Want to Read: Po Bronson and Ashely Merryman - Nurtureshock, New Thinking About Children

This isn't a book that would typically be on my want-to-read list (since I don't have children), but it sounds like an interesting sociology/psychology book of counterintuitive research, along the lines of Dan Ariely's books I was reading this summer.

Want to Read: Erin Bow - Plain Kate

A young adult historical fantasy, in which a young, independent girl has to survive on her own, leading to suspicion of her as a witch. Set in 16-th century Poland/Lithuania. Reminds me of "Enchantment" by Orson Scott Card - I'm sure it won't be a similar novel at all ("Enchantment" is pretty unique), but I loved the time period and elements of Russian fairy tales. Also sounds a bit like Ken Follett's "Pillars of the Earth" with the independent woman in a time period that doesn't welcome it.

Want to Read: Carl Safina - The View From Lazy Point, A Natural year in an Unnatural World

I'm hoping this is a Diane Ackerman-like book, with essays on the interconnectedness of nature and humanity.

Want to Read: Karen Armstrong - Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life

I'm a bit put off by the cliched title of this book, but based on the review I've reconsidered. A big-picture overview of the world's religions and what to take from them in living a compassionate life - starting to sound akin to Jeremy Rifkin's "Empathic Civilization" - also on my want-to-read list.

Read: Anne Fadiman - Rereadings

Hmm. I ordered this one from the library thinking it was a book written by Anne Fadiman, whose "Ex Libris" I loved. However it is only edited by her, with an introduction written by her. Interesting premise - have authors write about books that they first read when young and have since re-read, and what they mean to them. But I wasn't as interested in what all of them had to say as if, I suspect, Anne Fadiman had just written an entire book using this premise herself.

Read: Connie Willis - Miracle and Other Christmas Stories

I can't say that I'd buy a book of Christmas stories by any other author, but for Connie Willis I made an exception (this was another find at the Dark Carnival bookstore). They are, as are all her stories, charming and funny. Although the theme is Christmas (with a sci fi/fantasy twist) the real subject in many of them is miscommunication and misunderstandings. I still prefer her full-length novels, however - her stories need more space to become really affecting.

Read: Ursula K LeGuin - Tales from Earthsea

Another purchase from the great SF bookstore Dark Carnival. "A Wizard of Earthsea" is still one of my favourite all-time books, so it's great to return to that world in this collection of stories, although none really match its magic.