CanadianContent discussion

Good morning readers!!! It is a beautiful sunny day (at least here in Ontario and I am hoping across our great country) and a perfect weekend for reading!

What has been on your reading agenda? I hope that it includes some indigenous writing this month or that you are joining along with our monthly read of Ragged Company! Regardless of what you are reading, I am looking forward to reading about all the great books that I need to add to Mount TBR!!! Have a great day!!

Hi!

I finished only one book this week -- The Nest. I enjoyed it! I reminded me of The Dinner and also Commonwealth, which are two books that give polar experiences for people. They seem to love it or hate it!

I fall into the "love" category for all of those books. I thought The Nest was a great tale. I could also use a regular reminder that some people are just jerks, and there's nothing you can do about it, so move on. Probably a healthy dose of reality!

I'm feeling overwhelmed with my back-log of books. My progress through The Best Laid Plans seems slow for some reason. I really want to get to Ragged Company, and also the Buddy Read of A Fatal Grace. Then my neighbour dropped of Nocturnal Animals, so now there's pressure to get to that!

Another reminder I need is that really no one cares which books I get to and which I don't -- the pressure is all in my head! :)

Allison, I can relate to your comment about the pressure being all in your head. I'm sure many of us can!

This week I finished Little Sister, which I liked but did not love. Something about this book just didn't quite come together for me, but it was an interesting idea and a quick read and I loved the Toronto setting.

Now I'm reading Madame Zee for bingo and the cross-Canada challenge. The pacing of this book seems a bit off, but I think I'm finally getting to the good bits. This is a historical novel based on a real woman and a real cult in B.C., and that part interests me the most.

I'm also reading Ghosts of Mississippi: The Murder of Medgar Evers, the Trials of Byron De LA Beckwith, and the Haunting of the New South. I'm planning a road trip through MS in August and this is my first read for that. The "fun fact" about this book is that I discovered a few months ago that an acquaintance was the judge in the third and final murder trial for this case. He talked to me about how the trial came about while I tried to pick my jaw up off the floor. It will be weird when I get to the part of the book that he is in!

I'm also reading Scott Pilgrim, Volume 6: Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour, the final book in the series!

Happy Friday!!
It's been a hot week here in Edmonton, but today it's cloudy and looks like rain.
I also only finished one book this week. The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners.
I started reading Aloha Candy Hearts this morning on my bus for my LGBT author bingo square.

In good news for me, my husband assembled a new book shelf for me this week. My books have been packed away in the basement for 2 years with my son being born, so I'm excited to unpack them. They're basically my first children. I've missed them!

Megan wrote: " My books have been packed away in the basement for 2 years with my son being born, so I'm excited to unpack them. They're basically my first children. I've missed them! ..."

Hahahah! @Megan, I get that!! Funny.

@Susan, Madame Zee looks interesting. I've never heard of it before!

Good morning!
I've been reading and browsing through a few lawn design books. We're having our front yard redone and needed ideas. The best of the lot seems to be Western Home Landscaping, which had many ideas of layouts, plants, light conditions, etc.

I only finished one audio this week: The Underground Railroad. I didn't like it. I found the story full of flaws and actions that didn't seem realistic. Also, the idea of the train being an actual train felt wrong. Not my cup of tea.

I finished reading The Guermantes Way and am glad to be able to move on. It had some interesting parts and Proust's wit comes through but there was too much about the Dreyfus Affair in it. The book does end with a bang, though, so I'm looking forward to starting the next volume.

I'm currently reading a strange little book, London Under: The Secret History Beneath the Streets. It has some fascinating stories of the artifacts found under London's streets. The city has some terrific history under its buildings and more is found every time there's a need to dig down.

Hmm yes, I think a lot of us put pressure on ourselves to keep up with reading or read certain things and in the end, it doesn't matter really. You aim to finish a book for a book club or group read or a challenge but if you don't, it's not a deal breaker. You read what you enjoy, try new types of books to see if you find a new favourite genre/author, and reading itself is all that really matters.

Am reading Ava Comes Home by Lesley Crewe (Cross Canada read, Nova Scotia), which is a warm, cozy, rather predictable type of "women's" fiction/romance but it's good. It's based here in Nova Scotia with familiar cultural references and people that I "get". Just about to start The Jade Peony by Wayson Choy, just downloaded from the library. (Also Cross Canada read, BC)

I'm still chugging away at Barney's Version, liking it but not loving it, and getting through The God of Small Things, also liking.

Finished Gold Fever by Vicki Delany (a light, fun read in the Klondike, for my Cross Canada read, Yukon), and finally finished that flaming Impact to Contact: The Shag Harbour Incident!

@Susan, your upcoming road trip sounds great! I too love to do reading in advance of or in conjunction with travel.

I haven't finished a single book this week - it has been a bit crazy round here and I've not had many evenings free. I continue to read Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy, which is fantastic so far. I want to finish it this weekend as I have another book that has to go back to the library soon waiting in the wings, and a book club book for next week.

Who liked The Best Laid Plans?

I'm doing it partly in audio, and partly in paper. Terry Fallis is just so .... political. His writing is EXACTLY what I would expect from someone who spent much of his life in the limelight and attention of Parliament Hill. Getting kind of tired the easy-target silliness, but story is lightly entertaining, and he obviously had a lot of fun writing it, so I'm continuing...

Allison, I liked The Best Laid Plans and read it on audio and paper as you're doing. It's a silly book, no doubt, but I found it entertaining enough and really enjoyed Angus. I read the follow-up all on audio, even though I owned a paper copy, and I liked that one slightly better. I think my biggest disappointment with these books was that the humour was a little light; I was hoping for more bite and nasty satire (the second book is a bit better in this regard).

Susan wrote: "Allison, I liked The Best Laid Plans and read it on audio and paper as you're doing. It's a silly book, no doubt, but I found it entertaining enough and really enjoyed Angus. I read ..."

Oh that's good to hear, @Susan. I'll see if I can get my hands on it.

I liked The Best Laid Plans -- it's hilarious. Ok I lived in Ottawa so the descriptions of the areas were for me a touch of going home. Did you like the tv series? I might watch that one day when I get back to watching tv :) It has a really funny ending - so don't give up!

@Talie, I didn't know there was a TV series!! I'll have to look that up!

I loved The Best Laid Plans and I thought that CBC did a really great job with the mini-series.

Happy sunny Friday everyone!! Finally there is sun!!
I was tied up with a web conference this morning, so just reading everyone's posts now.
This week I finished The Color of Our Sky. Nicely written but kind of predictable outcome, but liked it regardless. Currently reading A Twist in Time which is the sequel to A Murder in Time. If you are looking for a light mystery novel with time travel, this is it! Book 1 was the chosen one from last year's Library Reads and I got hooked to read the sequel.
Reading has been going slow as life really gets in the way with the end of school stuff with the kids. This weekend there is also a wedding. Oh well, at least the weather will be hot and gorgeous with the outdoor wedding :)
Have a great weekend everyone! Enjoy the sun while it makes its appearance.

Reading has definitely taken a back seat for me; but I did enjoy a YA book The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making which has more in a series to read. I'm reading A Stone, a Leaf, a Door: Poems for the poems square. Neither are Canadian but as it's not looking like I'll be reading through the whole card - these will do just fine :) Tim Gunn's Fashion Bible: The Fascinating History of Everything in Your Closet is also on the go for me, it's entertaining as long as I don't take it to be a lesson in what to wear but a nice background in clothes and their possible message.

Hello and happy weekend! It's nice and sunny here and the garden in in full bloom.

I'm back to reading a bit of CanLit after going through a slump, a translated fiction phase and a SFF phase. This past week I finished:

- Weekend by Jane Eaton Hamilton. Picked this one up to read for pride month and it's a quick paced novel about two couples vacationing in cabins on the same island and a lot of shit goes down over the weekend. I fell in love with the book really quickly and finished it in two days.

- Skin Like Mine by Gary Gottfriedson. I've read this poetry collection before but periodically reread it because I love it. It's a really impactful collection and I highly recommend it for the poetry and Indigenous author bingo squares.

- The Essential P.K. Page by P.K. Page. Another poet who I've been meaning to read for a long time and have finally gotten around to.

I'm currently reading The Spawning Grounds by Gail Anderson-Dargatz and Nunavik by Michel Hellman, a graphic novel about northern Québec.

May wrote: "Happy sunny Friday everyone!! Finally there is sun!!
Enjoy the sun while it makes its appearance. "
Hopefully, this will be so across the land. Seems like everyone is really busy. For the first time I can remember when I checked into GR last night there was not one new message.

Last week I wrapped up the two big books I had on the go.
I really hated to return them to the library. Especially the The Complete Stories. CL was absolutely brilliant. In this extensive collection there was only one I disliked and one meh. She certainly needs to be better known.
The other book was The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman It really took me offguard, and triggered a bit of a meltdown, so vivid and intense.

I was glad to have for a bit of diversion The Days: Forecasts, Warnings, Advice by M.A.C. Farrant. Her sly humour and quircky style was comforting.

I also really enjoyed Rachel Hoffmans Unf*ck Your Habitat: You're Better Than Your Mess She is more laid back than the usual types who write these kind of books, and I love it that she addresses real people who may not ever aim to be featured in Style magazine, and/or may have issues that need to be factored in rather than blithely ignored. Actually, this book may have changed my life!

Another book in that category that I'd been reading bit by bit in the mornings I did finally finish was The Mindfulness Solution: Everyday Practices for Everyday Problems by Ronald D. Siegel It compares quite well with the others Ive read on the subject and lots of new exercises and meditations.

The Divine Economy of Salvation by Priscila Uppal might not have been a good choice for a next read. I like PU a lot but I must say I enjoyed this way less than her others. It felt awkward and the ending was very fuzzy. Some knotty theological questions were flippantly dealt with and I disliked her use of foreshadowing, but my mood may have interfered with my engagement.

I lingered over Dorianne Laux poetry collection Awake and was terribly impressed with her achievement. Now I am enjoying Shane L. Koyczan]s Visiting Hours. My enjoyment is enhanced by having heard him read some of these passionate and engaging pieces.

Suddenly, I had three new books to choose. (as much as I love poetry, its not quite enough. I decided to go with 3 that I had skipped over and are due soon at the library. A book of short stories by an old friend, Jim Christy calledBetween the Meridians I am pleased to say I like it way better than the last one of his I read.
Temple Grandin is considered a pioneer among the autistic author crowd and I am finally getting to her. She has written quite a lot, many books on animals as well as her condition. I am reading The Autistic Brain: Helping Different Kinds of Minds Succeed and so far its very technical.
And the big surprise is, after putting off for months now, I finally started Nostalgia by M.G. Vassanji. I was so ambivalent about this book but OMG, I immediately found it engaging and brilliantly written.

This entry is long enough to make up for skipping last week. I'll just add that next books up are The Lesser Blessed and Dan Vyletas Smoke Both of these are recommendations. I have a birthday coming up and my gift to myself will be to pounce on Heather O'Neills The Lonely Hearts Hotel
May all of you who are traveling carry on safely and all of with kids find some delightful reads together. Cheers to the rest of us!

The week before last I reread and loved Ragged Company. Am looking forward to the monthly group discussion. I also reread The Douglas Notebooks and it too stood the test of time. I also finished The Secret Fruit of Peter Paddington: A Novel and A Tree for Poverty. Neither blew me away but I'm glad I read both and was able to finish all my Bingo Squares.

This past week I finished First Love by Gwendoline Riley in time for the Baileys Womens Prize for Fiction announcement. It was shortlisted and didn' t win. Can't say I'm surprised. Excellent writing but tough subject matter and at times repetitive and unclear and characters very hard to relate to. It reminded be a bit of Martin John by Anakana Schofield which was a 2015 Giller nominee.

I'm 1/3 through Cool Water by Dianne Warren for a book club. The verdict is still out.

@ Allison - though I'm really into politics for whatever reason Terry Fallis' political satires have never appealed to me despite all the hype and favourable comments. Think I'm anticipating being disappointed. Maybe one day I'll try his novels and lmao.

@ Magdelayne - The Street Sweeper was a 5 star read for me. And yes it was very intense. I was most impressed with the writing and the creative way Elliot Perlman provided relief to the reader so inventively and how well was able to describe what was going on in people's heads. I haven't read it yet but a GR friend who I recommended The Street Sweeper to, and who read it and loved it, went on to read and really enjoy Seven Types of Ambiguity by Perlman. Am thinking of giving it a try down the road.

Reading coming up for me next week includes finishing Cool Water, some Indigenous books for the July Challenge and making some further headway on the Cross Canada challenge. I also have a couple of books out that I cannot renew....so who knows what I'll finally decide to read. lol. Aren't multiple options great??? Happy Reading all and have a great week!!

@Alison - alas, I am a naysayer of The Nest and was disappointed with all the hype. I did enjoy The Best Laid Plans but think part of my appreciation was listening to it via podcast. He is a great narrator and keeps you laughing.

@Shvaugn - I am looking forward to learning what you think of The Spawning Grounds, it has been on my TBR for a while!

I have had a slow reading week. I am in the midst of The Underpainter after meeting Jane Urquhart last week and started Rilla of Ingleside which is the last in the Anne of Green Gables series. I am listening to Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action which is inspiring and a good listen during my commute.

I saw a local author, Ross Pennie last night as he debuted his latest book Beneath the Wake: A Dr. Zol Szabo Medical Mystery. He had been local infectious disease specialist who is now retired and writing books... one more book to add to my TBR pile!

I'm late to the party this week. I listened to Exit West and was disappointed for multiple reasons. In short, I don't feel it lives up to all the hype. Also, the author narrates the audiobook, which in my experience is a bad idea 99% of the time.

I'm still reading East of Eden. I feel like this one is taking me forever, but I'm liking it so I don't mind.

Allison wrote: "Hi!

I finished only one book this week -- The Nest. I enjoyed it! I reminded me of The Dinner and also Commonwealth, which are two books that give ..."

I liked The Nest too. It was a fun, contemporary read. I'm pretty sure I'll read whatever Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney publishes next.