What Are You Reading the Week of 16 March 2013?

John Hugh MacLennan, CC, CQ (20 March 1907 – 9 November 1990) was a Canadian author and professor of English at McGill University. He won five Governor General's Awards and a Royal Bank Award. He was born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. His parents were Dr. Samuel MacLennan, a colliery physician, and Katherine MacQuarrie; Hugh also had an older sister named Frances. Samuel was a stern Calvinist, while Katherine was creative, warm and dreamy, and both parents would be large influences on Hugh's character.

In 1913, the family spent several months in London while Samuel took on further study to become a medical specialist. On returning to Canada, they briefly lived in Sydney, Nova Scotia before settling in Halifax. In December 1917, young Hugh experienced the Halifax Explosion, which he would later write about in his first published novel, Barometer Rising. From the ages of twelve to twenty-one, he slept in a tent in the family's backyard, even in the cold winter, possibly as an escape from his strict father. Hugh grew up believing in the importance of religion; he and Frances regularly went to Sunday School, and the family attended Presbyterian church services twice each Sunday.

MacLennan and his sister were pushed extremely hard by their father to spend long hours learning the Classics. Hugh grew to enjoy this field of study. Their father had an ambitious educational path planned for Hugh: studying the Classics at Dalhousie University, getting a Rhodes Scholarship, and then continuing his studies in England. MacLennan received top marks at Dalhousie and succeeded in winning a Rhodes Scholarship, allowing him to go on to Oxford University.

While at Dalhousie, he realized that his inner wish was to pursue an artistic career, the influence of his creative mother. At Oxford, he struggled with balancing his passion for Greek and Latin studies with these artistic instincts. In his first year, MacLennan worked incredibly hard at his Classics courses, but was only able to achieve second-class.

MacLennan's four years in Oxford gave him the opportunity to travel throughout Europe, and he visited countries such as Switzerland, France, Greece and Italy. His travels and his exposure to different political ideas caused MacLennan to begin to question his father's puritanical, Conservative attitudes that he had until then taken for granted.

MacLennan won a $400 scholarship to continue his studies at Princeton University, and despite his growing disinclination to keep studying the Classics, he decided to go there. This was partly to appease his father, and partly because the Great Depression meant that there were few jobs available. In June 1932, while sailing home from England, he met his future wife, American Dorothy Duncan. Falling in love with her made him change his mind about Princeton. For one thing, his father insisted he should not get married before becoming financially independent, which would mean delaying marriage at least until his graduation. In addition, MacLennan was already unhappy about having to accept money from his father for the part of his Princeton studies that would not be covered by his scholarship. However, his applications were rejected from both of the Canadian universities he applied to that had Classics Department positions opening; thus, he grudgingly agreed to go to Princeton after all.

At Princeton, MacLennan wrote his first novel, So All Their Praises. He found one publisher who was willing to take the manuscript, as long as he made certain changes; however, this company went out of business before the book could be published. Between 1934–1938, MacLennan was working on his second novel, A Man Should Rejoice. Longman, Green and Company and Duell, Sloan and Pearce both showed strong interest in the novel, but in the end neither published it. On June 22, 1936, he and Dorothy were wed near her home in Wilmette, Illinois, and settled in Montreal.

Dorothy convinced MacLennan that the failure of his first two novels was he had set one in Europe and the other in U.S.A; she persuaded him to write about Canada, the country he knew best. She told him that "Nobody's going to understand Canada until she evolves a literature of her own, and you're the fellow to start bringing Canadian novels up to date." Until then there had been no real tradition of Canadian literature, and MacLennan set out to define Canada for Canadians through a national novel.

Barometer Rising, his novel about the social class structure of Nova Scotia and the Halifax Explosion of 1917, was published in 1941. His most famous novel, Two Solitudes, a literary allegory for the tensions between English and French Canada, followed in 1945. That year, he left Lower Canada College. Two Solitudes won MacLennan his first Governor General's Award for Fiction.

In 1948, MacLennan published The Precipice, which again won the Governor General's Award. The following year, he published a collection of essays, Cross Country, which won the Governor General's Award for Non-Fiction.

In 1951, MacLennan returned to teaching, accepting a position at McGill University. In 1954, he published another essay collection, Thirty and Three, which again won the Governor General's Award for Non-Fiction.

One of MacLennan's students at McGill was Marian Engel, who became a noted Canadian novelist in the 1970s. Another notable student was Leonard Cohen, the popular songwriter, poet and novelist.

Dorothy died in 1957. MacLennan married his second wife, Aline Walker, in 1959. That same year, he published The Watch That Ends the Night, which won his final Governor General's Award.

In 1967, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada. In 1985 he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec.

MacLennan continued to write and publish work, with his final novel, Voices in Time, appearing in 1980.

HUGH MACLENNAN! One of my favourite authors! :D Thank you for featuring him this week.

This weekend I will be dividing my time between Season of Darkness, by Maureen Jennings, and Korea: Canada's Forgotten War, by John Melady.

Have started an Early Reviewer book about zombies (surprise, surprise). The Dying of the Light by Jason Kristopher.

Speaking of zombies, I've reviewed the fine, witty retelling of the original zombie story: Lazarus is Dead. It's in my thread...post #97.

Just finished Telling The Bees which I really enjoyed. Starting The Gospel According To Cane which I won as a First Reads. Really enjoyed reading about Hugh MacLennan, thanks,

I've just left Revolutionary era Russia, with Lenin's wife, mother-in-law, and mistress. For You, Madam Lenin was a four-star read, see why in my thread...post #112.

I started The Piano Teacher: A Novel by Janice Y. K. Lee when I was notified by the library that Moab is My Washpot by Stephen Fry had come in. Since that has 3 reserves on it, I will have to finish that one before I get back to The Piano Teacher. I'm enjoying both books.

Finished Looking for Alaska a few days ago. Kind of in a reading slump now.

Blissfully wallowing in In One Person with the occasional dip into What Matters in Jane Austen? and The Musician's Way.

I am reading From Africa: New Francophone Stories by Adele King and I am listening to Ordinary Thunderstorms by William Boyd.

Still working my way through The Terror and I have started Mr. Penumbra's 24 hour Book Store which is an interesting combination of old world mystic with new world technology. I am also listening to The Goose Girl.

Finished Lakeland Vet, and planning to start "Rex", the third book in Joyce Stranger's Lakeland trilogy.

Richard, thanks for introducing me to a new author whom I now really want to read. Unfortunately, my own library doesn't have anything and Amazon's US choices are sparse and not where I want to start reading. Off to see what Amazon UK has.

>13 whymaggiemay: amazon.ca has a goodly selection, but it's interspersed with a boaload of scholarly stuff on MacLennan.

Still working on The Line Between by Peter S. Beagle and The Leopard Tree by Lisa Brochu.

I am sifting through a kind of reading slump, and am continuing on with The Life of Mahatma Ghandi which overall is exceptionally engaging and well written and educational, so I think the slowness is on my part. I also started on Paperwhite A Kiss From Maddalena because I was hankering for a love story. That one is really good so far, re: the German occupation of Italy right after Italy switched alliances from Germany to U.S./England.

I also just received my ER copy of Second Suns and I am really excited to begin that. So will finish up the two I have going and start that one.

I'm finishing up The Wars for Asia, 1911-1949 this weekend. After that, I'll be starting The Dark Valley.

Sense of an Ending, Julian Barnes

Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent
The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier (borrowed library copy)
The Iron King by Maurice Druon: reissue ed., English translation by Humphrey Hare

I have just finish Songdogs by Irish writer Colum McCann it was a wonderful read, I would place him on a par with another Irish writer John Banville, I am now about to start on a highly acclaimed collection of short stories by Colum McCann , Fishing The Sloe-BLack River . I love reading about Ireland, one of my favorites is Ireland by Frank Delaney.

#18..Novalee, enjoy Alone in the Classroom, I loved it.

>21 hazeljune: Frank Delaney spoke at the Rochester Arts and Lecture Series this past Thursday. He is so witty and eloquent! It was a pleasure to hear him speak about the elements of "unique voices", which is this year's theme for the series.

Currently about half way through The Hydrogen Sonata by Iain M. Banks, his latest Culture novel. As usual, thoroughly enjoying it and thoroughly baffled by the hugely complex plots and vast array of characters. Banks' joy at the boundless universe and the infinite possibilities for life and mind are always uplifting. The dry, sarcastic humour helps, as well!

Going slower than I thought, since I have started reading course work for project management - very long, very dry, and I have to pass a test afterward, so it all has to stick. Done with the first read - need to re-read at least once more.

I also started and finished That Old Cape Magic on my way back/forth to conference this week. It is a story about a marriage that began to suffer when the husband who struggled his whole life against his parent's influence. He neglects to understand that even this struggle shows the impact they have on his imprint. After losing his father, he becomes "unmoored" and begins questioning choices he has made in his life. And after his mother passes, the process becomes even more confused for him. It is not until he comes to terms with them, and also the choices he made, that he can chose to move forward. Well written, but certainaly not as impactful as Empire Falls.

Almost done with Buddha in the Attic and The partial history of lost causes by Jennifer Dubois.

Finished From Africa: New Francophone Stories edited by Adele King, which was interesting in terms of the range in style and content and a good read. I am going to start reading Zoli by Colum McCann.

Just finished Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick - it was a real page turner! I am about to start The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Stroutauthor of Olive Kitteredge. I am reading this early reviewers copy and have high hopes as I thought Olive Kitteredge was brilliant.

I received the same early reviewer, ellen. Looking forward to reading it soon.

21- Ireland is one of my favorites also.

22- I am jealous, I would have loved to be at the same outing of Frank Delaney.

I finished Sebastian Faulks' marvelous A Possible Life: A Novel in Five Parts -- rich, beautiful stories of five lives which together are more than the sum of their parts. I recommend it.

Now I'm reading T. C. Boyle's San Miguel.

Still with Cardinal Wolsey in Naked to Mine Enemies by Charles Ferguson. A very good book, but I have just not had time to read. Kind of depressing. I think it's been almost a month for this book. Still glad I'm reading it.

I think that my dog and I are going to have to have a talk.

Remind him that, "Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."

I'm still reading Dragons of Winter Night by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. I looked forward to reading a little of this adventure every day after work. It's packed full of action and has also made me laugh.

I think that I preferred it when he was just stealing the laundry from the hamper and eating all the buttons off of my shirts and pants. He's nine months old. How much longer until he's out of this phase?

Finished Buddha in the Attic. interesting structure of the book to address the complex issues of picture brides from Japan at the turn of the century, through the internment during WWII.
Starting Ann Tyler's patchwork planet and more than half way through a parital history of lost causes

# 34..Enjoy Patchwork Planet, I did.

>33 fredbacon: If he's a lab it will never end, at least in my experience. They make up for it with personality:-)

I finished and REVIEWED Barbara Pym's delightful novel Jane and Prudence. Typical Pym---brilliant.

Now I'm reading The Forger's Spell: A True Story of Vermeer, Nazis, and the Greatest Art Hoax of the Twentieth Century; absolutely riveting.

>36 brenzi: Allow me to be your very first upgethumbing, Bonnie. Loved the review!

Just finished the delightful The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty.

I'm currently reading a couple of books:

- Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert, which, oddly, is frustrating despite the funny and down-to-earth writing style. We'll see how I fare with it. So far, I haven't learned anything new. I did enjoy his TED talk immensely, though, so I'll stick with the book to the end.

- The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, which I picked up from the local library used books store. I'm a big fan of Arthurian legend and had heard before about Bradley's books, but just not got around to reading any till now. A few pages in and I am liking it so far.

@fredbacon, I have a Lab/Shepherd. She was still doing 'bad' things until about 18 months old. She's a wonderful dog now.

When she was a puppy, she ate the spines off a number of books I had on the bottom shelves...but they are still readable.

>37 richardderus:. Thanks so much Richard.

>38 NarratorLady:. Oh good, I have The Chaperone sitting on my IPad from some Kindle deal and I totally forgot about it. Good to know you enjoyed it.

Very new to the group. I just finished Black Water by Joyce Carol Oates. I'm going to be starting The Jewish State by Herzl tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing what everyone's reading :)

Welcome, abcdefghijkyle!

> Fredacon: That picture made me gasp in horror. Then I realized, perhaps it isn't all that bad. Maybe it's your dog's way of begging you to read to him. Either way, that's what I call devouring literatue!

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As for what I am reading, I realized that when I last lost my reading mojo, I'd left Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff largely unread, so I picked it back up yesterday, and am very much enjoying it. I'm sftill only 100 pages in, but we had a big family St. Paddy's Day celebration yesterday, which was too wonderfujl to miss!!!!!

46> bookwoman247: That was pretty much my response as well. Most of those books aren't too hard to replace, but one of them was a copy of Tom Reamy's Blind Voices which is difficult to come by. It was the only novel that he wrote before his death, and it's one of my favorites. My copy was in excellent condition before now.

>47 fredbacon: Fredbacon: My condolences. The loss of a hard-to-replace book is no light matter to a bibliophile!

I enjoyed The Ghosts of Nagasaki by Daniel Clausen (review on the book page), and have started my first Balzac, Old Goriot.

I'm so sorry to hear that, fredbacon - go easy on your puppy, though! :) Two months worth of "grounding" followed by five years of "probation"? :) I have three kitties myself, and despite each being the ripe old age of eight years old, Lollipop (who we call 'The Secretary') is known to repeatedly jump up on to open books and lie across them. Either that, or if my daughter or I are holding a book while reading it, she will attempt to bite the corners. I try never to leave an open book on my table or on the floor, as Lollipop has been known to knock the book down to the floor, or rifle through pages until she reaches the end of the book. Either way, I end up losing my place and seeing little pinpricks throughout the book! :)

So, Lollipop is beginning to lead our "youngest" cat - Ruby - (nicknamed 'Baby Ruey') astray. Ruby has begun to chew on the corners of books - (it's more like a tentative tasting followed by a cheek-chin rub along the corner) Ruby hasn't knocked a book down to play with it yet, thank goodness, but I am keeping a look out! :)

Anyway, I finished reading Audition: A Memoir by Barbara Walters at five minutes after midnight Monday morning. Despite this book being such a large tome, it was incredibly engrossing and a definite keeper! So, now on to a reread from about two years ago, The Day of the Storm by Rosamunde Pilcher.

I've finished and reviewed a sweet, endearing second-of-two-volumes love story that mixes fantasy tropes with WWII bombers: Dogfighters by Alex Beecroft. It's over in my thread...post #147.

Quick read of the drama entitled, Robert Louis Stevenson--Appointment on Moloka'i by Aldyth Morris. I read it as an adjunct to my RL book club selection for March, Moloka'i by Alan Brennert. I was intrigued by Stevenson's visit to the leper colony and his interest in Father Damien. In and of itself, not much to write home about, but interesting as an adjunct to the novel.

Now reading Zoli and listening to Ordinary Thunderstorms.

I finished A Kiss from Maddalena by Christopher Castellani last night and what a yucky and weird ending to an otherwise pretty decent literary love story (of sorts). Ah well, what can you do? There are two subsequent novels in this "trilogy" but I'm not entirely sure I want to know. I liked some of the characters, but not all.

I am now reading ARC/ER book Second Suns which, so far, is excellent. I am also keeping on with the excellent The Life of Mahatma Gandhi by Louis Fisher. Both are great history lessons (old and new) of India and Nepal.

Started "Let's Pretend The Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir)" by Jenny Lawson. The author was interviewed on a local news program here in Portland. It is a hoot so far... (no touchstones for this one)

>53 CarolynSchroeder: Hey, three stars from you is a pretty tough score, Carolyn. Still, think I'll pass.

Finished The Line Between by Peter S. Beagle and started The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.

#52..I have ordered Zoli from my local library, I will be interested to see how you find it, have you read Songdogs by Colum McCann? , I found it a fascinating read. I have followed up with a collection of his short stories Fishing The Sloe-Black River very different and darkish, and addictive!!

>57 hazeljune: Wait'll you get hold of TransAtlantic. Oh my heck.

I am currentyl reading The Heat of the Day for 1000 Novels but I keep glancing over at Among the Mad. Best of reading to you all.

I just got Transatlantic in the mail as an Early Reviewer. I have been really impressed with Let The Great World Spin and Dancer.

>60 hemlokgang: In for a treat.

I finished and REVIEWED Edward Dolnick's highly entertaining The Forger's Spell: A True Story of Vermeer, Nazis, and the Greatest Art Hoax of the Twentieth Century.

Next up: The Acceptance World the third novella out of the 12 volume A Dance to the Music of Time.

Richard---have you read Transatlantic already? I just got my ER copy the other day.

So, I just finished reading The Day of the Storm - a fast and easy read for me that I've posted to send off to someone else to enjoy. Now, I'm reading two books at the same time that I started just today - House Rules by Jodi Picoult and The Best of Dear Abby by Abigail Van Buren! :) I'm probably further along in Abigail Van Buren's book, although both books have started out really well. :)

>62 brenzi: I got it and gobbled it down. No self-control in evidence. *tsk*

>fredbacon Our dog never did eat any books. He just ate the floor and the baseboards and a number of his blankets and one entire ham bone - that was the gift that kept on giving and giving with sudden horrible results. Oh, and the worst thing of all - one of my dress patterns. C was afraid to show me that so he ironed all the pieces to dry them off and tried to put it back together. (C is not the dog and he got the pieces before, not after.)

I just finished Stuart Wood's Blue Water, Green Skipper and now I am reading Thomas King's The Inconvenient Indian. He's done a great job of stating the facts, so very sad.

Still working through The Beatles: A Biography, and I started my reread of The Good House, which is a fantastic example of what I like to call a horror novel with substance. The characters are extremely well developed, and there's a big focus on family, love, and racial issues, with plenty of creepiness to go around.

Finished The Ritual which was pretty typical for a horror novel but still entertaining. Enough to make me read the rest of his novels? Eh, maybe not, but it was still worth the read.

64, et al: Very jealous of all of you devouring Colum McCann's TransAtlantic: A Novel. I recently finished Let the Great World Spin (I know, a bit late to that party) and I loved, loved it. I cannot wait to read more of his stuff. His writing ... it is just great, unputdownable.

I received the new Paris Review #204 in the mail today and am loving the fiction stories so far. I was getting a little let down by the overall choices, but this issue is great. The artwork (Portfolio section) is, however and as per usual, rubbish.

(65) He ate the dress pattern???

I've given up on All Quiet on the Western Front (it just did not interest me) and have moved on to try another unread classic: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Colum McCann's This Side of Brightness is another great book -- I recommend it.

Folks do not forget to read Songdogs by Colum McCann.

Downloaded and read Beekeeping for Beginners. It's an alternate beginning to The Beekeeper's Apprentice, with some changes to the plot that I am glad were not part of the final edition.

Russell and Holmes meet in almost the same fashion as in the final version of the novel, but the perspective is all Holmes, no first person by Russell. Also, she is less capable and more vulnerable than the published character.

Still, it was an engaging read, and Ms. King's Holmes is in fine fettle for an adventure!

Reading the powerful Until I Say Good-bye.

On deck:
The Obituary Writer
The New Capitalist Manifesto - will be a ROOT if I stick with this plan
Wreckage
Edible Stories - another ROOT

A long way down by Nick Hornby. Why would you jump of a building? Or why wouldn't you? Interesting questions!

I am really enjoying reading Big Rock Candy Mountain by Wallace Stegner. This is part of a group read. I have wanted to read Stegner for some time and while my reading is slow, the book is very good.

>74 benitastrnad: Have you read Crossing to Safety yet, or is this your first Stegner. Crossing is one of my all-time favorite reads.

Finished The Sisters Brothers and notwithstanding the fact that it had a few minor problems (including, in my opinion, a weak ending), I thoroughly enjoyed it. Began The Laughing Sutra in my quest to get some of my kindle reads finished. Just a few pages in, but enjoying it.

#76-- I totally agree with you. I really liked the book but did have a weak ending

ATTENTION NEW YORKERS!

"When Hemon’s work is funny, it can make you laugh in spite of everything, and when it is sad, it’s hard to stand up afterward.” —John Jeremiah Sullivan

Please join PEN for this exclusive pairing. Aleksandar Hemon will discuss his new memoir, The Book of My Lives, a book of essays which records his various “lives.” In his first nonfiction work, Hemon tries to restore the memories of his youth and follow the threads that link his Bosnian past with his American present. Raw, questioning, and alive with compassion, The Book of My Lives is a portrait of a world lost to one of history’s darkest conflicts and that rarest of things: a necessary book by one of our most important writers. Hemon will be in conversation with fellow writer Colum McCann, author of the acclaimed novel Let the Great World Spin and the forthcoming Transatlantic.

Friday, March 29, 7pm
McNally Jackson Books
52 Prince St.
NYC

I also thought The Sisters Brothers had a weak ending and also was wretched as far as animals. I guess animal cruelty was part of that life, but geez, did not like that.

Finished Freddy Mercury; In His Own Words. He was an unusual and talented man, it was very interesting.

So excited, just been to the library and they had all the books I was looking for - The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Half a Yellow Sun, River of Smoke, and my short story collection is The Best American Mystery Stories 2011.
What on earth am I going to read first!!!

#80
That's easy. River of Smoke

Finished Let's Pretend This Never Happened. I had some laugh out loud moments for sure! Enjoyed it tremendously! Starting The Mortician's Wife - a recommended read that is living on my Kindle.

#77 and #79 - I actually think The Sisters Brothers had the wrong ending. I wasn't expecting a feel good ending and was very disappointed by it. I expected Charlie to be killed (in some horrible, but karmaic {did I just invent a word?} manner) and Eli to be either terribly injured or about to die. And Carolyn I agree with you about the animals--ick!

Now reading Our Tragic Universe and listening to Lola's Secret.

I've finished a full re-read of the Brandstetter mystery series, all 12 books. How wonderful that was. I've posted the first review, of Fadeout, in my thread...post #117.

You think you have all your ducks in a row, look away once, and suddenly see them meandering all over the pond. What a week! I was trying to read Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, but my mind kept flitting between the book and current events in the life of yours truly. There was nothing for it but to re-read Jane Austen's Emma instead. Austen is a tonic!

Finished A partial history of lost causes. It was a very interesting premise, and started strong. By the end, however, I just couldn't wait for it to be over.

Just heard that Chinua Achebe has died.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/mar/22/novelist-chinua-achebe-dies

His collected poems were sitting on my side table, so added to my reading for the weekend.

RIP, Dr. Achebe.

I've reviewed another re-read, Assuming the Position: A Memoir of Hustling, which was inspired by a review a Goodreads friend posted of Chicken: Self-Portrait of a Young Man for Rent was about a straight hustler, so of course I thought of the gay version I'd read ages ago. My review of this very interesting book is in my thread...post #121.

Finished The Leopard Tree by Lisa Brochu and started Remoras by AMI.

I finished reading The Best of Dear Abby on Wednesday, March 20th! - It only took me one day to read, and I really enjoyed it! :)

So, I'm still reading House Rules as I have been since Tuesday! :) This is my third Jodi Picoult book that I've read and I have to say that she is a wonderful author in my opinion! :) I'm really into this book now, and it's so good so far! :)

My latest is Dancer by Colum McCann.

and that's just what I chose Benita, got 2 chapters in while at my Mum and Dad's for Dad's 80th birthday when my sister turned up with The Day She Cradled Me by Sacha De Bazin. I have been waiting to borrow this book and have others waiting after me so will get through that first.

It is a novel based on the life of Minnie Dean, the only woman in New Zealand history to be hanged. She was a "baby farmer", but accused of infanticide, as if by some unfortunate chance the babies died, she would often hide their bodies in a hat box while travelling to and from the families on the train. My sister assures me it is compelling reading.

Been a tough week - can't find the kindle to finish my Anne Tyler book, so I have been listening to another one - death comes to pemberley.