VivienneR's Club Read 2013 : Part II

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VivienneR's Club Read 2013 : Part II

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1VivienneR
Editado: Oct 31, 2013, 1:46 am

January
1. The Gates of Hell by Paul Doherty
2. Alexander the Great by Jacob Abbott
3. Watching the Dark by Peter Robinson
4. The Vintage Caper by Peter Mayle
5. Safe House by Chris Ewan
6. A Nation Worth Ranting About by Rick Mercer
7. Small Memories by Jose Saramago
8. The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman
9. No going back to Moldova by Anna Robertson

February
10. The Rolling Stones 50
11. The Secret of Spandau by Peter Lovesey
12. Seasonings : flavours of the southern Gulf Islands by Andrea Spalding and David Spalding
13. Counting one's blessings : the selected letters of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother
14. Andorra by Peter Cameron
15. Ru by Kim Thúy
16. The Elusive Mrs Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman
17. The Bafut Beagles by Gerald Durrell
18. How it all began by Penelope Lively
19. 100 Grey Cups : This is our game by Stephen Brunt
20. Philip & Elizabeth : portrait of a royal marriage by Gyles Brandreth
21. The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
22. Emotionally Weird by Kate Atkinson

March
23. The Garden Party and other stories by Katherine Mansfield
24. One Blood by Graeme Kent
25. Wild Wings by Gill Lewis
26. The Heir by Vita Sackville-West
27. Blue Shoes and Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith
28. The Tavern on Maple Street by Sharon Owens
29. Land of the long white cloud : Maori myths, tales, and legends by Kiri Te Kanawa
30. Sixpence House : lost in a town of books by Paul Collins
31. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel by Deborah Moggach
32. Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes
33. Dead Man's Chest by Kerry Greenwood
34. Things fall apart by Chinua Achebe
35. Mister Roger and Me by Marie-Renée Lavoie

April
36. Port Vila Blues by Garry Disher
37. Foxhunt by Baron Bertie Denham
38. Time and Tide : the Islands of Tuvalu by Peter Bennetts and Tony Wheeler
39. Pao by Kerry Young
40. Bulu: African Wonder Dog by Dick Houston
41. A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie
42. Amelia Earhart's Shoes : is the mystery solved? by Thomas F. King
43. St. Vincent and the Grenadines : Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, Tobago Cays, Palm, Union, PSV : A Plural Country by Jill Bobrow
44. At the mercy of the river : an exploration of the last African wilderness by Peter Stark
45. Our Kind of Traitor by John Le Carré
46. Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala

May
47. Ark on the Move by Gerald Durrell
48. In the South Seas by Robert Louis Stevenson
49. Homeland and other stories by Barbara Kingsolver
50. Saint Lucia : Helen of the West Indies by Guy Ellis
51. Death of a Sunday Writer by Eric Wright
52. Whiplash River by Lou Berney
53. See Now Then by Jamaica Kincaid
54. The Best of Friends: two women, two continents, and one enduring friendship by Sara James and Ginger Mauney
55. Small Wars by Sadie Jones
56. Paradise for sale by Carl N. McDaniel
57. The Trembling of a Leaf by W. Somerset Maugham
58. Scenes From Early Life by Philip Hensher
59. Away with the Fairies by Kerry Greenwood

June
60. Always Give a Penny to a Blind Man by Eric Wright
61. A Conspiracy of Crowns by Alfred de Marigny
62. A cat, a hat, and a piece of string : stories by Joanne Harris
63. Driving Over Lemons by Chris Stewart
64. Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson
65. Inflammation Nation by Floyd H. Chilton
66. Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey
67. The Anti-inflammation zone by Barry Sears
68. The Sibyl in Her Grave by Sarah L. Caudwell
69. The Dukan Diet by Pierre Dukan
70. The Rising of the Moon by Gladys Mitchell

July
71. Stray Bullets by Robert Rotenberg
72. In Antarctica : An Amundsen Pilgrimage by Jay Ruzesky
73. Queen Salote and Her Kingdom by Sir Harry Luke
74. Brunei : The Modern Southeast-Asian Islamic Sultanate by David Leake
75. The Orchid House by P. Allfrey Shand
76. Tselane by J. Louw Van Wijk
77. Real Irish Food by David Bowers
78. Oxford Proof by Veronica Stallwood
79. A State of Independence by Caryl Phillips

August
80. Adele : a celebration of an icon and her music by Sarah-Louise James
81. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson.
82. Three Cups of Deceit by Jon Krakauer
83. Speaking from Among the Bones by Alan Bradley
84. Into Thin Air : A Personal Account of the Mt Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer
85. For Your Eyes Only : a James Bond novel by Ian Fleming
86. Dead in the Dog by Bernard Knight
87. The Return of Eva Peron with the Killings in Trinidad by V.S. Naipaul
88. Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
89. The How-To Handbook by Martin Oliver and Alexandra Johnson
90. Laugh With the Moon by Shana Burg
91. The Sailmaker's Daughter by Stephanie Johnson
92. The Queen of Katwe : a story of life, chess, and one extraordinary girl's dream of becoming a grandmaster by Tim Crothers
93. The Information Officer by Mark Mills

2VivienneR
Editado: Dic 28, 2013, 10:46 pm

Club Read 2013 September to December:

September
94. Adventures in Africa by Gianni Celati
95. Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin
96. The Secret Keeper by Paul Harris
97. Our Lady of Alice Bhatti by Mohammed Hanif
98. A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh
99. Don't Stop the Carnival by Herman Wouk
100. Old Filth by Jane Gardam
101. Ultimate Necklace Maker by Dorothy Wood
102. Simply Beautiful Beaded Jewelry by Heidi Boyd
103. Lost Cat : A True Story of Love, desperation, and GPS Technology by Caroline Paul
104. The Strode Venturer by Hammond Innes
105. Blessed are the dead by Malla Nunn

October
106. The Secret World of Sleep : The Surprising Science of the Mind at Rest by Penelope A. Lewis
107. The Cooked Seed : a Memoir by Anchee Min
108. When Hoopoes Go to Heaven by Gaile Parkin
109. An illustrated history of Irish songs & music by Megan O'Suilleabhain
110. The Memory Clinic: Stories Of Hope And Healing For Alzheimer's Patients And Their Families by Tiffany Chow
111. Death in Zanzibar by M.M. Kaye
112. Nell's war : remembering the blitz by Ben Wicks
113. A Victim must be Found by Howard Engel
114. The Man in the Wooden Hat by Jane Gardam
116. Inspector Singh Investigates : A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder by Shamini Flint

November
117. Priests and Prelates : the Daily Telegraph Clerical Obituaries by Trevor Beeson
118. Accordian Crimes by E. Annie Proulx
119. The Lay of the Land by Richard Ford
120. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday
121. Twelve Drummers Drumming by C.C. Benison
122. A brief history of life in Victorian Britain : a social history of Queen Victoria's reign by Mike Paterson
123. Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch
124. Gods and Beasts by Denise Mina
125. Dear Sir, I Intend to Burn Your Book : An Anatomy of a Book Burning by Lawrence Hill
126. The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
127. The Short Stories of Saki by Saki
128. The God argument : the case against religion and for humanism by A.C. Grayling
129. Transatlantic by Colum McCann
130. The Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin
131. A Rumpole Christmas by John Mortimer

December
132. On Mozart : a paean for Wolfgang by Anthony Burgess
133. The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen
134. The Case of the Missing Bronte by Robert Barnard
135. The Case of the Gilded Fly by Edmund Crispin
136. Busy Body by M. C. Beaton
137. A Christmas Grace by Anne Perry
138. Legends, Icons & Rebels : Music that Changed the World by Robbie Robertson
139. A Killer's Christmas in Wales by Elizabeth j. Duncan
140. End Games by Michael Dibdin
141. The Dogs of Christmas by W. Bruce Cameron
142. Dancing with Statues by Caroline Doherty de Novoa
143. The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie

3VivienneR
Sep 2, 2013, 1:38 am



Adventures in Africa by Gianni Celati
Italian novelist Gianni Celati accompanied his friend and filmmaker Jean Talon travelling in West Africa to do research for a documentary about Dogon priests. The resulting book has been created from the notebooks Celati kept, which describe how circumstances played havoc with their careful plans. The result, a quick read, is a comedy of errors that provides an entertaining travelogue. Entertaining yes, but nothing stands out to make it memorable.

4VivienneR
Sep 4, 2013, 5:35 pm



Another one for my Commonwealth challenge:

Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin
This is a cheerful story about the amiable and good-natured Angel who runs a cake-baking business. Her customers share their personal problems and joys with her as she takes their orders. The cakes reflect the hope and confidence with which Rwanda faces the future. Very enjoyable.

5VivienneR
Sep 10, 2013, 12:40 pm



The Secret Keeper by Paul Harris
Like his main character, Danny, Harris was also a journalist reporting from war-torn Sierra Leone. Four years after the height of the war in a country now dealing with rampant corruption, Danny returns to investigate the death of his former girlfriend, an American aid worker who runs an orphanage for ex-child soldiers. In this first novel by Harris it is obvious that he knows the country, the issues, and what it's like to get the stories. Fast-paced and informative, with a surprising twist.

6VivienneR
Sep 12, 2013, 3:20 am



Our Lady of Bhatti by Mohammed Hanif
Satire, humour, and pathos combine to create this quirky story involving junior nurse Alice Bhatti. It is outrageous, crude, ribald, tragic, wretched, yet reveals a poignant acceptance of an oppressive life. The characters were so completely without colour they failed to hold my interest. This one will not be listed in my top reads.

7VivienneR
Editado: Sep 14, 2013, 3:57 am

I first read A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh decades ago so it was time for a re-read. I was surprised by the amount of detail I'd forgotten although it was just as enjoyable as ever.

Waugh chose to end A Handful of Dust by inserting The Man Who Liked Dickens, a short story inspired from his travels in Brazil and Guyana just two years earlier in 1932. As the story had already appeared in America, he was obliged to write a different ending for the American version of the book. Personally, I prefer the original ending which provides a bizarre type of horror that sticks in the mind. I have never looked on Dickens' books without thinking of poor Tony Last forced to read Dickens aloud until his last breath. Many readers complain that the story is ruined by the change of locale, from stately English home to the jungle. I found this was what I liked most as it gave it the quirkiness that Waugh seemed to enjoy. (Perversely, I didn't care for the changes in direction that occurred in Brideshead Revisited). I gave this five stars the first time around and I still think it's deserved. I enjoyed it enormously.

BTW, it reminded me again of Mister Pip reading Dickens to his young charges. While reading that book I wondered if Lloyd Jones had been influenced by Waugh's story.

8VivienneR
Editado: Sep 17, 2013, 11:39 pm



Don't Stop the Carnival by Herman Wouk

If you are ever remotely tempted by the idea of running a hotel in the Caribbean, read this book first!

Norman Paperman, a New York executive, decided to run a hotel in fictional Amerigo, said to be Grenada. He had heart problems and believed the more relaxed lifestyle would be just the ticket. Idyllic, yes, but before he could pick up his first Planter's Punch he ran into problems. The financing arrangement came as a shock and too late to do anything about it, the barman/accountant ran off with the departing owner, water storage was primitive, water supply even worse, and the renovation was ... well, you know what trouble a reno can be at the best of times.

This book was funny, the characters were well-developed - coming from the author of The Caine Mutiny this was to be expected. There were occasional dated attitudes, typical in 1965 when the book was written, but all in all an enjoyable read. It was inspired by the personal experience of Wouk and his wife who ran a hotel in the Caribbean. Like the Wouks, Norman and Henny Paperman survived the adventure.

9baswood
Sep 17, 2013, 7:51 pm

Enjoying your reviews Vivienne; Don't stop the carnival sounds fun and I am glad a little political incorrectness didn't stop your enjoyment.

10NanaCC
Sep 17, 2013, 8:27 pm

I may need to get Don't Stop The Carnival. I loved The Winds of War and War and Remembrance. I've never read The Caine Mutiny, so will add that to my list, as well.

11VivienneR
Sep 17, 2013, 11:48 pm

baswood, it's kind of interesting to read something like that just as a reminder of how it used to be.

Nana, I wouldn't mind trying another by Wouk. I'll watch out for the two you mention.

12VivienneR
Sep 23, 2013, 11:21 pm



Old Filth by Jane Gardam

Eddie Feathers, known by his nickname Filth, a term he coined for Failed In London Try Hong Kong, looks back on his life. A life that began tragically in Malaya where his mother died soon after his birth. At age 4, he was torn from his devoted nurse and sent to foster-parents in Wales (they were the cheapest) as a "Raj orphan". The story jumps about in time as memory usually does, however, each section fits together like a perfectly designed puzzle. We gradually get to know Filth as the story progresses. This is not a long book and yet the author travels a long way through the changing conditions of the 20th century and Sir Edward's long interesting life. I loved this book and will be reading the others in the series as soon as possible. Highly recommended.

This was supposed to be my choice for Malaysia in the Commonwealth challenge but there wasn't really enough set in Malaysia to justify it. That's OK, it was a great read.

13NanaCC
Sep 24, 2013, 6:33 am

That one does sound good, Vivienne.

14dchaikin
Sep 24, 2013, 8:56 am

Interesting about Old Filth. I've seen lots of comments, but did not know much about it. Catching up a bit, noting A Handful of Dust.

15VivienneR
Sep 24, 2013, 11:27 am

Colleen and Daniel: I can recommend Old Filth heartily. I'm looking forward to The Man in the Wooden Hat, which is Betty's story (Filth's wife). A Handful of Dust is not everyone's choice according to the reviews posted, but I have always loved it. Since the last time I read it I saw the movie with Kristen Scott Thomas as Brenda Last and now when I read it I can hear her voice.

16VivienneR
Sep 25, 2013, 12:47 am

In preparation for a rainy day project I finished a couple of books about beading and have taken notes on instructions and ideas I want to use. Rating books like this is tricky; it depends on whether you got what you were looking for, which might be quite different for each reader. Ultimate Necklace Maker by Dorothy Wood earned 3 stars while Simply Beautiful Beaded Jewelry by Heidi Boyd got 4 stars because I found more useful information. Now to work!

My husband brought this little gem home from the library: Lost Cat : A True Story of Love, desperation, and GPS Technology by Caroline Paul. Paul wondered where her cat went when he disappeared for weeks on end. As well as other methods she tried tracking him with GPS, which only showed a street map covered with a mass of scribbles like a child's first attempt with crayons. A little video camera on his collar showed he spent hours sleeping among the dandelions, as well as lengthy footage of the back of her own head while he slept on her pillow. Happily she found the answer in the end. This is a very entertaining one-afternoon read. The illustrations were done by Paul's partner, Wendy MacNaughton and are just priceless. This is a creative story by a very astute cat watcher. A must-read for cat lovers, but anyone will enjoy this. 4 stars

17RidgewayGirl
Sep 25, 2013, 1:48 am

UGA did a study that involved putting cameras on cats to see where they spent their time. A friend refused to participate because her cat liked to hang out in the bathroom with her, but their findings were interesting.

http://www.kittycams.uga.edu

18VivienneR
Sep 25, 2013, 1:42 pm

That was hilarious. The worst part would be finding out where your cat was before it went to sleep in your bed. One more reason to have indoor cats.

19VivienneR
Sep 28, 2013, 8:49 pm



The Strode Venturer by Hammond Innes
Considering 21st century events such as tsunamis, earthquakes and particularly the "island" that recently appeared off the coast of Pakistan, this book turned out to be surprisingly topical. One of the Strode brothers discovered a newborn island in the Indian Ocean that is mostly formed of manganese. He plans to use his family shipping company to mine and export the ore for the benefit of the people of the Maldives. Meanwhile, back in London a boardroom war is waging. Innes' description of ships and ocean conditions are particularly knowledgable and interesting. After a somewhat slow start in London, the story picks up speed and fills with suspense and excitement.

20VivienneR
Oct 1, 2013, 1:39 pm



Blessed are the dead by Malla Nunn
A complex story set in 1950s South Africa. This mystery is a police procedural about the murder investigation of a teenage Zulu girl. However, what it really portrays along the way is the society, customs, lifestyles and relationships that divide the peoples of apartheid South Africa. In contrast with the distressing attitudes that prevailed, the white police sergeant and his Zulu constable are a winning team. I look forward to more in this series.

To balance my South African reading experience I am on the lookout for a modern story from South Africa.

21VivienneR
Editado: Oct 8, 2013, 6:12 pm


The Secret World of Sleep : The Surprising Science of the Mind at Rest by Penelope A. Lewis
It is unclear who is the intended audience for this book. It's a short read that at first glance appears to be addressed to the common reader, yet it doesn't provide the type of information that would be sought after at the popular level. Neither is it an academic work. Lewis reworks a collection of research material, presumably to make it more accessible to readers, a device that doesn't work in this case. There are some interesting facts, but nothing much that is really useful to the ordinary person in search of knowledge. It is likely that the reader who picks up this book will have sleep problems and hope to find solutions. They will be disappointed.
"When neurons want to communicate one-on-one, they use something called a synapse, a place where the membranes of two different cells come very close together. The receiving side of the synapse is typically loaded with specialist receptors that can bind molecules that float across the synaptic cleft, while the transmitting side is loaded with little vesicles, or bubbles of membranes that encapsulate special chemicals (called neurotransmitters) that can bind to these receptors. When an electric impulse arrives at the transmitting side of the synapse, it triggers feverish activity in these vesicles - they bind to the cell membrane and release their contents into the fluid-filled void that is the synaptic cleft."
If this is the kind of writing you are looking for - or if you want to be bored to sleep - you will probably like this book.

22mkboylan
Oct 8, 2013, 10:22 pm

What an interesting variety you choose Vivienne. A few of them went on my list!

and thanks Ridgeway for the kitty cam link.

23VivienneR
Oct 8, 2013, 11:38 pm

Thanks Merrikay. The Commonwealth challenge introduced me to many authors I probably would not have read otherwise. It has been a wonderful experience. I have to admit The Secret World of Sleep was an ER win.

24VivienneR
Oct 8, 2013, 11:39 pm



The Cooked Seed by Anchee Min
My admiration for Anchee Min knows no bounds. The obstacles she was able to overcome were staggering, but she made it. I wish her a long happy life.

25VivienneR
Oct 11, 2013, 12:59 pm



When Hoopoes Go to Heaven by Gaile Parkin
This book continues the story of Angel and her family in Baking Cakes in Kigali when they lived in Rwanda. Pius (Baba) is originally from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania who goes where his job takes him. His wife Angel earns income by baking cakes, a legal business in Rwanda but "under the table" in Swaziland. All of their children are actually grandchildren whose parents are "late". Benedict often refers to his "first mama" and "first baba".

The story is presented from 10 year-old Benedict's viewpoint. He describes moving between African countries with all the attendant issues such as the differences in language and culture. However, he is delighted to have a collection of books in their rented house and a garden where he spends a lot of his free time. This appealing boy attempts to find a solution for every problem, including his Mama's fading cake-baking business.

Although the writing is lighthearted the story behind it is complex and serious. Reading between the lines provides a more telling story of the changing circumstances many families are experiencing, brought about by the political and health upheavals of war and AIDS. In a postscript, the author claims Swaziland has the highest rate of AIDS in the world. Nevertheless, this book is a charmer that I can recommend highly.

26VivienneR
Oct 17, 2013, 6:32 pm



An Illustrated History of Irish Songs & Music by Megan O. Suilleabhain
My husband picked this up for me from the library's "new books" shelf. It covers every era from early music and the relationship with ancient legends to 20th century music in Ireland and overseas. Each chapter includes a relevant folk story. There were some interesting parts but it just didn't hit the right note (pun intended). The CD included was the type of Irish music you might hear in local pubs.

27VivienneR
Oct 19, 2013, 2:28 am



This was my choice for Tanzania in the Commonwealth challenge. I have just one more country left to visit!!

Death in Zanzibar by M.M. Kaye
A great old-fashioned whodunnit in the style of Christie. The plot is a bit far-fetched but the resulting mystery is very entertaining and there is even a dash of romance. In deciding who committed the crimes, I changed my mind so often that I picked just about all the characters at one point or another. However, that just meant that I was right if only for a short time. I enjoyed the descriptions of Zanzibar, now a region of Tanzania. I loved the polite language and hammy plot of a mystery written in 1959 when people played music on a gramophone, women wore stockings even in hot climates, and the journey from London to Nairobi by air took more that 24 hours.

The author had a longing to see Zanzibar after hearing a popular song in the fifties - said to be "Stowaway" by Barbara Lyon - that has the refrain "Then I'll go sailing far - off to Zanzibar". She eventually managed to visit the island when her husband's regiment was diverted to Kenya and she joined him there. All of M.M. Kaye's books were set in places she visited or lived in as an army wife.

28NanaCC
Oct 19, 2013, 2:02 pm

I think I will add Death in Zanzibar to my wishlist. I read M. M.Kaye's The Far Pavilions many years ago, and I am pretty sure that I enjoyed it. This one sounds good too. Your thread has been dangerous for my wishlist. :)

29VivienneR
Oct 19, 2013, 2:41 pm

Thanks Colleen. Your thread is just as dangerous to my wishlist. :)

30VivienneR
Oct 21, 2013, 6:00 pm



Nell's war : remembering the blitz by Ben Wicks
A depiction of conditions that Wicks' mother experienced in London during the Blitz of WWII told through articles and anecdotes. Not as memorable as No time to wave goodbye but nevertheless a good portrayal of political and personal circumstances of the time.

31janeajones
Oct 22, 2013, 7:14 pm

Fascinating selection of books -- I'm resisting hitting the wishlist tab only because my TBR keeps growing, and time is at a premium at the moment.

32VivienneR
Oct 23, 2013, 1:34 am

Thanks Jane. Most of my books this year were for the 57-country Commonwealth challenge. Then there are those that have been languishing on my shelves for much too long and it's time to make space for new books. Of course they have to be read before they go on to a new home.

33VivienneR
Oct 23, 2013, 6:29 pm



The Man in the Wooden Hat by Jane Gardam
Although I gave this the same 4.5 rating as Old Filth it was, if anything, even more enjoyable. This was Filth's wife, Betty's story, very cleverly matching Filth's account yet managing to be quite different. I can't wait to read Filth's enemy, Veneering's story in Last Friends. And I just may want to re-read Old Filth. Gardam's style is sparing without being meagre, allowing the reader to use their imagination in many scenes that a more wordy writer would have described in long drawn out detail. A wonderful series that I can recommend highly.

My take on the title is that it is an obscure reference to a wooden statue Betty and Veneering saw in a gallery, and that had a parallel, in a way, to the hat worn by Filth's friend, Albert Loss (can't pronounce the R's) who stored his playing cards (and more?) in his hat.

34NanaCC
Oct 23, 2013, 7:51 pm

Your reviews make me want to read these books.

35VivienneR
Oct 24, 2013, 12:24 am

Thanks Colleen. I can really recommend the Jane Gardam books Old Filth and The Man in the Wooden Hat. I assume the third in the series Last Friends will be just as good.

36VivienneR
Oct 31, 2013, 1:37 am



Inspector Singh Investigates : A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder by Shamini Flint

This is an entertaining mystery with the added enjoyment of Malaysia as a location. There was lots of interesting information about the culture and society, environmental issues like deforestation, and how the law applies to different ethnic groups. Inspector Singh was portrayed beautifully, although other characters were a little more difficult to picture. This enjoyable story kept me involved to the last page.

This is the final book for my Commonwealth challenge. It's been a wonderful journey that I enjoyed thoroughly. Many thanks to cbl_tn for starting the group.

37VivienneR
Editado: Nov 4, 2013, 6:03 pm



Priests and Prelates : the Daily Telegraph Clerical Obituaries by Trevor Beeson
My husband thought this was a very odd book for an ardent atheist to purchase. The reason I chose it was for the obituary of the Very Reverend Jack Shearer, dean of St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast, who was the curate of the church I attended as a child (I still own the prayer book he gave to me many decades ago). He became known for the immense amounts of money raised for charities as well as his peacemaking activities in Northern Ireland, bringing together worshippers regardless of persuasion. This is a selection of a couple of dozen obituaries, from a collection of about 500 that, although not attributed to him, are mostly written by Beeson. As Beeson sees it, neither sainthood nor an entry in the obituary column requires perfection. The book is in turn fascinating, heart-rending, shocking, entertaining. So although this was an odd purchase, it was an excellent choice and one I will go back to often. Very readable.
"Mr Dean', called out a lady of uncertain years as I entered Winchester Cathedral one afternoon in March 1987, "do you realise that you have been insulted in this morning's Daily Telegraph? The obituary of your predecessor describes him as 'the last of the gentleman Deans'. What do they suppose you are?" I thought it best not to enlighten her as to the authorship of the offending description.

38VivienneR
Nov 6, 2013, 2:32 pm



Accordian Crimes by E. Annie Proulx
I just couldn't connect with this one. Maybe because the accordian is my least favourite instrument that I just couldn't develop an interest or maybe because it is quite long-winded. Disappointing.

39baswood
Nov 6, 2013, 5:50 pm

I too have a horror of the accordion.

40NanaCC
Nov 6, 2013, 6:25 pm

I'm sorry that you didn't enjoy Accordian Crimes. I loved The Shipping News, but that's the only one of hers that I've read.

41VivienneR
Nov 6, 2013, 7:27 pm

#39 - "I too have a horror of the accordion."

That made me smile. Why does the accordian have such a negative effect? I noticed Arcade Fire, one of Canada's most popular new groups, uses the instrument without any horrific result - just the opposite in fact.

#40 - I too enjoyed The Shipping News, the reason I chose another by Annie Proulx.

42VivienneR
Nov 8, 2013, 3:44 pm



Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday
An odd story that tells of a project that is preposterous, even hare-brained, yet is tinged with realism, albeit absurd. It was funny, romantic, and entertaining. I will keep a lookout for more by this author.

43VivienneR
Nov 9, 2013, 1:01 pm



Twelve Drummers Drumming by C.C. Benison
Not a bad mystery. The first in a series with Father Tom Christmas, or Vicar, as he prefers to be called. After the murder of his wife, he and his young daughter move to a village to live a quieter, safer life. However, as anyone who reads mysteries can attest, English villages are never safe.

44NanaCC
Nov 9, 2013, 1:20 pm

Twelve Drummers Drumming sounds promising for a time when I need a cozy read. "English villages are never safe." That made me laugh.. :)

Your description of Salmon Fishing in the Yemen makes it also sound like a possibility.

45VivienneR
Nov 11, 2013, 3:28 am



A brief history of life in Victorian Britain : a social history of Queen Victoria's reign by Mike Paterson
Although a lot of the information in this book is generally known, it is ideal as a light read as it describes many facets of Victorian life without going into great depth. Even so, there was still plenty of information that was interesting. I particularly enjoyed the instructions for enthusiasts of the bicycling craze:
Hold the handle with the left hand and place the other on the seat. Now take a few running steps, and when the right foot is on the ground give a hop with that foot, and at the same time place the left foot on the step, throwing your right leg over on to the seat. Nothing but a good running hop will give you time to adjust your toe on the step as it is moving. It requires a certain amount of strength and agility."
I'm glad I learned in a later era.

46baswood
Nov 11, 2013, 4:02 am

I don't think we would recognise those old Victorian boneshakers

47NanaCC
Nov 11, 2013, 7:27 am

"I particularly enjoyed the instructions for enthusiasts of the bicycling craze"

Can you imagine riding one of those bicycles wearing the long skirts women wore back then? :) And yet it was done.

48baswood
Nov 11, 2013, 12:38 pm

49VivienneR
Nov 11, 2013, 1:46 pm

47 - Yes, fashion allowed women to wear loose trousers but covered with a full length skirt. Must have been adventurous women indeed to attempt that tricky hop and skip.

48 - Thanks for the great photos of boneshakers! Looks like one size fits all!

50mkboylan
Editado: Nov 11, 2013, 2:46 pm

Vivienne - have you seen the Salmon Fishing movie? I think worth a watch altho I haven't read the book.

51VivienneR
Nov 11, 2013, 2:54 pm

The library has a copy of the movie and I plan to borrow it sometime (this means by the time I get around to it, it won't be in the collection anymore). Should be good as it has Kristen Scott-Thomas, who is one of my favourite actors. Have you seen it?

52mkboylan
Nov 11, 2013, 3:02 pm

Yes I saw it. My husband gave up on it but I kept on out of curiosity. I have mixed feelings but do think it's worth it. Although - I won't be reading the book.

53VivienneR
Nov 11, 2013, 3:17 pm

Ah, maybe I'll put it off. My aim was to add Yemen to my global reading and it was the only one at the library set there.

54VivienneR
Nov 12, 2013, 12:56 pm



Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch
An entertaining fantasy/mystery using the city of London and its rivers as a backdrop. It is funny, fast-moving and the rookie policeman in the main role is so endearing. An excellent debut novel from Aaronovitch, but I wish the north American publication had retained the British title and cover Rivers of London.

55VivienneR
Nov 16, 2013, 7:02 pm



Gods and Beasts by Denise Mina
Gritty mystery whose politicians are too close to the truth for comfort.

56VivienneR
Nov 18, 2013, 3:34 am



Dear Sir, I Intend to Burn Your Book : An Anatomy of a Book Burning by Lawrence Hill

Soon after Hill's book The Book of Negroes was published in the Netherlands, he received a letter from a Dutch resident who informed Hill that he intended to burn the book because of the use of the word "negroes" in the title. The correspondent hadn't read the book, didn't intend to read it. Hill replied with a very polite letter in part explaining that the title was taken from the name of a military ledger documenting the 3,000 African Americans who fled New York City for Nova Scotia, Canada at the end of the American Revolutionary War in 1783. The original document, which is central to the story in Hill's book, is kept in the National Archives in the UK. The story is of particular interest to Hill, a Nova Scotian whose ancestors were African American.

The letters brought about this slim book - really no more than an essay - discussing race relations in literature and in life, as well as censorship. Hill ends by saying as far as the issues were concerned in respect to history and the situation of peoples of the African Diaspora, he and his correspondent were on the same page. It is sad that the two were not able to meet and talk over the issue. Both would have been happier.

Although it must have been disappointing and frustrating for both men, we readers benefit by this thought-provoking and well-written piece.

Note: The Book of Negroes was published in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand as Someone Knows My Name a title his daughter helped him choose.

57dchaikin
Nov 18, 2013, 7:03 am

I have heard if The Book of Negroes and wanted to read it, but I wasn't aware of the alternate title. This anatomy sounds quite interesting.

58rebeccanyc
Nov 18, 2013, 7:36 am

Sounds like an interesting book -- both of them, I mean.

59SassyLassy
Nov 18, 2013, 9:58 am

Still called The Book of Negroes in Canada where it was originally published. Interesting background story; thanks for providing it. I still have to read this. I have often heard him interviewed on the radio, the book is on the TBR pile, not sure why I haven't read it.

Wondering why the original document is in the UK National Archives, not in Nova Scotia or even Ottawa. That would be another story!

60VivienneR
Nov 18, 2013, 12:59 pm

My apologies for being misleading about the title of Hill's book and where it was originally published. My only excuse is that I dashed off the posting too late in the evening to be still thinking clearly.

The Book of Negroes was published in Canada with great success. It won the Commonwealth Writers Prize, the Roger's Writer's Trust Prize, and CBC's Canada Reads. It was also nominated for the IMPAC award. The alternate title Someone Knows My Name was only used in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand.

Another mistake: I always believed Hill to be from Nova Scotia. In fact, he was born in Ontario. His parents, father black, mother white, were both human rights activists.

After reading Dear Sir, I Intend to Burn Your Book my respect for Hill has escalated by leaps and bounds. It was published as part of the Kreisel lectures by the University of Alberta, a forum for critical thinking about Canadian writing and cultural issues. I will look for other works by Lawrence Hill. Black Berry, Sweet Juice : On Being Black and White in Canada sounds particularly interesting.

Sassy, the original British military document dating from 1783 (pre-Confederation) rightly belongs in the UK archives.

61SassyLassy
Nov 18, 2013, 4:05 pm

Hadn't thought of it as a British military document, but okay then, that makes sense (she said grudgingly).

Didn't know where Hill was from in Canada, but when I read NS, due to the influx of black Loyalists in the post revolutionary period, it sounded believable that he was from there.

62mkboylan
Nov 18, 2013, 6:26 pm

Sounds like something I want to know more about and yay! My library has Someone Knows My Name

63baswood
Nov 18, 2013, 7:04 pm

Enjoyed your review of Dear Sir, I Intend to Burn Your Book which led me to consider if there were any books that I would want to burn. I certainly would not burn anything just from reading the title.

64VivienneR
Nov 18, 2013, 7:43 pm

Sassy, in case I sounded a bit abrupt at #60, it wasn't meant to be, I was trying to multi-task - decorating a birthday cake at the same time as posting. It does sound strange though, that a document describing something that happened in Canada should be in the archives of another country.

Merrikay, I had the book at one time but didn't finish it - can't exactly remember why, maybe it was heart-wrenching and I couldn't take it at that point in time. I'll try again.

bas, I can't imagine burning a book - it seems so extreme. However, I threw a book in the trash once. It was a mystery that described (in detail) how a child predator worked. I read mysteries for entertainment and it certainly didn't qualify as entertainment in my opinion.

65VivienneR
Nov 22, 2013, 10:58 pm



The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
I was convinced by the rave reviews of others to give Louise Penny a second chance after I found Dead Cold disappointing. Sadly, I was just as disappointed with The Brutal Telling. Creepy even in August, Three Pines and its unbalanced residents just do not appeal.

I donated another book I had by the same author, I just can't see myself ever reading it. Apologies to all the Penny fans out there!

66VivienneR
Nov 23, 2013, 7:11 pm



The Short Stories of Saki by Saki

This has been on my shelves for a while. It was my first Saki and I had no idea I would enjoy it so much or I wouldn't have waited so long. Beautiful acerbic humour that brings a surprise smile. Saki can be likened to a cross between Wodehouse and Oscar Wilde although that description might be a shade too flattering. Very enjoyable.

67NanaCC
Nov 23, 2013, 7:26 pm

I love Wodehouse.... :)

68RidgewayGirl
Nov 24, 2013, 10:00 am

Yes! One other person in the universe! I am not alone.

I lasted fifty pages of Penny's characters* before giving up in an overdose of whimsy.

*now with extra character!

69VivienneR
Nov 24, 2013, 11:18 am

I should have given up after 50 pages too!

*now with extra character! - that's funny, but so appropriate.

70VivienneR
Nov 24, 2013, 3:42 pm



The God argument : the case against religion and for humanism by A.C. Grayling

Grayling has a talent for writing clearly about complicated topics. Many of his ideas have been written about in other places, but he makes them so much more readable. Very interesting, well written, common sense. An excellent and inspiring read. I've no hesitation in giving this one five stars!

71.Monkey.
Nov 24, 2013, 5:18 pm

Ah, 5stars, one to add to the list!

72mkboylan
Nov 25, 2013, 12:54 pm

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/50booksoffer?utm_source=NL-Body&utm_medium=e...

So are we going to give it another try? Not sure I'll be able to resist.

73VivienneR
Nov 25, 2013, 1:00 pm

Oh, thank you Merrikay! I didn't even know it was about to happen. Yes, I'll give it another shot, anytime I'm hanging out near the computer anyway. I can't resist a bargain.

74VivienneR
Editado: Nov 26, 2013, 1:53 am



Transatlantic by Colum McCann

McCann's short rhythmic sentences are mesmerizing; as if there is an invisible metronome alongside, clicking, keeping time. Not to everyone's taste, but after a couple of futile attempts to ignore the metronome I got used to it. Eventually I realized the measured tempo added to the story in some places.

Having originated in Northern Ireland, the chapter describing Senator George Mitchell's participation in the Northern Ireland peace talks was of particular interest to me. The task must have been difficult to the point of being virtually unattainable. He was obviously the perfect choice for the job.

The combination of history, biography, location and storytelling, makes for a clever, entertaining, and impressively interesting read.

75VivienneR
Nov 30, 2013, 2:57 pm

A couple for Christmas entertainment:



The Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin
A sweet old-fashioned story written in the late 19th century. The amusing preparation the impoverished Ruggles' children had to endure before attending the affluent Carol Bird's Christmas party was worth a couple of stars alone.



A Rumpole Christmas by John Mortimer
Classic Rumpole short stories. As far as Horace Rumpole is concerned Christmas is fine as long as he has his usual quota of Chateau Thames Embankment and maybe a steak and kidney pudding. Hilda has an idea for a healthy change: Christmas at a spa.

76japaul22
Nov 30, 2013, 7:33 pm

Enjoyed your review of TransAtlantic. I like your description of the short sentences and feeling as though you're reading along with a metronome. I still found it annoying, but I can appreciate it!

77VivienneR
Nov 30, 2013, 8:50 pm

I probably was able to ignore the annoyance because I found the story so interesting. McCann certainly knows Ireland and Northern Ireland. He mentioned places that I've never heard mentioned in any other work, even a grocery store where I used to shop, no longer in existence as far as I know. I remember it well because they always played "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and I am transported there every time I hear the tune.

78RidgewayGirl
Dic 1, 2013, 4:07 am

I liked the odd sentence structure of TransAtlantic, but I can see why it would irk.

79VivienneR
Dic 1, 2013, 2:28 pm

I think a quirk in style can be more annoying than, say, a tedious story. Maugham is one of my favourite writers - notwithstanding his use of the word "notwithstanding" or the phrase "she painted her lips". Both annoyed me beyond reason. The last time I read Maugham I was on the lookout but didn't find either.

80mkboylan
Dic 1, 2013, 3:33 pm

So did you buy anything from the Book Depoitory sale?

I bought Why It's Kicking Off Everywhere: the New Global Revolutions and that is it. Wasn't that good of a buy either because I usually only buy used. NOTHING else caught my eye and STILL I can't resist that little game of theirs. It's kind of pitiful.

81VivienneR
Dic 1, 2013, 3:41 pm

I know how you feel. The likelihood of finding something I really really want is kind of remote, but I like the game. And no, I didn't buy anything. The first one I saw when I logged on looked like it might have been a contender but it was sold out at that point. I wasn't able to watch for long though. But if I'm near the computer, it's fun to watch.

Your choice looks like a winner! Good for you!

82VivienneR
Dic 1, 2013, 9:53 pm



On Mozart : a paean for Wolfgang by Anthony Burgess

This very clever homage to Mozart begins with a celestial conversation between some of the great composers: Wagner; Beethoven; Prokofiev; Bliss; and others, and continues with a libretto on Mozart's life. This is one of the most creative books I've read recently; funny, clever, sparkling with wit and venom in equal amounts. It also had me checking the internet and the dictionary, for in places it was not an easy read. But very entertaining if you know anything of the subjects.

83VivienneR
Dic 2, 2013, 2:48 am



The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen

Some Christmas mysteries simply don't cut it. Instead, this one by Rhys Bowen has raised the bar. The plot was completely implausible, just the way a cozy mystery should be. It was rounded off with lots of English village merriment at a large twelve-day house party in the 1930s. A little shot of romance thrown in to accompany the mistletoe. I've been saving this one and it lived up to my expectations. Very enjoyable.

84NanaCC
Dic 2, 2013, 8:04 am

My life will be hectic for the next month, so I am planning on light reading for the rest of the year. The Twelve Clues of Christmas sounds like it qualifies. :)

85baswood
Dic 2, 2013, 8:52 am

I didn't know that Anthony Burgess had written a book with Mozart as its subject. It sounds like an interesting read.

86SassyLassy
Dic 2, 2013, 9:10 am

There's a real art to balancing reading among challenging, entertaining and stimulating, and your recent books seem to have really captured it.

It always feels like a real find to discover an old Kate Douglas Wiggin somewhere. In the line of old books, I have my father's copy of the collected Saki stories, complete with notes and bookmarks at his favourite stories. While I'm not the ardent fan he was, I do enjoy the stories. Hadn't heard of the Burgess book on composers before. It does look like a treat.

87VivienneR
Dic 2, 2013, 1:52 pm

>84 NanaCC: Colleen, the Rhys Bowen book was a lot of Christmas fun, entertainment just right for busy times.

>85 baswood: The Anthony Burgess book is quite old, 1991 I believe. It's a short read, mostly dialogue. It had me laughing out loud a couple of times. Afterwards I wondered what the composers might would say if they knew their music is sold on iTunes, or that a few bars might be used as a ringtone on a phone?

>86 SassyLassy: Thanks Sassy, I like to vary my reading. If I was to read all one style, genre, they would all roll into one in my memory and none would stand out. I read a lot of Shakespeare one after the other and now I have to really think hard when identifying characters with plays.

88VivienneR
Dic 4, 2013, 8:06 pm



The Case of the Missing Bronte by Robert Barnard

Barnard, who died September 2013, was a university lecturer and later chair of the Bronte Society. He drew on his extensive knowledge of the Brontes as well the characters of some eccentric academics in this tale. There are some interesting snippets about the Bronte sisters that explain why even potential manuscripts are sought-after and valuable. I enjoyed the witty lampooning of academics, some of whom I am sure I have met at one or more of the three universities where I have either studied or worked! I enjoyed this mystery although I deducted a half star for an unsatisfying end.

89janeajones
Dic 4, 2013, 9:22 pm

Intrigued by Burgess's book on Mozart as I've recently read his fictional bios of Marlowe and Shakespeare -- think I must look it up.

90VivienneR
Dic 4, 2013, 11:00 pm

Burgess certainly has a style all his own. The book was interesting and different to anything I've read before. Too late I realized I should have posted a quote or two, but now the book is back at the library. I will look for more of his work.

91VivienneR
Editado: Dic 10, 2013, 9:59 pm



Busy Body by M.C. Beaton
Agatha Raisin has become just a little less aggressive. A fun, fast read for Christmas that introduces a new detective on the payroll.

92VivienneR
Dic 11, 2013, 11:32 pm



A Christmas Grace by Anne Perry

A nicely written story set in Connemara with all the ambience and atmosphere a reader might expect. Neither a major mystery, nor Christmas story, but enjoyable.

93NanaCC
Dic 11, 2013, 11:41 pm

You are reading several books that would fit my light and cozy reading for December. Unfortunately, the craziness of the season has already put a crimp in my reading time. I had plans for about 6 more than I'm going to be able to finish. :)

94VivienneR
Dic 12, 2013, 12:25 am

Colleen, Rhys Bowen's The Twelve Clues of Christmas was the best. The others have been so un-Christmassy that they've been a tad disappointing. I might just give up on Christmas cozies, for this year anyway.

95VivienneR
Dic 13, 2013, 2:34 am

This was an ER snag, and one I'm very lucky to have received.



Legends, Icons & Rebels : Music that Changed the World by Robbie Robertson

Legends, Icons & Rebels : Music that Changed the World was created to introduce youngsters to some of the greatest music of all time instead of the "pandering" children's music that educators found was not engaging them.

A beautiful book, with a cover reminiscent of an album, this will not only inform but entertain the reader. The pages are beautifully illustrated to correspond to the music. Each chapter, introduced by a personal recollection by Robbie Robertson, focuses on a specific artist, describing their style, music and achievements. The book includes two CDs of their music to further illustrate the content. One of the best features is that it describes why the music is so important.

Although written for a younger reader who may not know the bands and artists well, this book is just as interesting to the reader who has grown up listening to their music and stories. The music timeline is put in context by relating the song or artist to current events of the time, such as the Beatles arrival in the United States that helped lighten the spirits of Americans desolated following the assassination of President Kennedy.

There are snippets of all kinds of interesting information: did you know that Little Richard wrote "Tutti Frutti" while working as a dishwasher in a bus station? And in 1967 when Curtis Mayfield released "We're a Winner", a song with incredibly positive lyrics, he becames a symbol for the civil rights movement that was getting underway at the time.

Written in a way to inspire a young reader yet still captivating for the older audience, this book was a real treat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and listening to the fabulous music. Highly recommended.

96.Monkey.
Dic 13, 2013, 5:37 am

Ah I requested that one, sounds like I should put it on my wishlist for someday!

97RidgewayGirl
Dic 13, 2013, 5:38 am

Is the author "the" Robbie Robertson? The Band Robbie Robertson?

98.Monkey.
Dic 13, 2013, 5:55 am

>97 RidgewayGirl: Yup! It was apparently co-written with Jim Guerinot, Sebastian Robertson and Jared Levine.

99rebeccanyc
Dic 13, 2013, 8:06 am

That sounds like a really fun book, especially since that's the music I grew up with.

100baswood
Dic 13, 2013, 8:35 am

From what you say Vivienne Legends, Icons & Rebels should be compulsory reading for anyone under 40. Great idea for a book.

101SassyLassy
Dic 13, 2013, 10:01 am

Sounds like a great book for the music section of the collection.

Do you have the Martin Scorsese's film The Last Waltz about The Band's last concert? It has just about everyone who ever played with them in it, starting with Ronnie Hawkins who very early on had them as a back up band. Check out the trailer: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077838/

102VivienneR
Dic 13, 2013, 2:24 pm

PMM, aww I'm sorry you didn't win a copy.

RG, yes, Robbie Robertson of The Band

Yes, it was a really fun book. I probably have all the music already but it's nice to have it grouped together. Not only compulsory for under 40s, over 40s too :) Because it's a YA book, it would be great for a school collection.

Off to investigate the Scorsese film. Thanks for that info Sassy.

103VivienneR
Dic 21, 2013, 1:52 pm

>101 SassyLassy: I ordered a copy of The Last Waltz as a gift for my daughter-in-law. Thanks for that tip Sassy. I'm sure she will let me borrow it sometime :)

104VivienneR
Dic 26, 2013, 2:32 pm

The Dogs of Christmas by W. Bruce Cameron
A short, sweet story for the holidays.

End Games by Michael Dibdin
Dibdin portrays Italy and its people as well as any native of that country. A thriller with an excellent plot, written with style. As usual, Aurelio Zen is filled with apprehension about a community and a local culture that is foreign to his own.

105VivienneR
Editado: Dic 27, 2013, 4:12 pm



Dancing with Statues by Caroline Doherty de Novoa

Miguel, a lawyer from Colombia, is one of a team in Northern Ireland seeking the truth about specific events from "the Troubles" as part of the peace process. When Laura was a teenager, her mother committed suicide soon after the horrendous bomb attack now being investigated by Miguel. While delving into the past other secrets are revealed. Although this book could be classified as a romance, it is no sappy love story, but tale of mysteries and secrets uncovered and the eventual recovery of those involved. Miguel is an endearing, cheerful character, while Laura is more serious and introverted - I felt like shaking her sometimes before remembering all that she had come through. The story was an interesting mix of revisiting the past and of how those events can affect the relationships of today. It is a satisfying story told without sentimentality.

The title is taken from a scene in the book where Miguel dances with Laura among the group of 18 foot high metal sculptures known as "Let the Dance Begin". The sculptures, by Maurice Harron, are in Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland on what was once the site of a border crossing checkpoint.

106mkboylan
Dic 27, 2013, 5:16 pm

I bet I would like Dancing with Statues. Great review.

107NanaCC
Dic 27, 2013, 5:30 pm

I gave my son-in-law the Legends, Icons & Rebels : Music that Changed the World after reading your review. It really looked beautiful. I have added Dancing with Statues to my list. It seems like one I should look at.

108.Monkey.
Dic 27, 2013, 6:49 pm

Those statues look quite interesting. I love huge statues, the whole larger than life thing, it really makes a powerful statement. We went to Memento Park in Budapest, where they have all the Soviet monuments, and wow.

109VivienneR
Dic 27, 2013, 7:52 pm

Merrikay, it does a good job of showing what Northern Ireland suffered as well as what it is like at present. It is such a wonderful place.

Colleen, glad I helped you choose a gift for your son-in-law. I gave mine to my daughter-in-law but I haven't spoken to her yet to find out her opinion.

The statues look wonderful don't they? Three musicians and two dancers ready to take the floor. Close ups show fabulous detail. What an improvement on a checkpoint!

110NanaCC
Dic 27, 2013, 8:05 pm

In 1983, I remember going through checkpoints with young men who didn't look much older than my son who was about 14 or 15 at the time. They were dressed in their cami uniforms complete with machine guns. This is an improvement indeed.

111VivienneR
Dic 27, 2013, 8:11 pm

I always thought they looked more scared than I was. I remember seeing some soldiers doing laundry at the laundromat - in full uniform with weapons slung over their shoulders. That was in the early days before facilities were set up properly.

112VivienneR
Dic 28, 2013, 10:52 pm



The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie

Only one short story in the collection is a Christmas story but is the best Christmas reading for a long time.

113VivienneR
Dic 29, 2013, 2:17 am

That will probably be my last ROOT of the year. I'm heading off to hospital tomorrow, which will slow down my reading significantly.

The good news: I might be seeing out the old year in hospital, but I will be seeing in the new year back at home!

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2014.

114NanaCC
Dic 29, 2013, 3:41 am

A happy healthy new year to you as well, Vivienne. Be well!

115baswood
Dic 30, 2013, 5:13 am

Wishing you good health in 2014 Vivienne.