Twelve Books of Christmas

We have just returned from our 'winter getaway' at Fern Lodge with Drayton Entertainment Travel Club.

We enjoyed the cabarets featuring these talented entertainers.

There were great conversations around the table and sometimes the subject was books- my favourite!

Curtis, one of the entertainers, turned out to be a reader, and shared his thoughts on several books. 

 Then he told me a story that I found fascinating.

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Every year, he buys his wife, Chaz, twelve books.  Those are not the only books she reads.  She also has her own list of books that she reads and posts on Facebook so that her friends can add to their own list of future reads, or make comments.

But the "Twelve Books of Christmas" tradition really interested me- perhaps because it meant that Curtis researched and put a lot of thought into his choices.  He checked award winners and read reviews.

I wrote Chaz a note and she sent me these great photos of her "Twelve Books of Christmas".

Great idea! What a tradition! Thanks, Chaz and Curtis!

Reading in 2019

Twelve Books of Christmas

   In February of 2016, I posted "The Twelve Books of Christmas", gifted to fellow reader, Chaz, by her husband.  You can read about it here.
  I was reminded of this wonderful Christmas tradition recently, and asked Chaz to send me the titles of the books that she received for Christmas 2018. I love to know what other readers enjoy.
  Chaz enjoys award winners and her husband takes great care in selecting them.  He includes information on each book.

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1. The Pulitzer Prize, "Less" by Andrew Sean Greer
2. Governor General's Literary Award, Fiction, "The Red Word" by Sarah Henstra
3. Scotiabank Giller Prize, "Washington Black" by Esi Edugyan
4. The Man Booker Prize, "Milkman" by Anna Burns
5. Governor General's Literary Award, non-fiction "Mamaskatch: A Cree Coming of Age" by Darrel J. McLeod
6. RBC Taylor Prize, "Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death and Hard Truths in a Northern City" by Tanya Talaga
7. National Book Award, "The Friend" by Sigrid Nunez
8. Canada Reads, "Forgiveness" by Mark Sakamoto
9. Canadian Organization for Development through Education (CODE) Burt Award for Indigenous young adult literature, "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline
10. National Book Critics Circle Award, "Improvement" by Joan Silber
11. Women's Prize for Fiction. "Home Fire" by Kamila Shamsie
12. The Man Booker International Prize, "Flights" by Olga Tokarczuk

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   Chaz told me that the write-up is included in the gift- wrapped box with the books.
   And here is her wonderful reaction:
"I had a visceral reaction when I opened the box and looked at each of the covers.  I felt my heart rate increase as I took out each book and read the title.  So much excitement and anticipation.  I wanted to run away with my pile of books and start reading."
   Chaz has a Facebook page where her friends enjoy reading her musings on each book as she reads it.  Unfortunately, I do not have Facebook, but would enjoy hearing her thoughts on these books.
  I have only read two of this list: "The Marrow Thieves" and "Forgiveness".  I have no doubt that Chaz will love them both!  Happy reading to Chaz!  Thanks for sharing!

Choosing books for 2018

   It's that time of year again.  This book club that I have been attending for twenty years just went through the process of planning for next year.

Dante  1265-1321

Shakespeare 1564-1616

   This is the most eclectic book club that I have attended.  We alternate classics with contemporary novels.  The classics have sometimes been children's books, e.g. "Winnie- the-Pooh", but it can also be Shakespeare.  In fact, next year we are tackling "The Divine Comedy" by Dante, as well as a Shakespearean play.  Actually we are only doing the first section of "The Divine Comedy".  The book that was the most challenging for me was "The Illiad" by Homer.

 Here's our list:
"A Doll's House" by Henrik Ibsen
 "Do Not Say We Have Nothing" by Madeleine Thien

 "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett

 "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro

 "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" by R.L.Stevenson

 "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

 "Cymbeline" by William Shakespeare

 "Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" by Alan Bradley

 "The Divine Comedy" (Inferno) by Dante

 "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

 "Three men in a Boat" by Jerome K. Jerome

 "The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper" by Phaedra Patrick

Yes, we have twelve choices- no breaks at Christmas or in the summer.  A motivated group of readers!