brenzi takes another stab at 75 - 8

Here we are the bride and groom, me and hubby and my son Adam and his wife Kellie (taken right after the ceremony).

I know one husband and wife who, whatever the official reasons given to the court for the break up of their marriage, were really divorced because the husband believed that nobody ought to read while he was talking and the wife that nobody ought to talk while she was reading.
Vera Brittain

"A library isn't just a library. It is a space ship that will take you to the farthest reaches of the Universe, a time machine that will take you to the far past and the far future, a teacher that knows more than any human being, a friend that will amuse you and console you--and most of all, a gateway, to a better and happier and more useful life."

--Isaac Asimov in a March 16, 1971, letter to children at the newly opened Troy, Mich., public library





Currently Reading:



Take It Or Leave It Challenge - January

The Invisible Bridge Top Rated Books Challenge
Case Histories - First Book in a Series Challenge
The White Family - Book Rated Between 3.8-4.2 on LT
The Girls - Vowels in Alphabetical Order
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - Book with an Official in the Title
Solo - Book Rated Below 10,000 on the LT Popularity Rating

Take It Or Leave It Challenge - February

The Children's Blizzard - Non-fiction Book About Winter
The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence - Canada Reads Challenge
Lord of Misrule - Tournament of Books Challenge
Someone Knows My Name - Canada Reads Challenge

Take It Or Leave It Challenge - March

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet Top 50 LT Wishlisted Books
West with the Night Read a Book with a City on Page 17
In the Company of Angels Read a book in which the main title words (not a, an, etc.) increase or decrease by 1 letter count
The Reluctant Fundamentalist Read a Book That Takes Place in the Middle East

Take It Or Leave It Challenge April

Through Black Spruce Book Whose Title is a Prepositional Phrase
Swamplandia 2011 Orange Prize Longlist
In the Bleak Midwinter Book Whose Title is a Prepositional Phrase
Testament of Youth Read an Autobiography or Diary
It's Beginning to Hurt Book with an Artful cover

Take It or Leave It Challenge - May

South Riding Read a Book that's Been on Your TBR Pile Since Jan. 1
Doc: A Novel Read a Book That's at Least 23 cm. High
A Fountain Filled With Blood Read a Book with a matching word to the Title above It
A Month in the Country Read a Book with a vowel that's Repeated in the Title's Main Words (o)

Take It Or Leave It - June

All Quiet on the Western Front Read a Book Used as a Screenplay
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives Read a Book on a Low Shelf
The Lost Garden Read a book with a Flower on the Cover

Take It or Leave It Challenge - July

The Memory of Love Read a woman-authored book nominated for an international prize
The Outcast Read a Book by a Hot Author

Take It Or Leave It Challenge - August

Matterhorn Read a Book where the main Character Has an Uncommon Name
Parnassus on Wheels Read a Book with a Friend
This Boy's Life Read a Western

Take It Or Leave It - September

A Trick of the Light Read a book where the Title related to your 5 senses
Ethan Frome Read a book whose title is the name of someone
The Sisters Brothers Read a Book Whose Cover is Composed Mainly of a Primary Color (red)

Take It Or Leave It - October

Obasan - Read a Book with Fewer than 150 Coversations on LT (54)
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet - Read a Characteristic Work
The Age of Innocence - Read a Book Assigned to an English class
Montana 1948 - Read a Book Set Between 1920 and 1950
Jest of God - Read a Book Whose Author's First and last name Have the Same Number of Letters

Take It Or Leave It - November

River of Smoke - Read a book with at least one animal mentioned on page 50
The Night Circus - Read a book with at least one animal mentioned on page 50


BOOKS READ IN 2011

75. Three Men in a Boat - Jerome K. Jerome
74. Behind the Beautiful Forevers - Katherine Boo - India - NF - 4.3 stars
73. All Passion Spent - Vita Sackville-West - UK - 4 stars
72. Coventry - Helen Humphreys - UK - 4 stars
71. To Darkness and to Death - Julia Spencer-Fleming - 4 stars
70. Dark Fire - C.J. Sansom - UK - Julia Spencer-Fleming - 4 stars
69. State of Wonder - Ann Patchett - Brazil - 4 stars
68. Visitation - Jenny Erpenbeck - Germany - 4 stars
67. Midnight Rising - Tony Horwitz - NF - 4 stars
66. Persuasion - Jane Austen - UK - 4.5 stars
65. Out of the Deep I Cry - Julia Spencer-Fleming - 4 stars
64. Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman - Robert K. Massie - Russia - NF - 5 stars
63. The Sleepwalkers - Paul Grossman - Germany - 3.5 stars
62. The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern - 4 stars
61. A Sense of an Ending - Julian Barnes - UK - 4.5 stars
60. River of Smoke - Amitav Ghosh - China - 4 stars
59. Howard's End is on the Landing - Susan Hill - UK - NF - 3.5 stars
58. Jest of God - Margaret Laurence - Canada - 4.5 stars
57. Montana 1948 - Larry Watson - 4 stars
56. The Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton - 5 stars
55. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet - Jamie Ford - 3.5 stars
54. Obasan - Joy Kogawa - Canada - 4.5 stars
53. When the Emperor was Divine - Julie Otsuka - 4 stars
52. Let's Take the Long Way Home - Gail Caldwell - NF - 4 stars
51. Nat Tate - William Boyd - 1.5 stars
50. Dissolution - C. J. Sansom - UK - 4 stars
49. When Will There Be Good News? - Kate Atkinson - Scotland - 4.5 stars
48. The Sisters Brothers - Patrick de Witt - 4 stars
47. Ethan Frome - Edith Wharton - UK - 4.5 stars
46. A Trick of the Light - Louise Penny - 4.5 stars
45. The Trouble with Poetry - Billy Collins - NF4 stars
44. In the Sea There Are Crocodiles - Fabio Geda - Afghanistan/Pakistan/Turkey/Greece/Italy-3 stars
43. Every Man in This Village is a Liar - Megan Stack - Afghanistan/Iraq/Palestine/Egypt NF- 5 stars
42. Burnt Shadows - Kamila Shamsie - India, Pakistan, Afghanistan - 4 stars
41. This Boy's Life - Tobias Wolff - 3.5 stars
40. Parnassus on Wheels - Christopher Morley - 3.5 stars
39. Matterhorn - Karl Marlantes - Viet Nam - 5 stars
38. To the Lighthouse - Virginia Woolf - UK - 4 stars
37. When She Woke - Hillary Jordan - 4.5 stars
36. One Good Turn - Kate Atkinson - UK - 4 stars
35. The Outcast - Sadie Jones - UK - 4 stars
34. The Memory of Love - Aminatta Forna - Sierra Leone - 5 stars
33. Unaccustomed Earth - Jhumpa Lahiri - India/US/Italy - 5 stars
32. Translation is a Love Affair - Jacques Poulin - France - 4 stars
31. The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine - Alina Bronsky-Russia/Germany-3.5 stars
30. The Lost Garden - Helen Humphreys - UK - 4.5 stars
29. The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives - Lola Shoneyin - Nigeria - 3.5 stars
28. All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque - France - 5 stars
27. Ministry of Special Cases - Nathan Englander - Argentina - 4 stars
26. A Month in the Country - J.L. Carr - UK - 4 stars
25. A Fountain Filled With Blood - Julia Spencer-Fleming - 4 stars
24. Doc - Mary Doria Russell - 4.5 stars
23. South Riding - Winifred Holtby - UK - 4.5 stars
22. It's Beginning to Hurt - James Lasdun - UK - 3.5 stars
21. Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain - UK - NF5 stars
20. In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming - 4 stars
19. Swamplandia by Karen Russell - 4 stars
18. Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden - Canada - 4.5 stars
17. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid - Pakistan - 4 stars
16 The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obrecht - Balkans - 4 stars
15. In the Company of Angels by Thomas E. Kennedy - Denmark - 4.5 stars
14. West with the Night by Beryl Markham - Africa/England - NF 4.5 stars
13. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell - Japan- 4.5 stars
12. Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill-Africa,Canada, UK 5stars
11. Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon 3 stars
10. The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence - Canada 4.5 stars
9. The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger 4 stars
8. The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin - NF 4 stars
7. Solo by Rana Dasgupta - Bulgaria 3 stars
6. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson - UK 4 stars
5. Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada - Germany 5 stars
4. The Girls by Lori Lansens - Canada 4.5 stars
3. The White Family by Maggie Gee - UK 4.5 stars
2. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson - UK 4.5 stars
1. The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer - Hungary/France 5 stars

Here's a picture of the centerpieces we made. The bride and groom grew the gourds, picked and washed them, then Sara and I sprayed them with spray adhesive and sprinkled them with glitter. We added the mini Indian corn (also grown by the bride and groom) and the silk fall leaves and voila....

Grown by the bride and groom, we used these mini pumpkins to hold the name tags with table assignments at the reception.

Bonnie- I love the pix! Everything looks beautiful! And congrats and the year's last thread. How is Midnight Rising coming? I have this saved on audio and plan to get to it later this month.

I love all the pictures, Bonnie. Thanks for posting them. Great job on the centerpiences and name tags. The mini pumpkins are adorable. Your daughter and SIL must have a huge garden!

Great pictures Bonnie!! Such a beautiful, happy family!!!

Wow. That's quite a few mini-pumpkins and gourds! Lots of planning and craftiness at work there. Nice job!
Family picture is splendid - all happy and clean. LOL
Glad we got more pictures! Thanks. :)

Great wedding pix, Bonnie! Thanks for sharing.
Back on your previous thread you asked me about reading Emma ("Hmmmm, how early in the year Laura?") I was thinking maybe February, but I'm completely flexible!

>4 msf59: Thanks Mark, I'll finish Midnight Rising later tonight and it has been quite good. I've learned a lot about John Brown that I didn't know before. He apparently wasn't just a crazy zealot but was respected by a lot of Northerners at that time.

>5 phebj: Thanks Pat, they actually grew them here at our place which is quite large measured in acres LOL.

>6 tjblue: Thanks Tammy, it was a wonderful day for sure.

>7 -Cee-: Happy and ....clean?? Well I guess that's very true Claudia haha.

>8 lauralkeet: Thanks so much.` February should work very well Laura.

Wonderful pics, Bonnie! I love the fall themed wedding goodness!

Gorgeous pictures and centre pieces, Bonnie! How lovely! As far as having Dave home, it's not too bad. He is normally very physically active so having to stay off his feet for so long is going to be a challenge for both of us - but especially him... so far he is enjoying his time and reading a lot.

After all the planning and excitement, I'm ever so glad that things turned out just how you wanted. The photos are lovely!

Wow, Bonnie, more beautiful wedding photos!

And such a good looking group is also pretty crafty, too!

>9 brenzi:: that's great Bonnie! I'm looking forward to it.

great wedding pics! Looks like a lot of work, well done!

How special to use gourds and pumpkins that the happy couple grew themselves. As a bit of a gardener myself, I know the time and effort it takes to produce so much perfect produce. Wow!

Hello there Nancy, Deb, Linda, Joanne, Laura, Chelle and Lisa, thank you to all my LT friends. The gourds and pumpkins are surprisingly easy to grow and I'm not really a very crafty person, per se, but this seemed to be something I could handle and it was.

67.



Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid that Sparked the Civil War by Tony Horwitz 4 stars

History writing at its best. Thank you Suzanne! From my review:

Tony Horwitz has scored again with his in depth look at abolitionist John Brown’s raid on the Harper’s Ferry arsenal. In true Horwitz style, American history becomes very readable and, dare I say it, gripping.

Most Americans probably have a vague idea of Brown’s raid but what Horwitz does is bring it to life. After relating Brown’s personal history and the fundamental beliefs that make him such a vocal opponent of slavery, we hear about the run-up to the raid. Brown’s biggest difficulties are securing funding and acquiring the men who will make up his army. After producing a new “constitution,” he has to settle for a much smaller army than that which he was seeking. A mere twenty men join him at a farmhouse just outside Harper’s Ferry in October, 1859 and more than one of them think the Captain’s plan for taking the arsenal has holes in it. For one thing, he’s counting on the slaves who live in the area to join him in the raid, to provide the extra strength that he’s lacking from his small band of men. But the slaves know absolutely nothing about the invasion.

Although Brown developed a fairly decent number of benefactors, both financial and intellectual, including Frederick Douglass, most of them could see the flaws in his plan, flaws that eventually led to the killing or capturing and, eventually, execution of most of the raiders.

READ MORE.

Thumb! I've been thinking of reading this but I own a copy of one of his other books (can't remember the title at the moment) that I need to get to first.

Great review, Bonnie! I really enjoyed that book.

Great photos, too.

As usual, terrific review! I will be getting to this one very soon. I read and loved confederates in the attic a couple years ago and have been meaning to read more of his work. You know he's married to Geraldine Brooks, right? I also have her latest in the stacks.

Mini pumpkins!?!??! Cool

>19 phebj: Thanks Pat. It's another one of those 'non-fiction that reads like fiction' books.

>20 tymfos: Thanks Terri.

>21 msf59: Thanks Mark. I do know that he's married to Gwendolyn brooks and Caleb's crossing is also on my teetering tower.

>22 LovingLit: :)

Great review, Bonnie. How wonderful to have history made readable ... even gripping!

A thumb for your review, Bonnie! I love "non-fiction that reads like fiction" books -- I'll definitely be reading this one!

Great wedding. Great pictures. Great book. Life is good ain't it? Thanks for sharing all of the above.

Stunning photos, Bonnie. What a beautiful and handsome family, you have!

Interesting review too!

Love all the mini-pumpkins! What a clever idea.

Wow! what a great surprise! I followed you here and found all of those gorgeous photos.... !
And the mini pumpkins were grown by the couple themselves? Now that is fantastic!!!
I love seeing family pictures here..

Bonnie, I love the wedding pictures you posted. Maybe I should try and grow gourds in hopes that the squirrels wouldn't eat them. They'd probably like the mini pumpkins!

Tony Horwitz sure made the crazies that reenact Civil War battles an unputdownable book for me. Confederates in the Attic is on my favorites list for 2011. I'm liking these nonfiction that read like fiction books you are coming up with. I hope to get to more NF in 2012.

>24 lit_chick: Thanks Nancy, that's the kind of history I like.but it's surprisingly hard to find.

>25 Nancy618: Well thanks Nancy and I think you'll find Midnight Rising to your liking.

>26 Berly: Yes Kim, ain't life grand??

>27 Soupdragon: Thanks Dee.

>28 Morphidae: Yeah Morphy that was actually my hubby's idea. I just figured out the pipe cleaner to hold up the name tag. People loved them.

>29 mckait: I'm glad I could surprise you Kath. It's fun.

>30 Donna828: I'm getting to really enjoy NF Donna. I think I wasn't reading the right ones in the past.

I'm really late getting here but delighted to see more wedding pictures! You and Sara and your DHs are very, very clever and very, very crafty too. Everything looks professionally done, but it's better because you did it yourselves. Wow!
And a thumb for your Horowitz. I'm trying to remember what I read earlier this year or last or the year before that had J. Brown as an almost character. Oh! Gilead, I think.

Beautiful pics, Bonnie! I'm so impressed with your family's green thumbs. Gourds are so stangely beautiful. I accidentally grew some squash this year (spilled some squash rinds and seeds, I guess, on root to my "Clean Green" container). Maybe next year I'll do it on purpose. I've actually read some books these last few weeks, because some long-ago-requested e-books finally became available.

Really nice review of Midnight Rising.

I've grown Winter Luxury pumpkins the last few years. They are an heirloom variety, are the best pie pumpkins, and make decent jack o'lanterns. :)

>32 LizzieD: Better late than never Peggy, esp. since I know how busy you are. Oh I never made that connection in Gilead.

>33 bonniebooks: Than you Bonnie. I'm glad you actually read some books. What might they be?

>34 jadebird: Thanks Ren. I thought I was the only one who actually used real pumpkins for pies. LOL.

Ha! Ha! I'm just noticing my misspelling up above (route vs. root), but also how it sort of fits. A good example of how my brain categorizes. Bonnie, I read Juliet Naked and Confidence Men and am almost finished with A Tiger's Wife.

68.



Visitation by Jenny Erpenbeck 4 stars

MY REVIEW

This is not the kind of book that you can just read, put aside and move on to something else. Well, I guess you could do that if you were totally unfeeling and insensitive and able to deflect all attempts to break through your hard outer crust. This book stabbed me through the heart and while the dagger was in there, it was twisted…hard. Deceptively brief (a mere150 pages) the book seemed a lot longer to me because I found myself dwelling on many of the carefully crafted sentences and the overall subject matter forced me to linger over certain passages, trying to get my brain to determine where we were in the 20th century and what exactly the author was trying to say. Because above all it is a book of multiple layers, and it is the exploration and dissection of these layers that takes time and patience. So not an easy read, but well worth the effort.

The main protagonist of the story is a piece of land in the Brandenburg section of Germany, just outside of Berlin, and the house that sits on it. The Prologue explains how the land came to be going back 24,000 years when ”a glacier advanced until it reached a large outcropping of rock that now is nothing more than a gentle hill above where the house stands.” The story is told by the twelve individuals who make their home in the house from the early years of the 20th century until just after the fall of the Berlin Wall in the 1980’s. The one constant is the gardener who takes loving care of the property throughout.

The fate of the house and its land closely mimics the lot of Germany in the last century through two world wars and the establishment and then dismantling of East Germany. The property is divided and subdivided many times over the years and, in the end, the house is dismantled, returning the land to what it was in the early 20th century.

The author brilliantly established the tone of the brutality of this time with her use of stark language while still maintaining a feeling of reconciliation and healing. Her spare, poignant prose took my breath away:

”The 6th Army capitulated outside Stalingrad, and already the morning of that day she was overcome by hot flashes, the sweat covering the space between her lips and nose like a mustache of tiny droplets, this sweat was embarrassing, but it would have embarrassed her even more to wipe it away, the Russians were marching toward Poland, and she felt dizzy, often several times a day, so that she had to steady herself by grasping table edges and door handles so as not to fall down, and finally, just as the Allies were landing in Normandy, even weeping returned to her body, taking hold of it and refusing to leave again, like a long forgotten creditor come to collect on a debt she no lo0nger recalled.” (Page 53)

Weaving the story back and forth in time, this is a very difficult read that will not be for everyone but if you are up to the challenge, you will certainly be rewarded.

Excellent review of Visitation, Bonnie. I have it on my TBR shelves and am determined to get to it early in the new year.

Great review, Bonnie : ).

That one sounds like a must- read, Bonnie, or at least a must-read-when-I'm-in- the-right-frame-of-mind, anyway! Great review, as ever!

Bonnie- Great review of Visitation. Sounds haunting!

Great review, Bonnie! Sounds very interesting indeed!

Bonnie, I wrote this one down in my wish book when it came out - then promptly forgot about it. Looks like I'd better pay closer attention to my list. Thanks for the reminder!

>36 bonniebooks: Haha Bonnie I didn't even catch that.

>Hello Katie, Nancy, Dee, Mark, Deb and Donna, Visitation does require a certain frame of mind, that is for sure. But I keep thinking about it and I'm pretty sure it's a book I will reread and probably in the not too distant future. There was just so much going on and I'm sure it would benefit greatly from a reread.

Wow. That is some review Bonnie.. sounds like quite a story...

I am about 160 pages into Ann Patchett's State of Wonder and have to wonder why I haven't read more of her work. I read Bel Canto eons ago and nothing since. Her writing is just stunningly beautiful. Like this:

Marina would not dream of missing a lecture or leaving a lecture over a matter as inconsequential as time. She is riveted in place while the slideshow flicks past so quickly they nearly make a moving picture. Dr. Swenson knows everything Marina needs to know, answers the questions Marina has not yet formulated in her mind. A tiny woman made tinier by distance fixes one hundred people to their seats with a voice that never troubles itself to be raised, and because they are all afraid of her and afraid of missing anything she might say, they stay as long as she chooses to keep them. Marina believes the entire room exists as she exists, at the intersection of terror and exaltation, a place that keeps the mind exceedingly alert."

Wow! Beautiful.

Hi Kath, quite a story indeed.

#46 What prose, indeed! So lovely and so vivid ...

Hi Bonnie - back to the threads and you hit me with a BB already. Visitation on the WL! Thumb for that review!

Don't you have a wedding to plan? LOL

Wow, Bonnie!! Fabulous pictures from the wedding!! I like how both your daughter and son in law worked together to plan such a beautiful affair. Plus your skilled hands making the centerpieces put a loving touch on the table.

I don't think Visitation is for me but the Patchett book could hold possibilities and I look foreward to your review on that one.

>48 lit_chick: Isn't it Nancy? And every page is quotable.

>49 -Cee-: Welcome back Claudia. Thanks for the thumb and what...are you suggesting I go into business as a wedding planner? Haha.

>50 Carmenere: Hi Lynda, they were very clever indeed; hard-working too.

Bonnie - If being a wedding planner slows you down a bit (i.e., rec good books) then - yeah. Go for it. I need a slower pace. LOL

Hahaha I've been waiting for this day a long time Claudia.

Bonnie..What will you do in 2012...(I'm smiling)
A retirement and a wedding in 2011!

Now, perhaps a chance to breathe and relax.

You got me with Visitation, Bonnie. It sounds interesting.

I haven't read State of Wonder yet, but I plan to. I know Bel Canto was extremely popular, but I struggled with it. I'll try it again sometime. I absolutely loved her The Magician's Assistant and wholehardly recommend it if you're looking to read more Patchett.

Well as a matter of fact Joanne, I have The Magician's Assistant AND The Patron Saint of Liars on my shelves right now so I will definitely be reading more Patchett.

Oh i can't wait to see what you think of The Patron Saint of Liars, Bonnie.

I love coming hre to see the beautiful and happy photo on top :)

>57 cameling: Well I don't know when I'll actually get to it Caro:)

>58 mckait: Aw how nice of you Kath:)

Visitation sounds great. I've liked all Patchett that I've read.

69.



State of Wonder by Ann Patchett 4 stars

Marina Singh works for a large drug company as a pharmacologist and is asked by her employer (and lover) Mr. Fox to go to South America to investigate the progress of scientist Dr. Annick Swenson, who is developing a drug that will extend a woman’s ability to have a baby until she is in her seventies. This is the big drug that Fox has bet his life on but Swenson is very secretive about it and has been working, at the expense of Vogel, the drug company for over ten years. Oh, did I mention that Marina’s officemate and fellow pharmacologist, Anders Eckmann, who was sent to the Brazilian jungle previously, succumbed to a fever while at Swenson’s camp and his wife would like Marina to gather the details of his death, especially since her husband’s body had been buried there? I know! A wee bit far-fetched, and so are a few other details that come out in the telling of this story, but more about that later.

The fact is I could hardly put this book down, so, yes it was compulsively readable. Who knew Patchett was such a phenomenal writer? Well, yes, I know, she has millions of fans who are well aware of her skill at the lovely turn of a phrase. So I guess what I’m saying is, “Where have I been?” Sure, I read and liked her well-known and well-received Bel Canto but then I never read another one of her books until now. Well, it’s certainly not too late to remedy that. Her writing is so fluid, so evocative, so, well, lovely.

READ MORE

Bonnie, thanks for another excellent review. I have to get to Ann Patchett! Bel Canto is on my Orange Jan list.

Ohh great review of State of Wonder. Amazon ca keeps recommending that book to me and I always feel scared that it will be too much for me, or not my style. You are nudging me towards it with your review.....

Bonnie- Great review of State of Wonder. I've had this one on my WL since it was released. I have not read Patchett, but plan on reading this one and Bel Canto next year.

State of Wonders does sound interesting. I liked but didn't love Bel Canto which is the only Patchett I've read. I do have The Magician's Assistant lined up for Orange January though and am encouraged by Copper's comment that she preferred it to Bel Canto.

Bonnie -- Great review of The State of Wonder. I loved that book, too. I haven't read The Magician's Assistant yet, but since I've liked all the other Patchett books, I should get to that one.

Bonnie, a thumb from me for your great review of The State of Wonder and justly added to my wishlist! I'll be reading Bel Canto in January so SoW may be a good follow up.

Have a great weekend!

Thumb from me, too. I liked Bel Canto a lot, and hadn't read any others by her either. This sounds like a good one, despite the flaws.

Hi Bonnie, sometimes you just have to suspend belief and go with the story, right? I liked this one, too, once I got over my slight quibbles with the plot. The Magician's Assistant was the first Patchett I read. I liked it and have been a fan ever since, liking some of her books more than others. Well, that was a no-brainer that applies to most authors. ;-)

Have a great week end!

>62 lit_chick: Thanks Nancy. I may get to The Magician's Assistant during OJ but there are a number of books ahead of it so not sure yet if I will get to it.

>63 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deb. I don't think you need to be afraid unless the thought of an anaconda wrapping itself around you and squeezing the life out of you scares you haha.

>64 msf59: Thanks Mark, as far as planning what I'll read next year, I have found that doesn't work very well for me; you know, the best laid plans of man and beast....

>65 Soupdragon: I liked but didn't love Bel Canto also Dee but I read it so long ago that I only have a bare bones memory of the plot left in my brain. But I quite liked State of Wonder and that will allow me to look forward to the other two of hers that I have on my shelf.

>66 BLBera: Thanks Beth, it sounds like you're a real Patchett fan:)

>67 Carmenere: Thanks for the thumb Lynda. Are you joining us in Orange January?

>68 jnwelch: Thanks Joe. I hope you enjoy it.

>69 Donna828: I bet we had the same quibbles Donna haha.

Bonnie, just passing the word that the threads are up for North and South group read. Everyone is welcome!

North and South (Non-Spoiler Thread)
North and South, Chapters 1-26 (Spoiler Thread)
North and South, Chapters 27-52 (Spoiler Thread)

I’ve also added the threads to our group’s wiki page.

Hi Bonnie - Nice review of State of Wonder which I think I liked a little more than you did. I am also a fan of Bel Canto and have three other novels by Patchett on my TBR shelves. Maybe next year......

Great reviews of Visitation, which I also loved, and State of Wonder, which I'll read early next year. Bel Canto is high on my wish list, but I'll probably wait until 2013 or later to buy it.

Another one for the list.... I dont know if I have read any of her books, but I think I own a few..maybe?

>71 lit_chick: Thanks for the info Nancy.

>72 katiekrug: Yes Katie, "maybe next year" is often on my lips too LOL.

>73 kidzdoc: Thanks Darryl, I'm finding that Visitation is staying with me.

>74 mckait: Yes Kath, I often find myself unsure whether or not I own a book or did I just consider buying and never actually made the purchase. And if I have it, where do I have it;-)

love your review of Visitation, looking for it at library today :)

ETA: library doesnt have it :`(

>56 brenzi: - I loved The Patron Saint of Liars, too! Enjoy!

>76 LovingLit: Thanks Megan, sorry your library doesn't have it though:(

>77 Copperskye: Well I guess that will be my next Patchett. Thanks Joanne.

Now that's a Christmas tree!

University of San Francisco library

Very cool Christmas tree of books! I also like the fact that no part of the tree is wasted. You just have to hope no one tries pulling out a book from the bottom.

Bonnie- Sea of Poppies has been wonderful!

Hi Bonnie - nice review - as always
You are making me curious re Patchett.
Think I have Bel Canto which I have wanted to read for years. Think it's time?

Love the tree!

Wow, that tree really took some effort! I guess I won't complain about my paltry Christmas decorating scheme.

That has to be the coolest Christmas tree I've ever seen! Love it! Thanks for posting that photo, Bonnie!

Have a great day!

Love the cool tree, too!

I have been trying to organize my books.. but it has also involved
giving some away. I should be able to locate books... but I think that there are a few shelves
that need work.. :)

Hey there Mark, Claudia, Donna, Terri and Kath,

I thought everyone here would appreciate that Christmas tree. Those who aren't bibliophiles, probably not so much. Somebody very clever took that job on when the head librarian said, "Ok, we need to put up a Christmas tree people and please, be creative!

The family wedding photo is beautiful, and I loved seeing the centerpieces and name holders. What a great family you have.

And I want someone to come to my house and build me a Christmas tree like that.

Thanks Deborah, I'd love a tree like that too.

Nice tree! I was trying to see the titles of the books. Are they old union catalogs? I was assuming the books are ones they aren't keeping, as 1. they can't use them for the duration of the season, and 2. some might get damaged. But they look in pretty good shape. Now those books are ones I don't mind seeing go digital!

Hi Lisa, they look like they're all part of a some kind of series or something. They're all the same color anyway.

70.



Dark Fire by C. J. Sansom 4 stars

MY REVIEW

What sets this series above others that involve an investigator and crime is that author C.J Sansom is a professional historian and, as such, is able to weave a lot of his knowledge of 16th century Tudor England into his stories. Oh and of course there's the fact that the man spins a crackerjack tale. Once again, Thomas Cromwell has assigned a task to lawyer Matthew Shardlake and to help out he gives him the rather rough Jack Barak. The two of them have exactly ten days to discover the formula for Greek Fire, an ancient legendary substance that Cromwell will be able to use in a demonstration for Henry VIII, that will enable the King's navy to rule the seas and conquer his foes. Cromwell is worried about losing the King's favor and this will save him.

At the same time, Matthew has to solve the case of a young girl, Elizabeth, who is accused of killing her cousin, yet refuses to offer a plea, leaving herself open to being pressed as a punishment for this refusal. Being pressed is one of those old Tudor torture methods that were so prevalent during the 1500s along with other pleasant experiences like being drawn and quartered, burned at the stake or losing your head, literally. Not a good time for being seen as an enemy of the King.

Sansom writes beautifully and is able to impart the feel of the filthy city of London in the 16th century when sanitation was, er, lacking. His characterization of the mighty and the meek, the rough and the upper class, the haves and the have-nots is just superb. And, oh dear, Matthew and Jack do get themselves into some pretty nasty skirmishes and the question all along is one of time. Can they find the Greek Fire formula and apparatus and can they discover who actually killed the young cousin before time runs out? Sansom keeps us guessing, for the most part, right up until the end. Highly recommended, although I thought the author could have trimmed the almost 600 page tome by about a hundred pages without diminishing its effectiveness.

Now that's a Christmas tree I want !

Fabulous review of Dark Fire, Bonnie! Thumb : ).

I can't wait to start the Sansom series. I have the first one on my TBR shelves and am thinking of bringing it along on our Christmas visit to my MIL's.

I'm another fan of the historical accuracy of Sansom's books. Like you, Bonnie, I think they could be streamlined a bit more without compromising the quality.

I am determined to finish Sea of Poppies today! Thank you for your recommendation. It's another winner.

I'm planning to read the first of Sansom's books early next year too.

At first I thought they might be a bound set of the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature (does anyone else remember that?), but now I'm not so sure. This would be a great use for an old set of outdated encyclopedias!

Bonnie, I'm so excited to start the CJ Sansom series!!!

>91 LovingLit: :)

>92 lit_chick: Thanks Nancy!

>93 katiekrug:, 95, 97 I believe you are in for a treat Katie, Laura and Lori. Enjoy!

>94 Donna828: Oh yeah, Donna Sea of Poppies is not to be missed. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

>96 rosalita: OMG Julia yes, Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature! What a blast from the past! Yep, outdated encyclopedias would work well too.

OK, just because I'm a nerd with too much time on my hands on a Friday night, I blew up the picture to see if I could read the spine. It turns out that the books are the National Union Catalog, published by the Library of Congress. According to Wikipedia:

The National Union Catalog (NUC) is a printed catalog of books catalogued by the Library of Congress and other American and Canadian libraries, issued serially beginning in the 1950s. ... The National Union Catalog of Pre-1956 Imprints, a set of 754 volumes, largely superseded the older Library of Congress Catalog of printed books, and included printed works published before 1956 which are held by major American and Canadian libraries. ... It contains photocopies of printed catalog cards from major American and Canadian libraries, arranged alphabetically by author's last name, or by title for books that have no author, such as the Bible.

I have to confess I have never heard of this thing, and I'm still not entirely sure I understand what it is, but it sure makes a purty Christmas tree!

Julia, how lovely of you to do the research for all of us! Thank you! I've never heard of the NUC either, but I have to say that it makes a gorgissimoose tree. (Thanks for posting it, Bonnie!)

Dark Fire, sounds really good!

Fantastic tree and I'm looking forward to Dark Fire even more now. I enjoyed the first in the series last year.

>99 rosalita: Wow Julia, you're a great researcher. I guess I can see why libraries would want a catalog of all the books in the Library of Congress but, on the other hand, I bet they're glad for online access now.

>100 LizzieD: You are very welcome Peggy:)

>101 mckait: It is Kath. You might like it.

>102 Soupdragon: Hi Dee, I'm sure you're going to enjoy Book 2.

71.



To Darkness and to Death by Julia Spencer-Fleming 4 stars

This is the 4th book in the Clare Fergusson/Russ Alstyne series and this one was written differently. The story is related by various narrators and for the most part the reader knows what's going on long before Clare and Russ do, which sets this book apart from the previous ones in the series. The other difference , and this one I didn't like at all, was that Russ and Clare really had a very small role in the narrative and pages and pages went by without hearing from either of them. I hope this is not a trend that the author continues beyond this book because they are the heart and soul of this series.

Still, it was well-written and a good mystery. Even though the reader knows who the bad guys are and why they are doing what they are doing, it in no way prepares you for the shocking ending. Well done Ms. Spencer-Fleming. On to #5.

Another winning review, Bonnie! Glad you are enjoying the series so much.

Thanks Nancy!

Thanks for posting the lovely photo of the book tree...That would be every book lovers dream!

Love the picture of the book tree!

That series is at the top of my list to try. 2012 will be my year to actually read some of the series books I've been collecting this year!

>104 brenzi:: great review, Bonnie. I just love those books!

That really does sound like a great series. I'm glad you're continuing to enjoy them, Bonnie.

I read Dark Fire this year too. Great book! Good job with the review. :)

Just a quick hello as I try to keep up :)

Hi there Bonnie, Aren't the Christmas Book Tree's the best?! They're so heartwarming, don't you think?

I will join Orange January, Bonnie but I can only fit in one book and that will be Bel Canto.

The Sansom series is really one I hope to begin in the new year, but then again my hopes often exceed my abilities, but I'm optimistic.

BTW: Best Wishes to you and yours for a very, merry Christmas!

That was a great review of the 4th Julia Spencer-Fleming book. Guess what ER book I am getting? In The Bleak Midwinter! I think it's odd that they would offer such an "old" book, but I'm happy to read and review it. Who knows, maybe I'll catch up to you.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas, Bonnie. I'm thinking your son and DIL will be with you, right? My memory is not the greatest at any time - but this time of year various to-do lists crowd out everything else.

Hi Linda, Joanne, Laura, Dee, Ren, Kath, Lynda and Donna! I'm so glad to see you all here. Somehow, being retired and all, I expected Christmas this year to be a little less, oh I don't know, insane. But no, insanity reigns supreme and I haven't had much LT time. Reading wise, when I can stop baking, shopping, decorating, cleaning, for a few minutes, I'm caught up in the poignant little gem, Coventry. I hope you all are managing to keep the Christmas stress at bay.

Hi, Bonnie. I'm glad that you're enjoying Coventry. It is a little gem, isn't it? I am keeping Christmas stress at bay by ignoring all the piles of things I have to do between now and Saturday. I don't believe I'd recommend it as good tactics.

Oh Coventry -- another good one, Bonnie!

Peggy, you made me laugh! I've also used "ignore" as a strategy but have found it to be ineffective in the long haul, hehe.

Merry Christmas Bonnie!! Hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday!!

>116 LizzieD: Yeah I'm afraid I'll have to ignore that advice Peggy;-)

>117 Copperskye: Yes indeed Joanne. You were the first to recommend it.

>118 lit_chick: :)

>119 tjblue: Thank you very much Tammy and I wish you the same.

71.



Coventry by Helen Humphreys 4 stars

MY REVIEW

Harriet Marsh suffered the ultimate loss during WWI but now, November 1940, she’s settled into a satisfying, if somewhat lonely, existence. She’s filling in as fire-watcher on the roof of the historic Coventry cathedral. Across the way is young Jeremy Fisher who’s doing the same job on one of the cathedral’s other four roofs. These two will form a moving yet cheerless bond as the cathedral and the city suffer devastating air raids. It becomes apparent to them that this bombing is so much worse than any they’ve witnessed. There are dead bodies now. Everywhere. Soon they are on the ground, making their way through the debris and body laden streets, Jeremy desperately worried about his mother, Maeve, and whether or not she has survived the destruction and Harriet, realizing that she doesn’t want to let go of him, must stay with him.

This complicated relationship provides the basis of the core of the story. It’s a heartbreaking narrative highlighted by Humphreys lovely, spare prose.

”Outside the world blooms and fades, flaring bright and then subsiding. The ground trembles and the noise of the exploding bombs is deep and guttural, something felt as well as heard, something that resounds through Maeve’s body like a heartbeat. There is the cough of the ack-ack guns and the drone of the bombers. They’re flying so low over the city that when Maeve looks up she can actually see, in one bomber, the outline of the German pilot in the cockpit.” (Page 80)

I never cease to be amazed by the courage of the people of England during WWII and Humphreys does an outstanding job of portraying this. I was impressed when reading the acknowledgements to find that Humphreys’ ”descriptions of the burning city are based on the accounts of the citizens of Coventry, as well as on eyewitness accounts of the bombing of Baghdad.”But make no mistake, this is a heartbreaking devastating read and not for the faint-hearted. Even so, I very much recommend it.

Wonderful review, Bonnie. Love the quote you included, and couldn't agree more on the courage of the people of England during WWII.

Hi Bonnie!
Good review for a book I have on my TBR list! Thumb for you!
What am I waiting for? Love Helen Humphreys' writing.

Per your advice, I am packing all my Christmas stress in an environmentally safe bag and throwing it into the Sagadahoc Bay as the tide goes out! I think the Atlantic is deep enough to absorb it...

Thank you for the great review, Bonnie - you brought the story back to me!

Have a very Merry Christmas with your family!!

Another wonderful review and another thumb from me, Bonnie!

I watched a documentary recently about Coventry in WWII which included interviews with People who had lived through it. Of course, I've watched this type of programme before but the thing that struck me was that now that time has moved on, most of the Coventry residents interviewed had been children during WWII and they were completely honest about the absolute terror they had felt. No stiff upper lip for them!

Merry Christmas Bonnie! I hope you and your family have a great holiday. Looking forward to '12! Should be another fantastic reading year!

Merry Christmas, Bonnie!

>88 labfs39:, 99 Woohoo, I guessed it! Too much research in the old days...

I didn't read your Coventry review as it's on my short-timer shelf waiting to be read. I'm sure it's great as usual.

Happy Happy!
Lisa

Fabulous review of Coventry, Bonnie!

>128 labfs39: You did indeed, Lisa, and very well done! I have to confess that I skimmed right over your correct guess in message 88 because I had never heard of the union catalog before! It definitely sounds like a resource that would be much more accessible in the digital age. But then, you can make a Christmas tree out of a pile of electrons, can you? :)

Ha! Ha! I've seen trees made out of pointsettas before, but to be honest, I've never seen a book tree before. Very fun.

>122 lit_chick: Hmmm getting a lot of use out of that graphic aren't you Nancy? Thank you very much.

>123 -Cee-: Per your advice, I am packing all my Christmas stress in an environmentally safe bag and throwing it into the Sagadahoc Bay as the tide goes out!

I advised you??? When was that Claudia? I think you'd like Coventry. You read The Lost Garden didn't you? I rated that one slightly higher because there were one too many coincidences in this one that stretched my imagination. But that didn't really detract from the essence.

>124 Copperskye: Thanks Joanne. And thanks for originally recommending it.

>125 Soupdragon: Thanks Dee. I have such a distinct picture in my head of Coventry and the devastation because of the picture that Humphreys drew for me. It's sometimes hard for me to believe how far away from WWII we are.

>126 msf59: Thanks Mark and the same to you and yours.

>127 LizzieD: Awwwwww thanks Peggy. You really know what will make me happy.

>128 labfs39: OMG I didn't even pick up on that Lisa. Wow you are good!

>129 kidzdoc: Thanks Darryl!

>130 rosalita: Hi Julia!

>131 labfs39: That was a first for me too Lisa, but since then I've seen quite a few of them.

Merry Christmas, Bonnie!

glitter-graphics.com

Merry Christmas, Bonnie

Bonnie - a very warm greeting (literally so in Kuala Lumpur) from me and mine to you and your lovely family this Christmas and new year. Look forward to keeping up with you more in 2012. Happy reading!

I hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas!

Merry Christmas Bonnie!!

Merry, Merry Bonnie!!

mistletoe smooches!

Hello to Claudia, Terri, Paul, Dee, Chelle, Kim, and Richard! And Merry Christmas to you all!



And Merry Christmas to all my LT friends. You have opened a wide world of books to me that I could never have imagined. XOXOXO

Wishing you all the very best Bonnie!

Merry Christmas, Bonnie! I look forward to more of your excellent reviews in 2012.

Merry Christmas!

I can't remember if I've wished you a Merry Christmas or not, Bonnie, but just in case I didn't--Merry, merry Christmas!

Are you having a white Christmas, Bonnie? Happy holidays and see you in 2012!

Thank you for your Christmas wishes Ilana, Darryl, Laura, Pat and Lisa.

>145 labfs39: No snow here Lisa. Some one on the news said we've only had snow for two out of the last six Christmases, which came as a surprise to me. Seems like we always have snow.

Nice and quiet right now to spend some time going through some threads. Here's the sad news: I received not a single book for Christmas:( And now the absolutely fabulous news: my kids shocked me with a gift of an iPad 2. I've already downloaded five books onto it:) To say I was shocked by this gift would be a total underestimation.

Oh, Bonnie, I think you will love your iPad2! What a fabulous gift!! I bought one last spring break, and I LOVE reading on it. Loading books into it, choosing covers, and creating collections has all become something of an obsession; and it's so intuitive (like all Apple stuff). I know many dislike the backlit screen, but most of my personal reading is done in the evening, and I prefer the backlight to a bright overhead light. Let us know how you enjoy!

Congratulations on getting the iPad, Bonnie. I can't wait to hear what you think of reading on it. I want one but am not sure how much I'd use it and it seems pricey so I need to be confident I'm going to use it if I get one.

Bonnie, I didn't get any books as gifts, either, but then I usually don't. I think the family figures I get plenty of books during the course of the year, and will buy those I really want, so they focus on other gifts. That's OK with me because I get nice surprises. Looks like the same thing happened to you! Enjoy your iPad, they are fun gadgets.

I got 3 books from SantaThing, a cookbook from a friend, and a $20 Amazon.com gift certificate from another friend. I had to return one of the SantaThing books because it was a duplicate of a book that I've had for several years (and which was in my catalog), but that just means I've got some additional credit for another purchase.

Bonnie: Congrats on the iPad. I have a Nook and love it for traveling. I hope you had a very Merry Christmas.

>148 lit_chick: Hi Nancy, Loading books into it, choosing covers, and creating collections has all become something of an obsession Now that's what I'm talking about! I am having fun trying out the zillions of different aspects.

>149 phebj: Thanks Pat, this is a gadget I never would have bought for myself, that is for sure.

>150 lauralkeet: Hi Laura, I'm having a great deal of fun with it and since I still haven't read the books I got last Christmas, I'm not complaining at all.

>151 thornton37814: I've got some additional credit for another purchase You can't beat that Lori:)

>152 BLBera: Thanks Beth, I had a wonderful Christmas:) I hope you did also.

73.



All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West 4 stars

MY REVIEW

Lady Slane has spent the last seventy years of her life helping her husband to become a well-respected statesman. But now he's passed on and she has time to reflect on her life and, upon doing so, realizes that she enabled her husband to succeed at the expense of her own long-suppressed desires, including a life as a painter. In 1860, when she married, a woman could not consider a career for herself. Her only desire should be to marry well, raise a large and lovely family and help her husband succeed.

Over the objections of Lady Slane's pretentious and over-bearing children, she unloads her estate and takes a small house away from London mostly because she can finally freely make a choice in her life. It is in Hampstead that she entertains three unexpected gentleman who appreciate her for her wise view of the world and her charming personality. In the end,

The author is taking to task the old world order and making a bid for equality for women. The book was written in 1931 and follows in the footsteps of George Eliot, and Vita's good friend, Virginia Woolf. Beautifully written, Sackville-West has won over a new fan. Highly recommended.

All Passion Spent sounds great. I really must get around to my own copy of it one day soon.

An iPad2 is a wonderful Christmas present. I really enjoy using my husband's (am using it now in fact) and agree with Nancy that it's generally intuitive to use. There's a couple of things I still haven't quite got the hang of though and I haven't tried reading books on it.

I loved All Passion Spent and found myself cheering Lady Slane on!

Bonnie: All Passion Spent is going on my list for 2012.

Although I've thought about moving to the fun and convenience of an e-reader/iPad of some sort, books for me are an addiction. I love owning them (at least the ones I like) and 90% of my home decorating is the bookshelf theme. My home would be nude without them. I also love the act of browsing for books and going to library book sales. The joy of the good find is so fun. I'll be curious to see what you think!

>158 labfs39: - I love my Kindle and have not eased up on my acquisition of "real" books. For me, it's not an either/or proposition :-)

Enjoy your new toy, Bonnie! I'm with you - I would never buy an iPad for myself, but if someone were to give me one....

I am finding myself tempted by the iPad, but am reminding myself that I have a Kindle and thus don't NEED the iPad...

Not sure that's working...

Hi Dee, Laura, Beth, Lisa, Katie and Suzanne, it's great to have visitors. About the iPad---I don't really have the time right now to get to know all the ins and outs and when my son-in-law looked at it yesterday and said it looked like the most boring iPad he's ever seen I guess I need to work on adding apps and music and photos and videos and, well, it's starting to sound like a lot of work. Anyway, since this gift came out of the blue, I don't expect my reading habits to change a lot, but I will certainly dabble into reading on this new device and see how i like it. I'm going to take my time getting to know it and might take the course that they offer at the Apple store.

Hi Bonnie! Always fun to get a new toy for Christmas - even if you don't use ALL its features right away. Winter is here and one of these days you will be looking for something new to add to that iPad! THIS year - you'll have time! :)

Hi Bonnie

I apologize for being so far behind..but I hope that the holidays are bring happiness your way.

Great news on the iPad, Bonnie. The only drawback with mine is that I prefer it over the laptop except for keeping up with LT threads because of slower typing. That's why I've been lurking more lately.;-)

Hi Bonnie! Stopping to send you best wishes and Happy Reading in the New Year!!

>162 -Cee-: Hi Claudia, it's been a long time since I got a toy for Christmas but I'm certainly enjoying it.

>163 mckait: Thanks Kath, I'm woefully behind myself so I hope you have been enjoying the holidays too.

>165 tjblue: Yes I'm afraid the iPad will not be very useful for threads Donna. I don't intend to give up my laptop.

>166 brenzi: Happy 2012 to you too Tammy.

74.



Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death and Hope in a Mumbai undercity by Katherine Boo 4.3 stars

MY REVIEW

If I hadn’t won this book as an ER offering, I would probably read it anyway, as it’s written in the style of my new favorite genre, Narrative Non-Fiction. Annawadi is a crude slum on the outskirts of the airport in Mumbai, India. While the city is booming the resurgence passes these residents by. This is what poverty looks like when there are no government programs available to help the impoverished.

The author is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who, previously had done in depth stories about the poor in the U.S. as a staff writer for the New Yorker among other publications and is quite adept at drawing the reader into the lives of the people she uses to tell the story of life in the Annawadi slums. This is how the book maintains its “narrative” style. The dialogue and other narrative features that are predominant in the book were enabled by the author’s copious notes, tape recorded conversations, videotaped footage, and official documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. The result is a smooth account, told by the people living this miserable life.

And miserable and heartbreaking it is. Abdul is a teenager who is trying to support his parents and eight siblings doing the only job available to him: collecting recyclables around the airport, which enables him to be able to maintain the hut the family is crowded into under deplorable conditions. Asha is a woman working her way up the political ladder in her area, very rare for a woman in a society where women have very few rights and are treated dreadfully by men. Asha’s daughter, Manju, is a college student and teacher of young children, who wants to be the first woman college graduate from Annawadi. Through these two families we meet other friends and relatives, each adding to the story of those on the invisible margins of society in India.

The corruption in India isn’t limited to the police. That’s a given. But the poorest of the poor have to be able to bribe on a regular basis. When the one-legged woman next door ends up in the hospital after self-immolation, they discover that the nurses, who want no contact with patients, ask the patients’ families to supply medication, and the doctors need to be bribed to care for patients. The courts require a bribe to conduct a speedy (fast-track court) trial. But even with that, if sufficient bribery hasn’t taken place, the results can be uncertain.

Unfortunately, the publisher asks that no quotations be used from the book until after it’s published in February. That would have helped me tremendously in illustrating the ways in which the author relates the story in glorious prose while, at the same time, not letting her language stand out. It’s the people’s story and their words need to be the ones to shine. Boo is tremendously clever at achieving this.

This is an unforgettable book, presenting an intimate portrait of the desperate lives being lived in the shadow of luxury hotels. As India’s most vibrant city continues its meteoric rise the slum-dwellers find themselves being left further and further behind.

75.



Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome

Well I didn't think I'd make it but it looks like I'll finish this tomorrow and get it in just under the wire. Woot, woot!! It's the first time Ive actually read 75. This book is an absolutely charming one to have as my 75th. And it's my first eBook! Yay!

Congratulations on 75 Bonnie!!

YOU DID IT! Congrats on reading 75 books this year. This has been a very busy year for you, too. Just think how many books you can read when your life settles down.

Happy New Year, Bonnie.

Thank you Laura and Donna. Yes this was a very busy year. I think I will easily make 75 next year but now that I've actually done it I don't think I'll be concentrating on the number. In 2012 it's all about Oranges, Dickens and Narrative Non-Fiction. At least to start the year haha.

Congrats on 75!! Yah! And excellent review of Behind the Beautiful Forevers, (great title too). I'll have to throw this one on the WL.

I hope you have a very Happy New Year, Bonnie! And look forward to sharing another stellar year with you!

Congratulations, Bonnie!

Wow, great review of your recent ER book, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, and a thumb from me.

And a big congratulations on reading 75 books this year. I think it's neat that the 75th book is an ebook.

My birthday as well as my 3rd 2nd Thingaversary (got a little ahead of myself there) come up in February and I'm seriously thinking of getting an iPad so I will be very interested in what you think reading on it is like.

And just in case I don't get back to your thread before Sunday--Happy New Year!

>173 msf59: Thank you Mark, you who guided me when I first joined LT. My third Thingaversary is coming up in February. And Happy New Year to you too.

>174 katiekrug: Thanks Katie.

>175 phebj: Thank you Pat. Did you and I join at the same time?? Happy New Year to you too.

Congrats!

You did it - congrats Bonnie!

Thank you Jim and Joanne.

Bonnie: Congrats on 75 -- and it's great that your last two books are good ones. Great review. Happy New Year.

Congratulations on 75 great books and also all those wonderful reviews!

Bonnie well done on reaching the 75! Happy new year and thanks for all your trips over to my thread also. See you over the other side in 2012!

Yay, Bonnie! Congratulations on reaching 75!



Wonderful review of Behind the Beautiful Forevers. Happy New Year, and see you on the 2012 threads!

Congratulations on reaching your goal and on deciding not to set a goal for next year! Added Behind the Beautiful to my list.

Congrats on 75, Bonnie!

75 on LT...AND a new Ipad!! Whoohoo! Happy reading Bonnie and Happy New Year! Hugs.