lit_chick's 2011 Reading List (3)

Hi everyone! Find these threads can get clumsy if they go much over 300 posts, so here I am again.

Other Threads:
lit_chick's 2011 Reading List (1)
lit_chick's 2011 Reading List (2)
lit_chick's 2011 Reading List (4)




November 2011

74. When Will There Be Good News, Kate Atkinson
73. The Return of the Native, Thomas Hardy

October 2011

72. The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton
71. I Am the Messenger, Markus Zusak
70. Grace Williams Says It Loud, Emma Henderson
69. Dogs of Riga, Henning Mankell

September 2011

68. On Canaan's Side, Sebastian Barry
67. Silence of the Grave, Arnuldar Indridason
66. The Sense of an Ending, Julian Barnes
65. A Cupboard Full of Coats, Yvette Edwards
64. Framley Parsonage, Anthony Trollope
63. The Memory of Love, Aminatta Forna

August 2011

62. One Good Turn, Kate Atkinson
61. Case Histories, Kate Atkinson
60. A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry
59. Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad

July 2011

58. Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf
57. Sea Glass, Anita Shreve
56. Doctor Thorne, Anthony Trollope
55. Bride of New France, Suzanne Desrochers
54. Cutting for Stone, Abraham Verghese

June 2011

53. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
52. Sons, Pearl S. Buck
51. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Shaffer/Barrows
50. Jar City, Arnaldur Indridason
49. The Forgotten Garden, Kate Morton
48. Annabel, Kathleen Winter

May 2011

47. The Stone Diaries, Carol Shields
46. Mansfield Park, Jane Austen
45. Bleak House, Charles Dickens
44. The Promise of Rain, Donna Milner
43. The Long Song, Andrea Levy
42. Alligator, Lisa Moore

April 2011

41. The Phantom of the Opera, Gaston Leroux
40. The Matter with Morris, David Bergen
39. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain
38. Faceless Killers, Henning Mankell
37. The English Patient, Michael Ondaatje
36. Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh
35. All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque
34. The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold
33. Out of Africa, Isak Dinesen

March 2011

32. Ruth, Elizabeth Gaskell
31. Night and Day, Virginia Woolf
30. Still Missing, Chevy Stevens
29. February, Lisa Moore
28. The Return of the Soldier, Rebecca West
27. The Piano Teacher, Elfride Jelinek
26. Atonement, Ian McEwan
25. Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides
24. 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, Peter Boxall
23. The Sky is Everywhere, Jandy Nelson
22. Your Voice in My Head, Emma Forrest
21. The Return of the Dancing Master, Henning Mankell
20. Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen

February 2011

19. Sweetness in the Belly, Camilla Gibb
18. Room, Emma Donoghue
17. The Help, Kathryn Stockett
16. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, Stieg Larsson
15. Angela’s Ashes, Frank McCourt
14. Barchester Towers, Anthony Trollope
13. House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
12. A Million Little Pieces, James Frey
11. The Book Thief, Markus Zusak
10. The Warden, Anthony Trollope
9. The Girl Who Played with Fire, Stieg Larsson

January 2011

8. Fortune’s Rocks, Anita Shreve
7. No Great Mischief, Alistair MacLeod
6. The Lonely Polygamist, Brady Udall
5. Where White Horses Gallop, Beatrice MacNeil
4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson
3. Secret Daughter, Shilpi Somaya Gowda
2. Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro
1. One Day, David Nicholls

I'm Number 1??? Well, congratulations on a new thread, Nancy! And good for me for finding it!! You've read such good stuff in September that I need to find out what you thought about it. Back to the old thread I go.

Starred.Nancy. Back from the grocery shopping and back out with the dog for yet another walk. Does it ever end?

#2 Welcome, Peggy! Yes, you're #1! It's true I've enjoyed some great September reads!

#3 Hi Deb, have to chuckle at your dog's "delicate" manners. That's a personality all its own!

On Canaan's Side, Sebastian Barry



Rating: 4/5

“I am cold because I cannot find my heart.” (Ch 2)

Now eighty-nine years old, Lilly Bere fled Ireland as a young woman with her first love, Tadg, after the first World War. She has lived out her life in domestic service to wealthy patrons on the east coast of the US, “Canaan’s Side.” Lilly is recording her life’s memories as she reels with grief at the recent loss of her grandson, Bill. Lilly has endured far more than her share of loss: brother, husband, father, son, grandson. Keenly aware of the terror of grief, she knows that at last “there is solace in nothing.” (Ch 1) Still, the power of human memory dictates that one is never free from revisiting cumulative losses:

“We may be immune to typhoid, tetanus, chickenpox, diphtheria, but never memory. There is no inoculation against that.” (Ch 7)

Beautifully written and achingly beautiful, On Canaan’s Side moves seamlessly between past and present. Chapters are named for the number of days which have passed since Bill’s death. For me, the prominent theme in the novel is the hollowing out of the soul – as Lilly’s brother and son are hollowed out by the experience of war; Lilly is hollowed out by grief. Undoubtedly, the novel is immersed in great sadness, almost too much, but I don’t remember writing more fluid, more lovely.

Beautiful review, Nancy! You got the thumb from me. I've been eagerly anticipating your review on On Canaan's Side. It sounds like a wonderful, if a rather sad read. I'll have to get that on my TBR list right away.

#6 Thanks, Deb : ). I'm sure you will enjoy On Canaan's Side.

Wow, that one sounds sad!! Maybe Ill wait til I'm a little less "emotional breastfeeding sleepless nights mother" before I go there! Looks good though.

I have neglected your previous thread - so many unread messages I've been saving it for a quite moment, and meanwhile the unread messages have been increasing. So I'm caught up here on the new one, but I do hope to go back to read the old one too...

Found your new thread -- you've been reading very different things from me -- so I have been quiet!

#8 Welcome, Megan! Chuckled at your comment; agree maybe you need to wait just a bit before taking up a sad read.

#9 Hi Genny! I can so relate! I am never caught up on threads and sometimes I allow myself to feel quite overwhelmed about it. In any case, I'm very glad you're here : ).

#10 Hi Lucy, ditto! But I've been lurking : ).

I shut my eyes at most of your review, because I am not even halfway through yet, but I can see you liked it so I'll hurry up!

#12 Make me smile, Cushla! I hope you enjoy as much as I did; will be following your thread for comments.

Wow a bakers dozen of comments Nancy in the first 11 hours. Starred your not-to-be-missed thread!

Hey Nancy! Congratulations on yet another hot review! At this rate, you will have to change your name from lit_chick to HOT_lit _chick... ;)

Really, congratulations!

#14 A baker's dozen, Paul? I'm thinking you might be eating Fox's cookies again while you read ... ? Btw, I just googled Fox's, and I'm going to take up the habit!

#15 Hi Deb, at my age HOT_lit_chick would work!! hehe

Nancy - "baker's dozen" is an english phrase for thirteen - showing my old-fashioned nature I guess but I looked it up and hey presto.....
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/Bakers%20dozen.html seems the phrase originates from King Henry II (only 850 years ago)!

#17 Hi Paul, I know what baker's dozen means! I was teasing, hehe. But I didn't know the expression originated from King Henry II 850 years ago, so thanks for that : ).

Sorry Nancy I get so used to trying to explain archaic english expressions to my increasingly perplexed and long suffering Malaysian staff that I'm apt to make faux pas like #17.
Today I tested the staff (11 of them in the office) - all Malays ages ranging from 23 to 44 and
How many in a Bakers Dozen - correct answers 0/11
How many in a Gross - correct answers 0/11
How many lbs in a stone - correct answers 0/11
How many in a score - correct answers 2/11
How many new shillings in a pound - correct answers 1/11

I think the poor assemblage must wonder what happened when they applied and were appointed to do Quantity Surveying and Project Management and were baffled by a boss keen to add to their knowledge on the Kings and Queens of England, Famous Battles and the Capital Cities of Africa! I probably would qualify as eccentric. btw I am pleased to say that in my exercise on brain power retention my recently married surveyor, Zaleha, was able to successfully recall that Bujumbura is indeed the capital city of Burundi during my surprise quarterly revision!

#19 Fabulous post, Paul!! A coffee choker! I've no doubt that your long suffering Malaysian staff is feeling increasingly perplexed, LOL. Maybe you could come up with a game show featuring Jeopardy-style questions on Kings and Queens of England, Famous Battles and the Capital Cities of Africa! I'll take Famous Battles for $1000, please, boss!

I'll confess that I, a Canadian, don't know how many lbs in a stone, or shillings in a pound. I'm always baffled when I read Bridget Jones about stones and shillings.

I do know how many pounds in a stone, but wish we all weighed ourselves in kilos instead! My bathroom scales have a switch so you can choose to see your weight in kg or stones, but the switch is stuck so it is permanently on kg, whereas most people in the UK, and certainly everyone at my weight loss group, talks about stones and pounds not kg. And when American people give their weight in pounds but not stones, my mental arithmetic finds itself challenged to work out what that is in stones, let alone in kilos!

@22LOL at turning your scale to KG! In Canada, scales are such that you can see your weight in pounds or Kilograms. Ours is permanently on pounds, which gives a higher number, but it's more or a fine measurement. I have a pretty good idea of how much a stone is in lbs - but I won't put that here so as to spoil things.
@ Paul - are you sure your true calling is not a elementary/secondary school teacher?:) I'm beginning to wonder.

I have no idea how many shillings are in pound, but I'll bet it's not ten based like metric is.

Always great to visit your thread Nancy... :)

Hi Elizabeth, Genny, Deb! Delightful company! Stones, schillings, pounds, kilos - I'll add farenheit, celsius to contribute to the confusion. It's a wonder any of us know what we are talking about!

HA Nancy! Some one on another thread was kidding about the book Fahrenheit 451 being Celsius 232.78. Ha! Doesn't have quite the same ring to it, does it!;)

But you know, I find the " younger generation " - my kids who are 21 and 26 think almost exclusively in Celsius -esp my younger son. ( PS - I was a child bride etc ).

Deb - the answer is 20! Isn't it great how we always get back to books however convoluted through several posts on weights measures temperatures etc and back to Fahrenheit 451 well done! Would have loved to have been a teacher if it wasn't for the children!

Nancy - lol, trust a lady to up the stakes to a $1,000! I was going to post Prue and get gluten-free cookies for the prize winners!

Genny - like you, I grew up with ozs, lbs and stones / gallons of fuel instead of litres and miles in lieu of kms. I think the continentals have it about right - 80 kilos sounds a lot lighter than 176 ilbs, you surely get more fuel in 45 litres than 10 gallons and you cover the ground more easily travelling 100 kms in the same time it takes to go 62 miles!

Raider Girl - I found Bridget Jones' love life more complicated than her use of imperial measurements!

#26 Paul, yes I love too that eventually, we all arrive back at books, in spite of our varied digressions. Coffee choker alert: I found Bridget Jones' love life more complicated than her use of imperial measurements! Indeed! (at least I can find a plausible explanation of imperial measurements at Wikipedia, or some such) Too much!

Oh dear, pounds and ounces kilos and grams. My head hurts! I dont even bother watching the Biggest Loser as 400lbs means nothing to me. You may as well be speaking Arabic for all the meaning I gain from it.
The only time pounds and ounces are used here in NZ is when babies are born (and even then its alongside kilos).

The mix of imperial and metric measurements is certainly a great muddle! One very annoying thing is that petrol is sold by the litre in the UK, but when people are talking about how fuel efficient a car is, they still talk about how many miles to the gallon it does, rather than miles to the litre. I grew up with metric more than imperial, having spent my childhood in the Netherlands rather than UK, and in some things (eg cooking) I can happily switch between the two with no problem, but elsewhere I get confused.

Getting back to books, apart from Fahrenheit 451, what other books can you think of that have units of measurement (metric or imperial) in the title?

#28 Hi Megan, we do confuse ourselves with endless conversions!

#29 Genny, my experience mirrors yours. Canada applies imperial measures as does the UK: fuel sold by the liter; MPG used to denote fuel efficiency. I also grew up on the imperial system. I'm good with Celsius now in terms of temperature, and I'm not too bad in the kitchen with imperial/metric. However, I always weigh myself in pounds.

Getting back to books, apart from Fahrenheit 451, what other books can you think of that have units of measurement (metric or imperial) in the title?I can only think of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea off the top of my head.

Genny what about Six Feet Under by Dorothy Simpson? The Whole Nine Yards by Jonathan Lynn? Moonlight Mile by Denis Lehane?

#30, 31 20,000 Leagues is familiar to me - those other three I don't know, Paul, thanks for those. Hmmm, could be a good TIOLI challenge in future?

#31-32 Yes, I think we've discovered a new TIOLI challenge!

My first time on this thread but wanted to say how much I enjoyed the Canaan's Side review. I think my library has a copy.

#34 Hi, Dee! Welcome!! So glad you enjoyed the review. I'll anticipate your own thoughts on On Canaan's Side.

Just popping by to say a quick hi! Yes, I would definitely recommend Stitches. It was an amazing read - and the drawings added so much.

Tell It to the Trees is even better than I expected. I'm only about 30 or 40 pages in -but it looks to be a story about family violence, maybe mental illness - like bipolar illness, and some traditional Indian values, all portrayed in a northern BC town. It's fascinating, and I think Anita Badami is a talented writer.

As to the new TIOLI challenge - How about - The Green Mile by Stephen King ?

Oh yes- before I forget , Nancy. I noticed that Little Shadows by Marina Endicott was on your wishlist -and it's on the Giller List too. Well, yesterday when I was downtown, I popped into the Book Warehouse - of course :) Anyway, they actually had Little Shadows on the shelf. I looked through it and it looked very promising. It's " doorstopper " of a book - at about ? 480 - 500 pages... and it was at the excellent price of about$25- 26.00 . I nearly bought -but then I was was good! Drat! Anyway, I think Kevin from Canada is going to review it next. I think I'm going to let you read it first and then you can persuade me to buy it!! Go for it Nancy! I need to know whether I should rush out and buy it after all!;)

#36-37 Hi Deb! Appreciate the recs in Stitches and Tell It to the Trees. They both sound excellent. And The Green Mile fits well with Genny's idea for a TIOLI challenge. I'll be looking for Kevin from Canada's review of Little Shadows - I don't even remember just now how that made it to my wishlist, but I remember putting it there : ). You were disciplined today in the book store! Well done, Deb!

Hi Nancy, lovely review of On Canaan's Side. I have read no books by Sebastian Barry but I do have two on my shelf and now you've made me want to read his newest too. I'd better get cracking:)

#5: On Canaan's Side sounds like a book one has to be in a special mood to like. “I am cold because I cannot find my heart.” - a lament so sad, yet so honest that it could lead to healing. But not all stories lead down that road I guess.

Swoon! Nancy, Tell it To The Trees is both riveting and heartbreaking. I'm just a bit past half way through -but this is one fabulous read.

#39 Hi Bonnie, On Canaan's Side was my first experience with Sebastian Barry. i will explore more of his work, too.

#40 a lament so sad, yet so honest ... Exactly, Carsten. Well said.

#41 Deb, I'm feeling the pull of your persuasion again, hehe. I may need to move Tell It to the Trees up the list!

Very nice review of On Canaan's Side, Nancy!

Just saying Hi Nancy, I'm too late to comment on the metric vs imperial conversation although I agree with Megan, as New Zealand is 100% metric, sometimes conversation using imperial measurements can be very confusing. Oh, and my Danish comment on the last thread - I misread something so disregard. It was my day to make no sense I think... having a few of them lately.

Just stopping by with a little of my persuasiveness - which seems to a genetic problem of mine ;) Thanks for the thumb - but get over to my thread where Ellen read Touch and thanked me so kindly for err - persuading her to read the book -and she gave it 4 1/2 stars and wrote up a beautiful review. Oh how I tried to capture that book in a review, but Ellen was much more successful.

BTW - how is Dogs of Riga? I hope that you are enjoying it -but I know everyone is a little different in what they enjoy reading.

Oh !Tell it to the Trees - I'll just say WOW for now. I'm not finished but it's a wow of a book!

#43 Thanks, Darryl : ).

#44 Leonie, don't ever worry about not making sense on this thread. I have those days, too!

#45 Hi Deb, I'm enjoying Dogs of Riga, even more than I did Faceless Killers. I remember you saying that Mankell's Wallander series improved as it progressed. I'll check out Ellen's review of Touch. (edited for correct touchstone)

Ah oh, Nancy, you've got the wrong Touch ;) You've used the one leading to a book by Elmore Leonard - no one I reccomend....;)

Dog's of Riga has a real atmospheric touch, or so I remember.

I haven't read Faceless Killers - can't seem to pick up a copy second-hand so far. So I gave in and read Dogs of Riga last year and did enjoy that one, and I've got several more Mankells lined up but I'm still waiting for Faceless before I go further.

#47 Thanks, Deb. I corrected the touchstone. Dogs of Riga is set in Sweden and Latvia, which I'm enjoying.

#48 Hi Genny, I'm also fussy about reading books in order.

I added Dogs of Riga last year to my WL as I have family in Latvia, but I haven't read it yet as I'm too scared of crime novels, is it scary? Stressful? Suspenseful?

Hi Megan, Dogs of Riga is a great read. Not frightening at all, but intriguing, suspenseful. Go for it!

heheheheheheh oh how I love tease you, Nancy! Guess what!!!!! Kevin From Canada says on his blog today that he is having trouble reading all of the Giller longlist, but the only one that he has read and can confidently put on the Giller Shorlist - in his mind - is Touch by Alexia Zentner. You don't want to be left behind in the literary dust, do you????:) Oh I"m just laughing as I write my silly chatter to you -but it's true.

I actually laughing out-loud as I write this. Do you want to bet $20.00 that Touch takes the Giller? I say it will -and if you want to say it won't - we can bet $20 on it. I'm not a betting girl, but oh I'm so confident about this one!;) Sad to say, Kevin does not think my well loved Sisters Brothers will make the shortlist cut. Well, maybe I've got a few choice words for Mr Kevin of Canada!;)

#52 Too much, Deb! Also not a gambler, but I'd bet that you called it right on Touch! I laughed out loud at You don't want to be left behind in the literary dust, do you??? No, ma'am, course not!!

You are several others very much enjoyed Sisters Brothers. That one oddly does not appeal to me. But I won't rule it out.

I'm off to Kevin's : ).

Oh! Maybe I'm wrong - maybe it's Kimbofo that assists Kevin from Canada that feels he/ she can only nominate Touch. Ah oh! Now who's been left behind in the literary dust - me! :) But I say Touch will take it....

#46: Looked at Mankell-novels yesterday in a bookshop - had Dogs of Riga in my hands, but then I thought: Take it easy, there pal. Remember last week, and the week before...and...well, ok, ok, I can wait...and then I thought: Which Mankell-book should I start with anyway? Any ideas, Nancy?

#50 and #51 Megan and Nancy, I must be a wuss because I was REALLY scared reading Dogs of Riga! (Perhaps that is why I have a 7 year old who is scared watching Up...)

#55 Carsten, Dogs of Riga is the second novel in Mankell's Wallander series. Most enjoyable! To read the series in order:
Faceless Killers
Dogs of Riga
The White Lioness
The Man Who Smiled
Sidetracked
The Fifth Woman
One Step Behind
Firewall
The Pyramid
The Troubled Man
Funny, the order of the Wallander books just came up on another thread.

#56 Hi Cushla! You made me smile with Perhaps that is why I have a 7 yeard old who is scared watching Up. Megan, I hope you are following and read Cushla's remarks.

Ah oh Nancy! I'll have to eat my words today ! Touch did not even make the Giller Shortlist! Humph!:) Sisters Brothers made it though. The list is down in the Canadian Booksworms section. Oh that jury. I guess I owe you $20.00, even though we did not make a formal bet. Now I'm in your debt!:)

#57: Thanks Nancy - I will try to read them in order - then Dogs of Riga is not far away. I just turned on the tv and guess who appeared - Wallander! Sweden have produced several of the Wallander-stories :)

#58 Deb, given your comments on Touch, I'm also disappointed it did not make the Giller shortlist. The Booker selections, by all accounts, were off beat this year too. Humph! again!

#59 Carsten, I'd love to see some of the Wallander series on television. Don't expect they're about to be broadcast in Canada, but it never hurts to be aware and keep an eye out!

Well, Nancy, I checked my library online -and while they have 5 holds onTell it To The Trees they actually also have one available. However, we have 4 branches in my city, plus one satellite branch -and they also usually have new books as " Rapid Reads" - in other words, you've got 7 days to read and return it , or they charge you a dollar per day overdue fees.

I too would love to see the Wallender series on my tv. I know my library does have them. I'll have to borrow them eventually...

Wow Deb I'm so jealous of your library system from here in sunny Malaysia. The national library (there are no other lending libraries as such) is ok as far as it goes but most of the very interesting fiction is simply not available for you to take out. To have 4 library branches in your city I'm greener than the copious vegetation here.

#59 & #60 - There is actually an English-made Wallender series with Kenneth Branagh - I'm sure you would be able to get them in Canada, Nancy (BBC, maybe?)

Prue it is on the BBC - haven't seen it through actually although I've watched some of the rushes on u-tube. Branagh is far too healthy looking for Wallender!

#61 Hi Deb, no "Quick Read" copies of Tell It to the Trees here. There are seven copies in circulation though, so the wait list is not so outrageous. Obviously, it's popular, which is usually a good sign.

Went to my library's site to see if I could track down Wallander's series on DVD. Didn't know what they were called, so caught up with Amazon en route. BBC's "Wallander Sidetracked/Firewall" is available at Amazon. Alas, not at my library!

#62 Hi Paul, your sunny climate is the door prize for not-so-sunny public library selection!

#63 Prue, found one BBC recording of Wallander at Amazon; unfortunately, my library does not have it.

#64 Paul, I agree Branagh sounds too healthy for Wallander!

#60: OK, I just checked: So far they have made 26 tv-movies - only the first is based on one of the novels - the rest is written for tv by Mankell in collaboration with other tv-writers.

They are on dvd here in Denmark.

There are also two swedish movies made for the big screen with a different swedish actor (Adaptations of One Step Behind and Firewall)

....and then of course Kenneth Branagh....that's another story.

I will now try to watch some of the swedish ones and brag about it just to make you envious :)

I've seen most of the Swedish versions, which have been very popular in the UK (among those who like foreign subtitled crime drama) on the BBC in recent years, and all of the Branagh ones. It was the Branagh ones that first made me aware of Mankell. He does look pretty unhealthy in these films!

The Branagh ones seem to have all been based on the plots of the books, unlike most of the Swedish ones - which is one reason why I've not been rushing to read the several Mankells I have in my TBR pile - I've seen the films too recently and can still remember too much of the story. The other reason is that I don't yet have a copy of Faceless Killers, and (despite having read Dogs of Riga out of sequence) I'd rather wait and read the rest in order.

#66 Thanks, Carsten. I will not try to watch some of the swedish ones and brag about it just to make you envious. Hehe, I am already envious!!

#67 Thanks, Genny. If I can find any of the Branagh films here in Canada, I would certainly watch! Glad to hear he looks unhealthy and Wallander-ish.

Boy Nancy did I fall behind during this last week! But I'm here and hopefully I can keep your with your new thread. :)

#69 Hi Valerie, happy to see you : ). It's not possible to keep up to the threads!

Well, Nancy, with that library deficit situation, clearly moving to Vancouver is a must!!! Hurry up about it!!!:)

I'll like Carsten's thinking!!! ;)

#71 LOL, Deb. It's been raining here for three days, and I'm nearly mad. Don't think Vancouver would be a good choice for me!

Having not read Wallender, I have seen a couple of the Kenneth Branagh shows and thought they were very good, and yes, he does look really unhealthy in them!

Just passing by again Nancy - you are so right - it is impossible to keep up with everyone. *quietly says under breath, I'll take Kenneth Branagh anytime, in sickness or in health*

#74 Nancy be careful with your coffee (I'm sure I heard Prue say something!)

#73 Leonie, I do hope I can find some Kenneth Branagh does Kurt Wallander!

#74 Prue, I'm with you!

#75 Paul, I'm going to have to cease drinking coffee while catching up on threads, hehe! But then, what would be the fun in that?

Well, it's been damp, but not raining here. One plus about the rain - I've got this dreadful curly hair that take ages to straighten out each day so as to look presentable -but in the damp - it's no use - so when I walk the dog - I can put on the hood over my hair and look passable for the people I meet on my walks. I tell you, Nancy, I spend eons straightening out my hair - and if I pop out into the damp - poof - you'd think I spent the last hour at the hair salon with a bunch of old grannies getting a set and curl. Sigh. My hair is one of the many crosses I have to bear in life.

Keep drinking the coffee!!! :)

I'm waving hello! I'm not watching any Wallanders till i've raed all the books, which at the rate I'm going (get excited, buy all except the first one in secondhand shops, watch 2010 come round, then 2011, and now 2012 is looming) will be in abuot 2020!

Nancy - agree with Deb - keep drinking your coffee - your catch-phrase has stuck already anyway!
Deb - must admit your hair looks well-managed on your profile photo! What breed of dog have you as I have this mischievous image of you walking a long-haired poodle in the pouring rain and .....! Notice on your profile comments that you are an avid tea drinker, whilst Nancy has her coffee and the Gallagher family their creme-de-menthe - I'm a bit light on the libation front but did enjoy (but don't let Hani know) a few pints of english ale on my recent trip to England so I gues that will be my preferred tipple for now.

#77 you'd think I spend the last hour at the hair salon with a bunch of old grannies getting a set and curl. LOL, Deb.

#78 Cushla, it may be 2020 by the time I'm finished reading them, too. Dogs of Riga is two of ten or eleven!

Yes, Paul, that of course photo was taken on a " good hair day." As for my dog - here's the story.... For fifteen years we had a lovely Border Terrier named - of all things - Geordie. He came from the breeder with that name, and we were loathe to change his name. Since you have come from the UK - you will be familiar with a Border Terrier and the Geordies.. Anyway , he passed away 3 years ago . About 6 weeks later I wandered into a no kill shelter and the most not so nice looking ratty little white dog captured my heart. Now, Paul, she is a bichon friese mixed with a dash of poodle - please stop laughing immediately!

We were told that she was 2- 5 years old at the shelter -but our vet later told us from the tattoo in her ear, that she was actually 8 years old at the time we adopted her. So indeed, I am out walking my curly haired mop of a 13 pound dog. I am not certain who of us looks worse on our walks.

Initially my husband feared that she was too " girly " of a dog to walk. Now he says she attracts feminine attention. I love her dearly, but sometime I look at her light brown eyes, and curly off white fur -and I think - Grandma Daisy Dog.

But she has lovely lovely disposition. But yes, like our sons, and my husband to a lesser degree - the entire family is cursed with curly hair.

#81 Lovely story Deb a lol with a tear in the eye. Dogs are great companions and Geordie is a fantastic name for a Border Terrier considering (as I'm sure you know) that a Geordie refers to a native of Newcastle which itself is the first large city from the Scotland border. Kyran is the only one of our tribe blessed with curly hair and he seems to do ok with his unruly locks. btw I am still getting visions of long haired poodle and curly headed Vancouveran bookworm strolling through the showers......hehehe

Your hair story is a hoot Deb! You know I realize that the grass is always greener on the other side but those of us (hands raised) who suffer from straight, limpified, dead hair, look at those with hair that NATURALLY has volume and curl with no effort, are dripping with envy. You spend your mornings to get straight hair, where I would put my hair through hell and back to make it look like it had some life in it. :) Oh well, you made do with what you are born with and run with the straighter/curlers.

Hi Nancy!!

LOL! Nancy, your thread is a hive of activity, whether you are here or not. ;)

Hmm- I'll be back...

Holy, I only stepped away for a few hours! Seems I've missed my own party!

#80 Paul, think we were posting at the same time last night. Loved your comments about our individual libations. And we're such a multi-cultural crew: KL Paul prefers English ale; Vancouver Deb likes English tea; BC Nancy covets Columbian coffee; Australian Prue enjoys (I have no idea where Creme de Menthe is from).

#81 Deb, hysterical hair and dog talk!! You are TOO much!

#82 Paul, you've planted a lasting image of Deb! I am still getting visions of long haired poodle and curly headed Vancouveran bookworm strolling through the showers!! I must educate you, though, that the correct term for crazy people with curly hair who live in Vancouver is Vancouverite. (Actually, even the sane people with straight hair who live there are called Vancouverites - so are the dogs).

#83 Valerie, hope your hair has survived the afternoon. I would put my hair through hell and back to make it look like it had some life in it.

#84 Deb, it does feel like I'm late to my own party. But I'm so glad all of you had fun. I'll re-echo Paul's sentiment that you're all the best friends I've never met!

#85 How fast can you write, Deb? I'm thinking you have next year's Giller on your hands! (We'll start with the Giller because it's Canadian, but of course, we'll promote you to various other juries as well!)

Hair stories.. mine is slightly confused. It used to be straight with a few kinks, then went wavy, then went curly (I loved this stage), then we moved to a high humidity climate and it is back to wavy and rather drab with a few cowlicks. When I want to control it I get those straighteners out but on lazy days I just push my sunglasses on my head to keep it in check. I have been known to wear sunglasses on wet, dark days and look a right idiot but you know the old saying.. if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Nancy, very fast, that's how fast I can write. In addition to my original ideas as posted on my thread - I am thinking of adding a cruel twist to my dystopia -after all, it would not be dystopia without cruel twists. I was thinking that we need some genetic engineers in the my novel to separate embryos- not for anything like IQ, or chromosomal problems - only to test for curly hair genes, and those embryos might have to go to the unbaby area out past the fence. Dystopias always have a physical boundary....

What were you saying about me being crazy ? Well, harrumph. Best go eat my supper. Perhaps a meal will restore my brain back to normal sugar levels.

Leonie, you hair sounds just lovely. It's just mine that has the issues ....sigh....

LOL - Leonie - wearing sunglasses on dark day for the sake of your hair. This is the kind of thing I might try. Thanks for the tip...

Loving Deb's dystopia scenario...

Nancy hahaha ... I think creme-de-menthe is French.
I am proud to announce that as the newly appointed agent for a mysterious latent VancouverITE literary talent - her debut novel on the trials and tribulations of characters of the feminine persuasion who are unable to control their flowing canadian locks!

#87 Leonie, I will think of you every time I see a woman with wayward hair wearing sunglasses - particularly on dark or rainy days!

#88 Deb, I don't know how we missed your literary talent to this point! Unbelievable! Of course we need genetic engineers, chromosome testing, a fence, and an unbaby area. How could we have dystopia without these elements? Now, you get writing! Let all of us here at LT, particularly Paul who has so generously agreed to be your agent, worry about the business of getting you published!

#89 Me too, Genny!

#90 Paul, congratulations on your new appointment as VancouverITE Deb's literary agent! I think you'll be great! Of course, all of we LTers will support! I don't mind acting as Canadian liaison, being as how distance Malaysia to Canada may occasionally present challenges.

OK OK OK Nancy I'm persuaded - you can have the commission on all sales in Canada and an extra 2.5% for every book purchased by a bona fide VancouverITE!

#92 Done, hehe!

Nancy, I'm truly surprised that a person of your calibre would have missed my heretofore hidden literary talent. I look forward to giving interviews about the genesis of my book, once I've got the Giller in the bag . No worries about publishing the book - Knopf Canada and Harper -Collins have already been at the door, begging for the rights of my as yet unwritten novel.

Really , Nancy and Paul - all this talk about the money involved -really, I'm thinking more of my literary pastiche.

Paul - that title of yours - I think you had a childrens' book in mind with that one. Try to spend a bit more time in the company serious adults.

Nancy, howis the atmospheric Dogs of Riga?

Yesterday I had a gander at The Free World but I'm undecided as to whether to puchase that Giller contender. In the interest of thrift, I may wait until is available at my library.

#94 LOL, Deb. Literary pastiche is all well and good, but money makes the world, literary world included, go round! Personally, I can't wait to hear you interviewed; as Canucks go, I'm partial to George Stromboulopoulos - he does an excellent interview, and I think will give you the right kind of publicity. Of course, we'll have to drive to Toronto, unless the George fancies a trip west.

About to post my review of Dogs of Riga.

Dogs of Riga, Henning Mankell



Rating: 4/5

Two bodies, having been tortured and executed, wash up on the Swedish shoreline in a life raft. When it is determined that the raft originated from
Latvia, Kurt Wallander and team host Major Karlis Leipa, the Latvian official who travels to Sweden to assist in unraveling the mystery. However, before the mystery is revealed, Wallander finds himself in Latvia and in grave danger. Political intrigue plays a prominent role in the novel; it is 1991, and the Baltic countries are reeling to establish a firm foothold in their newfound independence from Russia. The uncertainty has left Latvia a prime target for corruption and organized crime. High ranking political and police officials are suspected of colluding with gangs for handsome profit. Wallander, of course, is out of his element in Latvia, and an outrageous adventure of cat and mouse ensues:

“We live in a an age when the mice are hunting the cats, he thought. But that isn’t true either, as nobody knows any more who are the mice and who the cats.” (Ch 13)

I enjoyed the pace of this second Wallander novel much more than the first. Mankell has all the elements of a page turner here. Recommended!

Thumbs to your review, Nancy! Great job! I loved that particular novel of Mankell's - loved the atmospere!

Maus was $35 dollars or more at the store!!! I'll try the library. Two Generals is not perfect - but I enjoyed it. It included some interesting details - like the Canadian troops having to use bicycles to go ashore in France -through the water and onto the land .Quite fascinating. They showed soldiers quite realistically - bored at times, other times frightened, vomiting while on board boats, smoking a lot and swearing a fair bit. Honestly it reminded me somehow of my beloved Grandpa - who would never talk about the war -but lost his big toe due to shrapnel, got Malaria repeatedly during WW11 - and he did smoke and swore a fair bit. " Law Chantler" , the main soldier in the story, even looked a bit like my grandpa, mustache, square jaw and rather dashing.And it was written and illustrated by the grandson of Law Chantler.

I always enjoy a Canadian story , if it's possible.

#97 Thanks for the thumb, Deb. Yikes, I would not pay $35 for Maus. I'm very intrigued with Two Generals though, and of course your persuasive voice is so pitch perfect! I am so thankful to our veterans; they did indeed pay the ultimate price, offer the ultimate sacrifice. My grandfathers were too old for WWII, but I remember great uncles who had fought. They were good men, but troubled men. Chills at what they must have seen.

#96: A detective page turner with some political intrigue thrown in. I'm hooked, Nancy! Looking forward to Mankell, as soon as I can find a good offer on some of his novels.

Nancy, Two Generals has led me to read All Quiet on The Western Front. I remember you creating a wonderful review on that book sometime earlier this year. Anyway, what a powerful book! Just 70 pages in.

I also wanted to encourage you with Grace Williams Says It Loud that I notice you are reading. I really found it to be a compelling and interesting and heartbreaking read. It's a bit unusual too -but I'm sure you will like it. I wrote a review of it sometime back. Of course, your mileage may vary ...

#99 Carsten, yes, political intrigue couple with detective page turner is a great recipe! Can't wait for you to get hold of some Mankell!

#100 Deb, so glad to hear you are reading All Quiet on the Western Front. I wept at one point reading it; it's absolutely so beautiful, so powerful. Little time to read today and tomorrow, but I think I'll really enjoy Grace Williams; I remember your reading it, and I recall from your review that you loved it.

#94 Deb as your appointed agent I think it only proper that you redirect the crowd of publishers to me so that I can protect your commercial interest.
Of course Nancy and I have to cut to the chase and discuss the sordid issue of money - isn't that why we were engaged?
Will take on board your comments regarding my juvenile sensibilities boss - sorry about that I'll try harder in future.
Well done on The Dogs of Riga Nancy and Deb. As I recall it is one of the very best of the Inspector Wallender series - very atmospheric.
All Quiet on the Western Front is a very good novel of the 'Great War' more interesting in some ways being from the German perspective.

#102 Paul, always a pleasure! hehe

Hi Nancy,

I'm seconding Deb's enthusiastic praise of Tell it to the Trees - it is definitely one of the best books I've read this year. My review of it, and an article on Badami's four novels, can be found in the current issue of Belletrista, if you are interested!

#104 Thanks, Cait! I read your most excellent article at Belle; thanks for that! I've also got Tamarind Mem on the wishlist.

>105 lit_chick: - Oh good, I'm glad you enjoyed it! Have a Happy Thanksgiving :)

#86 Just need to correct the idea that I may be the type of languid lady who sips a creme de menthe (poured from a an art-deco cut glass decanter)- perhaps in one hand while she pats her greyhound with the other while pondering whether Roddy will make a uitable bridge partner. Nope. It is my 87 year-old mother who licks her lips at the thought of creme de menthe libations. Me? I actually don't drink alcohol - but I will crawl on bare knees over hot roasting coffee beans for a decent long macciato! Wouldn't touch a latte, nor crave a cappuccino - it's espresso with a dash for me!

Nancy, I must take the blame for the misappropriation of Prue's bittersweet story about her mum's latent creme-de-menthe phase - an claim artistic licence on the same as it was nice to include Prue in the divergent drinking club! Anyway she becomes a Macchiato Miss from here on in.

Just popping in to say that I've started a new thread, Nancy and it is here - http://www.librarything.com/topic/124929

Just heading to bed. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner with family - even the bunch from Edmonton.

Ha, those reprobates from Edmonton usually ruin any party!

Ha!!! I even asked my brother about " Deadmonton." He said that indeed, there have been something like??? 32 murders this year, but they are all in a localized area - not downtown but somewhere in " North Edmonton" He said they did not worry him as he and his family live far away from that area.

Actually, I very much enjoyed seeing my brother, his wife and 4 kids! The kids are now aged 10 to 3 1/2 and they are settling down quite nicely! :) My brother is always quite a lot of fun. He is the most serious member of my 4 sibs but even so, we were having a great laugh about our various silly adventures in life.

Poor old Prue - accused of taking in libations such a Creme de Menthe!!!LOL at Paul and Prue!! I don't drink either -but it's clear that Paul does....;)

Now, Nancy, just what are you reading right now? I am very much touched by All Quiet on the Western Front. What a really honest and touching story. I'm about 1/2 way through. Why did I wait so long to get to this book? I think thought it might be a difficult book to read -but it's not . It's very touching. I was just reading about the big fat corpse rats that eat the soldiers bread . Wow, what it might have been to be in the trenches and at the front.

Deb - very good to see that you had a lovely holiday weekend and enjoyed catching up with your brother and his delightful-sounding family. Don't think I've done myself any favours by raising the subject of the demon alcohol. Actually on a serious note I do not imbibe in Malaysia (especially as SHE-WHO-MUST-BE-OBEYED is very much against) and english ale is not really available here. My slip was going back to England recently to see my Dad and twin and not being able to resist the treat of a few (a few mind!) pints of the northern english nectar. Sobriety from now on from yours truly.

Following along and enjoying the conversation here Nancy!
You will have to keep us informed and updated on where this Giller prize of a book is a reality. Think of all the free publicity you are getting here on LT and the book isn't even written yet. ;)

Oh good ! Now we've got people thinking that you are writing the Giller!!!! Thank heavens.

So Nancy, how is your Great Canadian Novel going!!! :)

Now I'm also confused Nancy - my understanding was:

1 Deb was writing the book and had roundly scolded her international agent for suggesting a ridiculously inane and juvenile title for her opus magnus

2 I had appointed you as sub-agent given your undoubted charm and comprehensive knowledge of the Canadian market

Now it seems we have competing manuscripts already. I note that my client has very kindly agreed to pool intellectual resources in a combined effort. Her conditions as far as I understand are as follows:

1 She has a 60/40 split of all royalties
2 Her fool of an agent has no say whatsoever on title
3 An agreed portion of the royalties be put aside for the 75 LTrs to convene an annual get together - the first being in not-so-sunny NZ at some unpronounceable location a la Leonie.

My Client urges that you respond by return thread.

Hey wow I'm getting adept at spoof threads!

Hahaha..are you not writing the Giller prize??

Valerie there is much more sport in encouraging (well sort of) Deb and Nancy!

I think Nancy has gone in hiding from the rest of us! ;) I can't say that I blame her!

Deb - I don't see Nancy as the shy and retiring type - have you considered she may be trying to get a head start on us with the production of her own oeuvre?

Valerie don't want to write it but if you can get me on the judging panel our girl Deb will be a shoe in.

Right Paul, I'm on it and see what strings I can pull seeing how I'm all chummy with the big wigs! ;)

I'm here! Embarrassed to say that I managed to un-star my own thread and have been merrily oblivious to the goings on here! I do wonder about myself sometimes ...

#106 Thanks, Cait. You, too!

#107 Prue, so glad you corrected us that it's not you who may be the type of languid lady who sips a creme de menthe (poured from a an art-deco cut glass decanter)- perhaps in one hand while she pats her greyhound with the other ... Too much!!

#108 LOL, Paul. Macchiato Miss, it is!

#109 Starred, Deb!

#110 Edmonton? Where's Edmonton? hehe!

#111 I'm so far behind, I know you've now finished All Quiet on the Western Front, Deb. It's a great read!

#112 Paul, I'm also a non-drinker. Seems I'm collecting them here : ).

#113-114 Not me, ladies! Deb, you hatched the idea for dystopian novel, "The Pyramid's Tale"; I simply said I'd help you bag next year's Giller!

#115 Paul, no competing manuscripts! Deb is solely responsible for authoring this new dynamo. I agreed (ok, solicited) a commission to act as your Canadian co-agent because I am charming (thank you!) and have an extensive knowledge of Canada. To the best of my knowledge, you are also correct in the following:

1. She (Deb) has a 60/40 split of all royalties
2 Her fool of an agent has no say whatsoever on title
3 An agreed portion of the royalties be put aside for the 75 LTrs to convene an annual get together - the first being in not-so-sunny NZ at some unpronounceable location a la Leonie.

#116 Not me, Valerie. It's all Deb!! She had a genius idea for a dystopian novel; in fact, I hope by now she's well into the writing of it. I came on board to help her bag next year's Giller, being we're both Canucks and all. Then I solicited a small share of commission from Paul, her agent, to act as Canadian co-agent. Deb was indignant that the sordid topic of money needed to be discussed at all; she, of course, is simply in for the literary pastiche!

#117 All Deb!

#118 Deb, I embarrassingly managed to un-star my own thread. Harumph!!

#119 Paul, nope, never been the shy and retiring type : ). But I'm not intending to compete with Deb's Canadian debut novel. Remember, it's she who's after the pastiche; you and I are left to debate the sordid topic of money!

#120-121 Valerie, I'm hoping by now you have a seat for Paul secured on next year's Giller panel! We can rest easy then that our girl, Deb, as Paul says, will be just fine!

LOL! Unstarred yourself and could not find your thread! Now I've heard it all! ;) Glad to see you back, my literary genius.

#124 Always a pleasure, Deb, hehe!

BTW - I never star my thread, I access it from my profile page. What is your IQ again? :) hehehehe........

Never you mind, Nancy my dear, you reassured me about my basic sanity, and that's a precious gift these days!

Nancy nice to see you're back to contribute to your own thread! We have been keeping it warm for you. At least I'm not the only one adept at unstarring myself.

#126 My IQ? What's IQ? Do I need one?

#127 Peggy, I couldn't agree more about basic sanity!

#128 Paul, so appreciate that I'm not alone in being adept at unstarring myself.

Grace Williams Says It Loud, Emma Henderson



Rating: 4/5

Grace Williams is mentally challenged at birth, deformed by polio at aged six, and committed to Briar Mental Institute at age eleven in the late 1950s. On her first day at Briar, Grace meets Daniel Smith, a debonair epileptic who wins her heart with his Parisian French, his stories of the world outside, and his unlikely and uncanny talents of shoe cobbling and piano playing. Theirs becomes a love which will endure beyond the sordid existence that is Briar.

The novel is a disturbing and heartbreaking read. Heartbreaking because Henderson’s portrayal of Grace, her victories, defeats, and great love are so achingly real. And disturbing because she, and some two thousand other Briar patients, are treated with such shameful disgust and loathing: “Subnormal, deficient, retarded, impaired.” (129) Briar’s routine consists of ongoing abuse, physical, emotional, and sexual; debilitating medications; and painful, often unnecessary, medical procedures.

“Daniel said it wasn’t too bad, ECT. But I knew he was lying. his egg-shaped head always appeared longer, and his eyes scrambled like a bust kaleidoscope, after his own occasional shocks. Few of us ever had regular electrics. Increasingly, we were treated with colourful cocktails of pills. The only patients who still received regular ECT were the adult skitters, the lady catatonics and a group of curled, withdrawn, lost-looking men called DPCs. Daniel said they came from abroad, from camps. If they spoke at all, they spoke in a mysterious mix.” (127)

For all its seriousness, Grace Williams is not without victory. Grace lives on well beyond the closure of Briar in the late 1980s; and by then, thankfully, education has, at least to considerable degree, precipitated humane and compassionate attitudes towards those less fortunate. I think Henderson’s achievement in Grace Williams is her ability to educate, to remind, to disturb, and to celebrate.

Great review, Nancy. I'm so glad your felt the same way I did about Grace Williams Says it Loud. It's such a touching and at times, difficult to read book.

#130: I would like to read it for the love story - but I dread reading about mental institutions and ill treatment of patients and stuff like that. I'm so horrified by it. Again a good quote, Nancy - and welcome back to your thread :)

Very nice review of Grace Williams Says it Loud, Nancy.

#131 Exactly, Deb, touching and at times, difficult to read. Thanks for the thumb!

#132 Thanks for the welcome back, Carsten! I know what you mean about dreading to read about mental institutions and ill treatment of patients. That said, I think good literature will sometimes makes us uncomfortable; Henderson, IMO, is reminding us of what was, of behaviours and attitudes we don't ever wish to revert to.

#133 Thanks, Darryl.

Nice review Nancy and another for the TBR mountain. Mental health is no joke of course....two cows were talking and one said "what do you think of this mad cows disease?" the other cow responded..."It doesn't affect me I'm a duck!"
The book on the other hand doesn't seem to be a barrel of laughs but then again joking to one side is an issue that is difficult not to empathise with. My Gran passed away in 1994 at the age of 87 and her last year was spent in the haze of alzeimers. It was heartbreaking watching her deteriorate before us and though the novel is not quite of the same kind I am so pleased we were able to care for her at the end rather than pass on the responsibility.

#135 You make a great point, Paul, about being able as a family to care for one's own. I didn't address it in my review of Grace Williams, but when Grace's family, and Daniel's for that matter, are no longer able to care for them, and they make the decision to institutionalize, I don't think either family fully recovers from its decision. Their grief manifests itself through fractured relationships, addiction, geographically-scattered offspring. Very moving - and very real.

You are so welcome, Nancy.

And yes, Paul, for our family to be able to care for my dad at home as he died of cancer at the young age of 65 did a lot to heal relationships and bring the family together, though certainly there were tough moments. Kudo's to you and yours for being able to look after your Gran.

BTW Paul - I like your joke! ;)

#137 I'll bet there were tough moments, Deb. Me, too, Paul - like your joke that is : ). Forgot to even mention that I was a duck when I responded at #136!

Deb, Nancy - the joke made me quack (I mean laugh) too when I first heard it.

I Am the Messenger, Markus Zusak



Rating: 3/5

Ed Kennedy, nineteen year old cab driver, stops a bank robbery and becomes something of a local hero. Subsequently, he begins receiving playing cards encrypted with codes in the post; some of the codes are addresses, but others are much more obscure. Ed becomes “the messenger,” the helper of troubled citizens. He saves a woman and her young child from an abusive husband; and he fills an abandoned congregation. Ed’s journey, of course, is a search for meaning. As his life moves in new directions, always his closest friends are with him: Marv, enamoured with his Falcon; Ritchie, whose name is not Ritchie at all; and Audrey, secretly adored by Ed, but always “involved” with another.

I parted company with I Am the Messenger half way through. To be fair, Zusak’s novel is YA fiction, and I’m not part of that target audience. I picked this one up because I found The Book Thief so impressive. However, this earlier novel did not hold my interest. That said, I admire the easy manner in which Zusak addresses some very serious matters affecting his young characters. Ed says of Audrey:

“I think of how she lives alone, just like me, and how she never had any real family, and how she only has sex with people. She never lets any love get in the way. I think she had a family once, but it was one of those beat-the-crap-out-of-each-other situations. There’s no shortage of them around here. I think she loved them, and all they ever did was hurt her.” (Ch 2)

I Am the Messenger is certainly a respectable read, but I do not personally recommend it for readers outside its targeted audience.

Aw, that's too bad that you didn't love it like The Book Thief. I read this one first and so loved Ed. His faith in doing the right thing and belief in himself (and doing the right thing) was wonderful. I plan to read this again someday to if it holds up to my memory of it.

Edit- I did think the ending was weird.

#141 I wanted to enjoy this one more than I did, Elizabeth; delighted your experience was such! I think Zusak is talented, and a real force for our YA readers. I liked Ed, too; he so wants to do the right thing, to latch onto something he can be proud of.

Great review of I Am the Messenger. Personally I could not even get into The Book Thief , so I think I understand what you mean about the book not hitting it's targeted audience. But of course, everyone is so different in their taste.

#143 Didn't know you hadn't liked The Book Thief. You are right that we are all so different in our tastes; a good thing!

Nancy must admit that I was also not overboard on The Book Thief - parts of it I thought were very good and the idea of death as a narrator was innovative and almost worked but not quite for me.

#145 Interesting, Paul. For me, the idea of death narrating was genius; I thought it worked superbly with the subject matter, and even more so in attempting to reach a YA audience on the Holocaust. A line that stuck: "I am haunted by humans."

#144 it's true! One person really has no right to say something is "good" or not because it is soooo dependent on taste. I try to say that i think something is "good- in my opinion". Well, I intend to but it doenst usually happen!
Diversity makes up the world!
ETA I wasnt really into the Book Thief either.

Nancy / Megan - Totally agree opinions are surely the mortar in the building blocks of this web-site! If we all agreed on everything writers would issue work in a rote manner and we'd all keep our opinions to ourselves! No one person has a monopoly on taste or of being the arbiter of what is good writing and what is not (even SHE-WHO-MUST-BE-OBEYED cannot claim so much!). Personally I like the fact that Judy, Prue, Mark, Carsten, Darryl, Ilana, Megan, Deb, Kerry, Valerie, Morphy, Nancy etc etc etc can read the same book and half will love it, a quarter may think it ok and the balance believe it to be a stinker. The fact that this can be expressed with a modicum of good humour and intelligence is what make this site so addictive. The narrator being death in The Book Thief was innovative but I just felt the whole missed something somehow - worth a read certainly and I would buy his other stuff but I'm not eagerly awaiting his next release like Lee Child or Robert Goddard or Peter Carey or Jo Nesbo or Anne Tyler or Sebastian Faulks or or or or

Great post, Paul! For me, the idea of death as a narrator did not work for me. I confess, I did not finish the book. That in itself turned me off the book!

Yes indeed, our tastes our varied .

I note my " favourite author" arghhh , Margaret Atwood has a new book out here - http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/the-medium-is-the-message-why-mar....

This time she has made her books partially out of straw to save the environment, or some such thing. There is big display at my local Chapters.

Should you hear of a straw bonfire in a bookstore in the Vancouver area, you will know who has set it!.....;)

#147 Hi Megan, yes to diversity!

#148 Well said, Paul!

#149 Now, Deb, don't go setting any Vancouver bookstores on fire! You are too much!

I saw Margaret Atwood recently on George Stromboulopoulus Tonight; excellent interview. It came round somehow to Tolkien. Atwood compared Canadians to his hobbits, i.e. in possession of the "ring(s) of power" which were identified as our resources: oil and boreal forest. Interesting stuff! Truthfully, I am not a fan of Tolkien's work, but I can appreciate his brilliance; especially now that I know the hobbits were Canadians, ha! Don't know whether you like the George, but I enjoy him as an interviewer very much.

I had the good fortune to watch Case Histories by Kate Atkinson on Masterpiece Theatre last night! I had no idea that it was on, but I happened to check the TV guide that goes with the newspaper, and it said - Jackson Brodie / Cold Cases - so I watched! Great show! Very enjoyable!!!

For certain Margaret Atwood is a hobbit. I'm not sure about the rest of us. I'm not a fan of Tolkiens work, but I have gone out see the LOTR movies and they were okay. Quite long and one definitely needed a vat of popcorn and a large coke to get through - but at least I have an idea of what Tolkiens work is about.

For shame - I'm not even sure who George Stromboulopoulus is , but I've heard the name. I'm very downmarket. ;)

I do know what you mean about appreciating Tolkiens brilliance. Even though Stephen King might not be my cup of tea -I do admire the way he can capture such a broad audience and be so prolific.

Oh yes, Jackson Brodie was all one could ask for in a man! ;)

#151 Darn, I missed Jackson! I'll now be haunting Sunday night's TV listings. George Stroumboulopoulus is CBC evening talk. I record anything I want to watch because he doesn't air until 11:00.

Our boyfriend George? I don't watch as much as I'd like, but I always enjoy him. I've been cheating on George with Jimmy Fallon at 11pm.

Case Histories was wonderful last night. Loved it. Jackson wasn't quite perfect, but I enjoyed him enough. Deb, it will be on for two more weeks, to cover the other Atkinson novels. Nice little show to get us closer to Downton Abbey in January.

I'm so=so on Margaret Atwood, I've liked some, not so much other.

Markus Zuzak is on my list of eagerly anticipated author releases.

#153 Cheating on George, Elizabeth! Gasp!! hehe I will definitely have to check the listings for Jackson. I like Atwood's work, at least the several I've read. But author-ing aside, she is brilliant and so well informed; I love hearing her interviewed.

Oh Elizabeth - so glad your were lucky enough to catch Jackson Brodie!! Will I have to share him with you! Yes, I got the idea that another Jackson Brodie would be on next week!!! Exciting stuff! You'll have to tune in with us, Nancy!

#149 Lol Deb - I don't much like her either - if customs & excise would allow I would forward my share of the matches!

#155 Deb, I'll definitely be looking to tune in with you and Elizabeth! You've told me that Jackson is FAR too much man for one woman, so sharing shouldn't be a problem, hehe!

#156 Paul and Deb, you two are pyromaniacs! I will be in a difficult position if a Vancouver bookstore is burned down, and Jackson Brodie comes asking questions!

Nancy hahaha...I'm sure we wouldn't allow a whole bookshop to be destroyed....Deb would probably say that those books shouldn't be in a book shop anyway.

#158 LOL, that's probably exactly what she'd say!

Well,. Paul and Nancy, I'm on good terms with the manager at my local bookstore - Chapters . He says and I quote- " You've really got your pulse on what's what in books- more so than me." From that I take it that the young man might go with my plan to burn up the Margie Atwood display..... ;) He likely despises her too. The rest of the books can remain, of course.

I'm not sure just why I dislike Margie Atwood so much. I trace it back to having to read something Margaret Atwood high in school and considering her a man hater and getting really sick of existential crisis books in high school and man hater books. Then when I read Handmaids Tale I thought it might get a 3.5 - but then it ended so hopelessly that I had to downgrade the rating to 2.5. I simply don't like her world view . I do note that Kevin in Canada says that most people either love or hate M. A. I like that guy!!!!I think she is a literary snob - with her "speculative fiction" and there's nothing I dislike more than a literary snob.

end of rant.. for the moment. Oh Deborah -why don't you just say what you mean? Don't hold back!!! ;)

Deb I wish you would make your mind up as to whether you like M.Atwood or not?!
Top three least favourite authors:
Atwood, Will Self (his work is indecipherable) and newly Hermann Hesse

Well, Paul, I did say that I despised M.Atwood in that last paragraph. Then to soften the blow of that, I tried to explain why. I like Alice Munro ( so depressing ) or Yann Martel ( try to make sense). All Canadian authors. Yeah, we know how to grow em. Never did like Pearl S Buck or John Steinbeck. Wake me up the yawn- book is over.

Good morning, Nancy.

Nancy, yes I am able to share Jackson Brodie with you and everyone on LT. He's too much man for one woman , alright! ;) Sorry about that Paul....;)

#160-163 I get it, the two of you dislike Atwood. We will respectfully agree to disagree on her work, her feminism, and her world view. Moving on ...

Indeed, Canada knows how to grow em in terms of fine authors, and you've mentioned a few in #162, Deb. Oh, and thanks so much for sharing Jackson, hehe.

Deb - Don't mind me - I'm not too keen to share Jackson Brodie! His love interest wears far too colorful an ensemble for my liking too! Happy tp share the books though as we all agree on this one - they're great!

Nancy - do like Canadian writers Brian Moore is one of my favourites, Robertson Davies, Rohinton Mistry and MG Vassanji also. Certainly no slur on the Maple Leaf....some of my best friends....but sorry I still can't stand La Atwood (although with less vitriol than Deb!) and even with her I thought Alias Grace was Ok.

Paul, we are like two badly behaved kids , hiding out on poor Nancy's thread, discussing our devious ways. Cease and desist, please!

Paul, perhaps you did not catch Jackson Brodie on TV... had you, I think you yourself may have swooned!;)

Nancy - I can't emphasize how wonderful The Twin was! Do see if you can get hold of it. I truly think that you would appreciate it. Full of symbolism, a bit of a sexual undercurrent - oh -there is so much to that story! I'd read anything by Gerbrand Bakker now.

I'm still hoping to write a review on the book - but for me that takes a great effort - plus I was busy last night and now it looks like our 21 year old son has eaten us out of house and home. Sometimes he eats nearly nothing, choosing to eat at UBC, at his girlfriends family etc -but I just discovered that all of the deli meat and bagels are gone....which means the grocery shopping trip is upon me....

Well , today is the Booker Announcement! Such excitement in the air!

Deb - Ok pardner! Noticed with interest your comments about the TV show of which I am envious as it is unavailable here at the moment. I am comfortable enough in my skin that I can appreciate the attraction of other guys - but swoon - NEVER!

Booker announcement is that Barnes has won much to Darryl's relief.

Yes, and I think Nancy may be the only one among the three of us who has read The Sense of Ending I'll pull it my shelf eventually. I was secretly hoping for Sisters Brothers which , Paul - I think you'd really enjoy! A rollicking good read!

#165 Paul, it was actually you who recommended Rohinton Mistry to me with A Fine Balance, which I every much enjoyed earlier this year. Those characters are still with me, and I expect will be for some time to come.

#166 Delighted you enjoyed The Twin so much, Deb. Another for the list. Your quip about your 21 year old son devouring groceries reminds me of a time when my friend got a call from his son's Foods and Nutrition teacher to say son was failing her course. My friend replied, "I don't know how he could possibly be failing Foods. He's eating me out of house and home." hehe

Booker Prize winner is exciting! I only read two or three of the lot, but The Sense of an Ending was excellent. I highly recommend.

#167 I'm somehow glad to hear you are not a swooner, Paul. You don't strike me as such, hehe.

#168 Paul and Deb, read The Sense of an Ending!

I just requested The Sense of an Ending from the library. I'm number 3 in the list, which is pretty good. It's a pretty short book, isn't it?

Nancy - as you will note from my thread I always do what the ladies tell me! Barnes it is then as soon as possible.

Deb - Your comments on your son were comical. Kyran my son had his 12th birthday and thought it a good idea to walk the four miles home from school without telling anyone - my poor driver was at his wits end looking high and low for him - and yes when he got home and, after being scolded, he was utterly ravenous!

#170-171 Elizabeth and Paul, I'm delighted you will soon read The Sense of an Ending. Looking very forward to hearing what you both think of it. Deb, are you in on the action here? Yes, it is a short read.

Paul, I did the same thing as Kyran when I was about fourteen. My mother and my friend's mother were ballistic with worry! My friend and I were completely at a loss as to what all the fuss was about! Puh-lease!

Nancy have you read The Rebel by Camus? You and Kyran must be described in there somewhere!

Nancy I'll join in the party for The Sense of an Ending - I stayed awake till 11 pm to find out that it had won and was so pleased!!

#173 I haven't read The Rebel, Paul, but it sounds like I must!

#174 Welcome to the party, Cushla! I think you will really enjoy The Sense of an Ending.

Hi Nancy! Hurry onto to reading The Twin. No pressure as usual. Eventually I will read The Sense of an Ending. I've got so many books on the shelf I'm hoping to read from books off the shelf/ kindle or from the library for the rest of the year. That might be the most sensible thing I've said in a long , long time! ;)

Paul - wait until your son grows a little older! Pity me with two sons! One decided to become a vegetarian at the age of 16 - and kept at til he was 19 - he's the one that is now 21. The other one decided he had to have I'm not sure how many grams / ounces of protein to help with his muscle building weight lifting program. He still at that at 26. You just learn to roll with it....

And my mom with two sons 18 months apart - one grew to 6'4 and the other to 6'2. I remember my mom telling my brothers - enough eating! Fill up on Cheerios.

#176 Deb, make me smile with your off the shelf, on the Kindle, out of the library quip! What a time with your sons ... men, muscle, meat (think I won't go any further down that road on my thread!)

Deb - your boys sound more like twins than Peter (my twin @ 6ft) and myself (5ft 6). Three years as a vegetarian is at least a thousand days more than I could comfortably manage.

Hi Nancy! Just had to do a quick skim since I'm so far behind on all the threads.

LOL, I still can't believe you unstarred your own thread but I guess anything is possibe?!?! ;)

#178 I also would not make a very pleasant vegetarian.

#179 Hi Valerie! Indeed, anything is possible!

Popping in to say hello :)

Nancy - I'm not an especially pleasant omnivorian! (is there such a word - well there should be), but I am trying my best.

Nancy, I see that you have added The Virgin Cure to your book feed ( no, I'm not nosy) by Ami McKay. Have you got word that's she's actually got the book out yet? It was supposed to come out last fall -and I waited and waited and the last I saw the book was due to be released October 25th 2011. I can't wait, because I loved The Birth House too.

BTW - the vegetarian thing worked out okay. I was kind of shocked, but I told my son, I will purchase any foods that you would like to eat, but I won't be cooking separate meals. So - he was fine with that. We both kind of worked out how much protein he would need to eat - thank heavens he was not planning to be vegan!!!!! and I made him go to our GP and make certain that he had a good eating plan. He is a really easy going son and so it was fine. I learned to like lentil soup, split pea soup, nuts, and he drank a lot of milk and ate a lot of cheese and thank goodness for Carnation Instant Breakfast. I even had to examine yogurt for signs of added gelatin - horse hooves , you know!;)

#182 Paul, I think the word is omnivore; but I like your suggestion!

#183 Deb, I'm also hoping that The Virgin Cure is released Oct 25/11. The Birth House was one of my best-ever novels, and would still be on that list today.

Your sons sound like sensible, well-adjusted young men. Kudos to you and husband, I say!

Nancy - omnivore yes but I was thinking on my feet to describe one belonging to the species of omnivores. Mmm the creative juices were perhaps not working well enough. (like Vancouveran I guess!)

#185 Paul, I love it when you make up words : ). I think your creative juices are just fine, hehe!

Well, here's to crossing our fingers that The Virgin Cure is actually released on Oct 25th. I hope the book is okay, given that it is a year later than planned.

Thanks for the kind words re my sons. I did try my best with them as did my husband -but let's face it, I did most of the work. Really I did, including teaching them how to drive. My husband would have been too freaked out to help them learn to drive etc. The eldest presented a few challenges, but the younger was relatively carefree to raise. I did have times when I wished there were books on - raising/ living with your young adult ... but that's all sorted out now. And the nights of lying with my brain and heart in a knot of worry are mainly behind me now. Life is good. Both of them were essentially sensible and well - behaved - but some of the choices my eldest son made left me quite exhausted with concern at times. As my husband says - the aliens have brought his brain back some years ago. This was my husbands theory re some of our eldest choices. I take it that my husband also had his brain removed at a certain age and returned to him some years later. Perhaps when he met me his brain returned to him.....or so his sister has said to me.

Not that I want to take all of the credit.

Deb - Vancouver's own 100% all-action heroine - the Giller winning Penelope Pitstop Maple-leaf Mom! Must stick up a bit for the Dads though. Dave seems to have used his analytical skills excellently. He obviously figured out how good a mom you were and decided that the art of delegation was good management! Didn't quite get the lobotomy and transplant part - was it supposed to be immediately before or after he bumped into the lady in the red shorts that all that surgery is said to have taken place? Only kidding of course - good, well grounded adult boys are normally more an expression of the Mother who spent most of her time with them. My three are often referred to as being extremely well-mannered - I honestly take zero credit for this - Hani's inculcatory skills and the sheer terror she also instills succeeds where I would surely have failed. btw my daughter is playing soccer tomorrow and realised Dad is at least ok for buying shin-guards!

Nancy, how's the reading going! What are your reading now? I'm quite enjoying Natural Order by Brian Francis.

I was " chatting" with Gogs18 aka Chelle and she was saying that she is trying the 1001 book you should read before you die challenge.

I was looking at amazon ca and wondering -what do you think - is that book worth purchasing? A lot of the reviews on amazon were not that positive about the book. Just wondered what you thought.

#187-188 Deb and Paul, kudos to both of you for having raised lovely families. Lots of work and, I expect, lots of reward. My life experience in this regard could not be more different; I never wanted and consequently never had children. And I've never regretted my decision.

#189 Deb, I'm reading The Age of Innocence. The writing is wonderful; it's my first Wharton. That said, I've had very little reading time the past few days, so it's slow going. Have been following your remarks on your thread about Natural Order; delighted it's so good!

I don't participate in 1001 challenge, but since I joined LT last March, I did buy 1001 Books You Must Read. It's a fabulous resource, and as only a book lover could appreciate, it's the best smelling book I own!

HI Nancy

I picked up the 2006 edition of 1001 Books today and I think it will be a lovely new addition to my overflowing books shelves!

The Age of Innocence sounds quite good. Glad you are enjoying it!

Nancy you are right the shiny pages do smell pretty good.

#191 Chelle, delighted you joined 1001 : ).

#192 Paul, don't you love the idiosyncracies of book nuts! I do!

Idiosyncrasies in book nuts? Whatever are you talking about, Nancy! All of us are completely balanced and predictable, most of all me and Paul! ;)

Sorry Deb what was that I couldn't hear you - I was too busy sniffing my books!

I don't doubt that Paul! ;)

Nancy, I wanted to let you know that I purchased 1001 books to read before you die via Amazon ca and it should arrive next Friday. I think it will a fun , interesting resource. Thanks for the advice re the book.

shhhh - but I tried out my first audio book yesterday evening. Now, I'm not entirely certain that I'll be able to to it -but its 5 CD's from the library. I listened to 1 1/2 CD yesterday night and I was surprised at how easy it is to follow and audio book. I was doing some slow moving things in the kitchen - and I found that listening to Atonement by Ian McKewan was quite easy to do and made my slow chores go a lot faster. We'll see if I can get through all of the CD's!

#194-195 I love idiosyncratic book sniffers! I'm one of them, after all, hehe.

#195 Deb, I'm delighted you bought 1001 Books. It is a beautiful resource book: useful; gorgeous, thick, pages; wonderfully smelling; impressive photos and art. You'll love!

Am thrilled you're into your first audiobook! I know we've talked about this before. Atonement sounds like a great choice to start. You'll find that the reader makes or breaks the listen. I've also borrowed CDs from the library and used them; but I rip them into the computer and then transfer them to my iPod or iPhone. You'll be able to do the same when you get your new iPhone (note the not-so-sublte persuasion at work there, hehe).

Glancing through the thread and laughing along as usual :)

Nancy, you might like to have a look at this in Canada Reads - http://www.librarything.com/topic/125405

Apparently this year Canada Reads is a non - fiction contender. There are 40 books for now, 2 of which I have read and one in my TBR pile. Interesting mix. Apparently that will be whittled down to 10 books and eventually a finalist picked.

BTW - I finished Natural Order . A wonderful read. I'll be working on a review. The author, Brian Francis was a Canada Reads Contender a couple of years ago for his book Fruit. I"ve not read that book, but it's what made me pick up Natural Order

#198 Hi Megan : ).

#199 Thanks for the Canada Reads link, Deb. I'll definitely check it out. I've followed books from that list/resource in the past, and have enjoyed some good reads as a result. So glad you enjoyed Natural Order; will be looking for your review. Don't you love it when one book connection leads to another ... spice of life, that stuff!

I'm also a fan of 1001 Books. I have the first version and there's a lot of good inspiration for reading. If I get 20 books read from that list every year it will only take me about 50 years...with good medication.....

Ha! Carsten - I guess I'm already too old to read all 1001 books, even with good medication!!! ;) Like some sort of uppers, I guess!

#201-202 Happy to have more 1001 fans on board! Carsten make me laugh with 20 books, 50 years, and good medication! I'm thinking that as time passes, the good medication might become even more important!

Hi Nancy, I was looking through the 1001 Books book last night and medication might be a good idea to help get through the earlier works! Some from the 1800's will be well over my reading comfort level!

Got my review done for Natural Order at last , Nancy - it's here - I think....http://www.librarything.com/work/11681369/reviews/77476969

#204 Chelle, I'm with you!

#205 Thumb, Deb! Thanks for that.

Nancy! Of all things, I feel asleep watching Case Histories last night! I guess Jackson Brodie isn't as exciting as he thought! ;) Lucky thing I have it taped!!!! Thanks for the thumb!

Say, Nancy...Virgin Cure by Ami McKay that is supposed to be out tomorrow , I think it's going to be quite good. I managed to find an online review from the Vancouver Sun and attached here on LT. I also read a good review about in this weeks McLeans Magazine... I can't wait for the book to be iin my hot little hands! ;)

#207 LOL, Deb. I taped it too, so I'll watch later this week.

#208 Thanks, Deb! I'll check on the review you posted from the Sun. I think The Birth House will always be a favourite of mine.

I picked up The Virgin Cure today from the bookstore! I'm certainly looking forward to it! It will be interesting to see how it compares to The Birth House. Not similar themes at all, but I'm hoping this will be a magical enjoyable book too.

#210 I'm hoping for another favourite in The Virgin Cure, too, Deb! Nothing like high expectations! But I think McKay is up to the challenge.

The bookstore I went to last week didn't have any copies of the 1001 book which was disappointing because $10 is definitely a steal. I just wonder how long they will have that sale for?

#212 Hi Valerie, I'm not surprised the bookstore was out of 1001 Books if it was on sale for $10.

Just dropping by Nancy to say hi - 1001 books for $10 that is less than 1 cent per books haha.

Well, my 1001 books is supposed to arrive tomorrow from Amazon ca. As it happens, I saw it yesterday for the full price of $40! Besides picking up The Virgin Cure , I also picked up The Observations by Jane Harris - all Tania/ Wookie's fault and I'm sending her a bill for it! ;)

I've put a hold on Oliver's Twist: The Life and Times of an Unapologetic Newshound by Craig Oliver. No touchstones as yet, but I just love him on CTV news. He's an older fellow who is legally blind. I'm number 3 on the library waiting list here.

#214 Hi Paul, I like your math, hehe.

#215 Hi Deb, I paid $40 for 1001 Books! Worth it, though. I know who Craig Oliver is and also enjoy his work; didn't know he'd written a book. Thanks for the tip.

Yes, there was an excellent write up on Craig Oliver's life and book in McLeans, which we subscribe too. I had a look at it on the shelf yesterday , but could not bear to spend any more money - it was $34.00 or so. So - I'm in line at the library. It did look very interesting at Chapters though. Craig Oliver grew up in Prince Rupert and apparently both of his parents were alcoholics. Sounds like he had a challenging life - plus the people that he got to know as a " news hound " should be very interesting.

There are still a couple of copies left at another store so I'm going to go pick it up tonight! It's too good of a prices to pass up!

Glad that you are planning to read the Virgin Cure. I think you will very much enjoy it. I know I am. Good old Valerie - it sounds like she is doing some Christmas shopping with 1001 Books. I've barely had a chance to look mine over yet. I was busy finishing up Atonement and then digging into The Virgin Cure. Hope you have a restful weekend!

#218 Hi Valerie, hope you found 1001 Books!

#219 Hi Deb, eagerly anticipating The Virgin Cure.

The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton



Rating: 5/5

Brilliantly written, The Age of Innocence captures at once the polished outward charm and the inner, well-oiled machinations of 1870s New York City society. Protagonist Newland Archer is a young, affluent lawyer living an elegant life within the familiar, rigid social strictures of his class. He is engaged to May, daughter of the prominent Wellands and granddaughter to powerful matriarch, Mrs. Manson Mingott. May is wide-eyed, adoring, naïve, and impeccably trained by tradition. When the beautiful Ellen Olenska, cousin to May and also granddaughter to Mrs. Manson Mingott, returns to New York, having left the brutish Polish Count she married some years earlier, society is affronted. Welland, however, finds himself attracted to the Countess’s forward-thinking free spirit; on this basis he befriends her, but eventually he falls in love with her. His association with Ellen leads him to question the traditions, moral codes, and “elaborate futility” of the “rich and idle and ornamental” society in which he lives. The deliberate and meticulous precision that has thus far defined his existence begins to grate irrevocably:

“The young man, as he followed his wife into the hall, was conscious of a certain reversal of mood. There was something about the luxury of the Welland house and the density of the Welland atmosphere, so charged with minute observances and exactions, that always stole into his system like a narcotic. The heavy carpets, the watchful servants, the perpetually reminding tick of disciplined clocks, the perpetually renewed stack of cards and invitations on the hall table, the whole chain of tyrannical trifles binding one hour to the next, and each member of the household to all the others, made any less systematized and affluent existence seem unreal and precarious. But now it was the Welland house, and the life he was expected to lead in it, that had become unreal and irrelevant, and the brief scene on the shore, when he had stood irresolute, halfway down the bank, was as close to him as the blood in his vein.” (Ch 21)

Wharton’s prose is exquisite; I can’t remember when I’ve read such a gorgeous book. The Age of Innocence has become a favourite. Highly recommended!

Great review of The Age of Innocence. Thumb up from me. I can certainly see the enormous contrast in the New York Society that you have just written about compared to the destitution New York City that I am reading in The Virgin Cure.

Nancy - great review of a seemingly great book! Will have to promote it in my list although the cover and edition I have (Penguin Popular Classics) isn't a patch on the one you have.

Five stars indeed, Nancy.

The Age of Innocence was an audiobook for me and although I knew the story from the beautiful movie version by Scorsese I loved every sentence. Wharton is one of the best writers to convey the very minute shifting of mood and thoughts. How intense is it to see a man betraying his own ideals, making excuses, conversing with himself and realising the utter futility of the luxury life he is living. Poor Newland...poor May. The quote says it all!

#222 Deb, thanks for the thumb! Yes, I think the enormous contrast in NY society between the two books is fascinating. And I don't even have a copy yet of The Virgin Cure.

#223 Thanks, Paul.

#224 Carsten, I also saw the Scorsese adaptation of The Age of Innocence some years ago, and loved it! But I hadn't read the book until now. Delighted it was also a five star read for you! You're right that it is intense, and also heartbreaking, to see a man betraying his own ideals. Well said.

Good review.....Im feeling overwhelmed with all the books I need to read soon. *deep breath deep breath*

Superb review of a great book!

#226 Megan, thank you! It's easy to feel overwhelmed by great books here at LT, isn't it?

#227 Hi Lucy! Thank you. I had to go have a look in your library; tickled that The Age of Innocence was also a five star read for you : ).

Great review Nancy and a thumb from me. I am hearing such great things about Edith Wharton that I'm itching to get to one of her books but after reading The Woman in White and The Great Gatsby, I need to take a little break from the classics. :)

BTW, I did pick up my copy of 1001 and now that one can cause a concussion!

Another thumb from me for your outstanding review of the wonderful Age of Innocence. This is a book that should be on everyone's TBR lists! I like the quote you chose, Nancy. I can open my book to almost any page and get lost in the "exquisite prose". Well said!

Nancy, Carsten - one of the actresses I have a thing about Winona Ryder was in the film adaptation right. Oh she of the elfin and intelligent good looks - I wonder if I could engage her to steal books for me so that I can reduce somewhat the increasing expense of my hobby/addiction?!

#229 Valerie, delighted you found a copy of 1001 Books! Make me laugh with that one can cause a concussion! Exactly! I know what you mean about sometimes needing a break from classics.

#230 Donna, thank you again for organizing the group read of The Age of Innocence. It's always such a thrill to come across another favourite! Like you, I can also open the book to any page and get lost in its words.

#231 Paul, former thief and current actress might be happy to help! That said, she does make a perfect May in the movie adaptation.

Hi Nancy, I don't know that I've visited here before, but I wanted to thank you for visiting me, and for your thoughtful comment (and thumb) of my review. I'll definitely be hanging around!

It looks like we were reading I Am the messenger at the same time. I shared your opinion of it for the most part -- I listened to the book on audio because I had loved The Book Thief so much.

Loved your review of The Age of Innocence!

#233 Welcome, Anne, and thank you! Interesting that we both loved The Book Thief; sounds like I Am the Messenger was no more impressive on audio than I found it to be in print.

I think I might have liked it better if I had read it in print -- I think reading or hearing a book aloud highlights all the problems. There's no skimming, either :)

#235 I think reading or hearing a book aloud high lists all the problems. Interesting observation, Anne! I'd never considered that. I listen to a fair number of audiobooks, but mostly classics; and in that regard, I find the audio, with a capable narrator, serves to highlight the beauty of the language. Presently, I'm finishing up Hardy's The Return of the Native, narrated by Alan Rickman. He is sublime! Now, with modern fiction, I'm thinking audio is another matter. Thanks for that!

Just a brief stop by as I have to be away from the computer for a while - you know how that is! ;) But I was reading on AMQS'a, Anne's thread that you are interested in reading Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson! :) Well, I just ordered that second hand from a seller on Amazon.! Great minds and all that. According to Kevin in Canada, if you enjoy The Twin , which I love - then you will most likely enjoy Out Stealing Horses. It's so amazing how one book leads to another!

Anyway, I can hardly get my nose out of The Virgin Cure. It's wonderful, Nancy. Perhaps not a piece of literature, but definitely historical fiction and wonderfully and most sympathetically told. It's lovely reading!

#237 Ah, great minds! Love it, Deb! Delighted to hear that The Virgin Cure is so good!

I've tried to get The Virgin Cure from the library after all the talk about it here and on Deb's thread. You guys are making it sound like a must read. For the first time ever, I put in a request that my library purchase this book. Crossing my fingers for a speedy result.

Nancy, I enjoyed organizing the group read so I could have company as I read it for my class. We'll be discussing it for the next four sessions. I'll add any juicy comments I hear to the appropriate thread on the group read for The Age of Innocence.

Nancy, I'm loving The Virgin Cure. I wanted to let you know that I listed about 10 or more new books from 1001 bookson Jolerie's thread for her - and I thought you might like a peek at that too. One day I'll write out the entire list , but for now I ended up listing quite a few of the new books .

#231: True, Paul. Winona Ryder was a perfect May in The Age of Innocence and a perfect Jo in Little Women - a versatile actress - and those eyes.....hope her stealing days are over and she will return to the big screen more often. You have to get your books another way, Paul :)

Haha nice to see you back on the posts Carsten.

#239 Hi Donna, I'm an Ami McKay fan, think she's one of Canada's best gems, so The Virgin Cure is a must read! I hope your library will purchase! Look forward to juicy comments from your class on The Age of Innocence.

#240 Thanks, Deb, I'll have a look at the list on Valerie's thread.

#241 Well said, Carsten, hehe!

#242 Hi Paul : ).

Hi back to you Nancy. The Statistics/Memes link can be seen on the second row of your Home or profile page. Click it and quite a bit of data and graphs will come out detailing all sorts of things. The third set of statistics given is "Common Knowledge in your Library". This lists the number of series your books belong to, how many awards they have received etc. Click on awards and it will give you details on this under each award. We can also check each others.
Took the liberty of checking yours - You have 26 series and 320 awards. Having clicked awards it details your library consists of 64 (I counted them) books from 1001 books.

Oh, thank you Paul!! What a fabulous resource : ).

Yes, my husband is a particular reader. No hardcovers either, because they are to awkward to take to work. That I can understand.

I'm just pages from the end ofThe Virgin Cure and it's been somewhat dark but a delectable read. Just the sort that you could curl up in one evening ( in a marathon reading time ) and just lose yourself in the the world of poverty , prostitution, and the back alleys of 1870 New York. I know that sounds depressing but really it's a fabulous read! I think you will enjoy it very much.

I'll try to get a review done either Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.

#246 Deb, I'll be looking for your review! Sounds like McKay has excelled again with The Virgin Cure. Can't wait! Love your idea of planning it for a marathon read.

Finally , Nancy, I've created the review from The Virgin Cure. It was excellent, but I still think that maybe The Birth House was the better of the two. It's difficult to say though. Just like The Birth House , The Virgin Cure just kind of grabs you and takes you into a different and enthralling world.

#248 Thanks, Deb. Loved and thumbed your review. Looking very forward! The Virgin Cure just kind of grabs you and taken you into a different and enthralling world. Well said, Deb! That's exactly how I found The Birth House to be; I literally couldn't put it down.

Nancy, that's what I found - one is literately transported to a different world by both The Birth House and by The Virgin Cure. I guess that is part of Ami McKay's gift in her writing. Now, onto the graphic novel, Louis Riel... a little learning ....

#250 A graphic novel on Louis Riel sounds promising, Deb! Enjoy : ).

No pressure, Lit Chick, but how is Thomas Hardy going for you? Looking forward to your thoughts on the Natives :)

Well, my reading has been slow (and my LT-browsing) but yesterday I listened to Jane Eyre - she has just found out about the Rochester-secret and the climax of the story is rapidly approaching. The novel is fantastic.

Have a nice weekend

Hi Carsten : ). I'm very nearly finished The Return of the Native; have another hour of listening and will hopefully post review later this weekend. It is FABULOUS! I haven't read Hardy since university, and this audio version with Alan Rickman - well, he just knocks it out of the park! Very interested to know how much you are enjoying Jane Eyre - is this a Juliet Stevenson? Certainly one for me to consider; I was thinking my next audio would be another Trollope; I've only got two of the Barchester series left, and I'm SO enjoying. But you've got me thinking about Jane Eyre now. I'm so book-fickle, hehe!

Good to hear, Nancy. And yes, it's Juliet Stevenson and I think she has hit the perfect tone for Jane Eyre and Rochester. She's really a great narrator - thanks for introducing me to her :)

#254 Oh, thank you Carsten! I must have Jane Eyre by Stevenson! (if not now, then soon).

The Return of the Native, Thomas Hardy



Rating: 5/5

The Return of the Native
2007, BBC Audiobooks, Read by Alan Rickman

The Return of the Native, set exclusively on Egdon Heath, opens with reddleman Diggory Venn transporting home a naïve, disgraced Thomasin Yeobright, who was to have married innkeeper Damon Wildeve, earlier in the day. Wildeve, we soon learn, is preoccupied with the novel’s heroine, Eustasia Vye, undoubtedly one of literature’s great characters. Eustasia is intelligent, devious, passionate, and a manipulative object of desire – I did not find her likeable, but she was completely enthralling. Believing herself superior, she detests life on the Heath, and in this vein, she sets out in self-serving pursuit of Clym Yeobright, the “native,” who has just returned to Egdon from Paris, where he has been living a prosperous life as a diamond merchant. Twists of fate thwart even the best laid plans, of course, and the characters are inexorably entwined in complex relationships which Eustacia’s ambition has set in motion.

Hardy’s language is beautifully mellifluous; the novel’s narrative is richly layered, read in many voices. Themes include the celebration of the pagan, the primitive, and the pastoral. Hardy glorifies the simplicity of life for the working classes and celebrates the pastoral for its superiority. Egdon Heath is a character in its own right; Clym experiences perfect harmony with nature when he goes to work cutting furze:

“Bees hummed around his ears with an intimate air, and tugged at the heath and furze-flowers at his side in such numbers as to weigh them down to the sod. The strange amber-coloured butterflies which Egdon produced, and which were never seen elsewhere, quivered in the breath of his lips, alighted upon his bowed back, and sported with the glittering point of his hook as he flourished it up and down. Tribes of emerald-green grasshoppers leaped over his feet, falling awkwardly on their backs, heads, or hips, like unskillful acrobats, as chance might rule; or engaged themselves in noisy flirtations under the fern-fronds with silent ones of homely hue. Huge flies, ignorant of larders and wire-netting, and quite in a savage state, buzzed about him without knowing that he was a man. In and out of the fern-dells snakes glided in their most brilliant blue and yellow guise, it being the season immediately following the shedding of their old skins, when their colours are brightest. Litters of young rabbits came out from their forms to sun themselves upon hillocks, the hot beams blazing through the delicate tissue of each thin-fleshed ear, and firing it to a blood-red transparency in which the veins could be seen.” (Bk 4, Ch 2)

The Return of the Native is timeless, the mark of a true classic for me. I cannot say enough about Alan Rickman’s accomplishment as narrator. Sublime! Highly recommended.

Nancy your wonderful review brought back happy memories of my own reading Return of the Native as an 18 year old. Definitely still in my top ten - Hardy had a thing for creating memorable female characters but I think Eustacia Vye was the pinnacle in that regard. Sublime indeed.

Hi Nancy--glad you enjoyed that audiobook as much as I did. I'm listening to Tess of the D'Urbervilles now--the narrator pales by comparison, but as it's a reread of a favorite from my teen years, I think I will manage.

(Eustacia infuriated me throughout the novel, memorable character or not, and I have to say I shed no tears for her by the end.)

Oh Nancy, I envy the ease with which you read and enjoy so many complex classics! Wow! A beautiful review! Thumb up from me. I'd love to love the classics as much as you.

#257 Thanks, Paul. Eustacia Vye was the pinnacle in that regard Indeed!

#258 Hi Anne, delighted you enjoyed The Return of the Native as much as I did! Eustacia was not the benefactor of any of my tears, either! But I did find her unforgettable. I also loved Tess of the D'Urbervilles, but I read it so long ago now, I'm due for a revisit; it's on the list. I'd forgotten how fluid and beautiful Hardy's prose is; of course, Alan Rickman hit it out of the park in that regard.

#259 Thanks, Deb! I've read and loved classics for years, but it's only since I've been here at LT that I've discovered they make fabulous audiobooks as well! Have been "talking" with Carsten, and I'm going to listen to Jane Eyre next; Juliet Stevenson narrates this particular edition. I've heard so many rave about her! Exciting!

Themes include the celebration of the pagan, the primitive, and the pastoral. Hardy glorifies the simplicity of life for the working classes and celebrates the pastoral for its superiority.

Sounds like the Hardy I know. What I like about him is the sense of the connection to earth, nature - there's a kind of spirituality in it. And your quote just underlines it.

Great review, Nancy. I'm looking forward to read this classic. And Rickman - well, I can almost hear him in my ear with his slow, well articulated english. It's going to be great.

#261 Carsten, there's absolutely a spirituality about Hardy's connection to the earth, the pastoral. As for Rickman, you said it best with I can almost hear him in my ear with his slow, well articulated English. Absolutely! I think I can safely predict you will LOVE The Return of the Native.

When Will There Be Good News, Kate Atkinson



Rating: 4/5

Jackson Brodie is his usual, charming, magnet-for-trouble self in When Will There Be Good News. The novel opens with Jackson hot on the trail of proving his son’s paternity, a journey which lands him in harm’s way. Enter sixteen-year-old Reggie Chase, mother’s helper to Dr. Joanna Hunter, who witnessed the murder of her mother and siblings as a young child. The doctor has mysteriously disappeared, and Reggie, having helped Jackson in a time of need, enlists his help in solving the mystery. Naturally, Jackson cannot resist; he takes on the job with his characteristic “cavalier disregard for the law.” Of course, it wouldn’t be Kate Atkinson if the Dr. Hunter’s disappearance was straight forward, accidental, or a matter of misunderstanding. For starters, the convict who murdered her family has recently been released from prison, and her husband is keeping some very shady company. Detective Chief Inspector Louise Monroe is on the case, or cases, as it were. She and Jackson meet again, and amidst the criminal element, middle-aged-crush sparks are flying (yet again)!

Atkinson never fails to entertain and delight with her biting, at times hysterical, wit. When Will There Be Good News, the third in the Jackson Brodie series, is generously recommended!

Good review Nancy - my you are on a roll! This one will probably be on my reading list by the year end.

#264 Thanks, Paul. Yes, today I am on a roll. Doesn't happen too often any more. I know you'll enjoy Atkinson; she has a wicked sense of humour!

Great review, Nancy! I really enjoyed When Will There Be Good News when I read in the spring. You are getting very close to the big 75!!!

#266 Thanks, Deb! Yes, I am ... : ). I remember how much you enjoyed the Jackson Brodie novels; you were power reading!

LOL!!! Nancy, I'm not sure if I ever power read!;) I see you have Jane Eyre, which I read in my youth. Enjoy it! You've also got Out Stealing Horses on the go! I' ve got that out of the library. But that graphic novel, Louis Riel really got me interested in reading more history. I think you've convinced me to spend yet more money and tomorrow ( Sunday) I'm hoping to go out and get either the Craig Oliver Book, or else Nation Maker. I've got to tell you those graphic novels are wonderful! Two Generals led to All Quiet on the Western Front and I'm thinking that Louis Riel may lead to Nation Maker. " Chat " with you tomorrow.

Have not read Kate Atkinson but a "wicked sense of humour" is reassuring :)

I have spotted a cheap edition of this novel translated into danish. But maybe I should control myself with all my new scandi crimes waiting for me.

#268 Hi Deb, can't wait to hear about your Sunday purchases! I'm so impressed with all of your graphic reads, and the direction you are taking with them into Canadian history.

#269 Carsten, what would be the fun in controlling one's self when it comes to fabulous books, hehe!

Oh I am so happy you also were enraptured by the combination of Rickman and Hardy -- I listened to the whole thing twice in a row which is 'unique' behaviour on my part. I think I tried to see if he'd read anything else, with no luck. I feel sure that Rickman knows and loves Hardy deeply, it couldn't be otherwise, could it?

#271 Hi Lucy, "enraptured" is exactly the right word to describe listening to Rickman read Hardy. I also went looking for other classic audiobooks narrated by Rickman, but no luck. I feel sure that Rickman knows and loves Hardy deeply, it couldn't be otherwise, could it? Exactly!

Nancy, I set off for the bookstore and here is what I purchased....I was going to get Nation Maker but it turns out that's the second part of Sir John's A 's biography , so you just know that I had to purchase the first in the biography- which is also Canadian history - so I ended up getting John A: The Man Who Made Us, the first in the series!;) Then I resisted the Craig Oliver book , knowing that there are only two people ahead of me at the library and purchased I Curse the River of Time by Per Petterson. I know, the strange choices I make!....

#273 strange choices are the spice of life, Deb! Delighted you enjoyed your trip to the bookstore. I'm so impressed with your foray into Canadian history. Good stuff! Speaking of Per Petterson, Out Stealing Horses is just lovely - the best word I can think of for his quiet, flowing prose.

Oh! Nancy!!! I've been " bad" and I purchased The Faster I Walk, The Smaller I Am due to camelings's ( Caro ) 's review for my kindle! Then, in the mail The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins arrived from the book depository!

I can imagine that Out Stealing Horses is just wonderful. I've read a few pages from my library book . Still - The Twin is so laconic, so slowly interesting. However, I can't really compare them until I've actually read Out Stealing Horses but I have seen them compared as alike on a ? Kevin from Canada. Enjoy your reading! :)

#275 Thanks, Deb. Aha, more wonderful book purchases! I'll be following along because I'm not familiar with either of your new ones. Do tell!

I requested The Twin from my library based on your (persuasive) recommendation; it came in today, right after I started reading Out Stealing Horses! Funny how that goes. Anyway, you describe the writing exactly with so laconic, so slowly interesting. Yes, laconic, languid ...

Shameless plug from CBC Read on Louis Riel http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/2011/11/10-for-the-top-10-chester-brown.html

a couple of his answers - Q: In three lines or less, describe your book to Canada.

CB: The book depicts the life of Métis leader Louis Riel from age 25 to his death, focusing particularly on his antagonistic relationship with the Canadian government.

Q: What inspired your book?

CB: I wanted to tell an anti-government story.

No wonder I loved it! ;)

I read the article re the Giller and who should win and I even voted. I think that they did not come to any conclusion. I think The Free World will win, but in my dreams, Sisters Brothers will win! We'll see !

BTW - so glad The Twin came in!! See if you catch on to what I did not in The Twin until the end, when it all gelled. Given the tags on LT, I wonder if other people " got it."

Nancy I also have The Twin this month which is for my TIOLI challenge to read a book recommended in October 2011 by a fellow 75er - so I am also relying on Deb's usual good taste. Be interested to swap notes on it when you get to it to see if our good taste coincides!

#277 An anti-government story? Where do I sign up? Funny, I remember growing up my dad always admired Louis Riel. He was firmly in Riel's court over the court of the government; thought the government's treatment of Riel was a disgraceful abuse of power. He said that we had hanged Riel for a traitor, and now we elect such (expletive) and they have offices on Parliament Hill! (He was referring to the federal separatists, of course. And I grew up in Ottawa, so the Hill was a familiar sight). Anyway, I've never forgotten the story.

I haven't read enough of the Giller nominated books to vote, but I'm glad you enjoyed the article, Deb! Will be waiting to see who is awarded the Canadian pastiche for this year.

#278 I'm very curious, Deb ... will let you know!

#279 Yes, we'll swap notes on The Twin, Paul. (Provided, of course, that I don't go off on a different tangent and actually get it read before I have to return it to the library).

Nancy, I am also in awe of your understanding and thus enjoyment of the classics. I hope one day to learn to grow to appreciate them as much as you do! Right now, it's often hit and miss, but when it is a hit, I truly relish the occasion. :)

Alas, he has only done the one book. I found a hilarious discussion somewhere that he should narrate ALL audiobooks even Mrs Piggle Wiggle. He could.

#281 Thanks, Valerie! Yes! Not even chocolate can beat a hit like that!

#281 Hi Lucy, we need to start an online petition for Alan Rickman to narrate ALL audiobooks. I can hear him reading Mrs Piggle Wiggle, hehe! What a delight!

Nancy! You are wondering who will win the literary pastiche this year! Hmm I think it might be me! ;)

No, it was Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan, who's book I own, but it is not calling to me. That's interesting that your father was sympathetic to Lois Riel. My uncle is too, but he is a French Canadian -and I think he did quite a big study in genealogy and discovered that he was somehow slightly related to Louis Riel. I really knew very little about Louis Riel to form an opinion, but now that I've read Louis Riel by Chester Brown I'm sympathetic to him too. I'm quite sure that Manitoba has a day off called Louis Riel Day, so I think that most Manitobans must also be sympathetic to Lois Riel - or perhaps they just like a day off! ;)

#284 Ah, Half Blood Blues takes the Giller. It seems popular enough and I've read some positive reviews, but it does not call to me either, Deb. Interesting conversation about Louis Riel. I can't speak for Manitobans, but I'll take a day off any time - Riel or otherwise!

>281 jolerie: me too Valerie, I think Im more mature now than I was when I tackled classics in the past. I am keen to get onto some classics....do I smell a group read? Any suggestions Nancy?

#286 Hi Megan, what a wonderful idea, a group read! Let's see if we can come up with one that we'd all like to read. A New Year's gift to ourselves?

If we're looking at a Dickens classic.....theres a great conversation going on at Heathers thread. Of course this does start the conversation on "what constitutes a classic"?
Uh oh, did someone say "can of worms"?

http://www.librarything.com/topic/124248#t

#288 Exactly, ha! I have another idea - one I've been meaning to get to. Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South. Meantime, I'll go see what's going on over at Heather's!

LT tells me I will probably like North and South (certainty very high). Im up for it if anyone else is.
Hang on a minute, how many pages is it!? ;0

Great reviews of The Age of Innocence and When will there be Good News, Nancy. I read them both recently and had similar feelings to you about each.

I was also very interested to learn that there is an audio book of The Return of the Native, read by Alan Rickman. I am someone who was put off Hardy at school and has since been unable to face him. However I think a Rickman narration could make me look at Hardy in a whole new way with my, not entirely pure, love for Alan Rickman cancelling out the negative school associations! I may well give it a try!

Edited to add: North and South is definitely a must-read classic. Exquisite writing, social history with a conscience and a good story. Not sure how many pages it has though! I remember it being longish but not overly so.

A Gaskell-group read sounds like a good idea, Nancy. Haven't read anything by her yet.

#290 Hi Megan, North and South is 480 pages. Longer than my recent reads, for sure, but I'm up for it. How does Christmas/New Years sound for a time frame?

#291 Hi Dee, oh you MUST listen to Alan Rickman read Hardy. I'll guarantee he will make you look at Hardy in a whole new way. I first encountered Hardy in university classrooms, but Rickman - he is something else all together. As Lucy has said in an earlier post, Rickman must know and love Hardy well; it couldn't be any other way when you listen to him read. And I adore that your love for Rickman is not entirely pure!! Well said; you're in for some perfection then!

#292 That's great Carsten, we've got a group read going then with Megan, you, and me. So far! Let's make it North and South. I'm off for Christmas/New Years - how does that time work for you?

#293: Hi Nancy, that's a perfect time for me as well.

Nancy, Carsten - I will also look to join you in this around the turn of the year.

North and South is a trilogy?

#294-295 Wonderful! I'll set up a non-spoiler and a spoiler thread come mid-December. Maybe I'll set the group read for Dec 15-Jan 15.

#296 Hi Valerie, North and South is not a trilogy. Interested in joining us?

Yay! I go away overnight and come back and its all organised. I was hoping that would happen :)
So it's:
You lit_chick (Nancy)
ctpress (Carsten)
PaulCranswick (perhaps obviously named Paul)
ireadthereforeiam (Megan)
and....maybe jolerie (Valerie)!?

Plus others of course. Looking forward to it.

#298 I'm looking forward to it, too, Megan! Yes, of course, anyone is welcome : ). We'll spread the word.

Well, Nancy, I regret to say that I will not be joining in on your group read.I'm already " pushing my boundries" ;) by joining the group read of Night Circus which is coming up in a few days. I'm not quite sure what to expect -but group reads are a great way to get to know more people and have fun reading together!

Actually, Nancy, I saw George Stomroblous - you'll know who I mean, even if I've spelled it all wrong, interview the author of The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern and it was quite interesting. I've peeked at the book a little and I think it may not be too far out of my usual types of reads - in fact I may very much enjoy it..

#300 Deb, no pressure at all on the group read. I hope you enjoy the upcoming one for The Night Circus. I haven't even heard of that one; must look it up. I very much enjoy The George, our "boyfriend" (in his own words, hehe).

Well, my *REAL * boyfriend is Patrick Jane...aka Simon Baker.... but we can share both George S. and Patrick together. I won't tell if you don't... hehe...

#302 Mum's the word then, Deb, hehe! We mustn't forget about Jackson Brodie; but as you've pointed out previously, he is far too much man for one woman, so sharing is not a problem in that regard.

New thread is here:
lit_chick's 2011 Reading List (4)