Ten Good Things on a Monday... in honour of 4th of July

I experienced my first Canada Day on Friday. Lots of red and white everywhere! And I'm aware that our new neighbours are celebrating 4th of July today, so in honour of the land of stars and stripes, my 10 good things are books relating to the US that I've enjoyed reading (and a few that are on my TBR pile - as always!)

1. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
Well, this year's 4th of July list has to have this one at the top. For those who have read it, you'll know why. For those that still have it sitting on their TBR pile, then move it up to number 1 spot. It's a great read!

2. Sons of Fortune, by Jeffrey Archer
I finished reading this one a little while ago (yet to review it sorry, but it's on my "to do" list!), and loved it. The story of twin boys, separated at birth, who both grow up in different families, different circles, but their political and business aspirations see them meet again in years to come. An absolutely, riveting story and so cleverly done by the master that is Jeffrey Archer. He had me hanging on until the last line!

3. Snow Falling on Cedars, by David Guterson
This was one of my first books of the year. Such a beautiful story, set during World War ll, and highlighting relationships between the Americans and the Japanese. It's also been made into a film which is just as incredible! Definitely on my favourite books of all time list!

4. The Chief, by David Nasaw
Husband and I first left NZ four years ago and to begin our OE (overseas experience) we flew to LA. First stop Disneyland, followed by a drive up Highway Number 1 in a convertible mustang to San Francisco. Yes, husband was in his element! But along the way we stopped off at Hearst Castle, an incredible architectural feat sitting atop the hills of San Simeon. The money poured into this Castle can only be described as grotesque, but the outcome left me breathless. I was instantly intrigued by media magnate, William Randolph Hearst, and as a result, this book The Chief: The Life of William Randolph Hearst, landed on my bookshelf. It can only be described as a riveting read! Meanwhile, check out Hearst Castle: http://www.hearstcastle.org

5. Cold Mountain, by Charles Frazier
I loved the movie but haven't read the book. It's sitting on my shelf though and having signed up for the Books To Movies challenge, I may just get around to reading it sooner rather than later. But has anyone else read this who can let me know what the book is like compared to the movie?

6. Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Doing these lists is dangerous - it brings home just how many books I have yet to read - and so many of them are classics!! This is one, having retrieved from the back of my shelf, that is now going firmly onto my TBR pile!

7. The Shipping News, by Annie Proulx
Speaking of classics - I haven't read this one either!

8. Tuesdays With Morrie, by Mitch Albom
This one brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. One of the best books I've ever read, and could just keep on rereading it over and over and over again. Definitely an all time favourite to be celebrated this 4th of July.

9. The Tea Rose, by Jennifer Donnelly
I'm a sucker for romance and history - and when it all come together in a wonderful historical fiction novel, then you can't beat it. The Tea Rose, by Jennifer Donnelly is the one book I simply can't stop recommending. Although it starts off in London there is certainly enough of the book set in the USA that warrants it being on this list. The same can be said for The Bronze Horseman trilogy, by Paullina Simons - love it!

10. The Colour Purple, by Alice Walker
I'm going to end my top 10 list for this Monday with yet another book I haven't read, but I will... honest!

And despite having a bookshelf full of unread books, and an ever increasing TBR pile - I'm always interested to know of any other American books that come with recommendations!!

Ten Good Things on a Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Nina and Argh. 

Ten Good Things on a Monday... all about Italy

I've just finished reading The Villa Girls, by Nicky Pellegrino. In fact, if I'm honest, I finished it in on day over the weekend, stopping only to devour an ice cream sundae, topped with hot caramel sauce - delicious! Rather fitting really when a main theme running through The Villa Girls was food - and Italian food at that!

So in honour of a book so good I couldn't put down, and a book with such a strong Italian link to it, this Monday's 10 good things looks at 10 books sitting on my bookshelf, under the category "Italy" - most of which I've read, and loved, and a few of which I've yet to read!

1. The Italian Wedding, by Nicky Pellegrino

Having just read The Villa Girls, another of Pellegrino's tops my list. The story of a wonderfully vibrant Italian family running the 'Little Italy' restaurant in London. However, if you've yet to read one of Nicky Pellegrino's books, start with The Villa Girls (even though this is her latest) and then go on to read The Italian Wedding.


2. Summer at the Villa Rosa, by Nicky Pellegrino
Yes, she's fast become a favourite author of mine and this one is a goodie too. It's the story of Raffaella Moretti who is the new housekeeper at the Villa Rosa in Triento, but as the new housekeeper she's also the new person in town and quickly becomes at the centre of a conflict - and you can imagine what an Italian conflict is like! (NB: This book also goes under the name The Gypsy Tearoom)


3. The Food of Love, by Anthony Capella
This is one of my absolute favourites. Two Italian men out to impress a girl - one can cook, the other cannot! Check out my review here. 


4. Silk, by Alessandro Baricco
This is a beautiful book that I can only describe as being rather sensuous. It's been translated from the Italian and is the story of Herve Joncour, a silk trader who travels to Japan to smuggle out silkworms, and embarks on a secret affair along the way. It is beautifully written and only 100 pages so won't take you long! Perfect to read while sipping a glass of delicious Italian red!


5. The Glassblower f Murano, by Marina Fiorato
I was absolutely captivated by this book, but then it was set in Venice so the setting is romantic to begin with! It's the story of Nora Manin who escapes London to go soul searching in Venice and traces her family history of glassblowing back to the time of the Renaissance, when the greatest glassblower of Italy, Corradino Manin, sells his method - and his soul - to the French King Louis XIV.


6. The Snack Thief, by Andrea Camilleri
This is a great little mystery - one of the Inspector Montalbano series. I think it's the Italian equivalent of The Number One Ladies Detective Agency and is just as much fun. I've also got The Scent of the Night, sitting on my bookshelf to be read too!


7. Miss Garnet's Angel, by Salley Vickers
I bought this when we were heading on holiday to Venice but have yet to get around to reading it. I've been told it's really good but it's yet to make it onto my TBR pile. Any more info on it would be gratefully received!!


8. The Bridge of Sighs, by Richard Russo
In fact, I bought this one too and have yet to read it. Ditto number 9


9. The Floating Book, by Michelle Lovric
Although, one of the great things about writing a list like this for such a meme is that you rediscover books long since forgotten on your bookshelf! This is another one set in Venice, 1468. Sosia Simeon, a free-spirited sensualist, is the love or many men in the fabled city, though married to one she despises.... oh this is sounding good already!


10. Eat, Love, Pray, by Elizabeth Gilbert
And yes I do have this one sitting on my "Italy" shelf as well, but I haven't managed to get past page 6. She came across as too self-centered for me and I've failed to watch and enjoy the movie either, despite Julia Roberts being a favourite actress. Not sure why I have this aversion to this bestseller!


Ten Good Things on a Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Nina and Argh. 

Ten Good Things on a Monday... double trouble

One of the (many) challenges I have signed up to is "A 2nds challenge" - to read either a second book in a series, or a second book by an author I've read before. I've opted for the latter, seeing as I've also signed up to the "1st in a series" challenge and lets just say, I haven't made much progress.


Both of these challenges are hosted by  A Few More Pages, and they've given me an idea for my Monday list this week. To take a look at my bookshelf to see what authors I have two or more books from. I have a feeling I'm about to realise that I will have no excuse not to meet this challenge!


1. Jodie Picoult
I've got quite a collection here: My Sisters Keeper (of course!), Handle With Care, 19 Minutes, The Tenth Circle, Songs of the Humpback Whale...


2. Lesley Pearse
I'm a huge Lesley Pearse fan, so much so that even if I've read one of her books, I'd still go out and buy it just to have on my bookshelf! Especially, Gypsy, Ellie, Trust Me and Never Look Back.


3. Linda Holeman
I hadn't realised I had multiple books by her on my shelf, until I read The Saffron Gate. I'm now going to try and get through The Linnet Bird as a book to add to this 2nds challenge.


4. Joanne Harris
I have a pile of hers sitting at the front of my shelf: Chocolate, Five Quarters of the Orange, Blackberry Wine, Coastliners.... and I haven't read a single one!


5. David Mitchell
Speaking of not having read a single book - I also have a David Mitchell collection: Cloud Atlas, Black Swan Green, Ghostwritten ... although these take quite some reading!


6. Alexander McCall Smith
This pile of books just keeps growing. It's a TBR pile all of its very own!


7. Nicky Pellegrino
I only had one of Nicky Pellegrino's books on my shelf, The Italian Wedding, then was very excited to see another one in the bookshop - which I duly bought of course. Only to get home and find I'd already read it. But what was that I was saying about buying a book just for the shelf?! I've since added another one to the collection, The Villa Girls, and can't wait to get stuck in!


8. Carolly Erickson
I first read a book by Carolly Erickson earlier this year, about the Secret Life of Josephine. Now I see her books everywhere, and better yet, they tend to come wit a bargain $2 sticker on them, so I'm fast adding to the collection: The Tsarina's Daughter, The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette, The Memoirs of Mary Queen of Scotts... now just to find the time to read them all!


9. Maeve Binchy
Maeve Binchy's books are a bit like a packet of ready made cake mix. You always have to have some in the cupboard - or in this case on the bookshelf - for those emergencies (or when you're feeling lazy!)


10. Jeffrey Archer
I've just started a collection of Jeffrey Archer novels. Husband is racing through them; I tend to get distracted by other books along the way, but so far on the shelf we have: First Among Equals, Sons of Fortune, The Fourth Estate, False Impression... although the one I'm really looking out for is Prison Diaries!

Ten Good Things on a Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Nina and Argh. 

Ten Good Things on a Monday... turning 30!

I'd tried to avoid it, but no such luck. The big 3-0 caught up with me over the weekend and the inevitable happened. I had to acknowledge that I was entering into my fourth decade. But after doing my best to ignore the occasion, upon being presented with my first present of the morning, things started to look up. So I thought my ten good things this Monday could be a look at some of the generous gifts that were bestowed upon me as I reached this significant milestone!

1. Books
My friends and family know me all too well. And one I'm very excited to read is The Villa Girls, by Nicky Pellegrino.

2. Chocolate
What was I saying about friends and family knowing me well?!

3. Lego
Little brother gave me three presents - once in recognition of every decade that (sadly) is now behind me. And to signify my first decade, I received a box of lego. There's always going to be a child in me I think!

4. Cath Kidston travel set
Wow! How spoilt was I. All the way from my beloved London came a beautiful Cath Kidston travel kit, complete with eye mask, pillow, toiletries bag and a carry on bag. What's more, I'm off on holiday tomorrow (which, by the way may mean blogging becomes a little irratic!) so I'll get to try it all out then. Very exciting!

5. Clothes
But not just any clothes. My wonderful and oh so clever ma-in-law screenprinted one of her doodles onto t-shirts for me! She really is brilliant!

6. Torch
It's great being a woman - you get such wonderful gifts, but every now and then you just want something practical. And my father delivered! Dads are good like that. But I am now equipped with a torch that shines the way 200m in front of me and is so bright that if you shine it into your eyes you'll be seeing stars for... well, a long time!

7. Pancakes
My hubby is a whizz in the kitchen and my birthday started with pancakes for breakfast... topped with bananas, maple syrup and cherry ice cream. Delicious!

9. Ice cream cake
And as if pancakes weren't enough - hubby also made me a birthday cake. An ice cream cake! Imagine a bottom layer of crushed digestive biscuits, a middle layer of neopolitan ice cream with mini marshmallows throughout, and a top layer of colourful smarties... is your mouth watering yet? Sorry, but I'm not sharing ;)


9. Artwork
Then hubby spoilt me some more with a beautiful piece of artwork I had been eyeing up for months. I may have dropped a few subtle hints but nevertheless....

10. Diamonds
And what's more, hubby gave me some diamond earrings that match my engagement ring.

I've decided that turning 30 ain't so bad after all!

Ten Good Things on a Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Nina and Argh. 

Ten Good Things on a Monday... the largest of them all

Some of the great stories are just a few pages long - think Alan Bennett's The Uncommon Reader (ok, so maybe it's more than 'just a few' pages long but what I'm trying to say here - rather early on a Monday morning I might add - is that some of the best things come in small packages).

But a bookshelf needs variety, and some great big books to make it complete. So here's my Top 10 for this week - the biggest books on my bookshelf! Whether or not I've read them is another story!

1. 2666, by Roberto Bolano

A total of 898 pages!

2. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

Well, there's no surprise there. A whopping 1436 pages in length and that includes the glossary!

3. Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts

936 pages - and I've read all of them!

4. London: The Biography, by Peter Ackroyd

820 pages and I got it for all of about £5. Bargain!

5. Consuelo & Alva, by Amanda MacKenzie Stewart

A story of two Vanderbilt women! Yet to read the almost 600 pages of this one, but it sounds very interesting!

6. War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy

Yep - it's on my bookshelf. All 1392 pages of it - and no, I haven't read it.. yet! If I make it through my challenge this year, it might well be the 111th book for 2011!

7. On a Grander Scale, by Lisa Jardine

Quite a fitting title for this600 page book on the career of Sir Christopher Wren, designer of St Paul's Cathedral!

8. An Utterly Impartial History of Britain, by John O'Farrell

Otherwise known as 2000 year of Upper Class Idiots in Charge! This is only 500 pages!

9. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Steig Larrson

The third book in the Millennium Trilogy - and all 600 pages were worth reading!

10. White Gardenia, by Belinda Alexandra

This 500-page book has been on my TBR pile for ages - I think I'm going to have to knock it off soon!

Dedicated to every person's compulsive list-writing. Ten Good Things on a Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Nina and Argh.

Ten Good Things on a Monday ... books on my "geek" shelf

My attempts at organising my bookshelves has seen the following categories emerge: books by country, books by author and... reference books. Yes, there is a geek in me who loves a dictionary, a reference book, and an encyclopaedic or atlas to be visible on the shelf.

So to bring the inner geek in me out on this last Monday in May, here's a list of what's on my "academic" bookshelf:

1. Oxford English Dictionary

And the matching thesaurus!

2. A Cheat's Guide to the Classics

35 of the world's greatest literary masterpieces from Pride & Prejudice to War & Peace in outline, providing the perfect way to get to grips with the greatest novels of all time - for those who have little time to read - or who already have an exhaustive TBR pile!

3. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

Yes - this is one enormous book!

4. Eats, Shoots & Leaves, by Lynne Truss

The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation - it's brilliant!

5. Mother Tongue, by Bill Bryson

An insight into how a language 'treated for centuries as the inadequate and second-rate tongue of peasants' has now become the undisputed global language (more people learn English in China than live in the USA)!

6. i before e (except after c), by Judy Parkinson

Old-school ways to remember stuff

7. Spilling the Beans on the Cat's Pyjamas, by Judy Parkinson

Popular expressions - what they mean and where we got them

8. Lost for Words, by John Humphrys

The mangling and manipulating of the English language

9. The Uncommon Reader, by Alan Bennet

Got to love this one!

10. A Butler's Guide to Table Manners, by Nicholas Clayton

This is a National Trust publication which I picked up in Buck Palace! Once I get around to reading this I will know the following:

 - how to address waiters

 - the correct way to eat oysters

 - which cutlery to use first

 - what is acceptable to eat with my fingers

 - what t do if someone chokes on a fishbone!

Ten Good Things on a Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Nina and Argh. 

Ten Good Things on a Monday...books about Europe

I have revealed before that my bookshelf (actually, that should be bookshelves plural!) is organized by country - well, for the most part it is. So I decided this Monday, having now been in Canada for four months (yikes! where does the time go?) that I would pay homage to the continent of Europe with all those magical sights, villages, history, cuisine, countries and cultures and list 10 of my favourite books about Europe.

1. The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly, Jean-Dominique Bauby
France: If you haven't already read this one - it's a must. Come back Friday - it'll be this week's favourite if you want to find out more, but in short, Bauby, the editor-in-chief of French Elle suffered a stroke that left him only able to communicate via the blink of an eye. The result - this incredible book!

2. Fame, Daniel Kehlmann
Germany: When it comes to Germany, my list of favourite books is endless: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, The Book Thief, The Reader... but for today I decided to include Fame, by Daniel Kehlmann. It's rather unusual. Not a selection of short stories as such, but each chapter is completely different in its own right, and could be a story in itself. Yet at the end of the book it all links up in a very clever way! I've never read anything like it, but hope I do again!

3. The Glassblower of Murano, Marina Fiorato
Italy: Set in Venice, 1681, includes everything Italian - passion, history, food, art... need I say more?!

4. The Island, Victoria Hislop
Greece: A perfect holiday read about a country I have yet to visit! Four years in the UK and I still didn't manage to get to Greece (unbelievable!)... although we did frequent an incredible Greek restaurant in our local London neighbourhood. But this book was a wonderful escape and certainly whet the appetite for a visit to the Greek islands!

5. The Return, Victoria Hislop
Spain: Not quite as good as The Island, but this was still a page turner, and a very interesting insight into Spain's civil war.

6. Portrait of a Turkish Family, Irfan Orga
Turkey: This country is certainly right up there on my list of favourites, as is this book. Check out my Friday favourite description... then rush out and buy it for yourself!

7. The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, Milan Kundera
Czech Republic: Kundera has written so many books about this intriguing country. The Unbearable Lightness of Being was my first introduction to him... now I have a healthy collection of books that make up my Czech Republic collection and they're all by Kundera... and for good reason!

8. A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, Marina Lewycka
Ukraine: How much fun was this book? Valentina, the glamorous, voluptuous, gold-digging blonde was a very entertaining character... as were the sagas the sisters found themselves in as they tried to persuade their widowed father to get out of his new marriage. With a tinge of sadness, this is certainly a book worth reading!

9. The Girl With A Pearl Earring, Tracy Chevalier
The Netherlands: This has been on my bookshelf for AGES and I've only recently read it. Not quite sure what took me so long - it's a fabulous story, so if it's on your TBR pile.... bring it to the top - fast!

10. A Winter Book, Tove Jansson
Sweden: As tempted as I was to mention The Millennium Trilogy here, I thought I'd add something different - and this certainly is! This is a collection of short stories - there's a winter selection and summer selection - and they're each so unique in their own right. A little weird, but also a lot wonderful!

Ten Good Things on a Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Nina and Argh. 

Life has come to a standstill...10 good things on a Monday

Life has come to a standstill around here. It happened on Friday afternoon... the dishes started piling up, the washing machine started overflowing, and the vacuum cleaner is itself gathering dust - and I'm blaming books.

Well, one book to be precise. My newly ordered, copy of The Help, by Kathryn Stockett arrived in the mailbox and I have been completely unaware of the real world ever since. I am completely and utterly hooked!

And it has since given me my topic for this week's '10 good things on a Monday'. What other books have had the same effect? Most of them have been listed in my Friday Favourites, but when they make this much of an impact, then they deserve to be listed once again!

1. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
I'd heard great things and seen the movie trailer for it... and all I can say is I'M LOVIN IT!

2. The Tea Rose, by Jennifer Donnelly
I literally didn't get out of bed while reading this one.

3. The Winter Rose, by Jennifer Donnelly
She did it again. This time round I was the most uncommunicative of flatmates... but it was worth it. All I can say is.. what happens when The Wild Rose finally comes out?!

4. The Bronze Horseman, by Paullina Simmons
I was riveted. Sadly the second two didn't hold my attention quite the same.

5. Q&A, by Vikas Swarup
The story behind Slumdog Millionaire. I was holiday in Cuba with friends and don't think I spoke to them for the day!

6. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, by John Boyne
Not only did time stand still while I was reading this, it took me a few days to recover!

7. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
Need I say more?

8. The Red Scarf, by Kate Furnivall
What's more, it had the same effect on my brother

9. My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult
Hooked me right until the end!

10. Any Jackie Collins
Now there's a weakness of mine!

Ten Good Things on a Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Nina and Argh. 

10 good things on a Monday... treasures on a forgotten shelf

It's amazing what a spot of housework can uncover. I came across a whole shelf of books I had completely forgotten I had. This may not seem possible, but here's why - I have so many books, that I have two rows of books on most of my shelves. This means, the back row don't get the attention they deserve, and the back row of the very bottom shelf, certainly gets forgotten about. Which is where I found these treasures...

1.The Finkler Question

This book has travelled from NZ to London, courtesy of a visiting Uncle, and is now here in my Canadian abode.It seems a bit unfair that after covering all those miles it is being left to gather dust.

2. Tender Morsels

I don't recall when this made it onto my bookshelf, but I picked it up out of a book bin at work. Any recommendations as to whether this should go immediately onto my TBR pile - greatly received.

3. Devil in Disguise

Now this one's a mystery. How it came to be on my shelf I have absolutely no idea. But I've just taken a sneak peak at the opening paragraph and it sounds great!

A few snippets from the opening par: "Molly carefully painted her nails blood red, three vivid stripes on each neat oval to make a flawless finish. As the polish hardened, she gazed down admiringly at her hands.... A pity, really, that her role required her to wear gloves."

4. The Chapel at the Edge of the World

After blowing all the dust off, I'm not sure I can resist this cover much longer!

5. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time

Now this is one book that I have read - and absolutely loved!

6. Everything is Illuminated

Up until now this one has been sitting in our guest room. I love to put a few weird and wonderful books on the shelves for guests to browse through. Maybe I'll move into the guest room so I can do the same!

7. One Big Damn Puzzler

Yep - how I came to acquire this one is sure puzzling me, but that cover is just too irresistible so that must have been the reason! I'm a sucker for great covers!

Then there are these:

Perhaps next time, I'll just ditch the housework and read instead!

Ten Good Things on a Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Nina and Argh.