Well, I have neglected both reading and blogging this year, but here's the list so far:
Fiction (5):
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared *** by Jonas Jonasson
Ghost Children *** by Sue Townsend
Little Bee by Chris Cleave **** shocking story about Nigeria
419 by Will Ferguson **** 2012 Giller Prize - about Lagos
Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber by Adele Lang -** yes that's a minus 2 stars. Rubbish, didn't finish.
Mystery (2):
Until the Night by Giles Blunt ** another John Cardinal mystery, set in northern Ontario
Bloodline by Lynda LaPlante **
Personal Finance (3):
Stop Acting Rich by Thomas Stanley * pretty much a repeat of previous books, which were great
Blog Inc. by Joy Deangdeelert Cho ****
ProBlogger by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett ****
Language (1):
The Story of English in 100 Words by David Crystal *** another book about words, and another by Crystal, but very good and original information.
Health (3):
Super Immunity by Joel Fuhrman ** pretty much what I've been saying all along but good to have reinforcement, but goes too far from natural remedies
The Melt Method by Sue Hitzman ** another approach to dealing with chronic pain, but pretty much what I do when my body falls apart. Good reinforcement, but goes too far from natural remedies
Clean Gut by Alejandro Junger ** reinforcing previous thoughts on the gut being the main health system
French Culture (4):
Paris Revealed by Stephen Clarke
Provence A-Z *** by Peter Mayle
Touche, A French Woman's Take on the English by Agnes Catherine Poirier * interesting but not well written
Bebe Day by Day by Pamela Druckerman ** one of several recent books on how to raise kids
Shame on me, but I have read plenty online stuff.
I also read a pile of non-fiction books, including:
fashion books
books about French style
books about investing
cookbooks
I kept reading throughout 2012 but just did not get to the blog. I can't back-date entries (can I?), but I will catch up with at least comments and ratings.
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
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.
