May 30, 7:00 PM Literature
I have begun reading "The Troubled Man" (2011) by Henning Mankel. This is a fascinating mystery by a Swedish writer who has written 10 mystery novels as well as a number of other novels. I am enjoying the beginning.
May 30, 11:00 am Literature
While walking around downtown Kingston this morning I visited an independent bookstore and bought the following collection of essays:
- Farther Away (2012) by Jonathan Franzen
- Having read his novel, "Freedom", I am eager to read anything by Franzen.
May 27, 4:00 PM Literature
While in Picton I bought a book at a great independent bookstore.
- Turing's Cathedral (2012) by George Dyson
- I have read one of Dyson's earlier books, "Darwin Among the Machines" and am a clear fan of his writing.
May 24, 5:00 PM Literature
While at Costco, I bought 2 new books:
- Bringing Up the Bodies (2012) by Hilary Mantel
- I bought her earlier historical novel, "Wolf Hall" and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is the sequel as we follow the life of Thomas Cromwell, chief minister to Henry VIII.
- A Secret Kept (2009) by Tatiana de Rosnay
- Her earlier book, "Sarah's Key", has been highly recommended. Now to read them both.
May 23, 3:00 PM Literature
I have finished reading volume 1 of the ebook from Project Gutenberg, "The Complete Original Short Stories of Guy de Maupassant". Here are the titles of the remaining three short stories:
- Madame Parisse
- Mademoiselle Fifi
- A Duel
May 13, 8:30 am Literature
I have selected my next bookto read - a collection of essays by Simon Schama. I bought this book last year in a small independent bookstore while in Toronto.
May 12, 8:30 PM Literature
I have finished reading "Winter". It was the perfect book for me at the moment. I simply revelled in his descriptions of life during his first winter in northern Montana in a remote valley (so remote it didn't even have electricity). Nothing dramatic - just life, enjoyed to the fullest.
May 11, 2:30 PM Literature
For my next book, I have picked a thin volume that I bought in Billings, the last time we were in Montana.
As an aside, the quote on the front cover is by the author of "Shadow Country", considered an American classic, and "The Snow Leopard" which I remember reading almost 35 years ago. I have "Shadow Country" beside me on the shelf. Perhaps I will select it next.
May 11, 7:30 am Literature
Finished. I did find the last few chapters fascinating. It gets points for being very clever, but loses them (in my opinion) because there is not enough information for the reader to put it all together before the ending. Maybe I need to read a few more mysteries to see how often that is the case.
And I do want to get back to reading "The Quincunx", which seems to provide that level of information.
May 10, 8:30 PM Literature
I am making good progress with "All My Enemies". It is a good story, but I am not gripped by it. I enjoy trying to make sense of all the clues and have a few hypotheses about the overall plot, but I still need more information to form a coherent whole.
May 10, 11:30 am Literature
I'm back from Costco. Bought a fitness jacket and two books in addition to the groceries.
- Why Men Lie (2012) Linden MacIntyre (novel)
- Quiet (2012) by Susan Cain (non-fiction)
May 9, 8:30 PM Literature
I am making good progress with "All My Enemies" by Barry Maitland. There is a body and a prime suspect. But we need more information.
May 8, 11:30 am Literature
When I arrived home I found that the 2 books had arrived that I had ordered from amazon.ca :
- The Hare with Amber Eyes (2010) by Edmund de Waal
- The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow (2002) by A. J. MacKinnon
That takes care of all the outstanding book orders.
May 8, 7:40 PM Literature
I have finished reading "The Song of Achilles". Even thought I knew the ending, I found the book quite enjoyable.
May 6, 8:00 am Literature
I have selected The Song of Achilles as my next novel to read. It is an attempt to rework The Illiad into novel form.
May 5, 8:30 PM Literature
I have finished reading "Nikolski". Pure fun. A pleasure to read a book where the author enjoys himself.
May 3, 2:00 PM Literature
I have selected a Canadian novel for my next read.
Here is a sentence from the first page: "Every beach has a particular acoustic signature ...".
Then a few pages on, while describing the contents of a closet, "numerous paperback novels, abundantly annotated". I thought I was the only one who yellow-highlighted novels and made notes in the margin." Dickner and I are kindred spirits. I am looking forward to the rest of this book.
The books I ordered from amazon.ca arrived this afternoon.
- "Sum" (2009) by David Eagleman
- "The Well at the World's End." (2011) by A. J. Mackinnon
- "No Trace" (2004) by Barry Maitland
- "All My Enemies" (1996) by Barry Maitland
- "The Reader" (1997) by Bernhard Schlink
May 2, 4:30 PM Literature
This is a powerful novel. I do not want to add more detail to the story than what I said at the outset. I will not forget this novel. Perlman is definitely on my "must read" list.