the orenda and some mysteries

Joseph Boyden's latest book, 2014, The Orenda. good book but hard to take, the detailed and gruesome descriptions of torture were over the top. Had to switch to the radio while listening to the book in the car a few times. it was a bit long, too much blood and guts, and very sad. Liked his other two books so much better.

Finished the Lewis Triology, 3 sequential mysteries set on or near Lewis Island, western Scotland. Good books, enjoyed them all. 3.The Chessmen, 1. The Blackhouse and 2. The Lewis Man. Written within the past few years. Good characters, interesting plots and very interesting to read about the islands. Had to go look them up on a map.


Another Scottish writter, James Oswald, the 5th in his series, Prayer for the Dead, inspector McLean, 2015. Good mystery, the series holds up well. Like his main character.

odd novel, good non-fiction and good mystery

10 04 by Ben Lerner, 2014. It is sort of plotless, but the thoughts and meanderings of the main character are intereseting nonetheless. Liked the book, not sure why. A good writer, his off-topic diversions are always interesting. Must find his other book.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed, 2012. Interesting book, she writes about her months on the trail, but jumps back to her life to try to figure it out. She's one tough person. A very interesting and thoughtful book. I liked it.

A Dark and Twisted Tide: Lacey Flint Series, Book 4, S J Bolton mystery, 2013. Good mystery. Like her characters and the plots are very convoluted and entertaining. Lacey Flint continues to get herself into all kinds of trouble, and barely gets out of it.

Good book

All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews, 2014. Excellent book. Heartbreaking book but she tells the story of a sister steam rolling to suicide with great insight and humour. Hard to get it out of my head. Loved the part about a friend's old dog, Shadow, who can no longer run. So the friend runs around to different parts of the yard while the dog sits and wags her tail on the porch. "Running for Shadow" she calls it. Brave book.

Good mysteries by Sharon Bolton, 4 of them. Just started the 3rd book. Intriguing protanganist, Lacey Flint, and unpredictable plots.
Now you see me

Dead Scared

Like This, Forever

Also, really enjoyed My Life In Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead. Good book, interesting thoughts about the characters and people now.

irritating book, good bokks

The Paying Guests, by Sarah Waters, 2014. Gave up half way through, after 10 hours of listening. Not a character that I was interested in or cared if bad things were going to happen. Way too long, way to aimless. Happy to have left it behind.

Really liking February, by Lisa Moore, will finish this one.

And started another interesting book, with lots of information about elephants woven into it. Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult, 2014. Am looking forward to continuing with this book.

books

Finished the final book of the Cazalet series by Elizabeth Jane Howard and really liked it. All Change written quite awhile later than the other 4 books. Sad to leave all those characters behind but she does wrap things up for them all.

Adrian McKinty, Sean Duffy series of 4 books is good. Mysteries set near Belfast in the early 1980's - not about the battles but they are ever present in each book.

Just finished the third book and have to wait for the 4th book which has not yet been published. Good plots, good characters.

books

A mystery that was forgettable. Maybe it was the voices of one of the readers but I think it was the book. The Farm, set in Sweden and London. Fell asleep for the most important final 45 minutes and have no desire to replay it and find out what happened. By Tom Rob Smith, 2014. It gets rave reviews, which I don't understand.

Abattoir Blues by Peter Robinson was very good. 2014, his latest DCI Alan Banks book. Makes one want to become a vegetarian though.


in the middle of The Cold Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty and like it. Good mystery writer, interesting setting historically and physically. Nov. 2013

Also started February by Lisa Moore and like it so far.

Am in the middle of My Life in Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead, 2014 but had to go back and read Middlemarch itself, so I'm in the middle of that too. Like both.

some knitting

Never get around to posting knitting. A few recent things.
Socks - love the yarn - from catterpillargreen yarns in Victoria. Love the colours and there is cashmere mixed in the with merino and nylon.

and hats, from handspun. The completed hat is mostlyl merino with a bit of BFL, it's my first attempt at cable plying and I liked it, for a hat. Pattern is Barley by tin can knits

next is a hat in progress made from Huckleberry Knits, BLF and silk. Lovely mixture of fibres, fun to spin and it was Navaho plyed. I like the weight of this 3 ply and like knitting with it. Pattern is Wurm