The Grays

The Grays - Whitley Strieber

Good. Very easy to read, and you care about most of the characters. What's spooky is this quotation from the back cover: "Drawing from a lifetime of research and his own experiences...". Spooky, because this is a book about aliens coming to Earth in collusion with the US government. I was a big X-files fan, don't get me wrong, but the idea that Strieber has written a fictional account of the alien conspiracy, and he thinks he has insight into the alien mind, is enough to creep me out. Also, a lot of the characters in the book are very pro-alien, yet he starts the novel with kids being abducted, skinned with a rusty kitchen knife, and then put back in their skins again. What's good about that? Either they aren't here to hurt us, or they are. How do you argue it both ways? Oh, shades of gray, ha ha!

If you read this as a novel, you won't be disappointed. If you read it as a revelation, or veiled truths, I don't think I want to discuss the book with you. This one was free from the Book Expo. I'm planning to bring it out East to hand off to my big little sister.

And now I am officially up-to-date. I will be posting as I finish books, instead of trying to enter my backlist like I was at the start. Hooray for me!

July 2006.

Assassination Vacation

Assassination Vacation - Sarah Vowell

Good. Hubby's pick. Vowell seeks out historical plaques, museums, monuments, locales, etc. that figured into the assassinations of Presidents Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley. For me the best part was when she quoted Johnny Cash.

As Johnny Cash put it about how his Garfield assassination ballad went over at Carnegie Hall in 1962, "I did 'Mr. Garfield,' which isn't very funny if you're not on the right wavelength, and nobody was."

The weird thing is, I love singing along to 'Mr. Garfield', and I only find it funny when the president starts talking to his wife. Does that mean I'm not on Johnny Cash's (old) wavelength???

Anyway, this book is one of those 'things they didn't teach you in school' (especially Canadian schools) tomes, so if you're into that, you'll like it.

July 2006.

Bait and Switch

Bait and Switch - Barbara Ehrenreich

Good reading. The timing was perhaps iffy, as I'll be job searching in the fall, but I enjoyed it. Her previous book, Nickel and Dimed - On (Not) Getting By in America is still on my "to read" list. I didn't even know we owned this one, until I was reading hubby my "to read" list one night (I know, romantic!) and he recognized the name Ehrenreich. He rushed off, rummaged about the pile of books on his dresser, and presented me with this. Apparently, it's been in the house for more than a year.

Based on her writing style, I still want to read Nickel and Dimed. Bait and Switch was free from last year's Book Expo. Passed it on to my big boss at work, since he'll be unemployed with the rest of us come October.

July 2006.

Eats, Shoots & Leaves - The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation

Eats, Shoots & Leaves - The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation - Lynne Truss

I know, everyone has already read this. What can I say, I was late to the party. That won't deter me from offering my opinion. Excellent book! Funny, in the British tradition, and easier to read than any style guide. Also explains some of the mysteries about US, Canadian, and UK language usage.

July 2006.

The Hour of Bad Decisions

The Hour of Bad Decisions - Russell Wangersky

More Canadian short stories, although these are longer than Scarsbrook's. Lots of East Coast settings. Lots of characters named "Hennessey" - weird. Some good ideas. The "Musical Chairs" story, which provides the title, is rivetting. I'd also recommend the stories "Big Shoes" and "Borrowed Time". Free from the Book Expo. Will probably bring this out East with me to lend to big little sister next week.

July 2006.

destiny's telescope and other stories

destiny's telescope and other stories - Richard Scarsbrook

Canadian short stories. Some are very short. Title story isn't the best in the collection, which was disappointing, because the title was good. As hubby explained, that's why it's the title of the collection. Funny, I always thought authors named their collections after the strongest work contained therein. Guess I was wrong. All in all, pretty good. Free from Book Expo.

July 2006.

Regarding the Bathrooms - A Privy to the Past

Regarding the Bathrooms - A Privy to the Past - Kate Klise

Pretty good pre-teen lit. Didn't love the format at first, but that's because I'm a fiend for text. It did grow on me, and would probably appeal to less avid readers or people more visually/artistically inclined. Format used letters, pictures, newspaper clippings, etc. with no traditional narrative structure. Too many modern touches to be considered an epistlery novel, but that's what it is closest to. Free from Book Expo. Planning to pass it on to our pre-teen 2nd cousin.

July 2006.

Much Ado About Grubstake

Much Ado About Grubstake - Jean Ferris

Good teen lit. Set in the late 19th century, in a dying mining town. There are a few anachronisms, like bath gel. And a very G-rated romance. Free from the Book Expo. Passed on to my baby sister.

July 2006.

Can You Spell Revolution?

Can You Spell Revolution? - Matt Beam

Good pre-teen/teen lit. Grade 8 students plan acts of dissent to revolutionize their school. Each student models themself after a historical figure from a famous revolution (Russian, French, Indian, etc.). Of course things spiral out of control. Free from the Book Expo. Passed on to my baby sister.

July 2006.

Grace's Turn

Grace's Turn - Christy Carlson Romano

Good, solid teen lit. Written by "Ren" from the TV show Even Stevens (the older sister). Free from the Book Expo. Passed it on to my baby sister.

July 2006.

Bleed

Bleed - Laurie Faria Stolarz

Good. Interconnected stories about 10 teens. Nice framing with the first and last stories. Free from Book Expo. Passed on to my baby sister.

July 2006.

Catch Me Before I Fall

Catch Me Before I Fall - Rosie Childs

Interesting. A memoir, but one of the depressing ones. No happy ending, and lots of "why wouldn't anyone hug me" distress. I have to wonder if the British psychiatric system could really be as inept as she makes it out to be. Also, how much Law & Order do you have to watch to immediately realize that a child who can't eat salad cream (it's the UK), yoghourt, or ice cream is probably repressing some sexual molestation memories? If I could figure it out, why couldn't Rosie? Or any of her various doctors? No offense to the last one, who did figure it out. I guess Law & Order isn't syndicated overseas.

I feel sorry for this woman, but I do not recommend the book. Free from the Book Expo.

July 2006.

Talk Nerdy to Me

Talk Nerdy to Me - Vicki Lewis Thompson

OK. The male and female leads are both supposed to be hot, sexy and -oh yeah- nerds. This series was better when one lead was a nerd and one wasn't. But, it was free from the Book Expo, so who am I to complain?

July 2006.

The A to Z of Everyday Things

The A to Z of Everyday Things - Janice Weaver

OK. A bathroom read; hence, it now resides in the downstairs powder room to entertain guests. Free from Book Expo.

June 2006.

The Taker

The Taker - J.M. Steele

Cute teen novel about the SAT's. Free from Book Expo. Passed on to my baby sister.

June 2006.

Ladykiller

Ladykiller - Charlotte Gill

OK. The cover art was striking. A short story collection that was oblique, to say the least. Another Book Expo find, now mailed across the country to my big little sister.

June 2006.

The Restoration of Emily

The Restoration of Emily - Kim Moritsugu

Good. Canadian novel. I'm strangely identifying with the sad tales of middle-aged single mothers. No idea why. Free from Book Expo. Mailed it to my big little sister.

June 2006.

The devil in the junior league

The devil in the junior league - Linda Francis Lee

Good. Paints a full portrait of the Southern U.S. junior league lifestyle, while dealing with the universal themes of friendship, peer pressure, and dirtbag husbands. Free from this year's Book Expo. Passed on (via Canada Post) to big little sister.

June 2006.

Tina's Groove

Tina's Groove - Rina Piccolo

Good. Comic strip collection about a waitress. Husband's pick. Book Expo freebie.

June 2006.

The Stone Light

The Stone Light - Kai Meyers

Score! Got the second last copy of this at this year's Book Expo, while waiting to have When You Were Small signed for the kid. The book was good. As fast-paced as The Flowing Queen, and advances the story nicely. Meyers is extremely easy to read, and his?/her? stories are consistently absorbing. Now I need to watch for the last book in the trilogy, The Glass Word. If you like Harry Potter, try these. They are different, don't get me wrong, but the pacing and the 'otherworldness' of our world is similar to Rowlings' work.

June 2006.

The 25 Pains of Kennedy Baines

The 25 Pains of Kennedy Baines - Dede Crane

Good Canadian teen lit. Free from this year's Book Expo. Passed it on to my baby sister.

June 2006.

Hot and Bothered

Hot and Bothered - Annie Downey

Good. I liked it. There was a realistic, if convenient, happy ending. I also liked how the narrator's name is unknown until the last sentence. Free from Book Expo. Left it in my hotel room in Cincinnati, with a note for the maids to help themselves.

June 2006.

The Hot Mom's Handbook

The Hot Mom's Handbook - Jessica Denay

Good. Some great ideas (lose the sweats, Hot Mom business cards), and some so-so stuff. Worth sharing. When I was meeting her at Book Expo to get the book signed, it turns out she had been on Breakfast Television that morning, and some of my co-workers had watched her segment. Which made it all the more motivating for us to create Hot Mom business cards for ourselves, our friends, and our colleagues.

June 2006.

entertaining mr. stone

entertaining mr. stone - Portia Da Costa

OK. Free at this year's Book Expo. Black Lace imprint, so if you recognize the publisher, you know what sort of book this is. If you don't recognize the publisher, you're probably happier not knowing.

June 2006.

Why Do Dogs Have Wet Noses?

Why Do Dogs Have Wet Noses? - Stanley Cohen

Good. Dog trivia and knowledge for kids. From this year's Book Expo.

June 2006.

The Girls

The Girls - Lori Lansens

Great! Canadian novel about conjoined twins. So it has the depressing ending, but lots of vivid details along the way. It's written from alternating points of view, so each of the girls develops her own identity through the course of the novel. Like Couchwarmer, it has its own freak-show novelty sex act, but fortunately, overcomes it.

This was a Book Expo treasure, lent first to my big little sister, then read by me, then lent to my Can Lit loving sister-in-law. Highly recommended.

June 2006.

The Areas of My Expertise

The Areas of My Expertise - John Hodgman

Hilarious! I highly recommend this one. I wish some of his 'facts' were true, because they are exceedingly funny and intriguing. Bought this one based on an Entertainment Weekly book review, and am now passing it around to as many people as I can convince to give it a try.

May 2006.

My Union, My Life

My Union, My Life - Jean-Claude Parrot

OK. It was an interesting perspective for me to read, being anti-union myself. Free from the Book Expo. Passed it on to my boss, who is even more anti-union than I am.

May 2006.

Couchwarmer

Couchwarmer - Greg Kramer

OK. A little too outre for me. Plus, no Adelaide! Free from Book Expo. Left it at the resort.

April 2006.

The Pursemonger of Fugu

The Pursemonger of Fugu - Greg Kramer

I'd been avoiding this one for almost a year. Husband grabbed it at the last Book Expo. Read it on vacation, and it was pretty good. I really liked Adelaide's character. I'd read more about her. Left it at the resort when I was done reading.

April 2006.

The Flowing Queen

The Flowing Queen - Kai Meyer

Excellent! Need to find the rest of the trilogy. Also made me interested in His Dark Materials. Someone referenced that in a review. Free from Book Expo; left it at the resort.

April 2006.

The Nannies

The Nannies - Melody Mayer

OK. Great for 15-16 year olds. Read this one on vacation, and left it on the bookshelf at the pool when I was done. A few days later, I saw a French woman with it at breakfast. Neat! Free from Book Expo.

April 2006.

The Secret Life of SuperMom

The Secret Life of SuperMom - Kathy Buckworth

Started strong, but fizzled out. The tone changed partway through. At first, it was funny and relatable, then it became a bit whiny/preachy. The accompanying calendar rocks, though! Sections for parents and kids each day, to keep track of appointments and activities. Free from Book Expo. Lent the book to my Can Lit loving sister-in-law; hung the calendar in my kitchen.

April 2006.

The Tyranny of Niceness - Unmasking the Need for Approval

The Tyranny of Niceness - Unmasking the Need for Approval - Evelyn K. Sommers, Ph.D.

So-so. A few good concepts, but not enough to resonate. Free from the Book Expo.

April 2006.

100 Things You Need to Know: Best People Practices for Managers & HR

100 Things You Need to Know: Best People Practices for Managers & HR - ed. Robert W. Eichinger, Michael M. Lombardo, Dave Ulrich

Some big HR names on the masthead here. This was a great work book (but not a 'workbook'), especially if you buy into the Lominger competency model/library, and Ulrich's vision of the HR profession. Had some interesting ideas for performance management, retention, and recruiting. Husband was using this for a school assignment, so when he was done, I borrowed it.

March 2006.

Canadian Animals are Smarter than Jack

Canadian Animals are Smarter than Jack - ed. Jenny Campbell

Some cute stories, some blah ones. Good for animal lovers. The book is a fundraiser for SPCA type activities, so I'm ashamed to admit it was free from the Book Expo.

March 2006.

The Soul of Success - A Woman's Guide to Authentic Power

The Soul of Success - A Woman's Guide to Authentic Power - ed. Jennifer Read Hawthorne

Enh - okay. Some stories were good, but her 'themes' weren't always well-illustrated by the stories she chose. Free from Book Expo.

March 2006.

The Secret Life of Mrs. Claus

The Secret Life of Mrs. Claus - Carly Alexander

OK romance. Library book - not worth buying.

March 2006.

This Body

This Body - Tessa McWatt

Good, until the very limp ending. Free from Book Expo.

February 2006.

Resurrection Blues

Resurrection Blues - Mike Tanner

OK. Easy read, but nothing fantastic. Guy in late teens joins a travelling covers band. Free from Book Expo.

February 2006.

the devil wears prada

the devil wears prada - Lauren Weisberger

Sister-in-law's pick. Fast read, and quite funny. Makes me want to see the movie. Since so many of my friends have also read this, there'll be no need to force hubby to sit through the film.

February 2006.

S is for Silence

S is for Silence - Sue Grafton

Excellent Kinsey Millhone novel. This one has multiple points of view - a departure from the usual format. My only complaint is that the motive for the murder is never crystal-clear; the multiple perspectives really muddy that up. Borrowed from mom, and passed on to big little sister.

February 2006.

Letters from Wingfield Farm

Letters from Wingfield Farm - Dan Needles

Funny. Canadian farming humour. Free from the Book Expo.

January 2006.

Playing Games

Playing Games - Dianne Drake

Harlequin re-read. Okay, I admit it, sometimes I'm a lazy reader.

January 2006.

If the Stiletto Fits

If the Stiletto Fits - Wendy Etherington

Harlequin re-read. Another bathtub book.

January 2006.

Keeping Up Appearances

Keeping Up Appearances - Jennifer McKinley

Harlequin re-read. Sometimes, you just need to zone out in the tub.

January 2006.

Smoke

Smoke - Elizabeth Ruth

Good. Canadian novel about tobacco farmers, with a truly surprising ending. Free from Book Expo. Passed on to my big little sister.

January 2006.

Body Heat

Body Heat - Carly Phillips

OK airport read. Not worth re-reading. Passed on to my sister-in-law.

January 2006.

A Dog's Life (The Autobiography of a Stray)

A Dog's Life (The Autobiography of a Stray) - Ann M. Martin

Good - not too sad. A Black Beauty-lite for dogs. Free from the Book Expo. Gave it to our 10 year old 2nd cousin to read.

January 2006.

6X The Uncensored Confessions

6X The Uncensored Confessions - Nina Malkin

Easy teen read. Pretty good. Told from 4 points of view (each representing a member of the titular band, 6X). Free from the Book Expo, and passed on to my baby sister.

January 2006.

On the Run - Chasing the Falconers

On the Run - Chasing the Falconers - Gordon Korman

Okay. Not funny. The first in an adventure/mystery series. It read well (it was Korman, after all), but really, his humour is much better.

December 2005

PS That brought me to a total of 67 books read in 2005.

Home from the Vinyl Cafe

Home from the Vinyl Cafe - Stuart McLean

Very good story collection. Has the Christmas classic, "Dave Cooks the Turkey", which was read aloud at the homestead before Christmas dinner to great merriment. Interestingly, someone greedy tried to package this story alone as a slim hardcover to cash in on desperate Christmas shoppers. And I almost bought it! Another Book Expo treat.

December 2005.

Stories from the Vinyl Cafe

Stories from the Vinyl Cafe - Stuart McLean

Very good. Many of the stories were funny! CBC Radio fans will recognize the Vinyl Cafe from Saturday programming. Book Expo addition to the home collection.

December 2005.

The Burning Alphabet

The Burning Alphabet - Barry Dempster

Poetry. The section about his father is probably his best writing. The other sections have a few good lines, but no real stand-outs.

December 2005.

The Game Show Bride

The Game Show Bride - Jackie Braun

Okay. This was a Harlequin re-read.

December 2005.

The Undomestic Goddess

The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella

This one was okay. It was no Shopaholic, but it was better than Can You Keep A Secret? The notion of a lawyer suddenly finding herself as a housekeeper was slightly implausible, because housekeeping is truly sucky work in my opinion.

November 2005.

Knife of Dreams

Knife of Dreams - Robert Jordan

My re-read of Crossroads of Twilight was not in vain! Knife of Dreams was very good, better than the last one. Plot lines are beginning to wrap up, and this book positions Jordan nicely to end the series. Spoiler alert: But to have Moiraine, our introduction to the Blue Ajah, still alive??? How can it be? I'm very keen to see what the next book brings.

November 2005.

The Lost Chronicles

The Lost Chronicles - Mark Cotta Vaz

OK. Based on the J.J. Abrams TV show, with lots of glossy cast photos, and some information about production. Since I was a mid-season convert to the show, this helped fill in the episodes that I had missed. The book was a birthday gift to my husband, but I'm not sure that he ever got around to reading it.

November 2005

A Student of Weather

A Student of Weather - Elizabeth Hay

Pretty good. Can Lit; big little sister's pick. A rather limp ending, but the line, "ill-fated venison jerky", is a treasure.

October 2005.

Crossroads of Twilight

Crossroads of Twilight - Robert Jordan

Good entry in Jordan's The Wheel of Time series. This was a re-read to prepare for the new one being published. If you like fantasy, you're probably already reading Jordan. If you haven't started, don't be afraid. Yes, the books are thick, but they are good. Some of the plot points in this one were frustrating. To quote a temp who was working for me at the time of my re-read: "Dumb, dumb Egwene!" Can't say I disagree.

October 2005.

The Big Over Easy

The Big Over Easy - Jasper Fforde

Pretty good. This was the opener for his Nursery Crimes series, and certainly has me interested enough to pick up subsequent installments. The Thursday Next series is better, but it is so brilliant, that's rather an unfair comparison. This was also part of my big little sister's anniversary gift to us. She got reading rights in exchange.

October 2005.

Something Rotten

Something Rotten - Jasper Fforde

Very, very, very good Thursday Next novel! This one was a 10th anniversary gift from my big little sister.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Thursday Next, she's a brilliant Literary Detective. Something Rotten is actually fourth in the series. Start with The Eyre Affair, follow with Lost in a Good Book, move on to The Well of Lost Plots. It was an Entertainment Weekly review that first turned me on to these. They're basically fantasy novels, set in the UK, but with time travel, Neanderthals, and all sorts of Special Ops divisions, like monitoring the behaviour of literary characters, hunting werewolves and vampires, etc. Did I mention the cheese? In the most inspired throwaway detail, cheese is a controlled substance that has a thriving black market. You have to read them to believe it.

Anyway, I read the first three in the series in 2004, before I started keeping track. They are all excellent, including this one. Lent Something Rotten to my big little sister, and highly recommend it.

September 2005.

The In-Between World of Vikram Lall

The In-Between World of Vikram Lall - MG Vassanji

Good, solid read. It was set in Kenya, and my world geography knowledge is obviously lacking, because it took me half the novel to figure out that Nairobi was the capital city of Kenya, and not a different country that they all kept going to. However, it had another ambiguous ending, which lets you know it was my big little sister who gave it to me to read. No more ambiguity! I hate the time required to debate how things turned out. Just tell me! Passed this one on to my Can Lit loving sister-in-law.

September 2005.

The Treasured One

The Treasured One - David & Leigh Eddings

Still mediocre at best, but better than the first one in the series. Only read it because my husband picked this up for me at Book Expo - he knew I liked the author.

August 2005.

The Elder Gods

The Elder Gods - David & Leigh Eddings

I ordered this one through the SciFi book club based on how much I've loved all the other Eddings novels. This one was a poor comparison. One of the worst, no, the worst Eddings novel I've ever read. I wanted to stop when they were feasting on "pink light" (did I mention that was in the first chapter?), but I can't leave a book unfinished.

August 2005.

Crazy for You

Crazy for You - Jennifer Crusie

OK. Her Harlequins were better. Try Anyone But You if you want a great read in the romance genre.

July 2005.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling

Thrilling read! Very, very, very good. Of course, I couldn't figure out who the Half-Blood Prince was, despite how obvious it was once revealed. And Snape couldn't have killed Dumbledore - it was a prearranged, elaborate ruse. So much to speculate about for the final novel! This book prompted avid discussions with my husband, friends, and co-workers.

July 2005.

Atonement

Atonement - Ian McEwan

Slow start, ambiguous ending. Another book handed down by my big little sister. This one inspired me to phone her quite early on a Saturday morning when I finished reading it. Why so much ambiguity?! I like a straightforward ending!

July 2005.

Life of Pi

Life of Pi - Yann Martel

Slow start, but quite good. Hated the ambiguous ending though - either they were animals, or they weren't. Don't make me choose! This one was passed on by my big little sister, and I believe I passed it on to my Can Lit loving sister-in-law.

July 2005.

Crime and Engagement

Crime and Engagement - Nikki Rivers

OK Harlequin.

This was the last of the FlipSides. For those who may not have followed Harlequin's various imprints, in the mid-nineties they came up with their Love & Laughter line. Brilliant. Some of the funniest, most re-readable light romances you could hope to find. Then, they kiboshed Love & Laughter, and switched to Duets. Still rom-com novels, but now there were 2 per book, and 2 books published a month. Some were great, some weren't. But 4 light reads a month was nothing to sneeze at. When the rom-com well started to run dry, they ended Duets and introduced FlipSide. Watered down, but still some gems among the dross. June 2005 was the last month for FlipSide titles, and not coincidentally, the last month I had to shell out my hard-earned dollars to buy my guilty pleasures. Now, Harlequin makes no money from me, unless I'm truly desperate or I see an author I like on the shelf.

July 2005.

Spicing It Up

Spicing It Up - Tanya Michaels

Poor Harlequin. Written in the first-person narrative. I know women want to identify with the Harlequin heroines, but we don't actually want to "be" them. Never, ever, ever should they publish in the first-person again (in my humble opinion).

June 2005.

Girls in Pants - The Third Summer of the Sisterhood

Girls in Pants - The Third Summer of the Sisterhood - Anne Brashares

Good. Tearjerker, but in a good way.

June 2005.

Chloe Does Yale

Chloe Does Yale - Natalie Kinsky

OK. Sex in the City wannabe. Free from Book Expo.

June 2005.

Random Passage

Random Passage - Bernice Morgan

Pretty good Canadian novel about settling Newfoundland. You can imagine the sad ending. As that ship sails back...well, read it and see if you aren't overwhelmed by the futility of life. Not to mention the years you can waste for no real reason. This was a loaner from big little sister. I think I passed it on to my Can Lit loving sister-in-law.

June 2005.

Carolyn 101

Carolyn 101 - Carolyn Kepcher

Yes, that Carolyn (from the Apprentice). I love her on the TV show, so I was excited to read the book. It was OK, but it started very S-L-O-W-L-Y. One of my friends listened to this as a book-on-tape, and said the "Carolyn 101" pearls of wisdom were narrated in the most annoying way. For people who like pseudo-celebrity job advice, or just want to get more of Carolyn's icy judgements.

June 2005.

Nerd Gone Wild

Nerd Gone Wild - Vicki Lewis Thompson

Enh - not very funny, not very nerdy. Would have been better if I'd read it on a beach.

May 2005.

Keeping Up Appearances

Keeping Up Appearances

Cute Harlequin, but apparently not cute enough for me to bother recording the author. Oops!

May 2005.

Seeking Miss Scarlet

Seeking Miss Scarlet - Natalie Stenzel

OK Harlequin.

May 2005.

Dishing it Out

Dishing It Out - Molly O'Keefe

Cute Harlequin.

May 2005.

All the Women of the Bible

All the Women of the Bible - Edith Deen

I started this one at Easter - it took forever to read. As big little sister put it, no one else would bother to read this one, even if it was a gift. It had a brief biography of every woman ever mentioned in the Bible. Including the women who didn't have names. Written in the 1950's, so you can imagine what sort of feminine virtues Edith extolled. This was a gift from my mom, for joining a church (finally). I still have it, if anyone is interested.

May 2005.

The Nerd Who Loved Me

The Nerd Who Loved Me - Vicki Lewis Thompson

Good; funnier than the first one. Still a beach read, though.

May 2005.

Nerd in Shining Armor

Nerd in Shining Armor - Vicki Lewis Thompson

Good, but she had better Harlequins. Fine for a beach read (which is where I read it. Ah, beautiful Casa Marina Bay!)

May 2005.

Kingdomality

Kingdomality - Sheldon Bowles, Richard Silvano, and Susan Silvano

Yet another spin on the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicators (or maybe on the Jungian archetypes). Anyway, it was pretty good. I'm a Prime Minister, my husband's a White Knight. Decent tips, if not groundbreaking, for dealing with other "kingdomalities" at work. Free from Book Expo.

April 2005.

Trading Places with the Boss

Trading Places with the Boss - Raye Morgan

Poor Harlequin. I am so ashamed of my plebian tastes right now.

April 2005.

Blink

Blink - Malcolm Gladwell

Popular science/psychology. Good. May have liked his The Tipping Point more. Bought this one in the airport at New Orleans, and almost finished it on the flight home.

April 2005.

My Favourite Mistake

My Favourite Mistake - Stephanie Bond

So-so Harlequin. Her Love & Laughter titles for Harlequin were so much better. Honestly! Try reading Irresistible without laughing out loud.

March 2005.

The Second Summer of the Sisterhood

The Second Summer of the Sisterhood - Ann Brashares

Very good sequel, also a tearjerker. Borrowed this one from my little sister.

March 2005.

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons - Lorna Landvik

Big little sister's pick (and birthday gift to me). Surprisingly good. A bit of a tearjerker at several points. In a weird twist, work colleague has just chosen and read it for her book club in BC.

March 2005.

A Pinch of Cool

A Pinch of Cool - Mary Leo

OK Harlequin.

March 2005.

Detour Ahead

Detour Ahead - Cindi Myers

OK Harlequin.

March 2005.

What Wendell Wants

What Wendell Wants - Jenny Lee

Funny; an obsessed dog owner chronicles her obsession with her new pet, Wendell. Free from Book Expo.

March 2005.

The Notebook

The Notebook - Nicholas Spark

Drivel. Sappy++, but recommended and lent to me by my cousin, so I read it.

March 2005.

Without A Clue

Without A Clue - Trish Jensen

OK Harlequin.

March 2005.

Random Acts of Fashion

Random Acts of Fashion - Nikki Rivers

Cute Harlequin.

March 2005.

Charmed & Dangerous

Charmed & Dangerous - Lori Wilde

Forgettable romance. The protagonist might have had a twin, but don't quote me on that. Free from Book Expo.

March 2005.

The Red Diary

The Red Diary - Toni Blake

OK. Re-readable romance with decent "bedtime bits", and a tearjerker subplot. Still in my bedside book bin. Free from Book Expo.

March 2005.

Admissions, A Novel

Admissions, A Novel - Nancy Lieberman

OK. Literally, just OK. Free from Book Expo.

March 2005.

Time Off for Good Behaviour

Time Off for Good Behaviour - Lani Diane Rich

Fairly good debut novel. Might be worth a re-read in the tub. A Book Expo freebie that I think has since been passed on to my big little sister's friend.

March 2005.

The 5 Love Languages

The 5 Love Languages - Gary Chapman

Interesting book. It really made me think. I've since recommended it to others. Basically, it points out that the things we think demonstrate love may not be the things our partners think demonstrate love (i.e. if we think gifts are the be-all and end-all, we may not realize that our partners' acts of service, like cooking dinner or doing the dishes, are actually their expression of love.) And, because love is hard, we tend to value the love language that is easiest for us to express, which usually isn't the easiest love language for our partners.

As an aside, this was a loaner from my cousin. Sadly, she received it from the mother of the guy she was dating, which was creepy in the extreme. Despite its origins, it turned out to be a good read.

February 2005.

Coraline

Coraline - Neil Gaiman

Spooky, modern fairy-tale. Very good. Ordered through SciFi book club, based on author recognition. Gaiman is huge in the graphic novel world, something I frequently hear about from my husband. Written at a level that younger readers would understand, but too scary to hand over unless they were weaned on scary stuff. This one still sits in my bedside book bin, waiting to be re-read.

February 2005.

hypocrite in a pouffy white dress

hypocrite in a pouffy white dress - Susan Jane Gillman

Wonderful! Laugh out loud funny! Again, a freebie from Book Expo. Again, passed on to my big little sister.

February 2005.

The Dictionary of Failed Relationships

The Dictionary of Failed Relationships - ed. by Meredith Baudelaire

An anthology of 26 short stories - you guessed it - A to Z. Sadly, the title and introduction was better than the bulk of the stories. Another freebie from Book Expo, and I believe I passed this one on to big little sister.

February 2005.

Chainfire

Chainfire - Terry Goodkind

Oh no! A cliffhanger ending...Less preachy bits than usual, and an involving, upsetting storyline.

February 2005.

The Last Virgin

The Last Virgin - Jennifer LaBrecque

OK Harlequin (what did you expect from that title??)

February 2005.

The Great Chase

The Great Chase - Julie Elizabeth Leto

OK Harlequin.

February 2005.

Surviving Sarah

Surviving Sarah - Vicki Lewis Thompson

OK+ Harlequin.

February 2005.

Too Beautiful for You

Too Beautiful for You - Ron Liddle

Pretentious short story collection. Utter rubbish. Only read it because it was free from the Book Expo.

February 2005.

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants - Ann Brashares

Wow! My baby sister recommended this, and clearly, she has excellent taste in novels. Very, very, very good! Pass it on to all your sisters and girlfriends. But keep Kleenex handy - I guarantee you will cry in places.

February 2005.

Trace

Trace - Patricia Cornwell

Another good Kay Scarpetta novel. Lent to me by my mom, then lent to my sister-in-law (who took over a year to read it!)

February 2005.

Playing Games

Playing Games - Dianne Drake

OK Harlequin.

February 2005.

The Salmon of Doubt

The Salmon of Doubt - Douglas Adams

Quite good. Posthumous collection of writings found on his computer, including the unfinished novel of the title. For fans; the uninitiated would do better picking up The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. (Birthday gift from thoughtful husband, by the way.)

January 2005.

Blow Fly

Blow Fly - Patricia Cornwall

An excellent Kay Scarpetta mystery; albeit one that made me wonder if I had missed a book or two in the series. Some of the personal life progressions for the characters completely surprised me.

January 2005.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke

This one was marvellous!! Especially for a History/English double major. A thoroughly plotted, detailed novel sent in an England where magic never ceased to exist, with footnotes referencing books that "were" published in this alternate present. I ordered this one through a bookclub based on a review in Entertainment Weekly. It did not disappoint; although sadly, no one I know has been interested in reading it. The length and subject matter seem daunting, I suppose.

January 2005.

She Said, He Said

She Said, He Said

Average romance, so undistinguished that I didn't even bother to record the author's name. Oops!

January 2005.

Dog Handling

Dog Handling - Claire Naylor

OK, I confess I signed this book out of the library because I saw a very stylish girl reading it on the GO train months earlier. It was exactly what you'd expect from chick lit: cute, problems solved by moving to a new country, and the perfect man will love you for who you are. Nice light read.

January 2005.