A brand new book

Hi. This week I got to do something that doesn't happen very often. I was the first person to read a new library book. I read "Let the northern lights erase your name" by Vendela Vida. A young woman, Clarissa Iverton has just lost her father. On the day of his funeral she discovers that he wasn't her biological father. Her mother left the family when Clarissa was 14, and was never heard from again. She sets out to Finland, and on to Lapland in a quest to find her biological father. It was an interesting read, full of twists and turns. I only had a week to read it, since there are other holds on it. It's not very long and easy to read in a week, even if it is nice out. I hope you'll enjoy it.

Waiting for Harry Potter?

During the wait for the next and final Harry Potter (ie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows), I've picked up some other popular young adult authors, my favourite so far being Philip Pullman. Pullman approaches the genre by resurrecting the Victorian gothic tradition in writing that was popular in the first half of the 20th century . Recently, I've read "Count Karlstein", which features an evil Count, two adorable orphans, a secret heir and a demon huntsman. This is the type of tale that the Brothers Grimm would be proud of.
His "Sally Lockhart, Victorian Mystery Series", begins with "The Ruby in the Smoke" and follows a a smart and daring orphaned girl who is pursued by villains in search of a cursed ruby. The story is rich in historical details and full of the atmosphere of the grimy underbelly of London in the 19th century.
"The Golden Compass" , is the first book in the His Dark Materials series, also by Pullman. The fantasy novel concerns an alternate earth where your soul is visible as a pet-like creature, and children are being captured to experiment upon. All of Pullman's novels feature strong female characters, and 11 year old Lyra is no exception.
These are great books to share as a family, or to curl up with alone.

Reading Out in the Sunshine

Read and relax, this is the best time of year to just enjoy the out of doors and what better company than an absorbing book. This week my hold came in for The Quest by Wilbur Smith. With a week to complete it, The Quest moved to the top of my pile and I dove into the adventure. There are four books in the complete series, River God, The Seventh Scroll, Warlock and The Quest. The series has been fun reading, with action filled plots, memorable characters and the mystique of ancient Egypt. Place your hold today!

Ahhh - summer at last

Hello. Well it's finally summer, so I guess I've officially started my summer reading. This week I read Snow Flower and the secret fan by Lisa See. All I can say is wow! Set in 19th century China, it's the story of two girls, Snow Flower and Lily, as told through the eyes of Lily. At age 7 they enter into an arranged friendship, or laotong, that is meant to last them a lifetime. We follow them through the years as they grow up, marry and have children. Together they survive person tragedies, a typhoid outbreak and war, but when Lily feels betrayed, it may be the end of their friendship. Lily sums it up saying "Not only had she not been a faithful laotong, she had not even been a very good friend". Can their friendship survive? It has great descriptions of life in China at that time. Personally I found the description of having their feet found, a little hard to read - "Only through pain will you have beauty. Only through suffering will you have peace". If you haven't read this book, you are in for a treat.

Behind enemy lines

Our favourite gourmand librarian has invited me to start the blog this week, so my tasty entree will be Sebastian Faulks novel "Charlotte Gray". This is a beautifully written work about a young idealist Scottish woman who falls in love with a RAF officer and becomes a covert OSE operative in occupied France in order to find him when he is shot down. The love story that begins the novel takes on new depth when Charlotte arrives in the small village of Lavaurette.
Scenes in the village are vividly painted, some residents have joined the Resistance and are risking everything, while others are using the occupation to curry favour and terrorize their neighbours with threats of exposing them to the authorities. Tension builds as the Nazis close in around Charlotte, Lucien the leader of the Resistance and the two little Jewish boys that they are desperately trying to protect.
Next on my nightstand, is "Children of Hurin" by J.R.R. Tolkien. So happy reading.

Karenpiglet's First Posting

Hello. I've just been invited to be a contributor. Check out the photo in my profile. It's not really me. Or is it??? Last week I read "Tallgrass", the new novel by Sandra Dallas. I've enjoyed her writing since "The Persian Pickle Club". It's the story of life in a small Colorado town during World War II, as told through the eyes of a child. Life in the town changes when the government sets up an internment camp nearby.
This week I read "Hello from Heaven" by Bill Guggenheim. The book is based on 7 years of research interviewing people who believe they have been contacted by deceased loved ones. It has chapters on types of contact, such as by sight, sound or smell. I believe I've had many experiences myself over the last 11 years, so I found this book very interesting.
Have a great weekend.

Reading in a Hurry

It's been one of those crazy weeks, when there just didn't seem to be time to read. I was at camp and forgot my book, so grabbed a mystery off the shelf. I'm reading Plum Island by Nelson DeMille
and just enjoying the quick flow of the plot and the slightly twisted way of looking at the world portrayed by detective John Corey. I would recommend it as a beach read... just fun!

Sweet and Sour Books

This week I was listening to Atonement by Ian McEwan. I loved the feeling the book evoked of both childhood and imagination. That the child's imagination led to such a catastrophe, created great drama in the novel. The CD book was well read and made for pleasant walking companionship.

On the other hand, I am reading the Probable Future by Alice Hoffman and am really struggling to finish it. The concept of each generation of Sparrow women having a remarkable gift should work well. I find however the conflict between all three generations jarring, and so my reading has slowed.

Sitting waiting, I have the Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield and The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Aren't we lucky to always have more books ahead of us.

Have you picked up your menu yet? Tell me what are you thinking of as an Appetizer book?