Books Read in January 2012
Life was at full throttle with family and other issues for the first three weeks of January, so I did very little no blogging – but I still stole away in the evenings to read in bed. Here’s what I managed to finish – with reviews for most of them to come.
The Virgin Cure
Set in 1860 Manhattan, this is the story of young Moth, who ends up in the clutches of a madam who grooms young girls to be bought as ‘the virgin cure’ for syphilis. Gritty and compelling. (4½ stars)
These Happy Golden Years
The last in the famous Little House series. I read this for my Books That Made Me Love Reading Challenge. It retains all its charm, and then some. (4½ stars)
The Homecoming of Samuel Lake
A summer in 1956 Arkansas is the setting for this story of preacher Samuel Lake & his wife Willadee and family. Their eldest is 11-year-old Swan who is the focus of the struggle between good and evil that defines the summer. (4 stars)
I Am Half-Sick of Shadow
The latest in the Flavia deLuce mystery series. I found this to be much better than the previous book which had been stretching the bounds of my “suspension of disbelief”. In Shadows, Flavia is her usual determined self, solving the murder of the lead actress of the film crew who has rented her father’s home for a movie shoot. (4 stars)
Griffin & Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence
An illustrated novel, Griffin and Sabine is a beautiful book. I don’t think I really give anything away by telling you that Sabine somehow “shares (Griffin’s) sight” and can see his paintings as he creates them. Sabine is also an artist and the artwork of the two adorns the postcards and envelopes that they exchange. (4 stars) See my review.
Sabine’s Notebook: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Continues
Once again, the story is told in strangely beautiful postcards and richly decorated letters that must actually be removed from their envelopes to read. But Sabine’s Notebook is also a sketchbook and a diary. (4 stars) Here’s my review.
The Golden Mean: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Concludes
The last in the trilogy. Told in the same epistolary manner as the first two. This set is a feast for the eyes and fun to read besides. (3½ stars) You can read my thoughts here.
Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917
Non-fiction middle-grade book about the horrendous explosion in Halifax in December 1917 that killed 2,000 people, injured many many more, and left a fifth of the city’s population homeless. Recommended for anyone of any age who wants to learn about that catastrophe – and why Nova Scotia sends a Balsam fir tree to Boston for their Common every Christmas. (4 stars)
Northwest Corner
A sequel to Reservation Road which I did not read, although I don’t think that that compromised my enjoyment or understanding of this story in any way. It examines the continuing impact of a (solved) hit-and-run accident twelve years before – especially on the man who hit the boy, on his son, on the boy’s family. (3½ stars)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Read for the Reading Shakespeare event hosted by Risa at Breadcrumb Reads, this is not a play I would have chosen. Although I wasn’t crazy about the story (more in my review), I did enjoy the language and the poetry. (3½ stars)
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
I found this classic overlong and preachy, but still a powerful anti-slavery message. In its day, it was controversial and politically divisive. A good story hidden among the verbiage. (3½ stars)
The Antagonist
Another good story hidden – this time by the profanity throughout. The antagonist is actually the protagonist in this story of a man who, because of his physical size (6’4” at 14) attained a certain status among his acquaintances – and how it all came undone. I would have rated this book higher if the profanity had not been so ever present. Long-listed for the Scotia Bank Giller Prize in 2011. (3½ stars)
The Carpet People
I read this for the Terry Pratchett Reading Challenge. This was Pratchett’s first children’s novel and also his first published (1971) novel, which Pratchett substantially rewrote and re-released in 1992. A fantasy of about extremely tiny peoples who inhabit—what else?—a carpet. (3½ stars)
Dove Creek
I might be willing to believe that this seemed as disjointed as it did because I read it on my Kindle, but you’d have to make a pretty strong case. I’m not sure of the point or the plot of this novel which centers on a woman who, after her divorce, becomes a public health nurse on reservations in the west. Two stars for the info about the native lifestyle issues on the reservations But, otherwise – sorry, Paula – I think it’s a dud. (2 stars)
Links for Canadian readers:
The Virgin Cure
These Happy Golden Years
The Homecoming of Samuel Lake
I Am Half-Sick of Shadows
Griffin & Sabine
Sabine’s Notebook
The Golden Mean
Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917
Northwest Corner
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
The Antagonist
The Carpet People
Dove Creek
Kindle editions:
The Homecoming of Samuel Lake
I Am Half-Sick of Shadows: A Flavia de Luce Novel
Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917
Northwest Corner
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Dove Creek
That is a crazy amount of reading to get done with craziness going on at home too, congratulations! Some really interesting books as well.
If I didn’t sneak away from the craziness to read in the evening, Amy, I’d…well, I’d go crazy!
I absolutely loved The Homecoming of Samuel Lake, and I think Swan Lake was my favorite character of the year. Great story. As for Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Stowe wrote it in the wordy way of her time, but the story still shines, I think.
I agree that Stowe’s style is typical of the time. I’m beginning to think I’m not cut out to read classics!