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- The Wood Sprite from The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov. I like what follows even better: "In a distant room a clock struck the hour, while I, dreamer that I am, imagined someone was knocking at the door, softly at first, then louder and louder. He knocked twelve times and paused...

From her list, these are my favourites: The Blind Assassin - my choice for #1 Followed closely by: Oryx and Crake Alias Grace The Handmaid's Tale The Robber Bride If you like those, you'll probably also like: Cat's Eye The Edible Woman Surfacing Lady Oracle BTW, she's also written a good...

Keep Road to Gandolfo by Ludlum. It's very funny and quite an atypical Ludlum. A Time to Kill is also pretty good. .

You can either make a list of the names as you go along or get a translation that includes all the names in an appendix or introduction. I read the translation by Anne Dunnigan and it had an introductory portion that listed the names of the families, the characters within each family, their...

I read GWTW many moons ago when I was in junior high (age 13 or 14). It still ranks as one of my all-time favourites. It's memorable to me for a number of 'firsts': It was the first sweeping 'epic' novel I'd ever read and I gobbled it up in a matter of days (reading into the wee hours...

I don't know that 'my' washing over is exactly the same as Novella's meaning. When I say I let certain books 'wash over' me, it mostly means that I don't stop to figure out every phrase and unfamiliar word; don't try to dissect and analyze each descriptive passage or obscure allusion -...

Sometimes I think people get too caught up trying to analyze every little phrase, metaphor, comma and hyphen in "great works" while they're reading that they completely miss the big picture and wonder why they didn't enjoy the book. Letting the stories wash over you is a much more satisfying...

MC, thanks for your comments (I haven't been around for awhile, so didn't realize you'd posted :o ). I'm glad to hear that you liked it. I read it almost a year and a half ago, so the details are getting a bit fuzzy, but I do remember the humour was quite delightful and unexpected. It's a book...

MC, have you finished this? I'd be interested in your opinion. Perhaps you could add to this already existing thread about IOAWNAT.

Yes, he's retained his US citizenship, but has lived in Canada since 1968, married a Canadian, and his children are Canadian. Besides, he graduated from my old alma mater and lives in the same city, so I'm claiming Canadian bragging rights. :D

Okay, if we all give you the benefit of the doubt, Michelle, it would help if you offered your own opinions in the way of discussion (i.e. more than just saying you agree with something someone else said). You say you have one paragraph. What's in it? And there's no point calling people...

Some Canadian authors I like, not yet mentioned: Rohinton Mistry - A Fine Balance William Gibson - daddy of "cyberpunk" Guy Vanderhaeghe - An Englishman's Boy Wayson Choy - Jade Peony Joy Kogawa - even if only for her wonderful Obasan

LOL. I would have thought the ADHD would help in this case, It's quite the wild ride, isn't it? I'm a little over half-way and find I'm slowing down to savour it - something I do with books I like. At this rate, I may finish by the summer - but I am enjoying every bit of it. (GR makes...

Just getting into The God Delusion by Dawkins. I see there's already a thread started, so will pop over and post comments there if I've anything worthwhile to add.

(Thought I posted a reply here yesterday, but it seems to have disappeared. So here goes again. ) I found Into Thin Air to be a gripping story because of Krakauer's emotional investment in the events. Following publication of the book, the facts as presented by the author, have been called...

How clever.

Thanks. I had a very nice birthday. The sons made me dinner (pasta with chicken, Mandarin/avocado salad, lovely Italian wine, garlic bread, and BD cake). The best part: They cleaned up, too! :D

I read this several years ago. What did you think was "cool" about it?

As well as listening to recommendations, I'm also a list and "best of" recommendations person. Not because I'll necessarily agree with someone else's book list, but because it forces me to think outside of my own tried and true favourites and genres.

Just a couple more things (it was late last night). I also keep in mind books by authors that I've read good reviews about or that have been recommended to me, but haven't read yet; as well as award winners (I seem to have the most luck with the Giller and Man Booker). Novella, any particular...