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Vancouverdeb's 75 books for 2012 - Part 3
This is a continuation of the topic Vancouverdeb's 75 books for 2012 - Part 2.
This topic was continued by Vancouverdeb's 75 books for 2012 - Part 4.
75 Books Challenge for 2012
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A Favourite *
The Siege by Helen Dunmore 4.5 stars*
The Betrayal by Helen Dunmore 4.25 stars
The Hero's Walk by Anita Rau Badami 4 stars
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri 3.8 stars
Last Resort : A Memoir by Linwood Barclay 3.7 stars
As Long as the Rivers Flow by James Bartleman 4 stars
The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar 4.5 stars *
The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbol 3 .8 stars
Bad Intentions by Karin Fossum 4.5 stars
The Caller by Karin Fossum 4.2 stars.8
Raven Black by Ann Cleeves 3.5 stars
Honey-Dew by Louise Doughty 3 stars
House of Orphans by Helen Dunmore 4 stars
Harperland : The Politics of Control by Lawrence Martin 4 stars.
The Betrayal of Trust by Susan Hill 4.5 stars
Midnight at the Dragon Caffe by Susan Fong Bates 4.5 stars *
The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka 3.5 stars
Island of Wings by Karin Altenberg. 4.5 stars *
The Beggar's Opera by Peggy Blair 3.25 stars
Trail of the Spellmans: Document #5 by Lisa Lutz4 stars
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill 3.25 stars
Free For All: Oddballs, Geeks, and Gangstas in the Public Library by Don Borchert 3.5 stars
The Translation of the Bones: A Novel by Francesca Kay 4.25 stars*
China Dog: And Other Tales from a Chinese Laundry by Judy Fong Bates 3.7 stars
The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen 4.25 stars
The Detour by Gerbrand Bakker - star rating to come..
The GreatCoat by Helen Dunmore 3.25 stars
The Thief by Ruth Rendell 3 stars
Ahh! A nice new thread! For those of you who commented on thread 2, I answered you there, and also posted my review for Midnight at the Dragon Cafe. I'll try to get around the threads a little later!
As for the question - am I planning anything exciting for the weekend , sadly no. Not that I live an exciting life really anyway, but my husband works 11 hour days from Saturday to Tuesday, so it's me and the dog -and whatever excitement I can drum up! )
Actually today I got two new books from the Book Depository - GreatCoat by Helen Dunmore and the coveted The Detour by Gerbrand Bakker. I'm planning to resist reading The Detour until sometime in April, when a few of us have a group read planned. Feel welcome to join into the planned group read of The Detour. I think Soupdragon aka Dee and Lit Chick aka Nancy are planning to join me. There may be others, but we've been waiting for the book to come out for so long.... I've forgotten. The Detour is not out in North America until sometime in April. I got mine from the UK.
Currently I am about 70 % through The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka. It's an interesting book, written in the first person " we " form. Despite the unusual way that it is written, I am enjoying it. On one hand I don't get the intimate feel that I get from reading a book like Midnight at the Dragon Cafe which told a story from one person's point of view -along with a bit of omniscient narrating, but I get a " collective feel " of what it might be to be as a Japanese immigrant in California in the early 1900's.
Nice to find a new short thread to read - I'm too far behind on yours and everyone's long ones...
Two new books arriving in time for the weekend sounds good - even if you are going to be good and save at least one of them till April. I've just picked up The Betrayal from the library to follow up my January read of The Siege - that was my first Dunmore so I've no idea about any of her others.
Hi Deb! I'm glad you are enjoying TBitA. I was disappointed -- I think for the reason you mentioned; I didn't feel a connection. Nice, shiny new thread.
Deb - congrats on the brand new thread and have a lovely weekend.
Hi Deb- Actually, I just left a message on your last thread, before you made the new one, so you probably didn't see me.
Congrats on #3! Good review of Midnight at the Dragon Cafe. I'm also looking forward to your thoughts on the Detour. Like to see where this author goes next.
ditto what Paul said in message #6.
We may be heading your way early summer. We are planning an Alaskan cruise and I believe the plane flies into Vancouver.
I've heard so many lovely things about Vancouver.
Hi Deb -- just stopping by to say hello. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Hi Deb, I had Midnight at the Dragon Cafe checked out from the library at one point last year (I recognized the cover) but I never got to it. Sounds like I have to find it again. I'm glad you liked it!
@ 4 - Yes , Genny, it was an exciting day with two books arriving in the mail! Glad you stopped by to visit! The Siege is Helen Dunmore best book, I think, but I've really enjoyed The Betrayal and House of Orphans and hope to enjoy my newest, The Greatcoat. I hope you enjoy Betrayal.
5 - I'm nearly finished A Buddha in the Attic and while I'm enjoying it, I miss the feeling of really being pulled into the story, like I was in Midnight at the Dragon Cafe. Nonetheless, I am enjoying it. I think if was not a fairly short book - 188 pages - I might get really weary of the first person plural that it is written in.
@6 Heya Paul! Thanks for stopping by. I've been reading about your book buying transgressions here and there on the threads -shhh - it's our secret!;)
7 - Yes, Mark, I think I did miss you on my other thread! Hiya and I read about you breaking out your shorts! I've been all over the threads today.....
@8 Oh! Sounds like a wonderful trip, Linda! I think our airport is beautiful, totem poles indoors, etc - but I've heard others say they find it confusing - small town prairie folk.... my relatives! Vancouver is beautiful, and I imagine you'll be setting off from the Vancouver Convention Centre for your cruise. I've never been on a cruise , but many of my friends have loved their cruises up to Alaska!
9 Hi Anne! Thanks for stopping by! You have a wonderful weekend too!
@10 - Joanne, I really loved Midnight at the Dragon Cafe. I'm not sure my review did the book justice. I think you would enjoy it very much.
Hello Deb. I don't know if I'd get on with a book told in a first person plural way but the subject matter sounds interesting!
Looking forward, ever so patiently (so patiently that I'm probably going to mention it every time I "see" you) to the Detour group read...
Just stopping by to say hello and to say that I discovered today that I'd starred your thread but was also ignoring it at the same time. When I checked I discovered that I done this to several threads none of which I meant to ignore at all. I look at LT quite a lot on my phone and 'Ignore' and 'Jump to first unread' can be very close together.....
#13 I didn't know it was possible to ignore and star simultaneously. That sounds dangerous having the options for ignore and first unread so close together...
hey...where did my comment go? I was sure I visited early on and left a hello or two...
never mind, hello, and nice new thread.
I hope it brings you a lot of choice reads, and i look forward to hearing about them.
12 - Ha! Dee, I think I too will be thinking, if not mentioningThe Detour every time I see you ... that and the longlisted Orange Prize books!:)
13 Thanks for dropping in, SandDune! Come back and visit soon!
14 Life is complicated on LT , isn't it Genny! Great too see you again!
15 - Thanks Joe! I'll try to pop by your Cafe later on today!
@16 Hi Megan! Oh I know that frustration! I fill out some longwinded comment for someone - and then I bump my keyboard - and the entire comment disappears!
Yes, I am having some choice reads!:)
I've finished The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka and I'll comment on it later today.
I'm half way through another harshly beautiful Long Listed Orange Prize book that " grabbed me"- Island of Wings by Karin Altenberg. I'll be back later to update my thread properly.
Thanks everyone for visiting!
I seem to have book review block, or something, so I will make a quick comment on The Buddha in the Attic. While I enjoyed it very much, I felt that in some ways the story lost power in using the first person plural throughout the book. The story starts as young women come over from Japan to be Mail Order Brides to already landed Japanese men in California. The story followed chapter by chapter as to " being taken by their husbands", working in the fields, giving birth, raising children and eventually going off to Interment Camps during WW11.
The novel was only 188 pages long, so I did not mind the first person plural for that length of time.
Here is an example from the book on what the first person plural reads like:
""That night our new husbands took us quickly. They took us calmly. They took us gently, but firmly, and without saying a word … They took us flat on our backs on the bare floor of the Minute Motel … They took us before we were ready and the bleeding did not stop for three days."
In one way I found that sort of narration to be powerful and in another way, I found the book to be somewhat impersonal.
Overall, though, a powerful book that gives a collective voice to the woman who came from Japan.
3. 5 stars.
HI Deb! Great review of Midnight at the Dragon Cafe on your last thread! Another one to add to my wishlist!
I finally got by my book review block and her is my review for long listed Orange book, Island of Wings by Karin Altenberg
Island of Wings by Karin Altenberg is a darkly beautiful read.
Newly married couple, Lizzie and Reverend Neil MacKenzie, travel by boat to an outlying island of the Scottish Hebrides, St. Kilda. In the 1830's, when this novel begins, St. Kilda is characterized by extreme isolation, rugged cliffs, a terrible lack of sanitation, and a small Norse population. The inhabitants of St. Kilda speak only Gaelic. Reverend Mackenzie speaks both English and Gaelic, but wife Lizzie, speaks only English, which serves to increase her isolation.
Reverend MacKenzie arrives at St. Kilda with a sense of misson, to convert the heathens to Christianity and also to improve their lot in life. He is also driven by a mysterious incident in his past, as well as his own personality weaknesses. In contrast, young bride Lizzie is initially driven to please and support her husband, despite is his frequent bouts of bad temper and his habit of turning away from her.
Life of the indigenous St. Kidan's is intriguing in itself. Most notable to me was the neonatal death rate of about 60 %, usually caused by a strange " 8 day sickness." The St Kildan's lived communally off the land. Knowing the story is loosely based on historical fact I found both the story and the way of life on St. Kilda to be fascinating.
As time goes on, Rev. Mackenzie's character flaws become more evident. Even as he chastises the people for worshiping idols , he regards himself as " the minister - and master - of the island." page 148.
Conversely, young Lizzie, initially intimidated by her husband, and extremely isolated, gradually makes friends with the Islander's and recognizes her husband for what he is. Neil and Lizzie's marriage shows much strain , as does Neil's relationships with his "subjects." Despite Rev. Neil's self- importance, personal weakness, he is portrayed as a well rounded character, who occasionally questions himself and shows tenderness to his wife.
Beautifully atmospheric, an unblinking look at a difficult marriage, a fascinating look into a primitive culture and a meditation on faith, this is wonderful, compelling novel. 4.5 stars
Gradually catching up here! :)
I've just got Island of Wings out of the library and I'm really looking forward to it. I've been fascinated with St. Kilda since picking up a book about it during a holiday in the Outer Hebrides over 20 years ago. From what I remember from that book the extremely high neonatal death rate was historically accurate. Of course, now I've lost that book and I know I'll want to read it again when I've finished Island of Wings.
There was an article in the newspaper on Saturday which you might be interested in which featured the last person alive (I think) to have been born on St. Kilda:
23 - Rhian, thanks for stopping by! I'd love to read another book about the Outer Hebrides! I ended up reading up on St Kilda. on wiki and a few other internet sources. I recall reading that in 1930 that everyone was evacuated from St. Kilda. And yes, that neonatal rate is accurate. The author writes a bit about the historical facts in the back of the book.
I'm just going to go read your link to the newspaper...
ETA - just read your link to the newspaper. What a fascinating story! I had read that all of the inhabitants left their bibles open to Exodus in The Island of Wings but I was not sure whether that was true. Thanks again for the link! I think you will be in for a treat when you read the book!
That sounds like a fascinating book - thanks for the review - and the additional info that Rhian has given too...
A very nice review. Glad you have escaped your review writer's block!
Great review, Deb. I am anxious to read Island of Wings.
@25 - Genny, it really was a fascinating book, and made even more fascinating because the book was written by an archeologist , who visited the area and used the diaries of Reverend Neil Mackenzie to base her book on. Indeed, Rhian added some fascinating information with her link!
26 Thanks Mamie! Often I will just skip doing a review, but I so loved this book that I wanted to encourage other LT'ers to read it - or avoid it , if that would be there preference.
27 Hi Morphy. I'm not entirely certain what " flavour" of heathen that they were. From memory it seems to me that they had adopted a number of gods - Celtic, , Norse and according to wikipedia, they were Druids. I think that perhaps Druids are Celtic? The people most likely came from Iceland many centuries ago, so I'm thinking Norse may play a role too. I confess, I'm not an expert on ancient religions.
Morning Beth! I really hope you enjoy Island of Wings. I had in mind a light read, but Island of Wings was a real page turner in the end and really fascinating too! Great novel. It's also long listed for the Orange prize, so I can feel that I've read at least one of those. I plan to get to others.
Just quickly trying catch up with my own thread and books
I finished The Beggar's Opera by Peggy Blair, a Canadian author who worked as a lawyer for many years in Canada, before writing her debut novel, a mystery that takes place in old Havana, Cuba. It''s not a cozy and not too gruesome either. I picked it up in Chapter's Bookstore because I was looking for something different. I found it to be an interesting read, with it's sense of place . Essentially, Canadian Detective Mike Ellis is visiting Havana with his wife when things take a twist and he finds himself a subject of interest to the Havana Police when a young boy,s body washes up on the shore. Inspector Ricardo Ramirez of Havana is on the case, even while dying of a dementia that apparently killed his grandmother. Due to this dementia - or is it dementia? - Inspector Ramirez sees the ghosts of dead victims of crime and others. An interesting book, but not a " must read." Still, I'll look forward to more books by this author in her proposed series featuring Inspector Ricardo Ramirez. 3.5 stars
Spoiler Warning: - For those troubled by the idea of child trafficking, do not read this book, though personally I did not find it heavy. But just a warning...
Island of Wings sounds really good, not sure if I'll ever be able to fit it in but will keep it in mind when choosing an Orange book.
I've also just finished Trail of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz. This the fifth book in the series. I've really enjoyed all of the books in the series, which is a humorous Private Eye series, featuring a quirky family " The Spellmans." People Magazine probably summarizes the series best with it's comment " The Love Child of Dirty Harry and Harriet the Spy .. whip - smart sass." I had an enjoyable romp through the latest adventures of the dysfunctional Spellman family and their Private Eye Company. 4 stars.
Hi there Kerry! Caught you there as I tried to update my thread... Real Life has been getting in the way of my time on LT, but not my reading time, at least not too much! I really loved Island of Wings - one of my favorites this year!
Deb- Hey, you caught up with a few reviews! Yah! And Island of Wings sounds especially good. I hope this week is a bit more relaxed for you.
Love the Spellmans! I am on book number 3, when I get to it. I always seem to forget how quickly I can read those books.
Have you read Lutz's last book, Heads You Lose? Hilarious - she writes it with her ex-boyfriend, and they alternate chapters. But they start having problems agreeing on the story.
I requested Island of Wings from the library - I get it next. Right now I'm reading Devil's Peak, by Deon Meyer. Great mystery writer from South Africa.
cant catch me!
*zooming by at a rate of knots*
Reason for speed? No BBs please, too many already
Hi Deb -- I loved your review of Island of Wings. On to the wish list it goes.
@ 34 HI Mark! Yes, finally caught up with what I've been reading and one review- Island of Wings which I LOVED! and the others are just comments!Good to see you!
@ 35 - Hi Elizabeth! I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one who loves The Spellmans Series! They are a lot of fun! My sister loves them too -but some people that I've mentioned them to look at me like - are you crazy! . I think they are a very fun series! I really did love Island of Wings - I hope that you do too! Let me know!
36 Megan! Can one ever have too many books! :) I like your speed!
@37 - Thanks Anne! Well , as I've said, loved Island of Wings - I'll have to travel off to your thread and see what you are reading! :)
Hi Deb, Island of Wings sounds great! I recently bought an e-copy of the first Spellman book. I'm glad to see you like the series!
The Spellmans sound fun.
I've got the first Spellman book somewhere, thanks for the reminder, Deb!
Phew, I've been behind over here. Nice review of Island of Wings, I hope to get to that as an Orange read at some stage.
Island of Wings sounds fascinating Deb. I'm reading another Orange nominee, There But For The by Ali Smith. It's based on an odd premise but I'm enjoying it. So far I've read 6 of the nominees. I don't think I'll get to anymore before the short list is announced.
@39 - Joanne, I'm so glad I'm not the only one that loves the Spellmans! I find them just hilarious! I hope you enjoy the series as much as I have!
@40 - Yes, The Spellmans are a lot of fun, Beth. When you need a laugh and pick me up, you can count on the Spellman family......
41 - Hi Tania! I've been behind on your thread too -but I think I got there today.
42 and 41 and 39 - I really did love Island of Wings. I hope that all you enjoy it just as much. It's somewhat dark, but I've found that I enjoy a lot of Scandanavian authors, like Per Petterson or Out Stealing Horses and Gerbrand Bakker of The Twin fame , so I felt that I might enjoy another Scandinavian writer, and I was correct. The novel Island of Wings is very different from either of those books, but the style of writing is somewhat similar.
42 - Bonnie, I'm so impressed that you've read 6 of the nominees! I am dreadful! I had The Lord of Misrule from the library ,but I really cannot bear stories about horses, so I took it back unread..I'll be interested in your take on There But For.
Hi Deb! I'm just catching up but wanted to say how much I enjoyed your review of Island of Wings. It's not one which initially grabbed me from the Orange longlist but now you've got me wondering. I think it may be one of this year's Orange reads for me after all!
Good to get your take on the new Spellmans book, Deb. I've enjoyed the series, too, and this one just came in from the library. I've got one in front of it, but then I'll catch up with Izzy and Henry and the others.
Hi Deb,
Late to your party but I made it! (only to be hit by your excellent BB aim)
Island of Wings sounds like one i don't want to miss... on the WL it goes!
Your review was really good -
44 Hi Dee. I recommend Island of Wings to you... I think it was the first one that jumped of the page for me because it had a scandanavian author, and I seem to enjoy books by Scandinavian authors -and I was not wrong. I hope to get to your LL Orange Favourite, The Pink Hotel fairly soon. You did such a great review of it, I'm sure it will appeal to me!
@45 Oh I am so glad to hear that you enjoy The Spellmans too. I was a little hesitant with this 5th one, because I could not seem to get in Heads You Lose by the same author. That was a very different format, but the latest Spellman Trail of the Spellmans did not disappoint.
@ 46 Hi there Cee! Great to see you! Thanks for the thumb... I hope you enjoy Island of Wings like I did!
Currently I am reading The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. It's supposed to be a scary ghost story, but so far I remain unmoved.... I keep thinking, don't be so silly - as far the fellow being spooked is behaving. Perhaps I am not easily spooked? Or maybe it just has not grabbed me yet. Anyway, it's only 188 pages, so I'll get through it, even if I have to roll my eyes at fairly often. Now, if I was at the movies watching it, then I 'd be grabbing my husband's and covering my eyes, but reading it at home - I'm not scared... at least not yet :)
Oh, I'm easily spooked, and The Woman in Black was a sleep-with-the-lights-on read for me. I like that style of ghost story, rather than something more visceral.
Hello Deb, I think you would like The Pink Hotel. The protag reminded me a bit of Baby in Lullabies for Little Criminals.
I saw The Woman in Black performed at the West End in London some years ago and was very chilled by the ending but don't think it was particularly spooky until then.
Hi Deb- I'll probably be the last one to read The Woman in Black or the Woman in White. I just cannot keep up with you people. Enjoy the book!
@ 49 -Tania, I'm easily spooked at the cinema, but not so much like books like The Woman in Black. The end was kind of spooky -but I did not lose any sleep...
@50 - Hi Dee! Yes, I think I shall read The Pink Hotel in fairly short order. If the protag was like Baby in Lullabies for Little Criminals , then I think I'll enjoy it. I really loved Lullabies for Little Criminals.
@51 Ha! Mark, you are a prolific reader of all kinds of books! I think that you can keep up with any one!
As for The Woman in Black by Susan Hill , I rarely read " ghost stories" so I had no idea whether I'd be spooked or not. It was well written, atmospheric and the ending was fairly spooky. But I was a bit disappointed. Until near to the end I guess I had trouble suspending belief - kept thinking that the protagonist was making silly choices and I didn't buy into the " ghost" bit. But overall, it's okay. I think too that on LT everyone seems to have read The Woman in Black so I was expecting big things.
3.25 stars.
Apparently I am not easily spooked... now that I am older?
I remember I was reading a very spooky book as a kid (home alone) during a storm.
I was sitting on a large screened porch.
At a very critical point the wind picked up, lightening streaked across the sky, thunder boomed , and a huge limb fell off the tree and crashed right in front of me!
Sent me flying into the house in a panic.
Wish I could remember what the book was...
Not overly scary but somewhat spooky The Woman in Black was a good book for me.
I enjoyed it.
I'm not easily spooked either, but I thought The Woman in Black had a delicious creepy atmosphere.
Thanks Deb for finally reading one that doesn't sound good to me. Usually your thread give me multiple books to add to my list.
@54 - Hi Cee! I think age has something to do with it, yes! I remember watching Hitchcock's " The Birds" when I was very young - 6 or 7 - my dad was big on giving us kids a scare and I think for weeks after a gathering of birds would give me a scare :) When I read the Woman in Black I kept thinking - why do go back to the creepy house if you have seen these haunted things - how silly can you be - so I had a difficult time getting spooked. It was okay.
@55 - I agree, Joyce, the book had a creepy atmosphere. But I prefer Susan Hill 's Simon Serralier's series. I definitely found her last book Betrayal of Trust much more unsettling because of the realism in the story , and the subject matter being something real that I could relate to - ie - assisted suicide, palliative care, ALS etc.
Ha Beth! I'm just smiling at the thought that you find too many books on my thread. You might love The Woman In Black - it was okay, just not my cuppa!
#54> Oh, I had one of those moments recently(ish) too! Was reading The Yellow Wallpaper alone by myself online one night, and just as everything was getting very tense and nerve wracking, one of the cats knocked something over behind me. I jumped, I screamed, I swore at the cat.
Hi Deb, home and just beginning to catch up here! You've been a busy reader! Love your review of Island of Wings which now has a place on my WL. Thumb!
Hi Deb! I'm way behind! I enjoyed your review of Island of Wings - I'm thinking about reading something from the Orange longlist this month. Perhaps I'll give it a try.
@58 - Oh Tania! What a scary moment.LOL! The Yellow Wallpaper when I read it some years ago was kind of creepy. I'm more likely to get startled in a movie theatre. I'm not sure why.
@59 Great to see you back, Nancy! I hope you had a great holiday! Island of Wings truly is wonderful!
@60 Hi Kerri! It's hard to keep up with life and LT , isn't it. I hope you enjoy Island of Wings if that's what you decide to read from the Orange Longlist. It appealed to me right away , with it's subject matter and the fact that it was written by a Scandinavian writer. If you read from the Orange List. let me know which book you read. I'm sort of weeding out ones that people say they don't care for.
Right now I'm in one of my hmmm - what do I want to read now! Gasp! I"ve yet to settle on my next book. Unheard of !
21: You got me with Island of Wings, Deb. And I may not be able to wait until Orange July to read it either.
Thank you for that list of Canadian authors on my thread. I'll be checking some of them out soon. Can't wait to see what you pick to read next.
Deb: We're all anxiously waiting to see what you choose to read next. I'm not one for ghost stories, so even though I like Susan Hill, I'll give this a pass. I'll support her Simon Serrailler series instead.
I've been a long time fan of Canadian authors Deb including Robertson Davies, Wayne Johnston, Margaret Laurence, Helen Humphreys, Lawrence Hill, Lori Lansens and Joseph Boyden, to name a few.
I have both The Woman in Black and The Woman in White staring at me, accusingly, from the shelf.
>62 vancouverdeb: I"ve yet to settle on my next book. Unheard of !
It is a strange feeling isnt it! I usually have about 10 lined up.
You have me with Island of Wings too, Deb. Lots of thumbing happening! On to my wish list it has gone. I was looking askance at the good folk of St. Kilda needing a missionary, but Wikipedia (!) says that there were Druidic altars in use well into the 19th century. Good grief! (My Outer Hebridean Scots ancestors didn't know that, I'll bet you.)
CREEPY is exactly the word for The Yellow Wall-Paper. Yuck. Yuck.
@@63 Oh Donna! I hope you will love Island of Wings I sure did! :) I picked up another Long Listed Orange Prize book at the library today - The Translation of the Bones: A Novel by Francesca Kay. After I finish my current book - yes, I picked one , I think that book will be next in line...
Beth - LOL that anyone is interested in what I'm going to read next...I most always read about 40 pages into a book before I announce that I am going to read the book on LT. That way I really never abandon a book. But truly I did not know what I was going to read next... which is unusual!
@65 Oh Bonnie! I hang my head in shame! I read a lot of CanLit , or Canadian Literature, but often I read less popular authors. Lawrence Hill and Helen Humphreys would be among my favourites that you have mentioned. I've never read Robertson Davies, but I have a book on the shelf, never readWayne Johnstone and I have a book on the shelf by Joseph Boyden. I've got The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence, but I'm not sure if I will get to it before it is due back at the library.
As for The Woman in Black it's a quick read. I too have The Woman in White sitting right beside my computer, staring at me. But it will have to wait.
@ Hi Megan. I usually have a bunch stacked up too -but sometimes I get into a funk and I'm not sure what is next - my funk disappeared today... I got a delivery from amazon ca , browsed at the bookstore and finally went to the library . I'll share my finds with you in a few minutes! :)
@67 Hi Peggy! I tell you, Island of Wings is just fabulous, in my opinion! If I had the money I'd send a copy to each of you! It's so interesting on many levels. The missionaries wife gives birth too several children on St. Kilda, just to whet your appetite further. With some of the surnames used in the book - Scottish ones, I'd love to know if any of my Scot's ancestors had anything to do with St. Kilda.
Here is my exciting book haul for the day! :)
From amazon ca
Remember how much I loved Midnight at the Dragon Cafe by Judy Fong Bates - Canadian author - well, I purchased her book of short stories China Dog: And Other Tales from a Chinese Laundry
I also purchased Tamarind Mem by Anita Rau Badami - Canadian author and the only book of Badami's that I have not already read.
Then at the bookstore I resisted a really interesting book that I MUST HAVE! I put a hold on it at the library, though it still "on order. Another Canadian author, and the bookstore had 35 of them -so I think that they are anticipating a run on them... The Carpenter: A Novel by Matt Lennox.
Then at the library I found another Orange Longlist 2012 that I cannot wait to read... Translation of The Bones.
I also found another book that I had pondered on at the bookstore -Patient Number 7 which I hope to get to as well. Here is a bit about it '
Inspired by a true story and based on a wealth of family documents, this elegant and compelling novel chronicles the lives of two families from the 1930s through the coming of the Nazis and World War II, and the long, difficult post-War period to the present. A must-read for fans of Irene Nemirovsky, Hans Fallada, and Bernhard Schlink's The Reader.
So, it was good day at the library!
However, I got stared reading another book from the library that I am finding both insightful and quite fun to read
It's non-fiction book about the memoirs of a librarian. It's really quite funny.
Free For All :Oddballs, Geeks and Gangstas in the Public Library by Don Borchert
I'll be reading Translation of the Bones soon too, Deb! I'd reserved it from my library and have just heard that it's ready to collect.
Deb: As usual, I jotted down a few titles. What a lot of good reading you have coming up.
>47 vancouverdeb: Yeah, I didn't try that one Lisa Lutz wrote with someone else, either, Deb. Jeesh, I'm having trouble creating reading time (for good reasons, I admit - we've been going out at night a lot). The new Spellman is there waiting, but I've got others in front of it.
I look forward to hearing what you think of Free for All. The full title certainly is intriguing.
#71 - I've heard about Free for All - I'm glad you're enjoying it. Apparently, working in a public library can be rather crazy!
@69 - Mark - I missed your message somehow the first time. Yes, thanks -got your PM. :)
@72 -Well, Dee, I hope we both enjoy Translation of the Bones It seems to have a lot of positive review and I think it looks quite interesting.
@73 Hi Beth. Yes, all of a sudden I feel refreshed with my reading. Sometimes I feel like - oh I've read everything that I feel like reading aka - book funk. But yesterday I found a lot books that looked good to me. One of my favorite things to do is to find a newly published book that I think will be a " Find", especially one published by a Canadian author.
@74 Joe, good for you - not reading Heads You Lose. I think I bought it in hardcover and then realized it was not up to Spellman snuff. I'm only about 75 or so pages into Free For All but it's written by a fellow who worked as a librarian for 20 years, so I'm finding it quite interesting.
@75 Hey Nancy - Great to see you again! I felt like a got a great book haul too!
76 Kerri, I'd not heard of Free For All until I happened upon it. Yes I guess working in a public library can be kind of crazy. Personally I've never noticed anything out of the ordinary at the libraries I frequent - but I'm there on a mission. Biggest things I've noticed - sign on the woman's washroom to leave the main door open and that they'd had problems with a "male peeper" in the washroom.. Once when I was sitting looking over my books , I noticed a well dressed man fast asleep in another chair, snoring like crazy. I figured his wife must be shopping elsewhere and he figured he 'd have a nap. Either that or he had narcolepsy. It probably depends on a particular library as to how many problems that they might have.
What a nice haul of books! Free for All sounds like a great read.
@78 - Yes, Free For All is quite interesting. It's very funny in parts, and kind of sad in others as the author relates how parents of some of the children end up using the library as a baby sitting service, and adolescents occasionally are alienated from family and come to rely on the librarians to help celebrate graduation etc.
Island of Wings is now on the TBR pile.
@80 Thanks for the lovely Cardinal , Linda! It's just lovely! I hope very much that you enjoy Island of Wings! :)
Deb, your thread is clearly marked "Danger Zone" for me! Between your trips to the library and bookstore and the Amazon order, I've added 4 books to the groaning WL...and that was after mustering great restraint!
Hi Kathi! Great to see you and I always appreciate the fun graphics! Thanks for the thumb :) If you read Island of Wings I very much hope that you enjoy it! :)
83 -Donna! Great to see you too! Oh! I am always delighted to find that my thread is considered to be danger zone for book bullets. I really have had some amazing luck at the library -and hopefully the books that I am waiting on from amazon ca! :)
I have finished up Free For All :Oddballs, Geeks, and Gangstas in the Public Library by Don Borchert. I am just going to write a few comments about it rather than a review.
Free For All was an overall interesting look into a suburban L.A. It is a non -fiction book written by a librarian in said library, though the particular library is never actually named. It was billed as a Laugh Out Loud book, and initially that was true. However as I read further, many of the chapters and anecdotes were a wee bit sad, and some less than interesting. It would seem that in this particular area the librarians serve as babysitters to children left alone after school and as as surrogate parents at times to children and adolescents. That part I found especially sad. The library also has it share of odd and homeless people that it serves as well. It was interesting book , and gave me more of idea of what it might be to work in a library, especially one in a somewhat marginalized area. I enjoyed the view point of the librarians on collecting fees, giving out library cards to known cheats, and " Friends of the Lbrary." Certainly not a must read, and I confess it lagged a bit in the middle, but all in all, I'm glad that I read it.
3. 5 stars.
I am just about to crack open The Translation of the Bones by Francesca Kay. I was lucky enough to happen upon it at the library, It's a 2012 longlisted Orange Prize book, which I've been eager to read. It also fits raidergirl's aka Elizabeth's TIOLI challenge #18 for April.
Let's hope I enjoy it as much as I anticipate! :)
#85 - Nice review, Deb! Yeah - Although, it depends on where you work, it can be strange, sad, and frustrating. I know a lot of children and young adult public librarians who seem happy, but it's not necessarily where I see myself ending up...but you never know.
Love the cover on Free for All, and glad the arrival of books in the mail arrested your stalling interest in books! Cure: thy name be Amazon ;)
Hi Beth! It's just a few comments, really, on Free For All - not a proper review. The fellow who wrote the book has been working as a public librarian for 20 years and his daughter is getting her Master's degree in library science, so I have to think that this fellow must love his work as a public librarian.
Haha@89 - isn't that true - Cure :Thy Name be Amazon! I'm going to remember that one! Thanks Megan!
Hi Deb, I picked up my copy of The Translation of the Bones from the library yesterday. Actually that wasn't as easy as it sounds! The book wasn't on the reservations shelf, the librarian searched high and low for it and then said, "hmm, wasn't the book long listed for the Orange Prize?" I said yes and she went off and found me a copy of the book. Hooray!
Not sure why they're hiding the Orange books but I was very pleased to see it! I plan to start soon.
LOL at Megan :) Amazon, the cure or the addiction? dunno....
I don't think a day goes by without me at least peeking into Ammy to look at
my options for getting my hands on a book that piques my interest here..
Deb, enjoyed your remarks on Free for All. I've never thought about librarians' roles as covered in this book; it is sad. Can't wait to hear what you think of Translation of the Bones.
Hi Deb, just catching up! Thanks for your review of Island of Wings--I have that one out from the library and am eager to get to it. I'm also planning to read Translation of the Bones along with you this month.
Hi Deb! Just popping in to say hello (and refusing to look at the book words ;)
Hi Dee! I'm glad that the librarian was able to find The Translation of the Bones for you! I'm reading my library copy too. I was able to pick mine right off the shelf and there were two copies available. I wonder if some in my city do not read from the Orange Longlist! How can that be!:)
@92 - Kath, I'm not sure that a day passes where I don't look at Amazon ca and see what books it is trying to recommend to me. Every now and then I cave into the pressure of Amazon ... ;)
93 Hi Nancy! Free For All was interesting. There were even instances where the library staff had a grade 12 grad party for young man who's family had more or less disowned him and another situation where a young teen girl ran to the library staff when her mom was being beaten by her step father. I was kind of amazed as to the situations that the staff encountered. It's was not all sad that way -but also just interesting. Translation of the Bones has not grabbed as hard as Island of the Wings - but I think it's just warming up... I'm curious what the author is going to do with the possible phenomena of the stigmata seen by a lady as she is cleaning up a statue of Jesus prior to Easter. She takes a fall and suffers a concussion -but still - what happened? It's interesting to see how various people respond to that - and I think that is more the meat of the book - the humanity and characters of the people reacting to the incident. That happens in the first few pages, so I'm not giving away much of any thing.
@94 Hey Anne! It's always fun to read along with other people and see our various reactions to books! I sure hope that you love Island of Wings as much as did! Even if does not make the Orange Shortlist, I'm very glad I read it. What a fascinating sense of place and piece of history, never mind the story. Great to know that you are reading Translation of the Bones . Every month is Orange month lately!:)
@95 - Hehe! Great too see you Chelle! I'm so glad that you are settling into your new home! Beautiful pictures on your thread.
I have a library copy of Translation of the Bones sitting at home, waiting until I have some time to sit down and enjoy it. That may need to come soon, or it'll be due back before I finish it.
Oh Ardene, I hope you enjoy it - and get to it! It will be interesting to see what you, Dee and me think of The Translation of the Bones once we are finished..
I finally got A View of the Harbour By Elizabeth Taylor today, from the Book Depository, but it shall have to languish in the TBR pile for the moment. Still, it's exciting! I've heard so much about Elizabeth Taylor here on LT. Prior to that I thought she was the American movie star... ;)
#98 Deb, I've only learned about Elizabeth Taylor (other than the movie star) here on LT, too! It's great!
#98 - Hi Deb! I'm very excited about reading Elizabeth Taylor this year too - probably A View of the Harbour and Angel.
The Elizabeth Taylor author page is a bit of a mash up....
A view of the Harbour looks good..
99 -Nancy, I'm glad that I'm not the only one who had not heard of Elizabeth Taylor the author until LT!:)
100 Well, Kerri, we shall be in good company, reading A View of the Harbour. I'll have to look into Angel too..
101 - I'll have to have a look at the page. I believe you when you say that page is a bit of a mashup!;) I hope a A View of The Harbour is good. I sometimes wonder if places like the Book Depository, or where ever people get their Elizabeth Taylor books wonder why there is a sudden rush on the books. I guess in this case, because it isElizabeth Taylor's centenuary - however you spell it! - I suppose everyone is ordering a lot of the books.
I have finished up The Translation of the Bones by Francesca Kay. I'm not going to say much yet, because while the first 2/3 of the novel was kind of slow, the last 1/3 was so much to digest and ponder on. I need to think more about the symbolism and the meaning of what happened. I could not put the book down!! It helps to have an understanding of the Christian Faith, Easter in particular, I suppose, but I really ended up thinking -WOW!!!! I'd love to be in a group discussion with it. There is a lot to the book. I have to ponder on it further.
Next book - I'm not sure. I'd kind of like to start on my next shortlisted Orange, Painter of Silence by Georgina Harding but first I need to digest The Translation of the Bones.
Deb: I'm waiting to get The Translation of the Bones from the library. It sounds like a must read. I know what you mean about intense, thought provoking books. Sometimes after reading something like that I need a light read. There are so many books from the Orange list that I'd like to read. You have a good start.
I just finished The Translation of the Bones and can't quite make my mind up about it. It fell slightly short of wonderful for me and I'm dithering between 3.5 and 4 stars!
104 - Beth, I really loved it and I've been busy today, but pondering on the meaning of it all off and on last night and today. I get a book review done yet! Is it is a must read ? I'm very glad that I read it. It really has me thinking and I think that is a good sign.
@05 Hi Dee. I'll admit, that towards the middle somewhere, I felt like - get on with it and I was not sure what to make of the story. I think that I would have given the book 4. 5 - but because of some of what seemed to me to be a little slow going in the middle, Translation of the Bones will get a .25 or . 5 knock - off , so I think I'll end up giving it 4 stars. For me it was wonderful in many ways and book I would love to discuss with a group . As it is, I've been looking things up on wiki and google. Interesting book!
Best of luck with your " dithering". That's what I am doing as far as a writing a review! :)
Hi again, Deb. I'm still alive. I can see nothing has changed on your thread. Still reading Orange Price books and scandinavian authors :)
Island of Wings really sounds like a book I would love. Have to make a note of that. Have a nice weekend.
I really enjoyed Kay's An equal stillness so it's good to see that her Translation of the bones had such an impact on you. I won't be able to pick it up for a while, I'm going to try to read Gillespie and I this month.
Review of The Translation of the Bones , Francesca Kay, - review also on main page
While browsing my local bookstore, I ran across The Translation of the Bones . I knew that it was a 2012 long - listed Orange Prize contender, but it takes more than that to get me to read a book. Flipping through the pages of the book, I quickly realized that one of the character's, Mary -Margaret O'Reilly , a slow -witted but devoted parishioner of a Catholic Church in South London, believes that while dusting a plaster depiction of Christ, she has seen blood flow from his crown of thorns.
Like most of us, and as author Francesca Kay acknowledges in her novel, I felt great both great curiosity and skepticism about this event and wondered where the author would go with this. As it turns out, the bleeding of the plaster Christ remains shadowy happening. Parish Priest Father Diamond discourages discussion of the event, and blocks off that area of the church . As the Diocese office replies to Father Diamond " The Face of Our Lady on a pizza, Our Lord on a Slice of Toast! Outbreaks of hysteria are to be discouraged." p. 62.
Whether one is a believer or a vigorous atheist, this is the most interesting and thought - provoking look at faith, why we believe what we do, and the ambiguity of it all.
Stella Morrison is the married mother of ten year old Felix, who she misses dearly because her husband has insisted that Felix attends a Catholic Boarding school . Alice Armitage is in a relatively happy marriage , but is counting the days until her soldier son returns from Afghanistan. Fidelma is the obese, agoraphobic , single mother of Mary- Margaret, still suffering anxiety from her days as a Catholic boarding school student.
Mary -Margaret, and fellow parishioners Stella Morrison , Alice Armitage and non - believers alike serve as an intriguing vehicle for author Francesca Kay to explore the ambiguity of faith. Stella Morrison ponders on Mary - Margaret's happening, telling herself that" we accept all sorts of things on other people's say so . The way the Internet works, or that there was once water on Mars." p.139
Weeks after Mary - Margaret is convinced that she has seen the blood of Christ, she discovers that she is a " child of sin" (quotation mine), and sets off to prove herself worthy of the Jesus' love. Inadvertently she sets off a tragic chain of events.
Later, as psychiatrist Dr. Azin Qureshi examines Mary- Margaret , even he is left with questions. He spends time reflecting on the secular and sacred in his life. He concludes that " people like him had no use for supernatural solace" p 211, but goes on to remember the Muslim faith of his grandparents, and reflects to himself " who are the arbiters of what is true and what is not?" p.212 .
The only fault I could find with the book was the slow moving nature of the first 2/3 of the book. After that, I could barely stop turning the pages.The novel is beautifully and profoundly written and I was left with much to reflect on. Francesca Kay writes beautifully, and the novel is full of humanity , as well as questions of faith.
4.25 stars
Ha Carsten! The more I change, the more I stay the same! Indeed, I think you would enjoy Island of Wings as well as Translation of the Bones. Great to see that you are back! :)
108 Great to see you, Kerry! I'll be looking for An Equal Stillness. I hope you enjoy Gillespie and I. I've got it in my TBR pile, but it's a chunkster of a book... :)
Morning Deb- Good review of Translation of the Bones. Sounds interesting, like most of what you read. Enjoy your day and have a great weekend.
What a great review of The Translation of the Bones. You are right, this definetely is a book for me. I remember visiting a church in Lebanon some years ago where a "miracle" had happened - tears from an icon - and the sick and handicapped where coming there in wheelchairs to get healed......what to think?
It sounds like a nuanced portrayal of faith and doubt. Reminds me also of the indie-movie Henry Poole is Here.
#109 - Good review - sounds interesting. Also, I think I'm going to start your recommendation today - Bad Intentions - my first scani-crime novel! Very exciting!
Have a lovely weekend!
Deb - what a great review!It's a hot review on the home page right now - did you know? I was finally able to locate a copy of The Siege by Helen Dunmore; I have been wanting to read that since I read your review of that but could not get my hands on a copy of it. Even Amazon didn't have it - oh the horror! Got it from a book closeout that Linda (Whisper1) gave me a link to - and for only $3.99!!
That is a wonderful review.. I thumbed it. ..
and now I want to read the book!
Hi Deb!
I have especially chosen your thread today to focus on - and have been well rewarded!
I am celebrating and buying 3 books today... they have all been chosen from reading this thread ;-) Thanks!
Susan Hill's first book in the Simon Serrailler series The Various Haunts of Men...
Island of Wings: A Novel by Karin Altenberg
A View of the Harbour by Eliz Taylor
Now, I sit back and anticipate their arrival!
Have a great day!
ETA: These books were all on my WL - and I'm all fired up about them again :)
Deb, thumb for an excellent review of The Translation of the Bones. Thought-provoking to be sure! Love the quote, "we accept all sorts of things on other people's say so."
111 - Mark, is " interesting" code for boring :) LOL! I know how to pick em eh? Strange Canadian who's ever heard of them novels and now the Orange Prize Long List! :) I know! :)
112 Carsten, I think that you would love The Translation of the Bones. I forgot to mention that the story take place in the weeks mainly before Easter - a lot of symbolism and a book rich with meaning, for certain.
113 Hi Kerri! Be certain to let me know what you think of Bad Intentions - I do love my scandicrimes!
114 Thanks for your kind words, Peggy! I'm so glad that you got your hands on The Siege It's been one of my favourite books this year. I got my copy second hand... glad that you got a bargain too -and thanks to Linda!
115 - I hope you enjoy the book, Kath! Thanks for the thumb. I think that you will enjoy the book more than I was able to communicate in my review. She is a beautiful writer. Just be prepared for a bit of slow start.
@116 Claudia, I really think the bookstores should give me a kickback on your purchase!;) I mean, really! So glad to shot you a few book bullets. I'm sure you'll be well rewarded. Oh the wish list! ;) Thanks for visiting my thread!
117 Hey Nancy! Thanks! It really was a thought provoking novel -and really we do accept many things on people's say so. However, though apparently planes fly - I think that defies logic and I don't get on them.... ;) When they grow legs to the ground, I'll give it a thought...;)
Thanks everyone! I have to go out for the day - but I'll be back later...
No laughing from the Peanut Gallery at my latest never heard of it book / why did you chose that book? ;)
You might remember that I loved Midnight at the Dragon Cafe by Judy Fong Bates , a book I read back in early March?
China Dog: and other Tales from a Chinese Laundry is Judy Fong Bates book of short stories on the topic of immigration from China to Canada . I'm already about half - way through.
I'll try to get around to people's threads later this evening or perhaps tomorrow. Thanks so much for visiting my thread.
Im a recent convert to the short story Deb, you like them too? The book looks good from the cover, and I bet there are some fascinating stories within.
That's so kind of you Megan! I don't really seek out short stories, but I don't avoid them either. One of the most moving and wonderful books that I have ever read was a book of short stories - Mennonites Don't Dance . It was fabulous. I've learned since then that many books of short stories have wonderful tales to tell. Yes indeed, this is touching and interesting book. I'll have to check out some of your short stories that you have enjoyed.
Terrific review of the Francesca Kay book Deb. I don't think I'll get to it before the short list is announced in a couple weeks but perhaps in July. She has an earlier novel that I've had on my TBR pile for quite a while too and it,was also nominated for the Orange Prize.
Oh thank you Bonnie. I really loved the book - it sure has given me a lot to ponder on! You are correct, Francesca Kay an Equal Stillness that won something like the Orange Writers debut novel - or something like that. I'll have to looking for that one at the library.
Just coming out of lurkdom to wave hello and let you know I'm here - just don't have much to comment on at the moment.
Hi Deb: This is a dangerous thread for me. Great review of The Translation of the Bones. I am on the waitlist for it at the library. I did check out Midnight at the Dragon Cafe, so I hope to get to it this month.
Deb, you are officially HOT with your review of Translation of the Bones. Your roll continues with an intriguing new selection of short stories : ).
@124 - Hi Morphy! Thanks so much for popping around to my thread! I'm just amazed at how many books you have read so far this year!
@125 Hi Beth! I love running a Dangerous Thread!!! I think you will enjoy The Translation of the Bones. I found it fascinating on many levels. I did love Midnight at the Dragon Cafe very much too! You know, I'm on the wait list for Penelope Lively's latest book - How it All Began and I think that was initially number 23 on the list , and now am number11 or so. I think that they must have decided to purchase another book. Let me know how you enjoy Midnight at the Dragon Cafe if you get a chance to read it.
126 - Oh Nancy, I'm always hot in my way. LOL! ;)
I'm nearly finished China Dog: and other Tales from a Chinese Laundry . It's been an interesting collection of short stories, mainly concerned with Chinese newcomers to Canada , and how they try to fit in, the disapproval of Chinese parents when a child marries a Caucasian person. Of course, Judy Fong Bates came to Canada in the late 1950's, so I suspect that much has changed since then. This book I am certainly getting a feel for how awful working in a Chinese Laundry would have been, as well as how much shame families felt living overtop of their businesses. That is something that never occurred to me.
I'm just pondering on my next book. I always have a pile of possibilities -but you know how it is....
Now that I know more about Translation of the Bones, it has moved from the "maybe" part of the WL to the top which I call "must read soon." Thank you for another detailed and edifying review, Deb.
Happy Easter!
Deb, perhaps you'd like to join me in Three Pines while you're pondering ... I know you've done some exhaustive world travelling so far in 2012, so perhaps a Canadian getaway?
@128 - Oh I'm so glad that you are planning to read Translation of the Bones, Donna. I very much hope that you enjoy it as much as I did. It's very interesting! As to my reviews - oh I really struggle with them, so thanks for your kind words. I had a library copy of Translation of the Bones and after folding over numerous pages, I ended up purchasing the book so I could fold over pages with abandon and underline like crazy. I really did find it to be an interesting book!
@ Oh! Nancy! You are willing to share Armand Gamache with me? So kind of you! ;) Well, true enough, I've been on a lot of world wide junkets so far this year, but I am leaning towards yet another trip to Scandinavia - Denmark in particular. I've had The Keeper of Lost Causes for quite a while , and I think Carsten would love for me to visit Denmark.. so I must turn you down, though it breaks my heart!!!!:)
I guess I'll get to Denmark by steamer? since I don't fly. I really don't like being at sea either - other than say BC ferries over to the Island. That's my idea of safe cruise!;)
I'm not entirely sure about The Keeper of Lost Causes - but I think that's likely. Off the shelf too!
Hi Deb! Hope you are having a great Easter weekend!
131 - Yes, Chelle, I am having a lovely Easter Weekend! We are off for a family dinner a little later. I'm so mad at myself. The other day I was out shopping and looking at Easter Chocolate. I could not make up my mind for anyone but one of my sons, so now I fear I may have to run out to the stores - or else appear empty handed - except for the broccoli casserole that I make for every family dinner. It has become a tradition in my family that me or my husband make the "Famous Broccoli Casserole," Circa 1972 or so! :)
Oh Wow! Claudia! Thanks for your wonderful wishes and picture! That's just so cute! hugs to you! Happy Easter to you!
I finished up China Dog: and other Tales from a Chinese Laundry and very much enjoyed the short stories. The last one, China Dog, was especially touching! 3.7 stars.
I've finally grabbed a book of the shelf that's been waiting for quite a while . The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler- Olsen. I know others have really enjoyed it , so I hope to do so too. It crime/ mystery novel and translated from the Danish. So far I'm just about 20 pages in, but it seems intriguing.
Happy Easter, Deb. Enjoy your family dinner! Glad you enjoyed the short story collection. Will be looking forward to hearing what you think of The Keeper of Lost Causes; this is a Scandi author I don't know much about.
How about posting the the recipe for your "Famous Broccoli Casserole"? Would love it!
Hi Deb! I hope you're having a lovely Easter. I finished Bad Intentions and really liked it! Thanks for the recommendation!
Hello, Deb. Scanning through (I am so far behind on LT) and thinking I will be keeping an eye out for The Translation of the Bones.
Dropping in to say that I hope you had a lovely holiday weekend. I have not heard of that book or its author above, but I am off to check it out. I love Scandicrime!
Hi Deb - Getting caught up on threads and stopping by your to wish you what is now quickly becoming a belated Happy Easter weekend!
Hi Deb. Hope you've had a lovely Easter weekend. Great review of Translation of the Bones - that's very firmly on my Orange wishlist for this year although I don't think I'll get to it this month.
137 - Well, Nancy, I''ll consider posting the recipe for broccoli casserole that is so " famous" with my family, but I must warn you that it is very circa 1970's. It's delicious, but besides fresh broccoli, it features cream of chicken soup ( 1/2 fat if you like ) , bread crumbs with melted butter on the top, and about 1/4 cup of grated chedder cheese. I have to actually check the recipe, but our family regards it as a delight . The recipe originally came from my grandma, I believe. I've only made about 20 page progress into The Keeper of Lost Causes but it is interesting so far.
@138 Kerri, I so delighted that you enjoyed Bad Intentions. I tell you, Karin Fossum is the Queen of Scandicrime! I'll be happy to give you more recommendations.
@139 Hi Ellen! Happy Easter! Today was okay weather, but not as " advertised " in the forecast. Thanks for stopping by - I know how busy things can get around here. I found two copies Translation of the Bones just waiting for me at the public library - best of luck to you!
@140 Hi Mamie! Great to see youThe Keeper of of Lost Causes may have another name in the US - I"m not sure, but I think if you look, it's quite popular here on LT. I've had mine on the shelf for 4 months of so...
@141 Hi Lori! Happy Belated Easter to you! I'm just back from the " family dinner" and a little relaxing.
142 - Hi Heather - thanks for stopping by!Yes, I have had a lovely Easter weekend, and I hope you have too. I am sure that you will enjoy Translation of the Bones . I plan to read more Oranges too , but it's hard to find the time to fit every book.
Good luck with Keeper of Lost Causes Deb. The detective and his sidekick is a good combination. A violent story but also a lot of humour which I hope is not lost in the translation.
#143 I can't quite imagine what broccoli casserole would be like! I have to say don't think it would go down well with my family. Probably my son'a least favourite vegetable!
Deb, brocoli casserole sounds fabulous! Let's hear it for circa 1970s! If you're willing to post, I'm willing to copy into my recipe book, hehe!
Deb: I'm glad you found something to read. I enjoyed Keeper of Lost Causes. I'll be anxious to hear what you think of it. I'm reading The Forgotten Waltz right now and very impressed with the first 50 pages.
Just stopping by to say hi, Deb. I'm in for the broccoli casserole - sounds delicious.
Hi Deb, my computer time is very limited while I am at my Mom's, but I quickly scanned your thread and realize I have to come back and go through it slower next time. You've been reading some very interesting books and I have a feeling that many of them will find themselves on my wishlist when I have time for more detailed reading. Have a good day.
145 Morphy, sure , later today or early tomorrow I will post the recipe for the Circa 1970's Casserole. Here is the truth - over the years my husband has taken over the making of the Famous Broccoli Casserole, Circa 1970's . He always felt that he chop up the broccoli better than I could, he could " health it up" be less or no parboiling of the broccoli - so I must ask him what adaptions he has made to the famous casserole. He is that sort who always knows best ;) and for the most part I have learned how take advantage of that!!! So, I must ask him, but he is out right now.
Carsten - great to see you -but did we not meet up at a Cafe there in err - Copenhagen ? You remember that I was on a break from Department Q , whilst investigating one of the cold cases in The Keeper of Lost Causes ? Have you forgotten already! ;) I'm on about page 88, and yes I am enjoying The Keeper of Lost Causes very much!
146 Kath - as I say, I must check with my husband. We use low fat cheese too. :) There is a small amount of - gasp - mayonnaise too, but I will not go low fat mayo. We are fairly healthy eaters here, but the broccoli casserole is somewhat decadent -for us.... I'll get it up as soon as I have the details. You can double it too, as we do for most of our " family dinners".
@147 Ahh - the beauty of this recipe is that most non- broccoli eaters will eat this casserole anyway, thanks to the yummy butter crumb top!
@148 - Nancy - Circa 1970 - why that was before my " time" Cough , cough, Yes, I will post in as soon as Dave gives me the details.
@149 Hi Beth! Yes, I'm quite enjoying The Keeper of Lost Causes. For some reason I left it on the shelf for some 4 -5 months -but finally I picked it up and I am very much enjoying it = though today and yesterday have been busy with Easter celebrations.
@150 Okay, just hang til I can talk to the Expert, Joe . And I will get the true secrets of the Broccoli Casserole.
@151 Well, thanks for the compliment, Judy! I've been enjoying the books I've been reading . If you find some that you might enjoy in my 2012 list, I'll be delighted! Have a great time visiting you mom!
Hi Deb- The Keeper of Lost Causes has been on my WL for awhile. I'm glad you are enjoying it.
Deb - back from my holidays and trying to catch up - a belated happy Easter to you and yours.
OK, Deb! You get us the recipe and we'll add more cheese!
This sounds like a great recipe to get kids to eat brocolli - and a nice change to that overworked green bean casserole :P~
Now, what magic do you use to get Mr Deb to cook for you?
Hi Deb, Just checking in and saying hi. I love broccoli - and with cheese sounds even better!
Chiming in to request broccoli casserole recipe. Sounds delish.
Dropping out of lurk to speak - "Hi, Deb!" Just to keep things straight, A View of the Harbour was my first and favorite E. Taylor - I love her. I got my copy of The Siege through PBS from Bonnie and loved that too when I read it this year. We do eat your broccoli casserole - but more often, I just eat broccoli with carrots and dressing as my salad of the day.
You make me want more Oranges, but I'm enjoying Gillespie and I now, so I won't be greedy quite yet.
@ 153 - Mark, I"m quite enjoying Keeper of Lost Causes. I've had it in my TBR pile for for at least ? 5 months. I think that you would enjoy it too!
@154 Hi there Paul! It looks like you very much enjoyed your holidays - glad to hear and see it!Thanks for stopping by!
@155 Hi Cee! Recipe is forthcoming. Mr Deb aka Dave, is a perfectionist. I could never cut the broccoli just the right size, etc -so I handed the job over to him. He makes his own sandwiches for work too. For the first for years on marriage attempted to do so -but Dave would bring home the saran wrap to show me how I used to much saran wrap/ also complaints about lettuce against? mayonnaise and meat against mustard side of bread. I could never do it right, so I retired. You have to learn how to use spouse's " flaws" to your advantage!;) Secret of long happy marriage. Ha!
156 Hi Joanne. I like broccoli, but to much of it does not agree with me.
@157 Megan - no guarantees. I do not purport to be much of a cook - not at all!
@158 Thanks for delurking! I like the Orange Prize books too! As for broccoli casserole, it's a family " festive "dish. We eat just plain boiled cauliflower , broccoli and carrots most nights. Thanks for the info re A View of the Harbour. Good to know!
No guarantees - but here is the Circa 1970's Broccoli Casserole Recipe.
You can fool around with it a bit - don't parboil the broccoli if you like it less cooked, add more breadcrumb topping if you like - you know. And we often double it.
approx 1 lb fresh Broccoli ( we just use crowns -not the stalks! ) par boil for 2 -3 minutes, depending on how soft or chewy you prefer your broccoli - remembering that it will also bake. But I'd say still parboil it for a couple of minutes.
1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 TBSP of Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip - give or take
1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese ( we use low fat -but hey- whatever )
1/ 3 cup of dry bread crumbs
2 TBSP of melted butter.
Cut broccoli into small pieces . Parboil and place in one quart casserole dish. Combine soup, cheese, mayo; pour over top of broccoli
Melt butter and mix with bread crumbs . Sprinkle on top.
Bake uncovered at 350 F for about 40 minutes - or until broccoli seems tender enough for you.
You can easily double the recipe and also just put the amount of breadcrumb mixture that you want to cover the casserole.
Yeah.. that sounds like the one we make, but we are much more heavy handed with the cheese..but then our casserole is a lot bigger too... Actually I never make it.. my sister does. It turns up at Christmas. There are a lot of things I lovethat I don't make, because Dan ( or the kids when they are home ) won't eat..
oh and just to be clear.. I wasn't suggesting you were wrong.. just commenting because I am one who thinks the more cheese the better, whatever the recipe :P
Oh, Cee, I never thought you meant anything by saying 'more cheese" . I understood that you meant that you were a cheese lover! :)
Yay, thanks for the recipe, Deb! Love the story of your retirement from sandwich making; perfect!
Deb - Good morning and thanks for the recipe! We used to make a broccoli casserole that was very similar to that - now I will have to dig up the recipe and compare because I'm thinking that ours didn't have the mayo and maybe had two different cream soups in it. Yours sounds yummy, so we will definitely make it!
A few of us are planning a Group Read of Gerbrand Bakker's book The Detour starting on April 15 to April 30 - less than a week away. Sorry for the short notice, but we are very eager. Please feel free to join us!
I've created a thread for it and it is here - http://www.librarything.com/topic/135690#
I've just created a link on wiki for our group read.
Here is a picture of my copy
The books is available for Kindle e- readers on amazon and I understand that is also available for the Kobo. Right now amazon com is out of the physical book. The Book Depository has also carried it for several months, but those of us in North America, the Book Depository takes a while!
We have Dee aka Soupdragon , Carsten aka ctpress and Nancy aka Lit Chick so far in the group read. Do feel free to join the group. We would love to have you!
@163 - Ha! Nancy, I know how to turn a problem to my advantage - well, sometimes at least! Enjoy the casserole if you try it!
@164 - Mamie, I'm sure that there are variations for the for my circa 1970 recipe! :) I think that was when my family of origin was learning to eat broccoli. The recipe is written in my mom's hand , and where she got it, I don't know. I'll have to ask her. Enjoy!
@165 Oh , high praise indeed coming from the owner of " Joe Cafe". Thanks!
@166 Well, Bonnie, I really hope that you enjoy it.
Hi Deb- Good luck with the Group Read! They are always a lot of fun. I have a full book plate this month, otherwise I would join you guys. I'm not even halfway done with david Copperfield. It's one big boy.
@ 169 Yes, and we would love to have you! I agree, David Copperfield is one big boy!!!!! Best of luck! Sorry for the short notice!
I might join you for that, Deb.
The Book Depository has also carried it for several months, but those of us in North America, the Book Depository takes a while
Actually, I ordered 13 books on March 29th. The first half arrived within 5 days (including weekends). I'm still waiting for 2. So things are moving pretty fast right now. And it's been so much fun getting books every day in the mail. I'm sure my postal carrier is just rolling her eyes though ;-)
Deb, thanks so much for looking after the thread for The Detour. Looking very forward to it! The Twin was one of my "bests" for 2011.
@ 171 - Mamie, we would love that! Please do join us!!
@172 - You have more luck with the Book Depository than I do, Joyce! I think my copy of The Detour took about 2 weeks to arrive! That was about a month or more ago. I think my postal carrier must wonder what I am up to too. I purchase quite a few second hand books from amazon ca. Today I got two packages. Well, it keeps the mail moving! We have to do our part!
173 I was a little anxious, Nancy, setting up the group read - but I even managed a link to Wiki Group reads, though I'm not sure that it perfect.. I think the group read will be fun -and the book looks and sounds very promising! Maybe very scary??? I don't know but just what is happening to all of those geese that are disappearing.
Thanks to Monika on LT who read the untranslated version of The Detour and set us on this path!
I think my postal carrier must wonder what I am up to too. I purchase quite a few second hand books from amazon ca. Today I got two packages. Well, it keeps the mail moving! We have to do our part!
Indeed! Ordering books has helped me get to know my postal carrier quite well! We often have a nice chat about gardens and holidays and what not.
I haven't ordered from Amazon for a while, but it was always the same guy delivering--so I was always super friendly to him, even though he was always in a huge hurry. It got to be a thing with me, to see if I could get him to smile. My friend who dealt with him through her business thought he was a horrible grouch. And then I used to recognize him driving his UPS van around town, and I'd tell my daughters "there's my best friend!" Well, long story short--his daughter plays lacrosse with my daughter, and now we're buds! Ha! It always pays to be friendly to the people who deliver your books--you never know who they turn out to be.
Hi Deb--I thought it was only right that I should return your visits. Some great reviews here-- you are really making it tough to decide what my next orange book will be. (actually I know it will be half blood blues because I really want to avoid a $5 overdue fee, but then what? Island of Wings or Translation of the Bones? They're both sitting here...). I see you have Painter of Silence lined up. I'm reading that now and it's very, very good. I hope the ending lives up to the first three quarters.
I may be able to join you for The Detour depending on my reading pace. Bought it last month.
Oooh, I am so going to try that recipe this weekend. Sounds delish!
I find it hilarious that we share books, opinions and recipes !
There seems to be an undertone of food in many of our threads..
I love that! We would be such great neighbors .. all of us, doncha think:)
@175 - Joyce, I rarely see my post person since where I live has an outside community mailbox. So, I have to walk out to it everyday to get my mail. There are compartments for parcels and the vast majority of times , the post person leaves my parcels in the parcel compartment. However, I do know my neighbours well. One of the women says to me with a smile " daily mail " is an event for you" . Yes it it can be!:) That and walking the dog - I do believe I know the entire neighbourhood, which is pleasant - but I can't ever escape looking unkempt... I always run into somebody...
@176 H I Anne! I said on your thread- it's a difficult choice between Island of Wings and The Translation of the Bones but I suspect that Translation of the Bones has more " meat" and is more likely to be chosen for the Orange Shortlist - that said, I LOVED both of them. I hope to get to Painter of Silence fairly soon! It's great to know that it s so enjoyable. I'm looking forward to it.
@177 Hi Paul - once again as I mentioned on your thread -we would love to have you join our group read of The Detour . I think it looks very promising!!
@178 - Morphy - well, I hope you enjoy the recipe. I'm not much of a cook anything - so it's a surprise to me that anyone wants a recipe from me... I am flattered! :)
@ 179 Kath, it's fun that we can share recipes, book and all - yes , I think we would be great neighbours. I know people who create a neighbourhood just for people who fly small planes and they all live around their own small airport . Maybe we could , as LT'ers, form our own neighbourhood, formed around a fantastic library and bookstore - and cafe! Yes - that would be a very good idea!
Just to advertise the Group Read of the Detour - here is a description of the book from Amazon com :
The Detour set in the UK, from the author of the Impac Prize-winning bestseller The Twin.
A Dutch woman, a university English lecturer researching the work of Emily Dickinson, rents a farm in remote, rural Wales. When she arrives, there are ten geese living on the farm, but one by one they disappear. Perhaps it's the work of a local fox. The reason for her move abroad gradually becomes clear: her husband is trying to track her down. Having confessed to an affair with one of her students in Amsterdam, she has quietly fled to Wales from a situation that had become unbearable. Her husband contacts the police and teams up with a detective to go and look for her. They board the ferry to Hull on Christmas Eve. But in the meantime, the woman increasingly seems to be losing her grip on the situation. Gerbrand Bakker has made the territories of isolation, inner turmoil and the solace offered by the natural world his own. The Detour is a gripping and subtle new novel.
I also linked up two reviews of the book on the main page. If you click on them it takes you to the entire review.
April 15 we start! :) Once again, here is the link to the group read. http://www.librarything.com/topic/135690#
And now to walk the dog out in the rain... hides my messy hair today in the rain! :) ha!
That does sound like an intriguing story, but I don't need anymore books on my wish list! Oh well, one more won't hurt.
@182 Do join us Joyce, if you have an ereader. I'm not sure if it is in the stores as yet, except for the online stores.
Morning Deb- It's raining there, huh? It's been sunny, cool & dry here. We could probably use a little rain.
Once again, good luck on the G.R.!
Actually, Mark, we have sun today! What a treat! Yes, I am looking very forward to the group read. Enjoy your current GR- David Copperfield. !
Just two more day, Deb :-) I hope it will live up to your (high) expectations.
@186 - Yes, Monica, I am very excited about reading The Detour. I hope it will prove to be an enjoyable group read. The plot sounds a bit menacing! Just my style! :) Please do jump in and make a comment about The Detour is you are so inclined. I know you read a year or more ago.
So sorry I can't join your GR. You sound so excited about it!
I checked Amazon and it's not on the Kindle yet. The real books are too pricey - I'll save this one for later. Hope it's great!
Hi deb - stopping by your thread on a beautiful Friday evening to wish you a great weekend. Sadly, I don't have time in my reading schedule to join the GR for The Detour but will be looking forward to reading everyone's comments on the book!
Claudia, I'm sorry that you cannot join with on the Group Read - but The Detour is available on amazon com for 9.99. I''ll provide the link...
Here is the link to The Detour
Kindle on Amazon com - http://www.amazon.com/The-Detour-ebook/dp/B00755MJ9S/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8...
@189 - Yes, I'm very much looking forward to the GR to The Detour, Lori! Thanks for stopping by! :)
I've finished The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Alder-Olsen and really enjoyed it! I wonder now why I left it on the shelf for so long? I think because on the back, a couple of reviewers compared him to Stieg Larrson. While I very much enjoyed the subtitled Swedish movie series here in Canada, I could never get into the labyrinthine plot and length of The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo.
I have to say that the plot was great, that the two main leads, Carl Mork and his assistant, Assad, made for a great pair. It was dark, but lightened with a bit of humour from the duo of Carl Mork and Assad. I really enjoyed the novel very much! I will certainly look for more from this author, and will not hesitate to purchase another book by this author!
Very recommended - 4.25 stars! A nice juicy mystery! :)
Now, hmm - what to read between now and Sunday when I start the Group Read of The Detour...hmmm.....
Hi Deb- Glad you enjoyed The Keeper of Lost Causes. It sounds like top-notch Scandi-crime. I'll add it to the List for M & M but no promises. I probably have a dozen titles on there. Enjoy your weekend.
Oooh, Deb, that is an enticing recommendation for Jussi Alder-Olsen and The Keeper of Lost Causes! Appreciated!
Have fun with your GR Deb. I still have to read The Twin which is presently sitting on my shelf, looking at me accusingly. I'll probably squeeze in one more Orange before the big announcement (the short list) and that will be The Song of Achilles. That will be my sixth. Now that I see the announcement will be on Tuesday, I doubt that I will have the book done by then.
>175 Nickelini: I am in total agreement about cultivating the post person, Joyce! Not many, but a few of my books have been lost in the mail, and I'm sure that our mail deliverer, Teresa, is on the lookout now to be sure that no more are lost. She said once that she was going to spend a holiday watching TV and eating Snickers, so we keep her supplied with them....... The Oranges that I want are the ones that you and your thread devotees are reading. The ones that I have gotten so far are apparently the less good ones, but they are the ones I could afford. I just finished Gillespie and I, which I enjoyed and am on to Lord Of Misrule, which has been patiently sitting on my Kindle for almost a year. I also have the Bakker on my wish list!
@193 - yes, Mark, it really is top- notch Scandicrime! While Karin Fossum remains my favourite Scandicrime author, I preferred The Keeper of Lost Causes to many other scandicrime novels. Carl Mork is assigned a seeming inept assistant, Assad, and it would seem that Assad has little more going for himself than one would guess at first blush. I can't wait to see what the duo get into next.
@!94 - Nancy, I really did enjoy it! I'm glad if I was some help in your book choosing choices! :)
@195 Bonnie, thanks for your good wishes! I really admire how many of the long -listed Oranges that you gotten through! I've only got through two of them and I have several waiting. Wow! The Song of Achilles - that book looks intimidating to me! I'll to come a visit your thread and see what you've got to say about Gillespie and I and The Lord of Misrule. I too am very excited about the short - listed Orange list which is coming up soon!
@!96 - I've been very fortunate to have not lost any books ( cross my fingers) in the mail. Unfortunately because I don't have door to door delivery I cannot cultivate a relationship with my post person -but I can leave him / her something at Christmas, which I do. LOL! My thread devotees! You are so fun, Peggy! :)
>180 vancouverdeb:... and we missed out chance! As Anita pointed out in my thread, someone sold a town
recently... we could have broken open our piggy banks and made it so :)
The Detour sounds really good. There has been a lot of mention of geese around here lately.
Last night I dreamed that I was looking through a window watching hundreds of geese fly by :)
Have fun with your GR!!
Have fun with your group read! I won't be joining but hope you enjoy it!
Deb: I am trying to catch up on threads... I'm glad you enjoyed The Keeper of Lost Causes. I liked the mystery, but especially the interaction between Mork and Assad. There was more humor here than in a lot of Scanicrime, which I appreciated.
I look forward to hearing about your group read -- right now my plate is full, so I won't be able to join you. Still a lot of Orange books to read -- there are several that sound good to me, whether or not they make the shortlist. I'm almost finished with The Forgotten Waltz.
Deb - I am having trouble locating a copy of the book fro the group read, but I will keep trying. I think perhaps it is available on Kindle in Canada but not in the US - does that happen?
@198- Kath, too bad we missed out on our chance to create our own LT neighbourhood! :) I think yes, that the book will be really good!
@199 Hi Chelle! Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your reads - and I hope you are adapting to you new home and "neighbourhood". Moving always takes a lot of of me. I do it as little as possible!
200 Hi Beth - I too enjoyed the interaction between Morck and Assad. I look really forward to a second book in the series to see how that develops . I'll look forward to your thoughts on the Forgotten Waltz.!
201 - Hi Mamie! I appreciate the efforts you are making to try and get the The Detour. As far as I know, Amazon com is the US based amazon. The "Kindle Book store" is only com -so it is a US site that I am also able to use in Canada. Have you tried the link that I put on your thread? As far as I know it should work. I have a physcial copy that I got from the Book Depository some time ago.
My local library has called and it would seem that I have - GASP! - overdue books! I'd better get onto that! :)
Deb - I tried the link that you put on Cee's thread and got the same result she did - up in the right hand corner it says, "Currently unavailable"
They should explain how an e-book is "unavailable?! Anyone have any idea how that works?
Back to the postal carrier discussion, I was walking down my street with my carrier on Thursday and I apologized for having so many packages this week, and she said "are you kidding? You're keeping me employed." So I told her I'd go order something as soon as I went inside. ;-)
I'm buying The Detour from Kobo Books. I'm in Canada, but Carsten (in Denmark) also bought the ebook through Kobo. So, if you have a Kobo reader or an iPad, that's an option.
Um, not in the US in the English translation. It is actually not available as an ebook on any device in English in the US. Sad, but true - I checked.
Crazymamie, too bad! Perhaps as a last shot, try this link "http://www.whitcoulls.co.nz/product-reviews/the-detour/37484530/" - wonder if you could just buy and download the epub and then upload up to device of choice.
@204, Yes I'm puzzled to by how an ebook is not available, especially when it's on amazon com, now amazon ca. But Mamie has tried it and I don't know what to say! I could understand if I was on amazon uk . But I know that in Canada, amazon does not give me the daily deal offers that are available in the US on kindle - so who knows how amazon runs. Maybe The Detour ebook is not yet licensed for e- book publication in the US? It's very odd. I know that on amazon com - not amazon canada , I had seen that the physical book of The Detour was out of stock for the moment. At any rate, I am very sorry , Mamie! Joyce, I feel that same way about what I order! ;) I am keeping the postal people in business! But I had a bad dream last night that my husband and I were somehow upgrading my wedding ring and it turned into a out of control wedding that we couldn't pay for! :) I must be anxious about $$$ on some level!Haha! Dave and I have been married for nearly 29 years and I have no plans of upgrading my wedding rings. We were careful to think about my rings when we bought them. I like to tell Dave as the years go by , how my rings cost mere pennies a day - if that, now , after wearing them for 29 years!:)
@205 Thanks for trying to help Nancy. I appreciate that!
@206 I'm so sorry, Mamie, if you cant join us. I was really looking forward to your input and your great company. Perhaps later in the year someone else will do a group read of The Detour. I think that there is a fair bit of interest , but perhaps in the US the timing for the book will be somewhat later?
@207 - Thanks again for your help and knowledge for Mamie, Nancy!
I was just going to attach this link that I was reading in The Globe and Mail on " Five Awesome Things About Books".
And now I must attend to some domestic duties, like cleaning out the bathrooms, and washing and shopping -sigh!......
I'm not able to join the Group read as I really need to read some of the other books I've bought recently but The Detour looks really interesting. I've added it to my wishlist. Suprisingly it is available from Amazon UK. I don't understand Amazon's policy on e-books at all.
The Detour looks wonderful but I am way overbooked for April. Enjoy!
@210 - I must say I don't understand Amazon's policy on e-books either! Well, perhaps there will be enough interest that someone will organzie a second group read? Thanks for your interest though!
@211 - No worries, Anne! I really understand being " OverBooked" ! I think that we will enjoy The Detour I'll wait for the stroke of midnight before I crack the book open! :)
Okay everyone, my husband has located a copy for me, but it is a physical book so I have to wait for it to ship. I just want to say thanks so much everyone for your suggestions and support. What an amazing group of people that we have here on LT!!
Oh I'm so excited for you. Wow, Mamie! Thanks for making such a huge effort to join us! :) LT'ers are amazing and , Mamie, you are certainly one of them. :)
Oh! good phrase.. "way overbooked" is what most of us here really are!
Just catching up and am very happy Mamie is able to join in with the group read of The Detour!
Another Jussi Adler-Olsen fan. A dane cheers :)
I didn't really think Stieg Larsson either while I was reading Keeper of Lost Causes. The next one in the series is called Fasandræberen (The Pheasant Killer) - I'm coming to that one later this year.
@215 - Way overbooked indeed, Kathi! :)
@216 - Hi Dee! I think I'll create a spoiler thread for those of who are a little ahead of the others to discuss things in The Detour . And yes Yeah! We have Mamie along with us!
217 - Carsten! Yes The Keeper of Lost Causes was fabulous! I just discovered his second book on Amazon last night. I didn't think Stieg Larrson except in the mildest of ways. The book that is still a pre- order on Amazon by Jussi Adler-Olsen is called The Absent One here in North America.
Hi Deb, you fell off my radar there for a bit, not sure how that happened :)
The Detour looks a good one, as does the Twin, but I wont be getting to either of them any time soon Im afraid. I have books queued up from here to the front gate to read asap....
#219 books queued up from here to the front gate ... love it! Indeed!
@219 Hi Megan!The Detour is excellent so far, in my opinion. I usually don't queue my books - I'm more a creature of the moment. However, I have a couple of library books that I would like to get read before they have to be returned - but I totally understand!
220 - Hi Nancy! See you in the The Detour Group read... :)
Hi Deb! I hope you're doing well. Glad to see you're enjoying The Detour so far. The description sounds intriguing.
@ 222 - yes doing very well -and intrigued by The Detour -oh - and I wrote intrigue before I saw that you used that word too! I'm loving the book - I think that the others are too - of course we hope to soon have Mamie join us!
Thanks for stopping by, Kerri.
I'll get back to " normal' soon and come and visit your threads - but right now, I am really caught up in our group read of The Detour. I think that we are having a very detailed and interesting discussion of the book! Fabulous! :)
>221 vancouverdeb: I usually don't queue my books - I'm more a creature of the moment
I usually queue them and then totally disregard my queue! There will always be one or 5 that jump to the head of the line, most often library books that are LT recommended :)
*waving* at Deb
@225 - yes , sometime I have definite books that I plan to read - or books out of the library - but I end up taking planned books back to the library! :) Even worse, I put a book on hold from the library and then puchase the book just as the book comes into the library. I'm very unreliable!
But - when I get a bee in my bonnet that I AM GOING TO read a particular book, I'll go at it like it was an assignment from school. I'll plow through a book like a madwoman! :)
@226 - Hey there Stasia! I hope things are well in your corner!
Things are just fine in my corner. I hope they are in yours too!
Yes, Stasia, I 'm happy to hear that things are going well at school and you have a break right now!
I am sort of like Megan.. I have a short stack A... then a short stack B
And often disregard both...and pick up something on nook or kindle.
Ha Kath, I don't have a short stack or any stack. I just have stacks and I mostly go by the seat of my pants. I try hard not to get to many TBR books. Like you, I often disregard what I have and grab something else. But it's nice to have a variety on hand, in case you find yourself struggling to find " The Right Book" for one's mood..At least for me.
I have finished The Detour but we are still discussing it, so I will wait awhile til I give it a star rating, or make any comments really. I think it might be 4 stars, but it's very different. A lot to discuss, I think.
In the meantime , I have started The GreatCoat by Helen Dunmore. Helen Dunmore has become on of my favorite authors.
Oh, I'm glad you're following up with some more Dunmore, Deb. The Siege, which I read this winter at your "persuasive" urging, was excellent!
@233 - Dunmore is really good! The Greatcoat , so far, anyway, is a bit of departure from her previous reads. But, I'm only about 70 pages in. Interesting story, so far. I really enjoy her... I'll be doing a little more " arm twisting". Watch out! ;)
I am really watching out since I loved The Siege and The Betrayal!
I'm really keen to read some Helen Dunmore after all the nice things I have been hearing about her on the threads this year!
That one sounds so good...
srsly.... maybe I should stop reading threads?
Hi Stasia! I'm about 3/4 of the way throught The Greatcoat and so far, I am not as keen about this book of Helen Dunmore as I was of her previous books -but I make a better judgement later! :)
@236 Well, I can tell you that I've loved The Siege, The Betrayal, and House of Orphans very much. The Siege is her very best, I think. I have to say that the The GreatCoat is supposed to be scary - a haunting!;) but just like the book Woman in Black I find it more silly than scary. I guess I need real life things to scare me more. I think I found The Betrayal of Trust by Susan Hill, which was much more true to life story the creepiest of all so far this year.
@237 - Hi Kath! Oh , please do not stop visiting my thread - I appreciate everyone's visit's so much!
I am still in the midst of great discussions with The Detour and it's really eating into my LT visting time! :) In a couple of days I should be back full force on the threads looking for my next great read! :)
The Siege just jumped to no 1 on my reading list. Although, I must admit I was definitely scared by The Woman in Black and again so by the film earlier this year, so The Greatcoat would probably have me in tears! :)
Hi Deb, another dun more I see. I haven't moved beyond The Betrayal but I do have Zennor in Darkness on my shelf; no idea when that will rise to the top of the list.
Hi Deb- Lots of book activity. I love it. Glad the Group Read is going well. Can't wait to hear your final thoughts on it.
I'm going to try squeezing in the Woman in black for M & M. It's a shorty, so that helps.
@239 - I'm really glad thatThe Siege is number one on your reading list! I really think it is the best of all of Helen Dunmore's books. I think there would be a general agreement on that one - but I have not read all of her books .
240 - Bonnie, You will have to let me know what you think of Zennor in Darkness . I do not know much about that book of Dunmores.
@241 - Actually yes, Mark, I've been squeezing a few more books in between my The Detour group read. The Detour proved to be a wonderful but I think complex read and without the group's contributions, I would have had more trouble understanding the story.
Yes indeed, The Woman in Black is a nice shorty. But at the pace that you read - you hardly need to read shorty's! I expect it will be a nice change from some of your "Big Boys" like Charles Dickens.
Well, I guess I should start a new thread before the thread police arrive... One moments please! :)
This topic was continued by Vancouverdeb's 75 books for 2012 - Part 4.
Group: 75 Books Challenge for 2012
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text:
Interior lights
Anybody change out the gage cluster lights or the trim lights around the shift bezel? I wpuld like to make them blue vice the green.
Re: Interior lights
not to butt in but i have seen some great results using those colored films to chnge the lighting color. it USUALLY not too invasive and its cheap. the ones i saw the guy went to the music store and got some of the colored films they put in front of the lights.
2-3 buck experiment. i saw that the LX guys did this on thier EVIC and other dash lights with good success.
Re: Interior lights
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Nails: Nails Inc Westminster Abbey
Ring: Forever 21
Very messy nails, but you get the idea! I really like this ring from Forever 21, unfortunately it's a bit too big, but hopefully I can get something to make it fit.
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Jaipur, Apr 18 (UNI) Rajasthan police will take the help of priests, band groups and mare owners to curb child marriages in the state on the occasion of Akshay Tritya.
Akshay Tritya, which falls tomorrow this year, is likely to see a number of child marriages across rural Rajasthan especially Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Barmer divisions. But the administration and police are gearing up to prevent such marriages, which is likely to affect the childhood of scores of children.
According to figures, Rajasthan is a state where 68.3 per cent of girls are married below 18 years and 30 per cent of women die during child birth, many of whom have been married underage.
And at least 60 per cent of children who die early have parents who have been married underage.
Home minister Gulab Chand Kataria has instructed 711 police stations and 788 outposts to take the help of priests, temple administration, band groups and mare owners to find out about the child marriages being held on the day.
Mr Kataria has instructed that the police personnel will be held responsible if even one child marriage is reported from any where in the state.
This would be the first year when the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (Sharda Act) is being strictly imposed in the state. Under this Act, even the priest, bandmen would be considered the guilty party. The guilty party can be awarded a sentence of two years and fined upto Rs 1 lakh. Women have been kept out of the purview of this Act.
The new Act has replaced the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929.


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Rate of new U.S. cancer cases drops for first time
By Will Dunham
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cancer rates have dropped for the first time in the United States and previous declines in cancer deaths are accelerating, a report released on Tuesday showed as cancer-fighting efforts produced solid results.
Regular screening for breast and colorectal cancer, declining smoking rates and improved treatments helped lead to the improvements described in a comprehensive study of cancer in the United States by government and private health experts.
"This decline is seen in blacks, it's seen in whites, it's seen in Hispanics, it's seen in all Americans," Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, said in a telephone interview.
However, cancer remains the No. 2 killer of Americans, with more than half a million deaths annually, topped only by heart disease. And the report detailed worrisome regional differences in lung cancer trends tied closely to whether or not individual states are taking important steps to reduce smoking.
Overall U.S. cancer death rates began falling in 1991 and these declines are getting steeper this decade, Brawley noted.
"But the real news here is that this is first time that we've got declines in incidence (the rate of new cases per year). We've never had incidence go down since we've been keeping records starting in the 1930s," Brawley said.
The rate of new cancer cases from 2001 to 2005 declined among men by 1.8 percent per year. New cases among women fell by 0.6 percent per year from 1998 to 2005.
While overall cancer death rates decreased by 1.5 percent per year from 1993 to 2001 among men, they declined by 2 percent per year from 2001 to 2005. Among women, cancer death rates fell by 0.8 percent per year from 1994 to 2002 and by a much steeper 1.6 percent per year from 2002 to 2005. Continued...