Kiwi’s 2015 Reading Challenges

[Leslie]

Only 3* for In the Bleak Midwinter -- this is a series I have had recommended to me more than once. Did you get the feeling that the series might improve as it went on (sometimes the first book is the weakest one)?

[Marina]

Kiwi wrote: "A book based on a play: Macbeth, fantastic read and even better audio, full 4 stars, it could even be revised to 5 after the cool-off period :) "

Thanks Kiwi, I might have to check this out, as I am a huge Macbeth fan!

[Overbooked ✎]

You're very welcome Marina, I was dubious at first, retelling have a tendency of spoiling the beauty of the originals, but this is a pleasant surprise!

If you can get hold of the audible version I would highly recommend it and so do many GR reviewers; the narrator does a wonderful rendition of the *Sco'ish* accent without slipping into a caricature.

Hope you'll enjoy it :)

[Overbooked ✎]

Leslie wrote: "Only 3* for In the Bleak Midwinter -- this is a series I have had recommended to me more than once. Did you get the feeling that the series might improve as it went on (sometimes the ..."

Leslie, it was a good read, for me 3 stars = I liked it! There were some parts where the characters were a bit too 'cutsie' for me and I didn't like the gratuitous profanities of the inspector even if I liked his character in general.
I think the series might improve, and I might continue the series, but personally I have some other mystery series that I'd like to try first. Hope it helps :)

[Leslie]

Kiwi wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Only 3* for In the Bleak Midwinter -- this is a series I have had recommended to me more than once. Did you get the feeling that the series might improve as it went on ..."

That does help, thanks Kiwi!

[Overbooked ✎]

Tasting Italy: A Culinary Journey, 2 1/2 stars

The Colour, 3 1/2 stars here is my review:


This is a story of hope. It starts with an English family immigrating to New Zealand: Joseph, a livestock auctioneer son, Lillian, his singing-loving mother, and Harriet, his new wife, arrive in Christchurch (on NZ South Island) and buy land with the dream of a developing a prosperous farm.

You would expect the small group, confronted with the challenge of rebuilding a new life in an unknown country, would stick together, but it is not so. Joseph is hunted by the memory of a past love, obsessed by the idea of making amends and of finding the gold that would make him rich and fulfilled. Lillian is reluctant to leave her old life behind; social standing and propriety are her priorities. Harriet has a pioneering spirit; she is tired of her past life as a governess and is fascinated by the majestic nature around her and the opportunities of a new life. The three characters are unable to communicate their dreams and needs, and soon drift apart.

I like how the author was able to capture the harshness of the early pioneers’ life, the NZ majestic landscape, and, later on, the grim reality of life at the gold fields in the late 1800s. The geographical isolation is mirrored in the human isolation of the characters, it seems that everyone is looking after their own needs and incapable of understanding or feeling for any other human being.

Harriet was my favourite character, independent, hardworking, adaptable, self-sufficient, inquisitive and courageous, a true pioneering woman.
I was confused by the character of Pare; although I am familiar with Maori mythology and folklore, I was puzzled by her mission-journey and her relationship with Edwin (a young settler’s boy). (view spoiler)[ I tried to decipher the messages in the story (e.g. caterpillar/white worm) without success, and maybe there isn’t one: in that case why did the author repeatedly mentioned it? (hide spoiler)]

The same applies to the character of Chen Pao Yi, a Chinese settler who makes a living by selling vegetables to the gold diggers around Kaniere and Kokatahi in the remote Hokitika valley. I’m sure that, in his visions, there are references to Chinese legends that are lost to me. Nevertheless, Pao Yi’s quietness, resilience and determination were very well drawn and so were the prejudices and injustices that the Chinese immigrants had to bear.
Another character worth mentioning is Will, a young boy who sell his “services” to the lonely gold prospectors; he is opportunistic and self-centred, but his behaviour is a necessity for survival in the male dominated environment. A totally credible character.

Although the book starts with high hopes and aspirations, for most part these are dashed and the dreams “washed away”. The tone of the book is melancholic and depressing, a sense of loneliness lingers. Overall, I liked this novel and I rate it 3 ½ stars, rounded down as I didn’t like the events towards the conclusion (view spoiler)[the fortuitous discovery of the gold cave, the fact that Harriet falls in love and succeeds in conceiving (finally fulfilling her dream of a child with no strings attached) are a bit too convenient for me (hide spoiler)].

[Overbooked ✎]

Time for an overdue update:

finished a good psychological thriller I Let You Go, 3 1/2 stars

finished my fourth Bingo card, the last for this year, with:
The Dragonbone Chair, 4 stars
Schindler's List, 3 1/2 stars

progressed non-fiction genre:
Ladies, A Plate: Traditional Home Baking, 4 stars
An Infinity of Little Hours: The Trial of Faith of Five Young Men in the Western World's Most Austere Monastic Order, 3 stars

and the fiction genre:
The Night Before Christmas hardcover: The Classic Edition, 4 stars

Just started A Redbird Christmas and A Brief History of the Celts.

currently planning my December reads (lots of Chrissy reads to get in the right mood) and next year challenges.

[Overbooked ✎]

Monthly fiction (Mythology/Folktales/Legends/Fables/Fairytales) and non fiction (Religion/Spirituality/Philosophy) reads:
The Sleeper and the Spindle, 2 1/2 stars
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, 1 1/2 stars

Advent season reads:
A Redbird Christmas, 4 stars
The Christmas Box, 3 stars
A Christmas Memory, 3 stars
The Immortal Nicholas, abandoned
Christmas Cookies: Dozens of Classic Yuletide Treats for the Whole Family, 3 1/2 stars
The Story of the Other Wise Man, 3 stars

Other reads:
The Enchanted, 4 stars
A Brief History of the Celts, 2 1/2 stars
The Bottoms, 4 1/2 stars (maybe will be revised to 5)

I've been impress by The bottoms, one of this year best reads.

My challenges are all completed, *happy dance*

[Leslie]

Congrats on finishing all your challenges Kiwi!

[Overbooked ✎]

Thank you Leslie :D

[Overbooked ✎]

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, 2 1/2 stars

Kindred, 3 stars

Celtic Myths, Celtic Legends, 2 stars (monthly theme)

[Overbooked ✎]

An Old-Fashioned Christmas: Sweet Traditions for Hearth and Home, 2 1/2 stars

Rite of Passage, 2 1/2 stars

and Last Bus to Wisdom by Ivan Doig, 5 shining stars! my thoughts:

This is a coming of age novel and the story of a journey, in more ways than one. It’s 1951 in a ranch in Montana, an orphan young boy gets sent to his grand aunt and uncle in Wisconsin while his beloved grandmother is having an operation.

During the bus trip across Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota on his way to Manitowoc (on lake Michigan) Donny, who has a wild imagination, decides to ask his fellow passengers to sign his memory book in the hope of making the world records for the largest collection of autographs and ditties. Along the way, the reader meets a Reader's Digest lady, soldiers heading for Korea, a voluptuous waitress, a puny sheriff and his brawny jailbreaker brother and a sly ex-convict.

"They all filled in the dizzying span of my thoughts like a private version of Believe It or Not! And wherever life took them from here on, most of them had left a bit of their existence in my memory book. A condensed chapter of themselves, maybe, to put it in Pleasantville terms. I had much to digest, in more ways than one, as I lay back in the seat."

That’s just the start of Donny’s adventures, once arrived at his destination he has to deal with tight fisted and bossy grand-aunt Kate. He finds an unlikely ally in placid grand-uncle Herman, who has a fascination with the Wild West and Native American culture. The two become travel companions (or “pardners” as Herman puts it) and embark on the best summer vacation ever.

The novel is simply beautiful; Doig has a talent in creating believable and lovable characters and pulling the reader into the story. I had the pleasure of reading my first Ivan Doing this year and it was love at first chapter (The Whistling Season, which remains my favourite of his). It is so sad that the author passed away earlier this year and Last Bus to Wisdom is his last novel.
I urge you to try Doig, I’m planning to read all of his novels, savouring each one. 4 ½ stars rounded up

My favourite quotes:

At first Aunt Kate went perfectly still, except for blinking a mile a minute. Then her face turned stonier than any of those on Mount Rushmore. For some seconds, she looked like she couldn’t find what to say. But when she did, it blew my hair back.

Life with Herman was a size larger than I was used to, like clothing I was supposed to grow into.

[Overbooked ✎]

Vicious, 2 1/2 stars
Bastard Out of Carolina, disturbing but well written, 3 stars

currently reading:

A Noble Radiance, a mystery
The Middle Ages: An Illustrated History, non-fiction

[Ann]

I loved Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Doig and plan to read more of his novels.

[Overbooked ✎]

Thanks for the suggestion Ann, I'm looking forward to the "Two Medicine Trilogy "!

[Overbooked ✎]

Recently finished:

A Noble Radiance, 2 stars
The Cricket on the Hearth, 3 stars
Mudbound, 3 1/2 stars
Bootlegger's Daughter, 2 stars

Almost finished The Middle Ages: An Illustrated History and currently reading The Gospel of Loki, I'm loving the audio version.

I think these two will be the last books of 2015, I'm itching to get started on my 2016 lists, so excited!

[Overbooked ✎]

Last post on this thread, so I've updated post 21 with my year in review.

Bye bye 2015 and welcome 2016!