CanadianContent discussion

Greetings Readers,

August is here! The weather has been lovely (hopefully all across Canada) and it is a great time to enjoy the great outdoors with a book!!

What are you reading and what is net?

I've started "Bina: a novel in warnings" by Anakana Schofield. Irish-Canadian writer living in BC.

She has 2 earlier novels: Malarkey (winner of Amazon.ca First Novel 2012); and Martin John (Giller Prize - shorlisted 2015).

Bina begins:
"My name is Bina and I'm a very busy woman. That's Bye-na, not Beena. I don't know who Beena is but I expect she's having a happy life. But if you have come all this way to listen to me, your life will undoubtedly get worse. I'm here to warn you..."

Bina is woman who has "simply had enough".
And she speaks for all who have had enough.
A powerful literary voice. .

Earlier in the week, I read The World That We Knew from NetGalley. It’s Alice Hoffman’s newest book, and to date her writing has yet to disappoint me. It’s World War II fiction, which I thought I was tired of, but Hoffman’s unique style brings a fresh perspective to the setting.

Now, I’m reading The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout. I’m also looking forward to her new book, Olive, Again, due out this fall.

Hoffman and Strout are two of my favourite authors so I’m enjoying writing that I really enjoy at the moment. My hold on Elizabeth Gilbert’s latest book is about to come up as well. She’s another one of my faves.

Happy Friday!

This week I finished Copperhead. I "enjoyed" this one but it was a rough read because of the subject matter. Being inside a white power community, even if from the perspective of a nonbeliever, wasn't my favourite thing. The book is ultimately hopeful but it left me a little drained.

I'm still reading Tinderbox: The Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation and last night I started my IRL book club's August pick, White Houses. I really like Amy Bloom's writing, so I was happy this book was picked. It's a historical novel about Lorena Hickok, who was a close friend (and possibly lover) of Eleanor Roosevelt.

Happy Friday and a long weekend celebrating Simcoe Day!
This week I finished reading Station Eleven and listening Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory, and I enjoyed both.
I am nearing the end of A Clash of Kings. I am not enjoying this one as much as A Game of Thrones as I feel this is a plot building book for the ones down the line. I am slogging through it, and it's taken me almost 5 months, urgh!! I did not want to abandon it, as I do plan to read the whole series, yeah the dilemma is real, LOL!
I just started The Other Einstein, a historical fiction about Albert Einstein's wife, a light read for the weekend.
Have a great weekend everyone!

Still making my way through A Fine Balance. I love his writing, and the characters, but oh my, it is a sad one. Certainly not a light summer read!

To keep with the lightness (lol), I've decided to listen to By Chance Alone: A Remarkable True Story of Courage and Survival at Auschwitz. I've never done audiobook before, but I've been so tired these days, I thought it might be a good solution. And I figured a memoir would help me to ease into the world of audiobooks. I listen during my morning walk to the subway station. It's told quite matter of factly, but it makes sense given the horrors Mr. Eisen experienced at the hands of the Nazis.

I'm also reading The One and Only Ivan to Nicholas at night. Pregnancy hormones are a thing. I've wept more than once while reading this one, and poor Nicholas has to comfort me. Haha!

Happy long weekend everyone!!

Happy long weekend to all.

Colleen, you'll need to keep a box of Kleenex handy for A Fine Balance. I still feel sad just looking at that book on my shelf!

I finished two really good novels this week: The Good Parents by Joan London, who's quickly becoming a new favourite author and Amy Bloom's Away which was a nearly perfect audiobook listen.

I've also completed the first two books for a #womenintranslation month challenge. The first was the wonderful and highly recommended Baba Dunja's Last Love and the second is a gripping novella: The Mussel Feast.

And I'm just starting a novel set in the lost letters office of Canada Post: The Letter Opener

If you're interested in the Women in Translation challenge, there's a great list of books here:
http://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/translating...

and here:
https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/list/sh...

Greetings!

I have had a quiet reading week. I finally broke down and bought myself the newest kobo. I have way too many books, was at chapters with two books in my hand and thought that i will only buy books to be signed, will borrow ebooks from the library and read from my own shelves for the rest of the year. My old kobo did not download direct from the library and despite two sessions with librarians could not get it to work! I love the new kobo, so light to read at night and easy to throw in my purse!

This week I finished All Things Consoled: A Daughter's Memoir by Elizabeth Hay about her experience caring for her parents and coming to terms with her Dad. I enjoyed it and it makes a reader reflect on their own relationships with parents and our mortality.

I also read Men Explain Things to Me which was a collection of thought provoking feminist essays.

Currently, I am reading some lighter fare with The Rosie Result, which is the last book of a trilogy, The Latte Factor: Why You Don't Have to Be Rich to Live Rich which is a fable but has the same messages as The Wealthy Barber (and is something i would like my older kids to read).

i am also rereading Ecoholic: Your Guide to the Most Environmentally Friendly Information, Products and Services in Canada as we strive to be more environmentally friendly!! As part of being kinder to the environment, i have started using shampoo bars (the local ones made my hair feel dirty but i love the Lush ones) so once we finish our current shampoos, we will go bottle free!! Their deodarant bar is fantastic too and we have been having some great conversations about the environment at home!

@Colleen - my son read the One and Only Ivan in grade 5 and I read it at the same time. we both really enjoyed it (and other books by the same author - he really liked Crenshaw too)

hi all

I am very late commenting this week. not much reading time this week due to visiting. But did get in 3 hours of After You by Jojo Moyes while driving. Read her first book so quite enjoying the British accent while listening to the second.

Making my way through David Adam Richards novel Mary Cyr. A bit slow but loving all the connections to New Brunswick since that is where I live and feeling good about understanding the French sentences since I unfortunately am a long way from being bilingual.

Have started reading Ulysses by James Joyce as part of a classics group I am in. Definitely something I am having to work on but since it is summer and no school good time to tackle this.

Finished Ringuet's "Thirty Acres", which is an incredibly well written story about a Quebec farmer and his family covering roughly the late 1800s or so until the Great Depression.

Started Lemelin's "The Town Below" this morning.

How did I miss this week's thread?!!

@May: every time Station Eleven is mentioned it is in a positive way. It's a book I want to read but never seem to get around to. Thanks for bringing it to my attention again.

@Colleen: A Fine Balance is such a good story. It's always great to see it mentioned again.

@Connie: Ulysses is a favorite read of mine. I've read it a few times and am thinking of reading it again soon(ish). There's always something new to be found in the story and the story is really very good. I hope you are enjoying it. I'm always excited when someone reads this book and hope they like it.

This week I finished:
New Boy - I really enjoyed this book. Thank you, Rainey, for sending this my way! I just picked up a copy of Othello and will be reading/comparing it soon.
Bookclub Social: A Reader's Guide to Online Book Clubs - this was an interesting look into on-line bookclubs. I think the newer one is to the format, the more one would get out of this book. However, it is an interesting read about the various aspects of on-line bookclubs. The authors looked at things such as: jumping into discussions, finding a club that suits your reading preferences, moderating, group dynamics and more. I enjoyed it and it gave me insight into how our global members, especially those in restricted countries, can/do benefit from our groups and more insight into lurkers.
All in all, a very interesting look at all aspects of on-line bookclubs.

Monkey Beach - a wonderful story! There are so many issues touched on and my review didn't do this story justice. I really liked Lisamarie and her family & community. I enjoyed the Haisla myths and history, their ancestral way of life. The modern day issues and concerns were also of interest and touching.
Thank you, Secret Sender!

I am now continuing with The Histories. I've barely turned the first few pages on this one. It'll take awhile for me to get through it, I think. However, the introduction and first few pages are entertaining.
For something lighter, I've started Lady Helena Investigates and am quite enjoying it.

Petra wrote: " every time Station Eleven is mentioned it is in a positive way. It's a book I want to read but never seem to get around to."

Petra, it's really good on audio.

Storyheart, thank you! I listen to audios while jogging so I'll look for this book in that format.