Curled Up With a Good Book and a Cup of Tea

January was a good month.  It was freezing cold outside most of the month so I guess I just stayed inside with some good books to keep me company.  Here is what I read (stars are my Goodreads rating) Perfect - Rachel Joyce **** Bonkers - Jennifer Saunders **** When I Fall in Love - Miranda Dickinson **** The Dancing Master - Julie Klassen **** The Embassy of Cambodia - Zadie Smith **** Prayers for Boys - Brooke McGlothlin **** All the Broken Things - Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer **** Candide - Voltaire **** The Secret Keeper - Beverly Lewis *** Challenges TBR Pile Challenge (2), Diversity on the Shelf (1), Classics Club (1), Canadian Book Challenge (1) A Look Ahead Here are a few of the books I'm looking forward to reading in February

When I was in university (all those years ago) I discovered what would become one of my all-time favourite television shows.  It had everything I looked for in a show - wild characters, tons of laughs, and British accents.  That show was Absolutely Fabulous .  This led me to discover the fabulous French and Saunders and from there my love of British comedy television just exploded.   A few years ago I read Dawn French’s autobiography Dear Fatty so I was thrilled when I heard that Jennifer Saunders would be publishing her own as well.  These are two of the funniest women I have ever seen on television so I knew that their books would be as well. Bonkers: My Life in Laughs is the story of Jennifer’s life.  From her childhood on Royal Air Force bases to worldwide fame as an incredible comedienne she covers it all.  From her early school days when she met Dawn French, through her time with the Comic Strip and on to television and film success...

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine . Here is the book that I am most looking forward to in February: The Bear  by Claire Cameron A powerfully suspenseful story narrated by a young girl who must fend for herself and her little brother after a brutal bear attack. While camping with her family on a remote island, five-year-old Anna awakes in the night to the sound of her mother screaming. A rogue black bear, 300 pounds of fury, is attacking the family's campsite, pouncing on her parents as prey. At her dying mother's faint urging, Anna manages to get her brother into the family's canoe and paddle away. But when the canoe dumps the two children on the edge of the woods, and the sister and brother must battle hunger, the elements, and a dangerous wilderness, we see Anna's heartbreaking love for her family--and her struggle to be brave when nothing in her world seems safe anymore. Told in the honest, raw v...

Elsie Maynard is starting a new chapter in her life, something she never thought she’d have to do.  The ice cream shop assistant manager is ready to date again after the love of her life, her husband Lucas, was taken from her by cancer.  With her three sisters, her father, and her co-worker by her side, she thinks she is ready to try and love again. With handsome graphic designer Olly Hogarth wanting to win her heart, it doesn’t seem like it will be so difficult.  But after accidentally starting a choir with 80’s rock star Woody Jensen, she finds herself taking on a challenge she never wanted to face - heading to Paris, the one thing she and Lucas had wanted to do together, but never got the chance.  Throw in the frustrating and annoying Torin Stewart who seems to pop up everywhere to get on her nerves, and Elsie is wondering if taking this step was worth it.  Will Elsie be able to move forward or will it be easier to stay in the past? When I Fall in ...

A few stories that caught my eye this week: *Beloved children's book author Robert Munsch opens up about his personal life .  It's nice to understand the man behind the books we all loved (and still love - I'm looking at you " I Have to Go! ") *It's a cold one out there this winter, so the Globe and Mail has some good winter reads to keep you warm. *In an act of bookish awesomeness and all-around Canadian coolness, Margaret Atwood and Alice Munro had a Google Hangout . *The book I'm looking forward to in February is Claire Cameron's The Bear and here is why .

Candide has been brought up in the home of a powerful Baron, given a life of privilege and learning under his wonderful tutor Pangloss.  But when it is discovered that he loves the Baron's daughter, he is removed from the household and forced to make his way in the world on his own.  He sets off on a journey that takes him around the world - through Europe, South America, and Asia - as a series of disastrous events befall him and his travelling companions.  Through all this, the optimism his tutor instilled him is put to the test. I’ll admit, I chose Voltaire’s Candide because of it’s length.  When I think Classics, I think long books.  But this one comes in just under 100 pages.  And as I neared that mark I found myself wishing it would go on longer.  Who would have thought you could enjoy reading about misfortune!  Whether you are reading this book because you want the satire and the parody of optimism, or you just want to enjoy the adv...

A few stories that caught my eye this week: *Another Toronto bookstore is closing.  Is this to be expected? *Maybe we should do like the French  and put some limits on online booksellers? *It's been announced that the ending of the film Gone Girl will be different from the book.   Here are five other movies whose endings were different from the book. *With the release of his new book Radiance of Tomorrow  Ishmael Beah shares his most important writing influences . *Apparently there is an algorithm that can predict the success of a book .  Hint - it's all in the verbs.