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Cloud Atlas (movie Tie-in Edition)

Cloud Atlas (movie Tie-in Edition)

David Mitchell

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I really liked this book & wonder now why I didn't read it years ago when it was nominated for the Booker prize, & I first read about it. I loved the intertwining stories. I am going to look out for both The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet &novels by Haruki Murakami. It is nice to find a good author, who is new to me.

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Finding Camlann

Finding Camlann

Sean Pidgeon

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This book was okay. It has a lot of elements I like - Arthurian legend, study of language and archeology. The research was impressive, but the story was entirely predictable. In fact, the title gives away the outcome. There was no real conflict and the story just proceeded as the main characters wanted it to.

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Bring Up The Bodies

Bring Up The Bodies

Hilary Mantel

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Once again I loved this novel of Thomas Cromwell's involvement in the politics of Henry VIII's court. Mantel show great knowledge of the time period and the main players in the events. Also she writes very well and deserves the two Mann Booker prizes. The book leaves the ending open to a sequel.

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Sleeping Funny

Sleeping Funny

Miranda Hill

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As Miranda is a former student, I am looking forward to reading the stories in her first book. I am really impressed with the breadth of her stories and the depth of her thinking. The stories are all quite different from one another and all very well written.

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Flight Behavior Lp: A Novel

Flight Behavior Lp: A Novel

Barbara Kingsolver

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I loved this book. It is lovely to watch the development of the main character Dellarobbia as she learns through science and the arrival of monarch butterflies in her valley what she really wants and needs in life.

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Essential Modern Classics/The Hobbit

Essential Modern Classics/The Hobbit

J.R.R. Tolkien

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I pulled out my 44-year-old copy of The Hobbit to re-read before I go to see the film. It would seem that Jackson has added characters from LOTR and expanded on details in order to make this little book into 3 films. I still love the story.

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1356

1356

Bernard Cornwell

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It's funny, since I don't particularly like warfare or strategy, that I enjoy Bernard Cornwell's novels. I particularly like the Thomas of Hookton series because I like Thomas' character.

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The Forgotten Affairs Of Youth: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel

The Forgotten Affairs Of Youth: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel

Alexander Mccall Smith

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A fairly typical Isabel Dalhousie book, except that she and Jamie finally get married. I can't wait for Charlie to grow up a bit, so he can be more like Bertie.

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The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao

The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao

Junot Diaz

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This book should come with a warning that a working knowledge of Spanish is essential to understand the text. Overall it is good, even though it is a sad story & I learned a lot about DR history, but I won't be reading Diaz's newest novel, which seems to be more of the same.

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When God Was A Rabbit

When God Was A Rabbit

Sarah Winman

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This is a birthday gift from my friend Marilyn. The opening seems delightful. However, it also contains unpleasant incidents right from the start too. The story is divided between Elly's childhood experiences and events occurring when she is in her 20s. It has some very nice moments.

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Mission Song: Novel

Mission Song: Novel

LE CARRE JOHN

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I have had this book for several years. It relates to Heart of Darkness, which I enjoy and taught often. I really liked the voice of the character Salvo, the expert on African languages, who finally meets the woman he should be with. At the end of the book, we hope that he returns to the Congo and happiness.

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Mr.Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore

Mr.Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore

Robin Sloan

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This book is a combination of up-to-the minute technical details and a secret society, like something out of Umberto Eco. I can really visualize Mr. Penumbra's store with the back section, which reminded me of the archives in Jose Santamago's All the Names. I love the San Francisco setting.

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The Prague Cemetery

The Prague Cemetery

Umberto Eco

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By the end I understood why Eco included the details that he did, but along the way I became tired of the constantly repeated propaganda against any of the targeted groups, such as Jews, Jesuits, etc. I was also tired of the whole conspiracy theory implication. The narrative style was interesting at points.

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The Light Between Oceans: A Novel

The Light Between Oceans: A Novel

ML Stedman

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I enjoyed this novel, although it didn't end the way that I thought it would. It shows the love that both birth & adoptive parents feel for a child & the problem of trying to transfer the child's love from one to another. It also shows the love that a man can feel for his wife and what lengths he would go to protect her.

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The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared

The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared

Jonas Jonasson

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I bought this book as much for its title as anything else. The cover says it is like Forrest Gump, but I also thought of Zelig, Being There and Lamb. I loved Jonasson's sense of humour and I am happy that Allen and his friends (both human and animal) got to end the story back in Bali.

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Sweet Tooth: A Novel

Sweet Tooth: A Novel

Ian Mcewan

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As usual I really enjoyed Ian McEwan's newest novel. It is clever and a wonderful depiction of a dedicated reader. It also involves MI5. I like the characters of Serena and Tom and I hope that they had a wonderful life together.

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The Magicians: A Novel

The Magicians: A Novel

Lev Grossman

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Although my friend's daughter had really liked this book, I found it rather sophomoric. It tries hard to prove that it is not Harry Potter by the use of foul language and gross descriptions, but it certainly isn't a better story of a magical school.

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A World Elsewhere

A World Elsewhere

Wayne Johnston

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My friend Marilyn recommended this book. I didn't find the wordplay as funny as some reviewers did. I wanted to like this book, and I certainly liked Landish and Deacon. However, I found the story bleak, especially Van and his belief that his money could let him do anything he wanted.

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The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry

The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry

Rachel Joyce

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I loved this book & the character of Harold Fry. He is a lonely man who is estranged from his wife & their only son He walks across the length of England in hopes of saving the life of an old colleague who was kind to him when he learns that she is dying of cancer. Harold's dilemma is one we all face in life.

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Rules Of Civility: A Novel

Rules Of Civility: A Novel

Amor Towles

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We follow the life of Katey Kontent throughout 1938 from New Year's Eve when she and her friend Eve meet the banker Tinker Gray. From there she goes from being a legal secretary living in a boarding house for women to a gossip magazine editor socializing with the wealthy denizens of Manhatten.

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A Conspiracy Of Friends: A Corduroy Mansions Novel

A Conspiracy Of Friends: A Corduroy Mansions Novel

Alexander Mccall Smith

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Perhaps because this book is part of an ongoing newspaper column, the ending seemed rather indefinite. Some things were resolved, such as Freddie coming home and Oedipus Snark becoming a good person. William seemingly becomes engaged to Marcia. However, other stories are left open for the next volume.

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Beautiful Ruins: A Novel

Beautiful Ruins: A Novel

Jess Walter

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I thought that I was reading a book about Italy in 1962, so I was jolted when the second chapter took place in contemporary Hollywood. This novel jumps to different places, time and characters, yet by the end they all connect. It was a terrific summer read.

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The Solitude Of Prime Numbers

The Solitude Of Prime Numbers

Paolo Giordano

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I liked the characters and the way the story mostly alternated between Mattia and Alice. Their story together was both meant to be, yet sad. I was not happy with the ending, although maybe it was inevitable.

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The Red House

The Red House

Mark Haddon

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Although it could never match ACIOTDITN, this is a well written book of two branches of a family coming together for a week in a holiday home in Wales. Stream-of-consciousness helps to get a real view on how the various family members see the world and how they change.

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A Nation Worth Ranting About: Rick Mercer Report From Across Canada

A Nation Worth Ranting About: Rick Mercer Report From Across Canada

Rick Mercer

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Shakespeare Wrote for Money

Shakespeare Wrote for Money

Nick Hornby

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This was a birthday gift from my friend Pauline.

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Wish You Were Here

Wish You Were Here

Graham Swift

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The Land Of Painted Caves: Earth's Children (book Six)

The Land Of Painted Caves: Earth's Children (book Six)

Jean M. Auel

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Ragnarok: The End Of The Gods

Ragnarok: The End Of The Gods

A.s. Byatt

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I started to read this novel, but I found the style to be unappealing.

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The Cat's Table

The Cat's Table

Michael Ondaatje

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Plan to finish. I liked this book, but got sidetracked, so I want to start over.

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How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe

How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe

Thomas Cahill

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Plan to finish. I liked what I began reading.

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The Journey Prize Stories 23

The Journey Prize Stories 23

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One of my former students won the Journey Prize for a story in this anthology.

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The Toss Of A Lemon

The Toss Of A Lemon

VISWANATHAN PADMA

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My friend Pauline saw Viswanathan speak at Blue Met a few years ago, and she thought that I would like this novel. I liked it at the beginning, but it was dragging in the middle, so I found something else to read.

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One Hundred Years of Solitude

One Hundred Years of Solitude

Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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I have decided to re-read this book after recommending it to a friend's daughter. Also when I read Galore by Michael Crummey in the spring, I thought of it as the Newfoundland One Hundred Years of Solitude, so I have wanted to revisit the original since then.

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Midnight's Children: A Novel

Midnight's Children: A Novel

Salman Rushdie

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I decided to re-read this novel after recommending it to a friend's daughter.

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Wolf Dreams

Wolf Dreams

KHADRA YASMINA

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I love The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra, so I am curious to see what this earlier novel is like. I found it hard to become interested in the main character and his situation, so this book went back on the shelf.

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The Last Woman

The Last Woman

John Bemrose

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John Bemrose grew up in Paris, Ontario as I did. This was a birthday gift from my nephew Garry and his girlfriend Christina.

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A Man About A Dog: 3,000 Fig Leaves of Speech

A Man About A Dog: 3,000 Fig Leaves of Speech

Nigel Rees

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The title was one of my father's phrases, so I was attracted to this compendium of euphemisms. I just like books about language and its origins.

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Making Light of Tragedy

Making Light of Tragedy

Jessica Grant

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I loved Come Thou Tortoise, so I purchased Grant's earlier book of short stories. The ones I read were fine, but were too detached to give the same joy as the novel.

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The Wreckage

The Wreckage

Michael Crummey

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What They Wanted

What They Wanted

Donna Morrissey

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I like Donna Morrissey's novels, and having been to the area where they are set, I will be able to imagine these outport villages more clearly. However, I found this book to be hard to read and stopped once the action got to Alberta. A tragedy was so heavily foreshadowed that I didn't want to get to that point.

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Dreams Of My Russian Summers: A Novel

Dreams Of My Russian Summers: A Novel

Andrei Makine

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This was a birthday gift from my friend, Pauline.

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Last Night In Twisted River

Last Night In Twisted River

IRVING JOHN

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This was a birthday gift from my friend, Marilyn.

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Guide To A Well-behaved Parrot

Guide To A Well-behaved Parrot

Mattie Sue Athan

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The White Tiger: A Novel

The White Tiger: A Novel

Aravind Adiga

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Ella Minnow Pea

Ella Minnow Pea

Mark Dunn

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I have wanted to read this book for a long time. The concept of eliminating letters is intriguing.

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The Origin Of Species

The Origin Of Species

Nino Ricci

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I enjoyed the novels that won last year's Giller and Canada Reads contest, so I would imagine that I will also enjoy this Governor-General's Award winner.

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Three Cups Of Tea: One Man's Mission To Promote Peace . . . One School At A Time

Three Cups Of Tea: One Man's Mission To Promote Peace . . . One School At A Time

Greg Mortenson

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This was a Christmas gift from my sister, Valerie. I have been reading it off and on. Mostly off though.

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7 shelves | 239 items on this shelf

This book should come with a warning that a working knowledge of Spanish is necessary to understand it. I certainly got the gist of the story, and I learned more than I needed to know about the Dominican dictator Trujillo. I am amazed since I had heard about Papa Doc Duvalier and his son Baby Doc in Haiti, but I had never known that the Dominican Republic had also been a dictatorship for much of the 20th Century. I have visited the country and obviously been totally ignorant of its history. … read review

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Reviewed:

I'm thinking of buying this book for my parrot

3 years ago
Reviewed: The Year Of The Flood | Margaret Atwood

I can't wait for the third book in this trilogy.

4 years ago
Reviewed: D'aulaires Book Of Greek Myths | Ingri D'aulaire

My Favourite Book when I was young

4 years ago

12 reviews

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Wendy Middleton

Most Helpful

I'm living in: Barrie
Rewards member
About Me:

I am now retired after teaching English in secondary schools for nearly 30 years. I love to travel and plan to get further afield now. My family moved from England before I was born. I still have relatives there and particularly love English literature.
Interests:

Books (of course), travel, knitting, my great nieces and great nephews, friends, films, theatre, good food, Coronation Street.
Favourite Books:

Pride and Prejudice, A Fine Balance, Family Matters, Barney's Version, Bel Canto, Middlesex, the Harry Potter series, To Kill a Mockingbird, Birds without Wings, Middlemarch
Favourite Movies:

Room with a View, Pride and Prejudice (the BBC series)
Favourite Music:

Paul Simon Paul McCartney Eric Clapton Bob Marley Great Big Sea
Favourite Author:

Jane Austen, Rohinton Mistry, Louis de Bernieres, Charles Dickens, Anne Tyler and many more
Favourite Quote:

To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness. Oscar Wilde
Favourite Websites:

imdb.com

Recent Activity

Wendy Middleton added Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead | Tom Stoppard to their shelf.
Wendy Middleton added Finding Camlann | Sean Pidgeon to their shelf.
Wendy Middleton added Essential Modern Classics/The Hobbit | J.R.R. Tolkien to their shelf.
Wendy Middleton added Flight Behavior Lp: A Novel | Barbara Kingsolver to their shelf.
Wendy Middleton added The Forgotten Affairs Of Youth: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel | Alexander Mccall Smith to their shelf.
Wendy Middleton edited the review I felt left out. about The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz.
Wendy Middleton wrote a review I felt left out. about The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz.
Wendy Middleton added The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao | Junot Diaz to their shelf.
Wendy Middleton added Cloud Atlas (movie Tie-in Edition) | David Mitchell to their shelf.
Wendy Middleton added Mr.Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore | Robin Sloan to their shelf.

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Notes

Joanna says:

Wendy thanks for your note; I have passed your congratulations on to Angie. You are right being chosen as one of the books for Canada Reads is great for sales; also Angie has her new Novel being released in Feb 2011 the same time as Canada reads debates

I know you liked Come Thou Tortoise and thought you might like the review Angie has posted on her website.
abdou.ca
Shanie [Raksha] says:

Thanks for the info about The Year of the Flood - just ordered it. I notice that some of us are not posting our reviews on the actual booksites - I am trying to do that first, then posting into the various groups. PS will be visiting Barrie shortly - grandkid wants me to go to 49North for his b'day present! I'll wave from the bus...Thanks again.
Joanna says:

Wendy; I just noticed that your interests include Knitting, I also knit. That is the other thing that I have to get busy on (trying to use up all the yarn I have bought. Although I'm an accountant not an English teacher; my daughter is an English Professor. She got her love of reading from me or at least that is what I think.
Joanna says:

Thanks for the friend invite. We do read a lot of the same books; I am looking forward to reading more of your book postings. Also who else did you see at he writers festival you attended recently.
Shanie [Raksha] says:

Wendy, did you take anthropology? I was course director for Peoples & Cultures, team taught with Marilyn Silverman, etc. There were a number of women who started up the 'fledgling' dept. - Francis Henry, Marilyn Silverman, Shelley Romalis, Carol (? I've forgotten her surname!) - all from McGill, Joan Rayfield (stellar in folk history). We had the highest number of women in York.
Shanie [Raksha] says:

Wendy - taught Anthro for 14 years, then joined NYBE Mod. Lang producing French Lang. teaching tools, then worked on the Transition Years planner for the Ministry. Now just a tech in the Library BUT am retiring again to go after my Masters in Library Science. I just don't want to STOP.
jes says:

The northern regions look very enticing - I entirely agree with you.

Have you seen a recent tourist advert? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQGMuxJ0vCc

"Sometimes we have to get lost to find ourselves" - very interesting....
Maggie61 says:

Although the expensive stuff is beautiful - I saw in the pattern book I recently bought a gorgeous hoodie for a child that would probably cost close to $100 to make - who does that? So they spill everything all over it, catch it on something, and has to be hand washed? I sometimes use more expensive for socks to make them warmer, same with scarves and once I did splurge on some Noro for an afghan, very beautiful, very warm, but I'm a little wary over where it goes!
Maggie61 says:

Do you have a decent yarn store up your way? I used to always use lower end yarns until one summer we were up in Huntsville and I discovered Noro yarns. Pretty expensive, but oh so lovely! I still use yarns from Mary, Spinrite in Listowel - (every August they have a fantastic tent sale), but I do like the higher end yarns too, so colourful and so much warmer since there's more wool. Last night it was scarf and sock yarn and couldn't they let us have more than 500 characters?
Maggie61 says:

You grew up in Paris, home of Mary Maxim! I am envious. This year world wide knit day is June 13th. It's maybe the 4th or 5th year. Around here, I had a choice of Guelph, Waterloo, New Hamburg and I picked New Hamburg since I like the yarn store there (just came from there - like I needed more yarn-but lots was 20% off!). We knit by the main street fountain, there was contests, draws, and lots of knitting. The website will have lots more information, the activities are different each area.

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10 notes

Lady Ethereal Butterfly has a new friend, Kevin Aranjo.
Joanna joined a group, 50 Books in 2013.
Bookworm created a group post, April Books.
Bookworm created a group post, April Books.
Betty in Smithers wrote a review Great interaction between all players, lots of suspense! about Murder Past Due by Miranda James.
Betty in Smithers wrote a review Exciting and Educational, heartily recommend about 10 Plants That Shook The World by Gillian Richardson.
Betty in Smithers wrote a review Anti-bullying colourful picture book children can relate to easily about Timmy the Fish: A Positive Anti-Bullying Message by Alicia C. Mattern.
Lady Ethereal Butterfly has a new friend, Elizabeth Curtin.
Joanna created a group post, #'s 11 to 20-- a few recomendations and some light reads.
Joanna created a group post, First 10 for 2013.
ChrisM added Last Weekend | Blake Morrison to their shelf.
ChrisM added April & Oliver | Tess Callahan to their shelf.
ChrisM added The Things A Brother Knows | Dana Reinhardt to their shelf.
ChrisM wrote a review well-written angst about April & Oliver by Tess Callahan.
ChrisM wrote a review brothers take a long walk about The Things A Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardt.
Bookworm created a group post, March Books.
Bookworm created a group post, March Books.
ChrisM created a group post, Five More....
ChrisM wrote a review this walk was too long for me... about The Long Walk Home: A Novel by Will North.
ChrisM wrote a review a beautiful story about family about See You At Harry's by Jo Knowles.

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Recommendations

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84, Charing Cross Road

84, Charing Cross Road

Helene Hanff

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Recommended for me

The Eyre Affair:

The Eyre Affair:

Jasper Fforde

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The Little Green Pea

The Little Green Pea

Alison Barber

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This is a great book for preschoolers --
How to Catch a Star

How to Catch a Star

Oliver Jeffers

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If you have a baby or know of one who is just beginning to read, this book is perfect. I picked it up when I was waiting in line and I absolutely adore it. It's cute, beautiful and very well written.
The Book Thief

The Book Thief

Markus Zusak

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Absolutely wonderful. A must read in one's lifetime! http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/The-Book-Thief-Markus-Zusak/978037584220-591535-Review.html
The Sky Is Everywhere

The Sky Is Everywhere

Jandy Nelson

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Absolutely wonderful! Loved it! Definite must read!! :D http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/The-Sky-Is-Everywhere-Jandy-Nelson/978080373495-589604-Review.html
The Iron King

The Iron King

Julie Kagawa

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I had my doubts about this one at first, but it has turned into my favourite faery book. Don't miss it! http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/The-Iron-King-Julie-Kagawa/978037321008-587295-Review.html
Becoming Jane Eyre: A Novel

Becoming Jane Eyre: A Novel

Sheila Kohler

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http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Becoming-Jane-Eyre-Sheila-Kohler/978014311597-576325-Review.html
Mental Floss Presents Condensed Knowledge: A Deliciously Irreverent Guide to Feeling Smart Again

Mental Floss Presents Condensed Knowledge: A Deliciously Irreverent Guide to Feeling Smart Again

Will Editors of Mental Floss

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Intelligent and quirky (a timeless combination), Condensed Knowledge gives you such tidbits as these: James Joyce wore five wristwatches on his arm; there is no lead in lead pencils; the largest known animal -- the blue whale -- has a vegetarian diet. For a daily dose of knowledge, visit http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/

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Top Ten Lists

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3 years ago
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5 years ago
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5 years ago
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4 top ten lists

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Groups

Coronation Street Fans (TV)

For those of us who follow the comings and goings of corrie street residents like they're close and personal friends.

24 members
English Lit Majors

Did you/do you major in English Lit? Let's compare notes. Share your school name, years attended and your top 3 life-changing curriculum reads.

17 members
The Summer Reading Bookclub

A group to discuss all of the books you will be reading and recommending to friends this summer!

98 members
Watch Us, We're British

A destination for Brit-Com lovers. Join the ranks of the 'best in class' for comedy with shows like Ab Fab, Red Dwarf, Black Adder, Are you Being Served?, Jeeves and Wooster, Coupling, Little Britain.

25 members
50 Books in 2013

Interested in trying to read 50 books this year? Post short reviews of each book as you read it- maybe it'll help someone else choose what to add to their list!

162 members