An Alphabetical Life :: Wendy Werris
292 pages, Carol & Graf 2006, Paperback

This is an ode to the long-ignored, underappreciated bookseller. A profession Wendy Werris stumbled into when she was hired at the legendary Pickwick Bookstore in LA on September 2, 1970. It traces her journey from a lowly sales person to publishers' sales rep with snippets of her family along the way.

Wendy was selling books in an era when indie bookstores still dotted the US landscape, providing personal service and in-depth knowledge of their products, before they were engulfed by the mega stores we see today. These small bookstores had a personality and larger-than-life, generous book buyers who became her friends. Many remained close even as their bookstores folded or were bought over by the corporate giants.

There's a hilarious moment at a Microsoft Press sales conference. Mac-user Wendy, determined to show up a presenter, inserted foot-in-mouth by asking, "So tell me - will Microsoft be launching a Macintosh version of this Windows software upgrade?"

A thoroughly enjoyable book that well deserves its place on the bookshelf of all bibliophiles.

Now reading: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

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Special Topics In Calamity Physics :: Marisha Pessl
668 pages, Penguin Books, 2006, Paperback

I was NOT going to let this book get the better of me. I hung on for dear life, carting this heavyweight around in my bags for nearly 2 months. I endured some rather rotten characters in the first 434 pages to only have those characters nearly disappear in the remaining pages. So much for getting attached to some people I had grown to really dislike.

I kept asking myself as I turned each page, "What's the point in all this?" And after just finishing the book a scant 10 minutes ago, I have to say, "Nothing." Except for a couple of incidents that happen in the first two-thirds that shed some light on the last few chapters, everything is expendable. Pessl's freshman effort could use with some drastic editing, if not for the book's benefit, than at least for the sake of her readers. The last 200 pages zipped along with a couple of twists I rather enjoyed though you can see them coming as the plot slowly unravels. But goodness! Getting to that point where you can actually start enjoying it, is SO tedious.

Go to Amazon to read a synopsis, I'm too fed-up with this book to write more than this: Girl and father move to a new town, to a new school, girl makes unlikely new friends, girl finds body of her teacher, loses friends, then uncovers an underground, near-legendary revolutionary group with links close to home.

Recommended only if you're going to be marooned on a desert island.

Now gratefully reading: An Alphabetical Life by Wendy Werris.

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Lost & Found :: Jacqueline Sheehan

This was one unexpected book buy. I've never been a big fan of modern 'relationship' books; of people working through personal problems, relationships, loss and love even if there is a happy ending. If there is a twist like a murder or involves some of my favourite elements like animals and books, I'll consider but I usually give such books a miss - well, mostly. Until the cover jumps out at me, which this one did. Who can resist that adorable doggy face?

A rather straight-forward story: woman loses husband, flees to an island, rescues injured dog which she nurses back to health, tries to solve the mystery of its injury and ownership, meets other island residents and an archery instructor who sends her pulse racing. I particularly enjoyed the chapters with the doggy's point of view. Overall, a rather heartwarming, poignant tale, easily read over a long weekend.

Currently reading: Marisha Pessl's Special Topics in Calamity Physics, a Borders' book bought with a 40% +10% discount.

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The Faith Club :: Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, Priscilla Warner

Don't read this book for in-depth knowledge of Christianity, Judaism or Islam. And you won't find spiritual enlightment between its pages either. But what you will find is a primer, a beginner's guide to understanding that these 3 faiths are not very much different from each other after all. Regardless of our own misconceptions and stereotypes, these faiths are joined by a common thread - love for God, and for each other. Everything else is (mis)interpreted through the lens of culture, society and one's personal reading of the Tanakh, Quran or Bible.

Suzanne, Ranya and Priscilla share their journey with all the painful, uncomfortable and sensitive parts laid bare for frank and open discussion. I was particularly interested in how Ranya introduced moderate Islam to her Jewish and Christian friends, and slowly changed their long standing misperceptions. If you're keen to find out more of each religion, The Faith Club is a good start. With tips at the end for starting your own faith club.

Currently reading: Lost & Found by Jacqueline Sheehan during my daily commute, and Princess Bride is on my bedside table.

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Time Was Soft There :: Jeremy Mercer
Part memoir, part travel book, part character essay. Jeremy Mercer chronicles his months as a poor, unemployed bum living in Shakespeare & Co. in Paris under the charitable auspices of its mercurial owner George Whitman (no, not the grandson of Walt Whitman, thank you!) who befriends him. There Mercer meets a ragtag bunch of writers, some odd part-time staff and curious visitors who over time, become part of the story of that legendary bookshop. Things we take for granted are all part of Mercer's daily adventures as he scrounges for cheap food, clothes and a hot shower with hilarious results. He also shares his growing friendship with George, a lifelong Communist and Sunday pancake chef.

I may not be headed to Paris anytime soon, but I'm glad I read what is probably be the 'last firsthand account' of Shakespeare & Co. Funny and quitely moving, this is a great read and yes! a worthy addition to any library.

Now reading: Still on The Princess Bride (bedtime), The Faith Club (daily commute) and the plodding Jane Austen Bookclub. I don't dare sniff the air in Borders or Kinokuniya lest I succumb to temptation. But oh! there are so many books I want!! Be strong, Kisane... Haha!

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A House in Corfu: A Family's Sojourn in Greece :: Emma Tennant
"Please don't waste your time." That's what one reviewer wrote of this book, and I should have listened.

I love travel books especially books that guide you through life in the Mediterranean - Greece, Italy, south of France. The last book I read on Greece was also my first introduction to the delights of armchair travels; the incomparable My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. At age 13, I wanted to move there immediately, never mind that both my parents were in the civil service in Singapore. Durrell's books became my yardstick for travel books ever since. And Tennant's, sorry to say, disappointed. It was boring, superficial and totally lacking in any insight into Corfoit customs, the people and island life. Not surprisingly as Tennant spent only a couple of months a year on that island while she made a life for herself and young family in London. She wrote as a tourist, not a Corfoit islander. However had she ghost-written a book with her parents who had moved to Rovinia to retire, I think it would have been a more interesting read. As it is, this paperback earns a "Read only if there's nothing left on your bookshelf" award.

The Uncommon Reader :: Alan Bennett
Whatever you do, don't skip to the end, leave the room if a smart alek friend starts raving about this book and avoid any reviews that don't come with a spoiler warning (there are none here so don't worry!). Yes, you definitely don't want to have one of the best endings in bookdom which happens on the VERY last page of this delightful novella, spoilt for you.

The Queen discovers reading, and pursues this new passion with much gusto to the horror of her private secretary, prime minister and others. She reads everywhere and to the point where it interferes with her royal duties. Her reading choices are remarkable, guided in part by a kitchen helper who first introduces gay-themed books for Her Majesty's reading pleasure. But before long, she is onto to other authors, one book leading to the next. I was most indignant when her royal staff ganged up to stifle this new hobby, but her royal resourcefulness discovers that reading leads to an even more interesting hobby: writing. I closed it with a satisfying chuckle, wondering if someone would pass this gem to the Queen. It definitely earns the "You have no idea how much fun this is" award.

I bought iWoz by Gina Smith but put it aside after the first 2 chapters. It is the biography of Steve Wozniak, one of the founders of Apple and has got to be one of the most irritating reads ever!! The story of Apple's founding and growth is the stuff of legend but only if you can get past Steve's bragging and constant 'look at how amazing I am' pronouncements. It wore thin after a while. I kept putting it down after a couple of pages; had to drink some water to stop the gagging reflex! I just hope Steve Jobs gets around to writing one himself or at least authorises someone to write for him some day.

Now reading: The Princess Bride (30th Anniversary Edition), Time Was Soft There AND The Faith Club.

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The Ladies of Grace Adieu & Other Stories :: Susanna Clarke
My first introduction to Susanna Clark and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed her book. Some clever wit likened the prose to 'Jane Austen meets the Grimm brothers' and I have to agree.

This is a collection of eight good old-fashioned English fairy tales, written in a style and language that many Austen fans would recognise. Lovers of faerie and fantasy would appreciate the almost historical manner of their telling. Clark gives a new twist to the Rumpelstiltskin tale and Shakespeare's Queen Mab. She even sets one in a Neil Gaiman universe.

Not everything is sunshine and rainbows; like Grimm's tales, there's a darker undercurrent afoot. Fairies are not the 'little people', or 'fair folk' we remember from childhood tales. They are lustful, mean-spirited and cunning. Their interactions with humans nearly always spell disaster for ordinary folk. But this book is far from that. It's a quick easy read, done in one long afternoon.

Now reading: The Faith Club - A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew by Idliby, Oliver and Warner. I've already gotten to some difficult parts involving stereotyping and prejudice, some of which I recognise all to well. But it's proving to be a very eye-opening read.

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The Mephisto Club :: Tess Gerritsen
I haven't read a really good thriller in a long while. Except for a couple of bad encounters that failed to live up to expectations. But Tess Gerritsen was heavily recommended in book blogs and has had rave reviews on Amazon. As I had a coupon for 30% off plus a further 10% with a Borders card, how can I not give her a try?

Well, I did just that and I found: A fast-paced murder/forensic mystery with generous helpings of early Christian and Hebrew myth; of good versus evil and of demons alive among men. Whew! Gerritsen did her research well and it shows in this thrill-a-minute book. Got 48 hours to spare? Read and enjoy. Just don't expect too much from her characters - the story is king here.

I was lead to The Mephisto Club by the recommendations of others. But now, I'll gladly take up her other books on my own.

Now reading: The Ladies of Grace Adieu & Other Stories by Susanna Clarke. Am in the mood for some magic this week. And STILL plugging away at The Jane Austen Book Club (somewhat tedious!) and A House in Corfu (almost done).

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Literacy and Longing in L.A. :: Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack
When the going gets tough, grab a stack of books, several bottles of good wine, turn off all phones and escape. Read for like 2 or 3 days straight. Don't eat or shower.

That's how book junkie Dora handles the stresses of her new singlehood after seperating from her movie mogul husband, Palmer who still has a soft spot for her. Her favourite getaway is a bookstore where she meets Fred, an irresistible book nut. Can anyone spell 'rebound'?

There's a cast of quirky characters too; from Darlene, an off-the-wall teamster, Dora's ex-alcoholic mother, and Bea, a former society hair brusher, not to mention Dora's younger sister Ginny, who while struggling with a new baby, makes time and effort to help her sister cope with her book binges, new boyfriend and getting a job. Ginny reminds me of my sister D, who has been supportive of all my efforts with love and encouragement even while half a world away.

Yes, I enjoyed this book and took my time to finish it but I particularly enjoyed the last 9 pages which lists all the books and authors mentioned in this book - and there's a lot! From the classics to contemporary fiction to trashy romance novels which Dora discovers for the first time in a rather funny scene. I don't think her book binges are particularly too healthy although any book nut will recognise her urges to turn the world off and escape between the pages of fiction.

Now reading: A House in Corfu by Emma Tennant. And still plugging away at The Jane Austen Book Club too.

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Infidel :: Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Ayaan Hirsi Ali has written a gripping account of her life as a young Muslim woman who's lived in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia and much later, the Netherlands. She survived beatings, female circumcision, a forced marriage, and later death threats, in a society and religion that ignores women's rights and subjugates them. She sought asylum in the Netherlands where she studied political science and became an elected member of parliment. Ayaan went on to denouce Islam while working for Muslim immigrant issues in that country.

It's taken me nearly 5 months to finish this book. It's not an easy read and much of Ayaan's life had me seething at the injustices she faced, especially at the hands of her own family members. Despite everything, she still holds them close and thanks them at the end. Highly recommended and an unforgettable biography.

Now reading: Literacy and Longing in LA (my on-the-go book) and The Jane Austen Book Club (bedside table book).

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Blackberry Wine :: Joanne Harris
Wine replaces chocolates as we return to the French village of Lansquenet which was the setting for her earlier Chocolat. We meet writer Jay Mackintosh who impulsively buys a chateau and escapes there with a half dozen bottles of homemade wine. Alternate chapters are flashbacks to his childhood summers in Kirby Monckton and his friendship with Joe, an eccentric character who inspired Jay's first novel. Fourteen years on, Jay's got the worst case of writer's block ever. But with the uncorking of one of Joe's Specials, his typewriter keys start flying again. And the magic returns. A worthy follow-up to Chocolat.

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Stardust :: Neil Gaiman
What on earth took me so long to pick up a Neil Gaiman book? Too much hype? Brand name author? But I'm so glad I did because I love Stardust. Another fairy tale set in England but with none of the darkness of the last book. Love, magic, adventure, evil witches, murderous princes, fairies and a fallen star found by a handsome youth. An immensely fun read.

Now reading? I haven't quite decided yet. You know how it is - you have a few books left and you're reluctant to pick any one because you want to hoard them tlll you have bought few more, so you won't feel completely bereft as the pile dwindles. Silly huh?

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The Book of Lost Things :: John Connolly
Think Grimm's fairy tales...but grimmer. Darker, creepier and altogether spine-tinglingly good. I practically devoured this in 2 days, starting the first chapter late Friday night. Yes, I know this kind of story has been done before, but John Connolly does it very, very well indeed. While written as a fairy tale, it is anything but. And most definitely not for children. In a nutshell - David loses his mother, discovers a space in a crack in a sunken garden which leads to a kingdom where dreams, nightmares and things in your imagination come true. Here, all the fairy tales you've ever read, are twisted, warped and sometimes downright scary. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Now reading: Neil Gaiman's Stardust

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The Interpretation of Murder: A Novel :: Jed Rubenfeld
It's been a long while since I picked up a murder story. And enjoyed it. The tale centers around Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung's visit to New York in 1909. In their first week in New York City, a socialite is brutally murdered but a second attempt on another fails. She lives but has lost her voice and memory.

It's up to a young doctor to employ Freud's methods to help her remember that awful night. However, as he and Detective Littlemore discover, there's more afoot then a murderer roaming the streets. There are some heart stopping moments too. For good measure, Reubenfeld throws in Freud's psychoanalytical theories and Shakespeare, particularly Hamlet and that famous soliloquy, not to mention a couple of red herrings, to make for a thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended.

Now reading: The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

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So Many Books, So Little Time :: Sara Nelson
I think I've found my book twin. Sara Nelson is an admitted compulsive reader: she 'double-books', reads while walking outdoors and at the dinner table, and has trouble sharing books. She also fears going on vacation, bookless. In a chapter "Endless Love", Nelson shares a funny moment at an airport bookshop where she's desperately looking for a book, any book but ends up buying magazines instead.

I have to admit I bought this book for the title alone. It turned out to be an easy, enjoyable read. Nelson shares anecdotes about her life, family, friends as they revolve around her beloved books. A funny, compelling writer with a voracious appetite, her book tastes are eclectic and not ruled by best-seller lists. Nelson planned a list of 52 books, a book a week for a year but realised soon enough that the choice wasn't always up to her. Don't look here for critical reviews although I now have some interesting titles to dig up at Borders and Kinokuniya. Highly recommended.

Now reading: Annie Proulx' The Shipping News.

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The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland :: Jim DeFede
Imagine opening your home for strangers to shower and relax, or providing hot meals, blankets, towels, pillows, sheets and much, much more for nearly 7,000 people landing in your backyard.

That's just what the people of Gander and its surrounding communites did for the passengers of 38 planes that were diverted from US airspace to this little island on September 11. While feelings of fear, confusion, anger and revenge were rife that day in the US, those in Gander experienced only goodness and kindness. A beautiful, life-affirming account that deserves a place along side the tragedy of that fateful day, as a reminder of good triumphant.

Now reading: Sara Nelson's So Many Books, So Little Time.

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Perfume :: Patrick Suskind
One of the more bizarre books I've ever read. And if I didn't know there is movie about to play in theatres here, I'd have thought it completely unfilmable. Grenouille has got to be one of the most fascinating sociopaths yet: Hannibal Lecter is a lovable gentleman next to him. He's repulsive and completely without conscience. Suskind refers to Grenouille as a 'tick' - he's THAT disgusting! He's obsessively single-minded in his pursuit of scent especially the ultimate human scent which he discovers in beautiful prepubescent girls. The last two scenes in the novel are totally unexpected but they are the extreme result of that discovery. I promise, you won't be expecting any of it. Read the book before you catch the movie. Extremely satisfying.

Now reading: Jim Defede's The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland.

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Stargazing: Memoirs of a Young Lighthouse Keeper :: Peter Hill
Somehow this didn't quite live up to my expectations of solitary lighthouse keepers communing with the night. Hill wrote of his early hippie years and the six months he spent in 1973 at three remote lighthouses on Scotland's west coast.

Yes, there are interesting character studies of gruff, older Scottsmen like Stretch and the Professor and of long conversations during "Rembrandts" (aka night watch!), the how-tos of keeping a light lit and beautiful descriptions of the wild Scottish coast. But his observances digress too much. It reads like an elegy to his lost youth with meanderings into the Vietnam war, Watergate, BBC television, art school, the book he's writing, poetry excerpts and his excursions back to civilisation in between each 2 month stint. However I did enjoy his easy, conversational writing style. Read this if you have time, patience and not much else in your TBR pile.

Now reading: John Keel's The Mothman Prophecies.

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The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop :: Lewis Buzbee
This is THE book for those obsessed with books and bookshops. You know who you are. You have a rapidly growing TBR pile yet you can't resist the bargain table or warehouse sales. You book hop. You're a member of a library, a bookclub and blog about books. You love the smell of a new book. And you're "promiscuous when it comes to bookstores". Highly recommended and a definite re-read.

Now reading: Peter Hill's Stargazing: Memoirs of a Young Lighthouse Keeper

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Memoirs of a Geisha :: Arthur Golden
While waiting to board my flight to Perth, I spent a few minutes in a bookstore at Changi airport. I had a book for the trip but Extremely Loud, Incredibly Close just didn't feel like a holiday book.

It was an interesting read about the life and culture of a Kyoto geisha, Sayuri. I'm not sure whether being torn from her family and home, and groomed for such a life is a good thing, although many considered her 'lucky' to be selected. True, she became rich and quite powerful and finally won the affections of the Chairman but Sayuri lost her family and sister along the way. This is good fiction but I'm sure there are better books out there for a more in-depth look at the life of a geisha in Japan. Recommended.

Now reading: The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop

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The Thirteenth Tale :: Diane Setterfield
I bought this last Friday night then stayed up to finish it at 2am this morning - it was so good. This remarkable first novel from Diane Setterfield lived up to all its hype and delivered beautifully. Set mostly in Yorkshire, The Thirteenth Tale follows a novice biographer's journey to uncover the truth of the world's most beloved author, Vida Winter. Now nearing the end of her life, Miss Winter has sworn to tell the truth about her life (she's given 20 versions of it so far), and only to Margaret Lea, an antiquarian bookseller's daughter whose past holds a great loss. Thick with secrets in an atmosphere reminiscent of The Turn of the Screw, the novel is truly 'unputdownable'.

Next book? The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl. I'm in a 'murder mystery thriller' mode. Any others to recommend? Oh, The Villa of Mysteries by David Hewson was a disappointment. A police procedural set in Rome, it just lost me after the second chapter.

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Skipping Christmas :: John Grisham
An interesting little book about one man's determination to skip Christmas. I was rooting for Luther Krank as he did everything he could to get out of the usual celebrations in his neighbourhood and spend it with his wife on a Caribbean cruise instead. Just wish Grisham had allowed them to pull it off but it seems that you can't run away from Christmas. Since when did celebrating Christmas become compulsory? An easy read with an unsatisfying end.

Oh my goodness... I did not know that this was made into a movie with Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. Anyone seen it? Recommended?

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The Time Traveller's Wife :: Audrey Niffengger
I don't know why I took so long to get this book. When it first came out, everyone was raving about it but I stubbornly refused to buy into the hype. Many months later, I succumbed and you know what? I love it. An unusual love story of absence and longing, with a dash of sci-fi (the time travelling bit) and two of my favourite characters to date: Henry DeTamble and Clare Abshire. I was hooked by page 20 but deliberately went slow so as to savour every page. The end is almost heart-breaking and I closed it with a sigh. This book is definitely a re-read.

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Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen :: Julie Powell
Julie isn't a Julia Child, Nigella Lawson, or even a Martha Stewart (thank goodness!). She's just a secretary (or was) who thought cooking every single recipe in THE cooking bible volume 1 would turn her life around. It did, in more ways than she could ever imagine.

Her attempts at mastering the art of French cooking is a roller-coaster culinary adventure with sidebars on her life, family and friends. An appetite-enhancing read except for the chapters on aspic and calf brains. Those, I pass.

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The Stolen Child :: Keith Donohue
The faery folk weaved a spell and I was book bound the entire afternoon, caught up in a tale of changelings, Aniday and Henry Day. I absolutely loved it. The end was bittersweet yet right. A fabulous first book and I can't wait for more from this author.

Monday, 7 August, 9:24am - Next book? The Time Traveller's Wife. I've heard a lot about it and it seems like everyone has read it. Started it on my morning commute and am now on page 14. Interesting...

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Marley & Me :: John Grogan
I finished the book this afternoon with tears running down my face during the last few chapters. I had stalled for several days before I worked up enough courage to tackle the rest of it. Yes, I loved it and everything about that madcap delinquent dog. There were many laugh-out loud moments that had me re-reading them several times, giggling over each retelling. A wonderful book to read again and again. And to share too.

Visit his blog for more dog stories.

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Off the Beaten Track :: Laura Stoddart
Found it at an art bookshop, tucked in one corner of a shelf, marked down to US$6! It's a beautiful collection of whimisical illustrations coupled with magical quotations of travel. Perfect preparation for my forthcoming holiday, don't you think?

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A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian
by Marina Lewycka
1. This is not exactly about tractors.
2. There is a Ukrainian blonde - a gold-digger type,
3. And two sisters determined to get rid of her.

Update on Stephen King's Cell: It started out well with some great characters as only King can trump up but it never explained the Pulse, where it came from, who was behind it and why. We're just left with assumptions and more questions. And the ending has got to be the most inconclusive one I've ever read. A satisfying read but oh! so frustrating!

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This was one of the books I picked up at that fabulous book warehouse sale. It's a book...on sale...about food. Three things I hold quite dear. Perfect!

Written by Ruth Reichl, the editor of Gourmet, "Comfort Me with Apples" chronicles her determined start as a food writer with a meager expense account, life on a commune in Berkely with her first husband, her gastronomic travels to France and China and her extraordinary encounters with chefs like Wolfgang Puck. It's passionately written by a woman who's passionate about food.

The pasta was so thin that it seemed to have vanished, leaving only a memory behind. What was left was simply the subtlety of the sauce, pure and light, as if the liquid has somehow taken solid form. It wasn't food, it was magic on a plate, and for a moment I disappeared into the flavour.

Oh...and the recipies peppering the book are equally delicious!

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