too so thank you!

>204 tiffin:, 205: wow, that's wonderful! My mom also read it based on my review. Woo hoo!

I've just noticed the little built-in thread policeman at the bottom, right below the add message box ("Continue this topic in another topic ..."). That's new, isn't it? Kind of handy in certain situations. But not now. Let me just go on record:
THIS THREAD WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL DECEMBER 31.

It is a new feature indeed - it came into being just as I'd finished creating my new thread! That message currently pops up once a thread reaches 200 posts, but it's up to you when you click the link to start a new one. Apparently the continuation thread will automatically preserve stars (and the same with red x ignores) so in future we will not have so much trouble finding and re-starring threads that we are trying to follow when they go into multiple threads for the year.

>208 gennyt:: oh, that's very cool. Thanks Genny!

207,208: Yes, it's a new feature, initiated by Zoë: http://www.librarything.com/topic/126131. As gennyt says, it keeps stars and ignores, and it also creates links to the previous and next thread in the chain. So it does automatically what people have been doing manually. It is an option, not a requirement, but should make things easier for both thread creators and thread followers.

Ahaa... I like that. If it makes the linkage easier, so much the better for html-challenge folks like yours truly. Now, let's start a poll on how many posts there will be on this thread by Dec 31... :-)

I like it too. Some people don't always put a link to their OLD thread in the new one, and this really sounds like it will make following easier. But it looks like anyone can do it on any thread...is that true? I wouldn't want someone else taking over my thread, if that's the case...

212: Yeah, there was discussion about that. For challenges, of course only the thread creator should continue the thread, but in other groups with ongoing threads, e.g. combiners or off-topic games, threads aren't tied to a specific person. It's not an instantaneous thing that's easy to do by accident; clicking the "continue" link takes you to another page, where you have to enter a title and post a message. Technically anyone can do it, but technically anyone could start a thread with my name in the title too, and nobody does because it'd be extremely rude.

Well you're so right there it is right down



there.
Cool.

#213 OK, thanks. We know there are NO rude people reading this thread, at any rate!

>215 laytonwoman3rd:: that's for darn sure!
>211 Chatterbox:: I know Suz, just mention the new feature and yikes, look what happens! But I'm stubborn, and sticking with my lovely little thread. Besides, I just noticed the other day that I'm on my 4th thread, and I had 4 threads in 2010. There's a nice symmetry to that. Doesn't matter a whit but I like it so I want to keep it that way. OCD? No ... well ... maybe. :)

Hmmm... what about the 250 post "rule"? I may join you in your rebellion, Laura. This is a lovely thread and I don't blame you for wanting to stick with it.

Sorry for adding another message (with little to say). I noticed all the activity and had to see what kind of party you were having over here.

*Occupy lindsacl*

LOL at Donna's Occupy movement!

Ha ha ha ha ha!
I just got up. Which tent(s) are you all in?

I'm in the khaki green one with the natty blue trim. I find it much more practical than the pretty Cath Kidston ones!

Wow...this thread is the place to be! "Occupy lindsacl" indeed. I love it.

Anyone know what we're protesting?

>222 tiffin:: well it all started with a rebellion against the constraints imposed by the thread police, and my determination to remain with this thread through year-end (see messages 207 & 216-217). But I'm up for anything. Whaddaya got?

Is there room for another tent? ;)

>224 ChelleBearss:: Sure, we can always squeeze in more tents!

By the way, I FINALLY posted my review of The Sense of an Ending, up in message #200. Thanks for being patient -- I had a very busy week at work and just couldn't wrap my head around it. I'm still not sure I have, but it's done.

Nice review, Laura! I am also not sure I "got" the ending, which - given the title - might be exactly how Barnes wants it. I may re-read the book again next year and see if anything becomes clearer. But I don't think Tony ever truly understands...

Great review of A Sense of an Ending, Laura. I have this on hold at the library and am anxious to get to it. I liked your comment: Small but important details can escape notice, leaving two people with completely different impressions of events. I find this to be fascinating when I discover it in my own life.

Popping out of my tent to add to the appreciation of your Barnes review, Laura! I, too, was left with the feeling that I should read it again and actually did go back to re- read one scene early on the book.

>226 katiekrug:: Katie, regarding the ending, I was also left with a bit of uncertainty. I mean, there was this big "WHAM" about a certain situation, but I also have this feeling there are some other more subtle points I haven't really connected yet.
>227 phebj:: Pat, there are a couple of real-life situations that I've been thinking about a lot since I read this. Particularly situations that do irreparable harm to relationships: do I remember it correctly? What was my role in the problem. It's rather uncomfortable; it's much easier to sit back and assume I was in the right. Sigh.
>228 Soupdragon:: Thank you, Dee! It certainly wouldn't take me much time to re-read, and I likely will.

Nice review of The Sense of an Ending, Laura. I think I'll wait January to reread and review it. I loved that line on page 1; it was one of several in the book that made me pause and reflect on my own life.

I do hope that you occupiers bathe regularly, unlike the three horribly malodorous Occupy Oakland youth that boarded the car of the BART train I was on after I saw a play in Berkeley last month. I had to move away from them, as their fragrance combined with the train's movement made me very nauseous.

Sorry, Darryl. We are too busy changing the world to bathe ;-)

>231 katiekrug:: I agree. Honestly, Darryl, if you'd just join in with us you wouldn't even notice.

Can you guys at least run through a sheep dip?

>230 kidzdoc: Kidzdoc, I love this phrase you used:
"as their fragrance combined with the train's movement". Inspired!

TT

Popping up my tent in the tiny space that's available...

>200 lauralkeet: What you end up remembering isn't always the same as what you have witnessed. (p. 1)

That was what the book was all about I think. Your review is excellent Laura and I think I actually read the book twice because I went back rechecking passages so often to see if i was understanding or remembering what I'd previously read.

Good review Laura!
That one is on my wishlist now

Here to join the protest party, but I'll not be setting up a tent - sorry, but I'm just not an outdoorsy, camping kind of gal. I prefer to Occupy my comfortable bed inside my warm and cosy house, thankyouverymuch.

Amber we could set up a luxury tent for you, with a bed and nice fireplace, just so you don't miss out!

Laura, look who is on the hot reviews now! ;)

Chelle: Ha! Okay, I'll think about it...

I could handle a yurt with indoor plumbing....and a woodstove.

>238 ChelleBearss:: woot! I admit to a certain frisson of excitement when I see one of my reviews there :)

* squeezing into Amber's tent, because I hate camping too. Ooh, looky, there's running water, electricity, and a hot tub in here! *

Okay, how about Occupy Ritz-Carlton? :)

How about occupy one of those tents like Harry Potter had? appears small, but could be a mansion inside...

drneut: Yes!!

Suzanne: I was thinking that too! Ha!

66. A Book of Secrets ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: I read reviews of this book in both the New York Times (here) and The Guardian (here), and was sufficiently intrigued to buy it (this coming from someone who reads mostly used and library books!).

In A Book of Secrets: Illegitimate Daughters, Absent Fathers, Michael Holroyd unravels the lives of three early twentieth century women, and joins them together through loose connections to Ernest Beckett, the second Lord Grimthorpe, and his Italian residence, the Villa Cimbrone. If this sounds a bit obscure, well, it is. Holroyd set out to write "not so much a traditional biographical narrative, but ... a set of thematically related stories" about three interesting, if lesser-known, women.

The first, Eve Fairfax, nearly married Beckett after the death of his first wife. Beckett commissioned a bust from the French sculptor, Rodin, but was ultimately unable to pay for the work. Eve's reasons for refusing Beckett are unclear. She spent most of her life in poverty, living off various friends and lugging around a huge book in which her visitors composed pithy thoughts. The second woman, Catherine Till, believes herself to be the illegitimate daughter of Beckett's grandson. Holroyd accompanied Catherine on a research project at the Villa Cimbrone. And finally, there is Violet Trefusis, the best known of the three. An author who had a notorious affair with Vita Sackville-West, Violet was likely Beckett's illegitimate daughter, the result of his affair with Alice Keppel (later the mistress of King Edward VII).

Each woman's story is interesting in its own right, as is the allure of Villa Cimbrone and the many literary figures and society members who graced its halls. As a fan of Virago Modern Classics, I especially enjoyed reading Violet's story. Holroyd presents a fairly balanced picture of the woman and her controversial romantic liaisons. On the one hand I felt sorry for her, forced by her family to marry a man and cover up her lesbian relationships. On the other hand, her arrogant, controlling nature made her a less sympathetic figure.

I was also intrigued by Holroyd's attempts to assemble a coherent history, when in fact many trails go nowhere, DNA evidence is not available, and there are no tell-all documents or definitive sources. And then there's the theme of illegitimacy, which manifests itself in various ways:

Illegitimacy is a word with several meanings. Ernest’s wife Luie was to die in her twenties producing a legitimate heir to the Grimthorpe title. Eve Fairfax was illegitimate in the sense that, not marrying Ernest, she lost her legitimate place in society. Her Book is a unique testament to the enduring pride that kept her afloat. And then there is Ernest’s extraordinary illegitimate daughter Violet who, exiled from England, was to compensate for her outcast state by claiming the King of England as her father. Such fantasies were a balm for the pain of lost love. But fact and fantasy are held in subtle equilibrium in the best of her novels, which may yet find a legitimate place in European literature for the name Violet Trefusis.

Holroyd's style, mingling traditional biography with personal experience, results in an engaging book which will appeal to anyone who enjoys English history and literature.

Lovely review, Laura, I really like the sound of that one!

The Holroyd is going on my list! He did a great job with the bio of Lytton Strachey, and the Shaw bio is also great, if unwieldy and loooonnng. Oooh, I just noticed that he wrote a family memoir, Basil Street Blues. Since I lived on Basil Street as a child (six until 12) in London, I think I may have to seek this one out, too...

>246 Soupdragon:: Dee, as a Virago aficionado I think you'd like it quite a bit!
>247 Chatterbox:: Suz, the good news is this one is not that long. 272 pages or so.

oooh can't get that one until I read the Lytton Strachey, which has been sitting here for well over a year. Good review, though.

I saw that review in the Times and now with your excellent one too this has to go on the list Laura.

Yes, the Holroyd is a must! A find!

>249 tiffin:-251: It's so nice to be in a place where people appreciate books like this one! That's what I love about LT. I also know that if it weren't for LT I probably wouldn't have been interested in this book myself.

Excellent review, Laura!

Hmm, I see that the "Continue this topic in another topic" hyperlink is now red and blinking.

>253 kidzdoc:: I see that the "Continue this topic in another topic" hyperlink is now red and blinking.
It can blink all it wants to. See message #207. So there, pfffft.

Laura, I like your spunkiness. You hang in there! I hope someone brings a nice hot meal to your tent tomorrow!

*Happy Thanksgiving*

67. The Eyre Affair (DNF)
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now:I picked up a copy of The Eyre Affair three years ago in a used bookstore. I finally decided to read it, thinking it would be the perfect read for a week when I'm off work and looking for some mindless fun. I made it halfway through, but couldn't get into the story.

The Eyre Affair's premise had great potential: a mystery set in England c. 1985, involving time travel and a society obsessed with literature. The protagonist, Thursday Next, is a Special Operative in a government agency devoted to "literary detection." Thursday has had a long, successful career as a Special Operative, and hopes to move up in the service. She's unmarried, much to her parents' disappointment. But it's not for lack of opportunity; she still harbors feelings for an old flame, Landen Parke-Laine.

When Thursday is called out on a special assignment that results in fatalities, she accepts a post in Swindon, her hometown, to get away from the pressure and visibility of London. But of course she can't really escape, and the "baddies" turn up in Swindon. Corporations battle with the government for control, people disappear, Thursday's father shows up occasionally to report on his time travels, and elaborate contraptions often come into play.

The characters have "clever" names: Thursday Next, Millon de Floss, Jack Schitt, and so on. Each short chapter tossed out new characters, new situations, and new stunts. But there was also a fair amount of violence. Now I'm not the sort who prefers to read about kittens in baskets, but the violence juxtaposed with wordplay and cleverness just didn't work for me. And I just got tired of the cleverness.

On top of all this, the mystery was slow to develop. The "blurb" on my edition states, "When Jane Eyre is plucked from the pages of Brontë's novel, Thursday must track down the villain and enter the novel herself to avert a heinous act of literary homicide." After 175 pages, this storyline had yet to develop, and I was no longer willing to wait for it.

256: Well, the book may be one to avoid, but your review is entertaining. You have a way of getting at what's what.

>257 qebo:: Thanks Katherine! And Happy Thanksgiving!

Lol, Laura. This is one book (and series) I didn't fall for. A little "clever" goes a long way for me!
Enjoy the rest of your time off from work. I hope you find a book that works for you.

68. Miss Pettigrew lives for a Day ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: I'm in the mood for comfort reads. This is definitely one of those!

What a delight! Miss Pettigrew is a middle-aged governess, unmarried, and part Cinderella, part Mary Poppins. One day, her employment agency sends her to Miss Delysia LaFosse, ostensibly to fill an open place. On arrival, Miss Pettigrew finds Miss LaFosse, a night club singer, trying to deal with an unwanted male visitor. Miss Pettigrew surprises everyone, including herself, by successfully getting rid of the gentleman. And from that point on, she can do no wrong in Miss LaFosse's eyes.

Miss Pettigrew is forty-ish, unmarried, and entirely dependent on employers for her room and board. Miss LaFosse's lifestyle is foreign and exciting, as are her relationships with men. Despite her success ousting unwelcome suitors, Miss Pettigrew is completely inexperienced in the art of romance, and even the most basic beauty rituals:

Miss Pettigrew stared at her blankly. Her mind was whirling: her thoughts chaotic. A mental upheaval rendered her dizzy. Yes, why? All these years and she had never had the wicked thrill of powdering her nose. Others had experienced that joy. Never she. And all because she lacked courage. All because she had never thought for herself. Powder, thundered her father the curate, the road to damnation. Lipstick, whispered her mother, the first step on the downward path. Rouge, fulminated her father, the harlot's enticement. Eyebrow pencil, breathed her mother, no lady ... ! (p. 73)

She's also very proper:

"I've never sworn in my life before," wailed Miss Pettigrew.

... "But I didn't hear you swear," consoled Miss LaFosse.

"You must have been too upset. I said 'damned' and 'hell' and meant them ... that way."

"Oh!" said Miss LaFosse with a reassuring beam. '"They're not swear words. They're only expressions." (p. 45)

Over the course of a single day, Miss Pettigrew comes to the aid of Miss LaFosse and her friends in countless ways. And they teach her a thing or two as well, giving her a makeover and whisking her away on their evening adventures. As the clock advanced into the evening, it appeared Cinderella's coach might turn back into a pumpkin, and Miss Pettigrew would once again find herself destitute and alone. But Winifred Watson takes the story in a different direction, one that is simultaneously predictable and enormously satisfying.

This book was real treat. And while it was my first Persephone Classic, I have a feeling it won't be my last.

I have been waiting for this book on PBS forever and I'm apparently getting no closer. Now with your terrific review I'm going to either have to break down and buy it or see if the library has it.

ETA did you know there is a movie (2008) starring Frances McDormand?

I had to stop by and echo your comments, Laura. I loved Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day! So did my wife and daughter. A delight is right.

>261 brenzi:: re: the movie. YES! And I looked at our TV listings and it's available On Demand for $3.99 BUT is also airing on a cable channel Saturday morning so the DVR is set!
>262 jnwelch:: my daughter (almost 19) has seen the movie but not yet read the book, so I'm passing it on to her!

Ah, the book is so much better than the movie, isn't it. If she liked the movie, she should love the book.

Laura, I'm probably the only person on the planet who had trouble with this book. It really grated when Miss LaFosse got slapped to "smarten her up" and there was some anti-Semitism in it that got my back up too. I really wanted to love this book because otherwise it was a lot of fun but these two things just stuck in my craw (as I boringly said in my review).

>265 tiffin:: ah yes ... I remember that now (the craw-sticking review, that is). And I recall those moments in the book too. I can more easily forgive an author from another era, because I know they didn't view things then the way we do now. And what sins are we committing today that will horrify those two generations from now? But sometimes those same things stick in my craw, too. For whatever reason, they didn't hit me as hard in this book as they hit you.

Joining the occupation belatedly - though I think I'll take the approach to camping which I took at my summer festival this year: stay on site all day but slip off to a Travelodge for the overnight bits!

I can identify with your problems with The Eyre Affair. I did stick with it, and enjoyed it more by the end, but I did find it very slow to get into and slow for the story to take off - too much setting up. I did eventually read the second book, which to my mind was much better, though still a little over-clever for it to be a big favourite.

And I've yet to read Miss Pettigrew...

>267 gennyt:: Genny, I hope you spent a comfortable night in the Travelodge!

Yesterday I had a bit of a book-shopping spree, although nothing like Genny reported on her thread. I despise the frenetic holiday shopping scene, especially the day after Thanksgiving, and refuse to take part in it. But I make an exception for used bookshops -- especially charity shops -- in cute towns. So when my daughter, who is home from university, asked if we could go to our favorite little charity bookshop, how could I refuse? It was both my parental and civic duty. And they were having a half-price sale. Kate picked up a few things, and I came away with:

The Enchanted April - a Virago Modern Classic edition
Oryx and Crake - an acclaimed Atwood that I've never read
A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter - this one had been on my wish list, woo hoo!
The Child in Time
Dark Fire - the second book in a mystery series, recommended by tiffin
The Secret History

Not a bad outing all in all!

I had a very comfortable night, thank you! Resuming occupation now.

Ooh, you did find a good selection yesterday - at least, I know that the three I've read are good (the Atwood, von Arnim and Sansom). I've heard good things of the Barnes too.

I agree about hating busy holiday shopping, but if you stick to charity bookshops, all's well!

Oh, your trip to the bookshop with your daughter sounds wonderful! You got yourself some great books too!

I hope there isn't a crushed secret Santa out there somewhere, Ms. No Willpower! *snort* Good haul though!

Ohhhhh, The Secret History, that's a blast from the past for me, in a good way, of course. I think I read it when it fist came out in 1990-91, somewhere in there.

>269 gennyt:: Genny, I hope you're still holed up in your tent finishing your tax return.
>270 scaifea:: Thanks Amber! We had such a nice time, and took a little side trip to a cute boutique down the street with fun jewelry, bags and scarves. All in the interest of supporting local merchants, you understand :)
>271 tiffin:: Yeah well ... in years past my Santa has surprised me, and not bought from my wish list, so maybe I'll be OK?!
>272 brenzi:: Bonnie, I think I first heard of it about 10 years ago, and I can't even remember in what context. But I almost bought it at the time. Since then it keeps popping up when I go used book shopping. I finally decided it was a sign.

I'm not one to talk...put a book I've wanted in front of me with a bargoon price and there wouldn't be a moment's hesitation! It must be fun to shop with daughters....*sigh*.

69. An Unsuitable Attachment ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: Another comfort read.k

This was a most satisfying read, full of what Barbara Pym does best: satirizing the public and private lives of England's "excellent women." Sophia Ainger is a vicar's wife in a parish in a somewhat dodgy part of London. When she's not supporting her husband's work, she's arranging suitors for her younger sister Penelope. There's a comforting predictability to church work:

Ianthe Broom, Daisy Pettigrew, Sister Dew, and one or two others whose names she could never remember, now sat down round the table and began to discuss the final arrangements for the bazaar, which had always been exactly the same and always would be, except that from one year to another a pint more or less of milk might be ordered for the teas. (p. 53)

Sophia is also slightly obsessed with her cat, Faustina, who is always in the background engaging in typical feline behavior:

Her tone was a little agitated for she had also just seen Faustina mount the refreshment table and pick her way delicately among the dishes of cakes and savouries, sniffing the air, ready to pause and pounce when she came upon something that took her fancy. (p. 60)

Sophia finds sympathetic company in Daisy Pettigrew and her brother Edwin, who run a cattery. But when conversation lags or gets awkward, Sophia fills the gap by comparing Faustina to various humans, or wondering aloud what Faustina is doing at that moment. This never seems to help matters, but it made for amusing reading.

Then there's Ianthe Broom, a 30-something unmarried daughter of a curate. She works in a library and recently moved into the parish. Most consider her past her prime, but Sophia is concerned about her competing with Penelope for male attention. Ianthe is oblivious to all of this; she's not looking for a mate, and values her independence. She is both surprised and flattered when a male colleague begins paying attention to her. But is he suitable? Or will others judge her?

A church-sponsored trip to Rome puts everyone out of their element. This heightens anxieties, but new experiences also offer opportunities for self-discovery. Ianthe and Penelope both return to England with a better understanding of what they want from life and their relationships.

Pym's world is familiar to anyone who has ever been involved in church committees, and she simultaneously respects and pokes fun at this slice of society. Sophia's "crazy cat lady" personality made me laugh out loud on several occasions. And so, for that matter, did Faustina (especially since I had a cat in my lap most of the time when I was reading this book)!

I've read most of Barbara Pym's books, and enjoyed them all. An Unsuitable Attachment is now one of my favorites.

I heard a radio serialisation of An Unsuitable Attachment recently which was just wonderful. It made me think of the book as one of my favourite Pyms even though I haven't actually read it.

Great haul from the charity shop. Like Bonnie, I read The Secret History in the 1990s. I remember the year it came out, it was showered with rave reviews and I was quite wowed by it but a good friend of mine read it recently and hated it! I'll be interested to read your thoughts when you get around to it.

I read The Enchanted April last year and enjoyed it. It was a sweet read in a good way!

Interesting comment on The Secret History, Dee. My recent experience with The Eyre Affair has me a bit worried about books that were hyped ages ago, wondering if my tastes have changed. We'll see!

You've made me want to reread it, Laura! The Pym, that is.

I'll bet The Secret History holds up -- it was a darned good read. Maenads swarming the hills of Vermont, how could that ever be out-of-date? Ha ha.

Dropping by to say hello. You look to be on target for 75. Any chance you'll get to the New York meetup?

>278 tiffin:: Tui, Pyms would make for easy and comfy re-reading wouldn't they? I may have to do that myself, I think I've read nearly all of them now. I should probably buy a matched set :)

>279 sibylline:: Thanks for the vocab lesson, Lucy ("maenads") !

>280 qebo:: Katherine, yes I think I'm on target. I'm not really in this for the numbers, so I'm trying not to let it irk me, but the past 2 years I clocked in at 80. No way will I make that, but I *did* read two volumes of Dance to the Music of Time, which I counted as 2 although they are 6 novellas. So I'm probably pretty close to previous years. Not that it matters, LOL. As for the NY meetup, while I'd love to it's a busy time with family things, so I'm going to have to take a pass.

281: I wasn't in this for the numbers either until sibyx got me catching up with magazines, and it seemed acceptable to count them since they are reading and they do occupy what would otherwise be book time, and if I count them then 75 is within reach...

I've got 9 left to go to make 75, Laura, and I'm not going to sweat it. I usually read about 5 between Christmas and New Years but before Christmas, fuggetaboutit!

70. I Shall Not Want ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: It's been on my stacks for a while, and I've really enjoyed this series.

Like each book that preceded it, the sixth book in the Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne mystery series deals with a social issue. In I Shall Not Want, the mystery revolves around undocumented immigrants who work almost unobserved on farms near Millers Kill, NY. When three men are found dead just a few weeks apart, the police begin to suspect a serial killer. Their prime suspects are members of the Christie family, prosperous farmers who also happen to be semi-literate thugs. This book also introduces Hadley Knox, a single mother who returns to Millers Kill after a long absence, and uses her experience working in Corrections to land a job with the police.

At first Clare, an Episcopal priest, works hard to keep a healthy distance between herself and Russ, the police chief. Their growing feelings for one another have caused a lot of problems in the past, both in Russ' marriage and Clare's standing with her bishop. But you know where this is going, right? Clare's pastoral duties compel her to get involved in social concerns, and there are various community issues on the fringes that cause her to be on the scene at key moments. So before you know it she's up to her ears in the case, and running into Russ at every turn.

This time, the characters and their relationships actually upstage the mystery. But that was just fine with me. I was cheering for Hadley as she struggled to show credibility as a police officer, and create a stable home environment for herself and her children. I had tremendous sympathy for Russ, who was coping with a tragedy. And despite it being wrong on so many levels, I really wanted Clare and Russ to bridge the distance between them.

Julia Spencer-Fleming is superb at character development. After six books, I feel like I know these people. My emotions were genuine, even though I knew none of the people were real. And although this particular mystery wasn't as complex as those in earlier books, it was realistic, and had just enough twists to keep me guessing.

Of course I'm not going to tell you how it all works out. But I'll say this: the ending was so satisfying for the characters that I'm tempted not to read the next book, just so I can leave them all right there.

Just stopping by, admiring your recent book haul and checking out reviews. Good stuff!
(I read an ARC of The Secret History and was a little unimpressed with her Greek but enjoyed it all the same. I do remember liking Elizabeth Hand's similar Waking the Moon a little more.)

I'm not going near that review and just will say that I'm so glad I found this series and when I went back to check my tags to see who recommended it, guess what? It was you. So thank you very much my friend. I'm looking forward to reading Book #4 sometime in the next couple of weeks.

>286 brenzi:: aw, well how about that?! After finishing #6 I checked my ratings and found they've gone up as I've moved through the series. Very unusual for me, usually I get tired of the series after a while. So you are in for some good reading, Bonnie!

71. Miss Hargreaves ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: Another opportunity to clear a "fun read" from my stacks.

Imagine if you and a friend created a fictitious person, and then that person showed up on your doorstep! That's exactly what happened to Norman Huntley and his friend Henry Beddow. While on holiday in Ireland, they visited a village church. To amuse themselves in conversation with the sexton, they invented Constance Hargreaves, lifelong friend of a former vicar at the church. They had a grand time pulling the sexton's leg, telling him about Miss Hargreaves' personality, her unusual pets, her interests in music and poetry, and on and on. After the visit, and still carrying on a bit, they sent a letter to Miss Hargreaves' address. When Norman received a letter in return, he was flabbergasted. Then Miss Hargreaves came to visit, and she was everything Norman and Henry had imagined.

Speechless, I sat down at a marble table and faced the Woman I had Made Up on the Spur of the Moment.

... 'It is such a very long time since we met; indeed, I cannot remember now when or what that was. My memory -- alas! -- works but spasmodically in this, the evening of my days. But what an evening! Oh, yes! It is no use disguising the fact; I am no longer young.' She leant forward across the table, tapped me on the chest with a silver pencil suspended from a chain around her neck. 'Eighty-three, Norman; eighty-three! Five reigns. And yet -- I feel as though I had been born last week! Youth' -- she declaimed, touching her heart -- 'lives here.' (p. 60)

Norman doesn't know how to explain the sudden arrival of a supposed dear friend. He's sure everyone would think he'd lost his mind. And well, perhaps they would, so he continually ducks the question. He begins to question himself: perhaps he really did meet Miss Hargreaves long ago? Miss Hargreaves proceeds to insert herself into Norman's life. She insists on meeting his family, and even goes so far as to buy property in the town. She completely monopolizes his time, but in a good way, just as you would expect from someone you've known for years. But Norman begins to chafe under all this attention, and under the questions and stares coming from his mother, his girlfriend, and others. Then he begins to discover his power over Miss Hargreaves: if he imagines her in a situation, he later learns the situation actually occurred. Some of his actions have permanent ramifications, altering their relationship. This creates a huge moral dilemma: if Norman can invent Miss Hargreaves, perhaps he can make her disappear. But does he want to? Could he bring himself to do such a thing?

I instantly liked Miss Hargreaves. Strutting about in her tweed jacket and absurd hat, spouting off with her opinions, reading her poetry aloud, drawing attention to herself and yet repeatedly protesting, "I abominate fuss." She made me laugh at every turn. There were times I wanted to smack Norman, especially when he was being weak or self-centered. And I really worried about him when he faced the moral dilemma, because up to then he had been alternately kind and cruel to Miss Hargreaves. So as not to spoil it for others, I'll just say the story wraps up in a way that follows the will of both characters, and feels perfectly right. I won't soon forget Miss Hargreaves. Perhaps I'll even meet her someday. :)

72. We Have Always Lived in the Castle ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: I've had it for ages.

Mary Katherine "Merricat" Blackwood and her sister Constance live in their stately family home with their invalid uncle Julian. Constance is a recluse, afraid to go into the town. Merricat takes care of all the family errands, and endures the stares and catcalls from townspeople. Several years before, five other family members died after arsenic was put in the sugar bowl. Constance was acquitted, but the town won't let them get on with their lives. So they pass their days quietly. Constance is in her late 20s and handles most of the cooking and household management. Merricat is 18 and helps out with certain tasks but prefers the outdoors and the company of her cat, Jonas. One day their cousin Charles appears on the scene, and attempts to insert himself into their lifestyle and into the family affairs. Charles is smarmy, and while his motives are unclear you can be sure they aren't good. Constance appears to be falling for it, and only Merricat is suspicious.

But then, as often happens in creepy stories, there's a cataclysmic event followed by a significant plot twist designed to make you question everything you've read so far. Unfortunately, the cataclysmic event was foreshadowed, and I spotted the twist long before it happened. I was disappointed, having read many reviews about how wonderfully creepy this story was.

Shirley Jackson was the author of several novels and short stories, often involving elements of horror or the occult. We Have Always Lived in the Castle was published in 1962, and perhaps it just doesn't hold up well when compared to modern works of a similar nature.

Hooray! You liked Miss Hargreaves!

Oh yes, I did ... very much!

Too bad you didn't like We Have Always Lived in the Castle more. I read it for the first time a few years ago and loved it.

288: Well that sounds charming. Absurd hats are the best.
289: I may've been scarred for life by The Lottery...

>292 rebeccanyc:: I was surprised, Rebecca. It was creepy, but just not creepy enough I guess.
>293 qebo:: Oh, The Lottery! I had to read that in high school English and the teacher also had us watch a short film. I can still picture the look in the woman's eyes ... shudder.

Hi Laura. I loved your review of Miss Hargreaves and agree that the twist in We have always Lived isn't much of a twist. I did enjoy the book though, probably more than you and enjoyed its odd atmosphere. Perhaps creepy isn't the best word to describe it and it led you to expect something more scary? The trouble is I can't think of a better word!

Good couple reviews there!
I enjoyed We have always lived in the castle but I haven't read Miss Hargreaves yet! I'll have to add that one to my list!

I think perhaps We Have Always Lived in the Castle suffered from having been somewhat "hyped" in my mind. I've seen several mentions & reviews on LT that inspired me to read it, and then it just didn't quite live up to what I expected.

Miss Hargreaves, on the other hand, was wonderful!

Miss Hargreaves sounds like one I will like. I have three of Shirley Jackson's books on my shelf and would like to read them all someday just to read them I guess. Great reviews Laura, as always.

I'm putting Miss Hargreaves onto my WL Laura - sounds like a good read for this time of year.

Ha - I'm adding the 300th message to your long thread, Laura. I'm so glad that the Julia Spencer-Fleming books are still going strong. I like your last sentence, although I'm sure you'll be eagerly reading the next installment.

I've been staying away from ER offerings, but I took a quick look last week... and, behold... there was In the Bleak Midwinter! I put my name in the pot but don't hold out much hope as the mystery genre is not well represented in my reading. There's always the library.

Okay, going back to lurk status so I don't add more heft to your thread. ;-)

I'm adding the 300th message to your long thread, Laura.
She took a stand in post 207, and she's not backing down!

>298 brenzi:, 299: I think you'd both enjoy Miss Hargreaves.

>300 Donna828:: In the Bleak Midwinter is an ER book? That's odd as it was originally published nearly 10 years ago. But hey, I'm happy if others discover this well-written series!

>301 qebo:: damn straight. My 16yo just told me yesterday that I was stubborn. I vehemently denied it. Hmmm.

>302 lauralkeet:: don't you hate it when your kids nail you? hehe

Don't feel bad, I'm over my 200 now and the little blue link at the bottom is temping, but I refuse to start a new thread for the small amount of time left in 2011!

Soon enough it will be time to start a 2012 thread :)

>304 ChelleBearss:: Soon enough it will be time to start a 2012 thread :) EXACTLY!

73. The Seduction of Mrs Pendlebury ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: I'm reading books from my stacks this month, and the cover blurb appealed to me.

Rose Pendlebury and her husband Stanley are an elderly couple, living quietly in a London suburb slowly being taken over by young families. Rose is a prickly sort, judgmental and set in her ways:

She wasn't going to let any irritation spoil this lovely park. She was going to sit on a seat with her eyes feasting on all the greenery and the lake and the ducks and the flowers and not be bothered by anything. People were the trouble -- if only there were no people, she would be happy. (p.35)

Stanley goes with the flow, investing considerable energy in placating Rose and preventing the proverbial apple cart from being upset:

Rose had always been contrary. It was part of her way. Just when you thought you'd misunderstood her it all came right in the end. She wasn't one of your straightforward types. Her mind was like the inside of a car engine, all little nuts and bolts and wires that looked a terrifying tangle until you knew how it worked and which bit operated what. (p. 43)

When Alice and Tony Oram move in next door, Rose instantly judges them as a pretentious couple bent on urban gentrification -- the same way she sees other neighbors. One day while out working in her garden, she hears sounds of a child playing next door. Slowly, Rose befriends 2-year-old Amy and, even more slowly, Alice. The Orams turn out to be better sorts than Rose expected, and Alice makes it her personal mission to break down Rose's inhibitions and improve her outlook.

And that's what I thought this book was about, so when Rose began to warm up I settled in for a heartwarming story of love and friendship. But there was a strong dark current running through this book as well. Alice's friendship with Rose introduces conflict and stress into her marriage. Rose's relationship with her sister-in-law is contentious. She treats her husband poorly. Her son moved to Australia, and the implication is that he needed to put distance between himself and his parents. And all of Alice's care and concern can only go so far toward rehabilitating Rose. The story takes a very sad turn, and leaves Rose and Stanley on the cusp of change, their future uncertain.

The Seduction of Mrs Pendlebury was a layered and very well-written character study. I had to admire Margaret Forster's characterizations, but the plot fell short. The "seduction" of Rose was complete about halfway through the book, and the emotional roller-coaster that followed left too many loose ends.

Excellent review, Laura. I read Mrs Pendlebury some years back and remember it being an uncomfortable read. I was going through a Margaret Forster phase at the time and enjoyed this one less than The Memory Box, Shadow Baby and The Battle for Christabel.

>307 Soupdragon:: Dee, after I finished it I noticed you had it in your library so I checked out your rating. We seem to have had similar feelings about this book.

I was inspired to read this book after reading a review somewhere, I'm pretty sure it was on a blog, not LT, and the reviewer loved it. I instantly requested the book from Paperbackswap. You're right about it being uncomfortable. The blurb on the back cover makes it sound like the heartwarming story and I wasn't prepared for Rose's downward spiral.

If I see it in the library, I might try it, otherwise I'll give this one a pass. 2 more to go, Ms. Laura! You've had a rather splendiferous year.

I read your blog post about non-fiction... My preference these days is for non-fiction, because I'm in a learning mode, and when I'm reading serious novels I get twinges of high school, anxiety that I am supposed to be discerning Meaning. Still, I wouldn't call one "better" than the other. Depends on what you're after, and quality makes a difference, however it is defined: language, depth, perceptiveness, etc. I too have been gravitating toward narrative non-fiction -- more story to pull things together or put things in context, fewer facts to remember (or forget).

>310 qebo:: Thanks Katherine! Nice to know someone's out there reading. I enjoy following your thread precisely because you read a lot of non-fiction. I live vicariously through you, LOL!

There you are! I've been dropping intermittent Christmas greetings in between batches of cookies and candy. Mostly easy stuff that I can't mess up!

Nice to know someone's out there reading. I am reading the ideal book for a busy time... An Irish Country Village. It is very light so I can dip in and out of it with ease. I'll probably finish it tomorrow and then will look at my short story collections to help keep my sanity with 4 grandchildren and too many dogs around.

I hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas, Laura. I'm looking forward to your new thread in 2011!

Thanks Donna! Best wishes to you as well -- and, really, to everyone who has been hanging out with me here this year.

#312 My husband just finished An Irish Country Village, and immediately picked up the next book in that series, appropriately An Irish Country Christmas. I've read the first, An Irish Country Doctor, and enjoyed it quite a lot---not taxing at all.

Laura, I popped into your blog and dropped my two cents in the box. Got a little carried away, maybe. ;>)

I've missed your blog post about non-fiction Laura but am off to find it (I almost always read them from your FB link - can you tell where your visitors are from if we don't say anything?)

I am doing the same as Donna and popping in to say merry Christmas.

Cush, I am able to get some stats about blog traffic but nothing so specific as "Cushla was here," unless of course you comment. I have a little visitor map graphic on the sidebar, and WordPress can tell me the sites that "referred" people (i.e.; Facebook or LT), as well as the search terms that lead people to my blog. The latter can be amusing sometimes (13 people have searched on "how does south riding end?", as if I would tell them!)

That's so funny about people looking for the end of South Riding. Wonder if it's for a school assignment? Well, I am one of your little dots from the southern hemisphere - but I will try to comment more.

I read blogs through Google Reader, rarely visit directly, so I suppose I'd show up as a subscriber, don't know whether you get individual names or just total number.

74. Started Early, Took My Dog ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: This was a recent purchase, specifically intended to read now while I'm taking some time off from work.

Jackson Brodie has made a career out of finding missing people. This line of work is somewhat of an obsession, brought on by his sister's disappearance and murder many years before. In this, the fourth novel in a series, Jackson is searching for a young woman's biological parents. Kate Atkinson carefully weaves this thread with several others to create a complex tale full of twists and turns. Several prostitutes have been found murdered, prompting speculation about a serial killer. Tracy Waterhouse, recently retired from the police force, impulsively rescues 4-year-old Courtney from an abusive situation, and finds herself taking on significant new responsibility. Tilly, an aging actress, struggles to cope as dementia begins to affect her work. And finally, the thirty-year-old unsolved murder of Carol Braithwaite is always lurking in the background.

All these disparate stories are related, and Kate Atkinson is a master at the slow reveal. She leaves tiny clues as she moves from one thread to the next. Some are red herrings, of course, which keeps the reader -- and Jackson -- guessing. Atkinson also skilfully manipulates her readers, encouraging us to make assumptions based on what hasn't been said: Jackson's breakthrough comes when he realizes he failed to ask the most obvious question. Each thread also features well-developed characters. Tilly's relationship to the crimes was unclear through most of the novel, but her story was an emotional one that could almost stand on its own. Much of the novel revolved around Tracy and Courtney, and while some of their story seemed far-fetched, it provided action and pacing.

Unfortunately, Jackson's investigation seemed superfluous and lacked excitement. Inserting Jackson into a larger crime story allowed Atkinson to continue developing his character by playing out the effects of events from earlier novels, and leaving a tiny cliffhanger for possible consideration in a future book. This was a disappointment, but Atkinson still produced a ripping good mystery that kept me engaged from start to finish.

The consensus seems to be that Started Early isn't the best Brodie. From what you say, it still sounds worth reading though.

Merry Christmas!

Dee, I agree with your statement. Still worth reading, just different.

How I realized the importance of the Jackson Brodie storyline: my husband hasn't read the books, but we watched the dramatizations together (they were just broadcast in October). I was about 50 pages into this book when Chris asked me, "has Jackson taken his shirt off yet?" And my answer, sadly, was "no." That's when I knew what was missing :)

Merry Christmas to you as well!

Happy Christmas, Laura!!

75. Sweet Death, Kind Death ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: I received it as a gift from a friend a year ago. When we met for our annual holiday lunch last week, I was wracked with guilt at not having read the book yet. So I did. Well, that's over with anyway.

Here’s what I like in a mystery: well-developed characters, suspense, and a complex plot that requires the sleuth to prove their skill or intellect.

What was missing from this mystery: all the above.

At first I was encouraged by the English teacher-as-sleuth, the opening quotes in each chapter from woman authors like Stevie Smith, Virginia Woolf, and Toni Morrison, and a the literary discussion around the edges of the plot. The mystery was pretty standard stuff: a female professor is found dead on the campus of a women’s college, and it’s deemed a suicide until information comes to light making murder a possibility.

Kate Fansler, the aforementioned English teacher, is called in to investigate. Why? I’m not sure. She had a tenuous connection to the victim, Patrice Umphelby, having met her once while waiting for a delayed flight. Kate is also connected to two men writing Patrice’s biography, who have put their project on hold until the circumstances of her death are known. The college brings Kate on board, ostensibly to take part in an academic task force, but really to give her free rein to talk to anyone on staff as part of her investigation.

And talk she does. Most of the “action” involves Kate attending meetings or cocktail parties, and inquiring about Patrice. People are clearly divided — love her or hate her — and they make their opinions known. Two camps emerge, Kate tramps around New York and New England consuming Laphroig whiskey, and then, ta da! With ten pages to go she explains what happened, everyone is very thankful, the end.

This was all way too simple for me. Yes, it was murder, not suicide. Surprise, someone who hated Patrice did it. I could have guessed that early on, but dismissed the notion, expecting the plot to be more complex. There was no suspense involved in nabbing the perpetrator — there was only Kate, quaffing another whiskey, basking in the admiration of those who should have been able to figure this out for themselves.

This is the seventh book in a series, and maybe I’ve missed something by not reading the back story. But I’m probably not going to find out.

And oh by the way that was book #75? Congrats! And Merry Christmas!

>322 scaifea:: thanks Amber! I see you snuck in there while I was posting my review.
>324 qebo:: yes it was! woo hoo!


Merry Christmas, everyone!

Joining in with the WOO HOOs here! Congratulations on hitting 75!

I read a Kate Fanster novel once and like you, thought I probably wouldn't bother to do so again! I liked the idea of the book but the reality was pretty weak.

Merry Christmas Laura!

Oh that made me laugh! Can't wait to see Jackson shirtless.....

mistletoe smooches!

Back at ya, Richard!

Have a wonderful Christmas, Laura!

Merry Christmas Laura!! Congrats on reading 75. I'm going to come up short by one or two but I'm very happy with my reading this year.

Congratulation on reaching 75 books, Laura. Thanks for the stack of books with the shiny read bow! That was an honest typo, but I believe I'll leave it alone as an example of a Freudian slip. ;-)

Another whoo hoo from the fan club!

Congrats on 75 books, woohoo! May the next one be more enjoyable for you.






Wishing you all the very best Laura!

Merry Christmas Laura!

Congrats!

Merry Christmas, Laura, and congratulations on reaching 75 books! I've greatly enjoyed our friendly banter this year, and I look forward to good conversations and even better books in 2012.

Congratulations on reaching 75, Laura! And Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Congrats on the 75!!

Hoping you have a lovely holiday -- and thanks for mentioning the Holroyd books! Isn't it nice that this group provides "Christmas gifts" of this kind year round -- the "you've gotta read this" comments that lead you to discover your new favorite book?!

Merry Christmas and Hooray for 75!

Merry Christmas!

Congratulations on hitting No. 75 off the list. Sorry it wasn't a better read for you, but hey---you killed two birds with that one stone. Got to 75, and eliminated your guilt over the unread gift. Besides, now you know of at least six other books you don't need to add to your TBR list!

Congratulations on 75 books Laura!

76. The Crowded Street ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: I was in the mood for a Virago Modern Classic, and this is one of my favorite authors. A big thanks to Dee (Soupdragon) for sending me this book earlier this year!

In The Crowded Street, her second novel and one of her most successful, Holtby gives us Muriel Hammond: smart but shy, unable to attract male attention and overly concerned about "doing the right thing" in the eyes of her parents. Early on, Muriel's academic ambitions are thwarted by the headmistress at school:

Then, with a kindliness that Muriel found consoling even though it sounded the death knell to her hopes, Mrs. Hancock explained how there were some things that it was not suitable for girls to learn. Astronomy, the science of the stars, was a very instructive pursuit for astronomers, and professors (these latter being evidently a race apart), but it was not one of those things necessary for a girl to learn. 'How will it help you, dear, when you, in your future life, have, as I hope, a house to look after?' (p. 29)

On leaving school, Muriel returns home out of some sense of obligation to her mother, who invests considerable time and effort in finding her a suitable match. Muriel has feelings for Godfrey Neale, a local landowner, but he seems to always be just beyond her reach. Muriel's younger sister Connie, tired of the stifling home environment, strikes out on her own to work on a farm but her independent life is far from trouble-free. As Muriel reaches her mid-twenties, popular opinion has it she will never marry. She fears becoming like her spinster Aunt Beatrice, who paints a bleak picture:

'But even more for your own sake, dear. You will marry, I am sure. Marriage is the -- the crown and joy of woman's life -- what we were born for -- to have a husband and children, and a little home of your own. Of course there are some of us to whom the Lord has not pleased to give this. I'm sure I'm not complaining. There may be many compensations, and of course He knows best. But -- it's all right while you're young, Muriel, and there's always a chance -- and when my dear mother was alive and I had someone to look after I am sure no girl could have been happier. It's when you grow older and the people who needed you are dead. And you haven't a home nor anyone who really wants you -- and you hate to stay too long in a house in case somebody else should want to come -- and of course it's quite right. Somebody had to look after Mother. Everybody can't marry.' (p. 223)

Most stories from the early 20th century would tackle this problem Jane Austen style, with the perfect man appearing on the scene to rescue the young woman and offer her a life of security, if not happiness. But Holtby has other ideas, ultimately giving Muriel the strength to forge her own path, one that is not exactly what her mother had in mind but is thankfully vastly different from Aunt Beatrice's experience. Between The Crowded Street and her masterpiece, South Riding, Holtby showed early twentieth century women a new path, with new options, and paved the way for social change.

Great review and a thumb from me! As you know Laura, I love Holtby and I loved Muriel!

Thanks Dee! I have you to thank for this book ... should have noted that in my post and have now amended it!

Belated congratulations on reaching your 75 - and now it's 76! I think I plan to space out my remaining Holtbys to one a year. I think you're tempting me to make 2012's The Crowded Street.
I used to be a great Kate Fansler fan back in the 60s when they first came out. Amanda Cross was Carolyn Heilbrun, a feminist and scholar of some note. I haven't read them since then, so maybe they wouldn't stand up for me any longer either. That's too bad.

77. The Land of Little Rain ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Why I read this now: It was a Secret Santa gift from Lucy (sibyx) last year ... about time I read it!

Mary Austin wrote about nature, specifically in the American Southwest. The Land of Little Rain is a collection of essays celebrating the California desert, an area many would consider a formidable, unforgiving landscape. She brings it to life, describing the flora and fauna in minute detail. Even Scavengers, an essay about buzzards, makes for fascinating reading as she shows how the birds help keep the desert clean -- except, of course, from the litter left by careless humans.

This book was published in 1903, and Austin's language takes some getting used to. In the introduction, Terry Tempest Williams writes about recording these essays as an audiobook, and initially

missing her voice completely. It was only in hearing the text out loud that I realized the era that held Mary Austin. It was a Victorian diction written through the perceptions of a radical spirit. Mary Austin wrote through the lace of her age. (p. xiv)

Reading this book piqued my interest in Mary Austin, en early feminist who worked tirelessly for Native American rights and what we now call "sustainability." I'm saving these essays for a re-read after I learn more about this fascinating woman.

You DID it! Way to go, chum!

I love this new trend of posting little Christmas card-like things on people's threads. Wish I'd clued in to it early enough to join in. Maybe for New Years....

I just gave myself a belated Christmas gift: books! I had a B&N gift card lying around, and it started calling my name when I found out there was a sale on.

For $2.99 each I found:
The Year of the Flood - I'm reading Oryx & Crake in January, so, you know, I just had to ...
At the Owl Woman Saloon - a book I gave to my Virago Secret Santee but hadn't read myself and then I wanted to

And then I picked up two items from my wish list:
A Single Man
The Pumpkin Eater

And I bought a book my husband was interested in, to use up the rest of the gift card and absolve my guilt.

"absolve my guilt".... Really now. Why would you feel guilty? Think of all the $ you saved by taking advantage of the sale;-)

I really must get to another Holtby and this one sounds like just the ticket Laura.

2011 Year in Review

I'll end the year having finished 77 books (23,500 pages), an average of about 6 1/2 books per month. I continued last year's trend of reading much more literature written by women than men. If you're a graph geek (and you know I am!), click on the graphic for a brief slideshow:



My top books for 2011 were all 5-star reads, and have earned a spot on my favorites list:
Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen
A Dance to the Music of Time: First Movement, by Anthony Powell
The Memory of Love, by Aminatta Forna
The Sense of an Ending, by Julian Barnes

P&P was a re-read, and even more enjoyable the second time around. Dance to the Music of Time was a fabulous find, discovered quite by accident. Peggy (LizzieD) urged me to read it after I posted a "Which books were on the bestseller list the week you were born?" meme. I've since read the "second movement" and plan to complete the series in 2012. The Memory of Love was nominated for the Orange Prize, and The Sense of an Ending won the Booker Prize, so I guess I'm not the only one who liked them!

My least favorite books were two I found weak on both plot and character development:
The Winter Ghosts, by Kate Mosse
Sweet Death, Kind Death, by Amanda Cross

And my greatest disappointments came from three books I couldn't finish:
The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde
The Good Apprentice, by Iris Murdoch
Tortilla Flat, by John Steinbeck

I had high hopes for The Eyre Affair, but found it gimmicky. I was most surprised by the Murdoch and Steinbeck, since these are authors whose work I've enjoyed in the past.

This year I also got a Kindle, loaded it up with free classics, and purchased a few books. I enjoy it but since I'm selective about what I buy, I haven't gone hog wild. I also acquired my first Persephone Classic, and received two more as gifts, so there may be more collecting in store!

As happens every year, there are so many books I wish I'd read, but just didn't have time. I know, there's always next year -- and I'm planning to focus heavily on my stacks in 2012.

So I will now declare this thread closed. I look forward to more book chat in 2012 and invite you to visit my 2012 thread!