CanadianContent discussion

Greetings readers!

Well... the groundhogs (at least the Canadian ones) are calling for an early spring... fingers crossed that the rodents are correct!!

Spring brings Canada Reads - have you read many of the short-listed books?

What have you been reading?

What is next?

Have a great day!

Happy Friday!

This week I finished The Midnight Bargain, which puts me at 2/5 for the Canada Reads nominees. I did enjoy this novel (somewhat to my surprise) and it will be interesting to see this one discussed during the debates.

I also read Interior Chinatown, which I tired of pretty quickly. I often struggle with satires about race anyway, and then the structure of this novel (sometimes written as a screenplay) led me to be confused at times about what was really happening. My book club (which I haven't participated in for a year) is discussing this one via Zoom next week, so we'll see if I can brave Zoom for that.

I'm currently reading Quicksand for Black History Month, as well as The Death of Truth: Notes on Falsehood in the Age of Trump.

I finished two books this week: News of the World and The Midnight Bargain. I have 3/5 read for Canada Reads and am currently working on the fourth, Butter Honey Pig Bread.

Happy Weekend!

I finished one book this week: A Knock on the Door: The Essential History of Residential Schools from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
This was a very well documented investigation into the Residential School system. It cast no blame, per se. It stated facts and searched for the truth, which I think it got to. This should be a textbook in high schools across the country to show how a system can go wrong and the damage it can do. This book leaves me, though, with a feeling of hope and possibility for healing, reconciliation and a unified society ahead.

I'm still reading and enjoying Milkman and They Were Found Wanting.

Happy Friday!
This week I finished The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump and We the North: 25 Years of the Toronto Raptors in audiobooks. Also, just finished Dreams of Joy by Lisa See.

Hi everyone! It has taken me 5 weeks and I finally finished Ken Follett's 913 pager: The Evening and The Morning. I don’t feel it was as good as The Pillars of The Earth or World Without End but I sure became immersed in the era and the dynamics of The Dark Ages. My first book of 2021 complete! Now on to some shorter reads...

Hi all. Just moments ago I finished Ragged Company by Richard Wagamese. I gave it a 5/5, I absolutely loved it! I am just about to start Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. My son had come into my room teary eyed after finishing this book, he said I had to read it and that I’d really like it. So I decided to read for the bingo square N1.

On audio I’m halfway into The Vanishing Half and really enjoying it so far.

I’ve completed 2/5 Canada reads and I’m looking forward to reading the other three.

Hi all -

I am really struggling with engagement for Canada Reads which is so unlike me... too much lockdown and my focus has really been on non-fiction and light, fluffy reads.

I just finished Relax, Dammit!: A User's Guide to the Age of Anxiety which was just ok... he debunked lots of studies but also shared his own unsubstantiated views so it didn't feel like strong advice to me. At work we are reading The Weekend Effect: The Life Changing Benefits of Taking Time Off and Challenging the Cult of Overwork and it felt like he may have used some of her information also.

Like I said last week, I was in the midst of the first 3 Bridgerton books and really don't know why I kept reading them. The feminist in me struggles with these romance novels where the "rake" falls in love with the innocent and settles down to teach her all about sex... but somehow they were light and kept my fractured focus. perhaps... I now need to binge watch the show that everyone is talking about.

I chose not to read the Bridgerton books @Susan because I wanted to know how it all turns out for once (at least not exactly lol) before I watched the show. The show is fantastic! I’m looking forward to season 2.

Sarah wrote: "Hi all. Just moments ago I finished Ragged Company by Richard Wagamese. I gave it a 5/5,..."

That is one of my favorites!

@Sarah - like Heather I too loved Ragged Company and am so glad you enjoyed it. It's the only book I've read 3X and I loved it and cried each time. Wagamese has written many other great books. I discovered him years ago and started with his non-fiction first then graduated to his fiction. He became one of, if not my all time favorite author. I had been dreaming and planning of taking a workshop with him until he left us way too early.

I finished Whatever Gets You Through: Twelve Women on Life After Sexual Assault this week. 12 authors, 11 Canadian females contributed. Each powerful. Each unique. Have read works by about 50% of these authors and their essays like their lengthier works are written in their unique styles and voices. 4 stars. Great book club choice dealing with how rape/sexual assault victims "get though it." Recommended.

@Susan G & many others - I too have been having trouble focusing and finishing....though I seem to be on a bit of a recent upswing. Although I have always enjoyed non-fiction, I find myself reading a lot more lately and looking at my 2021 Bingo Square choices am surprised at how many are non-fiction.

As far as Canada Reads is concerned I read Jonny Appleseed a few years ago but hope to do a quick re-read soon. My review is on-line. I have Two Trees Make a Forest: Travels Among Taiwan's Mountains & Coasts in Search of My Family's Past in hand and am looking forward to it, Hope to finish soon.....unless I get consumed by watching the upcoming impeachment trial on tv in the upcominf week(s). :)