VivienneR's Reading Record - part 2

Brighton Beach by John Constable

Up next:
What the Psychic Told the Pilgrim: a midlife misadventure on Spain's Camino de Santiago by Jane Christmas
The Sin Within Her Smile by Jonathan Gash
Bandits by Elmore Leonard
The Marseille Caper by Peter Mayle
Jane and Prudence by Barbara Pym
The Edwardians by Vita Sackville-West

First Quarter

January
1. The Shepherd by Frederick Forsyth
2. Descent : a novel by Tim Johnston
3. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
4. Murder Most Foul
5. Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood
6. Everest : Summit of Achievement
7. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
8. Love, Nina: Despatches from Family Life by Nina Stibbe
9. The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
10. City of the Mind by Penelope Lively
11. The Pigeon Pie Mystery by Julia Stuart
12. The Book of Murder by Guillermo Martinez
13. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
14. Puckster Plays the Hockey Mascots by Lorna Schultz Nicholson

February
15. Leave the Grave Green by Deborah Crombie
16. A Pelican at Blandings by P.G. Wodehouse
17. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
18. Gallows View by Peter Robinson
19. Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx
20. Prince Harry: Brother, Soldier, Son by Penny Junor
21. Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
22. Gently Does It by Alan Hunter
23. Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan
24. Dream Angus by Alexander McCall Smith
25. Selections from the Diary of Samuel Pepys by Samuel Pepys

March
26. Longbourn by Jo Baker
27. Paul McCartney : a Life by Peter Ames Carlin
28. The Nine Tailors : changes rung on an old theme, in two short touches and two full peals by Dorothy L. Sayers
29. The Spider (Disgusting Creatures by Elise Gravel
30. The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher and other stories by Hilary Mantel
31. Mourn Not Your Dead by Deborah Crombie
32. Bleak Spring by Jon Cleary
33. Island : The Complete Stories by Alistair MacLeod
34. The Accident by Linwood Barclay
35. To Fetch a Thief by Spencer Quinn
36. Stiff : The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
37. Last Night at the Blue Angel by Rebecca Rotert
38. A Daughter's Tale : the memoir of Winston and Clementine Churchill's youngest child by Mary Soames

Second Quarter

April
39. Al Capone Does My Homework by Gennifer Choldenko
40. Toast : the story of a boy's hunger by Nigel Slater
41. Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers
42. The Final Silence by Stuart Neville
43. The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
44. Past Tense by Catherine Aird
45. Not My Father's Son : a Memoir by Alan Cumming
46. Doors Open by Ian Rankin
47. The Man Who Knew Too Much by David Leavitt
48. Nocturne by Deborah Crombie
49. The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
50. The Tea House on Mulberry Street by Sharon Owens
51. I am the messenger by Markus Zusak

May
52. Common Ground by Justin Trudeau
53. My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
54. Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner
55. Djibouti by Elmore Leonard
56. Stormbreaker by Antony Horowitz
57. Between a heart and a rock place by Pat Benatar
58. The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor
59. As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by C. Alan Bradley
60. The Surfacing by Cormac James
61. Cross by Ken Bruen
62. Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear
63. Whitewater Cooks with Passion by Shelley Adams
64. Stone Bruises by Simon Beckett
65. A Room with a View by E.M. Forster

June
66. Outstanding in the Rain by Frank Viva
67. Silverfin by Charlie Higson
68. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
69. I.O.U. Dead : a Keno Kalder mystery by Michelle Wan
70. The Good Thief's Guide to Venice by Chris Ewan
71. The Guards by Ken Bruen
72. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
73. The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje
74. Smut : two unseemly stories by Alan Bennett
75. Vanessa and her sister by Priya Parmar
76. Belfast Confidential by Colin Bateman
77. Ex Libris : Confessions of a common reader by Anne Fadiman
78. Miss Mapp by E.F. Benson
79. Not a penny more, not a penny less by Jeffrey Archer

Third Quarter

July
80. The Killing of the Tinkers by Ken Bruen
81. 22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson
82. Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder
83. Portobello by Ruth Rendell
84. Clara Callan by Richard B. Wright
85. The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam by Chris Ewan
86. The Question by Jane Asher
87. The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham
88. Tiger in the Well by Philip Pullman
89. A Necessary End by Peter Robinson
90. Death of a Chimney Sweep by M.C. Beaton

August
91. Five Days in London May 1940 by John Lukacs
92. Eating Dirt by Charlotte Gill
93. The Good Little Book by Kyo Maclear
94. Being Sam Frears : A Life Less Ordinary by Mary Mount
95. The little red yellow black book : an introduction to indigenous Australia by Bruce Pascoe
96. Call for the Dead by John le Carré

September
97. Sing a worried song by William Deverell
98. The Last Detective by Peter Lovesey
99. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré
100. A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr
101. A Bit on the Side by William Trevor
102. The Majolica Murders by Deborah Morgan
103. Poor Cow by Nell Dunn
104. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
105. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
106. Death at the Chase by Michael Innes
107. Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers
108. The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
109. A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson

That's a whole lot of books year to date! I see you have A Room With a View as one of your next ups. I'm planning to read this too in the next few months - love a bit of E.M. Forster.

Another lovely image to start your page. Looking forward to more of your reading.

>6 AlisonY: Retirement means I'm able to read more! It will probably slow down somewhat during summer. I've always got a few books going at the same time to be enjoyed at different times of the day. I've just started A Room with a View and will take time to savour it.

>7 SassyLassy: Thanks, that goes both ways.

Great picture to start the summer, Vivienne!

Thanks Colleen, my winter picture was a bit out-dated :)

A Room with a View by E.M. Forster

Young Lucy Honeychurch, accompanied by her elderly cousin Charlotte Bartlett, is visiting Italy for the first time. All the drama of life is derived from the confined rules of class and manners where the significance of every event is magnified. The writing had a surprisingly modern flavour, considering that it was written at the beginning of the 20th century. From the sweet Lucy, to the snobbish Cecil Vyse, to the compassionate Rev. Beebe, the characters all stand out clearly, with Lucy being at the centre. There are many humorous passages, one of which involved Miss Bartlett who was required to change a sovereign for smaller coins in order to pay a cab fare. The younger characters completely bewildered her by making complex calculations for the transaction. It appeared she would lose the lot while the others would profit. Forster may have been the first to use this now classic comedy act. This is a delightful novel that will not fail to entertain the reader. Highly recommended.

A favourite quote: "She was a novelist," said Lucy craftily. The remark was a happy one, for nothing roused Mrs. Honeychurch so much as literature in the hands of females. She would abandon every topic to inveigh against those women who (instead of minding their houses and their children) seek notoriety by print. Her attitude was: "If books must be written, let them be written by men"

I gave this 5 stars the first time I read it, a rating I will happily repeat.

>11 VivienneR: Great review of a great book!

Thanks Colleen! It was a lot of fun.

Oh good - can't wait to read this later this year! I remember loving the film adaptation. I very much enjoyed Howard's End and Maurice, so glad this one sounds brilliant as well.

A Room with a view is a classic and a very readable one. I love it.

Nice review of A Room with a View, Vivienne. I'll have to push it my higher on my TBR list.

>14 AlisonY: I think it was that excellent movie that first inspired me to read it many years ago. The movie stayed close to the story. In my opinion, A Room with a View is even better than Howard's End.

>15 baswood: Your review was impressive!

>16 kidzdoc: It would be a good idea to push it up. You'll enjoy it.

I also listened to A Passage to India and loved it.

I read that years ago too, and loved it. I might give it another go soon.

An Early Reviewer's snag

Outstanding in the Rain by Frank Viva

Novelty is the secret of learning in the mature mind as well as the developing one. This book will pique the interest of the child reader with its peepholes in the pages, changing images and re-forming words that teach as well as entertain. The illustrations are deceptively simple. The show the many scenes of a fairground without chaos or clutter that will create images to stay in the young mind. The experiences of the little boy will resonate with any child who visits a fairground. An excellent choice to read aloud or for a child learning to read.

Silverfin by Charlie Higson

It's easy to imagine how this young man became the dashing, fearless James Bond we all know so well. Typically for Bond, the plot was quite gruesome involving a very nasty group of villains. The story begins with Bond's introduction to Eton sometime after the Great War. It was interesting to read about the traditions at Eton. I enjoyed this YA book with its page-turning excitement and will follow up with another in the series.

My husband noticed this book in the library and borrowed it for me: Vanessa and Her Sister by Priya Parmar, a fictional account of Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf. I wonder if anyone here has read it. It looks like it will be excellent, and I love the cover.

Vivienne I'm so jealous! I've had my eye on Vanessa and her Sister ever since I read a pre-review of it in the Times a few months ago. My library hasn't ordered it into their system so I haven't managed to read it yet, but the reviews have all been very positive.

Can't wait to hear what you think of it.

I have another library book that is due back soon that has to be read first. I'm looking forward to Vanessa.

Today my daughter-in-law and I went to the library booksale and got tons of books. Many of them I've read before but I still have about 20 to add to my catalogue. I think I need a new room for books.

Got a fine haul at the library booksale today:

A Mixture of Frailties by Robertson Davies
Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
The Sport of Queens by Dick Francis
The Vegetarian Feast by Martha Rose Shulman
The Piano Man's Daughter by Timothy Findley
Wilderness Tips by Margaret Atwood
Friend of the Devil by Peter Robinson
A Question of Blood by Ian Rankin
Funeral Note by Quintin Jardine
No Relation by Terry Fallis
That Old Ace in the Hole by Annie Proulx
De Niro's Game by Rawi Hage
The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion
The Lighthouse by P.D. James
The Caller by Karin Fossum
The Locked Room by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo
Castle Gay by John Buchan
Southern Mail/Night Flight by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Some I've read before but will read again at some point. My daughter-in-law got about 4 or 5 times this amount that we will share.

My 8th Thingaversary was last month, so this is my reward!

You and Jennifer did well today!

We did very well! I can't wait to get to some of these.

Good haul! Funny, I was just looking at De Niro's Game last night on Amazon - sounds interesting.

Library sale buddies! You got some great selections!

Had we been at that sale, we would have had to arm wrestle over a few of those titles. I miss the library booksales - my local friends of the library in SC open their doors one morning a month to members and I would arrange my schedule accordingly. Of course, I'm doing much better here in Munich in not buying more than I'm reading (the tbr is holding steady, rather than rocketing upward). Not having access to booksales my have something to do with that!

>28 AlisonY: I put De Niro's Game on (yet another) list of books to investigate further. Getting it at the book sale means I can try it out, and when I'm done with it, donate it back to the library for the next sale.

>29 japaul22: We both did well!

>30 RidgewayGirl: Once a month sale day would be nice. Ours is a three-day event, so I may go back to see the current offerings that didn't reach the shelves yesterday.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

The head of state of a South American country is hosting a lavish party in honour of a powerful Japanese businessman who is celebrating his birthday while in the country. The other guests at the event being held in the vice-president's house are international dignitaries, and a famous opera singer who has been asked to perform. In the midst of the festivities, the house is stormed by terrorists intent on capturing the president. Unfortunately - or fortunately for the president - he decided to stay at home to watch his favourite soap opera. The result is an impasse.

As the weeks lengthen into months the reader gets to know both the hostages and the terrorists, all of whom become surprisingly well-adjusted to their new circumstances and each other. The guest of honour's translator becomes an important player as he translates for negotiator, hostages, and terrorists alike. Patchett's talent lies in being able to elicit empathy with each of the characters no matter which side they are on. Intriguingly, the proceedings are reflected in the slow-moving chess games played. The story is mesmerizing but Patchett's writing is simply entrancing. Even though the outcome is preordained, one clings to hope. The ending came almost abruptly, and although it was not exactly to my liking, this is a book that I can recommend strongly.

I've been looking forward to your review on Bel Canto. Sounds like a goody.

Alison, I can understand how readers either love it or hate it. The story is slow and you wonder where it will go but the characters and relationships evolve throughout the story and keep up the interest level. Patchett's writing kept me enthralled.

I remember loving Bel Canto when I read it years ago. But I agree, it could be one that would not be to everyone's liking.

The ratings and reviews are wildly divergent. Glad I didn't read them to start with, I might have been put off.

This was an Early Reviewers win.

I.O.U. Dead : a Keno Kalder mystery by Michelle Wan

This is a well-told mystery with engaging characters, that could be described more accurately as a novella than a novel. The protagonist, Keno Kalder, was diagnosed as ADHD, attention deficict hyperactivity disordered, when he was a child and any reader with a similar conditon will appreciate what he goes through just to earn a living. The language is adult, but it would also be suitable for young teens. Although the text is uncomplicated, the author has written with intelligence and wit that will be appreciated by readers.

Orca Books defines Rapid Reads as "short books for adult readers. They are intended for a diverse audience, including ESL students, reluctant readers, adults who struggle with literacy and anyone who wants a high-interest quick read." Wan's book fits the description perfectly. That deserves 4 stars.

The Good Thief's Guide to Venice by Chris Ewan

A fun mystery with Charlie Howard. This was an audio version narrated by Simon Vance, whose reading was so good that it added significantly to my enjoyment of the book.

>32 VivienneR: I too loved Bel Canto (somewhat to my surprise) when I read it many years ago, and I have enjoyed other works by Ann Patchett that she wrote before it, not so much what she's written after it.

That's good to know, Rebecca. It explains the range of ratings.

The Guards by Ken Bruen

Hard-boiled, poetic, fierce, heart-wrenching, heart-warming, tender: ex-Garda Jack Taylor can make you laugh and cry on the same page. This is the first of the series set in Galway. Some authors don't hit their stride until later in a series but Bruen hit the ground running. He has certainly won a fan in me.

Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

Having recently read Silverfin a story about the young James Bond by Charlie Higson, I decided to revisit the James Bond books that I loved as a teenager. This is the introduction to Bond and the series promises to be a lot of fun. Although the gambling strategies related to baccarat are beyond my understanding, the excitement and suspense was clear. The story was just as entertaining as I remember, even though it wasn't one of my favourites. The reader must also remember that it pre-dates modern politically-correct sensitivities. A word of advice: resist forming an opinion of Ian Fleming books on the James Bond movies, most of which, though fun, are cheesy, cheap reproductions.

The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje

This is a story of a boy travelling unaccompanied from Sri Lanka to England in 1954. He was in the group of the least privileged passengers who sat at the cat's table, the one furthest from the captain's table. This was an audiobook read by the author. It has a dreamy, ethereal quality in both the story content and in the narration. Ondaatje's voice brings a distinct personal quality to the story that makes it mesmerizing. It causes the reader to believe that there is personal experience involved in at least part of the story although Ondaatje claims not. He has a remarkable talent for creating beautiful phrases: "She had a laugh that hinted it had rolled around once or twice in mud". The characters and events are captivating; the description of Aden dazzling. I can recommend Ondaatje's beguiling, intelligent writing.

Just catching up. Some good reading there. The Cat's Table sounds like one I would like. I haven't read any of Ondaatje's books, but have several of them on my wishlist. Ian Fleming also might be interesting. I just finished A Spy Among Friends, and now I'm thinking of reading some John Le Carre too.

>43 VivienneR: interesting review of The Cat's Table. The only book of Ondaatje's I've read is Coming Through Slaughter, and I found it just OK. Sounds like I should perhaps give some of his other books a try.

>44 NanaCC: Colleen, not everyone feels the same way about Ondaatje, just as >45 AlisonY: says. In this case, I believe the book was enhanced because it was an audio version narrated by Ondaatje.

I'm going to continue with the Fleming series. I really enjoyed them in my youth and enjoyed this repeat just as much.

>45 AlisonY: I enjoyed In the Skin of the Lion and have a couple, including The English Patient on the shelf, however I pass them over every time because I know he can be ponderous. Ondaatje's voice is like melted chocolate, so it really made this book special. Curiously, he can take a multi-syllable word and seemingly squeeze it into one syllable. For that reason, I had to look up the names of some of the characters to see them in print.

>46 VivienneR: that's interesting, Vivienne. I can see how Ondaatje might be the kind of author who's more enjoyable in audio form, and if he has a fabulous reading voice even better.

I'm going to start commuting soon by bus a few days a week, so might just start giving some audio books a go for the first time.

>44 NanaCC: Maybe Ondaatje changes his view about how personal The Cat's Table is from time to time, or based on the interviewer. Although I haven't read it yet (another book on the mammoth TBR), I remember hearing interviews with him when it first came out, suggesting that it did have a certain autobiographical nature to it. You might be interested in Running in the Family, from 1984, which is about a trip he made back to Sri Lanka as an adult, looking at the places of his childhood.

Thank you Sassy and Vivienne. I will check out some of his work.

Loved The Cat's Table -- and I'm sure there's lots of autobiographical elements there.

>47 AlisonY: Audiobooks are perfect for a bus commute. Reading in a moving vehicle makes me queasy.

>48 SassyLassy: That's an interesting observation. I suppose it could vary according to the interviewer's interpretation too. I believe I have Running in the Family. Sounds like it would be a good follow-up.

>49 NanaCC: The Cat's Table might be a good starting point to keep in mind.

>50 janeajones: It would be hard to believe it was completely fiction.

Smut : two unseemly stories by Alan Bennett

Although Bennett's two "unseemly" stories involve sex, his portrayal has a down to earth quality that avoids indecency or eroticism. At the same time they are generously laced with humour that is tinged with a poignant element. Bennett's writing is never blatantly obvious, but rather it weaves many emotions that beautifully reflect reality. I enjoyed The Uncommon Reader more, but as usual, Bennett has created a thought-provoking work with subtle undertones.

edited to correct book title

>52 VivienneR: I've seen this in the library and have been meaning to get around to it. I need to read more Alan Bennett.

Enjoyed your review of Smut. I definitely need to move Alan Bennett up my wish list.

>53 valkyrdeath: Smut is a short read but worthwhile. I hope you get to it soon.

>54 AlisonY: Thanks. As mentioned, I loved The Uncommon Reader, however, Smut is one of those stories (two actually) that will stick in the mind.

Vanessa and her Sister by Priya Parmar

The author notes that it was difficult to find enough "room for invention" in writing about a group whose lives are so well documented. Although the author notes that many of the details are rooted in fact, including the complicated romantic lives, I found I needed to remind myself often that the account was fiction. The diary format works well, even though it is puzzling how correspondence belonging to the others made its way into Vanessa's diary. Vanessa came across as the linchpin of the group, we are after all, reading her diary. However, there were times when my interest flagged and I had to speed-read ahead for a bit. It's a clever story, deserving of the accolades, but needs a reader who is interested in imagining the details.

I was wrong. The sea does not offer its rhythm, nor its colours, lightly. It is a snarling blue beast one moment and a frothy jade pool the next. It is disinclined to sit for a portrait.

Vivienne - I've been waiting for your review of this book! Your review sounds quite mixed - not as good as you'd hoped then? A bit try-too-hard in places?

Alison, I was disappointed in it. Maybe I expected too much. The characters were not very likeable for the most part (some of them were unlikeable in real life) but I couldn't get my head around what was fact, what was fiction. Somehow it seemed important to me to know which was which. Beautiful writing, but chopped up with ephemera like rail tickets, letters, etc. that spoiled the flow. I'd have to turn the page to see who the letter was from, then go back. Sometimes I'd forget or didn't notice that it was no longer Vanessa's voice.

Belfast Confidential by Colin Bateman

Irreverent, ribald, and filled with that unique cheeky Belfast humour. Dan Starkey, journalist, investigates multiple murders involving the most popular magazine around: Belfast Confidential.

This was a great SantaThing choice by jjmcgaffey.

>58 VivienneR: I totally get where you're coming from. I either like to know that something is fiction or non-fiction, otherwise I start to get cross that I think something's real when it's not. I think you've persuaded me that I'd be better off with a Bloomsbury group biography rather than this book.

That's it in a nutshell Alison. I'd prefer a biography too. I never really liked Lytton Strachey, a major character in Parmar's book. That's such a long-standing opinion, that I don't even remember how it came about, but it didn't help the book for me.

Ex Libris : Confessions of a common reader by Anne Fadiman

As I started reading the first essay, Marrying Libraries, I enjoyed it so much that I imagined it would turn out to be my favourite. The second essay, The Joy of Sesquipedalians, quickly became a competitor for the prime spot. Then came My Odd Shelf, essay number three. You guessed it, now there were three contenders. And so it continued. This little book was enthralling. Fadiman writes so beautifully and about authors and books I am familiar with and appreciate as much. Not only that, I learned so many new words! Keep the dictionary handy when reading this book.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Ex Libris. I keep a few copies around to give to people.

I loved it too, Rebecca. That's a great idea to keep a few copies for gifts. Maybe I got the book bullet from you! If so, thank you.

Miss Mapp by E.F. Benson

I've read the entire Mapp & Lucia series a few times and have come to the conclusion that Miss Mapp is my favourite character. Such a crafty mischief-maker! The machinations and intrigues of the residents of Tilling are hilariously entertaining. Major Flint and Captain Puffin are known to have bibulous disagreements but it was Puffin's belligerent confrontation with Miss Mapp that made me laugh so hard it brought tears to my eyes: "You say I'm drunk, do you? Well I say you're drunk."

On this nth reading, I'm awarding 5 stars yet again.

>62 VivienneR: Oh, that's an interesting review! I have to confess, I didn't like Ex Libris at all (but I seem to be in the minority, here). A similar writer that I'm terribly fond of is Alberto Manguel.

>66 reva8: Oddly I don't remember much about the Alberto Manguel book that I read. It is strange how a book might capture the interest of one person but not another. It can also have something to do with timing.

>65 VivienneR: loved your Miss Mapp review. I've had this series on my wish list for ages - need to get to it soon.

>68 AlisonY: Oh, Alison...get to the Mapp and Lucia series as soon as you can. They are delightful!

I tried to read the Mapp and Lucia series when I was in my 20s and found them irritating. Maybe I was too young to appreciate the humor.....

I just started Lucia's Progress a few days ago. It's my first time through the series and I really like them. They make great light reading (and I mean that with the greatest respect!).

>68 AlisonY: You will love Mapp (and Lucia). The plotting and conniving is so perfectly scripted.

>69 NanaCC: I second that. My favourite part of the series is when Lucia moves to Tilling.

>70 janeajones: I wouldn't have had any appreciation for them either when I was 20! Soon after I finished Make Way for Lucia PBS broadcast the wonderful TV series with Geraldine McEwan as Lucia, Prunella Scales (Fawlty Towers) as Mapp, and Nigel Hawthorne (Yes, Minister) as Georgie. I believe a new series is imminent but I don't believe it could possibly surpass the first.

>71 japaul22: Yes, light reading but so entertaining.

>66 reva8: I've had The Library at Night by Alberto Manguel on the TBR for several years, but have yet to read it. Thanks for the reminder, Reva.

I might have to give Alberto Manguel another try. I definitely missed something first time around.

Not a penny more, not a penny less by Jeffrey Archer

It was OK, but this early novel of Archer's is not his best. A shady character gets investors to part with their money. When the money is lost the four biggest losers hatch a plan to get back every penny. It was quite far-fetched to think that someone as sharp-witted as Harvey Metcalfe would have been taken in by their antics. I noticed this won an ALA Best Books for Young Adults award. I'm sure Archer didn't intend it as a YA story, but it is a suitable choice.

I get to celebrate twice in July. On July 1st for Canada Day, and again on July 4th, my birthday!

Happy Canada Day!

Have a great day!!

Jack Taylor might be a train-wreck, but somehow remains appealing - evident even after a thrashing. As expected in a story involving an alcoholic - and now he's on cocaine too - it can be irreverent, brutal, revolting. But this is Jack Taylor and we can forgive him. The character-driven series is enhanced by Bruen's spare style of writing giving it a poetic quality. It would be a good idea to keep pencil and paper handy to make notes about Taylor's reading and music choices. I enjoyed this a lot and look forward to following the series.

Thanks Colleen and Alison! We're enjoying the sunshine and hot (very hot) weather coming up from the US.

We share a birthday! Happy Canada Day on time and happy birthday a few days early!

I just wanted to mention that I love the painting at the top of your thread. I guess I should go update mine with something less wintry (seeing that the only time I cool down is in the grocery store!).

>81 RidgewayGirl: How about that!! Happy birthday a little early to you too! And happy Canada Day a little late!

>82 Nickelini: I considered for an extended shopping trip to enjoy some air-conditioning. We don't have any malls, so I'd have to stay in one store. I'm sure I could spend an hour or so in a grocery store.

>83 VivienneR: oh yeah. Especially if they have a magazine rack.

>84 Nickelini: Great idea Joyce! We expect 37C for the next couple of days before it dips a little under 35. That I can handle.

It's going up to 40C this weekend. Which is officially too hot in this land without air-conditioning. Fortunately, our house stays cool, except for the top floor.

Definitely too hot. I sympathize. It is currently 38C here although I thought it was cooler so I must be getting acclimatized!

Enjoy your birthday and Independence Day!

Happy birthday, Vivienne!

Thank you so much, Colleen. Wish I could see your fireworks from here!

I am on vacation in Cape Cod. My daughter's house is on the water, and you can see several towns on either side as the coastline curves a bit. Last night we saw fireworks from about twelve towns off in the distance. I think there will be more local ones tonight. My grandchildren were thrilled.

Lucky you! Cape Cod looks like a heavenly spot.

22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson
I have a lot of sympathy and sorrow about what Europeans suffered during and after WWII, especially those families who were separated and displaced. Hodgkinson's story is a reminder that what is broken is difficult to put back together. I liked the format that intersperses the stories of Silvana, Janusz, and the their difficult reunion in England after the war. But there was something lacking in this debut novel and I find it hard to identify just what it was. Good, but not great.

Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction to 22 Britannia Road, too.

Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder

Difficulties for immigrants are abundant, but for Deogratias Niyizonkiza, a medical student who arrived in New York from the horrors of Burundi and Rwanda in the 1990s, they are magnified to what seems insurmountable heights. The situation was further complicated by language. Deo spoke French, his English learned from a phrase book. In his first job delivering groceries, he politely said "Hi" to customers and wondered why the response was strange. It wasn't until much later he discovered his French pronunciation expressed the greeting as "Hee". Kidder opened the story in New York where the reader is shocked, but has some understanding of the situation Deo faced. Then, going back to earlier events of civil war and genocide in Burundi and Rwanda, we can see why this young man struggled so hard to get his life back on track. In places Deo's story was heart-breaking beyond words, both in America and in Africa. His perseverance and diligence is inspiring. Still, Kidder omits his reason for writing Deo's story. Is this an immigrant success story or an account of the harrowing events in Burundi and Rwanda? It appears to be neither one nor the other. By combining both, the impact is significantly diminished.

This was an audiobook narrated by the author, the narration being the weakest part of the book. Unless an author has a good reading voice, it's advisable to hire a professional for the job.

Portobello by Ruth Rendell

I enjoyed this examination of obsession in many forms and how the fixation of each character dovetailed with the others. The setting is district of Portobello and its varied residents. I loved the tongue-in-cheek humour. In the new-found dignity of Portobello elite, the pub is to be renamed because no one knows who The Earl of Lonsdale was. The favoured new name is The Slug and Lettuce. This story with its widely diverse characters in an iconic neighbourhood is possibly my favourite Rendell.

Clara Callan by Richard B. Wright

Getting to know these two sisters and sharing their lives was the most important part as well as the most enjoyable part of Wright's book. The sisters, Clara and Nora, are from a village in Ontario bound by the typical social mores of the 1930s. The story is told through their letters after the younger one goes to work in the glamorous world of radio soap opera. Clara, a teacher, remains at home. I loved the gentle writing, the look back at life in the 1930s. It's hard to believe the author is male yet was able to portray the women so perfectly.

Clara Callan sounds like an interesting effort, and an interesting look at the 1930's.

Bummer about Strength in What Remains. Immigration stories like these can be tough because sometimes a lot directionless stuff happens.

Yes, Strength in What Remains was a disappointing book and right after another disappointment. The following two, Portobello and Clara Callan made up for it.

The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam by Chris Ewan

The first of the Good Thief's Guide series introduces Charlie Howard as an author of mystery stories who appears to get his ideas from being a burglar. Charlie is quite appealing, one can almost forgive him for being a thief - presumably the source of the "good thief" epithet. In this case, he was approached by someone who asked him to steal three figurines of the wise monkey variety in connection with an old diamond heist. The plot became a little bogged down requiring a long denouement, but Charilie pulls it off and even throws in a surprise ending. This was an audiobook with excellent narration by Simon Vance.

>99 VivienneR: Simon Vance is one of my favorite narrators. I think there was only one book many years ago where I thought his voice was too sophisticated for the book he was reading.

Yes, Colleen, I can understand that happening. He is now on my list of favourite narrators too.

The Question by Jane Asher
Asher had me hooked in the first few pages when haughty Eleanor realizes her husband is having an affair. Her internal dialogue, not always silent, ranges from frenzied to humorous. The story has a gratifyingly dark, creepy quality. Indeed, Eleanor can be downright nasty, although some may say justifiably so. Just as the reader gets an idea of where the story is leading, Asher takes it to another level. The disquiet was erratic, and towards the end the nastiness ebbed somewhat, a ploy that only serves to calm the reader before a final assault. It is reminiscent of Stephen King's Misery, albeit in a refined, well-bred English way. Perhaps the horror was more acute because it was so unexpected, coming from the nice, fluffy image of cake-maker Jane Asher. Highly recommended.

Another book for my wishlist? The Question sounds right up my alley, although when you said reminiscent of Stephen King, I'm glad you used Misery as the example, as that is one of his that I was able to read.

It was a lot of fun, Colleen.

The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham

This novel is not a biography of Paul Gaugin but was inspired by the life of the French post-impressionist. There are a few similarities in the lives of Gaugin and Charles Strickland, but the story is Maugham's creation. Strickland is a repulsive character and from my limited knowledge of Gauguin, it appears there was a distinct similarity. It's not an attractive or appealing story, but still the reader feels the urge to continue, to see it through, possibly to discover deeper motives. Maugham's writing is a joy to read: beautifully clear and precise while able to depict emotions and traits, many of which we would rather deny.

When rating this book I was torn between my enjoyment of the story and the quality of the writing. As one of my favourite writers, Maugham deserves more, but the characters - and they were, after all, created by Maugham - influenced my decision to give this book just 4 stars.

I think that the only thing I've ever read by Maugham was Of Human Bondage, and that was so long ago that I haven't any feeling about it. Have you read it?

A long time ago I went through a Maugham phase and read everything I could get my hands on. I remember very little, except that I preferred the short stories. That might be attributed more to age than Maugham's ability. :)

Enjoyed your review. Yet another author I still have to get to. Think we need several lives...

BTW Vivienne, I had asked my library to buy a copy of Vanessa and her Sister before I read your review and decided I wouldn't enjoy it. I didn't think for a moment they'd order it, but bless their cotton socks they put in an order for it within a day. I got a notification yesterday that it's now in, and as I asked for it to be bought it's sitting in reserve for me.

I'm now suffering from terrible guilt that I've made them buy something I no longer fancy reading, so I think I'll have to give it a go otherwise I'll feel terrible.

>109 AlisonY: I think you should check it out, but that doesn't mean you have to read it. They'll never know.

>105 VivienneR: A lovely review. Like you, I too had a Maugham phase some time back, and I think I read atleast half a dozen of his books in succession. Beautiful prose.

Alison, I wouldn't worry if I were you. You might love the book. And if you don't love it, someone else is sure to. Or, you can take Joyce's advice!

What a great library you have.

>110 Nickelini: I thought about you as I read it, Joyce, knowing it was your type of book. I hope you and Alison review it soon. I'm looking forward to your opinions.

I wanted so much to like it. It may have been wrong book, wrong time, so I might give it another go sometime.

>112 VivienneR: I thought about you as I read it, Joyce, knowing it was your type of book. I hope you and Alison review it soon.

The problem is that I have two other books about Virginia and Vanessa on my shelves already. I don't think even I have to read 3 books about them.

>113 Nickelini: I don't think putting off a fictionalized account will cause any distress.

>114 VivienneR: ;-)

Tiger in the Well by Philip Pullman

I thought I might have to abandon this book early because the crime against the protagonist is so exasperating! Sally Lockhart, a single mother, is charged with a list of crimes starting with abandonment of her husband. If she is found guilty, her daughter will be taken from her. The truth is, she's never been married. Not that that makes for a good defence for a single mother in Victorian days. The man claiming to be her husband is a complete stranger. Her solicitor and lawyer were equally exasperating in advising her to show remorse. But I kept reading because the story is gripping, there is lots of action, and the details of Victorian life were so interesting. An excellent book intended for young adults. This is a dark story, describing the treatment and persecution of Jewish immigrants and political groups.

Intrigued by the Maugham discussion here.

>116 VivienneR: Tiger in the Well sounds quite interesting. I know that I'm glad I didn't live in Victorian times.

>117 dchaikin: I like Victorian stories better when they were written by someone who was there. Modern writers who set their fiction in Victorian times seem to harp on the differences between then and now in order to set the scene.

>118 NanaCC: It was good, but a perfect example of what I said to Dan. I'm glad too that I didn't live in Victorian times. I'm sure I would have got thrown in the clink for speaking my mind. ;)

A Necessary End by Peter Robinson

Another good yarn involving Inspector Banks, the Good. He might be good, but not perfect as he flirts with a colleague. This time he is offset by Dirty Dick, aka DS Dick Burgess, who is in charge of the investigation. The case is the murder of a police constable at a political demonstration. Robinson is hard to beat for a police procedural that in this case takes an interesting look at 1990s society in England.

A Death in Summer by Benjamin Black

Abandoned about one-third of the way. It was simply becoming tedious. Enough!

I have other books by this author written under the name John Banville. I hope they are better than this one but I won't be in any hurry to read them.

>121 VivienneR:. That's too bad. I listened to Christine Falls several years ago, and think I remember liking it.

Colleen, I was ruthless and got rid of them all. It occurred to me that it was the second one by that author that had to be abandoned mid-way.

Death of a Chimney Sweep by M.C. Beaton

Definitely the most far-fetched of Beaton's Hamish Macbeth stories. Entertaining as usual, but Beaton was having an off-day when she dashed off this one.

Vacations and visitors have cut into my reading time but I managed to finish some books so far this month:



Five Days in London May 1940 by John Lukacs
Of all the books written about Churchill's part in WWII this one zooms in on the few days when he became Prime Minister. It makes one think of what might have happened had someone else got the job. Not for a casual reader, this is a close examination of a political microcosm. 4*



Eating Dirt by Charlotte Gill
An excellent book about the intrepid tree-planters of British Columbia who spend most of the year in the clear-cut forests. My image of a clear-cut was of a grim area bereft of beauty, yet Gill saw beauty everywhere despite the "permadirt" ingrained in a tree-planter's skin. In addition to describing the people who take on this relentlessly back-breaking work, she talks about forests and forestry with expertise. Her writing is beautifully poetic in places and deserving of all the accolades received. 4.5*



This one was an Early Reviewer snag.

The Good Little Book by Kyo Maclear
This is the story of a book: not just any book but the favourite of one little boy, who wanted to read it over and over again. When it was lost he was filled with sorrow. In his search for the beloved book, he found many others, opening a new world of discovery. A charming story told beautifully in words and colourful illustrations. 5*


Being Sam Frears : A Life Less Ordinary by Mary Mount (Kindle)
I picked this up after enjoying Love, Nina : despatches from family life by Nina Stibbe. She wrote letters to her sister describing her experience as nanny to Sam Frears, a child with familial dysautonomia, a disorder with multiple difficulties. Her charge was portrayed as a talented child with a very definite and defined sense of humour. This book is a brief account of life for the adult Frears who is living independently and working as an actor, and still has that unique sense of humour. 4*



This one was a gift from my Australian visitor.

The little red yellow black book : an introduction to indigenous Australia by Bruce Pascoe
As an introduction, this slim little book packs in a lot of information. From history through to culture, arts, educaiton, and governance, this is a good spot to launch more reading on Australian indigenous peoples. The illustrations and photographs are beautiful. 3.5*

Enjoyed your reviews, Vivienne. The Good Little Book has had nothing but great reviews - think I'll have to get it for my kids.

Nice selection of books, Vivienne.

>126 AlisonY: The Good Little Book is from Tundra, always a sure thing for children's books.

>127 NanaCC: Thanks Colleen, now I just have to catch up on everybody's threads. This will take a while!

Nice reviews, Vivienne. I also enjoyed Being Sam Frears.

Thanks Darryl. Familial dysautonomia isn't a condition heard of often. The Frears were lucky to get an early diagnosis through the observation of a family member, otherwise I'm sure it would have been a long journey. What an interesting person he is.

Call for the Dead by John le Carré

I've been collecting le Carré's books to re-read. This one, the first in this series, introduces George Smiley, the self-effacing antithesis of Fleming's James Bond. The story has kept its appeal, and while depicting London in the sixties, has not become dated. Le Carré's custom of summarizing events here and there throughout the story helps the reader follow intricate plots. It's been close to fifty years since my first reading. It was just as enjoyable this time around.

I don't think I ever read le Carre. I'll have to do something about that. I have The Spy Who Came in from the Cold on my shelf. I don't think I've read it.

It was nice to get caught up on your reading. I'm intrigued by The Little Red Yellow Black Book.

Colleen, I plan on reading The Spy Who Came in from the Cold next for the category challenge group. I think I've read it before, but not completely sure.

Dan, as an introduction The Little Red Yellow Black Book was OK, but it was just that - an introduction. For example, if you were interested in Australian Aboriginal music, it would provide a starting point for more research. If I'd had a choice of books about indigenous Australia, this wouldn't have been it. As a gift from someone who didn't know me well, it was appreciated.

My favorite le Carre is A Perfect Spy, as much about fathers and sons as it is about spying. The Spy Who Came In from the Cold is his most famous novel, but I enjoyed the Karla Trilogy more (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Honorable Schoolboy, and Smiley's People).

Great information, Rebecca! I've been collecting le Carré's books and will get around to them all in time. I'll keep your opinion in mind. I find I am enjoying stories that don't rely on the use of modern technology. Sometimes I wonder how anything was ever accomplished without mobile phones etc.

>134 VivienneR: good to know. I think I'll pass.

Sing a Worried Song by William Deverell

The first half of this book is taken up with a murder trial in Vancouver 1987 when Arthur Beauchamp was retained as prosecutor, not his usual job. He won the case. As the murderer was led away he threatened Beauchamp with "I'll see you in hell".

Fast-forward to 2012 when Beauchamp is living on one of the Gulf Islands just off Vancouver's coast. With the many distressing events he has experienced in his life, worry and self-doubt has become habit, escalating when the 1987 killer has been given parole.

The characters, especially on the island, are eccentric in a believable way (I know these islands) and provided much comic relief in an otherwise straightforward courtroom mystery. Although the story is fairly slow, it was fun and interesting. I enjoyed all the local references that show some of the unique West Coast character.

Deverell, a Vancouver lawyer, is founder of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association and creator of the CBC television series Street Legal. He adds a note to this novel, explaining the real case that inspired it. It seems also that some of the characters were based on real people. Beauchamp's second wife, Margaret, appears to be Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party in Canada.

Sing a Worried Song sounds interesting. Good review.

Thanks Kay. I need to read more about Deverell, he is an interesting person, with a varied career.

The Last Detective by Peter Lovesey

The detective of the title, Peter Diamond, is one of the last of the old-school detectives who are known to be scornful of modern methods. The story alternates between Diamond's story and the account of Greg Jackman, a university professor in Bath who has been assigned the job of holding a Jane Austen exhibition. When his beautiful, famous wife is found dead the investigation misses some essential information - not that it would have been caught by the police computer records anyway. The mother of a boy Jackman rescued from the river becomes the prime suspect. I really enjoyed this old-style mystery. It has plenty of intrigue, excellent characters and the Jane Austen sub-plot gave the story added interest.

>141 VivienneR: The Last Detective sounds like another fun one.

I have more books by Lovesey on the tbr shelf that I will bump up.

Sounds interesting, especially with the Jane Austen twist.

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré

The lines become blurred when trying to determine on which side an agent belongs, or in fact, how many sides. Le Carré's writing is intelligent and the story unfolds well, providing a puzzle of who might be telling the truth. It has been many years since I first read this and all I remembered was that Leamas wanted out of the service and to "come in from the cold". An enthralling story, that will hold the reader's attention to the last page.

>145 VivienneR: I read The Spy Who Came in From the Cold probably in the 1970's. Then read it again in the early 2000's. I remembered little about it, and like you, found that it held up fairly well.

Colleen, I'm glad to say it held up better than I expected.

A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr

Written in 1980 but set in 1920, this slim novel tells the story of shell-shocked Great War veteran, Tom Birkin, who has taken on the job of restoring a medieval mural in a village church. Moon, another veteran, is searching the grounds for a lost grave. This is a story of recovery and restoration for the men as much as the church. It is a beautiful look back at rural customs and a way of life that no longer exists. The recollection of that gentle, warm English summer is a balm to characters and reader alike. Carr has written an unforgettable story that continues to kindle thought and reflection long after the reading is done.

Thanks to RidgewayGirl for recommending this excellent book. Five stars!

>148 VivienneR: I really liked A Month in the Country. I threw it in the pile for the charity shop when I finished, but later went back, pulled it out and put it in my shelves for a future reread. I also enjoyed the film (as pictured on your cover). It is available on YouTube.

I agree, Joyce, it is a keeper! Thanks for letting me know that the movie is on YouTube. I will look for it.

>149 Nickelini: Thanks again, Joyce. Last night, my husband and I watched the movie which followed the book closely. The sound quality wasn't great but seeing Colin Firth, and Kenneth Branagh's first movie, made up for it.

A Bit on the Side by William Trevor

Not being a fan of short stories, my opinion may not do this book any justice. The stories are deceptively mild, understated, yet providing insight into the human psyche even while it might appear that nothing much happens. Nevertheless, whether the subject is pleasant or repellant Trevor writes beautifully, eloquently capturing moments in time.

The Majolica Murders by Deborah Morgan

Ex-FBI agent, Jeff Talbot, is now an antiques picker in Seattle. His friend, Lanny, also a picker, was Jeff's informant in his FBI days. Lanny has been arrested and charged with the murder of an antiques dealer. This was my first by Morgan. Despite a weak plot, poorly developed characters, and being far-fetched, I got a few hours of mild entertainment following the twists.

I'm so glad you loved A Month in the Country. It's a book that has stayed with me since I read it and I'll definitely read it again.

>148 VivienneR: Glad you enjoyed A Month in the Country. I would have said it was written prior to 1980, I read it a year or so ago and it certainly stayed with me.

Poor Cow by Nell Dunn
Although superbly written, this story is not dressed up, it's a stark look at life for a young woman of the 1960s in the East End of London. Under-educated, no prospects, a new-born baby, and a serious shortage of money, Joy maintains a positive, bright outlook. In spite of the heartbreaking deal life has given her, Joy is a delight. Many of the moments she shares with her little son, Jonny, are so soft and loving compared with the harsh realities of her life.

Dunn's exceptional writing goes from first person to third person, often using phrases of local dialect, with some letters in the vernacular from Joy to her boyfriend in prison. Put together, they create the picture that is essentially Joy: frivolous, loving, childlike, unwittingly vulgar, unfailingly cheerful. It's not everyone's taste, but I loved this book, loved Joy.

"To think when I was a kid I planned to conquer the world and if anyone saw me now they'd say, 'She's had a rough night, poor cow.'"

This Virago Modern Classics edition includes "Preface by the author: Memories of Battersea" in which she describes her own experience of the 1960s, which was lived in a poor neighbourhood similar to Joy's. It also has an excellent introduction by friend of the author, Margaret Drabble.

Thanks to nickelini for the book bullet.

>156 VivienneR: I'm glad you liked Poor Cow too.

Poor Cow sounds like a good one.

>157 Nickelini: It really took me back to the sixties even though there was little I had in common with Joy.

>158 NanaCC: Colleen, I think this is a book you might enjoy too.

Loved your review of Poor Cow -- I keep meaning to read this one. Reminds me a bit of early Margaret Drabble.

>160 janeajones: Thank you. You have reminded me that I have to read more Margaret Drabble.

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
This is Bryson's nostalgic memoir of growing up in the 1950s in Iowa. He uses factual information enhanced with his own memories. I laughed out loud many times, was helpless with laughter a number of times. I sympathized, empathized, agreed, cheered, or took a shocked intake of breath as young Billy's story progressed. Although anyone who grew up in the same era might get a special enjoyment in revisiting their youth, it is not limited to a specific generation or gender; anyone can enjoy this story. And I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was an audiobook with an excellent narration by the author and included a short interview at the conclusion. Count me in as a fan.

Sounds like a fun read (or listen).

Alison, if you are not familiar with Bryson, he is an American who has lived in the UK for a few decades. I wondered why his American accent was so subtle, then realized it's probably been influenced by his location. It was very easy on the ear.

There are some areas of the U.S. where accents are not as pronounced. If you say that he grew up in Iowa, that might account for it, because the Midwest accents are softer. But you are right about the location where he has been living having an influence. My mother kept her Dublin accent, although it was more of a lilt. I never noticed it, but my friends would always comment on her lovely accent.

Accents are strange and unpredictable. My husband and I both came to Canada in 1966 yet he still gets comments on his Northern Ireland accent, whereas even in Northern Ireland, people think I'm Canadian. Our recent Australian guest said she didn't hear a Canadian accent during the entire month she was in Canada. I wish I knew what she expected to hear :))

I don't know, eh?

I adored that Bryson. He's brilliant reader of his own work, getting the pacing and every subtlety so spot on. (Although some people can't stand his voice).

I couldn't place his accent. I assumed that soft voice was kind of unique to him.

(How does one miss a Canadian accent?)

>165 NanaCC:, >166 VivienneR: I worked for a Canadian company for 12 years and was always very embarrassed at my total inability to distinguish a Canadian accent from an American one, which I'm sure was very annoying all round for those concerned.

I get the obvious ones, like the Southern drawl, but those softer accents I struggle with. I'm sure to you folks a Michigan accent sounds totally different to an Ontario accent, but to me...

Probably the social equivalent of accusing a Scotsman of being English.

I guess it's only relative to American accents that Canadian accents stand out. I hadn't thought about that before.

I wish I knew what she expected to hear :))

Good question. I have no idea, but wonder if she was thinking of a Bob and Doug Mackenzie accent? I hear people that speak like that a few times a year.

>168 dchaikin: For the first few minutes of the audiobook Bryson's voice didn't sound appealing, but I guess I got used to it and soon thought he was a perfect narrator.

>169 AlisonY: Yes, the obvious accents are easier to identify but otherwise I don't see much difference in Canadian and US accents, particularly if they are from the same region, e.g., Michigan/Ontario or British Columbia/Washington.

>171 Nickelini: It seemed Justin Bieber was the only Canadian she had heard of, via the younger members of her family. I don't think I've ever heard him speak (or sing).

>172 VivienneR: - Hmmm. I don't know what to make of that. Bieber speaks like a lot of teenagers I know (based on my daughters' friends and the kids I hear when I volunteer at the high school), but his accent also sounds like he's influenced by a lot of the American gangster-wanna-be musicians he hangs out with. And maybe the boys I hear at school are influenced by the same people via the media. Anyway, I'd like to know 1. what your friend expected to hear that she didn't hear, and 2. what she actually did hear. But that will be a mystery, so moving on . . .

>173 Nickelini: Hmm, that was my take on it too. It will forever be a mystery.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

There is little I can say about this book that hasn't been said already. Haddon has written an innovative and entertaining story about an autistic teenager, a condition that is difficult for most of us to understand. He has done it in a way that is clear, perceptive and empathetic without any hint of pathos or condescension. Christopher Boone is in fact more perceptive than most people and makes many intriguing and interesting points. This book will make the reader look at several things differently. Very enjoyable.

Death at the Chase by Michael Innes

After a couple of long-winded passages I was tempted to abandon this book. That's something I don't like doing, so I kept going. The most I got from it is that Innes is a pretentious writer, the plot was poor, and the characters were either snobs or just silly.

"All appeared to have been very fond of chimneys; clusters of these, some weathered smooth and others still distinguishably carved with Tudor elaboration, sprouted from a grey stone roof which had turned sinuous and undulant with the years. The effect was rather that of some improbable monster in a medieval Bestiary, horripilant like the porpentine against its foes."

"In the silence which for a moment followed this the rising wind continued to murmur and whisper in the interstices of the roof. According to one's mood, one might have concluded the effect to be either maleficent or benign; a sinister stirring of those natural forces by which the pyramids themselves will one day be worn away, or a comfortable cradle song crooned by earth over a structure which, although venerable to a human eye, must nestle in a mere infancy to the eye of time."

>175 VivienneR: it's a while since I read Haddon's book, but I seem to remember enjoying it.

Regarding Bieber, doesn't he just do teenage grunting instead of speaking? In which case, perhaps there was a certain Canadian grunt your friend was listening out for.

>177 AlisonY: I think you've got it! :))

>166 VivienneR: >168 dchaikin: >169 AlisonY: >171 Nickelini: re Canadian accent... a fun conversation

There are so many regional accents in Canada I don't think there could be a standard Canadian accent. At various times I've lived in five different provinces and I've travelled in all of them. In Nova Scotia and Newfoundland where I have lived the most, there are not only defined regional accents, it is often possible to pick out the part of the province a particular speaker comes from. This applies in francophone Québec as well, and then there is the variety of francophone accents from other French speaking areas around the country.

Perhaps Bryson and others spent most of their time in central and western Canada, where the accents seem to be more homogenized and standardized with the CBC, whether the people there listen to/ watch it or not.

It's sad to see these regional accents disappear, as a whole vocabulary and turns of phrase often seem to disappear with them.

>179 SassyLassy: Not having lived in the maritimes or Quebec, I would have trouble identifying regional accents in those provinces. And although I've tried, I've not been able to notice any regional accent in the western provinces. During my friend's stay in Canada we travelled a lot, but only in British Columbia and Alberta, experiencing the "CBC" accent - except in Banff, where it seems Australians have taken over.

>180 VivienneR: My experience has been the same. I'm always surprised when I meet people from Newfoundland because I don't hear them sounding all that different and I expect that they should. But I used to work with a woman from Halifax who pronounced "film" "fill-um." I thought she just said that one word funny.

>181 Nickelini: now that's not just a Halifax thing. As Vivienne can confirm, in N. Ireland (or Norin' Iron as we say it) it's "fill-um" all the way.

>181 Nickelini: I've known many people from the maritime provinces and found the same - only a few specific words might give a hint of their origins. This reminds me of a neighbour who spoke of having come to Canada in his youth. There was no suggestion of anything other than a Canadian accent so I asked where he came from. Newfoundland, he replied.

>180 VivienneR: >181 Nickelini: and >182 AlisonY: Many from the Atlantic region are "bilingual"; just get us wound up and that old suppressed east coast speech comes out readily! Sadly, it's easier to live in the rest of the country without it. That "fillum" has caught me out though.

>182 AlisonY: I guess I took so long to hit "post message" that I missed yours. Yes, I can confirm hearing every school teacher remind their class to say film, not fill-um. There are many wonderful words and unique pronunciation in Northern Ireland. A friend claims my husband pronounces it "Northern Arland".

>185 VivienneR: My husband is English and we live below a hill which has a water tower on it. He despairs that our kids call it "wadder tar" like me.

>186 AlisonY: That sounds so familiar! And would fall into the same accent that my husband has!

Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers

In this mystery, Wimsey tries to determine, not who, but why, and most importantly, how, it was accomplished. The labyrinthine 1925 Administration of Estates Act features strongly. Although the plot would not pass muster in modern mystery writing, it was a fun read. This one introduces Lord Peter's elderly assistant, the meticulous Miss Climpson. Well-written and entertaining, this is a perfect example of the golden age of mystery writing.

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

The Chinese Premier is planning a visit to India to investigate how entrepreneurship works there. In a series of letters, Balram Halwai, a poor man from "the Darkness" describes the system. Perpetual servitude is the rule in India, where millions of impoverished people of "the Darkness" are trapped. The analogy of the white tiger at the zoo demonstrates that imprisonment. Balram takes matters into his own hands eventually creating his own "startup". Is socialism on the way? Has entrepreneurship succeeded? Or has Balram just joined the bosses. This excellent novel, winner of the Booker prize in 2008, is by turns ribald, funny and yet ultimately disheartening. The reader cheers for the amenable Balram but there is no way out.

Nice review of The White Tiger Vivienne.

Thanks, Daniel.

My last book for September is a five-star winner.

A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson

So many books describe the happenings of WWII yet Atkinson has written a fresh, compelling story with a unique approach. This book is about Teddy, brother of Ursula, whose story was told in the companion book Life After Life. Although both books are individual, reading them in sequence enhances Atkinson's superb creativity. She has a genius for creating an intricate web of storylines that all come together with an impact that is masterful and elegant.

Atkinson portrays characters so well that, whether we like them or not, we become as familiar with them as with family. We know them well enough that we can almost predict their attitudes, responses, opinions on any topic. However, like living mortals, they can surprise us. Viola, is not a likeable person, but she is well aware of that, demonstrated by her frequent protestations to her imaginary "jury". Teddy, despite being a Bomber Command pilot, is truly humanitarian; certainly the person I most admired.

The reflection on the ethics and wisdom (or lack of it) of strategic bombing was interesting. Teddy considers this more as he grows older, and although the losses on both sides haunt him, his actions at the time can be justified. It is hardly coincidental that the controversial memorial to the RAF Bomber Command was just unveiled in 2012. The 55,573 crew who were killed accounts for almost half of the total aircrew. Atkinson adds a very informative epilogue where she describes "borrowing" from everyone, even real life accounts. She also helpfully includes a bibliography.

Now I want Izzie's story.

Please join me for part 3 at https://www.librarything.com/topic/196460

>192 VivienneR: Haven't read a bad review of this book yet - sounds great.