Back To It

Well, it's been over four months since I walked into Santiago de Compostela and almost four months since I landed back in Canada so I hardly feel I can announce, "I'm baack."  There are plenty of reasons -- nay, excuses -- why it's taken me until today to get back to this blog.  But that's all they are. Excuses.  Why is is that good habits are so hard to maintain but the bad ones creep up like ill-fitting underwear until they are once again a regular part of life?  Probably because the bad ones take no effort at all.  Not that I've been a total slug.  I've done some writing and some glass work.  And lots of walking.  Can't get that out of my system.  So I do have some Camino stories I want to share, but for today I'm gonna ease back into it and update my book list.  Here goes...

Promise Me - Harlan Coben:  I call this one a throwaway because I can't remember a damn thing about it.  Read it cover to cover on the trip over -- on the ferry, the bus, the plane, the train -- and left it in a hotel room in Bayonne.

Before I Go To Sleep - SJ Watson:  One of things I missed the most on the Camino was having a book to read.  Didn't want to add the weight.  So by the time I reached Santiago I was craving a book fix.  Not much selection for English books in Santiago and this looked as good as any.  Figured it out pretty quick.

The Ghost - Robert Harris:  I'd already seen the movie (The Ghostwriter) so kind of remembered the story.  But it's my kind of political thriller -- I understood the whole thing!

The Storyteller - Jodi Picoult:  I'm not a big fan of Picoult but this was an excellent story centred around the Holocaust.  One of the best surprise endings ever.  Didn't see it coming.

Longbourn - Jo Baker:  Think Carson and Mrs Padmore and Mrs Hughes from Downton Abbey.  A story of the downstairs folks from Pride and Prejudice, if you're into that sort of thing.  I'm not. 

The Fever - Megan Abbott:   Huge disappointment from every aspect.

To The Grave - Mike McIntyre:  Subtitled - Inside A Spectacular RCMP Sting. The infamous Mr Big scenario.

The Madman's Daughter - Megan Shepherd:  A YA novel and a bloody strange one at that.  Some very bizarro stuff here.  The first in a series.  I may read the next.

The Burning Room - Michael Connelly:  #19 in the Harry Bosch series. Connelly seldom disappoints and he didn't here.  

Face Off - editor David Baldacci:  Short stories.  Take the best in the crime writing biz and pit their detectives against each other.  The stories were hit and miss.  Picked it up because I wanted to read the Connelly vs Lehane story.  It was far from my favourite even though it's since been nominated for an Edgar award.

Miss O'Dell - Chris O'Dell:  For our December book club we read autobiographies.  This one read like an overly long People magazine article. Totally trashy exploits of a girl in the 60's who somehow got to work for bands like the Beatles and the Stones.  The only interesting part for me was her friendship with George Harrison.

The Secret Place - Tana French:  I'm a big French fan, but even though this book started out well, it was hugely disappointing in the end.  Not her best.

The Drop - Dennis Lehane:  A fairly short, simple offering.  I'm thinking it will be a better movie.

Sharp Objects - Gillian Flynn:  After loving Gone Girl, I decided to go back and read Flynn's previous work.  This was her first novel and I give it two thumbs up.  Loved her supremely flawed protagonist.

Revival - Stephen King:  Y'all know I love me some Steve.  Even when it's not the best thing he's written, I still love to read his words.  It's his voice.  No one can duplicate it.  Fair warning though -- this book probably has THE bleakest ending I've ever read.

Life After Life - Kate Atkinson:  The main character is born and dies repeatedly throughout the story.  Once you get your head around that, it's a fascinating read, albeit a tad tedious in one section.

As Chimney Sweepers Come To Dust - Alan Bradley:  #7 in the Flavia de Luce series.  Flavia is a great child protagonist -- ballsy enough to be entertaining without being precocious or annoying.

Dark Places - Gillian Flynn:  Another great read by Flynn, but she threw what I consider to be a curveball in the ending and that was a strikeout, not a hit, for me.

We Are Water - Wally Lamb:  I wanted to sit down and read this book cover to cover in one sitting.  I didn't, but I wanted to.  One of the better books I've picked up in a while.  And totally out of my genre, so that's saying something.

And there ya have it, all up to date.  Next up -- random shit from the Camino.