2008 Reads

Oooh - I am already excited about this year! I think good books are in store.
Last year I read 25 books, this year I am aiming for 3 a month - or 36 books.

Part of a new book reading determination of mine is: If I don’t like it, I will stop reading it and move on.
I tend to punish myself with books - make myself finish what I started, even if I am bored senseless.
Well, No More!

January

Twilight - Stephanie Meyer

It’s true, I did begin this book last year - but then I had to get it back to the Library and pay some overdue fines and then forgot all about it. Until, a blogger friend wrote about how she was re-reading the series and loved it.

She was right - this book was fabulous. In fact, it was so good I stayed up all night to finish it. I am really glad I have the 2nd book already and I just requested the 3rd online. Hopefully there won’t be much of a lag between book 2 and the arrival of book 3. However, if there is a 4th in the works - that is going to be some lag!

Don’t let the YA fool you - if you are a fan of fantasy you’ll love it. Even if fantasy isn’t your thing, this might be a book for you. It doesn’t dwell as much on the fantastical as it does on the relationship between the two main characters. Well…you’ll just have to read it yourself to get more info.

New Moon - Stephanie Meyer

Pretty good sequel - another ultra speedy read.

I love Bella & Edward’s complex (yet not) relationship. The blank sections with just the names of the month They broke my heart.

The section with the Volturi was especially exciting to read. I adore Jacob — and was wishing for his warmth today - it’s freezing here!

Eclipse - Stephanie Meyer 

I decided I couldn’t wait for the Library to bring in the 3rd book and I bought it this afternoon - and read it in a day!

I am sure Twilight is my favourite, but this was a close 2nd. Now I just have to wait until August! ack - to read the 4th and final (?) book.

Bella grows up quite a bit in this book - and that entails the usual complications and sadness. But she always has Edward to fall back upon and oh is he steady.

The epilogue is shattering. So, so sad.

Rhett Butler’s People - Daniel McCaig

Wonderful, wonderful book! Honestly, in the beginning it is like discovering Margaret Mitchell’s lost chapters.

Rhett is his rakish and soulful self - he had me laughing out loud. When accosted by 2 thieves he coolly replied “I have one bullet. Who wants to be shot, and who wants his neck broken?” How could he fail to capture any woman’s heart?

At first I was frustrated how often the story diverted to other characters and then Hel-lo it’s called RB’s People! what did I expect? But I soon became engrossed.  It is quite interesting to view key events through the eyes & voices of other characters such as Rosemary. The letters Melly sent her were very bold - and still vulnerable.

This book really explores the relationship between Belle Watling & Rhett, and Langston Butler as well. It satisfies a lot of curiosity — see I keep forgetting it is not written by Margaret Mitchell.

The mourning for a way of life, of innocence lost is sharp and ever present. It is at turns melancholy and nostalgic, hopeful and invigorating, tragic and joyful. Everything you would expect in a novel so closely connected to an epic. Every year or so, I have to read Gone With the Wind - this is definitely going to be a book I revisit right along with it.

The Almost Moon - Alice Sebold

This book started so strongly - in fact, it was so upsetting I didn’t know if I would be able to keep reading - and then…it faded away into nothing.

The woman’s mother was so much like my own Nana it was very difficult to read. Her personality, her house, her habits, her relationships, her neighbourhood, her tense past/present with her daughters.

And then suddenly the book became an absurd recounting of childish actions and avoidance of reality/responsibility.

Even though this was a Book Club selection, in keeping with my new policy I did not finish it. Ugh. I recommend avoiding it altogether.

February

The Great Divorce - CS Lewis

One of many to come, Lost book club choices. A fantastic little book. I devoured it. I have missed CS Lewis and his writing more than I knew. His books are more like conversations with a dear friend - even when they make my head swim.

This is a vivid account of one man’s journey between Hell/Purgatory/Heaven - or is it? It begins right away with no introduction and no common setups, but it doesn’t need them.

It is engrossing and thought provoking - and the similarities to some of the storylines, plot devices and settings are certainly evident in Lost. Whether you watch the show or not, this is a very interesting perspective on prevalent ideas of religious punishment & reward.

Not Wanted on the Voyage - Timothy Findley

Oh this was hard to read. Sometimes it made me feel ill. But it was riveting! A thoroughly captivating tale of the Great Flood from a thoroughly unique perspective - Mottyl, the cat of Noah’s wife.

It’s sad, infuriating, horrifying, depressing and hopeful — how’s that for contrary? It is always interesting and imaginative.

Told in 4 books it shares the narrative is shared between each family member and not a few of the animals- though mainly Mrs. Noyes and Mottyl. Noah is portrayed as a doddering tyrant, drunk on his power over the 7 people aboard the ark - and the numerous animals.

I have to say sometimes reading this felt a little blasphemous to me - makes me feel old to say it - nevertheless, it is a book I was glad to read.

Can You Hear the Nightbird Call? - Anita Rau Badami

This book was brilliant - from India to Vancouver and back - we follow the lives of three women and their families and their surprising connections in the past, present and future.

This was a rarity - a book club selection I really enjoyed! It touched on major events - the rise of Indira Ghandi, her execution and the religious persecution and riots that followed (and preceded) and the Air India tragedy - all of which I vaguely recall from news reports I was too young to appreciate the scope of.

The food, the tangle of relationships/hospitality, the colloquial speech patterns brought back memories of childhood growing up in a part of town affectionately (by some) referred to as New Delhi-cliffe (really Valleycliffe). Of afternoons spent in a friend’s living room, fed and spoiled and served sweetened milk tea by Bebes (grandmas), who taught me some Punjabi words while we did our homework. Fascinated by the spicy smells and the altars and artwork so different from my own orange and brown living room with macramed plant hangers and handpainted ceramics.

Aside from stirring up warm memories, this book also made me wonder about what led these families to leave their homeland and settle here. How it was for them to see the news stories that meant so little to me. How it felt for the Sikh men to be free to walk around the neighbourhood with their kirpans and turbans and not have to fear mob violence — just the ignorant taunts of Canadian school children who knew next to nothing about what these articles signified. (I wasn’t one of those kids but some of my other friends were - and I remember feeling ashamed to know them)

By far the best book I have read in any book club to date.

March

Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman

Boring, slow, predicatable and dirty. Dirty like Waterworld - only muddier and smellier.

I’ve heard such praise for Gaiman’s work I expected a lot more. I kept holding out for it - there were nuggets of original ideas, possibilities within the story. But in the end dull and disappointing was as good as it got.

The strangest thing is that the ending made way for sequels and I found myself wondering where the story went from there. Since I am sure it didn’t improve I won’t find out — unless the tv show comes overseas… 

I Am Legend - Robert Matheson 

Even though I won’t be seeing this film, I have to wonder how they managed to translate this novella into a Will Smith vehicle. Or into a film at all.

90% of this story takes place within the head of Robert Neville. This is a very intriguing take on the traditional vampire story - a real blend of myth and science fiction. The conclusion is profound.

I won’t say anything more, so I don’t give away too much.

Good In Bed - Jennifer Weiner

This book has the cover of a Shopaholic novel. I was expecting a piece of fluff writing, light hearted, a predictable but a harmless day’s read – it turned out to be so much more.

The first half was mostly predictable, but the characters are so likable – and for once it is a story about a ‘sizable’ woman who leads a mostly fulfilling life – that I kept on reading. I am so glad I did.

The second half of the book was fantastic - heartfelt and truly engaging. Things did end as tidily as I expected but the path there took more turns than I expected.

I really enjoyed this one.

Drop City - TC Boyle

This was a great read. Told from various perspectives within a commune dedicated to Peace and Love in California. This story questions the ability to achieve true harmony with one another, society, the planet, and within.

While ideals are sought and everpresent in the narrative, the story itself and the individulas are not idealized. It’s a closeup look at the hippie movement from within as the commune is forced to move, and decides to move to Alaska - last bastion of ‘freedom’ in the USA.

In Alaska they meet others who have ‘dropped out’ of society and, like the hippies, they are not all pure of motive.

Having dreamed of living in Alaska, and having traveled to Alaska (I know, from within a luxury liner!) I was worried about the dangers these ‘turned on’ but unschooled revolutionaries might find themselves in — Alaska and California are very different places!

Some of them do indeed find more than they bargained for — imagine the everyday strains of living amongst a group of 20 or more and picture doing that for months at a time inside a tiny cabin while it is dark outside 18 hrs out of the day! what a nightmare. Add to that the extreme weather, predators - man and beast - and you have a story that is hard to put down.

The cover photo is pretty awesome too.

The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield

So, I didn’t think this book was worth the rave reviews I’ve been hearing about it but I did enjoy it. It was a quick read for me. Sometimes the writing felt kind of silly and overly descriptive (I think 3 adjectives/adverbs are plenty - 4 or 5? ridiculous! sorry I am writing this so long after the fact or I would supply an exampe) but when the narrative was in the past I was engrossed.

As a person who works with young children I was intrigued by the way the adults interacted with the twins - especially as it became clearer that these children were more than just temperamental. I thought the story around their parentage was shocking then and now, which contributed to their unique upbringing.

Some of the later plot devices were stretched thin versions of gothic tales and therefore predictable, but the bigger surprise was one I didn’t see coming so I have to give the author that.

Amy and Isabelle - Elizabeth Strout

Since I have next to no time for library visits these days, I’ve taken to reading through our libraries New Book listings each month and requesting books that sound or look interesting. I have found some great reads that way. This wasn’t one of them — how funny is that?

I was indifferent to this story of the strained relationship between a single mother and her teenage daughter who was having an affair with her married Math teacher in a small, small town. So indifferent in fact, that I don’t remember how the book ended right now!

However, some of the settings were so evocative I can recall them vividly. Like the office they worked in, and the co-workers they sat with and the house they lived in. Maybe the people just weren’t that interesting?

A Blade of Grass - Lewis De Soto

Oh boy. This book was so upsetting for me. I mean, I should have realized but I just kept thinking something would happen, someone would intervene.

It is set in South Africa as Apartheid was being instituted on a small out of the way farm, where a recently bereaved woman loses her husband, her income etc. etc.

There is an intricately explored relationship with her and her recently bereaved (see a pattern developing?) kitchen maid that crosses racial boundaries and then recrosses them. Fascinating but ultimately their relationship explodes in an unexpected (by me at least) way that I am still disappointed in.

Toss in sadistic, chauvanistic farm overseer who feels he is wrongfully dismissed and then joins a maruading self made militia and you can see how badly this story is going to end.

Like Amy and Isabelle though, there are scenes that are as vivid as if this was a film I watched - that’s an accomplishment for an author, don’t you think?

The Big Over Easy - Jasper Fforde

I started this book last year and ran out of time before it was due back - I am SO glad I borrowed it again. I was out-loud-if-it-wasn’t-after-midnight-I’d-call-my-friend-to-read-her-this-passage laughing!

Example - Mrs. Dumpty: “Monogamy wasn’t in his wordstock anymore than, anymore than…”

                 DCI Spratt: “Vocabulary?”

                 Mrs. Dumpty: “Yes. Monogamy wasn’t in his wordstock anymore than vocabulary is in mine.”

I loved this book! It is full of homonyms, wordplay, fairy tale and nursery rhyme references — oh The Gingerbread Man is a deranged serial killer. He was hard to catch. — I thought this book was delightful and I can hardly wait for the next book, which I think comes out late this year — nope. Site update - it now comes out sometime in the next 3 years! Arrgggh! I guess I’ll have to re-read. That’ll be rough.

April

The Gaia Book of Organic Gardening

Loved this concise manual on how to garden without pesticides etc. Really useful section on composting and plants to grow just for compost - which I’d never heard of before. That reminds me…I should get some of those…

The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde

Who wouldn’t want to be able to walk right into Jane Eyre and speak with Mr. Rochester? Or have Mr. Rochester come and rescue you? It’s really too bad about that Jane person.

I enjoyed this book - but nowhere near as well as I enjoyed the Nursery Crime book. I’ll read the next (ha ha) book and see how I feel - I may have been biased because of all the positive hype and listings in great reads sections. Yes. I can be that way. I try to fight it but…

The Fourth Bear - Jasper Fforde

Brilliant sequel! As much fun, if not more, than the first. The Gingerbread Man is on the loose, Cuke-ulear power is being secretly developed and the Jellyman cometh.

Brilliant.

Tamarind Mem - Anita Rau Badami

This was a disappointment for me. I loved Can You Hear the Nightbird Call so much that my expectations were a little high. I finished this book though, because like Amy & Isabelle & A Blade of Grass the descriptive writing was superbly textured - which is why I stuck with it, despite my new rule (see above).

I never really became attached to any of the characters and this book ended quite abruptly. Jarringly so actually.

If you have read this and not the Nightbird, do yourself a favour and read Nightbird. You won’t regret it.

The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls

I LOVED this book - I am so glad it is this (June) month’s book club selection because there is a lot to talk about.

It is shocking and apalling that any child is raised in the conditions related in this memoir (and this is not a James Frey style memoir either people!). Yet 3 of the 4 children have excelled and from the sounds of things, the family is still connected. That is remarkable. Truly.

Poignant, humourous, tender, violent, heartbreaking and hopeful. This is a story you will not soon forget. Again, my profession influences my response to books and I have to say this woman’s story gives me hope for some of the children I know that live in intolerable homes. The drive of the human spirit can be an awe-inspiring thing.

The Day Donny Herbert Woke Up

More nonfiction - but this reads like a novel. This time the account of a father of 3 firefighter who is injured when a burning roof collapses.

This small book deals with some big emotions. And asks some big questions - about the nature of faith and it’s connection to health, whether or not miracles do happen, and what constitutes a miracle?

May

There’s No Place Like Here -

I kept waiting for something magical that didn’t happen. Too bad - this story had potential. It’s just sort of embarassing to say that it was about a single girl who was obsessed with missing socks, who became a PI for families of missing people, who then went missing herself and went to a magical land where all missing things go.

Yeah.  Enough said.

Me ‘n Emma - Elizabeth Flock

Wow. Wow. One month later and I am still blown away.

This book was impossible for me to put down. I didn’t want to keep reading sometimes, but I could not stop myself. There is such a twist, not a gimicky twist, I am still impressed. I never even suspected and it makes absolute sense.

The subject matter is dicey - if you don’t like unflinchingly real this book is not for you. It is the story of a girl and her little sister doing everything they can to survive their mother’s boyfriend. It is ugly stuff - but again, the tenacity of the human spirit in the tiny bodies of children is incredible and this book is a testimony to that.

I cannot recommend this book more - a perfect choice for a book club discussion.

People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks

This book was amazing. I wish every book I picked up was this good, this vivid, this engrossing. Hey - I was reading it the weekend my brother got married and every lull in my day was spent with this book in hand - the ferry ride never went by so fast!

It is the story about all the people whose lives contributed to the making and preserving of an ancient Hebrew text from the Dark Ages to present day.

Phenomenal! Richly detailed, meticulously researched. Every character is vividly portrayed. I honestly learned quite a bit of history in reading this - some of the same countries & cities as set in The Historian.

Definitely a book worth reading. And re-reading.

Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follet

I am stunned. Stunned nearly speechless. That people like this book! That it is on reading lists and, I hear it was an Oprah pick, is disappointing. Egads.

What can I say? This endless behemoth of a novel sucked my energy and my time. And still I read on. And on and on. Hey - I’m all for long books. When they’re any good at all!

This was a cheesy sketch of a plot that did not know when to end. A harlequin romance gussied up as a historical novel. Honestly, I lost count of how many times I had to read about some man’s prick.

This novel missed it’s calling as a made-for-tv miniseries. I’m telling you. I haven’t shaken my head over a book’s popularity like this since Outlander (and I had the good sense to call that quits after the lady gave birth in the shrubs and then fought the ravening wolves with the tenacity of a terrier - no really,  A. Terrier. read it, ok don’t - but skim it - oh, and then her lover was raped by his nemesis - yep, I skimmed too) But I digress.

And someone tell me what the title had to do with the story? The Cathedral is so by the wayside, hidden by heaving bosoms, raping landowners, corrupt church leaders and -what is the opposite of subtle?- secret plans.

Even the patient and faithful Prior Philip is questionable - what sort of ‘holy’ man, when faced with a moral dilemma makes his decision by praying to God to strike him dumb if he is not meant to lie? Well, guess who else makes moral choices this way?

“Dear Lord, the gods have been good to me. As an offering, I present these milk and cookies. If you wish me to eat them instead, please give me no sign whatsoever.” pause “Thy will be done.” munch munch munch. - Homer Simpson

I rest my case.

Twilight - Stephanie Meyer

I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this book re-reading it. I needed something enjoyable after that disastrous Pillars of the Earth!

The moody Washington setting matched our drizzly, cloudy weather that we’ve been having here. I’m hoping that the rest of the series holds up to another read as much as this one did.

Gods Behaving Badly -

Wow. When good ideas go wrong. Terribly wrong.

Ok, technically I didn’t even read this. I read the first 20 or so pages and then skimmed through. Such a shame. I love mythology and this premise was a good one. But to heavy on the cheese factor - daytime fortune telling show aside. Aside from that folks.

The German Bride

So, this is the 3rd book in a short while that deals with the maligning of Jewish people. Unintentional on my behalf, but eye-opening.

This is the story of a young woman who hastily marries a man who takes her to the new frontier of America in the 1800’s. It is about her adjustment to life in a new country and her marriage to a stranger and how the things you wanted to leave behind accompany you - even across oceans.

June

The Host - Stephanie Meyer

This book was great. More sci-fi than the Twilight series but with a lot of the same core values in her characters - family, love, new beginnings.

I was relieved by how different the characters were from Bella and Edward - when I’d read the preview chapter some months ago they sounded too similar to me.

Still formulating thoughts on this one…sorry. :-p

Watership Down - Richard Adams

Please see here and here for my review.

New Moon

I did not enjoy this one the 2nd time as much. It took way too long to get to the good stuff in Italy and it really felt like Bella was using Jacob. I know, she was depressed, desperate & lonely but…he clearly loved her and she let him. She encouraged him. Poor guy.

I have yet to locate my copy of Eclipse…when I do…

July

Lost in A Good Book - Jasper Fforde

I really liked this book - much better than the first. I was laughing out loud Nursery Crimes style in this one. And I’m so happy Thursday is expecting!

Miss Havisham was particularly funny - along with Joffey (though it might just be his name).

I can hardly wait to start the next (ha ha) book - Thursday is in Reading! Perfection — he really is far too cheekily clever this author.