raidergirl3's Orange 2012

For Orange January, I am making this list. The books I have in my house should be the ones I start with, but I often am distracted by library books. I have no intention of reading all these- I usually aim for 2 or 3 books in the Orange month. These will be my running lists, and as I add or read books, the list will change.

Books in my house:
*Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel (2006 short list)
Small Island by Andrea Levy (2004 winner)
The Colour by Rose Tremain (2004 longlist)
Larry's Party by Carol Shields (1998 winner)
Love Marriage by VV Ganeshananthen (2009 longlist)
Old Filth by Jane Gardam (2005 shortlist)
Black and Blue by Anna Quinlen (1998 longlist)

Books from the library:
*The Septembers of Shiraz, by Dalia Sofer (2008 longlist)
This is How, by M.J. Hyland (2010 longlist)
Secret Son, by Laila Lalami (2010 longlist)
Black Water Rising by Attica Locke (2010 shortlist)
The Tenderness of Wolves, by Stef Penney (2007 longlist)
House of Orphans by Helen Dunmore (2006 longlist)

What I Read
January
The Giant, O'Brien, by Hilary Mantel (1999 longlist)
Black and Blue, by Anna Quindlen (1998 longlist)
The Tenderness of the Wolves by Stef Penney (2007 longlist)
House of Orphans by Helen Dunmore (2006 longlist)
Old Filth by Jane Gardam (2005 shortlist)
Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan (2012 long shortlist)

March
Intuition, by Allegra Goodman (2009 longlist)

April
The Sealed Letter, by Emma Donaghue (2012 longlist)
Island of Wings, by Karin Altenberg (2012 longlist)
Gillespie and I, by Jane Harris (2012 longlist)

May
The Forgotten Waltz, by Anne Enright (2012 shortlist)
The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller (2012 winner)

July
State of Wonder, by Ann Patchett (2012 shortlist)
Foreign Bodies, by Cynthia Ozick (2012 shortlist)
The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern (2012 longlist)
There But For The, by Ali Smith (2012 longlist)
Larry's Party, by Carol Shields (1998 winner)

Are the books with the asterisks ones you plan on reading?

Love your graphic!

I think so Jill.

Either that, or I'm just a big fan of alliteration and wanted to point that out! (but then I should have marked Secret Son, instead of House of Orphans though House of Orphans is close, if you are British and drop the H in house)

>3 raidergirl3: - lol

Beyond Black seems to be on a lot of OJ lists. I think I'm going to have to look into it. And in case you haven't heard me say this elsewhere (I've said it a lot) I adore The Tenderness of Wolves! Happy reading, whatever you choose!

I've been wanting to read The Tenderness of the Wolves for quite a while. I think I even had it home from the library once, but had to return it. Maybe this January? And now she has another book out.

Yes, Beyond Black seems to be on a lot of lists. It's been on my Orange lists for several events now. Although Mantel's other book, The Giant, O'Brien is really intriguing me.

Making the rounds of everyone's threads and note that I have only read two books from your lists: Small Island and Black Water Rising. I am looking forward to see what you decide on for your Orange reading!

I picked up some library books: House of Orphans, Inheritance of Loss, and The Giant, O'Brien, plus still waiting for Tenderness of the Wolves.

I don't even know why I bother making these lists, as I change my mind as soon as it is written.

I was thinking of reading Small Island, but then it seems to get better reviews than The Long Song, so then I think I should read The Long Song first, and while I am debating all this, another book comes along and distracts me.

"I don't even know why I bother making these lists, as I change my mind as soon as it is written."
We are definitely sisters under the orange!
I've read a few on your list including Septembers of Shiraz, which was just O.K. for me. I can't get excited yet about Beyond Black, but I see that I'm going to have a lot of encouragement to do that since lots of people are reading it. I'll stay tuned.
Oh! And I did enjoy Small Island - especially after I had finished it and had time to think about it.

I really enjoyed Septembers of Shiraz; it grabbed my attention from the first page (you will see why). I heard an interview with the author before reading, and I had the idea that it was going to feel like a Very Serious Book all the way through (the interview still enticed me enough to read it, mind you), but I found it very readable and engaging (and worthwhile). Speaking of interviews, there is a very good one about Small Island via the BBC's World Book Club with Andrea Levy; there is a spoiler in it, though, that I wish I hadn't heard!

Of course I recommend Larry's Party, but you are wanting to read Shields' books in order right? The Inheritance Loss was a slog for me. Small island is good.

I loved Small Island by Andrea Levy: that's the only one from your list I've read. :)

I too loved Small Island! That's only one of your listed books that I have read. I'm currently reading The Siege By Helen Dunmore for my Orange read and it's excellent -so maybe that will transfer over to your book House of Orphans... hmm that sounds like a good book....:)

I finished The Giant, O'Brien by Hilary Mantel. I'm not sure what I think. The writing was unique, Mantel has an unusual style. I liked it, mostly, but I think I missed some of the story. I felt my vocabulary being expanded as a read, which is a good thing. There was certainly something poetic about the book. I liked the giant, Charlie O'Brien. Overall, I guess I liked the parts, but not the whole. And since is was fairly short, I could read it all. Beyond Black is going to the back of the pile, and I was never very interested in Wolf Hall. I appreciated her writing, but it's not what I enjoy reading.

Sorry Hilary - I'm passing the note back to you in class with the 'no' checked off.

Next up, Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen. Looks like a much more traditional read. (It has an Oprah sticker on it)

Small Island, after all your comments, is moving up the list, but it may not get read in January.

Black and Blue is about spousal abuse, so be prepared. A gripping story.

yes, the first line says "The first time my husband beat me I was nineteen years old" so I realized right away what it would be like.

so then I think I should read ... , and while I am debating all this, another book comes along and distracts me. Oh, Elizabeth, you are in good company! Make me smile!

Interesting Orange choices you are making. I've not yet read any of Mantel's work, but she's on the list. And it's fine to pass a note in class checked NO; well said! I'm curious about Black and Blue; which of the Orange lists is it on? I wonder if it's anything like A Cupboard Full of Coats which was considered for last year's Booker - an excellent read I thought.

eta: I found it - 1998 LL.

Small Island will may make up for all the lousy or meh books you've read recently. IMO.

I''ll add my voice to Nancy's assessment of A Cupboard Full of Coats. I really enjoyed it. I'll be interested in your take on Black and Blue.

I read "Black and Blue" before discovering the Orange Prize. I liked it, but was surprised to find it on the Orange List - it's more genre fiction/chick lit than most of the titles. Hope you're enjoying it!

Oh dont say that about Hilary Mantel. Hopefully I dont mind her style.

Finished Black and Blue. I liked it, but I can see what HRO meant by genre fiction/chick lit, and it's definitely an Oprah title.

7 day library loans are derailing me this week from Orange books. I'm reading the delightful The Sisters Brothers right now.

Elizabeth (HRO too), thanks for the heads up re Black and Blue. I didn't know it was an Oprah title, but I've found many of hers hit and miss, at least by my taste. The Sisters Brothers I still haven't read but MUST do so this year, if not this month! Enjoy!

Ohh! I so loved The Sisters Brothers! Enjoy, Elizabeth! That was one of my top reads in 2011 - so fun and well done!

Oh , I just noticed that you have given the Sisters Brothers 4 1/2 stars! I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Elizabeth! It was in my feed. Now, we'll have to convince Nancy aka Lit Chick to read it too!;) Just kidding! We all have different books that we love! Hi Nancy!

Yes, I really enjoyed it, especially Eli. Great read to start the year. I'm undecided on what to read next. The problem is I need to do some correcting instead of starting a new book.

I finished The Tenderness of the Wolves today. I liked it, but the ending seemed a little loose. I guess everything was cleared up. Still, a great read. I'm not sure if I felt the time period, 1860s, but that just may be that life up north hasn't really changed a lot.

I am most surprised that the book was written by a Scottish person. How does someone in Scotland decide to write a book tied to the history of the Hudson Bay Company, and full of native history and relationships in Canada?

I just purchased a copy of The Tenderness of the Wolves during my usual Saturday bookshop visits and look forward to reading it later this year.... or next.

I was intrigued by your question/comment about the book being written by a Scottish person and found this interview with the author that explains how she came about writing this story.

http://www.canadianliving.com/life/community/interview_with_author_stef_penney.p...

Thanks for the link! That was an interesting article and it seems very natural now that she would write about the north. I liked Mrs Ross a lot, and the story of her before she came to Canada would be very interesting.

I know what you mean about your response to Anna Quindlen's book, but I liked it well enough too. And it's easy to recommend. So is Stef Penney's mystery, I think, especially if someone enjoys a strong sense of place. (Perfect time to read it in Canada, too!)

And now I realize why I can never remember how to spell Penny/Penney, when it's Louise or Stef. (I only mention this because of your ongoing fascination with muddling book titles that sound the same, as it seems that I have the same trouble with some authors' names.)

Thrilled to find that you so enjoyed The Sisters Brothers...I did too. (Thoughts here if you're interested.)

I've had some library loans interfering with my OJ plans too...are you still going to squeeze one more in, do you think?

Perfect time to read it in Canada, too! - except we have hardly any snow yet!

I'll have to remember to put Louise Penny/Stef Penney on my mixed up feature on my blog.

I really liked The Sisters Brothers, and Half-Blood Blues, which I just finished. Both were excellent, excellent reads, for very different reasons. They are always linked in my head because of the Booker and Giller, and that I then read them back to back.

I'm hoping to squeeze one for Orange in (lol) either Old Filth, which looks shorter, or House of Orphans, which the library wants soon!

>27 lkernagh: - Loved that interview with Stef Penney. Thanks for sharing it!

Hi Elizabeth, I picked up Black and Blue from the library recently, but about 40 pages in realized I had read it before (obviously didn't leave a huge impression). Like you, I didn't find it a "bad" read, just not maybe as worthy as what I expect in award-nominated literature. (have to watch my expectations!)

Elizabeth, I think you should read Intuition by Allegra Goodman sometime. Coming from a science background, I know you'd appreciate it. It came up on my favorite longlisted titles; that's why I thought of it for you.

lit chick - How annoying, to realize you've read it already, although I had that feeling as well. I think it was more that most abusive husband books are going to be similar.

thanks Michelle, my library has it, so I've requested it. I've never heard of it before, but the name Allegra Goodman sounds familiar. Unless it's just the allergy medicine I'm thinking of :)

lol!! I hope you like it!

I started Old Filth, and it's good. But then I thought I'd check the start of House of Orphans before a trip to the library. It hooked me, and now I'm reading both, trying to finish them before Feb 1.

Finished House of Orphans. It was good, but the ending was too vague. Hoping to finish Old Filth soon.

I managed to finish Old Filth before the end of January (mostly), to finish five for the month. None of them completely wowed me, but I liked Tenderness of the Wolves best, with House of Orphans (minus the ending) a runner up. Old Filth was good, and I think if I'd been in a different mood or a different day, I might have loved it. It feels like I should have loved it.

Excellent month Jill, thanks for hosting. It's been great meeting so many new Orange readers!

Five books! Good for you! So glad you could participate.... =)

Wow, Elizabeth! Two more Oranges to finish off the month - well done!

Amendment: I also read Half-Blood Blues in January, which is now an Orange longlist. It felt like an Orange book.

I read Intuition already in March, with citizenjoyce, and we both really liked it. Michelle (3m) recommended it to me, and she was right! It was about medical research, and the best way is to think of it as a high-brow Jodi Picoult. Very balanced, showed all the complicated sides of an issue, but much less emotionally.

I am finally getting around to reading some of the longlisted books. I have Gillespie and I which I bought, and from the library, Island of Wings and The Sealed Letter. And two more I'm waiting for at the library. I should be able to read a couple before the short list is announced.

I guess it's just the rules of publishing which have The Sealed Letteron the list in 2012, when I can see it's been on the Giller Prize long List back in 2008. Anyway, I'm halfway through it and well caught up in the intrigue and Victorian life. It's hard to believe the same woman wrote Room! If I hadn't seen the author, I would guess it's Sarah Waters' novel.

Good for you, Elizabeth! You are really doing well with the Oranges. I've just read two so far , Island of Wings and The Translation of the Bones, both of which I love and reviewed. I've got The Sealed Letter out from the library, but I'm not going to get to it before it's due date.

Elizabeth, well done on the Orange reads! Looking forward to your thoughts on Gillespie and I and Island of Wings. The Sealed Letter I've not heard about and am curious; I loved Room; Donoghue sounds like a very diverse writer.

I really liked The Sealed Letter. Great feminist historical fiction that follows a divorce trial in Victorian London. It was based on a real case, and some real people. I know Jill wasn't impressed with Helen, but she didnt' have a lot of choice to live her life, and so while she manipulated some people, I think she was just trying to survive the only way she could.

I think the more I think about the book, the more I'm going to like it. I liked the structure of the book as well.

Don't forget to go to the list and rank the 2012 Orange books you've read. Add to the list!

http://www.librarything.com/list/319/all/Favourite-books-from-the-2012-Orange-Pr...

Glad you liked the book, Elizabeth! Yes, I was pretty annoyed by Helen! LOL! But I liked the book overall. I am most impressed with Donoghue's writing. Very versatile!

Elizabeth, I have added to the list as far as I could figure out.... I've only read 2 so far, but I've got Gillespie and I on the shelf , and Half-Blood Blues and Painter of Silence all waiting on the shelf for me. I don't think I will get to them by April 15 th thought . Oh - I've also got State of Wonder on the shelf.

So that's 2 from this year's list. I have a mystery from the library I have to read next, but then I'll try another Orange, Island of Wings.

Nancy - you'll have to try The Sealed Letter, I really liked it. Ooh, Half-Blood Blues was fabulous.

Deb - the list is fun! Keep adding as you read. Your review of Island of Wings is what made me get it from the library

Jill - Donaghue is very versatile. I'll have to look for some of her other backlist.

I finished Island of Wings, and I liked it. Mostly for the historical and natural study of St Kilda's, a small island of the Outer Hebrides. Colonialism and missionary work from the 1800s is so frustrating, but reading it from 21st century gives some perspective, but man! the arrogance of upper-class white British males never ceases to gaul. Very readable, for what is pretty dry material. Who knew I'd enjoy reading about birds and an island so much!

#50 Appreciate your endorsement of Island of Wings, Elizabeth. I love it when I enjoy reading something that really I should not have enjoyed reading. Recently had that experience with Vandergaeghe's A Good Man.

I've got A Good Man marked somewhere (it might just be in my head). Are his other books part of a series, or are they just thematically linked? On LT, it doesn't say there is a series within his books.

It was Deb's comments about Island of Wings which got me reading it. My husband's family originally came from Benbecula which is one of the Hebrides Islands, so there was an extra connection for me. My in-laws visited Benbecula when they went to Scotland a few years ago. I think they'd be interested in this book.

Vaderhaeghe's A Good Man is part of a trilogy, but by my way of thinking (and I've read this elsewhere, too), it is very loose trilogy. Order: The Englishman's Boy, The Last Crossing, A Good Man. I loved The Last Crossing and obviously A Good Man, but I've still not read the first one. And the second/third could easily be read as stand alone books.

Deb's got me interested in Island of Wings, too. Family connections make it all the more so!

Elizabeth, so glad that you enjoyed Island of Wings. It was a fascinating tale! One side of my family is from Iceland and that is part of the reason it grabbed me -and the other half of my family is Scottish. Island of Wings has such a fascinating sense of place - amongst other things.

I see we'll have to apply pressure on Nancy! :) Looks like we are half- way there!;)

Ohh - just read that your husband's family came from one of the Hebrides Islands. Fascinating!

When I say they came from there, I mean they were probably one of those families sent to Canada during the time of the book, 1830s. A long time ago. But when they visited Benbencula they met some 'relatives' who were still there.

Iceland? very cool. I love the Arnaldur Indridason mystery series set there. Have you been reading those?

Finished Gillespie and I - great yarn. The narration was so well written. I'm always impressed with authors and how they can tell one story from first person point of view, and yet you can read another story between the lines.

I hope to read Song of Achilles very soon, and I expect The Forgotten Waltz to come to me from the library soon. Hopefully before the winner is announced.

Glad you like G&I!

For May, I'm looking more at some of the short-listed books.
I just finished The Forgotten Waltz, and quite liked it. I'm thinking about what to say about it.

Next will be Song of Achilles. And there is a chance I'll get State of Wonder from the library before the end of May.

Song of Achilles was good. I've never been a huge mythology reader, but this was well done. It made me want to read about Odyssesy (the one married to Penelope). I'm not sure the whole homosexual angle worked for me. If everyone knew about Patroclus and Achilles, in that time, why was Achilles still revered? Was homosexuality accepted? They didnt' respect women too much, so I can't imagine that their relationship was ok. And yet in the story it was accepted.

I'm a little surprised it won. It was a great tale and all, but she had the main story and just fleshed out some new characters. It didn't make me think like Gillespie and I, or feel like The Forgotten Waltz, or fall into the writing and blues like Half-Blood Blues.

I think homosexuality was relatively common then, and bisexuality for that matter. If there was conclusive proof that theirs was a homosexual relationship, it wouldn't have bothered me, but scholars vary widely on their opinion in this matter. In addition, Patroclus was older than Achilles, not the same age, so that was a liberty as well.

Now that a few days have passed, I feel a little freer to say that I didn't think Song of Achilles was well written at all. I thought it read like a ya novel to me. Not that there is anything wrong with ya -- I read it all the time. I thought it was a little Twilight-y as a matter of fact. Again, I've read the whole Twilight series so I'm not above it. I just don't think that type of book should win the Orange Prize.

Edited to add: Obviously Madeline Miller is a much better writer than Stephenie Meyer. Wanted to be clear on that point.

Orange plans for July:

1. finishing State of Wonder (SL 2012)
2. there but for the (LL 2012) if I can renew it at library
3. Night Circus (LL 2012)
4. Foreign Bodies (LL 2012) (Paris in July event)
5. Larry's Party (winner 1998) (Canadian book challenge, and read all CS books

I'm not sure the whole homosexual angle worked for me. If everyone knew about Patroclus and Achilles, in that time, why was Achilles still revered? Was homosexuality accepted?

It's my understanding that homosexual relations were common, though not homosexual relationships. In other words, men were expected to marry women, but it was totally acceptable to have dalliances with their male friends on the side. I think this is why there was some hesitancy about Patroclus and Achilles being open about their relationship - they could sleep together, but not be in love.

In most interpretations of this story, Achilles was in a relationship with Briseis, and (probably) slept with Patroclus on the side. Miller turned this around by having Achilles and Patroclus together, with Briseis serving as a sort of cover-up for the love between the two men.

thanks for the background HRO.
I have never read much mythology, so my knowledge is pretty limited. I must have missed so much inSong of Achilles. The first book I read which helped me get some of my gods straight was Gods Behaving Badly, which I loved. Then The Lightning Thief, and now Song of Achilles. It's hard to get how an author has adapted the myths without knowing the original. I picked up The Odyssey as a book sale after reading Song of Achilles. Hopefully, I'll give it a try someday.

I've looked at Gods Behaving Badly numerous times but never added it to the TBR list. On your recommendation, I shall! :)

Pick up a copy of Mythology by Edith Hamilton. It's an indispensable resource! I've owned a couple dozen copies in my lifetime, because they either fall apart from use or I give them away. :)

What translation of The Odyssey do you have? THIS is an awesome webpage that allows you compare the many different translations. I've tried the Fitzgerald translation and did not like it. A friend recommended the Allen Mandelbaum translation so I'm going to give that a go. I've only ever read selections from The Odyssey and really want to read the complete work.

I still have my copy of Mythology by Edith Hamilton from college. Such a great resource!

My copy of The Odyssey is translated by EV Rieu, which has a good comment on that webpage you linked to. I just picked up the one I found at a used book sale, so didn't have a lot of choice. I also looked at the library and marked the Hamilton book you and Jill mentioned. The library also hasa graphic novel versions of The Odyssey. I'll have to take a month and do a comparative lit class on mythology for myself, including the Atwood book Penelopiad.

I finished State of Wonder, and it was pretty good. I did not like Dr Swenson, and found her frustrating. SoW reminded me of Intuition, which I read earlier this year, another Orange nominated title. I left a comment on the book thread already.

After State of Wonder, and then a dreary Canadian Late Nights on Air, I needed a lighter book, so French Lessons, not an orange book, is my read right now. I think Foreign Bodies or The Paris Wife will be my next read. I'm combining Orange July with Paris in July when I can.

I finished Foreign Bodies. It was okay, but not memorable. It has solidified my view of Paris as overcast and rainy.

>LOL! I haven't been to Paris, but I always think of it as rainy too!

#68 - that's funny! I've been to Paris twice, and the weather was spectacular both times (both in May); however, we did have a thunderstorm and short rain storm one evening.

Apparently Paris has the same annual rainfall as Vancouver, which I can testify, is a lot.

Joyce, I'll have to make sure if I ever get to Paris, that I go in May.

Next I'm going to read The Paris Wife, which isn't an Orange book, but it is still Paris. Hopefully I'll get to the Night Circus before July is over.

Finished The Night Circus because it was very readable, and I couldn't put it down. Wonderfully imaginative novel. I still have time to try There but for the before it is due at the library.

They are making The Night Circus into a movie. Hope they do the visual-ness of the book justice.

Ooh, a movie? The look will have to be right. I quite enjoyed the book.

I'm flying through There But For The right now. Maybe I'll actually get to Larry's Party this month too.

Finished There But For The. Quite liked it, especially the play on words, and the structure of the book.

Also flew through Larry's Party. Carol Shields at her (almost) best there. I only have one more novel of hers to read. She does have other writing - short stories, biographies, plays, and essays to read.

That's pretty much it for Orange July. I'm heading up to the cottage this week, and I have to decide what books to take with me. I haven't been reading many mysteries, so I'm taking a few, and maybe another Orange, Small Island, or The Colour.

Sounds like you had a great Orange July, Elizabeth! =) Thanks for participating!

Picked up a couple of Orange books at a book sale today: The Long Song and Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian. I don't think I've read any Orange books since July. Spooky, mysterious fall books have been taking my attention, and they don't get the Orange noms very often.

What spooky books have you been reading?

Hurrah, I found you! Look forward to seeing what you are reading!

I have a newer thread - look for the 2016 in the title. 😃