What are you reading in December 2016?

I'm still not getting any housework done, but I've done a lot of reading on my week of vacation from work. Today's was The Marco Effect by Jussi Adler-Olsen. This book is from one of my favourite Nordic crime writing series.

My bus commutes are being made thoroughly delightful with a Robertson Davies essay collection: Happy Alchemy. I love how enthusiastic a playgoer he is. Makes me want to go to the theatre more.

I'm reading The ConJoined by Jen Sookfong Lee. So far it's compelling.

I'm reading Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction by Philip E. Tetlock and Dan Gardner.

Just finished the first in Peter May's Lewis trilogy:The Blackhouse and I loved it. Already requested the second from our library.

Finished The Conjoined by Jen Sookfong Lee, which was very good. Now I have to decide whether I want to take an armchair journey to Iceland with The Blue Fox or Japan with Snow Country. It's been snowing here in the 'burbs of Vancouver, so I'm in the mood for a wintry read.

Yesterday I started Hag-Seed, by Margaret Atwood and am really liking it so far.

I just started The Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better Life comparing Nordic (mostly Finland) outcomes with health coverage, education, independence, work relationships, personal relationships etc. with the U.S. Okay I know this is a Canadian thread and I am Canadian but oh boy you can see that one system has got things WAY better figured out for independence, well being, happiness and love. It is a very interesting read. Where would Canada sit in this continuum?

This is a thread about what Canadian bookworms are reading...even if it's not a Canadian book, we want to know!

Thanks LynnB for the clarification.

I've read Haiku U: From Aristotle to Zola, 100 Great Books in 17 Syllables by David M. Bader, and now I'm reading Epic Wanderer: David Thompson and the Mapping of the Canadian West by D'Arcy Jenish.

I've been reading rather slowly lately. Really loved Kit's Law byDonna Morrisey and I hope to write up a review. She is fabulous Can Lit writer that I'd never read before.

Currently reading Knots and Crosses, the first in the Inspector Rebus series. I've wanted to read something Ian Rankin and so far, so good.

Just finished Fleshmarket Alley by Ian Rankin and it's one of the best Rebus books he's written. He is such a consistently good writer that it's always a pleasure to pick up one of his stories. Edinburgh comes alive in them.

I'm reading my latest ER book, Nine Island by Jane Alison.

Finished a so so crime fiction novel yesterday Pop Goes The Weasel by M.J. Arlidge. Back to snow shoveling now.

I'm reading The Break by Katherena Vermette.

Finished Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata, which was beautiful but deceptively difficult, and now on to A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood. So far it's excellent.

Trying to finish up Darwin's Voyage of the Beagle which I've been chipping away at for thirteen months now ... not the breezy travelling tale I was anticipating.

I'm reading The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth

I'm reading Sleep by Nino Ricci

I'm reading my ER book, Loving vs Virginia by Patricia Hruby Powell

>21 LynnB: How closely is that book tied to the new film on the subject? (Loving http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4669986/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)

I haven't seen the movie, but it's the same story. The one line I heard from the trailer is in the book.

I'm reading The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty for a book club.

I'm reading a very uninspiring YA book: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce for book club. Needless to say it was o my choice. Werewolf fiction is typically not my genre but when it's not particularly well-written either, well... let's just say it's really not my cup of tea.

Nearly finished yet another book by Ian Rankin, Hide and Seek. Enjoying the author very much!

Just finished A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood. Will go on my top 5 list for the year.

After extensive debate with myself on whether I would continue the series, I decided to go ahead and read The Long Way Home, by Louise Penny. (I loved how How the Light Gets In ended and felt like it was a really good culminating volume in the series.)

I really wanted to like this book as it featured many of my favourite themes: long held family secrets, mother-daughter relationships, strong women and even took place on British Columbia's south coast and involved orcas! But I didn't really ever take to it-the writing or the characters- and I was glad when it was all wound up and done. The Missing One by Lucy Atkins

Yesterday started the Alan Bradley new Flavia book Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'D. What a lot of fun our clever Flavia is having with her friendly bike and her interesting mysteries.

I'm reading The Girl's Guide to Homelessness by Brianna Karp.

I found the second book in this series at my library the other day and enjoyed it. Will now request the 1st book! Smoke and Mirrors by Elly Griffiths

Finished In the Winter Dark, an Australian literary thriller, and now rereading Pride and Prejudice over Christmas

I'm excited that my older daughter got me Vancouver in the Seventies: Photos from a Decade That Changed the City for Christmas

I've read Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart and am about to start Carol by Patricia Highsmith

Started The Nature of the Beast, by Louise Penny.

I'm reading Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa.

I'm reading Precious and Grace the latest installment for A. McCall Smith. Delightful!

I'm re-reading Bear by Marian Engel.

>33 Nickelini:. Wow! I would have loved to receive that book as a gift. I moved to the West End of Vancouver, just off Robson St, in the middle 1970's and could afford to rent a 1 bedroom apt while I was only earning minimum wage. Things have changed!

I just finished the last of her great Shetland series: Blue Lightning by Ann Cleeves. Sad, even though I was expecting the tragedy to happen...

>39 ted74ca: I moved to the West End of Vancouver, just off Robson St, in the middle 1970's and could afford to rent a 1 bedroom apt while I was only earning minimum wage. Things have changed!

Yes they have indeed! I lived in Beach Towers on English Bay in the late 80s and 90s -- the rent was reasonable, my one bedroom apartment was very tiny, and I was making substantially more than minimum wage, but I can't imagine what the rent is there now. And now new apartments are built even tinier. But the West End is such a great spot.

>39 ted74ca:,>41 Nickelini: My husband tells the story in 1967 he could have bought a big brownstone in Kitsilano for what wages he earned in the summer because his landlady wanted to sell it to him and she showed him her books of rental, within the house that would make it possible, but instead he went back to school and blew the money on tuition (Queen's). So we can relate!
Yes, things have changed.

I'm ending the year with The Bad Mother by Marguerite Andersen.

As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust / Alan Bradley
3.5 stars

In this “episode” of the series, Flavia is heading to Toronto, Canada, to the boarding school her mother once attended. Shortly after she arrives, she discovers a body stuffed up the chimney at the school. She also later learns that a few students had disappeared in the recent past.

I liked the new setting, not for being in Canada as much as for the fact that Flavia made some friends her own age!! I thought it was nice to see her interacting with girls her own age. Narrator of the audio, Jayne Entwhistle is still the perfect Flavia. I just wish I didn’t lose focus in the books as often as I do, which is why it’s not a 4 star book. It’s not the narrator and it’s not Flavia, as I love her character!