vancouverdeb's 6th thread for 75 books in 2011

* A Favourite

Jan 2010
The White Leopard by Henning Mankell 4stars
The Man Who Smiled by Henning Mankell 4.5 stars
The Heart Specialist by Claire Holden Rothman 3.8 stars
GoldDiggers:Striking it Rich in the Klondike by Charlotte Gray 4.5 stars
MotorCycles & Sweetgrass Drew Hayden Taylor 5 stars *
Jar City by Arnaldur Indridason 3.8 stars.
William and Kate: A Royal Love Story 3.5 stars

February
Silence of the Grave Arnaldur Indridason 4.2 stars
Voices Arnaldur Indridason 4.5 stars
The Draining Lake Arnaldur Indridason 4.5 stars
Arctic Chill Arnaldur Indridason 4.0 stars

March
The Good Man of Nanking : The Diaries of John Rabe 3,7 stars
Bride of New France Susan Desrochers 4 stars *
Look Me in the Eye John Elder Robison 4 stars
The Stone Diaries Carol Shields 4.25 stars
The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald 3 stars
Hypothermia by Arnaldur Indridason 4 stars
After River by Donna Milner 4.5 stars

April
My Soul to Take- Yrsa Sigurdasrdottir 3.5 stars
Atlas of Human Rights Andrew Fagan 3.5 stars
Beggar's Garden by Michael Christie 3.5 stars
Sidetracked by Henning Mankell 4.25 stars
Long Song by Andrea Levy 4.75 stars *
Small Island by Andrea Levy 5 stars *

May
Mennonites Don't Dance by Darcie Friesen Hossack 4.5 stars *
84, Charring Cross by Helene Hanfff 3.5 stars
The Water's Edge by Karin Fossum 3.7stars
Memory of Love by Aminatta Forma 4.75 stars
Grace Wiliams Say it Loud by Emma Henderson 4.25 stars
Love You More by Lisa Gardner 3.5 stars
Room by Emma Donoghue 3.75 stars

June
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane Katherine Howe 3.25
Don't Look Back by Karin Fossum 4 stars
Excellent Women by Barbara Pym 3.5 stars
Coventry by Helen Humphreys 4 stars *
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet/ David Mitchell 3
He Who Fears the Wolf by Karin Fossum 4 stars
William and Harry by Katie Nicholl 3 stars

July
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson 3.8 stars
Bird Eat Bird by Katrina Best 3.2 stars
One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson 4.25 stars *
Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill 5 stars *
When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson 3.75 stars
Where White Horse Gallop By Beatrice MacNeil 5 stars*
Started Early,Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson 4.25 stars

August
Far to Go by Allison Pick 4stars
The Sisters Brothers/ Patrick deWitt 5stars*
The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai 3.8 stars
Emily,Alone by Stewart O'Nan 4 stars*
Comedy in a Minor Key by Hans Keilson 4 stars
The Accident by Linwood Barclay 4 stars
Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman 4.25 stars
A Cupboard Full of Coats by Yvvette Edwards 4.35stars

September
Our Spoons Came From Woolworths by Barbara Comyns 3.9 stars
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson 3 stars
Outrage by Arnaldur Indridason 4 stars
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 2.5 stars
The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje 3.4 stars
When the Devil Holds the Candle by Karin Fossum 4 stars
Touch by Alexi Zentner 5 stars*
Blurred Vison by Linwood Barclay 3.5 stars
Hotel on Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford 4 stars
Stitches: A Memoir by David Small 4 stars

October
Tell it to the Trees by Anita Rau Badami 4.5 stars
Remembering the Music, Forgetting the Words by Kate Whouley 3 stars
Two Generals by Scott Chantler 3.5 stars
All Quiet On The Western Front 5 stars by Erich Maria Remarque
Extreme Vinyl Cafe by Stuart McLean 4 stars
The Vet's Daughter by Barbara Comyns 3.2 stars
The Twin by Gerbrand Bakker 4.5 stars
Natural Order by Brian Francis 4.5 stars
Atonement by Ian McEwan 3.5 stars

November
The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay 4.25 stars
Louis Riel Graphic Novel Biography by Chester Brown 3.5 stars
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley 4stars
John A: The Man Who Made Us Volume One:1815 - 1867 by Richard Gwyn 3.5 stars
The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley 4 stars
A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley 4 stars

December
I am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley 4 stars
Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson 4 stars
A Small Furry Prayer by Steven Kotler 3 stars
Calling Out for You by Karin Fossum 4 stars
Black Seconds by Karin Fossum 4 stars

Well, that was easy! I'm currently nearly finished Out Stealing Horses and loving it! A great read!

Just checking in to see what you are up to, Deb. . .

Morning Deb! Congrats on the new thread! enjoy your day!

Good Morning Deb! Hope you have a good Friday and have some good plans for the weekend!

Morning Deb! I didn't even get a chance to get caught up on your old thread, oh well here now!
Hope you and your hubby have a good weekend!

I just started a new thread too - LOVE the new blue arrow method.

Almost finished Bottom of the Pie and have decided this is not a kid's book. Do you agree? It seems there is so much in there that 10-12 y/o would not "get". But then, maybe I don't know how knowledgeable they are at that age???

Love your hi-tech "continued" thread, Deb! That feature is a keeper!

Hi Deb! Just popping in to say hello. So glad you've enjoyed Out Stealing Horses!

Hi Stasia! Thanks so much for dropping by!

Hi Mark! I hope you had a great day!

Hi Brit!Well, Dave is still in a boot cast, so we are a bit limited in what we can do, but I'm sure we will have a great weekend -and I hope that you do too!

Hi Chelle. Yes, my thread went fairly quickly last time, but I love to have company on my thread! :)

Claudia, unlike many books that people read on LT that are actually in the YA section of my bookstore, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is in the adult fiction section. While I can see an advanced 12 - 13 year old reading the books, I think that there would be a lot that they would miss, yes. I think of my neices who are both 11 and while they may be able to read the book, much of it would pass over their heads, and they are both bright kids that read well. I was like you too - I kept looking at The Sweetness and thinking that I would feel that the books were too " young for me" because the narrator was young. But indeed, I very much enjoyed them.

Hi Nancy. I was so excited about my new high tech contiued thread that I forgot to rename the thread Vancouverdeb's 7th Thread - , so instead this is my second 6th thread! LOL! Since the continued put a title in the subject line I just assumed it was correct! I guess I'm just not the sharpest knife in the drawer....

Yes, Anne, I've finished Out Stealing Horses and gave it 4 stars. I really enjoyed it! I'll definitely be reading more by Per Petterson as well as by the author of The Twin - Gerbrand Bakker.

I don't know, Deb, I think it takes a sharpie to think of "the second 6th thread," so you're good. You make me want to put down everything I'm reading now to start Out Stealing Horses, but I'm not going to do it. Nope. Not. Not even a little. (maybe)

I've finished Out Stealing Horses and really loved it! I still think that I preferred The Twin , since I gave Out Stealing Horses 4 stars and The Twin 4 1/2 stars, perhaps because of the sheer originality of the The Twin. I think I've discovered that I like the quiet , laconic prose of both authors, which in it's understatedness is is deeply moving .

Out Stealing Horses is a book I'd like to do a reread of at a later date to really give it the review it deserves. I have an early reviewer book to get onto, so I won't re read Out Stealing Horses right away.

I thoroughly enjoyed Out Stealing Horses. It's the story of a teenaged boy living with his father in a small cabin in a remote area for a summer. His father has had difficulty adapting to family and village life after serving in WW11, and so has left son Trond's mother and sister behind in a village. A tragedy takes place during the summer, forever changing both Trond and his family , as well as the directly affected family . Both families fall apart in the aftermath. Many years later, the young man, Trond, is now 65 and has lost second wife to a car accident. Trond decides to live out his final years in small isolated cabin, much like that that he spent with his father one summer many years ago. A chance encounter with a neighbour brings back memories of that tragic summer many years ago. Trond more or less relives his that summer, from the point of view of someone aged 65, rather than 15, and we as readers come to realize that much more went on that summer than Trond understood when he was a young boy.

That said, there is a fair amount of symbolism and unanswered questions for me. I'd like to re read the book at a later to date to more fully understand some of that - and Nancy, I'll be PM"s you for what you thought . Perhaps some questions are intentionally left unanswered, or for us as readers to fill in as we understand life.

For this book, this is a very long piece of direct insight on Trond's part, but I'll quote it here ,page 73 Trond, our narrator is thinking to himself:

" People like it when you tell them things, in suitable portions, in a modest , intimate tone, and they think they know you, but they do not, they know about you, for what they are let in on are facts, not feelings, not what your opinion is about anything at all, not how what has happened to you and how all the decisions you have turned you into who you are. What they do is they fill in with their own feelings and opinions and assumptions, and they compose a new life which has precious little to do with yours, and that let's you off the hook. No - one can touch you unless you yourself want them too."

Perhaps that is why while I understand much of Trond's life much better as he retells it as an adult, I am also left with questions. Perhaps the author planned it that way. A brilliant understated book. 4 stars.

Hmm, I'll think about it. Maybe if I took out certain portions, this could be a decent review after all!

Must rush to go shopping etc.

I have to say that I very much like the style of writing of both Bakker and Petterson, and what they write about. It's so understated, nuanced and moving.

Deb- I love your thoughts on Out Stealing Horses. I'm so glad you liked it. It is a special book.

Thanks Mark, With a little fiddling later, I think I could turn this into a review after all. A wonderful book indeed! It would make a perfect group or book cllub read, because there are so many nuanced things that happen, quite a bit of symbolism - so many questions that a group could discuss -and often there would be no absolute answers.

One thing that I read about Per Petterson that I thought was rather fascinating - and sad, is that while he is born in 1952, he lost his mom, dad , brother and nephew in a ferry that sank between Norway and Denmark in 1990 or so. Perhaps that feeds into his writing, though apparently he lives a happy life with his second wife and two children.

Deb, I also thoroughly enjoyed your thoughts on Out Stealing Horses ... review coming up so I can thumb it?
Love what you said above: so many questions ... no absolute answers. Yes!

eta: yes, we'll have to PM on this one like we did with The Twin - our own version of "group read," hehe.

Deb - congrats on new thread. Out Stealing Horses is on my hitlist. Certainly looks like the flavour of northern european writing with the penchant for the sombre hits a chord with you if I can be forgiven for shameless mixing of metaphors. Look forward to seeing what you have up next.

Thanks Mark! Indeed, I found Out Stealing Horses to be a special read.

Nancy, thanks so much, I have converted my comments into a review.

Paul - yes, I think you would like Out Stealing Horses very much. "Shameless metaphors" - , how about your brilliant and original metaphors! That sounds more like it!

So - I have created a review of Out Stealing Horses if you just click on the name, you will see it.

Hi Deb, great review, I'll definitely read it once I get a copy of it. I'd like to suggest The Devil's Footprints by John Burnside to you. It's a bit in the same genre and I think you'd also like it. My very spoiler-free review is here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/106043#2803328

The more I read about Out Stealing Horses, the more it sounds like my sort of book. Great review, Deb. I'm looking forward to reading The Twin very, very soon. I said in my last post that I was planning to start it last night but I was too tired and brain-fried after work to do anything except play a mindless game on the i-pad called Flobopop!

Thumb! Thanks for the review of Out Stealing Horses, Deb.

#19 Dee, can't wait to hear what you'll think of The Twin. Perhaps you'll join us in our spring fling read of Bakker's next book The Detour. I must find Flobopop - entertainment for my brain-dead moments which are increasing at an alarming rate! (age?? shhh)

Hi Deb, just passing the word that the threads are up for North and South group read. Everyone is welcome!

North and South (Non-Spoiler Thread)
North and South, Chapters 1-26 (Spoiler Thread)
North and South, Chapters 27-52 (Spoiler Thread)

I’ve also added the threads to our group’s wiki page.

Monica, thanks so much for your recommendation! I have already added it to my wishlist. After Christmas, I hope to order it from Amazon , along with another Per Petterson book. The Devil's Footprints sounds very interesting!

Hi Dee! Well, I hope you enjoy The Twin and Out Stealing Horses when you get the chance to read them. I have not heard of Flobopop , but I can waste my share of time on a game called Text Twist, in which you get 2 minutes to create as many words as possible out of 7 letters, and must get the 7 letter word from the scrambled letters that you are presented with. It is addictive.....

Hi Nancy! Thanks for the thumb! I'll PM you soon with my questions and thoughts. Last night I was reading few reviews about Per Petterson's books, and indeed, it's somewhat of a trademark of his to leave his books a bit ambiguous and let you try to fill in the details by yourself.

Thanks for posting the links to the Group Red of North and South. As you know, I have some hope of joining you , but an LTER book, Small Furry Prayer that was a September win finally arrived on Thursday, the same day that finally my copy of Oliver's Twist: The Life & Times of an Unapologetic Newshound came available. I've been waiting for that book for a couple of months , so I'll have to see how my book reading time goes.

Currently I am reading an LTER book that I won in September, but it only arrived on Dec 7 or 8th, so I feel that compelled to get the book read and reviewed. It is a non- fiction book on dog - rescue A Small Furry Prayer. I'm only about 45 pages in, but it's proving interesting. For starters, the dog rescue place is in a part of New Mexico where most of the couples neighbours are using meth, heroin and any manner of products that they have brought across the Mexican Border. Sounds like rough territory. It promises to be an interesting book so far...

I'm glad to see you liked Out Stealing Horses Deb. I did too when I read it a couple of years ago and you've reminded me that I want to read more by Petterson. So thank you:)

Enjoy A Small Furry Prayer, Deb. You've read some top-notch non-fiction this year. Hope this one proves to be as worthy as some of the others.

I like the sound of A Small Furry Prayer and looking forward to your further thoughts on it, Deb.

I am love, love, loving The Twin! I'm sure I will be rating this 5 or 4.5 stars! I'll definitely be joining in with the group read of The Detour. It's out in the UK in February, a week before my birthday which is rather good timing! The blurb sounds fascinating. Have you seen it? I was going to cut and paste it from Amazon.co.uk to here but it's rather long and I didn't want to take up too much space on your thread. Perhaps I'll pop over to my thread and post it there....

I'm glad you enjoyed Out Stealing Horses, Deb. I read it earlier this year and also loved it.

It's wonderful to hear so many have also enjoyed The Twin and Out Stealing Horses!! Dee, you'll have The Detour sooner than we will here in Canada; can't remember the exact date, but I don't think it's out until spring.

Believe it or not, I too have A Small Furry Prayer .. also LTer.. what was I thinking!!!

Hi Bonnie! Yes, I very much enjoyed Out Stealing Horses and I am lucky enough to have another Per Petterson in my TBR pile - I Curse the River of Time . He has written a couple of other books and I would like to get my hands on those too!

Nancy, I am enjoying the A Small Furry Prayer - it certainly covers a lot of ground - from dog rescue , to homosexuality in animals, to religion , to life is a small New Mexican towns. You are correct , I have read some great non - fiction - such All Quiet on the Western Front, John A: the Man, GoldDiggers Striking it Rich in the Klondike etc - it will be difficult to measure up to many of those books.

Dee, you know I'm as excited about The Detour as you are!! I cannot wait!

And Nancy, yes it's great to hear that other's have enjoyed The Twin and Out Stealing Horse. Such fabulous books!

Ellen, I think you've read both The Twin and Out Stealing Horses too!

Kath - I can't wait to see what you think about A Small Furry Prayer. It's different book from many that I've read, but very informative and interesting.

Deb, haven't gotten to The Twin yet, but it's on my bedside TBR shelf -- thanks to you! :-)

Ooh, looking forward to final thoughts on A Small Furry Prayer as well!

Hi Deb, I got A Small Furry Prayer the first time it was offered as an ER book. I'm curious to hear how you like it.
Hope all is well!

Ahh Ellen, you are in for a treat with The Twin!

dk_phoenix - I am madly reading through A Small Furry Prayer. Not exactly madly, but faster than I might, so I can the review done. It's about 300 pages long and I've got about another 100 pages to go. I should finish it by tomorrow and then ponder on the review.

Hi Joanne. Yes , all is well , though my husband is still at home with his foot. He's be home from work til the end of December and then go back to work.

A Small Furry Prayer is in an interesting read. The title is a bit on a misnomer, if you ask me. I'm not minding it, but it is all over the place , from animal altruism, human altruism, Buddhist beliefs, did humans tame canines or did wolves want to hang around humans first. Etc. I find that there is less about actual animal rescue then there is about assorted other topics that relate loosely back to animal rescue. It is a memoir, and in some ways it's a memoir first and second a book about animal rescue and science, philosophy, psychology as put together by an investigative journalist, the author. While it's a relatively interesting read , I can see how it the book would have trouble capturing a broad audience.

The other thing that I find is that I feel at distance from the writer and I don't really feel that he loves the animals or the work of being in animal rescue, but perhaps he just does not write about emotions . I'm not sure. I think it will end up in the 3 to 3.5 ballpark.

Yikes, "all over the place" when I'm reading rarely appeals. On that note, A Small Furry Prayer will be a miss! Thanks, Deb.

Hi Deb, just popping in to say hello
Interesting thoughts on the Furry book. I'll wait to see your final thoughts on that one!
Hope you and hubby are enjoying his time home

Hi Deb, I'm also just dropping by to say hello. A Small Furry Prayer doesn't sound like a book for me, but I am definitely planning on some "Flavia" time in my future!

Hi Deb!
I got it too - ASFP - from ER and have just started reading it. While I think it's interesting so far, I also think the author is going in directions I did not expect in a book about animal rescue.
I have already thought to myself "I hope Kath doesn't read this one." Now - hope I'm wrong about that hope. :-/

I'm itching to get to The Twin but I think it will be a little while longer before I get to it.

Liked your review on Stealing Horses - thumb!

Nancy, yes I think that you can give A Small Furry Prayer a miss, sad to say!

Chelle, it's interesting, but really all over the place. You 'll want to be treated to chapters on brain biology in animals, Bhuddism, poverty and crime in New Mexico, the origin of Pit Bulls, English Bull Terriers and Chihuahua's, as well as brain receptors and chemicals, the Mayans,philosophers and philosophy, as well as evolution, with a little animal rescue thrown in!;) It does all hang together, and I've got another 100 pages to go.... I'll let you know.

Oh Judy! Have with your Flavia Reading! I think for you I can guarantee a good read - kinda like Heather Reismen at Chapters!;)

Hi Claudia! I'm glad that you feel more or less the way I feel about A Small Furry Prayer. So Kath/ McKait has it too? I'm itching to get some other books too-but I'm telling myself " work before play" as far as my reading goes!

Thanks so much for popping by!

I had to go back and look at my review of A Small Furry Prayer from a year ago. I had similar issues. It all seemed so random.

Tell me, did they fix the issue with the wife's name? Jane was referred to as Lila several times. I assume it was an editing problem with the arc, but it still seemed odd. Initially, I think I spent more time trying to figure out who Lila was and why I had missed her introduction than I did reading the book!

Joanne, the wife's name is Joy, if memory serves and yes, they seemed to have fixed that up . I'm 2/3 of the way through it and the wife has been "Joy" all the way through. That must have been very confusing if they used different names for the wife!I've just visited your thread re - A Small Furry Prayer - but I''ll let you know about the name thing tomorrow on your thread!

Oh, Joy, that's right. I'm so easily confused! Joy and Lila.

Interesting thoughts on Out Stealing Horses, Deb. If a book can make us ruminate on specific parts of the story that way it certainly have made an impact.

One more nordic to jot down :)

Deb- Enjoy your day and keep warm. Mid-40s here! Yah!

I think it will be a bit before I get to the dog book... it terrifies me.. lol
I want to give it a try though..

Okay... there is a big mac on tv right now.. and it looks delicious..!
It is 7:30 am for pity sake!

:P

Deb, A Small Furry Prayer sounds interesting --- and I worry that it would just upset me. Not that I think I should (or do, really) avoid reading about painful subjects. So many of the truly great novels I've read are about human suffering, longing, heartbreak, cruelty...... oh my, too early in the morning for this. In any case, what I'm saying is that for me, animal suffering touches me in ways I can't defend against.

Okay, back to getting ready for work! I hope you have a great day. Down here, we're actually wishing for some rain!

Joanne, thankfully the author has stuck with one name for his wife, and that is Joy.

Hi Carsten. Yes. Definitely, Out Stealing Horses is something I continue to ruminate on and look up information. My hurry to read and review A Small Furry Prayer somewhat disrupted that - but on the other hand, the thinking and reading that I did elsewhere helped answer some of my questions. Yes, definitely Per Petterson is wonderful writer!!! I can't wait to read his other books!Carsten your Scandavian countries really know how to grow fabulous writers!

Well, Mark, my friend with legs with a winter pall, it's cold enough for me.. but at the moment it's not raining, so that is mostly what counts!!! I keep thinking to myself - just another week until the shortest day of the year here -and then it just gets better! :) I love long days and these 7:45 Sunrises and 4:15 sunsets start to get to me!!! Come on spring!

Well, Kath, nothing to be terrified about with A Small Furry Prayer other than some fairly detailed descriptions of philosophy, shamanism - a lot of ism's. I find that the book is a lot less about actual animal rescue and a lot more about scientific/ philosophic/ anthropological theory than actual animal rescue. Even my conscientious eyes are glazing over.

Ellen I think I have a pretty big heart for animals - but this book is far less about animal suffering than it is about theories. Books have made me shed tears -but this is not one of them. But each of us is different. Maybe if this book was more about actual animal suffering I'd feel differently.

Just about 70 pages to go in this book and yes I'm counting!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

Just about 70 pages to go in this book and yes I'm counting!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

LOL!!!

#48 Ditto! I admire your stamina, Deb! hehe

Hi Ellen and Nancy! I'm thoroughly exhausted by A Small Furry Prayer but it's done!!

I gave it 3 stars and here is my review:

The book " A Small Furry Prayer: Dog Rescue and the Meaning of Life " gives little information on animal rescue, and many short essays on topics such as : cross species altruism, brain neurochemicals, Mayans, evolution, Darwin,toteism, philosophers and religion. By the time the author got onto an essay on Shamanism and shape-shifters, he had really lost my attention.

I found that there was precious little information on actual animal rescue and far more on the above topics which loosely related back to animal rescue in some fashion.

Steven Kotler and his wife Joy moved to New Mexico and began an animal rescue operation, but there is very little information about how they established the animal rescue, how they supported themselves financially or the emotions surrounding the entire operation .

I felt at a distance from this author's story and never felt emotionally engaged to the rescue animals, the author nor his wife, whom he did not really write about at all.

Never mind Deb you had a very successful run of reading and the odd blip is only to be expected. Considering your struggle with the book I was surprised to see you plump for three stars.

Your description of A Small Furry Prayer reminds me of student parties when I'd invariably find myself sat next to a well-travelled student who was set on informing me on their theories on life, the universe and everything!

I'm still mildly intrigued by the book even though I would probably find it exasperating!

hmmmmm Very good review of Small Furry!

I wonder if I will be able to get through it ?

Hi Deb,
I suppose "... and the Meaning of Life" should have tipped us off. Good review of a disappointing book.
Have not gotten into it very far yet myself, but I might be interested in his take on "... and the Meaning of Life" though your review seems to indicate a fail there.

Ah well... it was free except for your time...

Good review! In other words, though, the title was a bit misleading??? I don't know the pubs do that!

Good review, Deb! A definite miss for me - thanks for the heads up : ).

Good review, Deb. I know you're looking forward to whatever is next on your reading adventure!

Hi Deb, trying to catch up with your very busy thread. The pet rescue book seemed to promise a lot more than it gave, hope the next book is better.

Hi Deb, well all I can say is, "Finally, a book I don't have to put on my WL." LOL. Thanks for taking the hit for the rest of us.

Oh dear, m behind the 8 ball again, just found this thread now but will have to come back later to read it all, so just saying hi for now.

Finally, a book I don't have to put on my WL. Thanks for taking the hit for the rest of us. Laugh out loud moment here! Thanks, Bonnie ... and yes, thanks Deb!!

Hello everyone! Sorry I have not got back to you sooner. I must say that last book, A Small Furry Prayer took a lot out of me!;) I almost decided I did not want to read again for a while. I was looking on amazon com and the author A Small Furry Prayer has also written another book, West of Jesus: Surfing, Science and the Origins of Belief. That explains a lot. I guess the author goes from one existential crisis to another.

Hi Paul , I gave it three stars in part because it was an early reviewer book, so I don't like to be too severe with those. It has it's moments of interest. I enjoyed some of the research that he mentioned, but as I got further into the book, the philosophies got further and further out there!!!!!

Dee, were it not so expensive to mail hardcovers I would gladly mail you A Small Furry Prayer . As it is I think I will donate to my local library. My mom had expressed an interest in it based on the cover and what she guessed the content would be - Dog Rescue. However I'm quite sure my mom would not get to far into A Small Furry Prayer. ;) Who knows, you may love it?

Kath, I'm sure you'll be able to get through it. Just be prepared for your eyes to glaze over towards the end of the book. Then again, you maybe love it.

Claudia, perhaps yes, " The Meaning of Life " should have tipped us off... However I was not tipped off by that... in future.....;)

Nancy, here is a book that I won't try to persuade you to read!! A first perhaps;)

Thanks Ellen, for your kind words about my review. For a day or so I could not bear to even think of reading another book and sought out trashy magazines aka People, US, - whatever!;) I've finally settled on a nice piece of escape fiction, Karin Fossum's Calling Out for You. It is fabulous so far and I am swept up into it! :)

Hi Leonie, it's me that needs to catch up! I try to do that soon! Thanks for visiting!

Bonnie, you are so kind! Ha! Yes, a book that you need not put on your wishlist!

Hi Megan. Thanks for visiting !

Nancy, thanks for visiting - my son just walked in the door to visit - must run!

Back soon!

I'm currently reading and enjoying very much Calling Out For You by Karin Fossum. I'm about 2/3 of the way through the book.

Aha, delighted to see you've chosen something you know will be enjoyed, Deb. You deserve same after your dedicated foray through the furry animal thing.

Deb- How are you! I plan on getting to When the Devil Holds the Candle soon. I glad you are enjoying Calling Out For You. That's the 4th one, right?

Getting on the Victoria Clipper early tomorrow morning to spend the weekend in that lovely city. Not Vancouver, I know, but in the neighborhood. :-)

Glad to hear you're enjoying the Karin Fossum. I'm wondering whether to claim the copy of Don't Look Back on Bookhopper at the moment. (In case you're wondering, Bookhopper is a much smaller, UK based version of Bookmooch!)

Soupdragon popped you back up so I could find you :)
I have been posting so hit and miss lately.. I blame the busy season?

I've heard a lot about Karin Fossum but haven't read her yet. Is this -- gulp -- part of a series? I'll be anxious to hear what you think.

Mark, I am doing okay, and the husband is still healing. We are off to a Christmas celebration later today. Calling Out For You is fabulous, yes. Perhaps the best one yet? I think it is the fourth, yes.

Oh! I hope it's a nice day, Ellen! No, it's not BEAUTIFUL BREATHTAKING VANCOUVER, but Victoria has it's own " small town charm." ;)

Dee, I'm quite certain that Don't Look Back was very good. She is an excellent author with much psychological suspense. I'd say give her a try!

Kath, I've been remiss in my Library Thing posting too. Sorry all! I blame the busy series too!

Beth, yes, Karin Fossum writes a GULP !;) series of psychological mysteries. I love them all - maybe one I did not care for quite as much -but she is an excellent author. I really love her! This is my fifth book by her- I read my first Karin Fossum out of order - though it did not matter that much.

Eventually I will try to get to your threads. The December Busy Season is keeping me busy and I apologize for neglecting my your threads -and my own!!

Hugs everybody!

I think we're all in the same boat, I race around trying to keep up w/threads, but it is pretty much a lost cause! Luckily folks are posting a little less as they are busy, too busy to read or post.

Hi Deb -- just stopping by to say hello:)

Good morning, Deb. I had a wonderful time in Victoria. The weather cooperated, the town was all lit up, and we spent too much money. Consider it our contribution to the BC economy.....
I only bought one book, though, at a little place called Ivy's Books: Skippy Dies by Paul Murray. I don't know if it will really be my cup of tea, but it got my attention and I wanted to buy something.

Just stopping by to be sociable. I don't have a darned thing to say that is remotely interesting!

Hi Deb, I hope you enjoying your Karin Fossum - another author that has been on my wishlist for far too long!

#73 - Ellen - I know Ivy's Books on Oak Bay Avenue quite well. If I am looking for a British import, she often has it before the bigger chain stores!

70: Thanks Deb, I requested Don't Look Back and it has just arrived, rather super-speedily!

Hi Deb - Look forward to hear your thoughts on yet another Scandi-crime author that I must admit I've yet to explore. Maybe in the new year I will get to her....there's a lot of 'em waiting to be read.

EBT1002 - good to hear you had a nice time in Victoria--isn't it pretty with all the lights. One of my favourite times of the year to visit. I tried to talk my husband into a trip over this week but he was too busy at work. Ivy's Books is charming.

Sorry to take over your thread, Deb. Hope you're having fun over your way!

Lucy, yes, I am having a difficult time keeping up with the threads! The Christmas Busy Season! :)

Anne! Waving hi back!

Ellen, I'll look forward to your comments on Skippy Dies. I've looked at and not known quite what to think about it. I hope you enjoy it! Glad you had a good day in Victoria!

Hi Kath! Sociable is all I need! No need to make an special comment! I've been dreadful, not keeping up with the threads. I still have not got my Christmas shopping done and so I have to go tomorrow! Dread! Crowds!

Calling Out for You was just wonderful, thanks Judy! One her better novels! I have to say that perhaps Karin Fossum might be my favourite Scandi - Crime authors! I've already started another book by her... ;) To busy to update my thread...

Dee, I really hope that you are enjoying Don't Look Back. I do love Karin Fossum

Hi Carsten! Oh ! You must read Karin Fossum. She is excellent!!

Hi Joyce! Thanks for stopping by! Fun, kind of, more like desperately shopping at the last minute... I hope you are having a good Christmas season!

I finished Calling Out For You by Karin Fossum. It was a most intriguing story, one of Karin Fossum's better in the her series, if that is possible. The ending did not tie up neatly, which made even more intriguing. She does the best psychological mysteries.

I have not started another book by Karin Fossum - Black Seconds. It seems very promising so far....

Morning Deb- Miss seeing you around! Busy, huh? I picked up the audio of When the Devil Holds the Candle and hope to get to it next week. Enjoy your day!

For some reason the Scandinavians are not calling out to me..
I have one here I tried to start a couple of weeks ago ( a vine pick)
and it just annoyed me. I do realize that it may well be me being crotchety
....but

Deb, I wouldn't have pegged you for a last minute shopper, hehe! Enjoy the crazies.

Tickled you are continuing with Karin Fossum. I know how much you enjoy her. What is the first title in this series of hers? Do tell, please ... I'm already thinking ahead to a March beach holiday and how I'll line up goods for the sun, sand, and 'screen.

Merry Christmas, Deb! You're the best!

Hey there, Deb. Last minute shopping? I hope you're getting some bargains. There is one gift for my husband that I haven't been able to find, and it's a bit late for online shopping. IF I have time tomorrow, I'm going to muster up my courage and head out to Bass Pro to look for a lantern that has a spotlight and other jazzy features. Springfield, MO, is not only the home of Brad Pitt... this is where Bass Pro Shops started. Lots of tour busses stop by this time of year so I'll have to go early!

I'm with Nancy... I'd love to see a list of Fossum books in order. I'm so messed up because not all of hers have been translated yet. So far I've read and enjoyed Don't Look Back and He Who Fears the Wolf.

Merry Christmas to you and yours! I hope hubby is back to work soon so life can get back to normal (whatever that is!) for you.

.....last minute shopping? I have done all my shopping for eveyone and so on my first evening out and away from Lenny I went last minute shopping for myself! Chuckle chuckle, it was fun :)

I've got a couple of Karin Fossum books here waiting to be read...soon!

I finished Don't Look Back a day or so ago and enjoyed it. Thanks for the Fossum nudge, Deb. And Happy Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Deb!

Hi Deb! Just swinging by to say Merry Christmas.

Stopping by to wish you Happy Holidays Deb!

Merry Christmas to you and yours, Deb!! Enjoy the holidays!

Adding my Christmas wishes as well, Deb. Also Happy New Year as I won't be back from Victoria until early January.

Merry Christmas Deb

Hi Deb. Hope you have a Merry Christmas!!

Deb - a very happy christmas to you, Dave and your lovely family. It has been a pleasure to get to know you in 2011 - your recommendations have been consistent and I have enjoyed your threads throughout the year. Your love of books and family shine through all your posts - look forward to keeping up with you in 2012 - all the best always to you and yours.

Merry Christmas Deb!

Wishing you all the very best Deborah!

Merry Christmas to you, Deb, with best wishes!

Merry Christmas, Deb!

Deb- Merry Christmas to you and your family! I hope you have a great holiday! I've enjoyed our LT companionship these past few months. Let's keep it up! Hugs!

Merry Christmas, Deb!

Ditto above!

Merry Christmas Deb!

On the fifth day of Christmas...

I'm afraid I don't have any gold rings, but bring Christmas greetings and hope to see you over in the new 2012 group!

Hi Deb! Hope all is well in your world!

Miss seeing you around Deb...have a safe and happy New Year's.

Deb, we are missing you here. Hope all is well. Sending best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!

Happy New Year Deb.

Wot 10 days no Deb? Hope you and Dave are ok in chilly Vancouver. Hope to 'see' you in the group in 2012. Happy new year

One last stop before moving on to 2012. Happy New Year!

Swinging by to say Happy New Year, Deb! I'm un-starring the 2011 threads. See you in 2012!

Sorry everyone, I've had a busy Christmas/ New Years Season.

Merry Christmas Everyone and Happy New Years!

Thanks so much for all of your well wishes!!

I finished up Black Seconds by Karin Fossum . It was simply Excellent!

I'll start my new 75 books in 2012 in a few minutes....

Year End Summary

Favourites ( In no particular order)

Motorcycles & Sweetgrass by Drew Hayden Taylor
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick de Witt
The Twin by Gerbrand Bakker
Mennonites Don't Dance by Darcie Friesen Hossack
Where White Horses Gallop by Beatrice MacNeil
Touch by Alexi Zenti
All Quiet on The Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
Lullabies For Little Criminals
Emily Alone by Stewart O'Nan
Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson
Small Island By Andrea Levy

Slightly Below but Very Good

Long Song by Andrea Levy
Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman
Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna
Natural Order Brian Francis
The Stone Diaries Carol Shields
A Cupboard of Coats Yvette Edwards
Grace Williams Says it Loud by Emma Henderson

Great author discoveries, besides the above

Kate Atkinson
Alan Bradley
Karin Fossum

Okay, I'll try to get my new thread started!! :)

Is there a new one that I haven't found? :-P

Happy New Year, Deb! I've missed you these past couple weeks!

Happy New Year Deb, will try to find the new thread now..

HI Deb,
Thanks for the year end favs summary. Quite a few are on my TBR list now.
Mary

Love your list of bests, Deb! We share many ... : ).