Hosted by Jennifer at 5 Minutes For Books.
Read in January:
1.Sunset Park****+ by Paul Auster US 2011
2.The Elephant's Journey*** by Jose Saramago Portugal 2010
3.The Typist**** by Michael Knight US 2010
4.Purge**** by Sofi Oksanen Finland 2010
5.The Library of Shadows*** by Mikkel Birkegaard Denmark 2008
6.Stoner**** by John Wiliams US 1965
7.The Cement Garden**** by Ian McEwan UK 1978
8.Sweetness in the Belly***** by Camilla Gibb 2005
9.Chapter 1 of On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry (Aug 2011) which you can read here:
I loved The Secret Scripture.
I will write brief reviews or answer questions about any of these books that interest you. Please just ask. What would you like to know?
Currently reading:
The Lake of Dreams by Kim Edwards US 2011 because I really liked The Memory Keeper's Daughter. (my review)
Secret Son by Laila Lalami for Orange January (longlist 2010)
Still on the nightstand:
For Black History Month and the Persons of Colour Challenge:
Billy by Albert French US
The Man in My Basement by Walter Mosley US
Jazz by Toni Morrison US
Paradise by Toni Morrison (Orange Prize nom 1999) and Nobel author
1959 by Thulani Davis US
The Stillborn by Zaynab Alkali (Nigeria)
So Long a Letter by Miriama Ba (Senegal)
Going Down South by Bonnie Glover (US)
I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali (Yemen)
White Teeth by Zadie Smith (UK)
The Help by Kathryn Stockett (US)
Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji (Iran)
The Seasons of Beento Blackbird by Akosua Busia (Ghana)
Man Asian Prize nominees, shortlist to be announced in February and the winner in March 2011:
Three Sister by Feiyu Bi
Serious Men by Manu Joseph
Dahanu Road by Anosh Irani (also Giller Prize shortlist 2010)
Tiger Hills by Sarita Mandanna
For Canada Reads 2011:
The Bone Cage by Angie Abdou
The Birth House by Ami McKay
For Canadian Literature Challenge 2011:
Cool Water by Diane Warren (Giller Prize Winner 2010)
The Beauty of Humanity Movement by Camilla Gibb because I just finished Sweetness in the Belly and loved it.
For Jewish Literature Challenge 2011
The Violin of Auschwitz by Maria Angels Anglada
Homesick by Eshkol Nevo
Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons
Stranger Here Below by Joyce Hinnefeld because I really enjoyed her first novel, In Hovering Flight. (my review)
Isa and May by Margaret Forster because I liked Keeping the World Away**** very much.
Safe From the Sea by Peter Geye
Taroko Gorge by Jacob Ritari
Howards End is on the Landing by Susan Hill because my library finally purchased it at my request. I've read all 6 of Hill's Detective Serailler series and a few others, including Mrs. De Winter***+.
The Good Psychologist by Noam Shpancer for the Mental Illness Advocacy Challenge.
Buttterfly by Sonya Hartnett for the Aussie Author Challenge. I was really impressed by What the Birds See***** (Of a Boy in Australia).
And something by Iris Murdoch. I've read The Black Prince****The Sea The Sea****, The Italian Girl***+, and The Message to the Planet***+. Which would you recommend?
Opinions, reading recommendations and links to reviews are always welcomed. I'd love to read them.
Good looking lists! I really loved The Help. Thanks for reminding me about Rooftops of Tehran -- I want to read that one.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Wow, looks like you've done a lot of reading and have a lot ahead of you. I pulled The Help off the shelf to read soon.
ReplyDeleteI've been worried about you, so I'm glad to see a post from you! I'd like to know what you thought of The Typist - I met the author in September and he was charming.
ReplyDeleteWow! That's a lot of challenges! I like participating here & there in them because they make me read things I usually wouldn't. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteMy nightstand has McCarthy's The Road and Naguib Mahfouz's Palace of Desire.
ReplyDeleteI've read a few on your persons of color challenge list. I LOVED Rooftops of Tehran.
ReplyDeleteHow would you describe Sunset Park? I was maybe going to listen to the audiobook (and do a possible giveaway), but I haven't read Paul Aster before -- whose style would you compare him to? Without giving the plot away, what can you tell me about the book?
Thanks.
Your list makes me realize what mine lacks--literary fiction. What a good list, one that seems sure to make one think.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Kim Edwards had something new out, I will check that one out for sure.
ReplyDeleteQuite a list!
ReplyDeleteJust finished Sunset Park (audio)....different, but not bad.
ReplyDeleteYour list is very intriguing and varied! I think you'll be having plenty of fun! Interesting list.
ReplyDeleteI love how you include the copyright date on your list. It really is interesting to me to see when books were written. I don’t always notate that on my list, but I do keep tabs on it on any notes I take from books. Thanks for sharing your list. Quite meaty!
ReplyDeleteWow, looks like you've been reading a lot of great literary fiction!
ReplyDeleteWhat great lists! I really enjoyed Rooftops of Tehran and I Am Nujood. I hope you do as well!
ReplyDeleteI've been eagerly waiting to hear what people think of Lake of Dreams - it's so hard to follow a popular book up with another one that gets the same accolades!
ReplyDeleteYour books all look wonderful!!! Hope all is well with you!
ReplyDeleteOkay, I haven't read any of your January reads. Which one would you most recommend?
ReplyDeletedon't even know where to begin! What did you think of the Auster? I gotta read it.
ReplyDeleteYour books look amazing!
ReplyDeleteI have Sweetness in the Belly and I've wanted to read it for the longest time. Must get to it soon!
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought *I* was an avid reader. Great list
ReplyDelete