tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32311457988304978542024-03-19T00:52:42.209-04:00Curled Up With a Good Book and a Cup of TeaShanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.comBlogger1016125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-30675199691976058032017-06-02T12:12:00.001-04:002017-06-02T12:12:14.067-04:00May Review/June at a Glance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first half of this month was marked by very little reading. But the second half of the month was all books all the time. Maybe it was all the rain we got that kept me inside and curled up on the couch. I did not read most of the books I had planned on reading during the month but I found some other great ones to get into. And of course, I did not blog like I had hoped so this continues to be a work in progress. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is what I read in May:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons</i> - Kevin Hart</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">⭐⭐⭐⭐</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Into the Water</i> - Paula Hawkins</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The Other Half of Happiness</i> - Ayisha Malik</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>When Dimple Met Rishi </i>- Sandhya Menon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Run, Hide, Repeat: A Memoir of a Fugitive Childhood</i> - Pauline Dakin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">⭐⭐⭐</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The Last Neanderthal</i> - Claire Cameron</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>This is That: Travel Guide to Canada</i> - This is That</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Fierce Kingdom</i> - Gin Phillips</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">June</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t have much planned in terms of what books I want to read in June. <i>The Child</i> by Fiona Barton is coming out, it is one that I recommend if you like the psychological thriller genre. I liked it better than <i>The Widow</i>. Other than that, I plan to let whatever catches my eye at the bookstore, as well as the pile on my bedside table, guide my reading this month.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How about you, what are you looking forward to reading this month?</span></b></div>
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Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-80793273935169334342017-05-05T06:00:00.000-04:002017-05-05T06:00:02.911-04:00April Review/May at a Glance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>April</b></div>
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April has by far been the best reading month in terms of getting into a good reading groove and spending the whole month with a book in my hand. And because of that I ended up reading 10 books and for the first time in years am still ahead on my reading goal (which at this point of the year is usually already failing.) I'm also trying out a new way of posting here, by posting 2-3 reviews of recent reads that all share a similar theme. The reviews are much shorter but this way there is a lot less pressure on me and I feel content to just read.<br />
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Here is what I read in April:<br />
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<i>One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter</i> - Scaachi Koul<br />
<i>Baseball Life Advice</i> - Stacey May Fowles<br />
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<i>The Bluebell Bunting Society </i> - Poppy Dolan<br />
<i>The Child</i> - Fiona Barton<br />
<i>Welcome to Lagos</i> - Chibundu Onuzo<br />
<i>Rich People Problems </i>- Kevin Kwan<br />
<i>There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé</i> - Morgan Parker<br />
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<i>Rock Solid: My Life in Baseball's Fast Lane</i> - Tim Raines<br />
<i>The People at Number 9</i> - Felicity Everett<br />
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<i>Fugue States</i> - Pasha Malla<br />
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<b>May</b></div>
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While there are a couple of May books on my radar (<i>The CanadaLand Guide to Canada</i> and <i>No One Can Pronounce My Name</i>) the only one that is an "I absolutely cannot wait" book is <i>Into The Water</i> by Paula Hawkins. I grabbed it on Tuesday, the day it was released and I'm 100 pages in and hooked.</div>
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I have an ARC of <i>Fitness Junkie</i> by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza (July) that I plan on reading and there are a few books from earlier this year that I have on my night table but haven't go to so I think the month of May will be about going back and reading those ones.</div>
Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-29997640660319905452017-05-04T10:25:00.003-04:002017-05-04T10:25:51.667-04:00Recent Reads: Thrillers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<u>I Found You by Lisa Jewell</u> (out now)</div>
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Thanks to the dominance of the psychological thriller in the book market over the last two years, I have been reading a lot of mysteries lately. And recently, they’ve all started to blur into one and I have been getting tired of them. Enter this book. <i>I Found You</i> renewed my love for the genre and showed me that Lisa Jewell is one to read.</div>
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Right from the start I was hooked on this one. I really liked how the book went between different people and their parts of the story. Then when the book picked up in the past in the second part, I really didn’t want to put it down. I spent the majority of the book playing detective, trying to piece it all together before the book did it for me, which I absolutely enjoyed in this one. Jewell gives you just enough in each chapter to move the story line along and keep you absolutely hooked, wanting to know what happens next.</div>
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<u>The Child by Fiona Barton</u> (release date: June 27)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><i>The Widow</i> was a wonderful surprise, the first thriller I read after <i>Girl on the Train</i> and really what propelled me into reading a lot of this genre over the last year. And I will say that as much as I liked <i>The Widow</i>, I enjoyed <i>The Child</i> much more. Right from the start I was invested in the story and the characters. It was nice to see the reporter from the first book back, I enjoy when a series keeps the same character but doesn’t depend on the previous books to move the story forward. I remember reading an interview with Barton during the press for <i>The Widow</i> in which she talked about being interested in the people on the periphery of crimes when she was a reporter and how she worked that into the novel. It’s very obvious again in this book of that interest and there is a great sensitivity there which makes for a very-well rounded story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">This isn’t a “waiting right to the last page for the resolution” mystery but there are definitely enough twists and turns to keep you hooked and asking questions. Even if you do figure it all out partway through, the story is so well written that you remain invested in the rest of the book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><u>The Breakdown by B.A Paris</u> (release date: July 18)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I absolutely loved <i>Behind Closed Doors</i> and couldn’t stop raving about it. Everyone I recommended it to came back to me raving just as much about it. It had me up well into the night needing to know what happened and books rarely keep me up late. I had been wondering just how B.A. Paris would follow it up and if it would be as amazing as the first book. Well, I musty say, it certainly was. When it comes to <i>The Breakdown</i>, there is no such thing as the sophomore slump.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Well written and perfectly paced, this book took me on another ride and again kept me reading late when I should have been asleep. I was hooked from the first page to the last. Lately, I have been reading mystery books and figuring things out way too early but not with this one. I was left guessing right until the page before it all came out. That is an amazing feat to be able to pull off. I was invested in every character, even if I was suspicious of them. I can’t wait until this book is on the shelves so I can start recommending it to people.</span></div>
Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-10223384529700307532017-04-06T11:20:00.000-04:002017-04-06T11:20:04.572-04:00Recent Reads: Non-Fiction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter</i> - Scaachi Koul</div>
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A unique voice, Koul is the first generation Canadian daughter of Kashmiri immigrants whose stories will resonate with everyone. Even this extremely pale Northern European could relate to her piece on body hair. The essay “Mute,” about the online harassment she experienced after encouraging non-white, non-males to submit pieces to her workplace, is reason enough to get this book. It is horrifying and a must-read for all. The rest of this book is just as fantastic. This is the first of Koul’s work I have read but I’m definitely following her everywhere now (you know, in a non-creepy, admirer of her writing way.)</div>
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<i>All The Lives I Want: Essays About My Best Friends Who Happen to Be Famous Strangers</i> - Alana Massey</div>
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I picked up this book after reading a very short blurb which pretty much included the title and said it was one to read this year. Based on the title I was expecting a lighter commentary on pop culture, which it turns out this book is not. I often find it hard to read a book when it is nothing like what I expected. Despite that, I appreciated the subject matter of the essays and the way that Massey relates famous women and their lives to the issues that all women face simply because they are women. I had a difficult time when Massey related them to her own life as she just drops her personal information into the essays so anyone who is not familiar with her already may also have trouble fully understanding the connections.</div>
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<i>The Rules Do Not Apply</i> - Ariel Levy</div>
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When I first read the blurb for this book I was heartbroken and I knew I had to read it - “<i>When thirty-eight-year-old New Yorker writer Ariel Levy left for a reporting trip to Mongolia in 2012, she was pregnant, married, financially secure, and successful on her own terms. A month later, none of that was true.</i>” This is a poignant memoir about grief, adventure, and wanting it all. I was absolutely blown away by her honesty and as I read her story I felt thankful that she was allowing me into this part of her life. I think that is very a difficult thing for writers to make their readers feel but she did it expertly.</div>
Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-65439350358192014222017-04-03T09:37:00.000-04:002017-04-03T09:37:59.947-04:00March Review/April at a Glance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>March</b></div>
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I'm reading. I'm totally reading. But I'm not blogging. I can't do it all people! Between reading the books and selling the books, I'm just not finding the time to blog the books. I'm much more active on Twitter and Instagram so follow me there (@goodbooksandtea) where we can really discuss books. But I do promise that I will be posting a bit more in depth reviews on here in the weeks to come. I think I may have found a way that works for me, we'll see how it goes for the month of April. <br />
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Here is what I read during March:<br />
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<i>Dear Ijeawale, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions</i> - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie<br />
<i>We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled: Voices from Syria</i> - Wendy Pearlman<br />
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<i>I Found You</i> - Lisa Jewell<br />
<i>A Blessing and a Curse</i> - ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray<br />
<i>The Blood of Emmett Till</i> - Timothy B. Tyson<br />
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<i>The Lonely Hearts Hotel</i> - Heather O'Neill<br />
<i>In This Moment</i> - Karma Brown<br />
<i>Is Canada Even Real? How a Nation Built on Hobos, Beavers, Weirdos, and Hip Hop Convinced the World to Beliebe</i> - J.C. Villamere<br />
<i>All the Lives I Want: Essays About My Best Friends Who Happen to Be Famous Strangers </i>- Alana Massey<br />
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<b>April</b></div>
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There are a lot of books coming out in April that have caught my interest.<br />
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<i>American War</i> - Omar El-Akkad (4th)<br />
<i>What It Means When a Man Falls From the Sky</i> - Lesley Nneka Arimah (4th)<br />
<i>No One is Coming to Save Us</i> - Stephanie Powell Watts (4th)<br />
<i>The Other Half of Happiness</i> - Ayisha Malik (4th for e-book, Sept 17 for paperback)<br />
<i>Too Much and Not the Mood</i> - Durga Chew-Bose (11th)<br />
<i>The Perfect Stranger</i> - Megan Miranda (11th)<br />
<i>Underground Fugue</i> - Margot Singer (18th)<br />
<i>The Startup</i> - Doree Shafrir (25th)<br />
<i>The Last Neanderthal</i> - Claire Cameron (25th)<br />
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We'll see how many of those I can read this month! I also have an ARC of Pasha Malla's <i>Fugue States</i> (May 30) and I'm currently reading two recent releases, <i>The Bluebell Bunting Society</i> by Poppy Dolan and <i>Welcome to Lagos</i> by Chibundu Onuzo.<br />
<br />Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-51009603119007578452017-02-09T09:12:00.000-05:002017-02-09T09:12:10.744-05:00"Rest In Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin" by Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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He is the boy whose murder shocked the world. They are the parents whose grief and loss launched a movement. </div>
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In February of 2012, on an average evening in a small town in central Florida, seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot to death while walking home from the store with a bag of candy and a can of juice in his pockets. The head of the neighbourhood watch got out of the car against the advice of the authorities he had contacted regarding a suspicious person and followed the young man. This encounter ended with the man drawing his gun and taking Trayvon’s life.</div>
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In the days that followed, Trayvon’s parents tried to get answers from the police but were ignored. They couldn’t understand how the man that murdered their son was allowed to walk free. Their grief overtook them but they knew they had to fight for their son and as time went on the world joined them in calling for justice for Trayvon and all victims of racism and gun violence.</div>
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<i>Rest In Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin</i>, by Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, gives readers an understanding of the young man that Trayvon was, what happened on the night of his death, and how his parents have coped with their grief.</div>
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I applaud and thank Sybrina and Tracy for writing this book. On every page you can feel the strength it took them to tell their story. At a time when all one would want to do was to quietly grieve their son, they were thrust into the spotlight and became the public faces of a movement that gained millions of allies across the world. What they do in this book is extraordinary.</div>
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The book is written in chapters that alternate between Sybrina and Tracy. It runs chronologically, discussing their lives before Trayvon was born, his childhood, and his years in high school. The book spends time going over the shooting, sharing how the parents weren’t notified until almost a day later about their sons death even though it occurred steps from his home. The book discusses the investigation and trial, giving readers new information and a new understanding of the flaws that exist in the justice system.</div>
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It is hard to believe that it has been five years since Trayvon’s death or that he would now be 22 years old. Like so many others I was shook by this murder and I absolutely could not understand how the justice system worked in this case. I learned so much more from this book than I did from the media coverage at the time and it all still baffles my mind. Reading this book, my heart broke all over again for Sybrina and Tracy and all the anger I felt toward the killer and the justice system bubbled up again. This is a powerful book and a must-read. We can’t pretend that something like this can’t occur again and we must honour Trayvon’s memory by fighting to stop it from happening.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley. The opinions expressed above are my own.</span></i></span></div>
Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-44812755940671392662017-01-13T14:05:00.001-05:002017-01-13T14:05:35.643-05:00On Ancestry, Identity, and Telling Stories...One Reader's PerspectiveIf you haven’t heard, celebrated Canadian author Joseph Boyden has come under the microscope over his Indigenous heritage. This isn’t the first time it has happened. Boyden, author of the novels <i>Through Black Spruce</i>, <i>Three Day Road</i>, <i>The Orenda</i>, and most recently the novella <i>Wenjack</i>, has for years been positioned as a spokesperson for Indigenous people in Canada. In the past, some have posed questions surrounding Boyden’s heritage and pointed out inconsistencies in his own personal stories. But it seems those questions were largely left to be minor discussions in the public realm.<br />
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Until a couple of weeks ago when Jorge Barrera, journalist with the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) and blogger Robert Jago raised the question again, this time having done research into Boyden’s genealogy based on his own words and coming up with no evidence to back up what he has claimed.<br />
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For a little while, Boyden remained quiet on the subject other than issuing a statement reaffirming what he believes is his Aboriginal ancestry. This week, he finally made an appearance, though a rather controlled one, to speak about the controversy with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC.) This appearance did not do much to clear things up but did see him announce that he was stepping out of the space as Indigenous spokesperson he has for a long time occupied.<br />
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I have no Aboriginal heritage. This isn’t a discussion for me to wade into with any commentary as to how anyone should feel. I do not defend Joseph Boyden. I do not speak for or, more importantly, to any First Nations people as their voices are heard loud and clear on this issue. And I do not want to tell anyone what they should feel about this issue. I know that the land I live on was stolen from the people it belongs to. I’m proud to be Canadian. There is so much about this country that makes me feel this way. But I also know the pain this country has caused the Indigenous people over hundreds of years and I acknowledge the lack of understanding we have of the cultures of those people.<br />
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So I speak only for myself when I say I have been taken by Boyden.<br />
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Increasingly over the last few years, I have wanted to learn more about our Indigenous cultures not from textbooks but from the people themselves. And to do that, I most often turned to books. Boyden’s works were some of the ones that I turned to and he was a person in whom I placed great trust and admiration due to his visibility in the media. While he wasn’t the only voice I listened to, he definitely dominated the airwaves. And if this is only through his own self-identification, then I’m annoyed with myself that I let celebrity take precedence over who I put my faith in.<br />
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For me, the issue is not about whether a person can write a book about a culture that is not their own. I believe that many people can, and do, write appropriately about something other than what they have lived. But they cannot position themselves as a spokesperson for that culture. Especially when there are so many other voices that could more eloquently and appropriately take that position. Whether through a conscious decision to market himself as Aboriginal or unintentionally misleading people and not speaking up to correct, Boyden has taken that position away from the people who deserve that place.<br />
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Boyden has stated before that while a small part of his ancestry is Indigenous, it makes up a big part of who he is. This is a subject that has been much discussed in my home since it all came out. My husband has Indigenous ancestry, he can point to recent names on the family tree to tell you where that ancestry comes from. But for his family and many people where he comes from, it is ancestry, not identity. The only connection he has to the group is through his blood. He wasn't raised in their culture and his personal opinions is, how can he speak for a group of people especially when there are people who are in much better positions to do so.<br />
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There is a difference between ancestry and identity and it seems to me that Boyden has confused the two. What place this comes from, I don’t know. His books are fiction, always have been and always will be and there this nothing wrong with reading them as long we as recognize them as such. Fiction can often expose us to and teach us about other cultures. But the identity of the author is important when this happens. This is very important when we elevate this author to the status of spokesperson, when we take their voice away from the page and into cultural discourse. And it is <i>most</i> important when it is the cultural discourse that is the most visible to outsiders. When we speak about Indigenous issues, we must remove Boyden’s name from the conversation. There are other people who are telling these stories and those are the voices we should be listening to when we seek to gain understanding of the Indigenous experience.<br />
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Boyden’s publishers, as well as many in this industry, are standing by him and that’s fair for them to do. But it’s time that as non-Indigenous readers elevate other names to the status we gave his.<br />
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<b>Readings</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://aptnnews.ca/2016/12/23/author-joseph-boydens-shape-shifting-indigenous-identity/">APTN: Author Joseph Boyden's shape-shifting Indigenous Identity</a><br />
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<a href="https://peggyblair.wordpress.com/2016/12/26/joseph-boydens-disputed-status-as-indigenous-spokesman-and-why-it-matters/">Peggy Blair: Joseph Boyden's Disputed Status as Indigenous Spokesperson and Why It Matters</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/there-is-room-in-our-circle-for-joseph-boyden/article33467823/">Globe and Mail: There is room in our circle for Joseph Boyden</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/joseph-boyden-indigenous-unanswered-questions-1.3932355">CBC: Joseph Boyden's first interview 'a start' but it leaves unanswered questions</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/01/13/the-boyden-affair-just-got-murkier-salutin.html">Toronto Star: The Boyden affair just got murkier</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/statement-by-joseph-boyden-610457835.html">CNW: Statement by Joseph Boyden</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/boyden-indigenous-community-1.3915934">CBC: Who gets to speak on behalf of the Indigenous community?</a><br />
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<a href="https://cherylltoneyholley.com/2017/01/11/award-winning-canadian-author-claims-that-dartmouth-indians-are-really-nipmuc/">Cheryll Toney Holley: Award-winning Canadian Author Claims that Dartmouth Indians are Really Nipmuc?</a><br />
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As I try to gain more understanding, these two Twitter accounts have given me much to think about:<br />
@indigenousxca<br />
@rjjago<br />
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Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-89812504877460674572017-01-09T11:41:00.001-05:002017-01-09T11:41:26.901-05:00"The Trophy Child" by Paula Daly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Release Date: </b>March 7, 2017</div>
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Tiger mothers have nothing on Karen Bloom. Things may have not turned out so well with her son Ewan but she is definitely not letting her daughter Bronte slip through the cracks. Straight A’s, music lessons, and dance classes dominate the young prodigy’s life. Karen expects her family to always be at 200 percent and nothing less.</div>
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But behind the facade of the perfect family lies a wealth of secrets. Karen’s husband Noel, a successful small-town doctor has a taste for women and alcohol. Noel’s teenage daughter Verity is under strict discipline at school and at home due to her aggressive behaviour. And Bronte, the one on whom everything rests, longs to run away from it all.</div>
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When Bronte actually does go missing, a domino effect hits the family. As tragedy strikes the family again, all of their secrets and lies begin to spill out, leading readers to wonder how far people will go in their quest for perfection in <i>The Trophy Child</i> by Paula Daly.</div>
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After reading <i>What Kind of Mother Are You</i>, Paula Daly became an author whose books I will always pick up. I love a thriller and her books easily make their mark in a genre that is becoming increasingly popular. I also like how all of her novels are set in the Lake District of England. There is something about a small, close-knit community setting that makes these books even more interesting. </div>
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This book caught my interest because of this whole notion of the perfect family. It seems that the advancement of social media has taken this idea of painting a picture of perfection to new heights. It’s no longer about keeping up with your neighbours, it’s about keeping up with people around the world. And if there is one thing we know about social media, it’s that not all is what it seems. It’s easy to paint a picture that doesn’t actually exist. And yet many people fall into this trap of illusions, just as Karen Bloom does in this book.</div>
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Paula Daly really knows how to write characters that will grab on to the reader. I felt so much emotion for the children in this book and so much anger toward Karen. The lack of emotion I felt toward the husband Noel also shows just how well Daly has created characters that feel real.</div>
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I think the title could have been different for this book. It leads one to think that the book is more about Bronte when it really is about Karen and what her quest for perfection has done to her family. Because of the title I was really wanting more of the emotional side of it all for Bronte. </div>
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This book actually ended up being more of a picture of a dysfunctional family than actual thriller for me, which is okay, but I really didn’t read the book I thought I was going to. A good read, not my favourite of Daly’s, but a good commentary on the notion of perfection.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley. The opinions expressed above are my own.</span></i></span></div>
Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-28459285198662868262017-01-07T16:19:00.000-05:002017-01-07T16:19:00.234-05:00Canada Reads 2017 Longlist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Every March, the CBC hosts a one week discussion surrounding the question "what is one book that all Canadians should read?" (I know, just when you think Canadians can't get any more awesome, you find out we have literary debates on national television.) The longlist for this year's event, taking place from March 27 to 30, was announced this past week. Here are the contenders:<br />
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Company Town by Madeline Ashby<br />
<i>A brilliant, twisted mystery, as one woman must evaluate saving the people of a town that can't be saved, or saving herself.</i><br />
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even this page is white by Vivek Shraya<br />
<i>Vivek's debut collection of poetry is a bold, timely, and personal interrogation of skin - its origins, functions, and limitations.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis<br />
<i>Alexis's contemporary take on the apologue offers an utterly compelling and affecting look at the beauty and perils of human consciousness.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
I Am Woman by Lee Maracle<br />
<i>One of the foremost Native writers in North America, Lee Maracle links her First Nations heritage with feminism in this visionary book.</i><br />
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Knucklehead by Matt Lennox<br />
<i>Knucklehead is a riveting, powerful crime novel about fathers and sons, the limits of friendship, and the terrible, necessary choices we make.</i><br />
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Nostalgia by M.G. Vassanji<br />
<i>A taut, ingenuous, and dynamic novel about a future where eternal life is possible, and identities can be chosen.</i><br />
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One Hour in Paris by Karyn L. Freedman<br />
<i>One Hour in Paris weaves together Freedman's personal experience with the latest philosophical, neuroscientific, and psychological insights into what it means to live in a body that has been traumatized.</i><br />
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Quantum Night by Robert J. Sawyer<br />
<i>The Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author explores the thin line between good and evil that every human being is capable of crossing.</i><br />
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Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel<br />
<i>A page-turning debut in the tradition of Michael Crichton, World War Z, and The Martian, a thriller fuelled by an earthshaking mystery - and a fight to control a gargantuan power.</i><br />
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The Break by Katherena Vermette<br />
<i>A powerful intergenerational family saga, through various perspectives a larger, more comprehensive story about the lives of the residents in Winnipeg's North End.</i><br />
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The Elephants in My Backyard by Rajiv Surendra<br />
<i>An inspiring tale of taking risks and following one's dreams, of process and determination, and looking back on one's endeavours - be they successes or colossal defeats - with new appreciation and meaning.</i><br />
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The Just City by Jo Watson<br />
<i>Created as an experiment, the Just City is a planned community, populated by over ten thousand children and a few hundred adult teachers from all eras of history, along with some handy robots from the far human future - all set down together on a Mediterranean island in the distant past.</i><br />
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The Right to Be Cold by Sheila Watt-Cloutier<br />
<i>One of Canada's most passionate environmental and human rights activists addresses the global threat of climate change from the intimate perspective of her own Arctic childhood.</i><br />
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Today I Learned It Was You by Edward Riche<br />
<i>Hilariously sending up the drama and dysfunction of local politics, overzealous rights activists, and perils of contemporary social media, Today I Learned It Was You, is another bitingly brilliant comic novel from one of Canada's funniest and most astute literary talents.</i><br />
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Waiting For First Light by Roméo Dallaire<br />
<i>In this piercing memoir, the retired general, former senator, best-selling author, and one of the world's leading humanitarians delves deep into his life since the Rwandan genocide. </i><br />
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Five celebrity panellists will choose a book from this list to defend and the short list will be announced on January 31, 2017. Ali Hassan, from CBC's Laugh Out Loud, will be the new host. Last year's winner was <i>The Illegal</i> by Lawrence Hill and other past winners include Michael Ondaatje's <i>In the Skin of a Lion</i>, Lawrence Hill's <i>The Book of Negroes</i>, Miriam Toews' <i>A Complicated Kindness</i>, and Kim Thuy's <i>Ru</i>.<br />
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In the past few years the competition has had a theme for the books chosen. Last year's theme was "Starting Over," and past themes were "Turf Wars" (Canada's major geographic regions), "A Novel to Change Our Nation," and "One Book to Break Barriers." Looking at the longlist, I'm not sure if there is a theme or what one could possible be. And given that I have read so few of the books, I'm looking forward to diving into this year's competition.Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-60937333469306014402017-01-03T19:29:00.000-05:002017-01-03T19:29:27.391-05:00"Born a Crime" by Trevor Noah<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It takes a brave person to fill the shoes of Jon Stewart, one of the (if not THE) most successful satirical news hosts on American television. At the helm of <i>The Daily Show</i> for 16 years, Stewart built the show into a 23 time Emmy-winning show that averaged 2 million viewers each night, becoming the authority on news and politics for the younger generation. It is only natural that his successor would be held to a scrutiny that few could withstand. But Trevor Noah was more than ready for the challenge.</div>
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Everything in Trevor's life was leading him to <i>The Daily Show</i>. Starting as a young comedian in South Africa, he took all sorts of jobs that would eventually lead to him headlining one of the biggest stand-up shows the country had ever seen. Pretty soon, the rest of the world came calling and Noah was set on the path to taking over one of the most coveted seats on television.</div>
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But it is the start of Trevor’s story that is most compelling. Born in apartheid South Africa to a white Swiss father and black Xhosa mother meant that Trevor literally was a criminal act. This shaped his early life as most of it was spent avoiding the government who at any moment could take him away and put his mother in jail. </div>
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<i>Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood</i>, by Trevor Noah, is a sensitive, heartfelt, and hilarious look at Trevor’s early life. Written in eighteen essays, readers are taken on a adventure that is so incredibly unique to Trevor’s own circumstances and yet at many times evocative of childhood experiences around the world. No matter who you are, this book is relatable and understandable.</div>
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I’m a big fan of Trevor Noah. Ever since his first appearance on 8 Out of 10 Cats in 2013, I’ve been trying to watch everything he has ever done. This includes seeing his live show last year. He touches on his childhood in South Africa throughout his comedy routines and I felt like I already knew so much about him. But this book brought so much more to his story and I was blown away by his honesty and his heartfelt approach to this book. I also appreciated how he weaved the history of South Africa and apartheid through the book, giving readers a more intimate understanding of the history of the country than a textbook could.</div>
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The standout star of this book is his mother Patricia. The book can be read as a love letter from a son to his mother and it should be. His mother was fearless and determined and she raised her son to be the same way. She challenged the system and lived her life the way she wanted to regardless of the punishment she could face. This is like getting two books in one - you get the story of Trevor’s childhood and how it shaped who he is but you also get the story of a woman who stood up for her beliefs and who survived no matter what life threw at her. </div>
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If you waited until December to get a copy of this book for Christmas you probably found yourself out of luck. The bookstore I work at sold out very quick as did most of the stores around us. At one point I was in a store and overheard the manager say to an employee, “is that a copy of Trevor Noah’s book? Where did you find that? Hold on to it!” The demand for this book is very high and deservedly so. If you see a copy, grab it! </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher. The opinions expressed above are my own.</i></span></div>
Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-84280746877989852522017-01-01T16:09:00.000-05:002017-01-01T16:09:41.382-05:00Here's to a New Year!"Out with the old, in with the new," has never been a more appropriate saying than it is for 2017!<br />
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Today marks my 7th year with this little blog. Over the last year it has suffered quite a bit with my trying to balance family life, work life, and writing life. Sadly, the writing life has suffered greatly. But as New Year’s Day brings about another year of blogging, I’m committing to a refresh and once again giving it my attention.<br />
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My holidays have been a busy one. It was full-on right up until Christmas Eve (everyone who works in retail knows what that is about) but I’ve thankfully been able to have some good downtime to spend with my family and, of course, watch television. Because I’m all about the binge-watching. These holidays have been spent doing a massive <i>Coronation Street</i> catch up but also getting reacquainted with my Netflix account and watching <i>Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency</i>, <i>The Crown</i>, and <i>Black Mirror</i>. And of course my beloved British Christmas specials - <i>8 Out of 10 Cats </i>(Carrie Fisher was brilliant until the end), <i>A League of their Own</i>, <i>The Last Leg</i>, and <i>The Big Fat Quiz of 2016</i> (my new favourite line to say is “I don’t get it, but I believe it is a functional joke.”)<br />
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Though I haven’t been blogging as much, I am still reading. Not quite as much as I used to, but still a lot. And that’s a good thing. Work may be taking up more of my time, but I work in a bookstore so there is absolutely no complaining!<br />
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2015 was the first year I started tracking what I read by different categories and it was a lot of fun to compare years. 2016 was the year I gave up on challenges and just read whatever interested in me. I was excited to compare because I wanted to see what the variety in my reading was like when I wasn’t selecting my reading material based on diversity versus when I was making an effort. Here’s a look at my reading in 2016:<br />
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<b>83</b> books read (a far cry from my goal of 105.) That is 13 books less than last year.<br />
<b>26,427</b> pages read. 957 pages less than last year, so less books this year, but obviously some longer ones.<br />
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<b>27%</b> of the books I read were Canadian, down 4% from last year.<br />
<b>77%</b> of the books were written by female authors, up 8%<br />
<b>39%</b> of the books I read were diverse books, up 1%<br />
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<b>14%</b> of the books I read were Mystery. This is a genre I really didn't read before 2016 but this is the year I got hooked on the Psychological Thriller.<br />
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Now it's time for my <b>Best Books of the Year</b><br />
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<b>FICTION</b><br />
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Best of the Year - <i>Homegoing</i> - Yaa Gyasi</div>
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(I knew back in May when I read this book that it would be my favourite of the year)</div>
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<i>Bone and Bread</i> - Saleema Nawaz<br />
<i>I Let You Go</i> - Clare Mackintosh<br />
<i>March Book 3</i> - John Lewis<br />
<i>Wenjack</i> - Joseph Boyden<br />
<i>My Not So Perfect Life</i> - Sophie Kinsella (2017 release date)<br />
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<b>NON-FICTION</b><br />
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Best of the Year - <i>Born a Crime</i> - Trevor Noah</div>
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(I can't deny my love for Trevor, this took it to a new level I didn't know existed.)</div>
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<i>Troublemaker</i> - Leah Remini<br />
<i>Wellth</i> - Jason Wachob<br />
<i>A Mother’s Reckoning</i> - Sue Klebold<br />
<i>Until We Are Free</i> - Shirin Ebadi<br />
<i>Canada</i> - Mike Myers<br />
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<b>A Look Ahead at 2017</b><br />
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Once again, I'm not letting my failings of the year before dictate what I go for this year. I may have only made 79% of my reading goal last year but I'm still aiming high and going for 100 books read this year. I'm also staying away from challenges and reading what interests me but I think that this year I'm definitely going to try and read more non-fiction.<br />
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Here are a few of the books I'm looking forward to reading this year:<br />
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On the personal front, I have finally decided to jump in and start Bullet Journalling. I was having a hard time finding a planner that would work for me as I want it to be part planner, part journal and so this was the perfect thing. We sell bullet journals at work and I've been admiring them, along with #bujo pictures on Instagram, for so long I decided to jump in and I'm very excited to do so. I'm also looking forward to our yearly road trip and hopefully a few other travels here and there. Road tripping with my husband and two kids is definitely one of my favourite things to do.<br />
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Happy New Year and here is to a peaceful and prosperous 2017!Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-56627887081921242262016-10-04T19:38:00.001-04:002016-10-04T19:38:59.306-04:00October ReleasesIt's such a busy reading time of the year with all of the amazing books nominated for the big three Canadian literary prizes. In fact my physical pile of books to read was already so high at the beginning of the month. But there are still so many good books coming out this month that I cannot forget about. Here is a look at some October new releases that have my interest.<br />
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<i>October 4</i><br />
The Wangs vs. The World - Jade Chang<br />
Something in Between - Melissa De La Cruz<br />
Today Will Be Different - Maria Semple<br />
News of the World - Paulette Jiles<br />
You Can't Touch My Hair - Phoebe Robinson<br />
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<i>October 11</i><br />
Hag-Seed - Margaret Atwood<br />
Hungry Heart - Jennifer Weiner<br />
Bridget Jones' Baby - Helen Fielding<br />
Around the Way Girl - Taraji P. Henson<br />
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<i>October 18</i><br />
Wenjack - Joseph Boyden<br />
The Candidate - Noah Richler<br />
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<i>October 22</i><br />
Canada- Mike Myers<br />
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<i>October 25</i><br />
Thanks for the Money - Joel McHale<br />
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What are you looking forward to reading this month?Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-482959625622660152016-08-15T23:20:00.002-04:002016-08-15T23:20:38.659-04:00"Three Years with the Rat" by Jay Hosking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A young man has moved back to Toronto, the city he grew up in, after years of drifting between school and work that was getting him nowhere. His older sister, Grace, is the one who has brought him back home and she and her friends take him under their wing, helping him find friendship, romance, and a job.</div>
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Grace and her boyfriend John are promising researchers in psychophysics but it soon becomes apparent to the man that all is not well with his sister and her research. When the two of them disappear, first Grace then months later John, the man makes an incredible discovery while cleaning out their apartment. In the second bedroom that they always kept locked, Grace and John have left behind a box big enough to crawl inside of, a lab, rat, and a note that says “this is the only way back for us.”</div>
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After months of witnessing Grace’s rage and John’s mental health decline, the man knows that these are not ordinary circumstances. And he knows that he was brought back to Toronto for a mission. He has to discover the truth behind their research and he has to save his sister. As he digs deeper into a notebook left behind he knows that ultimately he can do this by entering the box himself. And his mission becomes one that will bend both time and space, throwing into question everything he has ever known about the universe.</div>
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<i>Three Years with the Rat</i>, the debut novel by Jay Hosking, is an addictive story that flows across genres to create one very interesting novel. </div>
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From the moment I read the blurb about this book I was absolutely intrigued. I’m not much of a speculative fiction reader. I have given the genre a try many times and while I have enjoyed what I have read, it’s never been one that I naturally drift toward. It’s just not for me. But when a book comes along that leaps across genres, I’m very interested to see how well it is going to do. I think of <i>The Time Traveller’s Wife</i>, by Audrey Niffenegger, how it was able to blend the science fiction dimension of time travel with romance. I was absolutely hooked on that novel as I think it was the perfect combination for me. I guess it’s a sort of watered down science fiction that I can really get into. When I first read the blurb that was immediately what I thought this book would be. And it was.</div>
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This book was the perfect blend of genres. The relationships are what drive the book, between the narrator and Grace, Grace and John, the narrator and his girlfriend. The backstories of their families and how they shaped them into what they have become are all well thought out and well-written. These are characters who are richly developed, who have stories the reader can connect to, but who have also figured out a way to bend time and space. That’s a pretty cool combination in my opinion. And it was done so well in this book.</div>
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Some of the science in the book went a little over my head (which when it comes to science, probably isn’t that difficult to do.) I think for the most part it was well explained for people who don’t have a background in the area but there is a lot of science and philosophy to the book that at some points made me feel as though you really need to have some interest in it to fully appreciate the book.</div>
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I read this book mostly as I commuted to and from work as well as on my break at work. It’s written in short bursts, jumps back and forth between the three year period but is very easy to follow. This is a great book to pick up if you are looking for something intriguing to read but aren’t able to devote only one or two sittings to it. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I received a copy of this book courtesy of Penguin Random House of Canada. The opinions expressed above are my own.</span></i></span></div>
Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-49615303088497788552016-08-08T00:00:00.000-04:002016-08-08T00:00:00.176-04:00"The Girls in the Garden" by Lisa Jewell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When Clare moves into a new home with her eleven-year-old daughter Pip and thirteen-year-old daughter Grace, she is pleased to find that the private garden square they back on to is shared by other families with children around the same age. In the bustling city of London, the garden is a place where children can roam free and are encouraged to make other people’s homes their own. Especially the home of Adele, Leo, and their three daughters.</div>
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Clare and her daughters are starting over and the girls are thrilled to quickly fall in with the crowd of kids. Clare isn’t sure she will fit in with the adults, but is happy her daughters have made friends. It may be a motley group of kids but everyone seems nice enough. Until Grace becomes the girlfriend of one of the boys in the group and runs afoul of a couple of the other girls.</div>
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One summer night, after the annual party in the garden, Pip discovers Grace lying unconscious and bloody in a tucked away area of the park. No one knows what happened to Grace and as Clare and Pip try to dig around for information, they discover that a few people know more than they are letting on and this isn’t the first time something like this happened in the garden.</div>
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<i>The Girls in the Garden</i>, by Lisa Jewell, is an intriguing mystery that will have readers wondering how well you can really know your neighbours and friends.</div>
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This book was an interesting read for me. There was so much that I really liked about it but at the end of the day the way in which it was set out made it just an okay read. Let’s start at the beginning. I love the premise. As someone who lives in a major city, the idea of having a home that backs on to a private communal garden sounds like heaven. A park in your backyard that only your neighbours can access? Lovely. A place in the city where kids can be free and parents don’t have to worry? Almost unheard of. But of course, it’s not as perfect as it seems.</div>
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There are lots of secrets that surround the garden, especially from the past. Ones that a newcomer like Clare wouldn’t know about but should. Even Adele, who has lived there for years doesn’t know all of the secrets it holds. This is the first part of the book, setting up the situation of the garden, introducing the people who live there and their backstories, setting up for the major incident to come. But it’s a lot of setup. And when the incident does come, it is only alluded to quickly. </div>
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The second part of the book is the fallout of the incident in the garden. The problem with the book is this doesn’t get as much time as the setup. In fact, everything is tied up very quick and very neat. Which is disappointing. The writing is great and the first part emotionally prepares you for what is to come but it’s like what you are expecting never arrives. If this part of the book was developed further then it would have been an outstanding book. And I personally feel that the first part could have been cut down so that the second part could have been expanded upon. </div>
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I couldn’t tell if this book was trying to be a thriller or if it was trying to be a novel about characters that happened to have a bit of a mystery to it. This left me wanting more. There is no doubt that Lisa Jewell is a talented writer and in the first part of the book she crafts a beautiful story of very different people living together. I was heavily invested in all of the characters and their surroundings. But the half-hearted development of the second part left me wanting so much more.</div>
Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-26387557004228383092016-08-07T00:00:00.000-04:002016-08-07T00:00:19.951-04:00Weekly Wrap-up<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<b>Reviewed This Week</b></div>
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<a href="http://goodbooksandacupoftea.blogspot.ca/2016/08/the-hopefuls-by-jennifer-close.html">The Hopefuls</a> - Jennifer Close</div>
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<a href="http://goodbooksandacupoftea.blogspot.ca/2016/08/the-girls-by-emma-cline.html">The Girls</a> - Emma Cline</div>
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<a href="http://goodbooksandacupoftea.blogspot.ca/2016/08/falling-by-jane-green.html">Falling</a> - Jane Green</div>
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<i>Wellth</i> - Jason Wachob</div>
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<i>Where’d You Go Bernadette</i> - Maria Semple</div>
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<i>Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Vol. 1</i> - Brandon Montclair</div>
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<i>The Underground Railroad</i> - Colson Whitehead (started)</div>
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<b>Online bits and bobs</b></div>
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CBC Books released their <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/books/fallbooks2016/index.html">Fall Preview</a>. So many good books, my TBR exploded.</div>
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Apparently, <a href="http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2016/08/03/read-books-live-longer/?_r=0&referer">people who read books live longer</a>. Here's to an extra 10 years!</div>
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I've spent some time with my <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/goodbooksandtea/">Pinterest</a> page. By that I mean, I stopped ignoring it.</div>
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I've joined <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/reco-great-books-from-real/id1063767940?mt=8">Reco</a>. Because I apparently I need another bookish app to keep me busy. But seriously, this is a good one.</div>
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<b>Stories from the Bookshop</b></div>
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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you will know that last Sunday was the release of <i>Harry Potter and the Cursed Child</i>. I didn’t work that day but I did work the next day (and the days after that) and it’s safe to say that Harry was the most popular guy at the mall this past week. The reaction to it has been interesting, quite a few people were surprised that it was a script and not a novel and they didn’t like that. But for the most part, everyone seemed to be happy to have Harry back in their lives again.<b></b></div>
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Books I was told I must read by customers: <i>Prep </i>by Curtis Sittenfeld, anything by Sue Grafton.<b></b></div>
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<b>Screen time</b></div>
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When we were in the US, we kept seeing commercials for <i>Wrecked</i> so the husband and I decided to give it a go. Two episodes in it's a cute and sometimes funny show. I'm always watching <i>Coronation Street</i> but it has been pretty amazing lately. And the family finally saw <i>Finding Dory</i>. Dare I say I liked it more than Nemo?</div>
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Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-45946548017497036972016-08-05T11:35:00.000-04:002016-08-05T11:35:15.683-04:00"Falling" by Jane Green<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Emma Montague is looking for a new life, one far from her days as a banker in New York City where she moved to escape the confines of her upper-class British family. When she finds a cottage in the beautiful town of Westport, Connecticut that is in need of a lot of TLC, she knows she has found the perfect place. She can leave the fast-paced and stressful world of finance behind and pursue her passion for interior design.</div>
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Knowing only one other person in town, Emma throws herself into fixing up the cottage, much to the dismay of her landlord and next door neighbour Dominic. But she quickly wins Dominic over and when he lends her a hand, she realizes that the two of them make a great team. And not just at fixing up houses.</div>
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Dominic isn’t the type of man that Emma usually goes for but that doesn’t stop her from falling for him. As they spend more and more time together, she realizes that in him and his six-year-old son she has found the family she has always wanted. But the circumstances of their lives mean things won’t be easy for them. The mother of his child fled shortly after he was born but now she has come back to town looking to be in her sons life. And Emma’s mother isn’t exactly about to welcome Dominic, a bartender, into their upper class world. When her strength is put to the test, will she give up and go back to what she has always known or will she stay and fight for what she loves?</div>
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<i>Falling</i> is the newest novel from best-selling author Jane Green. Touching and heart-warming, it is the story of a woman who leaves behind everything she knows in search of the life she has always wanted.</div>
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This is the quintessential love story. It’s about the love between a man and woman and also the love of family. It’s about finding a family when you’re not looking for it. It’s girl meets boy, they fall in love, become the perfect instant family, but then difficulties hit and you’re left wondering if they’re going to make it (but deep down inside you know that they are.)</div>
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I really enjoyed reading this book. As I began reading it felt like it was going to be one of those books where I would know everything that was going to happen. And for much of the book I was right. Then something happened that threw a wrench in that and I couldn’t put the book down until I had finished it (good thing I was on vacation.) So while the book can feel a little formulaic, it’s doesn’t take away from it. </div>
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My only criticism of the book is that the ending is very rushed. Which is a shame because that is such a beautiful part of the story and it really deserved more pages. I would have preferred more of what happened at the end than the set-up of the relationship that dominated most of the book.</div>
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The reading experience of this book totally reminded me of JoJo Moyes’ <i>Me Before You</i>. Both were books I wasn’t sure I wanted to read (just not the type of book I tend to pick up) but once I had started it, I was hooked. And both were very emotional reads for me. In the past I have been underwhelmed by Green’s books (my sister is always recommending them to me) but this book took me on an emotional ride and it was a beautiful read.</div>
Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-29077437684313613732016-08-04T14:16:00.000-04:002016-08-04T14:16:36.314-04:00"The Girls" by Emma Cline<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One hot summer day, fourteen-year-old Evie Boyd comes across a group of girls at the park who are unlike no others she has even seen. Dressed carelessly, dirty, searching through dumpsters for food, stealing from stores, Evie is immediately drawn to the girls. A lonely girl herself, she is envious of their freedom and the way they move through life with wondrous abandon. This is a group of girls she wants to be friends with.</div>
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Evie is quickly drawn into their circle through the care and attention of one of the older girls named Suzanne. Evie is mesmerized by Suzanne who gives her access to a world she never knew existed. She goes with them to the ranch hidden away in the hills of California that they live in and meets the groups charismatic leader Russell. </div>
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Evie truly believes that this is where she belongs, not back home with her parents who couldn’t care less and the friends who have turned against her. As she spends more and more time with this group, she desires to stay forever in a place where anyone can belong. But what Evie does not realize is that this group is on a course that will make them infamous for years to come and one which will end in heartbreaking tragedy.</div>
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<i>The Girls</i>, by Emma Cline, is a dark and haunting yet beautifully written debut novel. Loosely based on the Manson Family, it is the story of a disillusioned girl who is looking to belong and is swept up by an alternative group of people.</div>
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I picked up this book because it was on every single must read list of 2016 and you know when it is on every list, the chances of it being amazing are pretty high. Very quickly, I could see why everyone was talking about this book. The writing is absolutely incredible and Cline weaves a very good story. This is one of those books where most people will be saying “it’s hard to believe it’s a debut novel.” It feels as though Cline has been writing bestsellers for years. </div>
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In the beginning I wasn’t sure if I was going to like the book and that came down to what my expectations of the book were. I thought that this book was going to be more about the cult and the violence they committed and that was what I wanted to read about (going into the book I really wasn’t all that familiar with Charles Manson and the Manson Family other than knowing what they were famous for.) I wanted to understand the motivations of the group and the moments that led up to the crimes. That is a very small part of the book and definitely not the main focus. So the book felt like a long set-up to an event that gets very little page-time.</div>
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It took a long time for me to get past my expectations of the book but when I finally did I was able to see it for the beautiful and harrowing read that it is. It is hard to believe that Evie is only fourteen years old with the life she leads and the way she is able to get swept up into the group without her parents noticing or really caring. It is understandable though why groups like this are able to form, with charismatic people preying upon young people who are in search of something but aren’t quite sure what it is they are looking for. </div>
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I thought it was an interesting choice to have the book take place in both present and past. But I felt that the book could have been stronger if it either stayed in the past or if we got a little bit more of the present. I like that we are able to see how this one year at such a tender age affected her for the rest of her life. But it just seems like we weren’t given enough to fully understand how present-day Evie feels about who she was or what the group did. There are bits of that but I wanted either more or none at all.</div>
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This wasn’t a runaway hit for me, but it wasn’t a bad read either. I read through it pretty quickly as the writing flowed from page to page and it was easy to get lost in the story. But I was disappointed by the lack of story and was looking for a lot more from this book. That being said, I mentioned it to a co-worker who then read the book and loved it so much she went back and read <i>Helter Skelter</i> right after. She very much enjoyed this book so I don’t hesitate to recommend it to others. Just know that book is inspired by the Manson murders and not a fictional re-telling. I think the quality of this book is determined by the expectations we go into it with. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of this book courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada. The opinions expressed above are my own.</i></span></div>
Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-78426241538403136742016-08-02T00:00:00.000-04:002016-08-02T00:00:09.724-04:00Month In Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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July was a great month for me reading-wise because it was my vacation month. We spent two weeks in America and that always results in a high number of books read for me because I love nothing more than reading by the pool. Of course, I didn’t finish ALL of the books I took with me on vacation but that’s because I always seem to take more with me than I could ever read in that time period.<br />
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Here is what I read in July with my GoodReads ratings:<br />
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<i>Flawfully Wedded Wives</i> - Shana Burton ****<br />
<i>Falling</i> - Jane Green ****<br />
<i>The Pastor’s Husband</i> - Tiffany L. Warren ****<br />
<i>The Hopefuls - Jennifer Close</i> ****<br />
<i>Whisky, Words, and a Shovel</i> - R.H. Sin ****<br />
<i>In the Language of Miracles</i> - Rajia Hassib ****<br />
<i>A Very Accidental Love Story</i> - Claudia Carroll ***<br />
<i>The Girls in the Garden</i> - Lisa Jewell ***<br />
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<b>Thoughts</b><br />
My favourite of the month was <i>The Hopefuls</i>. It is a fun and easy read that I found myself completely engrossed in. I think <i>Falling</i> is going to be the book I recommend to people who liked <i>Me Before You </i>and are looking for something similar. And while I’m not much of a poetry reader, I absolutely enjoyed <i>Whisky, Words, and a Shovel</i>. I spent much of my time with the book reading it aloud to anyone who was around me. I picked it up because many people have come into my bookstore looking for it and I was curious what the big deal was. Now I get it.<br />
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<b>What I’m Looking Forward to in August</b><br />
I’m excited to read the 4th book in Peggy Blair’s Inspector Ramirez series, <i>Umbrella Man</i>. I started reading the series right when the first book was released and I’m always (im)patiently waiting for the next book to be released. I’m looking forward to reading<i> I’m Your Biggest Fan</i> by Kate Coyne, executive editor of People Magazine because I love books about celebrity culture. And I’ve had <i>Do Not Say We Have Nothing</i> by Madeleine Thien on my nightstand for a little while and now that it’s been long listed for the Man Booker Prize, I think it’s a good time to read it.<br />
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<b>State of the Blog</b><br />
The poor, neglected, ignored blog. I’ve been trying and trying over the past six months to find a work/blog balance. Or really, to find time to dedicate to the blog when I’m working. I’ve decided to give bullet journalling/planning a go and I’ve created one that is solely for my blog. I’m writing in everything ahead of time - reviews, posts, tweets, IG posts - so that even when things get busy at work and home, it won’t take too much of my time to care for my blog. Here’s hoping this is what will work for me.<br />
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Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-65991687000853221412016-08-01T00:00:00.000-04:002016-08-01T00:00:10.566-04:00"The Hopefuls" by Jennifer Close<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When Beth Kelly moves from New York City to Washington D.C. after her husband Matt gets a job at the White House, she is less than thrilled. She loved everything about New York City and the people there were her people. In D.C., it seems to Beth that everyone is obsessed with politics and if you’re not one of them you’re on the outside looking in. In a place where people like to compare their security clearance levels, speak in acronyms, and can’t separate themselves from their Blackberries, Beth is all on her own.</div>
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But when Beth and Matt meet White House staffer Jimmy and his wife Ashleigh, things begin to brighten for her a little bit. Right from the beginning Ashleigh and Beth get each other, they connect over being outsiders, and before long are doing everything together. Jimmy and Matt get along perfectly and push each other to succeed in the fast-paced world of politics. The foursome quickly become inseparable spending meals, birthdays, and holidays together.</div>
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When Jimmy decides to run for local office, a dream Matt has always held for himself, he asks Matt to move across the country and manage his campaign for him. It only makes sense that the four of them take this on together. But one year spent living, travelling, and campaigning together takes its toll on the foursome. Before they know it their friendship is put to the test, threatened by jealousy and competition. And even more damaged is Beth and Matt’s marriage which may not survive the campaign.</div>
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<i>The Hopefuls</i>, by Jennifer Close, is a light, fun, and addictive read about politics and relationships. Set in the fast-paced world of Washington, D.C. and surrounded by the optimism and hope of the Obama campaign and administration, this book is a wonderful look at friendship that will have you invested from beginning to end.</div>
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July was the perfect time to release this book, this is a quintessential summer read. A book about friendship and marriage set in the always moving world of Washington D.C., this is one that readers will not want to put down. The writing is easy and it flows well through short bursts. I often found myself amazed at how much I had just read in one sitting because it was easy to get caught up in the story.</div>
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The strength of this book is its thoughtfulness when it comes to relationships. The book focuses on two aspects - marriages and friendships between couples. When Beth and Matt move to Washington it seems like a great start for the both of them. Beth has lost her job and Matt is eager to work in politics, a lifelong dream. But while Matt quickly and easily slips into life in D.C., things are a little more difficult for Beth. She can’t find a writing job comparable to what she had back in New York and she has nothing in common with the people she comes into contact with through Matt’s work. As she spends more and more time at home and on her own, she becomes increasingly bored and lonely.</div>
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It is their close friendship with Jimmy and Ashleigh that pulls Beth out of her funk. Ashleigh understands exactly what Beth is going through and their bond develops over this. Jimmy and Matt’s bond develops over their work and shared passions, and pretty soon the four of them are inseparable. But all friendships are put to the test and what happens when there is more than one relationship at stake? This is the strength of the novel. This isn’t about perfect people or perfect relationships. This is about how we form our relationships. It’s about getting to know the best and worst traits of the people we are connected to, how are relationships exist under pressure, and whether or not those relationships can survive when it all hits the fan. </div>
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Is this book a little light on plot? Sure but that’s not what this book is about. When you think of a book set in Washington, you think of a bit more drama but that is not needed here. This is a book about relationships and it shines bright in this aspect. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I received a copy of this book courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada. The opinions expressed above are my own.</span></i></span></div>
Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-25292913781640448112016-06-13T11:52:00.001-04:002016-06-13T11:52:44.019-04:00"I Let You Go" by Clare Mackintosh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When Jenna Gray’s life changed in a split second, the world became too much for her to handle. Knowing the only way she would be able put it all behind her was to escape, and so she left her home to live in a remote cottage on the Welsh coast. But no matter how far from home she was, she couldn’t escape the events of that terrible night in November.</div>
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The detectives investigating the case couldn’t just walk away. Though there were few leads, they knew that if they just kept with it long enough, there would be a breakthrough. And when that happens, the past comes crashing back down on Jenna just as she thinks she may once again be able to experience a little happiness in her life.</div>
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<i>I Let You Go</i>, by Clare Mackintosh, is a heartbreaking, thrill ride of a novel that will have you hooked with every twist and turn.</div>
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Whenever someone asks me if I have read this book, all I can say is “yes and wow.” This book gets a big, huge “WOW” from me. It is incredible. Twice, I gasped so loud that I was glad I was on my own. Had I reacted the way I did while reading this book on the bus (where I do a lot of reading), I definitely would have turned the heads of everyone on board.</div>
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The twists in this book are absolutely amazing and that just goes to show how good the writing is. A co-worker noticed I was reading it and asked me how it was. At that point, I was just over a hundred pages in and my reply was that while I was enjoying it, I couldn’t quite figure out where it was going and why everyone was really excited about the book. The next morning I picked it up, got to the end of part one, cue the first gasp and that was it, I was hooked. I ended up reading the rest of the book (200+ pages) in that one sitting.</div>
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This book has everything I look for in a psychological thriller. It keeps you guessing which keeps you hooked, everything unfolds at the right pace, and when you do find out what is really going on you are shocked. I may still be new to this whole genre but to me, this is the best of the best in the genre. I know that other books are being declared “this year’s Girl on the Train” but I think that this book blows that tag out of the water. </div>
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It is so hard to discuss this book without giving away any of the storyline. And that should not happen at all. This is such a fantastic reading experience and the twists are what make it amazing. So I definitely wouldn’t want to let anything slip in this review and thus will stay away from any discussion of the actual plot. Just know that I think this book is fantastic and I highly recommend it. </div>
Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-28391502910007416752016-06-10T00:00:00.000-04:002016-06-10T00:00:04.844-04:00"I Almost Forgot About You" by Terry McMillan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dr. Georgia Young has the life many dream of - she has a great career, wonderful family, and close friends that she can depend on no matter where life takes her. But that doesn’t stop her from feeling stuck in a very large rut. It’s time, Georgia has decided, for some major change.</div>
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When Georgia quits her job and puts her house up for sale, she’s positive she is taking steps that will turn her life around. But it’s when she decides to look up all the loves of her life, good and bad, and see how they are doing that her life really ends up changed. </div>
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<i>I Almost Forgot About You</i>, by Terry McMillan, is a moving and very relatable novel about revisiting the past and opening yourself up to whatever it has in store for your future.</div>
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Terry McMillan is a very special writer to me. When I was sixteen I came across her novel <i>Mama</i> on the shelves at my school library. From the very first pages I was hooked and I made it my mission to read everything she had written until that point. It only took me about two weeks to get through the four books. That was a pretty big deal considering I was at a point where I was turned off of reading fiction. Ms. McMillan reignited the love of reading I had as a child and I have never forgotten that. </div>
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Since then, I’ve made sure to read every book she writes and I have never been disappointed by her. I love how in her writing it is clear the audience her books are aimed at and yet at the same time they transcend cultures and age groups. I like how her characters have aged over the years, the same way that us readers have. I can’t think of any other readers who understands their characters and their audience as well as McMillan does.</div>
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I really like the concept of looking back at the past loves of your life and getting in touch with them to let them know how much they meant to you (I mean, I love the concept in a book, not that I’m actually going to do that myself.) But the strength of this plot is that McMillan knows how to write characters of an appropriate age. I can see so many people coming up with this concept but for a woman in her twenties or her thirties. With that age, it would just seem flighty. But McMillan understands that for it to really work, it needs to be a woman who has experienced love, loss, and life. That’s who Georgia Young is. That’s why this was such an easy and enjoyable read.</div>
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While there is little about this character that my own life relates to, I felt like I was right there in the story with her, understanding what she was going through, and cheering her on. This is a great story about a woman who has finished the first part of her life and is looking at what is next. You don’t need to be in the same place in life as Georgia, the themes of this book are universal. Who doesn’t sit and wonder about all the loves of their life? If you have ever looked up a former flame on Facebook, or even just entertained the thought of it, this is the novel for you.</div>
Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-67292165629157663902016-06-08T20:24:00.000-04:002016-06-08T20:24:03.688-04:00"The Assistants" by Camille Perri<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thirty-year-old Tina Fontana is great at her job. As the executive assistant to the CEO of a multinational media conglomerate, she spends her days making reservations, pouring drinks, and putting out small, ridiculous fires. Her boss loves her, trusts her, and couldn't function without her. But things aren't going well for Tina. The glamour of her job is long gone and her student loan debt and inability to pay the rent has stuck around.</div>
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One day, while preparing expense reports for her boss, Tina realizes that a technical error has put enough money into her bank account to pay off all of her debt. She should let someone know of the error, but she also realizes that her boss has so much money he would never notice what is missing. Against her will, Tina lets a few others in on what happened and they begin to pay off debts for other assistants around the company. Very quickly, what started out as one little indiscretion turns into a movement that Tina can’t quite contain.</div>
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<i>The Assistants</i>, by Camille Perri, is a fun call to arms for the overeducated and underpaid generation that can’t quite seem to make that breakthrough in their career and who feel as though they are doomed to make coffee for others for the rest of their lives.</div>
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First off, I have to say that the colour of the book cover is absolutely gorgeous. Every time I pass by it at the bookstore I am drawn to it. It had been a while since I had read some good chick lit so I thought I would give in to the cover completely and give it a go. I like the plot of this book because it is very timely. There are a lot of well-educated people out there who cannot find jobs that their education prepared them for and who are taking on jobs that just barely let them scrape by each month, let alone pay off their massive student debt.</div>
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The idea that the women in the book come up with to pay off their loans is a fun part of the story. However, the book lost me with the writing. I don’t know if it was because the writing in the book I had read previous to this was so beautiful and descriptive, but I found the writing in this book very plain and at times it did not even seem correct to me. Some pop culture references felt like they were just thrown in because that is standard to the genre and the plot is completely predictable. I honestly felt as though this book was rushed, as in this is a good idea so let’s get this book to print as fast as we can.</div>
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This book is a quick read and it is definitely fun but it did not blow me away compared to other novels of the type (I’m thinking <i>The Devil Wears Prada</i>, etc.) It seems from the reading the acknowledgements that this book may become a movie and I honestly believe that this would be a fantastic film. With the right cast it could be a ton of fun. So I hope that it does get the movie treatment because the idea is great but the book just didn’t work for me.</div>
Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-9024874393527955152016-06-06T00:00:00.000-04:002016-06-06T00:00:01.680-04:00"The House of Wives" by Simon Choa-Johnston<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In 1862, a young Jewish man has set sail from his home in Calcutta, heading toward Hong Kong to participate in the opium trade. Emmanuel has left behind his wife Semah, promising to return to her having made his fortune. But while he is in Hong Kong, he falls in love with Pearl, the daughter of his Chinese business partner. He takes Pearl as his wife and builds her the most beautiful mansion anyone has ever seen in Hong Kong.</div>
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But Semah refuses to let Emmanuel have his new life and she arrives unannounced in Hong Kong to take her rightful place as mistress of the house. Neither woman wants to share their home or their husband but neither is willing to give up their place as his wife and very quickly, life changes for all of those who live in the house. </div>
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Inspiredly the lives of his own ancestors, <i>The House of Wives</i> by Simon Choa-Johnston is a beautiful novel about two women who will do whatever it takes to secure a place for their children in the upper echelons of the British Crown colony.</div>
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There are many things that drew me to this book. First was the setting and the time period as they are both things I do not know much about or have read about. I was also drawn to the fact that this book is by a Canadian writer and it is the story of his ancestors, something for which he spent much time travelling and doing research. And the plot line of the two wives of one man living together in the same home was truly interesting. Everything that drew me to this book wrapped up into one truly lovely read.</div>
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I thought going into this book that I would feel an allegiance to one wife or the other. It just seems when you read the plot of this book that such a thing would happen, that you would want to pick one over the other and that you would want to dislike Emmanuel for putting the women into this situation. But there is so much depth to this book, so much to the story that you end up feeling allegiance to all of the characters. Even though this is a real life story based on his family history, you can see how much of the story Choa-Johnston had to craft and yet, how effortless it feels. All of the characters are well-developed and fully human, rather than just people on a page.</div>
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I learned so much from this book about a culture and time period that I haven't read much about, mainly the Jewish communities in India and the opium trade between India and China. The writing in this book is so beautiful and descriptive, the reading experience is so rich. I had read before I started reading that Choa-Johnston is a playwright and that is evident from the writing. A beautiful and interesting story.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of this book courtesy of Penguin Random House of Canada. The opinions expressed above are my own.</i></span></div>
Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-13666764310750888152016-06-03T11:23:00.004-04:002016-06-03T11:23:41.479-04:00"Sirocco: Fabulous Flavours from the Middle East" by Sabrina Ghayour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Sirocco</i> - origin: early 17th century, from Italian <i>scirocco</i>, based on Spanish Arabic <i>sharq </i>meaning “east wind.” A hot, dry wind blowing from east to west; sometimes described as warm, spicy, and sultry.</div>
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When the East and the West are combined in the oven, delicious foods are created. In <i>Sirocco: Fabulous Flavours from the Middle East</i>, food writer and self-taught cook Sabrina Ghayour combines the foods she knew growing up in England with the Eastern flavours of her Persian heritage. These recipes aren’t authentically Middle Eastern but they are inspired by the beautiful spices and dishes that come out of the region.</div>
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There is an incredible Turkish restaurant not too far from where I live and if I could eat there every day I would. But I can’t, so when I saw this cookbook I knew that it would be the perfect book for a novice chef like me to recreate the foods I love so much from that restaurant. This is a great book for the Western cook that wants to introduce Middle Eastern cuisine to their repertoire. </div>
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Ghayour begins the book by sharing the must-have Eastern spices that are lesser known in the West such as Aleppo pepper and Za’atar. For each recipe she discusses the origins, flavours, and importance of the dish so it’s not just about cooking a dish but understanding the rich cuisine and heritage of the Middle East. </div>
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I also really like that Ghayour is a self-taught cook, I think it is evident throughout the book and she understands that the people who are using her cookbook are as well. The recipes are easy to follow and each recipe has a wonderful explanation of its place in the culture and what she loves about the flavours, as well as lots of personal stories. And the photos are absolutely spectacular, this is a very beautiful cookbook.</div>
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Whenever I get a cookbook, I sit down first and flip through the whole thing, using sticky notes to mark pages. I have one colour for recipes that interest me and another colour for recipes I must try right away. Let’s just say that this book is filled with sticky notes of both colours, more than any other cookbook I own. There is something for everyone in here, for vegetarians and meat-eaters, for rookie cooks and master chefs. This is a great book for anyone who wants to dive into the delicious world of Middle Eastern cuisine. </div>
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And with recipes named Cardamom Doughnut Brioche French Toasts, Merguez Sausage Rolls, Za’atar and Goat Cheese Puffs, and Sour Cherry and Ricotta Pancakes, this book is truly East meets West.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of this book courtesy of Penguin Random House of Canada. The opinions expressed above are my own.</i></span></div>
Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231145798830497854.post-37075320913425431742016-06-01T09:24:00.000-04:002016-06-01T09:24:33.804-04:00Month In Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In my last Month in Review I mentioned that I've been having trouble on the blogging front, just getting the time to sit down and write reviews and keep the blog updated. I was hoping to fix that in May but evidently that didn't happen. I once again read some great books this month but I just haven't had the time at the computer. I have a lot of reviews to write and I absolutely pledge to do all that this month.<br />
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Here is what I read in May with my GoodReads ratings:<br />
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Homegoing - Yaa Gyasi *****<br />
The Couple Next Door - Shari LaPena ****<br />
The House of Wives - Simon Choa-Johnston ****<br />
Kay's Lucky Coin Variety - Ann Y.K. Choi ****<br />
The Assistants - Camille Perri ***<br />
The Translation of Love - Lynne Kutsukake ***<br />
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<b>Thoughts</b><br />
I have already declared <i>Homegoing</i> my favourite book of 2016. I honestly don't think any book will come close to it for the rest of the year. It's destined to become a classic. I read some great Diverse CanLit this month with <i>The House of Wives</i>, <i>Kay's Lucky Coin Variety, </i>and <i>The Translation of Love. The Couple Next Door</i>, which comes out in August, is a great thriller written by a Canadian author. And while the idea was great, <i>The Assistants</i> wasn't quite what I had hoped for but I do think that it could be made into a great movie.<br />
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<b>What I'm Looking Forward to in June</b><br />
I have a huge (physical) pile of books next to my bed to read and I'm really just hoping for the time this month to get through them all. I have just started <i>I Let You Go</i> by Clare Mackintosh and I'm also looking forward to reading <i>The Girls</i> by Emma Cline. Other than that I'm going to just let the month see where it takes me reading-wise rather than planning in advance.Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02506630755594111578noreply@blogger.com0