Tania (wookiebender) reads Orange, January 2012

Nothing says orange like a sandstorm in Sydney. :)

Luckily we don't get them that often.

No idea what I'll be reading as yet. Plenty to choose from on my shelves, being the obsessive book buyer that I am...

Now that's an Orange picture! Such a surreal experience. Looking forward to your picks, I'm still trying to select Oranges that will fit with my 12 in 12 challenge monthly themes. I was going to attempt to get away with as little book purchasing as possible, but if I'm to meet my challenges I'm afraid that resolution might just have to be broken... (and we haven't even hit January yet).

Starred this one!

Cool picture!

#2> Oh, I'm feeling glad I'm not in the "12 in 12" group now. I'm tempted every year, and then I think through the difficulty of getting me to read just my bookgroup books in time, and I realise how impossible it'd be for me to deal with themed reads for a whole year. :)

Welcome all, and thanks for visiting!

I apparently have the following Orange books on my shelves, unread:

Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels (1997)
Larry's Party by Carol Shields (1998)
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2007)
The Road Home by Rose Tremain (2008)
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver (2010)
Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald (1997)
The Voyage of the Narwhal by Andrea Barrett (1999)
Brick Lane by Monica Ali (2004)
Carry Me Down by M.J. Hyland (2007)
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney (2007)
The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam by Lauren Liebenberg (2008)
Paradise by Toni Morrison (1999)
Unless by Carol Shields (2003)
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (2004)
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2004)
The Accidental by Ali Smith (2006)
Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living by Carrie Tiffany (2006)
Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie (2009)
The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna (2011)

I usually give priority to the Australian authors, hello Carrie Tiffany and M.J. Hyland, I believe.

I've had some of these for FAR too long (Fugitive Pieces, the Adichie books, Oryx and Crake, Brick Lane, among others). And I had no idea I owned "Paradise" until I saw this list. I wonder which shelf it's on!!

Memory of Love has to be held back until I need to read it for bookgroup, in May I think.

Suggestions on where to start welcome, although do bear in mind that I'm likely to ignore all suggestions and just read pretty much at random anyhow. :)

Oh, I was feeling rather embarrassed at the number of unread Oranges on my shelves. So I looked at the ones I have read, and it's more than twice the number of unread books! Phew!

The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville (2001)
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (2002)
Small Island by Andrea Levy (2004)
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver (2005)
On Beauty by Zadie Smith (2006)
The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht (2011)
The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (1997)
The Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox (1999)
Fasting, Feasting by Anita Desai (2000)
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (2000)
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (2002)
In the Forest by Edna O'Brien (2003)
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (2003)
What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt (2003)
Gilgamesh: A Novel by Joan London (2004)
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (2004)
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (2004)
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson (2005)
The Clothes on Their Backs by Linda Grant (2008)
The Gathering by Anne Enright (2008)
Sorry by Gail Jones (2008)
The Household Guide to Dying by Debra Adelaide (2009)
The Lost Dog by Michelle de Kretser (2009)
The Help by Kathryn Stockett (2010)
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters (2010)
The Long Song by Andrea Levy (2010)
Small Wars by Sadie Jones (2010)
Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch (2011)
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (2011)
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood (1997)
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (1999)
Divine Secrets of the Ya-ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells (2000)
White Teeth by Zadie Smith (2000)
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood (2001)
A Child's Book of True Crime by Chloe Hooper (2002)
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (2002)
The Autograph Man by Zadie Smith (2003)
The Little Friend by Donna Tartt (2003)
The Colour by Rose Tremain (2004)
The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard (2004)
A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka (2005)
The Night Watch by Sarah Waters (2006)
The Observations by Jane Harris (2007)
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (2010)
Grace Williams Says It Loud by Emma Henderson (2011)
Room by Emma Donoghue (2011)

I think that's an acceptable ratio, Tania! As long as you don't buy more books ... :)

You've got some great books on your Mount TBR. I am sure you'll find something at random that's wonderful!

I think that's pretty impressive!

From your TBR pile, these are my recommendations: Unless, Oryx and Crake, & The Accidental.

I've also read Fugitive Pieces, Larry's Party, & Half of a Yellow Sun, but they weren't as good in my opinion.

I'm sure you'll find something you like!

Joyce, you're the first person I've ever heard to say something even slightly negative about Half a Yellow Sun! :)

Oryx and Crake is moving slowly up Mt TBR. It's been getting fairly mixed comments, which always intrigues me.

I know, everyone at LT loves Half a Yellow Sun, except Cariola and me. I think I gave it 4 stars when I read it, but in my mind it's slipped. My real life book club read it too and everyone was sort of "meh".

Oh Tania you MUST read the two Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie books - having spent my formative years in Nigeria I can assure you she brings the country and its people alive.

The Tenderness of Wolves is one of my favorite Oranges; I highly recommend it! Oryx and Crake is at the top of my list for January.

I was thinking The Tenderness of Wolves for my December Orange read (although it's a slow start to the month at the moment, reading a very slow going bloke book). I'm hoping I can squeeze it in soon!

I'll put Oryx and Crake to hand for Orange January, methinks. And Purple Hibiscus...

I can recommend the Carrie Tiffany. Thoroughly enjoyed that one! And also was surprised at how much I liked Brick Lane. But, they are all good, so go ahead and pick the one that calls to you from your shelf!

Making the rounds of everyone's threads and have to comment that you have a great TBR pile and an impressive already read Orange list! I like to be able to pick up books to read without too much pre-planning so I am looking forward to seeing what you choose for your Orange reading!

Well done, Tania! I'm trying to read from my shelves, too, without buying more books (though I'm not sure why - it's too much fun!)

My recommendations from your TBR are Fall on Your Knees, Fall on Your Knees and finally, Fall on Your Knees! Seriously, I read this when it came out and was absolutely blown away by it. Not only seduced by her writing and her intricate story, it's the characters that I was so drawn to - each so complex and multi-dimensional, you swear that they really exist somewhere. I've read it three times and still, there are nuances to discover.

Following that, Burnt Shadows was also an incredible and emotional read. Of course, too, I'm advocating for The Tenderness of Wolves!!

I must admit, that I'm not a big fan of Half a Yellow Sun either. Though I think I picked it up too quickly after reading Cutting for Stone.

Looking forward to following your reads!

That's an amazing photograph, btw.

Phew, Christmas is over! I think I might have time for some Orange reading planning. :)

I'm currently already reading The Tenderness of Wolves for Orange December - but it may of course get finished in January. Although I'm spending every free moment with my nose in it, and it's a very easy read - the pages are flying by! - so maybe I will get it done in 2011.

I think Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living, The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam, and Oryx and Crake are currently on my short list for January. But that's because I've seen them all recently, so they'll be easy to pick up. ;)

Great books on both listings. You can't go wrong with an Orange, though I do find I must have an apple now and then.
Gotcha starred and eager to see what and how much you like what you read wookie.

Hi Tania. I'm looking forward to hearing how you get on. I haven't read the three in your shortlist but loved Gilgamesh, The Little Stranger, The Night Watch, The Road Home, Room, The Idea of Perfection, Fingersmith, Visit from the Goon Squad and Alias Grace from your longer TBR list. Wow, so many wonderful books ahead of you!

Hi there Tania! Thanks for coming by!! Great to see you!! :)

Belva, I love the idea of an apple now and then, too! Funnily enough, while second hand book browsing with my parents the other day, both Mum & I were searching out Elizabeth Taylor novels, and had any had a green spine, there might have been some genteel fisticuffs. ;)

Dee, I think you're mostly looking at the books I've already read! I have to agree, those are also some great reads. I'm a little worried about The Road Home because while I *loved* her Music and Silence, I did crash and burn on The Colour. Twice.

Hi Deb! Looking forward to reading Orange with you this month!

I think I've mentioned elsewhere, but I'm currently waylaid by a non-Orange book. As is my usual forgetfulness, I forgot about Orange until after I'd already chosen Past the Shallows. Although it may be quite eligible for a longlist nomination, it's only just come out (well, in the last six months or so) and has some good buzz happening locally. Maybe this'll be one where I can proudly say "I read it *before* it was Orange". ;)

22: Ah yes, you're right, sorry!!

Well, looking at your actual TBR list, I enjoyed Half of a Yellow Sun, Brick Lane, Burnt Shadows, The Memory of Love, The Tenderness of Wolves and The Road Home (and had mixed feelings about The Accidental) so can still confidently say you have some great reading ahead of you!

For me, The Road Home was the most readable of the Tremains I've read, so hopefully you won't "crash and burn" with that one.

Just a few quick comments on the ones I've read on your list wookie :)
Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living has plenty of dry humour (slight pun there).I enjoyed it and recently I lent it to my Aunty and she is enjoying it at the moment.
Burnt Shadows I read earlier in the year and it would be top of my lists of reads this year, just an epic storyline.
I thought The Road Home was better then The Colour.
Others I've read on your list
Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels (1997)
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2007)
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver (2010)
Unless by Carol Shields (2003)
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2004)
I found all had something in them for me.

We also share these on our January list
Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald (1997)
The Voyage of the Narwhal by Andrea Barrett (1999)
Brick Lane by Monica Ali (2004)
The Accidental by Ali Smith (2006)
I might get to the Barrett one but I'm not sure about the others this month.

I've always thought that The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam was such an imaginative title the book must be worth a read.

Have fun with your choice. :)

#23> Dee, I did read The Tenderness of Wolves back in December (as my December Orange read) and it was an excellent read! I thought the ending slightly dissatisfying however, just a few too many loose threads. But a minor quibble, the rest was great.

#24> Okay, Everymans Rules for Scientific Living is definitely the next Orange book I read. :)

And Burnt Shadows is also climbing up Mt TBR...

And I whizzed through Past the Shallows (another angsty dysfunctional family, but better than most; have to say it's not a genre I generally gravitate towards), so started The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam this morning, very naughtily ignoring my bookgroup read...

Wookie, Past the Shallows is on my best of 2011 list - somewhere very close to the top - hope you are enjoying it!

Judy, it's not my favourite genre (angsty dysfunctional families), I only picked it up because of the buzz and because it was right there at the library.

I did stay up until 1am finishing it, so I think I got thoroughly suckered in. :) I won't say it's going to hit my "best of" list, due to the subject matter just not being my cup of tea, but it was very good. The characterisation of the brothers was excellent, and I loved old George. And the backstory wasn't what I expected, which is always a pleasure, being slightly surprised.

Oh, Tania, do make room for The Road Home. It's not angsty or dysfunctional, or where there is a little angst, Lev deals with it. I adore that book and found The Colour much less good although I enjoyed that too. (*TC* ranks only just above Trespass among the few Rose Tremains that I've read.)
I'm reading Fall on Your Knees as my first Orange of the year and wish that somebody else would join me. I suspect I'll still be in it even after you polish off *Peanut Butter and Jam*.

You've got so many great choices so far; I'm looking forward to your thoughts. I've never seen a copy of the PB&J book, but have always loved the title!

#28> oh, it's not going to be neglected totally. Just not top of the list when I think of Mt TBR. :)

#29> I was lucky and stumbled across a copy on sale last year! Very chuffed to find it.

And The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam is proving to be a very interesting read. A bit heavy for a summer holiday read, but I'm okay with that. :) It's reminding me a bit of Jeanette Winterson's Oranges are not the Only Fruit, with a grandfather (Oupa) spouting apocalyptic sermons.

Hi Tania!! I have to say that Oranges are not the Only Fruit was not one of my favourite reads!!! You are doing well, having already read two Orange reads this month , but what else would I expect from you! :)

I'm a huge fan of Adichie and Morrison! :) I really enjoyed Fall On Your Knees, but you have to be in the mood for lots of gothic family melodrama. I remember liking Brick Lane, but I read it back when it came out, so my memories are lal a bit hazy now.

Just have to say, I LOVE your pic!!!

Hi All, and thanks for the comments!

Deb, sometimes we agree on books, sometimes we don't. I think we'll have to agree to disagree on Oranges are not the Only Fruit, which is one of my all-time favourites. (Out of many all-time favourites, it's hard to pick when there are so many good books out there!)

I did finish The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam and thought it was excellent. Review will be some time coming (please don't hold your collective breath!), I'm still to finish my 2011 reviews.

And that's my first Orange for the month; Past the Shallows has not yet been nominated for an Orange, but I've got my fingers crossed! It should be eligible for a nomination this year.

And now I'm reading bloke fiction (for bookgroup) and then I should read a Georgette Heyer for the Monthly Author Reads group, and a Steinbeck for the Steinbeckathon, and then I can turn Orange again. :)

Yes , of course we all have different tastes. I'm glad that you enjoyed Oranges are not the Only Fruit. I think I wrote a review for it and gave it 3 stars,but I really did not care for it.

It's our different tastes that make the world go around, Deb. :)

The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam, Lauren Liebenberg



It is Rhodesia in the 1970s, and two young white sisters, Nyree and Cia, are growing up on an isolated farm, being brought up by their over-worked mother and their slightly cracked Oupa, while their father is off fighting the Terrs.

I reckon a Terr is about eight feet tall, he slobbers and his toenails are long, ragged and filthy. He tears the limbs off live vervet monkeys to gnaw and if he gets his hands on a cane rat, he guts it with a snaggletooth, the licks the entrails off his dripping chin. That's why his teeth are dark and rotted: if you feed on live animals, the blood stains them for ever. Cia nodded, satisfied, as if I'd confirmed what she'd suspected all along. But actually I know that Terr is short for 'terrorist' and Dad's always been fighting them because there's always been the War.

Oupa sits on the stoep, drinking gin and tonics, and sermonising about duty and damnation, the road to perdition, dereliction of duty, and his dead brother, Great-Uncle Seamus, a Prodigal Son and a Scoundrel who went 'astray'. The children are fascinated by Seamus and the hints of his story they glean from Oupa, and then one summer the story comes to life for them when their cousin Ronin comes to stay. He's a handsome boy, but under his polished exterior lies darkness.

This was a beautifully written book, filled with magic, both English and African. The characters were wonderful, although Ronin could have been better fleshed out, he seems to be evil without any chance of redemption, which seems unfair for such a young man. The location and time was also fascinating, it's an era I know very little about.

Overall, it was a bit of a corker. Funny, sad, disturbing.

****1/2

Mum is raving about this book as well. Might have to have a look into it. Good review.

Wonderful review!

Voluptuous Delights is quite the story. Happy to see your positive review of it!

Good review, indeed, Tania. I've been debating this one; sounds as though I should add it to my list.

I second what Linda said. I hadn't been tempted by it before, but now it looks as though that very Orangey year 2008 strikes again.

Thanks everyone! It is definitely being recommended by me! Quite an excellent book, and a first novel. I must say, I'm very impressed with young 'uns these days...

As Caspettee said - I loved it too :)

Sounds like another one to look out for. Great review, Tania!