Sunday, December 2, 2012

BOOKS: November Reads

Let's try a little monthly summary of books read again.

 100. 1222: a Hanne Wilhelmsen novel by Anne Holt, 313 pages


here's my review of 1222











101. The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny, 373 pages

Canadian Book Challenge; book 8 in the series
Inspector Gamauche and Beauviour head to an isolated monastary in Northern Quebec after a monk has been killed. The good inspector is trying to get to know the suspects in this classic locked room mystery - it had to be one of the monks.  Beavoir is hiding his relationship with Gamauche's daughter and now in recovery for his pain killer addiction. When Gamauche's boss shows up unexpectedly, he pushes all the buttons of the detectives.

Beauvoir is a strange character, deeply flawed. He is so easily provoked that it is a wonder he figures anything out. I started finally liking him a few books back, but he's back to being a cranky, bitter fellow. The books are ending more and more with unfinished business with the characters. Hopefully we'll be back in Three Pines in the next book, dealing with the fall out between Gamauche and Beauvoir.

102.  Ru by Kim Thuy, 141 pages

Canadian Book Challenge; Giller Prize 2012 Shortlist

 This reminded me very much of Buddha in the Attic because:
1. it was about the immigrant experience in a new country (Vietnam to Canada)
2.Very short, non-linear chapters
3. Lyrical, poetic writing that says a lot in very few words
4. Really enjoyable literature that stretches my reading in a good way





103. The Maze Runner by James Dashner, 375 pages

Book 1 of the series 

Book club read this one. They were a little disappointed that it was a continuing series. I wasn't planning to read any more, until I got to the last chapter, and then wow, holy cliff-hanger batman! One in the club didn't finish, but one really enjoyed it, everyone else was neutral. It is very young adult oriented in the style of writing and characters. I'm not sure exactly what quantifies that, but that's what it felt like.

Futuristic novel where teenage boys are trying to survive/escape the world they find themselves in, and then a girl shows up. I was very surprised they didn't turn more Lord of the Flies - they stayed very structured and moral even against setbacks and disagreements.


104.  Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us by Joe Palca, Flora Lichtman, (audiobook, 6 h 9 min)

here's my review of Annoying









105. 1982 by Jian Ghomeshi, 279 pages

Canadian Book Challenge

review to come soon









106. A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley, 370 pages

Canadian Book Challenge

Another wonderful Flavia de Luce mystery. Such fun!

Next up: the Christmas themed I Am Half-Sick of Shadows. My reading doesn't always line up nicely this way, but I've just ordered it from the library, in time to read for the season.