37: Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

After only a few pages, I already loved this book so much I had to change my Facebook status and share my love with the whole world. In fact, after gobbling this book up (I'm going to have to read it again, more slowly this time!) I have only one criticism: It was obvious to me that whoever wrote this book was not British. The voices of the Guernsey characters were quite blatantly American to me. And that was a bit sad. But I decided that I liked the book enough that I would overlook that fact. And luckily they weren't annoying American. Just not British.

36: The Minotaur by Barabara Vine

I can't believe I didn't know Ruth Rendell wrote under the name Barbara Vine. Though why I should have known, I'm not sure.

I first discovered Ruth Rendell when my mum used to watch Ruth Rendell mysteries. As is typical of most crime shows set in modern times, Ruth Rendell's mysteries always seemed to have what I'll call dark twists. Let's just say they're not exactly the sort of thing I feel comfortable watching with my parents. Probably for that reason, Ruth Rendell isn't my favorite mystery writer. But when I read a reivew of Minotaur, I was intrigued. I logged on to amazon where Minotaur is alternately described as "a sort of blend of Edgar Allan Poe and Anthony Trollope" and Brontesque.

I gobbled this book up in less than a day and was delighted to see that Rendell as Vine has written several other novels. In fact, I see that many of Minotaur's reviewers call this one of Vine's weaker books. Let's hope they're right, because I can't wait to read more!

35

A Very Long Engagement by Sebastian Japrisot,

Whew, talk about culture shock! After all those charming little books about British country life, this one was a bit tough slogging! Actually though, I think it was a case of reading the right book at the wrong time. I've been awfully tired lately and very distracted by my yard (I looooooooove yardwork even more than I love books!) and this book deserves more attention than I was willing to give it just now. However, it's a borrowed book and I always feel as though borrowed books should be read (and returned!) promptly if possible.

The premise of the book is this: Five French soldiers are marched to their own front lines where they will be tossed into no man's land with their hands tied behind their backs. Their crime? Three of them had attempted to escape the atrocities of World War One by purposefully injuring their hands. One injured himself as a form of protest and one was actually injured in an accident. However, self mutilation to escape active duty is considered treason. Five bodies are recovered and the men's families are notified that they were killed in the line of duty.

Mathilde is the fiance of one of the condemned men. She cannot accept that her Manech is dead and so she begins a search to find out the truth of what really happened that fateful night.

The story, originally written in French and translated to English in this version, is told through a series of flashbacks, letters, memories and real time occurences.

As I said above, if I'd had more time and fewer distractions, I think I would have loved this book. Especially as my great grandfather is rumoured to have been a French defector. Our story is a bit jumbled and confused, but it seems he married my great grandmother, had a son (my grandfather) and then disappeared. Or was found and taken back to France to be similarly dealt with. Either way I felt a connection to this story.

The story is beautifully written and very intersting. And the ending was (in my opinion) very satisfying (though not a Hollywood ending). I think I'll have to try to find the movie version - if nothing else to watch the beautiful Audrey Tatou play Mathilde.

30-34

Finished the Miss Read Books at last! My mum polished them off in a matter of days, it's taken me the whole of this year so far (and part of last!) still...here they are:

30: Friends at Thrush Green
31: Celebrations at Thrush Green
32: Year at Thrush Green
33: Early Days (The autobiography of Miss Read)
34: A Glass of Blessings, Barbara Pym. Yes, that's right. I've started a new author. Quite like her too.

I've got something like 24 books in my To Read cupboard, so can't stop to comment, must keep reading!!

24 - 29

Village Affairs
Farewell to Fairacre
Gossip from Thrush Green
Affairs at Thrush Green
At Home in Thrush Green
School at Thrush Green

20-23: More Thrush Green

I decided to stop farting around and read all of Miss Read's remaining books in one go. I managed to figure out the chronological order of the books and it's been most satisfying reading them that way. So, in addition to Thrush Green which was my 19th book, I've read: Winter in Thrush Green; News from Thrush Green; Battles at Thrush Green and Return to Thrush Green.

I've been trying to decide if they're suitable children's books. There's nothing questionable in them, but they're not told from the point of view of children. Still, they remind me a lot of the Little House and Anne of GG books.

17 - 19

My brother bought me Clinton Kelly's Freaking Fabulous for my birthday. This book has been on my amazon.ca wishlist for eons. Now I know to go read a book before I put it on my wishlist! I love What Not to Wear and I've bought Stacy and Clinton's book on what to wear for my sister. It was hilarious. This book could have been hilarious if it wasn't so crass. I don't know if I'd even feel right about giving it away it was that bad. Some good tips in it though, but I think I'll look for a better book on being fabulous.

Then my friend Chadya got me Nick Arrojo's book on hair. I devoured this one too. And it was good....but I still feel like I need to visit his salon.

And finally, I started the first of Miss Read's Thrush Green books, Thrush Green.