Diana Stevan
Excellent overview of what the indigenous people of North America have undergone in their negotiations and treaties with the white settlers. Thomas King uses humour to tell the story. It's a shocking tale and covers so many ‘crimes' that have occurred under the various governments, from the seventeenth century to present day. A worthwhile read for anyone wanting to understand why the native people of North America are still fighting for their rights and the land that is owing to them.
The history of how one young whale, Moby Doll, affected those involved with its capture off Saturna Island in British Columbia in 1964 is a fascinating read. The way Orcas were perceived prior to this event is in marked contrast to today. I loved all the characters the author introduces us to in his tale of this time and the years that followed. Amazing the impact this mammal had on the course of history.
The author was a contemporary of Hemingway and Fitzgerald. A fascinating account of those times.
Anita Shreve is a gifted author and I looked forward to reading this story. As with other reviews here, I found A Wedding in December entertaining, with a wedding being the event that brings old high school friends together. The fact that one of them is missing due to a premature death kept me intrigued. But how he died and how his death impacts on the wedding attendees wasn't enough to satisfy me in the end. Still, having said that, I wouldn't hesitate to read another one of Anita Shreve's novels. I especially liked The Pilot's Wife.
It's not a book I would typically pick up but a friend of mine said it had some elements like my debut novel, A Cry From The Deep. And yes, there are some but it is quite a different story. It was a light read but a compelling one.
Isabella's grief was palpable and her relationship with Matthew, the lighthouse keeper, a believable one. The conflict between the two sisters in the contemporary story was nicely done. The main characters are engaging, and I like how the author wove in the contemporary story with the one from the past.
I loved Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres, so I picked up this book. I was very surprised at its slow pace. It took forever to get going and I wasn't sure what the character wanted. But maybe that was the whole point. I have to admit I was glad I stayed for the ride. It's a hard book to evaluate, as the first part is three stars, the last part, five stars.
Fabulous read! Alistair MacLeod pulls no punches in his portrayal of a Canadian family with strong ties to its ethnic roots in Scotland.
An incredible book. It was recommended to my daughter who is reviewing how she deals with life after being diagnosed with breast cancer. This book is so hopeful. Jill Bolte Taylor's ability to reprogram her brain is nothing short of remarkable. Although the text was academic at times, which I skimmed, there was enough of a personal diary that it kept me hooked until the end.
What a great story! Loved the characters and situations. The author weaves in the current battle between those who favour organic farming and those who don't understand the fuss, and so much more. A couple of love stories between unlikely characters add spice to a novel that covers a lot of ground.
I will read anything by this extraordinary author. Her characters are always compelling. This novel is about a family of four, in which each member finds it difficult to find the solace they crave in a highly dysfunctional family. When Samuel Tyne inherits his uncle's house, he quits his job and moves his family to a town in Alberta. The fact he doesn't properly grieve for his uncle creates problems for himself with his neighbours. Samuel's dreams as well as his guilt and fear of dealing with his family through the various stages of his life are revealed beautifully in this well-written novel.
The Gospel Truth was recommended by my teen granddaughter. She's not an avid reader but this book spoke to her. It's a Y/A book and written in prose poem style, so I wasn't sure but I gave it a try and am I ever happy I did. Fabulous! It's one of those books that could as easily go into an adult library. I want to buy it now and re-read it for the language. It resonated on so many levels. It's heartbreaking what blacks had to go through in the USA during the times of slavery. Highly recommended.
The emotion that is expressed in this book is universal. I thought the author was very courageous in tackling the dilemma of a young man who finds himself torn between his wife and his aging parents.
I read this so long ago. What I do remember is that it was a hell of a good read, and now I wonder why I haven't read more of his books.
While I was in Havana recently, I bought this novel in the Plaza de Armes. I was very impressed with Graham Greene's prose. Liked his wit and imaginative twist on a spy thriller. Only as I neared the end of the book, did my attention start to wane. Still, I am now a fan of his writing and look forward to reading more of his books.
I was so impressed with this autobiography. It takes tremendous courage to reveal all the events of one's life. Maya Angelou's honesty showed me how powerful a true story can be when it's told well. Maya talks about her childhood in the American south, broken family, schooling, love of books, and how she coped with being wronged sexually.
I've read a number of books recently on how those who are black in the USA have fared over time. It's unconscionable that one race of people is excluded from anything just because of race. Or treated as if they are inferior somehow. Though I'm white, I've experienced prejudice, being a child of immigrants, who were not entirely welcomed in Canada. I experienced hateful words which marked me for years. Still, nothing I went through comes close to what those who are black went through and still go through. I am thankful for my upbringing and my experience as my hurt has made me sensitive to others, who are discriminated against whether they are of a different race, religion or sexual orientation.
A highly recommended book.
An intriguing look at two women, one at the start of her marriage, the other at the end of it. I've written a review on my website. http://www.dianastevan.com/2013/writing/intimate-stories/
A great read. What impressed me most about Daphne du Maurier's story about a young woman marrying a wealthy widower with a secret, were how well she wrote descriptive passages. She illustrated the environment as well as she did the players. It was a suspenseful read, one I did not want to put down, even though I had some memory of the story, which I saw portrayed in Hitchcock's film of the same name.
Anne Tyler never disappoints. This love story about an unlikely pair is as unconventional as the couple. What intrigued me was the beginning, when the reader learns that Aaron's wife is back from the dead, after dying unexpectedly and in an unusual way in their home. I wondered how could that be.I know it's fiction, but death is death. The way Anne Tyler shows a man grieving the loss of his wife, and how his mind works to keep her alive was a delight to read. This is a book I could easily read again.
There is no question that John Grisham is an exceptional author. I keep returning to his books.
This one grabbed me right from the beginning as I constantly rail at the unfairness of corporations that take advantage of the little man.
In this story, we have a company that has wilfully released toxins into the water and soil in a small American town and covered it up. As a result, an unusually high number of the inhabitants, who had no warning of the dangers of their water, have become ill or have died of cancer.
A husband and wife lawyer team, on the verge of bankruptcy, takes up the cause of one woman who has lost both her husband and son to cancer. They are bent on proving the link between these deaths and the poisonous chemicals that were released in this town. They have a strong case but the corporation has means and ways of fighting back.
Though I enjoyed the read, I found myself drifting at times because of the many characters that came into play. And because of that, I found I was not as invested in the outcome or in the protagonists as I might've been.
Absolutely loved this book. Took me a short time to adapt to the language of the characters but I quickly became immersed in their lives. A fascinating story about family and racism set in Australia. Sarah Thornhill is a compelling protagonist, smart and willing to take risks to do the right thing. The only problem I had was with the ending. I won't say why as I don't want to reveal any spoilers. Let's just say, it wasn't what I expected or wanted for Sarah.
I've been fascinated by Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. I found this bio. to be very telling in the dynamics of the relationship that fed both of their craziness. Crazy but brilliant couple.
I know this book has garnered excellent reviews. It's very well written. My problem is that I'm not a sci-fi reader; it's not the genre I tend to read, so my review reflects that. I got bogged down at times with the technical aspects of the work, but again, that's more of a reflection of my taste rather than the quality of the book. Hugh Howey has created an unusual world in the future, but there were aspects that reminded me of what I've seen before in Hollywood films. The action takes place in a different setting, but the characters that populate it seemed familiar, too familiar for me. Again, reviews are subjective, so just because I'm not raving about it, doesn't mean it won't appeal to many readers, as I know it has. It's rocketed to the top of the charts, and that is why I read it in the first place. I wanted to see what the fuss was about.