Category Archives: Challenge

Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald (book review)

book review for Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald

I know this post should have gone up sooner since the debates for Canada Reads begin today… but I procrastinated reading Fall On Your Knees and procrastinating writing this review. Why did I procrastinate? Tammy kept saying, “It’s so depressing, I’ve put it in my basement and just want to forget it’s there.” Which made me not want to read a depressing book after finishing the delightful Nikolski by Nicholas Dickner. I have to admit, yes it was a somber story, but it is quite brilliant writing. I enjoyed the characters, how honest they were, and how real they were. At times I felt the book dragged on, but by the end, I was fully satisfied. My favourite character is Mercedes because I think that she is an unsung hero of the family. I was also constantly in awe of how she maintains faith while questioning the ways of her God. At the start of the 20th century, James Piper sets fire to his dead mother’s piano and heads out across Cape Breton Island to find a new place to live, eventually eloping with 13-year-old Materia Mahmoud, the daughter of wealthy, traditional Lebanese parents. And so, from early on, Ann-Marie MacDonald establishes some major themes: racial tension, isolation, passion and forbidden love, which will gradually lead to incest, death in childbirth, and even murder. At the centre of this epic story is the nature of family love, beginning with the Piper sister who depend on one another for survival. Their [...]

Also posted in Books, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Comments closed

Generation X by Douglas Coupland (book review)

book review for Generation X by Douglas Coupland

Honestly, I don’t get what the big deal is about Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture. Although I found the writing witty I didn’t really get the point. Besides “understanding” the generation and telling these 20-somethings’ story, what was the point? Nothing really happens in the book and I’m not sure why it was picked for Canada Reads 2010. I think my favourite thing about the book was the inscription; I picked the book up at a local secondhand bookstore (MacLeod’s in downtown Vancouver) and the following was written on the title page inside: To Sean of: Generation X From Mom & Dad of Generation Grey Hairs Remember Easter 1995 At book club yesterday, there were a couple people who read and enjoyed it when it first came out. So I asked “why did you enjoy it so much?” One person said that it was probably something to do with feeling misunderstood, and Coupland, in talking to and about that generation, really identified with their feelings. Another common frustration was the side notes in the margins. The only time they seriously bothered me was when they didn’t relate back to the novel at all. Sometimes I could reread the asides and see how the witty definitions related to the story… but when it didn’t it annoyed me to a degree. I think the main problem is that I’m from a whole different generation, not that unlike generation X-ers, but just different enough to not “click” with the book. I [...]

Also posted in Books, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Comments closed

Canada Reads Indie & Canada Also Reads

Canada Reads Independently 2010

Some people have been disappointed with the Canada Reads 2010 list. Reasons include the authors/publishers/books being too well-known already. There are two new grassroots challenges called Canada Reads Independently and Canada Also Reads which aim to shed light on the lesser known titles/authors/publishers. How very Canadian of us! Personally, I haven’t read any of the books but I did know of Generation X and The Jade Peony already. I’m enjoying reading the Canada Reads list but also want to spread the word about these Canadian works too. CANADA READS INDEPENDENTLY When I first heard about Canada Reads Independently 2010, I thought it was a list of books from independent presses. Wrong. It turns out that Kerry Clare of Pickle Me This launched Canada Reads 2010: Independently for a different reason. Kerry says, “I’m not going to knock [Canada Reads] because I love the spirit behind the whole thing… but it just wasn’t the reading list for me. What I wanted was what I found from (most of) the 2009 lineup– book recommendations out of nowhere, books I’d never pick up otherwise, that challenge my sensibilities, and that I might just fall in love with.” In an interview with Julie Wilson (aka BookMadam) at CBC Book Club, Kerry said, “I’m going to be reading the five books over the next two months, posting reviews as I go, and rating the books against one another. I’ll be inviting other readers to comment on my reactions to the books, perhaps have some guest [...]

Also posted in Books, Sharing | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments closed

Nikolski by Nicholas Dickner (book review)

book review for Nikolski by Nicolas Dickner

Initially I was apprehensive about Nikolski, written by Nicholas Dickner, because it was translated from French. Translations can go one of two ways and I was worried that a lot would be lost in translation. However, I was pleasantly surprised as the translator, Lazer Lederhendler, transformed the French writing into eloquent English. This was very impressive because there are several plays on words as well as witty banter. The story itself is more of a character journey than a standard plot-based story (as many of these Canada Reads books seem to be). I loved all the little details that would crop up later as well as the decisions of these unique and surprising young characters.

Also posted in Books, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments closed

Freedom to Read Week is February 21-27, 2010

Canada's Freedom to Read Week 2010

Last year when I posted about Canada’s Freedom to Read Week, I was trying to read The Handmaiden’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and/or Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov as part of the challenge. Unfortunately, I haven’t read either book as I got distracted by my huge TBR Pile. However, this year, I’ve got more exciting news: my friend Diane has begun a challenge on BookCrossing to Release Challenged Books as part of Freedom to Read Week 2010. The challenge to release banned/challenged books, or books by persecuted/jailed authors (especially Canadian) during the month of February. Freedom to Read Week is from February 21-27, 2010 and lots of Canadian libraries celebrate with special events and challenges. Make sure to check out the Calendar of Events on the Freedom to Read website to see if your local library is planning anything. If they aren’t, why not ask if they will!? Can’t think of any banned or challenged books or authors? You’ll be surprised by some of the names on these lists. Freedom to Read Week has a list of Challenged Books & Magazines Wikipedia list of books banned by governments around the world Amnesty International USA has updates on Banned Books each year PEN Canada helps to protect and aide persecuted writers Please release your Canadian banned or challenged books and authors via BookCrossing and help spread the freedom to read.

Also posted in Books, Sharing | Tagged , , , | Comments closed
  • Monniblog

  • Ravelry

    Powered by Ravelry

  • My GoodReads

     

  • Flickr Photos

    M60

    2ezvqv

    2f0vu5

    More Photos
  • My Flickr

    www.flickr.com
    This is a Flickr badge showing items in a set called Vancouver BC Canada. Make your own badge here.
  • Find Me

  • Categories

  • Commitments

  • Participating










    Click here for previous Challenges & Alongs and old Swaps.
  • Archives