pontalba Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 (edited) pontalba's 2011 Reading List JANUARY The Hound of the Baskervilles by A.C. Doyle 3.5/5The Moor by Laurie R. King 5/5Revelation by C.J. Sansom 5.5Thirteenth Night by Alan Gordon 3/5Pornography [a short story] by Ian McEwan 1/5Shanghai Girls by Lisa See 3/5 [ebook] FEBRUARY Heartstone by C.J. Sansom 5/5 !!!!!A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters 3.5/5The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley 4/5Therapy by Sebastian Fitzek 5/5 ++The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart [re-read] 5/5and furthermore by Judi Dench 3.5/5The Hollow Hills by Mary Stewart [re-read] 5/5A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley 4/5Esther's Inheritance by Sandor Marai MARCH Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman 3/5 [e-book]The Last Place by Laura Lippman 4/5The Ghosts of Belfast by Stuart Neville 5/5Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman 5/5American Gods by Neil Gaiman 4/5Medicus by Ruth Downie 3.5/5Collusion by Stuart Neville 5/5Still Life by Louise Penny 3.5/5A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny 4.5/5What They Fought For 1861-1865 by James M. McPherson 5/5The Memory Chalet by Tony Judt 5/5Unknown by Didier Van Cauwelaert 2.5/5 APRIL The Cruelest Month by Lousie Penny 4/5A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny 3.5/5Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny 5/5The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny 5/5 The Killing Star by Charles Pellegrino & George Zebrowski 3/5 Imperium by Robert Harris 3/5 Conspirata by Robert Harris 4/5 MAY The Judas Gate by Jack Higgins 3.5/5In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming 4/5Butcher's Boy by Thomas Perry 4/5Runner by Thomas Perry 4/5Telling Lies by Cathi Stoler 3/5 [Kindle book]Sleeping Dogs by Thomas Perry 4/5 [Kindle book]Informant by Thomas Perry 4/5 JUNE Chimes by Charles A. Gramlich 5/5 [short story] available on Kindle Keller in Dallas by Lawrence Block 5/5 [novella] ebook A Grave Talent by Laurie R. King 5/5 [ebook] To Play the Fool by Laurie R. King 4/5 [ebook] Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain 5/5 Augustus by Anthony Everitt 4/5 A Madwoman's Diary by Lawrence Block 4/5 JULY With Child by Laurie R. King 5/5 [ebook] Crossfire by Dick Francis & Felix Francis 4/5Night Work by Laurie R. King 4/5 [e-book]Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 5/5 [again]After the First Death by Lawrence Block 4/5 e-bookSpeaking of Lust by Lawrence Block 3/4 e-book novella AUGUST Drink With the Devil by Jack Higgins 4/5 Divesadero by Michael Ondaatje 5/5 The Stalin Epigram by Robert Littell 5/5+ Thornfield Hall by Emma Tennant 1/5 The Exile by Diana Gabaldon [An Outlander Graphic Novel] 2/5 Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 5/5+ reread Sister by Rosamund Lupton 5/5 The Return of the Dancing Master by Henning Mankell 5/5 SEPTEMBER A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny 5/5Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte 4/5Doc by Mary Doria Russell 4/5Baronne Street by Kirk Westmorland 3/5 e bookThe Pedersen Kid by William Gass [short story] 5/5The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt 4/5The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst 3/5Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton 5/5 #70Starvation Lake by Bryan Gruley 3/5253 by Geoff Ryman 2/5Dracula by Bram Stoker 4/5Dracula in Love by Karen Essex 4/5 OCTOBER Reamde by Neal Stephenson 5/5Rin Tin Tin, The Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean 4/5Rizpah by Charles E. Israel 5/5 [re-read]His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik [e-book]Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik [e-book]Of Love and Dust by Ernest J. Gaines 5/5Tomorrow in the Battle Think on Me by Javier Marias 5/5 NOVEMBER Started several, finished nuttin' ! DECEMBER 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami 4/5 I Am Half Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley 4/5 Cat Telling Tales by Shirley Rousseau Murphy 4/5 Odd Jobs by Nancy Rica Schiff 3/5 Hunter: A Thriller by Robert Bidinotto 3/5 [e-book] The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon 5/5 1222 by Anne Holt 5/5 Coroner's Journal by Louis Cataldie 5/5 The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson 4/5 The Death of Grass by John Christopher 5/5 The Quiet American by Graham Greene 5/5 Edited January 1, 2012 by pontalba Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 5, 2011 Author Share Posted January 5, 2011 (edited) This year, 2011, will be the 5th year I am keeping a book log. I am one of those readers that cannot plan too well what I'll read next. If the vibes move me, I'll read it, if not, even if I'd halfway planned on reading it...the book will go temporarily by the wayside. I suppose that is part of the reason I don't participate in more discussions. I'd love to, and truly enjoy it, but if I can't/don't read the book, well, what more can I say. So, here is hoping the vibes match more this year. By the by, here is a link to pontalba's 2010 Reading List should anyone be curious. Edited January 5, 2011 by pontalba Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 20, 2011 Author Share Posted January 20, 2011 I read A.C. Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Moor by Laurie R. King again this month. I'd read Baskerville many decades ago, and King's probably very soon after it came out in 1998. So, they were familiar, but all sorts of new data came of my new reading. Something I found interesting was the way Dartmouth Moor itself was treated by the authors. Doyle seemed to not care about it as much as a character aside from demonizing the place, saying practically nothing about the humanity of the moor's inhabitants. Holmes sarcasm towards Watson grated on my nerves at times, and seemed to make Holmes less than I remembered. Less what you ask? Good question. Less of a man, and less of a friend actually. The young Holmes had something to prove, and that lack of maturity was his "failing". I realize other Holmes entries proved the friendship, but I only speak of this one. King's Holmes in The Moor, the 4th installment in her wonderful Mary Russell series brings a more mature Holmes, a married Holmes at that! Marriage has not matured him, but life in general has done that, preparing him for said marriage and partnership. The two stories gel beautifully, and King's Dartmouth Moor is still a dangerous and forbidding place, but she brings the inhabitants out into the open, good and bad alike, and the moor becomes a wonderfully changeable character in the book. Mary Russell has to be one of the most interesting creations, anyone that could capture Holmes's heart and mind would be. Highly Recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 20, 2011 Author Share Posted January 20, 2011 I just finished C.J. Sansom's Revelation, the 4th in his Tudor series. Probably the best of the lot so far, although every one should be read to savor the full flavor. Matthew is again in the thick of machinations of the court, in spite of attempting to live a quiet life. When his best friend and brother lawyer is gruesomely murdered, he swears to find the killer. This leads him right into the monster's maw, risking everything, his own life, the life of his household, and the lives of those he values and loves the most in the world. Sansom's meticulous research pays off in his treatment of both the religious fever and treatment of the insane of the times. The story lines dealing with those highly controversial issues is masterful. Highly Recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ooshie Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Looks like you have had a great start to your reading year, pontalba! I have never read any C J Sansom, but they look well worth looking out for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Pontalba, do you have any idea how many unread books you and your OH own? Or how many, on average, you would buy each year? I'm in awe of all the books you buy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 24, 2011 Author Share Posted January 24, 2011 Pontalba, do you have any idea how many unread books you and your OH own? Or how many, on average, you would buy each year? I'm in awe of all the books you buy! Welllll.........between us, we have just over 5,000 books, God alone knows how many we buy a year, Every book is skimmed, at least. I think. And you've seen my book lists, Last year I only managed 75 books read. OH about half that. Two years ago he was reading 50-60 a year. So, we have Lots of Unread Books. It's true. However, we do manage to come home with at least one or two books every time we venture out into the Big Bad World of shopping. And, as you can see, our buying tends to be rather ahead of our reading. But every book is wanted, and has a nice home. Why just last night when we came in with that bag of books, they were hailing their brethren....from the same shop. Lots of shouting and whistling was goin' on. You could feel the love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickle Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 I just noticed you had the Laurie R King books on your list have you read the others I think I am up on the series and really love them a nice take on Holmes without compromising the originals and The Moors is certainly atmospheric. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 But every book is wanted, and has a nice home. Why just last night when we came in with that bag of books, they were hailing their brethren....from the same shop. Lots of shouting and whistling was goin' on. You could feel the love. Aw, that's so lovely! I would love to be able to come and sort out all your books for you. There's nothing I enjoy more than organising books and placing them carefully on their shelves. Maybe Raven will let me come and catalogue his books instead... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 I just finished C.J. Sansom's Revelation, the 4th in his Tudor series. Probably the best of the lot so far, although every one should be read to savor the full flavor. Matthew is again in the thick of machinations of the court, in spite of attempting to live a quiet life. When his best friend and brother lawyer is gruesomely murdered, he swears to find the killer. This leads him right into the monster's maw, risking everything, his own life, the life of his household, and the lives of those he values and loves the most in the world. Sansom's meticulous research pays off in his treatment of both the religious fever and treatment of the insane of the times. The story lines dealing with those highly controversial issues is masterful. Highly Recommended. I'm looking forward to reading this. I've had it sitting on the shelf for a while as I've been trying not to read them too quickly in succession, and to savour the series as a result. All that means, though, is that I'm just not getting around to it, so now it seems that 'savouring' it equates to 'just read the bloody thing already' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 25, 2011 Author Share Posted January 25, 2011 Looks like you have had a great start to your reading year, pontalba! I have never read any C J Sansom, but they look well worth looking out for. I have at that. I have a couple of other books that I'd started, and not finished. I'm a firm believer in not slogging my way through a book. If I start and it doesn't take my fancy, I just put it aside with the bookmark in it, and wait for the mood to move me once again. The system works. I just noticed you had the Laurie R King books on your list have you read the others I think I am up on the series and really love them a nice take on Holmes without compromising the originals and The Moors is certainly atmospheric. I've read all but two, they were Locked Rooms and The Game. They are in my stack though, and I'll get to them someday. Probably in a couple of months. I'd actually like to go back and do a reread from the front of the series to get my bearings in them again. Aw, that's so lovely! I would love to be able to come and sort out all your books for you. There's nothing I enjoy more than organising books and placing them carefully on their shelves. Maybe Raven will let me come and catalogue his books instead... LOL I wish you could too Kylie! We're pretty hopeless at it so far. But with the new bookcases coming in soon, I think we might be able to bring some order to chaos. I'm looking forward to reading this. I've had it sitting on the shelf for a while as I've been trying not to read them too quickly in succession, and to savour the series as a result. All that means, though, is that I'm just not getting around to it, so now it seems that 'savouring' it equates to 'just read the bloody thing already' Exactly. and I really do think Revelation is the best so far. I loved the way Sansom integrated the past and present thinking. Well, that's not entirely true, he doesn't talk about the present conditions, but the parallels are sooooo strong and obvious that I couldn't help but draw comparisons to present day events. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Exactly. and I really do think Revelation is the best so far. I loved the way Sansom integrated the past and present thinking. Well, that's not entirely true, he doesn't talk about the present conditions, but the parallels are sooooo strong and obvious that I couldn't help but draw comparisons to present day events. Well I've already got my next three books planned ... sort of ... so maybe after those Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian. Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 What were your opinions on Pornography, I've noticed that it scored poorly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share Posted January 26, 2011 What were your opinions on Pornography, I've noticed that it scored poorly. I found it in a massive short story collection called The Art of the Story edited by Daniel Halpern. It's billed as An International Anthology of Contemporary Short Stories, and is as advertised. Both famous and unknown [to me] authors are within its pages. The short story Pornography is perhaps intended to be plain and sleazy. If that was McEwan's intent, he succeeded. It is more a story of revenge in which pornography [or actually the antithesis of] features, and is told in an unemotional style, and with a definite lack of flair. It seemed altogether too analytical and flat sounding. I do wonder if the author deliberately wrote the story to reflect the ordinariness, and depressive nature of that business. Given McEwan's reputation, I'd expect so, but for me the story simply left a bad taste in my brain cells, and was a disappointment. The same story could have been told with a richer flavor and certainly more imagination. Only my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian. Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Thanks for the reply. It seems that its either a love or hate piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share Posted January 26, 2011 Thanks for the reply. It seems that its either a love or hate piece. You've read it then? What was your take on the story? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian. Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I havent read it, I based my comments on some reviews I've seen as its also part of 'In Between The Sheets'. From what I've read it appears to be quite a departure from the stuff he is most associated with these days. It wont stop be reading it eventually it just means that I will probably read some of his other stuff at first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share Posted January 26, 2011 I havent read it, I based my comments on some reviews I've seen as its also part of 'In Between The Sheets'. From what I've read it appears to be quite a departure from the stuff he is most associated with these days. It wont stop be reading it eventually it just means that I will probably read some of his other stuff at first. Ahhh, gotcha. I've started a couple of his, Atonement, and Amsterdam. I don't know if it was the mood I was in at the time, or if the moon was full or what, but they didn't wiggle me. I will certainly give them another chance though. At least Amsterdam, for sure. Oh, I did start Saturday, and I have higher hopes for an eventual successful reading of that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 31, 2011 Author Share Posted January 31, 2011 (edited) Shanghai Girls by Lisa See is the first book I've completed on my Kobo/ereader. The experience was interesting, and has, I think, sold me on ereaders in general, although I'm pretty sure OH will be buying another one, different type of course. There are pros and cons of course, but my dinosaur thinking re Kindle et als is slowly crumbling to dust. Shanghai Girls had every potential in the world. Beautiful girls starting out life with every advantage possible, torn by war, refugeeing, to America by a route that is unimaginable to most of us. But surviving, perhaps not in the manner they foresaw, or even wanted, but survival was the important thing. The story was told in a style that fit with a young woman, unworldly and hopeful. I found it a little bland, but was pulled along by the story, which was by turns beautiful, heartbreaking and uplifting. However. The ending was a cliff hanger, and I see no sequel in sight. That was unappreciated by this reader. When some stories end this way, a reader can assume certain things, extrapolate probable endings. While that is marginally possible in this case, it isn't what I expected by any means, and I was truly disappointed. Recommended, but with some reservations. 3/5 Edited January 31, 2011 by pontalba Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 Hi pontalba, I read on kylie's blog your story of how you met your other half, that's a nice story. Good luck and best wishes for your wedding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted February 6, 2011 Author Share Posted February 6, 2011 Hi pontalba, I read on kylie's blog your story of how you met your other half, that's a nice story. Good luck and best wishes for your wedding Thank you so much vodkafan! I appreciate that so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted February 15, 2011 Author Share Posted February 15, 2011 I seem to have been on a reading tear the last couple of days, perhaps making up for time lost. I finished my first Ellis Peters Brother Cadfael mystery, A Morbid Taste for Bones, an interesting first of the series. I'll definitely read more of them as it's a nice story line, and I like Cadfael's character. I am sure as the series continues the characters will become more rounded, and the interplay will become complex. This one involves a saint's bones and where they should be located, and by whom. A murder mystery without too much mystery. I think the series will be more valuable because of the peripheral story lines, not the mysteries they contain. I also finished The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley this afternoon and although the first part was clever, it took a little too long to develop. The last half of the book moved quite well, and was an interesting murder mystery, with an ending one might not expect. I've already ordered the next one in the series. I love the main character, the 11 year old Flavia de Luce. I can't wait to see how she turns out. Bradley has done well with her IMO. Tonight the corker though! I didn't go up to the road for the mail till about 5:30 this evening, and came back to the house with 4 book parcels. Four! /happiness/ One of which was Therapy by Sebastian Fitzek. I sat down here, at the desk, and started to read. I thought I'd read the first few pages to get the taste of it. I'd ordered it second hand through Borders for only a few dollars. Unlike myself, I'd gone ahead and ordered a hardback without a dustjacket. I hardly ever do that, as I'm usually quite picky about that sort of thing. Phew! Verra happy not to have missed this one. Really. A twister mystery I haven't read in a long time. In fact Fitzek must have taken "twisty" lessons from Nabokov. An eminent psychiatrist loses his 12 year old daughter. She simply disappears within a half hour of his having brought her to see an allergist for an illness that has plagued her for the last 11 months. The next thing we know, 4 years later, we find him strapped down in a clinic coming off of some powerful medications. The story he tells his doctor boggle the mind. What is real? What happened to his daughter, to him, and who is the woman novelist that visits him on his practically deserted island in the North Sea? She claims to be a patient referred by a colleague of his. Where is the doctor's wife? And why is everyone lying to him? The double U-turn at the end of this novel left me exclaiming out loud several times, even to the last 3 or 4 pages. I read it in a little less than 4 hours, that included time out for dinner prep and rapid eating. Highly recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 A twister mystery I haven't read in a long time. In fact Fitzek must have taken "twisty" lessons from Nabokov. An eminent psychiatrist loses his 12 year old daughter. She simply disappears within a half hour of his having brought her to see an allergist for an illness that has plagued her for the last 11 months. The next thing we know, 4 years later, we find him strapped down in a clinic coming off of some powerful medications. The story he tells his doctor boggle the mind. What is real? What happened to his daughter, to him, and who is the woman novelist that visits him on his practically deserted island in the North Sea? She claims to be a patient referred by a colleague of his. Where is the doctor's wife? And why is everyone lying to him? The double U-turn at the end of this novel left me exclaiming out loud several times, even to the last 3 or 4 pages. I read it in a little less than 4 hours, that included time out for dinner prep and rapid eating. Highly recommended. Wow, you must've read it in one sitting, which to me usually means that you couldn't put the book down. I loved hearing about your strong reaction to the twists and turns at the end, making you exclaim out loud several times I have the book on my TBR, I really must get to it soon. Could you elaborate on your views on Fitzek possibly taking lessons from Nabokov? You've got me mighty intrigued! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted February 15, 2011 Author Share Posted February 15, 2011 Wow, you must've read it in one sitting, which to me usually means that you couldn't put the book down. I loved hearing about your strong reaction to the twists and turns at the end, making you exclaim out loud several times I have the book on my TBR, I really must get to it soon. Could you elaborate on your views on Fitzek possibly taking lessons from Nabokov? You've got me mighty intrigued! I did actually, could hardly bear to put it down to eat dinner. Haven't done that in ages and ages! Re Nabokov...I found Fitzek's twists and take on human nature and the nature of "truth" to be verra twisty. Thus Nabokovian to my eyes. That is the extent of any similarity, Fitzek's prose is clean and clear, nothing flowery about it, although his descriptive powers are excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 ^ Well I must definitely read me some Nabokov, asap! I think I only own Lolita, would that suffice? Happy reading! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.