This is an eclectic list, indicative of my reading
tastes. I've tried to provide a brief comment on most
books. The linked (highlighted) titles indicate books
for which I've written more comprehensive reviews. I
enjoy browsing other people's book lists - it's often
how I decide what to try next. I hope you find my comments
of interest or helpful in your search for books to read.
MY RATING SYSTEM
(CAVEAT: There are few books that I hate. I won't bother
finishing books I dislike. Hence, most of my ratings
are in the 3 to 4 star range.)
***** Excellent. An exceptional, must-read book.
Something I'd read again. Enlightening and inspiring.
Not too many of these. **** Great read. Subject matter, writing, or
both are compelling. Often enlightening or inspiring.
Sometimes, just plain entertaining. *** Good Worthwile read. A book I found enjoyable
for any number of reasons. ** Fair Could be worse. * Don't bother unless the subject is of particular
interest or you just like to torture yourself.
NF = non-fiction
PRIOR YEARS (from my old pages): 200020012002
2006
The Chomsky Reader (nf) - Noam Chomsky ****
Love him, hate him, or if you're brand new to him, this collection of writings gives you his views on just about everything he's passionate about. If this is your first foray into Chomsky, you might want to take it in small chunks because your brain might explode if you try to digest the entire thing at one go.
No Logo (nf) - Naomi Klein ****
Fascinating, clearly written account about how brands and logos have became more important than the product. I was impressed by the way Klein explained the complete paradigm shift from marketing of products (goods and services) to the marketing of brands and image.
Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut ****
Satirical and whimsical. The ultimate doomsday weapon, a new guru/religion and a cynical protagonist equals a well-written black comedy about the state of the world and human nature.
Shake Hands with the Devil (nf) - Romeo Daillaire ***½
Compelling story about the failure of world powers to prevent and stop the genocide in Rwanda. Daillaire, the general in charge of the United Nations peacekeeping mission, speaks candidly of his own guilt, UN ineptitude, and the inaction of other nations (notably, the US and France) who could have done something to stop the atrocities.
Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro *** ½
Disappointing. I guess I was expecting more after reading Remains of the Day. A story about cloning and societal attitudes should have been more riveting.
Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla - Stephen King ***½
The Gunslinger and his ka-tet find themselves diverted from their quest in order to save a community from "Wolves". I stopped reading this series for awhile and I'm glad I took a break because I came back to Dark Tower V with much more enthusiasm and look forward to DT VI.
Vernon God Little - D B C Pierre ****
How an inconsequential kid in a small town, fueled by a sensationalistic press, gets blamed for a highschool massacre. Funny in an unexpected way. I'm sure it brings back the not so fond memories of highschool for a lot of people who didn't think they quite fit in.
Well of Lost Plots - Jasper Fforde *** ½
I know this is mostly fluff -- but very enjoyable fluff. I still like to find all the literary allusions Fforde throws in.
Anansi Boys - Neil Gaiman ***½
This is a fantasy romp - good versus evil; a protaganist
named Fat Charlie Nancy; gods and mystical creatures.
Completely entertaining.
Island - Aldous Huxley ***½
A much different take on Utopia from his Brave New World.
Secrets, Lies and Democracy: Noam Chomsky (nf) - David Barsamian ****
Chomsky (1993-94) as revealed in a series of interviews by David Barsamian.
Teeth of the Dragon - Tom Clancy **
Well, Jack Ryan is now a semi-retired legend in this story. Unknown to him, his son and nephew end up recruited into a covert government agency that was his brainchild. The story takes a long time to get nowhere - unless you consider a set up for a sequel "somewhere". Clancy needs to stop. The franchise has been wrung dry.
True History of the Kelly Gang - Peter Carey ***
The story of Ned Kelly and his gang in 19th Century Australia. It's told in a first person narrative and as can happen in this style, I found it sometimes devolved into a kind of whiney litany of "poor me, hard-done-by, child of Irish immigrants, what else could I have done?". Still, it's worthwhile if you like westerns and what happened to Irish immigrants.
Smilla's Sense of Snow - Peter Hoeg ****
I had this one sitting on my shelf for a long time and rather regret I didn't get to it sooner. Smilla is one of the most interesting female protaganists I've read in a long time. She's at once fiercely independent and strong, yet equally vulnerable and fragile when it comes to interpersonal relationships. Hard to describe - it's a mystery-thriller, action-suspense, examination of parent-child relationships, . . . and more -- all wrapped in beautiful prose.
The Watchman - Ian Rankin ***
A spy thriller. This was my first Ian Rankin novel and it wasn't bad -- just not sure I'll be rushing out to read another.
Atlantis Found - Clive Cussler ** ½
Rick Steves' Rome 2006 (nf) - Rick Steves ****
Packed with practical tips and recommendations. A little sketchy on the history -- so if you're a history buff, get something else to accompany the Steves'.
Journey to the Centre of the Earth - Jules Verne ***
Science fiction classic thats lost something over the passage of time. The so-called scientific "theories" of the protaganists are so obviously wrong and outdated that it was hard to suspend disbelief.
Money - Martin Amis ***
This was a definite slog for me. I found it hard to get past the fact that I found the main character so unlikeable. Some would say that was the point. To me, it almost turned me completely off. However, I did manage to finish and must admit, it was worth it.
Italy (nf) - DK Eyewitness Travel ****
I love the DK Eyewitness Travel books. Loaded with great photos, diagrams and historical facts. Not the best for up to date practical advice, but more than makes up for it in the visuals.
Frommer's Rome - Day by Day (nf) - Frommer's ****
Rome broken down into manageable chunks. Chapters arranged into neighborhoods and areas of interest. Suggestions about the best sites in a limited amount of time.
Lost in a Good Book - Jasper Fforde *** ½
Funny and entertaining. Half the fun is finding all the allusions to other literary works and authors.
Everything is Illuminated - Jonathan Safran Foer ***
A young author (bearing the same name as the book's author) goes back to find his family's ancestral home and track down the woman he thinks may have saved his grandfather from the Nazis. Unexpectedly light-hearted with moments of laugh-out-loud outrageousness. But, I just couldn't get into the narrator's voice. This maybe one I'll try again at a later date.
The Last Juror - John Grisham **½
I hadn't read a Grisham novel in a long time, so picked this one up for a light entertainment. I found it terribly predictable, repetitive and almost condescending. I may never again pick up another Grisham novel.
Brokeback Mountain - Annie Proulx ***1/2
Poignant love story between two men at a time when even they didn't understand it. I haven't seen the movie and don't know whether I need to after reading the story.
The Penelopiad - Margaret Atwood ***
Trademark caustic wit of Atwood applied to the Greek myth about Penelope and Odysseus. I found it a bit of a disappointment. Not bad, but not her best.
2005
Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro ****
Moving and beautifully written. One of my favourites of the year.
A Short History of Nearly Everything by
Bill Bryson ****
Exactly what the title says. Written in an entertaining
yet informative style. Complex concepts explained
in terms the average person can understand. It won't
make you an expert in quantum physics, but gives
you the impression that you understand the general
idea.
If On A Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo
Calvino ****
I absolutely adored this book. A convoluted tale
about writing and writers and their intimate and
intricate relationship to each other.
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
*** (nf)
Einstein's Monsters by Martin Amis ***
Heavy Water by Martin Amis ***½
Night Train by Martin Amis ***½
Written in Amis's version of the hard-boled detective genre. While enjoyable while reading it, in retrospect seemed a bit forced. Or was it the author's intention?
The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon
****
Slow Learner: Early Short Stories by Thomas
Pynchon ***½
The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana by
Umberto Eco ***½
A disappointment. Not that it was bad, I just lost
interest near the end with all the minutiae about
his beloved comics, song lyrics, and poems.
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde ***½
A fun and entertaining romp in the alternate reality
of Tuesday Next -- where the entire world revolves
around books and literary characters.
Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard ***
An okay sci-fi epic. I was tempted to put it down
several times, but stuck it out to the end. My negativity
may have to do with the whole L. Ron Hubbard - Scientology
thing and visions of John Travolta in dreadlocks
on movie posters for the film adaptation.
Fences and Windows by Naomi Klein (nf)
***½
The book is subtitled, Dispatches from the Front
Lines of the Globalization Debate. It's really
a series of articles and essays written over a number
of years as the author travelled the world attending
demonstrations, interviewing dissidents and stake-holders
in the globalization debate.
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson ****
A not-too-far in the future cyber-punk adventure.
Lots of action, great imagery and interesting characters.
Only one thing bothered me: a cringe-worthy sexual
relationship with an older guy and the much too
young female protagonist.
Time's Arrow by Martin Amis ****
The entire story is told in backwards chronological
order. An old man dies and lives his life forward
into his past - really! A brief blurb can't do it
justice. Brilliantly executed.
The Third Chimpanzee by Jared Diamond ***
The Writing Life by Annie Dillard ***
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott *****
A book about writing and life in geneeral. One of
the best writing books I've come across
The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty ****
Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond
(nf) ****
A refreshing, non-Eurocentric look at how the world
came to be what it is today.
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
The Man in the High Castle by Philip K
Dick
The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez Reverte
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
Runaway by Alice Munro ****
Munro's latest collection of stories. I was totally
floored by the first three connected stories. She
seems to have that kind of effect on me. It took
me a few days before I could go back and finish
the rest.
Grave Secrets by Kathy Reichs ***
Another story about forensic anthropologist, Temperance
Brennan. Fast-paced and entertaining. Enough hard
science to satisfy my nerdy medical sciences curiousity.
Humans by Robert J Sawyer ***
Moderately entertaining science-fiction story. It's
the second in a series of 3, so maybe I missed something
by not reading the first. Even so, this book didn't
make me feel like rushing out for the next book.
The Short Happy Life of the Brown Oxford &
Other Classic Stories by Philip K. Dick ***½
A collection of some of Dick's earliest short stories.
The Checkbook and The Cruise Missile: Conversations
with Arundhati Roy by David Barsamian ****
A series of interviews with the author of "The God
of Small Things" that illuminates her passion for
political activism.
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen ****
Glad I got around to this book despite all the furor
surrounding his views about the Oprah book nomination.
Terrific first novel. Captures so much of what's
wrong with North American society. Witty, ironic,
dark humour at its best.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
****
Beautifully written. So many layers to this story
that it's hard to do justice to its depth in just
a few words. A love story, a story about Indian
politics, the caste system, a tragic death, a tale
of the interconnectedness of twins -- all of these
and more.
2004 December 2004
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
by J K Rowling ***½
Kiln People by David Brin ***½
Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss
****
A cure for all the pedants out there. Humorous and
entertaining. Truss puts all those punctuation rules
you thought were carved in stone into perspective.
I'm sure most readers will learn something new.
Speaking in Tongues by Jeffrey Deaver ***
Entertaining enough, but generally forgettable whodunnit.
A troubled teen is kidnapped by a psychotic ex-psychiatrist.
Divorced parents come together to solve the crime.
Two Georges by Richard Dreyfuss & Harry
Turtledove *
In all honesty, I could not finish this book. After
about 1/3 the way through, I decided to stop torturing
myself. It's an alternate history novel about the
United States - i.e. What things would be like if
the colonies hadn't broken away from Britain. Awkward
and boring.
November 2004
The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress by Robert
A. Heinlein ****
Blindness by Jose Saramago ****
An epidemic of blindness sweeps through a nameless
city.
Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser****
A must-read for anyone who's eaten at a fast-food
chain restaurant.
The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence****
Wonderfully and powerfully written. A tragic story
of an unrelenting, loveless woman near the end of
her life.
The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon***
Having seen both movies based on this book, I figured
it was time to read the original story. Although
set in the Cold War era of the late 50s, it's easy
to see how it was translated into the recent (2004)
movie starring Denzel Washington. Most people remember
it as a story about brainwashing, but I thought
the more intriguing aspect was how it showed that
incompetent people can achieve positions of power
if they have someone (in this case, a wife) who
knows how to manipulate the media and public.
September - October 2004
No New Land by M.G. Vassanji***½
A bitter-sweet story of new immigrants to Canada.
Sad in many ways, but hopeful in the end.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
by Mark Haddon ****
I just flew through this book. It was witty, charming
and totally captivating. I don't know whether it
was because - in my previous profession - I've known
some real-life Christopher Boones, but it was refreshing
to see a story told from the perspective of someone
with Asperger's.
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan ***½
I was beginning to feel Amy Tan's books were getting
a bit too similar -- so with trepidation, I started
Bonesetter's Daughter. Although it's yet another
story about mother-daughter relationships, it felt
much fresher. The writing flowed more smoothly and
I actually liked the main character.
Inca Gold by Clive Cussler ***
Another Dirk Pitt story by Cussler. You know exactly
what you'll get - an escapist, action-adventure
with hero Dirk Pitt to the rescue. A book I took
with me on vacation to read by the pool and which
didn't require a great deal of concentration/thinking.
Left Behind by Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins**
I picked this book up at a used-book sale because
the blurb on the back sounded interesting. However,
once I got started and realized it was a story based
on a literal interpretation of the Book of Revelations,
it totally turned me off. I kept feeling preached
to - something I don't deal with very well.
Summer 2004
Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
***
I finally got around to reading this classic. Becky
Sharp is certainly one of the most memorable female
characters I've come across in literature. However,
I'm not fond of Thackeray's device of contantly
imposing himself (as the Manager/narrator) upon
the story.
The Path Between the Seas by David McCullough
****
An absolutely fascinating read about the history
of the building of the Panama Canal. I found the
political machinations of Teddy Roosevelt and the
U.S. to gain control of the canal almost more interesting
than the technical aspects of building it.
Deception On His Mind by Elizabeth George
***
Another Barbara Havers story.
Sigma Protocol by Robert Ludlum ***
Ludlum's trademark storyline of conspiracies within
conspiracies. Entertaining summer reading.
May 2004
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Trilogy
of Four by Douglas Adams ****
(a re-reading)
Angels and Demons by Dan Brown ***
Having enjoyed The Da Vinci Code, I decided to check
out another of the author's books. Angels and Demons
is a mystery-thriller with the same protaganist,
Robert Langdon, chasing the Illuminati this time.
Don't take it too seriously, remember it's only
fiction, and you'll be in for a light but entertaining
read.
Pattern
Recognition by William Gibson ***
I was loving this book - many intriguing plotlines
and interesting characters - until I got to the
end. Good book, poor ending.
April 2004
Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald
***½
Not an easy book to read - I felt bruised and battered
by the end. At times, it was almost too much to
read about the pain the Piper family inflicted upon
themselves and those around them. Strangely, I found
- if it makes any sense - that they had some function
to their incredibly dysfunctional family. Full of
complex characters you learn to love and/or hate.
Very well-written.
The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan ***
Another story about mother/daughter relationships
by Amy Tan.
March 2004
The Rise of Endymion by Dan Simmons***½
This is the last of the 'Hyperion' series by Simmons.
I was both thrilled and disappointed while reading
this book. I went from "Wow, this is great!" to
"You've gotta be kidding!" I wasn't thrilled with
the ending, but if you've hung on this far into
the series, then you've got to finish it.
Last Man Standing by David Baldacci ***
A combination psychological thriller/action-suspense
story. The leader of a hostage rescue team is the
only survivor of an ambush and tries to deal with
his ensuing guilt as well as the suspicions of his
superiors that he orchestrated the attack. Entertaining.
Not rocket-science.
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov ***½
A re-read. It's been over 20 years since I first
read this. I recently saw the trailer for the movie
"loosely based" on the book and wanted to refresh
my memory and see if the movie bears any resemblance
to the book. It doesn't.
"L" is for Lawless by Sue Grafton ***
The usual, entertaining Kinsey Milhone story. Good
for a light, quick, read. I'll eventually get around
to the entire alphabet series, just to see how Grafton
ends it with "Z".
January - February
A slow reading period for me. Post-Christmas, mid-winter
doldrums, I guess.
Endymion
by Dan Simmons ***½
- A continuation of the Hyperion series. Works even
if you haven't read Hyperion or Fall of Hyperion.
It's only weakness is the cliff-hanger ending that
is an obvious lead-up to the next book, "Rise of
Endymion". (BTW, this is the same irritation I felt
about Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion.)
Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury****
Another re-read and still one of my all-time favourites.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath ****
Don't know why it took me so long to get around
to this book. At times, a funny, depressing, invigorating,
and compelling read. So well-written, the pages
just fly by.
2003 (click underlined titles for full
reviews) December 2003
Calculating
God by Robert J. Sawyer ***½
A thought-provoking story about aliens who seek
out a paleontologist in Toronto in order to study
earth. The terminally-ill paleontologist is forced
to re-examine his beliefs when the alien tells him
that logic dictates there must be a God.
Kate Remembered by Scott Berg ***½
A biography of Katharine Hepburn written in an atypical
style. It jumps from anectdote to anectdote as the
author recalls his unique and friendship and conversations
with the star.
Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham ***½
Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl
A re-read. I found this at a used book sale and
just had to buy it. It's a book I fondly remember
from junior highschool.
Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris
*** ½
I haven't read "Chocolat", but have seen its movie-trailers.
I concluded, wrongly, that Joanne Harris writes
light, romantic novels. Five Quarters of the Orange
is quite dark and brooding. The protaganist is not
easy to like, though in the end I was won over.
November 2003
Brick Lane by Monica Ali ***
A bit of a disappointment. Perhaps I was expecting
too much of this Man Booker finalist.
Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown ***½
An entertaining page-turner. The author presents
interesting and compelling theories about the meaning
behind Da Vinci's paintings. The only weakness is
in the murder-mystery plot which I found to be too
predictable.
Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub
***½
This is a good follow-up to "The Talisman" and lead-up
to King's final Dark Tower novel. The only draw-back
is that it might be difficult to follow if you haven't
read The Talisman.
October 2003
Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel ***½
Cryptonomicon
****
This is one big book! Both physically (it's 918
pages in the trade paperback edition) and in its
scope. The story jumps back and forth between WW
II and the present with interconnecting storylines
of numerous characters and their progeny. It may
seem confusing at first, but it's pretty easy to
follow once you get the hang of it (took me a few
chapters to figure it out). Saying that it's about
computers, secrecy, and cryptoanlysis is a disservice
to the book. There are interesting, quirky characters
and much more weird humour than I expected. Bottom
line: don't be put off by the size, it's worth reading.
The Regulators by Richard Bachman ***
Bachman (aka Stephen King) has written a gore-fest
along the lines of Halloween slasher flicks. It's
ok for a weekend's entertainment but lacks anything
of substance to remain in your memory banks. This
is my first "Bachman" book, but I can't quite figure
out why he's been resurrected - the bio says he
died of cancer in 1985. I think one of the best
(and funniest) parts of the book is the jacket cover
-complete with picture of the young Bachman (King)
- and the intro that explains how Bachman's widow
found this lost manuscript.
Stupid White Men ... and Other Sorry Excuses
for the State of the Nation by Michael Moore
***½
Love him or hate him, Michael Moore is certainly
provocative. With biting satire and a wicked sense
of humour, he holds no punches. I suspect that if
you're American and you disagree with him, you'll
find the book infuriating. On the other hand, if
you have sympathy with his issues, you'll think
it's brilliant. As a non-American, I found it humourous
and thought-provoking.
Dracula by Bram Stoker ***
Classic tale of Dracula. Interestingly told. It's
stature as the definitive Dracula story lets you
forgive the poor writing.
September 2003
Watership Down by Richard Adams ****
I loved this book. It's so well-written that you
forget the animals are ... well, animals. I found
myself completely captivated by the rabbits and
was cheering them on every step of the way. I watched
the movie shortly after I finished the book and
almost fell asleep through sheer boredom. The movie
is regarded as a 'classic' by some, but I found
it much tamer and less vibrant than the book.
Hawaii The Big Island Revealed by Andrew
Doughty and Harriet Friedman **** (nf)
This truly is the 'ultimate guide'. I've been going
to the Big Island for years, but discovered things
in this book that I'd never heard of before.
On Cukor by Gavin Lambert ***½
A series of taped interviews and photos chronicling
director George Cukor's thoughts on his career in
movies - the stars and personalities he worked with
as well as the art of movie-making in general. The
photos, alone, are worth getting this book - from
Marlene Dietrich and Kate Hepburn to Marlon Brando
and Cary Grant - fascinating stuff (and I got it
on a bargain table for $2.84)!
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold ***½
Not at all what I expected. A well-told story of
a girl's violent murder and her subsequent 'life'
in heaven as she observes how her friends and family
deal with her death. Don't be put off by the subject
matter. Like I said, it's not what you'd expect.
August 2003
No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod ****
A moving story about generations of a Scottish family
who fled to Cape Breton for a better life. The now
middle-aged and successful Alexander MacDonald retells
the experiences of his youth and those of his large,
extended family - always remembering what his Grandma
told him, "Blood is thicker than water".
Oryx
and Crake by Margaret Atwood ****
At least on par with Atwood's The Handmaid's
Tale. A chilling look at a not too distant future
where science and technology are driven by corporate
greed. Throw in a sociopathic genius and you've
got the destruction of the human race as we know
it.
The Outsider (or The Stranger) by Albert
Camus (unrated)
Not a great fan or believer in existentialism or
existentialist writing, so rather unfair to rate
this. Well-done, but depressing.
Neverwhere
by Neil Gaiman ***½
By the author of American Gods.
Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded August
27, 1883 by Simon Winchester (nf) ***
A detailed and interesting look at this momentous
eruption. Winchester examines the events (both geologically
and historically) leading up to the day as well
as the eruption and aftermath. What's fascinating
is that the effects of the Krakatoa eruption are
still being seen today in the rapidly growing new
land masses.
June - July 2003
Island Wise: Lessons in Living from the Islands
of the World by Janis Frawley-Holler (nf) ***
The author is a travel writer who has visited 24
very different islands of the world. From the exotic
to the well-known, each essay consists of her observations
of life on the island and her views of how we can
improve our own lives by incorporating the ambience
and outlook of the individual islands. The chapter
titles give you an idea what I mean: eg. "Anegad,
The British Virgin Islands - Be in the Quiet",
"Borneo - Heart of Courtesy", "St Lucia -
Savor the Flavors", "Hong Kong - Uphold
the Traditions", "Taha'a, Tahitian Islands -
Adopt Natural Pleasures". Almost new-agey,
but not as corny as it first sounds. At the very
least, a wonderful travelogue and a visit to some
islands I've never heard of before (like Sjelland,
Denmark and Jost Van Dyke, BVI).
Vitals by Greg Bear
***½
A good sci-fi, thriller/whodunit for fans of Greg
Bear and 'hard sci-fi'. Lots of real science and
jargon combined with a compelling story of conspiracy
and mind control. An entertaining summer read.
Everything's Eventual by Stephen King ***
A collection of 14 short stories by King. They are
mostly quirky and only somewhat spooky. I found
them to be inconsistent from story to story and
only "okay" for King. Worth reading if you're a
Stephen King and Dark Tower fan.
Balzac and the Little Chinese
Seamstress by Dai Sijie ***½
A tiny gem of a novel. At only 197 pages (hardcover
edition), I read it in two sittings. It's a tale
of two teenagers during China's Cultural Revolution
of the '70s who are sent to a mountainous village
for "re-education" - their only crime being that
they had an education and parents who were considered
enemies of the state (ie. doctors and dentists).
In this most improbable of places, they get their
first glimpse of Western culture when they find
a chest of forbidden books. The first book they
read is Balzac's Ursule Mirouet and there
is no turning back.
Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood ***½
Vintage Atwood. After years away, an artist returns
to her hometown of Toronto for a retrospective of
her work. She is forced to remember and confront
the painful memories of her childhood.
April - May 2003
Hidden Tahiti and French Polynesia by Robert
F Kay (nf) ****
Personal and friendly guidebook including the author's
own out-of-the-way favourites. Some maps (but not
very detailed) and cultural background about the
people.
Lonely Planet - South Pacific **** (nf)
Lots of interesting details: cultural background,
language & maps. Does a good job covering a huge
territory. If I could take only one book on a trip
to the South Pacific, this would be it.
We So Seldom Look On Love
by Barbara Gowdy ***
A collection of short stories by this Canadian author.
It was the April selection for CanLit
Readers. Bizarre, strange, perverse. These stories
span a wide spectrum of human oddities. From a 2-headed
man to a female necrophiliac, Gowdy manages to convey
their basic humanity as they struggle with their
not-so-ordinary lives. Well-written, but not for
those with a weak stomach.
Bel Canto by Ann
Patchett ***½
A good story, ruined by an implausible ending.
A Wrinkle In Time
by Madeleine L'Engle ****
A wonderful story that both my sons read in school,
but that I'd never gotten around to reading until
now. A blend of time travel, real science, and fantasy.
It's also the story of Meg Murry, an awkward, self-loathing
adolescent who finds out she is important and loved.
Spadework by Timothy
Findley ***½
The May read for Canadian
Readers. Findley's last published novel before
his death in July 2002. A highly readable, entertaining
novel. Set in Stratford, Ontario during the last
few weeks of the Theatre Festival season of 1998.
The Sparrow by Mary
Doria Russell ***½
The Sparrow is a sci-fi novel recommended to me
by readers at The
Book Forum. I found it to be an atypical sci-fi
novel. It had enough 'hard science' in it, but the
focus was more philosophical - dealing with a Jesuit
priest's struggle with faith. I look forward to
reading the sequel, "Children of God".
March 2003
The Sacred Balance: Rediscovering Our Place
in Nature
- David Suzuki with Amanda McConnell ***½
Dreamcatcher
by Stephen King ***½
Stephen King back at what he does well. A welcome
relief after his dismal "From a Buick 8". A story
of childhood friends bound together by an act of
courage and loyalty to an unusual friend. They take
very divergent paths as adults, but continue to
meet on a yearly hunting trip in Maine. Lots of
creepy characters and gross-out scenes involving
aliens. (An aside: Don't bother seeing the movie!
I saw the movie before finishing the book so I could
do a movie review for another site. Trust me, the
book is better.)
The Currents of Space
by Isaac Asimov ***
A Galactic Empire novel that precedes the Foundation
series. Not particularly good. Provides some background
info that might be of interest to fans, but isn't
crucial for enjoyment of the Foundation novels.
Emma by Jane Austen ***½
What's to say that hasn't been said about this classic?
A thoroughly delightful read about the charming,
irrepressible Emma - so intent on matchmaking that
she almost misses out on love.
The Forge
of God by Greg Bear ***½
The February Book of the Month at The
Book Forum. A very good "hard sci-fi" book about
aliens arriving on earth. The first book I've read
by Greg Bear - not my last.
The Talisman
by Stephen King and Peter Straub ****
Far Horizons ed. Robert Silverberg ***½
This book caught my attention at a used book sale.
It's a collection of stories by popular science
fiction writers (eg. Ursula K. Le Guin, Orson Scott
Card, David Brin, Anne McCaffrey, Dan Simmons).
They are additional "side" stories based on the
authors' already well-known series - eg. Card has
a story about Ender and Valentine; LeGuin has a
story about the Ecumen, etc. A great way to get
a sampling of these authors' writing.
The Empty Café by Michael Hoffman
*
A short story collection. This book came to me "free"
from the publisher/author. I should have known better.
The book is full of typographical and spelling errors,
poor grammar, and incomprehensible stories. (It's
not a good sign when a character's name is spelled
3 different ways and you're more interested in counting
the number of spelling mistakes than you are the
storyline.)
A Man in Full by Tom Wolfe
***½
Funny and bitingly satirical - I enjoyed this rollicking
story of aging, ex-jock, cum-real-estate developer,
Charlie Croker immensely. Set in Atlanta, it takes
aim at a certain segment of the political and social
elite.
Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis De
Bernieres ***
At times whimsical and humourous, at other times
brutal. It's a love story, a coming of age story,
a geography and history lesson all rolled into one.
I thought I'd like this novel more than I did. It's
good - but not great. I didn't particularly like
the character of Pellagia and found the secondary
characters more interesting.
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