Olive Kittridge by Elizabeth Strout
A Thread of Grace - Mary Doria Russell
Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston
The Deptford Trilogy by Robertson Davies
Elegance of a Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson
Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan
The Road Home by Rose Tremain
Abide With Me by Elizabeth Strout
The Lazarus Project by Aleksander Hemon
Ship Fever by Andrea Barrett
Custodian of Paradise by Wayne Johnston
Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson
Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout

Hi, brenzi!
You have so many wonderful titles on your list! What did you think of The Deptford Trilogy? I have that one on my tbr.
--BJ

Hi BJ,

I absolutely LOVED The Deptford Trilogy. Read my review

http://www.librarything.com/work/32421

I haven't read anything else by Robertson Davies but I plan to.

What a great review! Now I am really excited about reading it! Have a great day!
--BJ

Hi, Bonnie! Just found your thread. Welcome! I like how your profile is set up with your list of favorites in 2008 and 2009, plus the titles of books you're going to read. I read Lush Life fairly recently and I have Deaf Sentence and Olive Kittridge on my list of books to read this year. Ship Fever was a favorite for me as well; I loved that a famous scientist was a part of each story. The Sparrow and Thread of Grace were favorites too, so Dreamers of the Day was a real disappointment, but maybe my expectations were too high. We have quite a few books in common, and similar interests, so I'm looking forward to reading your comments about the books you're reading.

Hi Bonnie,
I just found your post. I haven't been on LT that long and am still navigating my way around. Thanks for the heads up on Dreamers of the Day. I LOVED A Thread of Grace so I'll try the other two that you're suggesting.If you liked Ship Fever you might also enjoy Voyage of the Narwhal.

Other additions:

Deaf Sentence by David Lodge
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Custodian of Paradise by Wayne Johnston

I can now add these:

20. Netherland by Joseph O'Neill
21. Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
22. Small Island by Andrea Levy

The last two were absolutely fabulous, can't put down reads. Netherland did not live up to my expectations.

Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, jun 16, 2009, 11:43am.

My numbers are off.

Add this:

25. The Air We Breathe by Andrea Barrett was a wonderful book about the time before WWI and is set in the Adirondacks at a cure facility for tuberculosis. Solid story.

Add City of Thieves by David Benioff

#26 Shadow Country by Peter Matthiessen

So did you read his new version that combines his three earlier books into one? Or the older version? Matthiessen said he changed/added quite a bit, so he feels its a whole 'nother book, but that's weird isn't it? I really enjoyed the three books I read, though I surprised myself as they were so dark. What did you think?

Well I guess you can tell i haven't looked at this for awhile. I never read his first three books so I can't compare but I really loved this book which is described as a trilogy. My review is at http://www.librarything.com/profile_revi...

#27 Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

#28 The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville

#29 A Death in the Family: A Novel by James Agee

All three excellent reads.

#30 Telex From Cuba by Rachel Kushner

What did you think of Half of a Yellow Sun? I really like books like this in which I get my history within a more personal story. So discouraging to see the connections with the current conflict in Darfur/Sudan. I'm going to eventually read The Idea of Perfection. I'll have to check out Telex From Cuba--interesting title!

I liked Half of a Yellow Sun a lot. I hadn't known much about Nigeria before. But I just loved the Idea of Perfection. For whatever reason I really connected with that book.

#31 The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson

#32 Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

#33 Sarah's Key by Tatiana deRosnay

#34 That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo

#35 The Help by Kathryn Stockett

How did you like That Old Cape Magic? I have it on hold at the library. I loved The Help and really liked Sarah's Key.

Sorry to take so long to respond. I enjoyed That Old Cape Magic. You've probably read it by now but anyway read my review here
Also, I loved The Help.

#36 Brooklyn by Colm Toibin

#37 Mudbound by Hillary Jordan

Hi Bonnie- Found you! I also love Brooklyn and looking forward to That Old Cape Magic. I'm closing in on the halfway point of Dragon Tattoo and it's been very good. He's a good story-teller.

No worries and no, I haven't read it yet. There are several people ahead of me on the hold list at the library.

I loved your last two reads!

Also waiting for That Old Cape Magic. You have been reading some terrific books, Brenzi. Mudbound was one of my favorites from last year.

#38 The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan

Donna,

You're at the top of my list of Members with brenzi's books so we do have a lot in common. I did LOVE Mudbound. It's hard to believe this was a debut novel.

Brenzi -

Temporarily no Internet today. I'll be back though. Hopefully soon. Glad that we are more in touch.

WH/Ruth

>28 - WH/Ruth -

I'm up and running, Brenzi.

I sough out and read your excellent review of Small Island. Thank you for that review. Another of my LT friends also had a very positive review of it, Donna828, who I notice is a friend of yours, too.

I have created a new collection for myself, Next Up !!!. This is where I have cataloged this one so that I will readily retrieve it and place it on reserve at the library.

The Day the Falls Stood Still appeals to me, also. Hmmm. I wonder what took so long for me to "find" you and Donna?

Love, Ruth

>28 - WH/Ruth -

I'm up and running, Brenzi.

I sought out and read your excellent review of Small Island. Thank you for that review. Another of my LT friends also had a very positive review of it, Donna828, who I notice is a friend of yours, too.

I have created a new collection for myself, Next Up !!!. This is where I have cataloged this one so that I will readily retrieve it and place it on reserve at the library.

The Day the Falls Stood Still appeals to me, also. Hmmm. I wonder what took so long for me to "find" you and Donna?

Love, Ruth

Ruth,

You must push Small Island to the top of your list! It languished on my nightstand for months until I finally started on it and read it compulsively til done. Wonderful book! We seem to like a lot of the same ones. As far as The Day the Falls Stood Still, I have an ARC copy that I would be happy to send you. I loved that one too.

Brenzi- I also loved your review on Small Island! And I have wish-listed it! I will have to check around for it. I have heard nothing but positive feedback on The Day the Falls Stood Still, another one to keep an eye out for!
Mark

>32 - Mark -

Isn't brenzi's choice of books great? Glad you are around her thread sometimes, too.

We know how to find 'em and pick 'em ... both the books and LT Friends, huh?

WH/Ruth

Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, sep 11, 2009, 2:24pm.

Hi Bonnie, I read The Day the Falls Stood Still as an LTER book and loved it! I enjoyed your review especially since you're a local and know of which you speak.

JoAnne,

Yes I had a natural inclination to it. Many books have been set in the Falls (Joyce Carol Oates a few years ago) but this one was particularly good I thought. Glad you liked it too.

#39 Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese - just finished it this morning and WOW what a read. I'll write my review tonight.

Looks like another winner! I have had this one on my wishlist for quite some time! Keep it rollin' Brenzi!!

Yes Mark,
This one kind of crept up on me. I mean I had never heard of it and then it seemed like it was everywhere. Very, very good.

Cutting for Stone

From my review:"After eight months spent in the obscurity of our mother's womb, my brother, Shiva, and I came into the world in the late afternoon of the twentieth century of September in the year of our grace 1954."

So begins Abraham Verghese's wonderful sweeping novel that takes us from India to Ethiopa to New York City and covers the years 1954 until 1986. The story is told by Marion Stone, twin brother of Shiva, son of Sister Mary Joseph Praise, a Catholic nun, and Dr. Thomas Stone, noted surgeon. The circumstances of this birth are not the strangest things to occur in this saga but with a beginning like that, you get the idea. You also know, after reading the first page, that you are in the hands of a master and that thought does not diminish over the next 533 pages. Verghese, a physician and professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine, wields the pen just as he probably wields the scalpel. His writing is poetic and flows eloquently.

Bonnie- Very good review! Need to find copy (in robotic voice!)

>39- Bonnie -

Uh, oh. I had this one at home during a time that there was a plethora of books visiting here from our county library system. I got started late in the three-week period of loan, and had to return it to circulation before I was able to finish reading it. It is on my re-read list and I am really looking forward to getting it back in my clutches again.

Stanford has some greatly talented faculty, eh? Verghese is one of several with published works.

WH/Ruth

Bonnie, reading your thread is so weird for me. I keep getting startled and think everybody is talking to me. (You know, "Are you talking to me?" ala Robert DeNiro?) I've got Cutting for Stone on my wish list as well.

Bonnie,

Exactly what I was thinking both here and on your threads. lol

>#42 & #43 -

What a pleasant dilemma*!

Two wonderful women named Bonnie. Though I do not often find another woman with my name to enjoy the experience you are describing. Enjoy yourselves.

*...What is distressing or painful about a dilemma is having to make a choice one does not want to make. The use of such adjectives as terrible, painful, and irreconcilable suggests that dilemma is losing some of its unpleasant force. There also seems to be a tendency especially in sense 3b toward applying the word to less weighty problems . Quoted from: www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dilemma

In other words, your dilemma seems to me a less weighty problem. Just saying.

You both rock!

WH/Ruth

Well Ruth you're pretty wonderful yourself. I've been grinding my way through The Yiddish Policemen's Union so i have't had a lot to add but i should finish it up in a few more days. I've been so busy at work and at home doing things for work that I'm getting behind but I'm really enjoying Michael Chabon. Hope you're doing well.

Hey, Bonnie! I really liked The Yiddish Policemen's Union which surprised me, because I don't usually have a whole lot of patience for characters like Meyer Landsman--in real life or in books. I think I'm about 136 on the "requested" list at the library for Cutting for Stone so I'm going to read another one of his books. (Shoot, can't remember the title--that's happening a lot more these days!) I really loved Andrea Levy's Ship Fever, so want to read Small Island too. Actually, I have a lot of books on my wish list that you've read or are going to read. Thanks for sharing your Best of 2009 with me. Happy reading! :-) bonniebee

Hi Bonnies!! Our lines keep criss-crossing! It's like a cool Twilight Zone episode. I have The Yiddish Policemen's Union sitting high up on my tbr pile.I also have Cutting for Stone wishlisted and I just received a copy of Ship Fever. I loved her Voyage of the Narwhal. How neat is that! We are morping into one!

Well Mark you are right. All I have to do is check and see if you and Bonnie like a book and I know I'll like it too. I love LT!

#40 The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon

From my review:

"What if in 1948 the newly established state of Israel collapsed? And what if the Alaskan panhandle(named Sitka) became the home for 4 million Jews instead? And what if, after 60 years, this "home" reverted back to the Alaskan Indians and left those Jews looking for a place to live? This is the premise of Michael Chabon's fascinating novel."

Read more at http://www.librarything.com/profile_revi...

What a fabulous read!

Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, sep 23, 2009, 1:07pm.

Great review, brenzi! I've heard about this book but never knew what it was about until now. It sounds really good, will have to add it to the TBR.

Bonnie - Great review! I need to get to this one soon! I heard the Coen brothers are making a film based on it!

Bonnie- You have a Hot Review!!! Excellent job!

Thanks Mark,
The Coen Brothers? Really? Excellent!

> 49 - The Yiddish Policemen's Union Review by Bonnie -

Very good review Bonnie. I like it!!!

Gave me much more insight into the book and the characters and plot(s) that drive it. I enjoy Jewish history and many Jewish writers and certainly the stories and novels of great renown. This one sounds intriguing to me. Inventive alternate history derived from a big, What if?

Nice to be in touch. Very busy here ... as I am sure you are there. I'm gonna toddle on over to the review and read all of it there, just in case this is just an excerpt.

With love,

Ruth/WH

#41 Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov

From my review:

Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov tells the story of professor Timofey Pnin who teaches Russian at a small New England college in the early 1950's. It is the story also of the immigrant experience at that time.

It is Nabokov's intense development of this one character that takes up the entire book. Other characters are present but they really don't matter. It's Pnin that this book is about. You get to know him intimately, but find that you really don't know him at all. There is no shortage of characters that take advantage of him and his many shortcomings help to spell out his predicament.

Read more here http://www.librarything.com/profile_revi...

Finished #42 today. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. I'll get my review up tomorrow.

That was a really good review of The Yiddish Policemen's Union, Bonnie. Next time I'm trying to briefly describe a book I've read, I'll see if you've read it first and send people over to your review. Maybe they'll be confused and give me credit! ;-) I had to laugh at the end of your review, though, because I remembered how SqueakyChu complained about all the similes/metaphors which I hadn't even noticed, but certainly did in your quote.

>57 Hey Bonnie,
Thanks for the compliment but I have to say I really love books with lots of similes and metaphors. For me, that makes the narrative so much more interesting if they are well done, and Chabon was very good at this.

On to Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. From my review:

When I first decided I wanted to read Lolita it was because I wanted to broaden my appreciation of the classics that I was sorely missing. I had a rough idea of what the story line was: I recognized that it concerned a pedophile and a young girl but beyond that I really didn’t know what to expect. I had always assumed that there was a lot of graphic sex in the story. Then again, the book received many good reviews and was generally a four or five star read for other readers. It sat on my nightstand for over a year and when I realized that last week was Banned Book Week, what better time to attempt this classic.

Read more http://www.librarything.com/profile_revi...

Bonnie- Excellent review on Lolita! I read it about 10 years ago and like you, was blown away by the beautiful prose!

Trudge. Trudge, and trudge some more.

I guess I may as well go ahead and read Lolita. I bring it home and it languishes on the floor by my side of the bed for three to six weeks, then to be returned reluctantly to the Main library.

Bonnie, how do you get so much reading completed with a full time job and a full time life? You inspire me, woman.

With love

Ruthie

I bought Lolita at a garage sale last month and now I can't wait to read it. Thanks for the excellent review!

>Mark,

Thanks so much it really was an unexpectedly beautiful read.

>Ruth,

Are you kidding? Thank you but I am a piker compared to Mark and Bonnie and Whisper and a ton of others who work and are voracious readers. I don't watch TV much - that opens up some slots for reading and I will admit I sometimes stay up til the wee hours if the book is compelling and I can keep my eyes open-lol. (anxiously awaiting retirement)

>Space - good to hear that you're not putting it off like I did. Go for it.

Well, I've already been putting it off for a couple of years figuring I'd get it from the library when I was ready for it. Buying it at the garage sale didn't actually help motivate me to read it any sooner but your review is keeping it hovering at the top of the pile. One of these days/weeks!

Snails inspire some people, too, you know. I am definitely in the snail category, myself. You are welcome to join me there any time you would like to visit. I'm not unlovable or icky either, I just glide along through my life with ease on a ribbon of liquid silk. (I wish!) tee hee.

Ruthie

Ruth I think you're a poet at heart.

Finished #43 today - The Earth Hums in B Flat - will put up my review shortly, suffice it to say I loved it.

I'm so glad you enjoyed The Earth Hums! Such a lovely story!

>65, you make me feel guilty about all the snails I crunched in my garden this week.

> 68 - Bonnie in Seattle - the planet's answer to where snails want to rule the world!!!

Guilt is a useless emotion, IMHO, Bonnie. What is, is. You gotta do what you gotta do. It is with wonder that I ever even come across a snail here in Tallahassee.

I just need a totem that fits me ... and for now the snail is a good fit. I picked up the idea from a little book that I have partially read and fully intend to finish sometime soon, Slow Reading that I first learned of here on LT.

> 66 - Bonnie in Buffalo - out of numerical order, I know, but just call it poetic license. Thank you for noticing how much I love words and using them. I thought The Earth Hums in B Flat was wonderful. I think I already mentioned that I have a new grey tabby kitten who has quite an intrepid personality and her nickname if Gwenni, after the protagonist in Hums.

Her formal name is Mi' Lady Guinevere and that suits at times, also. She is very calm and surprisingly reserved at times. We have a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named (King) Arthur, hence the Guinevere for the kitten.

I am so happy to know that you and others are reading and enjoying the story surrounding Gwinni and her family, friends and village.

With love,

Ruth/womansheart

Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, okt 11, 2009, 9:44am.

From my review of The Earth Hums in B Flat:

Mari Strachan’s astonishing debut novel brings us the voice of one of the most endearing adolescent narrators in recent memory. Gwennie Morgan is 12 years old, lives with her mother, father and sister Bethan in a Welsh village in the 1950’s, goes to school with her best friend Alwenna, is a budding detective and … oh yes, she flies-unaided by an airplane or any other contrivance.

Read more here http://www.librarything.com/profile_revi...

>70 - Oh, Bonnie -

Oh, what a hook. I'll return after I read more of the review at the link you posted here ...

You know that I loved this book, right?

Later, Dear Bonnie -

Your buddy -

Ruth

Bonnie- Excellent review! I will wishlist this one, my dear!

#44 Zeitoun by Dave Eggers

From my review:

Descriptive words prompted by this book: unsettling, despair, terrifying, discouraging, frightening.

Time to read this book: measured in hours rather than days

Final opinion: priceless


Read more here.

> Bonnie - You had me at priceless ...

reading more, of course.

With love,

Ruth

Zeitoun received high praise from me as well. It will be on my Top Ten list for the year. Great review. I like that you pointed out that this was just one such post-Katrina story. Disasters do bring out the best and worst in people, don't they?

Bonnie- Another excellent review! I am at the 2/3rds point and agree with your enthusiastic assessment!

Great review, brenzi! I have a few other Eggers books on my TBR, looks like I'll have to add this one too.

I've had Zeitoun on hold at the library - I really wish it would hurry!

Thank you everyone for your kind words.

>Mark-I'm anxious to get your opinion on the book when you finish.

>Donna- "brings out the best and worst" That is it exactly!

>Space - I'm looking for other Egger books too.

>Ruth - thanks also for recommending the Earth Hums

JoAnne,

Once you get it it will be such a fast read you won't believe it.

Bonnie, my first David Eggers book was his memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. I'm really glad I read that first. I don't like short stories nearly as much as novels, but always buy The Best of American Non-Required Reading every year which he edits as well. This summer I read What is the What which is about the "Lost Boys of Sudan" and it was also very good. I looking forward to reading Zeitoun, but I think I'm about #248 on the wait list at the library on that one. ;-(

P.S. Don't know why the touchstones are working; do read his memoir!

Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, okt 14, 2009, 3:34pm.

> bonniebooks- I have A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius sitting in my tbr. It's been there a long while but I will have to bump it up a few notches, after being amazed by Zeitoun, which I'm nearly finished with.

I love love love Eggers's short stories so can't wait to get to Zeitoun. I haven't read A Heartbreaking Work... but somehow Zeitoun appeals more to me, so I think I'll get to that first. Also, did you know that Eggers co-wrote the script for the upcoming Where the Wild Things Are movie? He also co-wrote Away We Go, Sam Mendes's latest movie (Sam Mendes aka the director of "American Beauty" and "Revolutionary Road") which I can't wait to see!

Eliza- I think I read that somewhere, about Eggers co-writing the film version of Where the Wild Things Are. BTW, it's getting terrific reviews. Also, I currently have "Away We Go" from Netflix. Looking forward to it.

Hello everyone,
Finished up Still Alice by Lisa Genova and will write my review later tonight. Started Black Swan Green by David Mitchell which is proving to be an addictive read.

Hey, co-founding member of the Bonnie Bunch! I'm picking up Still Alice from the library tomorrow. And I've read Black Swan Green and predict you'll like it!

Hey Bonnie, Captain of the BB,

Well I'm predicting you'll like Still Alice even though it is gut wrenching. So far I am loving Black Swan Green. (Are we possibly one in the same person?)

LOL! Another rumor started! You're bad, Bonnie!

#45 Still Alice by Lisa Genova

From myy review:

At the age of fifty, Alice Howland is at the pinnacle of her career. She has been a psychology professor, a Ph.D, a noted author, an accomplished researcher and a respected speaker. For the past 25 years, her career in the Harvard community has been a source of pride for her and her family. How ironic then, that this gifted, intelligent woman, whose intellectual capabilities have secured her identity in her professional community, should suddenly find herself unable to remember the simplest details, disoriented in a onetime very familiar location and missing important engagements because she simply forgot. This happens often enough for Alice to seek a medical opinion and, after many tests and examinations, the diagnosis is frightening: early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Read more here.

Excellent review! Big thumbs up!

Yes, very nice review! One of my favourite aspects of Still Alice was the evolution of Alice's relationship with her daughters, especially Lydia. Just ripped my heart right out!

Another Hot Review! Good job!!

Congrats - great review! You've got me almost wanting to read Still Alice!

Just came over, still sniffling and with a giant headache, to say that I loved Still Alice too! Thumbed your review, now I'm going to fill myself up with antioxidants (blackberries) before I go to bed!

Of course you loved it. Was there any question, alter ego? Hope you feel better real soon.

Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, okt 20, 2009, 10:09am.

Calling all Barbara Kingsolver fans. WalMart, Amazon and Target are in a price war. Kingsolver's yet to be released book, The Lacuna, as well as 9 other books that would need to be pre-ordered, are on sale for $9. At walmart.com that includes free shipping! This is only good as a pre-order so act soon.

It's a shame those places don't deliver north of the border because in Canada, they're still charging the normal price. I think Amazon.ca is discounting it to $22.

>94 & > 95 - Hello Dear "Both Bonnies"

I'm not even gonna try to remember all the nicknames that the two of you have had bestowed upon you.

I got an email notification this morning that Still Alice is waiting for me on the reserve shelf at the main library. Yeah.

Now, as one of us almost always says ... I just need the time to read it.

It is one that I am very interested in reading for what is the authors ability to portray this family and this experience so deeply and with genuine compassion and feeling. That is as good as it gets, IMHO.

It would be so much fun if the two of you lived close by and we could get together for book discussions every few weeks. In the meantime, let's keep at it here on LT with all the great friends we have made here in this community of kindred souls.

Hope your weekend is lovely and filled with health and beautiful Fall weather.

There is an Organic Farm Tour in the agricultural areas surrounding Tallahassee. We enjoy everything from honey and artisanal cheeses to fruits, vegetables and locally raised goats, chickens, lamb and beef cattle, not to mention pecans that are being harvested this time of year. Gee, I wonder if the Chamber of Commerce needs a copy writer? My DH (RedHillsReader) and I are going to visit two or three places out of the thirty-three in the tour tomorrow afternoon and learn stuff as well as buy some things for home cooking.

Sorry for the commercial break, but, hey ... good food, good books, good friends (and sometimes, good wine) are all some of life's greatest pleasures.

With love to both of you,

Ruth/womansheart

Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, okt 24, 2009, 10:35am.

Finished Black Swan Green and will write my review tonight (I hope). I've started on the early favorite for the Pulitzer Lark & Termite by Jayne Ann Phillips.

#46

Black Swan Green by David Mitchell

From my review:

The town of Black Swan Green in 1982 provides the setting for David Mitchell’s adolescent coming of age story that might just be autobiographical. Jason Taylor is thirteen years old and serves as narrator of the story that describes one year in his life, a year full of possibilities and loaded with teenage angst as well.

Read more here:

http://www.librarything.com/profile_revi...

Bonnie- Another terrific review! You are on fire, friend!
BTW- How's Lark and Termite? Boy, I love that book!

Black Swan Green has been on my TBR for a while, glad to hear more praise for it! I loved the quotes you shared from it, especially these two:

"A cow of an awkward pause mooed.” (Page 52)
“A brick of loneliness is reaching terminal velocity inside me.” (Page 166)

Mitchell's style seems to be right up my alley! Thanks for the great review.

>101 Thank you Mark. I'm enjoying Lark and Termite very much, especially the parts in Korea.

>102 Space you will love this book. When I read that quote from page 52 I was floored. What is it? Metaphor? Not sure but his writing is to die for.

Black Swan Green is also in my tbr pile and your review just brought it closer to the top. Thanks for bringing it to my attention again - great review!

I came back because I hadn't realized you had a Hot Review! Congrats!!

Well my local library had their annual book sale anjd I made a small haul. I picked up:

Good Faith by Jane Smiley

The Night Watch by Sarah Waters

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers

The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard

Runaway by Alice Munroe

What Maisie Knows by Henry James

A Dangerous Woman by Mary McGarry Morris

Vanished by Mary McGarry Morris

The same day I got two Paperback Swap books:

Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov and

Lush Life by Richard Price

Every one of them in new or nearly new condition.

It feels so good to get them all set in their neat little places among my book shelves. Ahhhhh. So good.

Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, okt 28, 2009, 11:19am.

Way to go, Brenzi! The only thing better than a good book is a good book that you've gotten at a bargain price! I've only read Lush Life and A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. Both were good reads. Oh, I think I read Nightwatch too.

Yes Bonnie I remembered you suggesting Eggers' AHWOSG so I was happy to get it.

Hi, Bonnie -

I want to stop by and say hello. I will get caught up here on LibraryThing with you and will read your new review very soon. I'm recovering from a UTI that has knocked me flat on my back, on top of having some negative side effects from a blood pressure medicine that is helping, but, is going to need to be reduced to a milder dose for a while.

I do miss you and everyone. I will be feeling better and better now that I know more what is going on and how to take care of the problems.

Woman taking action to be well ...

Ruthie

>106 Nice haul! It must be that time of year, my library also had its annual sale this past weekend. Can't beat the deals at these events! At least, that's my excuse for bringing another stack of books into the house that there's no room for :)

Runaway is my favourite of the Alice Munro collections I've read so far, hope you enjoy it!

#47 - Lark & Termite by Jayne Ann Phillips

#48 - 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

#49 - now reading The Housekeeper and the Professor

My 50th book will be...wait for it....The Cellist of Sarajevo that I decided a long time ago would be saved for this special achievement. I know, I now, most people have already read it, but I haven't.

Good choice, Bonnie! I loved it, and it's the only book that every member of my RL book group actually read and enjoyed.

How did you like Lark and Termite? I've been debating whether I should add that to my reading list after so many LTers have raved about it.

Well, you're probably asking that other Bonnie, but I wasn't one of the "ravers." I liked it but didn't love it.

I too am interested in your reaction to Lark and Termite. It's the only one of those you just mentioned that I haven't read yet. I loved the others! All wonderful reads, imho!!

I hoped to write a review of Lark & Termite but right now I have "stuff" going on and it's looking like I won't be able to get to it. I liked it, didn't love it, but it was a complicated read which was why I wanted to review it. I guess three stars which is still worth reading and I would recommend it for the Korean part which I loved but that wasn't the main part of the book.

Joanne- I'm an official "club member", so I can put in my 2 cents. I thought Lark and Termite was a 5 star book and it is currently battling for the top spot for the year, (BTW, it's quite a fierce battle!).
I also have The Cellist of Sarajevo waiting in my tbr, thanks to Joanne & others. Will I dare move it up??

I really, really liked The Cellist of Sarajevo (now I'm sounding like my students with all their multiple "reallys"). It's simple and (imho) beautiful, but I think it's suffered from too much hype. It's like Gilead in that so much of your reading experience will be dependent on how much you want to feel and think about what you're reading.

Mark, I just put you in the World Series for Best Recommendations, but Lark and Termite wasn't a home run for me.

C'mon, you have to at least give it a triple!!

Thanks for the various opinions on Lark and Termite!

Now Mark, I already knew that you loved Lark and Termite! I had picked it up from the library a while ago and couldn't seem to get past the first few pages but admit that I probably didn't try very hard since I was wrapped up in something else at the time.

Oh, and did I mention that I really, really, really liked Cellist too? :)

I think Cellist is a great choice for milestone Book #50. I'm also reading my #50, and I selected The Help which came fully loaded with high praises from everyone. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on Cellist.

A few friends and I decided to start a book club last month and one of the suggestions that came up for our first book was Cellist of Sarajevo. We ended up going with something else (The Thirteenth Tale) but we're keeping it on the backburner for the future so I'm also looking forward to your thoughts on it!

Great choices for both your #50's. I'll have to go back and look to see what I chose. Louanne, I think The Help had the most overlapping recommendations when I alphabetized everybody's Top Tens of 2009. It was one of the few hardbound books that I bought this year, though I did wait until I could get a used copy.

>117: I am so with you on this Mark, our Bonny Prince. So far this year, Lark and Termite is one of my two 5-star rated books and firmly holding steady as my No. 1 read of the year. I did like The Cellist of Sarjevo when I read it in August of 2008, and gave it 4 stars. I think I am a tougher "grader" than many LT readers and reserve that coveted 5 star rating for books that touch me in the deepest way. On a personal note, I may be influenced by the fact that my late father fought in The Korean "Conflict."

> Mark and Donna - I think maybe this just wasn't the right time for this book for me. I'm on record to read three books in a row that I should have loved (based on other LTers with similar tastes), and I have barely been able to get through them. I think I'm in the dreaded book rut! Ugh! :(

Bonnie- Sorry to hear about the dreaded "rut". I'm very lucky, I rarely find myself in one. I'm really enjoying Assassination Vacation and People of the Book is amazing. We need to make "rut free zone" signs!

Bonnie-

I would take a wild guess and say that if you had stuff going on you would not be able to "take in" what the author of Lark and Termite has to offer us as readers. When I am dealing with an overload, an illness, or anything that is taking up most of the space in my brain, it is VERY hard for me to read a sensitive, introspective piece of any kind, be it poetry, a classic or a good novel. It seems to just turn me further inside to the "thing" and takes me away from the writing.

Wait a few years. Ask questions of one or two of your LT friends about their experience reading it.

On the other hand, maybe you could have had a "V-8". tee hee. Prolly not everyone's cup of tea.

With lots of love,

Ruth

When things slow down for you, PM me if you would like to make a little connection. It has been a while.

>126: Bonnie, I hope you find yourself "unrutted" soon. I was afraid that I was suffering from something similar when choosing which books to take with me today for our little 5-day getaway to Colorado. I am tagging along with my husband on a business trip and can't depend on my children who have lives and jobs to entertain me the entire time, so my book selection is very important.

I have Cutting for Stone from the library, but want to give it my undivided attention, so I went to my stash. I think I simply got overwhelmed and couldn't decide. I finally started reading a few pages here and there until I got hooked on The Crazed by Ha Jin. I've read three of his books and liked them all. This one is set in China during the Cultural Revolution. For lighter reading I chose Lost and Found. To me, one can never go wrong with a dog story. And finally, I have a little book that I must read and pass along to a friend before our Face to Face Book Group a week from tomorrow... The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Tolstoy. Not exactly light but it is short and a "have to read soon" book.

Anyway, I guess the moral of my story is try little "snippets" of different kinds of books until something grabs hold. :-) And, you know, it's okay if we don't all like the same books all the time. I do think Ruth is giving you good advice to try Lark and Termite again someday when the timing is better.

Happy reading!

Oh no! Are you saying you don't like Cellist of Sarajevo either? You know when I first joined LT, I was putting way too much on my wish list. People just made their books sound so good, and I ended up buying way too many books that I haven't been that excited about--some of them I haven't even read yet! Choosing from my "Top Tens" has really helped; I've been a lot happier reader lately. I've also gotten to know which LT-ers have the most similar tastes. Since you and I have liked quite a few of the same books, you might find some good books in my "favorites" section? If you haven't already read them! :-)

Last week I tried again to read Lark and Termite but still couldn't get into it.

It's frustrating when you can't get into a book that you really "should" like. Sometimes the time's not right and other times, well, there are always more books on the shelf!

I hope the rut smooths out soon!

Donna- I have a spanking new softcover of Cutting For Stone. I hope to get to it in a few weeks. (Who am I kidding, right?) I have read Waiting by Ha Jin but I don't remember it very well and I do have War Trash sitting close by. I've heard great things about that one, as well.
Joanne- I give you a lot of credit for giving Lark and Termite another try! Maybe it's just not in the cards! Like you said, there are so many other books!

Cutting for Stone is in PB now? Yeah! I'll have to ask for that one for Christmas.

Thank you to everyone for their words of encouragment and advice. I believe I am over it now and I'll begin "Cellist" later today. I've been putting it off just a bit.

>128 Ruth you are absolutely right. My mom was very sick for about a week and we buried her yesterday. Sitting in the hospital during the vigil proved to be too much as far as getting into any of my past few reads. I think it was just me reading the words on the page w/o registering much meaning. She had a wonderful life of 94 years and her legacy is her sense of humor.

>JoAnne - the other one I couldn't get into was 84, Charing Cross Road and I know you loved it so I will try that short one again sometime.

I finally did finish a good one this morning and it is:

#49 The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa. From my review:

In The Housekeeper and the Professor, Yoko Ogawa uses mathematics and baseball as metaphors for life and, in so doing, has written a very imaginative and charming novel. The housekeeper is a single mother, living in Japan in the early 1990’s, when she is assigned to the brilliant mathematics professor. She is his tenth housekeeper, the previous nine having been unable to deal with his special requirements. Ever since the Professor suffered a head injury in a car accident many years previously, his memory ends in 1975 and his short term memory only lasts eighty minutes.

Read more here: http://www.librarything.com/profile_revi...

>130 Donna I loved Cutting for Stone. I've only read Waiting by Ha Jin but I loved it; will have to try some of his other works.

Bonnie -

Your mother sounds like someone that I would have enjoyed being friends with. Having the legacy of a sense of humor is a wonderful legacy. Also, she had you for a child. That is another legacy. YOU.

I will be thinking of you during this time.

With love and sympathy for your loss -

Ruth

BONNIE, Bonnie, Bonnie! (That's a nice shout of amazement and concern, I'm not yelling at you.) I'm sorry you were going through all that. Of course you couldn't read Lark and Termite right then. You needed comfort food! I don't know if Cellist... is the right book for you right now either. I know you saved Cellist... for #50, but maybe you need to have a book numbered "49 and a half" that's a fun read, and where you're not thinking so much about life and death? You take care of yourself, Bonnie!

Oh Bonnie, I am so very, very sorry. Please take care of yourself and fill your thoughts with your loving memories of her long and happy life.

Joanne

Bonnie, I'm very sorry for your loss. I hope you find something, whether it a be a book or anything else that you love, that brings you peace and comfort.

Bonnie- I'm so sorry to hear about your Mother! My heart goes out to you!

Thank you everyone for your kind words. I really appreciate my LT friends. As I said, my Mom had a wonderful life where family was everything.

Hi Bonnie,

So very sorry to hear about your Mother. I can't think of a greater compliment than for a daughter to say about her Mom, what you just said: 'my Mom had a wonderful life where family was everything.' What a lovely thought. You were certainly blessed.

Wishing you peace....

Louanne

Finished The Cellist of Sarajevo and will write my review later today; started The Lacuna, Barbara Kingsolver's new novel.

Bonnie- Looks like you are picking some winners! I need to move The Cellist of Sarajevo up a few notches. It looks like I'm the only one who hasn't read it, at least in the "Bonnie Bunch"!! Hope you are having a great weekend!

Ooooh, I'm really curious about The Lacuna! It's still on order at the library so I'll have to wait a while to get my hands on it.

Oh, Bonnie -

Were we separated at birth? I just received my copy of The Lacuna, probably Friday. I've been to busy to do no more than take it out of the packing in which it was shipped.

Got one or two books ahead of it, screaming my name before I will be able to get to "TL". I do love, Barbara Kingsolver, though, so it might worm its way into the pile on the floor by my side of the bed. I will keep you posted. You are in my heart and mind each day.

With love,

Ruth

Ruth and Sapce,
This will probably be a slow read as I'm going back to work tomorrow and it's a long book so you may catch up to me but I am a big Kingsolver fan. Have you read The Bean Trees or Pigs in Heaven? I think those two are my favorites.

#50 The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway

From my review:

Told by four distinct voices, “The Cellist of Sarajevo,” by Steven Galloway describes in chilling detail the grizzly circumstances surrounding the 1991-1993 Siege of Sarajevo and the toll it took on its citizens. Spare and haunting in its prose, this novel grabs you by the throat almost immediately with its quiet intensity, and is very hard to put down until you’ve digested the final sentences.

Read more here.

Great review, Bonnie! I thumbed your whole review! It's easy to quote out of that book, isn't it? I loved his writing!

Another thumbs up here, very nice review! It got passed up as the first choice for my book club but I think I'll be bringing it up again next time.

Bonnie- I plan on reading "Cellist" soon, so I don't want to read your entire review yet! Congrats on the Hot Review! You are burning 'em up!

I'm glad you'll be reading it soon Mark because it's sooooooo good.

Nice review Bonnie!! Wasn't Cellist just wonderful!? (Rhetorical) I'm so glad you liked it!

You'll love it Mark!

Finished #51 The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

I'll write my review shortly but it was a wonderful read.

From my review:

Barbara Kingsolver has not published a novel in over nine years, but with her newest offering, The Lacuna, her fans will happily see that the wait was well worth it. She has written a cracker jack of a story, spanning the North American continent over thirty years, and covering American geography, politics and history in a way that only Kingsolver can. She adroitly exposes a time in our history of which no American can be proud, and looks provocatively at art and the artist from numerous angles.

http://www.librarything.com/profile_revi...

Hi Bonnie- You have been kicking some butt on your book selections & terrific reviews! I'm just going to follow along behind you and pick winner after winner. Next up: Cellist of Sarajevo, Crossing to Safety and Cutting For Stone.

Nice review! It's on order at the library and I'm one of the first in line when it comes in...can't wait to finally get it. I'm glad to hear it's so good.

Thanks Mark but "kicking some butt"? No more so than you, Bonnie, Donna, Joanne, Ruth, Linda...the list goes on and on of book lovers who suggest books on LT, then write reviews that generate more readings and more reviews and the cycle never ends (thankfully). Ever since I started on LT the quality of the books I read has just gotten so darn good. I am so thankful for that.

Cutting for Stone was a 5 star read for me - loved it. I also love anything by Wallace Stegner. I read Crossing to Safety in the early 90's and loved it; might be time for a reread.

Hey there hottie! Congrats! I'm waiting for my turn with a library copy of The Lacuna and I enjoyed reading your review.

Bonnie- Okay, we're all "kicking butt"! How's that? And yes, all thanks to this wonderful place!

The 2009 National Book Awards were presented last night and the fiction winner was Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann. Why doesn't it surprise me that my library system only has one copy and I'm #19 on the list?

You are my heart of hearts.

I'm reading Still Alice and it gives me great perspective during this current illness on how to plan and take care of my needs around taking care of myself and my health.

I cannot tell you how much I enjoy reading every one of your posts. I would love to meet you "face to face" to relax and enjoy your warmth and your brain "in person."

Ruthie

Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, nov 20, 2009, 11:00am.

Ruth,

I'm actually the one who enjoys YOUR posts. You always have such nice things to say to everyone. I'm glad you're enjoying Still Alice which you know I loved also. Makes you appreciate all you have. Good health to you my friend.

Bonnie...

Just getting caught up here. I have noted the great titles you've reviewed lately, and will look them all up the first chance I get.

>161: A lot of talk about Let the Great World Spin. Sounds intriguing.

>162/163 I totally enjoyed Still Alice, and one of the members in my club selected it for next year, so I'll be reading it again in 2010.

I've missed a lot of posts, but I see you reached your milestone #50 Book a while back. My belated CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Cellist of Sarajevo was one of my fave books of this year. Glad you liked it.

I....think....I can.......almost...see..........the end .......of Wolf Hall. I don't remember when I've taken this long to finish a book. Sooo dense, but sooo good.

Bonnie- I'm so glad to hear such positive praise on Wolf Hall! Hopefully I can get to it, in the next couple of months.
I also wanted to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!

Finished Wolf Hall and The White Tiger the 2009 and 2008 Man Booker Prize Winners respectively and hope to get the reviews written soon.

Here's my predicament: while I was reading Wolf Hall I made a decision to get a good start on my overwhelming TBR pile and stacked up my next three reads right on my nightstand. But why oh why did I stop at the library? Sure, I was driving right by. And yes, I was not in a hurry to get anywhere in particular. I had to go in. I have so little will power when it comes to book stores and the library that I am helpless. Result: I escaped with only two books that I will now read to the detriment of The Pile. The two books? Love and Summer by William Trevor and Half-Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls. Oh well the pile will still be there when I finish these two :-)

Hi Bonnie! Good story! I think we are all suffering from the same illness! And LT just keeps fueling it but I guess we are all gonna go down with smiles on our faces! A friend just handed off a copy of Half Broke Horses and I plan on starting it in a couple of days. I also have The White Tiger sitting in my tbr and I meant to get to it six months ago. Looking forward to your reviews!

#52 Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

From my review:

What can I say about this book that hasn’t already been said? Not a thing so I will, instead, make this a primer for those readers, like me, who know nothing about the Tudors or 16th century England. You too can read and enjoy Wolf Hall.

Read more here.

Great idea, Brenzi! That was fun!

I'm not sure anyone here is writing better reviews! An outstanding job! And yes,I will read it again after I eventually finish the book!

Mark-

Aw shucks - she says bashfully. Thank you Mark.

Hear, Hear ...Mark. We have a friend (Bonnie) with talent for writing great reviews!

Thanks, Bonnie. I have Wolf Hall still waiting in the wings and I'm thinking that I will print your review and stick it in the front of the book as a reminder to me as I read it.

I hope to have more time to visit and to post soon. I'm struggling with the same old same old, but, will keep you informed if there is any change or improvement.

You are one of the best of the best, woman.

With love,

Ruth

>168 I have the exact same problem! And my husband is a complete enabler, always sending me coupons and sales that Chapters/Indigo has going on. The TBR just grows and grows and grows...

>169 Mark, The White Tiger is so good! Hope you get to it soon, I think you will enjoy it.

>170 Nice review! I keep going back and forth about Wolf Hall. I wanted to read it because of the award but the reviews on Amazon.ca haven't been too convincing so far. I had it on hold at the library but I cancelled it after more negative reviews went up...now I'm tempted to put it back on.

Finished my review of

#53 The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

From my review:

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga tells the story of one’s man’s life dealing with the injustice of the caste system in India and of how he escaped and became an entrepreneurial success. This is not an uplifting story. I was not left with a feeling of hope even though the way in which the story was told was light and humorous.

Read more here.

Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, dec 4, 2009, 12:01pm.

Please follow me over to

http://www.librarything.com/topic/75210&...

I've had this thread going since early October and hope my friends will stay in touch over here :-)