It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

Books completed this past week:

32.Solar*** by Ian McEwan UK 2010 (285 pages)

I'm always excited by a new McEwan novel and have never been disappointed, until now. I've read and enjoyed Amsterdam****, Black Dogs****, Enduring Love****, Saturday***** (my personal favourite), Atonement****, and On Chesil Beach**** as each was published. Solar is satire, so not cup of tea to start with. McEwan's writing is as good as ever and I generally don't mind unlikeable protagonists but I did not like this story. I'm glad I read it but I hope his next book isn't satire. The nice thing about his work is that each story is unique, he's not just writing a variation on the same old story like some.
In Solar he is satirizes scientists, their competitiveness, stealing of others' ideas, grants and wasted resources, greed, etc. It's been declared a very funny book by the bigger critics but I wasn't laughing. He also has a go at adulterous males, trendy artists who talk about solving world problems but don't do anything, and people with eating problems (which I was not pleased about). And there is no excuse for his use of an urban legend that would get anyone else laughed out of high school if passed off as creative writing. I hate to think he may have used it to mock another writer who claims to have actually experienced this incident, which was a hoary old chestnut when I heard about it thirty years ago. The main character is a Nobel scientist and McEwan's writing makes the science very easy to follow. But this man gets away with everything and nothing redeemed the story for me I'm afraid. 
If you're a McEwan fan, or a completist like me ( I'm continuing to work on his backlist), you'll want to read Solar but this book is not worth the cover price. Borrow it from the library. And please let me know what you thought, leave a link if you review it. Maybe I'm off my trolley on this one.













33.Vinegar Hill**** by A. Manette Ansay US 1994 (240 pages)

Recommended by Dollycas who did a fascinating bio and review of Ansay's books for Roadtrip:Writer's of Wisconsin at Dollycas' Thoughts. I enjoyed this story, despite it being too close to home for comfort at times, and recommend it. I will be reading more of Ansay's work as soon as I get my hands on some.

34.Wild Dogs***** by Helen Humphreys Canada (186 pages)

I really enjoyed this story. Six people are brought together by the common factor of their missing dogs. Their individual stories unwind as they meet every evening in hopes of finding their pets again. Loneliness, trauma, loss of one kind or another are very well expressed here by the writer of Coventry***** which I also read and reviewed. Highly recommended. 

Books in hand:



The Golden Mean by Annabel Lyon Canada 2009

It's about Aristotle taking in hand and trying to teach the boy who would become Alexander the Great, son of Philip, king of Macedonia. Winner of the 2009 Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize, 2009 Governor General's Award of Canada Finalist, 2009 Giller Prize Finalist. That's the three big ones in Canada. It's fascinating, I can only imagine the amount of research it took to make the story seem so believably real.

Darkness Visible by William Golding UK 1979

Yes, the Nobel laureate wrote Lord of the Flies, which I read in high school and hated. I've enjoyed his essays and thought I'd give his fiction another chance. It's about a boy who survived the London Blitz badly scarred and a social misfit because if it. I'm enjoying it though I haven't a clue where it's going. Reminds me of Ben, Doris Lessing's The Fifth Child somewhat but this young man is not evil.

Benny & Shrimp by Katarina Mazetti Sweden 1998

A humourous love story between two middle-aged Swedish loners that's just warming up. It seems like light fare so far.

Next up:

The Butterfly Chair by Marion Quednau Canada 1987

Awarded the 1987 Books in Canada Best First Novel Award.

Breaking Lorca by Giles Blunt Canada 2009

2009 Governor General's Award Longlist - My son (37) and I have read and loved every book he's written.

Please leave comments or links if you've read or reviewed any of these books. I'd love to read them. What are you reading that's got you excited?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

Books completed this week:

28.Seek My Face*** by John Updike US 2002 (277 pages)

A fictionalized account of an interview with Jackson Pollack's widow (Lee Rasner, herein called Hope Chafetz), about her own lifetime of work, but so far spent talking about sex with her three husbands and others. There nothing about the Pollocks' lives I didn't already know from watching the recent film with Ed Harris. I can't imagine why Updike bothered. I was hoping to learn something about art while trying some of his fiction. I've purchased and read volumes of his essays and literary criticism (Hugging the Shore, Odd Jobs, Picked-Up Pieces) and loved them all. The man was clearly sex-mad, but he did know about art.  Can anyone recommend some fiction by Updike that I might enjoy? I Bookmooched a copy of Brazil but now I'm leery. If you've reviewed an Updike novel, leave me a link. I prefer reading blind (no reviews before reading a book) but I think I'll make an exception for this author.
*Since finishing this book I've learned that Updike was shortlisted for the Bad Sex in Fiction Award for this book in 2003. I laughed so hard I frightened my dog who was sleeping under the desk.


29.Chef***** by Jaspreet Singh Canada 2009 (242 pages)

Set in Kashmir, about an Sikh army chef who goes back after fourteen years to cater the wedding of his former commanding officer's daughter. There are unresolved issues between him amd his former boss. I learned a few thing about the India /Pakistan wars, and drooled over all the food descriptions of course. The writing is wonderful, the wars are heartbreaking and the mountains are beautiful. Chef is Singh's first novel after an award-nominated collection of connected short stories, Seventeen Tomatoes: Tales from Kashmir. I have reserved this book at my library. I loved Chef, I will read it again. Highly recommended.

Reason for reading: I saw it on a 2009 list of nominees for a literary awards. Since then:

Winner of the Georges Bugnet Award for Fiction.
Short-listed for the 2009 Commonwealth Prize for Best Book in Canada and the Caribbean
Short-listed for the 2008 Quebec Writer's Federation Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction
Short-listed for the 2009 Canadian Author's Association Literary Award
Short-listed for the 2009 City of Calgary Prize
and as of March 17, 2010 Impac Dublin Literary Prize nominee for 2010

At the very least, ask your library to purchase it. We need to keep this man writing.


30.The Man Who Planted Trees***** by Jean Giono 1954 (54 pages)

A slim hardcover with woodcut photos about a man who planted trees every day of his life. A parable really of what one person without even mechanical resources can do to effect serious change in the world. It's as relevant as when he wrote it too. I loved it.



31.February***** by Lisa Moore 2009 GG Award Longlist (311 pages) Total:

About a woman who lost her husband in the Ocean Ranger disaster off Newfoundland in the 1980s. I enjoyed it immensely. Smooth writing with emotional depths that feel exactly right. Highly recommended. I enjoyed Alligator****, her first novel, also set in Newfoundland, but Moore is even better in February.


 
Book in hand:

Benny & Shrimp by Katarina Mazetti Sweden 1998

A humourous love story between two middle-aged Swedish loners that's just warming up. I'm hoping it has more depth than that. But Solar is coming home with my son from work in a few hours and I didn't want to start something longer.

Next up:


Solar by Ian McEwan

I've read and enjoyed Amsterdam****, Black Dogs****, Enduring Love****, Saturday***** (my personal favourite), Atonement****, and On Chesil Beach**** as they were each published. No point in stopping now.
 


 
The Golden Mean by Annabel Lyon Canada 2009

It's about Aristotle taking in hand and trying to teach the boy who would become
Alexander the Great. Winner of the 2009 Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize, 2009 Governor General's Award of Canada Finalist, 2009 Giller Prize Finalist. That's the three big ones in Canada.

 


The Butterfly Chair by Marion Quednau Canada 1987

Awarded the 1987 Books in Canada Best First Novel Award.



 




Breaking Lorca by Giles Blunt Canada 2009

2009 Governor General's Award Longlist - My son (37) and I have read and loved every book he's written.




Vinegar Hill by A. Manette Ansay  USA 1994  

Recommended by Dollycas who did a fascinating bio and review of Ansay's books for Roadtrip:Writer's of Wisconsin at Dollycas' Thoughts.

Followers, check out my audio giveaway of The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova and my new tabs. Hundreds of good reading suggestions on those pages. What are you reading that's got you excited?

Orange Prize for Fiction 2010

My updated Orange Prize Project post: Orange Prize longlist 2010 announced today.

My updated Miles Franklin Literary Awards longlist 2010 announced today.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey, whose enthusiasm I must say is infectious.

I started about six different books and could not make myself continue them; Blue Afternoon, The Danish Girl, Land of Green Plums etc. Nothing suited my tired of being sick and sick of being tired mood so I gathered up every oddball slim volume I could find in the house and read those. Somewhere along the way my brain went into gear again.

Books completed this past week:

21.Against Happiness***+ by Eric.G Wilson US 2008 non fiction (166 pages)

Beyond an opportunity for the author to discuss his favourite creative melancholics and some of their work; Blake, Keats, Proust, Lincoln, etc. and a plea not to medicate everyone who likes to be off by himself meditating, there isn't much more here. It's directed toward Americans who are forever claiming to be or wanting to be happy all the time. His theory is that cutting ourselves off from the painful things in our lives robs us of valuable lessons. What so wrong with being blue, he asks? Lots of wonderful quotes and an eleven page bibliography of their sources. This book would certainly make the average melancholy person feel better about himself . A very easy read and one I would recommend to anyone who wonders if they're depressed or just a deeply contemplative soul.

 
22.The Arrival***** by Shaun Tan AUS 2008 graphic novel (128 pages)


I've now read my third graphic novel ( I am not a fan) and this one doesn't have a word of text! What is the world coming to? It was delightful. A book about the emigrant experience from the pencil of a Chinese Australian that can be enjoyed and appreciated by anyone from three to a hundred. Done up to look like a old but beloved photo album that someone has lovingly carried for generations. A beautiful gift idea. Highly recommended.

 
23.Agape Agape**** by William Gaddis US (113 pages)

An odd duck but I'm glad I stuck with it. A dying man's denunciation against the destruction of the arts by the very mechanizations that were created from it. Very interesting but expect to burn up a few gray cells on this one.

   

24.Grief***** by Andrew Holleran US (150 pages)

Loved it. Great writing. Finally, a story about grief that went the way I needed it to. Highly recommended.



25.The Cat and Shakespeare: A Tale of India***** by Raja Rao (India) 1965 (104 pages) 

A delightful fable about India and the differing philosophies of two friends, with humour too. I enjoyed it very much.


26.Holiday**** by Stanley Middleton UK 1974 (140 pages)

Co-winner of the 1974 Booker Prize. I talked my public library into purchasing a copy. A story of a man's week on holiday after he's left his wife. He runs into his wife's parents and it sets him thinking seriously about what went wrong in his marriage. He's also following his own father's pattern of vacationing in the same place and this gives him a great deal of pause about that relationship and it's rough spots too. A quiet but powerful story which I enjoyed. I recommend it.


27.In the Name of God****+ by Yasmina Khadra Algeria/France (216 pages)

My fourth book by this exiled Algerian army officer. Another story of corruption in a repressive regime, a heart breaking historical fiction. Highly recommended.
   
 
Book in hand:


Seek My Face by John Updike

A not even disguised account of an interview with Jackson Pollock's widow (Lee Rasner, herein called Hope Chafetz), supposedly about her own lifetime of work, but so far spent talking about sex with her three husbands and various others. I'm half way through and there's nothing about the Pollocks' lives I didn't already know from watching the recent film with Ed Harris. I can't imagine why Updike bothered. I was hoping to learn something about art while trying some of his fiction. I've purchased and read volumes of his essays and literary criticism (Hugging the Shore, Odd Jobs, Picked-Up Pieces) and loved them all. The man was sex-mad, but he did know about art. I'll finish it because there has to be a payoff in here somewhere. Does all this man's fiction read like a smirking schoolboy waiting for the next innuendo in the conversion to get off on? Can anyone recommend some fiction by Updike that I might enjoy? I Bookmooched a copy of Brazil but now I'm leery. If you've reviewed an Updike novel, leave me a link. I prefer reading blind (no reviews before reading a book) but I think I'll make an exception for this author.


Up Next:

Chef by Jaspreet Singh
Morituri by Yasmina Khadra (another succeful library purchase request!)
February by Lisa Moore
Translation is a Love Affair by Jacques Poulin
The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono
Benny and Shrimp by Katarina Mazetti

Followers, check out my audio giveaway of The Swan Thieves-and my new tabs. Hundreds of good reading suggestions on those pages. What are you reading that's got you excited?

Mailbox Monday

Hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page.

I'm always happy to have books arrive in the mail. I'm not accepting arcs and I rarely purchase books new so I usually can't participate in Mailbox Monday and it's one of my favourites.

In my mailbox this week:

Bookmooched:

The Wednesday Letters by Jason. F. Wright

"Jack and Laurel Cooper are two hardworking, loving Christian pillars of the community who die in each other's arms one night in the bed-and-breakfast that they own and operate. The event calls their three grown children home for the funeral, including their youngest son, a fugitive from the law who must face an outstanding warrant for his arrest and confront his one true love, now engaged to another man. As events unfold around the funeral, the three children discover a treasure trove of family history in the form of Wednesday letters-notes that Jack wrote to his wife every single week of their married lives. As they read, the children brush across the fabric of a devoted marriage that survived a devastating event kept secret all these years. It's a lovely story: heartening, wholesome, humorous, suspenseful and redemptive. It resonates with the true meaning of family and the life-healing power of forgiveness all wrapped up in a satisfying ending."

I'll let you know if it lives up to the product description.

The Attack****+ by Yasmina Khadra 

Already read but I wanted a copy to read again. A respected Muslim doctor at an Israeli hospital is told that the wounded patients pouring into emergency were the victim of a suicide bomb-set off by his wife. It's quite a story. I highly recommend it. I've also read The Swallows of Kabul and Dead Man's Share by this author and enjoyed them immensely.

The Blue Afternoon by William Boyd

Currently reading. I've always meant to read William Boyd and while this is one of his older ones (1994) I enjoy reading a writer's earlier works first. He also writes screenplays (A Good Man in Africa etc.) as well as novels. I'm 64 pages in, with a female architect as the main character, in Los Angeles in 1936. An old man shows up suddenly and claims to be her father. Boyd has captured the era just right and it's interesting so far.

Won:

Double Fault by Lionel Shriver

From Nicole at Linus's Blanket. I really liked We Need to Talk About Kevin so I'm looking forward to reading more of her work. Thank you Nicole.  

Drood by Dan Simmons

From Frances at Nonsuch Books. I really want to read this historical fiction about Dickens and his last writing. My son has started it so I'll have to wait. It's quite a tome. Thank you Frances.



Have you read any of these? Leave me your links if you've reviewed them. I'd love to read them.

Jewish Literature Challenge

Hosted by Callista.

February 27, 2010 to September 10, 2010

Read 5 books or more of Jewish literature.

Books completed:


1.Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel****
2.Rashi by Elie Wiesel*****
3.Day For Night by Frederick Reiken****+
4.Atmospheric Disturbance by Rivka Galchen****

5.The Sonderberg Case by Elie Wiesel****+  

On my shelves tbr:

Tightrope by Michael Karpin
The Believers by Zoe Heller

Strand of a Thousand Pearls by Dorit Rabinyan

Look For Me by Edeet Ravel

Your Sad Eyes and Unforgettable Mouth by Edeet Ravel

Scheisshaus Luck by Peierre Berger (non-fiction)

The Pianist by Wladyslaw Szpilman (non-fiction)

Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally

James Tait Black Memorial Prize

First awarded in 1919, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction is one of the oldest and most prestigious book prizes awarded for literature written in the English language. The award is based at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and the winner is chosen by the Professor of English Literature at the University with the assistance of PhD students. A prize of £10,000 is given to the winning author.


This is complete list of all winners and shortlists. Those read are highlighted in red, those I own are in blue.

2009
The Children’s Book by AS Byatt (Winner)
Strangers by Anita Brookner
Nocturnes by Kazuo Ishiguro
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
The Selected Works of TS Spivet by Reif Larsen


2008
The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry (Winner)
Sputnik Caledonia by Andrew Crumey     
A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif    
Pilcrow by Adam Mars-Jones     
A Mercy by Toni Morison

Waiting on Wednesday: Special Edition 3

Hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Some of my pre publication can't-wait-to-read selections:  

 



Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa February 2, 2010




  




Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick  February 4, 2010

I've wanted to know about life in North Korea since I was a child. I'm really looking forward to this one.

Governor General’s Literary Awards of Canada

The Governor General's Literary Awards (GGs) for fiction  are given annually to the best books. Winners receive $25,000 and a specially bound copy of the winning book. The publisher of each winning book receives $3,000 to support promotional activities. Non-winning finalists each receive $1,000. Finalists  are announced in mid to late October. The winner is announced in mid November. I will keep you posted.  

2010 Longlist of nominees

2010 Finalists:


Cool Water by Dianne Warren  Winner
Waiting for Joe by Sandra Birdsell
Room by Emma Donoghue
Motorcycles & Sweetgrass by by Drew Hayden Taylor
Annabel by Kathleen Winter

Those I've read:

2010 Longlist - Beatrice & Virgil**** by Yann Martel
2010 Longlist - Ape House**** by Sara Gruen
2010 Longlist - The Sentimentalists***+ by Johanna Skibsrud  (Giller Winner 2010)  
2010 Longlist - The Ghost Brush***** by Katherine Govier
2010 Longlist - Sanctuary Line***+ by Jane Urquhart
2010 Longlist - The Debba****+ by Avner Mandelman
2010 Longlist - The Crime Machine***+ by Giles Blunt
2010 Finalist - Room****+ by Emma Donoghue 
2009 Winner - The Mistress of Nothing***** by Kate Pullinger  
2009 Finalist - The Golden Mean****+ by Annabel Lyon
2009 Longlist - February**** by Lisa Moore
2009 Longlist - The Disappeared****+ by Kim Echlin
2009 Longlist - No Such Creature***+ by Giles Blunt    
2009 Longlist - The Last Woman***+ by John Bemrose
2009 Longlist - Breaking Lorca**** by Giles Blunt    
2009 Longlist - The Day the Falls Stood Still***** by Cathy Marie Buchanan
2009 Longlist - Carnivore**** by David Sinnett 
2008 Finalist - Atmospheric Disturbances**** by Rivka Galchen
2008 Longlist- Chef**** by Jaspreet Singh
2008 Longlist - The Cellist of Sarajevo***** by Steven Galloway
2008 Longlist - Through Black Spruce***** by Joseph Boyden    
2008 Longlist - Coventry***** by Helen Humphreys    
2008 Longlist - At a Loss for Words**** by Diane Schoemperlen    
2008 Longlist - Quintet***+ by Douglas Arthur Brown
2008 Longlist - The Boys in the Trees***** by Mary Swan    
2008 Longlist - The Gargoyle****+ by Andrew Davidson
2008 Longlist - Trauma***** by McGrath, Patrick    
2008 Longlist - Good to a Fault***+ by Marina Endicott
2008 Longlist - Red Dog, Red Dog**** by Patrick Lane    
2008 Longlist - The Frozen Thames***** by Helen Humphreys            
2008 Longlist - The Retreat**** by David Bergen        
2007 Winner - Divisadero***** Michael Ondaatje
2007 Finalist - Helpless****+ by Barbara Gowdy
2007 Longlist - Conceit***** by Mary Novik
2007 Longlist - The Twice Born***** by Pauline Gedge
2007 Longlist - The End of the Alphabet**** by C. S. Richardson    
2007 Longlist - The Letter Opener***+ by Kyo Maclear
2007 Longlist - The Outlander**** by Gil Adamson
2007 Longlist - Late Nights on Air**** by Elizabeth Hay    
2007 Longlist - By The Time You Read This****+ by Giles Blunt    
2006 Longlist - Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
2005 Longlist - A Map of Glass***** by Jane Urquhart
2005 Finalist - Processional*** by Anne Compton Poetry
2005 Longlist - The Lizard Cage***** by Karen Connelly
2005 Longlist - An Audience of Chairs***** by Joan Clark
2005 Longlist - What We All Long**** For by Dionne Brand
2005 Longlist - The Logogryph**** by Thomas Wharton
2005 Longlist - Carolan's Farewell**** by Charles Foran
2005 Longlist - Three Views of Crystal Water****+ by Katherine Govier
2005 Longlist - Alligator**** by Lisa Moore    
2005 Longlist - Ticknor*** by Sheila Heti
2005 Longlist - The Time in Between**** by David Bergen
2005 Longlist - The Memory Book**** by Howard Engel
2005 Longlist - Blackfly Season**** by Giles Blunt    
2004 Longlist - Look for Me**** by Edeet Ravel
2004 Longlist - Wild Dogs**** by Helen Humphreys
2003 Finalist - Ten Thousand Lovers***** by Edeet Ravel
2003 Longlist - The Way the Crow Flies****+ by Ann-Marie MacDonald
2003 Longlist - The Delicate Storm****+ by Giles Blunt    
2002 Finalist - Unless**** by Carol Shields
2001 Finalist - Life of Pi****+ by Yann Martel
2001 Longlist - The Stone Carvers****+ by Jane Urquhart
2000 Finalist - Mercy Among the Children**** by David Adams Richards
2000 Longlist - Burridge Unbound***+ by Alan Cumyn    
2000 Longlist - Forty Words for Sorrow**** by Giles Blunt
2000 Longlist - Afterimage****+ by Helen Humphreys

1998 Finalist - The Electrical Field***+ by Kerri Sakamoto
1997 Winner - The Underpainter**** by Jane Urquhart
1995 Finalist - Mister Sandman***+ by Barbara Gowdy
1995 Finalist - Night Walk**** by Roo Borson Poetry
1991 Finalist - Words With Power***** Northrop Frye Nonfiction
1986 Finalist - The Collected Poems of Al Purdy**** by Al Purdy Poetry
1984 Finalist - The Whole Night Coming Home**** by Roo Borson Poetry
1982 Finalist - The Great Code: The Bible**** and Northrop Frye Nonfiction
1980 Finalist - Fat Woman** by Leon Rooke
1972 Winner - The Manticore***** by Robertson Davies
1963 Winner - Hugh Garner's Best Stories***** by Hugh Garner
1961 Winner - Hear Us O Lord from Heaven Thy Dwelling Place***** by Malcolm Lowry

On my shelves tbr:


2006 Longlist - Consolation by Michael by Redhill    
2006 Longlist - Madame Zee by Pearl Luke
2005 Winner - The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness and Greed by John Vaillant nonfiction
2004 Winner - A Complicated Kindness Miriam Toews
2004 Longlist - The Hatbox Letters by Beth Powning
2004 Longlist - Waking Raphael by Leslie Forbes
2004 Longlist - Woman in Bronze by Antanas Sileika
2003 Winner - The In-Between World of Vikram Lall by M. G. Vassanji
2002 Longlist - The Last Crossing by Guy Vanderhaeghe    
2001 Longlist - The Boy Must Die by Jon Redfern
2000 Winner - Anil's by Ghost Michael Ondaatje
2000 Finalist - Monkey Beach Eden Robinson
2000 Longlist - Latitudes of Melt by Joan Clark    

1998 Finalist - The White Bone by Barbara Gowdy
1998 Finalist - The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston
1996 Finalist - Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
1996 Finalist - The Green Library by Janice Kulyk Keefer
1993 Winner - The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields
1993 Finalist - Frontiers by Noël Mostert Nonfiction
1992 Winner - The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
1983 Finalist - The Biggest Modern Women in thw World by Susan Swan
1970 Winner - The New Ancestors by Dave Godfrey

Want to read:




2008 Longlist - Your Sad Eyes and Unforgettable Mouth by Edeet Ravel
2008 Longlist - Stunt by Claudia Dey

2006 Longlist - A Wall of Light by Edeet Ravel
2005 Longlist - Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden
2003 Longlist - River of the Brokenhearted by David Adams Richard
2000 Longlist - No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod    
1993 Finalist - For Those Who Hunt the Wounded Down by David Adams Richards

 Which have you read? Which can you recommend? What are your favourites? Comments, questions, dissenting opinions, or links to reviews are welcomed. I'd love to read them.

Review of 2009 Winner The Mistress of Nothing by Kate Pullinger by Jennifer at Mrs. Q: Book Addict.

Global Challenge 2010

Hosted by Dorte at DJSKrimiblog.

I have chosen the EXPERT CHALLENGE:

"Read two novels from each of these continents in the course of 2010:

Completed books are linked to my thoughts on them.

Asia:

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa (Japan)
The Piano Teacher by Janice Y. K. Lee (Hong Kong)

Africa:

Dead Man's Share by Yasmina Khadra (Algeria)