Nocturnes, by Kazuo Ishiguro. Pub 2009 I picked this book up right after I read Never Let Me Go, as I was so taken with the story telling and Ishiguro's deftness with female characters. That must have been in 2013, because I found the Port Townsend ferry ticket (shown in the picture) marking just 25 pages... Continue Reading →
The Last Policeman, by Ben H. Winters. Book report #12 (2020)
The Last Policeman, by Ben H. Winters. Pub 2012I can't remember where I read about this book, someone else's blog or book store posting on Facebook most likely. I picked it up (along with the rest of trilogy) on sale during my January stock-up. I can say that I am pleased that I did, as... Continue Reading →
The Diary of a Bookseller, by Shaun Bythell. Book report #13 (2020)
The Diary of a Bookseller, by Shaun Bythell. Pub 2017 A gift from a dear friend, this one-year diary by Shaun Bythell was a delightful read, perfect for reading a few entries or pages just before bed. I especially like the excerpts from George Orwell as introductions to each month, confirming that bookselling has not... Continue Reading →
Keeping an Eye Open, and Through the Window, by Julian Barnes. Book reports #10 and #11 (2020)
Keeping an Eye Open, by Julian Barnes. Pub 2015 Through the Window, by Julian Barnes. Pub 2012 Two non-fiction books by Julian Barnes. Keeping an Eye Open is a collection of essays on art (art history and art criticism) and Through the Window is a collection of essays on literature (more history and criticism). Each... Continue Reading →
The Mirror & the Light, by Hilary Mantel. Book report #9 (2020)
The Mirror and the Light, by Hilary Mantel. Pub 2020 I had read the previous books in this series a few years ago. Both were very good, so I had high hopes for this concluding book. And I was not disappointed. Personalities that we think we know from history become very real people in these... Continue Reading →
Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell. Book report #6 (2020)
I read this book with a friend at work; he chose it as something we could each read and then talk about. I should have been wary - the last time I did this, the book was The Tipping Point, also by Malcolm Gladwell. That book was remarkable in that I did learn some new... Continue Reading →
Construction of a Father
27 April is both #tellastory day and my Pop's birthday. Pop would have been 73 today, pretty close to the same age as James Taylor (a current favourite of mine). I don't know that Pop was a fan, but his other favourites - Gordon Lightfoot and Harry Chapin - share the same sad, confessional, troubadour... Continue Reading →
Tenth of December, by George Saunders. Book report #8 (2020)
Tenth of December, by George Saunders. Pub 2013I was drawn to this book as it caught my eye during my January splurge, and I've always wanted to read one of his books. I've only read one story of his - Fox 8, published in The Guardian several years ago and since made into a book.... Continue Reading →
Circe, by Madeline Miller. Book report #7 (2020)
Circe, by Madeline Miller. Pub 2018It is a testament to how gripping this book is that I finished it in 2 days. The story is a wonderful tale of a character central to Greek mythology and legend, but seen primarily as being on the fringes. Circe was literally on the fringes, in exile for much... Continue Reading →
A Field Guide to Getting Lost, by Rebecca Solnit. Book report #5 (2020)
A Field Guide to Getting Lost, by Rebecca Solnit. Pub 2005 I learned about this book at brainpickings, a site that I subscribe to on Twitter. It always has interesting serene tidbits and suggestions for reading. Walking is a favourite pastime of mine, so this seemed like a good book for me (she has another... Continue Reading →
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