98. Summer at Fairacre by Miss Read

Miss Read, village school teacher, copes with her matchmaking friend Amy, school cleaner Mrs Pringle walking off the job, a film company doing a documentary about a local poet and many other challenges. Who knew living in a small village could be so hectic and stressful?

97: Fishes of Toronto: A guide to their remarkable world

Contributing Authors: Rod Anderton, Pat Viggiani, Erling Holm, Mike Correa, Wil Wegman, Meg St. John, Chris Robinson, Colin Lake, Kelly Snow, Charles Weiss. A very informative, well illustrated and layed-out booklet that is part of the City of Toronto Biodiversity Series. I received a copy, signed by wildlife painter Charles Weiss at the opening of an art exhibit hosted by SONSI (Southern Ontario Nature and Science Illustrators). I would like to read others in the series and acquire them for classroom use.

96.About My Father's Business by Lillian Beckwith

In a second autobiographical book, Lillian Beckwith remembers her father's grocery shop in a Cheshire village in the 1920s. Amusing anecdotes about childhood friends, shop customers and her parents make it a gentle & enjoyable read.

95. The Other British Isles by David W. Moore

A History of Shetland, Orkney, the Hebrides, Isle of Man, Anglesey, Scilly, Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands. With chapters about each of the islands or archipelagos, this book spans early Neolithic settlement; Roman, Norse and Norman occupation; Medieval, Tudor and Stuart eras; to modern political and economic history. This book is well researched and documented, however I found it a difficult to get through sections that I was not particularly interested in.

94. The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett

This novel is divided into four "books":1 Mrs Baines - relates the childhood and adolescence of sisters Constance and Sophia Baines; 2 Constance - the elder sister  marries the respectable Mr Povey and takes over the family business; 3 Sophia - the younger sister elopes to Paris with a rakish salesman and becomes a hotel proprietor; and 4 What Life Is - the denouement in which the sisters reunite and the story lines are brought to conclusion.

93. Little Women by Louise May Alcott

First published in 1868, Little Women has since been considered a "must read" for girls. The four March sisters are very different in personality and aspirations. Each one learns life's lessons and adjusts her dreams to align with the reality she experiences. Many readers will empathize with the character they feel akin too.

92. Norse Mythology: The Myths and Legends of the Nordic Gods by Arthur Cotterell

Laid out like an encyclopedia, this book gives detailed information about the major gods, goddesses and places of Norse Mythology. The illustrations, which add greatly to the reader's understanding,  come from a variety of sources and periods.

91. The Art Room by Susan Vande Griek & Pascal Milelli

A poetic tale of children who take art lessons from Emily Carr. Richly illustrated - a visual and literary treat.

90.Tales from the Norse Legends by Edward Ferrie

Read by Benjamin Soames. From the Creation of the Universe to Ragnarok - the preordained doom of the Gods - this volume's 12 stories are wonderfully read and accompanied by the music of Mahler, Grieg and Smetana. A great listening experience.

89. Sugar: A Bittersweet History by Elizabeth Abbott

A well researched and well written history of sugar that explains how the taste for sweets literally changed the world. From slavery in the West Indies to indentured labour in Mauritiaus to deforestation and environmental degradation in Brazil and Florida sugar plantations have left their scars.

88. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawerence

When it was first published in 1928, this best known D. H. Lawerence novel was banned as obscene. Its explicit scenes and language and the breaking of social taboos were controversial when it was eventually published in full in 1960. Sir Clifford Chatterley returns from World War One a broken man, paralysed from the waist down. He has returned to his country seat, Wragby and a different world. Lady Constance Chatterley has an affair with their gamekeeper Oliver Mellors who has also been changed by his time abroad in the army.

87. The Bay of Strangers by Lillian Beckwith

This book is a collection of eight short stories set in the Hebrides and told from a variety of different perspectives. Some have happy endings others, not so much. The rugged Scottish Highland landscape and the resilience of its residence figure prominently.

86. Making Life Rich Without Any Money by Phil Callaway

Callaway retells stories from the lives of the famous, infamous and average folk with humour and Christian insight. In these difficult economic times this book first published in 1998, has been re-released with new stories of encouragement and hope to help people find true richness in their relationships and their lives.

85. Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones

Teenage Matilda lives in Bougainville Island in Papua New Guinea during a civil war in the 1990s. New Zealander, and sole white on the island, Mr Watts assumes the role of teacher and reads Great Expectations to Matilda and her classmates. Getting lost in Dicken's London and Pip's life experiences helps the youngsters to cope with the violence and depredation going on around them.

84. An Island Apart by Lillian Beckwith

This novel is a departure from Beckwith's Bruach series. Kirsty MacLennan is a hard working, resourceful spinster employed in a city boarding house. When boarder and Island man Ruari MacDonald suddenly proposes marriage, she hardly knows what to think. Suddenly her life is changed and many twists and turns bring the plot to a surprising conclusion.

83. Bruach Blend by Lillian Beckwith

Another collection of amusing anecdotes and stories shared at céilidhs. "Miss Peckwitt" remembers various animals she's looked after from gulls to hedgehogs to lambs.

82. The Turkish Embassy Letters by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu

This book is a collection of letters written to family and friends, by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, between 2 August 1716 and 1 November 1718. It seems she was the first woman to see and write about the private lives of women in Turkey at that time. She records an early form of inoculation against smallpox and describes animals, plants and food that would seem exotic to the letters' recipients.

81.The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection by Alexander McCall Smith

Precious Ramotswe and her secretary/assistant Grace Makutsi solve cases that involve their friends with the help of their mentor Clovis Anderson, the author of "The Principles of Private Detection". Garage mechanic Fanwell, Mma Potokwane matron of the orphan farm and Mma Makutsi and her new husband Phuti Radiphuti, all find themselves victims of dishonest people who seek only personal gain. One by one, the cases get solved and hard working, honest people prevail.

80. Beautiful Just by Lillian Beckwith

A series of vignettes in the highland crofting life:"Miss Peckwitt" raises a calf and reluctantly takes him to market; whelk picking; more tales of the supernatural and local customs

79. Making Life Rich Without Any Money by Phil Callaway

I ordered this thinking it was the book we're reading in my church book group. Turns out it's a very nice companion volume with great photos, quotes and top ten lists. Some great ideas like not wearing a watch on Sundays. I think I'll try that this week.

78. The Spuddy by Lillian Beckwith

The Spuddy is a grey-black mongrel who is befriended by a mute boy named Andy. After his mother walked out, Andy is left in the care of his Aunt and Uncle, in a Hebridean fishing village, by his father is away with the Navy. The exciting climax results in a surprising ending.

77. Christmas at Thrush Green by Miss Read

A charming story that features all of my favourite Thrush Green characters including the curmudgeonly Albert Piggot who retires as church sexton and the redoubtable Ella Bembridge who is suffering from macular degeneration and then falls and breaks her wrist.

76. Lightly Poached by Lillian Beckwith

Another enjoyable read filled with eccentric and lovable characters. Beckwith has, by now, thoroughly adapted to her new life in the Hebrides and finds it difficult to contemplate going back to town life in England. She's working, eating and dressing like a local and using their idioms too.

75. The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds by Alexander McCall Smith

Philosopher Isabel Dalhousie is asked to help facilitate the return of a stolen masterpiece to its rightful owners. McCall Smith implies that in many real cases, thieves return works of art for ransom payments. They know that they can't sell the paintings on the open market and claim reward money from owners or insurance companies. I'm still puzzling over which suspect was the true culprit in this novel.

74. A Rope - In Case by Lillian Beckwith

"Miss Peckwitt" has got into the Hebredean habit of bringing a piece of rope when she goes out - in case. It comes in handy more than once in this book of amusing anecdotes and observations about working a croft, local customs,  belief in the supernatural and superstitions in the fictional Scottish island of Bruach.

73. Portmeirion by Jan Morris et al

This coffee table book is filled with wonderful photographs of the titled Welsh village built by architect Clough Williams-Ellis. Chapters are devoted to the history, gardens, buildings and pottery of Portmeirion.

72. The Green Hand by Lillian Beckwith

Welshman David Jones is a "Green Hand" or novice fisherman in Scotland. His religious parents have disowned him for not following his father's footsteps in their community. David, with the help of some rough and ready skippers and crewmen learns the ropes and finds himself.

71. Emma by Jane Austen

I really had to persevere to finish this book as I did not enjoy reading it. Emma Wodehouse, the title character, fancies herself as a matchmaker for her friends but vows that she will never marry. You can guess where this is all leading. Again, I have to say that I do not find Austen's characters sympathetic or very interesting. Of the five of her six novels I've read, Northanger Abbey is still by far my favourite.

70. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I have to confess that after reading the first quarter of this novel I thought, "It's about a silly woman who wants to get her five daughters married off". I did not find any of the characters sympathetic. However, since I am very interested in Georgian England,I persevered and I'm glad I did. The true characters of the young men, who are prospective husbands for the sisters, are gradually revealed and things get more interesting.

69. The Loud Halo by Lillian Beckwith

Another amusing glimpse of croft life in the fictional village of Bruach, on a Hebridean Island in Scotland. From every day farm labour  to special events like an election or a tinker's wedding, this third volume in the series is full of  entertaining stories and keen observances.

68. Jane's Fame: How Jane Austen Conquered the World by Claire Harman

Well documented account of Jane Austen's life, works and the posthumous popularity of her books. Interesting how film and television brought her novels to a new audience in the 1990s. I have read only two of her six books: Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. I've also see the Emma Thompson version of Sense and Sensibility. Need to put Pride an Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma on my "to read" list.

67. The Crocodile Bird by Ruth Rendell

Liza, at the age of sixteen, runs away to live in a caravan with her boyfriend after her mother has been arrested for murder. Liza has been witness or has knowledge of three. During her upbringing in the gatehouse of "Shrove" a secluded mansion, Liza was home schooled by her mother who sought refuge from a troubled history. Although not street smart, Liza can read and speak French and Latin and is a voracious reader of classic fiction.

66. The Spoilers by Desmond Bagley

A wealthy American movie mogul's daughter dies of a heroin overdose in London. He finances an operation, headed by her doctor, to infiltrate the opium trade in Iraq and Lebanon, with explosive results.

65. The Looking Glass War by John le Carre

Written as a follow up to "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold", this cold-war espionage novel has become a classic in its own right. I wonder how good the film versions were?

64. Blindness by José Saramago

I'm not sure whether to classify this novel as Science Fiction, Horror are a bit of both. An epidemic of sudden blindness, where the victim sees only a milky white fog, brings out the worst in humanity. It's interesting how none of the main characters are given names and are referred to as " the girl with the dark glasses" or " the boy with the squint". A disturbing  and yet compelling tale.

63. Who Could That be at This hour? by Lemony Snicket

A 13 year old Lemony Snicket  and his chaperone are commissioned to recover a statue of the Bombinating Beast and return it to its rightful owner. In true Snicket style, one is never sure who is who and who is the rightful owner. Quirky characters, weird setting and plot twists are reminiscent of the Series of Unfortunate Events. This book is the first of a four part prequel called " All the Wrong Questions" which will overlap the Baudelaire's story line.

62. The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather

First published in 1915, this novel follows the rise of a Swedish-American girl to international stardom as an opera singer. Not your typical rags to riches story, Cather paints a more realistic portrait of Thea Kronborg and the passion and sacrifices that shape her life. Beautiful descriptive passages of the people and places of the fictional town of Moonstone, Colorado create memorable vignettes.

61. Mastering Art: Drawing by Anthony Hodge

Good guide to drawing basics like materials, colour theory,  perspective, composition and the human figure. Suitable for children and beginners.

60. Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

Whimsical tale of a naive kitten who thinks the moon is a little bowl of milk and tries several ways to reach it.

59. Zathura by Chris Van Allsburg

Brothers Danny and Walter learn about getting along together after discovering a board game in the park which takes them on a ride through outer space to the planet Zathura. 

58. Night of the Gargoyes by Eve Bunting

Illustrated by David Wiesner. A poetic picture book about the adventures of museum gargoyles when the sun goes down.

57. Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice

Told in the third person by the young Jesus of Nazereth, between the ages of 8 and 12, this novel seeks to explore what every day life would have been like for the Holy Family. Rice, better known for her vampire novels, has researched and read the skeptics as well as the gospels to fill in the gap between Christmas and Jesus at age thirteen.

55. The Sea For Breakfast by Lillian Beckwith

In this second book of the series, "Miss Peckwitt" returns to the village of Bruach and sets up a croft of her own. It's a steep and humorous learning curve and we meet new members of the community and get reacquainted with old favourites.

56. Picture This! Activities and Adventures in Impressionism by Joyce Raimondo

Very kid-friendly biographies of Impressionist painters and descriptions of their works. Excellent art activities and ideas

54. The Sea of Sleep by Warren Hanson

Illustrations by Jim LaMarche.
In essence the text is a lullaby in poetic form. A young sea otter its mother, various sea creatures and landscapes are beautifully depicted in pastel and watercolour.

53. When Grandma Came by Jill Paton Walsh

Illustrated by Sophy Williams.

Madeleine's atypical Grandmother travels the world and periodically stops to visit. In each successive visit, we see that time has passed and Madeleine has grown up. Grandma compares her granddaughter to the things she has seen in the remote corners of the world.

52. Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather

A charming description of the lives of French missionary priests in the newly created state of New Mexico in the mid-Eighteenth Century. Beautifuly written descriptions of the land and its people.

51. After the Falls: Coming of Age in the Sixties by Catherine Gildiner

Gildiner, a Toronto clinical psychologist writes about her teen and college years in the 1960s. The adjustments she makes from living in Buffalo, NY to college life in Athens, Ohio are testimony to her resilience and depth of character. I really enjoyed her accounts of the donut factory fiasco and sorority life at college.

50. Framed by Gordon Korman

In this third book of the series, Griffin gets framed for stealing a super bowl ring that was given as a gift to his school. A stint in the "Jail for Kids" and an electronic monitoring anklet can't keep the "Man with the Plan" from trying to clear his name.

49. Thrones, Dominations by Dorothy L. Sayers & Jill Paton Walsh

Sayers passed away before completing this mystery novel which takes place in 1936. It was finished by Walsh and published in 1998.  Lord Peter Wimsey and his new bride, the writer Harriet Vane, are adjusting to domestic life together when an acquaintance is found murdered in her suburban home. The historical backdrop includes the death of George V and Hitler's rise to power.

48. Evelina: or the history of a young lady's entry into the world by Fanny Burney

Published anonymously in 1778, Evelina was the highly successful debut novel of Frances "Fanny" Burney. Originally released in three volumes it is written as a series of letters between Evelina Anville, her guardian and various relatives, friends an acquaintances. It is part romance, part mystery and a whole lot of social commentary on Georgian society.