November Reads

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween - we were lucky in Ottawa, after a rainy afternoon, we had a great evening for little ghouls and goblins!

I finished a light read with Cocaine Blues - I've decided Phryne Fisher is my new go-to for a cozy murder.
I've started Les mots des riches, les mots des pauvres by Jean-Louis Fournier - the cynicism is both alluring and off-putting; I'm not sure I can handle that much contempt in one book.
Finally, I have Weird Sisters on my list for book club.

It's actually unusual for it to rain here during trick or treat hours, but this year we weren't so lucky. I was surprised to see so many little goblins on my doorstep last night, but they braved the inclement weather in search of free candy.

Anyway, I finally finished the very disappointing The Virgin Cure, by Ami McKay. I found it to be a piece of pedestrian historical fiction completely lacking in nuance or complexity. I'm surprised it's so popular. Not sure what I'll read next, but I'm sure it will be better.....

Started Dracula last night. It's one of those books that I have been meaning to read for ages, but never seem to start. Hallowe'en night seemed an appropriate time to finally introduce myself to the infamous Count.

Dracula can be a rather fun read. Enjoy!

I decided to pick up China: a novel by Alan Wall, which I had picked up this time last month and then distracted away from . . . also, I'm listening to The Thirteenth Tale on audiobook. It's my book club pick for November. After last month's horrible the Virgin Cure, I was not looking forward to it, but I think it's going to be okay.

Just starting The Juliet Stories by Carrie Snyder. It's one of this years GG's finalists.

@5 - Joyce - I hope you enjoy The Thirteenth Tale. I really loved it when it first came out - and I've lent it around. I'm not sure that it is " literary either" but it's fun sort of Gothic mystery - at least that how I read it.

#6 - I think the Thirteenth Tale might be fun. There are lots of comparisons to Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and Rebecca, so it has potential.

I'm starting the month with a young adult science fiction book Adaptation by Malinda Lo. I read about it on John Scalzi's blog and thought the premise of birds causing air crashes and other accidents very interesting. So far I'm enjoying it.

6 - I am in the middle of The Juliet Stories too! Good so far. And my copy of Inside arrived so we'll see how that goes :)

I'm about to start my Early Reviewer book, Clay by Melissa Harrison. The last two books I won haven't arrived, so I was very glad to see this one.

I finished Adaptation in record time but since it is geared to the YA market I guess that's not surprising. Now I'm reading Forty Words for Sorrow. Giles Blunt is a great writer but he doesn't seem to get as much attention as some other Canadian writers. The book was published in 2000 and it's rather eye-opening to see the technology that was considered standard then. I mean, how long has it been since you have played an audio cassette tape?

I'm reading Ill Fares the Land by Tony Judt for a book club.

Trying to read and jump up and down with glee at the same time: Ben Macintyre's Double Cross: The True Story of the D-Day Spies is everything I expected it to be.

I just read The Caller by Karin Fossum. Another good read from the Inspector Sejer mystery series...

Finished The Juliet Stories a couple of days ago and have now started on another GG's finalist - The Purchase.

I'm reading The Man Who Forgot How to Read by Howard Engel

I just finished The Private Patient, The Getting Of Wisdom and The Old Man and the Sea. I am now rereading The Catcher in the Rye which I last read at school and trying to wade though a rather terrible LTER book A Poet and Bin Laden.

I'm about to start The Imposter Bride by Nancy Richler.

I'm reading The Hours but I must admit that despite all the accolades, I'm not really into it: probably because I'm not a big Virgina Woolf and it is a lovely homage to her work.

I've started The Power of Habit, a fascinating read. Most of it is common sense, but it crystallizes thoughts around every day actions.

I really loved The Purchase by Linda Spalding. Really quite dark , but well written and so many religious and moral dilemma' - most of which did not go well. Shhh - I needed something fun and quick to read -after my CanLit binge -as enjoyable as it was and I've just finished a British book called
Smut by Alan Bennett. I enjoyed both of the stories - funny , a bit of satire .

@ I really loved The Imposter Bride, Lynn! Enjoy!

I, too, loved The Imposter Bride. I couldn't stop reading it!

Now, I'm on to The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay

Yesterday I finished and really enjoyed No Great Mischief. Will have to get my own copy to reread.

Next up, in a dizzying change of pace, will be John C. Masterman's Double-Cross System, as a follow-up to Ben Macintyre's excellent account that I was reading earlier.

Lynn- looking forward to your comments on the Virgin Cure, since I recently read it for my book club.

I'm reading the last in the Tales of the City series, Mary Ann in Autumn, by Armistead Maupin. It made me realize that I read the first one... 20 years ago! I still remember most of the characters and it's a touching read.

I'm reading The Casual Vacancy in sunny Arizona. Perfect pool-side book. Also spending a lot of time getting to know my iPad. Guilty confession, I played Angry Birds for an entire afternoon. what was I thinking...well, nothing. Ahhh, holidays.

I'm reading A Good Man right now. Guy Vanderhaeghe is such a great writer. His storylines are compelling and this time I'm really noticing his descriptions of the land.

I just finished The St. Zita Society by Ruth Rendell and while I didn't find this one typical of her writing-sometimes it seemed farcical-I did enjoy it.

11/22/63 by Stephen King. I'm too young to remember where I was on that day (school would be a safe guess), but this historical day in the hands of Stephen King is too intriguing to pass up.

Pertinent to Remembrance Day events, I just finished The Sojourn by Alan Cumyn.

#30 - I recently rec'd an ARC of The Sojourn. How did you like it?

I started Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont, by Elizabeth Taylor. So far it's very good--both funny and depressing.

I'm reading Dog Trots Globe, a charming interactive book which includes photos, videos and music files. Delightfully done and highly original.

I'm reading In the Shadow of the Banyan right now. It's set in Cambodia just at the time of the Khmer Rouge takeover and is told by a young girl so, of course, it reminds me of Ru which I read just a short while ago. In fact I'm liking it more than Ru.

Better than Ru? I have got to check it out.

I finished up Doppler by Erlend Loe. It was a book translated from Norwegian. I enjoyed -but was not that keen about it.

Now I am just starting A Question of Identity by Susan Hill. I really enjoy her Simon Serralllier sp? series, so I am very keen to get into this book!

I've finished Seen Reading by Julie Wilson and am starting
Canada by Richard Ford

I just finished Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont, by Elizabeth Taylor. It was fabulous, and is going on my favourite books of 2012 list. I can't recommend it highly enough.

I just read (for the 2nd time, I belatedly realized!) A Test of Wills by Charles Todd

#31. I very much liked it, especially the references to Vancouver Island and the Chemainus River, as I grew up in Chemainus! Interesting juxtapositioning between images of fishing on the river and the conditions in the trenches.

just finished Dreamer by Peter James. I've been stopping and starting this book for ages; it was a disappointment.

I'm finishing Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott, a powerful how-to book on how to approach difficult topics in a respectful, authentic way. By fierce, she means intense and robust. Well worth the read.

Really enjoyed A Question of Identity by Susan Hill. I really recommend reading the series in order . Even though I've read every book in the series, I found myself having to look back on the last book in the series to remember who a particular character was.

Just planning to start Fatty Legs. Looks interesting.

@ 38, Joyce. You've reminded me that I have A View of the Harbour by Elizabeth Taylor. I'll have to nudge that one forward.. :)

Just finished The Calling by Inger Ash Wolfe, a new to me Canadian thriller. Good characters in a (TV) Criminal Minds type story. The murders takes place from west to east in Canada and the story picks up in southern Ontario and tracks east. I recognized many of the landmarks and highway routes, especially as they hit the Maritimes. I'd read another of hers.
I'm following that up with Bear Child: The Life and Times of Jerry Potts which I heard about a few years ago on CBC. I hadn't been able to find it till I picked it up at a museum last summer while on vacation in North Battleford. I'm trying to fit a few history books into my Mystery/Thriller diet, and I'll be glad when they announce the final five Canada Reads so I'll be forced to add more variety to my reading. It's so easy to get stuck in a genre.

Just planning to start Fatty Legs. Looks interesting.

Deb - I read that earlier this year. You can find my comments, and also pictures, at post #50 here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/135898

I'm still digesting Les enfants terribles by Jean Cocteau where fraternal love goes awry...

I've finished More Than You Can Say by Paul Torday and am currently reading The Power of a Positive No by William Ury.

Also reading Mismatch: The Growing Gulf Between Women and Men by Andrew Hacker

Finished The Cage: the Fight for Sri Lanka and the Last Days of the Tamil Tigers, by Australian journalist, Gordon Weiss. This is an ER book, so I'll be writing a probably-too-long review soon, but I just want to say that it was bit of work to get through. In part because it was very detailed, but also because it was a disturbing read. I couldn't read it at night because I wouldn't sleep well after reading it, so I had to find another time. Much of that was while riding the Skytrain--I wonder if anyone noticed me gnashing my teeth and getting red in the face.

Just finished reading a humourous and critical look at the US election system and the US in general with America, but Better: The Canada Party Manifesto by Chris Cannon.

I've just started reading Maeve Binchy 's last book, A Week in Winter I have not read a book by Maeve Binchy in some 10+ years but it's a nice comfort read.

I just finished The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, and really loved it. Some of the events described seemed a little unbelievable, but otherwise it was a great read. I'm a dog lover and currently live with a very elderly dog, so had put off reading this book despite many friends' recommendations, but I'm glad I finally did.

A 2nd great read in 2 days! Kept in the Dark by Penny Hancock. A creepy but well written story that I just couldn't put down.

52) A non fiction book for a change: The First 20 Minutes by Gretchen Reynolds. Well written, informative and funny-made me feel very guilty for all the inactive hours I spend reading!