There was some humour in the book, but it got lost for me among discussions of Jewish politics. Some of the characters were interesting, but everyone There was some humour in the book, but it got lost for me among discussions of Jewish politics. Some of the characters were interesting, but everyone was so utterly neurotic and obsessive that it made me annoyed. ...more
Total slog for me, but I managed to read it. Every Xmas, I read a classic over the holidays. I help make sure I understand everything by reading essayTotal slog for me, but I managed to read it. Every Xmas, I read a classic over the holidays. I help make sure I understand everything by reading essays and notes on the book. Made it through, but it was difficult at times. However, some parts of the book were interesting, and I'm glad I took the time to read it!...more
Three and a half stars. Right now I'm writing this and a Cairn terrier is watching me type and trying to bite my sleeve. In this book, Stanley Coren wThree and a half stars. Right now I'm writing this and a Cairn terrier is watching me type and trying to bite my sleeve. In this book, Stanley Coren writes about his dog Flint, a gray cairn terrier who drives his wife crazy.
I learned a bit about Coren's training methods and ideas, but mostly, you learn a lot about his relationship with his dogs and Flint's misadventures. I'd like to read more of Coren's more technical books, but I don't like reading about dogs when I'm not around them because it makes me wish I had one right beside me and makes me sad.
This is a good book for dog lovers, but a really great book for Cairn terrier lovers.
Four and a half stars. I enjoyed this book immensely. It's set in the 1980s. The main character, Jane moves into a house she shares with 3 other studeFour and a half stars. I enjoyed this book immensely. It's set in the 1980s. The main character, Jane moves into a house she shares with 3 other students in the neighbourhood of Kitsilano in Vancouver. The students are activists trying to protest the threat of nuclear weapons. Never before have I read such an accurate portrayal of some of the things that can happen within the activist community. One of the characters, Pete, is an anarcho-feminist who uses his anarchy as an excuse not to act like a decent human being. He gets stoned and sleeps with all kinds of people. Another character changes her name and becomes a lesbian, while a third character stresses and refuses to have any pleasure because the world might end due to a nuclear bomb.
The plot of the book was engaging and believable, but Adderson really caught me in the details. People who don't know Vancouver or the activist community might not enjoy the book as much as I did. I really loved this....more
I liked the prairie details in this poem and the poem called "Four Factories" really engaged me. In many ways, I did feel that these poems were techniI liked the prairie details in this poem and the poem called "Four Factories" really engaged me. In many ways, I did feel that these poems were technically brilliant, but they didn't contain a lot of human emotion, which is what really gets to me when I'm reading poetry.
The sense of place and location was one of the strengths of this collection....more
Collection of short stories. I didn't like this one as much as I liked her other collection. The stories in this weren't bad, I just wasn't as interesCollection of short stories. I didn't like this one as much as I liked her other collection. The stories in this weren't bad, I just wasn't as interested.
However, I loved the story called "Prison" and thought it was exceptionally brilliant....more
A very, very difficult book for me to read. The first section was beautifully written and so poetic that I kept on losing track of what was happening A very, very difficult book for me to read. The first section was beautifully written and so poetic that I kept on losing track of what was happening because I got caught up in the language. The themes of death, father/daughter r'ship and cancer were hard for me to deal with as our family has been close to 2 people who have lost fathers from cancer this year. I teared up several times while reading sections of the book.
After a while, I sort of lost the narrative thread and couldn't really figure out what happened. I think I missed a great deal. I'm giving it 3 stars because there were some technical things I liked, but my enjoyment was about 2 stars. ...more
What a lovely collection of poems. I liked how you could get an idea of how Kroetsch was at various times in his life. There's a lot of wordplay and hWhat a lovely collection of poems. I liked how you could get an idea of how Kroetsch was at various times in his life. There's a lot of wordplay and humour in this and a huge love for life. I loved his irreverence and dirty mind, and his awe at the world....more
Three and a half stars. Read this years ago, but wanted to re-read for Canada Reads Indie.
I like the grittiness of this collection and the portrayal oThree and a half stars. Read this years ago, but wanted to re-read for Canada Reads Indie.
I like the grittiness of this collection and the portrayal of the harshness of Maritime life. Coady really excels and including the details of life and circumstances and her use of language is fantastic.
Loved the many uses of the word "Jesus", and "arse."...more
I've been reading references and recoomendations bout Yiyun Li's work this year, and I'm so glad that I finally picked up one of her books. This colleI've been reading references and recoomendations bout Yiyun Li's work this year, and I'm so glad that I finally picked up one of her books. This collection of short stories was well crafted and very interesting. Most of the stories dealt with relaitonships abbetween men and women and families. The stories were good and there was a lot about Chinese culture and history, so much that I felt like I was learning cultural facts while I was reading.
This was her first collection of short stories, and I look forward to reading more of her work....more
Jennifer Egan is a really creative and skilled writer. The structure of this book is pretty interesting. She writes a series of short stories from difJennifer Egan is a really creative and skilled writer. The structure of this book is pretty interesting. She writes a series of short stories from different perspectives to tell stories of the lives of Bennie Salazar, a music producer, and his assistant Sasha. There are stories from minor characters and even a powerpoint presentation. I love the way that music was woven throughout out the book.
My mom recommended this one to me. She enjoyed it and is probably glad I liked it too. ...more
The writing in this book is astoundingly, breathtakingly beautiful. It's the story of a man who lies and who has grown up amid lies about his family aThe writing in this book is astoundingly, breathtakingly beautiful. It's the story of a man who lies and who has grown up amid lies about his family and his wife. The story has two main storylines- one modern one that deals with the relationship between the main character and his wife, and another that deals with the troubled relationship between his parents.
While the writing is great, the plot is VERY slow and I didn't enjoy it quite as much as his first book. This is a very internal story about small shifts. Gorgeous writing, but the plot is not as compelling as his prior work....more
I hate giving star rating to poetry, so I'll just talk about what I liked about this book. I loved the old film references and the clear, narrative liI hate giving star rating to poetry, so I'll just talk about what I liked about this book. I loved the old film references and the clear, narrative line throughout the poetry. I think this is one of the first books of poetry I've read that talks about the trans experience. This was a very quick read, and I think this collection would work best as a stage show performed by the author....more
I thought this book was hilarious and it actually made me laugh out loud several times. Sheffield breaks down the 1980s by songs and writes about a paI thought this book was hilarious and it actually made me laugh out loud several times. Sheffield breaks down the 1980s by songs and writes about a particular song/artist and what was happening to him that year. He writes a lot about how pop culture, especially music, shaped his idea of manhood and masculinity.
This is a book that could appear simplistic, but there's a lot here. He writes about his sisters and his relationship with women and how men relate to women, and his Catholic upbringing.
In some ways, I'm a little too young for this book as I spent most of the 80s as a child. Someone about 10 years older would probably appreciate it more than I did.
Also, Sheffield seems like a much nicer guy and a better writer than Chuck Klosterman, who always seems like a dick to me....more
For some reason, I'm on a Sarah Waters kick lately. I'm not sure why, but her books seem to be good winter reads. Perhaps because they are so bleak?
AnFor some reason, I'm on a Sarah Waters kick lately. I'm not sure why, but her books seem to be good winter reads. Perhaps because they are so bleak?
Anyway, I loved the details in this one, as well as the characters. I recently read another book that was told in a non-chronological style, and I find that way of telling a story to be fascinating, because it lets the reader get a deeper depth into the lives of the characters and their backstory.
However, there was one section of the book where I needed to take a break and breathe because the scene was so harrowing that I couldn't read it in one sitting. (Those of you who have read this book probably know what I'm talking of)
Also, the word "queer" was used as a descriptor over 20 times throughout the book and it really stuck out for me. Perhaps Canadians don't use that word as much?...more
I did not love this book the way everyone else did. I think it was actually overhyped for me. I've read 15 short stories collections this year, and I I did not love this book the way everyone else did. I think it was actually overhyped for me. I've read 15 short stories collections this year, and I think that had an influence on my enjoyment.
That said, there is a lot that is right with this collection. I like the sheer physicality and some of the stories were great. However, I disliked his over use of sentence fragments and listing. I could appreciate some of the technical aspects of the stories in this collection, but I didn't like it as much as some of the other story collections I've read. ...more
Carolyn Mackler is generally a great YA writer, but this book just falls flat. There isn't enough substance here. It might have been a good book from Carolyn Mackler is generally a great YA writer, but this book just falls flat. There isn't enough substance here. It might have been a good book from someone else, but I expect more from her....more
I thought this book was quite cute, but I don't really think it would have as much appeal to people outside my demographic. This is basically a diary I thought this book was quite cute, but I don't really think it would have as much appeal to people outside my demographic. This is basically a diary with recipes. Food writer Amanda Hesser starts dating a new guy, and describes their courtship and interactions with family and friends. Some parts of this book were so true. I think most people who care about food are always slightly shocked or appalled by the kitchen/food habits of the people they start dating. I found these details to be the funniest. But I also liked reading about what his family cooked to impress her, and what she cooked for his relatives, etc. I also liked the part about how she decided to build up a repertoire of dishes and how food and cooking served to bring people together.
This is a very light and rather fluffy book, but I still enjoyed it....more
A collection of stories by Amy Bloom, most of which deal with love and loss. There's a lot of sadness and a lot of death in these pages. One of the seA collection of stories by Amy Bloom, most of which deal with love and loss. There's a lot of sadness and a lot of death in these pages. One of the series of stories was shocking and disturbing and surprised me more than any short story I've ever read for a long time. Some stories were better than others, but this was still a good collection.
I like Bloom more as a short story writer than as a novelist....more