Read: Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme - My Life in France

In preparation for our time in France I wanted to read something set in France. And as I browsed the collection of e-books in the Toronto Library system for the first time (I've realized I can borrow them to read on my laptop, which ensures I will not be bereft of English reading material while in France), it occurred to me to enter the search term 'France'. Up came this book, which was a perfect match - an entertaining biography of what life was like for a newcomer to France, plus lots of great food writing. Now I'm more excited than ever to be going there.

Read: Emma Bull - Territory

This is my first re-read of this book. Emma Bull is one of my favourite authors, but after reading it I have to conclude that this isn't her best book. As in other books she's created great characters and hints at their past adventures together, which gives them real depth in their relationships. But the arc of the story is a bit too slowly revealed, and doesn't really gather enough momentum by the time the story ends - it feels anti-climactic. Nonetheless, it was worth re-reading for the dialogue and atmosphere - the mash-up of old frontier western with fantasy magic is unique.

Read: David Shenk - The Genius in All of Us

We watched the author in an interview on TVO, and Mark was interested to learn more about what he had to say about the field of epigenetics, so I ordered his book. In the end it's not so much about epigenetics as just generally that genetics plays a far fuzzier role in our traits than we think. The author is keen to spread the message that we all have more potential to succeed than we credit ourselves with, and that most 'geniuses' are actually very hard-working obsessively devoted people - it doesn't come easy for them. It's generally a pretty interesting book, but just as I thought we were getting in deep, it was over - the last half of the book is chapter notes. I think a good editor could whittle this down to a long-ish magazine article that would have the same impact.

Read: David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day

I checked this book out for its stories of an American living in France, struggling to learn the language and customs. I didn't expect it to be so funny though - I've had tears in my eyes while reading it on the subway, trying desperately not to laugh out loud. The best line is the attempt to explain Easter with a limited French vocabulary:
"He call his self Jesus and then he be die one day on two...morsels of...lumber."

Read: Suzanne Collins - The Hunger Games

Good book, although not likely to be a re-read. The plot, in which a girl fights for her life in a gladiator-style televised ritualistic competition, reminded me of Orson Scott Card's "Ender". In fact, I wish Orson Scott Card had written it - Suzanne Collins' book felt a bit sparse somehow - in the atmosphere or characterization? I think there was a bigger, epic tale in this fairly short young adult novel. But I look forward to the sequels - it's the first in a trilogy. Maybe all three of them will add up to the story I want it to be.

Read: Tom Bissell - Extra Lives, Why Video Games Matter

This was much more of a philosophical treatise on the importance of video games than I had imagined it would be. As well, it was a memoir - apparently light-hearted about the amount of time the author has devoted to playing video games and pondering why they have such a hold on him - until the end, where he reveals that he was hooked on cocaine for his most intense video game binges. I was shocked to find myself suddenly reading what was a dark and troubling memoir. Nonetheless, this was a very interesting book - it both made me want to play these games and experience them myself, and also avoid ever playing them and getting sucked into Bissell's life.

Read: Sarah Susanka - The Not So Big House

I'd glanced through this book over a decade ago, and it came to mind recently when reading Christopher Alexander's books about architecture. I checked it out of the library, and sure enough there was a reference to Christopher Alexander early on.

If I ever have the chance to design a home from scratch or do major renovations, I'll come back to this book for great ideas on how to make the most from small spaces that are well designed.

Read: Erin Bow - Plain Kate

Great book! Reminds me a bit of Connie Willis, in that it doesn't shy away from the tragedy and hardship of life in medieval Europe. The mythology is a bit opaque at times, but it is beautiful as well. If I hadn't been on the subway while reading the last chapter I'm pretty sure I would have burst into tears - it all wrapped up perfectly yet sadly.

Also - best talking cat ever.