Diana Stevan
Ernest Hemingway did not disappoint in this simple but strong story about an old man who refuses to give in to old age or fatigue when he sets out to sea in order to fish once again. What I loved about this story was how easily Hemingway drew me in through the old man's thoughts. I found myself thinking about my own life, and the resilience we all have. Also, Hemingway's obvious respect for the wisdom, tenacity and the courage of old age was a surprise.
And as a nature lover myself, I appreciated how he wove his love for nature into the fisherman's battle to bring another big one in, to prove once again that he still had the mettle to be out there battling the elements.
As a writer, I'm aware of how many breaks and chapters contemporary authors weave into their stories today. After all, we are all easily distracted and our attention spans have shrunk. And yet, this novel, with no chapters and no breaks, did not drag. It kept me turning the page with no
Fabulous read! David Nicholls is a master at revealing a marriage in trouble. With both humour and sadness, he takes us inside the husband's head, from the time he met his wife, to the time their marriage is on the brink. Throw in a rebellious teen and a grand tour of Europe, and you have a story that not only entertains but shows us how challenging all relationships are, no matter how much love there is.
I was so impressed with this story. The author, Lisa Genova, who has a PhD in neuroscience from Harvard, used her knowledge to gain access to those who treat Alzheimer's disease. She wrote this novel with such clarity and compassion, using the voice of Alice Howland, a middle-aged professor suffering with the disease. The author also showed us the devastating effects of this illness on Alice's family. I highly recommend this remarkable book.
A delightful book about an old curmudgeon, who's lost his wife through death and no longer finds life worth living. I enjoyed the humour in this book and the cast of neighbourhood characters, including the cat, which has a personality of its own. I found the book too long at times, and got frustrated with Ove's ongoing grumpiness. After so many overtures to him by people in his midst, I would've expected some softening of both his exterior and interior. But having said that, there are people who have a crustiness that is hard to penetrate. Recommended for anyone wishing a light but enjoyable read.
Excellent story of two sisters, one a writer, the other a gifted pianist, in a troubled Mennonite family. Miriam Toews surpises with her wit and ability to put you in the room with her characters. It asks the question, Am I my Sister's Keeper? I wish I could say love conquers all but it certainly shines through this brilliant novel.
What a fabulous read! I've read other stories set during wartime but not one like this. Brilliantly told and one that illustrates the nuttiness of war through two main characters, a young blind French girl and a young German boy. Both are trapped for different reasons; both experience the light we cannot see. It's not often I read a book that resonates like this one. War is more than battles and more than victories and defeats. This is one book I wouldn't mind reading again. Not only for the story but to savor the authors words, his turn of phrase, his take on the human condition. Bravo!
Absolutely loved this book. Edith Wharton's shows us the inner life of her characters with such skill, that I'm in awe of her talent. Her prose is flowery at times- a product of her time -but compelling nonetheless.
Fantastic read! Like the title says, the author combines her experience and knowledge as a botanist with indigenous wisdom. Though I'm a gardener and relish being in the forest, she gave me a whole new appreciation of the species around us, both animal and plant. Highly recommend this book.
What I loved about this book is the author's attention to detail about the times. I followed a young girl's passage from Castle Dunharbar, Scotland to Victoria, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia in the mid-nineteenth century. I was fascinated by what she experienced on her voyage, not only by the people she encountered on the ship, but also with the conditions she endured. Tess is a feisty but lovable protagonist. Her difficulty with following the rules takes the reader on novel adventures, first on ship and then to a place where settlers and tribes like the Songhee and the Haida live side by side. Again, Jocelyn Reekie paints the place so vividly with her words, that you can see what Tess sees as she roams this new land. Highly recommended for both young adults and adults.
Scary, the power of the group over an individual's right to practice what they want and how they get it all wrong.
Another book I read decades ago. Very frightening true account of murders that take place in farming country in middle America.
I read this book decades ago, but it was mentioned at my writers' critique group the other day. I had forgotten I'd read it, but I remember how taken I was by the young man's plight in this story. So beautifully written. Again, this is one book that I should read again.
This book succeeds in going into the minds of both a husband and a wife as they struggle to reignite the love they once had. The author shows a marked understanding of human behavior as she weaves her story with skill and compassion for both players. She also seamlessly interjects a sub-plot involving a chess master, whom the husband meets in a stop in the park. This serendipitous stop not only helps the husband look at his marriage in a whole different way, but it also helps him examine the career he's chosen.
No question, Joyce Carol Oates is a wonderful writer, but I found the graphic details of this story too much to bear. The story's about a young girl (told in her voice) whose father has abandoned the family. A Vietnam war vet and pilot, he's on the run, wanted by the police. The young girl is left to the care of her mother, who is man crazy, a partier. When the mother shares a family secret, it becomes one that tears the girl apart emotionally and socially. Without giving more of the story away, I found the last third of the book hard to read.
I love Shakespeare and get lost in his poetic imagery. It's not an easy read, but then I find anything by the old barb a challenge.
This must've been a very difficult book to write. Bev Sellars writes about her experience in a residential school in Canada and the effect it had on her family and others she knows. It wasn't an easy read, as it's hard to read about those who profess to be Christians treating those in their charge in such a mean and unconscionable way.
I had the opportunity to talk to Bev Sellars, when she was the writer-in-residence at Haig Brown House in Campbell River this past year. We talked briefly, but I also heard her speak at the Words on the Water Writers' Festival in Campbell River and her generosity of spirit was obvious as she encouraged others to overcome their fears of writing their tales. I look forward to reading more of her works.
So impressed with the author's ability to tell a heart wrenching story through verse. The protagonist is a young runaway, who finds herself in the grip of a pimp on Vancouver's lower eastside. I found the story striking in that the writer did not resort to graphic details in describing the young girl's sexual experiences.As this story takes place during the time that serial killer, Robert Picton, was prowling those streets looking for hookers, I again found the writer showed incredible skill in giving a sense of the danger without sensationalizing what was going on. Well worth a read.
A very interesting book: an exploration of the damage done to children in families where the couples change partners. I was a family therapist for twenty-five years so I found this aspect of the memoir particularly compelling. Because of the pain expressed by the protagonist and her step-sister, it was not an easy read.
Anne Tyler is a master at describing the inner thoughts of people in troubled relationships. At the same time, she normalizes problems in families, ones we can all relate to.
I can't quarrel with Neil Gaiman's writing ability. He is a master. My problem was with the story. When I first started reading it, it seemed as if it would be based in reality. I didn't expect it to have so much fantasy. So, the error is mine.
I felt he captured well the plight of a young person who is misunderstood by his own family and has a difficult relationship with his father. And I liked how the boy's relationship developed with the girl and her mother down the lane. I think for me it went off the rails with the nanny. It seemed too far fetched for me.
But for those seeking a otherworldly experience, they might give this story five stars, because the author's imagination takes the reader for quite the ride.