Thursday 19 December 2019

"This is How it Always Is"

   This novel begins with Rosie Walsh and her husband Penn, who have four boys - Roosevelt, Ben, and twins Rigel and Orion.  Four boys!  But Rosie wanted a daughter, since her only sibling, a sister, Poppy, died at ten.

Quote:
"Was she just trying endlessly to make a daughter to fulfill an ancient dream of her sister's, a ten-year-old's dream at that?  Did she believe this daughter would grow up and be, at ten, the little girl she'd lost, Poppy herself, picking up where Poppy had left off, fulfilling all the promise of that stymied, hacked-off, stubbed-out little life?  As long as she kept her womb full, might Poppy, some version of Poppy - some waiting, watchful, wandering Poppy demon- gather up all her errant atoms and come home again?"
    Well, she did have another child, but it was not a daughter- at first.  Rosie and Penn's last child was born a boy, but he wanted to dress like a girl.  The parents were loving and accepting of his wishes and tried to accommodate the challenges, as their son transitioned to a daughter.
   This novel raises many questions that will be interesting to address at the next book club meeting.
   The author explains her interest in such a story in the notes at the end, where she tells of her transgender child.
   What would the author want us to understand from this novel, that is not biographical although based on her experience?
   "So one of the things that I hope is that people who read this book will read it and forget about the transgender issues and just be in the embrace of this family and realize that this family is like all families: They love and they keep secrets from one another and they protect one another and they struggle with how to do that and they have these challenges.  And it's hard, but it isn't scary and it isn't abnormal at all." (Laurie Frankel)

   I appreciated the opportunity to read such a novel.  I enjoyed the family of five children with such permissive parents.  It was a very creative family and fun to read about their life.  However, I struggled with the author's syntax.  Her sentences were often long and confusing.  Was that on purpose, to reflect the chaos in the home?
  This may say more about me, because I realize that modern authors create their own path and do not follow the grammar of the past.

Tuesday 10 December 2019

"Charlotte's Web" by E.B.White

book club choice: "Charlotte's Web"
  I love the fact that that one of my book clubs chooses a children's classic every year, along with several adult classics.  I found this book about that very topic: "The Joy of Reading Children's Literature as an Adult".  It was interesting to remember all those wonderful early novels for children, as well as picture books.


  Garth Williams, who wrote the foreword for "Charlotte's Web", admits to not reading this book as a child because the cover made him feel that the book 'guaranteed misery'.
   I agree that the cover is not great for children.  So I searched for other covers.  I found these:

***********************************************************************************************************



    

   I like this cover, since it features Wilbur, who is the main character in the story.



   
  
   The second cover illustrates the power of friendship, one of the themes in the novel. 




   
   The last cover was published after the movie was made.  It is similar to the original but the expressions on the faces of Fern and the animals are much more serene.


   E.B.White (Elwyn Brooks) was a writer for the New Yorker Magazine, as well as the author of children's novels. He wrote "Stuart Little" and "The Trumpet of the Swans".
   Obviously, he enjoyed animals. He gave them interesting characteristics.  He also enjoyed nature and describes the changing of the seasons in lovely detail.



"All that I hope to say in books, all that I ever hope to say, 
is that I love the world". 
 (E.B.White 1899 - 1985)

Friday 6 December 2019

"Nothing to See Here" by Kevin Wilson

    This book was a gift to me, and I started reading it immediately because I had just finished reading that group of self-help books and wanted something different.
   Well, this is very different!  The premise is quite bizarre.  There are children in the novel who spontaneously combust.  That's right, they burst into flames.

   I was so fascinated, that I listened to an interview with the author, and it put everything into perspective.  The author, Kevin Wilson, has always been obsessed with spontaneous human combustion.  As a child, he felt that he could burst into flames at any time.  He describes the feeling as electric.   He felt that, if he could burst into flames, he could get rid of this 'thing inside him'.  As an adult, he discovered that he had Tourette's Syndrome.
  And so, as an adult, he wrote a book with the theme of human spontaneous combustion, expecting to get the obsession out of his system.  But, no, he continued to write books with this theme.
   His other theme is family- the family you are born into and also the family that you make.  When he had children, he felt a great responsibility to protect them, but also to prepare them for the world.
  This novel is about a young woman who felt unloved and adrift in the world.  When she began caring for these two children who combust when they are agitated, she found purpose and worth.
  This author has a good following of readers.  He does write well and I found myself engrossed in the novel even though I would have appreciated less strong language.

Sunday 1 December 2019

Self-help book, part 4

   "The Power of Now" is the most difficult self-help book that I have read or attempted to read.
  The basis of the book is the fact that there is and always has been only one spiritual teaching, although it comes in many forms.  And often, other things obscure the spiritual essence.
   This may be considered 'New Age', but it is really getting at the root of all world religions.
Quote: "Love, joy and peace are deep states of Being- three aspects of the state of inner connectedness with Being."
  I found the book simple but profound.  It was wonderful to discuss the book in depth with two other family members- each of us in different stages of life.

   I read "A New Earth" eleven years ago.  Perhaps because my brain was younger, I was able to understand it more clearly.  I wrote this review at the time:
In the first chapter, Tolle introduces readers to enlightenment and its natural enemy, the mind.  He points out how we create our own pain and shows how to have a pain-free identity by living fully in the present.  The author shows how to connect to the essence of our Being: "the eternal, every-present One Life beyond the myriad forms of life that are subject to birth and death".



Eckhart Tolle
    I see now how the two books are connected  and each one was appropriate for  my stage of life at the time.
     Keeping focussed on the present is more  difficult as I age, and I appreciate the  reminders and suggestions for ways to stay  present and 'live in the Now'.

   I just watched a lecture by Eckhart Tole where he talked about the importance of laughter.  If you have ever listened to Eckhart, you may appreciate how bizarre that experience was.  He is so droll that it made me laugh!

Friday 29 November 2019

Self-help book, part 3

    "You Can Heal Your Life" is another book that was recommended by my naturopath.
  I had read it ten years ago, but it was interesting to revisit this philosophy.
  This was my review ten years ago:
   **********************************************************************************
   Louise Hay is a pioneer in the growing belief that mental patterns create diseases in the body.
Basic Beliefs:
   We are each responsible for all of our experiences.  Every thought we think is creating our future.  We create every so-called illness in our body.  Resentment, criticism, and guilt are the most damaging patterns.  We must release the past and forgive everyone.  Self- approval and self- acceptance in the now are the keys to positive change.  When we really love ourselves, everything in our life works.  What we give out, we get back.
   Almost half of the book is a list of physical problems, the probable cause and the new thought pattern (affirmation).
My affirmations:
"I know that Life always supports me". 
"Be anxious about nothing, but in everything give thanks".
************************************************************************************************************************
   Looking back, I realize that these things are easier to say than to put into practice.  Louise Hay's belief that disease is caused by mental patterns can cause great guilt when physical problems show up.  It also dismisses the reality that the body does age.
   However, each of these self-help books has something to offer for improvement and enjoyment of life.  They can each be revisited from time to time.
   

Monday 25 November 2019

Self-help books, part 2

   At 43, Byron Katie had three children and was not happy in her second marriage.  She suffered from depression and addictions, and spent two weeks in a counseling center, where she had 'an epiphany'.  She began sharing her philosophy of self-inquiry which she called 'The Work'.
    Her book is filled with examples of ''The Work, using a series of questions and 'the turnaround'.  It doesn't always make sense to me, but she does have some philosophy worth considering:

1.) "All of the stress we feel is caused by arguing with what is".
2.)  There are 3 kinds of business- mine, yours and God's.  Stay in you own business.
3.) "Behind every uncomfortable feeling there's a thought that isn't true for us".
4.) "The world is the mirror image of your mind.  If you experience chaos and confusion inside, your external world has to reflect that."
   
   Much to think about here.  Her questioning method can change the way you look at the small challenges in life, but I read comments from a psychologist, saying that this approach would not be helpful in more serious situations, such as trauma. 
  In my last posting, I mentioned that the title "Goddesses Never Age" was not a helpful title for me.  But this short catchy title has had a good effect on me.  It is a simplified version of "The Power of Now" (a book that I will discuss later) - living in the moment and appreciating 'what is'.  In fact, "Loving What Is".

Thursday 21 November 2019

Self-help books, part 1

   My naturopath discovered that I am a reader and she has been recommending books to me.  They are about the mind/body connection.
  Christiane Northrup, the author of "Goddesses Never Age" is a physician and the book is focussed on the unity of the mind, body, emotions and spirit.
Quotes: "It's about pointing out everything that can go right with your body and how to embody balance and health regardless of your state of health and well-being now."
"The number-one thing you can do for your health is to live joyously, indulging in sustainable pleasure".
   Christiane believes that our health is affected more by our beliefs than by our biology, and points out how to change our thoughts on aging.  This is precisely why I need to read this book.  I used to say, "Nothing good happens after 80" and, unfortunately, my body was listening.
  This book is dense with ideas and suggestions for every part of your body.  And there is a good index to find the parts that apply to your situation.
   The title is not helpful to me.  Goddesses may not age, but real women do.  It seems that acceptance and understanding are better than denial.
   

Wednesday 13 November 2019

"Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

    In 1912, a religious group of Shakers lived near Cleveland and set up a town with many rules: rules about the streets, the homes, and the behaviour of the residents.  
  This novel takes place at the end of the 20th century, and the residents of Shaker Heights are no longer Shakers, but still live regimented lives. 
   The Richardson family have four teenagers, living this regimented life, when Mia and her daughter, Pearl, move into a townhouse owned by the Richardsons. Mia is a Bohemian artist who lives a very unorthodox life.  The contrast between these two families, forms much of the story.
  When I watched interviews with the author, she talked a lot about class and race.  She is Asian and, in the novel, questions whether a white couple can raise an Asian child.
  There is a theme of mother-daughter relationships and issues around adoption and abortion.
   This book is very popular and I have read many reviews from readers raving about the book.  Even the few criticisms of the book that I have seen, have not mentioned the one thing that JUMPED OUT at me.
  This novel begins at the end.  The 'little fires' mentioned in the title, break out in the first chapter.  The rest of the novel tells the backstory of everyone- why there were 'little fires', that turned into a big fire.
  I guess this is another example of how readers react differently to a book. The characters were important to other readers.  I was surprised about 'the form' of the story, loving a novel that uses the introduction to 'introduce the characters, time and place'.  I missed that format.

When I finished the book, I was interested in doing some research about the Shaker religion, and was fascinated by this picture of their singing and 'shaking'.  I just wished that it was a video!



Tuesday 5 November 2019

"Sarah's Key" by Tatiana de Rosnay

  Do we need another book about the holocaust?  Well, yes, I think we do.  Especially when there is a different twist to the story.
  This is a novel, beginning with two storylines.  In Paris (1942), the local police are 'rounding up' the Jews and moving them into camps.  The first storyline concerns one family where Sarah, 11, locks her brother in a closet in order to keep him safe when the police arrive at the door.
  The alternating storyline follows Julia, in 2002, a reporter who is doing research for an article for the 60th commemoration of this event.
   Halfway through the book, the storylines connect.  There are a number of characters to keep straight- from each storyline.  But I found the second half of the story less traumatic and easier to read.
   This novel was made into a movie, and the cover of the book was changed to reflect the movie.  I usually dislike this happening, but I do prefer this cover because it shows the two storylines- the reporter at the top and Sarah at the bottom, trying to find her way back to the cupboard where she left her brother.  The reporter's picture dominates the cover, but actually that is the main focus of the book.  Sarah's story is secondary but central to the novel.  The expression on the reporter's face is perfect, since she was very disturbed by the facts that she uncovered.  And readers will also be disturbed- and should be!

Wednesday 30 October 2019

When Breath Becomes Air


   The author of this memoir is Paul Kalanithi, who was always interested in the question: "What makes human life meaningful?"  For this reason, he studied both biology and English literature in university.  He wondered where biology, morality, literature and philosophy intersect.
Quote: "Literature not only illuminated another's experience, it provided, I believed, the richest material for moral reflection".  And reflect, he did!  For example, another quote: "If the unexamined life was not worth living, was the unlived life worth examining?" 


    When he was finishing his residency in neurosurgery, Paul Kalanithi developed lung cancer.  So now he was a patient and a doctor.  
   There is a lot of medical jargon in this memoir, including detailed descriptions of brain surgeries that he performed, some while he was dying of cancer.  I skipped over some of that.  But the epilogue, written by his wife, is devastatingly powerful.
   This book is definitely not for everyone.  But my son died of lung cancer and my best friend's husband, a doctor, also just died of lung cancer.  I could see echoes of both of their lives in this memoir.  Surprisingly, it is very life-affirming.
"Even if I'm dying, until I actually die, I am still living".

Wednesday 23 October 2019

"The Honey Bus" by Meredith May

 

   Here is another book that I chose because of the cover.  Isn't it beautiful?  The colours?  The positioning of the title and author?  The cover photo?  
   It just pulled me right into the book.  It lets you know that this is a book about bees- lots of information about bees and their significance in the world.
   But the subtitle lets you know it is more that just a book about bees:  "a memoir of loss, courage and a girl saved by bees."

  ***************************************
   I immediately was reminded of "Flight Behaviour" by Barbara Kingsolver.  Although I love the author, the cover of this book is terrible.  But it also has a very powerful environmental message.  She is explaining about the significance of the monarch butterflies to the survival of the world.  I have discovered that it has a new, brighter, more inviting cover now.
   Both of these books are important in understanding the effect of climate change in the world.
                                  **************************************
   "The Honey Bus" is also important because it is a memoir.  Meredith was almost raised by her grandfather.  Her mother and grandmother were both emotionally damaged and either ignored or mistreated Meredith.  
   But Meredith does not denigrate or blame them.  She focusses on the lessons that her grandfather helped her learn from the honeybees.  Lessons that we all need to learn.
The ending (about the environment):
   "There's a growing consensus that we each have to do our own small act, whether it's seeding the roadsides with flowering plants, starting backyard hives of our own, or breaking up the food desert by planting flowering borders around mono-crops.
   It's the principle of the hive- if each of us does our small part, it could add up to a bigger whole.
   I owe Grandpa at least that much- to try.
   And I owe it to the bees.
author- Meredith May
   As long as honeybees stay strong, they can continue to pass their ancient wisdom to the next generation, so children can learn that even when they are overwhelmed with despair, nature has special ways to keep them safe.
   My personality was shaped by the life lessons I learned in a bee yard.  Every child should have that same opportunity to grow."


  

Thursday 10 October 2019

"The Aviator's Wife" by Melanie Benjamin

   What a dilemma this book causes for me!   I am reading it for a book club and probably I will be standing alone in my reaction to this book.
    "The Aviator's Wife" is a fictionalized biography of Anne Morrow Lindbergh.  There is the dilemma!  It is fictionalized, although all real names are used- Anne's family as well as friends and acquaintances.  You feel as though you are reading an actual biography.  You are not!  I kept reminding myself!
   The book is beautifully written and carries you away with the story.  Fascinating story!   BUT....it shows the interior life of Anne.  Isn't it presumptuous for the author to think that she understands all of Anne's thoughts and feelings?  I realize that the author researched the subject well, BUT...does that mean that she knew her every thought, and needs the world to know?

    The younger generations are not even aware of the Lindberghs.
Charles Lindbergh was the first pilot to fly from New York to Paris in 1927 at age 25.  He became extremely famous!  Swarmed and adored by the public!  A hero to the whole world!
  After marrying Anne, he taught her to fly and they became "The first couple of the air".  They could not go out in public without being swarmed.

  
   The kidnapping of their first son became world news.
   Obviously there is an intriguing story there.  BUT...as the author seems sympathetic to Anne having to live in this 'fishbowl', she continues to invade Anne's personal space.  She actually seems to be attempting to expose Anne's soul to the public.
  The author claimed that she wanted to tell Anne's ENTIRE story.  BUT...Anne had already written a book and her daughter also wrote books about the family and specifically her mother.  They told you what they wanted you to know.  Anything more is 'invasion of privacy' to me.

   I am protective of Anne because she wrote an amazing book that every woman should read:
"A Gift From The Sea"
Quote:
"I want to give and take from my children and husband, to share with friends and community, to carry out my obligations to man and to the world, as a woman, as an artist, as a citizen.  But I want first of all to be at peace with myself. I want a singleness of eye, a purity of intention, a central core to my life that will enable me to carry out these obligations and activities as well as I can".

   It is obvious that Anne had struggles, but she used them to write this beautiful book, lifting up other women, encouraging them in the challenges facing women.

   Anne's daughter, Reeve, is also a great writer.  I enjoyed reading both "Under a Wing" - about their family life, and "No More Words: a journal of my mother".  
   Anne's story has been told.  Give her the peace in her death that she searched for in life.
          

Monday 30 September 2019

"Kinda Like Grace" by Ginger Sprouse

Victor, the homeless man
     The subtitle of this memoir is: "A homeless man, a broken woman, and the decision that made them family". I guess that tells the whole story.

 I heard about this book from a friend who was watching "Today with Hoda and Jenna", when both the author and the homeless man were interviewed.  So I bought the book.

  The author, Ginger Sprouse, is known by many people around the world as the lady who invited a homeless man to live with her family.  She cringes when people call her an angel, so she proceeds to tell about how 'messed-up' she has been.
   I think the story could have been told without the details of her 'past', but she is trying to make a religious point, that anyone can be 'redeemed'.  There are many quotes form the Bible as the author takes you on her spiritual journey.
   Ginger discovered that Victor had mental health issues that could not be addressed by the police or the social services available in her town.  She attempted to work through the many issues that had led him to live on the street.
  I was more interested in Victor's story than the author's, but their stories do intertwine and the author certainly did a marvellous thing in attempting to help this homeless man.

Monday 23 September 2019

"The Home for Unwanted Girls"

One Book One Community

It's time for One Book One Community again!
  This is the 18th book that has been chosen for the community to read.  The author will be visiting our region.  
  I have always loved the idea, and I wait anxiously for the title to be announced every spring.  But I still insist that the first book that was chosen was the best: "No Great Mischief".  I loved it and remember it well.
   This year's book is "The Home for Unwanted Girls" by Joanna Goodman.
   This novel is based on the life of the author's mother.  The first half of the book is extremely sad, because the protagonist, Maggie, at 15, was forced to give up her baby.  And the baby went to an orphanage which changed into a mental hospital.  The government of Quebec was giving more money for mental hospitals than orphanages.  
  When the change happened, the children were not schooled and were treated abusively. The hospital lied in order to make sure that parents could not find their children. At this point, I was ready to quit the novel.  It was too heart-breaking!  But I did persevere and the second half made it worthwhile.
  There are many important facts about the Quebec government in the 1950's and the split between the French and the English.
   The themes of family and forgiveness are strong.  It will make a good discussion for our library book club.

Monday 16 September 2019

"The Black House" by Peter May

book club choice


blackhouse
      The setting for this novel interested me.  It is the Isle of Lewis, which is part of the Outer Hebrides archipelago in Scotland.  Since I have been to the Orkney Islands, also in Scotland, I felt that I had a good idea of the landscape of the Isle of Lewis and was ready for a novel in this location of the world.
   I read about the blackhouses that were built in Scotland and Ireland- the floor of flagstones or earth, and a central hearth for the fire.  Because there was no chimney for the smoke to escape, it escaped through the roof, slowly making the interior black.  
   The roof was thatched and often stripped each year because it made excellent fertilizer.  I was fascinated with the location and the beginning of the novel.
   However, it is a murder mystery- not really of interest to me, but I thought that I could read it for the book club.  I do love my book clubs!  I made it through the discovery of the dead body but the autopsy was detailed and completely freaked me out.  So I left it there and read another book- actually the "beach read" that I just blogged about.  Then I took a deep breathe and went back to the description of the autopsy.
   The main character, who had been sent from Glasgow to investigate this crime, had spent his youth on this island.  And so the story goes back and forth from stories of his youth, to the details related to the crime.
   The writing is fabulous and I was so taken in with the atmosphere on Lewis Island that I could feel the cold, the rain and the wind.  Isn't that a perfect setting for a murder mystery?
Peter May-author

Monday 9 September 2019

Queen Bee" by Dorothea Benton Frank

Dorothea Benton Frank
   
   Dorothea Benton Frank has written 20 novels- all set in South Carolina, where she was born.
   I picked up her latest book for a quick, summer read.  And it suited perfectly!



    The title, Queen Bee", refers to the mother of two daughters in their twenties, Holly and Leslie. The mother is a hypochondriac, who is demanding and cranky. Holly and Leslie call her the "Queen Bee".
   Holly is the daughter who has put her life on hold to cater to her mother as well as look after the needs of two motherless neighbour boys- Tyler, 7 and Hunter, 5.  They are adorable and the interaction with Holly and the boys is lovely to read!  And, by the way, Holly thinks she is in love with their father.
   There is lots of information about bees in this book and Holly has a fascinating connection with them as she tends three hives.
  There are lots of twists and turns in the lives of the mother as well as the daughters.  
  The setting is also lovely - Sullivan Island, South Carolina- the food, the flowers, the iced tea.  Lots and lots of iced tea!
Fun, summer read.

Monday 2 September 2019

"The Library of Lost and Found" by Phaedra Patrick

   This cover caught my attention on my last visit to the bookstore.  Isn't it delightful?  The title is in raised letters and the colours are lovely.
  Such an evocative photo on the cover.  The positioning of title and photo are fascinating.  I love it!  And had to buy it.
   When I got it home, I realized that I had already read one book by this author, Phaedra Patrick.  Our library book club had read "The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper".  Some of the group thought it was not realistic, but I loved the whimsical aspect of the story.  So many books have such serious, sad storylines, that the lightness, if not realistic, was entertaining.
  I also found the protagonist in this novel very entertaining.  And I always enjoy the theme of 'finding oneself'.  In this case, Martha Storm had given up her life to care for her parents and when they died, she had to rediscover who she was.  She realized that her father had always controlled her life and she really never had a chance in the first place to find her way in life.
   There are secrets revealed throughout the book.  It is a book of relationships lost and found and well as a library of lost and found.
  I enjoyed reading this book 'from cover to cover'.

Friday 30 August 2019

"The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek" by Kim Richardson

  This novel is about the power of reading - books, as well as magazines, and even home-made books with recipes and patterns and local gossip.  It is based on facts.  
  In the hills of Kentucky in the 1930's, the government organized a Packhorse Librarian program.  The protagonist of this novel was 19 and wanted that position.  She was unusual in that she had blue skin.  It is a fact that there were people with blue skin in Kentucky at that time.  For that reason, this fictional character was nicknamed Bluet, but her real name was Cussy Mary Carter.  She was discriminated against and for that reason, she sent her application for the pack horse project by mail, so they would not know the color of her skin.
   Cussy Mary was very serious about this job.  She hoped to bring comfort and literacy to the isolated people living in the hills of Kentucky.  She rode a mule on her trips and often she stopped to read to those who were illiterate.
  The novel also touches on the custom of 'courting candles'.
  It is basically very sad in many parts as there is poverty and abuse, but it is also inspiring.

  I have written a blog about librarians with a mission.  One of those librarians is also in the hills of Kentucky.  You can read about it here.

Monday 26 August 2019

technology


   I began reading a paperback copy of "Mill on the Floss".   The print was small and I was struggling.  So it was wonderful when I was able to get the book on my new ipad.
  I have always loved the physicality of books and I never thought I would enjoy reading on an ipad.  But I was delighted with the ability to enlarge the print.  I was able to read longer and enjoy it more.
  Some people enjoy listening to books on tape, but I do not.  I need to SEE the words.  So this was great for me.  I could re-read sections that caught my attention.
  I admit to being biased against technology, when it's difficult to have conversations because of cellphones.  But I do love the convenience of e-mail and now I can enjoy reading on my ipad.  Just dipping my toes into technology, but I still enjoy face-to-face conversations and still LOVE book group discussions.

Friday 23 August 2019

"Mill on the Floss" part 2

"Mill on the Floss"
  This novel by George Eliot is also long.  It was first published in three volumes in 1860.  The end of the second volume was so powerful, that I wish it had ended there.  However, the book club was reading the whole novel, so I continued on to an ending that left me gasping!

  The protagonist of the novel is Maggie Tulliver, who is a fascinating character throughout the novel. She is "a girl marked by intellectual distinction, a generously ardent nature and a strong capacity for feeling".  However, Maggie goes from excess to privation- there is no middle ground with her and she gets into great difficulty.  There are moral dilemmas, such as:  Is it possible to please others AND yourself?  

  But the most interesting and entertaining parts for me involved Maggie's mother and three aunts- the 'Dodson sisters'.
Quote:  "There were particular ways of doing everything in that family, particular ways of bleaching the linen, of making the cowslip wine, curing hams, and keeping the bottled gooseberries; so that no daughter of the house could be indifferent to the privilege of having been born a Dodson".
  But when Maggie's father has a stroke, her aunts are no help to Maggie's poor mother.  Generosity is not part of the 'Dodson' family.
  The main theme of the novel is Maggie's relationship with her brother Tom.  He resembles the Dodsons- very judgemental.  Poor Maggie tries to please him throughout the whole novel.
   Marvellous writing in parts, but also long and boring on occasion.

Sunday 18 August 2019

"Mill on the Floss" by George Eliot

George Eliot
   The first thing to realize about "Mill on the Floss", is that the author, George Eliot, is not a man.  It is the pen name of Mary Ann Evans (1819-1880).  She was extremely bright and well- educated and lived an unconventional life.  She studied many religious philosophies, but lived by her own ideals.
  At age 32, she met George Lewes and, although he was already in an open marriage with another woman, they moved in together.  Affairs were common at that time, but mostly carried on 'with discretion'.  However, Mary Ann and George did not hide their relationship. They were eventually accepted into polite society.  In 1877, they were introduced to Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Louise.  
  When Mary Ann's partner George died in 1878, she met John Walter Cross, whom she married in May of 1880.  This relationship was not accepted well because he was 20 years younger than her.  However, she only lived until December of that year.  She was buried in Highgate Cemetery in the area reserved for societal outcasts, religious dissenters and agnostics, beside the love of her life, George Henry Lewes.
  I had previously read only one book by George Eliot- "Middlemarch".   It was the first book that I read for a book club- 21 years ago!  It was LONG (880 pages), but I loved it! I thought the characters were enjoyable and it was a great picture of England in the 1800's.  I immediately realized that she was a great writer!
  I will write about "Mill on the Floss" in my next blog.

Monday 12 August 2019

What to read?

   In my last blog, I asked the question, "What is good to read when you are not feeling well?"
  I think I have found the answer for me.  The great authors of the past have a great deal to offer and are a change from present-day literature.
  I enjoy several things:
- a linear plot
- a single storyline
- a limited number of characters
- great vocabulary
- wonderful description
    Many modern novels have so many characters to keep track of and plotlines moving back and forth.  But mostly, I often feel that I never get to really understand any of the characters.
  Nineteenth century authors are my favourite- Austen, Alcott, Dickens, Hawthorne, etc.
  Several years ago, when I had great sadness in my life, I re-read the novels of Thomas Hardy.  I found them comforting because they had great pastoral descriptions- someone was always walking across the moors. 
   Many books written in that time period were serialized weekly in magazines.  For that reason, there had to be few characters and a
 .   
simple plot in order for readers to remember from one week to the next.
   Because they were focussed on few characters, there was much description and dialogue with these characters.  You were able to enter their world.
  That was what I needed when I was not feeling well.  And my next blog will describe the book that really entertained me.

Wednesday 31 July 2019

   What do you read when you are not feeling well?
   I am dealing with a case of shingles and haven't been able to find anything to read that interests me.  It has been difficult to concentrate and so I tried listening to my favourite book ("Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver) on tape.  Unfortunately, the reader was very brisk and clipped, with no expression in her voice.  I gave up on that.
Barbara Kingsolver
  Then I realized that I had Barbara Kingsolver's newest novel on my bookshelf.  I have read four of Kingsolver's books and enjoyed every one.  Her writing is exquisite!
  I wrote a blog about "Flight Behaviour "in 2013, my first year of blogging.  That book was very detailed about the environment- butterflies in particular.  It had a great deal of science in the book.

   Well, her new book, "Unsheltered" has even more science.  It was not the best book for me in my situation.  However, I finally finished it and can say that it has great merit!
  There are two storylines with alternating chapters.  That was too complicated for my state of health, so I read one storyline at a time.
   The stories were 100 years apart but in the same area of Vineland, New Jersey and focussed on science (mostly botany)- especially Darwinism.  And it does get into a court case.  There were references to many things in the past, but also the present.  

   One chapter started with: "He said he could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and people would still vote for him.  Am I dreaming this, Willa asked."
  Well, I was shocked that Barbara Kingsolver dropped this statement into the novel so casually, with no mention of the real person who used these words.  I was also surprised at some of the crude dialogue.  But perhaps she thought that it made the character more true to the times.
  However, her sentences were, once again, beautifully crafted.  She is the master of metaphor.

Sunday 14 July 2019

A new kind of book club

Have you heard of a silent book club?
   The first silent book club was started in San Francisco in 2012 by Guinevere de la Mare and Laura Gluhanich.   
   There are now more that 60 chapters- some in Toronto.
   Silent book clubs choose public places- mostly coffee shops.  Each person brings a book along.  They begin by giving each person a chance to briefly describe what they are reading and what they plan to read.  Then there is an hour of SILENCE.  They read uninterrupted and undistracted.  When the time is up, some leave, others hang around and talk.

Quote: "To have a silent place to read for a whole uninterrupted hour, you really get into the book you're reading and that encourages you to finish the book".

  Silent book clubs are felt to be a stress-free alternative to traditional book clubs because you don't have a deadline to finish a book, no need to answer questions and enter into discussion, and no one needs to host the group.

Quote: "I love seeing the same faces month after month.  I've met so many people and made lasting friendships with people who have been coming to SBC for years, which is funny to think that you can become such good friends with people who get together once a month not to talk." (Guinevere de la Mare).

   Jo Nelson, one of the organizers in Toronto, had been a part of a book club where the members complained about the book choices.
   She describes her SBC group this way: "Members sit around conjoined tables at a coffee shop, in the area of Danforth Avenue and Main Street, in a spot marked with a sign that reads "Reserved for Book Club", on a Saturday morning every month and share what they brought to read before the silent reading hour.  We've got a pact.  You have permission to read for an hour with no other interruptions.  So far, readers have brought upwards of 300 different books to the meetings."

Monday 8 July 2019

"The Last Resort" by Marissa Stapley


  What is more exciting than author visits for readers?
  Before her latest book was on the library shelves, Marissa Stapley was visiting the Kitchener Public Library.  I went with my daughter.  Here we are with Marissa.
Wendy, guest blogger


  My daughter's friend, Wendy, accompanied us to the author reading.  When I discovered that Wendy enjoys writing, I asked her to be my 'guest blogger'. 
                                                   Thank you Wendy for this excellent review!


   I didn’t like any of the characters when I began my reading journey. It was not until I learned their individual stories and troubles that I began to sympathize with each of them. It wasn’t until later that I began rooting for them. Every good story requires tension and conflict. One character carries that responsibility to the fullest, building in intensity from page one right to the end. But I won’t tell you more than that, you’ll have to discover that on your own.
 The tag line for the novel is “We all have thirteen secrets. Five stay buried forever, but the rest will be revealed.” As you can imagine even before opening the book you have all the ingredients for a great story; an exotic secluded resort, twelve couples, intense therapy sessions and secrets. The author does not disappoint. 
   The story is centered on the secrets of four women; Grace, Johanna, Shell and Ruth. The setting is paradise, somewhere on the Mayan peninsula. A couples therapy resort lead by Miles and Grace Markel, counselling experts that have built an empire fixing broken couples - or your money fully refunded.
   Two couples are in the spotlight; Shell and Colin, Johanna and Ben. Consider making note of who is with whom and what their main issue is. I found it a bit difficult to remember each character, spouse and issue as the story went along. Each chapter is told in a different point of view, not that there are too many, but it may help to keep a roadmap handy. 
   The story arc is like one of those really sharp green covered mountains. The climb may take some dedicated effort, but the peak pulls you over to the downward side which you’ll find is the can’t-put-it down part of this fascinating psychological thriller. 
   It has a great ending. That’s all I’ll tell you and perhaps that is giving away too much.

Marissa Stapley is the Globe and Mail bestselling author of the novels Mating for Life, Things to Do When It's Raining and The Last Resort. Her fiction has been published around the world and her journalism has appeared in magazines and newspapers across North America. She has taught creative writing and editing at the University of Toronto and Centennial College, and still mentors/teaches a small group of writing students every year. She lives in Toronto with her family. Goodreads Author

Sunday 23 June 2019

"The Virgin Cure" by Ami McKay

   This historical novel was inspired by a photograph of the author's great great grandmother, who had been a doctor in New York City in the late-1800's, caring for the poor. 
  Rather than have the doctor as the central character, the author chose to focus on a 12-year-old girl named "Moth".
   Moth grew up in poverty, with a father who abandoned the family and a mother who made her business in fortune telling and sold Moth as a maid to a woman of society.  Quote: "The woman of society does little but doff and don dry goods".  There was much description of complex layers of clothing.  The wealthy women changed their attire often.  However, this 'woman of society' was abusive and Moth escaped into the streets of New York, joining a multitude of homeless street children.  In fact, it is recorded that there were 30,000 children living on the streets of New York in 1871.
   Moth had a vision of wealth that she yearned to attain, spending time watching Miss. Keteltas' house constantly, every chance she had to pass it- looking in the windows, walking around the house, dreaming about the house and its furnishings.  
  Moth was enticed into a brothel where she was groomed by Miss. Everett, while Dr. Sadie, who climbed in and out of tenements caring for the poor, tried to save Moth.  Moth was only 12, but felt that she must complete her contract with the brothel, and then immediately escaped to Dr. Sadie's home after giving up her virginity to the highest bidder.
  Moth did end up 'a woman of society' by working for Mr. Dink's Museum and Palace of Illusion.
  Whoops!   I gave away the ending.  But there is much description of New York in this time period that is certainly worth reading. 
  There is talk of "first-time men"' who want to have sex with virgins.  Often their purpose was to cure syphilis, which was rampant.  Thus, the title "The Virgin Cure".
   The author does a great deal of research for her books.  In this novel there were sidebars with quotes from newspapers and magazines of the day, letters, and other information from that time period in New York City.
  Some people found the sidebars annoying and others found that it added to the authenticity of the novel.
Ami Mckay
  Ami KcKay is known for her first book "The Birth House" (c2006), which was very popular.  "The Virgin Cure" was written in 2011.  Ami has written 3 other novels and recently published a memoir of her family's medical history.