Book 29 (2012) By Whatever Name *** by Elizabeth Reimer Bartel

She's a first cousin of my mother Evelyn Reimer Doerksen.   This story is fictionalized history of her mother's family bringing in the history of the "holdoman" church (a very strict sect of Mennonites).    The family moves from Manitoba to Kansas and becomes entangled in the US conscientious objector laws, which were much more onerous than in Canada.   Treatment was prison and torture.

She's a wonderful writer but this one's tops them all.   That subtle forboding atmosphere suggested when the all the world seems bright, happy, and prosperous for the Mennonite farmers and business people.   Oh yes, she is 86 years old and apparently getting better.

Book 20 (2012) T is for Trespass ** by Sue Grafton

Another good one.

Book 15 (2012) We Need to Talk About Kevin *** by Lionel Shriver

It's about a boy who murders fellow high school students.

A difficult read in some ways, following the mind of a mother through pregnancy and raising a child in her endless analysis and justification.   Is this a skillful explanation how an evil child can be born and deceive everyone or the revelation of the harm a mother can do. 

Lionel is an amazing writer, but there were parts where the story was forced.   I read it too long ago to remember what exactly.

Awards -- Orange Prize

Movie --- haven't seen it yet.

Book 11 (2012) V is for Vengeance ** by Sue Grafton

As with A to U, all good reads.

Book 25 Cry of the Owl *** by Patricia Highsmith

Much better than average mystery.   You cannot guess what will happen on the next page --- all remains a surprise up to the very last page.  


Three stars for being unique.


Other great books by this author:
The Talented Mr. Ripley and its sequels (one of my favourite mystery characters).

Book 21 State of Wonder ** by Ann Patchett

Great story and writing by Ann Patchett again.  Farfetched, and not her best, but recommended.




Other books by this author:
Bel Canto 
Run

Book 19 (2011) A Widow for One Year (zero) by John Irving

537 pages --- how did I finish this book?
Funny, entertaining, good plot, -- I'll give it that.  Now I know the reason why I stopped reading Irving years ago --- typical American male writer of the era --- funny, lots of way out sex, unbelievable characters (also Philip Roth, somebody else??)
Characters --- interesting, but exaggerated --- always the more beautiful, the most or best or most amazing whatever.
But although several main characters are women, they did not ring true.   I could not identify with any of their feelings, actions, or experiences.  
The whole plot is a giant male sexual fantasy, every boy/man's dream come true.  
I read this immediately after I read After the Falls by Catherine Gildiner, in which she describes sexual experiences that really happen to people and most important, the aftermath of these typical experiences.   Maybe that's why this book seemed so phony.

Book 18 (2011) After the Falls Coming of Age in the Sixties **** by Catherine Gildiner

My first encounter with this author was at the writers' festival in Vancouver, when she was completely unknown, and had just published her first memoir, Too Close to the Falls.   She was the hit of the festival, like none other since, and catapulted herself immediately into the limelight by the strength of this one hilarious, witty, pithy talk.   She became instantly famous in Canada and I have always thought of her as Canadian.   However, she grew up in Niagara Falls and Buffalo, New York.   
Being a similar type of person and having similar experiences, I found the book redeeming.  But more important, this is an extremely well written, extremely funny, and extremely real memoir.   


Read it.   Then read Too Close to the Falls.   Better yet, read in reverse order.

Book 17 Run *** by Ann Patchett

This is another stunner from Ann Patchett of Bel Canto fame.  I hadn't expected it to be so riveting.
The setting is Boston and the theme is the everlasting American theme of race.   The story takes place over a few days, the dysfunctional family (the white Irish major adopts two black kids, wife dies, birth mother stalks them, car accident, hospital, 11-year old girl heroine).   

Book 89 White Shades of Pale** by Christian Lander

This book follows last year's Stuff White People Like, and is just as good.  Very clever.

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 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. 

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 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. 

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 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.