KIWIDOC in 2010

My 2009 thread is here

READING SO FAR in 2010:

December

78. Up at the Villa by W. Somerset. Maugham
77. Mrs. Craddock by W. Somerset Maugham
76. The Sentimentalists by Johanna Skibsrub

November

75. Stanley Park by Timothy Taylor
74. Bluff your Way in Music by Peter Gammond
73. The Secret Lives of Somerset Maugham by Selina Hastings
72. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
71. The Man Who Loved Books too Much by Allison Bartlett

October:
70. Proust's Overcoat by Lorenza Foschini
69. C by Tom McCarthy
68. Losing Mum and Pup by Christopher Buckley
67. All That Follows: A Novel by Jim Crace
66. Pride and Prejudice - a re-re-re-read as comfort food.
65. Hitch 22 by Christopher Hitchens

September:

64. Another Self by James Lees-Milne
63. The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman
62. A Week at the Airport by Alain De Botton
61. One Day by David Nicholls
60. Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations by Georgina Howell
59. An Education by Lynn Barber

August:

58. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet by David Mitchell
57. I'm The King of the Castle by Susan Hill
56. Salaam Brick Lane: A Year in the New East End by Tarquin Hall
55. A House in Flanders by Michael Jenkins
54. A History of Modern Britain by Andrew Marr
53. Empire by Niall Ferguson
52. Letters to a Contrarian by Christopher Hitchens
50. Remainder by Tom McCarthy
49. Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick
48. The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope

July:

47. The Bradshaw Variations by Rachel Cusk
46. The High Path by Ted Walker
45. The Queen of the Tambourine by Jane Gardam
44. Trespass by Rose Tremain
43. Obasan by Joy Kogawa
42. Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human by Richard Wrangham
41. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

June:

40. Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
39. The Man in the Wooden Hat by Jane Gardam
38. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
37. English Society in the Eighteenth Century by porterroy::Roy Porter
36. The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford
35. Nancy Mitford - A biography by Selina Hastings
34. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

May:

33. The Anthologist by bakernicholas::Nicholas Baker
31. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
30. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

April:
29. Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
28. Leviathan or, The Whale by Phillip Hoare
27. My Revolutions by Hari Kunzru
26. Short Stories by Anton Chekhov: Bk.2: Talent and Other Stories by Anton Chekhov An Audiobook
25. A Brief History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
24. Brief Lives: Gustave Flaubert by Andrew Brown
23. Road to War by Richard Overy

March:

22. Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
21. Solar by Ian McEwan
20. Faith and Treason: The Story of the Gunpowder Plot by Antonia Fraser
19. Eichmann in Jerusalem; the banality of evil by Hannah Arendt
18. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

February:

17. Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
16. The Curve of Time by M Wylie Blanchet
15. Driving my father by Susan Wicks
14. Wondrak and other stories by Stefan Zweig
13. Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife by Francine Prose
12. Bess of Hardwick by Mary Lovell
11. My Fantoms by Theophile Gautier

January:
10. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
9. The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
8. Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
7. The Time Traveller’s Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer
6. Nothing Was the Same by Kay Redfield Jamison
5. Intern by Sandeep Jauhar
4. Sophie’s World by Josten Gaarder
3. Churchill by Paul Johnson
2. Things Fall Apart by achebechinua::Chinua Achebe
1. Giving up the Ghost by Hilary Mantel

There you are! Consider yourself starred!

Welcome back!

Oh good, I was about to go hunting for your thread and it was right at the top!

Thanks Terri, the 'doc' and Cushla. I thought I would not be able to post until Jan 1st until I realized the new group was already up and running. People here do not sit around waiting!

I just lurked around your thread last year. We seem to like a lot of the same books. I have you starred.

Karen, as you know, I have been working my way through Thomas Mann for several years -- I don't think it's reasonable to read everything he wrote in one year, if only because they're so long (well, several of them) and deserve so much attention!

Thanks for dropping by, jmaloney

Rebecca - You have hit the nail on the head, Rebecca. The moral of the story wrt New Year's resolutions is not to give yourself an impossible task. However I REALLY want to polish off all the Dosteovsky books remaining for me this year. (I can never spell him right!)

Karen, I am glad to see you with us again!

Thanks, Stasia.

I am looking for your thread too but cannot find it yet. My 'next' button doesn't work. I know it will appear very soon, though.

Here I am: http://www.librarything.com/topic/78996

Hi Karen. Like yours my reading goals for last year, including reading all of Doestoevsky, kind of went by the wayside. I'm tempted to have no goals this year, but will probably come up with something.

Looking forward to following your reading.

In case you miss it on my other thread, I'll be here.

Hi Karen, glad you've joined for another year!

Hi Karen, just dropping by to return the star!

Hi, Karen! Of course I'll be following your thread closely.

I hardly ever make my little mini reading goals. I think just having them and making headway in them throughout the years is an accomplishment.

I was mostly a lurker last year but I've got you starred now. I'll be interested to follow your reading.

Hi! I've starred your thread!

Starred!

Oh my Karen, you have quite a following. I must follow too. You are starred.

Hallo Karen and Happy Christmas!

And here you are! Starred you so I can stalk your thread next year.

#23: From the looks of it, everybody is stalking everybody in 2010 :)

You are right on the money, Stasia. LOL!!

#25: I have decided not to star anybody - not enough stars in the galaxy for that! - I read everyone's thread anyway :)

ha ha, I stopped by to see what you were reading and, as I scanned the thread, it occurred to me that it's not 2010 yet! Oy!

Hi Karen - I've got you starred for the new year!

I decided to read Mann's "The Magic Mountain" last year over Christmas break, but it ended up taking me three months. I felt like I was taken hostage by it. When I was finally done with it, I read Mann's afterword and noticed he recommended everyone to read the story twice...

Anyway, with or without Mann, it will be interesting to follow your thread this year!

Thanks for popping in, everyone, even without the lure of books read (Lois!).

Welcome to LT and the 75ers, goneagain. I hope you set up a thread in here so we can follow you, too.

So, Karen, have you come up with any goals for 2010 yet? I'm mostly focusing on my huge TBR pile. And trying not to buy more books!

By the way, do you have any Olympic plans? We have tickets to women's hockey.

Gotcha starred for 2010!

Read your threads last year, looking forward to seeing what you read this year!

Karen, do the Dostoyevsky...much more doable than the Mann, which should be spread out over a decade. I've been revving up for a reread of Buddenbrooks, which I read decades ago. Happy reading, chum!

I finally read Old Filth, so strongly recommended by you a year or so ago. Wonderful book, Karen. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Hi Karen. Starring your thread.

Thanks to you all for visiting and keeping me in your sights.

I agree - Tui - that Dostoevsky is more readable than TM. I am defo going to do The Brothers Karamov this year. Glad you like the Gardam - there is a newer one out about Old Filth which is meant to be just excellent.

Hello, Pam, Deborah and schova. Thanks for dropping by.

Joyce - I booked a trip home during the Olympics which I am now rather regretting, but changing the ticket was astronomically expensive. Hubbie has tickets for the semi of the men's hockey and some ski jumping. Should be great.

GOALS??

Read more on the shelf.
Cut back on acquisitions.
Use the library for recommends.
Read more classics.

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone. I look forward to a good reading year coming up.....

Well, I guess it all depends on the reader, because I am just unable to read Dostoyevsky as a an adult (last tried about three years ago and struggled through Crime and Punishment) and although I find a lot of Mann requires slow, careful reading, I thoroughly enjoy it. But a little bit at a time.

You could be right, Rebecca...I last read Dostoyevsky as a teenager. I was in my deeply passionate Russian phase then but don't know if I could read him now.

That's when I read him too, Tui. On the other hand, I couldn't read TM, despite several attempts, until I was in my 50s. And I find that there are some people who love FD and can't read TM, so maybe they just speak to different people.

>37 kiwidoc:: Karen, The Brothers Karamazov was in my Top Ten for 2009 so I wholeheartedly recommend it to you. I would love to read The Magic Mountain sometime this year. I've read Buddenbrooks by T.M. (on a trip to Germany a few years ago) and found it very readable.

I don't know why I've been leery of reading the "big boys" all these years. "One page at a time" has been my mantra with difficult reads -- and it works, for me at least.

I starred you early on and you will continue to be in my sights.

Unlike a lot of Mann, Buddenbrooks is extremely readable and one of my favorite books; the German TV series, available from Netflix, is also great. Joseph and His Brothers is actually surprisingly readable, once you get into it, but it is extraordinarily long, as I'm sure you know.

I also find Mann more readable than Doestoevsky, though I hope read a little of each this year. I tried to read all of Doestoevsky's books last year with the Author Theme Group, and failed miserably. I've read Buddenbrooks twice, and think it's a real "page-turner."

BTW Karen, I've picked up The Man in the Wooden Hat, the prequel? (it's told from the pov of his wife) to Old Filth and hope to get to it this month.

Well Buddenbrooks is my reread of choice this year. Either that or I'll turn the darn thing into a doorstop.

Thanks everyone.

My first book of the year was a real winner. I suppose everyone here is familiar with Wolf Hall and Hilary Mantel. Mantel’s memoir is superb.

1. Giving up the Ghost: A Memoir by Hilary Mantel



Published in 2003, Mantel writes about her early life in Northern England, coping with poverty and the social stressors of the times. Most revealing, she says she just was not cut out to be a child, with its lack of power and voice. She goes on to outline her teens, twenties and her debilitating illness, which was misdiagnosed for years. Her writing is wonderful – her reflections on life deeply perceptive and wise.

“When you have committed enough words to paper you feel you have a spine stiff enough to stand up in the wind. But when you stop writing you find that’s all you are, a spine, a row of rattling vertebrae, dried out like an old quill pen. “

I really think Mantel is a writer here to stay, one to put in the “Best of the Century” pile. Her manipulation of the written word is divine.

Category: Memoir. English.
Pages: 223
Published: 2003

I also just finished Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Willis – a ‘factual novel’ based on her grandmother and her life in the Wild West in the early 1900s. Highly recommended also, although not as sophisticated a read. I must seek out The Glass Castle.

I like the quotation. This sounds like a book I'll really enjoy so off to the wish list it goes.

Glass Castle is an amazingly powerful memoir, and definitely a must read.

I have another historical novel by Mantel in my TBR stacks: A Place of Greater Safety, which is set in the French Revolution.

I've been waiting to savor Wolf Hall. If it wasn't so darn big, I'd take it to London with me. I'm sure it would make great airplane reading.

I'm 3/4 of the way through Giving Up the Ghost right now, Karen, and I am loving it too. What a child she must have been! Can you imagine being one of her teachers? Did you feel sad for Henry? I know I did.

Yes - the whole book is rather sad, Tui. The third portion deals with her medical trials and is fascinating for me. I also have quite a lot of deja vu about the school system there, the Eleven Plus stress and so on. I didn't have to live with an outdoor loo, though!

Cameling - The Glass Castle was put on hold because I was worried about it being another "Down and out life bashing memoir" I think I am wrong. The reason I picked up Half Broke Horses is because it was one of the five best books of the year from NYT. It was very good, too.

Hello, Deborah - Mantel talks about her research while living in Africa for A Place of Greater Safety. You should read the memoir - it is not long and easy to read.

I have Fludd waiting here. I agree, Karen. She is a major author.

Got you starred. In re to Giving up the Ghost, having a long-misdiagnosed chronic illness myself, may I ask what Mantel's ailment was?

I bet I'll like Mantel's memoir better than I liked Wolf Hall.

Got you starred, of course! I'm debating whether I want to pick up The Glass Castle, myself. Usually not my taste for reading (memoirs), but I am curious to see how screwed up her childhood was.

Having now read a lot of Mantel, I agree with you, Karen, that she is a major author and I'm happy she's now getting more recognition. Her powers of observation and laser-sharp perceptiveness are remarkable. I found Giving up the Ghost fascinating for the insight it gave into her writing, and also of course for its depiction of her life and into the English class system, and also for its complete lack of sentimentality. I put it right up there with Wolf Hall, along with A Place of Greater Safety, which in some ways I liked better than Wolf Hall, The Giant, O'Brien, and Beyond Black. I also enjoyed Fludd, but I was disappointed in Eight Months on Ghazzah Street.

>49 kiwidoc: & 53: The Glass Castle & I am curious to see how screwed up her childhood was.

Pretty much totally...but I'm not sure that I'd call it a "life bashing" book as Karen was worried about. On one hand, I found myself astonished (naïveté on my part, I know) at what the kids went through but, on the other, I was impressed by the almost total absence of whining.

>45 kiwidoc:: It looks like Mantel needs to be on my radar. I, too, felt like childhood was wasted on me!

>54 rebeccanyc:: Wow, Rebecca, you certainly are the "go to" girl when it comes to all things Mantel. So far I've only read Wolf Hall, and I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel. I've noted your recommendations. Thanks!

>51 allthesedarnbooks: I don't think it's a spoiler to answer: endometriosis. But that's all I'm saying. Read the book!

#56, Donna, I became so enamored of her after reading Wolf Hall that I ordered a whole bunch of her other books! Darryl/kidzdoc is also reading a lot of her work -- he's the one who alerted me (and I think half of LT) to Wolf Hall.

Ok well I'm glad to be here among Wolf Hall loving friends. That's the only Mantel i've read but I'm hoping to get one more in before reading her memoir. Fludd or A Greater Place of Safety??

>55 TadAD: The Glass Castle is a testament to the resiliency of children. That can be the only explanation for the Walls' children survival IMHO.

A Place of Greater Safety is a better book, but Fludd resonates more with the memoir.

Well - we know who to call for all things Mantel, Rebecca.

Tui - thanks for answering the atdb's question. There is more there, and her initial treatment is quite shocking. Sorry to hear about your illness, atdb.

Brenzi - thanks for popping it. I have read only The Giant O'Brien of Mantel's fiction.

Caut - where are you? Where is your thread!

Tad - I think you were the one that put me onto Jeanette Willis. Thanks.

Nice to see you hear Donna and Bonnie.

@61: ?? I started it up... my thread is here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/80879
I'm also still being stubborn and finishing up my 2009 reviews on my old thread as well. Heh.

I finished Wolf Hall last night, and promptly ordered a copy of The Giant, O'Brien from Paperback Swap. Mantel's imagination is formidable.

Karen, I weigh in on The Glass Castle--it's hardly cheerful, but it's definitely not life-bashing or in any way self-pitying. It's unsparing. It's unhappy. But it's honest and brave and bracingly powerfully clear.

I resume my cloaking device.

I am probably showing my ignorance here, but I had never heard of Mantel before. After reading about Giving Up The Ghost, however, I'll definitely put it up on my wish list. Thanks!

Yes, Giving up the Ghost is def going on my list!

I really liked The Glass Castle too - I put it on my top 10 list for 2008. I'm not sure I'd still have it there, but I loved it when I read it. Tad put it really well - no whining for a ghastly life in many ways.

HI Karen

Yours is a very lively thread and it is always nice to stop by here. I was able to obtain three of Hilary Mantel's books from my local library. I have three weeks to read Every Day is Mother's Day, Beyond Black and An Experiment in Love. Have you read these?

Belated Happy New Year Karen!

Hmmm, I'm chomping at the bit to read Wolf Hall (I've been waiting for someone to finish with my mum's copy for a couple of months now) - I can see it's going to be my make or break Hilary Mantel book - I did not enjoy Beyond Black - but I appear to be in a very small minority! ;)

The Glass Castle - definitely worth a read.

...and oh dear re The Magic Mountain - it's on my list to read this year - looks like it may be a battle!

The Magic Mountain isn't at all a bad book. It's actually very interesting, and the characters are quite easy to invest in emotionally. There's just so MUCH of it. It is immense, a real wrist-sprainer, and way way way too long for most modern readers to want to deal with.

On balance, I'd say it's a recommended read, but I can't justify a half-nelson and orders to read NOW.

I got about halfway through The Magic Mountain a few years ago, it was interesting but I just drifted away from it and never went back.

I second what Richard said about The Glass Castle and add that the determination and inner strength with which the author managed to not just survive but surmount her challenging childhood was nothing short of inspirational.

Happy Sunday to you Karen!

Thanks everyone for popping by.

Two further reads for this month:

2. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe


My New Year’s resolve is still strong, so I reached onto the shelves, starting at A to get some of my long-standing TBRs into the ‘done that’ pile.

This book is so well know, and such a classic of African literature, I hesitate to comment too much. A story of the down-fall of Okonkwo, a tragic flawed hero who rises up in African society,replete with the traditions and myths of the African peoples, it tells of the impact of the arrival of the Imperialist. Okonkwo is demanding, ambitious, proud and easy to anger. Suffering indignities in the hands of the White man, he rebels and acts in defiance. Finally avoiding punishment, he succumbs to suicide.

3. Churchill by Paul Johnson


Sometimes I tire of the biographical structures of the obsessive, didactic narrator. This biography of Churchill provides refreshing control over such compulsions for detailed completion and effectively distills the personae of Churchill, publically and privately; leaving the impression of a great leader and a genius of letters and oratory.

Johnson spins a celebratory review of his long and memorable life; all under 200 pages. Now in his early 80s, he personally met Churchill in his later life and is an obvious ardent admirer.

I sought out more about Churchill, after recently finished a biography of Stalin, Roosevelt, Churchill, and WW2 by Laurence Rees, called World War II Behind Closed Doors: Stalin, the Nazis and the West. Although this book took a very different perspective, it struck me how admirable Churchill the man appeared, especially when framed beside Roosevelt the chameleon, and even more dramatically against sociopathic Stalin with his horrific human rights record and monumental personal failings.

Churchill has been the subject of so many biographers; there is nothing new to read if you are interested in the man. But Johnson manages to celebrate the genius of Churchill, together with his remarkable intuitive prescience about upcoming events. The mistakes made or attributed to him are discussed and placed in historical context. Indeed, much of 20th Century European history can be traced back to the influence of Churchill’s input, so long and varied was his role in government and the military.

This is a celebration of the man, a genius of the written word (winning the Nobel Prize for literature in the 50s), military tactician, negotiator, artist, leader and magnificent orator. Churchill could indeed see what was to come, with the 'Iron Curtain' and the 'Cold War' phrases that he introduced and incorporated into some of his famous 'quotes' in the 1950s; both being political conflicts he foresaw and predicted.

Johnson’s last words are true; “Everyone who values freedom under law, and government by, for, and from people, can find comfort and reassurance in his life story.”

Highly recommended if you enjoy 20th century history.

The Churchill book does sound good, Karen. Thanks for this review.

#74 - I'm just about to start a Churchill book myself - Warlord: A Life of Winston Churchill at War, 1874-1945 by Carlo D'este. I hope I like it as much as you liked Paul Johnson's book :)

I've read Things Fall Apart so the only one I may need to add is Churchill. The man fascinates me. I visited the War Room in London and it was thrilling to read some of his papers and see the room where he worked and slept in.

It's funny, what I remember most about When Things Fall Apart is that it lead to lots of thinking--as well as very lengthy discussion in my book group--about the lives of women.

Nice review of the Churchill book, Karen. I'm tempted to buy the recent book on his relationship with Gandhi; have you read that one?

Darryl

Years ago I saw the movie Gandhi. At the time my husband said that the ticket for the movie cost $4.00 and the books I bought afterward cost $400!

He exagerated a bit, but, I did become obsessed with learning as much about Gandhi as I could.

Here is a quote from Churchill regarding Gandhi:

"It is alarming and also nauseating to see Mr. Gandhi, a seditious middle temple lawyer, now posing as a fakir of a type well known in the east, striding half-naked up the steps of the viceregal palace, while he is still organizing and conducting a defiant campaign of civil disobedience, to parley on equal terms with the representative of the king-emperor."

- Winston Churchill, 1930

Thanks Tui

Peter - I have not read a definitive biography on Churchill but at the end of his book Johnson mentions his recommends. One is the official biography by Randolph Churchill and Martin Gilbert which runs to many volumes and is being republished with corrections. The single best one volume biography in his opinion is by Roy Jenkins although he doesn't name the title, and two others are Winston Churchill as I Knew Him by Lady Violet Bonham-Carter and Lord Moran's Winston Churchill: The Struggle for Survival.

Cameling - Lucky you to have access to that. I understand that Blenheim was bought off Churchill during his financial troubles and is now a dedicated trust celebrating Churchill. I would like to visit. He evidently had rooms and rooms of papers.

Bonniebooks - I was also struck by the plight of the female in the African tribal system.

Darryl - I must look out for the Gandhi book. Another great leader greatly admired. Of course Churchill was one of the last staunch Imperialists and he differed widely in ideology to Gandhi

Linda - ditto the Imperialist's attitude. One thing Churchill could never come to terms with, was the loss of control over India.

The girls and I read Things Fall Apart for school several years ago, so I am bypassing that one, but adding the Paul Johnson biography of Churchill (one of my personal heroes) to the BlackHole.

Thanks for the recommendation, Karen!

Oh bother (I mean.............yay??!) I've found your thread. Sadly for me and my book envy. And my wishlist. I'm sure I will be accused of continually thinking negatively but I cannot help but wish for less good books in the world sometimes!

#81 - That book by Roy Jenkins is the very imaginatively titled Churchill: A Biography :)

My current book, which I mentioned previously (Warlord: A Life of Winston Churchill at War), differs in some respect to the more general biographies of Churchill, in that in concentrates on Churchill the military man and leader, rather than Churchill the politician, etc... As it is, I'm already a few chapters into the 700 pages that make up the text portion of the book, and it is an easy and engaging read. Looks like a winner :)

Peter - the book you mention looks very worthwhile and I see it also has great reviews on LT. Another one for the TBR pile - I think I will try and buy that one. Thanks.

Thanks for popping in, Lunacat and Stasia.

#70 Thank you Richard - I feel a bit less daunted ;) ...It'll probably end up being holiday reading at some point.

#74 Things Fall Apart is also on my "things to read this year" list... ;)

Wishing you continued success in reaching into your shelves of TBR's Karen. I'm quite pleased with myself when I knock one off : )

ETA: Churchill's quote sounds just like something I would have read in A Passage to India

4. Sophie’s World by Josten Gaarder



Essentially a lesson in the history of philosophy for the young reader or uninformed adult. An excellent book for the neophyte.

5. Intern by Sandeep Jauhar



This is the memoir of a physics major who changed course and took up medical training. He describes his experience as a training doctor in New York.

Interesting to see how his experience differed from mine, but overall a rather whiny and rebellious statement from a rather egotistical doctor. Enjoyable in parts and may add to the public understanding of the stressors of training.

6. Nothing Was the Same by Kay Redfield Jamison



A memoir about grief and bipolar disorder. The writer is a psychologist with bipolar, who looses her husband of 20 years to cancer. Her husband, Richard, is dynamic, dyslexic, intelligent, and also a psychiatrist.

She describes her grief reaction and her great dependence on Richard.

Intelligent eulogy but not an engaging read for me. Much preferred Joan Didion’s effort or Reiff’s tribute to his mother, Susan Sontag.

7. The Time Traveller’s Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer



Thanks to Lunacat for pointing out this title, which became available at my library and was well worth the read.

Mortimer gives a unique angle to the description of Medieval times, comparing life from our modern perspective.

Very good, although there could have been more attention paid to editing his manuscript (was on the verge of a letter to the publisher but really how obnoxious is that?). And on that grumpy note, the binding of this paperback was really sub-standard. Why do so many recently published books fall apart after a first reading?

Mortimer has written two other books about the period – one on Henry IV, and one on Edward III – both look worthwhile.

#88: I already have Sophie's World and The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England in the BlackHole. I think I will pass on Intern, but I am adding Nothing Was the Same to the BlackHole to join the other two.

I read Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking, so it will be interesting to see which memoir I prefer, hers or Jamison's.

Hi Stasia - I would be interested in your opinion on the two memoirs. I think Didion's is far superior.

8. Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay



I picked this book up because the bookstore had recommended it as a 'sure read' - which is usually a sign I will not like it. It was a quick, beachy read but I cannot recommend it highly.

Overly sentimental, the story just didn’t ring true for me. Based on real-life tragic events during WW2, when Jewish people were deported from Paris to the concentration camps, all with the help of French police, it tells the story of the Jewish child Sarah and her tragic life.

I grudgingly give it 3 stars, but think that others may enjoy this more. Certainly an easy, flowing read, but not the quality that I want to spend my time with.

Not a really great start to 2010 so far. I will have to pick choices with more discretion.

Unfortunately, it does not look like any of my local libraries has Jamison's book, so I have no idea when or if I will get a chance to compare it.

Was wondering when you were going to post, because I know there's no way you stopped reading, lol. I also have Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England on hold at the library because of Lunacat's recommendation... with your review I can't wait to get it. So far they have it, but they still haven't put it in circulation - which is really annoying. BTW, I've heard from my sources that the Vancouver library finally inputted the "Suspend Hold" feature for the online website accounts. Calgary's has had it forever, which is a lifesaver I find. My Vancouver rabid reader friends were getting very frustrated with their holds coming in all willy-nilly and at the most inopportune times.

#88 - Having read Intern last year, I know what you mean by "rather whiny". I recommended it to people who enjoy the genre, but honestly - sometimes I just wanted to give the guy a smack around the lugholes!

Saw "The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England" in the bookshop the other day and was wondering whether it was worth the effort. Will take a closer look next time. But, if the binding is as bad as you say....

I'll definitely pass on Intern, after your review; I can't stand whiny doctors. I received The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England earlier this week, and I'll read it this summer. I'll pass on Nothing Was the Same, I think; however, I would highly recommend her first book, An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness, which I read in medical school.

I am also adding The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England to the wishlist. It sounds like something I would devour!

I liked the beginning of Sarah's Key but found the ending a little too Harlequin Romance for me. I also think that Sarah's story should have been more of a focus in the middle and end of the book. So an interesting novel but flawed for me.

#88 Glad you foudn it worth the read, I'd hate for you to find a book I'd recommended not worth your time! I know what you mean about the editing though.

#92

How irritating! I hope they put it in circulation soon and that you enjoy it. I'll look forward to seeing what you think :)

#94, I also read Jamison's first book An Unquiet Mind because it came out around the time I was working for a woman who had bipolar disorder and I thought it would help me figure her out. I can't remember that it did, but I thought the book was excellent, as Jamison could write both scientifically and humanistically about her illness.

98: I also read Jamison's An Unquiet Mind years ago and learned much from it. It would be hard to beat the honesty and raw emotion of grief that Didion displayed in The Year Of Magical Thinking so I will probably pass on Nothing Was the Same, at least for now.

The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England intrigues me. I'm in the Group Read for Follett's World Without End and am finding this period bleak but intriguing.

Karen, I agree with you on the shoddy quality of some books. That's one reason why I shop the bookstores rather than online (most of the time anyway). I want to hold the book in my hand, inspect the binding and, yes, even give it the smell test!

ETA: Hmmm...touchy touchstones this morning.

I have to agree with you completely about Sarah's Key which I read last year but found totally Harlaquin-esque. People were just raving about it at the time but I didn't enjoy it much.

Quality...I can't understand the variability of quality in physical-book production. I used to be a production manager, moons and moons ago; we had as our instructions that budget must be kept and quality standards must be met. We were *judged* on these criteria. What happened?

I have been on a self-published author binge lately, and the PoD books I've been reading have **better** printing and binding than the major-publisher books I've been getting.

I bought The Divine Miss a modern paperback copy of Memoirs of Hadrian (book circle read), published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 1958. It's a reprint of that hardcover edition (which I own and cherish), with illustrations and appendices that create a challenge for any printer. The binding is so extremely tight that the book mousetraps closed when one stops exerting strong force to keep it open, and that means it'll be shedding pages like my beard sheds chindruff in no time at all.

What a crock. For $16, I expect more.

I've added An Unquiet Mind and Nothing Was the Same to my wishlist. I want to read Nothing Was the Same in spite of your reservations, because my dad passed away a few years ago and he was a clinical social worker, so it would be interesting to read about grief for a mental health practitioner. Does that make any sense? I need lunch, lol.

Recently I've actually had reason to be impressed with the quality of at least one book. A friend of mine dropped it through the dock, and it took a not-insignificant time to fish it out. But once it dried out, it was just fine. I didn't know a book could survive an experience like that.

> 88 I have read Jamison's other books, but I had not heard of Nothing Was the Same. If I find it at my library, I may still check into it. I am not as enamored of Jamison as many people seem to be, but her books are definitely worth reading.

Thanks everyone for visiting - especially as I have been a negligent and absent LTer for the best part of January.

Caut - what is a suspended hold? Sounds rather intriguing?

Peter - I think this month has caught me in a funk - perhaps Intern was not so bad. I just thought the guy was a whiner and frankly, listening to his 'initiation', thought he had it easy, but then I am just an old timer chiming about 'In My Day things were different!!' Some of his comments were relevant to me - the difficult patient, the heavy fatigue, etc. I thought his candid comments about supporting terminally ill patients in ICU frankly quite upsetting and agreed with his distress. Compassion and dignity - where have these aspects to medical care gone? Lost in the fear of legal protectionism, no doubt.

Darryl - Unquiet mind sounds worthwhile. I must read that one. Nice to hear from you.

Carmenere - I think you would like Mortimer's book. I am going to seek out his other two. Buy or borrow a hardback copy if available!

Cyrel - as you are Canadian, you will appreciate 'Heather's picks', of which Sarah's Key was one. I am going to have the audacity to take them up on their guaranteed read and return it for a refund or swap. Is that unethical if I finished it?

Lunacat - you are the celebrity on my thread for January - having picked one of the few successful reads for me.

Rebecca - a second vote for An Unquiet Mind - obviously a must read.

My feeling with Nothing was the same was that she was an intelligent writer, but missed the literary wow factor that engaged. Lots of literary quotes and repeated sentences about 'I miss Richard' which lost impact and didn't hold my attention. It seemed rather flat, cold and clinical to me - but perhaps it is my own negative emotional state that needed adjustment this time?

Donna - I think that there are some great quality books out there - just not always the ones I want to read. I often borrow books that seem flimsy and buy my favourites in a sturdy binding (folio, American library, etc). Plus I love handling the older books that are bound with thread.

Brenzi - thanks so much for dropping in. I am debating an exchange of Sarah's Key 'cos I don't think that anyone would want to get my copy!

Richard - you delightful and crazy man. Always make me smile with your inventive comments.

atdb - thanks for popping in. I think many people will enjoy reading the Jamison book. Oliver Sacks and James Watson both thought it was a divine read, according to the blurbers.

Zoe - I will not be trying out the 'water test' anytime soon, LOL!! Thanks for popping in.

profiler - thanks for visiting and commenting. Nice to meet you!

#105

Wow, I'm a celebrity. Yay! I've never been one before. Excuse me while I take a bow.

Wait.....what do you mean I've milked it enough??............No, I won't get off the stage....................stop manhandling me, I'm a celebrity...............Don't you know who I am..........!!!

#106 15 minutes is all you get, Luna. I believe that was made clear some time ago... ;>)

I heard from a friend of mine that many books featured prominently in certain book stores were there because of monitary payments. ( does that avoid any libel charges?) I thought that Sarah's Key did talk about an incident that had not been written about but the story had a not very satisfactory last third. I think that there should be a boot camp for authors who don't know how to end a book well or figure out a good plot ending. May be we could make a list? I would be interested to hear what the bookstore management says when you go to return the book!

Lunacat - once a celebrity, always a celebrity, Luna. Ignore Linda - she is just sore about it.

Cyrel - they took it back, no questions, no receipt! I was a bit sheepish about it, but of course they know me there. I just wish they would feature more worthwhile authors and publishers! They have a survey that I keep filling out, but I guess big box bookstores are trying to push volume. Bookstores are going the way of the dinosaur, which is tragic, so I guess anything that keeps them afloat.

I have never picked up one of those "Heather's Picks" because I don't know "Heather" and from what I've seen of her picks, she's just not my kind of reader. I've got a few reviewers here I trust though!

Good for you for taking it back. They bet that most unhappy readers won't be bothered. And did you buy another book when you went back? I'll bet they bet on that too. :-)

I read Sarah's Key as an ER book, and while I wasn't completely thrilled with it, I liked it a bit better than you did. I looked back at my review and see that I felt it really dropped off when the narrative shifted entirely to Julia (the last third).

I agree with Cariola ... I liked Sarah's Key until Julia became more of the focus of the book and I thought the ending kind of fizzled out, but it wasn't enough to make me dislike the book.

@105: You know how you can keep track of your account online, right? Well on my system, you can do a "suspend hold", where you de-select them from being "active holds". So I'll put my holds on the books I want, suspend them, and even if I'm number one, the book won't be put aside for me. It'll just go to the next person. In this way, you won't be a slave to the inconvenient times your books come in. When I do want some books, I usually select 3-5 of them (ones that I've worked my way to first place) to become "active" and usually they all will be at my library in 3-5 days. When I didn't do this, I hated getting emails every 2 days from the library saying I had to come in and pick up another hold. I'd go, and then the next day I'd get another message - so inconvenient.

Anyways, it's been a continual pain in the ass for one my friends who lives in Vancouver because she'd have to stop reading whatever she was working on and pick up a hold at the library and be forced to read it in the 3 weeks. She's from Cgy, so she knew there was a better way! :D She said it was just implemented for the VPL, but I'm not sure if it's specifically called 'suspending' for the VPL (I could find out what they call it, if you like).

What I remember is the main use for the feature originally, if is that if you were going on holiday, etc. you could suspend all your holds so they wouldn't come in your absence and you wouldn't get the fine for not picking them up or lose your place in line. But it works great for heavy borrowers; I have the max number of holds, but I'm never worried that 10+ books that I'm not ready for are waiting for me to be picked up.

Major Canadian jargon, apparently, since I don't have clue one what y'all're on about...but I'm glad to see Jenny getting the celeb props she deserves, Linda or no.

#115

Glad to have a fan :)

Would you like an autograph?? :P

Certainly would! Just make the check out for $5,000, sign it, and send it to me! I won't cash it.

Promise.

I could just about manage $5..............that any use??? Although I think my cheque book only does £ and I can't afford £5!!

Oh heck, what's some zeroes among friends? Make it for 5000 quid and I still won't cash it.

Cross my heart and hope to die.

Steph - I'm going to check that hold thingy - it sounds very worthwhile. Thanks.

Thanks for all the banter - Richard and Jenny!

9. The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood



Another ‘off the shelf’ book read done! As you can see, I am still on the ‘A’s.

This was a very enjoyable parable, illustrating Atwood’s views on capitalism, misogyny and feminism. I enjoy her writing style and her creative interweaving of science fiction to emphasis and integrate her theme. Highly recommended.

10. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls



I read Walls latest book Half Broke Horses, recently after it hit a top 5 best books of 2009 list somewhere. This lead me to her first book. Many will have read this memoir about Wall’s upbringing with an alcoholic father and emotionally distant mother.

The inspiring aspect to the memoir is her positivity about everything in the face of dire poverty and neglect, as well as her ability to rise up through it all and become a successful writer, now happily married and living the 'American dream'.

Walls has an easy style that is engaging and manages to deliver a positive spin on a fairly abhorrent childhood.

Although not a literary read, I really enjoyed it, although on reflection I think I preferred her Half Broke Horses more – perhaps because of the time period it covered.

Take a peek at Jeannette, here

Moi? Banter? That was an intensely serious conversation I'll have you know!!!!

Pffffffft, banter indeed.

Oh dear - I hope the cat hasn't started to wave her tail around. It will be the claws next!

As you can all see, I have temporarily given up the review thingy - it all got a bit too much like school for a while there. While I like reviewing books, mostly for my own entertainment, it was becoming a bit of a bore and chore to do it for every book. However, I still really appreciate everyone else doing it and entertain myself for hours with all yours - just being a lazy sod.

Laze away, dearie, we live to amuse.

Banter. Such a piffling word, making the bons mots exchanged between (poorly matched, true, but one must allow the young to start somewhere) opponents sound like mere persiflage. Banter. Well!

The important thing is to enjoy your reading and discover interesting books to read!

The Blind Assassin is the only Margaret Atwood that I've read, and I loved it. It was a few years before I found LT (hmmm I sound like I'm talking about finding religion) and it's the kind of book I'd have read every review afterwards. But I haven't felt the urge to read any of her others.

I loved The Glass Castle when I read it - put it on my top books of 2008 list - but in hindsight I wondered if she'd exaggerated. (Now I'm blathering, because I can't remember exactly which bit, or why!!)

I know what you mean about reviews. For me though, it feels like catching up on many years of lost education so it is Good For Me.

I do not do reviews and you all can't make me! So there!! :)

#126

Careful, you're starting to sound as stroppy as me there :P

#123

I must hearby concur with your eloquent and lyrical sumnation of our formidable pontificating being alluded to as banter, piffle. However I find the idea of myself being deficient and diminuitive in our deliberations because I am young astronomically absurd. I am lesser because I choose to be so!

I've basically stopped doing reviews too, Karen unless it is an ARC. I retired in June and writing reviews seemed too much like a job so I now type in a few brief thoughts and move on.

>122 kiwidoc: & 128: I'm still writing reviews, and it does feel like a chore at times. I really do it for myself, but knowing that others are reading as well makes it a more daunting task. I used to keep a written book journal, but it was time-consuming to locate a particular review if I wanted to refresh my memory. LT makes it so easy that I will probably continue reviewing until I run out of words or come up with another method of organizing my thoughts.

I truly enjoy reading all the great comments about books on this site, whether they are in a formal review or just random opinions, reflections, or questions.

#127: That'll be the day, Jenny!

True, I do have the advantage of being much much closer to the prime teenager years ;)

#131: Can't argue with that!

As for reviews, I took the pressure off myself by not writing them--now I write "comments" and although it's only a title change, I look at it differently. Sometimes I think I have nothing to say, but once I sit down to say that, something comes to mind. But I find it easier to just write comments and not a review--it's less formal somehow.

I'm glad you enjoyed The Glass Castle but for me it was the opposite. I liked Glass Castle alot more than Half Broke Horses but I think that was mainly because the latter was fiction based on her grandmother's life and I was just more inspired by her memoir.

Totally agree with you Caroline. That was such a good memoir and so, as you say, inspiring.

11. My Fantoms by Theophile Gautier

It seems that you can never go wrong reading the titles of the New York Review Books Classics. I was attracted to this book as it is translated and introduced by Richard Holmes, the author of the celebrated Age of Wonder which I read with great admiration last month.

This is a French author writing in the first half of the 19th Century. I had never of him before - his writing is reminiscent of Poe in the gothic atmosphere of the stories.

A collection of short stories based on obsessive and elusive love, every story involved the supernatural, time-transported or ghostly representation of love. My favourite is the story of a young man who sees one of the clay moulds of a woman at Pompeii and is transported back in time to that period to explore his obsession further.

I have just been to the Pompeii exhibition in Wellington, New Zealand today, with the clay representations of the animals and people caught by the volcano - so it was very apt.

Highly recommended, especially if you lean to the gothic romantic style.

12. Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife by Francine Prose

Another winner. I am impressed with the non-fiction of Francine Prose and this book does not disappoint.

Prose examines the Frank family, the writing of Anne's diary, their capture, and the post-war effects of the diary. The only criticism that I can really level at the book is that it did end in the last two chapters as being rather over-sentimental in tone, but overall an excellent book. I can highly recommend this one, too.

Coincidently, while at the Wellington museum today, I saw an picture exhibition of Anne Frank, so was able to see many photos of the rooms behind the stairs, the characters in hiding and the people who sheltered them and discovered them.

13. Bess of Hardwick by Mary S. Lovell

Many LTers will be familiar with Lovell's book on the Mitford sisters (which I have not yet read). Lovell spend 5 years researching this book, gaining access to undiscovered letters and finding unknown connections with her own husband's family and this famous English women of medieval England.

Meticulously researched, this is a great account of a dynamic and very astute woman who becomes the second wealthiest woman in England (beside Elizabeth 1), surviving four husbands and most of her own children.

Being very interested in this period of history, it was really fascinating.

Highly recommended to the fan of Tudor English history.

I've requested the Anne Frank book and you've tempted me into considering a mad dash to Wellington to see the Pompeii exhibition.

#137 - Thanks for the review of the Anne Frank book - very appropriate coming as it does just after the anniversary of Margot's birth (Feb. 16th, 1926), and the approaching anniversary of their deaths (early March 1945). This is a book I've looked at more than once on the bookshelves of my local retailer, and will read it one day.

For all thinks Anne Frank, then the ANNE FRANK GUIDE is well worth a visit.

I am adding the Gautier and Lovell books to the BlackHole. The Prose book is already there. Thanks for the recommendations, Karen.

I'm not sure where it is you live in NZ, Avatiakh, but if you are near Wellington the Pompeii visit is well worth a look.

Thanks for the web link, Peter. The exhibition had more photos of the family and friends than I have ever seen before and was effective. Margot was much less lauded, although I think she had a diary as well? Of course, the recent death of Miep Gies has bought recent focus back to the Frank's fate.

Thanks for popping in, Stasia - I thought I was reading a relatively unknown book with the Gautier title, but trust you to have it already lined up to read!

#142: I did not have the Gautier book lined up to read, Karen, just the Prose book. My local college library has a one-volume edition of Gautier's works that I am hoping contains My Fantoms.

Hope you're having a great time in Wellington, Karen! I missed both the Pompeii and Anne Frank exhibitions - Pompeii opened just before we left, but too hard with the kids and moving. We went there in January 2003, and it was very moving even after 2000-odd years. It was the middle of winter, and deserted - some streets had nobody but us on them.

I really liked The Mitford Girls and will look for Bess of Hardwick.

Sounds like you've had some great reads recently! ...am adding My Fantoms to my wishlist...

Like the sound of the gothic stories above.

I have two of Lovell's books, biographies of Beryl Markham and Amelia Earhart. My wife is currently reading the Amelia book.

I'm very interested in the Anne Frank book. Wonderful reviews!

Joyce - Hum - well I am actually watching a lot of the Olympic coverage on NZ TV and it is refreshing to have commentary with all the participants without the favoritism of the American commentators.

(It was an opportune time to visit my parents, as hubbie around to pick up the teenage pieces at home.)

...and I am having a nice relaxing (wet) time in Wellington/Waikanae, Cushla. The city is so manageable in size and does have some nice bookshops, too.

Thanks for the mention of the other Lovell books, bdb. I will definitely seek them out.

Brenzi - I would recommend anything non-fiction by Prose. She has a very smooth entertaining style. I liked the first half of her Frank book the most, before being embroiled in the fights for movie rights to the diary, etc.

Thanks for coming by, flissp - I think the Gautier book is one of those genre reads some will love, others not so much. I loved it.

14. Wondrak and other stories by Stefan Zweig

I am a great admirer of Zweig and this is my latest acquisition from Pushkin Press.

This is a set of three short stories (the last one being unfinished) which touch on his humanitarian and pacifist views towards war. The second story 'Confession' appears to be a semi-autobiographical account of being called up to war - with the arguments for pacifism clearly laid out by the protagonists wife.

I love Zweig's writing style and his deft handling of the moral issues that plagued his time in the early 1900s as a German Jew. Although perhaps not his greatest work - I really loved reading his Chess Story the most - these stories are well worth reading.

#151: Yet another Zweig book for me to put in the BlackHole. *sigh*

I agree with you, Karen; this is my least favorite of the four Zweig books that I've read so far, but I would still recommend it. (Hmm, I don't think I've reviewed this one yet, I read it at the beginning of the month.)

You are making feel homesick with all this talk of Wellington.

Also you remind me that I need to revisit Zweig.

I have always thought his life was as interesting as his work. I see some parallels with Walter Benjamin in that both committed suicide during WWII (Zweig in despair at the ending of civilised society, Benjamin due to the prospect of forced repatriation from Spain to Vichy France and the clutches of the Nazis).

Both were Jewish of course, and both produced important non fiction (Zweig produced several acclaimed biographies, his 'Balzac' he considered his most important, the manuscripts were recovered with his personal effects after his suicide in (I think) South America).

I'm very glad to have your recommendation of Bess of Hardwick, Karen. I love Tudor history too, but there are just so many books on that period that it can be difficult to choose a good one. Also, you have reminded me that I picked up a copy of Chess Story at a library sale a while ago (because you mentioned it elsewhere, I believe) and I haven't read it yet. That may have to be one of my Off the Shelf Challenge books.

Karen -- the Anne Frank book sounds really interesting. The one Francine Prose book I read was great (Reading Like a Writer), so I'm all up for giving her another chance. Anne Frank's diary was the first book to give me nightmares (about 11 years old, I think).

We thought escaping Vancouver for a few days would be good too, so we've been up at Big White, skiing, since Tuesday. Although we had a fabulous time, we were sorry to miss all the fun here in Vancouver (once it all started). We went to the women's Russia-Finland hockey game last weekend, and the atmosphere was very, very, fun. The city is so alive right now.

Have fun in NZ! When are you back?

I must say, Joyce, I am having regrets at leaving through this time, too. I am back on Wednesday night so will get a few days at the tail end.

You will love Chess Story Linda.

zenomax - thanks for the info on Walter Benjamin, who I have never heard of. Can you recommend a book of his?

Darryl - I have yet to read Zweig's novel, The Post office Girl - it is one of those waiting as a treat on the pile.

Coincidentally, I have just been listening to a podcast of Francine Prose reading from and discussing the Anne Frank book. It sounds interesting.

Walter Benjamin was a literary critic who wrote on such subjects as Proust, Kafka, Atget, the Surrealists, and Baudelaire.

He has several books of essays in publication. Illuminations has two perceptive essays on Kafka. His greatest book is The Arcades Project which is half a lifetime's collection of thoughts, excerpts from books, magazines and unpublished manuscripts on 19th century Paris. It has gems on every page and is a long long book.

Having just come across your excellent Periodic Table review it strikes me that Benjamin was, as a personality, closer to Levi than to Zweig. Both, I believe, were observers and deep thinkers, always trying to get to the root of things, to understand the undercurrents that make the world the way it is.

Zemomax - thanks for the recommend. I have just ordered The Arcades Project which is something I know I will love to read. Levi is one of my all time favourite writers - a scientist with a deep philosophical bent that I greatly admire.

Wanderingstar - thanks so much for the Prose link. Really considerate of you.

For a fictional take on part of Benjamin's life, I recommend Jay Parini's Benjamin's Crossing. It was very well written (I love Parini, in general).
>157 kiwidoc: I see you have it in your library, Karen....see, you've probably heard of Benjamin after all!

Thanks Linda. I have not read the Parini book yet, although I own it!! (Big surprise there!)

Three more reads - two of which will appeal to select audiences only.

15. Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather

A well known American author, this is my first by her. She has a gorgeous prose style and this book is filled with interesting studies of the Mexican culture at the end of the 1800s, mostly within the context of Catholicism and the work of two missionary Fathers. I enjoyed it, although it is held loosely together by the experiences of the Archbishop only and really defies the definition of a novel - more like a set of loosely connected short stories.

16. The Curve of Time by M Wylie Blanchet

A great book for those in the Pacific North West who are interested in boating adventures. The author writes a memoir of the summers spent on her boat with her five children, exploring the West Coast of B.C.. She did this despite losing her husband to the sea.

There is considerable reference to Indian culture as she explores villages, gets into some serious situations and explores the outstanding scenery. I really enjoyed it, but think it would be lost on those who are not from these parts. She is quite an amazing and very intelligent woman.

17. Driving my father by Susan Wicks

I picked up this book in a library sale while staying in Waikanae, NZ. It is relevant to me because it discusses the authors relationship with her father in his old age as he deteriorates in health - in fact it is a tribute to her parents and more specifically her father. It is very English, spare and almost poetic (the author is indeed a published author of poetry). I don't think it would appeal to many readers because it is so culturally specific and intensely personal. However, I liked reading it and drew comfort from it.

Oh Karen, I so loved Death Comes for the Archbishop! And I agree that it's more of a novel-in-stories than an actual novel-type novel, but its sumptuousness is irresistible! To me, I hasten to add. It helps that I grew up driving to and from New Mexico's gorgeous northern mountain/deserts, so I could *smell* the landscape the men traveled through.

May I suggest an equally gorgeous, though very different, Cather to you? O Pioneers! is very, very good.

The Wicks doesn't sound like me, but the Wylie Blanchet does...have to procure that one.

I love Willa Cather too. My personal favorite is My Antonia.

Both very good suggestions for Cather. If you ever want to see the structure that inspired much of the story, its just a quick trip to Santa Fe.

And there is O Pioneers languishing on my shelf. **sigh**

Ah, I was just in a used bookshop over the weekend, dithering over Death Comes for the Archibishop and O Pioneers!. I chose the latter. I know someone will ask why I didn't just buy both and all I can say is, I had several books in my hands already and was trying not to get out of control! I know, I know ... resistance is futile.

I haven't read Archbishop yet, but it's on my shelf and on my list to read this year. I also LOVED My Antonia and will re-read it at some point soon. Read O Pioneers last year and loved it too. Cather was an exquisite writer.

I'm adding Death Comes for the Archbishop to my wish list, as I've read many positive comments about it.

I included My Antonia on my All-Time Top Ten Favorites list for the recently created "Bonnie's Salon." It was hard choosing between that and O Pioneers with Archbishop not too far behind. And just to let you know, The Professor's House is not widely known, but also a great read by a great author.

>170 Donna828: Thanks for the pointer, Donna! I had never heard of The Professor's House, so onto the wishlist it goes.

Actually Death Comes to the Archbishop is one of my least favorite Cather novels. I much preferred The Professor's House, A Lost Lady, and My Antonia. Which isn't to say that Death Comes to the Archbishop isn't a good book, just less interesting to me.

I have about 8 Willa Cather novels on my shelves. My Antonia is the only one I've read recently, I think I might have read another one too long ago to have a good memory of it. I'll have to get back to the others.

>172 Cariola: Oh now see, Deborah, I thought A Lost Lady wasn't all that and a bag of Sunchips! It was a good novel, just not engrossing to me, the way Death Comes for the Archbishop was. I left "Lady" at my sister's house when I read it on a visit there...and she mailed it back to me, so she didn't love it either.

Interesting how books can affect us in such different ways.

I read Cather's Sapphira and the Slave Girl last year and quite enjoyed it. I gather it's one of her lesser known works.

Interesting comments about Cather. Thanks for the suggestions.

I think the difficulty for me with the Archbishop book was my total lack of knowledge about the region and the culture of the Mexican and lower US. So much of my immediate enjoyment of a book comes from the ability to connect and recognize - and yet it opened up a whole new area for me. I also found the 'structure' defied the conventional novel form. It was like a study of customs and traditions and an era in the pioneer spirit of the US and Mexico. Cather also seems to adore French ways and used this as a contrast to the pioneer experiences of the Catholic priest.

I must try all your other suggestions. Thanks.

176> That was my experience, too. I've had some really bad reading experiences with southwest lit, so I admit that I tend to avoid it. Plus it semed to me such a 'male' book.

Oh boy.... I've been away for a few days .. really, just a few ... and coming back to catch up on the threads, I end up adding 5 .. yes 5 books onto my obese wish list! Arrgghh...... *running away*

#178: Caroline, it just goes to show that you cannot take any time off from LT.

>179 alcottacre: Although, if she'd been around, she probably would have added TEN books!

#180: Yeah, and then we would never hear the end of it :)

Cariola, interesting that you found Death comes for the Archbishop a male book. My wife is the one who turned me on to Cather and the book. What other southwest lit bad experiences have you had?

Sticks and stones, my friends....sticks and stones ..... *skipping away out of range just in case*

Jealous of your Waikanae trip. That's the beach, isn't it? We definitely used to take trips out there... I'm just now struggling to remember whether that was seal-watching walks or ambitious sand-castle construction territory. And Wellington. Sigh. It's odd, I was pretty miserable socially while I lived there, but my family memories, and the memories of the landscape, are so clear and bright that I forget all of the bad stuff... Such an amazing country.

The only Cather I've actually read was My Antonia (last year) but I loved it; I've got Archbishop, O Pioneers and Song of the Lark all on the shelves. My mother-in-law loves her stuff.

I'm a little late, but I'm dropping in to say that I'll be adding Bess of Hardwick to my list. Also, when I was in Amsterdam, I saw the Anne Frank House and it was simultaneously cool and yet disconcerting. Definitely worth the stop.

ummm.... *Poke!* Read The Book of Negroes! You're overdue! (said in a mock-sinister voice)

I am adding my poke to Steph's poke!

Thanks for the poke, Steph. I have been rather absent for the past few weeks - returning to the fray after a trip to my folks in NZ.

I will read The Book Of Negroes sometime, promise!! When? Not sure. Overdue but not forgotten.

I am presently reading Hannah Arendt and her 20th Century epic on the trial of Eichmann - Eichmann - the banality of evil which is taking up most of my precious time at the moment.

Hope to catch up on threads in the next few days.

Karen, I read that years ago, in college. I'll be interested in what you think of it.

#188: The Hannah Arendt book has been in the BlackHole for a while now. I will be interested in your take on it as well.

I think that one is here in a box somewhere - I mooched it last year. Nice having you back on here!

Can't remember if I said already, but my Mum grew up in Te Horo, just up from Waikanae, and my grandparents lived there from the early 80s. Hope you had some decent weather!

@188: Yes, I saw from your earlier posts that you were down there... I'm dying to visit NZ. My family and I are tentatively planning to go down there in the fall or spring because I have enough Aeroplan points to fly two people down. Where did you go?

And Stasia and I conspired to give you the pokes because we're just kooky like that. And because we both loved the book. And because we know you have the book. And because Stasia has funny gifs to put up. And we need things to do at 5 am :)

And we need things to do at 5 am

Definitely!

Well I really appreciate the pokes, Steph and Stasia. I have been regrouping after returning to the grind two weeks ago. New Zealand is not too hard to get to - there is an overnight flight from Vancouver twice a week which is a breeze and there is only a three hour time difference - so GO!

Have finished the Arendt book and it was really interesting - lots that I did not know about the 'Final Solution'. I will try to post that one soon.

Cushla - I spent all my time with my mum and dad in Waikanae, so it wasn't really a travel and see trip. Being in the sun was enough, though.

I've had a copy of the Arendt book Eichmann in Jerusalem (I think it's the revised and enlarged 1964 edition) lying about for some time, but have yet to delve between its pages. I also have the audiobook version of Hunting Eichmann by Neal Bascomb. I was thinking of pairing these reads together at some point. Looking forward to your views.

I have been so remiss with my posts on this thread, I am feeling trepidation at the thought of catch up. So I am going to cheat and just post my remembered impression of each book read since March.

23. Brooklyn by Colm Toibin - a joy to read, wonderful prose writing, a sublime writer.

22. Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell - really enjoyed reading this edition with some good old fashioned illustrations and a nice old comfortable worn 1900 copy to cradle.

21. Solar by Ian McEwan - what a disappointment. The perfectly constructed novel, beautifully written, without any soul and such cynicism that any reader is going to see through to the middle-aged writer's mid-life crisis. I didn't enjoy reading this one - my first disappointment from this excellent writer.

20. Faith and Treason: The Story of the Gunpowder Plot by Antonia Fraser

I am not a huge fan of Antonia's style, but this book was engaging enough for me to finish and really changed my schoolgirl understanding of the plot, the role of King James and Catholicism that fueled the event.

19. Eichmann in Jerusalem; the banality of evil by Hannah Arendt

Enlightening. I did not realize the extent of German pressure to extradite Jews from surrounding countries, nor the protection that the Danes and the Bulgarians provided for their Jewish citizens (as opposed to the Rumanians and other countries that willingly gave them up). A classic account of the European "Jewish solution".

18. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

I enjoyed this well-known tale. Du Maurier has a nostalgic writing style that I enjoy.

Not a huge amount of reading, but life has been VERY busy. Apologies for not doing the thread rounds as per usual.

Good to see you back! I was wondering where you've been. Glad to see that you've still been reading.

Karen, it is good to see you back again! I am sorry to hear that you have been so busy.

I read Gaskell's North and South last month and am reading Cranford for May. I will have to see if I can locate a copy of Wives and Daughters for after that.

The Arendt book has been on my radar for a long while now. I really must get to that one. Thanks for the reminder.

Hmmm, I really enjoyed Solar, mainly because I thought that McEwan was doing something entirely new. I hate when writers get stuck in a rut or a formula.

Brooklyn: well, I liked it OK, but it was kind of predictable, and I really didn't much like the hoerine by the time I got around to the ending.

The BBC dramatization of Wives and Daughters is definitely worth watching, too!

Nice to see you back here. I have the Arendt book, somewhere - I think it's even here.

Still haven't read any Gaskell. Maybe this will be the year... before I was on LT I'd hardly heard of her!

I read Eichmann in Jerusalem some 35 years ago and found it chilling; good to hear that it holds up.

Good to see you back, Karen! Sorry that you didn't enjoy Solar. I'm intrigued by the wide variety of opinions about it, on LT and in published reviews. I'll probably read it over the summer.

Brooklyn has been sitting here for yonks now...must haul it out this summer. Have never read Wives and Daughters - how lovely your copy sounds. I couldn't read the Eichmann, just couldn't, and think you are brave as bears for tackling it. That kind of content tears my innards out.

Your one or two line summaries/impressions are perfect, Karen. You don't need to do long reviews, just giving your impressions like that is enough. Having followed your reviews for several years now, when you say a book is good, I know it is. If you say it's dreck, I know it will be.

Cariola and Kiwidoc,

You guys are making it hard on me in deciding whether to seek out Solar. Both of you came to such different opinions; and the book seems to be generating that kind of love/hate reaction. I heard him on the Bob Edwards show the other day and enjoyed listening about his process in writing the book. And he was in my home state for a good deal of time researching locations for the book. I understand that he chose a small burg in the southern part of NM for the finale of the book, Lordsburg.

Glad you're back. I'm having the same problem this year keeping up.

Thanks to everyone for visiting, even if I am negligent!

WRT Solar - I think you should all read it and form your own opinion. I really love McEwan's writing - he has vast talent and this book is not a disappointment in that regard. It is just that it was a completely joyless and cynical work - one filled with too much scientific jargon for a fiction book, sort of revealing the labours of the writer. It felt almost 'sterile' for a fiction book. I cannot really put my finger on it. Still - a must read.

204> OK, I'm going to send you my review of Solar--which I promise doesn't give away all the tricks of the plot (but you should avoid some of the others--many of them do). I do agree with Karen that it is a rather cynical book--but cynicism sometimes amuses me, I guess, and I like the cynical McEwan a lot better than the early sadomasochistic McEwan. I'll add that I listened to the audiobook, so maybe that made it more enjoyable. Karen is right: you should read the book and make your own decision.

(If anyone else wants to read the review, it's posted here on LT. I'd post it here--but this is kiwidoc's thread!)

I agree that it's hard to keep up with all the threads. The Arendt book sounds interesting, I'll keep a look out for it.

While Eichmann in Jerusalem and Hunting Eichman by Neal Bascomb both rest in my collection, they are a long way from reaching the summit of Mount TBR. For now, I have to enjoy reading your brief opinion instead :)

Talking of the holocaust, I recently procured Martin Gilbert's The Holocaust: A History of the Jews of Europe During the Second World War, since I've long had his Kristallnacht: Prelude to Destruction in my collection; and I've been enjoying his works on Churchill.

Hi Peter - I was looking at the Martin Gilbert TOME on Churchill today in the bookstore - thinking I would rather have the book in hardback as it is so large. The other book I want to acquire is the Max Hastings new book on Churchill - looks very good but I couldn't find it anywhere.

I realized that I have missed some of my reads so here they are:

29. Leviathan or, The Whale by Phillip Hoare

A highly recommended compendium of all things leviathan - or a broad musing on the literature (mostly Moby Dick), together with natural history and whaling history.

Beautifully written, this book won the Samuel Johnson prize. It is also full of enticing illustrations on whales. I loved it, but then I have a fascination for the subject. (I didn't realize that most perfumes have whale excrement as the basis of the scent.)

28. My Revolutions by Hari Kunzru

This is a new writer for me, and I really enjoyed his style. The subject is also well done; a retrospective on an activist's life in the 1970s - an author to seek out. Although there was some issues for me about the authenticity of the main character, and some of the plot issues were not cohesive, overall his writing style was to be admired.

27. Short Stories by Anton Chekhov: Bk.2: Talent and Other Stories by Anton Chekhov An Audiobook

An audiobook read by Max Bollinger who has a Russian accent. I really like Chekov and I received this as an ARC so if you are interested you can read my review.

26. A Brief History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

Most of the content of this book was review for me, but presented in a lively, engaging style. A great book to suggest to budding science students or just for entertainment if you hold an interest. Well done.

25. Brief Lives: Gustave Flaubert by Andrew Brown

Another ARC - and therefore I have a review written for this one. A Hesperus publication. Guardedly recommended.

24. Road to War by Richard Overy

A re-issue of this well-known book looking at the events leading to WW2. Interesting and recommended.

There - up to date.

Currently reading Nicholson Baker and his The Anthologist: A Novel which is good so far.

#211 Karen - Talking of Gilbert, TOMES, and Churchill.... You need (*wink*) to order Gilbert's FULL bio on Churchill. All 30 volumes of this work are currently being republished (2nd edition) by Hillsdale College Press. If you order the entire series of eight biography volumes and 22 document volumes, you'll receive a 30% discount! (Total = approx USD791.00 after discount).

* Order now! *

Karen, one of my all-time favorite contemporary novels is Hari Kunzu's The Impressionist. It's an amazing novel that examines how we determine identity, wrapped up in a commentary on colonialism. I wasn't all that keen on My Revolutions; his second novel, Transmission, was quite funny.

I look forward to your comments on The Anthologist. It has been on my list for awhile, and I almost downloaded the audiobook; luckily, I listened to the sample first (which proved the oft-made point that authors are not usually the best readers of their own books).

>211 kiwidoc:: is that Finest Years, Karen? The BookDepository has it in HB for around $32. Hang on....just checked, it's in stock. Was thinking of that for D. Here you go:
http://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=Max+Hastings&search=search

Hastings has some terrific books out.

OMG - Tui - what are you trying to do to me. You know how easily I can press that checkout button.

Misery loves company! Sorry though, srsly.