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Reading reports for August, September and October 2006

As my regular readers will know, I was very busy doing other things than writing reviews during most of the summer, and neglected some of the regular features of this blog. One of these things was the reading report. Now I want to make amends, so here are reading reports for the last three months, all in one blog entry.

As always, if I haven't reviewed it, you can request a review.

August report:

Reviewed:
The Seagull's Laughter: Kristín Marja Baldursdóttir (in Icelandic)
My sister's keeper: Jodi Picoult
Love bites: Lynsay Sands

Unreviewed:
Matarsögur: Sigrún Sigurðardóttir & Guðrún Pálsdóttir, eds. (interviews and reminiscences about food by Icelandic women, with recipes)
Nerd in shining armor: Vicki Lewis Thompson (romance)

Rereads: (Unreviewed)
Equal rites: Terry Pratchett
Lords and Ladies: Terry Pratchett
Wyrd sisters: Terry Pratchett
Witches abroad: Terry Pratchett


September report:

Reviewed and upcoming reviews:
Death of a hussy: MC Beaton (upcoming)
Anyone but you: Jennifer Crusie
Fasting Feasting: Anita Desai
Ritual murder: ST Haymon
A Very long engagement: Sebastien Japrisot
The Stone Boudoir - In search of the hidden villages of Sicily: Theresa Maggio
The Hangman's beautiful daughter: Sharyn McCrumb
She walks these hills: Sharyn McCrumb (upcoming)

Rereads: (Unreviewed)
Carpe Jugulum: Terry Pratchett
A Hat full of sky: Terry Pratchett
Maskerade: Terry Pratchett
The Wee Free Men: Terry Pratchett


October report:

Reviewed and upcoming reviews:
The Body Politic: Catherine Aird (upcoming)
Case histories: Kate Atkinson
The Roads to Sata: Alan Booth (upcoming)
The Hangman's Hymn and The Nightingale Gallery: Paul Doherty (upcoming)
News from Tartary: Peter Fleming (upcoming)
Last places: Lawrence Millmann (upcoming)
A Short walk in the Hindu Kush: Eric Newby (upcoming)
Borderlines - A journey in Thailand and Burma: Charles Nicholl (upcoming)
Wintersmith: Terry Pratchett

Unreviewed:
An author bites the dust: Arthur W. Upfield
Jumping the Queue: Mary Wesley

Rereads:
Comrade Don Camillo: Giovanni Guareschi (Icelandic translation)
Sourcery: Terry Pratchett

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