The Madonnas of Leningrad - Debra Dean

An intensely poignant and beautiful story moving between present day America with Alzheimer's encroaching upon Marina, and in wartime Russia when Marina was a museum guide, freshly engaged to Dmitri who has gone off to fight. It's set in the beautifully imposing and rich Leningrad Hermitage Museum, and Marina is working with others in a gruelling schedule to pack up the thousands of treasures in the face of the impending German invasion. The paintings in every room are richly described, revisited and brought to life in Marina's memories, stored in her memory palace. The frequent air raids and deprivations of war cause many of the workers to reside in the museum, living on meagre rations. One of my favourite scenes is during one of her lookout shifts on the roof - she walks past Rembrandt's works and recalls "Danae" where Zeus visits the nude Danae in a shower of gold. Marina is delirious from lack of food and sleep - Zeus appears shining and beautiful on the rooftop and seduces her. Another is in the public steam baths, when she convinces Olga that she's pregnant and the other women come to feel her belly, marvelling at the miracle. I read this book in one sitting.

The Colour - Rose Tremain

Not the usual storyline that would attract me - the harsh environment and greed of the gold rush in 19th century New Zealand. I read it because of the author's reputation and wasn't disappointed. In spite of the dreary setting, the writing was so convincing, imaginative and natural that I was drawn in from the first page. Joseph & Harriet Blackstone are new settlers in Christchurch, and when Joseph is gripped by gold fever, he leaves Harriet and his mother to find "the colour" on the West Coast. I tended to sympathize with Harriet, a strong woman who goes to look for her husband when his mother dies and their cob house collapses in extreme weather. The desperation and hopelessness of Joseph's plight is alleviated when Harriet arrives and accidentally finds gold upstream. There's a touching relationship between Harriet and the dignified Chinese man Pao Yi in the aftermath of the river flooding and uprooting all the gold mining. A moving and beautifully written story.

Prochownik's Dream - Alex Miller

This is about an artist at a point of some creative crisis who becomes inspired again when his mentor and his wife return to town and he again becomes involved with them. He gets to know his mentor's wife and she becomes his muse. Took me awhile to get into its low key style.

Choosing Zoe - Laura Budd

A library loan. Light hearted story about a 20-something girl going through relationship angst, with commentary in the interesting voice of her unborn baby who's chosen Zoe to be her future mum. The story bounces along quite charmingly, reading a little like what I imagine teenage fiction to be like, although it isn't. I found her stubborn idiocy in continuing to be attracted to the "wrong" type irritating, but she redeems herself.

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian - Marina Lewycka

I forgot to list this one too after reading it some weeks/months ago, but that's not a reflection of what I thought. It was enjoyable and funny, about two sisters who plot to save their aging widowed father from marrying a scheming blonde busty woman who's using him as her passport to immigrate into England. In the process of pursuing a common goal the sisters experience a reconciliation after longstanding hostility. There are poignant moments too when Nadezhda finds out the events in her childhood and her parents' history.

Saving Fish from Drowning - Amy Tan

Read this a couple of months ago, but forgot to record it until now. Maybe it reflects what I thought of it. I find this deviation from her previous style of writing too clever and a chore to read, though the story is interesting enough. Based on a true story, Bibi Chen, San Francisco socialite and art vendor to the stars, plans to lead a trip for 12 to China & Myanmar, but dies in very strange circumstances before the tour begins. The group decides to go after all, with an indecisive and epileptic leader. Bibi is the disembodied narrator. The group gets kidnapped by a deluded tribe. It was hard to get into this book.

Lorelei's Secret - Carolyn Parkhurst

This book seems to be alternatively called The Dogs of Babel. Some reviews said it was schmaltzy, but I thought it was wonderful. It starts off innocently with the protagonist, a linguistic professor, coming home to find that his wife is dead, having fallen from the apple tree in his backyard, and their dog Lorelei as the only witness. In his grieving he attempts to teach his dog to communicate what happened in those last moments. There are clues left behind to make him suspect something more to the story. The book jumps back & forth in time to tell us of their first meeting and subsequent relationship. Lexy his wife was a charmingly whimsical and creative maker of masks, but subject to angry outbursts and mysterious angst. The story gets darker with what I thought was an unnecessary foray into some weird dog mutilation cult. Apart from that, it's beautifully written, evocative, sad, mysterious.

The Piano Man - Marcia Preston

The mother of a teenage boy who died in an accident searches for the man who was the recipient of her son's heart, refusing to let this man waste his life when he'd received such a precious gift from her son. It's pitched perfectly without a false note in the way she finds a way to connect to this stranger. Yet somehow the book loses its thread two-thirds of the way through, as she meanders through her estranged relationship with her father and ex-husband. Still, a nice read with poignant moments.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox - Maggie O'Farrell

The latest book by one of my favourite authors. Moving between colonial India, 1930s Edinburgh, and the present, a sad story about a woman put away by her family and discovered sixty years later by her great niece who had no prior knowledge of her existence. A sad tale of two sisters, rivalries, betrayal and, in a strange way, redemption. A beautifully written book.

Spellbound - Jane Green

A light easy chick lit with likeable characters, but a bit too light for my taste. I did enjoy reading about Alison and her philandering husband, her friendships and her eventual realisations about what she values and loves - a happy read. Nice... but no need for more!

The Alibi - Sandra Brown

A very satisfying mystery thriller. I read the review ages ago, and only recently got to read the book. At first it seemed like an ordinary mystery, but drew me in with its emotionally strong relationships, rich characters and a soulful love story. A really good read - I'll be looking forward to other books by the author.

Tipping the Velvet - Sarah Waters

The third book I've read by this author, but the first she wrote. It's the most racy one, with lots of sexy romps, unlike the others, however like the others it involves love, betrayal and a good story set in 19th century England. Very atmospheric, with strongly drawn characters, lingering like real people in my mind. Now I know what "tipping the velvet" means!

In My Skin - Kate Holden

Such a courageous, explicitly honest, moving and well-written memoir about this young woman's journey to hell and back. A normal middle class Australian background, an exceptionally loving family, a Uni degree, a shy & bookish personality, and yet she became a heroin addict and prostitute. At times I felt depressed to read about this painful journey, but the writing was always captivating and lifted the book beyond just another bare-all. I found her family's unconditional love amazing. A book that lingered in my mind well after I finished it...

Lonely Planet Guide to Experimental Travel - Rachael Antony

I expected to dip into this book and read snippets at random, but it was so fascinating that I read it from cover to cover. Not the sort of travel I'd indulge in, as you could as easily end up nowhere and see little, or be serendipitously lucky. But I admire the adventurous souls who contributed to the book. In spite of my bourgeouis taste in travel, some of the experiments could be interesting - eg one where you and partner travel separately to the same city, and try to find each other by intuition. Could be disappointing too if you don't find each other. As I said, I'm bourgeouis in my travel tastes.

The Deadly Space Between - Patricia Duncker

A ghost story with an Oedipal slant. Erotic and a bit weird, but not very compelling for me, as it was a bit too cerebral and wordy in style. Quite atmospheric.

The Mermaid Chair - Sue Monk Kidd

Evocative; the emotional journey of a restless woman in a happy marriage who falls in love with a monk. It was a bit too neat that not only is her husband good looking, successful and loving, but the monk is an attractive ex-lawyer who has not taken his final vows yet. But the exploration of her relationships and her childhood is complex and absorbing.

A Fortune Teller Told Me - Tiziano Terzani

A very enjoyable and interesting book. Made me want to meet the author, who's a journalist of Italian extraction but who's lived so much in Asia that it's in his bones. He has a nice mix of journalistic and personal style, arrogant yet humble, in telling his story of how he travelled over sea and land for one year because a fortune teller 20 years before had warned that he would come to harm if he flew in a plane this year. He still managed to be at the right place at historic moments in Asia, and his experiences and observations make interesting reading, especially for me, an Asian living in Australia (the inverse of his situation).

Lambs of God - Marele Day

Rather quirky about 3 nuns living in isolation in an abandoned convent when a priest searching for prime real estate comes upon them. They draw upon unusual and resourceful means in protecting their lifestyle. Quite funny at times but not a prime read for me. Father Ignatius redeems himself in my eyes with his equanimity and eventual compromise, though he's initially wily and selfishly ambitious.

The Pursuit of Love - Nancy Mitford

Another book picked up while visiting S'pore. Figured that this is such a classic I have to read it. I've read the first one so far and wasn't disappointed with its ironic humour and wit, and interesting cast of characters in an aristocratic English family . Haven't read the second book in this volume - Love in a Cold Climate - yet.

Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom

Read this last year as a filler on a short flight from Singapore to KL. An enjoyable read, though I can't remember its life lessons now - I'm sure rereading it will make me realise I never forgot it. Same for the author's other book - Five People You Meet in Heaven. For a little book it was quite captivating and insightful without being pat.

Teacher Man - Frank McCourt

The third book - just as wry and funny as Angela's Ashes and 'Tis but more patchy, didn't flow as effortlessly - maybe a reflection of the author's needing to meet a deadline? Still interesting and enjoyable in the usual Frank McCourt style. I read this a while ago now but have only just remembered to put it here.

The Food of Love - Anthony Capella

Gorgeous, funny, sensual tale of the pleasures of food and unrequited love Cyrano Bergerac style, set in modern Italy. I could taste, smell and feel the amazing food while laughing at the Italian aphorisms peppered about. Wonderful - a book to read again. Looking forward to reading the author's new book The Wedding Officer.

Loving Him - Kate O'Riordan

What a beautifully written book! Heartwrenching, thrilling, evocative, visceral, wistful. I loved it. Only after finishing it did I realise I have another of the author's books 'The Angel in the House', a book I notably enjoyed. But this one is a stunner! Having just finished the last page, I'm wrapped up in the pain, the yearning sadness as if it was mine. Strange coincidence - there's a Tomasso mentioned in its Rome setting. The book I read just before this was The Food of Love, it's set in Rome, and one of the main characters is Tomasso! Oh just recalled that I have another of Kate O'Riordan's books "The Boy in the Moon" which I haven't read. Looking forward to the treat! And to The Memory Stones too...

Lighthousekeeping - Jeanette Winterson

Having quit partway into another lighthouse-centred story The Alphabet of Light and Dark, beautifully written but uncaptivating, I was wary of another lighthouse book with beautiful prose. It's not the style of book I seek out, but surprisingly I was mesmerised by its fable-like atmosphere about an orphan girl and an old blind lighthousekeeper who spins endless fascinating tales. It stays on in one's mind like a seashell echo.

Labyrinth - Kate Mosse

I bought this book at Whitcoulls whilst in New Zealand on holiday. Interesting for its historical detail and a good holiday read. I'm a bit tired of the Grail with all the non-fiction and fiction I've read on the subject. I enjoyed this book in spite of it. The atmospheric detail is good, but there was something missing in the connection between present day Alice and long-ago Alais. Reincarnation is implied but somehow the link left me unconvinced. A good holiday read nevertheless.

The Jane Austen Book Club - Karen Joy Fowler

Funny,wry,heartwarming writing which slowly draws you into its circle of human and idiosyncratic group of people. While exploring Jane Austen's books through the club, one also gets to know the members, their histories and connections. It's a subtle, quiet book and as I was on holiday in New Zealand, I read it alongside a contrasting book Bergdorf Blondes, which was louder, brighter. I will re-read this book after I've re-read the Jane Austen books.

Bergdorf Blondes - Plum Sykes

Not your average chick lit. Witty take on New York high society and its self-absorbed princesses. The writing is as intelligent as the characters are air-headed (in my estimation anyway). The author being a contributing editor on fashion and society at Vogue NY explains the fascinating details! Wonderfully entertaining and I look forward to reading the author's latest The Debutante Divorcee.

The Ghost Writer - John Harwood

Very atmospheric and engrossing book. Ghost stories are not my usual fare, but this one has a hauntingly mesmerising style which kept me reading page after page, as the scenes moved between Australia and England. It's thrilling, funny, and the stories interspersed in the narrative are also very good. Normally I am impatient with stories within a story, but these stories flowed well with the bigger story and are cleverly intertwined. On a side note, I could relate to the protagonist's experiences with ubiquitous millipedes in his Australian country life!

'Tis - Frank McCourt

Sequel to Angela's Ashes. I wasted no time reading this after I finished Angela's Ashes. It continues on in America in his adult life, and the writing continues to be engaging, wryly funny and a great read! Which is amazing when the subject matter is not always uplifting, but the author always uplifts with his writing. He's a late bloomer who wrote his first bestseller in his 60s, surprising himself as he'd only hoped it'd be a modest seller, a little memoir for his grandchildren. I guess everyone knows Frank McCourt by now.

Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt

It's not new I know, but that's how long I've taken to read it. It's been sitting on my bookshelf for years because I thought it'd be too dismal a subject - the poverty-stricken Irish Catholic childhood. But how wrong I was. The writing is wonderful, a great read, and Kurt even looked askance at me when I giggled to myself often at the wry humour. I've now got the other books 'Tis and Teacher Man.

Playing Away - Adele Parks

My occasional foray into chick lit. I classify them into too light or reasonably insightful. This one was good fun, but was on the border between light & insightful, for me. Maybe because I can't relate to the heavy drinking & partying 20 to 30 somethings in here? A good read nevertheless.

Blink - Malcolm Gladwell

I'm still in the middle of this - it's fascinating and well written. I heard someone criticising it on a pocast book review for devaluing rational thinking; I think that's not what Blink is about - it's so much more. Something interesting to learn about & possibly shock yourself, visit my other blog here I'm going to be reading Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point next, as I like Blink so much. Reading in reverse order, as Blink is the later book.

Songs of the Humpback Whale - Jodi Picoult

Another of Jodi Picoult's recent offerings which reads well but somehow leaves me untouched. I don't really like the recent style which is more complex & clever, but less engaging. I prefer the older novels - Keeping Faith, The Pact, Second Glance etc

Vanishing Acts - Jodi Picoult

About a woman who finds out the truth about herself and her father, and her emotional journey through the past. I am a fan of Jodi Picoult but her later novels, while increasing in complexity are decreasing in emotional impact. I find myself enjoying the story and its emotional motifs, but I am not emotionally involved myself.

Second Glance - Jodi Picoult

A great read about ghosts and ghost hunters in the context of an ancient murder and a second chance at love. In words of a reviewer "Second Glance is an intricate and suspenseful ghost story that enchants and illuminates all the way to its powerful conclusion."

April Witch - Majgull Axelsson

Translated from Swedish, this unusual story is about Desiree, a totally disabled woman given up at birth by a mother who goes on to raise 3 foster daughters. A witch with paranormal powers, Desiree sets out to find out which one of her sisters is living the life which should have been hers. Unaware of her existence, her sisters' lives change when Desiree sets in motion events and confrontatins between her sisters as they are beset by memories and regrets. Sad, poignant and sometimes a little bleak, but rich characters and a hopeful end.

The Way the Crow Flies - Ann-Marie MacDonald

800+ pages of a poignant, emotionally wrenching and deeply satisfying story of a little girl growing up in the early sixties, and the web of intrigue that surrounds a local murder and the repercussions on her and her family. It took me 200 pages before I got into the book, initially it seemed a bit wordy and overly detailed describing the minutiae of a little girl's and her family's life. But after that it just grabbed me and pulled me along in an intense grip of emotion and feeling. Very interesting detail about Project Paperclip the hush-hush project about importing Nazi war criminals into USA.

Mr Golightly's Holiday - Salley Vickers

This is the second book I've read by Salley Vickers, the first being Miss Garnet's Angel. I find it hard to describe the books, although the reviews use words like "artfully wrought... superbly crafted..." I think the review which says "fun, reflective and quietly jubilant" is closer to my view. Her subject matter is lightly mystical or ethereal, her writing style lucid. It's very obvious from the beginning who Mr Golightly is, although I wasn't sure if the author meant it to be obvious or not. Or was being ironic. I prefer my books to be more involving, but I would read her books again. Instances of the Number 3 is waiting on my bookshelf to be read.

Good Faith - Jane Smiley

Absorbing read about relationships, money, real estate and deception. I got quickly drawn into the life of Joe who is a reasonably successful real estate salesperson, intrigued by a new friend Marcus who draws him into a high risk real estate scheme. The relationships are interesting - there were hints of disturbing undercurrents whilst the surface appeared gratifying and reassuring.

Fleur De Leigh's Life of Crime - Diane Leslie

Coincidence that I read this right after Maybe the Moon. Both set in the movie world. As the only child of a self-absorbed mother who's an ex-actress and star of a radio show, and a distant TV producer father, Fleur is subjected to a procession of nannies and in her droll yet innocent way learns from the passing parade of people in her life what real love is. Funny and touching.

Maybe the Moon - Armistead Maupin

The heroine is 31 inches high, a has-been in the movie world still looking for a break, in her optimistic, funny and sassy style. It's not the sort of book I'm normally drawn to, but it was poignant. And a little bleak for me. But enjoyable.

The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde

A whimsical funny crazy book which involves literary crime, time travel, and weird but interesting concepts. It is not just a clever book, it has heart, with irreverent but likeable characters and a fight between good and evil. I did wonder before reading it whether I'd like it, and was pleasantly surprised. I look forward to reading the sequels.

The Heart's Code - Paul Pearsall

Interesting concept of the heart being the seat of memory, instead of the brain. The author, a psychoneuroimmunologist, is at pains to ensure the book is not a "new age" book but a scientific investigation of the heart's code, a subtle energy unlimited by space and time. There's some fascinating anecdotes about heart transplant patients' experiences of heart memory and lots of fascinating reading. My only complaint is that there seemed to be a lot of repetition of ideas.

The Almond Picker - Simonetta Agnello Hornby

Starts with the impending death of the main character, and then proceeds to intrigue and mystify you with the question of "who was she?" as you listen in on the gossip of the many village characters and the family members who were connected to her. It's evocative of life in a little Italian village with its intricacies and relationships. (translated from Italian)

Shanghai Baby - Wei Hui

A sassy and explicit writing style which is at the same time candidly honest. Vron said she found the "look at me" style irritating, but I found it refreshing and whilst it's not a book I would normally be attracted to, once I started reading it I was drawn from page to page until the end, finding it an interesting look into Shanghai's modern scene.

The Power of Appreciation - Dr Noelle Nelson

Bought this book at the Mind Body Spirit Expo in Melbourne where we were exhibitors too and Dr Noelle Nelson signed my book. She's as lovely in person as her book is. It talks about practising appreciation as an attitude in one's life. Appreciation is a vibration, and it affects the way we experience our lives and our relationships, and is a powerful attractor. It also has physiological and biochemical effects on our brains and Dr Nelson also talks about Masaru Emoto's findings about water. The first half of the book is explanatory and the second half about applying appreciation in our everyday situations. It's a simple message which one might easily read & agree with but neglect to apply, but I've found that in applying the simple but powerful principles, my life has dramatically changed. It can be difficult to practice appreciation in the midst of anger or resentment, but that's when it's most needed and impactful.

Freakonomics - Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J.Dubner

Another book bought in transit Singapore, and read while on holiday in Bali. Interesting and easy to read. A "rogue economist" overturns a lot of generally accepted truths and reveals surprising information about many everyday issues, like crime rates, real estate sales and baby names!

Case Histories - Kate Atkinson

Bought this book while on in transit in Singapore - the book ended up very dog-eared by the time I'd taken it via Malaysia, back to Singapore, on to Bali then back to Australia! This is the first book I've read by the author, and I enjoyed it enough to want to read her other books. It's been just over a month now, and many books have been read in the meantime, but my recollection is that it was a bittersweet, funny and enjoyable story, a sort of detective story with a difference, peopled by interesting, quirky and very human characters. Good read!

Fragrant Rice - Janet de Neefe

I bought this at the author's stunningly beautiful restaurant "Indus" in Ubud, Bali because something about her story touched me. It was also a token of the beguiling beauty of Bali and my lovely time there. I found the first half of the book more interesting, as it was her story of falling in love with Bali as a teenager, then returning about a decade later when she met and fell in love with her husband, a Balinese. The part about when she first brought her husband-to-be to visit Australia, and her early experiences living in Bali, was funny and heartwarming. Mouthwatering and exotic recipes are generously detailed throughout the book, and the latter half describes the many wonderful ceremonies which are such an integral part of Balinese life.

The Long Hot Summer - Mary Moody

Mary Moody was previously better known as a gardening show presenter on Australian TV and for her gardening books! This is her third book about her life, which has captured Australians' emotions! In 'Au Revoir' she escaped to a 6 month sabbatical in beautiful rural France. In 'Last Tango in Toulouse' her world turned upside down. Now, continuing in her candid style, she bares all as her marriage faces its most intense challenge. After reading the first two, I wondered how the author would be able to continue to hold the reader's interest in the third book, but it was as absorbing and involving. I find her painful honesty refreshing and empathise with her as well as her husband.

The Path of Least Resistance - Robert Fritz

I first read this book in 1994 when my then boss David gave it to me, and was inspired to re-read it after recently reading The Magician's Way. I seldom underline the text in my books like I did with this. Reading it again, I was surprised that I agreed with the underlined bits - usually what I found important then is not as important now, because different aspects reveal themselves. It's a profound book - simple in its common sense, yet powerful in its message. It talks about the underlying structure in our life which determines the path of least resistance, leading to the results we experience. It's about getting this underlying structure right first, before we can go on to create what we want.

The Magician's Way - William Whitecloud

I enjoyed reading this book. Normally I find stories that have a message to teach quite contrived but this was absorbing, insightful, gave me some "aha's" and laughs. It's about getting out of your own way to allow the magic to manifest in your life, and it delivers precise "technology" to show you the way. It's well written and flows easily. Some of the concepts are based on Robert Fritz's The Path of Least Resistance, which inspired me to re-read the latter (above), but The Magician's Way gets the message across more enjoyably.