Author: Mary Balogh
A re-read. Interesting use of time unwinding to explain the current events of the novel.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
The Secret Pearl
Author: Mary BAlogh
Unusual in romance novels to have such a crappy loss of virginity scene with the romantic hero. Somehow modern writers never fully capture the helplessness of the female in the manner of Jane Austen.
Unusual in romance novels to have such a crappy loss of virginity scene with the romantic hero. Somehow modern writers never fully capture the helplessness of the female in the manner of Jane Austen.
Swamplandia!
Author: Karen Russell
Romp through the swamp! For much of the novel I wondered why it wasn't YA, and then I found out. Great detailed landscape and creatures and quasi-mythic inhabitants. Funny, painful and sad. Flawed and believable characters living larger than life.
Romp through the swamp! For much of the novel I wondered why it wasn't YA, and then I found out. Great detailed landscape and creatures and quasi-mythic inhabitants. Funny, painful and sad. Flawed and believable characters living larger than life.
Bridal Favours
Author: Connie Brockway
Odd romance novel with espionage, a spinster and intrigue tangled up with pride and wedding planning.
Odd romance novel with espionage, a spinster and intrigue tangled up with pride and wedding planning.
A Promise of Safekeeping
Author: Lisa Dale
I suppose this is what they call women's fiction. Romance, plot, love and regrets, all rolled up in one.
Very enjoyable read. Particularly evocative of the south - I could feel the stickiness in the air.
I suppose this is what they call women's fiction. Romance, plot, love and regrets, all rolled up in one.
Very enjoyable read. Particularly evocative of the south - I could feel the stickiness in the air.
Florence & Giles
Author: John Harding
I really didn't want to believe what the main character did. I liked her and didn't want her to be capable of her crimes, though there were enough clues and I should have known better.
Very creepy.
I really didn't want to believe what the main character did. I liked her and didn't want her to be capable of her crimes, though there were enough clues and I should have known better.
Very creepy.
Hold on to your Kids
Author: Gordon Neufeld & Gabor Mate
Worth rereading when rough spots arise. But for now, just healthy food for thought. Must get back to the dinner table again.
Worth rereading when rough spots arise. But for now, just healthy food for thought. Must get back to the dinner table again.
V is for Vengeance
Author: Sue Grafton
Fantasy vacation - a month in a beach-side cabin with the entire Kinsey Millhone series. Even better if I have access to eighties music and food.
Love this mystery series, the characters, the setting, the doggedness of Kinsey when she's on a trail.
Fantasy vacation - a month in a beach-side cabin with the entire Kinsey Millhone series. Even better if I have access to eighties music and food.
Love this mystery series, the characters, the setting, the doggedness of Kinsey when she's on a trail.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Flush: A Biography
Author: Virginia Woolf
The biography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's cocker spaniel, Flush. The dog's life was so interesting, I now want to learn about the owner. Not as humourous as Shakespeare's Dog, and suffering from a bit of author presence.
The biography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's cocker spaniel, Flush. The dog's life was so interesting, I now want to learn about the owner. Not as humourous as Shakespeare's Dog, and suffering from a bit of author presence.
Girl in a Blue Dress
Author: Gaynor Arnold
The tale of Charles Dickens' estranged wife told from her point of view after his death. Much quicker read than the biography and much more engaging.
The tale of Charles Dickens' estranged wife told from her point of view after his death. Much quicker read than the biography and much more engaging.
The Secret Book of Sacred Things
Author: Torsten Krol
The scribe writes the name of the moon, over and over to keep the moon in the sky in a church of women. Natural disaster and angry men reacting destroy the world as she knows it. Surprisingly hard to put down. The narrator is flawed, egotistical and self-absorbed, but so distinctly voiced.
Torsten is a pseudonym. Will have to seek other writings.
The scribe writes the name of the moon, over and over to keep the moon in the sky in a church of women. Natural disaster and angry men reacting destroy the world as she knows it. Surprisingly hard to put down. The narrator is flawed, egotistical and self-absorbed, but so distinctly voiced.
Torsten is a pseudonym. Will have to seek other writings.
The Origin of Tepees
Author: Jonnie Hughes
Subtitled - the evolution of ideas (and ourselves) explores how memes are in fact a 'survival of the fittest' kind of organism. Interesting and engaging.
Subtitled - the evolution of ideas (and ourselves) explores how memes are in fact a 'survival of the fittest' kind of organism. Interesting and engaging.
Slightly Tempted
Author: Mary Balogh
If memory serves, this was about Morgan Bewcastle going to Brussels and tending the wounded after Waterloo. Loved the historical information and setting.
If memory serves, this was about Morgan Bewcastle going to Brussels and tending the wounded after Waterloo. Loved the historical information and setting.
Super Sad True Love Story
Author: Gary Shteyngart
Just wasn't in the right mood for a 40-something's tale of woe and love (lust?) for a young Korean woman in a slightly altered reality.
It's a shame because I absolutely loved a book he'd blurbed - Flatscreen, and was hoping for more of the same, but this wasn't quite it.
Just wasn't in the right mood for a 40-something's tale of woe and love (lust?) for a young Korean woman in a slightly altered reality.
It's a shame because I absolutely loved a book he'd blurbed - Flatscreen, and was hoping for more of the same, but this wasn't quite it.
The Bolter
Author: Frances Osborne
The biography of Idina Sackville, an Edwardian who went to Africa and lived - wild parties, opiates, alcohol and lovers. All in the best British tradition.
Fascinating. Now I want to read up on her cousion, Vita Sackville-West.
The biography of Idina Sackville, an Edwardian who went to Africa and lived - wild parties, opiates, alcohol and lovers. All in the best British tradition.
Fascinating. Now I want to read up on her cousion, Vita Sackville-West.
Unless It Moves the Human Heart
Author: Roger Rosenblatt
The book follows a creative writing class through a semester and tackles the questions that arise from the assignments:
A short story - shirt stories are about why what you know matters (best definition I've heard)
an essay
poems
Too narrative to use as reference, too many insights to neglect as non-fiction.
The book follows a creative writing class through a semester and tackles the questions that arise from the assignments:
A short story - shirt stories are about why what you know matters (best definition I've heard)
an essay
poems
Too narrative to use as reference, too many insights to neglect as non-fiction.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Charles Dickens: A Life
Author: Claire Tomalin
Best soporific text in memory. Crawled through half of it, waiting for the juicy, gossipy stuff, then had to return the book, unfinished. Not really interested enough to pick it up again. Somehow the Victorian era lacks the interest of the Regency or Edwardian period.
Best soporific text in memory. Crawled through half of it, waiting for the juicy, gossipy stuff, then had to return the book, unfinished. Not really interested enough to pick it up again. Somehow the Victorian era lacks the interest of the Regency or Edwardian period.
10-10-10: 10 minutes, 10 hours, 10 years: A Life Transforming Idea
Author: Suzy Welch
Despite the author's assumption that the reader knew who she was, this book has a very helpful strategy in making decisions that are easier to put off in the short term, leading to long term pain.
What are the consequences right now (10 minutes)?
What will the consequences be in 10 months?
What will the consequences be in 10 years?
As simple as that.
Despite the author's assumption that the reader knew who she was, this book has a very helpful strategy in making decisions that are easier to put off in the short term, leading to long term pain.
What are the consequences right now (10 minutes)?
What will the consequences be in 10 months?
What will the consequences be in 10 years?
As simple as that.
This Saint will change your Life
Author: Thomas J. Craughwell
Neat summary of catholic saints, listed by professions that they are patrons to. Many I'd never heard of, and a few familiar ones. Loved the colour pages showing the Saint cards and symbolism of items with them.
Neat summary of catholic saints, listed by professions that they are patrons to. Many I'd never heard of, and a few familiar ones. Loved the colour pages showing the Saint cards and symbolism of items with them.
Imagine
Author: Jonah Lehrer
alone and blocked, ease off and allow the insights in
horizontal interaction to seed new crossover ideas and flexible attention (take a walk)
work in a blue room to stimulate the imagination
working memory to refine and edit and unconceal, feeling of knowing - stick with it, if stuck, need an insight
outsider view - not knowing what isn't possible
the power of Q - the number of old and new partners in work, consult with more people
Pixar's criticism plus a new idea that builds on the flaws of the original
take in the offerings of the city
culture largely determines creative output
sharing ideas helps them multiply
immature poets imitate, mature poets steal - T.S. Eliot
alone and blocked, ease off and allow the insights in
horizontal interaction to seed new crossover ideas and flexible attention (take a walk)
work in a blue room to stimulate the imagination
working memory to refine and edit and unconceal, feeling of knowing - stick with it, if stuck, need an insight
outsider view - not knowing what isn't possible
the power of Q - the number of old and new partners in work, consult with more people
Pixar's criticism plus a new idea that builds on the flaws of the original
take in the offerings of the city
culture largely determines creative output
sharing ideas helps them multiply
immature poets imitate, mature poets steal - T.S. Eliot
Maybe This Time
Author: Jennifer Crusie
A ghost story, mystery and romance all rolled into one. Some minor characters are really round and enjoyable.
A ghost story, mystery and romance all rolled into one. Some minor characters are really round and enjoyable.
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