Tuesday, December 27, 2011

November & December Reads

As per my usual pattern I'm late for posting my reads so I'm going to post both November and December. I know, I know...December isn't done yet but it's close enough that I'm not likely to finish another book between now and then.

November

1. Niccolo Rising - Dorothy Dunnett:  This was a selection from our Facebook book club and it was more than a little difficult to get into. There was SO MANY names/places to remember. It was hard to keep them all straight. It was unclear who the main character was until almost 1/2 way through the book. Once it was established how the story was going to play out you got a glimpse of the brilliant mind of Niccolo and I actually started to enjoy the story. So, since it took so long to get into I wouldn't suggest it for everyone but I can see that once you get into the character you might be interested in the entire series.

2. The Blue Flower - Penelope Fitzgerald:  This was from my 501 Must Read list and it was an interesting tale as it was based on the eighteenth century poet Novalis and his love for a 12 year old girl. It sounds so wrong but it was it was an interesting tale and knowing the customs at the time you realize it wasn't terribly uncommon. It was decent but not something I would recommend to everyone.

3. The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern: Now THIS book I would recommend. I greatly enjoyed this book. The imagery is stunning. It's like the author tapped into the mind of Tim Burton to come up with some of the different tent themes. This is the type of book that almost everyone would enjoy.

4. How to Be An American Housewife - Margaret Dilloway: this was an interesting book that I think was a fairly easy read that most people would enjoy. It follows a family where the mom/wife is a Japanese transplant in America after the war and her struggles to fit into a new culture. It was interesting and worth a look at.


December

1. Corduroy Mansions - Alexander McCall Smith: This book looks like the start of a new series. It was decent and very much in the writer's usual style. If you like any of his books then it's one I'd suggest you pick up.

2. 11/22/63 - Stephen King: I haven't read a Stephen King book in a loooonnng time and have to say I really happy that this one was selected as one of our Bookies book club selections. It was an interesting concept for a book, well written, and one that was hard to put down. Pick it up!

3. We Bought A Zoo - Benjamin Mee: I figured I'd give it a shot and it turned out to be just a so-so book.  I wanted to love this book and story but found that it got wrapped up in a fair amount of zoo technical talk that it lost some of the feeling. It also looks like they have changed the story quite a bit for the movie, which would be in typical form.

4. When God Was a Rabbit - Sarah Winman: this was a bit of a puzzle as the back of the book does not describe the story at all. But it is a tale of a brother and sister and their ups and downs. It was a bit dark and disturbing at times but speaks to sibling bonds. Kinda sticks with you a bit.


5. Cabel - Michael Dibdin: I wanted to like this series but it's not my favourite. I just can't seem to like the main character which seems essential for liking a series. I still have 1 more to read and unfortunately I read them out of order so I'll be going back to the beginning to start with book 1.

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