Book that made me laugh out loud

For me, "The Rosie Project" definitely comes to mind here.  I loved the way that Don Tillman was in many ways "the straight man" because he was unaware that his behaviour was unconventional.  His observations about people's BMIs and his commitment to science at all costs were absolutely classic.  I'm hoping that Graeme Simison can once again hit one out of the park with his new book "The Rosie Effect".

Book with one of the best and most surprising twists

Obviously I can't say too much here, but suffice it to say that Ann Patchett in State of Wonder set up a real doozy of a surprise (or two) in this book!  If you look being thrown for a loop, pick this one up!

Book You're Most Embaressed to Say You Liked

I went through this weird phase after finishing my Masters where I wanted to read fluff and it was the era of chick lit.  One of the books that I found myself enjoying (but no longer would) is Confessions of a Shopaholic.  While the main character was somewhat endearing, there was really just no substance to the book.  For me, this book is now too light for even a beach read!

Best Book I've Read in the Past 12 Months

I'm going to (once again) cheat a little and choose two books here: one fiction and one non-fiction.

For fiction, it is The Golem and the Jinni.  This book was amazing in a number of ways.  It was a plot-driven page turner, it was completely unlike anything else I'd read, and the character development of both main and side characters was amazing.  I'll be recommending this book far and wide.

In the non-fiction category, I've chosen Spillover, which explores how viruses (mainly) can be transmitted from animals to humans.  Quammen explores this phenomenon in such a way that I could barely put this book away at night.  I loved learning about the science, as well as the scientists working to understand how this "spillover" from animals to humans had happened.  It's an amazing read - even for people who don't normally read non-fiction.

Favorite Childhood Book

Even though it scared the crap out of me, this is the one book that has stuck with me through the years!  Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss does an amazing job of invoking childhood terror at the idea of this goop taking over the planet.  I had the audio book (on record - yes I'm that old) and could never get very far in before I had to shut it off.  I suspect the narrator may have been Boris Karloff, which perhaps explains my terror. A book that creates such an intense reaction has to be considered a favorite!  I want to books to have an impact on me and this one most certainly did.

A Favorite Author

I adore Ann Patchett.  I never fail to be enthralled by her novels, with her most recent "State of Wonder" being an aboslute favourite. I felt that she captured the essence of the Amazonian jungle so perfectly and you didn't want to put this book down it was so perfectly executed.  She has written some non-fiction, which I haven't picked up but I look forward to trying them to see if they match the caliber of her novels.

Favorite Quote

Elizabeth Hay is such a vivid writer and this is one of my favorite quotes (even though the book itself didn't do it for me).

I left the library and bicycled home through a city of tulips, thanks to a grateful Dutch queen.  Every year they bloom, then lose their heads to an army of black squirrels that go about them like little guillotines, decapitating, decapitating.

I can just imagine this in my mind and it makes me smile.  Squirrels rule!

Book I'd Most Like to Live In

This is a tough one for me as I tend to like reading books where the characters struggle with big problems.  It is the drama in these books that makes them interesting for me.  That said, not sure that I'd actually want to live with all this drama.  Would I really want to live in New York when Polio was flourishing as in Philip Roth's Nemesis.  Possibly not.  There is a spot in one Australian book though that I'd certainly love to visit.  I read Utopian Man a couple years ago now and it took place at the beginning of the 20th century in Melbourne.  The main character (Cole) creates a magical bookstore filled with all sorts of curiosities, including live music, a conservatory and a tea salon.  Visitors to the bookstore were encouraged to sit and browse the books at their leisure (ahead of his time I'd say).  His vision was inspired and I would love to have seen it in person.  The fact that it is based on a real place, makes this all the more intriguing.

Author I Wish People Would Read More

I'm going to cheat a little here and just say "read more Canadian authors".  There are some amazing ones out there and I don't think they all get the readership they should, from David Adam Richards to Michal Crummey to Kathleen Winter to Elizabeth Hay to Andrew Westoll.  There are some talented Canadians out there.  Give there books a go!

Book to Read When You're Sick

In honour of my cold, I thought I'd write about which book would work really well to read when one is sick.  For me, it would likely be the political satire entitled Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis.  I think this one would work well as it is funny (gets your mind off being sick and feeling sorry for yourself), and is also quite easy to read (doesn't require too much of the fuzzy brain).  So, when you're feeling under the weather, make it more tolerable with Best Laid Plans.  The Rosie Project is a close second here!

Most Aspirational Character

I'm going to use this post to also review a recent book that I read.  So, I recently finished Beautiful Mystery, which is part of the Inspector Gamache series.  It followed Gamache and his second in command Beauvoir to a remote monastary where a murder had been committed.  Relationship-wise, there was also a great deal going on between the two police officers and this offered a complexity that isn't always evident in these books.  Despite that, this wasn't my favorite of this series as I really missed the characters from Three Pines who always add a certain jocularity to the proceedings.  This book did remind me however, of a character whom I would love to be more like.  Inspector Gamache is intelligent and successful, but what I think makes him truly special and aspirational is his kindness.  He looks out for the underdogs and brings them under his wing and he only sees the worst in people when its actually there.  Some would say his faith in people makes him naive, but I think the world could do worse than to have a few more people like him in it.

Book that made me cry

My nickname is the vulcan, so the short answer to this question is none.   That said, I can recognize when a book is touching and Annabel by Kathleen Winter is one book that can pull at the heart strings.  Annabel/Wayne is a transexual who had a male identity foisted upon her at birth.  As she grew, it became evident that her female side was much stronger.  The struggles that Annable/Wayne encounter due to prescribed gender boundaries are tragic.

Most Disappointing Book

I often wonder if things are the most disappointing when your expectations are set really high (I suspect this makes total sense!).  I had just finished reading Alyssa York's Fauna and was amazed at her talent as a writer.  I wanted to read more!  I picked up Effigy and expected to be dazzled.  Oddly, it was about Mormon taxidermists, but in the hands of a talented author, this could work.  Right?  Wrong!  This book plodded along with relentless details about the stuffing of animals, coupled with the dramas of multiple wives.  I finished it as I kept waiting for the point where it would turn and be fantastic.  Didn't happen and I now live in fear of future Alyssa York novels.   Perhaps I just need to pay closer attention to the topic next time.

As an aside, I wonder if this is why I'm reluctant to start my second Sarah Water's book Fingersmith (as mentioned yesterday).  Perhaps I have found a second hypothesis.

Book that I've wanted to read for a long time, but still haven't

A few years back I read The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters and I was enthralled.  I immediately thought, I've got to get my hands on some more of Sarah Waters' books.  The obvious choice was Fingersmith, which had rave reviews.  I remember going to the library a couple of times and almost signing it out, but there copies looked just a little too grungy (Howard Hughes and I have a bit in common when it comes to our germ-phobia).  So, when I got a Kindle (almost two years ago!), Fingersmith was one of the first books that I bought.  Have I read it yet you ask?  No!  I can't quite figure out the delay.  I did go through a brief phase where I felt I didn't enjoy e-books as much as physical books, but I'm over that now.  My latest hypothesis is that I loved The Little Stranger so much that I don't want to be disappointed.  Like Lonesome Dove though, I will finish this before the end of the year and that's a promise!!

Favorite Classic Book

I'm going to reach way back into history and select Little House on the Prairie as my favorite classic book.  I still have so many fond memories of reading the Little House series (possibly solidified by the TV show).  I feel like this book has informed my lifetime reading preferences in many ways.  I'm still a sucker for books about the immigrant experience in any form it might take.  I love the uncertainty that comes in these novels, where the characters are constantly surprised by their new experiences.

A Book I Thought I Might Not Like But Ended up Loving

Let's be clear,  I don't fancy myself a reader of westerns, but when the Sisters Brothers started getting rave reviews, I thought perhaps I should work on overcoming my prejudice towards this genre.  I have to say though, I went into this book with a fair bit of trepidation and didn't expect to like it nearly as much as I did.  Canadian author Patrick Dewitt did a brilliant job of injecting humour into what otherwise could have been a fairly bleak novel.  The image of this "black hat" cowboy becoming slightly undone by a toothache was absolutely priceless!  And I kind of liked that there was a character named Kermit :).  Some credit should possibly go to the Coen Brothers, who may have warmed me slightly to westerns earlier with the brilliant movie True Grit (but the Sisters Brothers was my first book)!  Showing how open-minded I now am towards westerns, I plan to read Lonesome Dove before the year ends.  Thanks Patrick Dewitt for opening my mind.

Most Over-Rated Book

Everyone seems to love The Secret History by Donna Tartt, going on and on about its brilliance.  That was not my experience at all!  My blog entry from the spring sums up my feelings on this one perfectly.  I scored it a 1/5, while the average on Good Reads was 4.05.  How????  Also, how did this come from the same mind as The Gold Finch, which I really enjoyed.

Most Under-Rated Book

This is a tough question in many ways for me as I tend to look at the reviews quite a bit before I decide whether or not I'll read a book.  Hence, I tend to read well reviewed books.  However, recently, I picked up a book at our book club swap and was really surprised.  The book was Villa Pacifica by  New Zealand author Kapka Kassabova.   The writing was very evocative of a tropical setting and I loved how the author played with the paradoxes of time and place.  Bizarre things begin to happen at an isolated hotel and the reader doesn't know which is real and which is not.  Lots of twists and turns that I think many would enjoy if they gave it a shot.  The reviews on Good Reads are a bit low at 3.20, but there are only 16 of them, so I think if we could get the numbers up, the reviews would improve as well.

Guilty Pleasure

I think my guiltiest pleasure when it comes to reading must be Bridget Jones Diary.  It set the tone for chick lit and I loved reading of Bridget's dating/work/friend/family foibles.  The scene where she attends a dinner full of couples is classic and still makes me smile.  This book even set me on the road to reading other chick lit with reckless abandon (though I've now ditched this "genre" altogether as I reached a saturation point).  I think that Helen Fielding did a marvelous job of catching the life of a single female and in so doing created a book that had the potential to be throw away fluff.  Although I don't think I'll try the new Bridget Jones' book (no Mark Darcy!), I can still appreciate the guilty pleasure of the first.

Book I've Read the Most Number of Times

See previous post.  I tend not to re-read books, so this is a tough question to answer.  However, I do remember a period back in high school when I was reasonably obsessed with a certain book by S.E. Hinton called The Outsiders.  Ponyboy, Sodapop, Johnny, Dallas - I loved them all.  The whole idea of the wrong side of the tracks was intriguing and Ponyboy's academic bent also interested me.  It even sold me on some of Robert Frost's poetry.  I do think that this book represents a particular moment in time for me in terms of my literary tastes as I doubt very much that I'd like this book much anymore.  Unlike others, it seems like a young adult book that is strictly for young adults.

My Comfort Book

I am not one to re-read books, it's just not my thing.  For that reason, it's somewhat difficult to choose a comfort book as there's not too many that I would go back and re-visit.  That being said, if I were to have to choose a comfort book, it would have to be one from my homeland (Canada!) that brings with it some nostalgia.  And after doing some thinking, I realise that book is likely Anne of Green Gables, which is brimming with interesting characters who you want to get to know.  And really, how can a world in which Matthew Cuthbert exists not be comforting.  Bring on Green Gables and Avonlea!

Worst Book to Movie Adaptation

I'll go with the Da Vinci Code here.  While not great literature by any stretch of the imagination, it is a page turner.  Somehow the film-makers found a way to make it borning.  I stopped watching mid way through.  'nough said!

Longest Book I've Read

All I'll say is that it's a testament to Ken Follett that I didn't even originally think of Fall of Giants as one of the longest books I've read.  Then I started to do some checking and realised it was by far the longest at almost 1000 pages (other than his sequel which came close).  Perhaps because of all the intertwining stories, it just doesn't feel that long.  I had originally thought that Donna Tartt's The Gold Finch was the longest and while I really enjoyed that book, I could easily identify points where the story dragged.  Not so with Fall of Giants.  Hats off to Ken Follett for creating a compulsively readable tome!

Favorite Side Character

Last year I experienced the joy of reading a great book entitled Heft by Liz Moore.  It told two stories that were bound together by the main characters' connection to a single woman.  One of the stories is about a morbidly obese man named Arthur who has sadly allowed his obesity to render him housebound.  Arthur himself was a fabulous character for which I felt a great deal of sympathy, but there was also a fantastic side character in this novel.  At the beginning of Heft, Arthur decides that he needs to hire a cleaner - enter Yolanda a heavily pregnant young woman.  Yolanda became Arthur's salvation in that it was her honesty, persistence and caring that got Arthur out of the house again.  Yolanda was more than this though as she was not without her problems.  She was unmarried and her boyfriend is a bit of a dirtbag.  Her problems though are perhaps what make her inherent goodness shine through and I still remember her fondly for how she helped Arthur.

A book series you wish had gone on longer OR a book series you wish would just end already

Today begins the thirty day blog challenge developed by Blogs of a Bookaholic...  In some ways, this question is one of the harder ones for me to answer as I don't tend (on the whole) to be a series reader.  I suspect that my answer may then be slightly predictable.  At the time, I loved the Harry Potter series and wanted to remain immersed in that world over the long haul.  I loved that J.K. Rowling created a place that I longed to visit every few months.  That said, if she were try to bring it back now, I think I'd be less impressed.  I think I'd view it as a desparate attempt to recapture something that should perhaps be left alone.  That moment in time is over.  Someone should have told this to George Lucas!

The Simpsons and their Mathematical Secrets - Simon Singh

I just finished this audio book today, and a few things come to mind about it. First, I think, given the opportunity to go back in time, knowing what I know now, I would have preferred reading this as opposed to the audio version. There are a couple reasons for this. First, some of the dialogue where the narrator would read a large string of numbers, could be easily skimmed over if read, but the audio version was quite mind numbing to listen to read out as a whole. And speaking of mind numbing experience, that brings us to the next reason that the book would have been better read than listened to: The narrator was dead boring!

They say that if you have to explain the joke, then it's not funny. Well imagine an entire book that is dedicated to explaining jokes; and not just jokes, but jokes that involve nerdy math humour! If you want to make a book like this interesting, you have to make the writing evocative and witty; emphasis on the witty. I mean this is a book about humour after all. And don't get me wrong, the book actually contains a great deal of humour within it. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the narrator either doesn't understand the concept of humour, or recorded the audio after reading the book for the millionth time. I mean, how difficult is it to make a book about The Simpsons interesting? It's The Simpsons! They're funny!

That being said, the actual content of this book was absolutely amazballs! It delves into the incredibly deep and nerdy humour of many of the Simpson's writers; virtually all of whom appear to be math savants...math savants who can make anything funny...including math! Now you might be thinking to yourself: How interesting can this book be? It's about math! But I really learned a lot about concepts they never really delved into in school. Concepts such as Mersenne primes, Euler’s equation, vampire primes,narcissistic numbers, infinity with subsets of infinity that are larger than infinity! What??? Finding out how these concepts work, actually had me proclaim "COOL" out loud many times, and I'm not a guy who was ever good in math! But the way these concepts were explained really help illustrate just how interesting math can be, and by extension, how funny and nerdy The Simpsons really are.

I am only giving this book a 4 star rating, but the reason for that is the lousy narration. Now, if you like DVD extras and interviews from the creators/writers/producers of The Simpsons, then you will love this book.

The Beekeeper's Apprentice - Laurie King

This book was a real treat for me.  I had just finished season 3 of Sherlock and this helped feed my cravings nicely.  This book tells the story of an older Sherlock Holmes and his role as a mentor to a young and insanely bright young girl.  King takes you on the trail of Holmes' latest mystery and explores Mary's role in solving it.  I loved it and look forward to reading more.  While my favorite part was when Mary and Sherlock's relationship was first developing, I had a lot of fun riding along for the mystery as well.  The one thing I'm less sure about is the direction their relationship takes at the end, but I'll reserve judgement for future books!

Room - Emma Donoghue

I didn't enjoy this book.  It was bleak (expected), but also creepy (not quite as expected).  This book tells the story of a mother and her five-year old son who are held captive.  The boy is actually fathered by the captor and has never set foot outside of their "room".

There are a number of reasons why I didn't enjoy this book, but two stand out.  First, I tend not to enjoy "stream of consciousness" books and perhaps because this book is narrated by the five year old, this is how the story is told.  I disliked We Need to Talk About Kevin for the same reasons (the narrative structure was really random).  I know that books narrated by children are often criticized because the child seems too old to be real.  After reading this book, I've decided that I quite like that style of narration and am willing to suspend disbelief in order to get a coherent narrative.  The other thing that I really disliked was the aforementioned creepiness.  I didn't like reading about the creepy results of being held captive, such as rotting teeth, blood stained carpets, and so on.  I am well aware that many adore this book and it was short-listed for the Booker.  Nonetheless, it simply was not for me.  It was oddly compelling enough for me to finish though, so points for that.

The Golem and the Jinni - Helen Wecker

This is a novel that takes hold of you and doesn't let go for almost 500 pages.   It tells the story of two "other worldly" creatures who are newcomers to early twentieth century New York.  As you might have guessed by the title, these beings are a golem and a jinni.  Relating to Jewish traditions, a golem is essentially a creature made from clay and brought to life so that it can serve a master.  A jinni, on the other hand, is a supernatural desert being.  Both new to the city, the golem and the jinni become companions of sorts.

In many ways, this is an immigrant story that explores the challenges of finding oneself in an unfamiliar land and learning how to belong. While the golem finds herself feeling unsure of her place in the world, the jinni is constantly comparing his new home to what he had previously in the desert.  However, because of their unique natures, this book becomes much more than just an immigrant's story.  The pairs' unique natures drive them relentlessly towards a climax that makes the reader fly through this book, dying to know what happens.

I loved learning more about the Jewish and Arabic traditions from which the golem and the jinni emerged and the conversations between the two were particularly good.  They both had such unique takes on the world that were often quite at odds.  I also enjoyed the setting of early New York, Wecker's descriptions were captivating.  Really, there is very little fault I can find in this book, it is quite simply fantastic!

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

This is the final book in the Hunger Games trilogy, and one that seemed to let a lot of readers down; according to the internets anyway.

In this book, we join up with Katniss Everdeen not long after she had been rescued from the arena in the previous book. She is still in shock after all she had gone through in the previous stories and unsure if she is willing to become the symbol of the rebellion.

After she makes a deal with the rebel leader become the Mockingjay, in exchange for the right to kill President Snow herself.  Katniss is put into various situations where she goes outside the boundaries of being a symbol, and instead becoming an active participant in the rebellion, and in doing so, becomes an even greater symbol.

Initially, I was a little taken aback that Katniss' attitude wasn't as heroic as you would expect a protagonist to be. But then I remembered that this heroine is only 17 years old, and in retrospect, many of her inner conflicts and how she dealt with the challenges she faced, are pretty much what you'd expect a kid going through a war to manage with.

I might be wrong, but I think what many of the readers were hoping for in this book was for Katniss to become a virtual perfect heroine, where each decision she made was the correct one, and where everything would be tied up in a nice neat bow at the conclusion, as a result of her actions. In the end, I was really compelled with the fact that the atrocities she witnessed in the war, affected her immeasurably! I found there was a real element of realism in the fact that she seemed to come out of the war with scars that would never heal.

This was a great book, and because of the various story lines within it, I am now a little more forgiving of the fact that the movie version will be split into two films.

Diamond Dove by Adrian Hyland

This book is essentially a murder mystery, but its setting is what differentiates it from the pack.  The novel takes place in an aboriginal community in central Australia.  When a leader in this community is killed, an investigation to find the murderer ensues.  There are the obvious suspects, but this book delves deeper into land claim issues that may also have played a role in the death.

This was a solid book and I did think the tensions between the aboriginals and non-aboriginals was well described.   The only real problem that I had with the book is that it was authored by Adrian Hyland, who wrote the much revered Kinglake 350.  This wasn't quite at the level of that book and despite being a murder mystery did not evoke the tension and suspense of Kinglake.  However, it was Hyand's first novel, so it's perhaps not surprising that it wasn't perfect.  On the whole, well done and I'd consider reading the sequel.

The Mystery of the Ghosts - Gabriella Paradis

This is a first time author that has burst onto the scene in a very big way! Even at 8 years old, she has the soul of another Stephen King, and I'm not just saying that because I have known her since she was born.

This is the story of three sisters who, along with their parents move into a house which is reported to be haunted. Despite their parent's assurances that there is no such thing as ghosts, the trio starts to encounter various unexplained events almost immediately after taking up residence in the house.

I thought the characters quite well written, and the author managed to flesh out various aspects of their personalities. I am really hoping the author writes a sequel to this book as I would love to hear where the ghost came from, why it was in that house, and what the relationship is to the three sisters, and why the ghost was so attracted to candles.

I have a feeling that people interested in this book won't find it in their local book shop, but you can easily find it on Amazon's kindle store.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Ok, almost everything I said about the Hunger Games in the previous post can pretty much be applied to this post, in that I saw the movie first, I was listening to an audio book, the characters were already solidified in my mind so there was a bit of a disconnect between the reader's version and what was already in my head. Ok? We're good?

Ok.

So first up, I'm glad I listened to this book, as the beginning, and even a wee bit of the end, was quite a bit different from the movie version.

In Catching Fire, we catch up with Katniss and Peeta and their families, to find that after the last hunger games, things have gotten much worse across many of the districts. There is civil unrest in various districts, and their own district has had its lax Peacekeepers replaced by a seemingly tyrannical new lot. This is all due to the fact that Katniss and Peeta have become a symbol of rebellion since the last Hunger Games.

What I really enjoyed about this book, is that Katniss was very often self reflective about the new and evolving role she would now have to play as she and Peeta were once again conscripted into the third quarter quell of the Hunger Games. She would often find herself arguing internally with her thoughts as she would accept the role, then deny the role, and the justifications of each.

Another thing I really liked about this book, are the hints that were missing from the second movie. The whispers about district 13, the hints about the alliances arranged by Hamish in the games, and many other things that were not in the movie.

I really enjoyed this one, and can't wait until the next book becomes available from the library.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Ok, a couple of things, before I get into the review: First, I saw the movie version of this book a couple years ago, and I loved it! Secondly I didn't actually read this book; I listened to it as an audio book. I don't generally read a lot of fiction as I'm an incredibly slow reader, and if it is going to take me a month or two to read a book, I want to get both enjoyment and increased knowledge out of it. So I decided to get an audio book from our public library.

So now that I got that out of the way, let's get into the book. No, wait, let me just say one more thing. I want to talk about the difference between an audio book and a real book. You know, besides one being print and one being audio...kind of thought that would have been implied. Personally, while I found listening to audio to be a much quicker way to get through a book, I also found that listening to the author's words being read to you by a reader, rather than having the character's voices be imagined in your own mind can deliver quite a different experience.

I found that the reader would read the lines AS the character of the book. So Katniss Everdeen had a particular voice and cadence , and Rue would have a particular voice and lilt, and Hamish would have a particular voice. And I think that is where I had the biggest issue. Now this may be because I had already seen the movie, and the characters were already seeded into my imagination, but I found the voices she used didn't suit the characters. Hamish, played by Woody Harrelson in the movie, was a drunkard and an uncouth, short fused blow hard. But the way Harrelson played him in the movie, is the only way I can envision him now. I thought that the reader tried and failed to capture Hamish's personality. She slurred her words too much when in that character's voice, something I don't think a person with a 25 year drinking problem would have.

...just an opinion there.

Ok, back to the book review itself. No wait, one more thing. I have heard that there were tonnes of critics of the movie who had issues with Jennifer Lawrence playing Katniss as she wasn't thin enough, or they had issues with the movie being too different from the book. I won't get into the who Hollywood version of skinny vs reality thing, and I'm glad Jennifer Lawrence didn't bow to the pressures to become like all other actresses. But to that point, the book doesn't really talk about Katniss being this emaciated waif of a girl. Katniss was a skilled outdoorswoman and hunter, who kept her whole family stocked in meat, as well as catching enough game to trade on the black market. I don't picture Kantiss as small or emaciated. I envisioned her as strong, lean, and powerful. Now as for how closely the book and the movie resembled each other, except for a few changes to the ending, I thought the movie pretty much nailed the book!

Ok, now onto the review. Oh wait, we're out of time! Ok, long story short, I really enjoyed the book even though I watched the movie first. I'm currently listening to the second book now. Now if people want to complain about the differences between this book and the movie...well, I'll have to address those concerns after I listen to the book.

Secret River - Kate Grenville

In a nutshell

This is really a settler story with a bit of a twist.  It follows the life of William Thornhill, who was convicted of theft in London and originally sentenced to death.  As luck would have it, he was saved and sent to Australia to serve his time.  The book then explores how he and his family adjust to life in the new land.  In particular, Grenville comes to focus on Thornhill's relationship with the aboriginals.

Did I like it?

M'eh!  I' expected to love it as there had been so many good reviews, but I found the first part of the narrative quite conventional.  It was like I was reading every other book that I'd read about poverty in 19th century Britain.  It wasn't until Thornhill arrived in Australia and Grenville started to explore the intercultural dynamic that things got more interesting.  Thornhill's struggle with accepting versus dominating the local aboriginals was interesting and this is the strength of the Secret River.

Will you like it?

If you enjoy historical novels, Grenville is an excellent writer and it does provide some interesting insight into Australian hisotry, so may be worth picking up.

Overkill - Vanda Symon

In a nutshell

Set in the small town of Mataura on the South Island of New Zealand, this is in some ways a conventional murder mystery.  It opens with what seems to be a suicide, but the officer on the case (Sam Shephard) quickly determines that it was actually a murder.  As Sam begins to investigate, her superior officers soon decide that given her previous romantic relationship with the murder victim's husband that she may actually be a suspect.  Suspended from duty, Sam is left to her own devices to solve this case.

Did I like it?

I loved it!  Although I identified it as fairly conventional, that did not take away from the experience of reading this book at all.  I loved how Symon pulled in contemporary events to make the story topical.  In addition, Symon is fabulous at creating a sense of place (her later stories set in Dunedin are equally fabulous).  I felt like I was right there in small town New Zealand with the plucky heroine. 

Will you like it?

If you're looking for a really page turner with a sympathetic main character and a rip roaring plot, this is the book for you.  It's a book to take on vacation when you want something both readable and compelling, but that isn't too taxing.  It's also a great read for individuals wanting to get a feel for rural New Zealand.

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Another beautiful weekend accompanied by a lovely treat from Wellington's Cafe Polo.  'nough said.

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

In a nutshell

Tells the story of the final days of an Icelandic woman (Agnes) who has been accused of murder and sentenced to death by beheading.  The story opens when a local family is told that they are obligated to house the murderess until her execution.  From here, author Hannah Kent explores the relationship between Agnes and the family, along with a local priest (who is supposed to prepare her for death).  Through these interactions and conversations, we eventually learn how Agnes came to be charged with murder and her eventual fate.

Did I like it?

I really enjoyed reading this book (admittedly, I do have a bit of a thing for Icelandic literature these days).  Interestingly though, it was actually the relationships that Agnes forms with the family and the priest that engaged me the most.  Somehow, learning how Anges came to be accused of murder had become superfluous to me.  Instead, I was intrigued by how these local Icelanders came to grow and understand Agnes through their time with her.  Initially, they saw her only as a murderess, but as time progressed and they inevitably got to know her, these relationships became more nuanced.  For them, Agnes had things to offer that were distinct from her "role" as a killer.

Will you like it?

Readers who like historical fiction will enjoy this depiction of Iceland in the 1800's.  Additionally, there is a compelling psychological element.  It is interesting to watch how perceptions shift as the novel progresses.  Finally, it's a bit of a page-turner, so will also engage the reader who likes an element of suspense in their literature.

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Beach day!!  Had a picnic up on the Kapiti coast last weekend, courtesy of the Long Beach Cafe (pizza, pizza) and the Old Beach Bakery (mmm...scones and donuts).  Lots going on at work and thrilled that weekend #2 has arrived.

The Heart Broke In - James Meek

In a nutshell

Told from the perspective of three main characters, whose lives are changed when one is asked to sacrifice another to save his own skin.  Sounds kind of interesting, right?

Did I like it?

M'eh - minus!  At first I was just ambivalent to this book, but gradually I grew to resent the time wasted on this book.  The characters were just unlikeable (from my perspective).  In fact, I'm loathe to spend much time even writing this blog entry.  Though perhaps it will serve as a helpful warning to others!

Will you like it?

If you like books that ask moral questions, you may enjoy this one.  Prepare, however, to engage with some fairly irritating characters.

What else happened while I was reading this book?

A quiet weekend that somehow passed very quickly.  Spent Sunday making these fab baked beans before enjoying a nice walk with les petit chiens.

The Language of Flowers - Vanessa Diffenbaugh

In a nutshell

Alternating between two points in time, this novel tells the story of a young girl who grew up in the foster care system.  We are introduced to the younger Victoria when she has found what is seemingly the perfect setup for her.  She lives at a vineyard and learns about the Victorian tradition of translating flowers into language (e.g., a thistle means mistrust).  However, the story progresses and Victoria's time with her foster mother Elizabeth is cut short.  Flash forward 8-ish years and Victoria has just turned 18 and is "set free" from the group home where she had been living.  After a short homeless stint, Victoria finds her niche at a florist's shop and is able to use the knowledge she learned from Elizabeth to blossom (pardon the pun) as a professional and also finds love.  However, she still harbours guilt over what happened with Elizabeth many years ago, leading to a myriad of bad decisions that make for a very interesting book.

Did I like it?

I loved it!  Diffenbaugh is a fantastic writer.  This book was compuslively readable and you really felt for Victoria as she grew up.  The language of flowers was an interesting twist that Diffenbaugh pulls in nicely.  This Victorian element seems completely at home in this modern text and I loved learning about the different meanings of the flowers.

Will you like it?

If you like strong, if troubled female characters, this may be the book for you.  While you have to be able to tolerate some darkness as Victoria's past isn't an easy one, it's well worth taking the journey with her. 

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Another long weekend (yay!).  Saw a great movie musical - Sunshine on Leith, which is based on the Proclaimer's songs.  Went on a great hike across the Skyline trail (beautiful views).  Finshed painting our kitchen (finally).  Bright and cheery indeed.

Five Days at Memorial - Sheri Fink

In a nutshell

This book opens by describing the events that took place at Memorial Hospital in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, highlighting in particular the challenges that staffed face due to loss of power and rising flood waters.  Fink highlights the decisions that staff made regarding patient care and how these decisions would follow some of the nurses and doctors after Katrina.  In particular, Fink looks at the issue of euthanasia and its place in disaster response.  The second half of the book follows the investigation into potentially hastened deaths at Memorial and whether the medical professionals involved should be held responsible.  

Did I like it?

I wanted to like this book more than I did.  I expected it to be an amazing account of the events and to some extent it was, but there were so many characters that I found myself constantly trying to remember who was who.  This had the effect of "taking me out of the book" and hence, I never became immersed in the experiences of these doctors and nurses.  I do wonder if this book would have been better if I had read it in hard copy where I could easily have referred back to the list of characters.  Perhaps the Kindle is to blame for my reaction?  At any rate, while I didn't dislike the book, it failed to have the same impact as other non-fiction books (e.g., Spillover, Kinglake 350).

Will you like it?

If you find ethical dilemmas interesting, you may find the debate about euthanasia to be of interest.  I think, however, there are better books written about disaster response (e.g., the aforementioned Kinglake 350).

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Easter came and went.  We went on some amazing hikes.  Went heavy on the kids movies: Lego and The Muppet sequel.  The former was amazing, while the latter was just passable.

Strangle Hold by Richard Rotenberg

In a nutshell

This book is part of a series that follows investigations being carried out by members of the Toronto justice system.  In his fourth book, Rotenberg turns the tables on one of the cops. Head of the homicide unit, Ari Greene finds himself accused of murder when the woman with whom he was having an affair is brutally murdered.  The story follows Greene as he tries to clear his name.  One of the things that I enjoy about Rotenberg's books is that he tells the story from a range of perspectives.  It keeps things fresh and interesting.

Did I like it?

Strangle Hold finds itself in the enviable position of following the much condemened (by me) The Secret History.  This may have coloured my reacation, but I really loved it.  The characters are becoming familiar to me by this point (#4 in the series) and they are all very engaging.  Moreover, Toronto itself is a character in the books and I enjoy reading about the familiar scenery (brings me back to Canada for a wee while).  The book also managed to surprise me.  I didn't find the ending to be in any way predictable, which is pretty important in a murder mystery.  This was the second book that I read over my holiday and this one did the trick.  It was the perfect holiday read and I raced through it in a day.

Will you like it?

Those who enjoy murder mysteries with a legal twist will have fun with this book.  Rotenberg is a solid writer and his character development is improving with each novel in the series.

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Hung out in Waikanae at the beach with Leo and the dogs, while enjoying a delicious breakfast from the Old Beach Bakery.  Saw and enjoyed the Dallas Buyers Club that evening.  Oh, and had a delicious lunch on a cool old school bus at Te Horo.  

Newton and the Counterfeiter by Thomas Levenson

In a nutshell

This is a book that I've been wanting to read for quite a long time. I've had it on my Kindle for ages, and finally got around to reading it while on holiday. This book is about a period of history that I never knew about Isaac Newton; the time in his life when he was Warden of the Royal Mint in England. During his tenure at the Mint, he managed to take a public service entity that was pretty much haemorrhaging money and turn it around with the speed and efficiency that you would expect from someone of his drive and genius. During this time, he also took on a part of the job he originally tried to shirk off (going after coiners), and turned into one of the best anti-counterfeiting deterrents the mint has ever seen.

Did I like it?

I loved this book! Not only did I learn a great deal about Newton during a his tenure at the mint, a time in his life I knew almost nothing prior to this book, but this book also got into some fascinating detail about who Newton was, and what made him tick. Just as Einstein's contemporaries were visionaries in Physics, Newton was rubbing elbows with some of the best thinkers of his time: Halley, Hooke, Harrison, Leibniz and many others. I also learned that Newton wasn't the kind of guy you wanted to piss off; as William Chaloner found out in due course with his counterfeiting.

...Isaac Newton was a total badass!

Will you like it?

If you want to get into a bit of seedy history and learn about the late, great Isaac Newton, as well as learn a great deal about how our current financial system was like just a few years back, then this book is totally for you.

What else happened while I was reading this book

I had started this book before I went on holiday, but while reading it, we took a 10 day holiday to the Hawkes Bay and Waikanae. The weather was pure crap for most of the trip, but I did manage to read quite a lot of this book while seated in a hanging wicker basket chair...ahhhh, luxury!

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

In a nutshell

Tartt explores the events that lead up to a group of friends killing a fellow friend (she explores some of the aftermath as well).  Set at an elite Vermont college, the author tells it from the perspective of a new member of the group. 

Did I like it?

Not at all!  I found the characters unbearable (even the murder victim).  Everyone was so pretentious and self-involved that it was impossible to relate to any of the characters.  I expected to love this as I thought Gold Finch was great.  However, this really missed the mark for me.  I certainly resented that this was my holiday read - what a dud (a chore to finish).

Will you like it?

If you don't mind a slow burning mystery and don't find it necessary to relate to the characters in a meaningful way, you may enjoy this book.  I'm in the minority of people who disliked this book, so clearly it does have something to offer many. 

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Took a holiday in the Hawke's Bay where we found the best coffee of our lives at Box Expresso in Clive. 

A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny

In a nutshell

Detective Gamache of Penny's Three Pines series returns to investigate a murder in this small town.  Clara is a key player in the Three Pines universe and this book opens with her art show, followed quickly by a murder victim being found in her back yard. The novel then moves off in a a direction that you'd expect for a murder mystery.  Despite being a fairly traditional murder mystery, this book was interesting in that some of the gloss is coming off the characters.  You start to see, for example, the challenges that Gamache faces in interacting with someone who he wrongly accused of murder in an earlier book.

Did I like it?

As always, I love Louise Penny and as mentioned above, I am really enjoying the increasing complexity of the characters and their relationships.  An event that was set up in an earlier book continues to have fallout for the police officers involved.  It is compelling to see Beauvoir struggle and become more human to readers as a result.

Will you like it?

If you like a fairly typical (but not mundane) murder mystery with an engaging cast of characters, you'll love it.  

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Sounds lame...but being able to read this book outside while overlooking Wellington harbour was a total highlight.

You - Nuala Ní Chonchúir

In a nutshell

A beautifully written story set in Dublin that tells the story of a 10-year old girl during a few traumatic months where she loses some key people in her life.  Through the eyes of this girl, you come to understand her community and how she perceives the related people and events.

Did I like it?

This book really appealed to me.  The author's writing style was beautiful, almost poetic.  It was written entirely in the second person, which was actually quite cool.

Will you like it?

If you enjoy books written from the perspective of child protaganists, you should quite like this one.  The central character is fantastic and you can really relate to her plight.

The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton

In a nutshell

Catton writes a tale of murder and intrigue that takes place on the South Island of New Zealand (primarily in Hokitika, but also in Dunedin).  The story is told through the eyes of 12+ individuals who have some knowledge that will inform the mystery.

Did I like it?

Catton is a very technically adept writer.  For me, however, I was not able to form an emotional connection with anyone in the book and therefore did not enjoy it as much as I would have liked.  Also, I did feel like 800+ pages was a bit long for the story she chose to tell.  

Will you like it?

Fans of literary fiction may like this one.  If you want a more traditional murder-mystery that is  a real page turner, this may not be the one for you.

What else happened while I was reading this book?

We enjoyed the best bits of summer with hikes on the weekend and walks home from work on weekdays.  

Instructions for a Heat Wave by Maggie O'Farrell

In a nutshell

This story begins with the disappearance of the patriarch of an Irish family now living (mostly) in London.  The rest of the story explores the family dynamics that result from the disappearance, with wounds exposed and sometimes healed.

Did I like it?

Really enjoyable, particularly having just finished the dark and dreary Tale for the Time Being.  O'Farrell is a very readable author and I find that I frequently race through her novels.  There were also many likeable characters, with whom I could relate.  So, all in all, no complaints.

Will you like it?

If you enjoy a readable book, but with some depth, this may be the book for you.  Readers who enjoy Irish novels may be particularly delighted with this one.

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Summer came back (again).  Discovered Wellington's best muffins in the heart of Seatoun (perfect post-run snack).  Continued my allegiance to House of Cards.