By the end of April last year I had read 37 books. This year I have read 30 so far. I don't think I will read be able to read 7 books in the next few days unless I start counting kids' books. :) I'm not disappointed with the quantity since I actually thought I was reading significantly fewer books this year, but looking back at my list, I think I read a lot more "quality" books last year.
Here are a few of the ones that stand out from 2006 (January to April):
Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell--still one of my favourite books ever
Memoirs of a Geisha, who wrote this? Why didn't I write his name down? Alan somebody?
Ode to a Banker, A Dying Light in Corduba, A Body in the Bathhouse, Silver Pigs, Poseidon's Gold, Venus in Copper, Lindsey Davis--a solid mystery series set in ancient Rome
The Man in my Basement, Walter Moseley
Sylvanus Now, Donna Morissey
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell, Susanna Clarke
Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro
The Bookseller of Kabul, Asne Seierstad
Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom
A Bed of Red Flowers: In Search of My Afghanistan, Nelofer Pazira
2007 (January-April)
In the Name of God, Yasmina, Khadra
The Petty Details of So-and-so's Life, Camilla Gibbs
The Life of Pi, Yann Martel (2nd reading)
Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro (2nd reading)
The Virgin Suicides, Jeffery Euginides
My Name is Asher Lev, Chaim Potok (2nd reading)
The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Belle Falls, Sherri Vanderveen
There have been more good books this year than I realized, and if you take Lindsey Davis off of 2006, the lists might be close to even! The fact that three of my "good" books this year are rereads contributes to the feeling that I am reading a lot less. Also, last year I had quite a few books that almost made the "good" list--they were ranked 3 1/2 out of 5. This year I have many that were just a waste of time--1 or 2 stars if I was lucky. I have to learn to not finish books if they are pointless and badly written! What about you, my 5 blog-readers? Do you always finish books that you start?
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Reading...Recipes
Recipes count as reading, right? You have to be able to read to follow a recipe; you have to be able to analyze what you are reading to decide if you want to try the recipe. I don't know what I'm trying to defend. This is my blog and if I want to write about something other than books, I can just go ahead and do so!
This week Chinook Salmon is on sale at my "F"avourite grocery store, so we decided we would get some for supper last night. Near the seafood section, there is a little rack with free recipe cards for different forms of seafood. I gathered up and few, glanced through them, and decided to buy the ingredients to try one. The result was one of the most amazing meals I have made in a while. (On the one hand, I'm bragging; on the other, I'm admitting how mediocre my cooking has been lately.)
Salmon with Tomatoes and Chives
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 12 minutes
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 medium tomato, chopped
2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 1/2 lb fresh or thawed salmon fillet, about 1 inch thick
1. Lightly coat the grill rack with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat the grill to medium.
2. In a small sauce pan cook garlic in olive oil until tender. Carefully stir in wine. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 2-3 minutes or until the wine is reduced by half. Stir in tomato, chives, and lemon juice. Set aside.
3. Rinse fish; pat dry with paper towels. Cut fish into 4 serving size pieces. Grill salmon fillets for 10-11 minutes or until the fish flakes with a fork, turning once. Serve with warm tomato mixture.
We had asparagus, rice, and fresh bread as sides. It was delicious!
Monday, April 9, 2007
The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafon
rating: 4 stars
I read this book because it was chosen for my book club. I don't think I would ever have come across it otherwise. If you do a quick search of the reviews that have been written about this book, you will find that critics can't agree on this book. It is called a mystery novel, a coming-age story, a gothic romance, and I would argue that it is, in fact, all of these and more.
The story starts when the narrator, Daniel, is ten years old. His father brings him to a place called "The Cemetery of Forgotten Books" as an initiation of sorts. Daniel is to pick one book that will become his responsibility to keep "alive." The book he chooses, The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax, becomes the trigger that sets all sorts of sinister events in motion.
In order to enjoy this book, you need to be willing to be caught up in the gothic nature of the story. The context is post-civil war Barcelona, and the scars of human suffering and tragedy shape the narrative. There is always a sense of dark magic at work, a sense that forces beyond human consciousness are present and active. Many of the stock "characters" of the classic gothic novel are also present--the villain, the madman/woman, ghosts in a variety of forms, and finally, the Devil himself. The romantic elements of idealized and all-consuming love and the elevated narrative complete the effect.
I really enjoyed this book, but I'm not going to discuss specifics until the meeting (and then I probably won't be motivated to write about it here!) :)
Just to tease you, here's a quote from the prologue that caught my attention and continues to intrigue me:
"...few things leave a deeper mark on a reader than the first book that finds its way into his heart. Those first images, the echo of words we think we have left behind, accompany us throughout our lives and sculpt a palace in our memory to which, sooner or later--no matter how many books we read, how many worlds we discover, or how much we learn or forget--we will return. For me those enchanted pages will always be the ones I found among the passageways of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books."
For me, I think that book is Lord of the Rings by Tolkien. What book would you give that elevated status for yourself?
I read this book because it was chosen for my book club. I don't think I would ever have come across it otherwise. If you do a quick search of the reviews that have been written about this book, you will find that critics can't agree on this book. It is called a mystery novel, a coming-age story, a gothic romance, and I would argue that it is, in fact, all of these and more.
The story starts when the narrator, Daniel, is ten years old. His father brings him to a place called "The Cemetery of Forgotten Books" as an initiation of sorts. Daniel is to pick one book that will become his responsibility to keep "alive." The book he chooses, The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax, becomes the trigger that sets all sorts of sinister events in motion.
In order to enjoy this book, you need to be willing to be caught up in the gothic nature of the story. The context is post-civil war Barcelona, and the scars of human suffering and tragedy shape the narrative. There is always a sense of dark magic at work, a sense that forces beyond human consciousness are present and active. Many of the stock "characters" of the classic gothic novel are also present--the villain, the madman/woman, ghosts in a variety of forms, and finally, the Devil himself. The romantic elements of idealized and all-consuming love and the elevated narrative complete the effect.
I really enjoyed this book, but I'm not going to discuss specifics until the meeting (and then I probably won't be motivated to write about it here!) :)
Just to tease you, here's a quote from the prologue that caught my attention and continues to intrigue me:
"...few things leave a deeper mark on a reader than the first book that finds its way into his heart. Those first images, the echo of words we think we have left behind, accompany us throughout our lives and sculpt a palace in our memory to which, sooner or later--no matter how many books we read, how many worlds we discover, or how much we learn or forget--we will return. For me those enchanted pages will always be the ones I found among the passageways of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books."
For me, I think that book is Lord of the Rings by Tolkien. What book would you give that elevated status for yourself?
Monday, April 2, 2007
Q and A, Vikas Swarup
Since I haven't been reading a lot lately, I thought I'd post about a few of the books I've read in the past year. I need to keep writing here regularly or this whole blog thing will disintegrate!
Q and A by Vikas Swarup
4 stars
I picked this book up off the shelf of new books at the library. I was a bit worried because the last book about India that I had read was A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. That was the most depressing book in the entire world! Even now when I think about that book, my heart hurts (and I'm not just being melodramatic). This book was a pleasant surprise.
The premise of the book is based on a game show similar to "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." The top prize has been won by an illiterate, uneducated labourer who now faces accusations of cheating. Each chapter gives the back-story that reveals how/why he was able to answer the questions at each level of the game. The book has some of the elements that made A Fine Balance so depressing, but this book is ultimately about hope, about the triumph of the human spirit.
This book is funny, sad, heart-warming, tragic, and (best of all) an easy read.
(as a final note, I found it amusing that the author of this book is an Indian politician--politicians aren't supposed to be able write good literature!!)
Q and A by Vikas Swarup
4 stars
I picked this book up off the shelf of new books at the library. I was a bit worried because the last book about India that I had read was A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. That was the most depressing book in the entire world! Even now when I think about that book, my heart hurts (and I'm not just being melodramatic). This book was a pleasant surprise.
The premise of the book is based on a game show similar to "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." The top prize has been won by an illiterate, uneducated labourer who now faces accusations of cheating. Each chapter gives the back-story that reveals how/why he was able to answer the questions at each level of the game. The book has some of the elements that made A Fine Balance so depressing, but this book is ultimately about hope, about the triumph of the human spirit.
This book is funny, sad, heart-warming, tragic, and (best of all) an easy read.
(as a final note, I found it amusing that the author of this book is an Indian politician--politicians aren't supposed to be able write good literature!!)
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