2011 Reading List

[John]

Just startedAll Over But the Shoutin' I'm only on the prologue and I love it already. Another of Bragg's books Ava's Man is one of my all time favorites.

[John]

I have started my first Maisie Dobbs book and like the first 50 pages. That made me go to my Book Drive pile and pull out one that Barb had read and was being recycled. Maybe I will grow to like mysteries.

[Dorothy]

John wrote: "I have started my first Maisie Dobbs book and like the first 50 pages. That made me go to my Book Drive pile and pull out one that Barb had read and was being recycled. Maybe I will grow to like my..."

I'm glad you are enjoying Maisie Dobbs...I find it interesting that she weaves her stories around the First World War and its aftermath. If you read the books in sequence, you get a better sense of how she moved from working class to passing as upper class in a class driven society.

[Roberta]

I think they are excellent as well. Well written with interesting plots. I especially like the way Maisie and Billy "map" out their investigations. It's exactly what I do, sort of brainstorming on paper.

I'm really looking forward to reading the latest in the series.

[Dorothy]

Roberta wrote: "I think they are excellent as well. Well written with interesting plots. I especially like the way Maisie and Billy "map" out their investigations. It's exactly what I do, sort of brainstorming ..."

Mine will be available for loaning in a few days!

[Roberta]

Can't wait!

[John]

Finished Maisie Dobbs, now I am starting True Grit.

[Dorothy]

John wrote: "Finished Maisie Dobbs, now I am starting True Grit."

Did you like it?

[John]

I found it an easy read, interesting characters and an ok mystery. I will certainly look for more Maisie Dobbs novels.

[Dorothy]

John wrote: "I found it an easy read, interesting characters and an ok mystery. I will certainly look for more Maisie Dobbs novels."

I'll have a look to see if I own any in case I have one for loaning.

[John]

Back in 1981 Ottis Toole killed Adam Walsh, son of John Walsh (America's Most Wanted). Even though Toole confessed five times it took 27 years before he was charged for the murder. The tragic story is written about in Bringing Adam Home: The Abduction That Changed America.

[John]

I'm starting Sarah's Key, Barb said it was a good read.

[John]

I am starting The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival. The true story of a man eating tiger where the attacks don't seem random, they seem like a vendetta.

[John]

Going to try to finish The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, many people said I gave up just as it was getting good.

[Roberta]

I struggled with it at first john and put it aside. Then I just couldn't read it fast enough. It is awkwardly written and bit flat in characterization but the plot seems to make up for that.

[Dorothy]

People have told me the same thing...but I've so much to read that I'm not sure I'm going to bother.

[Roberta]

I'm reading The War That Killed Achilles: The True Story of Homer's Iliad and the Trojan War and No Man's Lands: One Man's Odyssey Through The Odyssey to make up for a sad deficiency in the classics. The first is more of an historical account while the second is more of a memoir/travel/history. Both quite good.

Also reading Fierce Leadership: A Bold Alternative to the Worst "Best" Practices of Business Today, which has really captured my attention for the work I do.

[John]

Warning!!! Be forewarned that if you are thinking of going to Bellingham/Fairhaven they have way too many good book stores. You may come back from there buried in books! So much for reducing my to-read pile. And now the Book Drive starts next week. Trouble!

[Dorothy]

John wrote: "Warning!!! Be forewarned that if you are thinking of going to Bellingham/Fairhaven they have way too many good book stores. You may come back from there buried in books! So much for reducing my to-..."

:-) Sounds like you had a good trip! Have you started your volunteering for the book sale?

[John]

Set up for the Book Drive starts Tuesday. Then the books are dropped off next weekend and the sorting can start.

[John]

I seem to be on a Mark Spragg kick. I just finished his The Fruit of Stone. It was ok but it has inspired me to re-read his An Unfinished Life for the third time.

[Dorothy]

That was weird...I opened my Currently Reading page this morning to find that a book had been listed that I would never have put on there. It was called "The Living Dead"...and I don't do zombie books! I've managed to remove it but lest you are all wondering if I have lost the plot...it was a mistake...but I can't for the life of me see how I made it! Maybe it's zombie thing and it put itself there!

[John]

Gave up on Ape House so now I am starting The Flying Carpet, one of my finds at this year's Book Drive. While volunteering I bought 48 books (only 35 for me) so now I need to do some power reading. I am out of storage space on my computer desks (2) because my to-read pile is up to 190 books. I remember my goal was once to get below 100!

[Dorothy]

John wrote: "Gave up on Ape House so now I am starting The Flying Carpet, one of my finds at this year's Book Drive. While volunteering I bought 48 books (only 35 for me) so now I n..."

John you have a serious problem....you should seek help immediately! :-)

[John]

Just finished , an easy read and a feel good book.

Now I am going to read about the 1846 Donner Party, , definitely not a feel good story.

[John]

Just finished , good book, really well written. Now I am off to 1960's Formula 1 racing with Private Entrant.

[John]

Starting . I will keep you posted Roberta.

[John]

On a bit of a military roll. I just finished my car book I Flew for the Fuhrer now I am starting.Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory.

[John]

I'm taking a break from serious stuff and am going to start . I love the author's name Nowen N. Particular!

[Dorothy]

Sounds like fun!

[Dorothy]

I`ve just started The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. I seem to remember that you didn`t like this book much, John. So far I am getting on OK with it but I have to say these parents are not just eccentric but downright neglectful and abusive. It reminds me of a book I read some time ago about a similar family in England...I think it was called I Capture the Castleby Dodie Smith. I see you have read that book, Roberta...do you see any similarities.

[John]

Just finished , probably my favorite book this year! Now I am starting , partly because the author has recently joined the TC.

[Dorothy]

Well I got to the end of The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Like you, John, I really did not enjoy this book...I had the feeling I wanted to get through it quickly so I could put it away. The only thing that kept me reading was that I wanted to know how the children got away to New York. I feel very uncomfortable with this book and will not be reading the sequel.

[John]

Just finished Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. Great biography, great war story.

[John]

I was feeling the need to read Canadian so I have started .

[John]

I quite enjoyed Lauchlin of the Bad Heart, although it drag a bit in the middle. I seem to enjoy East Coast based books.

Now I have switched genres and have started Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad. So far it is great!

[Dorothy]

John wrote: "I quite enjoyed Lauchlin of the Bad Heart, although it drag a bit in the middle. I seem to enjoy East Coast based books.

I do too though I haven't read any lately.

[John]

I just finished Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad. It is a great book if you like military history. I am off on a road trip to California and taking a couple of books to read, starting with The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon.

[Dorothy]

Have a great trip John. Maybe we should plan another get together for a book swap when you get back.

[John]

I have been on a roll of NF books so it is time to try something different. I have picked The Golden Mean as my next read.

[John]

Just finished and really liked it. Now I am back to my WW2 book I put aside to read TNC.

[Monique]

Hi neighbours, I just found out that my publisher has mistakenly sent the unedited file of my novel to be printed. Talk about a blow. Now, I have stacks of books with some typos and punctuation mistakes. I hate to just dump them. The story is identical and if you promise not to hold the mistakes (nothing flagrant) against me, I'd love to give them away. If anyone wants them I can leave them at a public library to be picked up, or drop them off if you like.
I'm in Oak Bay. Message me and let me know.
Monique

[John]

I seem to be on a bit of a Booker / Giller kick right now. I just finished Half Blood Blues, and now I am starting The Sisters Brothers.

[Dorothy]

How did you like Half Blood Blues ? I'm about to borrow it from a friend.

[John]

Dot wrote: "How did you like Half Blood Blues ? I'm about to borrow it from a friend."

I really liked it. There is great interplay between the characters and the descriptions of things is very interesting; great use of language. I hope you enjoy it too.

[John]

Just finishedThe Sisters Brothers and like "Half-Blood Blues" it is a good choice for both the Booker and the Giller prizes. HBB is more complex where TSB is more of a fun read. I'm glad I'm not choosing the prize.

[John]

Now I am starting White Gold. I never realized that Barbary pirates raided places as far away as England and even Iceland and over the years captured over a million European slaves. This book is the story of Thomas Pellow, one of those slaves.

[Dorothy]

John wrote: "Now I am starting White Gold. I never realized that Barbary pirates raided places as far away as England and even Iceland and over the years captured over a million European slaves. T..."


Sounds interesting. I recently read "The Book of Negroes" and of course had my usual reaction to the idea of slavery...but of course slavery has been around as long as human have been organised into groups and we often just don't realise how common it has been. :-(

[John]

Finished White Gold, which was fascinating. Now I am starting John Dollar which was recommended to me by a Book Drive volunteer in the know.

[John]

I am about to start Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend which I was lucky enough to win as a Goodreads Advanced Reader Copy.