The Classics - My Current Top Ten List

Before I make a Top Ten List of  my favourite 'Classics', you have to realise that my acquaintance with said Classics is a relatively new thing. I did take a Classic Literature course at university in which we read such books as James Joyce's Ulysses (I never finished it), D.H. Lawrence's Women in Love (I don't think I finished it), Henry James' Portrait of a Lady (I don't think I finished it), etc. I think you see a theme here. In High school, we took Wuthering Heights and in my French Literature class, we looked at books by Moliere (The Misanthrope) and Gustave Flaubert (Madame Bovary) and I generally didn't enjoy the experiences. I do remember back in Grade 9 or 10 reading Charles Dickens Pickwick Papers (written in 1836) and enjoying very much. So there was at least on success in my experiences.

Now also having said the above, I have enjoyed many movies based on the classics; Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet (of course, it starred Olivia Hussey), the musical Oliver based on Dickens' Oliver Twist and others. So I will readily admit, I'm not adverse to a good movie adaptation of a classic.

Now since I've been married to Jo, my film and other experiences related to the Classics has increased exponentially (a lot). I've enjoyed many of the PBS classic series that were adapted from Classic novels, such as the Jane Austen series, Poldark, The Ladies' Paradise, etc. We've also talked about her favourites. I've sat with her in our den as she's listened to radio adaptations of other books, such as Daniel Deronda. It's made me more interested in taking out some of the books and giving them a try and I think, over the past 3 or 4 years, my Classic experience has been pretty good and overall, I've enjoyed it very much.

I think my first attempt was when Jo and I watched The Jane Austen Book Club. In the movie, one of the lady's from the book club is challenged by her boyfriend; he will read Pride and Prejudice if she attempts his favourite SciFi novel, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula LeGuin. Well, since that is one of my favourite SciFi novels and since Jo loves the books of Jane Austen, I challenged her. I did indeed finish Pride and Prejudice (and I see that in my Goodreads scoring, I gave it a three star rating. To be fair, it was my first attempt in many years and I think if I read it again now, I would rate it much higher). Like the movie, Jo did not attempt The Left Hand of Darkness.

But all of the above factors, plus my various reading challenges in Goodreads did make me more interested in exploring the Classic genre. For the past 3 or 4 years, I've done so and it's been a pleasant experience. Before I get into a top ten list, what do I mean when I say a Classic? Firstly, if it was published before 1900, it's a classic; it might be crap, but it's a classic, just for its age. Secondly, I tend to look at a number of authors and books, especially those that were included in my English course, even if published in the early 1900's as classics. Authors like D.H. Lawrence, E.M. Forster, Somerset Maugham, etc.

Maybe my current Top Ten List might give you some ideas. Recognise that this is a Top Ten List based on probably reading 12 - 15 'Classics' over the past few years. But it's a start.

10. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (originally published in 1886) - I read this in Oct 2011 and gave it 4 stars. "I'd never read before and can't say that I actually have ever seen the movie from beginning to end. So I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the story and how smoothly it flowed. It was a very quick read and held my attention. I was surprised that the story was actually told for the most part from the perspective of Mr. Utterson, a friend of Dr Jekyll, and that Jekyll and Hyde for that matter for the most part are somewhat peripheral to the story; until the end anyway. On the whole, a very enjoyable story and I highly recommend if you've never read before."

9. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins (originally published in 1868) - I read this in Feb of this year and gave it 4 stars) "This was a bit of a slow read for me at times, but I did let myself get distracted with some of my other books. However, having said that, I enjoyed this book very much. I liked how Collins laid out the mystery; letting various characters provide their inputs to the events to help present the whole story. I enjoyed the characters; Betteridge the butler (the first narrator) and how he used the Robinson Crusoe story to provide him guidance on the goings on; Ezra Jennings, Dr Candy's assistant and an outcast for his strange appearance, but at the same time, a gentle, caring soul, who comes up with a unique solution to working out the mystery; the Scotland Sgt Cuff, droll, caught up with roses, but a sharp mind. As the story progressed, I did have the workings of a solution, but still enjoyed following through with it. I liked Collins' style of writing, finding it very accessible. Was the story too long? I thought it might have been at the beginning, but I think originally it was presented as a serial to magazines, so for that reason, it makes sense. And anyway, as the story progressed, the tension and pace, quickened perceptibly. All in all, it was an excellent story and I'm glad that I've started reading some of these classics over the past few years. It's allowed me to discover the wonders of story - telling from the past century. Highly recommended. I will check out Collins' other stories."

8. A Room with a View by E.M. Forster (originally published in 1904) - I read this in Jan of 2014 and gave it 4 stars. "This isn't normally a book in my comfort zone as, of late, I do prefer mysteries and SciFi, but it's the second E.M. Forster book I've read in the past couple of years and I do enjoy his writing style. The story flows very nicely and I like how it developed and how the characters interacted. I've never seen the various movie versions from beginning to end, just snatches but as I discussed with my wife, it seems they were very faithful to the book. It is a classic and I liked the ending, it was most satisfying. Overall, I'm glad I took a chance and dove in."

7. The Ladies' Paradise by Emile Zola (originally published in 1883 as Au Bonheur des Dames) -  I read this Jul 2014 and gave it 4 stars. "I decided to read this because of the BBC TV series, The Paradise, which was based on Zola's book. At its core, it is the story of the development of the major department store (set in Paris) and its impact on the people of the city and especially those whose smaller shops surround The Ladies' Paradise and are threatened by its very success. The story focuses on Octave Mouret, whose vision and enterprise make the Paradise what it is, and on Denise Baudu, who arrives in Paris to live with her uncle (owning the shop across the road), along with her two brothers. Denise has nothing and finds that she must find work elsewhere as her uncle's shop can't support her. So begins her career, off and on, at The Ladies' Paradise, as a shop clerk. Fascinating story, the development and success of the store, Mouret's developing love for Denise, Denise's troubles within the store and with her family. The very impact of The Ladies' Paradise, based on actual stores that developed during the 1800's, on the city is also very interesting. At times it's a very depressing story, especially as the negative impact on the surrounding shops grows and grows, but it also portrays an interesting picture of the times, the culture.. Most enjoyable. There are other books by Zola that make this a series, if I read his biography correctly, with The Ladies' Paradise being the second book. I may have to try and find the others."

6. The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham (originally published in 1919) - I read this Jun 2015 and gave it a 5 - star rating. "Such an excellent story! My first experience with Somerset Maugham was The Razor's Edge, a book I had great difficulty putting down. The Moon and Sixpence is my second experience and I found this story much the same. It is based somewhat on the life of Paul Gauguin and follows one Charles Strickland, a London businessman, who in his '40s decides to leave his family, move to Paris and become a painter. The author of the tale meets up with Strickland throughout his time in Paris and follows him ultimately to Tahiti, where Strickland has finally found out where he belongs and what he wants to paint. Strickland is not a likable character; he abandons his wife and children, ruins other lives during his travels. But there is something about him that draws the author in. Maugham is a wonderful story-teller, his style is clear and flows so wonderfully. He puts you in his story, you can picture the people and the locations. And the story is fascinating, a joy to read."

5. The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot (originally published in 1876) - I read this in May 2015 and gave it 5 stars. "Such an excellent classic. I read George Eliot's Daniel Deronda last year and loved her writing style. She writes with intelligence and emotion. The Mill on the Floss tells the story of Maggie Tulliver and her family; father and mother and brother Tom. Her father owns the mill of the title. It has been in his family for generations. Due to various bad financial dealings, a lost court case and debts, he loses the mill and ends up working for the lawyer, Wakem, who he had the court case against. Maggie is a beautiful, head strong girl, a difficult way to be in the time of this story. She loves Wakem's son, Phillip, a disabled young man, but due to her father's strong feelings against that family, they must meet in secret. There are many tragedies in this story, the family's bankruptcy, the father's illness as a result of losing the court case, his death, Maggie's tragic loves, etc. The story is told in seven sub-stories, as Maggie and Tom grow up. Tom is her brother, she loves him dearly and craves his returned love. It is his intransigence that keeps her and Phillip apart and leads to other tragedies. I liked many of the characters, especially Maggie's cousin, Lucy, who loves and cares for Maggie dearly. The story moves easily through Maggie's life and as you get used to the language of the day, and this isn't a hard prospect as Eliot writes so well, you will quickly get into the flow of the story. The ending left me feeling very sad and bereft, especially that it took this final event to bring brother and sister back together. Excellent story..."

4. The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham (originally published in 1944, definitely my latest Classic) - I read this in Mar 2013 and gave it 5 stars. "I'd never read any Somerset Maugham before and really had no desire to read anything by him either. However recently I saw The Razor's Edge in a antique/ collectibles shop and I liked the look of it. Since one of my Reading groups was reading Modern English Classics as this month's genre, I decided to read it. I must say that I was most pleasantly surprised. Maugham has a way about him of telling a story. His writing style is very fluid and eminently readable. The story was interesting, the dialogue flowed nicely and I found myself waiting anxiously to get back to the book when I put it down. Did a lot happen? It was a tale of people, specifically friends of Maugham's, as he is the narrator and a character, with whom he spends time and observes. I liked the characters and I liked Maugham as well. He's an observer of humanity and expresses his observations so very well. Anyway, I loved the story, it's one of my favourites of this year. Will I read any more of his books? Well I purchased The Moon and Sixpence yesterday, so I hope so.. "

3. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence (originally published in 1928) - I read this in Feb 2014 and gave it 5 stars. "Definitely a book out of my normal comfort zone, but such an excellent read. I had ideas about what to expect; a banned book, due to its rawness, explicit sexual language, etc. but I was surprised. It's a thoughtful story of a woman, living in a marriage with a broken man; physically broken from the war, but also emotionally broken. Constance loves Clifford Chatterley anyway, cares for him, comforts him, but finds her life to be stagnant, loveless, emotionless. She meets Oliver Mellors, an other ex-soldier who now works as the game keeper on the Chatterley estate and finds herself drawn to him. The story is about their developing relationship, both emotional and sexual. I expected the sex to be graphic, raw, but other than some language, it was crafted very lovingly, on the whole, very gently. The story itself is interesting, the characters as well and the interludes describing the countryside, the coal mining country are also well-crafted. An excellent story and I'm glad I finally pulled the book off my shelves to read."

2. Parade's End by Ford Madox Ford (Originally published from 1924 - 1928) - I read this May 2014 and gave it 5 stars. "This was a challenging, but ultimately, an enjoyable and interesting read. The book is made of four separate books, Some Do Not, No More Parades, A Man Could Stand Up and The Last Post. It is set in England and France, before, during and after WWI. It deals with Christopher Tietjens, his wife Sylvia and Valentine Wannop, a young woman who has captured Christopher's heart. Around these people are family members, Christopher's brother, Mark; friends, associates and many others. Christopher's relationship with his wife is bitter and harsh, she goes out of her way to destroy his life, even though she won't grant him a divorce. At the same time, Christopher has fallen in love with the young woman, Valentine, who he met as a result of his father's friendship with Valentine's mother. Amidst these personal issues is the war, life in the trenches, all these matters. The story is detailed, it takes time to get used to the flow of the story, but when you do, it is enthralling. The second and third books, which deal more with the War itself, I personally found the most interesting. Critics have said that there needn't have been a fourth book, that Christopher, himself, isn't really even present, but, ultimately, I found that it wrapped up so many of the unresolved issues very nicely. Definitely worth reading, if you want to try a classic."

1. Daniel Deronda by George Eliot (originally published in 1876) - I read this in Oct 2013 and gave it 5 stars. "Not my normal story at all; I do tend towards more light reading, thriller, adventure, but at times I do try to explore more challenging stories. This was definitely one of those. It's a true classic, well-written and intelligent. The story focuses on two main characters, Gwendolen Harleth, a selfish, young lady who thinks the world revolves around her and Daniel Deronda, a gentlemen searching for himself. This search has many aspects, the simple one being trying to ascertain who his parents are as he has grown up under the protection/ guidance of Sir Hugo Mallinger from his childhood. This also involves more internal searching, who is he, why does he think as he does. He is a caring individual, selflessly helping friends and strangers; his flighty school friend Hugo Meyrick, the lovely Jewess Mira and even Gwendolen. There is so much in this book, unspoken love, a brief study of what it is like to be Jewish in those times, death, romance, etc. I was very surprised how much I enjoyed the story and as I worked my way through the initial pages to get accustomed to the style of the time, it was published in 1876, I enjoyed it immensely. As much as Gwendolen irritated me to no end with her selfishness, at the same time, there was an inkling of sympathy for the plight she finds herself in (even if much of it is due to her own actions) and ultimately.. well, I won't go there. You can discover that for yourself. It's a heavy tome, but well worth reading. I'm very glad I did."

So there is my current Top Ten. I'm sure it will be adjusted as I explore the Classics more. I promised myself to read at least 4 this year. I'm currently enjoying Vanity Fair (1848) by William Thackeray and hope to read one more (my fourth) by December. I'm leaning toward one of Far from the Madding Crowd (1874) by Thomas Hardy, Can You Forgive Her (1865) by William Trollope or The Last of the Mohicans (1826) by James Fenimore Cooper. Of course, I do also have a few modern Classics on my list for my Fiction challenge, including After Leaving Mr. MacKenzie by Jean Rhys, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh and Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. So I hope to continue my enjoyable journey down these paths, along with my normal mystery and SciFi reading.

Rainy Fridays, Footie season and Sports books and movies

Rainy Days

Well, OK, that's not really the view outside my den window, but you get the idea. Much needed rain falling today and pretty steady too. Of course, that means a day indoors for the puppies and me, while the missus is downtown. Of course, that does provide me with the opportunity to spend some time on this Blog. I was wondering last night what I might right about today and a few thoughts wandered through my old head.

Coming up shortly will be Jo's and my 12th wedding anniversary. When I moved out to the West Coast I had no idea how my life would change in a very short time. Jo and I met on line, chatting on a Buffy the Vampire Slayer forum and became friends; she visited and next thing you know, we're married. It's been a fantastic 12 years from our wedding on Aug 30th, 2002. We've enjoyed our life here on the Coast, travelled a bit, bought and fixed up our home. Jo had to put up with me being deployed for 6 months and being transferred down island for two years until my retirement. But it's been a great time and I feel like I'm the luckiest man in the world. :0)



Wedding photo

 Coming up this weekend is the start up of the English Premiereship 2014/ 2015 footie season and tomorrow morning will find me and the dogs downstairs ensconced on the couch around 5 a.m. ready to watch the first games. Oddly enough, even though she's English, Jo will probably stay in bed and miss these games. hmmmmm and she's the one who got me hooked on it.. Ah well, not to worry.. My enjoyment of the wonderful game came about during Jo's first visit, spring of 2002, which also happened to be the time of the World Cup, hosted by Japan and Korea. Jo asked if I minded if she watched the England games and, of course, I didn't. The games being in Japan, it meant that live, they started here between 11 pm and 6 in the a.m. I took a couple of days off to stay up all night watching and my enjoyment just grew. So next thing I know, I've discovered that our Sportsnet TV station is broadcasting the Premiereship games and I'm now getting up early - bird hours on the weekends to watch those games.

I also discovered on line some Fantasy Football pools; no cost to enter, just a weekly pick of my players and finding out how many points they managed to get for me. With my love of lists, this has become a yearly endeavour for me. Over 2,000,000 people participate in this Fantasy football and I'm reasonably happy with how I do every year. I haven't a hope in hell of ever winning, but it's just fun playing. Checking out the site, I can see that I started in 2006. This is how I've managed to perform since then....

2006/07    1806 points    111854 ranking
2007/08    1867 points    418157 ranking
2008/09    1848 points    175254 ranking
2009/10    1844 points    867740 ranking
2010/11    2054 points      32936 ranking   (best ever score and ranking)
2011/12    1751 points  1,027,469 ranking
2012/13    1985 points    261,707 ranking
2013/14    2026 points    938,497 ranking

So the new season starts tomorrow.. This is the team I've got in place for the first games...

Team Name - BC Islanders

Goal

Tim Howard (Everton)

Spare - Julian Speroni (Crystal Palace)

Defenders -
Matthieu Debuchy (Arsenal)
Gary Cahill (Chelsea)
John Stones (Everton)

Spares - Steven Caulker (Queen's Park Rangers)
Joel Ward (Crystal Palace)

Midfielders

Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea)
Adam Johnson (Sunderland)
Ross Barkley (Everton)

Spare - Jason Puncheon (Crystal Palace)

Forwards

Diego daSilva Costa (Chelsea) (vice Captain)
Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) (Captain)
Rickie Lambert (Liverpool)

Starting off with a 3-5-3.. :).. My favourite Premiereship team has been Everton FC from the beginning, basically because, when I started watching, they were the only team with a Canadian player on it. Over time, I have come to admire their style. They are a team operating on a shoe string budget but who still manage to stay in the top ten and challenge for positions in Europe. Last season was one of their best in years, finishing fifth and they find themselves in the Europa League as well competing for trophies there. :)

Books on Footie

With my new found love, Jo, and my new attraction to all things footie and my massive enjoyment of reading anything I can get my hands on, Jo's family discovered that getting me books on footie made a lot of sense for Xmas prezzies. No complaints from me either. I've received some excellent books over the past few years and have enjoyed them very much. Here are a few examples.

1. Pointless by Jeff Connor. One of my personal favourites. It's the story of sports reporter, Jeff Connor, who took it upon himself to follow East Stirling, a team in the 4th division of the Scottish football league, the titled "Britain's Worst football team, around for a season. I enjoyed this immensely. Connor follows a team playing in a small football ground in Scotland, struggling to even stay in the 4th division (another futile season may see them relegated out of the football league into non-league football). Loved the people, the stories, the humour and since that time, when I check out the weekly football activity, I always check out East Stirling and see how they are doing. Just checking and they lost their first game of the season against Montrose 4-1. Come on East Stirling!!

2. Foul! The Secret World of FIFA by Andrew Jennings - The missus bought me this for Xmas in 2009 and almost ruined my enjoyment of footie with it.. ;0) A fascinating inside account of the wheelings and dealings with Footballs ruling body and the crooks that find themselves there. Reading about the possible scandals in awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar has just reinforced some of the interesting details found in this book. Luckily I still enjoy my day-to-day footie and watched this year's Brazil World Cup with much interest. Good book though.

3. Football's Greatest Heroes by Robert Galvin - An excellent book listing some of the greatest players Britain has ever produced from Dixie Dean through Stanley Matthews, Gary Lineker and Paul Gasgoigne to name just a few. I enjoyed reading this very much and often interrupted Jo's TV watching to tell her facts about another footie player. She loved it.. ;0)

Those are just a few of the excellent books. I've got biographies of Frank Lampard, Bobby Robson and Bill Shankly and a couple of books filled with interesting Football facts and stats; always an enjoyment for me.. More lists!!!

One book that I still have to read is My Father and Other Working Class Football Heroes. I received it a couple of years ago and this is the synopsis "A beautifully written and moving account of the author’s search for the man his father was, and the life he led as a well-known footballer at a time when the men who played the game, and those who watched it, led fundamentally the same lives together in the same communities."

Top Ten Sports Movies

I haven't made a Top Ten List for ages, I think my last was probably my Top Ten Horror films... *shudder*. Since I'm on the topic of Sports, I think a Top Ten Favourite Sports movies list would be appropriate. I've been checking out various lists of sports movies and there are so many excellent movies. I've tried to make a list that isn't strictly baseball movies, because I really could. The list below isn't perfect by any means, but it does include some of my favourite sports movies. As to making a movie a 'sports' movie, there are a couple that aren't about sports teams, but the theme is a sport I believe. Anyway, here you go -

10. Men With Brooms by Paul Gross (2002) - a truly Canadian sports movie starring Paul Gross, Leslie Nielson and Molly Parker. Fun stuff about the reunited of a local curling team as they try to deal with their personal demons and win the curling championships. Great stuff and one I could watch over and over.

9. Mystery, Alaska by Jay Roach (1999) - Another fun movie about a local Alaskan hockey team that issues a challenge to the New York Rangers and it becomes a televised game. The movie has a great cast, including Russell Crowe, Hank Azaria, Mary McCormack, Burt Reynolds and Colm Meany and is a feel-good hockey movie.

8.  Moneyball by Bennett Miller (2011) - The first of a few baseball movies on my list, stars Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill and is the story of Oakland Athletics manager, Billy Beane, and his introduction of a computer generated analysis into managing a baseball team and the teams run for a World Series title.

7. The Worlds' Fastest Indian by Roger Donaldson (2005) - Starring Anthony Hopkins as Burt Munro in a true story about this New Zealander and his years building a 1920 Indian motorcycle and his journey to Utah Bonneville Salt Flats to test his motorcycle and challenge the speed record. Excellent movie, touching and emotionally positive. Loved it.

6. The Blind Side by John Lee Hancock (2009) - Starring Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw and introducing Quinton Aaron, this is beautiful, positive true story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatised young boy who is taken in by a family, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy who adopt and raise him as one of their own. Oher ultimately becomes an All-American football player and is drafted by the Baltimore Ravens. Quinton Aaron is fantastic in his first major role and Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw also bring out the best in this wonderful film.

5.  Chariots of Fire by Hugh Hudson (1982) - A true classic starring Ben Cross and Ian Charleson as Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddel as two British sprinters competing in the 1924 Olympics in Paris. One a determined Jew trying to prove his place in Cambridge society and the other a devout Scottish missionary running because he knows it will please God. Beautifully filmed and covering many issues, it is well-deserving of its 1982 Best picture Oscar. Also a fantastic moving score by Vangelis, another Oscar winner. Wonderful movie.

4. Sea biscuit by Gary Ross (2004) - One of those movies that chokes me up just thinking about it. It stars Tobey McGuire, Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper and Elizabeth Banks and is the beautiful true story of a small Depression-era race horse, his owner, his trainer and his jockey. Moving, powerful and excellent, it won best picture in 2004.

3. Field of Dreams by Phil Alden Robinson (1989) - This also one of the missus' favourite movies. A movie I can watch over and over. One thing about Kevin Costner is that he does know how to star in a great baseball movie. The fantastic cast also includes Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, Burt Lancaster, Ray Liotta and many many more. Based on a baseball fantasy written by Canadian W.P. Kinsella, it's a story of an Iowa farmer who hears voices telling him to build a baseball diamond in his cornfields. It features one of the most iconic movie lines ever, "If you build it, he will come". And he, Shoeless Joe Jackson, does and brings along many of his baseball friends.. Excellent!!

2. Hoosiers by David Anspaugh (1986) - A simple story starring Gene Hackman as a former disgraced basketball coach who turns up at a small college in Indiana and tries to mold a team into a NCAA championship team, along the way finding out things about himself and life. Excellent supporting cast of Barbara Hershey and Dennis Hopper, who turns in a tour-de-force as an ex-drunken basketball coach who finds his way when the pressure is on. A beautiful, emotional movie that is must-see and can be watched over and over.. At least I have..  :0)

1. A League of Their Own by Penny Marshall (1992) - One of my all-time favourite movies about the Women's professional baseball league formed during WWII while the men's professional league was shut down due to the men being off fighting the war. It's a great movie in so many ways, funny, powerful, emotional, a great sports movie, a great cast; Tom Hanks as the coach of one of the teams,Geena Davis in her best movie, Madonna in her best movie, Rosie O'Donnell, Lori Petty and so many others. One of those great movies that comes along once in awhile and makes me laugh and cry no matter how many times I see it.. Must see!!!

So there you have it, my ten favourite sports movies. There are so many great movies that I didn't mention, well, until now that is, but all deserve a look. Make sure you also check out - in baseball, The Rookie, Bull Durham, For the Love of the Game, Eight Men Out, Major Leagues, etc'; Football - The Longest Yard, We are Marshall; Footie - Goal, Bend it Like Beckham,. The Damned United; miscellaneous, Rocky, Dodgeball, Phar Lap, The Karate Kid, etc..

Now I've got to get something to eat, passing out with hunger here. :0).. Have a great weekend!

Top Ten Lists - The Classics

It's a hot summer day, 25 degrees Celsius, according to the thermometer on my computer. The dogs are sprawled in the living room, panting and I'm braving the stuffiness in the computer room for an hour to write this. Brave man that I am.. :) Spent an hour watering the plants out front this morning, after dropping the missus off downtown and also laid some river rock around the BBQ. Will have Jo check that out when she comes home later on. I still have one bag left to play with. Enjoyed the coolish breeze for a little while, sitting in my lawn chair on the deck while reading Jo Nesbo's Nemesis.

So now I'm ensconced in the den, listening to Ken Bruce on BBC2 and thinking about classics. I will readily admit that my exposure to the classics (what exactly does that mean anyway?) is probably quite limited. In high school, I hated having to read Wuthering Heights  The Catcher in the Rye, amongst others. In university, I took a Classic Fiction course in my 3rd or 4th year and it included books such as Madame Bovary, James Joyce's Ulysses, Sons and Lovers and so many others. But at that time, I was more interested in my Science Fiction course and partying. In the past few years, however, I've been trying to expand my exposure to the classics and maybe it's a sign of my increased maturity (ha ha), but I'm enjoying them so very much for the most part.

So on that short note, I'm providing my current list of Top Ten Classics. Some of these books are in the late to mid-1900's but I still think they qualify as classics, for my definition, I think they have to stand the test of time; in that, no matter when they were written, people will still find them excellent stories and interesting to read. I will qualify this list by saying once again, my exposure is probably quite limited; I've read only one Jane Austen and have yet to brave Wuthering Heights again.. But at least it might be a discussion point and give you a few books you might like to check out. I hope in the next few years to be able to build on this list and expand to a Top 20 even.

So hear goes... for your viewing pleasure and maybe your agreement / disagreement with one or two. :0)

Top Ten Classics

10. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (1929) - I've read this book a couple of times, once as Book Club edition, which included a number of Hammett's hard boiled mystery classics; Red Harvest, The Thin Man and The Maltese Falcon, amongst others. I found this edition, published in 1972 by Vintage Books at the Comox Valley Book Fair in March 2012. Lovely paperback edition it is. I read it again August of last year and enjoyed it just as much. It is definitely a classic in the mystery genre and set the stage for so many more of the hard-boiled detective stories. It was also an excellent movie starring Humphrey Bogart and a cast of other luminaries, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, etc. Excellent story and well - worth reading. This was my most recent review..

"I've read before and was very happy to enjoy as much again this time. Dashiell Hammett has produced an excellent example of a hard-boiled mystery and Sam Spade is the penultimate gumshoe, staying one step ahead of trouble and playing off the baddies against each other. It's a classic mystery, turned into an excellent movie by John Huston, one of Humphrey Bogart's best movies. A great cast of characters, from Brigid O'Shaugnessy to Joel Cairo and Kasper Gutman, through his faithful, lovely secretary, Effie Perine. A story that everyone should read and marvel about."

9. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John Le Carre (1963) - This is the third book from John Le Carre that features his intrepid spy, George Smiley and who became so very famous with the later trilogy; Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Honourable Schoolboy and Smiley's People. I have read at least one of the earlier books, but this is the one for me. I found this edition, published in 1980 by Pan Books at the same book fair, just a year earlier. I've found many excellent books at the twice annual fair, sponsored by the local Rotary Club and always enjoy myself wandering through the book stalls. Anyway, this is a classic of the Cold War spy novel and was made into an excellent movie starring Richard Burton as main character Alex Leamas. This is my review of this novel. -

"Fantastic story. A classic spy novel, classic Le Carre story. His third novel, after  Call for the Dead and a A Murder of Quality, it features tired spy, Alec Leamas, the British Secret Services Berlin organiser, who is called home for a special mission. I won't get into too many details as there are so many interesting surprises throughout the story, that I wouldn't want to ruin the story. There is a brief role for Le Carre's most famous spy, George Smiley, but the story revolves mostly around Leamas. The spy craft is interesting, the plot twisting, the story fascinating and one you will have difficulty putting down. An excellent story for those who enjoy spy dramas and also a nicely historical feel for the cold war between the West and East.. Great stuff.. "

8. The Chrysalids by John Wyndham (1955) - This is by one of my favourite Science Fiction writers and one that should be read many times. Having said that, I could easily have picked another of his classics, The Day of the Triffids. I've chosen this one as I like the themes of genetic mutation and the consequences of post-apocalyptic disasters. This is a book I wish someone would turn in to a movie or BBC mini-series as I believe, if developed caringly, could become a classic. It's a book I must reread as it's been too long since the last time. This edition was published by Penguin Classics in 1974 and I've had since my university days. This is the synopsis on the back -

"A world paralysed by genetic mutation. John Wyndham takes the reader into the anguished heart of a community where the chances of breeding true are less than fifty per cent and where deviations are rooted out and destroyed as offences and abominations."

Lovingly written, powerful youngsters as characters, fascinating story.

7. On the Beach by Nevil Shute (1957) - For some reason, a few of my 'classics' are from the Science Fiction genre. I found this edition, published by Ballantine Books in 1977, at Books on View in Victoria, BC in 2008. It's a book I've read so many times and I never tire of it, still find it poignant and so lovingly written each and every time. I've been expanding my reading of Nevil Shute's writings and I have to say he would definitely be in my top ten authors (ohhhhh, I see another list coming) of all-time. He writes simply but his stories evoke so many emotions in me. Check out Pied Piper or The Far Country for other examples. This is another of those post-apocalyptic novels, with the people of the Southern Hemisphere basically waiting for the end of the world and dealing with the consequences of a nuclear World War. Such dramatic consequences but told in such a manner that you actually want to be with these last survivors, who deal with such class and sensitivity. At least two movies have been made of the novel, the earliest I think was the best. Must read classic.. And here is my latest review -

"One of my top ten favourite books. I've read it so many times and also seen the movie with Gregory Peck a few times. So low key, yet it's the end of the world. US submarine in Australia, trying to see if there is any life in the Northern hemisphere. Life in Australia as the end draws near. US submarine makes final voyage to US.
Truly fantastic story.
Having read this again, it's still a great story, what a powerful lesson to teach mankind. So depressing, ultimately, but told with class."

6. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence (1928) - I have to say that I was so very surprised by this book. I read as part of one of my book group challenges this year, that being to read a book in the Erotic genre. Of course, this was the book I chose and I was pleasantly surprised to find this was so much more than that. Well-written, great characters, especially Lady Chatterley, and an excellent story. I found this particular edition, published by Vintage Books in 2011, at The Laughing Oyster book store in Courtenay, BC and it did shock the missus a bit.. ;0). So here is my review..

"Definitely a book out of my normal comfort zone, but such an excellent read. I had ideas about what to expect; a banned book, due to its rawness, explicit sexual language, but I was surprised. It's a thoughtful story of a woman, living in a marriage with a broken man; physically broken from the war, but also emotionally broken. Constance loves Clifford Chatterley anyway, cares for him, comforts him, but finds her life to be stagnant, loveless, emotionless. She meets Oliver Mellors, an other ex-soldier who now works as the game keeper on the Chatterley estate and finds herself drawn to him. The story is about their developing relationship, both emotional and sexual. I expected the sex to be graphic, raw, but other than some language, it was crafted very lovingly, very gently on the whole. The story itself is interesting, the characters as well and the interludes describing the countryside, coal mining country are also well-crafted. An excellent story and I'm glad I finally pulled the book off my shelves to read."

5. The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham (1944) - I found this novel while wandering around Kingston Ontario with the missus back in 2013. It wasn't a book store per se, rather a collectibles store that was unfortunately in the process of closing down. The store was Turks and had many interesting items. This edition is a hard back published by Blakiston Company in 1945 and my copy actually looks very much like that, right down to the little tears in the jacket. Anyway, I started reading the book while Jo and I were attending the World Figure Skating championships in London Ontario and found that I couldn't put it down. What a fascinating story, so simply written but so thoughtful and excellent. This is my review at the time

"I'd never read any Somerset Maugham before and really had no desire to read anything by him either. However recently I saw The Razor's Edge in a antique/ collectibles shop and I liked the look of it. Since one of my Reading groups was reading Modern English Classics as this month's genre, I decided to read it. I must say that I was most pleasantly surprised. Maugham has a way about him of telling a story. His writing style is very fluid and eminently readable. The story was interesting, the dialogue flowed nicely and I found myself waiting anxiously to get back to the book when I put it down. Did a lot happen? It was a tale of people, specifically friends of Maugham's, as he is the narrator and a character, who he spends time with and observes. I liked the characters and I liked Maugham as well. He's an observer of humanity and expresses his observations so very well. Anyway, I loved the story, it's one of my favourites of this year. Will I read any more of his books? Well I purchased The Moon and Sixpence yesterday, so I hope so.. :0)"

4. Parade's End by Ford Madox Ford (1924 - 1928) - This novel consists of 4 books and was published between 1924 - 28. I bought it for the missus due to the BBC mini - series that we both enjoyed so very much. It's one of my more challenging reads, I have to say, but I loved every page of it. It takes some time to get into the flow of the narrative, but when you do, it's hard to put the story down. Excellent book about pre - WWI, the war itself and the coping afterwards as seen through the eyes of Christoper Tietjens, his wife Sylvia and his lover, Valentine Wannop, plus other characters. The cover photo above is not the edition I have, but I could not find one on line. I purchased my edition, published by Penguin Books in 2012, at Novel Ideas in Kingston, ON. This is my review -

"This was a challenging, but ultimately, an enjoyable, interesting read. The book is made of four separate books, Some Do Not, No More Parades, A Man Could Stand Up and, The Last Post. It is set in England and France, before, during and after WWI. It deals with Christopher Tietjens, his wife Sylvia and Valentine Wannop, a young woman who has captured Christopher's heart. Around these people are family members, Christopher's brother, Mark; friends, associates and many others. Christopher's relationship with his wife is bitter and harsh, she goes out of her way to destroy his life, even though she won't grant him a divorce. At the same time, Christopher has fallen in love with the young woman, Valentine, who he met as a result of his father's friendship with her mother. Amidst these personal issues is the war, life in the trenches, all these matters. The story is detailed, it takes time to get used to the flow of the story, but when you do, it is most enthralling. The second and third books, which deal more with the War itself, I personally found the most interesting. Critics have said that there needn't have been a fourth book, that Christopher, himself, isn't really even present, but ultimately, I found that it wrapped up so many of the unresolved issues very nicely. Definitely worth reading, if you want to try a classic."

3. Daniel Deronda by George Eliot (1876) - I guess this would qualify as the most 'classic' of my Top Ten, it having been written and published before 1900. Once again I took a chance on this due to my missus. She had enjoyed listening to a BBC Radio adaptation of the novel, starring Juliet Stevenson. I decided to buy her a copy, so on line I found a hard copy edition published by William Blackwood and Sons in 1877 and distributed by Scarthin Books, Cromford, UK. It turned out we also already had an edition published by Boston Estes and Sons in 1894 and purchased at a local Antique store, A Gentler Time. At any rate, I also bought the above edition, a Penguin Classic, as I really couldn't bear the thought of disrupting the pages of these earlier editions. So after all that, I read the book last year and after getting into the flow, loved it so very much. Such an excellent novel; I think my review provides an inkling of the story and characters, so I'll just go there.

"Not my normal story at all; I do tend to more light reading, thriller, adventure, but at times I do try to explore more challenging stories. This was definitely one of those. It's a true classic, well-written and intelligent. The story focuses on two main characters, Gwendolen Harleth, a selfish, young lady who thinks the world revolves around her and Daniel Deronda, a gentlemen, searching for himself. This search has many aspects, the simple one being trying to ascertain who his parents are as he has grown up under the protection/ guidance of Sir Hugo Mallinger from childhood. This also involves more internal searching, who is he, why does he think as he does. He is a caring individual, selflessly helping friends and strangers; his flighty school friend Hugo Meyrick, the lovely Jewess Mira and even Gwendolen.. There is so much in this book, unspoken love, a brief study of what it is like to be Jewish in those times, death, romance, etc. I was very surprised how much I enjoyed the story and as I worked my way through the initial pages to get accustomed to the style of the time, it was published in 1876, I enjoyed it immensely. As much as Gwendolen irritated me to no end with her selfishness, at the same time, there was an inkling of sympathy for the plight she finds herself in (even if much of it is due to her own actions) and ultimately.. well, I won't go there. It's a heavy tome, but well worth reading. I'm very glad I did."

And on to the Top Two. You will find write ups of both books in much earlier Blogs. Both books have been loving read many times and will be again. One is in the Science Fiction genre, the other would be classified as a Modern Classic, but is one of the best books ever written; definitely my all-time favourite book ever. So here we go...

2. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells  (1897) - A classic in the Science Fiction genre, possibly one of the best SciFi stories ever written. I've read so many times and it's stood the test of time. Unfortunately, it's never been made into a good movie; I prefer the early American version to Steven Spielberg's, Tom Cruise, version. The edition above is of course the Penguin Classic and was published in 1974 and it's another that has survived from my university days. The last time I read it was a few years ago, before I started writing reviews of my novels. For the uninitiated, it tells the story of an invasion of Earth by creatures from Mars. The setting is pre-War England and the story deals with their efforts to oust the Martians from Earth, after failed attempts to communicate with them. The story is told so matter-of-factly and so believably that it's not surprising that a radio broadcast of the story by Orson Welles in 1938 caused panic in the US as it was broadcast as a news broadcast. If you've never read any science fiction, read this first and you'll be hooked on the ideas and the genre itself. Fantastic story, a true classic that must be read.

1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960) - My wife will not be surprised by this selection, except she might argue it's not a classic (probably not though). I can't tell you how many times I've read this book or seen the classic movie starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch, but it's never grown old. The story is timeless, it tells of growing up, it tells of racism, it tells of heroism, and family and life and everything in one small story. Writing this chokes me up, the story chokes me up but at the same time makes me feel somewhat better about humanity in general and about the characters of this lovely, wonderfully crafted story of Scout Finch, a young girl who experiences so many things in her small town, things that affect her life in the present and the future... sorry for the run-on sentence, but I can think of no other book that affects me so very much and in so many ways. Everybody should be made to read it and / or to watch the movie. Simply said, it's fantastic! This edition was published in 2006 by Arrow Books and was a gift from my sister-in-law, it's a lovely simple cover, perfectly suited to the story within. I'd provide my review, but it says nothing at all that isn't in my comments above. READ IT!!

So there you have it, my initial Top Ten Classic books. What do you think? The den is hot and stuffy now so I think I'll sit outside with the dogs for a few minutes before we go check the mail.

Music from my USB - Top Ten..ish songs..

I'm in the mood for a bit of Blogging this morning, especially since QPR is getting stonked 3-0 by Liverpool.. Maybe if I don't watch, they'll come back.

So I went through my USB stick and have picked my Top Ten songs, the ones I enjoy listening to no matter how many times they pop up. They are a mix of old and new; some of the older in time songs are still new to me as I've started listening to groups I had previously been unfamiliar with. I'll finish with three artists who have caught my attention this past while.

Lets go then.. (Click on the song name to listen to the song if you're so inclined)

10. Saving Jane (I heard this song a few years back and still think it's a great song. Have always loved it).. Girl Next Door.

9. Siouxsie and the Banshees. This is a group I always wanted to try, but never seemed to get any of their albums. I saw this song listed on one of the BBC 2 Radio shows and when I listened to it, it had such a haunting quality that I had to add it to my USB. Great song... Dear Prudence

8. Rebecca Ferguson. This another artist whose name I saw either on the Virgin Radio play list or on BBC radio. I tried the song and really liked it. Great voice. Just looking up Rebecca, she was a runner-up on X-Factor in the UK. Hope you like this song. Backtrack.

7. Michelle Branch. I've never grown tired of this song. Great lyrics, great music. It affects me in an emotional way. Love it. Breathe.

6. Carly Rae Jepsen w. Owl City (or vice versa). Carly Rae competed on Canada's Canadian Idol, not that I remembered it. But she had some hits and when I heard Call Me Maybe, she caught my attention. Great pop sensibilities and an interesting voice. This song is one of those perfect pop songs, teaming up with Owl City was no bad thing. I can listen to it over and over and love it when it comes up on my Walkman when I'm jogging. Good Time

5. The Stranglers. This is another group of which I wasn't familiar (to the shock of my missus). But when I heard this song recently, loved it and had to add it to my favourites. I love the key board. Golden Brown.

4. Of Monsters and Men. A friend of mine, Bob Chabot, posted this song on You Tube and I loved if from first listen. The group is from Iceland. I've since seen them perform on the Graham Norton Show. Quirky, interesting, great song. Little Talks.

3. Echo and the Bunnymen. Yup, another group from the '80s that I had never listened to. Heard this song recently, it reminded me of early U2, but also unique on its own. Very powerful vocals and music. Back of Love.

2. Nell Bryden. A new singer for me. I love her voice and the song is so thoughtful. The music just soars. Buildings and Treetops.

And.....

1. Girls Aloud. I'm not much for boy bands or girl bands, but Cheryl, Kimberley and the other girls performed this on Strictly Come Dancing this past year. It's the perfect pop song, hooks, changes of tonality, pace and each and every lady can sing wonderfully. I listen to it if I need a boost to start my day. Something New. (definitely a heart starter... )

Finally, I want to highlight three artists/ groups that have really attracted me; two new for me this past year and one group that I've loved since I heard them back when I was living in Victoria.

Firstly are The Overtones who it turns out are an English/ Irish/ Aussie vocal group formed in 2010. The first song I heard was Lovin the Sound and I really liked its upbeat quality, their smoothness (coolness) and their harmonies. I've since also downloaded Higher which is nicely different. Hope you like them too.

She's been around for awhile, but Paloma Faith is newish to me. I'm now seeing her on all sorts of shows and I love her voice and her music. I've got a couple of her songs on my USB, they are both beautiful. She's definitely quirky, but she can sing her socks off.. I hope you like Picking up the Pieces and 30 Minute Love Affair (I think I like this last the best.)

The Veronicas are an Australian group formed by twin sisters Jessica and Lisa Origliasso. The first song of theirs that I heard was Untouched. I heard it while driving through Victoria in rush hour and the orchestration grabbed hold of me and then the whole song, the rap quality, the pop beat. Such a great song and it started me searching for their music. They provide such variety, from pop songs to lovely ballads. Such a talent. Great music all. I've linked to some of my favourites here.

When I Falls Apart,  This Love, Everything I'm Not and Leave Me Alone.. enjoy!

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books

I can't believe it's been almost 2 months since I last posted here. It's been a busyish time. The missus and I went to England for 3 weeks over the Olympics' time-frame to visit family and friends, watch BBC Olympics coverage and try to get to see at least one event live. We did manage to get tickets to see the Canadian women vs the US women footie semi-final at Old Trafford in Manchester. Great venue, unfortunately the result wasn't what I'd been hoping for. I'm sure the Canadian women were as disappointed. All-in-all we had a great trip, saw some interesting sites such as Chatsworth House in the Peak District, ate well and had a wonderful time.

Now, on to the purpose of this Blog. I've previously posted various Top Ten Lists; All-time Favourite novels, various genres of movies. But I've never done a list of my favourite non-fiction novels. So that's my aim today. Non-fiction is a genre that I've always read, but probably not to the scale of my fiction addiction. The list will probably contain a more current (e.g. last ten years) listing of books for the most part. Partly that's because my memory of what I read as a child isn't quite so good anymore and partly because in the past ten years I've started reading more non-fiction, very much to my pleasure I must add. So rather than continuing to ramble on, here are my current Top Ten favourite Non-fiction novels.

10. A History of Modern Britain by Andrew Marr

A History of Modern Britain was published in 2007. Andrew Marr is a British journalist who has worked for various newspapers in Great Britain and is also a political editor for the BBC. This book displays a wide and varied knowledge of British culture and history. It focuses on modern Britain, from the period just after WWI to the 1990's.

Marr explores all aspects of British life; politics, music, culture, etc to provide a wide perspective of events, people and activities that shaped modern Britain.

I am somewhat of an Anglophile and this may come out somewhat in my Top Ten selections, but I found this a most accessible, interesting novel. The personalities covered, the events highlighted and the life of Britons over the periods covered were all fascinating. Britain went through monumental changes over this period, the little island that both experienced and impacted the world as we know it. Highly recommended story. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

9. Lives of Mothers and Daughters by Sheila Munro

This book has a very personal aspect for me. I had seen it when it was first released in 2001 but never bought it. By the time I decided I wanted it, I couldn't seem to find it anywhere. My lovely wife knew I wanted to read it and searched the 'interweb' and finally contacted Munro's Books in Victoria who put her on to the author herself, Sheila Munro. It turns out she lives just across the straits from our small town of Comox. Sheila delivered a signed copy to our doorsteps on Xmas Eve 2005. It was such a sweet surprise and Sheila stayed for a cup of tea and a nice chat. It made this book more personal and enjoyable. The book is Sheila's thoughts about her relationship with one of Canada's most interesting writers, Alice Munro, whose second novel of short stories, Lives of Girls and Women, put her on the map as a writer. Lives of Mothers and Daughters is a tender, reflective novel about growing up with this talented woman. I enjoyed the thoughtful nature of the novel and the perspective that it provided on both Alice Munro and on how it must have felt growing up in her household.

8. Troublesome Young Men by Lynne Olson

Troublesome Young Men was published in 2007. Lynne Olson is a former White House correspondent who has written a number of books, including another I'm interested in, Citizens of London. This particular story is about the crisis England faced leading up to World War II and the people, the Troublesome Young Men in politics who feared for Britain's future should Hitler start WWII and felt very strongly that they needed a strong leader like Winston Churchill to lead them into this crisis.

They were a brave group who went against their party to oust Neville Chamberlain and to bring Churchill into power. Olson provides an interesting perspective, introducing these rebels, men such as Harold Macmillan, Robert Boothby, Leo Amery and Ronald Cartland and the risk they took to changed the political landscape. There were many who supported Chamberlain's efforts at appeasement with Hitler. Churchill was a reluctant candidate who was very loyal to his party, even if he disagreed with their plan of action. A fascinating story featuring daring, interesting people during one of the World's major crises.

7.  Pointless by Jeff Connor

The sub-title to this book is 'A Season with Britain's Worst football team'. Let me start this off by saying that before I met Jo, my wife, I knew little to nothing about football. I had watched the Edmonton Drillers of the short-lived North American Soccer league play once back in 1979 or so. I had watched the World Cup a bit and played some footie in school. But since Jo has come into my life, I've become somewhat of an 'anorak' as she calls it, basically a footie geek. I get up Saturday at 5ish in the morning to watch the Premiereship, I joined a Fantasy Footie league, I challenge Lawro each weekend to see if I can better predict the outcomes of the weekends games. Well, because of my new found love of footie, I've received many footie - related books from the missus and family. Of those, this is a particular favourite. It is a tender, humorous year in the life of Britain's worst footie club, East Stirlingshire FC which plays in the third division of the Scottish Football League. Jeff Connor, a well - published writer, followed the team for a year, meeting the team and fans and recording their exploits over this season. Funny at times, poignant at others, it's a wonderful view of life in the lower divisions of any footie league. Loved it!

6. At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson

I was introduced to Bill Bryson's writings by my wife. I'd bought her some of his travel books for Xmas over the past few years and used to listen to her chuckling and laughing out loud as she read his adventures, either trekking through the British Isles or Australia. The first Bryson novel I read was actually A Short History of Nearly Everything which I enjoyed very much. However,I bought At Home for Jo Xmas in 2010. I chose this as my next Bryson novel and I can really see what the fuss is all about now.

The setting of this book is Bill Bryson's home in Norfolk. He uses the various rooms of the home, a Victorian parsonage, loosely to tell stories, I guess is the best way to describe it. When he describes the bedroom, the discussion moves on to subjects as varied as sex, sleep and death. The kitchen evolves into a discussion of spices and nutrition. It's a historical novel, we are introduced to some of the most interesting people, mainly British, but not strictly, people who impacted various aspects of our lives in some small or big way. Bryson's way of telling a story draws you in; it is light-hearted, keeps your interest but when you've finished, you find you've learnt so much about our history and culture, our ways of life and met some amazing people. I will be reading more of his stories.

5. The Quantum Ten by Sheila Jones

Let me start this off by saying that in high school, I hated Physics. I don't know if it was just the subject matter, or the way it was taught, but it was my least favourite subject. So here I was reading a book about Quantum physics, sub-titled 'A Story of Passion, Tragedy, Ambition and Science.' Passion? Physics? Who knew!

Sheila Jones is a Canadian journalist with an advanced degree in theoretical physics. And for some reason, she makes this story fascinating, interesting and one of my favourites. The characters include such stalwarts of science as Albert Einstein, Max Born, Neils Bohr, Werner Heisenberg and so many others. If the names don't ring a bell, watch The Big Bang Theory. :0).

This story is the history of Quantum Physics, string theory, the people who developed and created the fascinating ideas, and their lives which make for interesting reading in itself. Whether you like Physics or not, this book is well worth the read.

4. The Meaning of Everything by Simon Winchester

I have to give credit, once again, to my wife for introducing me to Simon Winchester. Christmas 2008, as I opened my gifts from her, I found this book and another, The Professor and the Madman. Both deal with the same subject, the making of the first Oxford English Dictionary, the OED. I don't know how she thought I would like this, but I must say, I loved them both. Either could be here as my number 4 all-time non-fiction novel. I chose The Meaning of Everything partly a flip of the coin, partly because the scope was somewhat bigger. Winchester is a very interesting writer; other books of his I've read include the Map that Changed the World (the first geological map of England), Outposts (a visit to the remaining British colonies) and Krakatoa, the Day the World Exploded.

Winchester is able to cover these disparate subjects and tell an interesting story that has such scope. The making of the OED seems a simple subject, but as you read, the work and years involved in gathering the data to make this first volume was detailed and so very fascinating. The dedication of the creators, the people from around the world who sent the publishers words and meanings. The madman who was in an insane asylum down the road from Oxford and turned out to be one of the biggest contributors to the final product. You won't be able to put either of these books down once you start. A pure joy to read!

3. Chocolate Wars by Deborah Cadbury

I saw this book while wandering around my local book shop, The Laughing Oyster. The title attracted me first, then the blurb inside sounded very interesting. I finally talked myself into buying it and must say, the story did not let me down at all. It was one of the first books I read in 2012 and it's still one of my favourites of the year.

Deborah Cadbury is from the Cadbury family, although from the US side, not the chocolate makers. She tells a story of the development of the chocolate industry, introduces the Cadburys, and also the other great chocolatiers, the Frys, Nestle, Rowntree, Hershey and others. How these people went from actually finding a use for the cocoa bean to making it into a world - wide chocolate making industry is fascinating reading. The personalities involved, this was largely a Quaker-run industry in Britain, how they wanted not only to make chocolate, but also to make the world a much better place is so very interesting. Times have changed so much since large mega companies like Kraft have taken over so many of the original family run businesses, but their legacy does still remain. Think of this book and this history every time you bite into a lovely Mars bar. :0)

2. Paris 1919 by Margaret MacMillan

I read this while on a six month deployment to the UAE back in 2005. It was written by Margaret MacMillan, who received her PhD from Oxford and was a professor of history at University of Toronto and was also the great-granddaughter of David Lloyd George, one of the participants at the Paris conference at the end of World War I.

This is a fascinating story, another tale of historical import with characters who influenced the world as we know it today. The Paris conference was a gathering of World leaders; Woodrow Wilson, Lloyd George, Clemenceau, etc who sat down together to decide how to end WWI, how to set down the foundations of a New World from the destruction caused by WWI. Each had his own agenda, they were influenced by their allies, but with the best will in the world, they ultimately came up with the solution, the best that they could. The results of this conference are still felt today; in the Middle East, Africa, the Far East. Countries that participated were often for the first time making their voices known on the World stage, countries such as Canada, Australia, South Africa. MacMillan breaks the conference down by personalities, regions of the world and clearly analyses and discusses the impacts on the decisions on these regions. It's a fascinating, interesting book, presented in such a manner that you will be drawn in to the time, the people, the world.

1. The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman

This is probably one of the first historical novels I ever read. It had an impact on me then, probably in junior high school, and it did since then when I reread it. Barbara Tuchman is one of those writers, as many of those I've mentioned above, who is able to take momentous events, and bring them down to a personal level, introducing historical characters so you can get a sense of their personality, what drives them and how they impacted on these events.

This story deals with the first few months before the commencement of WWI and the first month of the war, the German invasion of Luxembourg, Belgium and France, how close they came to winning this war and how the beleaguered British and French were ultimately able to stop the advance.

Once again, this is a fascinating subject, well-written and provides you with an interesting historical perspective of the events that impacted the world at that time.


Well, there you have it, my top ten favourite non-fiction novels. I've got a few on my TBR shelves to read that may challenge this; some Bill Brysons, The Fry Chronicles by Stephen Fry, The Life of Charlotte Bronte by Elizabeth Gaskell, The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, The King's Speech, Rin Tin Tin, the Life and Legend and others.. I'm looking forward to getting into them and maybe discussing further..

Remember, Keep on reading!

Favourite Reads of 2011

I've very much enjoyed my reading this past year. It's been a nice mix of old and new, some rereads of old favourites, continued work on favourite series and also introducing myself to some new authors. Looking back at my reading from this year, I thought I'd start with some of my favourite rereads.



On the Beach - Nevil Shute

I've very much enjoyed finding some of my old favourites, dusting them off and reading them again this past year. Nevil Shute is one of my favourite authors. I particularly have enjoyed Pied Piper and one of my Top Ten favourites, On the Beach. I have previously blogged about this book; it's number 2 on my all-time favourite books.
I've read this story many times and also have enjoyed the movie with Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner. The subject matter, while depressing, is treated with delicacy and respect by Nevil Shute. The plot is very understated considering the fact that he is discussing the end of the world. I read this first as a youngster, in junior high or high school and I was very much taken with this story. I followed up with other stories on similar topics; Alas Babylon, by Pat Frank and Fail Safe by Eugene Burdick, come to mind. Since that time, I've read On The Beach a few times and I still find myself drawn to similar stories. I particularly have enjoyed War Day by Whitley Streiber and James Kunetka (one I'll have to dig out again and reread) and, most recently, The Road, by Cormac McCarthy.

All that to say, I'm so glad to have reread this novel and even once again talking about, even briefly, it has reminded me of what a classic story it is and I heartily recommend to anyone if you've not ever read it.



Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

 It had been a very long time since I'd read Fahrenheit 451. I think I may have seen the movie first, but it had been a very long time. I bought this special 50th anniversary edition in 2007 and decided this past spring that it was time to reread. In May one of my Goodreads book clubs decided to read a story in the Dystopia genre, so I chose this novel as my read.

It was an excellent choice as rereading it refreshed my memories on how excellent a story it is. Basically, it is the story of Guy Montag, a fireman, whose role in the future is to burn books. Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which paper burns. Unfortunately for Guy, he begins to doubt his role, finds himself collecting books and hiding them. He then becomes an enemy of the state and is forced on the run. The story and the movie are both excellent; both somewhat different as well. Fahrenheit 451 ranks up there with other classics of this genre, especially 1984 by George Orwell, which also happens to be a favourite of mine.

I do highly recommend either novel if you are interested in exploring this genre.



The Outsiders - SE Hinton

 Another genre that was chosen this past year in my book club was Young Adult. I dusted off another old favourite for this one. I've had my copy of The Outsiders since the early '80s. I believe I bought it after I'd seen the movie by Francis Ford Coppola.

Both the movie and the book are excellent, touching, thoughtful and well-presented. The story follows three brothers, Ponyboy, Darrel and Sodapop Curtis, and their friends in a small town in Texas as they interact with each other, fight with the rich 'Soc's' on the good side of the tracks and ultimately deal with tragic and life changing events.

SE Hinton presents this story in a manner that draws you in, even if you've never experienced what Ponyboy and his brothers experience. They are well-developed and you feel for them, understand what motivates and moves them.

I strongly recommend this story, it reaches all ages. The movie is also a must-see, it has such a fantastic cast and they all work together to bring you a fantastic movie.



To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

 I reread my all-time favourite book again in September. I have blogged about it previously when I was discussing my Top Ten favourite books. To Kill A Mockingbird ranks as Number 1 on my list. It also ranks as number 1 on my Top Ten movies of all-times.

The story is a timeless classic. It's a simple story in its way, telling of the growing up of one Scout Finch, a young Southern girl and of her older brother, Jem. They live during the Depression, must deal with school, have fun with their friend Dill Harris, who visits each summer, and try to solve the mystery of one Boo Radley, the never-seen neighbour, who seems to leave secret messages for the two of them.

The main event of this excellent novel is a trial that their father, Atticus, becomes involved with, the trial of a Negro man, Tom Robinson, accused of raping a white woman. This trial will forever change their lives and it, along with all the events that take place, are presented wondrously, in a touching, intelligent manner by Harper Lee. Even writing about it now and thinking of the story again, I feel the emotions welling up inside me. It is a rare story, one that everyone should read and one that will draw you in so you are sharing everything with Scout, Jem and Atticus. (Watch the movie too.. excellent!)

The Return of Hyman Kaplan - Leo Rosten

During my high school years, I read a humorous set of stories featuring a fascinating US immigrant who attends English classes along with other immigrants. The story was told from the perspective of the embattled, frazzled teacher of the class, Mr Parkhill, or as named by Hyman, Meester Pockheel.

The first in the series was The Education of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N, the follow-on being, The Return of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N. I had been looking for copies of these stories for a considerable time and luckily, while the missus and I were in Ottawa this past summer, I found one of them.

I reread the story with pleasant anticipation, hoping that the humour would still strike a chord with me. Luckily it did. The story is really a series of incidents, set in the classroom of Mr Parkhill, as he tries to get his students to understand the intricacies of the English language. The humour is gentle, the characters are colourful, the story is a pleasure to read. There are often laugh out loud moments, most often you find yourself chuckling or shaking your head as you finally figure out what the students are trying to present to Mr Parkhill. Hyman Kaplan, himself, is a larger than life character, full of energy, love for his new country and this language that he remakes into his own image.

I will continue to search for the other books, the stories are a pleasure to read.


Casino Royale - Ian Fleming

 I have slowly been acquiring and rereading a series of spy novels that I had enjoyed as a kid. The James Bond stories were exciting to a youngster like me, full of adventure, intrigue, sex.. The books were dark and gritty, much more like the Sean Connery movies, or the more recent Daniel Craig attempts.

I reread Casino Royale recently, this is the first of the Bond stories. The recent movie did it justice, providing the same dark, grittiness that the book had. Of course, the story, which was written in 1953 didn't have the special effects that the movies have. But it introduced Bond nicely, his love of cars, the whole 'shaken not stirred', the glamour of the casino, all of that providing a hint of the life he leads as a double-0 spy. I have thoroughly enjoyed reliving my earlier adventures with James Bond and look forward to continuing to do so this coming year.



The Thirty-nine Steps - John Buchan

 My final reread this year was another spy thriller, John Buchan's, The Thirty-nine Steps. I think I've seen the Alfred Hitchcock movie from 1939 more times than I've read the book, but both stand the test of time. I think in many ways I relate this classic more to the movie, but the story is also excellent, and fairly different from the movie.

The premise remains the same in both though. Richard Hannay, a mining engineer, currently living in London, gets caught up in a mystery that threatens the safety of the United Kingdom. To bide time while he tries to solve the mystery, he travels the length of the British Isles, to the north in Scotland and during this journey, he must try to avoid arrest by the police and murder by the agents trying to find him.

The book was written in 1915 and as I mentioned above, the movie released in 1939, but they hold their own today. I can watch the movie and having reread the book, find them as interesting and as exciting as the first time I did either. What more can you ask from a story; that even almost 100 years on, it still manages to hold your interest and draw you in. The Thirty-nine Steps does that.

So there you have it for today, some of my favourite rereads of 2011. Next time I'll highlight some of my favourite new authors.

Keep on reading!