Loosha's List for 2010

I'll start with my favourites from 2009, in no particular order.

1. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
2. Good to a Fault by Marina Endicott
3. Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro
4. The Winter Vault by Anne Michaels
5. Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden
6. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
7. The Retreat by David Bergen
8. The Given Day by Denis Lehane
9. The Girls by Lori Lansens
10. Late Nights on Air by Elizabeth Hay
11. Little Bee by C Cleeve
12. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer
...and I'm sure I've still omitted a few...

(Male authors are saddly underrepresented. I'll try to do something about that.)

Top of the TBR pile:
The Bishop's Man, .... The Disappeared,
The Golden Mean, .... Galore
Chronic City, .... Half Broke Horses
The Year of the Flood, .... The Wife's Tale
Zeitoun, .... The Murderer's Daughters
The Sea Captain's Wife,.... Wolf Hall

Welcome back!

Glad to see you back with us again!

Starred ya! Your top reads of '09 are very impressive and I look forward to your comments on the '10's.

Got you starred, too. I hope I get books for Christmas. I hope you get books for Christmas. I hope we all.....

Happy Christmas, everyone.

Loosha, please please read Zeitoun as soon as is practical. I dislike Dave Eggers pretty thoroughly, but I think this book is excellent. I will review it in the New Year, when I've read it again, but honest to goodness (a subject I fear I know little about), it's worth your immediate attention.

Hi, Richard. Couldn't be a higher recommendation than yours (flattery, yes.) I'll be getting Zeitoun Jan 16th and will delve right into it. In the meantime, I'm looking out for your review.
Feeling a bit under the weather today, but finally the guests have gone and a football game on TV for DH gives me a day of solitude to read The Omnivore's Dilemma. Tea, chocolate, a book... ingredients for a good day.

Starred!

Michael Pollan is an entertaining companion for a afternoon such as you envision! I about had a fit when I read The Botany of Desire and, in the section on cannabis, read that the desirable resinous condition of the buds was an example of "extreme sexual frustration in the female plant."

I still laugh every time I think of that line! He's got an ear for the quotable quote.

I'm reading Pollan soon too- I just bought The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food. I'm interested to see what you think.

I read The Omnivore's Dilemma for a course last year; I'll look forward to seeing what you think of Pollan.

So far, I'm glad we don't eat meat and I'm seriously considering nixing chicken.

Last book for 2009...The Omnivore's Dilemma.

How and why to eat meat and chicken. How corn is used for mega-production. Pollan researches and describes how food gets to our plates, from the feed-lot horror to the idyllic local farm. Mostly very interesting, but much I'd known before and my mind wandered as some pages flipped by unread.

Pollan makes a good argument against vegetarianism and for eating only pastured meat, preferrably from a local producer. Eating meat and chicken ethically demands an effort, one I am willing to make, since I do not eat much of either. I will change my shopping habits as a result of his exposition. I am willing to pay more for farm-raised chicken and eat it less often. I've strengthened my resolve to buy only free-range eggs. Good new year's resolutions, along with more adventurous vegetarian cooking.

I'm going to look for In Defense of Food to get more of Pollan and for Eating Animals to get another perspective.

I read Pollan's In Defense of Food in 2009. One of the books he mentions, The China Study, is also worth looking at, Lorraine. I have not read it completely through yet, but what I have read of it has been very good.

I've just gone and requested it from my library. Impressive, for a book published in 2005, there are over 20 requests ahead of mine! Thanks for the heads up, and Happy 2010.

Hi Loosha - ashamed to say I don't think I followed your reading last year (I really couldn't keep up with the threads, and am going to have the same problem this year, I fear), but I really like your 'best of' list. Starring & will be lurking with interest!

Hallo! Lost your thread again for a minute there!

found you and starred you!

Regarding message #6, I agree with Richard, Zeiton is a great book. I've read alot about hurrican Katrina and New Orleans and this book is one of the better ones. If you want to read more about this subject, I also highly recommend 1 Dead in Attic

Thanks, I've added 1 Dead in Attic to my looong list. We spent a couple of wonderful weeks in New Orleans before the disaster, loved the city, and plan to go back some day.

I've been so slow to start reading this year...it's already the 7th and I haven't finished a book yet. But I am almost done Half Broke Horses and today I picked up 2 from the library. The Wife's Tale, which I can't wait to get into since I liked The Girls so much last month, and the Act of Love. Well, I've enjoyed The Progress of Love, The History of Love, and The Geography of Love. The Food of Love is on my list, too. So when I saw The Act of Love in the library and remembered reading a recommendation for it somewhere, I had to take it.

I got new x-country ski equipment yesterday. What a treat! The snow was excellent and the skiing was very fine.

Have fun skiing!

Thanks, skiing was great.


finally, book #1 for 2010. The comments/review I wrote yesterday escaped into the unknown when I hit the 'submit' button, so here I go again.

Half Broke Horses , a true-life novel, is the biography of Jeannette Wall's grandmother and the mother of Rosemary who we met in The Glass Castle. Lily is a much more likeable character than the amoral Rosemary. She is a no-nonsense, unsentimental, self-reliant powerhouse who lives her belief that God helps those who help themselves. Denied much education as a child, she manages to find a teaching job at 15. Much later she and her husband successfully, through skill, hard work, and determination, run a cattle ranch despite enormous difficulties.

from page 263, Lily disapproves of Rosemary's intended husband, Rex
:
"....Haven't I taught you anything?"
"You sure have," she said. "That's all youve been doing my whole life. 'Let this be a lesson.' 'Let that be a lesson.' But all these years, what you thought you were teaching me was one thing, and what I was learning was something else."

At ony 272 pages, the book was a totally enjoyable quick read. Lily is a unique character, a person I would have liked to have known.

Onto the wishlist it goes! Thanks for the review.

With so many good reviews of Half Broke Horses here in the group, it seems like a must read. I will try and fit it in this year.

hi, Richard and Stasia, thanks for dropping by.

#2 The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens


Lansen creates another memorable remarkable character - self-deprecating Mary Gooch, addicted to food, overweight, dependent on her husband for everything. When she discovers him gone on the eve of their silver anniversary, Mary attempts to find him, travelling to Toronto and California with little knowledge of how the wide world works, and ultimately finds herself.

from page 263; Mary reflects on Heather's death:
She thought of her own left-behinds. A mother, a husband, the bones of a cat. Heather Gooch had left a son who might one day cure cancer. Or save multiple lives. Or just be a contributing member of society. Mary allowed herself a soupcon of bitterness. She would leave no one without a mother, and had made no mark on society. She didn't even vote.

Not as interesting to me as The Girls , in which the main character were so unusual, but very satisfying.

#24: I will have to look for that one. It sounds interesting, and I loved The Girls.

loosha

Two of my favorite books from 2009 were written by Lansens. Is The Wife's Tale recently published? I must get my hands on a copy!

#26 yes, The Wife's Tale was published in 2009. Well worth reading.

I hope to get a copy this weekend!

Uhhhm, The Wife's Tale sounds a little well, errr, just flat depressing for me. *skip*

That's wise, oh Richard. I don't think you'd enjoy it. Very mainstream.

Y'know, mainstream I can hang with, but certain tropes, like sad-sack characters who can't get their lives started, just make me want to shake, kick, and smack them into insensibility. It's not fun to read about them for that reason.

I agree to some extent. I prefer characters like Lily from Half-Broke Horses or Olive from Olive Kitteridge. No sad-sacking there.

I just came upon this interesting T-shirt slogan from The Year of the Flood. "The liver is evil and must be punished". Pass the wine.

LOL

Wine, heck! Scotch, single-malt, neat! (spoken in best Jean-Luc Picard imitation)

Ahhh, scotch. I'm most definitely not a scotch-snob, The FAmous Grouse will do nicely in a pinch. Although I'd usually choose the fruit of the grape. (Massaging my pearls, my Julia Child to your Jean-Luc Picard.)

#3 The Year of the Flood


End-of-the-world speculative fiction. (MA objects to sci-fi since all these things may have already happened or very likely could). WEll. Toby and Ren, two somewhat abused unempowered women, tell their stories of survival after the flood- a plague that wipes out all, sorry almost all, human life, not touching those animals who managed to escape extiction in this cell-splicing near future. The world is run by corporations, no governments in site, and the corporations of course are all about self-advancement, to the point of creating illnesses so they can then profit from the cures. Toby and Ren meet at the 'God's Gardeners' hide-out, a cult that MA deals with satirically, including pathetic but somehow powerful hymns. The 'Adams' are mostly undeveloped personalities in this story, sadly stereotypical, uncomfortably laughable.
You've got to love MA, you've got to hear voices in your head when you read this. Droll, satirical humour, and a devilish ending. Count me amongst the five-starrers.

ETA...I almost forgot. A quote from page 263...

"Once her scalp was firmly rooted to her head and her skin tone was uniform, Toby was ready to move into her new identity."

(P 263 is obviously does not always contain wonderful material, but a commitment is a commitment.)

Hey loosha...may I suggest that you add a first novel called Beasts of No Nation to your TBR? It's the end of the world, right now, in Africa's war-torn horror show. And it's just completely AMAZING that the author was 23 and mentored by Jamaica Kincaid! He's stunning.

I had no computer for a few days, and I am very far behind...got to catch up on all the threads....
>35 richardderus:, Great review, Richard, and it's done...on my lista.

finished #4 The Murderer's Daughters...review to come later, when I've caught up. For now, it was a totally satisfying quick read.

Lorraine! No computer?!? How did you live?

Glad you're back, and looking forward to that review.

It was a challenge, that's for sure. Tried to sneak in some time on DH's computer whenever I could. I admit, I am a computer addict.

The x-country skiing's been great here, just a bit icy. Not a cloud in the sky today. Beautiful.

#4 The Murderer's Daughters an ER book.

I put up my ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign right away for this book. This is the disturbing extremely emotional story of what happens to Lulu and Merry after their father’s unforgivable act and their extended family’s betrayal. They cope with their tragedy in different ways but they always remain close and co-dependent. I couldn’t wait to hear their story as they went from orphanage to foster family and finally to independent living, of a sort. They are unique and unforgettable characters from a rich, well-told story.

From p. 263
Merry moves into an apartment in Drew and Lulu’s house.

I didn’t want children, and though I never said a word, I hoped Lulu and Drew wouldn’t have them either. The three of us would do just fine as our own pack of refugees from family dysfunction living in Cambridge.

#38: I may have to look for that one. Thanks for the recommendation, Lorraine!

#5 I didn't finish it, but read more than half, so I'm counting it.)
The Act of Love


The first time I tried to read this book I only got as far as page 17. Two weeks later I picked it up again and thought surely I’d enjoy it this time – the writing was witty, humorous, intellectual. But, 150 pages later, I am once again side-lining it. Although I really like the Woody Allanesque voice, I just don’t care about the topic. This is a moral masochist, a man who craves the debasement that comes with cuckoldry, and strives to have another man, one of his chosing actually, seduce his much-loved wife. He comes at the theme from so many angles – literature, art, drama, that it made me feel bored, very bored. Because I really don’t care. But I would like to read something else by this author, maybe Kalooki Nights which was nominated for the Booker, or The Mighty Waltzer.

From p. 80, (Felix contemplates the reading of books as a reflection of his deprecitude.)
‘Do we not, on a bus or a train, see people turning the pages of a book with a sensual expectation that reminds us of nothing so much as the act of undressing another person? And where the book is consecrated by age and experience, the turning of those pages is rendered the more delicious by the thought of the number of fingers which have been there before you. This, I grant, is not everyone’s taste. Some prefer that odor of brand-newness which comes off paper covers, as some prefer an unperforated virgin. We are all sick in our own way.’

ETA for some reason, the brackets are not working to touchstone....

I have been excommunicated by one of our favourites for an unintentionally 'sarcastic' comment on Stasia's thread, and I apologize for any emotional turmoil my innocent comment has caused. I am appalled by how much this little event is affecting me.
Message to self: Get over it.

Loosha, Richard's comments to you were upsetting for me to read and they weren't even directed at me, so you have reason to feel bad--either that, or we're both wussies! ;-) I'm leaving you both the same private message and hope that you both have friends that you can talk to until you feel better. (And that eventually you'll both be ready to "hug it out.") Take care! And happy reading!

Lorraine

I can understand you both, I personally can't handle some kind of books, like books that describe explicit abuse, some people like me are too much hurt to ever be able to handle, even if it's only written.
But on the other hand I think it is very important books about these things are written and read.

In online communities you don't see how people react and they don't hear your intentions. So sometimes a short comment has way more impact that you ever imagined it could have...

hugs to you
Anita

#42 #43 Thank you both for your kindness. I think it is important to feel safe to express opinions, and to discuss differences calmly. And it is important (but difficult) for me to let this go.

#6 The Sea Captain's Wife


Be careful what you wish for.

When Azuba was a little girl, she idolized the tough independent women who sailed on the merchant ships with their husbands and wanted to be like them. But when she married her sea captain, her dream did not come true. Her parents' gift of a beautiful home, her pregnancy, changed Nathaniel's desire to have her on his ship. It seemed that little Carrie would grow up not knowing her father and that Azuba would have to content herself with the boring tea-party society of her New Brunswick shipbuilding town.
Then an event seen as scandalous to the 19th Century town results in Nathaniel's reluctant acceptance of taking his wife and daughter on the adventure of a lifetime. They set sail for London, then around South America, and later Africa and towards China. The voyage is unimaginably difficult, both dangerous and beautiful.
The story is exciting and the relationships complex. Nathaniel is disillusioned husband, doting father, and commander of his ship. Azuba must come to terms with him and provide for her daughter amid the ship's rough sailors, most of whom are less than happy to have a woman on board. Her mind and circumstance keep bringing Simon, the man involved in the earlier 'scandal' back into her life. Did she make the right choices? As fate brings tragedy to their lives, the characters face challenges and change in ways they never anticipated.
Excellent historical fiction.

#7 The Brutal Telling

This is an utterly appealing murder mystery. The characters of Three Pines are so real, but you must read at least some of the previous books to get the most satisfaction from meeting them again: the irascible detective and his entourage, the crazy poet and her duck, the wise bookstore keeper, the insecure artists, the suspicious newcomers, and of course Olivier and Gabri.

Three Pines, an idyllic secluded Quebec forest village, complete with its colourful characters, is an unusual place for a corpse to turn up in the bistro, but we know this village is not a stranger to murder and mystery. Inspector Gamache goes to great lengths, actually as far as Haida Gwaii, to find the solution. Along the way, the reader is treated to an intimate glimpse of village life, through unexpected humour:

His mother was staring at him as though he’d peed in the Chateau Frontenac dining room. He knew that look from when he was a boy and peed in the Chateau Frontenac dining room. P. 148

And through culinary details:
Clara chopped the ends off the fresh carrots and watched Peter toss the tiny new potatoes into boiling water. They’d have a simple dinner tonight of vegetables from the garden with herbs and sweet butter. P. 261

Surely the bistro would make a great lobster thermidor, and of course you would be served bumbleberries with Cool Whip on Queen Charlotte Island. Such details are charming, but the progess of the mystery is what really kept me reading. And I found my old copy of Morning in the Burned House for an enjoyable interlude. Ruth quoted from a couple of these poems to console, confuse, or who knows what, but it fit well.
I’ll be one of the first to grab Louise Penny’s next book in this series. I want to see what happens to Gabri and Olivier, how Marc and Dominque make out, if Peter ever comes to terms with Carol’s success, and what Ruth gets up to next.

I have Three Pines seen on other threads too and at least the first two are translated. I don't know if I like murder mysteries... on TV most of the times I can handle them, unless they get too exiting.
Is this a good place to start?
Anita

Oh, yes, because they are more than murder mysteries. You will really get the feel of life in a backwoods Quebec village and meet some very appealing characters. I hope you read some, and enjoy.

Lorraine
Book #6 and 7 will go on the tbr pile.

#46: I have added that one to the BlackHole.

#47: I have read the entire series and loved it. I hope you get a chance to read the rest of the books, Lorraine.

I really have to move up this series on the wishlist. Although it will have to wait till next year as I'm strickly TBR shelves this year. Your review is a thumb upper...........off to do so.

#51 I am a fan of Louise Penny and fully intend to read all of the series.
#52 Good luck! I'd have a very hard time sticking to the TBR shelf. The new always seems so interesting and insistent.

#8 Morning in the Burned House
poems by Margaret Atwood


I pulled this one off the shelf because some of the poems were quoted in my last novel, the Brutal Telling.
I haven't read poetry for quite a while. This was very enjoyable. I'm keeping the little book handy, to go back to every now and then.

Here's a sample:
from "Miss July Grows Older"
Don't confuse me with my hen-leg elbows
what you get is no longer
what you see.

I'll look out for this book Lorraine. Thanks for the sample poem...

#9
Away by Amy Bloom



A historical romantic adventure spanning North America, with Russian roots, excitement and action on every page right to the end.
Lillian's family is killed in a Russian pogrom and her daughter is missing. Lillian manages to make it to, and to make it in, New York. When she learns that her daughter may be alive after all, she embarks on a journey to find her in Siberia, a journey taking her by train across the US and on beyond Dawson. Each stage of the journey brings new perils and colourful characters.

This sounds like a fascinating book. Do you recommend it?

I have seen Amy Bloom's name bandied about on a couple of the threads this year. I really must get to some of her books.

Stasia

I love the word "bandied." Your vocabulary is incredible! Isn't reading so wonderful. It helps build such a great vocabulary. Years ago when I read, I had a dictionary by my side and stopped when I didn't know a word. Now, over the years, I'm using the dictionary less.... Afterall, we should get something as a result of all the $ we spent on books over the years eh?

Definitely!

Ya know, I'm a sucker for a beautiful cover and Away is gorgeous! The story line doesn't sound too shabby either soooooo onto the wishlist it goes.

#56 Definitely, I recommend it. There's a lot of story packed into under 250 pages. 'Dense'.
#57 This is my first Amy Bloom, but not my last. Besides the adventure, I enjoyed the humour and raunchiness. Is that a word?
# 60 I hope you enjoy it, Lynda.

> 55 For some reason, I was under the impression that Away was a book of short stories. I stand corrected. It sounds like something I would like so I will have to put it on the list!

#10 Okay, I've got to do this quick, because my next book is beckoning seductively...
Oryx and Crake

This is the pre-quel to The Year of the Flood. I've read it before, but felt compelled to go back to it and I'm so glad I did. The two really enhance each other, and I will be waiting for number three. The fate of Jimmy and the Crakers as well as the fate of Ren and Toby...I must know! That's three Atwoods in a month. All great.

An interesting coincidence (I know, MJ, there are no coincidences, but...) Jimmy finds comfort in obsolete words; p. 261
Dibble. Aphasia. Breast plough. Enigma. Gat. (What the H is a 'breast plough'?)
and in my last read, Lillian befriends her thesaurus over and over; p. 203
...the ins and out of loneliness, (soleness, she remembers, also singleness, solitude-which implies something special and even pleasant-and lonesomeness, which is the right, mourrnful, Western word for what she feels)

Hi Loosha - I see you're another Louise Penny fan. I have The Brutal Telling waiting for me on the shelf. I also love Atwood.

#63: Glad to see you enjoyed Oryx and Crake, Lorraine!

#11
the Golden Mean

Aristotle's story of his relationship with his young student, Alexander, with King Philip, and with the various members of his household. Alternately fascinating and monotonous.

#66: Could you tell me what all the fascinating page numbers are and then I can skip the monotonous ones? lol

Too bad about that one. It looks like one I would have enjoyed. I hope your next read is better for you, Lorraine!

#67 Haha. Don't be put off this book by me though, as it is very highly rated by others. You may really enjoy it.
Off to Vancouver to enjoy some Olympic fever for a few days...yes, I'm taking books, too!

I'm intrigued that you considered the God's Gardeners hymns to be satirical, I was never sure that they were. Apparently they have been recorded with music and everything (not sure where I read that, but I did). Their views may not be those of the author, but I think she's interested in exploring whether their ideas offer a way out of the crisis facing the characters/the planet. Atwood has quite a strong scientific background and the novel is about potential ecological disaster.

Vancouver! I'm so jealous, Lorraine but I'll be wearing my 2010 Vancouver T-shirt (bought in Niagara Falls) and cheering on all the athletes. Have a great time!

#69 Thanks for stopping by. Have you read Oryx and Crake? In it, her character Crake warns against the whole idea of religions or cults. I felt Atwood was poking fun at the hymns themselves, the whole idea of hymns, not at their content so much. The simplification of meaning through the hymns could be a way of popularizing their message to the cult members, much in the way that children (and others) will sing or chant without paying attention to the intent of the lyrics. Although I agree with you that the ideas expressed are worthy. Yes, they have been recorded with music. I'll let you know when I find out where we can hear them, now that you've reminded me!

#70 We're off this morning, leaving within the hour. It's a sunny great day for travelling and we are definitly going to have a good time.

Have a wonderful time, Lorraine!

Your thread contains many irresistable books and comments. I'm starring you! Have fun at the Olympics...and let us know how many books you get read. :-)

I've read Oryx and Crake but I may not have that clear a memory of it.

I suspect Atwood isn't religious and is often very critical of the results of some actions under the banner of religion, notably The Handmaid's Tale. But I felt in reading The Year of the Flood that while the God's Gardeners may not have the right answers, they are at least portrayed as trying to deal in some way with some of the issues/questions and that they 're certainly more sympathetically portrayed than the consumerist/capitalist culture/society that is the alternative.

I am reading nothing. I'm in Vancouver enjoying the Olympics. People, people everywhere, excitement, the air is buzzing. Drizzling rain, but no-one seems to mind. I haven't had a moment to myself with a book for days. Not tonight either, or tomorrow.

>74 elkiedee: I completely agree, the God's Gardeners are more sympathetically portrayed, but I get the feeling that they are also a bit naive in their efforts to deal with the awful alternative. I hope you get a chance to re-read Oryx and Crake. I haven't had time to research the musical version of the hymns, too busy, in fact it's amazing that I'm on this computer right now...let go, let go, they're dragging me away again...

If you are wearing your LibraryThing T-shirt Loosha, maybe we'll spot you.

Wow - have a great time Lorranie!! I thought the opening ceremonies were fantastic. What events are you there to see?

Our Olympic experience was excellent - we'd like to go back for a few more days now that the weather is so good in Vancouver. We went to an evening awards ceremony and saw Alex Bolideau receive his gold. Mostly we wandered the streets and took in free events around the city. The crowds were buzzing with excitement, eveyone was friendly, even standing in lines was interesting because of all the interactions with people from all over the world.

Finally back home I've found time to return to reading even though I'm spending more time than ever before in front of the TV.

#12 The Betrayal

An Early Reviewers book.
I was excited to get this book because I've not read anything by Helen Dunmore and she has had some very good reviews for other books. This story takes place in Leningrad, 1952, when life was hard and often unfair for ordinary people. Doctors were blamed for causing suffering and death when important officials contacted diseases that couldn't be cured, and many were tortured and imprisoned. If a family member was arrested,(an event that usually took place in the dark of the night), others were counselled to denounce them in order to avoid suspicion. In this story, the son of a very scary and powerful man has his leg amputated in an effort to save his life. When his cancer spreads, the doctor is accused of conspiracy. A compelling story about life in horrific times.
Although I was caught up in the story, I am not rushing out to read more books by this author. Something about her style, her choices of detail, the dialog, just didn't click with me. Still, I do recommend this easy read for the excitement of the plot.

(edited to change touchstone. There are a lot of 'Betrayals' out there!)

> 78 The new Dunmore book does sound horrific. I think I will cringingly pass on that one!

#13 Not Yet: A Memoir of Living and Almost Dying



Wayson Choy, born lucky, explores his reasons for living after 2 brushes with death.

Here's a link to a very entertaining video of the author discussing this book.

http://bit.ly/bpVaL6

#80: I am going to look for that one. Thanks for the recommendation, Lorraine.

Lorraine

Thanks for the description regarding the Olympics! How great!

I'm stopping by to thank you for recommending The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens..It is a wonderful book!

And now, I'm adding Not Yet: A Memoir of Living and Almost Dying.

#14 The Last Shot Incendiary Short Stories

(From National Post's Canada Also Reads list)

This is a collection of imaginative bizarre surreal stories.

Here’s an example from ‘Magi Dogs’

I had no sooner finished my new painting, White Cottage with Green Shutters, when a dog poked its nose in the door, looked me over with only the mildest interest, then without further ado trotted up the painting’s cottage path, yawned, and at once dropped down asleep by the front steps.

In 'The Last Shot' devious twins Pam and Roy torment their care-taker, their blind grandfather, while their mother takes her ‘last shot’ at a relationship.

And the language...well best to record a little sample of that, too. This is from the novella 'Gator Wrestling'.
...she had viewed puberty, virginity, chastity, kissing, touching, and the like as doomed, gleeless bony old crows with snake hair and cloven hoofs, all heaped together on the back of a wagon riding bumpy ground into a grotesque black zone where light fizzed into deeper darkness the minute it was born;...
Whew. Quite a way with imagery. Okay, that example is a bit over the top but it does give you an idea of the treasures to be found.

Leon Rooke has won several literary awards. I'll be looking for his 1981 novel Shakespeare's Dog which won the Governor General's Award.

Glad you had a great time in Vancouver. I've been glued to the set since it began. I have even learned to appreciate the fine sport of Curling.
The Last Shot sounds like a book I would actually enjoy reading, sort of off the wall, yes?

>84 Carmenere:, sort of off the wall, yes?

Yes, really out there. If you enjoy stories that stretch your imagination, this author is for you.

I know what you mean about curling. Not quite as boring as I imagined. And the Norweigan pants! Gotta get me some of those. I've even watched the hockey games, which is usually my 'reading time'. Today....the Big Game!

YES!! the Norwegian pants, my husband and I are fans of those too ;-)
We already enjoyed curling once in a while (when no other sprots available on tv) on BBC or Eurosport.
Well, hubby watching and me with laptop or book watching with half an eye....

Congratulations on winning the Big Game!!!

I am envious of those of you who have access to BBC on tv! I would love to have watched the series Desperate Romantics based on the book by Franny Moyle. I cannot even buy the DVD here in the US as it is not available.. And, Amazon wants a fortune for the book...

If you love Norwegian Curling Pants you may be interested in knowing you can become a fan of them on facebook just click here

BTW: Canada did an excellent job with the olympics despite the fickle weather and the untimely death of the Georgian luger. Congrats for hockey gold, it just seems right that they one on home ice with home crowd.

*88 Hey...I got some p.j. bottoms from Zellers that look a lot like those Norweigan curling pants! Too bad I'm not on facebook, that sounds like fun. Another way to drain my time though...
*89 We don't get BBC, but CBC often carries some of their specials. I will look for Desperate Romantics.

#15
The Ravine by Paul Quarrington


From the book jacket (I know, I know, but it's right on. No need to reinvent.)
Every childhood contains at least one "ravine" - one episode where the fabric of everyday life rips and the monsters come roaring out. ...both profoundly disturb ing and profoundly funny. ...reveals the surprising echoes fo childhood misadventure in the lives of three men.

and a quote from p. 200
"Television," he told me, "is a river of money into which we must jump."

Bumbling, guilt-ridden would-be novelist turned TV writer attemps an autobiography. Very endearing and humorous, engaging writing style.

After Paul Quarrington was diagnosed with lung cancer, he wrote his own autobiogaphical novel, Cigar Box Banjo, which is due out in May. He was a musician, the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for Porkbelly Futures. I don't know if the book was completed before his untimely death earlier this year. I'm glad I picked this book from the library shelf. His humourous writing style is a welcome change and I would like to read more by him. Maybe I'll even give his King Leary another go.

#90: I will give that one a try. Thanks for the recommendation, Lorraine.

ditto what Stasia said.

#16 My White Planet

Mostly bleak, some humorous short stories, very creative, unusual, and poetic. Take your time with this one. "A Nation Plays Chopsticks" is an excellent hockey story, "My White Planet" is unforgettable. Elegant language.

#17 Come, Thou Tortoise

Unique and funny. Our narrator Audrey, (also known as Oddly) is a young woman with a 'low IQ" but rather smart in her own way. She is the caretaker of a pet tortoise and a long-living mouse. Her sentences are short, she uses no question marks, and she likes to play with words. (Heathrow-up Airport) She deals with her father's death and a resulting mystery. Great read....nice change from the seriousness and bleakness of many of the books I've been reading lately.

#94: I think I will pass on the mostly bleak book, but I am adding Come, Thou Tortoise to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Lorraine.

#18 The Unnamed

Successful lawyer Tim is afflicted with an undiagnosed mysterious condition. He gets a sudden compulsion to walk, sometimes for days, until he's exhausted, when he calls his wife to pick him up. Physical or mental? He keeps a backpack with essentials to keep himself alive and for years his condition is kept a secret from his law firm, until of course it can no longer be hidden. He choses not to depend on his family any more and disappears from them into the wasteland of homelessness. How his illness finally affects his family is compelling reading.

Book #17 and book#18 look very interesting. Where did you find these gems?

Come, Thou Tortoise is listed by the National Post on the Canada Also Reads contest, a spin-off from CBC's Canada Reads. You might enjoy this blog:
http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/afterword/default.aspx

I can't remember where I first heard of The Unnamed but I did read and enjoy Ferris' previous book Then We Came to the End.

#19 Paint it Black

Just what you'd expect from Janet Fitch, author of White Oleander. Tough LA nude model Josie falls for an artist who has denounced his rich family and is looking for the 'true world'. When Michael unexpectedly commits suicide, Josie finds herself in a very unusual relationship with his mother. Emotional examination of life and death, exceptional characters.

Let's see what I can find on page 263. (Just a random number for short selections if I haven't saved anything noteworthy...I find it helps me to remember the tone of a book, having a short quote.) And |I will take the time one of these days to learn how to use italics.

Reason was seductive, it gave the appearance of truth, but they were smart, Meredith and her family. They know just how to bend the turth to suit themselves. Josie felt herself back off from belief like a dog that smelled poison in a chunk of meat.


#20 The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag

11 year old amateur detective/chemist (speciallizing in poisons) is at it again, solving another crime in her quiet English village. Irresistable top notch entertainment.

A sample:

'although he was a very great musician, and a wizard composer of symphonies, Beethoven was quite often a dismal failure when it came to ending them.'
and
'composers are not like the rest of us. Most of them, for instance, are dead.'

#99: I have definitely got to get Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie read, so I can move on to book 2!

#100: ( I hope this message appears this time....)

Yes, I liked book 2 even better. I hope Alan Bradley keeps on improving with each one - I think he has 6 planned for the series.

>96 loosha: - My son and I went to a reading & signing by Josh Ferris for The Unnamed. He did a long reading and I just loved listening to him and he was so nice and friendly with everyone. It was a fun night. And that's why I feel so guilty about not being able to get into The Unnamed. I even put the audio, read by Ferris, on my ipod. I guess I'm just afraid of it being terribly bleak. My son read it and assured me it was...but it still sounds like a worthwhile read.

#21 The Parabolist


A clever, funny story of a group of young medical students in Toronto and their Mexican poet friend. A young woman, raped and nearly murdered, is saved by two drunken vigilantes who kill her assailant then flee. The only clue is a smear of Crisco, which one of the carousers had used earlier to escape from his lover's house through a very tight pet door. The tale is told through the eyes of a variety of interesting characters and culminates in a powerful ending.
The story is clever, the tone is detatched. I wanted to like it more than I did - I couldn't find rapport with any of the characters. Maybe I'm too old. Ah, well. Four stars.

> 103 What an unusual-sounding story!!! Too bad it did not pan out as well.

#103: I think I will give it a pass. I am probably too old for it too!

Lorraine

Thanks for your great description. The cover looks intriguing!

#22 Zeitoun

This heartwrenching true hurricane Katrina story has been summarized and reviewed here extensively already. Basically, a Syrian man and his family live through the hurricane and its aftermath, suffering racial/religious discrimination and appalling inhumane treatment by gov't authorities. Add me to the list of those who loved it.

Lorraine

I've read many books on Hurricane Katrina. Zeitoun was one of the best. How sad that he and his family were hard working, and unlike many during the experience who looked for a handout, he did the right "good" thing and was slammed for it.

If this was one of the best books, I use Not Just The Levees Broke as the worst.

Thanks, Linda, I'll be sure to skip that one.
If you don't have The Disappeared on your list yet, get ready to add it. I'm totally immersed in it tonight.

Tell me more about this book. Is it about Viet Nam?

#107: That one is already in the BlackHole thanks to numerous good reviews here in the group, including Linda's. I am glad that you liked it, Lorraine.

> I look forward to your comments on The Disappeared. I have been wanting to read it also, and have heard good things about it.

What a family. We have vegans, vegetarians, meat-lovers, and a grumpy old man who won't wear his dentures. The menu planning is truly a challenge.

#23 The Disappeared


from p. 172
"Why do some people live a comfortable life and others live one that is horror-filled? What part of ourselves do we shave off so we can keep on eating while others starve? If women, children, and old people were being murdered a hundred miles from here, would we not run to help? Why do we stop this decision of the heart when the distance is three thousand miles instead of a hundred?"

A love story spanning several decades, beginning in Montreal where Anne falls in love at a young age with a Cambodian musician/student who cannot return to his country during Pol Pot's rule. When the borders are finally opened, he is compelled to return to try to find his family. Anne hears nothing from him for years, continues to love him, and learns the Khmer language, until one day she thinks she sees him as part of the crowd on a newreel. She decides she must go to Phnon Penh to find him. Here begins the story of the most tragic and traumatic kind of life this world has ever seen.

The language is sparse ,poetic, but not indulgent. An unusual method of narration is used; Anne is telling the story of their love to Serey. Here is a random sample that gives a feeling for the tone:

from p. 93
Why is she afraid to sit with us, I asked.
You joked, Maybe it's your accent.
I did not understand then that everywhere people watched each other. And sometimes they told and sometimes they did not in this place that was not free.

This is one of those stories that if you don't read it, you can forget that some things ever happened. It's more comfortable not to know, not to revisit the terrors that humans can inflict on one another. A love story, also a nudge to the conscience.

Great review!!!!!

#113: I already have that one in the BlackHole. I hope my local library gets a copy soon! Thanks for the review, Lorraine.

Why won't my message appear??? Very strange... Where is the rest of my message?

<114 Thank you, you are so kind. I am not a writer and these little reviews are very stressful for me. I have a hard time putting my thoughts and feelings into words that work, then I go back and read them and think, oh, why didn't I say that, and oh, that's not quite what I meant.

I have a great respect and admiration for good writers.

And then, sometimes, after all that, the post disappears (like the one above) and I have to start over. When will I learn to always copy my post before submitting...

I thumbed your review of The Disappeared. Strange that now your messages have "disappeared".

Good luck with the menu planning. My family is some of those annoying vegetarians but we happily eat bread and desert and are not picky.

#107 / #108 I've just made a note of Zeitoun as I've not read any books about Hurricane Katrina and that one sounds interesting. Whisper1 - are there any other books on the subject which you would recommend? I'd be keen to learn which ones are worth the time.

Okay, my computer crashed. I'll try that last message again. I did actually (yay) copy and save at last!

ETA And I just pasted it here. It appears on my message frame, but does not submit. Okay, Ill try re-typing it all.

@114 Thank you, you are so kind. I am not a writer and these little reviews are very stressful for me. I have a hard time putting my thoughts and feelings into words that work, then I go back and read them and think, oh, why didn't I say that, and oh, that's not quite what I meant.

I have great respect, admiration, and awe for good writers.

And then, sometimes, after all that, the post disappears (like the one above) and I have to start over. When will I learn to always copy my post before submitting...

ETA 2
I've got if figured out. You can use most symbols to prefix a comment, #@> are all okay. But if you use (>) mirror image, nothing you type after it will appear. Huh.

#24 Let the Great World Spin


I am filled with awe and admiration for Colum McCann. How does he do it? How does he write a book that brings such a diversity of characters to life? A full 5-star book for me.

#122: Several of us in the group have read and been in awe over that one, including me. I am glad to see you enjoyed it too, Lorraine.

#25 Mariana

Romance, mystery, history. A cosy comforting read, a time-slip story with some interesting variations. Not ususally my cup of tea, but sometimes that's just the right cup for the day. And today was that day, snow in April, then bright sun but an icy wind. Comfort was definitely called for.

#124: I will keep that one in mind for when I need a cozy read. Thanks for the recommendation, Lorraine.

Onto the list it goes.

#26 Toby; A Man

Toby has it all - wealth, fame, a beautiful girlfriend, his own TV show, 'Toby A Gentleman'. He is a man's Emily Post; he promotes manners and fashion to the modern man.
Of course, it all falls apart and he loses everything: his condo, his BMW, and his handmade suits are lost one by one through a series of unfortunate events. His father is suffering from some mysterious apparently mental ailment, his mother is a bit of a harpy, his friends ignore and humiliate him. And above it all, he is unexpectedly left to care for a 3 year old boy.
Wait a minute...does this sound like a Hugh Grant movie? Has Todd Babiak been commisserating with Nick Hornby? And why are all the women so unlikeable?
The writing is witty, satirical, humourous. Oh, darn, I had picked out a couple of good sample passages from the novel, but returned it to the library too soon. Someone will find my sticky notes and wonder why they're there. Bottom line, I had a good time reading this book and giggling.

#127: I had picked out a couple of good sample passages from the novel, but returned it to the library too soon

I do that all the time, scribbling page numbers on notes I stick throughout the book and then I forget about them when I return the book to the library. It is nice to know I am not the only one :)

I haven't posted for a long time. My mom had a heart attack and we've been dealing with that. She's still in hospital, but should be home soon.
anyways...
#27
Where the God of Love Hangs Out

and #28
The Rehearsal


Just keeping track for now, reviews to come. Suffice to say they were both excellent books.

I am sorry to hear about your mother, Lorraine. I hope she recovers fully - and soon!

Wishing your mother, you, and your family all the best. I'm glad to hear she's almost home. Recovery goes much faster in a familiar setting.

I hope you get to keep reading. I wouldn't worry about the reviews for now.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that about your mom but I hope she gets home and starts feeling better soon.

Lorraine...
Sending prayers and hugs.

Hope your mum continues to get better.

sending good thoughts for you and your mother over the Altlantic...
hugs
Anita

Thank you all so so so much for your kind words. It's been 2 weeks now. I'm a bit of a mess, but she is still improving, slowly, much too slowly for me. I'm finding lots of time for reading while I sit with Dad.

#29 Cool Water

A very cool novel about the unremarkable lives of unremarkable people in small-town Juliet, Saskatchewan. The more you get to know them, the more you find them truly unordinary.
#30 Remarkable Creatures

Again, somewhat unremarkable, but enjoyable. Two women in 19th Century England find fossils and friendship, and fight the prevailing attitudes of the times towards women.

#136: I have Remarkable Creatures home from the library now and will be getting to it in the next couple of weeks. I am adding Cool Water to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Lorraine.

I hope your mother continues to improve!

'but dying was no drama. Dying was cold and hard and painful, and dull. It went on too long. I was exhausted and growing bored with it.'

from Remarkable Creatures. I'm not totally depressed, nor am I dwelling upon death, although I am facing it in both my parents. the quote just jumped out at me as I looked back at the novel and it seemed so appropriate. ( it was on one of my post-it noted pages)

It's been difficult to really appreciate my books lately. As always, circumstances affect my appreciation. I keep coming across accolades for Nickolski, which I read when I was distracted and seemed to have failed to connect with. (oops, touchstone's not working, must have spelled it wrong)

#137 Linda, I do hope you get Cool Water. I think it's really quite good.

And, I must must must get into writing about The Rehearsal. Very unique. Unusual. Put it on your list. It is an amazing work from a young author.

But not tonight. Gotta sleep.

#138: Although I am not Linda (proud to be confused with any of the myriad Lindas in our group, though!), I will look for The Rehearsal.

AAARgh. A million apologies, Stasia. You and Whisper1Linda are both so friendly and kind, and my mind is just getting muxed ip.

#140: I cannot tell you how many times it has happened to me, lol.

#31 beatrice and virgil


Yann Martel's imaginative Holocaust-inspired story makes a strange, thought-provoking, disturbing book.

"How are we going to talk about what happened to us one day when it's over?" and
"Sometimes life stinks just as much as death."

Lorraine

I continue to hold you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. I'm most impressed that you are reading despite all the stress you are experiencing.

BIG hugs.

>142 loosha:: I loved Life of Pi but havent been tempted to read Beatrice & Virgil...yet. What did you think of it, Lorraine?

I've been remembering you and your family in my prayers. I've been through a similar situation and feel for you. Isn't it interesting how all those quotes about life and death leap out at you when someone you love is ill? I always found that somehow comforting.

I hope your mother is still improving, Lorraine!

thank you all for your good wishes. Mom came home from the hospital yesterday, finally. Three weeks since her heart attack. She continues to improve slowly. We bought her a walker yesterday, and no, it's not a mother's day gift!

What did I think of beatrice and virgil? It is a very strange book, very inventive. I didn't love it like Life of Pi, it's hard to love a book based on such terrors, but it is really an amazing story, one I'm not going to forget.

I think it is a terrific Mother's Day gift to have your mother home! (walker notwithstanding)

Just dropping by to say that I hope your mother is doing better. See you around soon!

Pseudomonas and enterococcus...the hospital is a very dangerous place. Tough times, lucky to have family to support us. The worst thing I can think of right now is being hospitalized without someone to advocate for you. You need to fight for even a breakfast tray some days!
We're okay. Thanks for your support. And I'm still finding an escape and some enjoyment in books. Latest, The Mistress of Nothing.

Oh, I remember those days of caring for my mom after her heart attack. Glad she's home. Wishing you all the best!

Best wishes to you and your family Lorraine. Hope your mom is doing better.

Life is getting sort of back to normal here. Seems my new job is looking after my parents, several hours each day, and I'm glad to be able to do it. But let's talk about books.
Let's see...since I last posted I've read

The Mistress of Nothing, written by a friend's daughter, and winner of the G-G prize. Lady's maid Sally finds a life in Egypt after her British Lady ejects her from the household.

Daniel O'Thunder Evangelistic pugilist Daniel and his contemporaries fight the Devil and his devilish ways through the dark sides of 1800's London.

After the Falls: Coming of Age in the 60's The title says it all. A memoir.

Deloume Road 'This is the end of the road, but if you turn around, it's the beginning.' p. 5 Beautifully detailed story of a tragic incident in rural Vancouver Island.

Tapas on the Ramblas A murder mystery for camping...Gay Saskatoon detective solves a mystery on a cruise ship in the Meditereanean.

Another Thing to Fall Murder mystery on a movie set in Baltimore. Another camping trip book.

Traveling with Pomegranates a memoir written by Sue Monk Kidd and her daughter, Ann Kidd Taylor, about their getting-to-know-you-again trip to Greece. Very introspective, if you like that sort of thing, a bit self-indulgent in analyzing allegories and dreams.

Open another memoir, and I've had enough of those for a while. This one is by Andre Agassiz and tells of his hate of tennis and his father, his relationships with Brooke Sheilds and with Stephanie Graff. It's amazing how he can remember the details of nearly every tennis match he's played.


Okay, that's all caught up. Now I'm going out to re-plant my zinnias and nasturtiums which have been eaten up by the stupid quail. They are so cute, though; the babies are like little walnuts on legs.

Welcome Back!

Glad to see you back, Lorraine!

Wow! Several hours a day? That's tough, no matter how much you love your parents. Plus, there's that stress of parent-child relationships, no matter how old you all get and even (or especially) if the roles get flipped. Glad you're finding time to read.

Sometimes I want to read Open because I've heard good things about it, even from people who aren't tennis fans, but then I question the veracity of Agassis's stories, considering how long it's been. Also, when he was getting interviewed last year, he was sounding awfully whiny and narcissistic. And, unless someone takes notes, remembering very specific conversations from years past seems unlikely. I'll probably look at it at the bookstore, because I've become more of a voyeur as I've gotten older. (You would think I would be better, but you'd be wrong!)

You are reading some interesting books, despite your busy schedule. I'm on the fence about Sue Monk Kidd and her writing. I don't care for her fiction, but some of her spiritual writing has really touched me. This one? We'll see. I think I'll wait until I'm in the mood for self indulgent analysis of allegories!

#41 Shanghai Girls Priviledged sisters in Shanghai, victims of their father's gambling, are sold to arranged marriages, and eventually escape through devastating circumstances to LA, where their lives change drastically. Sequel to come.
#42 Life Sentences 'Pretty young girls go to book clubs? I thought those were for ugly old broads such as me. Not that you'll catch me in a room full of women, drining wine and talking about a book. Drinking, maybe.' Successful memoir author researches her past for a new book, and finds that her memories are not as true as she thinks.
#43 31 Bond Street Murder mystery set in 1850's New York. Great historical details
#44 Every Last One The first half of the book is a nice family portrait, the teenage daughter and the younger teen twin boys. One of the boys, Alex, is a popular athlete, the other, Max, is a depressed drummer. The daughter, Ruby, is unique, beautilful,(although somewhat anorexic) and has a long-time childhood sweetheart from a troubled family. When Ruby breaks up with the boyfriend, the book takes a dark turn and terrible violence changes the second half of the story into something else.
#45 When Will There Be Good News What a great writer! An excellent mystery with very well rendered characters, Louise, Jackson, Reggie. I'll be looking for more books by Kate Atkinson.

Hi Lorraine.

I hope you are having a great summer. I'm adding book #43 to the list.

#157 Shanghai Girls....a sequel to come?! Tell me it's true for I enjoyed SG's very much and would welcome more from Lisa See regarding those two totally opposite sisters.

#157: Hey, Lorraine! Glad to see you around - and reading good stuff, too.

Two books with a connection; both discuss the immigrant's experience in Canada.
first,
#46 The Amazing Absorbing Boy. A 17 y-o boy from Trinidad is sent to Toront to live with his reluctant father after his mother dies. He must find his own way since the loser father only taunts, ignores, and abandons him for days at a time. Humorous observations about the big city, but the choppy writing style is a bit annoying. 3/5

#47 Some Great THing A well educated black Winnipeg-born man gets a job as a reporter for the Winnipeg Herald. Another reporter from Cameroon is sent to apprentice in Winnipeg. They both meet a down&out invalid who is fighting the welfare system to get his due sustenance money. Meanwhile, the French are fighting for language rights in Manitoba and the newspaper editors are exaggerating and twisting the news stories. Good humour, insights. 4/5

and #48 The Last Time I Saw You A hot summer afternoon's reading, or a book for multi-tasking because you really don't have to keep your mind on the plot with this unsurprising 40th reunion story. Entertaining but not much more. (Some days you don't want any more.) My favourite character is the young girl who 'apprentices' to the veterinarian. 3/5

Glad you liked Kate Atkinson! I have read Case Histories and really enjoyed it.

I've got that one reserved at the library. Her books are very popular, they don't hang around on the shelves it seems.

#161: I loved Hill's The Book of Negroes, so I am adding Some Great Thing to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Lorraine.

#49 Trespass

Crazed Aramon looks to his sister Audrun for help, after years of abuse; wealthy antique dealer Anthony looks for a new home in France near his sister V and her jealous lover. wonderfully written, very imaginative. Long-listed for the Booker.

#50 Eve Green

The story of a Eve's childhood in Wales following the death of her mother, and the disappearnce of a young girl at the time. The narrator is now expecting the birth of her own child and is looking back.

#51 Parrot and Olivier in America

Distinct voice: 'I had no doubt that something cruel and catastrophic had happened before I was even born, yet the compte and comtesse, my parents, would not tell me what it was. As a result my organ of curiosity was made irritalbe and I grew into the most restless and unhealthy creature imaginable - slight, pale, always climbing, prying into every drain and attic in the Chateau de Barfleur.'
Also long-listed for the Booker. Although I loved the atmosphere of the story, I couldn't get so interested in the characters.

#52 Case Histories

First in the murder mystery series. The characters are so very well drawn. Kate Atkinson is a greatly entertaining author and I intend to read the entire series.

#53 Doing Dangerously Well

I really enjoyed this strange quirky book about corrupt politicians and money-grabbing corportations who try to find advantage in the catastrophic burst dam in Nigeria. All the characters are seriously deranged, from the local leader Kolo who wants nothing more than to have the Niger river renamed after him, to the misguided do-gooder Barbara and her shark sister Mary, who manipulates profit and murder in Nigeria from her glass tower in America. Great story, highly recommend this one.

These all sound good, but I went for Parrot and Olivier in America because of the quote, and I love a strong voice.

#165: I already have several of those in the BlackHole, but am adding Doing Dangerously Well to join them.

Ahhh, another week of very, very good reading.

First, The Imperfectionists: An international newspaper based in Rome, its crafty founder, its richly varied staff, their work and home life exposed through chapters that read like short stories. Each chapter focuses on one character and of course they appear in each other's stories, until finally at the end the whole tale comes together. Totally entertaining, especially since one of our good friends is a news reporter, and a good follow-up to Some Great Thing.

And then, Greedy Little Eyes. Powerful, somewhat disturbing, a bit dark, short stories, set in Vancouver. There are the two sisters who deal with their father's sexually abusive drinking buddy; there's the exterminator who feigns madness to get free treatment and training; there's the woman who ignores her son as he wanders off' to continue her rapport with an orangutan at the zoo. You get the idea.

Here's a sample of her 'voice'. I liked this one because my sister lives in Vancouver and used to drive a Miata.

p. 159
A sunny Friday summer afternoon in this city and the whole place goes mad; they don't know what else to do but run to their hopeful little Miatas that have been sitting with their miserable tops up for a month of soggy Fridays, jump in and peel off to somewhere blue and glinting, anywhere just to be seen in the sun by the water, looking breezy and blessed.

#168: I really liked The Imperfectionists, Lorraine. I am glad you enjoyed it as well.

Wishlisted The Imperfectionists, thanks!

#56 February by Lisa Moore, long-listed for the Booker Prize. Loved this story of a woman's life and family after her husband is killed on the Ocean Ranger disaster, an oil rig that sank off the east coast several years ago. Beautifully written. The section 'John's Job Interview 2005' left me in awe of her skill as a writer. Definitely a re-read, *****

#57 Changing My Mind: Occasional Essays by Zadie Smith. Essays, not my cuppa tea. Reviews of books and authors I haven't read, movies, personal reminiscences; enjoyable to a point but I did not get into it.**

#58 Child 44 A murder mystery set near Moscow in the last days of Stalin. Paints a very disturbing picture of the justice system in Russia, 1950's, and the hardships and fear that the people there had to endure. ****

Hello
I've missed you. I hope you are well!

#171: I have definitely got to find a copy of February. Thanks for the review and recommendation, Lorraine!

This month's reading:

Dear Husband


#59
Mostly dark and bizarre short stories about families and their disfunctions.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

#60 Charming story of a British widower and his romance with the Pakistani shop-keeper in his idyllic village. Late-life love story.

Faithful Place

#61 Loved this intriguing mystery set in Dublin and highlighting a very disfunctional family, or actually more than one. Franks's childhood sweetheart Rosie was murdered twenty years ago and the solution to the crime comes at a great cost.

I'd Know You Anywhere

#62 A kidnapper and serial killer comes back into the life of one of his victims, the one he allowed to live. She is now a mother but finds she must revisit her experiences with him.

You Comma Idiot

#63 Very very good, surprisingly because of the writing style (2nd person). See review

and Sanctuary Line

Part way into this one and found it quite boring. I've really loved some of her books - Away, the Underpainter; and not liked The Stone Carvers or the Map one, don't remember the title. But I got Freedom from the library and was immediatley into it, so I put this one aside. Can't read everything! (although I try)

Hi Lorraine

I recently finished What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman. I'm adding I'd Know You Anywhere to the tbr pile.

Looks like you have had some nice recent reads, Lorraine! I loved Major Pettigrew. Glad you enjoyed that one.

Updating.

Freedom#64 I was so much looking forward to this, but was a bit disappointed. Not as engrossing as I was led to expect.

Room #65 Top notch five stars. Unique.

A Secret Kept #66 Okay,kind of typical mystery romance

Mr Peanut #67 Complex and creative novel about marriage and murder

Player One #68 Lots of food for thought from Douglas, again. Luv U, Doug.

Corduroy Mansions #69 Typical light humour. All the characters voices are so similar I start to think all British people are alike. Still, an enjoyable easy comforting read.

The Matter with Morris #70 Just too sad. Morris's son is killed in Afghanistan. Morris tries to carry on with his life, with varying degrees of success.

The White Queen #71 A book Club selection. Historical fiction without much more to latch on to, but engaging in its action.

and on deck: the Finkler Question , bury Your Dead, Zero History, and a trip to Palm Springs, California; no books involved.

Simply stopping by to say hello to you Lorraine.

I see you are a night owl this evening.

Hey, Lorraine! Glad to see you again.

Have a great Palm Springs trip!