RU by Kim Thuy

Not sure if it's a subliminal message, but I almost forgot to review RU by Kim Thuy.  Finished it last week, in preparation for my book club meeting in December.

Called a novel, but really only a novella at a "whopping" 140 pages, this autobiographical work tells of Thuy's experiences from Vietnamese childhood through to her immigration to Quebec.

Stylistically, it is not a chronological presentation. The narrative thread jumps back and forth through time, and skips from topic to topic between pages. Many of the pages are a simple paragraph or two on an isolated topic.

It could be read as poetry. Not sure…I think that would have been more fair to the reader who struggles to bring it all together as a logical narrative.

Winner of the Governor Generals award. Who am I to disagree? 

More than a Tale…A Super Yarn: The Tale-Teller

Just finished Susan Glickman's most recent novel the Tale-Teller. Selected as the Vaughan Reads book for December 2013, Susan Glickman will be speaking at the Bathurst Clark Resource Branch of the Vaughan Public Library on December 8 2013 at 1 pm.  Mark your calendar now, as this is a great opportunity to speak with Susan about her research efforts, the creative process and the novel's fascinating twists and turns.

The Tale-Teller is a story spun around the real life experience of Ester Brandeau, the first Jewish woman to Canada in 1783.  Here's a little about Brandeau, as sourced from the Jewish Virtual Library: 

Esther Brandeau was actually the first Jewish woman to arrive in Canada in 1783. She was born in France and was able to come to the New World only because she disguised herself as a young boy. She named herself Jaques la Frague and became a well-liked apprentice on her ship and in the area of present day Quebec. Soon, however, Esther's mask was removed and both her gender and religion were revealed. 

As the lone Jew in the country, authorities in "New France" arrested her and attempted to convert her to Christianity. Esther was adamant in her refusal to convert. She wanted to live in Canada as a free citizen, but she also wanted to remain Jewish. The new government could not approve of her religion, and after a few years of correspondence with authorities in France, she was finally sent back to her home in La Rochelle. 

Esther Brandeau is an ideal representation of a woman who would do anything for her freedom except sacrifice her belief in Judaism. (Source: Taitz, Emily, Sondra Henry, Cheryl Tallan. The JPS Guide to Jewish Women. PA: Jewish Publication Society of America, 2003.)

I am going to confess that I usually run away screaming from anything akin to historical fiction. I usually find this genre predictable and repressive, steeped in English "stodge" that always seems to deal with the elite class struggling against the monarchy or the church. It makes me crazy, and it usually bores me to tears. 

However, Glickman delivers a refreshing and creative treat to her readers. The Tale-Teller was creative, entertaining and unique. It held surprises and led the reader through many adventures. The female characters were strong and well drawn. I enjoyed the telling of pirate attacks, camel rides through deserts, clashes with slave traders, grim nuns in Canadian convents, lunatic asylums etc.  This story really has it all.

Just when I was convinced that the story was headed for the dreaded Hollywood romantic roundup, the author stays true to her character's independent spirit, and wraps the tale up fittingly.  Glickman cleverly holds back some central details, keeping for the reader a delicious surprise or two that build a solid and satisfying conclusion. It is efficiently written, and well edited. 

I recommend this novel highly. The "Added Value" here is that the reader will discover a piece of Canadian history that has been neglected and untold for hundreds of years. Well done Ms. Glickman!

Vaughan Reads 2013: The Tale Teller by Susan Glickman

It's not too late to run out to the Vaughan Public Library and grab a copy of Susan Glickman's novel The Tale Teller.  Vaughan Reads is in full swing and it's latest selection is proving to be a delightful one.

I am only half finished, but I can tell you that it's a creative and imaginative historical story that is both captivating and well written. No compromising on this work; it really is great!

Susan at her Desk

Can't wait to meet the author also. As a part of the VPL Vaughan Reads program, there will be a meeting and discussion with Susan Glickman in December. What a treat! Here's a little preview of SG…She sounds like a fun character! http://www.susanglickman.com

Now, back to the book!!!

Starting Out in the Afternoon…A Delight!

Jill Frayne, daughter of June Callwood, tells of her personal journey into the Canadian wilderness. The analogy of Starting Out in the Afternoon might refer to her starting over again, or reclaiming and re-establishing her new life after a relationship ends, and her daughter leaves for university. One spring, she packs up her car, and starts out on a 3 month trip to northern British Columbia for a camping and kayaking expedition by herself. (I was surprised to find that she lived in Uxbridge…about 20 minutes away from my home!)

I share a passion for the outdoors--canoeing in freshwater is the best therapy for the soul. Like Frayne, solitary tenting has been a wonderful experience for me. I have enjoyed camping in Vermont and New Hampshire and tented on Long Beach just south of Tofino by  myself in my early 20's.  I have backpacked to the Isle of Skye and northern Scotland solo. Traveling alone, you learn a lot about a place, and even more about yourself. You have time to reflect on the life that you have stepped outside. You have quiet expanses of time in which you can observe your surroundings and watch life quietly unfold.  I loved Frayne's description of her sitting in a strawberry field writing. If I could choose a book to live out, this might be the book that I would want to experience (except for the failing marriage, and problematic parenting aspects!) 

Nuff about me, back to the book. This writing spoke to my soul. Frayne's novel read like poetry and effortlessly took me to the northern reaches of this great country.  Frayne's writing is like butter: smooth and delicious. The closer I got to the end of the book, the slower I read; like savouring the last few drops of an excellent wine.

As a general rule, I don't "dog-ear" the pages of a book, but I just had to mark these two passages:

"I went West in my car in 1990 like a person burned down, but I came back with seeds in my pocket for the rest of my life. To go into these last places, to go alone or to go with the companion I have found, long after I was content to have no companion, is all I'll ever need." p. 233

On discussing the Inuit culture seeing the world as entirely connected, both animate and inanimate objects sharing a concrete relationships, she revels in the culture that orients more to non-difference than to difference: "A bear and a skunk cabbage are much more the same than they are different. What would it be like, I wonder, if our first thought, regarding anything was to perceive the kinship, the non-distinction, rather than shorting out to the difference between things?" 

I was entranced by the imagery, and beautiful descriptions. A pleasure to read and I recommend it highly.

The Greatest Find While Shopping at Yorkdale

I love the boho vibe at Anthropologie in Yorkdale Mall Toronto. It's got cool styles to wear and unique pieces for the home. It's a fun place to explore with a coffee and a girlfriend.

Last week, I popped in after sorting out some computer problems at the Mac store. Here's what I found:

Not sure who they are quoting.

Isn't this Cool? A sculpture/head board of books.

Reminds me a bit of my night stand.

Did they glue them? Not sure. I loved it though.

And I liked this scarf too. It reminded me of my friend Elaine F. 

Barack Obama: Dreams From My Father

Autobiography of A Young Man

Unlike some of my fellow book club members, I was looking forward to this month's pick. Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama is the first work that I have read by the Big O, and a logical starting point.

This autobiography focuses on Obama's first 25 years, prior to his political aspirations. The novel is structured into 3 parts: Origins, Chicago and Kenya. It tells of Obama's ancestry and upbringing. We see some influences and experiences that shape him into the man he becomes later in his life.

His Grandparents who Raised Him as a Teen

Obama is born in Hawaii, and after his father leaves his mother to pursue his education at Harvard, she divorces (although this term is never really used), and she remarries an Indonesian man. The family relocated to Indonesia for some time, but this relationship also ends, and Obama returns and begins living with his grandparents in Hawaii. While there, his biological father comes to visit him only once when he is approximately 10 years old. What a story this old family photo tells of his excitement to finally meet his father.

Barack's Biological Father

Obama's Mother

This novel really avoids any discussion of his mother. No fond memories, no funny anecdotes that demonstrate a warm relationship of sorts.  There is so little information about her, that this glaring omission left me wondering if there exists a rift in that relationship. Also, the total absence of information about Maya, his half sister by his mother and Indonesian step father, was curious. It's hard to believe that he wouldn't share any  stories of little childhood adventures with his sister at all?

There is a common challenge about the autobiographies of politicians: How to tell a story without compromising one's future, or offending the electorate. As such, the seedier, funnier and more painful bits are often left out, and the minutia of political wrangling is included to make up the bulk of a text. Name dropping is uses as a crutch and distracts from the intimate details that are omitted.

Obama's step dad, mom and sister

Refer back to Ken Dryen's autobiography The Game, and this is a critical fault of that work also. (Now if you want to read a gritty, tell all autobiography, try Life by Keith Richards!!! WOW!)

That being said, I was struck that Obama admitted to drug use (Yes, Bill Clinton, Barack inhaled and had the courage to admit it!!!) and I commend his honesty on this one. He also admits to drinking alcohol to excess and smoking cigarettes. These activities, while totally innocuous to most, are a major issue to the bible thumping, conservative southern states and I was impressed by his candour.

However, a glaring omission is his total lack of mention of any love interests, religious affiliations and the avoidance of admitting that his father had many wives, and innumerable children. I was tempted to start a family tree flow chart, but didn't know where to start!!!

Thanks to Wikipedia, here's the answer:

This is the Kenyan family portrait that
Obama refers to in his novel

"Barack Obama has six half-siblings. One half-sister from his mother, one half-sister from his father, and four half-brothers from his father. Abo and Bernard Obama are also alleged to be his half-brothers but it is stated in his book Dreams of My Father that the Obama family doubts that they are the biological children of Barack Obama, Sr." 

To be honest, I was really wanting the novel to talk about his time at Harvard, his more recent political aspirations, and his family life with Michelle and daughters. I guess I will have to read a different book for those stories.

I'd recommend it, but you can get by with skimming the political bits. A tough editor could have widdled the narrative down by at least 80 pages. 

Cozy, Comfy Read: The Friday Night Knitting Club

Late October in Southern Ontario is usually underpinned by blustery winds, frosty morning lawns, and grey evening skies. The leaves fall fast and steady for a couple of weeks, and then you know that the warm summer is over and 6 months of cold winter is on its way.

This is the time of year I enjoy pulling out the wooly sweaters and picking up a good, easy read to help me through the change of seasons. This year, that book was The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs.

This novel is not new; its been out since 2007, and has been touted as a New York Times bestseller. (what book isn't...seems like everything published is a NYT hit?!?)  Its the story of several women living in NYC, and it explores their connection to each other through the their weekly knitting club meeting.

There are many well drawn characters with their own quirks and foibles. Certainly Kate Jacobs does a great job fleshing them out. Maybe a little less convincing is the way the relationship of two old lovers comes together again (...maybe a bit to Hollywood.) Anyway, it's an easy read...we're not talking literary work and nothing too taxing. Enjoyable and I would recommend it if you've just come off a heavy read or you are under lots of stress at work!

Now, as a total aside from this novel:

Most women I know today have lost interest in knitting. It seems we are so busy rushing around that there is no time for creating woollens.  Rather than reach for the knitting bag, we reach for our laptops, iPhones or remote controls. A woman knitting is so uncommon.  Almost as uncommon, is the notion of a group of women getting together on a weekly basis to chat and share their lives with each other.

Here's why I loved this story. I believe in creating woollens...it's a traditional pass time and a tangible way to spend hours relaxing at home. I also believe in maintaining friendships with women throughout my life. My Wednesday mornings always involve a cup of coffee with my friends from the local mom's group in the village. Despite rain, shine, snow (and even political unrest) this group has been meeting up every Wednesday morning for 40 years, and by the looks of things, (and a little luck) it will run for another 40 years.

Now, I'm going to start convincing the girls to pull out the knitting needles (and crochet hooks cuz that's the new and cool thing to do!) Instead of comparing Apps on our iPhones at the hockey arena, we can compare crochet hooks and granny squares. BTW, there's NO APP FOR THAT!!! It might be a while before the girls come around to it. I'll let you know how it goes!

In the meantime, you can read this book and enjoy the warmth of female friendship. It was comforting.

I Hate Your Rotten Guts: The Guts

Twenty years ago, Roddy Doyle made me laugh and cry with Paddy Clark Ha Ha Ha. It was entertaining, and heartfelt. It was fresh and moving. His most recent work, The Guts, basically just made me cry...with frustration.

How can I describe my frustration? This novel was like picking up a beautiful looking peach. You know the kind that you can almost taste from it's sheer beauty...you just know you are going to love it. But then you bite into the luscious fruit, only to find you have a pithy mouthful of bland, dry pulp? Disappointing eh? Yeah well, that pretty much sums it up for me.

Page upon page of one line dialogues, between god know's which characters. It was absolutely frustrating to follow the conversations. I had to trace back over the one liners to figure out who was grunting what. The language is clearly local Irish slang, and that in itself left me asking if all families tell each other to "fuck off" regularly. Perhaps this novel works better if read as a script. Maybe Doyle wrote it with the hope of it being picked up as a screenplay. Maybe Doyle figured he'd make it easier on an editor and just make it a pseudo novel/screenplay mess.

Not sure. In the beloved words of Doyle: "It was shite from start to finish."

Turn the fan on first if you plan on reading this pile of crrrrapppp!

Long Live Book Clubs...A Waiting Room Chat

I was sitting in a doctor's waiting room yesterday, and reading my current book, The Guts by Roddy Doyle, when the receptionist struck up a conversation with me about books.  She saw that I was reading and we began chatting about our separate book clubs.

Turns out that the receptionist belongs to a book club of a very different format than my monthly group. This is how hers works:

At the beginning of the year, all 15 members of her group pitch in $25 towards a common purchase of new and popular titles. The list is determined by majority rules, and all of the books are put into a "shared library" of sorts. There is a master list drafted of the new titles and each book is fitted with a membership list. The books are then distributed, and as the members read them, their
names are crossed off and they slip their thoughts into the back cover of the book. They then pass them onto the next person on this list who needs a new read. The group meets every 8-10 weeks to catch up with each other and chat about what they have been reading. The receptionist mentioned that her book club was dominated by women from South Africa, and that a few of the novels have been based in South Africa.

I found this concept of a common and travelling library really interesting. Nice to know about other Book Club formats. Anyone else know of different book club formats?

A Giant Haul: Victoria College Annual Book Sale

Fall is my favourite time of year. The weather is more temperate, the leaves change into a beautiful palette of golds and reds, and I get to go downtown to the University of Toronto's Victoria College Annual Used Book Sale.

For those of you that are unfamiliar with this sale, it is like a book bonanza on steroids. All year, the large alumni community at Vic collect used books from their membership and donations, and they diligently sort and store them. Then, in conjunction with the famous book fair, Word on the Street, they hold a huge sale that takes over their central building and sprawls over several huge, old lecture halls. The books are sorted into fiction and non-fiction, and range in topic groups from a-z. 

This year, I invited my friend and co-member of our book club, Karen S. to join me in this pilgrimage. She was happy to explore as it was her first time attending the sale. We took our time with our rummaging, spending about two and a half hours milling around, and I have to admit that we scored many great reads for the upcoming year.

I haven't taken snaps of all of the books (there are a few too many and I don't want to admit that I bought 20+ books in one day!), so here are a few of the ones that I can't wait to read:

Non-fiction about a woman's trip to China to find relatives.

An award winner...we'll see if I agree.

This will be the first read from my purchases.

This one is our December book club read.

Can't wait to read this one.

I want a dog...Still working on it with my husband.

Sounded like a bit of fun.

Nice cover...We'll see about this one.

One of my favorite books ever. Nice cover art.

A Christmas Present for my Mom.  The surprise won't be spoiled...She doesn't read my blog!!!

Total Guilty Pleasure: Boggle to Go! I bring this in the car so I can keep busy waiting at the bus stop for Abi!

The Silent Wife: A How to Guide?

When my husband caught sight of my latest read, I'm sure that it crossed his mind that The Silent Wife might be my latest self-help guide. After all, he might enjoy a demure partner for a change.

Boy, is he lucky I didn't read A.S.A. Harrison's book as a How To guide. I'm not going to spoil the entire plot, so it's safe to continue reading, but let's just say that there are a few great twists and turns in this psychological thriller that kept me reading.

LitLover.com describes the plot line as follows:

A chilling psychological thriller about a marriage, a way of life, and how far one woman will go to keep what is rightfully hers.

 Jodi and Todd are at a bad place in their marriage. Much is at stake, including the affluent life they lead in their beautiful waterfront condo in Chicago, as she, the killer, and he, the victim, rush haplessly toward the main event. 

He is a committed cheater. She lives and breathes denial. He exists in dual worlds. She likes to settle scores. He decides to play for keeps. She has nothing left to lose. Told in alternating voices,The Silent Wife is about a marriage in the throes of dissolution, a couple headed for catastrophe, concessions that can’t be made, and promises that won’t be kept. 

The characters are well drawn in this novel, and Harrison does an excellent job of portraying both wife and husband well. She weaves both perspectives together so that the reader really understands the situation from all angles.

I found the last couple of chapters most interesting, but she lost me a bit in the last 5-7 pages. Harrison gets bogged down with the psychological jargon of Jungian psychotherapy, and left me scratching my head and trying to figure out what she was talking about.

Despite the bump at the end, it was worth reading and I would recommend it as a fun and engaging read.

Funny Video: Don't Interrupt Mom...She's Reading a Book!

If you ever feel like you get interrupted a million times from your book, have a look at this quick video! It might drive the point home with the teenagers!!!

If you have any funny book related videos, please share them with me! Have a great weekend!

September's Easy Read: Puppet

When Toronto appears in a fictional work, I really get a charge out of recognizing the scenery and familiar landmarks. It was clear though out Joy Fielding's Puppet that she is very comfortable in this city and by the end, I was certain that she lived in Toronto.

References to the atrium at the Toronto Reference Library, tea at the Four Seasons (RIP), the predictable decor of the Airport Hilton (it was recently updated) and the grim sight of the Metro West Detention Centre (fittingly, still ugly as hell) all made me smile. I could even picture the house on Palmerston, as I used to walk home from work down that once stately street and marvel at the huge homes that were once single family residences.

Here's what the book is about (courtesy of www.joyfielding.com):

Puppet

Living a no-strings-attached life in glamorous Palm Beach, beautiful, steely-nerved criminal attorney Amanda Travis knows exactly what she likes: spinning classes, the color black, and one-night stands. Here's what she dislikes: the color pink, nicknames...and memories. Which is why she has shut the door on two ex-husbands, her estranged mother, and her hometown of Toronto. Then comes the news that will shatter Amanda's untouchable world: her mother, who has always held a strange power over everyone she encounters, has shot and killed a complete stranger. Forced to return to Toronto, Amanda must confront her demons and unravel the truth behind her mother's violent act -- while the taunting, teasing name from her past dances in her head...Puppet...telling her that someone else is orchestrating her fate.

I loves that Fielding allows her protagonist, Amanda to be significantly flawed. She is a proud, carnivorous woman, who has huge attachment issues. She drinks too much, and frolics with married men without any conscious discord. Amanda is not a woman that I would be friends with, and it's no wonder that she has no female friends to call on for support. She's broken and memorable.

 At the Cottage
Up North in Canada

I have never read Fielding's work before, but I have to admit that I'm a little embarrassed that it's taken me so long to uncover her work. This read was entertaining and easily consumed. I found it engaging...the type of book that calls you from the bedside table, and forces you to jump into bed unreasonably early, so you can find out what happens next.

I bought a two book compilation that includes Mad River Road also, so stay tuned for that review in the next few months. In researching the author, I found her website quite interesting, (www.joyfielding.com) and she writes a monthly open letter to fans...kinda interesting! Thanks Joy! I'll keep an eye out for your next letter, and look forward to reading more of your work!

Summer Reading in Italy: The Postmistress

Bet you thought that I gave up reading, and I must admit that the summer school break and vacationing has really cut into my quiet reading time. Nevertheless, I was able to read The Postmistress by Sarah Blake in July.

Here's a summary courtesy of Litlovers.com:

Left it in Venice for Someone else to Enjoy

"Filled with stunning parallels to today's world, The Postmistress is a sweeping novel about the loss of innocence of two extraordinary women-and of two countries torn apart by war.
On the eve of the United States's entrance into World War II in 1940, Iris James, the postmistress of Franklin, a small town on Cape Cod, does the unthinkable: She doesn't deliver a letter.
In London, American radio gal Frankie Bard is working with Edward R. Murrow, reporting on the Blitz. One night in a bomb shelter, she meets a doctor from Cape Cod with a letter in his pocket, a letter Frankie vows to deliver when she returns from Germany and France, where she is to record the stories of war refugees desperately trying to escape.
The residents of Franklin think the war can't touch them—but as Frankie's radio broadcasts air, some know that the war is indeed coming. And when Frankie arrives at their doorstep, the two stories collide in a way no one could have foreseen.
The Postmistress is an unforgettable tale of the secrets we must bear, or bury. It is about what happens to love during war-time, when those we cherish leave. And how every story—of love or war—is about looking left when we should have been looking right."

Jesolo's Beach is the perfect reading spot

I spent a fun afternoon at Jesolo, a beach town 45 minutes east of Venice. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and it was a peaceful day of relaxing with family and friends.

After our couple of beach days, we headed to Venice for 3 days of exploring the ancient city. It was really magical, and we did everything that tourist are supposed to do: gondola, Murano, Burano, St Peter's Square, Rialto, the fish market, and lots of lovely dinners in the open air. It was really a wonderful trip and the kids loved it. They couldn't quite figure out that the roads were actually replaced by water ways!



Not sure I was blown away with it. I have to say that it was an interesting read, but not one that I would revisit. Could my lukewarm opinion be because I was interrupted by kids, travel and other attractions? Maybe, but my stack of books to read continues to grow so you will have to let me know if you think otherwise!

I left it on the informal book exchange in our little Venetian hotel lobby for another world traveller to pick up and enjoy. I hope they do!