Finished Aftershock, Moving on to Haunting Of Alaizabel Cray

Started Haunting Of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding last night. Stayed up late reading. These Abe Lincoln nominees have been pretty good reads so far. I loved Chris Wooding’s book Poison. This book is set in London, the seedier side of London. I would never go out at night if I lived in Chris Wooding’s London! Creatures of the night and the Fraternity are out to get all decent folk.

Challenging Myself with Abe Nominees

I set a goal. I want to read all the Abe Award 2010 nominees by the end of winter break. That is twenty-three. I have read quite a few already, eight to be exact–Abundance of Katherine, Aftershock, Book Thief, Christopher Killer, City of Bones, Does My Head Look Big in This? and The Good Guy.

Books By My Side

Reading Sarah Vowell’s Wordy Shipmates. Time to learn a little about the earlie settlers in honor of Columbus Day. Also, I am listening to a book on CD, America by the Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

 

Geektastic

What a great and fun read. Geektastic is a collection of short stories by today’s current authors like Garth Nix, Scott Westerfeld, Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, David Leviathan, and so many more. It makes you want to be a nerd! Well, maybe I am already there.

Good Neighbors by Holly Black

Read Holly Black’s graphic novel Good Neighbors. Looks like another series to follow. Missing mother, fairies, mean scary grandfather, fantasy and left me hanging. The illustrations are supberb and the story line holds your interest. Good quick read.

Finished Obasan

Last week I finished reading Obasan. I thought the style was experimental because the first three chapters were the last three chapters of the book. The reader began at the end and ended at the end. I thought it was rather profound until I discovered that the book was flawed and misprinted. They had assembled it wrong!

I did find it moving. I had no idea that Canadians were interned during WWII.  Another thought is about nature. Nature in the form of weather throughout the story really set the scene. There was cold snow, oppressive heat and constant rain. It set the tone as I turned every page. The nature of the weather became a character in the book as I read on.

The Gone Away World

Just started another book without finishing Obasan.  I tend to read several books at a time. Well, not at the same time. I am not that talented. The Gone Away World by Nick Harkaway came to my door step yesterday by the mail system.  I had to start it! It boast to be a humorous  post apocalyptic story.  Did you know there is a post apocalyptic genre?

Obasan

Just started reading Obasan by Joy Kogawa. I am just 20 pages into the story and am overwhelmed with the sorrow that the Nagaski atom bomb brought to the Japanese people. The tone of the book is somber.

The format of the book is intriguing.  Chapters are scattered in random order.

A Far Cry from Kensignton

 I have enjoyed reading many books over the summer but this novel is by far the best.  It has allowed me into the world of Mrs. Hawkins as she observes the world with British humor, wit and praticality. The story takes place in England in the 1950′s.  Mrs. Hawkins has “the reputation of being capable”  and when she tries to step out of the role it makes people furious.  
     This is the first time I have read anything by Murial Spark.  She wrote The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. It was made into a movie which I did see and enjoyed. She was born in Edinburgh, Scotland but lived in England. She died in 2006.