JenMDB will post in the right place in 2021
Conversazioni75 Books Challenge for 2021
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1JenMDB
Looking forward to more reading riches in the new year. Books certainly kept me sane in 2020!
3PaulCranswick
Wishing you another sane year!
4thornton37814
Hope your reading year is wonderful!
6FAMeulstee
Happy reading in 2021, Jen!
7PaulCranswick
And keep up with my friends here, Jen. Have a great 2021.
8JenMDB
>7 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul - love your list of aspirations for the year. Keep it simple, eh? All the best for a satisfying 2021.
9JenMDB
Happy New Year all!
It took me a few days but finally finished my first book of the year: Five Little Indians by Michelle Good. It offers heartbreaking glimpses into the lives of five "survivors" of an Indian Residential School on the West Coast of Canada. The linked stories are raw and real but the writing is gentle and compassionate. Very worthwhile read.
2. The New Wilderness by Diane Cook. Another slower than usual read. Maybe with the second wave of COVID, a new stay-at-home order, and the fact that it's January I really don't need to read about a dystopian future; I feel like I'm living the prequel to this book.
3. Rabbit Foot Bill by Helen Humphreys - the master of the short novel. Quite fascinating - mental illness in post-war Saskatchewan. The institution in Weyburn had 1800 patients - makes you think about the mentally ill who are now homeless and living on the street, amongst other things.
4. The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power by Desmond Cole. Canadians need to stop looking south of the border and take a good look what's going on in our own country. If we are always comparing ourselves to our American neighbours, we don't have to face some ugly realities like the extent of systemic racism in our own institutions.
5. The Company We Keep by Frances Itani. An honest exploration of the many faces of grief as seen through the eyes of a group of strangers who meet and become friends through an ad on a grocery store bulletin board.
It took me a few days but finally finished my first book of the year: Five Little Indians by Michelle Good. It offers heartbreaking glimpses into the lives of five "survivors" of an Indian Residential School on the West Coast of Canada. The linked stories are raw and real but the writing is gentle and compassionate. Very worthwhile read.
2. The New Wilderness by Diane Cook. Another slower than usual read. Maybe with the second wave of COVID, a new stay-at-home order, and the fact that it's January I really don't need to read about a dystopian future; I feel like I'm living the prequel to this book.
3. Rabbit Foot Bill by Helen Humphreys - the master of the short novel. Quite fascinating - mental illness in post-war Saskatchewan. The institution in Weyburn had 1800 patients - makes you think about the mentally ill who are now homeless and living on the street, amongst other things.
4. The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power by Desmond Cole. Canadians need to stop looking south of the border and take a good look what's going on in our own country. If we are always comparing ourselves to our American neighbours, we don't have to face some ugly realities like the extent of systemic racism in our own institutions.
5. The Company We Keep by Frances Itani. An honest exploration of the many faces of grief as seen through the eyes of a group of strangers who meet and become friends through an ad on a grocery store bulletin board.
10PaulCranswick
>9 JenMDB: I feel like I'm living the prequel to this book.
What a year the last one was and I hope this next one doesn't become a mere continuation of it.
What a year the last one was and I hope this next one doesn't become a mere continuation of it.
11JenMDB
>10 PaulCranswick: Hard to be optimistic some days. From the vantage point of today, 2021 looks just as blighted as last year. Just keep reading..... Hope you're doing okay, Paul.
12JenMDB
February
6. Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart. In some ways Shuggie is a secondary character. Certainly the whole book revolves around his mother and her alcoholism. A bit Billy Elliot without the fairy tale ending.
7. Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes. Way too Hallmark for my liking. Fine if you want a trip to small town Maine & like baseball.
8. We Never Asked for Wings by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Having been pleasantly surprised by The Language of Flowers I had high expectations for this book. There is nothing wrong with it - I just wasn't wowed. Systemic inequality highlighted especially in terms of public education but also male/female, white/non-white.
9. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. Certainly topical! Actually really interesting to read a fictionalized account of a true story of the plague in a village in Derbyshire in 1665/6.
10 Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce. As one of my reading resolutions for 2021 was to read more books set in different countries, I was pleased to travel to New Caledonia for this one. Good, gentle adventure & exploration of friendship, and golden beetles.
6. Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart. In some ways Shuggie is a secondary character. Certainly the whole book revolves around his mother and her alcoholism. A bit Billy Elliot without the fairy tale ending.
7. Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes. Way too Hallmark for my liking. Fine if you want a trip to small town Maine & like baseball.
8. We Never Asked for Wings by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Having been pleasantly surprised by The Language of Flowers I had high expectations for this book. There is nothing wrong with it - I just wasn't wowed. Systemic inequality highlighted especially in terms of public education but also male/female, white/non-white.
9. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. Certainly topical! Actually really interesting to read a fictionalized account of a true story of the plague in a village in Derbyshire in 1665/6.
10 Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce. As one of my reading resolutions for 2021 was to read more books set in different countries, I was pleased to travel to New Caledonia for this one. Good, gentle adventure & exploration of friendship, and golden beetles.
13JenMDB
Given I barely travel more than a few miles from home anymore, I thought I'd like to do my virtual travelling by book this year.
So, here's some of the places I've been so far:
Japan
Australia
New Zealand
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Greater Toronto Area
Glasgow
Florida
Maine
California
Guyana
Hong Kong
Macao
Derbyshire
New Caledonia
Newfoundland
Windsor Castle
London
New Jersey
Illinois
Ecuador
Portland
So, here's some of the places I've been so far:
Japan
Australia
New Zealand
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Greater Toronto Area
Glasgow
Florida
Maine
California
Guyana
Hong Kong
Macao
Derbyshire
New Caledonia
Newfoundland
Windsor Castle
London
New Jersey
Illinois
Ecuador
Portland
14JenMDB
March
11. V2 by Robert Harris. A quick read - good pacing thanks to back and forth between German rocket engineer and British WAAF.
12. Less by Andrew Sean Greer. Really did not like the first 50 odd pages but persevered because a friend recommended. Morocco and India salvage it somewhat.
13. The Finder by Will Ferguson. Certainly ticked the boxes for taking me to far off places including the southern most tip of Japan, both the North and South Islands of New Zealand and the Australian outback. Interesting story and turns of phrases that made me stop and re-read them.
14. Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen. Light, action packed. Lots of snakes and the former incumbent of the White House.
11. V2 by Robert Harris. A quick read - good pacing thanks to back and forth between German rocket engineer and British WAAF.
12. Less by Andrew Sean Greer. Really did not like the first 50 odd pages but persevered because a friend recommended. Morocco and India salvage it somewhat.
13. The Finder by Will Ferguson. Certainly ticked the boxes for taking me to far off places including the southern most tip of Japan, both the North and South Islands of New Zealand and the Australian outback. Interesting story and turns of phrases that made me stop and re-read them.
14. Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen. Light, action packed. Lots of snakes and the former incumbent of the White House.
15JenMDB
April
15. My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki. Another one that ticks location boxes. A strange book in some ways but compelling and very visual especially when the film crew gets to the feedlot.
16. Downfall by Robert Rotenberg. I do like this series - worth the wait between books. This one has a social justice theme underlying the murder mystery set in a very familiar Toronto.
17. Earthly Possessions by Anne Tyler. Reinforced my opinion that Anne Tyler and I just don't go together.
15. My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki. Another one that ticks location boxes. A strange book in some ways but compelling and very visual especially when the film crew gets to the feedlot.
16. Downfall by Robert Rotenberg. I do like this series - worth the wait between books. This one has a social justice theme underlying the murder mystery set in a very familiar Toronto.
17. Earthly Possessions by Anne Tyler. Reinforced my opinion that Anne Tyler and I just don't go together.
16JenMDB
May
18. The Bar Harbor Retirement Home for Famous Writers (And Their Muses): A Novel by Terri-Lynne DeFino. Honestly - the title is a good example of the clunkiness of the prose, and the amount of work you have to do as a reader to tease out the good bits. Nothing really rang true though there was a great book inscription in the final chapter.
19. Scarborough by Catherine Hernandez. Poignant, tragic, real.
20. The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther. A trip to Iran, cultural dislocation and mother-daughter relationships.
21. A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier. Being a fan of English cathedrals, I can actually imagine the satisfaction of embroidering kneelers or ringing bells.
22. Letting Go: How Philanthropists and Impact Investors Can Do the Most Good by Giving Up Control by Ben Wrobel and Meg Massey
18. The Bar Harbor Retirement Home for Famous Writers (And Their Muses): A Novel by Terri-Lynne DeFino. Honestly - the title is a good example of the clunkiness of the prose, and the amount of work you have to do as a reader to tease out the good bits. Nothing really rang true though there was a great book inscription in the final chapter.
19. Scarborough by Catherine Hernandez. Poignant, tragic, real.
20. The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther. A trip to Iran, cultural dislocation and mother-daughter relationships.
21. A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier. Being a fan of English cathedrals, I can actually imagine the satisfaction of embroidering kneelers or ringing bells.
22. Letting Go: How Philanthropists and Impact Investors Can Do the Most Good by Giving Up Control by Ben Wrobel and Meg Massey
17JenMDB
June!
23. The Red Pole of Macau by Ian Hamilton. I liked that there were more female characters, and learned a lot about Macau.
24. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles. Like an extended YA book, thanks to the sub-story of Lily, a teen from Montana in the 1980s. Never goes anywhere and too much Dewey decimal system (I can say that, I'm a librarian).
25. One by One by Ruth Ware. If you want a quick weekend murder mystery read, this 21st century up date to And Then There Were None is fine. Don't expect anything sophisticated in terms of plot, character development etc. Lots of skiing though.
26. The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal. I learned more about making beer than I ever thought I would. All against a background of a multi-generational family drama in small town Minnesota.
27. The Winshaw Legacy by Jonathan Coe. Books that say they are funny on the cover rarely are. This was a good, long romp full of wry observations and pilloried characters but not laugh-a-minute funny.
28. Number 11 by Jonathan Coe. There was a good line in the book about sequels that are just barely sequels but I couldn't find it to quote here. Many years have passed since the first book, the Winshaw name lives on as do some of the characters/events of the first. Maybe not so much political commentary but definitely paints a picture of the times.
23. The Red Pole of Macau by Ian Hamilton. I liked that there were more female characters, and learned a lot about Macau.
24. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles. Like an extended YA book, thanks to the sub-story of Lily, a teen from Montana in the 1980s. Never goes anywhere and too much Dewey decimal system (I can say that, I'm a librarian).
25. One by One by Ruth Ware. If you want a quick weekend murder mystery read, this 21st century up date to And Then There Were None is fine. Don't expect anything sophisticated in terms of plot, character development etc. Lots of skiing though.
26. The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal. I learned more about making beer than I ever thought I would. All against a background of a multi-generational family drama in small town Minnesota.
27. The Winshaw Legacy by Jonathan Coe. Books that say they are funny on the cover rarely are. This was a good, long romp full of wry observations and pilloried characters but not laugh-a-minute funny.
28. Number 11 by Jonathan Coe. There was a good line in the book about sequels that are just barely sequels but I couldn't find it to quote here. Many years have passed since the first book, the Winshaw name lives on as do some of the characters/events of the first. Maybe not so much political commentary but definitely paints a picture of the times.
18JenMDB
July
29. The Push by Ashley Audrain. I was pleasantly surprised by this psychological thriller cum family drama novel. Motherhood, cycle of abuse, child psychopaths...
30. Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi. This book has a lot in it so not easy going but thoughtful and meaty. See all the tags I gave it.
31. Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan. Wish this book came with cakes not just the recipes.
32. The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly. Finished three books in one weekend! Three time periods, three sets of characters, lots of lovely garden descriptions.
33. Ashes of London by Andrew Taylor. Hit the spot.
34. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. Also hit the spot. Interesting study of family, race, gender, love.
35. Blaze Island by Catherine Bush. "The Tempest" works really well as a modern story of climate change and surviving on a remote island in Newfoundland. There are a few points stretched too far - the character of Caleb suffers for it, and I got quite lost about three quarters of the way through but the first part was strong enough to make up for it.
36. The Fire Court by Andrew Taylor. They could use one of these for all the cladding issues & fire in the UK now.
37. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. Liked the first three quarters of this novel about librarians in Depression era rural Kentucky.
38. The King's Evil by Andrew Taylor.
29. The Push by Ashley Audrain. I was pleasantly surprised by this psychological thriller cum family drama novel. Motherhood, cycle of abuse, child psychopaths...
30. Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi. This book has a lot in it so not easy going but thoughtful and meaty. See all the tags I gave it.
31. Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan. Wish this book came with cakes not just the recipes.
32. The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly. Finished three books in one weekend! Three time periods, three sets of characters, lots of lovely garden descriptions.
33. Ashes of London by Andrew Taylor. Hit the spot.
34. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. Also hit the spot. Interesting study of family, race, gender, love.
35. Blaze Island by Catherine Bush. "The Tempest" works really well as a modern story of climate change and surviving on a remote island in Newfoundland. There are a few points stretched too far - the character of Caleb suffers for it, and I got quite lost about three quarters of the way through but the first part was strong enough to make up for it.
36. The Fire Court by Andrew Taylor. They could use one of these for all the cladding issues & fire in the UK now.
37. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. Liked the first three quarters of this novel about librarians in Depression era rural Kentucky.
38. The King's Evil by Andrew Taylor.
19JenMDB
August
39. The Windsor Knot by S.J. Bennett. Loved HM the Queen as a detective. Would read more.
40. Trio by William Boyd. Not my favourite by Boyd but well written and an interesting snapshot of life in 1968 England.
41. The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore. Did not expect to read this in one day. Riveting. Feels very of the moment despite starting in 1917. There are undoubtedly more stories to be told.
42. Summer by Ali Smith. Always a pleasure and a surprise to read an Ali Smith novel.
43. Five Wives by Joan Thomas. A book set both in the 1950s past, rooted in a true story, and more recent past, much more fictionalized. The former is great, the latter - doesn't resolve itself well. I had never heard about this story though so a very interesting book.
44. The Last Protector by Andrew Taylor. Think this is #4 in the series - didn't hold my attention as much as the first two but I like seeing the Marwood/Cat story develop and enjoy the weaving of historical figures & events into fiction.
45. The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey. Really interesting mix of feminist & legal crime fiction. Lots of new to me stuff about Parsi law, purdah and India in the 1920s.
46. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.
39. The Windsor Knot by S.J. Bennett. Loved HM the Queen as a detective. Would read more.
40. Trio by William Boyd. Not my favourite by Boyd but well written and an interesting snapshot of life in 1968 England.
41. The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore. Did not expect to read this in one day. Riveting. Feels very of the moment despite starting in 1917. There are undoubtedly more stories to be told.
42. Summer by Ali Smith. Always a pleasure and a surprise to read an Ali Smith novel.
43. Five Wives by Joan Thomas. A book set both in the 1950s past, rooted in a true story, and more recent past, much more fictionalized. The former is great, the latter - doesn't resolve itself well. I had never heard about this story though so a very interesting book.
44. The Last Protector by Andrew Taylor. Think this is #4 in the series - didn't hold my attention as much as the first two but I like seeing the Marwood/Cat story develop and enjoy the weaving of historical figures & events into fiction.
45. The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey. Really interesting mix of feminist & legal crime fiction. Lots of new to me stuff about Parsi law, purdah and India in the 1920s.
46. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.
20JenMDB
September
47. The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris. Sorry. Found this hard going in a tedious way. Wanted to like. Too much unnecessary detail. Odd for a book about literary editors (amongst other things)
48. Escape to Riverside Cottage by Sheila Norton. Perfect end of summer read. Relatable on many levels (apart from the lack of a massive inheritance)!
49. The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny. Mercy killing? Yea or Nay? Captures some of the angry covid vibe we're in, along with all the good Gamache stuff.
50. The Scottish Banker of Surabaya by Ian Hamilton. Another trip to Asia with Ava Lee. Lovely descriptions of Surabaya in East Java but this book needs lots of trigger warnings.
51. Operation Angus by Terry Fallis. Good to have another Angus tale even though Daniel irritates me. Need more Canadian content like this.
47. The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris. Sorry. Found this hard going in a tedious way. Wanted to like. Too much unnecessary detail. Odd for a book about literary editors (amongst other things)
48. Escape to Riverside Cottage by Sheila Norton. Perfect end of summer read. Relatable on many levels (apart from the lack of a massive inheritance)!
49. The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny. Mercy killing? Yea or Nay? Captures some of the angry covid vibe we're in, along with all the good Gamache stuff.
50. The Scottish Banker of Surabaya by Ian Hamilton. Another trip to Asia with Ava Lee. Lovely descriptions of Surabaya in East Java but this book needs lots of trigger warnings.
51. Operation Angus by Terry Fallis. Good to have another Angus tale even though Daniel irritates me. Need more Canadian content like this.
21JenMDB
October
52. Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens. Inspired by the Highway of Tears, plausible young women scarred by fears of a serial killer in their small town in northern BC.
53. The Almost Wife: a novel by Gail Anderson-Dargatz. Read this in a couple of hours so fast paced but always felt rushed and sketchy. It was set on Manitoulin but didn't have a sense of place. Had a ghost or "fetch" but didn't feel like magic realism or a ghost story.
54. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro. Liked but what was it all about?
55. Fast Girls by Elise Hooper.
56. Fight Night by Miriam Toews. I really enjoyed this novel about a grandmother, her daughter and granddaughter at a stressful time in their lives, each of them fighting to be strong.
57. State of Terror by Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny. Very satisfied with this duo's first co-writing offering. Seamless transitions, great insight into Secretary of State experience, and a cameo from Gamache!
52. Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens. Inspired by the Highway of Tears, plausible young women scarred by fears of a serial killer in their small town in northern BC.
53. The Almost Wife: a novel by Gail Anderson-Dargatz. Read this in a couple of hours so fast paced but always felt rushed and sketchy. It was set on Manitoulin but didn't have a sense of place. Had a ghost or "fetch" but didn't feel like magic realism or a ghost story.
54. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro. Liked but what was it all about?
55. Fast Girls by Elise Hooper.
56. Fight Night by Miriam Toews. I really enjoyed this novel about a grandmother, her daughter and granddaughter at a stressful time in their lives, each of them fighting to be strong.
57. State of Terror by Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny. Very satisfied with this duo's first co-writing offering. Seamless transitions, great insight into Secretary of State experience, and a cameo from Gamache!
22JenMDB
November
58. The Royal Secret by Andrew Taylor. More 17th century intrigues and the Marwood & Cat story continues.
59. Claudette on the Keys by Joanne Culley.
60. The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish. A "weighty" book but worthwhile as both the contemporary and historical story lines are compelling.
58. The Royal Secret by Andrew Taylor. More 17th century intrigues and the Marwood & Cat story continues.
59. Claudette on the Keys by Joanne Culley.
60. The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish. A "weighty" book but worthwhile as both the contemporary and historical story lines are compelling.
23JenMDB
December
61. Undersong by Kathleen Winter. Interesting but slow read about William Wordsworth's sister, Dorothy.
62. Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. Excellent on every level. Can't believe it took me 20 years to get around to this. I keep thinking about the characters and what happens next.
63. The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Bali Kaur Jaswal.
64. The Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss. Mercifully short but intense & creepy as abusive father gets teen daughter to re-enact life & death of ancient Britons.
61. Undersong by Kathleen Winter. Interesting but slow read about William Wordsworth's sister, Dorothy.
62. Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. Excellent on every level. Can't believe it took me 20 years to get around to this. I keep thinking about the characters and what happens next.
63. The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Bali Kaur Jaswal.
64. The Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss. Mercifully short but intense & creepy as abusive father gets teen daughter to re-enact life & death of ancient Britons.
