Finished May 16
Armageddon in Retrospect by Kurt Vonnegut
Mark Vonnegut, Kurt's son writes an informative introduction to this collection of not-previously-published works. There is a strong war theme here as well as reference to humanity's moral shortcomings. This collection begins with a letter Vonnegut wrote to his family informing them of his prisoner-of-war status during World War II, and includes both fiction and nonfiction pieces. As usual his work has a dark overtone to it and yet includes his unique sense of humour. Some pieces shock, and some are poignant but all are well-written and thought-provoking. The pieces included here speak not only to Vonnegut's despair of human civilization, but also his hope for it.
Friday, 16 May 2008
Third in series
Finished May 15
A Twist of Orchids by Michelle Wan
I've been reading this series since it started and I'm still thorougly enjoying it. The setting is France's Dogrdogne, although the author is Canadian.
Mara Dunn is an interior designer, who is from Canada but has lived in France for almost a decade. Her friend and lover Julian Wood is a landscape designer and orchidologist. He is from Britain, but has also lived in France for a long time. They are both well-integrated into the local community and have many friends, both local and foreign inhabitants.
One of the neighbours has died in a seeming accident, leaving behind a husband, Joseph, suffering from Parkinson's. Joseph believes someone is coming into his home at night and terrorizing him. Mara is helping out with his meals and thinks something fishy is going on.
Local Turkish shopowners have trouble when their son disappears and their shop is ransacked. They ask Julian, a regular customer, to help find their son but is unable to locate him before he turns up dead of a drug overdose. Julian wonders if this is connected to a undercover drug officer found dead nearby.
Meanwhile someone is casing and robbing unoccupied vacation homes in the area, focusing on antiques and leaving mocking poems behind.
There is a lot going on, and Mara and Julian are still working out the intricacies of their relationship, which adds some emotion to the mix.
A Twist of Orchids by Michelle Wan
I've been reading this series since it started and I'm still thorougly enjoying it. The setting is France's Dogrdogne, although the author is Canadian.
Mara Dunn is an interior designer, who is from Canada but has lived in France for almost a decade. Her friend and lover Julian Wood is a landscape designer and orchidologist. He is from Britain, but has also lived in France for a long time. They are both well-integrated into the local community and have many friends, both local and foreign inhabitants.
One of the neighbours has died in a seeming accident, leaving behind a husband, Joseph, suffering from Parkinson's. Joseph believes someone is coming into his home at night and terrorizing him. Mara is helping out with his meals and thinks something fishy is going on.
Local Turkish shopowners have trouble when their son disappears and their shop is ransacked. They ask Julian, a regular customer, to help find their son but is unable to locate him before he turns up dead of a drug overdose. Julian wonders if this is connected to a undercover drug officer found dead nearby.
Meanwhile someone is casing and robbing unoccupied vacation homes in the area, focusing on antiques and leaving mocking poems behind.
There is a lot going on, and Mara and Julian are still working out the intricacies of their relationship, which adds some emotion to the mix.
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Fascinating Fiction
Finished May 13
The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
This story is about more than just the cellist of the title. It is about living in Sarajevo when it was a war zone, and how living in such an environment affects you. The cellist has made the decision to play his cello in the square where twenty-two people were killed by a shell while standing in line for bread. He plans to play each day for twenty-two days. He becomes a kind of symbol for the people of the city and a potential target for the attackers.
Arrow is a young woman, previously non-violent but trained in sharpshooting, who has been drafted to assist in the protection of the city by working as a sniper against the soldiers in the hills. She chooses her own targets and works alone until she is asked to protect the cellist against a sniper sent by the soldiers. Arrow has separated herself from her previous identity as a coping mechanism, but she may not always be able to go her own way.
Dragan is an man in his sixties who works in a bakery, a protected and vital job. He makes his way each day to the bakery through the dangerous streets of the city. He goes even when he doesn't work to get bread and to eat, saving the provisions at home for the rest of the family. He lives in fear of being killed.
Kenan is a married father with three children. Every four days he makes his way across the city to the brewery for water from the spring there. He must walk across most of the city and cross the river. Each trip he weighs his options as to which route to take, which bridge to cross and still could be taken by a shell or sniper. He also gets water for an elderly neighbour that he doesn't even particularly like.
As each of these three characters comes across the cellist, their story changes due to their awareness of what life in the city has become, and that is what makes the story here.
A wonderful and fascinating read.
The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
This story is about more than just the cellist of the title. It is about living in Sarajevo when it was a war zone, and how living in such an environment affects you. The cellist has made the decision to play his cello in the square where twenty-two people were killed by a shell while standing in line for bread. He plans to play each day for twenty-two days. He becomes a kind of symbol for the people of the city and a potential target for the attackers.
Arrow is a young woman, previously non-violent but trained in sharpshooting, who has been drafted to assist in the protection of the city by working as a sniper against the soldiers in the hills. She chooses her own targets and works alone until she is asked to protect the cellist against a sniper sent by the soldiers. Arrow has separated herself from her previous identity as a coping mechanism, but she may not always be able to go her own way.
Dragan is an man in his sixties who works in a bakery, a protected and vital job. He makes his way each day to the bakery through the dangerous streets of the city. He goes even when he doesn't work to get bread and to eat, saving the provisions at home for the rest of the family. He lives in fear of being killed.
Kenan is a married father with three children. Every four days he makes his way across the city to the brewery for water from the spring there. He must walk across most of the city and cross the river. Each trip he weighs his options as to which route to take, which bridge to cross and still could be taken by a shell or sniper. He also gets water for an elderly neighbour that he doesn't even particularly like.
As each of these three characters comes across the cellist, their story changes due to their awareness of what life in the city has become, and that is what makes the story here.
A wonderful and fascinating read.
Monday, 12 May 2008
A Taste of Travel
Finished May 11
Unforgettable Canada: 100 Destinations by George Fischer and Noel Hudson
This book is a great introduction to travel destinations in Canada. It gives a 2-4 page blurb with pictures of each destination. I liked the fact that it wasn't organized geographically, as that mixed it up a bit. I would have liked an overall map though, that showed where the destinations were exactly as that information was not given in the text. I have been to quite a few of the destinations but have a number that I would like to visit and this book reinstilled that interest. Sometimes in the urge to travel, we forget just how many wonderful places there are within our own country!
Unforgettable Canada: 100 Destinations by George Fischer and Noel Hudson
This book is a great introduction to travel destinations in Canada. It gives a 2-4 page blurb with pictures of each destination. I liked the fact that it wasn't organized geographically, as that mixed it up a bit. I would have liked an overall map though, that showed where the destinations were exactly as that information was not given in the text. I have been to quite a few of the destinations but have a number that I would like to visit and this book reinstilled that interest. Sometimes in the urge to travel, we forget just how many wonderful places there are within our own country!
Spy novel
Finished May 10
At Risk by Stella Rimington
This one had been on my list for a while, and I finally got around to it. Rimington used to head up Britain's MI5, so I was interested to see her take on the spy novel. Her main character is a woman, Liz Carlyle, who is an intelligence officer with MI5. Liz has been doing fairly well at her job, although it has necessitated making some sacrifices in her personal life. She knows that she is good at her job and she feels that this is where she should be, so making those sacrifices is part of the price she is willing to pay. In this first novel, Liz is brought in on a case where there is suspected terrorism. One of her former contacts has come back to her rather than his current minder, and she goes with her gut on the followup to his information. This necessitates working with the police as well as MI6, and she is never sure that MI6 is telling her everything they know. She also doesn't particularly like the MI6 agent that she must work with. She is a strong woman who doesn't let herself be pushed around, and knows the value of her own intelligence. She treats her contacts well. I really liked her as a character. I enjoyed the book with all its twists and turns and will look for the others that Rimington has written.
At Risk by Stella Rimington
This one had been on my list for a while, and I finally got around to it. Rimington used to head up Britain's MI5, so I was interested to see her take on the spy novel. Her main character is a woman, Liz Carlyle, who is an intelligence officer with MI5. Liz has been doing fairly well at her job, although it has necessitated making some sacrifices in her personal life. She knows that she is good at her job and she feels that this is where she should be, so making those sacrifices is part of the price she is willing to pay. In this first novel, Liz is brought in on a case where there is suspected terrorism. One of her former contacts has come back to her rather than his current minder, and she goes with her gut on the followup to his information. This necessitates working with the police as well as MI6, and she is never sure that MI6 is telling her everything they know. She also doesn't particularly like the MI6 agent that she must work with. She is a strong woman who doesn't let herself be pushed around, and knows the value of her own intelligence. She treats her contacts well. I really liked her as a character. I enjoyed the book with all its twists and turns and will look for the others that Rimington has written.
Thursday, 8 May 2008
Exciting Listen
Finished May 8
Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark, read by Jan Maxwell
This is classic Higgins Clark, with lots of twists and turns and suspense. Here Carolyn MacKenzie has just finished an internship with a judge and is taking a break before her next job, hopefully as a DA in New York City. Carolyn's older brother Mack disappeared from his shared apartment ten years ago, but always calls on Mother's Day and this year is no exception. Except this year, Carolyn vows to him that she will find him and find out why he disappeared. She can't stand the way her and her mother's lives have become so wrapped around this. A warning note is left for Carolyn at the church her uncle presides over telling her not to look for him, and her mother urges her to abide by her brother's wishes. She pretends to, to placate her mother, but continues to revisit his friends and haunts to try to track him down.
Meanwhile a beautiful young woman has gone missing in the city and Mack's best friend and roommate is a suspect in that crime but, due to Carolyn's renewal of the search for Mack, so is he. As Carolyn pursuit's her search, she brings herself into danger as well.
Lots of suspense and a good storyline.
Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark, read by Jan Maxwell
This is classic Higgins Clark, with lots of twists and turns and suspense. Here Carolyn MacKenzie has just finished an internship with a judge and is taking a break before her next job, hopefully as a DA in New York City. Carolyn's older brother Mack disappeared from his shared apartment ten years ago, but always calls on Mother's Day and this year is no exception. Except this year, Carolyn vows to him that she will find him and find out why he disappeared. She can't stand the way her and her mother's lives have become so wrapped around this. A warning note is left for Carolyn at the church her uncle presides over telling her not to look for him, and her mother urges her to abide by her brother's wishes. She pretends to, to placate her mother, but continues to revisit his friends and haunts to try to track him down.
Meanwhile a beautiful young woman has gone missing in the city and Mack's best friend and roommate is a suspect in that crime but, due to Carolyn's renewal of the search for Mack, so is he. As Carolyn pursuit's her search, she brings herself into danger as well.
Lots of suspense and a good storyline.
British Fiction
Finished May 6
The Outcast by Sadie Jones
This is a brilliant first novel featuring a set of fascinating characters.
The main character here is Lewis Aldridge and this book follows his story from his father returning from the Second World War until the late fifties. Lewis' mother is a bit of a rebel, and she is very close to him, reserving times for mother-son outings on picnics in the woods. On one of the picnics, she falls victim to a terrible end and this is the start of Lewis' problems. Lewis retreats into himself and his father's reaction to the situation does not assist in Lewis's recovery. As his father remarries and Lewis' issues grow they finally result in a very public crime. Lewis goes to jail for two years and when he comes back, finds that all in the community don't seem to want to give him the chance to begin again. The father, Gilbert is a very interesting character here as well, including the choices he makes in wives. There are many other village characters here, but the family of Carmichaels play the biggest role. The father, Dicky is a bully and is also Gilbert's boss. The oldest daughter Tamsin is a beauty and knows it. She uses her beauty to manipulate those around her. The younger daughter, Kit, is an observer, and she has been observing Lewis throughout the years and understands better than most what kind of person he is. As Lewis faces up to the community, all these characters come together in a very interesting way.
The Outcast by Sadie Jones
This is a brilliant first novel featuring a set of fascinating characters.
The main character here is Lewis Aldridge and this book follows his story from his father returning from the Second World War until the late fifties. Lewis' mother is a bit of a rebel, and she is very close to him, reserving times for mother-son outings on picnics in the woods. On one of the picnics, she falls victim to a terrible end and this is the start of Lewis' problems. Lewis retreats into himself and his father's reaction to the situation does not assist in Lewis's recovery. As his father remarries and Lewis' issues grow they finally result in a very public crime. Lewis goes to jail for two years and when he comes back, finds that all in the community don't seem to want to give him the chance to begin again. The father, Gilbert is a very interesting character here as well, including the choices he makes in wives. There are many other village characters here, but the family of Carmichaels play the biggest role. The father, Dicky is a bully and is also Gilbert's boss. The oldest daughter Tamsin is a beauty and knows it. She uses her beauty to manipulate those around her. The younger daughter, Kit, is an observer, and she has been observing Lewis throughout the years and understands better than most what kind of person he is. As Lewis faces up to the community, all these characters come together in a very interesting way.
Monday, 5 May 2008
Wonderful Read
Finished May 4
The Stone Gods by Jeanette Winterson
Generally categorized as science fiction, this book is so much more. It is a commentary of the earth and the way humanity has behaved over time. It is about the past and the future, about the inevitability of man's destruction of his world, and about the hope that humanity can get past that and work together for a better outcome.
Winterson touches on today's hot topics of technology, global warming, war, globalization, corporate control and individual rights. She includes social and class issues as well as political ones, but you never feel that you are being preached at or forced to a particular point of view. Here, the possibilities are many. The story takes place in three main parts.
The first is a world where people can have themselves "fixed" at any age they want. It is a society based on consumerism. Billie is a bit of a rebel. She runs an old-fashioned farm and while she works for the large corporation, she does speak her own mind. She agrees to travel to a potentially habitable planet with a group looking at planning a colony.
The second part takes place on Easter Island and is told from the point of view of a sailor left there who analyzes the behaviour of the natives.
The last part is from the view of another character names Billie in our world "post 3 war" where again she works for the big corporate entity that runs things, but steps outside the standard behaviour.
This will be on my list of favourites for the year.
The Stone Gods by Jeanette Winterson
Generally categorized as science fiction, this book is so much more. It is a commentary of the earth and the way humanity has behaved over time. It is about the past and the future, about the inevitability of man's destruction of his world, and about the hope that humanity can get past that and work together for a better outcome.
Winterson touches on today's hot topics of technology, global warming, war, globalization, corporate control and individual rights. She includes social and class issues as well as political ones, but you never feel that you are being preached at or forced to a particular point of view. Here, the possibilities are many. The story takes place in three main parts.
The first is a world where people can have themselves "fixed" at any age they want. It is a society based on consumerism. Billie is a bit of a rebel. She runs an old-fashioned farm and while she works for the large corporation, she does speak her own mind. She agrees to travel to a potentially habitable planet with a group looking at planning a colony.
The second part takes place on Easter Island and is told from the point of view of a sailor left there who analyzes the behaviour of the natives.
The last part is from the view of another character names Billie in our world "post 3 war" where again she works for the big corporate entity that runs things, but steps outside the standard behaviour.
This will be on my list of favourites for the year.
Saturday, 3 May 2008
Upsetting Read
Finished May 3
The Labrador Pact by Matt Haig
If you're an animal person, this book may not be for you. I felt sick when I finished, like I'd been kicked in the stomach, and it left me feeling hopeless.
The story is told from the dog's point of view. Prince is adopted as a puppy into the home of Adam and Kate and their two children, Hal and Charlotte. Prince abides by the Labrador pact, with a sense of duty toward his family. He must protect them, keep them safe and always be on the lookout for threats to their wellbeing, not just as individuals, but as a family unit. He is coached by an older lab, Henry, whom he meets on his morning outing to the park. He asks Henry for advice when he senses problems, and does his best to keep his family happy and safe. When he finds that the family's own behaviour is what provides the threat, he is unsure what to do, but tries his best to abide by the pact and do his duty.
With my reaction to the book being so visceral, I really can't recommend it. It is however original in viewpoint, and the story flows and holds together very well.
The Labrador Pact by Matt Haig
If you're an animal person, this book may not be for you. I felt sick when I finished, like I'd been kicked in the stomach, and it left me feeling hopeless.
The story is told from the dog's point of view. Prince is adopted as a puppy into the home of Adam and Kate and their two children, Hal and Charlotte. Prince abides by the Labrador pact, with a sense of duty toward his family. He must protect them, keep them safe and always be on the lookout for threats to their wellbeing, not just as individuals, but as a family unit. He is coached by an older lab, Henry, whom he meets on his morning outing to the park. He asks Henry for advice when he senses problems, and does his best to keep his family happy and safe. When he finds that the family's own behaviour is what provides the threat, he is unsure what to do, but tries his best to abide by the pact and do his duty.
With my reaction to the book being so visceral, I really can't recommend it. It is however original in viewpoint, and the story flows and holds together very well.
Friday, 2 May 2008
Lives Told
Finished May 2
The Rain Before It Falls by Jonathan Coe
This is a story of women, mostly those from one family.
Gill is middle-aged with grown daughters, Elizabeth and Catharine, when her Aunt Rosamund dies. Rosamund has left tapes giving her life history for Gill to give her cousin's granddaughter Imogen. Gill has trouble finding Rosamund, so she and her daughters listen to the tapes. The story on the tapes makes up the majority of the book.
Rosamund's story begins with her evacuation to the country during WWII to stay with her mother's sisters family. She meets and becomes close to her cousin, Beatrix. So this story tells of what happens to Beatrix, her daughter Thea, and her granddaughter Imogen. Coe brings the story alive for us by including Rosamund's commentary and emotional reactions to the story she tells.
I loved this book and the characters portrayed. I will definitely be looking for more books by Coe.
The Rain Before It Falls by Jonathan Coe
This is a story of women, mostly those from one family.
Gill is middle-aged with grown daughters, Elizabeth and Catharine, when her Aunt Rosamund dies. Rosamund has left tapes giving her life history for Gill to give her cousin's granddaughter Imogen. Gill has trouble finding Rosamund, so she and her daughters listen to the tapes. The story on the tapes makes up the majority of the book.
Rosamund's story begins with her evacuation to the country during WWII to stay with her mother's sisters family. She meets and becomes close to her cousin, Beatrix. So this story tells of what happens to Beatrix, her daughter Thea, and her granddaughter Imogen. Coe brings the story alive for us by including Rosamund's commentary and emotional reactions to the story she tells.
I loved this book and the characters portrayed. I will definitely be looking for more books by Coe.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)