It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Recently completed:

Canada:





The Cat's Table****+ by Michael Ondaatje  2011 (269 pgs)

Also read: Divisadero****






UK


The London Train***+ by Tessa Hadley  2011 (352 pgs)

Orange Prize longlist 2011




 




UK/Monseratt




A Cupboard Full of Coats****+ by Yvvette Edwards 2011 (260 pgs.)

Man Booker Prize longlist 2011




 


US:


State of Wonder***+ by Ann Patchett  2011 (368 pgs)

Also read: Bel Canto****+, Run****, Patron Saint of Liars****






Currently reading:




Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch  UK 2011 (348 pgs.)

Man Booker Prize shortlist 2011





On the Nightstand:




The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes  UK 2011 (150 pgs)

Man Booker Prize shortlist 2011

Also read: The Lemon Table****+ (short stories), Nothing to be Frightened of***+ (essays).


 




The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy  UK 2011 (392 pgs.)

My third novel set in Guernsey in the past.








The Bells by Richard Harvell  US 2010 (374 pgs.)




All worth reading this week. My favourite was A Cupboard Full of Coats. Highly recommended.

Leave links if you've reviewed any of these books, I'd love to read them.

I take requests for reviews from my readers. Please just ask if something I've read interests you.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

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

Thoughts on books recently completed:



45.Beatrice and Virgil****+ by Yann Martel  (Canada)

Allegory of the Holocaust involving a writer and a taxidermist. Original, if flawed and somewhat self-indulgent, therefore disliked by many professional critics. I appreciated what he was trying to do and enjoyed it and recommend it despite all that. (When in doubt, borrow from your public library first).

Marie at The Boston Bibliophile said it better than I can. "This is a book about understanding the Holocaust, not reliving it. Despite the many negative reviews I believe that in time Beatrice and Virgil will be appreciated for the important work that it is."



46.The Solitude of Prime Numbers****+ by Giordano Paolo  (Italy)

Two dysfunctional young people become friends and help each other get through the many difficult phases of their lives. The math is fun and interesting. I loved it. Highly recommended.





  47.Tinkers***** by Paul Harding  (US Pulitzer Prize Winner 2010)

A dying man's thoughts and reminiscences of his life and that of his father, an itinerant tinker by trade. Wonderful story, well written. Highly recommended.







 
48.The Halfway House****+ by Guillermo Rosales (Cuba, 121 pages)

Story among mentally ill in a Miami, Florida halfway house. Insightful and very well written. I enjoyed it very much and recommend it. So does Marie at The Boston Bibliophile where I first heard of this book.









49.Our Horses in Egypt***** by Rosalind Belben (UK) James Tait Black Memorial Prize

We follow an Englishwoman's efforts to find and save horses used during World War I in North Africa and Palestine who managed to  survive. Most of course did not. Great historical fiction. I loved it. Highly recommended. Also reviewed and recommended by Lynne at dovegreyreader.



 


50.Man in the Dark**** by Paul Auster (US, 180 pages)

I've enjoyed ever book I've read by Auster, fiction or non fiction: City of Glass****, Ghosts****, The Locked Room****, (The New York Trilogy), The Music of Chance*****, The Invention of Solitude*****, The Art of Hunger*****, Invisible****+.

51.Silk by Alessandro Baricco**** (Italy, 132 pages)


An unusual love story set in 19th century France and Japan. A French silkworm buyer takes several trips to Japan and falls in love. Enjoyable and recommended. Some sexual content. A magnificent cover. I'd buy this book for the cover. 

Also reviewed and recommended by kimbofo at Reading Matters and Isabel at Books and other Stuff. 




This edition (the copy I got from the library) has a cover with the movie tie-in for the upcoming film adaptation of the book, which was originally written in Italian and set in 1860s France. Typically, it does not reflect the sense of the book's characters at all. Herve and Helene are closer to middle age, even as the story begins, and "(Helene) was a tall woman, she had long black hair that she never gathered onto her head..." (page 22).







51.blueyedboy****+ by Joanne Harris (410 pages) UK 2010

A man writes online stories about his life that suggest either a deeply disturbed family or a wildly imaginative young psycopath. Tightly wound psychological suspense from tip to tail, and original. A real departure for this author. I loved it and recommend it highly.

 




52.Major Petigrew's Last Stand**** by Helen Simonson (358 pages) UK 2010

Interracial middle-aged romance in England, light reading but very enjoyable.








53.Secrets of Eden****+ by Chris Bohjalian (370 pages) US 2010

A murder-suicide in an abusive family shocks a small town in Vermont, even more so when their respected pastor suddenly leaves town, and the church, immediately afterward. Very enjoyable story and well written as Bohjalian's books always are. Highly recommended.

I loved Double Bind***** and Skeletons at the Feast****+. Before You Know Kindness*** was not a great hit with me, but I'm working on this writer's backlist. He writes about interesting topics.

 


54.Afterimage by Helen Humphreys (250 pages) Canada 2009

Historical fiction, female photographer, her maid, and cartographer husband in 1860s England. Wonderful sense of time and place, details of first attempts in photography and 19th century mapmaking add greatly to the story. I loved it and recommend it highly. 

My thoughts on Coventry***** and Wild Dogs****+ by this author, who has never disappointed me.

 


55.Homer and Langley**** by E. L. Doctorow (210 pages)

Historical fiction based on real lives on two reclusive brothers in New York City. One is blind, both are eccentric and extreme hoarders. Interesting and enjoyable. Better opening and ending than many novels, smooth enough writing. This was my first experience of reading Doctorow. I can't say I'm keen to read more but it would depend on his subject. He's too big an author not to try more of.

 





56.No One Thinks of Greenland**** by John Griesemer (310 pages) US 2001

Highly original. American soldiers who were reported missing in action in Korea are being kept secretly in Greenland. Much more here than your average suspense. Well-developed characters make it very enjoyable. A first novel, I will watch for more from this author.






57.Hotel Iris**** by Yoko Ogawa (164 pages) Japan 2010

Sexual obsession between a very lonely teenager and older man in Japan. Very well written as her books usually are, but this will not be everyone's cup of tea. Some sado-masochistic content. 

My thoughts on The Housekeeper and the Professor***** which I loved. I will read The Diving Pool next.

 



58.Dog Boy***** by Eva Hornung (304 pages) Aus 2010

About one of Russia's abandoned and homeless children who grows up among stray dogs. Fascinating both historically and psychologically. Stunning, most highly recommended. And for once, a cover that perfectly reflects the story.

59.The Line***** by Olga Grushin (323 pages) US/Russia 2010
Also published as The Concert Ticket.

Rumours of concert tickets have people lining up at kiosks in 1950s Stalinist Moscow. As time goes by the lives of those waiting become intertwined. Very good. Highly recommended. 








60.In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White US non-fiction memoir 2010

Personal true account of a white collar criminal finding himself in prison on the grounds on a leper colony in Carville, Louisiana in the 1990s. Most highly recommended. Don't miss this one.


Currently reading:


61.The Ghost Brush by Katherine Govier (Canada 2010)

Wonderful historical fiction about the 19th Japanese painter Hokusai and his daughter, who actually did much of his work.



62.The True Deceiver by Tove Jansson (Finland 1982)


Which have you read, or do you plan to? What did you think? Leave me your links, I'd love to read them. Questions and reading recommendations of good literary fiction are always welcomed.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

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

Books completed since my last It's Monday post:

35. The Golden Mean***** by Annabel Lyon  Canada
36.The Butterfly Chair**** by Marion Quednau  Canada
37.Little Face**** by Sophie Hannah  UK
38.When Will There be Good News****+ by Kate Atkinson  UK
39.The Carnivore**** by Mark Sinnett  Canada
40.Breaking Lorca***** by Giles Blunt  Canada
41.Benny and Shrimp*** by Katarina Mazetti  Sweden
42.The Heart of Buddha**** by Elsie Sze  Canada
43.Notes From an Exibition**** by Patrick Gale  US
44.Even the Dogs***** by Jon Mcgregor  UK
45.Beatrice and Virgil***** by Yann Martel  Canada
46.The Solitude of Prime Numbers**** by Giordano Paolo  Italy
47.Tinkers***** by Paul Harding  US

Loved them all. Benny and Shrimp was the only weak one in the bunch, only because romances are not my thing. I was looking for something Scandinavian to read that was not a mystery ( I love them but consider them light reading). So many peple liked this one. Glad I read it, just could have done without the goofy sex scenes.
I highly recommend all of the others. I will write brief reviews on any titles that may interest you, just ask.

Currently reading and why:

The Halfway House by Guillermo Rosales Cuba/US (121 pages)

Reviewed and recommended by Marie at The Boston Bibliophile and I love all things Cuban.

Ransom by David Malouf  Australia

Historical fiction set during the Trojan war. It's up for major awards in Australia, as his novels often are. I regularly read from all major literary awards longlists. I'm one chapter in- male, so very male. But I will stick with it.

Next up and why:
    
The Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian  US

I've read Double Bind*****, Skeletons at the Feast*****, and Before You Know Kindness****. I really enjoy this man's writing.

A Summons to Memphis by Peter Hillsman Taylor  US

Marisa Silver's (The God of War and others) answer to "What is the best book we’ve never heard of?".
    
Our Horses in Egypt by Rosalind Belben

Reviewed and recommended by Lynne at dovegreyreader scribbles.

Please leave comments or links if you've read or reviewed any of these books. I'd love to read them. I will happily write brief reviews on any titles that may interest you, please just ask.

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?

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?

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Books completed last week:

13.BLACKLANDS***** by Linda Bauer is 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 is an excellent read. 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. Very well written and highly recommended.

15.GOOD TO A FAULT**** by Marina Endicott is an award nominated novel that has a woman take in a homeless family after hitting their car and putting the mother in the hospital. Another wild ride ensues as these people are typically unpredictable, 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.RAIN***** by W. Somerset Maugham is a short story (34 pages) that I always loved and 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.

Books I gave up on:

BEFORE I WAKE by Robert Wiersma by page 90 was going in a direction I did not like. A couple's daughter was believed to be healing people, while completely and irreversibly comatose no less. Somebody tell me this book is worth finishing and does not get stupid.

Book in hand...

THE SWAN THIEVES by Elizabeth Kostova is great so far, I love stories with psychiatrists and their patients in them. Lot's of art and book reference as the doctor's patient is a painter. Tried an hour of the audio and got a headache. It's seventeen hours long on audio, my nerves can't take that many hours of someone yakking at me. I gave it a try, audio is not for me-until I'm blind or something.

Up Next:

THE COMEDIANS by Graham Greene
THE PRACTICE OF PERFECTION by Mary Frances Coady
GOURMET RHAPSODY by Muriel Barbery
THE LOVE WE SHARE WITHOUT KNOWING by Christopher Barzak
THE APPLE by Penelope J. Holt

Books I Still Need to Write Reviews On:

Which books mentioned on my blog would you like me to review? Just ask.

****************

What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Hosted by J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog.

A good week for reading despite being a truly bad week health wise. Books completed last week:

RANDOM PASSAGE by Bernice Morgan is 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.

NIKOLSKI by Nikolas Dickner is a French Canadian story about three Montrealers that David Mitchell (author of Cloud Atlas and Black Swan Green) called “Stylish, offbeat, poignant and perceptive.” A very enjoyable read.

WHAT THE BIRDS SEE by Sonya Hartnett 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.

THE HOUSEWIFE AND THE PROFESSOR by Yoko Ogawa is 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.

Books I gave up on:

TO THE LIGHTHOUSE by Virginia Woolf felt like too much work. I have pain control issues right now and am barely able to concentrate on some things. It will have to wait.

Book in hand...

BLACKLANDS by Linda Bauer is a psychological suspense and the premise alone gives me a chill. 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. Eventually the man figures out that he's communicating with a twelve year old boy...

Up Next:

GOOD TO A FAULT by Marina Endicott
THE COMEDIANS by Graham Greene
THE PRACTICE OF PERFECTION by Mary Frances Coady
CUTTING FOR STONE by Abraham Verghese

Books I Still Need to Write Reviews On:

Those my readers request. Just ask.

***********

What are you reading?