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
Monday, 14 May 2012
Monday, 7 May 2012
Book talk on Monday evening...
Well, I thought I'd try posting at a different time this week for a number of reasons. First, I probably have a bit more energy on Monday evenings than I do on Thursdays, for obvious reasons. I also had my book discussion on Saturday, so I feel I can comment better and present the highlights of our discussion more accurately now rather than nearly a week later. And I was thrilled to receive a comment today from the author of Chai Tea Sunday (see comments for the last entry), so wanted to let her know about my progress with her novel.
I'll start tonight's post with the highlights of the book group discussion. Remember we read To Kill a Mockingbird, and I admitted that reading this novel did not change my life? Well, it clearly changed the lives of all of the book club members, both as a film and as a book, and it is a book that everyone has read more than once. They LOVED it!! Why did they love it? Because it was so "real"; because it pointed out so many prejudices in society; because it was semi-autobiographical; because it was so powerful; because it illustrated how innocent children are, and how they see the world so differently from most adults. We discussed possible reasons for Scout and Jem calling their father Atticus instead of dad: because he wanted to make them feel like equals and to think for themselves; because he doubted his abilities in the role of "father" (remember, he repeatedly comments, usually to his sister Alexandra, that he's "doing the best he can with them"); because his is an unconventional household where even Calpurnia is considered part of the family, among other speculations. We discussed the prejudices in society: the book dealt directly with attitudes toward Negroes, there is a brief mention of Nazis at the end of the book, and there is of course class and gender prejudices. While the children seemed to be able to look beyond most of these prejudices, they also held some prejudices, such as their belief that Boo Radley was a monstrous creature living in their neighbourhood. Perhaps this was included in the novel intentionally, as they were able to let go of this prejudice and embrace the truth in the end much more freely and willingly than the adults in the town. We discussed Atticus as a role model for the children and for the society as a whole. The children learned from him, and he behaved in a way that would lead by example. In the novel, someone commented that Atticus behaved the same indoors as he did in public, and I'm sure these are characteristics he would have tried to instill in his children, but again, also in society. He acted responsibly and respectfully towards everyone he met. We also discussed how the law must be flexible and adaptable to the individual situation, that it is cannot be applied in the same way to everyone; for example, poaching laws must be applied differently to Bob Ewell or his children would starve; and the law must ultimately be applied differently to Boo Radley out of respect for him. Much of our discussion was about the film, and since I'd never seen it, I checked it out of the library that afternoon and watched it Saturday night. It was difficult to watch the film so soon after reading the book and not comment to my husband about what was in the book that was missing in the film, or what was different in the film, or what was added to the film, but I think the story stayed basically true to the book. I can understand why people would be drawn into the story, both the film and the novel. It has all the elements of a great story - precocious children, opinionated townspeople, unconventional families, serious social situations, loss of innocence, someone who wants to influence the town towards change, among other elements. But I must admit it still did not become significant to me. I hope that doesn't indicate some sort of deficiency in this reader!! I'll just accept that I didn't "get" it. (The same is true of Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger - no matter how many times I read it, I just don't "get" it, although I understand its significance theoretically.)
I'll admit that, after I finished my post last Thursday, I opted for the "microwave dinner" book choice and picked up a Ruth Rendell mystery. The first one I tried was Portobello Road, which is a stand-alone and didn't do anything for me so I put away after a few pages. Next I tried Babes in the Woods, part of the Inspector Wexford series, but that also did not grab me so I put it away, too. I tried a few different novels over Friday evening and Saturday. One novel was Tell It To the Trees by Anita Rau Badami, a Canadian author from India. I really enjoyed her novel Tamarind Mem, but others I've read or tried to read by Badami haven't quite measured up for me. This one was no exception. I think it may be timing, as it has many of the elements that I love in a novel - family secrets, inter-generational turmoil, misunderstandings, and it's by a Canadian author. I'll try it again another time.
On Sunday morning, as I settled down for an hour of reading with a steaming cup of chai tea, I again picked up Chai Tea Sunday (how could I not pick that novel up?!), and read quite a bit more than I had the previous Thursday. In style, the writing reminds this reader of Lisa Genova, author of Still Alice and Left Neglected. Although the story presents an experience for the main character with which I cannot personally identify, I was moved nonetheless. I will write more once I have read more (or all!) of the novel, but it's moved from "not really grabbing me" to "I want to read more" (I'm not just saying this because I think the author may be reading this - I really mean it!!) If, however, the author would like to contact me directly, she is welcome to send another comment letting me know and maybe passing along an email address - the comments come to me first before being published on the blog, so it is safe and I can certainly keep her contact information private. For now, I will close, as I want to have some time to read tonight before it gets too late.
Bye for now!
Julie
PS WOW, I've done alot of "admitting" in this post! I must really trust my readers and feel the need to confide in someone or unburden myself with some of my recent reading decisions. Perhaps blogging is becoming some sort of bibliotherapy for me!!
I'll start tonight's post with the highlights of the book group discussion. Remember we read To Kill a Mockingbird, and I admitted that reading this novel did not change my life? Well, it clearly changed the lives of all of the book club members, both as a film and as a book, and it is a book that everyone has read more than once. They LOVED it!! Why did they love it? Because it was so "real"; because it pointed out so many prejudices in society; because it was semi-autobiographical; because it was so powerful; because it illustrated how innocent children are, and how they see the world so differently from most adults. We discussed possible reasons for Scout and Jem calling their father Atticus instead of dad: because he wanted to make them feel like equals and to think for themselves; because he doubted his abilities in the role of "father" (remember, he repeatedly comments, usually to his sister Alexandra, that he's "doing the best he can with them"); because his is an unconventional household where even Calpurnia is considered part of the family, among other speculations. We discussed the prejudices in society: the book dealt directly with attitudes toward Negroes, there is a brief mention of Nazis at the end of the book, and there is of course class and gender prejudices. While the children seemed to be able to look beyond most of these prejudices, they also held some prejudices, such as their belief that Boo Radley was a monstrous creature living in their neighbourhood. Perhaps this was included in the novel intentionally, as they were able to let go of this prejudice and embrace the truth in the end much more freely and willingly than the adults in the town. We discussed Atticus as a role model for the children and for the society as a whole. The children learned from him, and he behaved in a way that would lead by example. In the novel, someone commented that Atticus behaved the same indoors as he did in public, and I'm sure these are characteristics he would have tried to instill in his children, but again, also in society. He acted responsibly and respectfully towards everyone he met. We also discussed how the law must be flexible and adaptable to the individual situation, that it is cannot be applied in the same way to everyone; for example, poaching laws must be applied differently to Bob Ewell or his children would starve; and the law must ultimately be applied differently to Boo Radley out of respect for him. Much of our discussion was about the film, and since I'd never seen it, I checked it out of the library that afternoon and watched it Saturday night. It was difficult to watch the film so soon after reading the book and not comment to my husband about what was in the book that was missing in the film, or what was different in the film, or what was added to the film, but I think the story stayed basically true to the book. I can understand why people would be drawn into the story, both the film and the novel. It has all the elements of a great story - precocious children, opinionated townspeople, unconventional families, serious social situations, loss of innocence, someone who wants to influence the town towards change, among other elements. But I must admit it still did not become significant to me. I hope that doesn't indicate some sort of deficiency in this reader!! I'll just accept that I didn't "get" it. (The same is true of Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger - no matter how many times I read it, I just don't "get" it, although I understand its significance theoretically.)
I'll admit that, after I finished my post last Thursday, I opted for the "microwave dinner" book choice and picked up a Ruth Rendell mystery. The first one I tried was Portobello Road, which is a stand-alone and didn't do anything for me so I put away after a few pages. Next I tried Babes in the Woods, part of the Inspector Wexford series, but that also did not grab me so I put it away, too. I tried a few different novels over Friday evening and Saturday. One novel was Tell It To the Trees by Anita Rau Badami, a Canadian author from India. I really enjoyed her novel Tamarind Mem, but others I've read or tried to read by Badami haven't quite measured up for me. This one was no exception. I think it may be timing, as it has many of the elements that I love in a novel - family secrets, inter-generational turmoil, misunderstandings, and it's by a Canadian author. I'll try it again another time.
On Sunday morning, as I settled down for an hour of reading with a steaming cup of chai tea, I again picked up Chai Tea Sunday (how could I not pick that novel up?!), and read quite a bit more than I had the previous Thursday. In style, the writing reminds this reader of Lisa Genova, author of Still Alice and Left Neglected. Although the story presents an experience for the main character with which I cannot personally identify, I was moved nonetheless. I will write more once I have read more (or all!) of the novel, but it's moved from "not really grabbing me" to "I want to read more" (I'm not just saying this because I think the author may be reading this - I really mean it!!) If, however, the author would like to contact me directly, she is welcome to send another comment letting me know and maybe passing along an email address - the comments come to me first before being published on the blog, so it is safe and I can certainly keep her contact information private. For now, I will close, as I want to have some time to read tonight before it gets too late.
Bye for now!
Julie
PS WOW, I've done alot of "admitting" in this post! I must really trust my readers and feel the need to confide in someone or unburden myself with some of my recent reading decisions. Perhaps blogging is becoming some sort of bibliotherapy for me!!
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Another Thursday evening post...
Well, it's definitely not a cool April evening - it is a muggy, warm evening that threatens thunderstorms (I love a thunderstorm at night - it's perfect weather to read a gothic novel!) As I sit with my cup of tea, I am once again reviewing my reading experiences over the past week.
On Tuesday morning as we were getting ready for work, my husband commented that it was May 1st already, and I said "Oh, it's May Day - do you know what that is?" He didn't, and so I tried to recall what it was... I thought some sort of holiday or celebration of workers, sort of like our Labour Day. Upon looking it up just now, though, I see that it's actually a spring festival in some cultures. I recalled looking into the significance of May Day when my book group was discussing Margaret Atwood's A Handmaid's Tale, as the term May Day figures prominently in this novel as a signal that a handmaid is part of the "underground network". What a great book that is! It's one of my "favourites", if you can call a book about total repression and subjection of women to be a "favourite". I recently listened to her early novel, The Edible Woman, which I read many, many years ago, and I must say, she's definitely come a loooong way as a writer, although she's remained faithful to many of her themes, male dominance in society, repression of women, etc. I'll admit that I haven't read everything by Atwood, and some of the novels I've read haven't been great, in my opinion, but she's a gifted writer and a Canadian icon of which we can be proud.
I finished To Kill a Mockingbird last night, and I have to say, it did not change my life. It was certainly well-written and had some poignant scenes, but it did not have the kind of impact on this reader that I have been lead to expect, and I'm not sure why. As I was making this comment to my husband tonight, I compared it to Steinbeck's The Winter of Our Discontent. Both novels were published within a year of each other, 1960 and 1961, and both were set in a small American town. They both deal with loss of innocence for children, and maybe a move from innocence to experience for adults, for lack of a better way to describe this "fall from grace" that occurs even into adulthood, although in a different way than in childhood and with different consequences. Steinbeck's novel changed my life, and I reread it almost annually, whereas I will probably never read Lee's novel again. It must be the narrator's perspective and age - I can't imagine what else it could be. The writing styles are similar, the settings, the characters, even the plots, are similar. Hmmm... I'll have to think about this more, and of course I'll write about our book club discussion next week.
I'm now searching for another book to read - I hope I don't have to waste too much valuable reading time between books. I could read another Ruth Rendell, as I borrowed two paperbacks from the library last week, but I feel like I should read a book with some "substance", a book that deals with serious issues, whatever those might be. I tried the first few pages of four different library books last night, but none of them grabbed me at all. I read the first few pages of another library book, Chai Tea Sunday by Heather Clark - I thought the title suited me perfectly, and the author is from Guelph, Ontario, so very nearby. I'm not sure if it's going to keep me interested - it wasn't really grabbing me, but it also didn't make me want to add it to the stack of books for library return, either, at least not yet. It's a dilemma... I'm really being pulled towards Ruth Rendell, but that seems like taking the easy way out, like eating a microwave dinner when you really want a homemade casserole, except that you can't find the recipe and don't know what ingredients to use. I think I'm going to take the easy road and read the mystery, because I hate wasting even another day of quality reading time. Since I've started my new job, I find I do less reading, perhaps because I no longer have weekday mornings to myself, and my husband is home in the evenings when I'm home, and it's just not the same, reading when someone else is in the room with you. I also no longer work alternate weekends, so I don't have every other Friday off, and Saturdays are usually busy with errands or outings - reading tends to fall lower in the priority list of things to do. Maybe I'll try a few more pages of Chai Tea Sunday and if it doesn't pull me in, I'll read a Rendell novel.
With that decision made, I better go and start reading.
Bye for now!
Julie
On Tuesday morning as we were getting ready for work, my husband commented that it was May 1st already, and I said "Oh, it's May Day - do you know what that is?" He didn't, and so I tried to recall what it was... I thought some sort of holiday or celebration of workers, sort of like our Labour Day. Upon looking it up just now, though, I see that it's actually a spring festival in some cultures. I recalled looking into the significance of May Day when my book group was discussing Margaret Atwood's A Handmaid's Tale, as the term May Day figures prominently in this novel as a signal that a handmaid is part of the "underground network". What a great book that is! It's one of my "favourites", if you can call a book about total repression and subjection of women to be a "favourite". I recently listened to her early novel, The Edible Woman, which I read many, many years ago, and I must say, she's definitely come a loooong way as a writer, although she's remained faithful to many of her themes, male dominance in society, repression of women, etc. I'll admit that I haven't read everything by Atwood, and some of the novels I've read haven't been great, in my opinion, but she's a gifted writer and a Canadian icon of which we can be proud.
I finished To Kill a Mockingbird last night, and I have to say, it did not change my life. It was certainly well-written and had some poignant scenes, but it did not have the kind of impact on this reader that I have been lead to expect, and I'm not sure why. As I was making this comment to my husband tonight, I compared it to Steinbeck's The Winter of Our Discontent. Both novels were published within a year of each other, 1960 and 1961, and both were set in a small American town. They both deal with loss of innocence for children, and maybe a move from innocence to experience for adults, for lack of a better way to describe this "fall from grace" that occurs even into adulthood, although in a different way than in childhood and with different consequences. Steinbeck's novel changed my life, and I reread it almost annually, whereas I will probably never read Lee's novel again. It must be the narrator's perspective and age - I can't imagine what else it could be. The writing styles are similar, the settings, the characters, even the plots, are similar. Hmmm... I'll have to think about this more, and of course I'll write about our book club discussion next week.
I'm now searching for another book to read - I hope I don't have to waste too much valuable reading time between books. I could read another Ruth Rendell, as I borrowed two paperbacks from the library last week, but I feel like I should read a book with some "substance", a book that deals with serious issues, whatever those might be. I tried the first few pages of four different library books last night, but none of them grabbed me at all. I read the first few pages of another library book, Chai Tea Sunday by Heather Clark - I thought the title suited me perfectly, and the author is from Guelph, Ontario, so very nearby. I'm not sure if it's going to keep me interested - it wasn't really grabbing me, but it also didn't make me want to add it to the stack of books for library return, either, at least not yet. It's a dilemma... I'm really being pulled towards Ruth Rendell, but that seems like taking the easy way out, like eating a microwave dinner when you really want a homemade casserole, except that you can't find the recipe and don't know what ingredients to use. I think I'm going to take the easy road and read the mystery, because I hate wasting even another day of quality reading time. Since I've started my new job, I find I do less reading, perhaps because I no longer have weekday mornings to myself, and my husband is home in the evenings when I'm home, and it's just not the same, reading when someone else is in the room with you. I also no longer work alternate weekends, so I don't have every other Friday off, and Saturdays are usually busy with errands or outings - reading tends to fall lower in the priority list of things to do. Maybe I'll try a few more pages of Chai Tea Sunday and if it doesn't pull me in, I'll read a Rendell novel.
With that decision made, I better go and start reading.
Bye for now!
Julie
Thursday, 26 April 2012
Book talk on a cool April evening...
On this last weekend of April, the weather is cool and windy and just a bit overcast, a perfect evening to drink a cup of tea and to think about, write about, and especially read books! So much to read, so little time...
This evening I want to write a little bit about a few different things. First, I made it out to the CFUW Book Sale last weekend, after work on Friday. It was, as usual, hugely popular and quite busy, and the selection was awesome, as were the prices. I didn't really have much time, so I just browsed the paperbacks, all conveniently located in one room, and found a few titles that I wanted to own. I picked up a John Le Carre novel, A Perfect Spy, a stand-alone about a double agent that sounded interesting. I also found a paperback copy of The Telling of Lies, a murder mystery by Timothy Findley, an author whose works are so different from one another that some of his novels I love and some I find unreadable. And I found one Inspector Wexford novel, the Ruth Rendell series I was speaking so excitedly about last week. I think that was certainly worth the trip to Waterloo, and if I'd had more time, I would have explored the other rooms for hardcovers and "better quality" books. Thank goodness this is an annual event - it's something to look forward to each spring!
I've been reading A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke this past week, a book I took out of the library. I've read it before and remembered really enjoying it, finding it humourous and insightful. I thought I'd reread it because I have a copy of Merde in Love on my bookshelf and thought I might read it. It made sense to reread the first book in the series to refresh my memory and "set the mood". I have to say that the novel is just not grabbing me. I'm two-thirds of the way through, and I'll finish it, but I expected to be so compelled that I wouldn't be able to put it down. That was not the case. This novel tells the story of Paul West, an Englishman who goes to work for a company in Paris to research and design a chain of British tea rooms to open across France. His experiences in Paris are the antithesis of Peter Mayle's experiences in the french countryside as described in A Year in Provence, as one thing and another do not work out for him. It's still pretty funny, but I guess I was significantly younger when I first read it, and it was a fresh new experience, so I really did enjoy it. This time, not so much. This may be why I'm hesitant to recommend a book to someone if it's been a few years since I've read it. Life situations, mood, reading histories, and all kinds of other factors, go into the experience of reading a book, and those factors can change over time as one reads other books, changes life situations, matures, etc. It's still worth reading, but less funny than I remembered it to be.
I need to finish it soon, though, or set it aside, as I must start my next book club selection by Saturday. We're reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and I can't believe I've never read this book, not even for school. This novel explores racial inequality and loss of innocence in a small American town, and it is told from the point of view of a young girl, Scout Finch. I have to admit that I may have even missed watching the film based on this book - I'm so glad I'm part of this bookclub because I now have to read this classic of American literature. Perhaps I've avoided it because it's written from the point of view of a child, not my favourite style of narration. I'll write more about this novel once I've started it, and of course once we've had our discussion.
Right now I have a fuzzy kitty on my lap who wants some attention, so I have to go.
Bye for now!
Julie
This evening I want to write a little bit about a few different things. First, I made it out to the CFUW Book Sale last weekend, after work on Friday. It was, as usual, hugely popular and quite busy, and the selection was awesome, as were the prices. I didn't really have much time, so I just browsed the paperbacks, all conveniently located in one room, and found a few titles that I wanted to own. I picked up a John Le Carre novel, A Perfect Spy, a stand-alone about a double agent that sounded interesting. I also found a paperback copy of The Telling of Lies, a murder mystery by Timothy Findley, an author whose works are so different from one another that some of his novels I love and some I find unreadable. And I found one Inspector Wexford novel, the Ruth Rendell series I was speaking so excitedly about last week. I think that was certainly worth the trip to Waterloo, and if I'd had more time, I would have explored the other rooms for hardcovers and "better quality" books. Thank goodness this is an annual event - it's something to look forward to each spring!
I've been reading A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke this past week, a book I took out of the library. I've read it before and remembered really enjoying it, finding it humourous and insightful. I thought I'd reread it because I have a copy of Merde in Love on my bookshelf and thought I might read it. It made sense to reread the first book in the series to refresh my memory and "set the mood". I have to say that the novel is just not grabbing me. I'm two-thirds of the way through, and I'll finish it, but I expected to be so compelled that I wouldn't be able to put it down. That was not the case. This novel tells the story of Paul West, an Englishman who goes to work for a company in Paris to research and design a chain of British tea rooms to open across France. His experiences in Paris are the antithesis of Peter Mayle's experiences in the french countryside as described in A Year in Provence, as one thing and another do not work out for him. It's still pretty funny, but I guess I was significantly younger when I first read it, and it was a fresh new experience, so I really did enjoy it. This time, not so much. This may be why I'm hesitant to recommend a book to someone if it's been a few years since I've read it. Life situations, mood, reading histories, and all kinds of other factors, go into the experience of reading a book, and those factors can change over time as one reads other books, changes life situations, matures, etc. It's still worth reading, but less funny than I remembered it to be.
I need to finish it soon, though, or set it aside, as I must start my next book club selection by Saturday. We're reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and I can't believe I've never read this book, not even for school. This novel explores racial inequality and loss of innocence in a small American town, and it is told from the point of view of a young girl, Scout Finch. I have to admit that I may have even missed watching the film based on this book - I'm so glad I'm part of this bookclub because I now have to read this classic of American literature. Perhaps I've avoided it because it's written from the point of view of a child, not my favourite style of narration. I'll write more about this novel once I've started it, and of course once we've had our discussion.
Right now I have a fuzzy kitty on my lap who wants some attention, so I have to go.
Bye for now!
Julie
Thursday, 19 April 2012
Anniversary post...
Happy one-year anniversary!! It was almost exactly one year ago today that I published my first post on the blog. WOW! It seems both like the time has gone by so quickly, and also like I've always been writing posts... strange how time is fluid and changeable that way. Anyways, thanks for sticking with me for a whole year, and I look forward to many more years of great reading and posting experiences!
The first thing I wanted to let you know about is the 48th annual CFUW used book sale that will be held this weekend, Friday April 20 from 9am-9pm and Saturday April 21 from 9am-1pm at the First United Church at King and William Sts in Waterloo. If you have time on either Friday or Saturday, you really should check it out, as there are often great finds and always at a great price.
I decided not to read depressing When Will There Be Good News?, even though I know I really enjoyed listening to it, and have even downloaded the audiobook again in case I want to listen to it again. I went to the library on Saturday afternoon and just wandered in the stacks to see if something caught my eye. I came away with about eight books that I knew nothing about. Of those, at least four ended up not working for me for various reasons. From that experience, I learned what it is like for a library patron to come into the library unprepared, with no ideas regarding what she wants to take out. Having worked at the library for so many years, I'd forgotten how daunting and often frustrating searching for a good book could be. On Sunday, my husband and I went to another library to select some DVDs for the week, and I also looked for books, blindly, as I had done the day before. I ended up taking four books, one I had read before and enjoyed, one that is its sequel, one novel about which I know nothing, and one mystery paperback by Ruth Rendell. I read the Ruth Rendell novel, Not in the Flesh, an Inspector Wexford mystery, and I really enjoyed it. I've tried a stand-alone novel by this author within the past year, The Water is Lovely, which was kind of surreal and dreamlike. I thought it was OK, but I much preferred the Wexford novel, a classic British mystery. Not alot of character development in the novel, and I assume that the rest of the novels in the series are like this one, and they are fairly short and easy to get through, but in terms of a classic mystery, I don't think you could go wrong with one of these. I'm so happy to have discovered this, as there must be quite a few in this series, which means many more mysteries for me to check out (literally!!).
It's funny, I'm not sure why I like reading mysteries. I never try to figure out who committed the crime or why. I like reading mystery series as well as stand-alones, and I especially enjoy British mysteries. They can be cozy mysteries, taking place in a small town or village, where the crime takes place off the page and the detective is often not really a detective at all, but an amateur sleuth with a skill in some other area (remember the book I wrote about not long ago, Paganini's Ghost, about a violinist who got involved in a murder in a small Italian village?). They can be psychological mysteries like Minette Walters, whose novels are fairly descriptive, not necessarily graphic or gratuitous in their descriptions, but you don't have to imagine much about the crime, and there are always complex psychological twists. They can be police procedurals like Peter Robinson and Elizabeth George, where the workings of the police and their investigative tools and processes are as important to the story as the crime. They can be "slice-of-life" novels like Case Histories and others by Kate Atkinson, where the reader feels as if she is learning about life while discovering the truth behind the crime. Maybe mysteries appeal because they promise resolution in the end, a discovery of the guilty party and hopefully an arrest and prosecution, which should bring some peace of mind to the victims and those who are left behind. Maybe I like the way the British write mysteries, the atmosphere these writers are able to create and into which I can immerse myself for a little while. Also, because they are often written in series, there is almost always more to read by that author once you finish one book. Anyways, I'm very excited to have discovered the Inspector Wexford series by Rendell, and look forward to reading many more (there are more than 20 novels in that series alone - WOO HOO!! I've hit the "book jackpot"!)
In my last post when I was talking about Ann Patchett's State of Wonder, I mentioned that I was reminded of a few different novels as I was reading it, but at the time of writing I was only able to recall two of those novels, Patchett's Bel Canto and Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible. Well, I thought of another, not a novel, but an author. There were sections of the book that reminded of the books of Michael Crichton, where a group of researchers, often working for a big pharmaceutical company, goes into the jungle to discover, usually covertly, the secrets of a tribe of indigenous peoples, and often to exploit them for their own gain, but this always turns out badly for everyone. Patchett's novel was actually nothing like a Crichton novel, but it certainly had some elements of this type of novel, and Crichton is not the only writer who uses this plotline. Another novel with this type of plotline, which is more similar to Patchett's novel, is Le Carre's The Constant Gardener, an excellent novel with a disturbing story to tell. All that to say once again that I loved State of Wonder, and will most definitely read it again.
That's all for tonight! Looking forward to another year of posting...
Bye for now!
Julie
The first thing I wanted to let you know about is the 48th annual CFUW used book sale that will be held this weekend, Friday April 20 from 9am-9pm and Saturday April 21 from 9am-1pm at the First United Church at King and William Sts in Waterloo. If you have time on either Friday or Saturday, you really should check it out, as there are often great finds and always at a great price.
I decided not to read depressing When Will There Be Good News?, even though I know I really enjoyed listening to it, and have even downloaded the audiobook again in case I want to listen to it again. I went to the library on Saturday afternoon and just wandered in the stacks to see if something caught my eye. I came away with about eight books that I knew nothing about. Of those, at least four ended up not working for me for various reasons. From that experience, I learned what it is like for a library patron to come into the library unprepared, with no ideas regarding what she wants to take out. Having worked at the library for so many years, I'd forgotten how daunting and often frustrating searching for a good book could be. On Sunday, my husband and I went to another library to select some DVDs for the week, and I also looked for books, blindly, as I had done the day before. I ended up taking four books, one I had read before and enjoyed, one that is its sequel, one novel about which I know nothing, and one mystery paperback by Ruth Rendell. I read the Ruth Rendell novel, Not in the Flesh, an Inspector Wexford mystery, and I really enjoyed it. I've tried a stand-alone novel by this author within the past year, The Water is Lovely, which was kind of surreal and dreamlike. I thought it was OK, but I much preferred the Wexford novel, a classic British mystery. Not alot of character development in the novel, and I assume that the rest of the novels in the series are like this one, and they are fairly short and easy to get through, but in terms of a classic mystery, I don't think you could go wrong with one of these. I'm so happy to have discovered this, as there must be quite a few in this series, which means many more mysteries for me to check out (literally!!).
It's funny, I'm not sure why I like reading mysteries. I never try to figure out who committed the crime or why. I like reading mystery series as well as stand-alones, and I especially enjoy British mysteries. They can be cozy mysteries, taking place in a small town or village, where the crime takes place off the page and the detective is often not really a detective at all, but an amateur sleuth with a skill in some other area (remember the book I wrote about not long ago, Paganini's Ghost, about a violinist who got involved in a murder in a small Italian village?). They can be psychological mysteries like Minette Walters, whose novels are fairly descriptive, not necessarily graphic or gratuitous in their descriptions, but you don't have to imagine much about the crime, and there are always complex psychological twists. They can be police procedurals like Peter Robinson and Elizabeth George, where the workings of the police and their investigative tools and processes are as important to the story as the crime. They can be "slice-of-life" novels like Case Histories and others by Kate Atkinson, where the reader feels as if she is learning about life while discovering the truth behind the crime. Maybe mysteries appeal because they promise resolution in the end, a discovery of the guilty party and hopefully an arrest and prosecution, which should bring some peace of mind to the victims and those who are left behind. Maybe I like the way the British write mysteries, the atmosphere these writers are able to create and into which I can immerse myself for a little while. Also, because they are often written in series, there is almost always more to read by that author once you finish one book. Anyways, I'm very excited to have discovered the Inspector Wexford series by Rendell, and look forward to reading many more (there are more than 20 novels in that series alone - WOO HOO!! I've hit the "book jackpot"!)
In my last post when I was talking about Ann Patchett's State of Wonder, I mentioned that I was reminded of a few different novels as I was reading it, but at the time of writing I was only able to recall two of those novels, Patchett's Bel Canto and Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible. Well, I thought of another, not a novel, but an author. There were sections of the book that reminded of the books of Michael Crichton, where a group of researchers, often working for a big pharmaceutical company, goes into the jungle to discover, usually covertly, the secrets of a tribe of indigenous peoples, and often to exploit them for their own gain, but this always turns out badly for everyone. Patchett's novel was actually nothing like a Crichton novel, but it certainly had some elements of this type of novel, and Crichton is not the only writer who uses this plotline. Another novel with this type of plotline, which is more similar to Patchett's novel, is Le Carre's The Constant Gardener, an excellent novel with a disturbing story to tell. All that to say once again that I loved State of Wonder, and will most definitely read it again.
That's all for tonight! Looking forward to another year of posting...
Bye for now!
Julie
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Tea and book talk...
I've been a busy reader over the past week, and have lots to write about tonight. First I want to tell you about State of Wonder, by Ann Patchett. I must have really enjoyed it, because I finished it in just six days. That may not seem overly quick, and normally I can finish a novel in a week, but this one was the type that I really had to think about, one that demanded time and effort to really understand what was going on. I gave a brief outline of the plot in my last post, so I won't do that again here, but I'll just say that there's more to the characters and story than the reader may at first believe. I really don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say that it was absolutely compelling to read and engaging from start to finish. It reminded this reader of various other novels, for various reasons: it was a bit like Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible regarding the influences and effects of the western world on indigenous peoples. It reminded me of Bel Canto, of course, but not because of the writing style. Well, the writing style was similar, but the stories move at such different pace that I had to remind myself that both books were by the same author. No, it was the references to music, and the beauty of opera, that brought to mind Bel Canto. When I was reading it, the novel brought to mind other novels for comparison, and I thought I should write them down as they were in mind, but I didn't, and now it's been almost a week, so they're gone. I may recall them and pass them on later, but for now those are the only two novels I can come up with. For me, the novel was about the responsibilities people have towards others and that people must behave in a manner that is responsible for all parties, not just for those acting, but for those being acted upon. It was about what it really means to be a mother, and again, behaving responsibly when considering motherhood. It was also about relationships, and about adaptability, and about going beyond one's own expectations of oneself, out of duty, out of necessity, or sometimes out of love. In case it's not clear from my post so far, I loved it and would highly recommend it!
Something I also wanted to comment on was the design of the book. My copy is a trade paperback, my favourite format for a book, especially if I own it. I like the way it opens easily and stays open, and it gives the reader enough text to keep him or her busy for a while, unlike mass market paperbacks, which can sometimes be a challenge. But the cover of the book is so interesting because it is so sparse. It has the title and author in the center and some interesting and relevant artwork around the edges, and there is a lengthy description of the plot and some information about the author on the back cover. Both are an unassuming sand colour. But what I found remarkable, and this is something I didn't really realize until a few days' reading had passed, is that there are no comments or recommendations from other authors on the front or back covers. There are no excerpts from newspaper or magazine reviews (here is a link to my cover: http://www.amazon.com/State-Wonder-Ann-Patchett/dp/0062049801) This book is relying on the strength of the plot, and of course the familiarity of the author, to sell itself. I think that shows great faith in the judgement of the reader, and also great confidence on the part of the author and publisher. It's a nice change to see this type of book cover. I remember some time ago I wrote about the use of author recommendations or comments on the covers of books, and how I thought that this was somehow insulting to the reader, or a cheap way to market a book. I like to see a book that "believes in itself", if that makes any sense (it sounds better in my head than it looks on the screen!) By the way, Patchett recently opened her own independent bookstore in her hometown of Nashville which has put her in the running for Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world (http://www.quillandquire.com/blog/index.php/2012/04/02/the-anatomy-of-ann-patchetts-influence/)... Interesting...
Of course, when coming to the end of a gripping, well-written novel, I was faced with panic, because I wanted to follow it up with another terrific book. I tried to reread a Minette Walters' mystery, but that was absolutely not what I wanted. I then tried to read The Shack by Wm. Paul Young, another book that had been a gift, this time from my sister-in-law a couple of years ago. While I'm definitely interested in reading it, this past week was just not the right time, so I'm putting it back on my bookshelf for future reading. Then I got a notice from the library that When Will There Be Good News? was in for me, so I picked it up last night and began reading it. Oh my, I didn't remember it being so "not uplifting"! It is written more like Case Histories than One Good Turn, and it's been long enough since I've listened to this novel that it's almost like reading a new book, except that I actually understand it better this time since I've read the earlier novels in the series. But, at only 2 chapters into the book, there is a dead dog and a puppy thrown out of a car window (but also a dog that is loved and cherished by its owner). I don't remember being disturbed by the animal imagery when I listened to it, so I think I'm safe to read it. I'll let you know what I think about it once I finish. I really enjoyed the audiobook, so I'm hoping my reading experience will live up to my expectations. At least I now know that the answer to the question, "When will there be good news?" is likely to be , "Never!"
On that cheerful note, I think I'll close.
Bye for now!
Julie
Something I also wanted to comment on was the design of the book. My copy is a trade paperback, my favourite format for a book, especially if I own it. I like the way it opens easily and stays open, and it gives the reader enough text to keep him or her busy for a while, unlike mass market paperbacks, which can sometimes be a challenge. But the cover of the book is so interesting because it is so sparse. It has the title and author in the center and some interesting and relevant artwork around the edges, and there is a lengthy description of the plot and some information about the author on the back cover. Both are an unassuming sand colour. But what I found remarkable, and this is something I didn't really realize until a few days' reading had passed, is that there are no comments or recommendations from other authors on the front or back covers. There are no excerpts from newspaper or magazine reviews (here is a link to my cover: http://www.amazon.com/State-Wonder-Ann-Patchett/dp/0062049801) This book is relying on the strength of the plot, and of course the familiarity of the author, to sell itself. I think that shows great faith in the judgement of the reader, and also great confidence on the part of the author and publisher. It's a nice change to see this type of book cover. I remember some time ago I wrote about the use of author recommendations or comments on the covers of books, and how I thought that this was somehow insulting to the reader, or a cheap way to market a book. I like to see a book that "believes in itself", if that makes any sense (it sounds better in my head than it looks on the screen!) By the way, Patchett recently opened her own independent bookstore in her hometown of Nashville which has put her in the running for Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world (http://www.quillandquire.com/blog/index.php/2012/04/02/the-anatomy-of-ann-patchetts-influence/)... Interesting...
Of course, when coming to the end of a gripping, well-written novel, I was faced with panic, because I wanted to follow it up with another terrific book. I tried to reread a Minette Walters' mystery, but that was absolutely not what I wanted. I then tried to read The Shack by Wm. Paul Young, another book that had been a gift, this time from my sister-in-law a couple of years ago. While I'm definitely interested in reading it, this past week was just not the right time, so I'm putting it back on my bookshelf for future reading. Then I got a notice from the library that When Will There Be Good News? was in for me, so I picked it up last night and began reading it. Oh my, I didn't remember it being so "not uplifting"! It is written more like Case Histories than One Good Turn, and it's been long enough since I've listened to this novel that it's almost like reading a new book, except that I actually understand it better this time since I've read the earlier novels in the series. But, at only 2 chapters into the book, there is a dead dog and a puppy thrown out of a car window (but also a dog that is loved and cherished by its owner). I don't remember being disturbed by the animal imagery when I listened to it, so I think I'm safe to read it. I'll let you know what I think about it once I finish. I really enjoyed the audiobook, so I'm hoping my reading experience will live up to my expectations. At least I now know that the answer to the question, "When will there be good news?" is likely to be , "Never!"
On that cheerful note, I think I'll close.
Bye for now!
Julie
Friday, 6 April 2012
Post on a sunny Good Friday...
WOW, this is just like old times, posting on a sunny morning with CBC playing in the background and a cup of chai tea by my side. Really, those were the best posting times... ah well, sometimes we need to roll with the changes in our lives.
I finished One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson on Sunday, and it was a disappointment. It seems appropriate to be writing about it today, a religious holiday, because it had many religious undertones. One of the main characters, Martin, was a crime fiction writer who had taught Religious Studies to high school boys before starting to write. At one point, someone had written an article about him which reported that he had been a priest, or in a seminary, before becoming a teacher and then a writer, which was untrue but stuck - he was ever after referred to as the "former priest" in reviews, interviews and articles. There were references to the road to Damascus, and religious conversion, scales falling from the eyes, and other biblical imagery. There is also the title, One Good Turn, a reference to "one good turn deserves another" and is somehow, I think, related to the biblical story of the Good Samaritan. Anyways, more religious than Case Histories, and also too many instances of animal cruelty, dead dogs and drowned kittens... not very pleasant for this animal-lover. I'll definitely move on to When Will There Be Good News? - I'm not sure if I have my own copy of that book or whether I'll have to request it from the library.
Our book club discussed Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis last Saturday, and all the members loved it! I must thank on of my members, Val, for recommending it, and it was just a coincidence that we read it at a time when our own budget was being discussed and announced, since a large portion of the book dealt with the two main characters' reactions to the "mini-budget" that was being proposed and was to be voted on (I couldn't take any credit for the timeliness of the selection, but I really like when that happens!). If you recall, this book tells the story of a reluctant liberal MP candidate who, due to unforeseen circumstances, actually wins in his riding, and his behaviour in his new role. We discussed Fallis' manipulation of language to achieve humourous ends, and the ways in which this book challenged stereotypes and revealed misconceptions. It offered a view of politics that was refreshing and light, though the the novel evoked compassion in the reader for some of the characters - Angus' grief over the death of his wife and Muriel's progressive Parkinsons' disease made the story more real than if the characters and situations were strictly humourous. Angus and Daniel also experienced character growth throughout the book. One member confirmed what I had written in my last post, that this book had something for everyone (when that happens, and it's happened more than once, I suspect that my book club members are secretly reading my blog, even though they all deny it!) Anyways, good choice, and timely, too!!
On Monday, April 2, I began reading State of Wonder by Ann Patchett, which was a birthday gift from a friend. She had placed a reserve on a library copy at the Toronto Public Library (she lives in Toronto), so we agreed that when she got her copy, we would read it at the same time so we could discuss it afterwards. I was in the middle of my book club selection when she get her copy, but she's not quite finished and I'm about a third of the way though, so the timing should work out for us. It's amazing! I think it's even better than Bel Canto, which was really good, but a little slow to get into. With this book, I did not have that problem. It tells the story of a woman, Marina, a researcher for an American pharmaceutical company who is sent to Brazil to track down Annick Swenson, another researcher employed by the same company who was working on a fertility drug but has been incommunicado by her own choice for the past 10 years. It's beautifully written, the characters are enigmas, and the situations are puzzling. I think the appeal of this novel for me is that it's a bit of a character study and a bit of a mystery, combining my two favourite types of stories. I can't wait to finish it! The reason I mentioned the date on which I started the book is that it opens with the death of one of the company's researchers who had gone to find the elusive Swenson. The company receives a letter from Swenson with the news of his death, a letter that was dated March 18, the death occurred on March 15, and Marina comments that "today is April 1st". I began reading this on April 2nd, so that kind of indicated that I had to read this book, that it was the right time to start. And there is a character named Easter, and this is Easter weekend. Remember on February 14th I started a book whose first line was, "Well, it is Valentine's Day", and I felt compelled to finish it, like that was some sort of sign, even though it really wasn't very well-written? I think I will have a much better reading experience this time.
I think it's time to go and get ready for a hike on the Bruce Trail - we're planning to go to Crawford Lake today. I always feel that Good Friday should be overcast and drizzly, but it almost never is. I guess it feels wrong somehow to be enjoying a bright sunny day on such a sad holiday (you know what they say, "once a Catholic...")
Happy Easter!! Bye for now...
Julie
I finished One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson on Sunday, and it was a disappointment. It seems appropriate to be writing about it today, a religious holiday, because it had many religious undertones. One of the main characters, Martin, was a crime fiction writer who had taught Religious Studies to high school boys before starting to write. At one point, someone had written an article about him which reported that he had been a priest, or in a seminary, before becoming a teacher and then a writer, which was untrue but stuck - he was ever after referred to as the "former priest" in reviews, interviews and articles. There were references to the road to Damascus, and religious conversion, scales falling from the eyes, and other biblical imagery. There is also the title, One Good Turn, a reference to "one good turn deserves another" and is somehow, I think, related to the biblical story of the Good Samaritan. Anyways, more religious than Case Histories, and also too many instances of animal cruelty, dead dogs and drowned kittens... not very pleasant for this animal-lover. I'll definitely move on to When Will There Be Good News? - I'm not sure if I have my own copy of that book or whether I'll have to request it from the library.
Our book club discussed Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis last Saturday, and all the members loved it! I must thank on of my members, Val, for recommending it, and it was just a coincidence that we read it at a time when our own budget was being discussed and announced, since a large portion of the book dealt with the two main characters' reactions to the "mini-budget" that was being proposed and was to be voted on (I couldn't take any credit for the timeliness of the selection, but I really like when that happens!). If you recall, this book tells the story of a reluctant liberal MP candidate who, due to unforeseen circumstances, actually wins in his riding, and his behaviour in his new role. We discussed Fallis' manipulation of language to achieve humourous ends, and the ways in which this book challenged stereotypes and revealed misconceptions. It offered a view of politics that was refreshing and light, though the the novel evoked compassion in the reader for some of the characters - Angus' grief over the death of his wife and Muriel's progressive Parkinsons' disease made the story more real than if the characters and situations were strictly humourous. Angus and Daniel also experienced character growth throughout the book. One member confirmed what I had written in my last post, that this book had something for everyone (when that happens, and it's happened more than once, I suspect that my book club members are secretly reading my blog, even though they all deny it!) Anyways, good choice, and timely, too!!
On Monday, April 2, I began reading State of Wonder by Ann Patchett, which was a birthday gift from a friend. She had placed a reserve on a library copy at the Toronto Public Library (she lives in Toronto), so we agreed that when she got her copy, we would read it at the same time so we could discuss it afterwards. I was in the middle of my book club selection when she get her copy, but she's not quite finished and I'm about a third of the way though, so the timing should work out for us. It's amazing! I think it's even better than Bel Canto, which was really good, but a little slow to get into. With this book, I did not have that problem. It tells the story of a woman, Marina, a researcher for an American pharmaceutical company who is sent to Brazil to track down Annick Swenson, another researcher employed by the same company who was working on a fertility drug but has been incommunicado by her own choice for the past 10 years. It's beautifully written, the characters are enigmas, and the situations are puzzling. I think the appeal of this novel for me is that it's a bit of a character study and a bit of a mystery, combining my two favourite types of stories. I can't wait to finish it! The reason I mentioned the date on which I started the book is that it opens with the death of one of the company's researchers who had gone to find the elusive Swenson. The company receives a letter from Swenson with the news of his death, a letter that was dated March 18, the death occurred on March 15, and Marina comments that "today is April 1st". I began reading this on April 2nd, so that kind of indicated that I had to read this book, that it was the right time to start. And there is a character named Easter, and this is Easter weekend. Remember on February 14th I started a book whose first line was, "Well, it is Valentine's Day", and I felt compelled to finish it, like that was some sort of sign, even though it really wasn't very well-written? I think I will have a much better reading experience this time.
I think it's time to go and get ready for a hike on the Bruce Trail - we're planning to go to Crawford Lake today. I always feel that Good Friday should be overcast and drizzly, but it almost never is. I guess it feels wrong somehow to be enjoying a bright sunny day on such a sad holiday (you know what they say, "once a Catholic...")
Happy Easter!! Bye for now...
Julie
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