CanadianContent discussion

Greetings everyone! October has arrived... time to cuddle up with a blanket, a up of tea... and a book!

What are you reading? What is next?

Happy Friday!

This week I finished Five Little Indians, which was just an okay read for me. I would give this one 3.5 stars for the story and empathy factor but only 2 stars for the writing. The dialogue was particularly weak.

I also finished The New Wilderness, which is nominated for the Booker. I didn't like this one and was bored through most of it. I've read four of the Booker noms now and it's been a mostly disappointing experience. Shuggie Bain is my clear favourite so far.

In happier reading news, I read Summer to complete Ali Smith's seasonal cycle of novels. I enjoyed it even if it wasn't my favourite of the four books. When this final volume comes out in paperback, I plan to buy all four books and reread them closer together to better appreciate the connections between the novels.

I'm currently reading Transcendent Kingdom and am not sure how I feel about it yet.

Hello October!

This week I finished the very long audiobook To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. It was just okay for me, which is disappointing considering the time invested. I'm now listening to The Silent Patient for book club. For a book with such buzz, it seems just a run-of-the-mill domestic thriller to me.

I'm also reading Tyll, but I didn't get it finished before the library took the eBook back, so now I'm waiting out a hold to read the last bit. The premise of this book intrigued me, but I'm enjoying it less than I expected. In the meantime, I'm working on A History of Reading.

@Susan, Shuggie Bain is the one book on the Booker shortlist that seems to be calling my name!

Happy weekend.

Susan, I felt the same about Summer. Autumn remains my favourite of the four. I think they'd definitely benefit from being read closer together.

Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺, I tried another by the author of Tyll and had the same reaction: great premise but the book was a lot less engaging than I'd hoped.

This week, I re-read Moral Disorder and Other Stories. Not my favourite Atwood collection, but I enjoyed most of the stories. I also re-read and still loved French Exit

I read The Mercies, which is based on a freak fishing accident in 1600s Norway that kills almost all the men of one village. Rumours begin to circulate that one or more of the surviving women is a Sami witch. It was very gripping and moving.

I started House of Trelawney last night and it carried me enjoyably through many hours of insomnia.

Happy Saturday!!

This week I only finished Gods of Jade and Shadow for my in-person book club (which was cancelled last minute) and Stories I Only Tell My Friends in audiobook.
Currently reading The Paris Orphan and listening to Conversations with RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Life, Love, Liberty, and Law.

Happy Weekend!
Sorry to have been missing these past few updates. I've been in a reading slump and haven't finished (and barely read) in any book. I'm slowly coming out of it now (thankfully).

I've been following the threads each week, despite having nothing of my own to add to them. I have found some very interesting books to add to my "one day" list.

I have just finished an audio book and a gothic novella:
Death Sentence: The Inside Story of the John List Murders - this was a very well told and narrated audio book. The story had the details of the murders and events thereafter, while keeping the story lively and interesting, not dry. I recommend this one for those who enjoy True Crime non-ficiton.
The Lifted Veil - very gothic, with some almost modern elements. George Eliot explores the theme of if we knew/thought we knew our future, could or would we change it? Is the future flexible? Also, how responsible are we for our choices? There's also an element of "can the dead come back to life"? The narrator/protagonist, though, is a wienee and a wimp. He becomes unlikeable in his inaction and indecision. Worth the read, despite the narrator.

Hi all- I have been slow to get back to this thread. I finished The Pull of the Stars which I really enjoyed... although it was a heavy topic, it was a quick read and well-researched.

I also finished Anxious People which took me a couple of weeks to finish. although I really enjoy this Fredrik Backman, I struggled to keep engaged with this book. Another slow finisher for me was Our House Is on Fire: Scenes of a Family and a Planet in Crisis. I expected it to be more about Greta and the environment. it was very honest and open about this family's challenges but it was not what I expected so I was disappointed.