I’m currently reading:
A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini
On the shelf waiting for my attention:
Soul Mountain (in English) by Gao Xingjian
Shopping List:
Must get Marian Keyes new novel…yes I am not a total book snob and she is my fave Chick Lit author. Special fun when she delivers a new novel.
Australian Short Stories 2009. Ed D.Falconer. release date November 2009
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (Booker ’09)
Library List:
More books on Forbidden City for Travel piece.
Year of The Flood by Margaret Atwood. (did you know you can follow Margaret Atwood on twitter! @MargaretAtwood)
T. Pratcher, Last Continent (was recommended to read this…sounds a bit dodgy… 
)
Was reading:
The BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE of OSCAR WAO by Junot Diaz
TWITTER! Stop distracting me…… must read…must read…must read…must tweet… must.. must.. must tweet…
The Sleepers Almanac No.5 Eds.Dattner and Swinn
(OMG but I have to admit I spend more time on Twitter than reading lately. Damn that’s dumb!)
(18th October 2009- I never seem to be able to read an anthology of short stories in order. Does anyone else have this problem? It drives me nuts because clearly the editor will have carefully selected their place within the covers…but I…just…can’t…do…it!)
The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas.
Although already wondering why the c word needs to be on the friggin first page. I don’t mind the odd swear word but dislike that particular one. Obviously the kid isn’t the only one who is going to be slapped.
It’s won a few awards so I will continue reading just to see why.
PS- It was caned by my last lecturer as “annoying’- I think in particular she found the switching of perspective tiresome and nothing terribly new.
We’ll see!
25/9/09 OMG I must be sooo sheltered. I’m losing interest. The female perspective is overly masculine. I think this bloke watched far too much sex in the city…with a big focus on Samantha… Or perhaps with all the study I’ve been doing I’m not in the right frame of mind. (I really have to get this book back to my personal librarian Rosa some time this century….)
1/10/09 Lawd finally finished it. Loved Manolis Chapter. Didn’t like the stereotypes…but then that is what it’s all about…
Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
I re-read this novel due to the delicious descriptions of the Ch’ing Dynasty court life in the Forbidden City.
I travelled to the forbidden city in July ’09. The size and sights of the many palaces within the walled compound can only be described as- amazing, grand, huge, breathtaking and awe-inspiring -all of which are pathetic adjectives that do little justice to this historical treasure.
picture by CarlaDelvex: detail of wall sculpture Forbidden City, Beijing
Come away with me. Travel Anthology, Ed. S. Macdonald
E. Gilbert., Eat, Pray, Love. Memoir (Travel)
M.Lindley., The private papers of Eastern Jewel: A Novel. (I left this on the cruise ship- the Costa Classica, which is based in Asia. It was a great read for this trip as the narrative travelled from China to Japan as did my itinerary. It was a simple read but relaxing and perfect for by the poolside. I hope others on the ship enjoy it too.)
E.Hemingway., A Farewell to Arms.
The Best Australian Stories 2008., Short Story Anthology. Ed. D. Falconer
