2010-72 - Five Months in a Leaky Boat, by Ben Kozel, 422 pages, Pan Macmillan, 2003

72 - Five Months in a Leaky Boat, by Ben Kozel, 422 pages, Pan Macmillan, 2003
WHY I PICKED IT: Colin Angus was on this journey
ELAPSED TIME: 3 days.
RATING: Good.

Five Months in a Leaky Boat tells the tale of two Canadians (Colin Angus and Remy Quinter) and two Aussies (Tim Cope and Ben Kozel) and of their journey from the headwaters of the fifth longest river in the world and their journey to the Arctic.  Having read Colin Angus' perspective a few years ago, I was delighted to see this in a used book store in Sydney and was not disappointed.  These adventurers truly seek to balance an objective (getting to the end of the river) with meeting and engaging with the people they encounter.  From Mongolia, through lower Siberia, and up to the Nenets who live with the reindeer in upper Siberia.

2010-71 - The Glass Palace, by Amitav Ghosh, 470 pages, Random House, 2002

71 - The Glass Palace, by Amitav Ghosh, 470 pages, Random House, 2002
WHY I PICKED IT: It was recommended by my Aunty Fatma
ELAPSED TIME: 6 days.
RATING: Very Good.

Spanning 2 proper generations, and 2 more generations tracing back their family history, this book tells the tale of Rajkumar, a poor Indian boy who goes on to build an empire... interwoven is the story of Dolly, a young woman in the Burmese court who goes on to be his wife... the story of Uma, an Indian woman who is Dolly's friend... and the families that they have.  It's a gripping tale that will suck you in, and expose you to a part of India, Burma, and Malaya that you might otherwise never see.  I will seek out more of Ghosh.

2010-70 - Through Black Spruce, by Joseph Boyden, 407 pages, Penquin Canada, 2008

70 - Through Black Spruce, by Joseph Boyden, 407 pages, Penquin Canada, 2008
WHY I PICKED IT: I really enjoyed Three Day Road, and wanted to read more by Boyden
ELAPSED TIME: 2 days.
RATING: Very Good.

Boyden is well on his way to becoming one of my favourite contemporary authors.  This story, written because Boyden missed his characters from Three Day Road (see Book # 64), tells the story of Xavier Bird’s son and grand neice.  Similar to his first book, this story weaves the uncle and neice’s perspectives into a compelling narrative.  Knowing that he is working on a third book, to complete a trilogy, is exciting for me.

There are two great lines in the book, that I was compelled to write down... I share them with you without comment:

1) Experience is the most difficult of teachers, because it gives the exam first and the lessons second
2) there are no heroes in the world.  Not really.  Just men and women who become old and tired and lose the strength to fight for what they love any longer.

2010-69 - Taft, by Ann Patchett, 246 pages, Harper Collins, 1994

69 - Taft, by Ann Patchett, 246 pages, Harper Collins, 1994
WHY I PICKED IT: I'm working my way through everything by Ann Patchett
ELAPSED TIME: 7 days.
RATING: Very Good

This woman's writing is quite simply very good.  She consistently creates characters whose warmth is palpable.  Who you just want to hug and protect.  Characters who are simple, and yet quite real.  I enjoyed this book - it was unfortunate that work distracted me, so I couldn't get into their skin for a few days.

2010-68 - Truth and Beauty, by Ann Patchett, 257 pages, Harper Collins, 2004

68 - Truth and Beauty, by Ann Patchett, 257 pages, Harper Collins, 2004
WHY I PICKED IT: I loved Bel Canto, so I wanted to read more by Ann Patchett
ELAPSED TIME: 4 days.
RATING: Very Good

Ann Patchett has an amazing voice as a writer, and the story of her friendship with Lucy Grealy is warm and engaging... for the first three quarters of the book.  That she calls herself the Ant and Lucy the Grasshopper is interesting - a recognition that Lucy is bright wherein she is the worker... but the friendship works.  The final portion of the book is gut wrenching ... but not altogether unsurprising.  Definitely a worthwhile read.  I'll see out the rest of Ann's books.