Cover to Cover Challenge discussion

# 1 The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. I thought I would read this book more quickly than I did but I have now finished it...a great read.

#2 Dreaming Water by Tsukiyama, Gail

#3 Galore by Crummey, Michael. I had not heard of this Newfoundland author until I was given this book for Christmas. I'm planning to read more of his, and have The Wreckage waiting to be read.

#4 The Golden Mean by Annabel Lyon. Another Canadian author and also a Christmas gift.

#5 When Will There Be Good News?: A Novel by Kate Atkinson,

#6 Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden . Canadian author again...this time on audio book borrowed from the library. Excellent story and well read on CD. Will certainly read more of his.

#7 The Man in the Wooden Hat by Jane Gardam A companion novel to "Old Filth" which I read a couple of years ago...now I want to go back and read it again.

#8 Running with Scissors: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs, Listened to this on CD...have just been back to the library to borrow the DVD of the movie version.

#9 At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances (Portuguese Irregular Verbs, #3)
by Alexander McCall Smith (audio book)

#9 All the colours of darkness by Peter Robinson. (audio book)

#10 Goodbye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton. (audio book)

Gail Tsukiyana's books are wonderful. I still think I have to read that one and one other. I read The Samurai's Garden and both of the silk ones.

Dot wrote: "#10 Goodbye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton. (audio book)"

Aren't they wonderful! I especially liked the silk ones...I learned so much about life in China from them.

Usually I don't like ones with alot of history and I didn't like Amy Tan's book when I read that so when I read my first one by her The Samurai's I got hooked and went and bought her other's and a year or two ago we picked the one for a online group read and didn't realize it was the second one of the silk ones. So a few of us read the first one then the second one. Now I just have to read the other 2 or it could be 3 maybe I bought one that came out in trade last year. Will have to look.

Donnajo wrote: "Usually I don't like ones with alot of history and I didn't like Amy Tan's book when I read that so when I read my first one by her The Samurai's I got hooked and went and bought her other's and a ..."

I guess I do like the history as long as it is well written and I have a special interest in China because I do Chinese Brush Painting and because my daughter married a Chinese Canadian and has 2 children who are half chinese. :-)

#11 The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday by Alexander McCall Smith.

#12 Nocturnes by Kasuo Ishiguro. These are short stories, linked in that they all feature aspiring musicians and some characters reappear in several of the stories. I did not enjoy it as much as I like his novels.

#13 Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon.
This author usually writes serious/literary type books but this one is an adventure in the same tradition as "Romancing the Stone". It would make a wonderful movie!

# 14 :The Anglo Files: A Field Guide to the British by Sarah Lyall audio book.

I feel very ambiguous about this book. I spent part of the time laughing out loud, and part of the time being irritated by criticism of things she did not understand. Most of her experience and comments relate to the wealthy upper and upper middle class which does not explain fully the national psyche. True, these are the people who rule the land, and some of her comments are certainly valid, but for a more accurate and balanced account of the British, I would recommend "Notes from a Small Island" by Bill Bryson, and "Watching the English by Kate Fox.

#15 "A is for Alibi" by Sue Grafton...this was a quick read on audio...an enjoyable light read.

#16 "Tell me where it Hurts", by Dr Nick Trout on audio.

A day in the life of a busy veterinary surgeon at a Boston animal hospital told with compassion, humour and displaying a dedication to the animals he treats and the owners who love them.

This will likely be my total for January: 9 actual books and 7 on audio.

#17 "Girl of my dreams by Donna Leon (audio) Seems I managed to sneak another one under the wire.

#1 for February...total for 2010 is 18
"Bearded Tit" by Rory McGrath (paperback memoir)

# 2 for Feb, #19 for 2010 :
The Discomfort Zone, a memoir by Jonathon Franzen.(audio)

#3 for Feb, $20 ytd
Musicophilia by Oliver Sachs. Fascinating look into the way music works...and doesn't work in our brains.

#4 for Feb, # 21 YTD
Oxford Blue by Veronica Stallwood
I needed a light mystery and this filled the bill. Humourously written in true Brit style.

#5 for Feb, #22 YTD
Oxford Shift by Veronica Stallwood....decided to continue with the series.

#6 for Feb, #23 YTD
The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Juno Diaz.
read a review of this and borrowed the audio book from the library. Had to skip over some of the torture scenes, and the language is pretty extreme but otherwise well written and I now know a lot more about the history of the Dominican Republic.

#7 for Feb, #24 YTD.
"Drown" a book of short stories by Junot Diaz on audio. I didn't finish this book ...I got about half way through but it didn't hold my attention so I moved on.

#8 for Feb, # 25 YTD
"Oxford Shadows" by Veronica Stallwood. I've been unwell lately and a nice light mystery was all I could manage...I find these books quite amusing and easy to read.

#9 for Feb, #26 YTD
"The Wreckage" by Michael Crummey. I've only recently discovered this author and plan to read more of his books. This one is set in Newfoundland and a Japanese POW camp near Nagasaki during WW2. A sad book in many ways but very powerful.

#10 for Feb, #27 YTD,

I read the first book (Shadow of the Wind) a few years ago and was pleased when this sequel ( or is it a 'pre-quel' came out. I borrowed it from the library on audio and got through it in a few days. Enjoyed the references to the great books of English Literature and though I don't usually read gothic novels, I found this one very satisfying.

#1 for March, #28 YTD
The Good Mayor by Andrew Nichol

#2 for March #29 YTD
The Carpenters Pencil by Manuel Rivas

#3 for Marchg, #30 YTD
Illegal Action by Stella Rimington. (audio book)

#4 for March, #31 YTD.

Loitering with Intent by Stuart Woods. A Barrington Stone mystery set in Key West

There are a lot of Canadian authors I've never heard of. Thanks for the heads up!

#5 for March, #32 ytd.

The Maples Stories by John Updike (audio book)

#6 for March, #33 ytd
"Old Filth" by Jane Gardam.

#7 for March #34 ytd
Oxford Remains by Veroncia Stallwood

#8 for March, #35 ytd
World without End by Ken Follett

#9 for March, #36 ytd

"Found Wanting" by Robert Goddard

#10 for March, #37 ytd
'Barnacle Love' by Anthony de Sa

#11 for March, #38 for ytd:
"Flight of the Maidens" by Jane Gardam on audio.

#12 for March, #39 ytd:
"Incident Report" by Martha Bailey

#13 for March, 40 ytd
"Venetia Kelly's Travelling Show" by Frank Delaney on audio book

#14 for March 41 ytd
"Deloume Road" by Matthew Hooton. hardback.

#1 for April, #42 ytd
"The Reader" by Bernard Schlink audio book

#2 for April, 43 ytd
"The Duchess" by Amanda Foreman

#3 for April, 44 YTD
"The Fool" by Christopher Moore