Milosz by Cordelia Strube

Having taken a creative writing course this fall at Ryerson University, I wanted to read a few of the instructor's novels. This is the second of Stube's novels that I read...I may read Lemon in the new year.

Here's a brief summary thanks to Goodreads.com:

Milo doesn’t quite have it all together. His acting career has stalled. His Latvian girlfriend dumped him. His miserable father has vanished. And Pablo and Wallace – and then Wallace’s mother too – seem to have moved in to his house. Really, the only person Milo likes is Robertson, the autistic eleven-year-old who lives next door. So when Robertson gets bullied and his dad moves out, Milo is finally spurred to action. Milo being Milo, though, even his best intentions go awry, and soon Robertson’s dad is in the hospital, Milo’s lost in the woods during an acting experiment and Gustaw, his dad, may have returned from the dead. 

As a endnote, I have to say that I enjoyed the creative writing course very much. Strube was a friendly and approachable instructor, who encouraged each student with their work. She listened patiently and encouraged all class participation. I found out that writing well is very difficult, and involves much effort. In the meantime, I will continue to hack along with my blog...It's no great demonstration of good writing!

Cheers!

The Book Thief Stole My Heart

The last novel for the year for my monthly book club, and I believe we may have saved the best for last with The Book Thief.

Summary thanks to Goodreads:

"It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will be busier still. By her brother's graveside, Liesel's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, left behind there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordian-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found. But these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jewish fist-fighter in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up, and closed down."

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.  The group discussed this novel over lunch at our annual Christmas Book Exchange party. The vast majority of the ladies loved it, finding little fault with the writing or the gripping story.

I thought that it read like poetry at times; Zusak's prose is so beautiful. With Death as the narrator, The Book Thief is a creative and unique wartime story was written from the perspective of a young German girl.

Here is the author with his thoughts:

This novel should be mandatory reading in high school. It is not to be missed. 

Vaughan Public Library....Vaughan Reads: Flee, Fly, Flown by Janet Hepburn

I love my local library.  The Vaughan Public Library is a wonderful community resource, that runs a wide variety of programs. I've participated in many; some when my children were infants and I wanted a mom and baby morning out, some when I wanted to chat about a book that was read by others.  My public library is a treasure, and I am grateful that I have access to it.

Most recently, I am participating in the Vaughan Reads program which runs every year, and offers a city-wide book reading opportunity. This year's title is Flee, Fly, Flown by Janet Hepburn, and I can't wait to attend the author's reading and discussion group this November 19 at Pierre Burton Library.

Here's Amazon's summary of Flee, Fly, Flown:

Lillian and Audrey hatch a plot to escape from Tranquil Meadows Nursing Home, "borrow" a car, and spend their hastily planned vacation time driving to destinations west. They set out on their journey having forgotten that their memory problems might make driving and following directions difficult. Then they meet up with the unsuspecting Rayne, a young man also heading west in hope of reconciling with his family. Without minimizing the realities of old age, dementia, and frailty, Lillian and Audrey's story is rich with laughter, adventure, and hope.

 I found this novel to be a heart warming story of friendship, adventure and the struggle to maintain dignity while enduring the ravages of dementia. Hepburn successfully builds authentic characters with rich histories.

I really enjoyed the quest theme of making a trek through northern Ontario. This novel reminded my of Margaret Lawrence's Stone Angel. I recommend it.