"Reluctant Genius...Alexander Graham Bell" by Charlotte Gray

The book was enjoyable in parts, but I found other parts to be too pedantic and filled with details that didn't interest me in the least. I don't read many biographies, so I'm not sure if this is par for the course, as far as biographies go. At least now I understand Alexander Graham Bell's relationship to Canada.

"The Loved One" by Evelyn Waugh

I enjoyed this satire of the funeral industry much more this time than when I read it as a teen. I didn't at all mind that the woman committed suicide rather than choosing her true love. I guess I've lost the dewey-eyed romanticism of my youth.

"Smilla's Sense of Snow" by Peter Hoeg

A pretty decent book, though I enjoyed it much more the first time I read it. I guess the novelty factor is gone. The characters were a bit tricky to follow because their names were so similar and sometimes the translation was clunky. And I guess Smilla is no longer unique in the role of a strong, edgy female protagonist. Also, the book made me sad because it revolved around the death of a boy of Lucas' age.

"One Corpse too Many" be Ellis Peters

This is a bland, feel good style of mystery writing. I found the attention to Medieval life details slowed the book down. The final fight to the death was so predictable, that it turned me off from reading any more books in this series.

"The Big Sleep" by Raymond Chandler

Another book read for my course at Carleton. Overall, I enjoyed it, especially Marlow's ironic humour. The gender and sexual orientation stereotypes were horrific. It's quite a tricky book for keeping track of all the murders and scams.

"Bogman" by R. I. Olufsen

This is without a doubt the worst written book I have ever read. The author, who is apparently a journalist, has no feel for dialogue or fiction writing overall. So stupid... she had the protagonist thinking thoughts, and then voicing them out loud. And I had solved the mystery halfway through, without even trying. That's what I get for buying a $2 e-book. I'll be more careful in the future.

"Epitaph for a Spy" by Eric Ambler

I enjoyed this book because I found the point of view of a bumbling civilian to be amusing."Poor" Vadassy was the pawn of officials he thought were incompetent fools, and so he kept altering their instructions regarding his behaviour in the hotel.

"Consider Phlebas" by Iain M. Banks

What a pretentious, overwritten, bunch of science fiction poppycock, which is quite unjustly proud of its political science descriptions. Christine likes Iain M. Banks. This makes number 2 for me, and I'm definitely not going near Banks' science fiction again.

"Trent's Last Case" by E. C. Bentley

This was a pleasant read for my course at Carleton. It had an amusing number of twists. On the other hand, the author was definitely a bit too wordy at times. And it's a good thing Wikipedia told me this book was a send-up, because otherwise I would have found the protagonist to be unbearably clever.

"A Study in Scarlet" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

I probably read this story in University, when I read the complete Sherlock Holmes, but I definitely don't remember it. In fact, when the story/novel suddenly shifted to Utah and the Mormons, I was puzzled. I thought my version was missing the ending and had suddenly moved on to a bizarre new tale. All of which is to say that this is my least favourite and most boring SHerlock Holmes story, except for the interesting fact that it describes the initial encounter between Holmes and Watson. Also, Doyle spent an awful lot of time describing the Utah landscape, which I presume he never visited.

"The Rainbow Comes and Goes" by Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt

This was an amazingly honest book, comprised of a year of exchanged emails between mother and son. It shows that it's never too late to get closer to someone. Too bad I can't apply it in my own life... I have no desire to get closer to my mother. This is the second Anderson Cooper book I've read, and I've enjoyed both of them. His books are easy to read and wise.

"Perfect Figures" by Bunny Crumpacker

This book had some interesting tidbits about the history of numbers. It also had what I consider to be crap... E.g. So and so number is the first one to contain so and so letter in its English name. Another e.g... She would pull up numerous examples where the number she was discussing occurred e.g.12 apostles etc etc. I skipped a lot because coincidences like that don't interest me. But I did like her final chapter very much... on googol and infinity.

"She Walks These Hills" by Sharyn McCrumb

As usual with Sharyn McCrumb, I enjoyed this book. I like the way that she describes people, and makes the Appalachian area (hillbillies) come alive. It was a nice plot point, having the hiking history professor, the baby killing teen, the daughter of the escaped con, the escaped con with severe memory issues, and the aspiring female deputy (with the cheating deputy lover), all coming together at the burning Sorley trailer.

"All the Light We Cannot See" by Anyhony Doerr

It was a beautifully written book, but in many sections I found it to be very slow and very sad. It's a pity... all the lives that were wasted and traumatized by WW2. I tend to avoid WW2 books because I think I've read enough of them. I only read this one because Eva said it was riveting. (Disagree). But come to think of it, the viewpoints of a talented German boy and a blind French girl were quite novel for me.

"Travels with Charley" by John Steinbeck

This was a pleasant enough read, and at times amusingly retro (attitudes towards alcohol and expectations of women.) The most riveting section for me was Steinbeck's description of negro issues in the south, including New Orleans, where a tiny black girl, and then a white parent with a child, had to be accompanied to school by the police, while white "cheerleaders" shouted very ugly things, to the pleasure of the crowd.

"Career of Evil" by Robert Galbraith

The story was much uglier than previous ones in the "Strike" series, and I got bogged down about halfway through, but overall I enjoyed this book. Strike and Robin are an interesting partnership, indeed.

"The Chrysalids" by John Wyndham

This was a very good read for a Sci Fi story that was write so many decades ago. I'm adding this in 2016, even though I read it a few years ago. I could have sworn I entered it into my book blog.

"Shifu, You'll do anything for a Laugh" by Mo Yan

I enjoyed these short stories by a Chinese Nobel prize winner. But the translation was poor and I lacked the context to be able to fully understand or appreciate the stories.

"Late Nights on Air" by Elizabeth Hay

I would call this a gem of a book. It was amazing in its humanness and very evocative in its descriptions of the Yukon. I can see why Eva loves it.

"Gardens: a literary companion" edited by Merilyn Simonds

A pleasant little book filled with excerpts on the joys of gardening. It was a bir bday present from Eva.

"The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck

Travelling on Route 66 during our trip to the Grand Canyon inspired me to read this book. It was definitely a worthwhile read, but heavy going due to the great amount of misery. Now I know who the Joads are. Ma's perseverance was amazing. And I have new context for the tv show "Beverly Hillbillies".

"The Sandman vol.2 The Doll's House" by Neil Gaiman

I enjoyed this graphic novel, though sometimes the content was uglier than I would have liked. I'm glad that I can see the appeal of graphic novels. You can convey so much with a single image.

"Fevre Dream" by George R. R. Martin

I found this book a bit too long and a bit too tedious. It definitely wasn't as good as "Interview with the Vamoire", that it was compared to for its originality. Then again, Fevre was written over 20 years ago, and vampires have been done to death since then, so I may be jaded. On the other hand, I did appreciate experiencing the atmosphere of the steamship trade on the Mississipi and other rivers.

"Lady Susan" by Jane Austen

I enjoyed this book which was Jane Austen's first work, and written as a sequence of letters from various individuals. I felt quite close to Jane Austen and her ironic sense of humour when I was reading it. However, I also think the book felt so alive to me because I had just seen a movie based on it. The movie was a bit tricky to follow, which is why I read the book. I'm glad I did because it has given me new respect for Jane Austen.

"Traditional Russian Fairy Tales... lacquer miniatures" translated by Paul Williams

I have to say that this was a mediocre translation. Passages in one or two of the stories were very garbled indeed. However, I did enjoy the experience of the book.... the smell, the illustrations, the references to Baba Yaga whom I know from my own childhood. It's hard to find specifically Polish titles, so this is why I have broadened my horizons to Russian.

"Deception" by Jonathan Kellerman

I enjoyed the book, but am tired of the author. I think I'll take a break from him.

"Evidence" by Jonathan Kellerman

What can I say... "been there, done that." But this light reading is helping me cope with the misery in the beautifully written "Grapes of Wrath".

"A Curious Man: The Strange ...Robert 'Believe It or Not' Ripley" by Neal Thompson

I agree with the reviewer who described this book as surprisingly boring, considering the subject matter. Nevertheless, I think it was worth reading for the historical tidbits I picked up. And what a fine coincidence.... I read about Ripley's trip to the the Grand Canyon while Ray and I were actually visiting it.

"Bones" by Jonathan Kellerman

Of the books I have read by him recently, I think this was my favorite. Maybe I'm just getting used to his style again. And he does have the unique distinction for me of being an author who is able to keep my interest and not compel me to read the ending beforehand.

"Kamouraska" by Anne Hébert

I enjoyed this book much more in English, in my sixties, than I did in French (French class) in my twenties. The atmosphere, especially of a mad sleigh ride through the snow, is amazing. I remember it every time we drive close to Kamouraska on the way to New Brunswick. The book speaks volumes about the plight of women in the 19th century, especially of those with abusive husbands.

"Compulsion" byJonathan Kellerman

OK read during my Grand Canyon vacation. His books keep my attention, but he does keep Delaware and Robin's personalities at a distance. After awhile they are just too too.

"The Blind Assassin" by Margaret Atwood

For a large portion of the book, I hated it. The characters were unpleasant, the sisters' circumstances of virtual slavery among wealth very depressing, and the protagonist seemed cold and unfeeling. But to my amazement, I liked the book a lot by the time it ended. This was because of the way the protagonist came to terms with her life. ... misery, etc are part of life and in paradise there would be no journey because happiness is a garden walled with glass... you are stuck there. This summation, and the revelation of how much she loved her granddaughter, made her much more human and likeable in my estimation.

"The Sandman Vol1 Preludes and Nocturnes" by Neil Gaiman

So, I finally read this Neil Gaiman Classic. It gave me a very good feel for adult graphic novels, and I do like Dream. I can see what Gaiman meant, though, when he said he only really found his voice in the last story, where Dream's sister, death, is introduced. A number of the earlier stories were just too testosterone driven and too "comic books" for my taste.

"Obsession" by Jonathan Kellerman

Easy to read but not particularly well written. I would call Jonathan Kellerman's writing good airport reading.

"Mystery" by Jonathan Kellerman

As usual for this author, it was an easy book for me to read. But I'm not sure if it's one of his best. The plot seemed quite convoluted, and I don't think things were laid out clearly enough. There were too many names to follow, and the dieing Madame with the wonderful young son seemed unnecessary to the overall plot. I am rusty about Kellerman's writing style because it's a number of years since I've read him.... I gave up on him when he dumped the girlfriend, Robin, but she's back now, hence I'm reading Kellerman again. I wonder if he's losing his touch, since I seem to remember he's also cowriting stuff with a son.

"The Ghost Light" by Frtiz Leiber

I've had this book of Fritz Leiber stories lying around for decades, and I was finally in the mood to give them a try. The stories were much grittier than I expected, which is good. But I also found his writing style to be much too obscure and abstract for my taste, with a liberal sprinkling of uber "intelligent" musings that do not make for readability. I became so sick of his writing style that I was unable to complete the last story, and never even contemplated reading his autobiographical essay, which is the last item in this collection.

"The Green Road" by Anne Enright

There were too many passages in the book that I did not quie understand because they were vague. And I found the beginning half, that explored the lives of the four children, rather slow. My interest perked up when the book reached the mother, Rosaleen, because I could relate some of her behaviour to my mother. Poor mothers, trapped in the role of "Mother" and not seen as just "people" by their children. Poor children, forever trying to reach their mothers and fighting against how they think they're seen. All in all, I am glad I read this book. Oh, and I would have to say that much of Enright's writing gives me a feeling of dreary fog, similar to the weather in Ireland. And yet, she also always manages to find bits of joy in the fog.

"Between Man and Beast" by Monte Reel

An ok biography of Paul Du Chaillu who explored parts of Africa during the Victorian era and was key to introducing gorilla specimens to England and the United States. Paul was also an adventure writer and a writer of children's stories. Aspects of the book I didn't like included ugly displays of human nature re evolution, personal jealousies etc. I did enjoying reading about Darwin and Huxley and other people of their ilk. This biography was very distant from its subject. It felt like reading hearsay, and I did not feel close to Paul, ever.

"Quicker than the Eye" by Ray Bradbury

I'm glad to be finally finished this collection of short stories by Ray Bradbury. The only story I remember loving is the one about 2 senior citizens trying to murder each othe. The black humour was great. For the most part, though, I did not like the stories. I find that Ray Bradbury's voice is often too lyrical for the subject matter, and I got tired of hearing the same mental voice over and over again.

"Homesick" by Guy Vanderhaeghe

This was a well written book, centred around an obtusely stubborn relationship between an old man and  his daughter. It dealt with the kind of people I'm not really interested in reading about; the adults had too many rough edges for my taste. Daniel, the grandson, was appealing. Hopefully the mother eventually learns to see who he really is, and stops living in fear that he won't live up to his potential. I do believe the mother does grow by the time the book ends

"The Elfstones of Shannara" by Terry Brooks

Never have I skimmed a book to the great extent that I skimmed this one. The story is such a cliche that I only had to skim every 10 pages or so to know what as going on. And the writer puts thousands of words too many of exposition into his writing. No one really talks or thinks the way Brooks has them talking and thinking. I am never reading another book by this author.

"Naked" by David Sedaris

At first I thought that these snippets from David's life were depressing, showing just how shallow life can be. But after reading a few of his essays, I really got into them, and will read more Sedaris books. Because the essays are fairly short, and entertaining as well as intelligent, they are great for reading during travelling, when I have trouble focussing.

"Beowulf" translated by Burton Raffel

I read this book for a course at Carleton. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

"Undermajordomo Minor" by Patrick deWitt

This was an odd little fable that included sexual orgies in an odd castle with unexplained battles raging outside. Lucy, the protagonist, who is prone to lying, actually becomes likeable by the end.