Canada Reads. final thoughts

   Canada Reads 2019

The Panel:

host Ali Hassan

Chuck Comeau

Lisa Ray

Ziya Tong

Yanic Truesdale

Joe Zee

   The panel this year was not as combative as other years.  In the past, there has been more talk about 'strategy' and sometimes it seemed that the panel wanted to get rid of the best book first so there was more chance for the book they were promoting.  That was irritating.  But this year, they appeared to honestly care about the best book winning.

  The theme this year was: "One Book to Move You".  Perhaps that is why the books were so sad and difficult to read.  The themes of the books were: war, mental illness, grief, racism, hate crimes, the holocaust, abandonment- you get the picture.

   It was even hard to listen to the trailers for the books.  The panel members were looking at issues that are disturbing in the world today and, of course, there are many such books.

   But only two of the books had any sense of hope, and they were the last two books to be voted out.  They were the two books that moved you without devastating you.  I would have been happy to see a tie between these two books- ""Homes" by Abu Bakr al Rabeeah and "By Chance Alone" by Max Eisen. 

And the winner was..."By Chance Alone".

  Although I was not pleased with the choice of books, I did feel that the panel worked hard to promote Canadian books in a positive way.  They were supportive of each other and put a great deal of preparation into making the discussion interesting.  

Canada Reads, book 5: "Homes"

Abu Bakr Al Rabeeah

  This memoir "Homes" is the story of Abu Bakr al Rabeeah, as told to his teacher Winnie Yeung, when Abu was 15 years old.
   It tells of a childhood spent in Syria, in a very tight extended family with much warmth and security. Many hours playing video games or soccer. However,  Abu was only 10 when civil war broke out.
  Most of the book is the description of the horrors of the war.  But Abu's family of 10 was eventually able to immigrate to Canada.
   Winnie Yeung did a great job of describing not only their time in Syria, but also the immigrant experience in Edmonton.

Canada Reads, book 4: "The Woo Woo"

  
  This is another book that brings out differing opinions.  I have just read three five-star reviews of this book that call it "darkly comedic", and they enjoyed it greatly.
   I thought it was a horrific story and I could not wait to finish it.
  The author, Lindsay Wong, writes about her childhood in Vancouver, where mental illness reigns supreme in her extended Chinese family!  Her grandmother is a paranoid schizophrenic.  There were 8 connected families (70 people) who all seem to be suffering with ghosts and demons possessing them (the Woo Woo).


Quotes:
  "In that moment I was very aware that my mother might not ever fully recover.  And I was scared that we were all going to be spastic, cosmic orphans, pathetic little planets spinning non-stop, if my father didn't pull himself together and teach us how to effectively orbit around our out-in-space mother."
   "I was beginning to realize that the madness in our DNA was a life-threatening disease, transmitted like a pesky airborne infection, attacking and mutating the pink and grey confetti cells of the brain."
  "We were a product of untreated mental illness that had escalated for generations".

Lindsay Wong

   


  There are 300 pages of descriptions of dysfunction that is extreme and bizarre.   Somehow, the author managed to graduate from Columbia University with an MFA and now is an author who has won many awards. 
  She always was afraid that she would follow her mother and grandmother in being taken over by ghosts and demons, but actually her sickness has been identified as "migraine-related vestibulopathy".

Canada Reads, book 3 . "Brother"

author

   

   David Chariandy has written two novels.  His first novel received recognition from 11 literary awards juries.  His second novel, "Brother" has already been included in 8 Best Book of 2017  lists.  It is on the Giller longlist.  So it may be a good choice for Canada Reads when the topic is "One book to move you".
   David grew up in Toronto but now teaches in Vancouver.

   As expected, it is novel about brothers.  Their parents came from Trinidad and their father has disappeared, leaving their mother to work long hours to put food on the table.  The boys are growing up in a housing complex in Scarborough, surrounded by violence and a strong police presence. 
  The boys escape into the Rouge Valley often as young boys, but later begin to frequent Desirea's- where there are many bodies pressed into a small, hot room with loud music and drinking- often ending up with violence.
   The novel is told in the first person and this quote shows the discouragement of the boys: "We were losers and neighbourhood schemers.  We were the children of the help, without futures.  We were, none of us, what our parents wanted us to be. We were not what any other adults wanted us to be.  We were nobodies, or else, somehow, a city." 
  I found this very short, beautifully written book very sad and hopeless.  It didn't move me, it depressed me.  I need a ray of hope in every novel.

Canada Reads, book 2

    What a cover!  A fuzzy picture of a woman - doing what?
  Perhaps this is significant of the fact that the character "Suzanne" was not well-known.  She was elusive.
  She left her daughter when she was three, then 27 years later, she arrived at her granddaughter's birth.
   Ten years later, the granddaughter is watching from a window. 
Quote: 'On the other side (of the street), a woman falters, her long coat no longer enough to protect her.  Some things children can guess, and even though I don't know you, I sense you in this waltz of hesitation.  You cross the street in long strides, your toes barely landing.  A water spider.  You dart, you head toward us, leaving no trace of yourself on the ground.  You slide a small book into the mailbox before slipping off, yet again.  But right before you disappear, you look at me.  I promise myself I will catch up with you one day."

  The author, Anais Barbeau-Lavalette, searched out information about her grandmother and wrote this fictionalized biography.
  Suzanne Barbeau, the grandmother, had left her family and connected with artists in the Automatist Movement in Quebec.
  Anais' writing, in some ways, reflected the non-conformist ways of her grandmother.  But Anais has had more success in her artistic efforts and in her life also, hopefully.  She is a Canadian writer, film director, and screenwriter.  
  Her grandmother's life was extremely sad and chaotic.  I found it hard to read.  The method of storytelling further confused the story for me.

Canada Reads, book 1 "By Chance Alone"

  I decided to start my reading with this book.  I knew that it would be sad, but probably all of them will be sad.
  One of my favourite books is "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl.  Frankl's experience in the holocaust was similar to Max Eisen's- they both lost their whole family.  But Frankl said this: "We can discover the meaning of life by the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering.  For what then matters is to bear witness to the uniquely human potential at its best, which is to transform a personal tragedy into a triumph, to turn one's predicament into a human achievement.  When we cannot change the situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.  We need to be responsible for our existence."
   I thought that was a powerful message.  And this book also shows the triumph of the human spirit in the face of immense suffering.
  
  Max Eisen was only nine when Nazi Germany invaded Czechoslovakia, where Max lived with his Jewish family.  They eventually ended up in Auschwitz-Birkenau.  Max was the only survivor in his family and he ended up in 1946 in a school for orphans in Brandenburg, Germany, where he finished his schooling until age 20.  Then he was able to get passage to Canada, where he lives today.
  The details written in the book are horrendous as you would expect.  But I was riveted to Max's story.  It is a powerful story.
  The last time Max saw his father, his father gave him a blessing and told him to 'tell the story'.  And that is what Max has been doing as he travels and speaks to many groups.  His mission: "telling the story of our collective suffering so it will never be forgotten".  He had great difficulty at first trying to get that story put into a book, but eventually he found an editor to work with him to bring out all the details that were needed to make the story as powerful as it is. 
  His warning to all is "stand on guard against radical ideologies and never be a bystander".

Canada Reads 2019

     It's that time of year again!  The final five books have been chosen for Canada Reads 2019.

     I have followed this debate since it began in 2002 and here is the panel that will be debating this year.

left to right:

Ali Hassan is the host

Yanic Truesdale is defending "Suzanne" by Anais Barbeau- Lavalette

Lisa Ray is defending "Brother" by David Chariandy

Joe Zee is defending "The Woo Woo" by Lindsay Wong

Ziya Tong is defending "By Chance Alone" by Max Eisen

Chuck Comeau is defending "Homes" by Abu Bakr al Rabeeah

As soon as the announcement was made, I searched out the books and began reading.

  A few years ago, a group of my friends decided to have a discussion group for the purpose of discussing Canada Reads books.  We have our own discussions on each book and then we are ready to fully enjoy the three days of discussion - on CBC radio and usually shown on T.V.  The dates this year are March 25-28.

   By the way, the theme this year is: "One book to move you".

"The Maltese Falcon" by Dashiell Hammett

  classic book club choice

   I expect that everyone has heard of this novel, because of all the film adaptations - four in all.
  The protagonist in this novel is Sam Spade and here is Humphrey Bogart playing Sam's role in 1941 with the Maltese Falcon.
   Sam Spade was a private detective in San Francisco, and he was an interesting character- very cool and collected at all times, in spite of the fact that nobody told him the truth and he had to figure out everything by himself.  His partner is the first of several killed, but that didn't bother him any more than the rest of the deaths.
   I am not a mystery fan but I was drawn in by the writing.  One problem that bothered some people is the amount of detail put into the writing- clothing, movement, facial expression, every aspect in great detail.
  One of my book clubs reads a classic every other month.  I have been a member of this group for 20 years, so I have read 120 classic novels.  This may be one of the better ones.
   Here is the author, Dashiell Hammett".  He wrote many, many novels but I wouldn't be surprised if Sam Spade is the best known detective from his novels.

Lois Lowry

Lois Lowry- what a fascinating woman!

   She was born in Hawaii 81 years ago and has written 45 children's books.  Among the many awards that she has won are two Newbery Medals.  One for "Number the Stars" in 1990 and one for "The Giver" in 1994.

   
  "The Giver" caught my attention in 2006, when I was enjoying a book retreat with "Bookwomen" in Arizona.  I have not been able to forget this book and decided to include it in our library book club choices this year. That resulted in a marvellous discussion this past Friday.  Youth fiction can be fascinating for adults and should be used by book clubs.

   "The Giver" has been very controversial.  It has brought both praise and criticism.  Some schools have included it in their curriculum, while other schools have banned the book.  It was made into a movie in 2014 with Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep, among other actors.  I chose not to watch the movie because the book is seared into my memory.

  "The Giver" appears to be utopian fiction in the beginning because the community has no disease, crime, poverty, starvation, not even bad weather!  But when you realize that 'choice' is not a part of this community, and 'love' is unknown, you realize that the story is really dystopian.  Without choice, there are not bad choices.  But would you want to live without choice?  And without love and other strong emotions, life has no meaning.  This is a fascinating book that has minimal description and leaves many questions.  Great for discussion!

   Actually, "The Giver" is the first of "The Giver Quartet"- a series of four novels.  After being so fascinated with the first book, I quickly read the second "Gathering Blue", and then the third "Messenger".  But I saw no connection to "The Giver", although they were interesting enough.

  BUT, I just finished reading the final book "Son" that was published 19 years after "The Giver".  Wow!  It is amazing!  It does follow characters from "The Giver".  And it is a roller coaster ride!  I loved it!  And was delighted with the breath-taking ending for the series.

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.

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

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

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

   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!

"Becoming" by Michelle Obama

 What a fascinating book!
 What fascinating people!
 So unlike anyone that I have ever known, but the writing is so great, I feel that I got right into the heads of 'the Obamas'.
  There are so many fabulous quotes.  I will include a few of my favourites.


   Michelle grew up in Chicago with her parents and brother, Craig. 
In elementary school, Craig paved the way.
Quote:
"Craig, in his ambling and smiley way, had conveniently broken every trail for me...He'd created sunshine that I could then just step into".
   But she went to a different secondary school and had to find her own way.
Quote:
"At school I was quietly collecting bits of data, trying to sort out my place inside the teenage intelligentsia".
 And then she went to Princeton.
Quote: 
"It was jarring and uncomfortable, at least at first, like being dropped into a strange new terrarium, a habitat that hadn't been built for me".

   Well, you know how it goes- she became a lawyer, and met Barack.
  And what was her reaction?
Quote:
"He was white and black, African and American.  He was modest and lived modestly, yet knew the richness of his own mind and the world of privilege that would open up to him as a result....He could be light-hearted and jokey, but he never strayed far from a larger sense of obligation.  He was on some sort of quest, though he didn't yet know where it would lead."
   His theme was: "Do we settle for the world as it is, or do we work for the world as it should be?"  
  Quote:
"He read late into the night...plowing through history and biographies and Toni Morrison, too.  He read several newspapers daily, cover to cover.  He kept tabs on the latest book reviews, the American League standings, and what the south side aldermen were up to.  He could speak with equal passion about the Polish elections and which movies Roger Ebert had panned and why."
    Who wouldn't fall in love with this fascinating man?  
   Well, we know where his life did lead, but not without many heart-rending discussions between Michelle and Barack.  Michelle did not like the political scene and knew the toll it would take on the family.  But, she eventually realized that Barack never solely belonged to her and the girls.  Oh, my!

   What a great opportunity to understand this amazing couple-  many struggles: marital counselling, miscarriage, differing perspectives on life, different life paths.  But, wow, did they ever work it out!  Good for them!

End of the year 2018

 
   We always enjoy looking over the last year and I like to think of the books that I have read during the last year.  Unfortunately, I had some challenges with my vision, so haven't read as many books this year (only 52).
   After cataract surgery, I had fabulous vision and could read very easily without glasses - great for bed or any occasion!  However, one of the new lenses from the surgery clouded over and the attempt to clear it by laser was not successful.  So, glasses were needed and I tried for the first time to use reading glasses.  That really doesn't work for me.  I like to look up from the book when someone comes into the room, or...often I just gaze out the window, pondering what I am reading.  And so, the glasses are on and off, because the glasses only work with close objects and the rest of the room is blurry.  Do I use the bifocals...or the reading glasses and keep my eyes on the page?  I'm working that out with one of my new Christmas books.
    Actually, I got two copies of this book and that is not a problem because I know several people who are waiting to get this book from the library but the waiting list is over 100 now and the book has not arrived there yet.  I took a picture with my reading glasses on the book as I'm trying to get used to them.
  Reading this book, I realize why I admire Michelle so much.  She is a compassionate, authentic human being and I shouldn't be surprised that she writes so well because she gave excellent speeches.  She writes beautifully and the strength of her character is very evident.
   The book is divided into three parts:
Becoming Me
Becoming Us
Becoming More
   The final paragraph of the book is stunning.  Here are some excerpts:
I'm just an ordinary person who found herself on an extraordinary journey.....For every door that's been opened to me, I've tried to open my door to others. And here is what I have to say finally: Let's invite one another in. Maybe then we can begin to fear less, to make fewer wrong assumptions, to let go of the biases and stereotypes that unnecessarily divide us.  Maybe we can embrace the ways we are the same...This, for me, is how we become.
   A great book for the new year.  I have heard predictions that Michelle will run for president of the U.S.A. but she says in the book that she has no inclination to be back in politics.  
  I am hoping that she begins a talk show.  She has a lot to say and I would love to be able to listen to her on a regular basis.

Oh, yes, and here I am in my new 'book socks' (Book Nerd).

"Meet Me at the Museum" by Anne Youngson

   The Tollund Man is a body preserved in the bog in Denmark.  He lived in the iron Age (possibly around the 6th century B.C.).  For some reason, many people are drawn to the story of this man, whose remains are on display in a Denmark museum.  Books have been written about him, as well as a famous poem by Seamus Heaney.

 
   Anne Youngson was inspired by the Tallund Man to write a novel called "Meet Me At The Museum".  It seems like a very unusual interest for a woman who was an engineer in the car industry and a farmer's wife, living in England.  She said, "Both the photo and the poem inspired me to think of enduring, and being present and yet absent, of patience and tolerance."  

   This is a gentle, reflective epistolary love story.  The correspondence is between Tina Hopgood, a British farmer's wife, and Anders Larsen, a curator at a museum in Denmark.  It is a quick read with deep meaning. Two people, who have never met, are at the same stage of life, overwhelmed by questions about life: Has my life been worthwhile?  What is lasting?  What is important?
  As they wrote, each of them began to see life differently.  
Quote:
  "Our correspondence began at a time when I was finding little reason to be happy, and it has brought me happiness.  It would distress me greatly if it was making you unhappy in ways that make it seem a burden to you.  You have lifted a burden of grief from me.  I wish it could do the same for you."

   This is a first novel and some people believe it would be a good book club choice.  I don't know what you would discuss.  There are very few characters and not much plot.  As I said, it is a reflection of life.

"The Sea Captain's Wife" by Beth Powning

 
  What a fabulous novel!  The writing is superb and the storyline is fascinating.  All about life and the complexity of relationships.
  Hmm...which cover do I prefer?





Whelan's Cove, New Brunswick
  Azuba Bradstock grew up by the ocean with a shipbuilder father, always dreaming of being on a ship, but when she married a sea captain, things did not turn out as she had expected.
  Her father had built her a house as a wedding surprise and she knew he wanted to keep her close to the family.  Also, one of her father's ships had sunk at sea with all aboard.  No survivors.
  Oh, yes, and also, by the time her husband was ready to leave again after a wonderful long vacation for the wedding, she was pregnant.
  And so, her husband Nathaniel, said, "You are my treasure,  I want you and my children to be safe on shore.  It is madness for me to take you with me."
  Well, she had a daughter and amused herself in caring for her, while Nathaniel visited every year or so.  Eventually, she had a miscarriage and, although she had a beautiful large home, a daughter, and family nearby, she was lonely and sad.
  It just happened that she also had a kind, thoughtful, young, single minister who visited her and took her for walks.  One day they got stranded on a flowerpot island when the tide came in- and the news got to her husband the next time he came home.
    And so, it was quickly decided that she and her daughter should accompany Nathaniel at sea.  That began a very interesting account of ocean travel- a terrifying trip around cape Horn, near starvation, witnessing a mass suicide at the Chincha Islands, mutiny on the ship, many wonderful but also many dangerous events.
  Beth Powning wrote a wonderful story that kept me engrossed for the second time.  I loved it!

Beth Powning

Space Travel

Don't know the title of that third book,
 but the top one is "How to Build Your Own Spaceship".

   This weekend our youngest grandson, Matthew, was visiting.  He is 17 and very interested in space travel.  He plans to be an engineer.  He brought his latest stash of library books. 

   I was most interested in this book by Buzz Aldrin.  The information on the flyleaf caught my attention:
"Can astronauts reach Mars by 2035?  Can the Earth, its moon and Phobos, a moon of Mars's, serve as hubs for the busy flow of passengers and cargo routinely traversing the inner solar system?
Can the world's powers work together and explore the planet that could be our best bet to support human life?
  Absolutely, says Buzz Aldrin, one of the first men to walk on the moon.  It is not only possible but vital to America's future to keep pushing the space frontier outward for the sake of exploration, science, development, commerce, and security."

I asked Matthew why we need to reach Mars (or any other planet).
His response:
   When a species is faced with extinction, it has three options:
1.) try to adapt
2.) leave and have a good chance of survival
3.) stay and die

  I definitely have been focussed on the first- worrying about plastic grocery bags and take-out coffee cups.  I think we should be cleaning up this planet.  I am not surprised that Matthew's generation is thinking differently.  However, Buzz Aldrin?  He is older than me.  And he writes about his vision for space exploration.
  Words from Buzz: "Dare to dream big". And that seems to be what Matthew is doing.  But he assures me that he will be the person putting the astronauts into the spacecraft and making sure their travel is safe.  (Of course, he said that to appease me, and it worked).  But in 2035, Matthew will be 34 years old and could very well be working on space travel.
  P.S. He also was re-reading the Harry Potter series.

"Starlight" by Richard Wagamese

   Richard Wagamese was an excellent storyteller and author.  You can read about his death here.  I was so sad about his death last year, and quite shocked when I saw this book in the library recently.  What a cover!
   I began reading and was immediately carried away with the story.  An abused woman and her young daughter are taken in by a farmer, who teaches both of them the ways of the indigenous people.
  This novel is advertised as "A profoundly moving novel about the redemptive power of love, mercy, and compassion- and the land's ability to heal us".
   There are two storylines. The farmer, his hired help, and the young mother and her daughter form an amazing bond as the farmer builds up the woman's sense of self-confidence and trust.  The second storyline concerns the abusive husband, who is furious about being left and is tracking her down.
  Both storylines have been building and there is about to be a collision of the two.  Oh, no!  There is no more story!  
   The author died at this point and I was shocked!  At first I could not believe that the story was published without a warning on the cover.  But, would I have read it otherwise?  
  This would definitely have been the best book I have ever read if it had been completed.  The sentences are stunning.  I wanted to read it out loud and savour every word.
  My feelings of disappointment have turned to gratitude.  I am grateful to have had the opportunity to read Richard Wagamese's last words.  They are amazing!

"This Is Not My Life"

  
   This memoir was written by  Diane Schoemperlen, an author, about her life between the years  2006-2012, when Diane was 51 and fell in love with a murderer who had spent 30 years in prison.
  
  She met Shane at St. Vincent de Paul, where hot meals were served.  He was brought there from the prison with an escort, to be the dishwasher.
   While Shane was spending time in prison, she had been living with her son and writing, traveling to book events, and doing the things that she enjoyed.
   When Diane told her friend that she was falling in love with Shane, her friend said, "How can you be so smart in your writing and so stupid in real life?"  And that is what the readers of this memoir felt as they read.  I certainly did.  Diane tried to explain, in great detail, how and why this happened.  She wrote the memoir ten years after meeting Shane and added immense detail!  Every thought, every emotion!  I tried to skim through the minutiae of her daily life, but had to backtrack because I really love Diane's writing.  Every sentence is stunning.  She makes such effort to help the reader make sense of the situation.  She realized that she had 'wanted to be wanted, needed to be needed'.  And Shane surely was 'needy'!
  At the beginning of the relationship, Shane told Diane that his happiest memories were of the times he and his second wife were reading together in the same room, not talking, just reading, and he'd never felt so peaceful in his entire life.  Diane wrote, "Perhaps this is all I really want: someone I can read with, not talking, not touching, not interacting, just reading separately but still together."
  But, of course, when they finally did get to live together, "the companionable literary silence" did not take place- anything but!
  She writes in detail about the prison system and is very critical of the Harper government's 'Tough on Crime' policies.

   Diane has written twelve books, mostly fiction.  Her writing is spectacular and I hope to find time to read one of her fiction stories.

Great American Read- results

  The results are in! And the winner is "To Kill a Mockingbird". 
Here are the top five:

To Kill a Mockingbird

Outlander (series)

Harry Potter (series)

Pride and Prejudice

Lord of the Rings

   Interesting! A combination of modern and classic.

   I was interested in "The Book Thief" because I think it is 'great literature'.  But this contest was to find the 'best read', which may or may not be 'great literature'.

   "The Book Thief" was number 14, just after "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn"(no. 13), which I also enjoyed.  Preceded by "The Grapes of Wrath" (no.12) - wonderful!  Preceded by "Anne of Green Gables' (no.11) -hooray Canada!  Preceded by "Jane Eyre" (10), also a great read.

   Well, I could go on.  Lots of great books and we really enjoyed the final countdown.  Many great classics, but sadly missing Thomas Hardy, another of my favourite authors.

Kate Morton

  Last week, John met another favourite author, Kate Morton.  John has read all her books, and she is on a book tour with her newest book, "The Clockmaker's Daughter".  Our daughter drove us to the Kitchener library where John immediately bought the new book and settled to listen to Kate's presentation.  It was fabulous!

  Of course, he wanted his book autographed (he also brought earlier books to be signed) and here is the lineup for the book signings.
   It was a very popular event!

Kate Morton

   Kate was extremely personable and kind, taking time to chat and sign and pose for a
photo.  I can't imagine how long it took to get to the end of the line.
  But this was a dream for John.  Kate lives in England and he never expected to meet her personally.
  
  Jeff Shaara writes war stories and Kate writes love stories.  I find this an interesting combination.  However, they are John's two favourite authors and he has met both of them!
  We drove to Poughkeepsie, New York to see Jeff Shaara, but Kate came to Kitchener.  How lucky!

Jeff Shaara

"The Queen of Katwe"

book club choice

Phiona Mutesi as a child

   This non-fiction book is the biography of Phiona Mutesi.  She was born in the slums of the town of Katwe, near Kampala, Uganda. Her father had died and her mother and siblings lived in extreme poverty.
  One day, searching for food, she met Robert Katende, also from the slums.  Robert introduced Phiona to the game of chess. 
  Sports Outreach, an organization from the U.S., had established a mission, initially using soccer and then chess, "as a catalyst to offer the guidance of religion to the country's most impoverished people".  Robert connected Phiona to this mission and it was discovered that she had a sharp brain, well-suited for chess.  She won championships.
  Many people found this biography to be inspiring.  However, the flashes of inspiration were quickly halted by the reality of the slums.  The detail of the poverty and lifestyle of these Ugandans is explicit and it is heart-breaking.

Phiona today

    Quote: "For Phiona, chess is like a torch that can take her out of the slum to     people who may be able to look after her."

    This book was written in 2012, and it leaves you wondering whether this actually     happened.  Google tells us that yes, she is now attending university in the U.S.

   In 2016, the Walt Disney Company made a movie of Phiona's life and she attended   premiers in Canada, U.S. and Uganda.

   

Tim Crothers

 Author Tim Crothers has said, 
 "To be African is to be an underdog in the world. 
  To be Ugandan is to be an underdog in Africa. 
  To be from Katwe is to be an underdog in Uganda. 
  And to be a girl is to be an underdog in Katwe.  
  The Queen of Katwe is the ultimate underdog story".




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  My nephew is involved in a mission in Uganda- not in the slums.  The school they are building includes a beautiful library.  Here are some pictures from that mission.