Book 88 The French Country Table Pottery & Faience of Provence by Bernard Duplessy

This is a wonderful book about pottery styles and uses.   I am most interested in all the different pots and kitchen utensils that were and are made and used in France and Italy.   Everything from dishpans, to milk separators, to frying pans, coffee pots.   The best thing is that each kind has typical shapes such as lips and handles designed for specific reasons.  

I did find some pottery of this kind in Italy, both high end and hardware store type.   The only direct experience I had was the bowls they serve the ribboleta in, and I am told they actually make the soup in these basins. 

See Dun in the Kitchen, under Sponza Frise for talk about a special type of pottery used today.
http://duninthekitchen.blogspot.com/

Books 78 to 87

This is a motley collection of books read or browsed due to my currently over committed lbut very exciting life these days. 

78 Lost Diaries of Adrian Mole by Sue Townsend - good as usual but not as good as the Weapons of Mass Destruction one

79 True Prep by Lisa Birnbach -- by the writer of The Preppie Handbook written 30 years ago, it's a description of the social rules of a section of US culture (or class of US society).   One of my interests is in social anthorpology/class rules, so I enjoyed this.   All fresh and current.   There are few good books written about class.   A few of the greats are Class by Jilly Cooper and Elegance by Genevieve Dariaux.   Also, almost any book set in India or England has a motif of class. 

80 Damage Control by David Eddie -- The Globe and Mail advice columnist.  Disappointed.   Far too cute a writer.   Some good rules for people in general and some insight into male rationale.   Don't buy it.

81 Oh No She Didn't by Clinton Kelly -- Good writing about fashion faux pas.   Again, those social rules.   Pretty much knew them all.  

82 The Elements of Personal Style by Joe Zee and Maggie Bullock

83 The Fashion File by Jane Bryant -- the writer is the Costume Designer for Mad Men.  Great book.

84 Old English and Its Closest Relatives by Orrin W. Robinson.   Dipped into this extensively. Great book detailing all the Germanic Languages.   One of my interests is language and its development.

85 The Long Tail by Chris Anderson.   Dipped into this a few hours one evening.   Enlightening look at the marketplace and how it's affected by online commerce.

86 Food That Really Shmecks by  Edna Staebler  That old Amish cookbook, really lovely writing.   From Kim's mother bookshelf.  Thanks.

87 Provence A-Z by Peter Mayle -- very tantalizing.   Better than the previous books.  As always, somewhat condescending to the French and in that way irritating.

Book 77 The Glass Castle **** by Jeannette Walls

This is a memoir of Jeannette Walls upbringing by two disfunctional parents.  I was avoiding this book as I expected another dreadful Frank McCourt slog through misery.   I was very pleasantly surprised.  

Walls' parents did neglect their 4 kids, but there was a lot of fun and good memories too.   I don't suggest that anything in their upbringing was justified anything but just meaning that the book is readable and stays with you, but doesn't deliver permanent scars to the reader's soul) .   The parents were dreamers and the mother depressed or bipolor and the father was an alcoholic.   They hung on percariously moving constantly on a whim or when the situation was untenable.   Finally, as the children fled to make their own way in New York, the parents followed and became homeless willingly.   The mother actually had property worth millions, but did not want to sell it.  

This is a must read because it is unique in it's subject matter, treatment and readability.   Wall's writing is amazing, in so many ways.   It is a fast read, every word essential and interesting.   The editing is rigorous and skillful.   The style is unique and consistent.   There is a consistency of design like Jane Austen or Frank Lloyd Wright.   Walls describes the facts and some feelings, and through the action.

Other books about bad/odd parents:

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress ** by Rhoda Janzen

Book 76 The White Tiger **** by Aravind Adiga

It's a wonder any Canadians and Americans bother writing, with Indians and other nationalities turning out writers like Adiga.

A near perfect book, you won't stop until you are finished.   Adiga found the perfect voice for the story of Balram, the driver who goes from nameless village boy to 'outsourcing' millionaire.   In his letters to the Chinese president, he describes his metamorphosis.   He changes from innocent servant, slowly gathering courage and confidence as he learns the corrupt and hypocritical ways of the world, realizing his destiny as the White Tiger, the rare breed, when he finally decides to commit murder for money.

The reviews all mention how funny it is, but I did not read it as a funny book.   The characters are very sardonic, and see the hypocrisy and injustice in every aspect of life. 
My only warning is that this is not the India that you will see when you visit.   India is a beautiful country full of beautiful people.   Of course, you can see the dark side of any place, and that is what Adiga is exploring.   Don't let this turn you off India.  

Other books exploring the change of a 'good' person to a 'bad' person:

The Reluctant Fundamentalist *** by Mohsin Hamid 
DeNiro's Game **** by Rawe Hage

Book 75 Vengeance *** by George Jonas

This is the true story of the avenging of the murder of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics in Germany by Mossad agents.   It was made into an excellent movie called Munich.

Jonas is a very good writer, and tells the story as told to him by the team leader, "Avner".   The affect on the personal lives of the agents is woven into the story of precision planning of each assassination.   As intelligent people, they constantly reasses not only the morality of their actions but the effectiveness of revenge.  

Jonas also describes the events of terrorism in the 60s and 70s, the skyjackings, the bombings, the murders, by numerous groups around the world.   He says that they were all financed by the Soviets in order to confuse and destroy the confidence of the US.   He also describes in detail the Le Group, the criminal organization, that provided support services to all the terrorist, lead by a Frenchman called Papa, who was a maquis during the war.    After the Israeli agents killed 9 of the 11 targets, the tide turned, and 3 of them were hunted down and killed before the operation was terminated.   After that, "Avner" story becomes one of betrayal by the Mossad.   The Soviet involvement is quite plausible but the existence of such an efficient organization as Le Group, is less believable.  

The events of this book have been denied by all those knowlegeable about such things and by the Israeli government.   Jonas dedicates a chapter detailing why he believes "Avner".

Other good books about the Holocaust, and the suffering and survival of the Jews:
Defiance *** by Mechama Tec
Sarah's Key **+ by Tatiana de Rosnay (fiction)
The People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks (fiction)
The Zookeeper's Wife *** by Diane Ackerman

Top Five Mystery Writers

Henning Mankell
Donna Leon
Alexander McCall Smith
Minette Walters
Lynda LaPlante

Also love:
Giles Blunt
L.R. Wright
Eric Wright
Edward Phillips

Top Five Canadian Novels

I am always talking about my top 5 Canadian novels, without actually clarifying to myself what they are.   So here's what they are right now:

Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyd
Late Nights on Air by Elizabeth Hay
No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod
The Diviners by Margaret Lawrence
The Stone Angel by Margaret Lawrence

Book 74 The Girl of His Dreams ** by Donna Leon

This is one of Leon's best in the Brunetti series.  The themes are the church and religion, on which she is more than cynical, and gypsies or Rom as they are called.  

Other books with church/priest themes reviewed on this blog:
The Bishop's Man * by Linden MacIntyre
The Italians **** by Luigi Barzini

Book 73 The Bishop's Man * by Linden MacIntyre

Don't bother with this book unless you like being frustrated.   For some reason, MacIntyre has used 10 times the amount of suspense that is necessary in a good novel and doesn't resolve the mysteries he sets up.   

On the positive side, he does portray the rationalizations of the church, the priests, and the parishioners regarding sexual abuse of children very well.   Also, the characters, esp. the priests and the protagonist Father Duncan, the ultimate passive personality, without whom the task of disqualifying, invalidating, and diminishing the effect of the abuse would not be possible, are believable.

I also admire MacIntyre for taking on the topic.   But I wouldn't recommend the book.

2009 Giller Prize.

Book 72 Defiance*** by Nechama Tec

This is the story of the Bielski brothers, Jewish partisans, who rescued over 1,000 Jews who survived WWII in Belorussia by hiding in the forests.   The book describes in detail how the group survived physically and the heirarchy and social organization that developed in order to survive.  

Tec interviewed many survivors including Tuvia Bielski, the charasmatic leader of the group, but the book is not an oral history, although there are some direct quotes.  This book is well researched and well written, other than the lack of stories in the survivors own words.  

The book is fascinating from two aspects --- the sociological/psychological, which is thoroughly analyzed, and the historical, which describes a little known aspect of the war.   Using many specific anecdotes, Tec describes how women were regarded in the forest camps, and especially how many relationships between upper class women and peasant men came about.  

Book 70 & 71 Above Suspicion and Deadly Intent** by Lynda LaPlante

Two more great mysteries by this author in the Detective Anna Travis series.

Book 69 Dial M for Merde by Stephen Clarke

Another humorous read.   Sick of him now.

Book 68 (2010) The Help **** by Kathryn Stockett

This is an excellent book about black maids and their white women bosses.   Most of it takes place in Jackson Mississippi in 1964.   Stockett captures the detail of this narrow and disgraceful universe in every sentence.   A deep racist attitude defines the US to this day (we have only to look at Katrina for proof).  

The story is told by several of the black maids and a young white women who wants to be a writer and decides to write their story.   Mississippi in 1964 is a dangerous place for anyone who dares even the slightest defiance of the white women's rules so the project must be carried out with great secrecy.   Even having a "high yellow" baby was not allowed as it blurred the boundaries of race.   The baby had to be put into an orphanage.  

Stockett's characters are wonderful and I was able to understand if not really feel the humiliation and fear of their daily lives.   I also felt some guilt and shame for being white and maybe not always being as enlightened as I should have been.  

I didn't put this book down.  

Other great books with US race theme:

Inheriting the Trade*** by Thomas DeWolf (non-fiction)
Slaves in the Family**** by Edward Ball (non-fiction)
Book of Negroes** by Laurence Hill

Book 67 Secret Daughter ** 1/2 by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

A terrific book, similar to other books with Indian desai theme.   In this one, the themes are infanticide of girl babies, and moving from village to Bombay slum.   A girl baby is rescued and put in orphanage and adopted by a wealthy American couple.   Highly recommended.  

The overall theme of cultural adjustments is no longer original and Gowda does rely sometimes on familiar and typical incidents.   However, it is a compelling story and suspenseful to the very end.  

Other great books with similar themes:
Namesake *** by Jhumpa Lahiri
Hero's Walk *** by Anita Rau Badami
Can You Hear the Nightbird Call? ***by Anita Rau Badami

Book 66 The Pyramid** by Henning Mankell

This book is the prequel to the other Kurt Wallander books.   I have read them all.   Mankell is a great mystery writer. 

Book 65 The Italians**** by Luigi Barzini

This is a unique portrait of the nature of the Italian people, written by a powerful writer.   He is both amusing and deep, opening every fibre of muscle and blood vessel to reveal all that is necessary to understand Italy.  It is a masterful thesis, still in print after 46 years.   It was written in 1964 and is interesting seeing Italy through the eyes of that year compared with 2010.



The development of every emotion and motivation of business, family, crime, corruption is described in stark detail with numerous detailed examples from current times and history. 
I learned much not only about the Italian people (males mostly) but also the history of Italy.   For example, the popes would always enrich their relatives, in particular nephews, to carry on the family estates intact.   The reasons for this helped me later understand some of the great paintings and frescos in the Vatican Museums, as well as the little farm I stayed in in Locorotondo which had been first established by a priest as a church in 1728, and then built up to leave to a nephew.  

In his chapter on understanding Mussolini and his hold on Italy, I found out that he was originally a Communist, and then started the Fasci II which folded together the extreme left and extreme right.   This is never mentioned in other books.

Barzini's use of the English language is jolting and I had to stop to admire and analyze it in almost every sentence.  

A must read for anyone intensely interested in Italy and history.  

Book 64 Can You Hear the Nightbird Call? *** by Anita Rau Badami

Another wonderful book by Badami, a Vancouver based writer.   All those who wish a further understanding of how the Sikhs in Canada became militant and violent should read this book and how Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs were driven apart by politics and violence.   Badami weaves several stories of immigrants together skillfully with none of these implausible turns of fate that characterize some fiction I have read recently.   The characters are fascinating and, though of another culture, have traits and behaviours that I related to.  

Her previous books, Tamarind Mem and Hero's Walk, are also highly recommended reads, both for the wonderful story telling and writing, and for the understanding of Indo-Canadian history.

Book 63 The Long Road Home ** by Fred Cederberg

This book provides a real soldier's account of the Canadian's Italian Campaign in WW II.   It tells the human story to complement Dan Dancock's The D-Day Dodgers.  

Again, I was often speechless in wonder at how these men and women not only endured war but threw themselves into bloody battle over and over.  

The book is often short on details, and it seems to have been edited by cutting chunks out of it.  Nonetheless, I strongly recommend it. 

Book 62 The Zookeeper's Wife *** by Diane Ackerman

This is a most interesting book, a true story about a woman who saved many Jews during WW II, by hiding them in the Warsaw zoo.   The stories of the animals, her husband and children, the many guests they had over the entire war well told, intense and lovely. Ackerman is a master of detail.   The history of the appalling Jewish ghetto and the astounding Polish resistance is unfolded in equally grim detail.   There are numerous anecdotes of encounters with the German army and officials and many narrow escapes.   An essential book for readers interested in history and WW II.

I found the writing style a bit annoying at times but can't remember why at the moment.

Book 61 The Tenderness of Wolves ** 1/2 by Stef Penney

This is a great read, but I wouldn't make my friends read it.   Top marks for being really Canadian, well written, and full of gripping characters.   There are many and I found them all interesting.   

The story takes place in northern Ontario in 1867, some where between Sault Ste. Marie and Moose Factory.  The main character is Mrs. Ross, whose son is suspected of a murder.  He disappears into the snow, and she follows him.   Various people follow and search for various other people throughout the story.   It takes place in winter and I can't believe they didn't all freeze to death in skirts and shawls.   The foreground history is of the Hudson's Bay Company, its competitors,  its employees, and its native and metis traders and voyageurs, potentially very interesting, but I am not sure how true.   An interesting fact stated in the book is that all the fur bearing animals had vanished, trapped and sold by the company. 

The story, the vernacular speech, and the social rules don't feel authentic.   I was always conscious of the writer, making up a story, and not getting the feel of the times.  

Book 60 An Education ** by Lynn Barber

A small book, loaded with insights.   I also thought the movie was really excellent, portraying well the reality of a young girl dating a con artist, while everyone looked on in tacit approval or silence.   Having been there a few times myself (I am a slow learner), I found the book and movie rang true. 

Barber is a lovely writer, but a bit of a BS'er.   She has the style of Jilly Cooper, witty and breezy.

Book 59 Indian English Language & Culture ** Lonely Planet

Really interesting little book, well written.

Book 58 (2010) Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home* by Rhoda Janzen

Very funny book.   It's more too.   Janzen offers insight into the psyche of a woman raised as a Mennonite but not living as one.   For instance, why she stayed in an abusive marriage for 15 years.  The heroine is her mother, a very wise woman.   A lot like Loris' mother maybe.  

Book 57 History of the German Language** by John T. Waterman

My fascination with German is really a fascination with Low German or Plattdeutsch and its history.   The book made me even more determined to really learn German to be able to understand the passages in German and all the variations thereof

What I didn't like:
- cover, font, and layout are old fashioned and offputting.
- I needed a primer on linguistics to understand a lot of the book.

What I liked:
- Waterman is very informative and there were numerous fascinating facts and discussions.

German has the ability to express the inexpressible, to deal with abstractions, which marks the genious of the language.

The development of compound complex sentences in the 15th century is fascinating, with comparisons of texts.

Lubeck was the centre of development of legal codes and statutes and copied by many other cities.

Yiddish dialect spoken in the US is from Central and Eastern Europe.

German syntax regarding verbs was imitated from Latin.

Financial and banking words were adopted from Italian.

Luther used a dialect that was more like Low German.  His writing and translations are unsurpassed, as shown by comparisons of Bible versions.

In the 15th C. there was a custom of name calling among factions of opposing religionists, e.g. Hurenjaeger.

It was common from 1600 on, for North Germans to speak Plattdeutsch, but read High German (like the Mennonites) and thus they often spoke High German very well and Northern Germany has the reputation for purer pronunciation.

Book 56 The Unbearable Lightness of Scones** by Alexander McCall Smith

Another lovely read by McCall Smith -- 5th the Bertie (44 Scotland) series.   So clever.   Not enough Bertie though.   But all characters interesting, and lots happens.   Very heartwarming even if all the players have flaws.  

The thing with McCall Smith is that he makes you want to move to Edinburgh, which is pretty amazing.

Book 55 The Reluctant Fundamentalist **** by Mohsin Hamid

My body was pounded by this book.   Read in a morning, it's astounding in all aspects.

Nothing to do with religion, but rather the disillusionment of a highly successful Pakistani immigrant to the US just before 9/11, and the changes in his life in the aftermath.   Fundamentalism refers to the financial fundamentals under which Changez works in a US valuation company.  

He falls in love with a beautiful rich American woman.   The book is horribly allegorical, quite painful in it's impact.

Hamid's writing is a masterpiece, every word perfect.

Book 54 Freakonomics **** by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

One of those books that wasn't what I expected.   Wish I'd read it earlier.

Levitt is a renegade economist who looks at all kinds of social questions and analyzes the economics of them.   The result is fascinating.   In this book, he examines the economics of US crime rates, the US drug trade, the real estate trade, parenting, the naming of black and white (American) children, and sumo wrestling.   He looks hard at the effect of incentives and the risk assessment abilities of the masses.  The books is soaked in American issues, but still relevant to all of us.   Levitt reviews the numbers behind all the conventional explanations, refutes them, and provides his own answers.   I had of course either read about or realized myself many of these but he added a lot of detail and clarity to my thoughts.  

A slim book, finished in a morning, but highly entertaining, certainly unique. 

2010 - Mid Year Thoughts on Writing a Blog about Books

This is the beginning of September and I am reading more than I have for a few years.  My brain can focus nicely on what I am reading.   The desired affect of the blog and a goal in providing a strong momentum for reading has been accomplished.  The pile of unread books still looms over me, not stressing me but rather motivating me to read more and faster.   I am going to read a minimum of two books a week from now on.   I have been averaging more, but not imposing a minimum per week.  

I am finding so many books that I want to read.   I seemed to have had trouble finding books that I liked in the past few years.

I've bought many more books this year, knowing I would read them.   I've found many new authors (to me) and learned so much of course.   Working in the bookstore is so helpful for that.

I've enjoyed analyzing and comparing books.   I've enjoyed enlarging the categories of books I read, and making sure I am reading a great variety of books.   Some about each country, more fiction, more history, more memoir, more business and economics.   I need to eventually read more science, social, and political writing.

I am finishing each book I start, before starting another, so I don't end up with 10 half read books on my bedside table.  

The order in which to read books is still in an experimental mode.   I try to alternate of course, and have the next 3 to 5 books lined up.   Reading two novels back to back is a problem because I tend to compare them, one unfavourably.   A major historical work can take more than a week so I tend to postpone those.   I will have to read more hours for those, as they delay me too much.  

I find myself frustrated with not being able to read many new books and feel like I am playing catch up on the last ten years of writing.   Eventually, I will change to one new book and one old book per week.  

I have not been listing all the books or materials I read:
- if I don't read the entire book, e.g. cookbooks
- rereading parts of old books
- books I browse through or read sections of at work
And of course, the reading list does not include newspapers and magazines.   

Book 53 Olive Kittridge** by Elizabeth Strout

I found this book quite interesting and I enjoyed it, but I don't view it in the prize winning league, although Strout is a winner of the Pullitzer Prize.   I am still wondering why.  Is it too American?   Was I comparing to just finished Reading by Lightning, which is far superior?   Was it derivative?  I kept thinking of Mr and Mrs Bridge or Henry James. 

The structure is 13 short stories, in which Olive Kittridge, a school teacher, plays some role.   Structure wise, the book is original and it works well, but in other respects was not new.  Strout actually states her theme as showing human endurance, which isn't exactly a new idea.  

Olive Kittridge is an abrasive character and it is quite interesting how she sees herself and how others see her.   That is best thing about the book.   Unfortunately, most of the book is about other periferal people and Olive is not explored quite enough to be satisfying.   

I don't really believe the characters --- there weren't many pings of recognition of myself or other people.   The location details are familiar (small local businesses replaced by chains, everybody driving every where, everybody eating junk food), but there is no local identity for Crosby Maine, except the ocean, which plays a very minor role.  The same small town could be located any where.   The fact that most of the residents never leave the area is common, but there are usually more people with more sophistication in every town.   The book provides an reason why so many young people leave small towns and rarely return to visit. 

Strout's writing style is plain and straightforward, not contrived, and not noticeable.   Use of the language is not a feature.  

Book 52 Merde Happens* by Stephen Clarke

Light entertainment on the plane ride home.

Book 51 - Reading by Lightning**** by Joan Thomas

Manitoba Reads Book of the Year.

Thomas's first novel put her in the realm of Annie Proulx.   She describes the life of Lily growing up in 1940's on a Manitoba farm --- an austere life consisting of slave labour and religion.   It is authentic --- I know relatives whose lives were similar.   Thomas writing is stunning, and she flavours her prose with wonderful use of the language and astute insights.    Making the tale even more interesting is that in 1939 Lily is sent as a teenager to live with relatives.   This is not a story that has the feel of being made up.   You will read it fascinated with the players.

Thomas works in the Barr settlers, lured to Alberta for free land by a con artist preacher.   This is a true story, so I must read more on that subject.

Book 50 Dreams from My Father **** by Barack Obama

An amazing book, original and fresh look at race in America.   Obama's life story up until he became a senator.   A clear insightful look at the boy, the youth, the young man, who could have ruined his life many times, or followed the path of his family members, for the most part, not successful, with many problems of their own making and imposed by circumstances.   His portraits of his grandparents, father, and many other family members are full of insight.  The only blurry figure is that of his mother. 

*Dun's Lists

Restaurants:
Salade de Fruits --- 1551 W. 7th --- great food, very casual, cash only, must speak French a little.   The lasagna is the best I've ever had (and I don't like lasagna).
Crave -- 2951 Main --- lovely garden, lots of egg dishes all day, service comme ci comme ca, food uneven, great Mediterranean turkey sausage, bright yellow egg omelet.
Burgoo --- 4434 W. 19th -- for $22, the most amazing spinach salad, and small beef bourguignon. 
Plaisir Sucre --- Fabrice is fabulous and these are bar none the best croissant aux almandes.
T Room --- try to Almond Brioche --- amazing.
Terra Breads --- Grape bread is astounding.


Misc.:
Society de Francophone --- 1551 W. 7th -- French videos, French classes
Barbara Jo's Books to Cooks --- 2nd off Burrard --- fabulous store, cooking classes, staff actually make their own bread, yogurt etc.   Cheesemaker from Agassiz has demonstrated.   Online newsletter.
Moricotta --- 4429 W. 1oth -- great pottery and linen from Italy and France.   Love the soaps and lotions.   La Cucina line.   Lots of great linen tea towels from Ireland, Russia, and Lithuania.   Toilet bags and shopping bags in great prints.  
Keen's Shoes --- you can walk 18 hours and you won't even notice.

Food:
Les Amis du Fromage -- 2nd off Burrard.   Great cheeses generally.   Clochette with ash, and Reggiola --- quite disappointing.
Benton Brothers Fine Cheese --- 2401 W. 41st --- amazing goat cheese from Loire Valley, creamy and pungent.

Plants and Gardens:
WIG --- 6151 Thorne Avenue, Burnaby --- wonderful succulents, pots, and lots of gorgeous flower colour, lovely late summer light.
Mandeville --- great selection of garden furniture, twig trellis and arbors.


Movies and TV:
Secret in their Eyes *** Argentinian film, mystery, excellent acting, story.
Mad Men --- I am a convert, addictive, very very high quality writing and acting.   Amazing period detail.   I am stopped dead by the authencity of the references.   One example -- the first vending machines.   Ours at GWL were for cigarettes.  

Book 49 Talk to the Snail * by Stephen Clarke

Funny, sharp, depressingly negative about the French.   Learned a lot, especially French.

Book 48 Style Chic* by Paula Reed

Repetitive, but lots of good advice and lots of photos, esp. of older great looking women.   Hurrah for us.

Book 47 The Secret The Power**** by Rhonda Byrne

A powerful book, following on The Secret's huge success.  I found the Secret changed by life, and The Power, helped me deal with my negative thoughts, and change relationships almost immediately.   You have to replace any bad feelings with thoughts of what you want.   Once you do that, what you want will happen.   Every time you have a bad thought, you delay getting what you want.   And don't feel bad about having negative thoughts.   Anyway, already today, there is a marked improvement in my relationship with a close friend.   What I wanted from her I am now getting without having to do a thing.  

Book 46 Sarah's Key **+ by Tatiana De Rosnay

This was an emotionally tough one, especially right after The D-Day Dodgers.   There are so many amazing stories that haven't been told yet from that war, that still haunt and compell us today. 

This book has two stories, one of Sarah, a 10 year Jewish girl, rounded up in Paris in the infamous Vel d'Hiv or Velodrome d'Hiver, and from there sent to a death camp.   She has hidden her brother in a secret attic, locked him in, and cannot get back to rescue him.   The other story is about Julia, a writer assigned to cover the 50th anniversary of the round up, and what she uncovers about Sarah.   The story of Sarah and Julia's unravelling of the mystery are very well told.   The writer is a great story teller, and you will not put this book down once you start.  

De Rosnay does a fair job of showing how the Nazis manipulated the French population and the Jews into cooperating with their diabolic schemes, a rather elaborate plan to keep people trusting, hoping and terrorized, by increments, starting with propaganda, and then suddenly  it's all too late.

I didn't like the romance novel writing style in which much of the story of Julia is written, e.g. pages written to explain and justify rather silly behaviour, and I don't like the two stories in one book approach.  I understood the characters' motives and actions most of the time, but they are a little too special, larger than life.  I wanted to strangle Julia for putting up with her husband and her pregnancy seemed too contrived to fit the theme of children.    

The story that is not told is that of the French police who did the horrible deed, including running the camps, how they were persuaded to, tricked and manipulated into, or eager to carry out the plan .  Some heroic and kindly French people who helped at huge personal risk play parts in the book.  France has now acknowledged its role in the death of 76,000 of its Jewish citizens and erected a monument listing all of their names. 

How can the population stand by and do nothing?  I have only to remember the poor ragged Indians who came to beg at our farm when I was a kid.   Why did we do so little?

Book 45 The D-Day Dodgers The Canadians in Italy 1943-1945 **** by Daniel G. Dancocks

This is a fabulous book describing the experiences of the Canadian in the WWII in the Italian Campaign.   I read it in preparation for a study tour of Italy, and the battlefields, and cemeteries, so my focus was on geography.

Dancocks covers the movements of divisions and regiments, and many stories of individual experiences, not leaving out any names of military units, individuals, and the houses and hamlets and riverbeds they fought through.   He outlines the promotions, demotions, and medals won and why.   Inspite of or because of this much detail, each paragraph is riveting and highly visual --- I could see the movements of the men ande how they won each inch of ground.

Dancocks includes some analysis of the reasons the Allies beat the Germans, and a little more political commentary --- I wished for more.   He mentions the writings and opinions of other historians and the diaries of those present, and so presents all sides.  I would have like more perspective, such as the relative manpower, and more background about the Italians, and better and more maps.  

Despite the horrible tactical mistakes and very poor leadership at times, the Canadians eventually won every battle target they were assigned.   It is hard to conceive of how brave these men and women were as there were many casualties and conditions were harsh.   

Fans of history and war, read this one.   I am giving it 4 stars due to originality, great research, and good story telling.

Book 44 The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest* by Stieg Larsson

Good summer read, just to find out what the fuss is about.

Book 43 How Not to Act Old * by Pamela Redmond Satran

Great book for boomers, trying desperately not to get old.   Lots of fresh stuff in this book.

I learned that you shouldn't leave voicemail.  I already know the young don't wear a watch -- they just ask everyone what time it is -- no, sorry they look at their phones.  

I learned how not to be a cougar (not much danger) and a lot about bikini waxing.  

I love that she tells the boomers not to hover over the toilet seat and to toss out all plants and dried flowers, and not to send greeting cards.  

I have a lot of my own to add but am saving them for my own book.  

Book 42 Game Change**** by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin

If you are even a little interested in US politics and economics and the election of Barack Obama, this is a must read.  The book details the Democrat and Republican nominations, the vice-presidential selections, and the election period itself.   You will learn a lot about the US election process, all the people who didn't run, and all the people behind the candidates.   If you read this book, you will think you were there, hearing the calm and cool, the anger and tantrums, the

Full of the gory details, including many direct quotes, but not salacious or mean, the authors describe the highs and lows and personal strengths and weaknesses of all the players, in an even handed way, with nothing surmised or imagined.  

You want to know why Hillary puts up with Bill, why Hillary lost the nomination (Bill), why Guiliani didn't run for GOP leadership, who had what affairs, who works hard and who just coasts along, which leaders and wives are demanding prima donnas, whether Sarah Palin is unbalanced, how Obama talked Clinton into being his Secretary of State, what influence McCain and Obama had in the financial crisis, it's all in the book.  

Book 35 The Definitive Book of Body Language 0 by Allan and Barbara Pease

Another airport impulse buy, already have it too. This updated version has some new things, but otherwise it's very much the same book.

The most memorable message is that women have much better peripheral vision than men, and that women are much better at reading body language than men, in fact, men are almost blind at when it comes to reading body language.

As for peripheral vision, I have always thought that search and rescue should send out women to look for missing people and have instructed my women friends to look for me if I disappear and not rely on the police. I cannot imagine a man looking down from a plane and spotting something when they can't even find something in a drawer staring right at it. At least there is a physical explanation for it now. 

Book 34 The Undutchables** by Colin White and Laurie Boucke

 This was an airport impulse buy.  I forgot I already had it, but it's very clever and well written, and the updated version is worth the money.

Book 33 You Could Live a Long Time, Are you Ready?* by Lyndsay Green

This book contains lots of good pointers for accepting and preparing for ill health when you get old. I found it discouraging.  But I am sure that most boomers believe it is inevitable to deteriorate mentally and physically, so this book tells you how to do it in a organized way and how to get lots of people to help you.

Me, I prefer to keep going on as I always have and in fact to get progressively younger.  I admit you have to work a little harder to stay in place, and you have to start early before you don't have the mojo anymore to reject books like this one. See my Warrior blog on how to do make sure you don't let your mind and body slip into negative ways. 

That aside, the advice about getting off your butt and cleaning out your accumulated stuff is on the mark for anyone. She also advises women to start to wear makeup in order to be taken seriously, which was unexpected and refreshing advice.

Book 32 Born Standing Up** by Steve Martin

Steve's a good writer and his story is interesting.  The book is about how he got started in stand up comedy and it left me wanting to read more about Steve.

Steve is so self deprecating in telling his story that he infers that he has no talent, but is only very hard working. We all know how untrue that is, so I guess he doesn't have to tell us the obvious. Coincidentally, Steve came into the store where I work a couple of times latelty and bought some luggage. He was obviously not looking for recognition(wearing a bicycle helmet for disguise) so we just left him alone, checking out all the cases himself. I wanted to tell him how much I liked All of Me, and ask him why it was always left out of lists of his best movies, but, bearing in mind a story from his book about a nurse who asked him to autograph his EKG in the emergency room after he collapsed on stage, I didn't.

Book 31 The City by Joel Kotkin**

This is a potentially great idea for a book, ruined by very bad writing. Most sentences contain no information, but are merely sweeping unsupported statements. Maybe it's a thesis turned into book, but with very little effort applied. There are nuggets of information here and there, so it is worth reading if you are interested in history and economics.

Book 30 Bastard of Istanbul ** 1/2 by Elif Shafak

Two stories of Turkish and Armenian families, who end up being closer than either know.  One story starts in California and the other in Istanbul.   The heroine is a rebelious single mother whose quite shocking behaviour for Turkey is more or less accepted by her all female relatives. 
There are lots of issues with the writing in this book, but it offers great insights into the conflicts in daily life in Turkey.  Lots of surprises, every chapter is completely unexpected. I do think its worthwhile just to round out one's view of Turkey.

Book 29 Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson****

Amazing writing, amazing story about a boy growing up during the country and unknowingly participating in his father's affair and life as a partisan during WW2 in Sweden.

Book 41 About Those Reimers*** by Elizabeth Reimer Bartel

This book is a memoir by a cousin of my mother's, Betty Reimer.   Beautifully written, and blessed with several wicked poems, I thoroughly enjoyed this story.   The Reimer family established a general store in the 1870's in Steinbach, Manitoba, and the memoir chronicles the history of the store, through the personal experiences of a child and teenager.  

I read the first chapters based in Steinbach carefully to make sure I found any new scuttlebut but the book mainly fills in details of the story told to me by my mother (Evelyn).   The main secret of the family is how Aunt Annie's romance was sabotaged by Uncle Henry for reasons unknown.   Rumour abounds.

Betty (now Elizabeth) tells the story of her upbringing in Steinbach, first as a relatively privileged granddaughter of a prominent businessman, H. W. Reimer, and her life growing up and working in the huge general store, and later as a much poorer teenager when her father left the family business and the town to start his own business.   Well told, the story paints a clear picture of real people living those years in the foreground of the history of Canada in depression, war, and recovery.

She alludes to the Reimer tendency to independent action and wild impractical dreams without the grit to plan and execute them or consider those others whom it may affect.   Heaven knows the family is full of renowned characters who prove this point, especially the male family heads in each generation.  She also describes the Mennonite system of inheritance (European system) and how the Reimer money and business were dissipated by decades of fighting amongst the heirs.  

The eye openers are there too.  When I lived there in the 50s and 60s, the whole town seemed uniformly conservative and stifled by the Kleinegemeinde church.   Betty's memories are broader in perspective and describe more liberal ideas and behaviours than I had imagined existed in those early years of the 20th century.  

I was moved by the struggle of my parents' generation to get a high school education, even for those with rich grandparents.  Heaven knows my mother described this desperation to me many times.   And I admired the bravery of those young men who joined the armed forces against strong opposition from home.   Leaving home for them meant learning vernacular English, trying to fit in with the mainstream of Canadians, and facing ostracism for being "German".

I was brought to tears at her mention of her sisters and the bond between sisters being the strongest of all bonds, because sisters are the most closely related.  

A strong recommendation to anybody who knows Steinbach.  And let me know what you think please.  

Book 40 Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed**** by Jared Diamond

Another blockbuster by Diamond.   He describes some major societies and why they collapsed or will collapse, including the Greenland Norse, the Mayans, Anasazi, China, and Haiti.  He sites a set of factors but the crowning reason is abuse of the environment in every case.  Underlying that is the decision by these societies to destroy their environment in the face of certain death.   He says that their vision was as blurry as ours is now as we destroy our planet.  

His detailed descriptions of the economies/environments of Easter Island, Rwanda, Australia, and others are riveting.   He refutes the idea that the world can produce enough food using fertilizers to feed everyone (rendering economist Jeremy Sachs End of Poverty irrelevant).  

He stunned me by stating that Australia can support a maximum of 8 million people (half what it has now) and should stop immigration immediately.   He does not mention Canada, but I am sure he would say we are headed in the same direction. 

In the last few chapters of the book, he describes examples of responsible development including a heartening description of Shell Oil's operations in New Guinea.

A must read for anyone interested in our world.

Book 27 (2010) Late Nights on Air **** by Elizabeth Hay

 In my all time 5 best Canadian novels. How did I not read this before? READ IT NOW.  The characters working in a Yellowknife radio station, a fatal canoe trip in the wilderness, and how it affects the rest of their lives.

Hay won the 2007 Giller Prize for this book.

Book 36 The Walking Bush Swings By * byJohn Laughland

 This is a delightful set of stories of a British ex-pats in a Turkish village. You can buy it at the souvenir stand at the abandoned Greek village that was the subject of the book, Birds Without Wings.

Book 26 When Will There Be Good News?*** by Kate Atkinson

Great book, but nothing is quite like Behind the Scenes at the Museum, her first book.

Book 25 Crescent and Star*** by Stephen Kinzer

An excellent book, a must if travelling to Turkey.

Book 22 (2010) About Face** by Donna Leon

 Always wonderful.

Book 21 A Year in the Merde* by Stephen Clarke

Went out and bought all his subsequent books, preparing to move to France.

Book 19, Strawberry Fields** by Marian Lewycka

 She's a great writer, and funny. Enjoyed History of Tractors in the Ukraine a bit more.

Book 20 Dark Flight 0 by Lin Anderson

Not worth it.

Book 39 A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth****

I enjoyed every word of this densely packed 1500 page book.   Serious, humorous, historical, suspenseful, fascinating, I cannot say enough about this book.   Each character has foibles and likeable in some way.   The descriptions of real catastrophes and political events are described in delightful detail, but one knows that a twist is coming, so you read so carefully, so as not to miss that one sentence or phrase.  

Book 38 Change Your Brain, Change Your Body **, Daniel Amen

Another great book by Daniel Amen.   It's very enlightening and so current given how we boomers are all now even more terrified of dementia than cancer.   This book focusses on how to overcome overeating by taking care of your brain.   The usual advice includes exercise and healthy food, but also keeping your weight under control.   It complements End to Overeating by David Kessler, which in away is more practical and original.  

Book 37 (2010) Through Black Spruce **** by Joseph Boyden

It's hard not to gush about this book, it is so good.   I will steal words from others---fluent, powerful, lyrical, and assured.   This is a story of natives living on reserves, in the city, and in the wilderness, experiencing the degradation and success.   It is so well told that you never think 'what an imgination' you just believe it (compare People of the Book, which I was conscious of the writer's imagination).  The story is told in first person of two characters, a middle aged retired bush pilot and his niece.   I never thought oh this is a man writing in a woman's voice.

You cannot find a flaw or weakness in any sentence, phrase, word, or paragraph of this book.   I wish someone would read it aloud to me.

Boyden won the 2008 Giller Prize for this book.

Other books by this author reviewed on this blog:
The Orenda *****

Book 23 and 24 Girl with the Dragon Tattoo* and Girl with ... by Steig Larsson

June 1st - Week 21 just finished. Five weeks of travel went by in a flash and I am still reflecting on all that we saw and did.   Here's what I read on the road and in the following days.

Book 1 was better than I expected action thriller with lots of character development and conflict.  A touch too much of the unbelievable violence and computer magic.  Book 2 was even better than book 1.

Books 18 Culture Smart Turkey**

I tried to finish Ataturk, pre-Turkey reading, but just couldn't focus so I instead read a few light, but very enjoyable books.  April 3 is the end of Week 13. So far, beating my goal of a book a week. And I am not counting recipe books, and such. Great insight into Turkish psyche, why military coups, why so resistant to foreign interference.

Book 17 Nothing to Lose 0 by Lee Child

I can't recommend this action writer.   Ok marks for interesting procedural.
Zero for character development and conflict. 
Plot gets tedious.

Book 16 (2010) The Book of Negroes ** by Lawrence Hill

Although this is a Canada Reads winner of 2009, I didn't give it my 3 or 4 Dunstars. I found it to be merely an interesting story, and especially appreciated the parts describing the Black Loyalists and the Sierra Leone colony. 
Hill admits the details are not necessarily historically accurate, so that is a bit disappointing, but otherwise it is thoroughly researched. His characters are very strong and one certainly have no doubt of the horrors of slavery and just being black among whites. He leaves the writer with no doubt that African slaves felt just like we would had it all happened to us.  The writing is good but I was conscious of it being too modern in idiom for a historical novel.

Other notable books on the subject of race, civil rights, and slavery:
Inheriting the Trade by Thomas Norman DeWolf
Slaves in the Family by Edward Ball
The Help **** by Kathryn Stockett

Book 15 Agent Zigzag ** by Ben Macintyre

The story of a criminal, master spy and con artist, and double agent for Britain and Germany during WW II.  Eddie Chapman conned the upper classes who ran and manned both the German Abwehr and the British MI5.   The spy runners were all easily charmed and manipulated by Chapman, who was only out for money and fame, although he was supposedly quite useful to the British.   On both Allied and Axis sides, the individuals involved had a lot invested in the success of these projects.

The fascinating aspect of the story is that Chapman had the nerve, the intelligence, and  controlled grandiosity to actually go into German held territory twice, remaining there for months each time, then parachute into England twice, and at the same time, quell the suspicions of the spy masters.   He had the ability to socialize with and make friends with his minders, who liked him enormously while looking down on him.   According to MacIntyre, he worked hard to memorize details, learn languages, etc.   My suspicions are that he learned enough and read enough just to show off and make an impression on the average unsuspicious person.

As all con artists and sociopaths do, he used his victims' superiority against them. By letting them look down on him and believe they are more intelligent and have power, he controls them.   They, including the author, naively never quite realize that his motivation is solely money and thrills or the totallity of his betrayal.

Macintyre's theme is that even a harded criminal and incorrigible liar like Chapman was loyal to England, which means he also was conned.   I am surprized that the book had such acclaim (as bragged about on the cover), but then the publishing industry will promote one of its own.  However, it is well researched and well written and I see he has now written another book, which I will read.

In any case, a great story well researched and well told, set in one of the most interesting times in living memory with lots of historical detail.

Book 14 Portrait of a Turkish Family*** by Irfan Orga

Published in 1950, this is a memoir of life in Turkey from about 1908 to 1940.  It chronicles the downfall of an upper class family into poverty and starvation during WWI, the incredible survival of the women and children after the men have disappeared into the army.  Orga portrays the characters of himself, his mother, other relatives with clarity and insight.  A short, powerful, easy read.   The city version of Louis de Bernieres 'Birds Without Wings.

Book 13 The Jade Peony by Wayson Choy ***

A great very readable book.   Canadians, especially Vancouverites, should read this book describing the lives of Chinese immigrants living in Chinatown in the 1920's.  One of very few novels set in Vancouver, the history of Canadian treatment of Chinese and Japanese is seen through the eyes of the children of one family.  Especially interesting are the discriptions of the number of dialects spoken and the kinship relationships that must be memorized.   Highly recommended. 

Book 12 My Life in France by Julia Child **

Loved this book.   Well written and entertaining, the descriptions (which are lists of the components) of the local environments are excellent.   Julia remembers her life with husband Paul, their love of France and struggles in the diplomatic service and writing of the cookbook and the making of the TV shows.   The details apparently gleaned from the volumes of correspondence written by both Julia and Paul to their siblings.
I really sympathized with the struggle to find accurate descriptions of cooking techniques and ingredients, missing in nearly every other cookbook.  I find the same problems writing my cooking blog and teaching myself methods and how to judge ingredients.   So many cook books and online recipes and instructions are written with little detail or with needless complexity. 

Book 11 The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday** by Alexander McCall Smith

The 5th book in Smith's Isabel Dalhousie series.   At first, I was frustrated by this series, as nothing happens, but I do like the character Isabel, who is secretly very wealthy, but lives a fairly ordinary life in Edinburgh.   She is a philosopher and so dwells on the ethics and morals of every thought and non event, much like we all do.   Mostly confident and only slightly neurotic, she is a hero in a way.

Book 10 Birds Without Wings**** by Louis de Bernieres

One of those books that slows you right down, not only to savour the writing and language and to appreciate the poignant and humorous twists, but also to think about the meanings of the stories.  Breathtaking and heartbreaking, you can't stop reading.
The book is composed of numerous chapters representing strains of several men and women of various religions and stations in life, living in what is now Fethiye in southern Turkey.  The book spans Turkey's history from the rise of Ataturk, Gallipolli, and various exchanges of Greeks and Turks people between Greece and Turkey until the final wholesale expulsion of these peoples.  It describes the impact of ridding the population of Armenians and Greeks, leaving the remaining population without doctors, most trades and merchants, and anyone who can read or write.  
No dates are mentioned, which gives you the feel of the events from the point of view of the mostly illiterate characters.  Interspersed is a terse biography of Ataturk himself as forms his views on modernization of Turkey and positions himself to take control of the country.  A vague knowledge of history is helpful for orientation.
A must read from every point of view.

Book 9 The End of Poverty by Jeffrey D. Sachs ****

Recommended by Loris. Started Feb. 4, 2010, finished Feb. 9, 2010.  Must read for anyone interested in the world history, economics, environment, and social issues.
Really interesting and well organized, a mixture of common sense, startling statistics, and optimism.   I found the chapters on the economic crises in Poland, China, etc. extremely enlightening (didn't pay attention at the time).  He describes the roles of the IMF, World Bank and the US, who are the culprits in many cases.  

Sachs defines three types of poverty and explains how nations can eliminate extreme poverty (life itself is precarious).  500 hundred years ago everybody was extremely poor, except for a tiny elite.  At this time there are 1 billion extreme poor, less than 20% of the world's population, which has declined in the last two decade from 50%.    Put this way, one can't help but have a good feeling that progress is being made quite rapidly.He explains in detail all the factors that lead to extreme poverty, including politics and disease and geography.  He has a plan for eliminating "extreme" poverty that certainly sounds doable to this cynic.  He debunks every possible excuse for not doing it.   He is most harsh on the US for giving the smallest GDP percentage of foreign aid of all countries in the world (by far).

Book 8 A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian**** by Marian Lewycka

Great book, very entertaining, over too soon.
Two sisters try to deal with their elderly father's Ukrainian girl friend, who is using him to stay in England.  
Any woman with a sister or father will identify with the resentments that infest the irrestible need to do one's duty with family.   Lewycka has great insight into family dynamics and the immigrant survivor's motivation.   I especially appreciated the description of her father's attitude toward his daughters --- they are not real women, too independent and bossy.   At the same time, she skewers everyone including herself. I chuckled everytime Crap car was mentioned. 

Book 7 Kill All the Judges by William Deverell *

Once, while between jobs, I attended a trial in Vancouver, and thereby briefly became a follower of William Deverell. He was very dashing and came over to kibbutz with us young girls.  

A few weeks later, I sat in on the historically important Papajohn trial, where he defended Papajohn for rape and won using the defense of mistaken consent, setting a precedent in law, although a shameful one.  I watched one whole day of his destruction of the victim.   

Another degree of separation ---  friend of a friend had an affair with him, which ended badly evidently, and was in heartbroken recovery at the time.

He retired and started writing mysteries and other books, based on his criminal law practice, and I have read all his novels and true crime books.  

The Vancouver city and island settings and characters are good and always have the ring of truth (autobiographical I assume).   His writing has improved over the years, most notably his female characters.  

I find the plots a bit wearying but enjoy the descriptions of court and island life, and his descriptions of male/female relationships from the male point of view.  The male characters are always hopelessly directed by sex, and even the best of them are clumsily doing the minimum to keep their women from leaving them.  The women live with these weak rays of goodness. 

Kill All the Judges is a good light read.  The novel within a novel technique however is boring and irritating.

Murder in Amsterdam by Ian Buruma

January 2010 Reading now.  Gave up for now.

Eating Well, Living Well by Richard Beliveau and Denis Gingras ***

I loved Foods That Fight Cancer and Cooking With Foods That Fight Cancer by the same authors.   These are mainstream Canadian scientists who tell you what medical system and the government won't tell you --- what causes disease and how to prevent and cure it with food.   The recipes in the second book are great too. 
It makes perfect sense --- all medicines are derived from plants afterall, so why wouldn't eating healthy fresh food keep you healthy.   
It is no hardship eating this way as all the foods are delicious and easy to make, but of course you do have to stop eating fake food and you do have to eat fresh fruit and vegetables, especially cruciferous vegetables. 

Book 6 The Steppes are the Colour of Sepia by Connie Braun *

The redemption story of the Letkeman family who survived, against all odds, the Russian revolution, deportation to the Gulag, the German occupation, the Great Trek, and labour in Yugoslavia and Austria, and finally immigration to Canada.  Much of it is so familiar to most of us --- we all have the same family stories.  Braun has meticulously researched her family history, though sources are sparce.   My only complaint are the several introductory and ending chapters that contrast in style with the wonderful telling of the main part of the book.  She tells each part of the story by deconstructing an old photograph or postcard, a few of which somehow remain in the family.   Maria Letkeman is the aunt of the Letkeman family that were our neighbours in Steinbach.  

Book 5 DeNiro's Game by Rawi Hage ****

A book that hits you hard on the first page and keeps your heart pounding right to the end.  Rawi Hage is in a rare class of writers whose prose you must stop to reread several times to admire the construction and feel the words again.   According to my gauge, Annie Proulx, Jane Austen, and Winston Churchill and now Hage are in that class.
Hage tells the story of Bassam, a young man trying to get out of Lebanon during the Civil War.  I am told by someone who was in Beirut through the war, that it is an accurate depiction of life in East Beirut during those years.  Bassam is a man with the morals of the times, doing what has to be done.  I judged but also understood.  
A must read.

Book 4 The Story of French by Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow ****

This Canadian reporting couple wrote the definitive book on the French language and its relationship to history, economics, politics, and everything else.
I enjoyed a relaxing cruise in the slip stream of their excellent writing.  They include occasional references to personal experiences which add to the enjoyment.
Their thesis is that French is far from yielding to English as a universal language, mainly because of the cultural mystique.  French still is still the gate to all things wonderful in life.  
I wanted to learn French properly before, and now I really really want to.
A must read for anyone interested in language.

Book 3 The Complete Persepolis **** by Marjane Satrapi

A must read --- a graphic memoir by an exceptionally talented woman.  The history of Persia as experienced by a child growing into a rebellious teenager and young woman artist.   Sent to Europe at age 14 alone to keep her safe from the arrest by the mullahs, her experiences are heart breaking and yet familiar to anyone.
Well told and real.

Book 2 Fall on Your Knees* by Ann-Marie MacDonald

Interesting setting in Cape Breton, historical background interesting.  A tale of characters and ethnic backgrounds, more creative writing than insightful.

Book 1 Crete** by Anthony Beevor

This one is from my shelf of half read books.  I love Anthony Beevor, after reading the unputdownable Stalingrad.  Crete is not in that league, but still well written, fascinating, and full of well researched opinion. 

Beevor's thesis is why the Brits very incompetently lost Greece to the Germans in WW II and then followed suit by even more incompetently losing Crete.   He blames it on the British officers running the show there and on one particular officer, Major General Freyburg, who "misread" Ultra communiques from Britain and prepared for a sea invasion instead of an airborne one.  The son of this officer wrote a defence of his father so it is a well known controversy.  

Beevor admires the Cretan partisan defence, made up of mainly priests, women, and kids (the Cretan men being in Greece defending the mainland) that went into action as the German paratroopers landed and kept it up through the entire occupation. 

The Med was teeming with boats and submarines making secret landings on Crete and other islands, dropping off and picking up Brits and partisans, including the King of Greece.  

Beevor as usual makes the whole story fascinating and easy to read, and I eagerly and constantly referred to the maps provided to follow the battles and other events. 

Although there are many characters, he describes them and their relationships in interesting detail as to make them distinct and memorable.   He especially likes to include opinions the players had of the others.   He mentions Evelyn Waugh several times, as he was one of these officers --- Officers and Gentlemen was based on his experiences in Crete (it's on the reading pile).

The story ends with well drawn explanation of the Greco/Cretan political rivalries leading to civil war and chaos as the Germans leave Crete.

A Year of Reading

I decided in 2010 to read a book a week and write a mini-review.   I have a pile of books I've read, and a pile of books to be read, on the dresser opposite my bed.  It's not very orderly (more to dust and move), but it is very inspiring.