Diana Stevan
I read The Bishop's Man just after Pope Francis's visit to the USA. The author writes about a priest, who's known as the enforcer within the church, as he deals with those priests who've been caught in a sexual scandal or in some other illicit activity. He is often called by the bishop, who counsels him to look the other way from time to time. The fact that he's asked to participate in cover-ups and attempted cover-ups plays heavily on his mind. He has his own secrets that are hard to bear and the environment he's asked to work in, a small fishing settlement near his childhood home in Nova Scotia, adds to his turmoil
This novel won the Scotiabank Giller Prize in 2009. I was further intrigued by the structure of the book. Told largely in dialogue, the author succeeds in showing the internal struggles of a man who tries to do the right thing, despite the pull of his superiors.
I have to agree that John Banville is an exceptional writer, with an envious vocabulary. Though highly imaginative in its plot, The Infinities is not the easiest read. I was glad, however, that I stayed with it to the end and was duly rewarded. I was intrigued that he used an omniscient narrator, one who sees all. It's not an easy choice for a writer, but one that Banville used with aplomb.
Since I won this book at the recent Surrey International Writers
Conference, I gave it a read. It's not typically the genre I read, but I found it had a very interesting premise. Jane Austen herself clings to the protagonist as an inner voice, guiding her in her love relationships. The book was light and fun to read. There were some particularly graphic sexual scenes that would appeal to many readers. I'm from a different school of thought, thinking less is more when it comes to romance. But that's so wonderful about literature. There are all kinds of books and all kinds of readers. Anyway, I don't think anyone would be disappointed in this book. It pays off in the end.
Though I've read several short story collections, they aren't what I tend to read. But having said this, I was blown away by Amy Bloom's surprising love stories. What I love about his author is her ability to take you on a ride and just when you think you're going one way, she takes you on another. Nothing is predictable or how it seems. Like real life. She is a master of writing about human frailties in all its colors. I am now anxious to read more of her books.
Since I've been to Egypt, I enjoyed how the author wove in the sights and smells of Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, The story portrayed the emotional landscape of the main characters exquisitely as well. When Sally, the maid servant of Lady Duff Gordon dares to fall in love and act on that love, she pays a price no woman should. Highly recommended.
It started off brilliantly, then I lost my way. I was initially enthralled with the author's metaphors, her poetic descriptions. Perhaps it was the flipping back and forth to figure out who was who among the large cast of characters. I can understand though why it did so well regarding nominations for various prizes. There was a lot of research that went into the telling of this story, and there were enough compelling anecdotes and travels of Aristotle to keep one interested.
I LOVED The Glass Castle, and was anxious to read Half Broke Horses by the same author. It was a good read, but the voice was one that didn't engage me as much as Jeannette Walls' previous work. I think it was because there was little dialogue, and even though the descriptions of place and events were wonderfully told, I was somewhat removed. Still, having said that, it's well worth the read, and I'm sure there are many readers who would disagree with me. Jeannette Walls' grandmother is a compelling character, and her story contributes to a greater understanding of what American women's lives were like in the early part of the twentieth century. Reading like other art forms is personal and subjective.
Loved this book. Great characters, although at times I got upset with Dexter as he couldn't see what a great catch Emma was. It has quite a few surprising elements, and I love the whole set-up, of following characters from year to year on one particular day. Very clever.
An outstanding book! I can see why it won the Pulitzer Prize. Largely written in a poetic style, Toni Morrison captures the tragedy that was a part of every black person's life. It was a harrowing read at times but informative. I hope to read more of the author's works.
I wrote a review for The Miramichi Reader. This YA novel's publishing date is in November. Not sure when my review will be posted.
This is the third novel I've read by Martha Conway and each one is a delight. The story of The Physician's Daughter kept me going at all hours of the night. It's that good. Right from the beginning, Vita, the novel's protagonist, engages the reader with her can-do spirit and unwillingness to bend to convention. She soaks up any crumbs of medical knowledge her father, a doctor, throws her way. Against all odds, and there are many, she never gives up on her dream to become a doctor at a time when women were relegated to the home and considered to be the weaker sex.
The novel is set just after the American civil war when men were coming home maimed physically and scarred emotionally. One of them is Jacob, who knew Vita's brother. Vita's on again and off again relationship with Jacob and the surprising ways she deals with him underlines her determination to let nothing stand in the way of what she wants.
Martha Conway entertains with her exquisite phrases and extensive details of the time. A well-researched and loving tale.
This is the kind of book that spins me like the title. How Colum McCann is able to juggle his stories and have his characters intersect with one another with such finesse is truly remarkable.
i've always been interested in reincarnation, and Barbara Graham has given me much to think about in her story about a boy dealing with night terrors and his parents who are at a loss as to how to help him. The author defty manages to convey the mystery at the core of her novel–why is Jonah having these frightening dreams and an over-the-top fear of fireworks. The novel has been labelled a thriller, but I didn't feel any danger until near the end. Instead, I became engrossed in the family drama and the other characters who became impacted by Jonah's strange stories and behaviour. Stories that became less strange as the novel progressed. A compelling read. Highly recommended.
A heartfelt read. The story is based on the author's life, how he was apprehended when he was a child, taken away from his parents, and lived among non-natives until he found his way back to his people, the Ojibway. It's both a sad and heartening read. Highly recommended.
It was an interesting read. It reminded me of the style of the 50s. No swear words, no explicit sex, no violence. It was sweet and compelling.
It was an easy read, but felt there wasn't much substance. Loved John Grisham's The Painted House.
It's not everyone who can live out their dream. But Bill Arnott, does by embarking on a journey to discover the life of the seafaring Vikings. As a child, Bill was fascinated by their stories. I was similarly fascinated by the details of his journey, as he traced their steps in Gone Viking. I wanted to grab an atlas and follow along.
Not only does the author provide a detailed account of the places he visited, but he also sprinkles in conversations with locals and other travellers, meals he enjoyed, and notable quotes from other writers. He does all of this with panache and humour. His sites were so vividly written, I wanted to pack up my bags and check out these places. Highly recommended for those who love travel, Vikings and a good story.
Exceptional novel. Rohinton Mistry did a masterful job depicting the Indian culture with its caste system that creates problems for so many, especially two of the characters he so lovingly portrays. Since there are so many reviews, I won't bother going into detail here. I can just say this is a book that I won't forget easily.
I so rarely give a book five stars, but this one, in my opinion is so rich in character detail and high stakes, that it would be a mistake for me to think otherwise. What I found astounding is how much the author Grace Metalious packed into her novel. From what I've read, she mined her experiences of living in a small New England town so well, that those who knew her felt exposed in her story. She covered everyone, from the people in the shanties to the ones who owned the town and kept the others from rising. Her follow-up books did not earn her the same kind of acclaim. Perhaps, for this story, she'd wrung out all she could from the town she knew so well.
What a fabulous read. This is now the second one I've read by Edith Wharton. As I visited her former home in Massachusetts last fall, I wanted to read some of her works. I read House of Mirth first, and now this one.
Edith Wharton is a master at getting inside her character's minds. She reveals so much that you, as a reader, gain an intimate knowledge of what your lead character is struggling to overcome. She takes the time, and in our current fast paced world, it's a pleasure to go on this ride with her.
Ethan Frome is a good man, who ends up being stuck in life with a woman who does not meet his needs by a long shot. When he falls in love with a young woman who's been engaged to help his wife, the morals and conventions of the time make it impossible for him to leave. His wife, in discovering this not so hidden love, has ideas of her own, which create further agony for Ethan. How the story ends is both shocking and satisfying on so many levels. A masterpiece.
A great read! I am such a fan of Sue Miller's. I'm looking forward to reading more of hers. This book was very surprising and very authentic. I had the sense I was looking at a woman's relationships with a microscope. Her strengths and especially failings were well portrayed, from her first marriage, and how she dealt with her unhappiness there, to her second.
Enjoyed it only because Stieg Larsson was woven a compelling story. It wasn't as good as the first one, but still kept me enthralled.
