Read: Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game

Re-read of a favourite. Still quite gripping.

Want to read: The rook - Daniel O'Malley

Supernatural secret service mystery novel

Want to read: The age of miracles - Karen Thompson Walker

Novel in which the Earth's rotation mysteriously slows.

Want to read: Straphanger, Saving our cities and ourselves from the automobile - Taras Grescoe

Want to read: Jared Diamond - The world until yesterday

Pros and cons of hunter gatherer societies.

Read: Emma Bull - War for the Oaks

Umpteenth re-read of a favourite. But the first time reading this newer addition, which has three additional scenes from a screenplay version - a fascinating twist on familiar material.

Read: John Barnes - Every hole is outlined

Barnes' writing can be very cerebral, or very emotional. This novella was in the cerebral style - a bit of an odd choice; I think the subject matter of ghosts, death and aging would have benefitted from more warmth.

Read: Justin Cronin - The Twelve

This feels very much like the middle book in a trilogy. Expands a bit on the first, but without the same power of the initial concept. Sets it up for a final book, so there's not much satisfaction from resolution of the plot. But I'll probably re-read it as preparation for the final book, and enjoy it well enough.

Read: Diana Gabaldon - Drums of Autumn

This series is evolving into something quite unusual. Almost a diary of everyday pioneer life. Plot is becoming less of a driving force; just the experience, detail and relationships make it a fascinating read. Which lends itself even more to the extensive length of the books. Reminds me of The Wire, and it's enormous plot arc.

Want to Read: Daniel Kahneman - Thinking Fast and Slow

On several people's lists of top books of 2011. I do love books that deconstruct how we think, and see the world around us.

Want to Read: Steven Pinker - The Better Angels of Our Nature

Optimistic history of human violence - it's decreasing, and we have reason to hope that life will get better. Not enough optimistic books out there - I guess it's not as easy a sell.

Want to Read: Ian McGilchrist - The Master and His Emissary, The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World

Neuroscience of how the different brain hemispheres see the world differently, and how Western society has created an imbalance in privileging the left hemisphere over the right.

Want to Read: Rebecca Skloot - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Henrietta Lacks' cells live on in perpetuity, reproducing in petri dishes everywhere. A strange sort of immortality. Raises questions of ownership and compensation - her family hasn't benefited at all from the discovery that Henrietta's cells would uniquely reproduce - science and society has reaped all the rewards.

Want to Read: Oliver Burkeman - The antidote, happiness for people who can't stand positive thinking

A skeptical happiness expert. Actually, I don't want to read this so much as I think Mark will enjoy reading this.

Read: Emma Bull - Silver and Gold

Reminds me of LeGuin's "A wizard of Earthsea". Which is a very good thing.

Read: Emma Bull & Will Shetterly - Danceland

Same world and some of the characters as "Finder". Not quite as moving, but that may be due to the shorter format.

Want to Read: Elly Griffiths - The Crossing Places

Elly Griffiths - The Crossing Places: crime novel in which a forensic archaeologist dates the bones of a 2000-year-old child

Want to Own: Simon Winchester - Skulls

Photos of Alan Dudley's collection of over 2000 skulls

Want to Own: Leonardo da Vinci, Anatomist - Martin Clayton

Want to Own: Jonathan Singer - Fine Bonsai

Photos of bonsai

Want to Own: Andrew Zuckerman - Flower

Incredible photos of flowers

Want to Own: Joseph Cornell's manual of marvels

A facsimile of a bookwork by one of my favourite artists!

Want to Read: Charles Simic - Dime-store alchemy

A book about Joseph Cornell.

Received as a gift from my sister! Looking forward to reading it :)

Want to Read: Kenji Kobayashi - Keshiki bonsai, the easy, modern way to create miniature landscapes

Want to Read: Robert Sullivan - My American Revolution

After spending the summer in Washington DC, I have a greater interest in the American Revolution. This sounds like a very interesting personal account of travels to Revolutionary historical sites.

Want to Read: P.D. Smith - City: A Guidebook for the Urban Age

History of cities through the centuries; New York Times review compared it to Norman Davies' history of Europe (which reminds me that I really need to finish reading that book - it used to be my regular breakfast read until it was supplanted by newspapers...).

Want to Read: Jeff Speck - Walkable City

Walkability as the critical factor for healthy cities.

Want to Own: Patricia Jennings - Georgia O'Keeffe's Hawaii

Beautiful Hawaii, in beautiful paintings by a favourite artist. What a great discovery!

Want to read: Andrew Solomon - Far from the Tree

Interviews with parents

Want to Read: Witold Rybczynski - The Most Beautiful House in the World

The author's story about building a home. I've read some of his other history and architecture books, which were great. It also sounds like this might be along the lines of Michael Pollan's "A Place of My Own", a favourite book about how architectural design works and feels.

Want to Read: Erin Morgenstern - The Night Circus

I remember reading a great review for this book, although I don't remember any specifics of what kind of novel it is. But I just saw an ad that it's out in paperback and ebook now, which reminds me that I did want to add it to my list.

Want to Read: Kristin Cashore - Bitterblue

Fantasy novel. Great review in Toronto Star. Third in series (so should read the other two first).

Read: Elizabeth Wein - Code Name Verity

Great review in the Toronto Star. Sounds like a mash-up of Connie Willis' WWII novels and Diana Gabaldon's historic adventures.

-------

Update: read, twice. The style/language is initially a bit jarring, seems anachronistically crude/contemporary. But the power of the plot eventually kicks in, and it made me cry both times at the critical moment. 

Read: Diana Gabaldon - An Echo in the Bone

Have managed to get my addiction to this series more or less under control by limiting myself to only reading it on my iPhone, while riding transit. Find myself wishing for a longer commute...

Read: Diana Gabaldon - A Breath of Snow and Ashes

Have spent so many hours reading while promising I would stop after just another hour. Next thing you know, six hours have gone by...

Read: Diana Gabaldon - The Fiery Cross

Still hooked. Must stop reading and re-engage with the real world.

Read: Diana Gabaldon - Drums of Autumn

Hooked on this series. It's becoming less plot-driven, or more a diary of pioneer life. Which is surprisingly engrossing.

Read: Paul Duchscherer - Along bungalow lines : creating an arts & crafts style home

Inspiring, beautiful historic Arts & Crafts bungalows, but not quite what we're aiming for with our home reno.

Read: Treena Crochet - Bungalow style : creating classic interiors in your arts and crafts home

Beautiful book, but maybe not entirely applicable to our home reno. We've got a bungalow. I love Arts and Crafts style. But we'll probably go for something using similar principles, but in a lighter, more contemporary look, rather than sticking to something so historically accurate.

Read: Sarah Susanka - Home by design : transforming your house into home

Can't stop reading her books.

Read: Sarah Susanka - Inside the not so big house : discovering the details that bring a home to life

I'm definitely binging on Sarah Susanka.

Read: Sarah Susanka - Creating the not so big house : insights and ideas for the new American home

Again, love it.

Read: Sarah Susanka - More not so big solutions for your home

Can't get enough of Sarah Susanka's books. Even though I'm reading about the same principles over again, seeing new examples helps so much in envisioning how to use these ideas in our own home.

Read: Sarah Susanka - Not so big remodeling : tailoring your home for the way you really live

Love it. Very useful. Our home reno ideas are evolving.

Read: Sarah Susanka - The Not So Big House, A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live

Love this book, a classic of good home design, with really practical and instructive examples.

Read: Diana Galbaldon - Voyager

I am totally hooked on Diana Gabaldon's series. Like Barbara Pym crossed with Connie Willis.

Want to Read: Stephen King - 11/22/63

And now I shall read it - thanks Jenn for the Christmas gift!

Want to Read: Chris Turner - The Leap, How to Survive and Thrive in the Sustainable Economy

Want to Read: Tamar Adler - An Everlasting Meal, Cooking with Economy and Grace