July and August Books

I read four books over the summer and they were all pretty good.  Three of them by authors I have read before, and a new one.

Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger

This book was a gift from Dave and the boys for Mother’s Day.  The story is about a series of women - the mother, the daughter, and the grandmother.  The mother is a well known newspaper woman in Washington who came from difficult circumstances when her mother was sent to an asylum and then died.  The daughter grows up and wants to learn more about the family history in a way to understand why her mother was so distant during her childhood. 

This was the first novel I’d read by this author and may not have picked it up had it not been a gift.  I really enjoyed it though, the story was fast paced and detailed.  But detailed in a way that made sense and you got to read full conversations between people that provided so much great background.  I felt like I knew exactly who the characters were and why they did what they did. A surprisingly good read.

Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

I’ve read a few Elin Hilderbrand books and she always provides the perfect summer read.  This one is set at none other than the Hotel Nantucket, being reopened after a massive renovation following years of disrepair.  We get the story from the points of view of various people like the hotel manager, the front desk clerk, and interestingly a ghost that lives at the hotel (a bit of an eye roll here but the device lets us to get some information that would otherwise be secret so I’ll allow it).

The story was enjoyable with different twists that kept me entertained.  You can’t really go wrong with an Elin book for summertime :)

On Isabella Street by Genevieve Graham

This story is set in Toronto in the 1960s - we get the perspective of two young ladies, one is a doctor at a psychiatric hospital and one is more a free spirit, typical of the era, and they live in the same apartment building (small spoiler there, but you get that pretty quickly). The Vietnam War is going on and although Canada was not actively fighting, there were still many connections, which this book tells us about.  Another aspect is the decision of the Ontario government to shut down the psychiatric hospitals and turn patients out on the street.  

I’ve now read several of this author’s books and I think this was the best one yet!  I love that she tells us about somewhat obscure parts of Canadian history, and I always love a novel set in my hometown.  I think my mom (ahem!) would like this because she was growing up in Ontario at this time and may connect to the story too.  Homelessness is a frequent topic of conversation around here, there is always a tent somewhere that people are concerned about, and it was interesting to hear how the shut down of the psychiatric wards contributed to this issue that we are still dealing with today.

Again, without giving too much away, something I love about this author is that lets her characters sort things out right away.  Someone makes a mistake, they apologize at the next opportunity and it gets worked out right away.  It’s a relief that you don’t get in other books where that turmoil is always in the background.  Here we hash it out and move on to something new. 

Even if you’re not Canadian, this is still worth a read, particularly given the Vietnam War angle. 

Come From Away by Genevieve Graham

Another Genevieve Graham book, which incidentally has a very small connection to the book above.  This is not the story of Gander on 9/11 by the way, a “Come From Away” is a term that is common on the East Coast. This book is set in Nova Scotia during World War II. I grew up in Shelburne so I grew up knowing the history that German U-Boats came right up to our shores.  This story starts with a real life rumor from those times that perhaps some German submarine sailors came ashore one night and attended a local dance.  The author wonders what happened if that was true. 

History is never straightforward and I like that this author captures the nuances of it and describes it so well.  And of course I like that it took place in Nova Scotia. The parents in this book are the subject of an earlier book, so now I need to find that one!

May and June Books

The Secret Keeper by Genevieve Graham

The book is about twin sisters during World War II from Ontario, just east of Toronto.  They have different strengths - one wants to be a pilot and the other one is radio operator and code breaker.  The books goes back and forth between sisters and we hear how they come to be in their different positions and locations.  

I have read a few books by this author and she always delivers.  I love the Canadian content and learning about some bit of history that I previously hadn't heard about. 

Long Island by Colm Toibin

This book is the sequel to Brooklyn.  I never read that book but I did see the movie starting Saoirse Ronan and Domhnall Gleeson.  I won't reveal too much of the plot but I'll tell you that the main character, Ellis, finds herself back in Ireland after being away for twenty years. 

Since I have seen the movie, I pictured those actors as the characters in the book.  I love Saoirse and she played that role so perfectly then I could imagine her a few years older.  I also love the way she speaks and how the Irish characters turn a phrase. 

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

This is the author's fourth novel and this one revisits a character from her first book.  We meet a young Toronto woman who has recently broken up with her long term boyfriend and is unsatisfied with her career. Her grandmother is recovering from a surgery so she decides to take her grandmother to a cottage for the summer.  And guess who has the house next door?  Someone we know from the first novel. 

I knew what the plot was before I started the book and at first I was disappointed that the story wasn't being told from Charlie's point of view, but the author does write better with the female voice, so it makes sense she starts with this new character.  

I love these fun summer reads, it always makes me want to head out of town and sit by a lake for a few days. 

Sankofa by Chibundi Onuzo

This book is about a woman in England who is half black and half white.  Her mother has just died and as she goes through her things, she finds a diary written by her father.  Her mother had never said anything about who her father was.  The woman decides to try and find out if her father is still alive and if she can track him down.  

I thought this book did a great job of creating a main character who was multi-faceted.  I liked how she related to the other people in the book. 

All of these books were great and all very different. I would recommend all of them. 

March and April Books

If you are in Canada and didn't vote in the advance polls (like me), get out there today to vote in our Federal Election.  This is the most important election of our time and wouldn't it be amazing to see record number of voters this time!

I read a couple of books in March and April to tell you about today: 

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler

This book is the fictionalized story of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald (the author), how they met, married, and spent their years together.  

I got this book for Christmas and when I started reading it, I realized I had read it before.  I seem to remember that the first time I read it, I really enjoyed reading about the parties and clothes and the time spent away in Europe, but this time I was mostly just annoyed with Scott and Zelda. Perhaps I am more mature now and could not relate to their irresponsibility. 

Real Ones by Katherena Vermette

This book is told from the perspective of two sisters.  They are Metis through their father's side and their mother is French, but has been pretending to be Indigenous artist.  A journalist has uncovered this scam and it's become a public story. The sisters, and other side characters, have to deal with the aftermath and consider how their own identities are impacted by this.  

This book is fine, it's always good to read about stories different than your own and the Indigenous voice is important for us to hear, but honestly I found this book a little boring.  I wasn't invested in most of the sisters' personal stories and the few things I was interested didn't feature in a central way. I read another book by this author, about the same family, but different members of it, the Strangers.  I liked that other one enough, but this one wasn't as good.

The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne

This book is about a man, who we meet at the beginning of his life, and then meet up with him at various stages of his life.  From his childhood in Ireland and then other places.  I don't want to give too much away.

I really liked this book, it is a "chewy book" meaning there is a lot of dialogue between the characters, difficult scenarios, misunderstandings abound, and tragedy.  It did take me about a fifth of the book to really like the main character and become invested in his story, but then I couldn't really put it down.    

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

Nico is an aspiring actor with the opportunity to appear on a reality show. But it's a couples show and he needs to bring his girlfriend, Lyla, who is not an actor, but a scientist who has no interest in being on TV.  But she agrees to do it to help Nico's career and they set off for a remote island in Indonesia to begin filming with the other couples.  Things do not go as planned and there is a whole new "reality' that the contestants need to deal with. 

I like a Ruth Ware book, she does a good job of teasing the story, but not giving too much away so readers are keen to keep turning the pages.  I enjoyed this book and found real depth to the characters and the plot. This would be a good book to adapt to a movie or mini-series, as I understand they are doing with another of Ware's books "The Woman in Cabin 10".

January and February Books

It's time for my book recap for January and February - only three books.  

What I Ate in a Year by Stanley Tucci

I am a fan of Stanley's and read one his previous books, Taste, and enjoy his Italy show and Instagram posts.  He enjoys food and drink, like me.  This is sort of like a diary where he writes about different food he has prepared and enjoyed throughout the year, but also talks about his work, travel, and family.  I liked reading about these little anecdotes since I love celebrities so any mention of Harry Styles or Woody Harrelson coming for dinner is thrilling to me.  I also liked hearing about the day to day of a working actor, it is so much draining travel, but despite that, the life is still somewhat glamorous, note the dinner guests above, and the visit to Guy Richie's estate at the end of the book had me salivating. Stanley does a good job of being humble but enjoying the perks of his life. This was a fun little read for me. 

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan.

This is a Christmas book and I had put a hold on it in November with hopes of reading it by the Christmas tree, but it took awhile to come through and I read it in February instead.  I would barely call this book a novel, it felt more like a short story, like the kind you read in university.  It is Christmastime in Ireland in the 1980s. We get the story of a local man preparing for the holidays, a bit of his back story, and some current events.  It really just takes place over a couple of days, which is why it feels like a short story, and nothing really major happens.  That said, it is very well written and the Irish flavour with the way they can turn a phrase stuck out and I enjoyed reading it. It was a bit dreary, as Ireland in winter in the 1980s likely was, and I think I was glad I didn't read it at Christmastime itself.  The existential questions being asked by the main character fit better with our current world this winter. 

The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin

Emily Giffin always provides a reliable book.  I have always appreciated her storytelling.  In this book we meet four friends who met in university, all from different backgrounds. After tragedy strikes in their final year, the friends make a pact to get together whenever they need each other. Years later, that time comes and they find themselves together again.  It is one of those books that skips around between narrators, which is common now, but effective.  I loved all of the characters, and the themes discussed.  I felt like I already knew the characters and wanted more.  

2024 Books

I love looking back at the books I read over the year, and it helps me remember from year to year!! At the beginning of this year the Toronto Public Library was hacked so the online system was offline for a number of weeks and that really impacted my reading.

The Maidens

The Lying Game

Letter Across the Sea 

The Palace Papers

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

The Jetsetter's

Unreconciled

Expiration Dates

Tom Lake 

Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty 

The Guest 

Every Summer After 

Meet me at the Lake

This Summer Will Be Different 

None of This is True

We Meant Well 

The Weekend Retreat

The Forgotten Home Child 

Denison Avenue

Lies and Weddings 

The Last Mrs. Parrish 

What Have Your Done?

Game of Lies 

And I'm currently reading The Fury by Alex Michaelides and will probably finish it and How Canada Works by Peter Mansbridge by the end of the year. 

And my favourite books of the year are:

#3 (and Canadian!) - Denison Avenue

#2 We Meant Well

and #1 (which I called as soon as I read it) Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

Reading really is the best way to travel around the world (like in We Meant Well), see your own city in a different light (like Denison Avenue), and learn about a world that I know nothing about (video game design in Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow).  Sometimes you just need a quick beach read or a British murder mystery, and sometimes books can be duds - all of these appear in the list above - but I will never regret picking up a book. 

November Books

I had to push this a bit so I could finish up one of the books, I just have two books to write about this month.

The first was What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena (Canadian!).

In this book, a teenage girl is found murdered and left in a farmer's field.  Then we get the perspective of various people connected to her - friends, boyfriend, teachers, parents, local creepy guy - and we try to figure out who is the murderer. 

This author writes a pretty good murder mystery, I have read a couple of her books before.  In this one I think she does a good job of giving out clues and red herrings.  

And then a book by Clare Mackintosh, A Game of Lies. 

This book takes place in Wales. A reality show is being filmed that will be broadcast as it is being filmed.  The premise for the reality starts out as survival of the fittest but the contestants quickly learn there is more to it.  The local police are called to the set of the fairly early on to investigate a small crime but eventually end up trying to solve a murder.   

Apparently this book was a sequel to another book which I had not read.  I actually liked that there was a hint of a past relationship between two of the characters without elaborating, but now if I really want to I can read the first novel.  I like books set in the United Kingdom.  There are so many UK police shows and books that one could get bored of it, but I don't. I've read a lot by this author and she continues to write good stories. 

In a few weeks I will round up all of the books I read this year and pick my favourite. I'll also be looking for recommendations for 2025.

October Books

 I read a bunch of books this month, so let's dive in:

The Weekend Retreat by Tara Laskowski

This book takes place over one weekend where a wealthy family is gathering for a birthday party.  Twin brother and sister, younger brother, and their spouses.  Their mother has recently died so this is the first time they are back in the family home, a winery in upstate New York, to celebrate the twins' birthday. There are secrets, threats of violence, deception, misunderstandings, and the like, and the reader is given clues to try and figure it out.   

This book was pretty meh. I felt like it was trying to be like the Roys in Succession, but was a pale comparison.  I also felt like it should have been set in some manor in England but wasn't.  I sort of had some things figured out but I didn't feel very challenged by the twists and turns.  I'm not even sure why I picked this one up, perhaps as a library last resort.  Anyway, I'd say don't bother.

The Forgotten Home Child by Genevieve Graham

In the late 1800s and into the 1900s, England began a practice of sending poor children and teenagers over to Canada (and Australia) to not be adopted, but to become hired help for Canadian families until they reached the age of 18.  They would then receive money that had been set aside, and could go out and start their life.  Although they weren't slaves, many of the children were not treated very well.  They were worked very hard, had scant lodgings and food, were straight up abused, and may not have actually received the funds promised to them at the end of their tenure.  Although I knew people had come over to work on the farms, including my own great grandparents, I didn't realize it was a structured program stemming from orphanages and other poor houses in the UK.

This book tells the story of one such girl and her friends that she had met on the streets of London before they were picked up to live at one of these children's homes. She came over in the 1930s so we hear about that time and then her as an older lady telling her story to her granddaughter and great-grandson.

I've read couple of books by this author and although they seem a bit like reading for a Canadian history high school student, I do really enjoy them. As part of it is set in Toronto and other parts of Southern Ontario, there is even mention a gravestone at the cemetery by our house, however when we were there the other day on our bikes, I couldn't really find it so I need to go back another day.   Good reading, would recommend. 

Denison Avenue by Christina Wong, with illustrations by Daniel Innes

I love books that are set in Toronto, not only do I like being familiar with the references, they always open my eyes to different parts of the city and consider how life is different for others. This book is about a Chinese woman who lives on Denison Avenue, in the Kensington Market/Chinatown area. It's mostly just like a regular novel, but there are poetic elements to the books where the type is all over the page, or in columns where we get contrasting views.  Then if you flip the book over there are beautiful ink sketches of Kensington Market, Chinatown, and the Annex, present and past.  

I actually do not like going to Kensington Market and Chinatown, and this book didn't really change my mind about that, I'm still not attracted to those areas, but I did stop to consider the residents of those areas, particularly like the main character of this book, someone who had been there for many years, saw the neighbourhood grow, change, deteriorate in some respects.

The woman in the book ends up collecting bottles and cans, and I've seen her before (not really her since she is fictional, but you know what I mean), the Chinese woman with her cart going from recycling bin to recycling bin. I'll admit that I haven't had the most charitable of thoughts towards her, but this story reminded me that there is a life behind that person, hopes, dreams, a past, family, friends, traditions, etc.  Like when I read Scarborough and From the Ashes and started looking at people on the street and on the subway differently, I will look at those bottle collectors and other people from that part of town differently.  I hope this doesn't make me sound like I'm a terrible person, but rather show that everyone can always be learning and growing as a person. We all only have one perspective, and it's difficult to expand that perspective unless you look around, and that reading does that for me. 

Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan

And now for something completely different, a book by the author of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy.  We meet the family of  Augusta, Rufus, and Beatrice, the young adult children of a British Earl and his Chinese wife. They of course run in the most prestigious of circles and we meet people with so much privilege and wealth, just like in Crazy Rich Asians.  They all flit around the world to various weddings and events in their private jets, each more ostentatious than the last.  

This book is so much fun to read.  You know these people are out there and it's mindboggling, even the rich people aren't as rich as the people in this book.

And I squeezed in one last book before the month was over, The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine.

This tells the story of a young woman with a goal of seducing her friend's husband as a way to get ahead and be the rich wife she wants to be. Of course things are not as they seem.  

This was a pretty good story, I thought it started out as similar to something I had read before, but I stayed with it and was into it by the end. Not bad, entertaining enough.

September Book

I only got through one full book this month, We Meant Well by Erum Shazia Hasan.

The book starts with Maya, a woman living in Los Angeles, packing to go on a work trip. She tells her somewhat disinterested husband that she isn't sure how long she will be gone, she is being called in to deal with an issue.  We find out she used to be posted in Africa working for a charity, but has been mostly remote for a few years.  There is now a situation involving one of her colleagues and a local woman, and she is being tasked with addressing it.  As she travels closer to the village, we get more details, and then we find out what happened upon her arrival. 

What I liked about this book is that I didn't know anything about it, and we are fed details slowly, so that it's hard to have a preconceived notion of the story.  As I was reading it I was reminded of The Poisonwood Bible, one of my favourite books, which addresses the issue of ministering to Africa.  In that story, with the backdrop of 1960s Congo, the Price family is seen as doing more harm than good, and perhaps they would say "We Meant Well" too, and it is only with our view of history that we can judge them otherwise.  

In this book, it is during modern times, and many of the charities operating in Africa now are doing so with attention being paid to being thoughtful and respectful of local customs and traditions, without forcing Western values on anyone, while still trying to provide health care, education, clean water, etc., "meaning well". There are many great passages in this book where the main character reflects on work she has done, what other people are doing, and how they all fit into the African landscape, if at all.  Is it enough for them to say "we meant well" even as things remain desperate for so many people? 

When I finished the book the word that came to mind was "incredible". I really enjoyed the story and the writing and perhaps because of The Poisonwood Bible being one of my favourite books, felt more of an affinity to the subject matter.  This is one of those books that challenges you and I would recommend it.

August Books

Two great books this month to finish up my summer reads:

First was This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune.

I think this was the book of the summer, it seemed like everyone was talking about, which prompted me to read her first two books last month.  This time we meet Lucy who lives in Toronto. Five years ago she went to Prince Edward Island to meet up with her best friend, Bridget, who is from there.  But Bridget's flight is delayed and Lucy has to go to the house by herself, she stops in at a restaurant and ends up hooking up with a guy she meets there.  We follow the story back and forth between present day and each of her visits to the Island. 

I have been to PEI several times but it has been a few years, this book really made me want to visit again soon and luckily I have a friend that lives there. (Cindy, pencil me in for next summer!) It really is a charming island and the author really captures it, the lobster, the oysters, the red sands, the Anne of Green Gables references.  She even mentions Hurricane Fiona, which was a pretty devastating event for the Island a couple of years ago.  Her references to Toronto landmarks is also something that I enjoy. 

This trio of books, along with the one coming out next year, should be part of your summer reads!

The second book I read was None of This is True by Lisa Jewell.

This had a different tone from the other book I read this month.  Here we meet Josie, a 45 year old woman in London.  She is out for dinner with her husband and at the same restaurant is Alix, also celebrating her 45th birthday.  Josie is fascinated by Alix and introduces herself as her "birthday twin". They run into each other again and although Alix feels like Josie is a little weird, they strike up an acquaintance and Alix gets the idea to make a podcast about Josie's life. (Alix is already a podcaster but looking for her next project.) Interspersed with the story we get excerpts from a Netflix doc indicating there is more to this story than we think.

This was a book that definitely caught my attention and I wanted to keep reading.  It was also very creepy and reminded me of Baby Reindeer, which we did stop watching because it was so creepy.  Because of the Netflix doc transcript throughout, we knew that there was something "off" but were never quite sure what.  It was definitely a different type of thriller mystery book, and I would recommend it.  

July Books

I read three books this month, all perfectly suited to summer reading.

Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty by Lauren Weisberger.

This book is about a famous newscaster whose husband is arrested for bribing Harvard to admit their daughter.  There is obvious fall out for the newscaster’s job, their marriage, and their daughter’s future. Even though we have heard about this news story, it was interesting to hear about how the family within the scandal deals with it. 

This is the author that wrote The Devil Wears Prada and other similar “chick lit” books.  I like a Lauren Weisberger because everyone has the best clothes and homes, and they flit around New York with glamorous jobs. It’s always fun to slip away into that world for a little while.  It’s certainly not a great literary piece, but good for a summer read. 

The Guest by B.A. Paris

A husband and wife return home from a little trip and find one of their old friends staying at their house.  She has let herself in after getting into an argument with her husband.  The couple whose house it is are okay with her being there, but then it gets to be a little bit much.  Meanwhile they’re dealing with a tragedy of their own, and there is also a new couple that has moved in down the road.

I like a B.A. Parker suspense book, she never disappoints.  Lots of twists and turns and trying to figure out what everyone is up to and you think you know, but you don’t.  I also love a book set in England, it always feels so lovely so be in that environment. 

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

A woman revisits her past after receiving news of the death of an old friend’s mother.  She goes back to the town where she spent her teenage summers at a cottage.  

This author is from Canada and released a new book this summer set in Prince Edward Island and I know people were talking about, I didn’t realize she had written two other books so I wanted to make sure I read them first.  This is her first novel.  It’s set in Toronto and the town of Barry’s Bay, a real town south of Algonquin Provincial Park.  I really liked this book and of course love some Canadian content.  I never grew up with a cottage but I can tell she well-captured it. The plot is slightly predictable but lovely and I would recommend it.  I can’t wait to dive into her other books. 

June Books

Just two books this month, but they were both fantastic.

First up was Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson (Canadian!)

The story takes place the year of Queen Elizabeth's Coronation. The main character is the proprietor of a hotel that will be very near the coronation parade route. There are other characters who will be painting the parade and photographing the coronation ceremony. Things get complicated as the big day approaches, a little mystery, a little history, and a little romance. Like this author's previous book, The Gown, we go back and forth between different characters' points of view.  And there is even an appearance from characters in The Gown. 

This is a delightful book, very entertaining, and even more special knowing it was written after Her Majesty's death. Looking back at the official start of her reign, and what was going on at the time, made me take a special appreciation for our dear Queen.  

The next book was The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth.

A woman dies after falling/jumping/being pushed (?!) from the edge of a cliff.  The occupants of the house beside this cliff are quickly embroiled in the aftermath and we get some background on their stories, including from the dead woman herself (which I admit is a bit weird, but is necessary to get the full story).  The story is set in Australia and I always enjoy reading books set in other countries. 

I've only read a couple of Sally Hepworth's books but I am quickly discovering she does not disappoint.  She keeps the story moving, always throws in some curve balls, and doesn't always wrap things up in a neat little package.

May Books

I have three books to tell you about this month - starting with Unreconciled by Jesse Wente. 

Some of you may know Jesse Wente from CBC Radio.  He used to be the film critic on the morning show.  I always loved hearing what he had to say since it was clear he was a student of film.  My friend from skiing recommended this book to me and I am glad I took her up on it.  Jesse is Indigenous and tells us the history of his family - when they went to residential schools, how they left the reserve, travelling back to the reserve for family visits, and his white heritage as well.  He talks about his education from private school onto university and then the different trajectories of his career.  

Reconciliation is a big word in Canada, coming from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and it usually applies to how the white settlers can reconcile with the indigenous people. But what I found the most interesting is when how he applied that term to the reconciliation he has to do on a regular basis within himself. He has certain privilege that he feels doesn't reconcile with his indigenous heritage. He is often the "token Indian" but wanting to be seen as more than that.  I would not do this justice to try and explain it, but it was good to read about this perspective and understand how he sees the nuances.  I also really enjoyed his commentary about the time he spent at TIFF (the Toronto International Film Festival). I've always enjoyed TIFF, but the certainly have made some questionable choices about which movies to feature.  

Another great Canadian book.

Then I read Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle.

I have read this author's other books and there is always a mystical element in the books where you just need to suspend belief and go with it.  Since I knew it was coming, I was able to more quickly just accept this was part of the story.  In this one the main character will find a slip of paper with a time period written on it every time she starts a new relationship.  The time is always the expiration date for that relationship - 5 days, 6 months, 3 years, whatever.  The source of the papers is never explained.  I was sufficiently entertained by this book.  I didn't overly enjoy the characters and even the little twists and turns were just okay. If you like her novels, you would probably like this one too, but it's not her best one, in my opinion. 

And finally Tom Lake by Ann Patchett.

I really enjoyed this book.  The main character is at home on their farm with her husband and three grown daughters.  It is set during the pandemic so the daughters are there to work on the farm, but this is the first time they have been all together for so long.  The daughters want to know their mother's story of being an actress and knowing a famous actor.  We hear the story as she tells it to her daughters.  

I thought this book did such a great job of describing the various settings, I could feel what its as like to be at the school gym, in California, in the small theatre town of Tom Lake in the summer of the late '70s/early '80 (not sure of the exact date), and even to be in the farmhouse.  It had so many elements of "what might have been" for the better and for the worse, and I just love reading about those feelings of melancholy.  I definitely had a few teary moments while reading. 

My only two gripes were that I really didn't need it to be during the pandemic, can we just forget about that? But I suppose it made sense because otherwise the daughters would have been out living their own lives in different parts of the country instead of being rapt by their mother's story. The second thing was that Our Town, the play, was at the centre of the story and I'm not really familiar with that play.  I did actually see it when I was younger at Neptune in Halifax, but I didn't remember a lot of it and I think I would have appreciated more if knew the play.  

Books Lately

 I haven't reported on the books I've read for sometime so these are from February to April, and it's not many.  

The Palace Papers by Tina Brown

As a Canadian, I am also a proud monarchist, meaning I want the King to be our Head of State and to remain in the Commonwealth.  I also love all of the gossip about the lives of the Royals, even though I know much of it is ill-spirited. I remember picking this up a few weeks ago because I thought it would be fun to read, and I was right.  I really enjoyed hearing the history of the Royals, going back a number of years, and then onto more modern times with the marriage of Charles and Camila, and then the marriage of Meghan and Harry.  

I felt like I knew a number of details from what was portrayed in The Crown, but this gave even more details and background, which I enjoyed.  I can only assume that it is accurate and it helps to explain a lot of the motivations behind a lot of what has gone on.  One thing that is clear is that the writer is clearly pro-Charles, Camila, William, and Catherine.  She is anti-Harry and Meghan, Andrew and Sarah.

I read this before the whole "Where is Kate Middleton" drama of March, and I would have been interested to hear a bit more behind the scenes stuff on William and Kate, and the rumours, to see what to really make of these more current events. 

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin.

This will be my favourite book of the year, I'm calling it now.   This book is about two friends who design video games, and their lives from young kids to middle age.  The book mostly follows along in order, but we do get to hear the backstory along the way. 

I don't know much about the world of video games, I know about the few that the kids play, and I like Mario Kart, but this book opened my eyes to the industry and the type of work going into it.  I found it so interesting and made me appreciate my kids' interests. But not only that, the writing is so moving. I loved how the two main characters related to each other, and how other characters were woven into their lives.  

Because of the video game aspect, it had some fantasy type feel to it, so it felt a bit like Cloud Cuckoo Land, but not really.  It somehow also reminded me of Demon Copperhead, but not really.  I think it's just because I loved all of these books so while I was reading this one, I was having the same feelings. 

The Jetsetters byAmanda Eyre Ward.

I know this was a popular book, and was from Reese's Book Club, but I found it pretty disappointing.  The story is about an older woman, widowed and living in the Southern US.  Her best friend has just died so she needs an adventure, and she's also trying to reconnect with her three children.  Through a series of events they end up on a European cruise.  Hijinks ensue.  

I felt like it was sloppy and lazy writing, and there were times when the plot made leaps that just didn't make sense.  I was also personally offended by one line in the book.  One of the daughters was described as letting herself go and (horrors!) her thighs rubbed together now.  Now I have never had a thigh gap and it wasn't until my mid-twenties when I even knew that people had thigh gaps or aspired to them.  I suppose I'm lucky because it was never a thing that was talked about in my family or circle of friends.  But I really hate that this is the message that is out there for so many people and then reinforced in this silly little book.  So since that comment was made at the very beginning, I had already sort of written this off,  but I don't think I was wrong. 

The only thing good about this book is hearing about the various ports of call they visited on the cruise ship.  

January (and December) Books

Continuing with my theme from last time, since our library's computer system is still down I'm not able to place any holds, so I went looking for some books on my list, but instead I ended up with other books by the same authors because that was all I could find on my home library's shelves. 

First up is The Maidens by Alex Michalides

This book starts with a murder of a young girl on campus at Cambridge University.  The main character's niece is friends with the victim so she travels from London to Cambridge to be with the niece.  The main character is recently widowed, and is a therapist who specializes in group sessions. She somehow embroils herself in the investigation. 

 The book synopsis claims it intertwines Greek mythology with true crime, and although there was an element of that, I didn't feel like it was a big enough part of the plot for it to be mentioned.

I found this book very entertaining to read even though there were many parts I felt just didn't work.  Like, I didn't understand why a completely unrelated person (the main character) thinks she has any right to start investigating the murder.  She also found herself in some strange encounters with several men characters and it didn't seem realistic. 

I am interested to read this author's first novel, the one I was seeking out in the first place, The Silent Patient.  This book could have been victim of the second novel syndrome.

The next book was The Lying Game by Ruth Ware.

Ruth Ware is always reliable, but I particularly liked this plot.  Four women return to the coastal English town where they attended a girls' boarding school when they were teenagers.  We know that a body has been found in the sand and that they all need to gather to deal with it.  There are so many questions in the book, a few of which aren't answered until the very end.  I didn't really have anything figured out and I liked that.  I also thought that the characters were well developed and three dimensional. Sometimes in a Ruth Ware book I get annoyed with how the character is behaving and although I had a bit of that here, it didn't bother me as much this time. 

Dave has even picked up this book to read now.  He had liked One By One by the same author.

And finally Letters Across the Sea by Genevieve Graham.

I read another book by this author last year, At the Mountain's Edge.  I liked it but had thought it was a little simple and felt like reading something from a high school curriculum.  This was another Canadian history book but I thought this one was better.  The story starts in 1930s Toronto during the Depression.  There is a young Irish woman and a young Jewish man.  They are neighbours and friends, but you can tell they are developing feelings for each other.  The first part of the book centres around the hostility between Jews and Protestants, culminating in the Christie Pitts Riots.  Then we turn to World War II and the little known story about the Canadians stationed in Hong Kong. They were not expected to do much but after Pearl Harbour, things changed drastically.  I knew about Christie Pitts but I did not know about our presence in Hong Kong.  

I loved the story but what was even better is that it took place in my city.  When they talked about taking the streetcar down Spadina Ave. past the garment factories, I knew what they meant.  Interestingly while reading the book, I had to drive down Spadina myself, taking the same route as the people in the book. 

Similar to other books I have read recently, I was also amazed at how people stayed alive in harrowing circumstances and finding enough food to eat. 

I am looking forward to reading other books by this author.

Monday Books

I wasn’t sure what I was going to write about today, but then last night on Instagram, I saw Jen’s post with some questions about books.  So I took a screenshot and will answer them here.

What’s your favourite book?

I have so many, but I’ll go with The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

What book do you regret reading?

I read Gone with the Wind every summer when I was growing up and although I don’t regret reading it, I do sort of regret romanticizing the antebellum era. I did sympathize with Scarlett O'Hara at the time, wishing for those good old days of the pretty dresses and barbecues.  Now I can see the book for more than that. I should probably read it again now that I have a new filter.

Which one are you currently reading?

The Palace Papers by Tina Brown.  A bit of Royal Family trash reading, but I love it.

Recommend a book?

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.  My favourite book from last year.

A book you can always reread?

I don’t re-read as many books as I used to. But I think I would buy the Winter Street trilogy books by Elin Hilderbrand because I would like to read them every Christmas.

What’s your favourite genre?

My current favourite genre is British mysteries (yes, I’m in my 40s! Haha) Books by Clare Mackintosh, Ruth Ware, etc.

What kind of book do you hate reading?

Lately the books I’ve not enjoyed have been too trying to weave together short stories as part of a larger tale, but with no forward momentum, nothing is really happening to the main characters.  I’m talking to you The Beguiling.

Do you prefer buying or borrowing them?

I get most of my books at the library, I probably buy 3-4 books a year.

Would you like to write a book someday?

I used to say I wanted to write the prequel to Gone with the Wind, and it would be about Scarlett’s mother.  But that would require a lot of research and a skill that I don’t really have.  I have thought about being a book editor.  I’m sure it’s not as easy as just “reading for a living”.

That was fun! Happy Monday!

2023 Books

As I get older, it's helpful for me to keep track of the books I've read.  I have yet to pick up a book and not remembered reading it, but better safe than sorry!

So here are all of the books I read this year:

Spare

Fatty Fatty Boom Boom

Kiss Her Once For Me

The Sleeping Car Porter

Something in the Water

The Four Winds

The Prisoner

The Poisonwood Bible (a reread for me, I've read this many times before)

Sea of Tranquility

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

The Light Through the Leaves

The Rent Collector

Nothing to Envy

Our Italian Summer

Demon Copperhead

The Beguiling

Sparks Like Stars

When We Lost Our Heads

Malibu Rising

The Survivors

Between Us

The Guilt Trip

The Gown

At the Mountain's Edge

Miracle Creek 

I'm limiting my favourite list to two, since there are a few contenders for #3 and I can't choose, but you can go back through the links above to see if I liked a book or not.

#2

The Gown by Jennifer Robson

#1 Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

For the past couple of years I've been in the habit of setting out a reading list for myself.  However, this year I'm not going to do that.  I felt like I was looking for books just for the sake of putting them on my list, and then I didn't even like some of the ones I picked (ahem, Sleeping Car Porter, When we Lost our Heads, and The Beguiling). Instead I'll just stick with picking things off my running list of recommendations based on what's available in our library and what I feel like reading.