What are we reading in December

Another new month... another new thread!

I finished the historical mystery The Janissary Tree this morning and really enjoyed it! Next up is a book for my Alphabet Challenge, The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist.

Mavis Gallant -- The Pegnitz Junction

I'm nearly finished Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen and not enjoying it as much as Pride and Prejudice. It seems to have changed abruptly from satirical and witty in the first 3/4 of the book when Catherine was in Bath to almost Gothic and tense at Northanger Abbey. The contrast isn't making sense to me yet but maybe it will by the time I finish the last few chapters.
My next book will be Lawrence Hill's Any Known Blood which I'm really looking forward to after discovering him last year on Canada Reads. Then I'll be starting the Canada Reads 2010 selections.

I'm reading Northanger Abbey too. Only on chapter 7 though.

I'm reading Le temps des cendres by Mexican author Jorge Volpi. Volpi was Mexico's ambassador in France; his geopolitical background really shows: it's an international thriller, but really an excuse to take a snapshot of XXth century history!

I'm reading two Canadian books right now: Canada and Other Matters of Opinion by Rex Murphy, and Thomas D'Arcy McGee: Passion, Reason and Politics, 1825-1857 by David Wilson.

I've just finished The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas and So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell

I'm re-reading The Moon and Sixpence which I read when I was, I'm sure, far too young to appreciate it.

I finished Quo Vadis last night, and have started An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding by David Hume.

I'm reading Powers by John Olson which I received through the Early Reviewers Program. A mix of Gothic and Fantasy, it's not my usual cup of tea and I'm finding it difficult sometimes to get excited about hooded bad guys and visions. It is however remarkably well written with extremely vivid descriptions - this far makes up for the plot.

Just finished Any Known Blood by Lawrence Hill and didn't enjoy it as much as The Book of Negroes. The characters weren't as inspiring. Just starting Jade Peony by Wayson Choy - my first Canada Reads 2010 book.

I am reading A Year in the World by Frances Mayes...lacks the magic of Under the Tuscan Sun, but I love her focus on art, literature, food in this book.

After a long dry spell, I finally got another Early Reviewers book!! I'm about to start it, Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

Hey, I was supposed to get Remarkable Creatures too, but it hasn't shown up yet. When did you get it?

I started The Taken by Inger Ash Wolfe. I'm having a hard time putting it down!

The notice came on Thursday (December 10). I was surprised it got here so fast.

The notice came on Thursday (December 10). I was surprised it got here so fast.

I am reading (Turtle Valley) by ((Gail Anderson-Dargatz)) and really enjoying it.

Scrat - If you use the square brackets, the books will be highlighted.

I'm just finishing The Omnivore's Dilemma, which is fantastic (I'm kicking myself for not reading it sooner).

Next, I think I'll pick up The Wayfinders, this year's Massey Lectures, which aired on CBC in November. Usually the Masseys are great but last year's (Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth by Margaret Atwood) were a real disappointment. I'm hoping that the 2009 series gets things back on track.

I'm about to start it, Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

My copy just showed up too! I'm excited to read this one, but I won't be able to get to it until next week at the earliest.

I'm about 40% through it and really enjoying it.

I'm catching up on some wayward reading. I have just finished Le Prix Nobel by Kjell Espmark about the Nobel Literature Prize, its fluctuations, selection criteria, influences, etc. A little dry but very interested.
I'm back into Life and Fate - I'm having real trouble plowing through it. Although some passages can be gripping, I'm finding it very difficult to identify with the characters.

I'm reading My Heart Shook Like a Drum by Alice Blondin-Perrin. It's about her experience at an Indian residential school in the NWT.

I'm about to start The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens.

It has been a busy month so not much reading to report so far. I finished The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist - I was pleasantly surprised as to how the characters and the plot drew me in to the story. Suffice to say, I am on the lookout for more by Holmqvist.

I finished Haiku by Andrew Vachss and found it to be quite good - I loved the premise of a group of homeless individuals banding together to help save the paperback crime fiction library of one of their own from destruction.

The Intelligencer by Leslie Silbert is a book I picked up a few weeks back in a local thrift shop. Rather a formula plot for a modern spy thriller - discovery a manuscript that has been missing since the 1600's and the race to find out why someone wants to steal it - with a twist that involves historical chapters that follow the last three weeks of playwright and spy Christopher Marlowe's life back in 1593 London.

Next up is Beat by Amy Boaz, which I note has received some mixed reviews.

Nickelini, I received Remarkable Creatures last week and read it this week-end. :)

I'm now reading Programming the Human Biocomputer by John C. Lilly.

I'm reading Fall on Your Knees for Canada Reads. I'm nearly 80% through this rather thick book. So far, nothing good has happened to anyone, so I'm hoping something happy occurs for someone at the end. It's beautifully written but very depressing. I think I need something light before I tackle the next few books on the list.

I'm reading Dossier K, an interview with Kertész, the Hungarian Nobel Prize winner, who wrote a lot about the Holocaust (he is a survivor of Auschwitz and Buchenwald). It's a fascinating account of his fiction and the books that shaped him, as well as his unique perspective on life, dictatorship and the role of literature in his life.

I'm reading The Incident Report by Martha Baillie.

LynnB - I have a hold on The Incident Report at my local library - I am looking forward to reading it!

I finished Beat by Amy Boaz. While the reviews are mixed I found the story to be well written. The focus is on Frances, a woman who, after having an affair with a poet during a downturn in her own marriage, flees to Pairs with her young daughter Cathy. While in Paris, Frances examines her past in a series of memory flashbacks that leads her to critically assess her virtues and that of her lover. This is the second noel by Amy Boaz so I am now curious to track down a copy of her debut novel.

Right now I am reading In This Way I Was Saved by Brian DeLeeuw, which has me in its grips. I will probably be finished it later today.

I am reading The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. I was a little surprised by the tone: I was under the impression that it was a comedy when in fact it is a gritty and cynical account of survival in India. I'm drawn to it but yet have to find indulgence for the main character (I like his grit, though!)
Santa also brought How not to act old by Pamela Redmond Satran, which is just hilarious. Of course, the fact that it is so funny is really just a reflection of how old I am!...

I just finished Thought You Were Dead by Terry Griggs, which was excellent.

I'm reading The Guinea Pig Diaries by A. J. Jacobs. His two previous books were fun, and this one is just as good.

I'm reading The Incident Report by Martha Baille, which is set in Toronto.

I've just finished The Incident Report. I really liked the subtle unfolding of the story, and the author really made the format work. Let me know how you like it, Nickelini.

I have been enjoying the post holiday wind down and have spent the past two days curled up reading. I finished In This Way I was Saved - a gripping psychological thriller told from a unique point of view that caught my eye;

For my ABC challenge I have finished reading:
The Xibalba Murders - a quick archeological murder mystery;
Captain Alatriste - a fun sword play romp through 17th century Spain (I will read more of the series!)
I am now about to start The Rose Variations.

Unfortunately, it is back to work tomorrow so the reading will slow down once again - so sad!

Edited to try and fix touchstones

LynnB - yes, I enjoyed The Incident Report very much. It's different, so not for everyone, but it was a good one for me.

I'm reading The Retreat by David Bergen

Oh, I'm interested in that one. Let us know your thoughts when you finish, Lynn.

I have started The Last of the Crazy People by Timothy Findley. I adore Findley so I'm not the most objective person on the planet, but this novel is very intriguing - it has all the emotional subtlety and hardship as the other works I've read, but it almost reads like a play - this is Findley's first novel, so there is no doubt a strong influence from his theatre days.

I am also reading My Father, the Spy, an investigative piece by John Richardson. I knew I'd be interested but didn't think I'd be fascinated. This book does a great job at capturing World War II politics and its influences over the next fifty years. Very accessible and human too, which makes it an easy read.

Nickelini, I've just finished The Retreat and the word that first comes to mind is "wow". The author is clearly at the top of his game, as they say. Just the right balance (in my view) of depth of character portrayal and a plot that moves forward well. I've posted a review if you are interested. I highly recommend it.

I'm now reading Something Missing by Matthew Dicks.

Since starting two books is not nearly enough (especially after stopping by the library), I've also launched into Nudge by Richard Thaler. So far very reminiscent of Mindless Eating: how our "Homer Simpson" brain takes over our "Dr. Spock" brain...

Cecilturtle (and everyone esle): I'm reading a book in french. Called Deux heures(Two Hours), by Sylvia Rozelier.

Bravo! C'est bien commencer l'année!
Thanks for the review too: it looks really interesting.

Happy New Year everyone!