What are you reading in December?

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What are you reading in December?

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1cushlareads
joulukuu 5, 2010, 3:30 am

There are lots of Kiwis scattered across LT, but this group is really quiet! In an attempt to generate some conversation, a few of us thought we'd try a 'What are you reading now?' thread. (It doesn't matter if it's not a NZ book.) The Canadians do something similar and they're a very chatty bunch.

I've just finished The Patience Stone by Atiq Rahimi, winner of the Prix Goncourt in 2008 and very bleak - it's set in Afghanistan, where a woman is talking to her husband in a coma.

Now that I've finished that barrel of laughs I've picked up The Wild Geese by Bridget Boland, a Virago Modern Classic that I've had for ages. I chose it to fit the main challenge in this month's Take it or Leave it challenge in the 75 Book Challenge group - to find a book with a picture of an animal on the cover.

For anyone who likes Orange Prize books, there's a group on here getting ready to read Orange books in January (just search under Groups and you'll see it...).

2avatiakh
joulukuu 5, 2010, 4:24 am

Hi Cushla, I've just started reading To the End of the Land by David Grossman which has been getting great reviews and is in the NZ Listener Best Books in 2010 list.
I'm also reading The Torchlight List: around the world in 200 books from Awa Press which isn't turning out to be quite what I hoped for. Still I'm only up to book 50, so the next 150 books might be more interesting!

3avatiakh
Muokkaaja: joulukuu 5, 2010, 4:28 am

duplicate post

4Kitty3
joulukuu 5, 2010, 4:04 pm

I'm amassing my Christmas holiday reading in the sun list and dipping in when I can't resist; but at the moment, Simon Winchester's Atlantic and Susan Wittig Albert's Holly Blues are beside the bed..

5HelenBaker
Muokkaaja: joulukuu 6, 2010, 1:41 am

Hi Cushla, I'm currently reading Sister by Rosamund Lupton, one of my local book group friends dropped it in. It is an easy page turner, undemanding for this busy time of year. I have just finished The Women in Black by Madeleine St. John for ANZLitLovers, my online book group. I seem to be the token kiwi in this group. The emphasis is on reading quality Australian and NZ literature. We discuss one set title a month and contribute monthly reviews of other books we have read. If any of you are interested check us out and have a look at our reading schedule for 2011. I am sure some more Kiwis would be welcome.
Cutting for Stone was very good. Next up is O'hara's Choice by Leon Uris which will complete my alphabet challenge for the year. Then back to the TBR pile.

6SouthernKiwi
Muokkaaja: joulukuu 6, 2010, 12:07 am

Thanks for starting this thread Cushla, it's nice to see some talk in this group :-)
I've temporarily put down The Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Great Writers On Why We Read Jane Austen so that I can wrap up two quartets. I've just finished Nora Roberts' Happy Ever After. I'd been looking forward to this one as I think it had the two most interesting protagonists in the series. While it was a good read, it didn't quite meet my expectations although I haven't quite worked out why yet. I'm now just finishing up The Reckless Bride by Stephanie Laurens. After that I think I'll have had more than my fill of romance for the year!

ETA: touchstones not working.

7HelenBaker
joulukuu 6, 2010, 1:39 am

Hi Kerry, I added To the End of the Land to my wishlist after reading a short reveiw on it in Saturday's NZ Herald Canvas magazine. It sounds promising.

8HelenBaker
joulukuu 6, 2010, 1:51 am

Hi Alana, I see you have recently read Hand Me Down World. I have to hang out to Christmas, as it is going in my Christmas stocking. Yeah sad I know, filling my own stocking, but at least I get to choose what I want hehe!

9SouthernKiwi
Muokkaaja: joulukuu 6, 2010, 2:59 am

lol Helen I think that's a little bit brilliant! Getting the books you want is always nice. I highly recommend Hand Me Down World, it's written beautifully. At least by giving it to yourself you know you will have some good reading to look forward to over the holidays.

Edited for typos.

10roundballnz
joulukuu 6, 2010, 3:36 am

Thanks for starting the discussion, it has been a bit quiet with this group recently ...

currently going thru a David Mitchell thing currently reading Cloud Atlas ... but there are other temptations on my TBR pile as well ... some very good books coming out at the moment.

Not sure what the festive season will bring yet, hoping for some quality reading time in between watching the cricket - there are tentative plans for a "do nothing but read day" via Librarything on 8th/9th Jan which suits me just fine the day before i head back to work!

While we are chatting I have also signed on to Bookmooch recently - but there don't seem to be many kiwis on there - so anyone know any other good trading/exchange online sites ???

Alex

11cushlareads
joulukuu 6, 2010, 6:29 am

Yay, 10 messages when I logged into LT just now! Great to see some chatter.

#2 Kerry, I've just been through the best books of the year lists in the FT and the Economist and have told my husband pointedly that I have circled a few things and crossed some things out. To the End of the Land is one of the ones with a big * next to it and I heard an interesting interview with Grossman on the Guardian Books podcast. I just went to the Listener website but the list isn't up yet.

#4 Kitty, Atlantic sounds good - I quite liked his River at the Centre of the World a few years ago, about the Yangtze.

#5 Helen, I was a hopeless member of ANZLL last year but I could never keep up with the email discussion or the books (I managed one read on time). When we moved to Switzerland I dropped out. I hope you can find some more Kiwis to join you.

#10 Alex, I have been a BookMooch member for a couple of years and love it - but I am finding it easier to mooch books now that I'm in Europe. I've had over 100 books from it but I noticed a drop-off in people in the US sending internationally around the time of the financial crisis. One idea is to try using an angel if you see anything you really like that isn't available. I got quite a few books that way and it doesn't cost any extra points, just a bit more work. There's an Angels thread on here in the BookMooch forum.

Hope you are all enjoying the sun. It's 1 degree up here, with melting snow turning to ice (but it's Switzerland not England, so the trams are still running on time!)

12richardderus
joulukuu 6, 2010, 11:36 am

*tentative hand raise* Not a Kiwi, but a big fan of literature Kiwi style...is it okay if I hang out with the cool kids?

13europhile
joulukuu 6, 2010, 3:47 pm

Certainly. Honorary Kiwis are also welcome. How did you discover NZ literature?

14richardderus
joulukuu 6, 2010, 4:27 pm

>13 europhile: Janet Frame! Owls Do Cry swam across my field of vision in the 1970s and I was hooked. I've always thought New Zealand sounded like the absolute *coolest* place on earth, so far from everything else; I've been to Australia, but never New Zealand, and it's on my life list of "don't die 'til you do this" things.

15LovingLit
joulukuu 6, 2010, 6:34 pm

lol, cool kids! I'm ok with that label.

I'm reading a NZ poetry collection, well its not NZ poetry, rather a collection as voted by NZers as our favourites. It's good to satisfy my late evening *cant keep eyes open for more than 5 minutes* reading needs.

16Moniica
joulukuu 7, 2010, 10:41 pm

I'm reading a book called The Four O'Clock Murders right now, about a polygamist cult.

Next up I look forward to reading Half the Sky which is supposed to be quite good and has had numerous good reviews from famous reviewers like Oprah :)

17LovingLit
joulukuu 8, 2010, 3:19 am

I was just looking at which of the books Ive read this year are NZ ones.....

A Good Keen Man, Barry Crump
From Strombolie to D'Urville
The 10pm Question, Kate DeGoldi
Under the Mountain, Maurice Gee
Letters, Bob Jones
Owls Do Cry,Janet Frame
How To Read a Book, Kelly Ana Morey
And a series of essays by Four Winds Press (found 5 on sale by Bill Manhire, Margaret Mahy.....and a few others, not sure how many are in the whole series)

Not too bad actually, I thought I wouldn't have that many- its over 10% of my total reads. What %age do you other kiwis read of our own books?

18LovingLit
joulukuu 8, 2010, 3:21 am

PS >Cushla but it's Switzerland not England, so the trams are still running on time!
Funny!

19roundballnz
joulukuu 9, 2010, 2:28 am

#17
I haven't read much NZ stuff this year at all ( should i hang my head on shame) ... but then i am known for splurges ....tend to be an all or nothing type of guy.

at the moment its David Mitchell am devouring his books .. not sure what will be next

20HelenBaker
joulukuu 9, 2010, 2:30 am

Hi Megan, that was an interesting question and I was pleasantly surprised...

The Man in the Shed by Lloyd Jones
Inheritance by Jenny Patrick
Magpie Hall by Rachel King
Man Alone by John Mulgan
Novel About My Wife by Emily Perkins
Island by Penelope Todd
Limestone by Fiona Farrell
What Remains Behind by Dorothy Fowler
The Widow's Daughter byNicholas Edlin
The 10pm Question by Kate de Goldie

I calculate about 15%, although I might aim for 1 per month next year!

21cushlareads
joulukuu 9, 2010, 5:31 am

Helen and Megan you have read tons of NZ books this year - wow!

I have managed one New Zealand book this year, which is low even by my usual standards. It was As the Earth Turns Silver by Alison Wong.

22richardderus
joulukuu 9, 2010, 12:12 pm

After reading Steve Braunias's bird watching book this year, I decided to add another Kiwi to my annual list...Patricia Grace, I will finish a second read of the very, very cool Potiki before the end of the month.

23avatiakh
joulukuu 9, 2010, 1:33 pm

Good going, Richard, I have Braunias' latest Smoking in Antarctica lined up to read, I've already dipped in and read his ode to Patricia Highsmith.

I've made a point of reading adult New Zealand fiction these past couple of years as I basically ignored it before then. I usually read a lot of NZ children's lit but haven't this year, I still have a pile to get through over the summer.
As the earth turns silver by Alison Wong
Queen of Beauty by Paula Morris
Tu by Patricia Grace
Plumb by Maurice Gee
Came a Hot Friday by Ronald Hugh Morrieson
The Year of the Shanghai Shark by Mo Zhi Hong
The Bone People by Keri Hulme
The Fallen by Ben Sanders
Opportunity by Charlotte Grimshaw
Coming up Roses by Sarah Laing
Hicksville by Dylan Horrocks (graphic novel)
Navigation: a memoir by Joy Cowley
The Torchlight List: around the world in 200 books by James Flynn

Poetry: The Summer King by Joanna Preston & Tigers at Awhitu by Sarah Broom
YA/children's:
Ebony Hill by Anna MacKenzie
The Limping Man by Maurice Gee
Brainjack by Brian Falkner & reading his The Project
Fierce September by Fleur Beale
The Billionaire's Curse by Richard Newsome
Jonty and Choc by Vince Ford
The Parkhurst Boys by Margaret Beames
Thornspell by Helen Lowe
X marks the spot by Joan de Hamel
The Ghosts of Iron Bottom Sounds by Sandy Nelson

plus a lot of picturebooks

And I'm currently reading Cleo: how a small black cat helped heal a family by Helen Brown which has had beautiful descriptions of Wellington in it.

24richardderus
joulukuu 9, 2010, 1:41 pm

OMG! I forgot Cleo! So I, inescapably Murrikin reader that I am, have read *three* Kiwi writers this year!

25HelenBaker
joulukuu 10, 2010, 1:52 am

I lovedAs theEarth Turns Silver and will be rereading it twice this year, once for my f2f bookgroup and I will be moderating the discussion on AnzLitlovers in August.

26HelenBaker
joulukuu 10, 2010, 1:57 am

Richard, I wonder if you might enjoy Witi Ihimaera. I loved Bulibasha and The Uncle's Story.

27LovingLit
joulukuu 10, 2010, 1:58 am

>22 richardderus: That Bird book was serialised and read out on our National Radio programme - I remember the author read his own work and it was actually quite an amusing and interesting topic!

28HelenBaker
joulukuu 10, 2010, 2:12 am

I picked up TheThousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet by David Mitchell at the Warehouse today for $22.97. I'm pleased with that, but sadly it will slot on to the TBR shelves for now.

29richardderus
joulukuu 10, 2010, 1:36 pm

>26 HelenBaker: Ooo, thanks Helen! I wishlisted Bulibasha for a start. Now to *find* it....

>27 LovingLit: Iread, wow I'll have to look for the audio files. I'd like to hear him read his work, it seems so...well...listenable. I came away from the book just *liking* the guy. Personable, wry, clever. Just the kind of friend one wants!

30LovingLit
joulukuu 10, 2010, 3:29 pm

31richardderus
joulukuu 10, 2010, 3:40 pm

Way cool, and thanks!

32SouthernKiwi
Muokkaaja: joulukuu 10, 2010, 8:46 pm

I've unfortunately always been very slack about reading NZ books, and this year is no exception having only read 4:
Divine by Michelle Holman
Knotted also by Michelle Holman
The Awa Book Of New Zealand Sports Writing by Harry Ricketts, and most recently
Hand Me Down World by Lloyd Jones.
There will hopefully be a big improvement in the number of NZ books I read next year, since I've included a "home grown" category in my 11 in 11 challenge.

Edited for touchstones.

33richardderus
joulukuu 10, 2010, 9:16 pm

Maybe some of y'all can include LT author Tim Jones in your 2011 readings? Anarya's Dawn, or TransSported perhaps? He's a poet, too. (Touchstones not cooperating!)

34HelenBaker
joulukuu 10, 2010, 11:29 pm

I have just returned from Auckland, as Borders had 30% off. I went on the premise of buying my son-in-law's Christmas books, which I did and had to sneak a treat in for myself. MyANZ LitLovers group have been discussing Susan Johnson, an Aussie writer, so I picked up The Broken Book, to try her writing. Then I strayed into Whitcoulls 25% off and slipped in Randolph Stow,s The Merry-Go -Round in the Sea, our February read, as well as a Clive Cussler for hubby.
It is so addictive, buying books on sale, Icould have done so much damage at Borders... Ah well.

35crimson8
joulukuu 10, 2010, 11:40 pm

I better add my 10cents worth as well being new here and a New Zealander. I'm not keen as being described as a flightless bird..
I am fortunate as I work in a library so a lot of my time is spent buying the latest books, oh heaven.
I am a fan of Noel Virtue.
At the moment I am reading Freedom by Jonathon Franzen and it's very good.

36roundballnz
joulukuu 11, 2010, 1:06 am

Too funny!!! .... how many of us bibliophiles just happen to stray in bookshops at this time of year & just happen to come out with books for ourselves :)

I was buying fruit & veg this morning & strayed into 'Timeout books & yes came out with a book

37timjones
joulukuu 12, 2010, 6:33 am

I hadn't looked at this group for ages, and it was a pleasant surprise that it's suddenly got so active. Thanks for kicking this off, Cushla!

>33 richardderus:. richarderus: Thanks for the mention! Just to fix up those titles, that's Anarya's Secret (fantasy novel) and Transported (short story collection) - both of which have just become available on the Kindle, although I'm not sure how much use that information is to NZ'ers.

I keep track of my reading each year through the annual Club Read group, but I haven't ever broken out how many NZ books I've read. I'll endeavour to do that for the year to date...

38timjones
Muokkaaja: joulukuu 12, 2010, 6:50 am

Books by New Zealand authors I've read this year (the number in brackets is my rating out of 5 stars. If a book isn't rated, that's probably because I've interviewed that author for my blog):

Etymology by Bryan Walpert - poetry collection (4/5)
Spinners by Anthony McCarten - novel (4/5)
Ithaca Island Bay Leaves by Vana Manasiadis - poetry collection
Cornelius & Co by John O'Connor - poetry collection (4.5/5)
Leaving the Tableland by Kerry Popplewell - poetry collection. An extremely good debut collection.
Magnetic South by Sue Wootton - poetry collection (4.5/5)
Ephraim's Eyes by Bryan Walpert - short story collection (3/5)
Spark by emmaneale::Emma Neale - poetry collection (4/5)
Digging for Spain by toddpenelope::Penelope Todd - nonfiction/memoir (4/5)
Bartering Lines by Michael Steven - poetry collection
Daybook Fragments by stevenmichael::Michael Steven - poetry collection
'A Tingling Catch': A Century of New Zealand Cricket Poems, edited by Mark Pirie - poetry/sport/anthology (4.5/5)
Heading North by rickerbyhelen::Helen Rickerby - poetry/chapbook (4/5)
Out Of It by olearymichael::Michael O'Leary - fiction/novella (4/5)
Barefoot by comptonjennifer::Jennifer Compton - poetry/collection (4.5/5)

39timjones
joulukuu 12, 2010, 6:48 am

Sorry about the touchstone problems - so, 15 out of the 51 books I've read so far this year are by NZ authors, and of those, 11 are poetry, plus 1 novel, 1 novella, 1 short story collection, and 1 memoir. Which is interesting, because I read plenty of fiction from other places!

I do have a couple of New Zealand short story collections on the go currently, though: A Foreign Country: New Zealand Speculative Fiction, and The Penguin Book of Contemporary New Zealand Short Stories.

Clearly, I shall have read more New Zealand fiction in 2011!

40fabtk
joulukuu 12, 2010, 7:02 am

I was surprised to see I have only read one New Zealand book this year, Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey. Looking at my new nationalities graph, about 10% of the books I own are New Zealand books, so I have done better in the past.

I wonder if part of the reason for reading so few NZ books lately is that I am now choosing a lot of books based on what I have heard about on LT, and of course not many NZ books are discussed.

Back to the original question: I am currently reading The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami. I am enjoying it much more than I thought I would.

41europhile
joulukuu 13, 2010, 4:34 am

#38 I didn't know Mark Pirie had also compiled an anthology of NZ cricket poems. That's certainly one to look out for, thanks. Great title too!

42timjones
joulukuu 13, 2010, 6:24 am

>41 europhile:, europhile: I really enjoyed reading the collection - and Mark has set up a blog about the book:

http://tinglingcatch.blogspot.com/

43Aldrea_Alien
joulukuu 16, 2010, 7:35 pm

fabtk: 10% of the books you own are New Zealand book? That means one of two things, you've a small amount of books, or a lot of NZ ones.
Me, out of the 300 I own (largely gotten through 2nd-hand shops), I've perhaps um ... five I think, four from Maurice Gee and an old book on NZ Birds. Gosh, should I be ashamed of myself for not knowing nationalities? Does it really matter? Probably not on both counts. But then, I read fantasy and I know for a fact how hard it is for a NZ writer to get that published over here if it's not classed as kiddies or YA.

And right now, to get myself back on topic, I'm nearing the end of Guards! Guards! Will have to move on to another author soon as I can't find a cheap Eric.

44fabtk
joulukuu 17, 2010, 8:27 pm

>43 Aldrea_Alien: I own about 1380 books, and I've tagged 137 as NZ books. The NZ books are mostly children's or YA, plus a good chunk of Ngaio Marsh.

45cushlareads
joulukuu 18, 2010, 12:37 am

I've just figured out where to find the nationality statistics and see that 19 measly books in my library (2.9%, but that includes my wishlist in the total) are from NZ. That's even lower than I thought (and several are Alison Holst or Lynley Dodd.) I read tons of fiction from other places and have been reading a lot of European stuff while we're not at home.

#38 Tim it is really nice to see you on here - I will come and star your Club Read thread for next year when you have one.

46timjones
joulukuu 19, 2010, 3:48 am

My nationality chart is here:

http://www.librarything.com/profile/timjones/stats/nationality

I have 18.2% NZ books. But 186 authors with work in my collection are listed as "Not Set" for Nationality, which might change the figures a bit - probably raising the NZ percentage.

>45 cushlareads:, cmt: Thanks, Cushla! Nice to see you too!

I've just started reading a book with a strong NZ connection that's published in NZ, but written by an English author - is that a New Zealand book? Anyway, it's Katherine Mansfield: The Story-teller, a biography of the famous New Zealand author by Kathleen Jones. It's very good so far. She had a tough life; she also made life tough for a lot of people close to her.

47europhile
joulukuu 19, 2010, 5:17 am

According to my stats I have 12.8% NZ books. That seems a bit low so I also suspect the large number of unallocated ones (657) would raise the percentage somewhat.

Tim: I also have that book on KM and may take it with me on holiday as I haven't started it yet.

48avatiakh
joulukuu 20, 2010, 6:45 pm

I just finished up Backroads: charting a poet's life by Sam Hunt, a sort of literary memoir with lots of interesting scraps of poetry from a variety of poets scattered through. Anyway I enjoyed it and I've just started Things we didn't see coming, a dystopian short story collection by Steve Amsterdam, an American who lives in Melbourne which I'm finding good so far.

49roundballnz
joulukuu 22, 2010, 1:31 am

So what book is everyone hoping to be given for Xmas ......

50HelenBaker
joulukuu 22, 2010, 2:23 am

51roundballnz
joulukuu 22, 2010, 3:37 am

I think that is going to be a popular gift this year ...... they have been flying out the bookstores

52timjones
Muokkaaja: joulukuu 22, 2010, 6:48 am

>47 europhile:, europhile: I've just finished the Katherine Mansfield bio, and it's well worth reading.

I interviewed Kathleen Jones, the author of this latest bio, on my blog earlier this year: http://bit.ly/bKbUmU

(I interview authors - usually, but not always, New Zealand authors - about once per month.)

53HelenBaker
joulukuu 22, 2010, 7:28 pm

That's good to hear Tim. I nominated this for our non-fiction selection on AnzLitLovers, but it was eliminated this year, as it was only available in hardcover and a bit costly.
I will keep an eye on your blog.

54timjones
joulukuu 23, 2010, 3:14 am

Thanks, Helen. I know Kathleen is working towards a paperback release, but I'm not quite sure where things are at with that.

55richardderus
joulukuu 30, 2010, 4:52 pm

I've finished and reviewed Kiwi journalist Helen Brown's memoir Cleo: The Cat Who Mended A Family, in my thread...post #184.

56avatiakh
tammikuu 5, 2011, 3:55 pm

57HelenBaker
Muokkaaja: tammikuu 18, 2011, 9:59 pm

Hi all. How is the holiday reading going?
I am guility of bargain buying and after today's purchase it means I have added another 12 books to my TBR shelves this year.
Today I found a new copy of The Plumb Trilogy by Maurice Gee for only $10. I already own and have read Plumb but have been meaning to pick up the other two for a while.
I get a vicarious thrill when I find a bargain like this.
I was also stunned to see Ian McEwan's Solar, which I already own, on a table at The Warehouse for only $4.97. Incredible!
I am currently reading Music and Silence by Rose Tremain and Anna Karenina.

58LovingLit
helmikuu 18, 2011, 9:56 pm

Looks like poor Whitcoulls and Borders might be going under.....I will support an independent book shop over those big "bestseller" chains any day. I dont feel I can pay $40 for a new book at the best of times, but especially not when I feel the money is going towards a huge conglomerate. Id way rather buy online and every now and then spend the bigger bucks at somewhere like Scorpio in Chch where you get the impression that the staff are actually really passionate about books!