On the Shelf: Worst. Person. Ever.

Tuesday, 22 October 2013

WORST. PERSON. EVER. | Douglas Coupland | Random House Canada | October 2013

Meet Raymond Gunt. A decent chap who tries to do the right thing. Or, to put it another way, the worst person ever: a foul-mouthed, misanthropic cameraman, trailing creditors, ex-wives and unhappy homeless people in his wake. Men dislike him, women flee from him. Worst. Person. Ever. is a deeply unworthy book about a dreadful human being with absolutely no redeeming social value. Gunt, in the words of the author, "is a living, walking, talking, hot steaming pile of pure id." He's a B-unit cameraman who enters an amusing downward failure spiral that takes him from London to Los Angeles and then on to an obscure island in the Pacific where a major American TV network is shooting a Survivor-style reality show. Along the way, Gunt suffers multiple comas and unjust imprisonment, is forced to re-enact the 'Angry Dance' from the movie Billy Elliot and finds himself at the centre of a nuclear war. We also meet Raymond's upwardly failing sidekick, Neal, as well as Raymond's ex-wife, Fiona, herself 'an atomic bomb of pain'.

Oh man. This book is cringe-worthy. Coupland has somehow indeed crafted the worst character to ever grace the pages of fiction. There's nothing redeeming about Raymond Gunt. Everything he thinks, everything he does, everything he says is terrible. I doubt there was a time I wasn't staring at the pages in shock while I read Worst. Person. Ever. This book will make you feel uncomfortable, but remember: just because you're reading it (from Gunt's horrible point of view) doesn't mean you agree with anything going on.

I'm pretty sure this book is supposed to be humorous. I don't think I laughed out loud because I wasn't sure I was allowed to. My reaction to this book was mainly me trying to suppress any urge I had to smirk or laugh because Raymond Gunt really is that dreadful. He's crude and selfish. He treats everyone around him with zero respect. Even the people he associates with aren't all that great of human beings. But I guess that's the point. Are any of us really that great if we bear our secrets and inner thoughts?

The plot of Worst. Person. Ever. is insane. Raymond Gunt's word spirals out of control and he goes on a completely unrealistic adventure filled with bad luck and necessary karma. Everything that can go bad does go bad. The book is completely original. You'll have no idea where the plot is going and it's a great, fast-paced, crazy ride.

Worst. Person. Ever. is also filled with well-placed pop culture references and passages similar to footnotes that explain the most random of people, places, and things. These 'footnotes' were my favourite part of the book: informative, but filled with Gunt's detestable wit and humour.

Warning: This book isn't for the faint of heart.

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On the Shelf: Cataract City

Thursday, 3 October 2013

CATARACT CITY | Craig Davidson | Doubleday Canada | 2013

Owen and Duncan are childhood friends who've grown up in picturesque Niagara Falls--known to them by the grittier name Cataract City. As the two know well, there's more to the bordertown than meets the eye: behind the gaudy storefronts and sidewalk vendors, past the hawkers of tourist T-shirts and cheap souvenirs live the real people who scrape together a living by toiling at the Bisk, the local cookie factory. And then there are the truly desperate, those who find themselves drawn to the borderline and a world of dog-racing, bare-knuckle fighting, and night-time smuggling. Owen and Duncan think they are different: both dream of escape, a longing made more urgent by a near-death incident in childhood that sealed their bond. But in adulthood their paths diverge, and as Duncan, the less privileged, falls deep into the town's underworld, he and Owen become reluctant adversaries at opposite ends of the law. At stake is not only survival and escape, but a lifelong friendship that can only be broken at an unthinkable price.

Cataract City hooked me from the start. The back cover copy begins with this amazing line from the book: "Some places you just can't leave. The specific gravity's too strong, keeps you locked in orbit. You've got to be launched out, like a circus performer from a cannon." It's true that the story focuses on the ever-changing friendship between Owen and Duncan, but this book also tells the story of a city and how living in a certain place for so long impacts your personality. For Owen and Duncan, Cataract City (Niagara Falls, Ontario) transforms them in completely different ways, pulling them apart and forcing them back together at every unexpected turn.

I love how Davidson looks at the very different paths of Owen and Duncan. When we're children, it feels like our best friends will be around forever. Friendship is something that falsely advertises eternity and there isn't a thing or a person in the world that can divide us from those we spend time with day after day. Once you grow up, you learn this belief doesn't remain true. Friends come and go as we change and learn and grow. However, what Cataract City shows is that those experiences and memories shared between childhood friends have a lasting impact and intertwine the lives of everyone involved.

The first section of this book narrates the near-death experience that Owen and Duncan suffer through together. The writing is spectacular and completely horrifying in all the right places. I couldn't have put the book down through this beginning sequence even if I had wanted to - it was perfect suspense that made me continue reading even when I wasn't sure I wanted to know the outcome.

The experiencesD of adult Owen and Duncan show the underbelly of a city. Even a town like Niagara Falls, known for its tourism appeal, has a dark side. The lives of the characters and the life of the city fuse together as we learn how these men navigate the decisions placed before them. Even the epilogue in this novel is worth talking about. Sometimes prologues and epilogues seem unnecessary add-ons, but this one is essential. Once I finished the book, I had no doubts about why Davidson is on the Giller Prize longlist this year.

"This was a vital part of my life, right here. And it was gone now. I felt sick with nostalgia. Memory like a sickness, memory like a drug. I stood in the lengthening shadow of the lane, swallowed up by the black hole of my past."

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On the Shelf: Born Weird

Wednesday, 12 June 2013

BORN WEIRD | ANDREW KAUFMAN | RANDOM HOUSE CANADA | 2012

The Weirds have always been a little off, but not one of them ever suspected that they'd been cursed by their grandmother. At the moment of the births of her five grandchildren Annie Weird gave each one a special power. Richard, the oldest, always keeps safe; Abba always has hope; Lucy is never lost and Kent can beat anyone in a fight. As for Angie, she always forgives, instantly. But over the years these so-called blessings ended up ruining their lives. Now Annie is dying and she has one last task for Angie: gather her far-flung brothers and sisters and assemble them in her grandmother's hospital room so that at the moment of her death, she can lift these blessings-turned-curses. And Angie has just two weeks to do it.

I won a copy of this book from a giveaway on My Pen, My Voice at the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, life has a silly habit of "getting in the way" and I wasn't able to read Born Weird until last month.

Life also gets in the way for the siblings of the Weird family. Thanks to blursings (blessing + curse) afflicted upon them by their grandmother, the five Weird children go through life expecting things to go smoothly and yet horribly wrong at the same time. Born Weird is completely realistic in its portrayal of family (dysfunctional families really do have a special place in the land of literature), but has a touch of magic realism to make the book a little strange. Or, weird.

The entire book reads like a Wes Anderson film (Moonrise Kingdom, The Royal Tenenbaums). I could practically hear the quirky soundtrack in the background as I read. Kaufman's uncanny ability to make short and choppy dialogue charming, and vague descriptions come to life, is a true demonstration of talent. I'm surprised Anderson hasn't already shown up at his doorstep with a screen adaptation.

Born Weird is a short book, and the story flew by quicker than I could turn the pages. It was my first encounter with Kaufman and I'm looking forward to more. If you've read any other Kaufman novels, which one should I pick up next?

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On the Shelf: A Beautiful Truth

Thursday, 9 May 2013

A BEAUTIFUL TRUTH | COLIN MCADAM | HAMISH HAMILTON | MARCH 2013

Walt and Judy are deeply in love, but Judy longs for a child and finds that life is holding few surprises. Walt measures all beauty against Judy but doesn’t want her eyes to get any sadder. They stay side by side and search for distractions, realizing they may never have a family. On a day when hope seems low, Walt finds an unexpected opportunity in the pages of Life magazine. They meet Looee, who was born in Sierra Leone, and they raise him at home in the hills of Vermont and regard him as their son.

At the Girdish Institute, a group of chimpanzees has been studied for decades. There is proof that chimps have memories and solve problems, that they can learn language and need friends. They are political, altruistic, get angry, and forgive. Mr. Ghoul has been there from the beginning, and has grown up in a world of rivals, sex, and unpredictable loss.

Looee and Mr. Ghoul travel distant but parallel paths through childhood, adolescence, and early middle age until Looee, who endures the darker side of Girdish, ends up meeting his kindred spirit long after he moves from Vermont.

I'm so glad that Rachel from Penguin Canada sent me a copy of this novel. It's not a book I would have picked up solely from reading the description, but Rachel's insistence that I would love the prose - and be thinking of Looee long after I finished reading the book - convinced me that this story was not one to miss.

The book is told from the perspectives of humans and chimpanzees. At first, I found it difficult to read from the point-of-view of a chimpanzee. The phrasing is choppy and the sentences don't always make sense, but with time I was able to overlook the structure and I found myself looking forward to these chapters. While hearing the story from the point of view of Walt or Judy is necessary at the beginning of the novel, A Beautiful Truth finds its voice in the minds of the chimpanzees.

Looee is such an impressive character. His actions make sense when you read through his thoughts. It was frustrating to know what he wanted and to understand the motives behind his actions when the humans he's communicating with can't figure out what he's trying to say.

A lot of what I've read about this novel focuses on Looee (which makes sense since he's the main character and has an interesting storyline: a chimpanzee raised as a human boy in a family house), but the character that I loved the most was Mr. Ghoul. Mr. Ghoul's story takes place in an institute and he is taught how to communicate using human language. I loved reading about his story and the way he communicates by pointing at symbols - and how his knowledge affects the interactions he has with other chimpanzees.

The language is at times crude, other times beautiful. The story is terrifying and full of wonder. It's an exceptional literary novel. If you're looking for something different and have an interest in getting inside the mind of an animal other than humans, then give this book a try. I'm still having trouble putting my thoughts into words, so you'll have to read this one for yourself.

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On the Shelf: Bone & Bread

Friday, 3 May 2013

BONE & BREAD | SALEEMA NAWAZ | HOUSE OF ANANSI PRESS | APRIL 2013

Beena and Sadhana are sisters who share a bond that could only have been shaped by the most unusual of childhoods -- and by shared tragedy. Orphaned as teenagers, they have grown up under the exasperated watch of their Sikh uncle, who runs a bagel shop in Montreal's Hasidic community of Mile End. Together, they try to make sense of the rich, confusing brew of values, rituals, and beliefs that form their inheritance. Yet as they grow towards adulthood, their paths begin to diverge. Beena catches the attention of one of the "bagel boys" and finds herself pregnant at sixteen, while Sadhana drives herself to perfectionism and anorexia.

I picked up a copy of Bone & Bread because I knew that Saleema Nawaz would be attending the Ottawa Writers Festival and I wanted to be familiar with her work before the night of her panel. This story was a pleasant surprise and it somehow made the connection inherent to sisterhood a topic close to my heart - even though I'm an only child.

Bone & Bread tells the story of Beena and Sadhana - how they cope with life-altering situations, how they grow apart, and how they remain inevitably connected through it all. The "present day" narrative allowed me to connect with Beena, whereas the flashbacks had my heart breaking for Sadhana. It's a complex, literary novel that explores the intricate relationship involved in "family."

I was drawn to the characters more than the story (not that the story disappointed in any way). The two sisters were so realistic that it wasn't like reading a novel at all. You really get to know and understand them. The panel that Saleema Nawaz was a part of at the Ottawa Writers Festival was based on the discussion of family. Nawaz mentioned then - and there is a particularly strong line in the book as well - that perhaps it is being too close with someone that separates us from one another? This happens to the two main characters. It's almost as though they love each other too much for things to go smoothly. But isn't that the case for every family?

The novel is sensitive and honest, bringing to light the harsh realities that go along with two teenage afflictions: pregnancy and anorexia. Bone & Bread is a beautiful debut novel from Saleema Nawaz and I can't wait to read another.

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On the Shelf: Studio Saint-Ex

Saturday, 30 March 2013

STUDIO SAINT-EX | ANIA SZADO | VIKING CANADA (PENGUIN) | APRIL 2013

Set in Manhattan and Quebec City in 1943, Studio Saint-Ex is a fictionalized account of the love triangle among Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, his mercurial wife, Consuelo, and a young fashion designer. Mignonne Lachapelle leaves Montreal for New York to make her name, but is swept away by the charms of France’s greatest living writer. Nothing about their relationship is simple—not Antoine’s estranged wife who entangles Mig in her schemes to reclaim her husband, not his turmoil, and certainly not their tempestuous trysts or the blurring boundaries of their artistic pursuits. Yet the greatest complication comes in the form of a deceptively simple manuscript: Antoine’s work-in-progress, The Little Prince, a tender tale of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss in the form of a young prince fallen to earth.

I devoured this book. From the first page, I knew I would fall in love with the literary prose, but I wasn't too sure about the content. The majority of Studio Saint-Ex's chapters are told from the point of view of Mignonne, a fashion designer, and I was worried that the fashion terms and her obvious love for fabric would be beyond my comprehension. I was completely wrong. Ania Szado somehow makes fashion a passionate art form for even the most "fashion illiterate" of readers. Believe me, this book will make you fall in love with a piece of white silk.

This book weaves a triangle between Mignonne, Antoine, and Consuelo, their devotion and passion taking unexpected turns as the story unravels. As the summary mentions, the creation of The Little Prince changes the relationships between all three characters. The manuscript is used as a symbol of passion for all three of them, although in very different ways.

I love Mignonne. While I don't share her interest in fashion, I do share her drive. She'll do whatever it takes to establish herself as a figurehead in New York City's crowded fashion scene. She's a young girl, quite unsure of herself, trying to make a name in a city that has the ability to ruin.

I detest Antoine - in the best possible way. He comes across as conceited and selfish, but Studio Saint-Ex shows that these personality categories have very fine lines. Antoine is a writer and it is through his anguish and delight for his craft that the story unfolds.

Then there is Consuelo. My feelings for this character are best thought of in a "love to hate" scenario. She's cruel and vindictive, but the few chapters told in her point-of-view show a different side - a different need - of Consuelo. Her passion doesn't lie in any of the arts. Rather, Consuelo craves attention and desire.

A lot of the story is inspired by The Little Prince and its author, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. While you can read Studio Saint-Ex without having read The Little Prince, I think it's worth the time to read the latter beforehand as it will add a deeper level of understanding to the second half of the book. However, Szado's story is more evocative and truth-telling than The Little Prince itself. It is a beautiful story written in beautiful prose. Studio Saint-Ex reveals the hope within a clouded sky, the beauty in a rose, and the freedom of a butterfly.

Studio Saint-Ex will be available in Canada on April 2, 2013 and in the United States on June 6, 2013. For more information, visit the author's website: http://www.aniaszado.com/studio-saint-ex.html.

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The 8 List: Oh Canada

Monday, 18 March 2013

I have an English literature degree, which means I have read a lot of books. Attending school in Canada means that I have read a lot of Canadian books. For some reason, Canadian literature has a reputation of being dreadfully boring. I remember groaning back in elementary and high school whenever our teacher mentioned that a book was written by a Canadian author. However, I quickly learned in University that Canadian literature is anything but boring and even the classics are quite good.

#1 THE WARS BY TIMOTHY FINDLEY (1977)

War. Horses. Photographs.

#2 THE DIVINERS BY MARGARET LAURENCE (1974)

Writing. Water. Family.

#3 KISS OF THE FUR QUEEN BY TOMSON HIGHWAY (1998)

Brothers. Trickster. Residential school.

#4 WILD GEESE BY MARTHA OSTENSO (1925)

Teaching. Prairies. Loneliness.

#5 LIVES OF GIRLS AND WOMEN BY ALICE MUNRO (1971)

Family. Womanhood. Coming-of-age.

#6 A COMPLICATED KINDNESS BY MIRIAM TOEWS (2004)

Religion. Family. Coming-of-age.

#7 THE HANDMAID'S TALE BY MARGARET ATWOOD (1985)

Feminism. Dystopia. Satire.

#8 THE COLLECTED WORKS OF BILLY THE KID BY MICHAEL ONDAATJE (1974)

Poetry. Prose. Images.

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On the Shelf: The Beaver Manifesto

Wednesday, 27 February 2013

THE BEAVER MANIFESTO | GLYNNIS HOOD | ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOOKS | 2011

Beavers are the great comeback story, a keystone species that survived ice ages, major droughts, the fur trade, urbanization and near extinction. Their ability to create and maintain aquatic habitats has endeared them to conservationists, but puts the beavers at odds with urban and industrial expansion. These conflicts reflect a dichotomy within our national identity. We place environment and our concept of wilderness as a key touchstone for promotion and celebration, while devoting significant financial and personal resources to combating "the beaver problem."

It's not a well-known fact, but I absolutely love natural history. I took a few electives back in my undergraduate days on the topic even though it had nothing to do with my major. I jumped at the chance to review a couple books from The RMB Manifesto Series, especially when I found out that there was a book dedicated to the beaver. It is one of my favourite creatures to learn about (they're absolutely fascinating) and I had a professor who was quite literally obsessed with them.

The RMB Manifestos are an evolving series of short literary non-fiction books. The goal is to "help encourage debate and help facilitate constructive change." The Beaver Manifesto is only 130 pages, so it provides a quick, entertaining look at one of Canada's most interesting animals. The book is a perfect mix of fact and humour. It doesn't read at all like a textbook - it lives up to its proclamation of being "literary" nonfiction.

Aside from the great writing, the book is stunning. It may be small, but it is hardcover bound and printed on recycled paper (the same goes for all of the books in the series). They would be a great gift for someone who likes to collect books and is interested in nature topics. I still have The Grizzly Manifesto waiting on my shelf, but there are many other subject areas to discover in the series, like glaciers, "ethical" water, the global war for oil, and honeybees. I highly recommend checking out one of the books if you enjoy reading passionate essays.

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"So why all the conflict between beavers and modern humans? My theory is that two control freaks will battle over the same tree until long after the last of its stump decays back into the forest floor. Humans simply do not like to be outdone by a rodent, plain and simple. The historical record, however, shows that not only the beaver but also the Norway rat and the house mouse have almost always won the war. Although cockroaches are touted as the most persistent animals on the planet, they were never chased down for their furs, turned into hats, or marketed as a perfume. The evidence is in, and rodents rule the world."

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On the Shelf: Virginia Wolf

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

VIRGINIA WOLF | KYO MACLEAR | KIDS CAN PRESS | 2012

Vanessa's sister, Virginia, is in a "wolfish" mood -- growling, howling and acting very strange. It's a funk so fierce, the whole household feels topsy-turvy. Vanessa tries everything she can think of to cheer her up, but nothing seems to work. Then Virginia tells Vanessa about an imaginary, perfect place called Bloomsberry. Armed with an idea, Vanessa begins to paint Bloomsberry on the bedroom walls, transforming them into a beautiful garden complete with a ladder and swing "so that what was down could climb up." Before long, Virginia, too, has picked up a brush and undergoes a surprising transformation of her own.

This picture book is absolutely gorgeous. The story is simple and effective, combined with illustrations that bring the imagination of a young girl to life. This title won the Governor General's Award for Children's Illustration and once you see the images inside, you'll understand why. I want to frame every single page and put them on the walls in my apartment.

The story alone is one that readers of all ages can relate to. Virginia is in a very, very bad mood and this book shows how a change in mood really can change the world around you. Her sister's insistence to help is uplifting and leads to the revealing of some secrets about the true nature of her wolfish sister.

If you're not interested in buying children's picture books for yourself, this one would make a lovely gift for any young girl in your life.

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On the Shelf: One In Every Crowd

Tuesday, 22 January 2013

ONE IN EVERY CROWD | IVAN E. COYOTE | ARSENAL PULP PRESS | 2012

Comprised of new stories and others culled from previous collections, One in Every Crowd is for anyone who has ever felt different or alone in their struggle to be true to themselves. Included are stories about Ivan''s own tomboy past in Canada''s north, where playing hockey and wearing pants were the norm; and about her adult life in the big city, where she encounters both cruelty and kindness in unexpected places. Then there are the tales of family and friends who live their lives by example, like Francis, the curly-haired little boy who likes to wear dresses, and the brave kids she meets at queer youth camp.

The introduction in this short story collection should be photocopied and distributed to every adolescent on the planet. It is so much more inspiring than any bullying prevention programs I've witnessed to date.

Ivan is one of my favourite storytellers. As great as Ivan's stories are written down, they are even better when performed live. I was lucky enough to listen to Ivan talk during my undergraduate degree. I attended a department launch when the Women's Studies department changed its name to Women & Gender Studies. Ivan was the writer-in-residence of the University at the time and told a few stories at the launch as the keynote speaker.

Gender studies is the focus of One In Every Crowd, similar to all of Coyote's previous work. The stories recall what it was like for Ivan to be a gay child, focusing on the struggles and triumphs that go along with not quite fitting in.

This particular book is a curated collection of Ivan's previously published stories (with a few new ones thrown in). If you're unfamiliar with Ivan's work, it would be a great collection to start with. Some of my favourite stories can be found within the pages ("Walks Like," "Saturdays and Cowboy Hats," "Imagine a Pair of Boots"). Unfortunately for me, I had already read most of the stories, which is why I didn't give the book a higher rating.

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As I said before, Ivan needs to be heard, not only read. Instead of a written excerpt, here's a video of Ivan Coyote from the Vancouver Poetry Slam (slightly NSFW).

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On the Shelf: The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen

Friday, 11 January 2013

THE RELUCTANT JOURNAL OF HENRY K. LARSEN | SUSIN NIELSEN | TUNDRA BOOKS | 2012

A middle grade novel about the ultimate cost of bullying with a cast of fabulous characters, dark humour, and a lovable, difficult protagonist struggling to come to terms with the horrible crime his brother has committed.

I was lucky enough to receive a signed copy of The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen in a Twitter giveaway right before Susan Nielsen won the Governor General's Literary Award for this book. The story looks at bullying from multiple perspectives, showing how it impacts all the people involved (including a young boy's decision to only communicate in a robot voice). The book is about living, pushing on regardless of how terrible of a situation life may throw in your direction. 

Henry is completely likeable, even if at times incredibly annoying. The journal is his way of coping with reality and writing down his thoughts and it does seem to help (even if he thinks it is pointless). Readers of every age can learn a lot from Henry. His problems are vast and at a level most adults don't ever need to comprehend, but they are extremely real for today's youth.

While I appreciated the psychological backstory and the way Nielsen's novel deals with the subject of bullying, I had a difficult time connecting to the other elements of the story. Henry's interest in wrestling isn't anything that I personally enjoy and the humour in the book definitely isn't my thing. Then again, I'm also not a pre-teen boy.

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"INTRIGUING FACT: The word 'psychology' comes from the Greek word 'psyche.' It means the study of the mind.

I don't want anyone to study my mind. That's just creepy. But Dad says I no longer have a choice.

Cecil doesn't look like a psychologist. For one thing, his name is Cecil. On his door at the Coastal Health Center, a plastic plaque says DR. LEVINE, but when I called him that at our first session, he said, 'Please, call me Cecil.' When I got home, I looked up his name, and do you know what it means? Dim-sighted or blind.

Not a good sign."

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On the Shelf: A Tale for the Time Being

Monday, 7 January 2013

A TALE FOR THE TIME BEING | RUTH OZEKI | VIKING CANADA (PENGUIN) | MARCH 2013

“A time being is someone who lives in time, and that means you, and me, and every one of us who is, or was, or ever will be.” In Tokyo, sixteen-year-old Nao has decided there’s only one escape from her aching loneliness and her classmates’ bullying. But before she ends it all, Nao plans to document the life of her great-grandmother, a Buddhist nun who’s lived more than a century. A diary is Nao’s only solace—and will touch lives in a ways she can scarcely imagine. Across the Pacific, we meet Ruth, a novelist living on a remote island who discovers a collection of artifacts washed ashore in a Hello Kitty lunchbox—possibly debris from the devastating 2011 tsunami. As the mystery of its contents unfolds, Ruth is pulled into the past, into Nao’s drama and her unknown fate, and forward into her own future.

This is an absolutely beautiful book. Ozeki somehow manages to weave together multiple storylines, occurring in different locations and occupying different moments of time. At first, I was completely annoyed by Nao's diary entries. After reading the prologue, I thought I was going to hate the book and even contemplated abandoning it altogether. I'm glad I didn't because, aside from the prologue, Nao's diary was my favourite part of the novel. I was excited when the book returned to her sections (the story is broken up in sections about Nao and sections about Ruth) because I wanted to hear about her story. Like Ruth, I desperately wanted to catch up to the moment in time in which Nao was writing. The teenager writes about her extremely sad life in a way that conveys ignorance. However, her diary entries give away a lot more than she expects them to and, as the reader, you begin to understand her attitude towards the world.

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"Her own name, Ruth, had often functioned like an omen, casting a complex shadow forward across her life. The word ruth is derived from the Middle English rue, meaning remorse or regret. Ruth's Japanese mother wasn't thinking of the English etymology when she chose the name, nor did she intend to curse her daughter with it--Ruth was simply the name of an old family friend. But even so, Ruth often felt oppressed by the sense of of her name, and not just in English. In Japanese, the name was equally problematic. Japanese people can't pronounce 't' or 'th.' In Japanse, Ruth is a paradoxical name, pronounced either rutsu, meaning 'roots,' or rusu, meaning "not at home" or 'absent.'"

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On the Shelf: Stony River

Wednesday, 5 December 2012

STONY RIVER | TRICIA DOWER | PENGUIN CANADA | 2012

Stony River, New Jersey, 1955: On a sweltering June afternoon, Linda Wise and Tereza Dobra witness a disturbing scene. A pale, pretty girl who looks about their age is taken from Crazy Haggerty's house by two uniformed policemen. Everyone in Stony River thought Crazy Haggerty lived alone. The pale, pretty girl is about to enter an alien world, and as Tereza and Linda try to make sense of what they've seen, they're unaware their own lives will soon be shattered as well. Set in a decade we tend to think of as a more innocent time, Stony River shows in dramatic and unexpected ways how perilous it was to come of age in the 1950s with its absent mothers, controlling fathers, biblical injunctions, teenaged longing, and small-town pretence. The threat of sexual violence is all around: angry fathers at home, dirty boys in the neighbourhood, strange men in strange cars, a dead girl, and another gone missing.

Sometimes the best books are the ones that take you by surprise. The cover caught my attention at the book store and the synopsis sounded vaguely interesting - so I gave it a try. As you can see from my five-star rating, it instantly made it to my favourites shelf. 

I was so impressed with Dower's writing. I couldn't put the book down. I think I could ramble on and on about how perfect this book is without ever being able to pinpoint exactly what makes it special. It just has that spark. And I highly recommend that you read it.

Stony River is nothing like a period piece. Although it's set in the 1950s, the content is nothing like what you'd expect from the setting. I had no idea where the book was going at any given moment and I absolutely loved the journey it took me on. I was so sad when it ended. I didn't want to leave the characters behind.

When books are split into different narratives, I often find myself caring more about one of the stories than the others. This wasn't the case for Stony River. All of the main characters were relatable, unique, and enthralling. I wanted to get to know every single one of them more, keep learning about their histories,  go with them into the future.

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"Quickly now she unpacks the remaining volumes, setting them end to end, alphabetically by author, forming a serpent of books across the floor, her hands agile with purpose. Ah, here are those whose worlds she naively once believed existed outside their pages. Don Quixote de la Mancha. Ivanhoe. Gulliver's Travels. And others that befriended her all those lonely years. Oliver Twist. Emma. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. The Hunchback of Notre Dame. For Cian,  Carolyn and Mickey she set aside Winnie-the-Pooh, The Jungle Book, and children's versions of the Iliad and the Odyssey.

James said that if words could be held and tasted and smelled they might be enough to live on."

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On the Shelf: The Golden Twine

Monday, 19 November 2012

THE GOLDEN TWINE (BOOK #1 OF CAT'S CRADLE) | JO RIOUX | KIDS CAN PRESS | 2012

To most, Suri is just an orphan in a traveling caravan. But Suri is determined to prove she has the mettle of a monster tamer. When she unknowingly takes something valuable from a caitsith -- a cat monster -- she will have to quickly harness her powers... if she even has them!

The Golden Twine is a children's graphic novel about Suri, a young orphan who tags along with a traveling caravan even though the owner tries his best to get rid of her. Suri makes money by telling stories about monsters whenever the caravan makes a stop on its tour. However, her real dream is to become a monster tamer. Suri's dream is looked down upon because she is a young girl -- no one believes she has the talent or the strength to perform such an important task. After helping a stranger, whom Suri assumes to be a human boy, carry some material through the woods, she picks up a ball of golden twine that he drops on the ground. She uses this twine to create a necklace, complete with a dragon tooth amulet that, Suri believes, holds special powers. Little does she know, the golden twine is the real magical part of her necklace, causing a trio of caitsiths (one of the monster breeds in the story) to hunt her down in order to get back their magical string.

This graphic novel is targeted to readers aged nine to twelve, but as an adult reader, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. It will appeal to fans of fantasy, adventure, and mystery stories and it is the perfect book to introduce young readers to the graphic novel format. The characters in the story are unique and often adorable. You discover that the monsters really aren't as scary as they seem (well, except for the caitsiths...) and Suri is a protagonist that young readers are sure to love.

I've given this book five stars simply because it's as close to perfect as a children's book can get. The Golden Twine has completely changed my perception on how graphic novels fit into the literary world of a child.

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Excerpt borrowed from jorioux.com. 

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On the Shelf: This Dark Endeavor

Saturday, 3 November 2012

THIS DARK ENDEAVOR | KENNETH OPPEL | SIMON & SCHUSTER | 2011

Victor Frankenstein leads a charmed life. He and his twin brother, Konrad, and their beautiful cousin Elizabeth take lessons at home and spend their spare time fencing and horseback riding. Along with their friend Henry, they have explored all the hidden passageways and secret rooms of the palatial Frankenstein chateau. Except one. The Dark Library contains ancient tomes written in strange languages, and filled with forbidden knowledge. Their father makes them promise never to visit the library again, but when Konrad becomes deathly ill, Victor knows he must find the book that contains the recipe for the legendary Elixir of Life. The elixir needs only three ingredients. But impossible odds, dangerous alchemy and a bitter love triangle threaten their quest at every turn. Victor knows he must not fail. But his success depends on how far he is willing to push the boundaries of nature, science and love, and how much he is willing to sacrifice.

I’ll be honest - I don’t read a lot of YA fiction. I’ve always found the writing too “simple” for my personal taste, even though a lot of the plots may sound intriguing. This book may have changed my opinion. Sure, the writing is simple, but it was nice to not have to guess at the story’s meaning - to have everything clear, in a way.

I couldn’t resist reading an interpretation of Frankenstein’s younger years. The story has the perfect blend of science, magic, religion, and love to drive the story forward. And the main character’s desire for power is something all readers will relate to - even if they don’t want to admit it.

The story is enticing. Oppel has a way with words that few other authors have. I’m certain that this story will become a contemporary classic. I can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel.

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“I held the candle high. We were in a surprisingly large chamber. Nearby was a torch jutting from a wall sconce, and I quickly lit it. The room brightened, an orange glow flickering over tables scattered with oddly shaped glassware and metal instruments - and row upon row of shelves groaning with thick tomes. ‘It’s just a library,’ I said, relieved.”

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