lit_chick's 2011 Reading List (4)

Hi again everyone! Here I am one more time before we're into a new year. What a delight I've found LT to be since joining in March 2011!

Other Threads:
lit_chick's 2011 Reading List (1)
lit_chick's 2011 Reading List (2)
lit_chick's 2011 Reading List (3)





December 2011

82. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte
81. North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell
80. The Virgin Cure, Ami McKay
79. Started Early, Took My Dog, Kate Atkinson

November 2011

78. Tell It to the Trees, Anita Rau Badami
77. Sarah's Key, Tatiana de Rosnay
76. The Twin, Gerbrand Bakker
75. Out Stealing Horses, Per Petterson
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

Out Stealing Horses, Per Petterson



Rating: 4/5

“All my life I have longed to be alone in a place like this. Even when everything was going well, as it often did. I can say that much. That it often did. I have been lucky. But even then for instance in the middle of an embrace and someone whispering words in my ear I wanted to hear, I could suddenly get a longing to be in a place where there was only silence. Years might go by and I did not think about it, but that does not mean that I did not long to be there. And now I am here, and it is almost exactly as I had imagined it.” (5)

Trond Sander, in his late sixties, has moved to a remote location in Norway, fulfilling a long standing desire to live the remainder of his days in solitude. Unexpectedly, he encounters Lars Haug, an acquaintance from his distant past, from a summer he spent in the forests of Norway with his father when he was fifteen years old. Trond’s narrative moves between present day and that fateful summer of 1948, the events of which altered his life forever. Trond gently and non-judgmentally makes peace with life from the perspective of old age. Like Trond’s reminiscences, Per Petterson’s prose is sensory, poignant, and tranquil:

“… I see how each movement through the landscape took colour from what came afterwards and cannot be separated from it. And when someone says the past is a foreign country, that they do things differently there, then I have probably felt that way for most of my life because I have been obliged to, but I am not any more. If I just concentrate I can walk into memory’s store and find the right shelf with the right film and disappear into it and still feel in my body that ride through the forest with my father …” (237)

Out Stealing Horses is still more than this – a novel of double meanings and two sets of twins. Petterson handles all, including the continuous time transitions, expertly. Highly recommended!

Oh, that sounds like my sort of thing! I can see your thread is going to be dangerous for me...

Ohh! Nancy! Congragulations oh hitting your goal of 75 books! Glad I popped by! And imagine, you have Out Stealing Horses as your 75 th book! Congrats!! I've got a second hand copy of Out Stealing Horses on hand!;)

I'm so glad that you've enjoyed Out Stealing Horses . Soon enough, perhaps before the end of the year, I'll get to it. Meantime I recommend The Twin to you.

Didn't notice it was book 75, Congratulations!

Nancy - signing in & starring! Congratulations on hitting the 75 fellow 75er!

Great review by the way Nancy. Proof if proof was needed that Scandi is more than about just crime.

#3 Hi Dee, isn't it funny how it's always a compliment when a fellow LTer refers to one's thread as dangerous, hehe. Out Stealing Horses was lovely; silence and solitude are best sellers with me personally, so I could relate to Trond. And the landscape in Scandinavian literature is so gorgeous, intrinsic to both story and characters.

#4 Thanks, Deb : ). I'm reading The Twin next. Thought it was a perfect book to follow Out Stealing Horses; I hope you get to it before year's end.

#5 Thanks, Dee : ).

#6 Thanks, Paul : ).

#7 Absolutely! Out Stealing Horses has whetted an appetite for more Scandinavian literature.

Hi Nancy, I've not caught up on your old thread yet, but at least I've found your new one. I will have to look out for Out Stealing Horses - you and one or two others have given it a positive recommendation, and I'd love to read more Norwegian literature after my visit there last year.

#9 Hi Genny, how wonderful that you've visited Norway! I wanted to visit it myself, such is the draw of Out Stealing Horses.

I have an old school-friend who has lived and worked there for 7 years - 8 now - and I finally got round to visiting her in Stavanger, down in the south west. We had a bit of an expedition further north one weekend, but there is plenty more of the country I didn't get to see, so I'd love to go back again, though as my friend is moving (or may have already moved) I'll have to go on my own.

#11 Sounds wonderful, Genny. *scurries off to consult map of Norway*

BTW - thumbed Out Stealing Horses. I can't wait to see how you feel The Twin compares. I suspect that the plots are quite dissimilar , but the sense of place, isolation and spare prose are very similar. That said, once you've read The Twin you'll be in a better place to compare than I am.

#13 Deb, you described the similarities betweenThe Twin and Out Stealing Horses beautifully: sense of place, isolation and spare prose. I'm only 40-50 pages into The Twin, but I'm enjoying very much.

Yay! 75 knocked off already, nice one.
Ive ordered North and South from Book Depository....for a tiny $4.95. Pretty happy about that, as all library copies were out and there were only 2 anyway :)

I greatly liked Out Stealing Horses too, nice review!

Shiny new thread!

Hi Nancy, excellent review of Out Stealing Horses which I read and loved a couple of years ago. And congratulations on reaching 75 books.

#15 Hi Megan, delighted your copy of North and South is on the way : ). I downloaded a copy from iBooks a couple of days ago; will e-read this one.

#16-17 Hi Lucy and Bonnie : ). Good to hear you both enjoyed Out Stealing Horses; for me, it was one more fab suggestion from the 75ers!

In case either of you are interested, a few of us are doing a group read of North and South Dec 15-Jan 15. You're more than welcome to join; pass it on!

Hi everyone! A few of us (Megan, Paul, Carsten, and I so far) are doing a group read of North and South Dec 15-Jan 15. All are welcome! I'll put up non-spoiler and spoiler threads just prior to mid-Dec. Pass it on!

I'm in Nancy (so to speak). Mine will be from Jan 1 to Jan 15 as it will be one of my 12 in 12's next year (19th Century Novels).

#20 Paul, I love that even though we are a small group read so far, we have readers from all over the world: Australia, Canada, Denmark, and Malaysia.

Can add New Zealand, UK and the States too Nancy at the very least. Caro can claim Singapore - we have a few at least from Holland and Cushla was representing Switzerland but there is another Paul....

#22 Aha, the group has grown! Even better!!

Nancy, congrats on reading 75 books... and with one of my favorites. I like the other Petterson books, too, but Out Stealing Horses stole my heart. I really enjoy quiet soul-searching books. Another book along those lines is The Meadow. It has a Colorado setting.

North and South is one of those books I've been wanting to read for a long time. I might join up with you after the holidays. I see Paul is planning on a January 1 - 15 timeline. If I don't find it in Joplin when some of the 75ers meet up at a used bookstore, I'll be sure to let Santa know about it. ;-)

#24 Thanks, Donna. Petterson stole my heart, too, though Out Stealing Horses is the only one of his I've read. I also enjoy quiet, thoughtful books and have added The Meadow to my list. I'm e-reading North and South on my iPad and have already downloaded the Gutenberg edition : ).

Just stopping by to say good morning! I"m glad that your group read is filling up! It should be fun! I'm still reading John A The Man Who Made Us. It's is very readable, but it's about 500 pages or so. I'm afraid I''m only at page 100, but I am learning a lot!

Hi Nancy - there you were... 75 hurrays. Must be nice to join the esteemed fellowship of the 75'ers who made it. Struggling at the moment to reach that far distant shore where all is bliss.

Out Stealing Horses sounds like a book I would like very much.

My new thread is here Nancy - http://www.librarything.com/topic/126731#

#26 Deb, you are becoming my go-to contact for Canadian history! So glad you are enjoying John A: The Man - I'll bet you are learning a lot!

#27 Hi Carsten, thank you : ). Yes, I think you would enjoy Out Stealing Horses tremendously!

#28 Thanks, Deb; on my way : ).

Hahaha! Me, a go- to contact for Canadian History! ;) But yes, I am learning a lot as I read! I hope that you are enjoying The Twin.

#30 The Twin is lovely: so quiet, thought provoking, unassuming. But, as you pointed out, an unforgettable sense of place. Appreciate the rec, Deb : ).

Just stopping by to say have a good week! I had to get out The Twin just to remember what I had recommended to you in more detail. It's an interesting story.... Initially the son is rather cruel to his dad. Just wanted to let you know that you might want to change your link to your thread on your profile page since it is still leading to your old thread.

Can't wait until you finish The Twin. I'm really enjoying John A the Man Who Made Us but it's going slowly - just on page 116 or so. It's fairly dense reading. Fascinating though.

#32 Thanks, Deb. Oh, that link ... I've thought about it a couple of times and then promptly forgotten about it again. I'll change it right now! With regard to The Twin, I am presently finding as you say that the son is quite cruel to the father; but Riet has just come into the picture and I expect things are going to change. I would also find history such as John A the Man to be slow reading; but I've no doubt that it's fascinating.

Hi Nancy,

I found your thread! Yes- I'd join for a read and discuss of the Gaskell North and South. That sounds like lots of fun. Keep me posted! I've starred your thread so I will check in.

I'm in for North and South too. I thought I had a copy, but it's Wives and Daughters by Gaskell that I have unread on my shelves, so I've downloaded an e-book edition of N&S. I did read North and South a long time ago, and more recently (2-3 years ago) there was a very good BBC version with the suitably dark and brooding Richard Armitage as John Thornton.

I'm not very good at keeping to group read schedules, but I shall hope to start reading probably after Christmas.

#34 Hi Jenn, delighted you will join us in North and South! I'll post a non-spoiler and spoiler thread just before mid-December.

#35 Hi Genny, delighted you're also in! I've not read N&S, but I saw and thoroughly enjoyed the BBC version with the suitably dark and brooding Richard Armitage as John Thornton. Well said! I've also seen an adaptation of Wives and Daughters which was excellent; it was a few years ago, and I can't remember whether it was BBC (I'll have to look later). I'm e-reading N&S too and have downloaded a Gutenberg edition.

Just stopping by to say hi ! Ah, yes if Riet is coming into the picture things are about to change a bit. I'm glad you are getting so many people for your group read! That is wonderful!

I'm on n page 150 of John A The Man Who Made Us and going to read more just now. There is a lot of politics and many names mentioned and discussed. While it is a bio of Sir John A - it very much a book about history too. I'm finding it very interesting. I'm glad that I read the graphic novel Louis Riel, because it has a very different take on John A. Very interesting. And this is just Volume 1 of the Sir John A biography. Very thorough indeed!

#37 Hi Deb, yes it is wonderful that so many will participate in our group read! I admire your steady reading with John A: The Man; I can't say that politics and history (particularly politics) are big sellers with me. I'm certain that there are very different takes on the machinations of Canadian politics when it comes to Louis Riel. It couldn't possibly be otherwise.

I'm a determined reader, once I get started. John A :the Man is bit dry alright, but I have no doubt that I will finish it, and that I will get to the second volume. I just pretend I have to read it for school :) But , it is very interesting to understand how Canada became what it is, and why . According to Gwyn, the author, because the Scots settled Upper Canada, Canada has far less of a class system than does the US, and certainly Britain. Apparently the Scots were not much about the class system. John A kept the " U" 's in our language, for which I am thankful. He was very anti slave and even pro mixed marriage between First Nations people and French or English. He was more into punishment of criminals, whereas his rival, who's name I forget, was much more about rehabilitation of criminals. It's very interesting to see how Canada got it's start and in many ways , has stayed true to it's beginnings, other than our current PM, about whom I'll just shut up, because clearly many people agree with his policies. Not so much me!!!

It's kind of exciting to know that you are reading The Twin , knowing that I read it not so long ago, and see what you think of it. If you loathe it, then sorry about the recommendation but I do understand!

BTW - did you know Sir John A's first wife was not that well, and so was dosed with opium and was not up to much? That's the interesting details that I love! ;) John A loved his drink and had a commanding nose. . Juicy stuff! Oh and his hair on the front cover, those dreadful unkempt curls. Really, get a good stylist, John A!!!!

Im on with The Twin too at the moment and must say that it is elegiac and atmospheric and his resent-loathe-responsible relationship with his father is well written and believable.

#39 Wonderful post, Deb! Fascinating facts about MacDonald and about our beginnings. I am also grateful that the u's were left in our written language. Make me laugh with get a good stylist, John! Hear, hear!

No fear that I will detest The Twin. It's a lovely read, but I do know what you mean about recommending a book to another who turns out not to share your own impeccable taste, hehe!

#40 Paul, I agree that Helmer's resent-loathe-responsible (well said) relationship with his father is superbly written and believable.

Hi Nancy. I really liked North and South when I read it a few years ago - I can't decide whether to reread it just now but I'll bear your group read in mind.

The Twin has been on the wishlist for a while so I will look forward to seeing what you think.

I'm glad that you are enjoying The Twin , Nancy. It certainly was an interesting read for me.

Ohh Nancy! Sisters Brothers has won both the Roger's Trust Award and now the Governor General's fiction award! I fear that you may feel that you must read that 5 star read of mine!!! ;)

#42 Hi Heather, if you decide to revisit North and South, you're most welcome! The Twin is a wonderful read.

#43-44 Thanks, Deb. I've just been posting on your thread about Sisters Brothers. I know how much you enjoyed it, so I'm delighted, too, that it won. The author speaks sincerely about what the prizes, particularly the financial support, have meant.

The Twin, Gerbrand Bakker



Rating: 4.5/5

“I’ve been doing things by halves for so long now. For so long, I’ve had just half a body. No more shoulder to shoulder, no more chest to chest, no more taking each other’s presence for granted. Soon I’ll go and do the milking. Tomorrow morning I’ll milk again. And the rest of the week, of course, and the next week. But it’s no longer enough. I don’t think I can go on hiding behind the cows and letting things happen. Like an idiot.” (212)

The Twin, set in the Dutch Platteland, is a meditative novel, sparsely but beautifully written. Helmer, middle-aged twin brother of Henk, oversees the family farm, with only his elderly, bedridden father for company. Henk, always the preferred son, died tragically at eighteen years old; and Helmer subsequently stepped into his dead brother’s shoes, but at great personal cost. His relationship with his father, fractured by tragedy, remains fraught with resentment and contradiction. Unexpectedly, Helmer receives a letter from Henk’s former fiancé, Riet. Her motives for reconnecting are not entirely clear, but for the first time since Henk’s death some forty years earlier, change is breathed into Helmer’s life.

Bakker’s gift, I think, is in the spare and deceptively simple prose, which he uses to explore stirring and complex relationships. His language creates such an intimate sense of place, that I could not help but be drawn in:

“Back on the street, I smell the wood fire from the smokehouse. I buy a pound of eel, which the fishmonger rolls up in old newspaper and puts in a plastic bag. Then I carry on along the waterfront. There’s a gallery near the English Corner. The soapstone statues on the shelves along the wall are beautiful, especially to the touch, but I am still thinking of a painting. I head back to the middle of town.” (64)

Highly recommended!

Good review and quotes, Nancy. You get the sense of the prose. I'm pretty sure I would like it. Have to think about Christmas book wishes at the moment - and there's a danish translation of the book as well.

Actually three of his novels have been translated from dutch to danish. The Twin is called Ovenpaa Er Der Stille (Above there is Quiet) which perhaps makes sense if you know the story. Book titles in different languages is a puzzling thing.

#47 Hi Carsten, interesting that three of Bakker's novels have been translated to Danish. Having read the story, the Danish does make sense. But I agree wholeheartedly that book titles in different languages is a puzzling thing. Books covers in different countries is another puzzling matter. I hope The Twin will make your Christmas wish list : ).

Nancy very very good review - I also finished The Twin today and agree with both Deb and you that it is good but the ending was a tad perplexing don't you think?

Hi Nancy, found you again :)
The Twin sounds quite interesting. Might have to add that one to the list

#49 Thanks, Paul. Yes, the ending was perplexing and thought provoking, and it will stay with me for a good while!

#50 Hi Chelle, The Twin was definitely an interesting read. Deb recommended it to me, and I'm glad she did!

Hi Nancy! My time on the computer , or doing any leisure activities is really limited, but I popped onto your thread and I'm so delighted that you enjoyed the The Twin as much as I did! Paul - that ending was part of the magic of the book. I don't want to give anything away, but it all gelled for me when I just at the end. I double checked my interpretation of the ending and I was correct. I'm glad you enjoyed it too, Paul!!

#52 Hi Deb! Interesting that we've all got our own ideas about the ending of The Twin. A sure sign of fine literature!

53 - Indeed, Nancy! Hey, I'm excited to see that you have added Sisters Brothers to your library. You know that was one of my favourite reads for 2011. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. It was great fun ! I see that you are reading Sarah's Key. I read that quite a while back, and I can see that I gave it 3 stars. In retrospect, maybe it deserved 3. 5 stars. But you know taste and reading - it may be a 5 star read for you. I was glad that I had read it.

Now I want to read The Twin, not only for the prose but to see what I think of the ending. I usually like endings that others don't, particularly those ambiguous endings that hint at what happened but leave you to make up your own mind!

#54 Hi Deb, from what I've read of Sarah's Key so far, we're on the same page with a 3-ish star rating. I think the premise of the story is a good one, but the writing screams "bestseller." All these gratuitous details about how the sexy, French husband, cupped his wife's ass - I don't need to know that. Groan. Of course, I'm just coming off Out Stealing Horses and The Twin which were so gorgeous ... Sarah's Key can't hold up under the weight of that standard, not by a long shot.

#55 Hi Dee! Oh, I hope you do read The Twin! I found the ending very satisfying. And Deb and I, so to avoid spoilers here on the thread, have had the most wonderful "pm" conversations about it! One of the things I said to her is that it would be wonderful to discuss the book with another reader(s).

Hmmm, The Twin could be our next book club read I think....

#57 Megan, I think TheTwin is a fabulous choice for a club read! Lots to discuss, and the writing is so impressive!

Nancy, that's kind of what I thought about Sarah's Key , but in case you loved it, I did not want to spoil it for you...LOL - All these gratuitous details about how the sexy, French husband, cupped his wife's ass - I don't need to know that. Groan

At least my dry read of John A :The Man Who Made Us is free of such passages, but he sure was a drunkard.

Yes, The Twin would be a fascinating group read, I think , Megan and Nancy!!! I loved it!

#59 Good to see you, Deb! I'm trusting your patient continues to improve.

Yes, annoying gratuities which only serve in my opinion to cheapen a serious subject - but such details must sell books, or they wouldn't be inluded.

I'd read somewhere that John A. was an alcoholic. Good that the book stays true and does not gloss over that which is less palatable, prime minister or not.

Problem Nancy when you have had a good reading run, as you have recently, and you then come up against pretentious gunk it leaves you flat and takes the edge off your enjoyment of the others. We should make Gerbrand Bakker's next novel a group read!

#61 Exactly, Paul. Love the idea of making Gerbrand Bakker's next novel a group read! I'm in!

Unfortunately its not my choice for book club this time, Ill try and shove my opinion in though!

I'd love to join in with a group read of The Twin. I'm working towards getting a copy through a book swap and if I'm not successful, a group read would be a good excuse to buy it!

#63 Megan, good luck with swaying the opinion of your book club! May The Twin rule!

#64 Dee, a group read would be a great excuse reason to buy a book! If you find a group read for The Twin, or if you decide to start one, I would haunt the threads just for the discussion : ).

Hello Nancy. I misread Paul's comment and thought he was suggesting a group read of The Twin. Actually he said Bakker's next novel which is obviously a much better idea as everyone except me has already read The Twin!

I will be having my own individual read of The Twin though, as my Readitswapit request was accepted! Yay!

I agree, Nancy. I suppose such details help sell books , and yet many wonderful book do not resort to gratuitous nonsense about sexy asses, etc.

As for the next book by Gerbrand Bakker of The Twin , he has another book that will be released sometime next year entitled " Detour." It's on Amazon com or Amazon ca as a preorder, but I totally forget the date of release.

One thing I must say about The Twin - is what a wonderful translator for the book. Translator's really can make or break a book. They really deserve a lot of credit.

#66 Dee, I'm not sure what readitswapit is, but I'm delighted your request was accepted and that you'll be reading The Twin!

#67 Deb, I will be looking for Bakker's next novel, Detour. Couldn't agree more with what you say about translators! They absolutely can make or break a book; and, yes, in the case of The Twin deserve a great deal of credit for a job well done.

Sarah's Key, Tatiana de Rosnay



Rating: 2/5

Julia Jarmond, American journalist settled in Paris and married into the wealthy Tezac family, is assigned to cover the sixtieth anniversary of the July 1942 Veldrome d’Hivers roundup, the arrest and subsequent deportation of thousands of Jews which took place in Occupied France. Julia discovers that the Tezac family apartment she and her husband, Bertrand, are renovating, belonged to the Starzynski family, which was dispossessed of its home in the roundup. One discovery leads to another, and Julia learns that Sarah Starzynski, a child of the Vel’ d’Hivs’, may still be alive. She sets out to find Sarah, her pursuit relentless and by turns reckless.

Sarah’s Key is an easy, mildly entertaining read with an interesting premise. But I found the writing flimsy and the characters flat. As Bertrand continually worked his “intoxicating charm” on his wife, “cupping my ass with a careless, possessive hand,” the gratuities around their relationship grew tiresome very quickly. For me, the serious premise of the novel demanded much more from de Rosnay. Chick lit meets Halocaust did not work.

Deb - Good info on the upcoming Bakker! Do we all have a date!? Another very good point on the estimable contribution made by the translator to the success or failure of the original overseas. As a veteran of Scandi I can certainly vouch for the vagaries of the profession as my enjoyment of some of the writers I would guess was spoilt by unsympathetic translation - I don't read much Marklund for example.

Nancy - Sarah's Key doesn't seem to make the cut does it? Will not enter the verdantscape that is my already overgrown sylvan-shaded TBR forest! (Feeling poetic on a Monday morning)

"Chick lit meets Holocaust" made me shudder... Nice review of a book I had some mild interest in but will not pursue.

#70 Paul, you are far more poetic on a Monday morning than I have ever known to be! I can confirm that your already overgrown sylvan-shaded TBR forest is safe from Sarah's Key.

Oh wow Nancy I felt the same way about Sarah's Key. As a matter of fact, in my review I pointed out the cheesy writing and the fact that Tatiana's editor pointed out all her mistakes, which were then of course presented to the reader, and yet that lead nowhere. Ugh. On the other hand, it was compulsively readable.

Woot Nancy! A good slap down for Sarah's Key. I gave your review the thumb. Yes, it is chick lit meeting the Holocaust. Though Tatiania de Rosnay has gone on to publish further books, they have not interested me .

Paul and Nancy, and anyone else, I posted information on my thread with regards to the upcoming book by the author of The Twin on my thread. The premise sounds interesting, and I think the planned publication date of The Detour is April of 2012 .

Blimey, Nancy!! I was just on your profile page, and I see that next up is Tell it to the Trees! You are in for one great read!!!! Enjoy! :)

#71 Hi Katie, think we must have cross-posted. Like you, I was also interested in Sarah's Key, so it was a disappointment.

#72 Hi Bonnie, cheesy writing indeed. I'm going to find your review; you're right that the author needed to heed her own editorial advice. For shame ...

#74 Thanks for the thumb, Deb. I think Sarah's Key needed a good slap down. I will also not be reading further work by de Rosnay.

I am definitely interested in reading Bakker's next, The Detour. Sounds like a good spring fling : ). Let's plan to keep this on the burner.

As for Tell It to the Trees, I'm ready for another great read! I remember that you really enjoyed!

I'll pass on the book, Nancy, but the movie version with Kristin Scott Thomas looks good. Just saw the trailer. I have put it on my wishlist at the danish equivalent of Netflix.

#77 Hmm, a movie of Sarah's Key sounds interesting, Carsten. In terms of the book, the writing was the problem, not the story line. And I like Kristin Scott Thomas.

Hi Nancy, good review! Chick lit meets Halocaust did not work ICK!
I borrowed that one from a coworker but I might send it back unread.

Ha! Caught you commenting on Brenzi's thread that you've been avoiding The Sisters Brothers due to the hype!! OH Nancy, that was one of my favourite reads of this year!!! Gasp! And I read it far before the hype!! That said, you may or may not like it. You need to have a dark sense of humour and possibly an off key sense of humour. That book just made me cry with laughter. It' was moving too, in it's way. I just loved it!!!!!

#79 Hi Chelle, I'd be curious to see what you think of Sarah's Key if you decide to read it. The story line is interesting, and it's a really quick read. The chick lit, well that's another story ...

#80 Hi Deb, I know you loved The Sisters Brothers and that you read it before the hype. Can't really say why the hype turned me off that one - seemed like bestseller hype over an award nominated book? Who knows? In any case, it just won the Governor General's Award, and I read an article about how much the author appreciated the recognition, how the financial support will allow him to continue writing, etc. So I've put it on my list, and I'll get there eventually. In terms of sense of humour - dark, perverse, and off key all work for me : ).

Hmm not sure if I will read it. Chick Lit isn't really my thing. Romance novels give me the heebie jeebies ;)

Say there, Nancy, Sisters Brothers won both the Governor General's Prize and the Rogers's Trust Prize , and it was short listed for the Booker. I mean, how much better can one get!!!:) In fact I recall that The Mistress of Nothing won the GG's prize a few years ago -and I've never been able to get myself to read it. It just looks like a bunch of fluff. So, I understand that sometimes even a prize does not mean a good book!

#82 Hi Chelle, hope I haven't mislead you with Sarah's Key. It's not a romance novel; it's a novel with an interesting story which IMO is cheapened by cheesy language I would relegate to chick lit.

#83 Deb, The Sisters Brothers has done very well. But you're right that a literary prize does not always mean a good book. The Mistress of Nothing I'll have to look up - not familiar with that one.

Hi Nancy! I think we just posted on my thread at the same time!! I''m delighted to tell you that the touchstone is working for The Detour by Gerbrand Bakker - though I think it's really called just plain Detour, but whatever!

I have to say I'm not familiar with The Mistress of Nothing even though it's been sitting on my bookshelves for quite a while. Well, Nancy, how goes Tell it to the Trees? I sure hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

#85 Thanks, Deb. I'm going to add Detour to my list right now, even it it's not available until spring! I don't know how to add books to LT's database, so thanks for that, too.

Must look up The Mistress of Nothing because it's completely unfamiliar to me. Tell It to the Trees I think is going to be excellent, though admittedly I'm only a few pages in and not likely to get much reading done this evening.

Yeah Nancy you're right about prizes maketh not the book. I haven't read Sisters Brothers yet and am waiting for a proper sized edition to appear in the stores here as the one they have is a really strange size - but it is near the top of my hitlist presently.

If we take only the Booker prize winners how many of them have been fantastic reads and how many have we struggled with - for example -
The Famished Road
The English Patient
The Bone People
Hotel du Lac

Who if any one has those four in their top ten books?

I can't wait for The Detour to come out now. Crash course in Dutch anyone so we don't have to wait?

#87 Thanks, Paul. It was actually Deb who offered that the prize maketh not the book. But, like you, I am in full agreement! The Sisters Brothers is on my list, too. Now, of the other Booker winners you've mentioned, I've only read The English Patient; short version: didn't like it!

Just created us an English cover for Detour; it's available on the book's main page for use. Deb loaded the book into LT's database. Now, who speaks Dutch and can teach very quickly and efficiently? hehe

It's all good Nancy, no misleading (A little cross posting here:) I just compare 'chick lit' to romance, neither of which do I have much tolerance for!

I'll leave Sarah's Key on my shelf a little while longer, in case I run out of other books and need to grab an emergency book to read ;)

#89 Thanks for that, Chelle. Amazing what we'll read in an emergency! This is the second time I've cross posted with someone in the last ten minutes - maybe time to get off the computer? LOL.

Oh, I loved The Bone People! and have nothing against Hotel Du Lac, although it is certainly not a prize winning book. I loved The English Patient movie, and have plans to read the book, sooner rather than later. (it's getting closer to the 'read' pile)

#91 Hi Elizabeth : ). Hope you will enjoy The English Patient a la book! I very much enjoyed the movie, but not so much the book - backward to my usual experience.

I confess that I have never even tried to read The English Patient. I did enjoy the movie though. I'm not a big fan of Michael Ondaatje's writing. Just one of my many faults.

Thanks for uploading that great cover for The Detour, Nancy! :)

Say, Nancy, are you interested in Orange January / Orange July? It's a group on LT that reads shortlisted , long listed and Orange Prize winners. I became aware of the group on LT last May - and read a bunch of 2011 Orange potentials - of course, not the winner. It's quite a lot of fun and mrsextreme I think sort of originated the group. Last July I participated and mrsextreme - that's her LT name, had a blog and she gave out book prizes every few days if you commented on her blog. It was a lot of fun and a good way to get in some great reading. I'm lining up possible Orange reads for January. Quite a few people from the 75's and Club Read and really anyone participate. Just thought I'd let you know about it.

I have as possibilities The Girls,Observations, A Spell of Winter, The Siege , Alias Grace, Little Stranger and Brick Lane in my TBR pile. I might get The Hero's Walk out from the library. You only have to read one Orange to qualify for a book prize.... :)

#93 Deb, Orange January/July sounds interesting. Not sure I'll take it up in January, but I might. Do group members run individual threads as here in the 75ers? Can members choose any Orange book, or does it have to be a winner?

I have a copy here of Alias Grace which would merit a reread. Although I know there is a huge selection to choose from. I think I might have A Spell of Winter on my list. *scurries off to find out!*

I'll just echo Deb here, Orange January/July is great! You generally have your own thread, though you could just add your thoughts to the threads which focus on a particularly book. You can choose any book which has ever been on the Orange shortlist or longlist, so there is, indeed a huge selection to choose from. There is a thread which lists every short-listed and long-listed title. I was amazed how many of the titles I had without realising they were Orange prize nominees.

Any orange book will do, like Dee says. Longlisted, shortlisted, or winner. You just start another thread in the Orange section. I had myself an orange May , last year, reading a lot of last years longlisted books! ;) But I realized how much more fun Orange July and January are. Morning Nancy!

Orange January and July are great fun! I keep a thread there for the month. Sometimes I only read 1 Orange, but everyone is reading books I've read before (and have an opinion on!) and I get lots of good ideas. As my list of potential reads gets longer, I expect I'll read more. Jill, mrstreme, is a wonderful hostess!

#95-97 Hi Dee, Deb, and Elizabeth! Thank you for the great message re Orange January and July. Sounds like an LT event that is not to be missed! Love how supportive everyone is here ... what a community!

Hhmmmmmm supportive or persuasive - especially in my case!;)

Here is a link to Orange January/ July Group. http://www.librarything.com/groups/orangejanuaryjuly

You'll see peoples threads , plus book threads and also links to all of the orange long, short listed books as well as Orange winners. I think you'll recognize a lot of people there.

Orange July sounds good - is this a ladies only invite given the nature of the award?!

>87 PaulCranswick: Plenty of NZers have The Bone People in their top ten Paul, I have yet to tackle its rumoured-to-be-impenetrable language, but plan to next year.

Yep Megan you could be right - someone out there must like it!

#99-100 Hehe, Deb! Thanks for the link to Orange Jan/Jul. Will do some sight seeing : ).

#101 I think it's wide open, Paul. "Orange you glad I invited you?" Sick, I know!

#102-103 Megan and Paul, must do some looking into The Bone People.

hehe Nancy the old ones are always the best ones!

Hi Deb, I read The English Patient many years ago and didn't really "get it"! Watching the movie later did help. Read Anil's Ghost last year by Ondaatje and I thought it was amazing. Maybe give it a try! Read Mistress of Nothing last year and you certainly learn a lot (Egypt) but I was not a big fan of the principle character....a lady bountiful type. But maybe that was just me. I really like the idea of reading more Orange Prize winners. I'm going to look at the list.

#106 Hi Mary, thanks for some great reading thoughts. Be fun if you join Orange Jan/Jul!

>101 PaulCranswick:: Darryl (kidzdoc) is a member, so you wouldn't be the only guy, Paul!

Dee - heaving testosterone fuelled sigh of relief as I type - forza Darryl, then I will be very much in!

LOL Paul! Yes, kidzdoc is among the many who participate in the Orange January/ July group. You are certainly welcome to join as is Mary and I see that Nancy has already joined!

If you noticed, I started reading the from last years Orange longlist in May!;) I always like to colour outside of the lines. I really read a lot of wonderful books via reading from the Orange Longlist last year. And Jill, our hostess in Jan and July is really a lot of fun!

#108 Thanks, Dee!

#109 Paul, welcome to the group of newly minted members of Orange Jan/Jul.

#110 Deb, I love that you always like to colour outside of the lines. Keep doing it!

I joined the Orange Jan/July group this year too - great fun and some interesting discussions there.

#112 Yay, Genny! I'm certainly going to be in good company!

Sounds like you have a good group going for the Jan/July reading! I'll have to keep an eye out for reviews!

#114 Hi Chelle, yes there should be some great discussion coming out of Orange Jan/Jul! I'm in on a group read of North and South just prior to that, so it remains to be seen how much Orange reading I'll get done. Don't like to over-regiment myself! But it'll be fun regardless ...

Thanks all for spreading the good word about Orange January/July!

Hi Nancy, I see lots of people are encouraging you to join the Orange January/July group. I've enjoyed the group myself but last July for whatever reason, I never revived my thread although I did read some Orange books. Here's one for you by a Canadian writer that I read and LOVED last January: The Girls by Lori Lansens. Maybe you've already read it.

#116 Hello Jill! Your ears must have been burning with all things Orange and wonderful. And you are a perfect hostess, I've been informed : ).

#117 Bonnie, much appreciate your rec for Orange Jan; I've just put The Girls on my list. On the book's home page, LT also recommends The Birth House, which I loved! A good sign!

Loved The Girls! and then I loved Lansens other book, The Wife's Tale which isn't an Orange book, but just a great read.

Woot! I"ve got The Girls secondhand, at the ready!

#119 Thanks, Elizabeth! When I was looking for The Girls, I saw The Wife's Tale. Sounds like another one for the list!

#120. Deb, sounds like we've both found one of our Orange reads! I also found the following Orange tagged books in my library, which are patiently waiting to be read: Small Island, The Tiger's Wife, and Bel Canto. Honestly, I'll never live long enough to read everything I'm hoping to read, and the list just keeps growing!

(Have to add that Small Island has been in my library since last winter when you recommended Levy's The Long Song which was wonderful!)

Oh I loved Small Island . I hope you do too! Bel Canto does not appeal to me, for some reason. So far I'm just not keen on Anne Patchett. I'd kind of like to read the actual Orange Winner from last year, The Tiger's Wife. I really thought that maybe Memory of Love should have won. Oh well!

BTW Nancy, I notice that you are reading a great deal of Jane Austen. The reason you don't see me reading Jane Austen is because I read most of her books back in my early twenties or so. I may not have read Northanger Abbey though, I can't remember. I very much enjoyed them.

#122-123 Hi Deb, don't know whether Bel Canto will appeal to me either, but I've put it on my list. Think I'll start with The Girls. Loved The Memory of Love and have read quite mixed reviews of The Tiger's Wife.

With regard to Austen, I read most of her work in university and am making my way through rereads now. For some reason, I think I may not have read Northanger Abbey in uni, but the rest are revisits.

Oh so late, but belated CONGRATULATIONS on hitting the magical 75!! :)

I'm not certain which of the Oranges I will start on, Nancy. You are a better person than me. I really never reread a book. However, my husband has been teasing me when I watch a repeat of The Mentalist on TV that I am so old that it's all new to me because I'm to old to remember that I've already seen it. Hmmmm.... that patient of mine had better watch it! He has 4 years on me......

#125 Thanks, Valerie : ).

#126 LOL, Deb, I should tread much more carefully were I your husband, particularly while he is still a patient! That said, in terms of my experience, he does make a very good point re memory matters!

LOL! Nancy, my husband was out after dark on a scooter for the mobility impaired to walk the dog . He ran into a neighbour who I take it is somewhat hard of hearing. The fellow was teasing Dave about being lazy and riding a scooter to walk the dog and even though Dave mentioned that he had a boot cast on due to surgery, the neighbour did not hear that part , and kicked Dave in the boot! ;) No harm done, but the neighbour felt very badly!!!

Say, on my thread I've dug up a 1 minute audio book of The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. There is a little animation with it. It would most definitely make a fabulous audio book -and they have them!!!! Give yourself a Christmas present... ;)

>124 lit_chick: Lit_chick, I read Emma recently but unlike those who rave about it, I was less keen. My all time favourite is still Pride and Prejudice. I wish I was like Darcy!

Alan/TT

I'm reading Persuasion right now Nancy. I've got my first three Oranges lined up: Sorry by Gail Jones, Old Filth by Jane Gardam and White Teeth by Zadie Smith (loved On Beauty so don't know why I've let this one go for so long).

#128 Dave's encounter with your neighbour sounds like an OUCH, Deb! I'll check your thread for the animation of The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie; sounds fun!

#129 Hi Alan, welcome! You're in good company with Pride and Prejudice as your favourite Austen.

#130 Hi Bonnie, Persuasion I've not yet reread, but I recently watched a BBC production with Sally Hawkins as Anne Elliot which was most enjoyable. Great that you've got your Oranges lined up! I'm lining up with The Girls, Small Island, and The Tiger's Wife and Bel Canto - I won't get to all four, but I'll choose from this group as the mood strikes.

Nice line up for the Oranges, Nancy! Oh, you'll not regret reading Small Island - at least I enjoyed it very much. I'm afraid I may have been carried away by Flavia de Luce just as I was with the Kate Atkinson books and may have to read all 4 in the series at once! I'm on the third one now and I've got the 4th ready to go on my kindle!! Some sophisticated reader I am!!! I think I just needed an escapist read - a- thon. But honestly they are very well done. I've seen so many people on LT who just love Louise Penny series in Third Pines , a " village" in Quebec, but though I read a couple of them - I much prefer 1950's England and the crumbling mansion that makes up Flavia's home , the small village etc. It's so much fun and a great read.

#132 Deb, I think you've more than earned an escapist read-a-thon after your recent binge on Canadian history. You go! I'm with you in preferring 1950s England and the crumbling mansion to a Quebec village. I mean Quebec's lovely, and I've visited some quaint villages there, but 1950s England - that calls for my imagination to kick it up a notch!

Well, in these wonderful tomes, there is a small village, and the de Luce's have gossipy maid named Mrs Mullet, and manservant named Dogger, who suffers from Post traumatic stress disorder. There is a vicar, a small funeral parlor and a candy store that doubles the postal outlet. Why, I've seen people fall over and die in Flavia's back yard, someone hanged, gypsy fortune tellers, graves collapsing under the weight of another body - they double stack them, you see. There is lot going on in Flavia's neck of the woods. Mad Meg, a cultish religion........ oh Nancy, it's quite a place.....

#134 I'm convinced I must read! (or should I say "persuaded") hehe

Tell It to the Trees, Anita Rau Badami



Rating: 4/5

“There is no escape from this place.” (Pt 2)

The Dharma family of Merritt’s Point, a remote community in British Columbia, is deeply damaged and dysfunctional. Vikram is a cowardly and violent man – controlling, unpredictable, and cruel. When his first wife abandons him and their daughter, Varsha, he leaves Varsha with his mother, Akka, and travels to India to recruit a new wife. Suman is a gentle, unassuming woman, with whom Vikram has a son, Hemant. But his brutality is not tempered by the birth of his son, and his children are treated with the same cruel disdain as his wife.

“So I made silence my best defense against Vikram’s jealous rages, his debilitating meanness, and as the years passed, my own silence has crushed me further. How can it not be to some extent my fault, stupid annoying woman that I have become?” (Pt 1)

Testament to their family’s dysfunction, the characters all live secret lives of “don’t tell.” When Vikram rents the small back house on his property to New Yorker Anu Krishnan, the family’s secrets become more difficult to conceal. Anu suspects the truth about the Dharmas. And as the novel opens, her dead body is being removed from the family’s property.

Badami’s prose is clean and compelling. I think the characters of Varsha, Hemant, and Suman, as they tell the story each in turn, are fully developed; Badami effectively “shows” us their battle scars from the inside out. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for Anu and Akka, whom I found were left somewhat flat by comparison. That said, I enjoyed the novel tremendously and highly recommend!

Great review, Nancy! I really loved the book. I think the author did a very portrayal of how the abused becomes an abuser. That's something I've not seen well done in fiction before this book. Thumb!

#137 Thanks, Deb, I loved it too. Agree that Badami adeptly portrays how abused becomes abuser. And I appreciate that she did not use the cycle of abuse to excuse abhorrent behaviour.

Another good review Nancy. As I think Deb called you - you really are a hot lit-chick at the minute as everything you seem to pick up is an excellent read. Into the TBR forest it will go!

#139 Thanks, Paul. Have to love a "hot" run of excellent books! Three of the last four have been fabulous: Out Stealing Horses, The Twin, and Tell It to the Trees.

A tough subject, Nancy. I still remember the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns and how it affected me. But interesting that you get different points of view from the characters.

Great reviews all.

A thumb from me, Nancy for your Tell it to the Trees review! Another one to look out for, though I'm not quite in the mood for another unpredictable and controlling father right now. I seem to have been reading about quite a few of them recently!

#141 Carsten, it is a tough subject. I also very much enjoyed A Thousand Splendid Suns.

#142 Thanks, Lucy.

#143 Thanks, Dee. Yes, wait until the mood strikes!

Hey hot Lit Chick - I'm just waiting for you to collapse like a house of cards and start reading the highly recommended series of The Sweetness....hehe!!! I'm a dreadful snoop and I see on your profile page that you have loaded up The Outlanders, at least I think that's the one. You will have to tell me what you think of it. It does look interesting from the reviews on the page.

#145 Deb, I'm giving serious thought to Flavia : ). Though presently I'm reading the last Jackson Brodie, so it's another one not to be missed. I remember the Brodie Bender you went on when you picked those up! LOL. And then I have North and South group read coming up over the holidays. And yes, I just added The Outlander because it sounded like a great piece of Canadian lit. Honestly, I love LT, but I just said to my sister today that I'd need to live until I'm 800 years old to read everything I'd like to read!

Thumb for your review of Tell It to the Trees which I am forced to add to the teetering tower thereby adding more credence to this>>>>>I'd need to live until I'm 800 years old to read everything I'd like to read!

I've had The Outlander by Gil Adamson on my shelf for quite awhile now if that's the one you're talking about. I also enjoyed A Thousand Splendid Suns but the part where she is in the attic and he nails the plywood over the only window making it a veritable hell hole has got to be the worst depiction of spousal abuse I've ever seen.

Say, Nancy, I've got another excellent suggestion for you.....Gold Diggers Striking it Rich in the Klondike by Charlotte Gray. I was one of the most excellent non- fiction stories of the Klondike that I've ever read! I'm not even certain that I knew much about the Klondike Gold Rush until I read it earlier this year. Charlotte Gray is probably one of the best biographical writers that I've ever read. I'm pretty sure that I wrote a fairly comprehensive review for that book her on LT. Just in case you need another book! ;)

I've added The Outlander too, must in case....

Do give serious thought to The Sweetness - it reallly is good! I know what you mean about needing to live to 800 years old to just read all of the books we have in mind.

#147 Thanks, Bonnie : ). Yes, I mean Gil Adamson's The Outlander. Dee just wrote a wonderful review (I've fixed the touchstone from the previous post). The attic scenes in A Thousand Splendid Suns are enough to make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Tell It to the Trees is an equally compelling story, but the abuse is not as graphic.

#148 Thanks, Deb. Charlotte Gray's name is familiar to me, but I've not read any of her work. I'll check out your review : ).

Just received my copy of North and South in the post a few days ago. Looking forward to Mid Dec start date....just have to clear the decks of my current 5 books by then......starting NOW!

#150 Delighted you've got your copy of North and South, Megan! I hear you about clearing the decks prior to mid Dec. Almost an impossible job, really : ).

Just stopping by to say hi! I'm nearly finished A Red Herring Without Mustard and am really enjoying it!

I'm such a sucker, I purchased Prince Philip: The Turbulent Early Life of the Man Who Married Queen Elizabeth II by Philip Eade. I think it's an older publication, being re- published for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. I had a grandma who took a dim view of many things - she was a lot of fun -and she always told me that Queen Elizabeth married Philip for his looks, and that the Prince Philip was a poor guy with not such a great reputation, but the Queen was smitten and he took advantage of it. So - I look forward to it via the Book Depository! :) I love a good bio!

North & South are on my Kindle, so I'm good to go. About clearing the desk it's an impossible job. It's filled the moment I start to clear it.....I'm helpless really.

Nancy, The Outlander is indeed, another great piece of Canadian lit. It seems to me, you can't go wrong as a writer if you're Canadian or Irish or maybe I've just been lucky with my Canadian and Irish writers?!

#152 Deb, delighted you continue to enjoy Flavia. I saw that you had added Prince Phillip: The Turbulent (what a title!). Hope you will enjoy. The Queen smitten? I'm charmed!

#153 Hi Carsten, I've got North and South on my iPad, so I'm also good to go. Chuckled with you over your comment on clearing desks, books, lists! Indeed, you are in good company!

#154 Dee, we do have some wonderful Canadian writers. Irish lit I don't know much about; who is your favourite Irish author? (seeks out yet more books for the impoosible-to-control list!)

I'm determined to use the fact i need to acquire North and South by the fifteenth as an excuse to go to Middlebury which has two secondhand bookstores.......

#156 Lucy, your logic is perfectly clear to me! Delighted you will join us for North and South : ).

Nancy I will be trying not to cheat on my 12 in 12 challenge so Ms Gaskell will be opened up (figuratively of course) on New Year's day!

#158 Paul, I'm glad you are only opening Gaskel figuratively! I'm going to try to start mid month, but I'll have to see what's already on the go at that time. In any case, it'll be a holiday read for me, and I'm looking forward.

Im going to have to start on start day or else Ill never keep up with you speedy readers.

Hi Nancy! Popping in to say hello!
Hope you enjoy your read of North and South

#160 Megan, I'll start with you : ).

#161 Hi Chelle, I'm looking forward to North and South group read.

Well, I certainly am behind! I enjoyed your reviews of Out Stealing Horses (already on my wishlist) and The Twin (just added). Now I'm eyeing Tell it to the Trees. And belated congratulations on 75!

(I had checked out Sarah's Key from the library many months ago but never got around to reading it before its due date. Now I feel like I saved myself some valuable time.)

Small Island is fabulous.

I am considering the North and South group read, as I have it on my shelf and can use it to close out my final 11 in 11 category.

#163 Hi Anne, thanks! I think you would enjoy all of Out Stealing Horses, The Twin, and Tell It to the Trees. Some of us are planning a spring-fling group read of Gerbrand Bakker's next novel, The Detour which is to be released in April 2012.

Sarah's Key was a disappointment, but I'm looking forward to North and South, followed by some Orange reads in January. Thanks for the thumb on Small Island; I read The Long Song last spring and really enjoyed it.

Be great if you joined us for Gaskell!

Popping by to say hi!! I was at the library today and drat - I could not find a copy of The Outlander at the branch that I was at! Nearly finished my Flavia- a -Thon!! I am really very much enjoying I am Half- Sick of Shadows. I am embarrassed to say that I might have to call Alan Bradley as of my favorite authors!!! :)

I have several books in mind after this, decisions, decisions!!!

Hey Nancy -here is a link to Jill's Orange January - http://www.librarything.com/topic/127820#3068786

>155 lit_chick:: Well, I tend to think of Irish writers as writing effortlessly perfect prose with an underlying sadness and poignancy. The contemporary novelists which spring immediately to mind are William Trevor, Dermot Bolger and Colm Toibin. But then again, there are also Irish writers who write heart warming fiction with happy endings such as Maeve Binchy and Marian Keyes!

#165 Deb, so delighted you enjoyed Favia! I think it's great that Alan Bradley is a new favourite author!

#166 Starred, thanks Deb.

#167 Thank you, Dee! The only one of those names that is immediately familiar is Maeve Binchy. Though I've not read anything of hers, I see her books in our library often. I must read at least one great piece of Irish literature in 2012 - do you have a favourite book you'd recommend? I love your description of effortlessly perfect prose with an underlying sadness and poignancy. Swoon! (Actually, I think your description fits perfectly with some of my favourite Canadian authors, too: Alistair MacLeod and Beatrice MacNeil come immediately to mind).

You did read Sebastian Barry recently though, didn't you Nancy? I've never read anything by him but from what I've heard, he'd fit into the poignant Irish writer category. I don't really recommend Binchy. I mentioned her more to acknowledge that my definition doesn't fit all Irish writers!

I must look out for Alistair MacLeod and Beatrice MacNeil!

#169 I did read Sebastian Barry recently, Dee! Duh moment for me! The Sense of an Ending will have a spot among 2011's top reads! No, I'm pretty sure Binchy would be my thing either.

MacLeod's No Great Mischief and MacNeil's Where White Horses Gallop are two more of my year's top reads. I highly encourage!

Bittersweet and black comedy Nancy from Roddy Doyle, - John Banville John McGahern, John Boyne, Joseph O'Connor and Edna O'Brien are all contemporary irish novelists worth having a look at if you haven't already. William Trevor is one of my favourites full stop - both he and McGahern are/were masters of the short story.

#171 Thanks, Paul. Glowing recommendations from both you and Dee on William Trevor ...

Gotta chime in and add another recommendation for William Trevor. And yes, effortlessly perfect prose with an underlying sadness and poignancy sums it up well!

I love Dee's description of Irish writing also, just perfect really. Nancy, I guess my favorites would be Colm Toibin and William Trevor. Must get to Sebastian Barry next year as I have two of his sitting on my shelf.

I confess I think of Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourts fairly depressing memoir when I think of Irish authors, or Maeve Binchy. I read a number of Maeve Binchy's in my twenties and quite enjoyed them - her older books , like Dublin Four or The Lilac Bus but as I've gotten older and Maeve Binchy style has changed a bit, I no longer read her books. I'll have to look into some of the suggestions here.

#173 Thanks, Anne. I have to read some William Trevor!

#174 And Bonnie, I'll add Colm Toibin to William Trevor. Thanks for recs.

#175 Thanks, Deb. I read Angela's Ashes this year. Enjoyed it for the most part and found it over-long, I think. Certainly it was well-written. Sounds like your reading tastes outgrew Binchy.

Cough, cough, erhem, may I encourage you to read Small Island for Orange January!! My that was a fabulous read!! Andrea Levy is one of my favourite authors. It was a fascinating read... ;)

#177 Deb, did someone say "persuasive"? I do hope to get to Small Island in Jan. That one and The Girls as recommended by Bonnie. And. Then we'll see. What do you hope to start off with in Orange Jan?

Well, Nancy, Spell of Winter and The Siege both by Helen Dunmore have been calling to me. I also have a copy of The Girls so I'm not entirely sure which of those I will start with. I know you've got your group read too in January. When I started reading Oranges last year, that is how I got onto Kate Atkinson and Andrea Levy. Then I read most of the Orange 2011 longlist / shortlist in May and July.

Persuasive ? Who, me? ;)

#179 I saw several posts re Spell of Winter on the Orange Jan page. I remember the delightful reads you enjoyed last spring/summer from the Orange list(s). North and South I'm hoping to read over my Christmas holiday.

Just remembered, one of the books I have lined up as a possibility for the Orange Read is The Observations by Jane Harris, which both Cariola and Wookiebender ( Tania) both recommended. I also read Lullabies for Little Criminals for last years Orange read. Lullabies for Little Criminals was fantastic - and I really loved it! I think it may be one of my 5 star reads -and it's Canadian too!;)

#181 The Observations I'm not familiar with, Deb, but I read Lullabies for Little Criminals a couple of years ago and quite enjoyed.

Trying to catch up but there is almost too much going on, I'm just going to say Hi and start from here and I am definitely not making any notes about all these great book titles that you guys are throwing about willy nilly. My poor TBR shelves would be very upset if I started making more lists of great books to read before them.

#183 Hi Leonie, I'm glad you won't risk offending the great books that are already on your TBR shelves!

It's too late for my poor tbr books, the damage is done! I thought I sensed a chill in the atmosphere when I last passed my bookshelves ;)

#185 Dee, you're going need to bundle up to read! hehe

The Observations looks to be good, Nancy, I have it in my TBR pile. Kidzdoc, Darryl, thinks a book by the same author, Gillespie and I by the same author, Jane Harris, ought to have been on the booker list. I've got that one too. I'm enjoying Out Stealing Horses but I'm finding not enough time to read right now. Christmas cards and birthdays and such.

Recently got The Observations and that may slot in in July for the Orange reads (january already full - talk about long term planning) - has very good reviews.

#187 Hi Deb, sounds like Jane Harris is an author to watch for. I'll be curious to know how you like The Observations if you decide on it for one of your Orange reads. Glad you're enjoying Out Stealing Horses; life does get in the way occasionally, doesn't it? hehe

#188 Paul, The Observations is popular! Will wait to see what you think. In the meantime, I'll perhaps check out some reviews.

Just stopping by to say hi!! I'm nearly finished Out Stealing Horses and very much enjoying it. I've still got about 50 pages to go - so I still have a little more enlightenment coming my way. Interesting story.

I'm feeling very orange after catching up with your thread, Nancy. I usually join in and read one or two orange books in January and July. I still own a few that qualify and will be making my choices soon. You are a very good cheerleader for one of my favorite awards!

#190 Hi Deb, delighted you are enjoying Out Stealing Horses as much as I did!

#191 Hi Donna : ). Wonderful that you will join us with an Orange or two! I had some very persuasive 75ers directing my cheerleading squad!

Started Early, Took My Dog, Kate Atkinson



Rating: 3/5

Hope McMaster, now a young woman, was orphaned and adopted in the UK before she was relocated to New Zealand with her adoptive family. Longing to discover her biological roots, she contacts infamous private investigator, Jackson Brodie. And so begins a veritable goose chase. A network of characters appear to have played a role in Hope’s “adoption,” but none of them are talking, particularly not to Brodie. Among the suspicious characters: a social worker, a reporter, a security guard, and several cops. Jackson says of the women he’s chasing (different context this time!), “Where on earth were all these women disappearing to? Was there a black hole somewhere that was sucking in middle-aged women – Tracy Waterhouse, Linda Pallister and now Marilyn Nettles. And all somehow connected to Hope McMaster.”

Truthfully, I didn’t care for Started Early, Took My Dog. I found it long and unnecessarily convoluted – Atkinson’s signature style overdone to the point where, at least for me, it detracted from both her witty intelligence and from the story line. For readers who have read the first three Brodie novels, this series finale is worth a read; otherwise, I do not recommend it.

Uh-oh, averting my eyes from that last review, as I've just started When Will There Be Good News this afternoon and don't want to know what's ahead. Too bad you didn't enjoy it more.

#194 Hi Anne, yes I would have liked to enjoy Started Early, Took My Dog more - bit of a disappointment. But you're in for a treat with When Will There Be Good News. It and Case Histories were my favourites.

Hmm. Like you, I enjoyed When will there be Good News and Case Histories immensely but was less keen on the second. I do have a copy of Started Early but sounds like there's no rush to get to it!

Good review! I haven't tried the Jackson Brody series yet, but good to know the last book isn't superb

Too bad the series finish was not as good as the others, Nancy. I saw that Kate Atkinson is translated into danish, so I might give one of the other Brodie-novels a try.

#196 Dee, glad to know I'm in good company. Thanks for that.

#197 Chelle, the first and third novels in the series are great - the second and fourth not so much. In my opinion, of course!

#198 Carsten, start with Case Histories; it's first and one of the best!

Well I won't read your review yet Nancy as I hope to get to this one sometime soon. I wish you had liked it more. Darn. Well, we can't expect every book to be a five star read. Also, I had no idea that this was the finale.

#200 Thanks, Bonnie. I wish I had liked it more, too. Hope you will enjoy!

Nancy - The sheer masculine lure of Jackson Brodie not enough to save his fourth installment? Well even Robert De Niro can't save certain films from tanking I suppose. Let us hope that episode 5 hits the spot - maybe she only does good series writing on the odd numbers?

#202 Hi Paul, I like the odd numbers theory : ). Alas, this fourth in the series is the last of Brodie. You know what "they" say about all good things ...

Gasp! Are you telling me that all good things must come to an end!!! Gasp!!! You should see how much chocolate I can eat before you make such a sweeping statement!;)

Ha!!! As Paul says, the sheer masculine of Jackson Brodie - too much man for one woman - surely that saved his latest installment!!!;) Maybe he Jackson Brodie overwhelmed you in Started Early , Took My Dog. Just kidding, Nancy.

I did create a review for Out Stealing Horses as you suggested and I attempted. It is on the main page.

I'll be PMing you with a few questions once I get them sorted out in my mind. A most excellent read!

Like Bonnie, I did not know that Started Early, Took My Dogwas the finale - and I agree with you that this was the least strong in the series. I have thumbed your review. They are difficult books to review, as they are so convoluted with their plots.

I think we can only say that Started Early, Took the Dog is the last Brodie book written. I think Atkinson has more coming, it just takes about 2 years for her to release a new one. I want more Jackson Brodie! I really liked the last one - I've really liked all of them.

#204 Deb, I'm sure you're right that Jackson's sheer masculinity simply overwhelmed me in Started Early, Took My Dog! You are too much! I also find the Brodie books difficult to review.

Look forward to PM discussion with you re Out Stealing Horses. As you pointed out in another thread, I'm not sure there are definitive answers to some of the questions that linger, but it's fun to compare notes!

#205 Elizabeth, I'm so glad you enjoyed Started Early more than I did! I didn't know Atkinson had more Brodie coming; if that's the case, I'm in!

I thought I had read somewhere that she was going to take a break from Jackson Brodie. Didn't say she'd never revisit him but that her next book would not be part of the series.

Oops..... Hi Nancy!

Overwhelming masculinity? What are we talking here, big muscles? Rescuing damsels in distress? Building a house and reading a sports magazine at the same time as knocking back a beer?

#207 Hi Katie, not sure what Atkinson has up next.

#208 Megan, I'll settle on rugged sex appeal. Not going too far down that road ...

@208 - hehe! I'll settle on rugged sex appeal. Not going too far down that road . I'm the same! Off topic, slightly, but I was thinking earlier that part of the appeal of books like The Twin and Out Stealing Horses is that if they make mention of such matters, they do it oh so subtly that you barely notice it. I was thinking that is part of why I did not particularly care for say Atonement. Completely different books and topics but I really do not care for books that focus on sex and affairs etc, and I don't care how great the writing is. The topic might have grabbed me in my Harlequin Romance Days ( circa 13 - 14 years old ) and giggling with my friends, but I am so over that. Rant over!;)

Thanks for putting the links to North and South on my thread. I'll hope to join you , it looks very tempting.. but for the moment , I am just starting a LTER win, A Small Furry Prayer , a non- fiction book about dog rescue. It looks promising so far, but I very much want to get it read and reviewed. It was a September win but only arrived a couple of days ago. Then as you know, the copy of Craig Oliver's autobiography just came up for me from the library , and as it a book with a hold list, I would like to get it read too.

Christmas and New Years - I enjoy them, but they do cut into my reading time. sigh!

Ohh by the way, I can't wait to see what you think of The Virgin Cure . I just realized that P.D. James, now 91! has a new book out - Death Comes to Pemberly!!! OH! A mix of Jane Austen and P. D. James magical writing! That's going to be a must have for me, I think....

#210 Hear, hear! Well said, Deb. No pressure on North and South; if you're able to join us, I'd love to have you!

#211 I am thoroughly enjoying The Virgin Cure. I so appreciate Ami McKay! I was telling my sister in Nova Scotia how excited I was to be reading it, and she groaned - there's a signed copy en route to me in a Christmas box! Ami McKay was in the Annapolis Valley on her book tour, and my sister had it on her calendar for two months so she wouldn't miss it! How sweet : ).

What a wonderful sister you have, Nancy! Imagine having a signed copy of The Virgin Cure . That is very exciting!

#213 Hi Deb, yes, she is wonderful! Continuing to enjoy The Virgin Cure. Not sure it's as good as The Birth House - but, of course, it's a few years since I read that one.

Glad you are enjoying the virgin cure! I think I have that one on my WL already, I'll have to check!

I had trouble comparing The Birth House to The Virgin Cure. I think I liked The Birth House more, but it's hard to say. Both are such different books. One thing is sure - Ami McKay can sure draw you into another world -and enjoyable and interesting one!

#216 They are very different books, Deb! And as you say, Ami McKay is masterful at drawing her readers into another world. She's one of our maritime gems. I read The Age of Innocence recently which is a story set in NY at the very time The Virgin Cure is set - talk about vastly different worlds, one of privilege and one of abject poverty.

The Virgin Cure, Ami McKay



Rating: 4/5

“Mama sold me the summer I turned twelve.” (Ch 1)

Moth, born into abject poverty in 1870s New York City, lived thus until age twelve when she was orphaned: abandoned first by an irreverent father and then sold into domestic service for a pittance by her Gypsy mother. Moth escapes her abusive employer, but finds herself destitute on the city’s lurid streets. Still a child, she is taken in by brothel keeper, Miss Everett, who sees she can turn a profit on the child by selling her virginity to one of the numerous affluent society “gentlemen” who frequent her establishment.

At Miss Everett’s, Moth meets Dr. Sadie, who compassionately sees to the needs of the young girls. Not surprisingly, syphilis is rampant in contemporary New York City. Through the doctor we learn of the myth which is “the virgin cure” – that a man suffering from syphilis might “cleanse his blood” and cure his disease by deflowering a virgin. Naturally, the more money one has, the easier one might procure just such a remedy. The doctor, horrified by the corruption which perpetuates the unthinkable, works tirelessly to help the disenfranchised:

“The law is in bed with the brothel keepers, corruption all around. The idea of a girl selling herself horrifies me, and yet I find myself in the middle of that world. Where is the line? How young is too young?” (Ch 18)

McKay is a gifted storyteller, and I found myself drawn effortlessly into Moth’s New York, lost in Moth’s narration. For me, a constant ingredient in fine literature is its ability to cross boundaries – social, cultural, and time – and still be relevant. McKay does an exceptional job of illustrating the social tragedy that results when a society’s disenfranchised is subjugated by its influential – because it is by turns both profitable and pleasurable.

Highly recommended!

Nancy - excellent review of what looks to be a very good historical novel. Have it on the TBR list already as Deb had sung it's praises earlier but your advocacy here was equally eloquent.

A constant ingredient in fine literature is its ability to cross boundaries – social, cultural, and time – and still be relevant. Well put, Nancy. That's why Dickens will always be relevant. I was interested when I read Deb's "report" - now I'm even more excited to read this novel. Great review.

Ohh great review of The Virgin Cure! I'm so glad that you enjoyed it as much as me! Thumb of course!

Good morning, Nancy. I'm still waiting for my library to get The Virgin Cure. I should read The Birth House in the meantime.

So sorry that the last Atkinson was a disappointment for you. JB always floats my boat! There were far too many loose ends in Started Early for it to be the final book. Unacceptable! ;-)

#219 Paul, the research McKay put into the history of 1870s NY City is evident in The Virgin Cure. Interestingly, the author's note at the back of the book informs that Dr. Sadie is based on her great, great grandmother who doctored at the NY Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children.

#220 Thanks, Carsten, I think you will enjoy! Couldn't agree more about Dickens : ).

#221 Thanks, Deb!

#222 Hi Donna, The Birth House is an all-time favourite of mine. Hope your library will soon land a copy of The Virgin Cure. Actually, I couldn't help but think often of The Age of Innocence while I read The Virgin Cure - both are set in 1870s NYC, but written from the perspective of social classes at complete opposite ends of the continuum. Be interested to see what you think in this regard.

The last Atkinson was a disappointment; I agree there were far too many loose ends for a finale. Chuckled at JB always floats my boat! Indeed!

Hi Nancy, Excellent review I've had Birth House on my teetering tower and now it looks like I need to add this one as well. Have you read The Book of Negroes? That'll end up on my Best of list this year.

I second The Book of Negroes. That's one of my all time favourites. The main character stays with me even now.

>218 lit_chick: sounds like a goodie, off to the library I will send my partner to see if its there :)

#224 Thanks, Bonnie! How on earth did you get the little green thumb graphic in your post? Do tell ...

I have read The Book of Negroes, and loved it! As Deb says below, the main character stays with me even now..

#225 Exactly, Deb! Me, three!

#226 Hi Megan, hope you can find The Virgin Cure at your library. It was only released in Canada at the end of October; curious to know if it's available yet in Australia.

Great review of the The Virgin Cure, Nancy. It's on my wishlist but it looks like we will have to wait a while for it in the UK.

#229 Thanks, Dee. When will it be released in the UK? I'm always curious about the time frame in which books are released over several countries/continents. I expect it's publishers who make such decisions, and I expect there is some method to the madness, so to speak (though I'm not privy to the inside track).

230: According to Amazon.co.uk, The Virgin Cure will be released in hardcover in October 2012 :-(

#231 Wow, that's a year after its Canadian release! Thanks, Dee.

The Virgin Cure sounds like something I would like. It's not being released in the US until June 26, though :(

>228 lit_chick: not at my library (in New Zealand) and maybe its not even released yet here?

#233 Hi Katie, I think you would enjoy The Virgin Cure, too. The ever growing list ...

#234 Hi Megan, wonder when the NZ release date will be? I know from Dee and Katie that The Virgin Cure will hit the US late June and the UK in October.

I thought The Virgin Cure was available at the Book Depository, but it's not -it's still a pre - order. If you realy want it I'll bet you can get by going to Abe's , who will then have it from the Book Depository. I know I've gotten around book releases that way myself, and I've got one on the way.

#236 Hi Deb. Abe's??

Gasp! You have not heard of Abe's Books? Here is a link -

http://www.abebooks.com/?cm_mmc=ggl-_-CA_AbeBooks_Brand-_-Top+Brand-_-AbeBooksab...

My son purchases nearly all of his text books for university and sells a lot of them back to Abe's. I have a book on ordered via Abe's Book's, which is being sent by The Book Depository. I have no idea why The Book Depository sells through Abe's, but they do.

About a week ago I ordered Prince Philip: The Turbulent Early Life of the Man Who Married Queen Elizabeth II from Abe's books, and the actual seller is The Book Depository, but that same book was not available to me via The Book Depository. Strange, I know!

I searched Abe's Books for the The Virgin Cure and though it's available, the books are very expensive right now. Mainly signed books and books that are quite expensive. Not really worth it for those living outside Canada

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&tn=The+Virgin+Cure&x...

I wonder why they wait so long to make books available elsewhere? I guess it the rights of the first publisher?

#238-39. Thanks, Deb, very interesting! Abe's belongs on my list of "keeper" book stores! I'm also going to pass it along to a colleague who is currently working on a Master's. You are likely correct about the rights of first publishers.

...I'll just wait for it to reach our shores at sometime in the distant future....

#241 Megan, funny how in our technological age of instant gratification, one must wait for a book to reach distant shores!

Oh well, I guess I'll just have to wait and read one of the 600 books on my TBR shelves instead ;)

Thanks Deb!

Glad to see someone who has even more books than me on the TBR shelf. I am averting my eyes from all yr. praise of the above novels.....

#243 LOL, Dee! Happy reading : ).

#244 Lucy, I am averting my eyes .... Love it!

Stopping by to say hi! I have not finished or really started my Christmas shopping, so you know what tomorrow brings. Ugh. :)

I guess I won't hassle my library buddy about The Virgin Cure -- until this summer anyway. No wonder I haven't been able to locate it. I think it will be worth waiting for, however. It'll be good to see the "other side" of NYC during the Age of Innocence (and opulence - in some cases) years.

Nancy, I got an unpleasant surprise when I went to put in my library request for North and South. There are two holds on one book which means I probably won't be getting it until late January. I hope the group read is going well. I'll bookmark the link so I can take part at a much later time. My second surprise was the length of the book. For some reason I thought it would be a short book like Cranford.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas - and get lots of books!!!

#246 Hi Deb, ho ho ho ... a last minute shopper, I see!

#247 Donna, the group read of North and South is going very well; I'm thoroughly enjoying both the book and the discussion. Sorry to hear of your library surprises in this regard. I've got BBC's Cranford here for holiday viewing, and am looking forward to it. Merry Christmas to you, too!

Merry Christmas, Nancy!

Hi Nancy - Merry Christmas. Have a nice, peaceful Holiday and thanks for all the book-talk this year :)

#249-50 Thank you, Peggy and Carsten! The book talk was fabulous, wasn't it?

Merry Christmas Nancy!

#252 Thanks, Bonnie. And you!

Nancy - come to value your taste, your sense of fun and humour, your conversation and your friendship. Hope you have a very merry christmas and that 2012 and beyond is full of everything you wish for you and your loved ones.

Merry Christmas, Nancy!

Merry Christmas from me too! Hope you have a lovely day.

Merry Christmas Nancy!

Thank you for the warm Christmas wishes, Paul, Katie, Dee, and Chelle! Merry Christmas to you, and to all (a good night!) of my wonderful fellow readers.

Wishing you all the very best Nancy!

Merry Christmas, Nancy!

Merry Christmas to you, Nancy, with best wishes!

I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas Nancy.

It is very frustrating to be around relatives when all I want to do is slip away and finish North and South.

Merry Christmas Nancy!! Hope you've had a great holiday.

I'm still not on the internet properly but I **am** reading North and South and like Anne I can't put it down. (I'm only 6 chapters in so far.) I'll try to find the threads now but I will be offline till Thursday.

#259-61 Thank you for holiday wishes, Ilana, Darryl, and Anne. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!

#262 Thanks, Anne, make me smile re the relatives and North and South : ). Who knew Gaskell would be a page turner? Hope your Christmas was also lovely.

#263 Thanks, Cushla. Have a wonderful holiday, too! Look forward to your comments in the North and South threads.

North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell



Rating: 4.5/5

The Hales are uprooted from Helstone, their country home in Devonshire when Mr. Hale’s religious doubts prompt him to defect from the church. Milton, the bustling northern mill town to which the family relocates, is the exact opposite of the lush paradise that was Helstone. To Margaret Hale, everything about Milton is disagreeable: the smoke, the dirt, the landscape, the manners, the wallpaper. She finds Mr. Thornton, her father’s pupil and local mill owner, particularly disagreeable: his manners are coarse, and his education decidedly non-classical. When labour strife breaks out in Milton, Margaret forges a friendship with the Higgins family, and finds herself in a position to help bridge the social divide between mill masters and the working class – or more particularly, between Mr. Thornton and Nicholas Higgins. Before long, of course, she is surprised to find herself unable to “control this wild, strange, miserable feeling” (Ch 39). And Thornton, equally distracted, rides the bus out to the country where he finds himself wandering around besotted! (Indeed, he gives a run to the hotness that is Mr. Darcy!)

Part love story and part social commentary, I thoroughly enjoyed North and South, and will explore more of Gaskell’s work. Highly recommended!

“We should understand each other better, and I’ll venture to say we should like each other more.” (Ch 51)

Thanks for reminding me why I loved this book, Nancy. Great review and you've also reminded me to pop over to the group read thread to find out what others thought...

#266 Thanks, Dee! I am completely charmed by North and South. I'm also just finishing an audiobook of Jane Eyre and am overwhelmed again! My 2011 reading is wrapping up on a stellar note!

wow, finished North and South! I was a bit silly and read your review, so now I have a framework around which to wrap my impressions. Woops, but you didnt give too much away. A nice synopsis.

#268 Hi Megan, thanks. Yes, I've had some time to read over the holidays, and it's been delightful!

Hi Nancy, great review of North and South, serving as a reminder that I need to read this one in 2012 and get it off my shelf:)

Good review, Nancy!

My Kindle says I'm 23 percent into North and South, so still a long way to go. I enjoy it very much - more than I thought. Margaret is an interesting complex character - but of course only 19.....

The group read thread has already given to much of the story away so I will return to it later on when I've read the novel.

And a Happy New Year to you!

#270 Thanks, Bonnie. I think you will enjoy!

#271 Thanks, Carsten! Yes, the spoiler threads are best visited after the chapters are read; I had the same experience. Delighted you are enjoying!

Nancy studiously avoided your review and the thread for North and South which as promised I start today (it is just 2012 here!). Happy new year and thanks for helping make 2011 so enjoyable.

#273 Happy New Year, Paul! I hope you will enjoy North and South as much as I did!

Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte
2006, BBC Audiobooks, Read by Juliet Stevenson



Rating: 5/5

"If all the world hated you, and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved you, and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends." (Ch 8)

I am completely won over by Jane Eyre’s indomitable spirit, her keen observance of human nature, and unwavering dedication to her principles. The novel is by turns social commentary, gorgeous love story, and Gothic regale. Bronte’s characters are out of this world – absolutely beautifully written. Rochester, all wild and rugged and unrefined, takes his place opposite Austen’s Darcy and Gaskell’s Thornton.

About narrator Juliet Stevenson I cannot say enough good. She is exquisite! Highly recommended!

2011 Wrap-Up:

The Best:

The Twin, Gerbrand Bakker
The Sense of an Ending, Julian Barnes
Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte
Bleak House, Charles Dickens
The Return of the Native, Thomas Hardy
Where White Horses Gallop, Beatrice MacNeil
All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque
Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh
The Return of the Soldier, Rebecca West
The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton

The Rest:

A Cupboard Full of Coats, Yvette Edwards
The Memory of Love, Aminatta Forma
North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson
No Great Mischief, Alistair MacLeod
February, Lisa Moore
Out Stealing Horses, Per Petterson
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Shaffer/Barrows
The Warden, Anthony Trollope
The Book Thief, Markus Zusak

Hi Nancy - Glad you liked Jane Eyre - well, how could you not - and read by Juliet - perfect. I've actually switched and are now listening to North and South - read by none other than Juliet Stevenson - oh, my, she can make a novel come alive. I love it.

A wonderful best list with some of my most beloved classics: All Quiet.., Bleak House, Jane Eyre and Age of Innocence :)

Some of my favourites on your lists, Nancy and I agree, Jane Eyre read by Juliet Stephenson does sound rather perfect!

#277 Hi Carsten, delighted to share some of your most beloved classics with you! I agree that Juliet Stevenson is perfection! I didn't know she narrated North and South, but I'll bet it's delightful! Enjoy!

#278 Hi Dee, what a fabulous community of readers we are! Love sharing so many favourites : ). Yes, Jane Eyre and Juliet Stevenson were perfect!

Happy New Year Nancy, will see you in the 2012 group.

#280 Thanks, Leonie! Happy New Year to you!

New thread at 75 Books Challenge: lit_chick's 2012 Reading