Now reading: Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez

Just finished Purple hibiscus and am now read My Perfect Friend.

I am reading Fields's work on Theta waves.

The Lubetkin Legacy by Marina Lewycka. So far it's been hilarious as usual

I read the Two Caravans a few years ago. It left a bad taste in my mouth. Perhaps any sarcasm in the story was not visible enough for me to enjoy it. Perhaps I was too sensitive at the time. But it made me angry. I don't like books that make me angry...

Currently reading A Dance with Dragons. Also "Historia de un caracol que descubrió la importancia de la lentitud" from Luis Sepúlveda.

There's a book by a Swiss author, Joel Dicker, that I've been thinking about reading and it looks like next year I'll finally get my chance. Dicker, as most of you know, is the bestselling author of La vérité sur l'affaire Harry Quebert which outsold Dan Brown's books and became a hit in Europe. However, when it was finally translated into English, it was a critical and sales dud---which is why it has taken so long for his next book, Le livre des Baltimore to get an English translation.

From what I understand, "Baltimore" is a sequel and is narrated by the same protagonist of "Quebert." It's about two branches of the same family---one very well-to-do which lives in Baltimore, and the other (home of the narrator) middle-class in Montclair, NJ. The book is about terrible secrets, and something which has divided the MD and NJ branches of the family.

This may be also a dud, but not only do I work in Baltimore, but I have relatives in New Jersey and for many years we would drive back and forth each year to visit during Easter and Thanksgiving. So I'm curious to see if this book lives up to the hype.

Anyway, this book will finally be published in English next year, and while I will have to order a book from the UK, that won't be a problem for you guys. Here are the links:

Die Geschishte der Baltimores

El libri dei Baltimore [Not a Swiss link]

The Livre des Baltimore

The Baltimore Boys (pre-order)

I agree, the Two Caravans was disappointing. It wasn't as good (in terms of bitter-sweet humour and sarcasm) as her Short history of tractors in Ukrainian. I can't take any Marina Lewicka anymore.




I'm reading Milan Kundera's Ignorance for the moment...eh, a writer of a different calibre.

My Health, My Faith, My Culture: A Guide for Healthcare Practitioners by Sue Timmins

I think you guys are right. I gave up just after a few pages. Isn't even comparable to the Two Caravans, let alone the History of Tractors.

At the moment, I'm reading The Sellout by Paul Beatty. His sarcasms make me chuckle

Just finished Red Tide by Marc Turner and about to start the conclusion of the Temeraire series; League of Dragons by Naomi Novik.

I also recently read a couple of books by an upcoming fantasy author, Josiah Bancroft; Senlin Ascends and Arm of the Sphinx. They are the first two books in his Books of Babel series; a bit different from the normal Fantasy or Grimdark stuff I normally read, but I can highly recommend them.

Eligible, by Curtis Sitterfeld
Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice goes to America, sort of. The story retold in a more modern setting in Cincinnatti

The trouble with goats and sheep, by Joanna Cannon,
Entertaining read of two young girls on the search of god in their road intertwined with a whodunnit storyline

The one in a million boy, by Monica Wood,
Heartwarming story of a young boy scout who goes to help an elderly lady with chores, dies in an accident and his father then takes over the role of his son and helps the lady

At hawthorn time, by Melissa Harison
Long winded and boring, stopped reading it at half way

I brought my old copies of James Ellroy's 'American Tabloid' trilogy back from the UK last week, and plan to begin reading the saga from the beginning again this weekend. In the current climate, it feels appropriate, and maybe by the end of it, the owners of the film rights will finally have been able to cast Pete Bondurant's character, which has been a major pre-production sticking point.

Der, die, was? Ein Amerikaner im Sprachlabyrinth
by David Bergmann

The Girl on the train and I am enjoying it, winters ...coffee and books. Life is blissful !

Just finished the Rise and Fall of the Great Powers by Tom Rachman. I'd say it is one of extra-ordinary books and definitely one of my favourite readings for this year.

“What strikes me,” Sarah continued, “is that men are such savages—they don’t fold their clothes, they pee on the toilet seat, they barely wash—yet when it comes to their views on women they’re suddenly so concerned about how everything looks. Each barbarian becomes an aesthete about the female body, all of a sudden expecting perfection.”

“Remembering is the most overrated thing. Forgetting is far superior.”

“Vodka is like water, but with consequences.”

"Like, consider the romantic comedy. That whole genre is intended to guilt us into breeding. Women are made to look lonely and pathetic if they ever dare be independent. "Fear not, loser girl - here's dimple-cheeked Hugh Grant, who will save you with his mumbly bullshit!" It's social engineering to make us babies."

__________________
The more I was treated as a woman, the more woman I became. If I was assumed to be incompetent at reversing cars, or opening bottles, oddly incompetent I found myself becoming. - J.M.

Kafka on the Shore
Murakami

I've just finished reading 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children', which, if I'm honest - I found a little long-winded in areas and got bored. The story itself is excellent though! I haven't seen the film yet. Maybe it will be one of those rare occasions when the film is better than the book?

I am currently reading 'Just One Damned Thing After Another' by Jodi Taylor. It's about a group of historians who time-travel in order to document historical events and answer those long unanswered questions. It seems, however, that 'History' doesn't take too kindly to having the rules of space and time flouted by those pesky historians, and so chaos ensues!

Next up in my Kindle queue is 'The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August' by Claire North.

Jodi Taylor is great!

But be warned: if, like me, you decide to google her to see in what order to read her books, you'll discover there's a porn star with the same name, and you'll be directed toward most peculiar websites

I am currently reading "The Dog Who Loved Too Much" by Dr Nicholas Dodman, which deals with the psychology of Man's Best Friend. Very informative and helpful in dealing with behavioural issues.

Nearly finished The Doll Maker by Richard Montanari and then I'll be starting In The Blood by J A Kerley.