Books Read in May 2012

June2

A two-week ‘work-cation’ in Ontario, extra volunteer work, and regular runs to town for appointments kept me too busy in May to post to my blog (anybody miss me?) Here’s what I managed to get read, though.

1. The Colony of Unrequited Dreams: A Novel by Wayne Johnston 5 star rating

Fictional biography of Newfoundland’s famous premier, Joseph Smallwood. This is a tricky thing to do—using the facts of a person’s life and building a novel around them. I want to read a non-fiction biography of Smallwood and fix the “facts” in my mind soon.

I think the author did a great job of defining what drove Smallwood. Johnston’s prose goes down as smoothly as a spoonful of chocolate pudding.

This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. 5 stars

2. Notes to My Mother-in-Law by Phyllida Law 4½ star rating

A sweet & short memoir of sorts, written in the titular notes by the author to her mother-in-law, who was hard of hearing and yet wanted the day’s news and arrangements. Both women sound like people I’d like to know, and Phyllida’s respect and affection for her mother-in-law are evident.

I found this a quick, charming read. 4½ stars

3. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins 4 star rating

Published in serial form in 1868 and now considered the first English language detective novel, the Moonstone sets up a closed room crime: the theft of the moonstone, a precious jewel stolen decades earlier from a Hindoo (sic) statue. Although all the clues were there for the reader to use, the solution seemed to me to be a little far-fetched.

Nonetheless, I found The Moonstone to be a witty and entertaining book. If you’re a dedicated mystery fan, you owe it to yourself to read this and appreciate the origins of the genre. 4 stars

4. African Love Stories: An Anthology, edited by Ama Ata Aidoo 4 star rating

By various authors and, as with any such collection, the mood and subject manner, as well as the style of writing varies greatly from tale to tale. And so did my reactions. Some stories were compelling, but some I could have willingly skipped. But all gave me a glimpse into modern African womanhood, an area with which I’m not very familiar.

Don’t let the title fool you – there’s not a traditional “love story” in the bunch. 4 stars

Thank you to Amy McKie at Amy Reads for this win.

5. Oxford Messed Up by Andrea Kayne Kaufman 3.5 star rating

Gloria Zimmerman, Rhodes Scholar from Chicago, and Henry Young, musician son of an Oxford don, find themselves next door neighbours (with a shared bath) in Oxford residence. Both have problems: Gloria is severely hampered by Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Henry is a chronic underachiever who consistently sabotages his chances of success in any endeavour. Through their shared affection for the music of Van Morrison, they become acquainted and gradually build a romance. How they help each other is a lesson in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and love.

This is a well-written, sharply funny-but-sometimes-not-so tale and should appeal especially to those who have loved ones (or even friends or acquaintances) with OCD. It certainly helped me to better understand that disease. 3½ stars

6. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins 3 star rating

A monster at 720 pages, this also first appeared as a serial in the mid-nineteenth century. In many ways, it’s a traditional love story with a sort of mystery in the middle.

I found it wordy (typical of its time) and the effect of the prose on me was likely amplified by reading it on my Kindle. I also thought the love story over-idealized (And what of the strong-and-capable-but-ugly sister? She’s satisfied just to be the couple’s hanger-on for the rest of her life?) In addition, I thought one of the main mystery elements was left completely unresolved at the book’s end.

For what it was for its time, I rate it 3 stars.

7. 13 reasons why Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher 3 star rating

YA novel for which I had read a review that intrigued me. A teenager who commits suicide has left a set of tapes to be listened to by 13 people in sequence. Each played some part in her decision to end her life. It brought back to me the terrible angst that teenagers suffer.

Great for kids who often don’t realize how their small actions can have great effects. 3 stars

8. Promise Me Eternity by Ian Fox 1 star rating

Free e-book from the author received for review. Meant to be a popular fiction type murder mystery with the successful doctor on the brink of a scientific breakthrough, the mobster and his gorgeous wife. English is not the author’s first language and that is evident in the stilted conversations and in the sentence structure that sounds like a ninth grade exercise in creative writing.

One star because he tied up all the plot ends. Sorry, Ian.

Have you read any of these books? Agree or disagree with my ratings?

For Canadian readers:
The Colony Of Unrequited Dreams
Notes To My Mother-In-Law
The Moonstone
African Love Stories
Oxford Messed Up
The Woman in White
Thirteen Reasons Why

Kindle editions:
Notes to my Mother-in-Law
The Moonstone – FREE
Oxford Messed Up
The Woman in White – FREE
Thirteen Reasons Why
Promise Me Eternity

posted under Books Read Summaries

20 Comments to

“Books Read in May 2012”

On June 2nd, 2012 at 3:39 pm Bonnie Says:
The Colony of Unrequited Dreams sounds fascinating. I’ve also had Wilkie Collins on my to-read list for a while, but I haven’t yet felt the motivation to get started on her books. I think I’ll ease into the ones you’ve listed.
On June 3rd, 2012 at 3:00 pm Debbie Says:
I think you’d really enjoy Colony, Bonnie. I’d love to know what you think.
On June 2nd, 2012 at 7:37 pm Jenners Says:
I love how you get all your month’s reading summed up and reviewed in one post. I’m still writing reviews for books I read in 2011! How bad is that? I haven’t read any of these … but I keep hearing that I should read Thirteen Reasons Why.
On June 3rd, 2012 at 4:45 pm Debbie Says:
Oh, Mrs. J! I started the year with a fresh start (& left behind my unreviewed 2011 books) fully intending to write a separate post for each book read in 2012. Oh, my. I guess the dead of winter brings so much time I think myself a superwoman.

Very kind of you to accept these minis as doing the job. 😉
On June 3rd, 2012 at 4:47 pm Debbie Says:
P.S. About Thirteen Reasons Why: I thought it was just okay. If YA is your thing, by all means read it. But if you’re going out of usual genre to give it a try, as I did, I’m not so sure. Maybe I’m just too far away from teenage angst in my life right now – although I have related to other YA books in the past year or two. Up to you.
On June 3rd, 2012 at 1:49 pm Risa Says:
I think I’d be interested in African Love Stories…it would be completely new to me. As for The Moonstone, I own a copy but I’ve been dragging my feet over it. I’ve now listed it in my Classic Club list, so maybe I’ll get to it soon enough. 😀
On June 3rd, 2012 at 4:49 pm Debbie Says:
Risa, that’s exactly what I liked so much about African Love Stories: I had never read anything like it before.

The Moonstone: go ahead, I think you’ll like it, but leave The Woman in White until you really want to.
On June 4th, 2012 at 10:13 am Nan Says:
I’m not big on fictional versions of people’s lives. I’d rather read a biography. :<)

Charming is just the word for PL's book. I so loved it.

I am going to look into Oxford Messed Up. I'm very interested in OCD, and really who wouldn't fall in love if they shared a fondness for Van!

And yes! I have missed you.
On June 4th, 2012 at 6:30 pm Debbie Says:
I really did enjoy Colony, Nan although, as I said, I want to get a biography right away and compare.

So wonderful that you have read & enjoyed PL’s book – it should be more widely known.

Do look into Oxford. I think you will really enjoy it.

And THANK YOU! It’s nice to have been missed 🙂
On June 6th, 2012 at 7:43 pm Katrina Says:
I’ve read The Moonstone and The Woman in White and I agree with you completely about them. I’m hoping to read the Phyllida Law book. Of course you were missed!
On June 8th, 2012 at 7:36 pm Debbie Says:
Kat, I think sometimes people think they ‘should’ like a classic more than they do. No book will suit all people, even if it is 150 years old! Glad you agree with my assessments – I don’t feel so alone.
On June 10th, 2012 at 9:29 pm Diane@BibliophilebytheSea Says:
WOW — you’ve been busy reading so many good books.
On June 11th, 2012 at 7:56 am Debbie Says:
There have been a few 4 & 5 star-ers, Diane but overall, I’m not feeling satisfied. Hmmmm….
On June 10th, 2012 at 10:48 pm Amy Reads Says:
Ohhh you were in Ontario? If you ever make it to Toronto I’d love to see you! Also, so happy to see that you read African Love Stories and that you at least enjoyed some / many of them 🙂
On June 11th, 2012 at 8:00 am Debbie Says:
I see from what I said about African Love Stories, Amy, that (other than the 4 star rating) there’s not much to indicate that I did enjoy most of the stories.

Next time I’m in Ontario, I’ll see if I can make it to Toronto!
On June 18th, 2012 at 11:13 pm Charissa Says:
That Colony of Unrequited Dreams sounds good. Will have to put that on my list to read someday. Thanks for the suggestions.
On June 24th, 2012 at 5:48 pm heavenali Says:
I must read Woman in White again one day – I love Wilkie Collins, I re-read the Moonstone a year or two ago – brilliant suff – still one of my all time favourites.
On June 24th, 2012 at 6:22 pm Debbie Says:
The Moonstone was certainly worth the read!
On July 3rd, 2012 at 10:15 pm trish Says:
The Moonstone is on my TBR shelf and I’m quite looking forward to reading it! I read Woman in White last year and, like you, only gave it a so/so rating. It was good, yes, but wordy and farfetched. But I liked his writing and humor enough to give him another try.
On July 6th, 2012 at 7:49 pm Debbie Says:
Yeah, Trish – I don’t know why, but I’m always surprised when I find humour in classics. Collins is quite witty!