BOOK: Astray by Emma Donoghue

Astray by Emma Donoghue, 280 pages

Canadian Book Challenge (Donoghue is living in Canada, but is herself an immigrant from Ireland)

The mark of a talented writer is one who writes in very different styles and keeps the reader interested. Donoghue of Room fame, also writes historical fiction (The Sealed Letter) and now short stories, Astray. Although I guess this is still historical fiction, and like The Sealed Letter, each story is based on a true incident.

The concept of each story is part of what makes this a fun read. After each story, there is a note, which explains from where Donoghue was inspired - a single sentence in a newspaper article, Charles Dickens' letters, London Times articles, or even published memoirs or biographies. Waiting to see what part might be real, or how Donoghue teased out a fictional account of real people made each story even better. Then, the overarching theme of 'astray', geographically or morally, of immigrants coming or going, connects the stories furthur. Fans of historical fiction and short stories should investigate this collection.

sidenote: I am averaging one Canadian authored short story collection a month in 2013. Kinda weird.
January - Whirl Away by Russell Wangersky
February - Dressing Up for the Carnival by Carol Shields
March -  Astray by Emma Donoghue
Putting some pressure on me for April, aren't you Alice Munro?

Astray is also (favourably) reviewed: Joy at thoughts of joy; karen at morsie reads; carrie at nomadreader;

BOOK: Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert, 384 pages

Wonderfully epic novel of both the twentieth century, and the life of a Hawaiian girl who contracted leprosy. We see how life being a leper changed with changing attitudes (which in some ways mirrors today's treatment of AIDS/HIV patients) and how life for everyone changed - movies, airplanes, electric lights. American world war two involvement is also covered, from Pearl Harbour to Japanese internment camps and the modern history of Hawaii to statehood.

Rachel is just a young child of seven when she is sent to the leper colony on the Hawaiian island of Moloka'i. Torn from her family, her resilient spirit eventually allows her to build a life on the island, while always dreaming of a cure. Brennert throws a lot of history and information into his novel, but it flows very well.  The progression of Rachel through childhood, teenage years, and into adulthood and the characters she meets are all layered and developed. The whole situation was terrible, and many places in the book brought me to tears, but it is ultimately an uplifting and happy book. And now I want to go to Hawaii!

also reviewed: ramya's bookshelf;

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Series I'd Like To Start But Haven't Yet

Top Ten Series I'd Like To Start But Haven't Yet: Sadly, this list was far too easy to generate. I probably could have also done a list of 'series where I want to read the 2nd book in the series'. I'll save that for another day. Check out The Broke and the Bookish for future lists, and the find all the other participants.

1. Mo Hayder's Jack Caffery series (5 books)

2. Laurie R King's Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series (12 books)

3. George RR Martin's Game of Thrones series

4. Karin Slaughter's series with Georgia (3 books), Will Trent, and Sara Linton

5. Kate Ellis' Wesley Peterson mysteries (17 books)

6. Amitov Ghosh's Ibis Trilogy

7. Michael Stanley's Assistant Superintendent David 'Kubu' Bengu (3 books)
A new Botswana series to take the place of my Precious Ramotswe

8. Ariana Franklin's Mistress of the Art of Death (5 books)
ETA: Oops, already started. It's great too!

9. Declan Hughes' Ed Loy mysteries (5 books)

10. Anchee Min's Empress Orchid series (2 books)

BOOKS: February Reads

http://blogdelanine.blogspot.ca/2012/02/february-desktop-calendar.html

Some months I get more reviewed than others. Some months I don't. Those months get posts like this, with short thoughts. Short month, short thoughts! perfect

Best books: Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin, and I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I've Ever Had by Tony Danza.

7. The History of Love by Nicole Krauss, 254 pages

Orange Prize shortlist 2006 The History of Love - Nicole Krauss

A little confusing in the time line for me, several different stories which all connected up. Survivors of the Holocaust, writers, an obscure book. Many readers love this book and I can see why, but it didn't quite wow me.





8.  Lola's Secret - Monica McInerney  see review

9. Dressing Up for the Carnival by Carol Shields, 210 pages

Canadian Book Challenge

There was a chapter from Unless; a while story without the letter I, (but inexplicably with one word that did - did it ever stand out!). This was an okay collection with a few stories that are sticking with me, other than those two. I enjoy them as I read them, but some really get into the writing process and if I were an English major, I'd probably love.



 

10. The Calculus Diaries: How Math Can Help You Lose Weight, Win in Vegas, and Survive a Zombie Apocalypse by Jennifer Ouellette, 310 pages The Calculus Diaries - Jennifer Ouellette

Sadly, much less about calculus than I expected, but the author takes very different life situations, and shows how math or calculus could be used to apply. She writes in an easy style, and explains the science and math and why they are useful. Lots of history, and I'd easily recommend it to people.

11. Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin, 461 pages

Twelfth century England is always a fun time - lots of political history, and the church. Reminds me of the Brother Cadfael books, but a little less cozy. A 'doctor of death' is brought over from Italy to clear the Jews of Oxford from the deaths of some children. She has to fight many prejudices clearly, but also develops a romance. It was involved, had a great mystery, was gory, and a romance. Excellent historical mystery!






12. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight - Jennifer E. Smith see review

13. I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had - Tony Danza see review

14. A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainain - Marina Lewycka, 235 pages
 2005 Orange shortlist

Not at all what I was expecting, but it was a darkly humorous good book. Two women get involved when their widowed father brings a young gold digger to England from Ukraine and marries her. One daughter was born before the second world war in Ukraine, the other was born in England after the war, and their vastly different family situations colours how they view their parents and each other. Eventually more of their family history before and during the war is revealed.

15. The Black Ice - Michael Connelly, 368 pages Harry Bosch #2

Harry is not invited to investigate the suicide of a fellow cop in LA, but when would that stop Harry? Harry Bosch continues his lone wolf style of investigating, annoying his bosses, meeting the ladies, and searching for some peace in his soul.
Bosch is a easy reading series, with a great main character, good intricate plots. Connelly has written almost twenty books in this series, plus 2 or 3 other interlocking series. 

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Authors That I'd Put On My Auto-Buy List

Top Ten Authors That I'd Put On My Auto-Buy List (basically an auto-buy list is no questions asked..you love this author so much that no matter what they wrote next you'd buy regardless of genre or subject matter)

I don't buy a lot of books, so this is easy to make. For more Top Ten Lists today, head to The Broke and the Bookish.

1. Kate Atkinson - Jackson Brodie mysteries, plus her stand-alone books. She has new one coming out this spring with a lot of buzz

2. Andrea Camelleri - Inspector Montalbano of Sicily I cannot resist

3. Lisa Lutz - The Spellman Files are hilarious, and her co-authored book, Heads You Lose made me laugh. A lot.

4. Tracey Chevalier - Historical fiction from many perspectives, I still have a few to read, but I haven't found one yet that I havent' enjoyed.

5. Deon Meyer - South African mysteries, just excellent! If you like thrilling police stories, you must try him.

6. Bernice Morgan - Newfoundland author extraordinaire. She has only written a few books (Random Passage, Waiting for Time, Cloud of Bone) are fabulous

7. Sarah Waters - British author who has explored the Victorian age (Fignersmith, Affinity, Tipping the Velvet) and the World War 2 era (The Little Stranger, The Night Watch)

8. Marcus Zusak - I'd read his grocery list

9. John Green - He's got some real winners in his backlist, and is still very young. I expect to be able to read his books for many years to come.

10. Brian Selznick - His two books, Wonderstruck and The Invention of Hugo Cabret, are two of the most imaginative and spectacular books I've every read. He has invented his own genre of book.

BOOK: I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had by Tony Danza

I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had by Tony Danza, 262 pages

First of all: the title. How perfect! I've actually had several former students who returned to teach at my school apologize to me for their behavior while in high school. Luckily, as frustrating as high school students can be, I know not to judge them on their time as teenagers in my class.

Reality Television: Did anyone else watch the A&E series, Teach based on Tony Danza's time in a Philadelphia high school? It was only six episodes long and aired in 2010, and the book covers the same material. Both the series and the book ooze with Danza's sincerity, and since I don't think he is a better actor than I imagine, I believe him. Danza took a lot of criticism for working as a teacher - it was only for the show, he just wanted to be on television, I actually buy his sincerity. (He originally thought he would become a teacher, but boxing and acting too over. At fifty-nine and out of work, he decided to try teaching for a year.) He continued to teach after the show gave up on him and his class for lack of drama, and finished his year.

Sidenote: Both Tony Danza and Jeff Conaway were on the 1970s television show, Taxi. Both reappeared on television in the late 2000s. Danza gave up his acting life to teach inner city students, and worked his butt off. Conaway appeared on Celebrity Rehab several times and sadly died in 2010. The ways their lives turned out could not be more different, and it increased my respect for Danza.

Danza as a teacher: Again, he truly wanted to do well. His respect for education and teachers is evident. He is however, an actor, with a 'look at me' mentality. All teachers need to have this to some extent if they are going to get up in front of a class of students everyday. He also acknowledged how much he talked and that his students kidded him about his big mouth. I think my biggest criticism of him as a teacher, is that he was more interested in teaching them lessons to learn from his mistakes, as opposed to creating a learner and teaching them how to learn. Again though, you can't argue that he wanted the best for his students, and really struggled with how invested he got in their lives, and realizing how little control he had over so much of their learning situations.

Criticisms: Many of the amazing things he was able to do (trips to Washington DC, New York and Broadway, video camera prizes for a poetry contest, elaborate scavenger hunts) were not realistic. He had the support of the production company, plus his money, to pull off some of these events. Hard for other teachers to compete with that. Also, his understanding of bureaucracy was terrible, and he was forever getting in trouble with the vice-principal for not following procedures, from simple things like signing in each day, to larger things, like not getting permission for students to take a field trip or having a drink at a bar while on the field trip.

The book: The book just flows along, and I really liked it. Danza isn't afraid to show the mistakes he made, and he made lots, or to talk about his sweat stains and how he completely forget he had a lesson plan on the first day! Each chapter has two sections: one about classroom and students, and the other about the staff and teachers. His respect for teachers and understanding about their frustrations never wavers. Knowing that there are people out there who do recognize the difficult position teachers are in, makes it easier to go in every day.

BOOK: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith, 236 pages

This was the perfect light read for Valentines Day. First of all, speaking as a math teacher, I love the title! As a young adult book, it was very readable. Plus, love at first sight based on a friendship, so with a better outcome than Romeo and Juliet.

Hadley, seventeen, is reluctantly heading to London for her father's wedding when she misses her plane. She meets up with Oliver, a British teen heading home. They spend the long flight together, getting to know one another, mostly through Hadley's complaints and misery. Hadley is still upset that her parents have split up; she feels pulled between missing her dad and feeling disloyal to her jilted mom. Very common and understandable feelings in a too familiar situation.

The time in London is frantic and fast, a wedding,a funeral, several trips on the tube. Hadley and Oliver meet and separate several times, with Hadley growing up and coming to be more patient with her father and his new wife. It was predictable, but lovely. It felt like it could have been one of the plot lines in the movie Love, Actually, which is probably why I liked it so much. If you are looking for a short, sweet romantic book, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight would be perfect.

BOOK: Lola's Secret by Monica McInerney

Lola's Secret by Monica McInerney, 304 pages

Aussie Author Challenge

For readers looking for an author to replace the late Maeve Binchy, I may have found someone. Monica McInerney writes the same style of book, with homey, real people facing life dilemmas. Her island is Australia instead of Ireland, but the same comforting feeling of getting to know a family is here. She even used the same type of set-up as A Week in Winter, with different guests coming to spend some time at a family style hotel. The guests were less of characters than in Binchy's, but used to the same effect.

Lola's Secret is actually a sequel to The Alphabet Sisters, and there are references to that book in this one, but without having read it, I still enjoyed Lola's Secret. Lola is the matriarch of the family, and she runs the family; she's everyone's favorite. Except her daughter-in-law. We get to know the granddaughters (the Alphabet Sisters), and great-granddaughters as everyone runs to Lola with their problems. One might even say that Lola gets overly involved, a tad too busy. She's a model, however, of an active senior, keeping mind and body and soul active.

 The title is a little misleading, as the secret wasn't that huge and my library made it even more misleading by slapping a 'mystery' sticker on the spine. I like my mysteries with a dead body, and it wasn't that type of book at all. It was a pleasant read however, and I've marked Monica McInerney's books as future reads in my library.

READATHON: Snowmageddon Update

hosted by chrisbookarama

We got our storm! Lots of snow, and the forecast today is continuing blowing snow, and high winds. Day two of being storm-stayed. The treats I bought at Wal-mart on Friday in preparation of the storm have been discovered by the children (smarties, macaroons, corn puffs) and husband (beer) and we are just about out of snacks now.

the view from our front window

Reading has gone well. I finished Dressing Up for the Carnival by Carol Shields, a short story collection I have been reading slowing for a few weeks. I also read a few more chapters of The Calculus Diaries by Jennifer Ouellete, a non-fiction account of how useful calculus is, and I expect to finish it today. I am also making headway on Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin. It's a historical mystery, set in 1171 England and the first of four books in a little series.

I took a break in reading yesterday to watch the Coal Bowl final. My son's (and my school's) basketball team made it to the final, and while they played a great game, the other team was a little better. The Raiders lost by 7. And now, they are stuck in Cape Breton with their silver medals. Today, breaks in reading will be taken for a little correcting, but overall, it's been a great storm as storms go. The RCMP have been advising everyone to stay off the roads, so everything is cancelled and there is no where to go. Reading and eating shall continue.

Oops, the family just found the garlic bread in the fridge, so off I go for more snacks.

READATHON: Snowmageddon! 2013

Chrisbookarama is hosting an impulsive Snowmageddon! Read-a-thon because our East Coast is going to get walloped this weekend. Here's what she said on her blog:

What to expect from Snowmageddon! Readathon:

• Reading updates
• Gratuitous photos of snow, pjs, socks, and snacks
• Weather reports

With the start of new semester at high school, I am up to date on planning and correcting, and now that I expect most sporting events to be cancelled on Saturday and Sunday, my week-end is looking pretty free. Although I do have a great pile of books I can work through.

The only break in my schedule is my plan to watch a livestream basketball game that my son is playing in. He's actually in Cape Breton with Chrisbookarama at the prestigious Coal Bowl. His team is going to be in the cross-over game tomorrow, and hopefully, the 2 pm final game on Saturday. The only problem for me is if there are any internet problems. We've been having some trouble with buffering some of the games so it better be working on Saturday. Feel free to cheer for the Charlottetown Rural Raiders along with us!

Weather forecast: strong northeast winds, snow at times heavy, and blowing snow will begin overnight Friday night and intensify on Saturday. Amounts of 20 to 30 centimeters are possible by Sunday morning.

And when watching the weather here, it's all about the winds! Anyone else want to grab a book and join?

CHALLENGE: New Authors Challenge

Hosted at Literary Escapism. I like to keep track of new authors read.

 Disclaimer: Artwork used (with permission) for the button is Anglerfish by Vlad Gerasimov. Please be sure to post a link to the artist when using the button – thanks!

The challenge will run from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013.
You can pick to do either 15, 25 or 50 new authors.

New Authors in 2013
1. Russell Wangersky (Whirl Away)
2. Andrea Levy (Small Island)
3. Ada Leverson (Love's Shadow)
4. Nicole Krauss (The History of Love)
5. Monica McInerney (Lola's Secret)
6. Jennifer Ouellette (The Calculus Diaries)
7. Ariana Franklin (Mistress of the Art of Death)
8. Jennifer E. Smith (The Statistical Probabiltiy of Love at First Sight)
9. Marina Lewycka (A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainain)
10. Alan Brennert (Moloka'i)
11. Flannery O'Connor(A Good Man is Hard to Find and other stories)
12. Kate Grenville (The Idea of Perfection)
13. Paul Murray (Skippy Dies)
14. Cheryl Strayed (Wild)
15. Emily Perkins (The Forrests)
16. Maria Semple (Where'd You Go Bernadette)
17. Zadie Smith (NW)
18. Mo Hayder (Birdman)
19. Susanna Kearsley (The Firebird)
20. Edith Wharton (The House of Mirth)
21. Stephen Emond (Winter Town)
22.  Maxine Kenneth (Paris to Die For)
23. Elizabeth Wein (Code Name Verity)
24. Jim Crace (Harvest)
25. Marcia Clark (Guilt by Association)
26. Richard Wagamese (Indian Horse)
27. Susan Elia MacNeal (Mr Churchill's Secretary)
28. Ake Edwardson (Death Angels)
29. Mark Mills (The Savage Garden)
30. Claire Messud (The Woman Upstairs)
31.


Debut Authors
1.  ML Stedman (The Light Between the Oceans)
2. Sahar Delijani (Children of the Jacaranda Tree)
3. Suzanne Rindell (The Other Typist)
4. Kristel Thornell (Night Street)
5.

BOOK: Whirl Away by Russell Wagnersky

Whirl Away by Russell Wagnersky, 207 pages

Canadian Book Challenge

Whirl Away was shortlisted for the 2012 Giller Prize, a well deserved recognition for it. We (Canadians, not me personally) seem to be prolific in short story writing. I'm thinking of Alice Munro and Mavis Gallant who almost exclusively write short stories. One of the best books I read in 2011 was a Giller nominated Light Lifting by Alexander MacLeod, son of Alistair, another short story writer, Lost Salt Gift of Blood.

The stories had overall sad characters, characters at a crossroads in their life, where nothing is quite what it seems. Many of the stories had a surprise or shock at the end for the reader, or the character. Divorce, death, accidents, each story was a slice of life. One man who gets obsessed with the accidents that occur at the "Sharp Corner" in front of his house. "Bolt" shows us that no one ever really knows someone, as a woman finds out after her partner is killed in a car accident. Life for a young family at an isolated light house is described by the father, in "Look Away", but it may not be what it seems. Most of the stories are set in Newfoundland, city and outport. "Little World" was a sad tour of a small village by a lonely woman. I'm making these stories sound depressing, and they were, but in a well written, identifiable way. It's life, eh.

Bolt - guy gets killed by random bolt that breaks
Echo - little kid in the middle of a violent family crisis
McNally's Fair - caretaker for many years [heh, this has my maiden name in the title]
911 - rogue ambulance driver heads out on on a call on his own
Family Law - lawyer, with mistress, researches adultery
Little World - woman tours police around deserted village
No Harm, No Foul - travelling salesman picks up a hitchhiker
Look Away - light house keeper, and his family
Sharp Corner - guy gets obsessed with accidents, and their retelling
Open Arms - lawyer story again from very different perspective
The Gasper - guy has panic attacks and repeatedly calls ambulance
I Like - elevator inspector's marriage drifts apart

A wonderful, well-written review by Buried in Print can be found here. In fact, her review is as amazing as this book.

BOOK: Small Island by Andrea Levy

Small Island by Andrea Levy, 530 pages

Orange Prize for Fiction winner, 2004

Great book to start the reading year! This was a winning book for the Orange Prize in 2004 and I can see why - readable, historical, big themes, great characters with plenty of flaws but realistic.

Why the title, Small Island?  Because I don't think it gives me the right memory of the book. There are four main characters who interact in 1948. We meet them in their individual pasts, and then all together in a rooming house in London in 1948. The back and forth in time works well, as knowing where they end up makes seeing how they started worthwhile. Two of our characters, Hortense and Gilbert are from Jamaica, a very small island.  Gilbert served in the RAF in England during the war, and then emigrates, with Hortense, his wife, following him to London and the rooming house. The rooming house is run by Queenie, and is the house her husband Bernard grew up in. Bernard is British, with a capital B, but as he travels the world, maybe he discovers that England is a small island as well, not as important as he once thought. Queenie is the star of the book, a small island unto herself in post-war England, with progressive (ie non-racist) views of the immigrants.

That's it for 'small island', the best I can do. It stilll doesn't feel like the right title, even after I've managed to connect it to each character, and maybe an overall theme. I think if it was called 'Queenie', it would be more memorable about the character, the Britishness of the book, and the nickname that I could probably hear in a Jamaican accent.

I loved how Hortense was more British than anyone in the story, and yet was looked upon as a barbarian immigrant by the locals. Bernard was an idiot, who had the least growth, unless growth is considered waking up to his world around him and participating in his own life. Nah, still a stiff-upper lip, totally clueless in his unaccountable superiority, naive idiot. Queenie and Gilbert were the most realistic about life, and were charming, wonderful characters dealing with a terrible hand that life dealt them, and yet improving their situations somewhat.

All the good things I've heard about Small Island were true - a wonderful book (with a lousy title). Did you love the book? What do you think about my title change?

CHALLENGE: Aussie Author Challenge 2013

Challenge Period: 1 January 2013 – 31 December 2013

TOURIST
- Read and review 3 books by at least 2 different Australian Authors
- Fiction or non-fiction, any genre.

FAIR DINKUM
- Read and review 12 books by Australian Authors
- Ensure at least 4 of the authors are male, at least 4 of the authors are female and at least 4 of the authors are new to you
- Ensure at least 2 of the books are non-fiction and at least 4 fiction genres are represented amongst your 12 titles.
Balanced and diverse reading is the objective here.

Shall I try again? Hosted by Booklover Book Reviews for the third year, I've never done better than the tourist level, and with all the rules on the Fair Dinkum, I can't see me getting that level done this year either! But, the fun is in the trying, so try, try again.

Here's my list of books from last year that I hoped I'd read:
Kerry Greenwood - (Phrynne Fisher series) Murder in Montparnasse
Peter Temple - (Jack Irish series) Bad Debts, Black Tide,
Jaclyn Moriarty - The Murder of Bindy McKenzie
Kate Grenville - The Secret River, Lillian's Story
Kate Morton - The Forgotten Garden
Thomas Keneally - Schindler's Ark
new ideas:
Monica McInerney - Lola's Secret


What I got read in 2013:
1. Monica McInerney - Lola's Secret  (new to me, female, chick-lit)
2. Kate Grenville - The Idea of Perfection (new to me, female, literature)
3. ML Stedman - The Light Between Oceans (new to me, female, literature)
4. Kerry Greenwood - Murder in Montparnasse (female, mystery)
5. Kristel Thornell - Night Street (new to me, female, biographical fiction)
6.

BOOK: A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy

A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy, 369 pages

Ireland Reading Challenge

When Maeve Binchy died last July, I was so disappointed that there would be no more books as she is one of my favorite, most reliable authors.  So I was very pleased to learn of this last novel of hers, A Week in Winter. It is classic Binchy - an eclectic collection of characters all connected to the same event, in this case, the opening of Stone House on the west coast of Ireland. Each character, from the owner of the remodelled house, the caretaker, the cook, and each of the first week guests gets a full back story. Sometimes these back stories flew through the years at such a rapid pace that I was getting dizzy, but on the other hand, she didn't balloon her book to over 700 pages, ahem, Mr King.

The first time I read Evening Class by Binchy it was this style of novel, almost connected short stories, that revolved around an Italian class in Dublin. Binchy follows the same model here and she does it so well. Her characters are real, with flaws, and not everything always works out for everyone. I think her underlying philosophy has to do with attitude - people with positive attitudes generally have things work out for them, cranky people are always cranky no matter what happens. Having a good outlook on life, and what life hands you, is the key. I think Ms Binchy had a wonderful philosophy and it has made her books wonderful escapes for many years.
thank you, and your faithful readers will miss you.

BOOK: More Baths Less Talking by Nick Hornby

More Baths Less Talking by Nick Hornby, 140 pages


Nick Hornby continues his series of articles from The Believer chronicling his reading and buying books. The first few books in the series, The Polysyllabic Spree, and Housekeeping vs the Dirt were better books in my mind. It's still fun to see if he's buying and reading books I've already read, (there were a few) but my same complaints from the last book, Shakespeare Wrote for Money  - a lot of non-fiction, and no excerpts of books included, haven't changed. This book had quite a bit of Dickens, an author I haven't read much. Come on Nick, why aren't you reading the books I've read?

It's still a fun book, and readers generally like to read about other people's reading. That is why we blog after all.

BOOK: Duma Key by Stephen King

Duma Key by Stephen King, 769 pages

Well, that was long. Any book that takes me three weeks is never going to be rated that terrific, although to be fair, I had a pretty busy couple of weeks with little time for reading. ( Ringette and basketball tournaments last weekend saw us take in 7 ringette games and 6 basketball games, plus assorted parental volunteering jobs for both tournaments!)

Duma Key: a contractor from Minnesota, Edgar survives an accident but loses his arm. After his marriage falls apart, Edgar moves to Florida, on an island in the keys, and begins his recovery. He meets some eccentrics on the island, and begins painting. But the painting is dangerous, as he seems to be taken over by a nasty spirit, awoken after many years, and bent on some revenge.

Good things: The friendship between Edgar and Wireman, another man who moved to Florida after a tragedy in his life, was really nice. It seemed believable and they were two kindred spirits. The setting and history of Duma Key was very well done. I liked the history of the family on Duma Key. The plot wasn't too elaborate - it was actually paced well, and built up with enough varied layered characters. The final showdown was tense and suspenseful.

Problems: 769 pages for an unelaborate plot seemed a little bloated. I'm a King fan, and I've read some of his ridiculously long books and count The Stand as one of the best books I've read, but even a couple hundred pages less would have been better. The supernatural element didn't scare me but the idea was cool.

Verdict: Still a good story, with great characters, although a little long. I wouldn't start with this King book for a novice, but I'm glad I got it read. It ranks higher than Black House and Gerald's Game, books I know I've read but can't remember anything about them.

CHALLENGE: 2nds Reading Challenge

Hosted at Darlene's Book Nook, the 2013 2nds Challenge, which goes so well with all the new authors I read last year.

1. This challenge will run from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013. 

6. There are four levels for the challenge:

a. Just A Spoonful: Read 5 books that are second in a series or the second time that you've read the author.

b. A Few More Bites: Read 10 books that are second in a series or the second time that you've read the author.

c. A Full Plate: Read 20 books that are second in a series or the second time that you've read the author.<--- 17="17" 2nds="2nds" i="i" last="last" level="level" probably="probably" read="read" this="this" year="year">

d. All You Can Eat: Read 30 books that are second in a series or the second time that you've read the author.

 8. There will be a link-up for your reviews, which will be posted on THIS page.

For more information and to sign-up, please see this post.

leftovers from last year:
Jo Nesbo - Nemesis
Qiu Xioalong - A Case of Two Cities
Georgette Heyer - Cousin Kate
Jasper Fforde's second book in the Chromatica series
Tom Perrotta - The Abstinence Teacher
Ruth Rendell - The Water's Lovely
Marsha Mehran - Rosewater and Sodabread
  
based on authors I read for the first time in 2012:
Jane Gardam (Old Filth) - The Man in the Wooden Hat
Dorothy Gilman (The Unexpected Mrs Pollifax) - next in series
Allegra Goodman (Intuition) - The Cookbook Collector
Alice Hoffman (Green Angel) -
Julie Otsuka (The Buddha in the Attic) -
Jane Harris (Gillespie and I) - The Observations
CJ Sansom (Dissolution) - next in series
Michael Ondaatje (The English Patient) - The Cat's Table, In the Skin of the Lion)
Marian Keyes (Watermelon)
Inger Ash Wolfe (The Calling)
Mary Roach (Stiff)
Connie Willis (Miracle and Other Stories)

what I read in 2013
1. The Black Ice  - Michael Connelly (2nd in Harry Bosch series)
2. The Serpent's Tale - Ariana Franklin (2nd in Mistress of the Art of Death series)
3. The Treatment - Mo Hayder (2nd in Jack Caffrey series)
4. Nemesis - Jo Nesbo (2nd in Harry Hole series)
5. Into the Wild - Jon Krakauer (read Into Thin Air)
6.

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Top Ten Bookish Goals For 2013

It's always great to start the year off with a goal - here's a list of bookish goals, the topic for today's Top Ten Tuesday. The Broke and the Bookish host this weekly meme.


1. Read Our Own Tomes at librarything
There is a group at librarything that is setting goals and reading their own books they already own. The group activity at librarything is a lot of fun, although I imagine by hanging around there, I'll find even more books I want to read, practically defeating the purpose of the group.

2.  Participate in Orange January/July
The group at Librarything gets together and reads books nominated for the Orange Prize for Fiction (sorry, it's now called The Women's Prize for Fiction). Lots of great books, twice a year.

3. Ireland Reading Challenge
I signed up already for this challenge, as I have the last few years. I can usually read between 6 and 8 books, and I have several favorite authors from Ireland.

4. What's in a Name Challenge
Another challenge I've been participating in since the beginning. The topics are fun to look over and see what book titles will fit.


5. Series Goals Challenge
This worked very well for me last year, as I listed all the series I wanted to read more from. I got back into some old series I really enjoyed and got up to date on another bunch. Mysteries are my go-to favorite reads.

6. read a few more Classics  
Nothing crazy, and I'm not picking a number, but a few classic books would be good

7. Read the ten books I posted that I want to read (stole this one from Literary Feline)
I did this a couple of times last year as part of the Top Ten Tuesday lists, and it was a great idea.


8. Canadian books.
Does this even need to be a goal? But I like finding new Canadian authors to read.

9. More Non-fiction
Listening to non-fiction on my iPhone has been a great development. I enjoy non-fiction when I read it, and I read woefully few each year, even though I often enjoy them.

10. Giving up books when I am bored.
Not keeping reading books that are not interesting me more often. If I can't cross it off the list, too bad.

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Top Ten Books I Resolve To Read In 2013

Happy New Year! It's always great to start the year off with a goal - here's a bookish goal of ten books I resolve to read in 2013, the topic for today's Top Ten Tuesday. The Broke and the Bookish host this weekly meme.

Top Ten Books I Resolve to Read in 2013

1. Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear
 The third Maisie Dobbs book

2. Molokai by Alan Brennert
This got rave reviews a few years ago on the blogosphere; I really want to get this read

3. Skippy Dies by Paul Murray
Irish novel, Booker nominated

4. Miss Hargreaves by Frank Baker
 Bloomsbury edition that looks adorable

5. Love's Shadow by Ada Leverson
Final Bloomsbury edition from the original set published

6. The Calculus Diaries by Jennifer Ouellette
 Who doesn't love calculus?

7. Small Island by Andrea Levy
Orange winner 

8. The Colour by Rose Tremain
Another Orange book I've had for a while

9. Birdman by Mo Hayder
New series recommended by SuziQOregon

10. Duma Key by Stephen King
I meant to read it all last year