Finished June 7
The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani
This story takes place in 17th century Iran. The main character who tells the story begins her story at the age of fourteen. She lives in a small village with her parents, and is an only child. When her father dies suddenly, she and her mother struggle to survive, but end up appealing to her father's half-brother Gostaham in Isfahan, who agrees to take them in. As she and her mother live in Gostaham's household, they must adjust to the ways of the household as well as their own precarious situation. She no longer has any money for a dowry and must consider alternatives for her future. Gostaham is impressed by her interest in carpetmaking, his profession and her natural talent for design, but laments that she is not a boy so he could take her on as an apprentice. The main character grows in knowledge and this is a coming-of-age novel in a historical setting.
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Saturday, 7 June 2008
Fantastic Stories
Finished June 7
M Is for Magic by Neil Gaiman
This is a collection of stories of fantasy by one of the masters of the genre. Gaiman's stories vary widely, some of them fantastic from the outset and some that slowly work towards it. Some that sneak up on you and some that enchant. A few left me feeling very unsettled, and there was a lot of magic that wasn't of the nicest sort.
The stories are great and this is a good collection for the older child or adult reader.
M Is for Magic by Neil Gaiman
This is a collection of stories of fantasy by one of the masters of the genre. Gaiman's stories vary widely, some of them fantastic from the outset and some that slowly work towards it. Some that sneak up on you and some that enchant. A few left me feeling very unsettled, and there was a lot of magic that wasn't of the nicest sort.
The stories are great and this is a good collection for the older child or adult reader.
Thursday, 5 June 2008
Thrilling Listen
Finished June 3
Blue Heaven by C.J. Box, Read by John Bedford Lloyd
I had to suspend belief on a few things, but this one had me sitting on the edge of my seat.
The book is set in northern Idaho.
Annie and William, 12 and 10, took off to go fishing after their mother's latest boyfriend failed to show up as promised. While in the woods near the river, the two witness an execution-style killing and the killer spot them. The kids run for their lives, quite literally.
When they don't turn up at home later that night, the police become involved, and several retired policeman from Los Angeles who live in the area volunteer for the search. Only problem is, these cops are the killers. You are in suspense the whole time, wondering who is going to find the kids first. The children's mother is sure that they are alive, and the local banker, a family friend, is worried.
Meanwhile, another retired policeman is visiting the area, following up on a lead on an old crime.
The plot keeps moving and there is lots to keep you guessing.
Blue Heaven by C.J. Box, Read by John Bedford Lloyd
I had to suspend belief on a few things, but this one had me sitting on the edge of my seat.
The book is set in northern Idaho.
Annie and William, 12 and 10, took off to go fishing after their mother's latest boyfriend failed to show up as promised. While in the woods near the river, the two witness an execution-style killing and the killer spot them. The kids run for their lives, quite literally.
When they don't turn up at home later that night, the police become involved, and several retired policeman from Los Angeles who live in the area volunteer for the search. Only problem is, these cops are the killers. You are in suspense the whole time, wondering who is going to find the kids first. The children's mother is sure that they are alive, and the local banker, a family friend, is worried.
Meanwhile, another retired policeman is visiting the area, following up on a lead on an old crime.
The plot keeps moving and there is lots to keep you guessing.
Tuesday, 3 June 2008
Interesting Issues Raised
Finished June 3
Black & White by Dani Shapiro
Clara hasn't seen her mother in fourteen years when she left home at eighteen. Her mother Ruth is a famous photographer, most famous for a series she did of Clara. The series covered Clara from the age of 3 to 14, all of them naked. Clara has stayed in touch with her older sister Robin, who lives in New York City with her husband and three children and who has become a lawyer like their father. When Robin calls Clara to tell her Ruth is ill and Robin can't cope, Clara goes to New York and visits with her mother. Ruth is much more ill than Clara had expected, dying of lung cancer, but the issue of the photographs is still between them, and Clara still hasn't dealt with her feelings of hurt around them. As Clara, along with her husband and daughter deal with Ruth's dying they must also deal with the issue of the photographs.
Very interesting issue around the photographs and the rights of the mother and artist as opposed to those of Clara. We see the history of the photos, the public image and reactions, and the family dynamics around it all. There is a lot going on here emotionally to keep the reader interested.
'
Black & White by Dani Shapiro
Clara hasn't seen her mother in fourteen years when she left home at eighteen. Her mother Ruth is a famous photographer, most famous for a series she did of Clara. The series covered Clara from the age of 3 to 14, all of them naked. Clara has stayed in touch with her older sister Robin, who lives in New York City with her husband and three children and who has become a lawyer like their father. When Robin calls Clara to tell her Ruth is ill and Robin can't cope, Clara goes to New York and visits with her mother. Ruth is much more ill than Clara had expected, dying of lung cancer, but the issue of the photographs is still between them, and Clara still hasn't dealt with her feelings of hurt around them. As Clara, along with her husband and daughter deal with Ruth's dying they must also deal with the issue of the photographs.
Very interesting issue around the photographs and the rights of the mother and artist as opposed to those of Clara. We see the history of the photos, the public image and reactions, and the family dynamics around it all. There is a lot going on here emotionally to keep the reader interested.
'
Monday, 2 June 2008
About Writing
Finished June 2
Off the Page: Writers Talk about Beginnings, Endings, and Everything in between edited by Carole Burns
This is a lovely collections of short comments about different aspects of writing, taken from interviews that Burns did on washingtonpost.com. Besides beginnings and endings, it covers characters, places, inspiration for writing, style, language, relation to reality and the differences between writing novels and short stories. Besides the actual writing, it also covers the life of writing, the relationship with readers, and with other writers.
I found especially interesting the bits from writers I've read, especially when they were talking about books I've read. It brought it all "behind the scenes" for me, and brought out the personalities of the writers. This is a very readable book and I quite enjoyed dipping in and out of it.
Off the Page: Writers Talk about Beginnings, Endings, and Everything in between edited by Carole Burns
This is a lovely collections of short comments about different aspects of writing, taken from interviews that Burns did on washingtonpost.com. Besides beginnings and endings, it covers characters, places, inspiration for writing, style, language, relation to reality and the differences between writing novels and short stories. Besides the actual writing, it also covers the life of writing, the relationship with readers, and with other writers.
I found especially interesting the bits from writers I've read, especially when they were talking about books I've read. It brought it all "behind the scenes" for me, and brought out the personalities of the writers. This is a very readable book and I quite enjoyed dipping in and out of it.
Saturday, 31 May 2008
Massive Mystery
Finished May 31
Careless in Red by Elizabeth George
Over six hundred pages of mystery in this, the newest of George's Lynley and Havers series. When we last saw Lynley he had just lost his wife and had quit the force. Now he is walking the coastal paths of Cornwall, trying to find his way. When he comes across a body, he finds that his reflexes kick in and he finds a way to report it. As he stays in the locale for the investigation, he finds himself drawn into the life of a vet who has a holiday cottage there, as well as into the investigation despite himself.
This story involves surfing, Cornwall style; cliff climbing; Cornish pasties (of course!) and village life. As usual the story involves the past as well as the present, and human emotions and failings.
Well-written, with a good plot and lots of interesting characters.
Careless in Red by Elizabeth George
Over six hundred pages of mystery in this, the newest of George's Lynley and Havers series. When we last saw Lynley he had just lost his wife and had quit the force. Now he is walking the coastal paths of Cornwall, trying to find his way. When he comes across a body, he finds that his reflexes kick in and he finds a way to report it. As he stays in the locale for the investigation, he finds himself drawn into the life of a vet who has a holiday cottage there, as well as into the investigation despite himself.
This story involves surfing, Cornwall style; cliff climbing; Cornish pasties (of course!) and village life. As usual the story involves the past as well as the present, and human emotions and failings.
Well-written, with a good plot and lots of interesting characters.
Thursday, 29 May 2008
Unfinished Novel
Fall of Frost: a novel by Brian Hall
At 100 pages in, I gave up on this one. Hall has done extensive research using facts of Robert Frost's life whenever possible. The fictional part is what is going on in some private situations and in Frost's own head.
The book jumps around a lot through different time periods, back and forth, and I just found that more confusing than helpful to the plot.
All in all, this should be very character-driven, but the characterization didn't come alive for me.
I have so many books that I wanted to read that I decided I'd given enough time to this one and have moved on.
At 100 pages in, I gave up on this one. Hall has done extensive research using facts of Robert Frost's life whenever possible. The fictional part is what is going on in some private situations and in Frost's own head.
The book jumps around a lot through different time periods, back and forth, and I just found that more confusing than helpful to the plot.
All in all, this should be very character-driven, but the characterization didn't come alive for me.
I have so many books that I wanted to read that I decided I'd given enough time to this one and have moved on.
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
Mystery on CD
Finished May 27
Thunder Bay by William Kent Krueger
This was a new author for me, although the book is part of a series featuring Cork O'Connor. Here Cork has a private investigator's license, although his main source of income is a fast food stand operated mainly during the summer months. Cork has been both a city police officer and a sheriff previously.
In this book, there are two main storylines, one mystery and one personal for Cork. The personal one involves Cork's daughter Jenny who is planning to leave for college in the fall, only a few weeks away. The main storyline involves an old Ojibwe medicine man, Henry Meloux, who has played a strong role in Cork's own spiritual growth and life choices. Henry is suddenly taken ill, and asks Cork to find the son he never knew, fathered more than seventy years before. Cork is able to use what information Henry has given him to find the son, Henry Wellington, as well as what happened to the boy's mother. After Cork makes contact with the son in Thunder Bay, he is followed back to Minnesota and an attempt is made to murder Henry Meloux.
As Cork and Meloux go back to Canada to find out what is going on with the son that Meloux feels has need of him, they draw themselves into more danger.
I really liked the native content in this novel. There was history, culture, spirituality that really made the novel for me. Meloux is a very intriging character and Cork's character is shown through his relationships with his family.
Thunder Bay by William Kent Krueger
This was a new author for me, although the book is part of a series featuring Cork O'Connor. Here Cork has a private investigator's license, although his main source of income is a fast food stand operated mainly during the summer months. Cork has been both a city police officer and a sheriff previously.
In this book, there are two main storylines, one mystery and one personal for Cork. The personal one involves Cork's daughter Jenny who is planning to leave for college in the fall, only a few weeks away. The main storyline involves an old Ojibwe medicine man, Henry Meloux, who has played a strong role in Cork's own spiritual growth and life choices. Henry is suddenly taken ill, and asks Cork to find the son he never knew, fathered more than seventy years before. Cork is able to use what information Henry has given him to find the son, Henry Wellington, as well as what happened to the boy's mother. After Cork makes contact with the son in Thunder Bay, he is followed back to Minnesota and an attempt is made to murder Henry Meloux.
As Cork and Meloux go back to Canada to find out what is going on with the son that Meloux feels has need of him, they draw themselves into more danger.
I really liked the native content in this novel. There was history, culture, spirituality that really made the novel for me. Meloux is a very intriging character and Cork's character is shown through his relationships with his family.
Fascinating Memoir
Finished May 26
Twenty Chickens for a Saddle by Robyn Scott
Robyn Scott had a rather peripatetic childhood and this memoir covers the ages from six to adulthood when she was in Botswana. Her parents had both grown up there and came back with her and her two younger siblings when she was almost seven. Her father worked as a doctor, travelling to small village clinics, at first by air and then by car. Her mother homeschooled the children until high school, when they went to boarding school (her and her sister in neighbouring Zimbabwe and her brother in neighbouring South Africa). At first they lived near her paternal grandfather and his second wife, in a shared yard. The children spent a great deal of time exploring their environment, learning about the plants and animals that surrounded them. They also learned about the people, the culture and the superstitions, mainly through the contact with her father in his capacity as a doctor. When they move to their own farm, near the border with South Africa, she encounters a different environment and a different mindset as a lot of the neighbours there are Afrikaans. During her years growing up, AIDS became a prominent feature in Africa, and because of her father's profession she was very aware of the issues.
This memoir was absolutely fascinating in its glimpse into another culture and way of living and I found it engaging, humourous and enlightening.
Highly recommended.
Twenty Chickens for a Saddle by Robyn Scott
Robyn Scott had a rather peripatetic childhood and this memoir covers the ages from six to adulthood when she was in Botswana. Her parents had both grown up there and came back with her and her two younger siblings when she was almost seven. Her father worked as a doctor, travelling to small village clinics, at first by air and then by car. Her mother homeschooled the children until high school, when they went to boarding school (her and her sister in neighbouring Zimbabwe and her brother in neighbouring South Africa). At first they lived near her paternal grandfather and his second wife, in a shared yard. The children spent a great deal of time exploring their environment, learning about the plants and animals that surrounded them. They also learned about the people, the culture and the superstitions, mainly through the contact with her father in his capacity as a doctor. When they move to their own farm, near the border with South Africa, she encounters a different environment and a different mindset as a lot of the neighbours there are Afrikaans. During her years growing up, AIDS became a prominent feature in Africa, and because of her father's profession she was very aware of the issues.
This memoir was absolutely fascinating in its glimpse into another culture and way of living and I found it engaging, humourous and enlightening.
Highly recommended.
Short and Sweet
Finished May 25
The Bachelor's Cat: a love story by L.F. Hoffman
I picked this up because it was mentioned in one of the lists I follow as being the favourite of another librarian, and because I like cats (having two of my own).
It is a nice read. An artist, the bachelor in question, is going through a bad stretch when he finds a very young kitten on his doorstep and no sign of an owner. He takes it in and looks after it and finds himself growing attached quickly.
He has a on-again-off-again relationship with a beautiful sexy young woman, with the relationship generally controlled by her wants and needs. During one of the off phases he meets another woman, who is not his usual type and begins a relationship with her. When the first girlfriend comes back for the next on-phase he is torn between the two women and the cat plays a role in the final decision that he makes.
Cute, a bit schmaltzy, but honest.
The Bachelor's Cat: a love story by L.F. Hoffman
I picked this up because it was mentioned in one of the lists I follow as being the favourite of another librarian, and because I like cats (having two of my own).
It is a nice read. An artist, the bachelor in question, is going through a bad stretch when he finds a very young kitten on his doorstep and no sign of an owner. He takes it in and looks after it and finds himself growing attached quickly.
He has a on-again-off-again relationship with a beautiful sexy young woman, with the relationship generally controlled by her wants and needs. During one of the off phases he meets another woman, who is not his usual type and begins a relationship with her. When the first girlfriend comes back for the next on-phase he is torn between the two women and the cat plays a role in the final decision that he makes.
Cute, a bit schmaltzy, but honest.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)