Library Loot

Hosted alternately by Eva at A Stripped Armchair and this week by Marge at Reading Adventures.

Forgive me, it's been a month since my last confess...er, LL post.

Completed:

6. The Unit**** by Ninni Holmqvist Sweden 2009

I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I might. My personal experience of organ transplantation added a great deal to the interest for me. A very enjoyable story. Highly recommended.

9.Random Passage***** by Bernice Morgan 1992 Canada 269 pgs.

A very good historical fiction about a family in Ireland who are forced into exile to Newfoundland's most isolated outpost two hundred years ago. A truly great read. I cannot wait to read its sequel Waiting for Time. Both books are bestsellers here in Canada and I can see why.





10.What the Birds See***** by Sonya Hartnett (Of a Boy***** in Australia)

Will break your heart. The original title in Australia is OF A BOY. A shy but obedient little boy who feels unwanted tries to interpret the world around him and finds it a daunting task. Don't miss this one if you can get your hands on it.







11.Nikolski**** by Nicolas Dickner Canada 2005 (290 pages)

A French Canadian story about three Montrealers that David Mitchell (author of Cloud Atlas and Black Swan Green) called “Stylish, offbeat, poignant and perceptive.” An enjoyable read.

12.The Housekeeper and the Professor***** by Yoko Ogawa Japan (204 pages)

A wonderful story of a mathematician with brain damage, and how the maid deals with the fact that he does not recognize her every morning when she arrives at his home. A truly original and touching story. HIghly recommended.






13.Blacklands***** by Belinda Bauer UK 2009 (225 pages)

A psychological suspense that was so tense I had to finish it to get relief. A boy writes anonymously to a child killer in prison hoping the man will help him find the body of one of the local boys he's murdered. He's a very serious little boy and has deeply personal reasons for wanting to locate this murdered child. Eventually the killer figures out that he's communicating by letter with a twelve year old boy...talk about cat and mouse. Don't miss this one.



14.The Outcast****+ by Sadie Jones (347 pages)

A young man, 19, gets out of prison and returns home to his English village and a demanding and unforgiving father. He tries to cope with all the negative attitudes and expectations around him but it's a difficult road. Well written and highly recommended.





15.Good To a Fault**** by Marina Endicott

A woman take in a homeless family after hitting their car and putting the mother in the hospital. This creates a great upheaval in her life as these people are typically undisciplined, demanding and not always to be trusted. A very interesting story about motives for giving, guilt, and the limits of generosity. Well worth reading and highly recommended.

16. The Swan Thieves***** US 2010 (564 pages)

I love stories with psychiatrists and their patients in them. Lot's of artists' work and literary references here as the doctor's patient is a painter. A marvelous story as the doctor goes to unusual lengths to work out why his patient attacked a painting in the National Gallery of Art in New York. Great writing, smooth dialogue, Kostova is so easy to read. This is a must read.

Gave up on:

Before I Awake by Robert Wiersema 2006 Canada

Young daughter is in an irreversable coma after an accident. I'm 90 pages in and not sure I like where this story is going. People are starting to think the girl can heal people-while comatose you understand. Someone please tell me this story will be a satisfying one without getting weird.

Harry Revised by Mark Sarvas US 2009

It just wasn't grabbing me but I will try again when I'm in the right mood.

Currently Reading:

The Practice of Perfection by Mary Frances Coady Canada 2009

Connected short stories set in a convent. I've always loved stories about nuns. I'm enjoying it immensely.

Rain and Other South Seas Stories by W. Somerset Maugham UK 1921

I loved this man's short stories when I discovered them as a girl, and the fact that he was a doctor intrigued me as well. The title story is one that I've always liked but had not read in 40 years. I was shocked by the ending back then. It was filmed at least twice with Joan Crawford and Rita Hayworth in the starring role. Both films were excellent. I highly recommend this and any of Maugham's short stories.

The I feel like an idiot stack: (had to be returned before they got read and I know they are really good)

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese US
Still Alice by Lisa Genova US
Fugitive Pieces by Ann Michaels Canada
The Jade Peony by Wayson Choy Canada

To be read (the it don't rain but it pours stack, when they finally arrive they all come at once):

The Return by Victoria Hislop
The Piano Teacher by Janice Y. K. Lee
The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff
Gourmet Rhapsody by Muriel Barbery
Lark and Termite by Jayne Anne Phillips
The Love We Share Without Knowing by Christopher Barzak
The Comedians by Graham Greene
The Land of Green Plums by Herta Müller
In The Wet by Nevil Shute

In my defense I did read two books from my own shelves as well.

Which of these have you read? What did you think? Leave me links if you've reviewed them. Which would you like to read?