Finished March 26
Pulp and Paper by Josh Rolnick
This collection of short stories offers diverse experiences from a varied group of characters.
This collection is a winner of the John Simmons Short Fiction Award. The eight stories here are split into two sections, with four stories set in New Jersey and four set in New York. The main characters in the stories range from children to adults, and include both women and men. From a bereaved father to a young boy struggling with his mom moving on from his father's death, from violent disruptions to slow decay, these stories show loss.
The strength of these stories is in the characters and their reactions to the events that take place around them. An engaging and promising collection.
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Monday, 26 March 2012
Walking Backwards
Finished March 25
Walking Backwards: grant tours, minor visitations, miraculous journeys, and a few good meals by Mark Frutkin
This nonfiction books is a look back at ten cities Frutkin visited in the past (sometimes quite distant) and his experiences doing so. From the sixties to the recent past, this is a tale of adventures, enlightenment, getting lost and finding the unexpected. There is a wonderful lot about food (I started getting hungry) and culture.
A wonderful look at travel and its perks, by a great writer.
A favourite line: Paris is not a city of a thousand novels but is a single novel of incomparable complexity and depth, one with over two million characters.
I love to travel, and this made me want to rush out and buy tickets to somewhere, to revel in the experience again.
Walking Backwards: grant tours, minor visitations, miraculous journeys, and a few good meals by Mark Frutkin
This nonfiction books is a look back at ten cities Frutkin visited in the past (sometimes quite distant) and his experiences doing so. From the sixties to the recent past, this is a tale of adventures, enlightenment, getting lost and finding the unexpected. There is a wonderful lot about food (I started getting hungry) and culture.
A wonderful look at travel and its perks, by a great writer.
A favourite line: Paris is not a city of a thousand novels but is a single novel of incomparable complexity and depth, one with over two million characters.
I love to travel, and this made me want to rush out and buy tickets to somewhere, to revel in the experience again.
Sunday, 25 March 2012
The Wild Rose
Finished March 24
The Wild Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
This is the third book in the Rose series, with the first being The Tea Rose (read before I started blogging), and the second The Winter Rose. Here the story focuses around Seamie, Fiona's younger brother, an adventurer, and the woman he loves, Willa Alden (the Wild Rose). Their story started in the Winter Rose, and continues here. It is an ill-fated love affair, with the two separated time again through either their own actions, or through other circumstances. With locations from London to Nepal to Egypt, the action takes place in interesting locales, and with the backdrop of the First World War the action and intrigue come naturally. There are spies, adventurers, suffragettes, and hard working men and women. From the charms of Arabia to the excitements of Paris, the novel takes us on a wide range of experiences during the second decade of the twentieth century.
As always the characters are varied and the main ones show complexity. Willa feels frustrated by her injury, and yet determined to make a name for herself in surveying Everest and, later, parts of Egypt. While the women based in England are driven by getting the women a voice through the vote, Willa is independent, oftel playing a man's role, and yet also self-destructive. Seamie is torn between his love for Willa even while she drives him away, his love of adventure, and his responsibilities. Even the "good" people sometimes do things they aren't proud of and this is no fairytale romance.
We see the damaged men that return from the war, and the various methods employed in an attempt to rehabilitate them. Enjoyable and entertaining.
The Wild Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
This is the third book in the Rose series, with the first being The Tea Rose (read before I started blogging), and the second The Winter Rose. Here the story focuses around Seamie, Fiona's younger brother, an adventurer, and the woman he loves, Willa Alden (the Wild Rose). Their story started in the Winter Rose, and continues here. It is an ill-fated love affair, with the two separated time again through either their own actions, or through other circumstances. With locations from London to Nepal to Egypt, the action takes place in interesting locales, and with the backdrop of the First World War the action and intrigue come naturally. There are spies, adventurers, suffragettes, and hard working men and women. From the charms of Arabia to the excitements of Paris, the novel takes us on a wide range of experiences during the second decade of the twentieth century.
As always the characters are varied and the main ones show complexity. Willa feels frustrated by her injury, and yet determined to make a name for herself in surveying Everest and, later, parts of Egypt. While the women based in England are driven by getting the women a voice through the vote, Willa is independent, oftel playing a man's role, and yet also self-destructive. Seamie is torn between his love for Willa even while she drives him away, his love of adventure, and his responsibilities. Even the "good" people sometimes do things they aren't proud of and this is no fairytale romance.
We see the damaged men that return from the war, and the various methods employed in an attempt to rehabilitate them. Enjoyable and entertaining.
The Pun Also Rises
Finished March 22
The Pun Also Rises: how the humble pun revolutionized language, changed history, and made wordplay more than some antics by John Pollack, read by Pete Larkin
This is more than just a history of puns, it is a history of language, a history of humour, and shows that social changes over the centuries around this form of humour. Puns are rich in the use of language and that is both the appeal and the fun of them. But because they play with language, puns are also seen as a threat by some. They've definitely been used subversively and politically and have been a tool of social and political change. They are also a great tool for literacy and language learning. A few puns are included here, but the book is more about the history. Having a punster for a father, I've grown up with puns, and found the book very interesting.
The Pun Also Rises: how the humble pun revolutionized language, changed history, and made wordplay more than some antics by John Pollack, read by Pete Larkin
This is more than just a history of puns, it is a history of language, a history of humour, and shows that social changes over the centuries around this form of humour. Puns are rich in the use of language and that is both the appeal and the fun of them. But because they play with language, puns are also seen as a threat by some. They've definitely been used subversively and politically and have been a tool of social and political change. They are also a great tool for literacy and language learning. A few puns are included here, but the book is more about the history. Having a punster for a father, I've grown up with puns, and found the book very interesting.
Thursday, 22 March 2012
The Disciple of Las Vegas
Finished March 21
The Disciple of Las Vegas by Ian Hamilton
This is the second book in the series featuring Ava Lee, the Toronto-based, Chinese-Canadian, martial arts expert, forensic accountant. The first was the Water Rat of Wanchai. Here we have Ava and her partner Uncle working for the richest man in the Philippines, Tommy Ordonoz.
The action takes Ava from the Philippines to Vancouver, San Francisco, London, and, of course, Las Vegas. Besides tracking down the largest money prize she's ever gone after, more than $50 million, Ava is also being targeted by a previous victim and there is a price on her head.
With fast moving action, some decidely unpleasant men on both sides of the financial situation, and some new friends, this book will keep you reading right until the end. I didn't go to bed until I finished it.
The Disciple of Las Vegas by Ian Hamilton
This is the second book in the series featuring Ava Lee, the Toronto-based, Chinese-Canadian, martial arts expert, forensic accountant. The first was the Water Rat of Wanchai. Here we have Ava and her partner Uncle working for the richest man in the Philippines, Tommy Ordonoz.
The action takes Ava from the Philippines to Vancouver, San Francisco, London, and, of course, Las Vegas. Besides tracking down the largest money prize she's ever gone after, more than $50 million, Ava is also being targeted by a previous victim and there is a price on her head.
With fast moving action, some decidely unpleasant men on both sides of the financial situation, and some new friends, this book will keep you reading right until the end. I didn't go to bed until I finished it.
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Worth Dying For
Finished March 20
Worth Dying For by Lee Child, read by Dick Hill
Wonderful, as always. Reacher is on his way to Virginia, continuing where he left off in 61 Hours. Again, he is in a rural area, this time in Nebraska. He has been let off near a small motel, the Apollo Inn, in the middle of nowhere. There is one other patron at the motel bar, a doctor well on his way to getting drunk. When a call comes in from a patient of the doctor, Reacher insists on driving him to the patient's home. What he finds there set him off against the victim's husband and gets the husband eager to have revenge. As usual, one thing leads to another, and Reacher is heavily involved.
The community is one bound to a very controlling family, seemingly locked in a situation they can't get out of. Some of the situation there are in is due to the family's greed. But there is also an incident dating back 25 years to a missing child that has set the community against each other. Reacher finds himself investigating this old case to try to find the truth, and he finds so much more. International smuggling is part of the scene and some very determined people are involved.
A great listen, very entertaining, with pageturning action.
Worth Dying For by Lee Child, read by Dick Hill
Wonderful, as always. Reacher is on his way to Virginia, continuing where he left off in 61 Hours. Again, he is in a rural area, this time in Nebraska. He has been let off near a small motel, the Apollo Inn, in the middle of nowhere. There is one other patron at the motel bar, a doctor well on his way to getting drunk. When a call comes in from a patient of the doctor, Reacher insists on driving him to the patient's home. What he finds there set him off against the victim's husband and gets the husband eager to have revenge. As usual, one thing leads to another, and Reacher is heavily involved.
The community is one bound to a very controlling family, seemingly locked in a situation they can't get out of. Some of the situation there are in is due to the family's greed. But there is also an incident dating back 25 years to a missing child that has set the community against each other. Reacher finds himself investigating this old case to try to find the truth, and he finds so much more. International smuggling is part of the scene and some very determined people are involved.
A great listen, very entertaining, with pageturning action.
Friday, 16 March 2012
To The Edge of the Sea
Finished March 16
To the Edge of the Sea by Anne McDonald
This short novel is lyrical and flows between four characters. Set in the summer and fall of 1864, this book begins in PEI and takes us across the Canadas to Niagara Falls. Two young men in PEI, brothers, Alex and Reggie are very different. Reggie, the oldest, is seasick every time he goes out on his father's fishing boat, yet he is the responsible one, the one who asks before he acts. Alex is impulsive and a natural fisherman. When a circus comes to the island, Alex leaves in the night to go to town to see it. He is drawn to the actions of the highwire performers and follows them beyond his island home. Reggie is changed by Alex's disappearance and makes choices in his own life that change his life forever.
At the same time, the leaders of Upper and Lower Canada come to PEI to try to get agreement to form a nation. This is the start of a road trip from the island across the Canadas and we see things from the eyes of John A Macdonald himself and the eyes of Mercy, daughter of PEI delegate George Coles, a young woman both drawn and repelled by John A. This is a journey, and a discovery and a leaving.
Mercy leaves behind her younger, more innocent self. John A leaves behind part of himself as a cost to forming a new country. Alex leaves behind his island home and family. Reggie leaves a life he was born into, but not without cost. From Canadian history to the famous Farinis, this novel explores change and a sense of inevitability. Very enjoyable.
To the Edge of the Sea by Anne McDonald
This short novel is lyrical and flows between four characters. Set in the summer and fall of 1864, this book begins in PEI and takes us across the Canadas to Niagara Falls. Two young men in PEI, brothers, Alex and Reggie are very different. Reggie, the oldest, is seasick every time he goes out on his father's fishing boat, yet he is the responsible one, the one who asks before he acts. Alex is impulsive and a natural fisherman. When a circus comes to the island, Alex leaves in the night to go to town to see it. He is drawn to the actions of the highwire performers and follows them beyond his island home. Reggie is changed by Alex's disappearance and makes choices in his own life that change his life forever.
At the same time, the leaders of Upper and Lower Canada come to PEI to try to get agreement to form a nation. This is the start of a road trip from the island across the Canadas and we see things from the eyes of John A Macdonald himself and the eyes of Mercy, daughter of PEI delegate George Coles, a young woman both drawn and repelled by John A. This is a journey, and a discovery and a leaving.
Mercy leaves behind her younger, more innocent self. John A leaves behind part of himself as a cost to forming a new country. Alex leaves behind his island home and family. Reggie leaves a life he was born into, but not without cost. From Canadian history to the famous Farinis, this novel explores change and a sense of inevitability. Very enjoyable.
Big Bad Sheep
Finished March 15
Big Bad Sheep by Bettina Wegenast, illustrated by Katharina Busshoff
This is a cute children's book I picked up at a library conference this week. When the Three Little Pigs wander by the sheep, chanting "The Wolf is dead", one of the sheep wonders what he was like. Karl, who is a bit of a sheep troublemaker decides to apply for the job, and goes off with his friend Locke to the Job Office. He convinces the recruiter to let him do the job on probation and tries to really get into it.
This is an interesting read around taking on a persona. Putting on the wolf accoutrements gets Karl into the mindset of being a wolf, and he forgets his real identity. Locke is shocked and appalled at Karl and himself ventures outside his comfort zone to try to fix things.
I enjoyed the story and the idea of putting on an identity with putting on the skin of that identity and how the sheep come to terms with the results of this.
Aimed at ages 8-12, this is an imaginative story that takes a child beyond fairy tales to thinking about the characters.
Big Bad Sheep by Bettina Wegenast, illustrated by Katharina Busshoff
This is a cute children's book I picked up at a library conference this week. When the Three Little Pigs wander by the sheep, chanting "The Wolf is dead", one of the sheep wonders what he was like. Karl, who is a bit of a sheep troublemaker decides to apply for the job, and goes off with his friend Locke to the Job Office. He convinces the recruiter to let him do the job on probation and tries to really get into it.
This is an interesting read around taking on a persona. Putting on the wolf accoutrements gets Karl into the mindset of being a wolf, and he forgets his real identity. Locke is shocked and appalled at Karl and himself ventures outside his comfort zone to try to fix things.
I enjoyed the story and the idea of putting on an identity with putting on the skin of that identity and how the sheep come to terms with the results of this.
Aimed at ages 8-12, this is an imaginative story that takes a child beyond fairy tales to thinking about the characters.
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Save Me
Finished March 12
Save Me by Lisa Scottoline, read by Cynthia Nixon
Another great thriller from Scottline, and nice to have finished it on the drive down to Philadelphia for PLA Conference. Rose McKenna is a young mother who has volunteered at her daughter's school as a lunch mom because she is worried about reported teasing by other kid's. Her daughter, Melly, is in third grade and has a large birthmark on her cheek. Melly is self-conscious about it, and Rose is aware of that and worries about her fitting in. When Rose sees some other girls teasing Melly, she approaches them and reminds them of the school's anti-bullying policy.
Unexpectedly there is an explosion and subsequent fire and Rose has to decide whether to help the girls she is talking to, or go look for Melly who has run to the washroom. Even after Rose makes her move, she keeps questioning her decision and feels the need to find out all aspects of what happened that day. Despite her husband's advice, Rose keeps digging and her actions put her into another life-threatening situation.
With lots of twists and turns, interesting characters, and a good plot, Scottoline pulls off another great read. Looking forward to hearing her speak Thursday evening.
Save Me by Lisa Scottoline, read by Cynthia Nixon
Another great thriller from Scottline, and nice to have finished it on the drive down to Philadelphia for PLA Conference. Rose McKenna is a young mother who has volunteered at her daughter's school as a lunch mom because she is worried about reported teasing by other kid's. Her daughter, Melly, is in third grade and has a large birthmark on her cheek. Melly is self-conscious about it, and Rose is aware of that and worries about her fitting in. When Rose sees some other girls teasing Melly, she approaches them and reminds them of the school's anti-bullying policy.
Unexpectedly there is an explosion and subsequent fire and Rose has to decide whether to help the girls she is talking to, or go look for Melly who has run to the washroom. Even after Rose makes her move, she keeps questioning her decision and feels the need to find out all aspects of what happened that day. Despite her husband's advice, Rose keeps digging and her actions put her into another life-threatening situation.
With lots of twists and turns, interesting characters, and a good plot, Scottoline pulls off another great read. Looking forward to hearing her speak Thursday evening.
Friday, 9 March 2012
Crossing the Continent
Finished March 9
Crossing the Continent by Michel Tremblay, translated by Sheila Fischman
This is a gem of a novel. Nana (Rhéauna) is ten years old, the oldest of three sisters who live with their grandparents near the tiny French village of Maria, Saskatchewan. Unexpectedly, Nana's mother, who lives in Montreal, has sent for her to come and live with her, with her sisters following sometime in the future. Nana is sent on the train, but because of the great distance makes three stops along the way.
The first stop is in Regina, with her great-aunt Régina, a sour woman that Nana has always been a little afraid of. Nana discovers something wonderful about her great-aunt and sets off from Regina looked after by a young man working on the train, Jacques.
Nana has a long ride to Winnipeg, but is met by a large contingent at the stations, all organized by her great-aunt Bebette. Here the food is much better, but Nana is overwhelmed by the people, the food, and the circumstances.
Nana's next train journey is much longer, to Ottawa. She has a companion on the portion to Toronto, a friend of Bebette's who talks nonstop the whole way. She is in awe of the Great Lakes when she first sees them, and is able to find solace in the view from her window.
In Ottawa, she stays with her cousin Ti-Lou, a woman with a considerable reputation and elite clientele. Nana doesn't entirely understand what Ti-Lou does, but gets a sense of it, and is able to unburden her worries to Ti-Lou and get some interesting advice in return.
The last leg of her journey to Montreal is short, and Nana is looked after by another nice young man, Michael, who delivers her into the hands of her mother.
One theme obvious here is Nana's exposure to the three archetypes of women: the spinster, the wife and mother, and the prostitute. Nana gets a taste of each seeing a glimpse of each life and the appeal of each. The other is of course the journey (Canadian novel as road trip, as my niece is studying in her university course) which is both real and symbolic. The journey is also a coming of age, from a sheltered existence in a small isolated village, to a life of responsibility in a big city, with added knowledge of life along the way and increased exposure to bigger and bigger places as she goes. It also crosses a large expanse of our country.
The novel is also apparently backstory to another Tremblay novel Chronicles of the Plateau Mont-Royal, a book I shall have to seek out now and read. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.
Crossing the Continent by Michel Tremblay, translated by Sheila Fischman
This is a gem of a novel. Nana (Rhéauna) is ten years old, the oldest of three sisters who live with their grandparents near the tiny French village of Maria, Saskatchewan. Unexpectedly, Nana's mother, who lives in Montreal, has sent for her to come and live with her, with her sisters following sometime in the future. Nana is sent on the train, but because of the great distance makes three stops along the way.
The first stop is in Regina, with her great-aunt Régina, a sour woman that Nana has always been a little afraid of. Nana discovers something wonderful about her great-aunt and sets off from Regina looked after by a young man working on the train, Jacques.
Nana has a long ride to Winnipeg, but is met by a large contingent at the stations, all organized by her great-aunt Bebette. Here the food is much better, but Nana is overwhelmed by the people, the food, and the circumstances.
Nana's next train journey is much longer, to Ottawa. She has a companion on the portion to Toronto, a friend of Bebette's who talks nonstop the whole way. She is in awe of the Great Lakes when she first sees them, and is able to find solace in the view from her window.
In Ottawa, she stays with her cousin Ti-Lou, a woman with a considerable reputation and elite clientele. Nana doesn't entirely understand what Ti-Lou does, but gets a sense of it, and is able to unburden her worries to Ti-Lou and get some interesting advice in return.
The last leg of her journey to Montreal is short, and Nana is looked after by another nice young man, Michael, who delivers her into the hands of her mother.
One theme obvious here is Nana's exposure to the three archetypes of women: the spinster, the wife and mother, and the prostitute. Nana gets a taste of each seeing a glimpse of each life and the appeal of each. The other is of course the journey (Canadian novel as road trip, as my niece is studying in her university course) which is both real and symbolic. The journey is also a coming of age, from a sheltered existence in a small isolated village, to a life of responsibility in a big city, with added knowledge of life along the way and increased exposure to bigger and bigger places as she goes. It also crosses a large expanse of our country.
The novel is also apparently backstory to another Tremblay novel Chronicles of the Plateau Mont-Royal, a book I shall have to seek out now and read. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.
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