This will be a short post, as I've had a long day, ending with the latest updates in my ongoing dental issue saga - yuck! (while I've made a cup of tea, I have to wait until it's lukewarm before drinking it, which is a big drag for this tea lover!!)
Speaking of tea, I was off work early on Friday afternoon, so I came home, made a cup of chai tea and finished reading Chai Tea Sunday by Heather Clark. In case I didn't already offer a summary, it tells the story of Nicky, a woman who seems to have a perfect life until she is faced with a complicated tragedy that threatens to destroy her very core and seems almost impossible to overcome. As she struggles to find a way to deal with her situation, she makes personal choices and comes to find her own way to accept her life through new friends and new realities. I found it to be both a heart-wrenching and a heartwarming read, a novel that reads almost like the memoir of someone who has undergone these experiences and learns to deal with them in her own unique way. I believe that the author did not actually go through these experiences, but that her cousin, Rachel, inspired Clark to write the story and provided many of the details regarding life in Africa. This novel does not use flowery language or clever imagery, but it tells the story of the main character's experiences in a clear, concise, straightforward style that is similar to that of Lisa Genova, as I mentioned in my previous post. It was an easy book to read regarding style, but difficult to read emotionally. It was certainly inspirational for this reader as I endure my own (albeit lesser) hardships regarding my dental issues. I think that this is her first book, and I would definitely be interested in following her if she chooses to pursue a career as a writer and reading anything else she has published.
Over the weekend, I began reading The Lightning Field by Heather Jessup. This is also her first novel, and it is very different from Clark's book. It, too, is about a woman who must overcome unexpected hardships in her life, and it is set locally (Toronto), but it is all about language. It reminds me of Timothy Findley's The Pianoman's Daughter in style and tone, and the imagery is stunning. The story is definitely not fast-paced, and I find that I need to reread some passages to make sure I've understood the imagery. This novel is at times broad and sweeping, while at other times it is detailed and intricate. I'm only about a third of the way into the book, but the main "event" has just occurred, so perhaps the story will pick up pace a bit more (I enjoy a book where the main appeal factor is language and imagery, but I also need a plot that moves along at a reasonable pace). More on this novel next time, when I will hopefully be finished.
That's all for tonight.
Bye for now!
Julie
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